Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
Dhulikhel, Nepal, is the first city in the country to be recognized as a “healthy city” by the World Health Organization (WHO). Dhulikhel is located in the Kavrepalanchok district, about 18 miles from Kathmandu. The WHO monitored Dhulikhel for two years before making the announcement in August 2024. The WHO’s decision was based on factors like environmental improvements, progress in primary health care, and access to health for poor citizens. Dhulikhel was also named the second healthiest city in Asia.

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:
Odisha granted habitat rights to Saora tribals in Gajapati district, making it the state with the most habitat rights for particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs). The Saora tribe is one of Odisha’s ancient tribes, mentioned in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. They are also known as Savaras, Sabaras, Saura, and Sora. Besides Odisha, Saoras live in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam. They speak the Sora language, a Munda language, and use the Sorang Sompeng script. Saoras have Proto Australoid features, a complex religion with many gods, and unique art and tattoo traditions.
Economically, they are divided into plains Saoras (agriculture and wage work) and hill Saoras (shifting and terraced cultivation).

Notes:
Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the India Bio-Energy & Tech Expo 2024 in New Delhi on 2 September 2024. The Expo is held from 2 to 4 September 2024. Awards were given to companies for their contributions to the bioenergy industry and enhancing bioenergy production and supply in India. The Indian Federation of Green Energy, in partnership with MMACTIV Sci-Tech Communications Ltd, organized the Expo. The Expo provides a platform for discussions on the future of bioenergy technologies. It aims to support India’s green energy initiatives by involving government, industry leaders, and experts.

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 Union Ministry of Textiles launched the VisioNxt web portal to make India a global fashion leader. The portal provides real-time, India-specific fashion trend insights, reducing reliance on foreign forecasting agencies. It was launched by Union Minister Giriraj Singh on 5 September 2024 in New Delhi. The India-specific Fashion Trend Book ‘Paridhi 24×25’ was also unveiled at the event. The VisioNxt portal was developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Located at NIFT Chennai, VisioNxt uses AI and emotional intelligence, with a prediction model called “DeepVision” to interpret Indian fashion trends.

Notes:
Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $51 billion to African countries at the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing. China will support 30 infrastructure projects, offering 360 billion yuan in financial assistance. This year’s theme is “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.” FOCAC was established in 2000 to strengthen China-Africa relations. The forum is held every three years, alternating between China and an African nation. FOCAC includes 53 African countries, except Eswatini, which maintains ties with Taiwan, opposing China’s “One China” policy.

Notes:
Arun Goel, a retired IAS officer and former Election Commissioner of India, has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to Croatia by the Ministry of External Affairs. Following his retirement in March 2024, this new role highlights his continued contribution to public service. His extensive experience in governance and administration will help strengthen diplomatic relations between India and Croatia, marking an important step in his distinguished career.

Notes:
Uttarakhand Chief Minister recently inaugurated the Maa Nanda-Sunanda Mahotsav, 2024, in Nainital through a virtual event, emphasizing the festival’s role in connecting people with their cultural roots. The Maa Nanda-Sunanda Mahotsav honors the goddesses Nanda and Sunanda during the Nandashtami festival in the Kumaon region, celebrated every September in places like Almora, Nainital, Kot Along, Bhowali, and Johar. Additionally, the CM declared September 2nd as Bugyal Conservation Day to protect alpine meadows, calling them the Himalayas’ ‘precious heritage.’

Notes:
The SBI Foundation launched the third edition of its Asha Scholarship Program. It aimed to provide financial support to 10,000 talented students from underprivileged backgrounds. The scholarship offered amounts between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20 lakh. It helped students from Class 6 to postgraduate levels pursue their educational goals. This initiative showed SBI’s commitment to supporting educational opportunities for disadvantaged students across India.