Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024
1. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Odisha
[C] Gujarat
[D] Rajasthan
[B] Odisha
[C] Gujarat
[D] Rajasthan
Correct Answer: A [Uttar Pradesh]
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.
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.
2. Grom-E1 missile, recently seen in the news, is developed by which country?
[A] China
[B] France
[C] Russia
[D] Japan
[B] France
[C] Russia
[D] Japan
Correct Answer: C [Russia]
Notes:
Russian troops recently used a Grom-E1 hybrid missile to hit Kharkiv, Ukraine. The Grom-E1 is a modernized weapon based on the Soviet-era Kh-38 missile. It was developed by Russia and first introduced in 2018. The Grom-E1 combines features of both a missile and an aerial bomb. It has a maximum range of 120 km, with a high-explosive warhead and a contact detonator. A variant with a thermobaric design can detonate at high altitudes. The effectiveness depends on the altitude and speed of the launching aircraft. It can be launched from Russian aircraft like the MiG-35, Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57.
Russian troops recently used a Grom-E1 hybrid missile to hit Kharkiv, Ukraine. The Grom-E1 is a modernized weapon based on the Soviet-era Kh-38 missile. It was developed by Russia and first introduced in 2018. The Grom-E1 combines features of both a missile and an aerial bomb. It has a maximum range of 120 km, with a high-explosive warhead and a contact detonator. A variant with a thermobaric design can detonate at high altitudes. The effectiveness depends on the altitude and speed of the launching aircraft. It can be launched from Russian aircraft like the MiG-35, Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57.
3. Yogesh Kathuniya won which medal in the men’s discus throw event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics?
[A] Gold
[B] Silver
[C] Bronze
[D] None of the Above
[B] Silver
[C] Bronze
[D] None of the Above
Correct Answer: B [Silver]
Notes:
Yogesh Kathuniya won the silver medal in the men’s discus F56 final at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The event took place at Stade de France. Kathuniya, 27 years old, achieved his season-best throw of 42.22 meters. Brazil’s Claudiney Batista dos Santos won gold with a Paralympic Record of 46.86 meters. Greece’s Konstantinos Tzounis secured the bronze medal with a throw of 41.32 meters. Slovakia’s Dusan Laczko finished fourth with a throw of 41.20 meters. Serbia’s Nebojsa Duric qualified but did not participate in the final.
Yogesh Kathuniya won the silver medal in the men’s discus F56 final at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The event took place at Stade de France. Kathuniya, 27 years old, achieved his season-best throw of 42.22 meters. Brazil’s Claudiney Batista dos Santos won gold with a Paralympic Record of 46.86 meters. Greece’s Konstantinos Tzounis secured the bronze medal with a throw of 41.32 meters. Slovakia’s Dusan Laczko finished fourth with a throw of 41.20 meters. Serbia’s Nebojsa Duric qualified but did not participate in the final.
4. Bandipur Tiger Reserve, recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Bihar
[C] Karnataka
[D] Telangana
[B] Bihar
[C] Karnataka
[D] Telangana
Correct Answer: C [Karnataka]
Notes:
An elephant patrol team recently rescued a tusker stuck in a rail barricade in the Maddur range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Bandipur Tiger Reserve is located in Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts of Karnataka, at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
The reserve was once a hunting ground for the Mysore kingdom rulers. It was established as Venugopala Wildlife Park in 1931 by the Maharaja of Mysore and expanded as Bandipur Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1973. The reserve is bordered by the Kabini River to the north and the Moyar River to the south. Bandipur experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
An elephant patrol team recently rescued a tusker stuck in a rail barricade in the Maddur range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Bandipur Tiger Reserve is located in Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts of Karnataka, at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
The reserve was once a hunting ground for the Mysore kingdom rulers. It was established as Venugopala Wildlife Park in 1931 by the Maharaja of Mysore and expanded as Bandipur Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1973. The reserve is bordered by the Kabini River to the north and the Moyar River to the south. Bandipur experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
5. What is ‘Drug Repurposing’, recently mentioned in news?
[A] Modifying the chemical structure of drugs
[B] Using an existing drug for a new treatment or medical condition
[C] Increasing the dosage of drugs in treatment
[D] Combining different drugs for a new treatment
[B] Using an existing drug for a new treatment or medical condition
[C] Increasing the dosage of drugs in treatment
[D] Combining different drugs for a new treatment
Correct Answer: B [Using an existing drug for a new treatment or medical condition]
Notes:
Researchers have discovered that an antidepressant drug has potential for cancer management through drug repurposing. Drug repurposing involves using existing drugs for new treatments or conditions not originally intended. This process, also known as drug repositioning or reprofiling, identifies new uses for drugs initially developed for different medical conditions. It is often an unexpected discovery with the goal of finding compounds with established safety profiles that could be effective for other diseases. Pharmaceutical companies use drug repurposing to address rare diseases, cancer, infections, autoimmune diseases, and more. This approach can significantly reduce the time and cost compared to developing new drugs from scratch.
Researchers have discovered that an antidepressant drug has potential for cancer management through drug repurposing. Drug repurposing involves using existing drugs for new treatments or conditions not originally intended. This process, also known as drug repositioning or reprofiling, identifies new uses for drugs initially developed for different medical conditions. It is often an unexpected discovery with the goal of finding compounds with established safety profiles that could be effective for other diseases. Pharmaceutical companies use drug repurposing to address rare diseases, cancer, infections, autoimmune diseases, and more. This approach can significantly reduce the time and cost compared to developing new drugs from scratch.
6. Oceanic Nino Index (ONI), which was seen in the news, is primary indicator of which organization?
[A] United Nations Environment Programme
[B] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[C] World Meteorological Organization
[D] World Bank
[B] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[C] World Meteorological Organization
[D] World Bank
Correct Answer: B [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ]
Notes:
The impact of El Niño and La Niña on the Indian monsoon is under study. The Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) is crucial for understanding the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) dynamics. ONI is the primary indicator used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a U.S. agency, to monitor ENSO. ONI measures the rolling 3-month average temperature difference in the surface waters of the east-central tropical Pacific near the International Dateline. An ONI value of +0.5 or higher indicates El Niño, while -0.5 or lower indicates La Niña.
The impact of El Niño and La Niña on the Indian monsoon is under study. The Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) is crucial for understanding the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) dynamics. ONI is the primary indicator used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a U.S. agency, to monitor ENSO. ONI measures the rolling 3-month average temperature difference in the surface waters of the east-central tropical Pacific near the International Dateline. An ONI value of +0.5 or higher indicates El Niño, while -0.5 or lower indicates La Niña.
7. Recently, which ministry has launched the ‘Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack’?
[A] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
[B] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
[C] Ministry of Urban Development
[D] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
[C] Ministry of Urban Development
[D] Ministry of Defence
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]
Notes:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack to provide Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS). It is built on a distributed infrastructure, designed to support different permissioned blockchain applications. MeitY also introduced NBFLite, a lightweight blockchain platform, and Praamaanik, a solution for verifying mobile app origins. The National Blockchain Framework (NBF) aims to enhance digital trust and service delivery through research and application development. NBF offers secure, transparent services using smart contracts and an API gateway. The system is hosted in NIC data centers in Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Hyderabad.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack to provide Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS). It is built on a distributed infrastructure, designed to support different permissioned blockchain applications. MeitY also introduced NBFLite, a lightweight blockchain platform, and Praamaanik, a solution for verifying mobile app origins. The National Blockchain Framework (NBF) aims to enhance digital trust and service delivery through research and application development. NBF offers secure, transparent services using smart contracts and an API gateway. The system is hosted in NIC data centers in Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Hyderabad.
8. Recently, which country has announced a new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) to increase tourism from India and China?
[A] New Zealand
[B] Chile
[C] South Africa
[D] Japan
[B] Chile
[C] South Africa
[D] Japan
Correct Answer: C [South Africa]
Notes:
South Africa announced a new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS), focusing on India and China. The scheme will start in January next year and aims to reform the visa system. It is expected to boost tourism jobs and help South Africa become a preferred destination for tourists from two of the world’s largest economies. The TTOS will remove barriers to attracting more tourists. Currently, Indian tourists make up only 3.9% of South Africa’s international visitors.
South Africa announced a new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS), focusing on India and China. The scheme will start in January next year and aims to reform the visa system. It is expected to boost tourism jobs and help South Africa become a preferred destination for tourists from two of the world’s largest economies. The TTOS will remove barriers to attracting more tourists. Currently, Indian tourists make up only 3.9% of South Africa’s international visitors.
9. Recently, who became the oldest Indian to swim across the English Channel?
[A] Siddhartha Agarwal
[B] Vikrant Kashyap
[C] Anand Kumar
[D] Vikas Rao
[B] Vikrant Kashyap
[C] Anand Kumar
[D] Vikas Rao
Correct Answer: A [Siddhartha Agarwal]
Notes:
Siddhartha Agarwal, a 49-year-old swimmer from Bengaluru, became the oldest Indian to swim across the English Channel. He completed the 42-km swim between England and France on August 29 in 15 hours and six minutes. His journey began in 2018 when he crossed the Channel as part of an eight-member relay team. Srikaanth Viswanathan, also from Bengaluru, held the previous record at 46, becoming the oldest to swim the Channel solo.
Siddhartha Agarwal, a 49-year-old swimmer from Bengaluru, became the oldest Indian to swim across the English Channel. He completed the 42-km swim between England and France on August 29 in 15 hours and six minutes. His journey began in 2018 when he crossed the Channel as part of an eight-member relay team. Srikaanth Viswanathan, also from Bengaluru, held the previous record at 46, becoming the oldest to swim the Channel solo.
10. What is “Black Coat Syndrome”, recently mentioned in news?
[A] Anxiety and fear experienced by citizens when interacting with the judicial system
[B] The dress code for lawyers in courtrooms
[C] Quick resolution of cases
[D] None of the Above
[B] The dress code for lawyers in courtrooms
[C] Quick resolution of cases
[D] None of the Above
Correct Answer: A [Anxiety and fear experienced by citizens when interacting with the judicial system]
Notes:
President Droupadi Murmu celebrated the Supreme Court’s 75-year legacy at the National Conference of the District Judiciary. She unveiled the court’s new flag and insignia and praised its role as a guardian of justice in India.
President Murmu emphasized the court’s commitment to truth and justice, highlighting its motto from the Mahabharata: “Where there is Dharma, there is victory.” The term “Black Coat Syndrome” was discussed, referring to the anxiety people feel when dealing with the legal system, due to complex procedures, delays, and high costs, especially affecting marginalized communities seeking justice.
President Droupadi Murmu celebrated the Supreme Court’s 75-year legacy at the National Conference of the District Judiciary. She unveiled the court’s new flag and insignia and praised its role as a guardian of justice in India.
President Murmu emphasized the court’s commitment to truth and justice, highlighting its motto from the Mahabharata: “Where there is Dharma, there is victory.” The term “Black Coat Syndrome” was discussed, referring to the anxiety people feel when dealing with the legal system, due to complex procedures, delays, and high costs, especially affecting marginalized communities seeking justice.