Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Army launched Project NAMAN to support Defence Pensioners, Veterans, and their families. The project is based on the SPARSH digital pension system, simplifying pension processes for Defence personnel. Reception and facilitation centers were set up through an MoU between the Indian Army, CSC e-Governance India Limited, and HDFC Bank. These centers offer SPARSH-enabled pension services and other citizen services at one location. In the first phase, 14 centers were established in key cities like New Delhi, Jalandhar, and Bangalore. Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), often veterans, manage these centers with HDFC Bank’s financial support.

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India organized a two-day National Conference of the District Judiciary on August 31 and September 1, 2024 in New Delhi. The conference was inaugurated at Bharat Mandapam, where a coin and postage stamp were released to commemorate 75 years of the Apex Court. The event featured six sessions attended by over 800 participants from the district judiciary across all States and Union Territories. Sessions focused on improving infrastructure, accessibility, and inclusivity in the judiciary, addressing judicial security, case management strategies, and enhancing judicial training programs. The conference also discussed how higher courts can better support district judiciary needs.

Notes:
India should be given a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for its rightful place, according to former Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani. The UNSC is one of the five main organizations of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining global peace and security. All UN member states must follow UNSC decisions. The UNSC identifies threats to peace, urges peaceful dispute resolution, and may impose sanctions or authorize military action. It has 15 members: five permanent (P5) with veto power (UK, China, France, Russia, USA) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. UNSC headquarters is in New York City.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd to set up a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat, under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). This is the fifth semiconductor unit approved under ISM. ISM is a specialized division within the Digital India Corporation. It aims to make India a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design by building a strong semiconductor and display ecosystem. ISM has full administrative and financial powers and an advisory board of global semiconductor experts. Launched in 2021, ISM operates under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) with a budget of ₹76,000 crores. ISM supports semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and design initiatives.

Notes:
The Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) in Gandhinagar published the first fully mapped genome of the Chandipura Vesiculovirus (CHPV). CHPV causes encephalitis, leading to brain swelling, and was responsible for several cases during the July-August outbreak in Gujarat. Genome mapping identifies the locations of genes and key sequences on a genome. It helps understand a virus’s origin, mutations, and potential changes in transmissibility or severity. There are two types of genome maps: genetic maps, showing relative gene positions, and physical maps, showing absolute positions based on DNA base pairs.

Notes:
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Sootea Police Station in Biswanath District. He paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1942 Quit India Movement. He announced that August 20 will be celebrated as Sootea Day. Sarma revealed plans to build a heritage monument at the site. Rs 5 crores have been allocated for this project.

Notes:
The Agni-4 missile, developed by DRDO, was successfully tested on 6 September 2024 from Odisha’s Integrated Test Range. This was the ninth test of the nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). The test was conducted by India’s Strategic Forces Command, which oversees all nuclear weapons. Agni-4 can carry nuclear weapons and will be controlled by the Strategic Forces Command. Development of Agni-4 began in 2007 to strengthen India’s nuclear deterrence against China and Pakistan. The first test in 2010 failed, but the first successful user trial occurred in 2014.

Notes:
India’s first conservation and breeding centre for the Asian King Vultures was inaugurated in Gorakhpur’s Campierganj Range by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre aims to boost the population of this critically endangered species, listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list since 2007. The ₹2.80 crore facility includes various aviaries, a veterinary section, and administrative buildings. Six vultures have been introduced to the centre, with a plan to release 40 pairs over the next 8 to 10 years.

Notes:
A 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Malvan, built less than a year ago, recently collapsed. In contrast, the Sindhudurg Fort, built by Shivaji Maharaj 357 years ago, remains intact. Sindhudurg Fort is located on Kurte Island in the Arabian Sea, near Malvan, Maharashtra. The fort, completed in 1667, was designed to protect against foreign colonizers and the Siddis of Janjira. It symbolizes the strength of the Maratha Navy and the advanced construction techniques of its time.

Notes:
India’s first study on “teal carbon” was conducted at Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, highlighting the importance of wetland conservation for climate adaptation and resilience. Teal carbon refers to carbon stored in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, including vegetation, microbial biomass, and organic matter. These wetlands are more effective at capturing and storing carbon than forests, sequestering more carbon than any terrestrial ecosystem. The term “teal carbon” reflects organic carbon’s functions and location rather than physical properties. Globally, wetlands store an estimated 21 petagrams of teal carbon, making them crucial for carbon management.