Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
The Isai Kudil scheme was launched in Puducherry to boost music and dance education in government schools. Bharathiar University supports this initiative. A musical hut is being set up at Chinnatha Government Girls Higher Secondary School.
Music classes will be held twice a week for two hours. The scheme offers tailored syllabi for different class levels. This effort shows Puducherry’s commitment to enhancing students’ education through arts and culture.

Notes:
Poba Reserve Forest in Assam’s Dhemaji district will soon become a wildlife sanctuary. It is a rainforest in northeastern Assam, created in 1924, covering 10,221 hectares. It is located near the Himalayan foothills. The forest is bordered by the Siang, Dibang, and Lohit rivers, Brahmaputra, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, and Jonai villages. Ethnic groups like Mising, Bodo, Sonowal Kachari, and Hajong inhabit the area. Rich in flora and fauna, including slow loris, capped langur, and wild boar. Home to 45 species of birds and reptiles, and diverse fish species. Important migratory route for elephants, connecting other wildlife areas.

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:
The 2024 edition of Indo-French bilateral naval ‘Exercise Varuna’ held in the Mediterranean Sea from September 2-4, 2024, involving advanced tactical exercises. The Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft landed at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube in France for its first-ever European deployment. This was for the 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna with the French Navy. The last time an Indian Navy aircraft flew in France was 63 years ago when the Alize aircraft from INS Vikrant operated at Hyeres Airbase. The India-France naval exercise began in 1993, was named ‘Varuna’ in 2001, and reflects a strong strategic partnership between the two countries.

Notes:
Russian troops recently used a Grom-E1 hybrid missile to hit Kharkiv, Ukraine. The Grom-E1 is a modernized weapon based on the Soviet-era Kh-38 missile. It was developed by Russia and first introduced in 2018. The Grom-E1 combines features of both a missile and an aerial bomb. It has a maximum range of 120 km, with a high-explosive warhead and a contact detonator. A variant with a thermobaric design can detonate at high altitudes. The effectiveness depends on the altitude and speed of the launching aircraft. It can be launched from Russian aircraft like the MiG-35, Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57.

Notes:
IIT Delhi’s first international campus was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. This new campus aims to enhance the UAE’s status as a global education and innovation hub. It is the second international IIT campus, following IIT Madras’s in Zanzibar. The inaugural cohort includes 52 students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Energy Engineering. Students were admitted through JEE Advanced and CAET exams and come from various backgrounds, including Indian, Emirati, and international students. IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi also launched an MTech program in Energy Transition and Sustainability earlier this year.

Notes:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announced that 90% of the Smart Cities Mission projects are completed. The remaining 10% are delayed due to legal issues, department clearances, land acquisition, construction in hilly areas, and resource availability in smaller cities. Out of 100 smart cities, 17 cities have finished all their projects, and 34 cities have completed over 90%. The Smart Cities Mission, launched in 2015, aims to develop cities with good infrastructure, a sustainable environment, and better quality of life. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, selecting 100 cities through a two-stage competition.

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:
The Indian Navy and South African Navy signed an agreement to enhance naval cooperation, ensuring the safety of the South African Navy’s submarine crew during emergencies. Under this agreement, the Indian Navy will assist by deploying its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) when needed. This strengthens the maritime relationship between India and South Africa. The agreement follows a 2023 incident where three South African Navy personnel died off Cape Town’s coast. South Africa, with a few submarines, will benefit from India’s DSRV, which is used for submarine rescues and covert operations.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Textiles announced that annual exports of technical textiles are expected to exceed $10 billion by 2030. Technical textiles are materials designed for their functional properties rather than aesthetics. They include industrial, functional, performance, and hi-tech textiles. These textiles offer high physical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties for various industrial uses. They are used in sectors like construction, transport, defense, medical, and more, either on their own or as parts of other products. They are made from both natural and synthetic fibers and are categorized into 12 groups based on their applications.