Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Switzerland has joined the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). ESSI was founded in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and is led by Germany. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s defence against air strikes and enhance NATO’s integrated air and missile defence system. ESSI has 21 member states, including the UK. Its key component is the Arrow 3 missile defence system, an Israeli-American technology designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.

Notes:
India observes Police Commemoration Day on October 21 to honor the policemen who died in a 1959 ambush by Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh. The day recognizes the bravery and sacrifice of police personnel protecting the nation. On October 21, 1959, Indian policemen on a reconnaissance mission were attacked by Chinese forces, resulting in several deaths. The day was officially designated in January 1960 during the Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police. Ceremonies are held across India at police memorials, where leaders pay tribute to the fallen officers and acknowledge their dedication and courage.

Notes:
On October 21, 2024, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) started the 12th Joint Military Training (JMT) exercise at Air Force Station Kalaikunda, West Bengal. The bilateral phase will run from November 13 to 21, 2024, focusing on advanced air combat simulations and joint mission planning. This phase aims to improve interoperability and combat readiness while promoting knowledge exchange. RSAF is sending its largest contingent yet, including aircrew and support for F-16, F-15, G-550 AEW&C, and C-130 aircraft. The IAF will use Rafale, Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Tejas, MiG-29, and Jaguar aircraft.

Notes:
The Fraser Institute released the 2024 Economic Freedom of the World Report, ranking 165 countries based on economic choice. The top five most-economically free countries were Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, New Zealand, and the United States. India ranked 84th in the report. The report uses 42 variables, including government size, property rights, monetary policy, and trade freedom.

Notes:
The Indian Space Agency has acquired two 400kg satellites for the SPADEX mission, which focuses on space docking experiments. These satellites will be launched into slightly different orbits by a single rocket. The mission aims to develop technology and demonstrate docking between two spacecraft, named Chaser and Target. After docking, the Chaser and Target will separate to conduct their specific experiments with payloads. This experiment is crucial for future missions like Chandrayaan-4 and the proposed Bharatiya Antariksha Space Station.

Notes:
Gary Ruvkun, while accepting the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, praised Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a tiny nematode worm. C. elegans is a small, simple organism used in research for its precise structure and fast growth (3-5 days). It was the first multicellular organism to have its full genome sequenced and neural wiring mapped. It has two sexes: hermaphrodite and male; the hermaphrodite can self-fertilize or cross-fertilize. Nematodes are abundant, living as parasites or in free-living forms in diverse environments like soil and marine ecosystems.

Notes:
United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24, marking the establishment of the UN in 1945. The UN Charter was ratified by the majority of signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council. The UN promotes international peace and a fairer world through specialized organizations like the World Bank and WHO. The first UN Conference was held in San Francisco in 1945, leading to the ratification of the UN Charter. In 1971, the UN General Assembly recommended observing UN Day as a public holiday.

Notes:
World Polio Day is observed on October 24, established by Rotary International to honor Jonas Salk, who developed the first polio vaccine. Polio is a highly infectious viral disease causing paralysis and even death, mostly in children, with no cure—only prevention through vaccination. India reported 741 polio cases in 2009, the highest worldwide.
The last polio case in India was in January 2011 in Howrah, West Bengal. India’s polio eradication success came through strong government coordination, international aid, effective messaging, and overcoming cultural challenges, inspiring its COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Notes:
Bihar inaugurated its first dry port at Bihta, operating in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The port is connected by rail to gateway ports in Kolkata, Haldia, Visakhapatnam, Nhava Sheva, and Mundra. A dry port, also known as an Inland Container Depot (ICD), provides logistics facilities away from seaports or airports for cargo handling, storage, and transportation. It helps reduce congestion at seaports/airports and facilitates efficient movement of goods between inland regions and coastal areas.

Notes:
A foundation stone for a Right to Information (RTI) museum was laid in Beawar, the birthplace of the RTI movement, to highlight digital exclusion in social security pensions. About 13.5 lakh people in Rajasthan are waiting for their pensions due to issues in the digital database. The RTI movement began in 1996 with a 40-day dharna led by the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, advocating for transparency and accountability. The museum will document the RTI movement’s history and serve as a resource center for rights-based education.