Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved the resumption of the big cat relocation project in Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Odisha, after a four-and-a-half-year suspension. Satkosia Tiger Reserve is located in Odisha, spanning four districts: Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, and Nayagarh. It covers 1,136.70 sq. km., with a core area of 523.61 sq. km., and is part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve. The reserve is a meeting point of the Deccan Peninsula and Eastern Ghats regions. The terrain is hilly with slopes and valleys; the Mahanadi River flows through it.

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:
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) launched the Dispute Resolution Scheme (e-DRS), 2022 to simplify and speed up resolving income tax disputes. This scheme aims to cut down on litigation and offer a quicker, more affordable solution for taxpayers. Under section 245MA of the Income-tax Act, 1961, taxpayers can resolve disputes electronically via Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs). DRCs, present in all 18 regions, can amend orders, reduce penalties, or drop prosecutions, and must make decisions within six months of the application.

Notes:
Nishad Kumar won a silver medal in the men’s T47 high jump at the Paris Paralympics on September 2. He achieved a season-best jump of 2.04 meters to secure second place. This was his second silver medal, having previously won silver at the Tokyo Paralympics. Townsend-Roberts from the United States won the gold medal with a jump of 2.08 meters. Georgii Margiev from Russia secured the bronze medal.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry recommended an anti-dumping duty on aluminium foil imported from China. Anti-dumping duty is a tariff imposed on foreign imports priced below fair market value. Dumping occurs when a product is exported at a price lower than in its domestic market. The duty matches the price difference between the import price and market value in the exporting or other similar markets. It aims to protect local businesses from unfair competition by foreign imports. The World Trade Organization (WTO) allows anti-dumping measures to ensure fair competition. Legal action requires evidence of genuine harm to domestic industries.

Notes:
World Coconut Day is observed every year on September 2nd to highlight the importance of coconuts. It aims to raise awareness about various uses of coconuts and promote sustainable farming practices. The theme for World Coconut Day 2024 is “Coconut for a Circular Economy: Building Partnership for Maximum Value.” The day was first celebrated in 2009, initiated by the International Coconut Community (ICC), a UNESCAP intergovernmental body. The ICC includes 21 coconut-producing countries, with India as a founding member. The ICC’s headquarters is located in Jakarta, Indonesia, and it was known as the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community until 2018.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the Digital Agriculture Mission with a budget of Rs. 2817 Crore. The central share for this mission is Rs. 1940 Crore. The mission supports digital agriculture initiatives through Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and other IT projects. Three main components under DPI are AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System (DSS), and Soil Profile Maps. These components aim to provide solutions for farmers to access various services. AgriStack will include a Farmers’ Registry, Geo-referenced Village Maps, and a Crop Sown Registry managed by state governments

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.

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:
Kapil Parmar won a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024 in the Para Judo Men’s J1-660 Kilogrammes event. He defeated Elielton de Oliveira from Brazil 10-0 via an Ippon, marking India’s first Paralympic medal in Judo. Parmar had previously won a silver medal in the 2022 Asian Games. He also won against Venezuela’s Marco Dennis Blanco 10-0 in the quarterfinals. Despite receiving yellow cards for minor infractions, Parmar excelled in the event. Parmar, from Shivor village in Madhya Pradesh, survived a severe childhood accident involving an electric shock and spent six months in a coma.