Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Haryana government has announced free dialysis services for chronic kidney patients in all government hospitals. This initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on patients, who usually spend ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per month on dialysis.
The Haryana government will cover these expenses, showing its commitment to supporting marginalized communities and enhancing healthcare.

Notes:
The first anniversary of Namo Bharat Trains was celebrated as Namo Bharat Diwas in New Delhi. Namo Bharat Trains are India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The first 17-kilometer section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 20 October 2023. Two more sections became operational, including Duhai to Modinagar North (March 2024) and Meerut South (August 2024). The current 42-kilometer corridor covers nine stations, soon expanding to 54 kilometers with new additions. RRTS offers high-speed, efficient suburban connectivity, promoting sustainable urban transport solutions.

Notes:
The International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar Island, is now India’s 13th major port. It is strategically located on the East-West international trade route, near key hubs like Singapore, Klang, and Colombo. The port is 40 nautical miles from the Malacca Strait, which handles 35% of global sea trade. ICTP aims to reduce India’s dependency on foreign ports, as 75% of India’s transshipped cargo is currently handled abroad. It holds great potential as a transshipment hub for cargo from India’s east coast, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

Notes:
Research shows that toxins called microcystin from cyanobacteria can make animals and people sick when exposed to Lake Erie’s infected water. Lake Erie is the fourth largest of the Great Lakes, forming a boundary between Canada and the U.S. Its main tributaries include the Detroit, Huron, and Raisin rivers, and it discharges through the Niagara River. Microcystin, produced by the cyanobacterium Microcystis, forms harmful blooms and releases toxins that impact freshwater ecosystems.

Notes:
International Snow Leopard Day was observed on October 23. The snow leopard, also known as the “Ghost of the Mountain,” has a beautiful, spotted coat that insulates it from the cold. They are found across 12 countries in Central Asia, including Russia, Mongolia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. Major threats include loss of prey, conflict with humans, and illegal trade of fur and bones. The snow leopard is classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN and is protected under India’s Wildlife Act, 1972.

Notes:
The Pong Dam, constructed on the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh, began in 1961 to support irrigation in Rajasthan. It displaced over 20,000 families, with 6,736 cases of rehabilitation still pending. The state government is actively working to expedite these cases, aiming to provide land to those affected. Its creation led to the artificial lake, Maharana Pratap Sagar, which was later declared a bird sanctuary in 1983. The lake became a Ramsar Wetland in 2002, hosting diverse birds like Bar-Headed Geese, northern lapwing, and Eurasian coot.

Notes:
India ranks 176th in the 2024 Global Nature Conservation Index with a score of 45.5, placing it among the five worst performers. The Nature Conservation Index (NCI), developed by Ben-Gurion University and BioDB.com, assesses land management, biodiversity threats, governance, and future conservation trends. India’s high pesticide use and soil pollution impact soil health, with a nitrogen sustainability index of 0.77. Marine conservation needs improvement, as only 0.2% of national waterways are protected, and no areas in India’s EEZ. Significant biodiversity risks include habitat loss, climate change, deforestation, and illegal wildlife trade. Strong political action and conservation laws are essential for sustainable development.

Notes:
India won one silver and two bronze medals at the Under-23 Wrestling World Championship 2024 in Tirana, Albania. Anjli secured a silver in the women’s 59 kg category, finishing second to Solimiia Vynnyk from Ukraine. Monika won a bronze in the women’s 68 kg category, defeating China’s Xinze Du 5-3. Vishvajit Ramchandra More clinched bronze in the men’s 55 kg Greco-Roman category, defeating Adam Ulbashev 14-10.

Notes:
The Thottiyar Hydroelectric scheme, inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, utilizes water from the Deviyar stream, which connects to the Periyar River. This project, with a capacity of 40 MW, is notable for its low water requirement for power generation. The scheme includes a check dam and a complex system of canals and penstock pipes, designed to optimize electricity production while ensuring water is released back into the Periyar River post-generation.

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.