Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
The International Buddhist Confederation and Nava Nalanda Mahavihara hosted a two-day conference in Nalanda, Bihar, on Guru Padmasambhava’s life and legacy. Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, lived in the 8th century in India and is a highly respected figure in Buddhism. He is recognized as a founding father of Tibetan Buddhism and arrived in Tibet in 749 A.D. He spread Buddha’s teachings across the Himalayan regions including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Tibet. A Tantrist and Yogācāra sect member, he taught at Nalanda and is associated with a blend of Yogic, Tantric practices, and cultural elements such as art, music, and folklore.

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:
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:
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:
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the AgriSURE Fund and Krishi Nivesh Portal in New Delhi. He conferred the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Excellence Awards to top-performing banks and states. The awards recognized and appreciated outstanding efforts in agricultural infrastructure. Ministers of State and representatives from various states and banks attended the event. The Ministry believed the award ceremony would inspire other banks to improve their performance. The AIF was launched in 2022 to develop post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.

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:
Zoologists in Assam have recently added a new spider species, Phrynarachne decipiens, to India’s list of arachnids. Commonly known as the bird dung or bird-dropping crab spider, it mimics bird excrement with its web. Previously found in Malaysia and Indonesia’s Java and Sumatra, it has now been recorded in Assam’s Sonapur and Chirang Reserve Forest. The spider is usually motionless on the upper side of broad leaves, blending in with its white, bird-dropping-like web. It features stout spermathecae, a reproductive organ in females, with nearly touching posterior heads. The genus Phrynarachne has 35 accepted species; three others were previously recorded and re-described from Assam.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, launched the ‘Brindavan Gram’ scheme to develop model villages focused on cow protection and rural development. One gram panchayat from each of the state’s 313 blocks will be selected and renamed ‘Brindavan Gram.’ Each chosen village will establish a gaushala (cow shed) to promote cow welfare and protection. The scheme aims to increase rural milk production, boosting farmers’ incomes. Roof-top solar policies will be implemented to promote clean energy in these villages. The Panchayat and Rural Development Department will oversee the scheme, with detailed guidelines to be issued soon. In a parallel initiative, ‘Gita Bhavan’ centers will be established in every urban area of Madhya Pradesh to spread spiritual knowledge, focusing on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and Lord Krishna, along with other spiritual texts.

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 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.