Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
International Whale Shark Day is celebrated annually on August 30. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a filter-feeding shark species. They are found in temperate and tropical oceans globally, except the Mediterranean Sea.
Whale sharks have a dark gray top with light spots and stripes, providing camouflage, and a mouth at the front of the head. They are filter feeders, processing over 6,000 liters of water per hour through their gills. Their diet includes plankton, small fish, and mollusks like sardines, anchovies, and squid. The IUCN classifies whale sharks as endangered.

Notes:
TV Somanathan has been appointed as the 33rd Cabinet Secretary of India. He succeeded Rajiv Gauba, the longest-serving Cabinet Secretary since August 2019. Rajiv Gauba, a 1982 batch IAS officer, got three one-year extensions until August 2024. The government amended retirement rules to extend Gauba’s term. Before Gauba, Pradeep Kumar Sinha held the longest term as Cabinet Secretary for over four years. Somanathan, a 1987 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, was previously Finance Secretary and Expenditure Secretary. He has a PhD in Economics, is a Chartered Accountant, and has held significant roles in Tamil Nadu and the World Bank.

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:
Wildlife researcher Chris Ketola shared a video of a tarantula infected by a zombie fungus called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. This fungus drains its host of nutrients and fills its body with spores for reproduction. The fungus takes control of the host’s mind and motor functions, then eats away at the body. Cordyceps fungi mainly infect invertebrates, especially insects like ants and spiders. Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders belonging to the Theraphosidae family. Over 900 species of tarantulas exist worldwide, except in Antarctica. Tarantulas are nocturnal predators with an average body length of 5 inches and a leg span of up to 11 inches.

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:
Ministry of Law and Justice launched the new Notary Portal in New Delhi, enhancing digital services in line with Digital India. The portal offers a paperless, faceless, and efficient system, benefiting both notaries and the public. It provides online services, including applications for appointment as notaries, issuance and renewal of Certificates of Practice, change of practice area, and submission of annual returns. Notaries can now submit applications online, monitor their progress, and download digitally signed Certificates of Practice via Digilocker, eliminating the need for physical submissions.

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 Uttar Pradesh government announced a Vedic-3D museum at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi. The museum will focus on Indian astrology, astronomy, and Vedic literature, showcasing the evolution of Vedic traditions like the 16 Sanskars, 64 arts, and 18 Vidya Sthans. It will display rare manuscripts preserved in Saraswati Bhawan, including “Raas Panchadhyayi,” Shrimad Bhagwat Gita, and Durgasaptashati, adorned with gold artistry. The museum aims to revive ‘Shastrartha’ (spiritual discourse) and deepen knowledge in Vedic literature.

Notes:
Harvinder Singh won a historic gold medal in men’s individual recurve archery at the Paris Paralympics 2024. This win marked India’s 22nd medal in the event. He defeated Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek in the final. His achievement adds to India’s successes in other Paralympic sports like shot put and club throw. This highlights India’s increasing presence and accomplishments in Paralympic sports.

Notes:
The Ministry of Labor and Employment has approved the Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS) for the Employees’ Pension Scheme. CPPS will create a national system allowing pensioners to receive their pensions from any bank branch across India. Currently, the pension system is decentralized, with each regional EPFO office working with only a few banks. CPPS will be launched as part of EPFO’s Centralized IT Enabled System (CITES 2.01) on January 1, 2025. In the future, CPPS will support a transition to an Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS).