Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

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:
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:
The third Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and Kenya was held in New Delhi. Discussions covered military cooperation, training, defence industries, and research and development. The Kenyan delegation met Indian defence industry representatives in Delhi and will visit Pune to explore their capabilities. India and Kenya share a longstanding, friendly relationship, strengthened by a 2016 MoU on Defence Cooperation. JDCC serves as a key platform to discuss and enhance defence ties. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, and the Kenyan side was led by Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter.

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.

Notes:
Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection caused by the Coccidioides fungus. It is found in the soil of the southwestern U.S., south-central Washington, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. People and animals can get infected by inhaling spores from dust or disturbed soil in these regions. Most people do not get sick, but some develop mild to severe symptoms. The disease rarely spreads from person to person or animals, except in rare cases like organ transplants or wound contact. Recently, California has seen a significant rise in Valley Fever cases, raising health concerns.

Notes:
International Literacy Day has been observed globally on September 8th since 1967. The day highlights the importance of literacy in building a just, peaceful, and sustainable society. It serves as a reminder to policymakers, practitioners, and the public about literacy’s role in personal and societal development. The observance emphasizes the global commitment to literacy as a fundamental human right.

Notes:
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the First India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The GCC is a political and economic alliance of six Arabian Peninsula countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Established in 1981, the GCC promotes economic, security, cultural, and social cooperation among its members. India shares a strong relationship with GCC countries, which are major trading and investment partners. Geostrategically, the Persian Gulf, near GCC nations, is vital for global trade, and both India and GCC aim for regional stability and security.

Notes:
Researchers recently found a Myristica swamp forest in Kumbral, Maharashtra, protected by the local community. Myristica swamps are freshwater habitats dominated by evergreen trees from the Myristicaceae family. These swamps are called living fossils due to their ancient origin of 140 million years. They have large roots protruding from waterlogged soil, which stays flooded all year. Found mainly in the Western Ghats, they also exist in the Andaman, Nicobar Islands, and Meghalaya. These swamps depend on valley shape, heavy rainfall (3000 mm), and water availability. They retain water like a sponge and store more carbon than regular forests. They support diverse species, such as the Myristica Swamp Treefrog in Kerala sanctuaries.

Notes:
Indian Railways introduced a helmet camera system in North Bengal to improve safety and prevent train accidents. This live monitoring system allowed railway workers to detect mechanical issues in real-time, ensuring safer operations. Initially launched in the Maldah Division, the system aimed to expand to other regions. The helmet cameras captured detailed images and videos, enabling quick responses to potential hazards. This initiative demonstrated Indian Railways’ dedication to enhancing passenger safety through advanced technology.

Notes:
54 settlements of the Pahadi Korwa community in north Chhattisgarh will be connected by roads under the Prime Minister JANMAN scheme. The Pahadi Korwa tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of Chhattisgarh. They are from the Chhota Nagpur region and primarily found in Korba and Jashpur districts of Chhattisgarh, with smaller populations in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Their mother tongue is the Korwa language, part of the Munda branch of the Austroasiatic language family. They rely on small-scale farming, fishing, hunting, and jhoonga kheti, a subsistence farming method.