Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
Kerala Tourism won the PATA Gold Award 2024 for its ‘Holiday Heist’ online contest in the Digital Marketing Campaign category. The campaign, launched in July 2023, used a bidding game on the WhatsApp ChatBot ‘Maya’ to attract tourists. Over 80,000 bids were made by travellers across India to visit Kerala’s prime destinations at low prices. The campaign generated more than 45 million impressions and over 13 million video views. Some participants won tour packages worth ₹30,000 for just ₹5. Kerala Tourism received the award in Bangkok on August 28, 2024.

Notes:
Mona Agarwal became a well-known figure in para shooting, winning a Bronze medal in the R2 Women 10m Air Rifle SH1 event at the 2024 Paralympics. Born on November 8, 1987, in Sikar, Rajasthan, she faced early challenges, contracting polio at nine months, affecting her lower limbs. Despite this, she pursued her education, earning a degree in arts and pursuing a master’s in psychology via distance learning. At 23, Mona chose to live independently, excelling in HR and marketing roles. In 2016, she turned to para-athletics, winning gold in State debut throw events and earning medals in para powerlifting.

Notes:
The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in 2024 will be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from November 11-20. This event is a milestone for Bihar, as it will take place at the newly-developed Rajgir Hockey Stadium. Top Asian teams, including India, China, Japan, and Korea, will compete in the tournament. The event highlights Bihar’s commitment to promoting hockey and hosting international sports. The inauguration of the stadium and the support from local leaders showcase Bihar’s readiness for global events.

Notes:
The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah began from 1 September at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, focusing on nutrition awareness and well-being. Union Minister Annpurna Devi, Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, and other officials attended the event. The day started with a nationwide tree-planting drive called “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,” promoting nutrition and environmental sustainability. Union Minister Annpurna Devi outlined Poshan 2.0’s pillars: good governance, convergence, capacity building, and community participation. Nutri-baskets were distributed to mothers, and schemes like Vahli Dikri Yojna were highlighted. The campaign will focus on issues like anemia, growth monitoring, and complementary feeding, supporting the vision of a ‘Suposhit Bharat.’

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India organized a two-day National Conference of the District Judiciary on August 31 and September 1, 2024 in New Delhi. The conference was inaugurated at Bharat Mandapam, where a coin and postage stamp were released to commemorate 75 years of the Apex Court. The event featured six sessions attended by over 800 participants from the district judiciary across all States and Union Territories. Sessions focused on improving infrastructure, accessibility, and inclusivity in the judiciary, addressing judicial security, case management strategies, and enhancing judicial training programs. The conference also discussed how higher courts can better support district judiciary needs.

Notes:
The World Bank stated that India’s medium-term outlook remains positive despite challenging global conditions. India’s growth is expected to reach 7% in the financial year 2024-25 and stay strong in 2025-26 and 2026-27. The World Bank released a report ‘India Development Update: India’s Trade Opportunities in a Changing Global Context’ on 3 September 2024. With strong revenue growth and fiscal consolidation, the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to decrease from 83.9% in 2023-24 to 82% by 2026-27. The current account deficit is expected to remain around 1 to 1.6% of GDP until 2026-27. The World Bank emphasized the importance of trade for growth but noted that increased protectionism and barriers could limit trade opportunities.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly introduced Zero Hour for the first time in its proceedings. Zero Hour, an Indian parliamentary invention from the Sixties, is gradually being adopted by state assemblies. It is a convention, not a rule, and is not mentioned in the rules of Parliament or State Assemblies. Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, announced its introduction at the start of the monsoon session on 3 September 2024. Zero Hour begins at 12:30 PM, after the Question Hour, and lasts for 30 minutes. During Zero Hour, members can raise urgent matters of public importance, with each member getting about a minute to speak.

Notes:
An elephant patrol team recently rescued a tusker stuck in a rail barricade in the Maddur range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Bandipur Tiger Reserve is located in Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts of Karnataka, at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
The reserve was once a hunting ground for the Mysore kingdom rulers. It was established as Venugopala Wildlife Park in 1931 by the Maharaja of Mysore and expanded as Bandipur Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1973. The reserve is bordered by the Kabini River to the north and the Moyar River to the south. Bandipur experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.

Notes:
The government recently celebrated Uttarakhand’s rich folk culture at the Jagar Lok Sanskriti Utsav. A book titled Uttarakhand ka Lok Putra Pritam Bharatwan by Sachidanand Semwal was released, honoring Pritam Bharatwan as the brand ambassador of the state’s folk culture. Jagar Lok Sanskriti Utsav highlights Uttarakhand’s folk traditions. Jagar, a Hindu form of Shamanism practiced in Uttarakhand, involves rituals where gods and deities are awakened for favors or remedies. Pritam Bharatwan is recognized for promoting Uttarakhand’s traditional culture and folk arts.

Notes:
The first Joint Commanders’ Conference held in Lucknow with the theme ‘Sashakt and Surakshit Bharat: Transforming Armed Forces’. The focus is on preparing India’s military for the changing operational environment. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force are leading the event. General Chauhan reviewed the security situation and stressed the importance of jointness and future integration for modern warfare.