Current Affairs Quiz - September, 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:
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:
Poachers killed two chitals in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) and stole a rifle from a forest guard. It is located in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Bahraich districts. It lies near the India-Nepal border, in the foothills of the Himalayas and the Terai plains. The Gomti River originates from Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, with other rivers like Sharda also flowing through it. The reserve has a North Indian moist deciduous type of vegetation. It experiences a hot and dry climate with dry teak forests. Chitals, common in Indian forests, inhabit subtropical grasslands and forests across South Asia.

Notes:
Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki recently won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, known as Asia’s Nobel Prize. This award is Asia’s top honor, recognizing transformative leadership and spirit. Winners receive a certificate and a medallion with Ramon Magsaysay’s profile. From 1958 to 2008, the award was given in six categories: Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism and Creative Arts, Peace and International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership. The award ceremony is held annually on August 31 in Manila, Philippines, marking the birth anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay, after whom the award is named.

Notes:
Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Vishnu Dev Sahay announced that on September 2, during the Tija-Pora festival, he will release the 7th installment of the Mahtari Vandan Scheme. The scheme will provide Rs. 1,000 each to 7 million eligible women. Eligibility includes Chhattisgarh residents aged 21+ as of January 1, 2024, including married, widowed, divorced, or abandoned women, excluding income taxpayers and government employees. Tija-Pora celebrates the role of bulls and buffaloes in farming, marking the end of the agricultural season. The Government of Chhattisgarh introduced the Mahtari Vandana Yojana to provide financial aid to women in need. The scheme was initiated by the Prime Minister of India. It aims to support women in Chhattisgarh by offering financial benefits to those who qualify.

Notes:
Researchers explored mitochondrial dynamics to treat Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by brain cell death. Environmental toxins and toxic proteins, like those in Manganese-induced Parkinsonism, cause mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction. The study found that inhibiting Dynamin-related protein (Drp1) activity could restore mitochondrial function, offering a potential treatment. Drp1 is a protein that aids in mitochondrial division for better mobility and quality control. However, excessive Drp1 activity leads to too much division, resulting in fragmented and impaired mitochondria.

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:
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:
“Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas” is a mock drill conducted under the National One Health Mission (NOHM) to prepare for pandemic situations. NOHM focuses on the “One Health” approach, integrating disease control across human health, animal husbandry, and wildlife sectors. The exercise aimed to assess the readiness and response of the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT). A simulated scenario of a zoonotic disease outbreak was created to mimic a real-world situation. The drill involved multiple national and state agencies, including ICMR, AIIMS Jodhpur BSL-3 Lab, and state administrations.

Notes:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated a ₹1,347 crore water supply project to provide drinking water from the Sone River to Aurangabad, Dehri, and Sasaram. The project is expected to be completed in two years. Alongside, he launched several other projects, including a state industrial training institute and technology labs. He also allocated funds to various self-help groups. These initiatives reflect the state’s focus on improving infrastructure and public services.