Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari won a silver medal in the women’s recurve event at the 2024 Archery World Cup Final in Tlaxcala, Mexico. She lost 6-0 to Chinese archer Li Jiaman in the final. Li Jiaman was part of the Chinese archery team that won silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 18th Archery World Cup Final was organized by World Archery and took place on 19-20 October 2024 in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

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:
The Karnataka Forest Department is urged to reject the Barachukki mini-hydel project, which would divert forest land in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary’s Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1987, spans 1027.535 sq. km across Mandya, Chamarajanagar, and Ramanagar districts in Karnataka. The Cauvery River runs through the sanctuary, which is bordered by Tamil Nadu to the east and northeast. The sanctuary features South Indian dry deciduous forests, dominated by teak and sandalwood trees.

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:
The Delhi government is establishing special courts for people with disabilities, approved by Chief Minister Atishi. This initiative aims to streamline the judicial process, ensuring fair and swift justice for disabled individuals. This a historic step to reform the judicial system to better serve the interests of people with disabilities. The new courts will reduce challenges in accessing legal services and strengthen trust in the justice system. Designed to accommodate specific needs, these courts will resolve cases promptly in an inclusive environment, prioritizing the right to justice for all.

Notes:
IIT Guwahati’s Centre for Career Development hosted the “Leadership Summit 2024” focused on “Grooming Young Talents.” The two-day event attracted nearly 50 delegates from top companies like Google, NetApp, and Reliance-BP. This initiative highlights IIT Guwahati’s commitment to developing young professionals for the workforce. The summit served as an important platform for knowledge sharing and networking among industry leaders and students.

Notes:
Scientists at Pune’s Agharkar Research Institute created new non-toxic molecules for Alzheimer’s treatment. They used synthetic, computational, and in vitro methods for developing these molecules. Alzheimer’s, the most common dementia type, affects 60-70% of the 55 million people with dementia globally, stemming from hormone imbalances. Researchers developed a quick one-pot, three-component reaction for high-yield molecule synthesis. These molecules effectively target cholinesterase enzymes, increasing acetylcholine levels, essential for memory and learning.

Notes:
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying launched the Pandemic Fund Project in New Delhi to strengthen animal health security in India. This $25 million initiative is funded by the G20 Pandemic Fund. The project aims to enhance the capacity of low- and middle-income countries to respond to animal health threats and pandemics through financial investments. The project focuses on preventing zoonotic diseases, as 5 of the 6 public health emergencies declared by WHO have animal origins. It aims to minimize socio-economic impacts, as seen with past outbreaks like SARS and Avian flu.

Notes:
Assam’s Bibhab Kumar Talukdar received the prestigious Harry Messel Award from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC). The award was presented on October 25 at the 5th IUCN SSC leaders’ meeting in Abu Dhabi, with over 300 conservation experts attending. He was recognized for his on-ground and leadership contributions to species conservation.
He joined IUCN SSC in 1991 and has chaired the Asian Rhino Specialist Group since 2008. Founder of Aaranyak, a key conservation organization in Northeast India, Talukdar has published over 70 scientific papers and led more than 60 projects over 25 years.

Notes:
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) recently warned about illegal payment gateways created with mule bank accounts by transnational cybercriminals for money laundering. I4C, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, handles cybercrime across India in a coordinated manner. Located in New Delhi, it enhances collaboration among Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and stakeholders. I4C serves as a central point against cybercrime, identifying research needs, developing technology and forensic tools with academia, and preventing cyber misuse by extremist groups. It also recommends cyber law updates and manages international cooperation for cybercrime-related treaties.