Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Halmahera Sea in Indonesia, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The Halmahera Sea is located near Halmahera Island, part of the eastern entry route of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) passages. The ITF connects the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean through two entry passages: Western and Eastern.

Notes:
Urmila Chaudhary from Nepal won the Global Anti-Racism Championship Award 2024, presented by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. The award honors her work in advancing racial equity, justice, and human rights. Urmila was rescued from child servitude at age 17 and co-founded the Freed Kamlari Development Forum, empowering former bonded laborers. She fights for marginalized castes in Nepal and studies law to further her cause. The illegal Kamlari system, which sold girls into servitude, was abolished in 2013 after mass protests, but justice and rehabilitation efforts continue.

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:
Scurvy, once common in the 15th century, is resurfacing today. It’s caused by a severe lack of vitamin C, which humans must get from food as we can’t produce it. Key sources of vitamin C are fresh fruits, vegetables, and fortified foods; cooking can reduce vitamin C levels. Symptoms include anemia, fatigue, bleeding, limb pain, swelling, gum ulcers, and tooth loss. Untreated scurvy can be fatal, but it’s treatable with oral or intravenous vitamin C supplements.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved a Rs. 1,000 crore Venture Capital Fund for the space sector, managed by IN-SPACe Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center). IN-SPACe, launched in 2020, aims to enhance private sector involvement in space. The fund will help grow India’s space economy from $8.4 billion to a target of $44 billion by 2033. It addresses the challenge of limited funding for high-tech startups by supporting around 40 space startups. The fund will be deployed over five years, with Rs. 150-250 crore invested annually based on opportunities.

Notes:
The seventh Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), named ‘Abhay,’ was launched on October 25, 2024, at L&T, Kattupalli. A contract for eight ASW SWC ships was signed in April 2019 between the Ministry of Defence and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The Arnala class ships will replace the older Abhay class and are designed for anti-submarine operations and other maritime tasks. With more than 80% indigenous content, the launch supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat and boosts local defense production and employment.

Notes:
IndiaAI and Meta have launched the Center for Generative AI, Shrijan at IIT Jodhpur to foster AI innovation. Shrijan will support next-gen AI innovators using open-source AI, focusing on Large Language Models (LLMs). Research will be shared through All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and college networks, with hackathons to discover local use cases. Master workshops will introduce LLM basics to colleges and ITIs, encouraging youth engagement. The center aims to nurture 100,000 youth in AI skills within 3 years. Meta will fund up to INR 750 lakhs over three years, and IndiaAI will support researchers at Shrijan.

Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched two Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) ‘Adamya’ and ‘Akshar’ to enhance maritime security and surveillance capabilities. These vessels, built by Goa Shipyard Ltd. with over 60% indigenous content, are designed for monitoring, control, and surveillance. The ICG aims to achieve self-reliance in defense, exemplified by this launch utilizing advanced shipbuilding techniques and indigenous materials.

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.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath launched a scholarship scheme for all Sanskrit students in the state. Plans were announced to revive Gurukul-style Sanskrit schools across UP to preserve cultural heritage. The new scholarship program removes age restrictions and expands eligibility, benefiting 69,195 students with ₹586 lakh in scholarships. Students must open bank accounts for direct fund transfers.