Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The Quad countries—India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S.—conducted back-to-back naval exercises, focusing on anti-submarine warfare. ‘Exercise Malabar’ took place off the coast of Visakhapatnam from October 8 to 18, 2024. It was termed the most comprehensive edition yet, with complex operational scenarios. The earlier ‘Exercise Kakadu,’ hosted by Australia, involved nearly 3,000 personnel from 30 nations. Ships from 10 countries and aircraft from five nations participated, highlighting Australia’s commitment to regional maritime security. The Indian Navy contributed a P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the exercise.

Notes:
The Union Environment Ministry’s wildlife panel has delayed approval for the National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) four-lane project through Rajaji Tiger Reserve and Shivalik Elephant Reserve in Uttarakhand. This highway aims to connect Najibabad in Uttar Pradesh to Kotdwar in Uttarakhand. Rajaji National Park is a crucial habitat for tigers, leopards, and over 300 bird species. The reserve spans Haridwar, Dehradun, and Pauri Garhwal, covering 820 km in the Shivalik range. Named after freedom fighter Rajgopalachari, it has high species diversity due to its unique location. It is part of the Terai-Arc landscape.

Notes:
The “Griha Arogya: Healthcare at Your Doorstep” initiative aims to offer free health check-ups and treatments, especially targeting underprivileged communities. Launched by Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the program addresses the financial barriers that deter people from seeking essential health screenings. The initiative emphasizes the importance of early detection of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension to improve treatment outcomes and promote healthier lifestyles among citizens.

Notes:
The Sudasari Great Indian Bustard Breeding Centre in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, successfully bred a great Indian bustard using artificial insemination. This breeding center is part of the Bustard Recovery Program, initiated in 2016, aimed at captive breeding and reintroducing the GIB into the wild. The great Indian bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds and the state bird of Rajasthan, found mainly in arid grasslands. They are critically endangered, facing threats from hunting, agricultural intensification, and power lines. Indian initiatives include habitat improvement and conservation breeding programs to protect the species.

Notes:
ISRO is monitoring Cyclonic Storm ‘Dana’ approaching Odisha and West Bengal using EOS-06 and Insat-3DR satellites. EOS-06, also called Oceansat-3, is an Earth observation satellite launched on November 26, 2022. It was launched via ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C54). Part of the Oceansat series, EOS-06 aims to monitor the Earth’s oceans and coastal areas. Its main objective is to enhance services from Oceansat-1 and Oceansat-2 for oceanographic and atmospheric studies, including marine weather forecasting and coastal zone management.

Notes:
Severe cyclone ‘Dana’ hit India’s eastern coast, bringing heavy rains and winds of 100-120 km/h. It caused major damage to infrastructure and crops in Odisha and West Bengal. The name ‘Dana,’ meaning ‘generosity’ in Arabic, was suggested by Qatar. In Arabic culture, ‘Dana’ also refers to a valuable and perfectly sized pearl, symbolizing beauty.

Notes:
China’s stockpile of DF-26 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) has grown, with nearly 60 new launchers observed at a major production site. The DF-26 missile, or Dong Feng-26, is an advanced Chinese IRBM designed for both land and maritime strikes. It measures 14 meters in length, 1.4 meters in diameter, and weighs 20,000 kg at launch. Powered by two-stage solid propellant, it can hit targets up to 3,000-4,000 km away. The missile’s modular design allows it to carry two nuclear and multiple conventional warheads. Its anti-ship version, DF-26B, targets naval vessels, including aircraft carriers.

Notes:
Recent satellite images show a significant military buildup on Triton Island, part of the disputed Paracel Islands. Triton Island is a small, uninhabited landmass covering about 1.2 square kilometers in the South China Sea. It lies southwest within the Paracels archipelago, approximately 4,000 feet by 2,000 feet in size. The Paracel Islands are claimed by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, making the region politically sensitive. Despite being uninhabited, Triton Island holds strategic value due to its location near rich fishing areas and possible oil and gas reserves.

Notes:
Japan’s Mount Fuji recently experienced its latest snowless period in 130 years. It is also known as Fuji-san. It is Japan’s highest mountain at 3,776 meters. It is located near the Pacific coast in Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, about 100 km southwest of Tokyo-Yokohama. Unlike other tall mountains, it stands alone and is not part of a larger range. Mount Fuji is a dormant stratovolcano with its last eruption in 1707, yet still considered active. Its iconic shape comes from basaltic lava flows, with a smooth slope and a summit crater. Its volcanic activity is due to the Pacific Plate sinking under the Philippine Plate.

Notes:
The Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar, Swavlamban 2024, began in New Delhi, inaugurated by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi at Bharat Mandapam. This third edition’s theme is “Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation.” Open to the public on 28-29 Oct 2024, the exhibition displays advanced technologies and products from Indian defence startups and MSMEs. Events on 28 Oct included sessions on problem-solving with ADITI 2.0 under iDEX, connecting startups with venture capitalists. Participation from Armed Forces, CAPFs, academia, and the public aims to boost innovation in national security.