Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
The Union government has decided to establish foot-and-mouth disease-free zones in eight states: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral illness affecting livestock such as cattle, swine, sheep, and goats, but not horses, dogs, or cats. It impacts livestock production and disrupts trade but poses no human health or food safety risk. FMD is caused by an aphthovirus and has seven strains. Immunity to one strain does not protect against others. The disease spreads through excretions and secretions, with high transmission rates in young animals but low fatality in adults.

Notes:
A recent man-eating wolf attack in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, has put about 35 villages on high alert. Forest officials have launched ‘Project Bhediya’ to capture the wolves involved. India has two wolf species: the Indian Wolf in peninsular regions and the Himalayan Wolf in the upper trans-Himalayan ranges. Wolves are highly social, living in packs of 6-8, running at high speeds, and maintaining a male dominance hierarchy. They communicate through vocalizations and scent-marking. Grey Wolf is listed as Least Concern by IUCN, while the Himalayan Wolf is Vulnerable; both are protected under Schedule I of WPA, 1974.

Notes:
World Coconut Day is observed every year on September 2nd to highlight the importance of coconuts. It aims to raise awareness about various uses of coconuts and promote sustainable farming practices. The theme for World Coconut Day 2024 is “Coconut for a Circular Economy: Building Partnership for Maximum Value.” The day was first celebrated in 2009, initiated by the International Coconut Community (ICC), a UNESCAP intergovernmental body. The ICC includes 21 coconut-producing countries, with India as a founding member. The ICC’s headquarters is located in Jakarta, Indonesia, and it was known as the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community until 2018.

Notes:
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh became the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force in New Delhi. After taking his new position, he paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial. Tejinder Singh is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and joined the IAF fighter stream on June 13, 1987. He is a Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor with over 4,500 flying hours. He studied at the Defence Service Staff College and National Defence College. He has commanded a Fighter Squadron, a Radar Station, a Fighter Base, and was Air Officer Commanding in Jammu and Kashmir. He received the Vayu Sena Medal in 2007 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.

Notes:
WWF-India launched the “Vulture Count 2024” project from September 7 to October 6, 2024. This initiative aligns with International Vulture Awareness Day. The project aims to count and assess the vulture population in India. It focuses particularly on critically endangered vulture species. The project also seeks to raise public awareness about the importance of vultures in ecosystems.

Notes:
Indian shooter Dhanush Srikanth won three gold medals at the 2024 World Deaf Shooting Championship. World Deaf Shooting Championship 2024 being held at Hanover in Germany. The championship, organized by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, is being held from August 29 to September 8, 2024.

Notes:
India’s Deepthi Jeevanji won a bronze medal in the women’s 400m T20 race at the Paris Paralympics 2024. She completed the race in 55.82 seconds. Jeevanji secured third place, finishing behind Yuliia Shuliar from Ukraine, who clocked 55.16 seconds. The second-place finisher was Aysel Onder from Turkey, who holds the world record and finished in 55.23 seconds. This achievement highlights Jeevanji’s significant performance on an international stage.

Notes:
The second phase of ‘Exercise Tarang Shakti 24’ was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur. It involved international participation, including Australia, which contributed three EA-18G Growler aircraft and 120 personnel. The exercise took place from August 30 to September 13 and aimed to strengthen regional security cooperation. Other participating nations included Greece, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Japan, Singapore, and the US. The event highlighted the strategic importance of Jodhpur as a key location for military collaborations.

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.

Notes:
India’s solar energy capacity has increased 32 times in the last decade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted this during the first International Solar Festival in New Delhi, held via video conferencing. India is on track to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030 and is the first G20 nation to meet Paris Agreement goals on renewable energy. The International Solar Alliance (ISA), established in 2015, now has 100 member countries. The festival celebrates solar energy’s global impact, with technical sessions, exhibitions, and cultural performances enhancing the event.