Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

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:
The WHO’s “South-East Asia Regional Status Report on Road Safety” was released at the 15th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion. The South-East Asia Region accounts for 28% of global road traffic deaths, with an estimated 330,222 fatalities. In India, there were about 216,618 estimated road traffic deaths in 2021, with reported deaths at 153,972. Two- and three-wheeler drivers/riders make up 45.1% of these deaths. India’s road traffic death rate is 15.4 per 100,000 people, higher than the global rate of 15.

Notes:
The world’s first fast-charging e-bus is named ‘Veera Mahasamrat.’ It was launched in Bengaluru by Veera Vahana and Exponent Energy. The bus aims to improve travel by eliminating range anxiety with its fast charging. It will first operate on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad route. Four charging stations will be set up along this route to support the e-bus. The launch of ‘Veera Mahasamrat’ is a major step in promoting sustainable transportation in the region.

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.

Notes:
The Rajasthan government approved 33% reservation for women in the police force. A 5% additional allowance was approved for pensioners aged 70 to 75. Amendments were made to the Rajasthan Police Subordinate Services Rules, 1989. Rules 67 and 87 of the Rajasthan Civil Services Pension Rules, 1996, were amended under central pension rules. Specially-abled children, dependent parents, and siblings can now be permanently added to the Pension Payment Order (PPO). Gratuity and death gratuity for state employees were increased from ₹20 lakh to ₹25 lakh.

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:
Sea turtles in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), are showing improvement in health after years of suffering from fibropapillomatosis. Fibropapillomatosis is a serious infectious disease affecting sea turtles globally, causing benign tumors on their bodies. These tumors hinder the turtles’ movement, vision, and feeding, often leading to death. The disease is caused by a herpes virus and is linked to polluted coastal areas, high human density, agricultural runoff, and harmful algae.

Notes:
The government is set to launch the ‘INDIAsize’ initiative to establish standardized body measurements suited for Indian body types. Currently, international and domestic brands in India use US and UK size charts, which differ from Indian body structures, causing fitting issues. INDIAsize, led by the Ministry of Textiles, aims to resolve these disparities by creating standard sizes for Indian consumers. The project will collect data from 25,000 Indians aged 15 to 65 using 3D body scanning technology. This size chart will help brands produce better-fitting garments, balancing demand and supply for well-fitted clothes in India.

Notes:
Residents near the Madeira River in the Amazon face severe challenges due to historically low water levels amid a severe drought. The Madeira River is a major tributary of the Amazon River, formed by the Mamoré and Beni rivers in Bolivia, flowing northward. It forms a 100 km border between Bolivia and Brazil and is part of the 1.3 million square kilometer Madeira Basin. The basin spans Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru, with 50% in Bolivia, 40% in Brazil, and 10% in Peru. The river plays a vital role in the Amazon Basin’s hydrology, supporting diverse ecosystems.

Notes:
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently led the groundbreaking for India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing facility. Developed by RIR Power Electronics Limited, the facility is being set up at EMC Park in Bhubaneswar with an investment of Rs 620 crore. This facility represents a significant advancement for India and Odisha in the global power electronics market. It aims to position Odisha as a key hub for semiconductor production, fostering innovation and boosting the state’s economy.