Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
Ukraine successfully tested its first ballistic missile, named Hrim-2, developed by its defense industry. Hrim-2, also known as Grim, Grom, or OTRK Sapsan, is a Ukrainian short-range ballistic missile system. It combines the features of a tactical missile system and a multiple rocket launcher. The export version of Hrim-2 has a range limited to 280 km to comply with international regulations. For Ukraine’s military, the missile’s range is extended to 700 km. The Sapsan system features a 10-wheeled launcher that carries two missiles and can evade modern air defenses, similar to Russia’s Iskander missile.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a new social media policy to regulate content on platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Social media influencers can earn up to ₹8 lakh per month by promoting government schemes. The policy aims to create job opportunities for residents within the state and those living elsewhere. Platforms are divided into four categories based on followers for payouts. Maximum monthly payouts range from ₹2 lakh to ₹8 lakh depending on the platform and content type. A digital agency named ‘V-Form’ will manage government advertisements. The policy includes guidelines for handling objectionable content, targeting anti-national, anti-social, fake news, or inflammatory posts.

Notes:
India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) recently celebrated its 7th Foundation Day. IPPB was established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication, with 100% ownership by the Government of India. It aims to provide efficient banking services to every household in India, enhancing financial security and empowerment. IPPB leverages a vast postal network of over 1,61,000 post offices across the country. Services offered include savings and current accounts, Direct Benefit Transfers, bill and utility payments, and access to third-party products like loans and insurance.

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:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated a ₹1,347 crore water supply project to provide drinking water from the Sone River to Aurangabad, Dehri, and Sasaram. The project is expected to be completed in two years. Alongside, he launched several other projects, including a state industrial training institute and technology labs. He also allocated funds to various self-help groups. These initiatives reflect the state’s focus on improving infrastructure and public services.

Notes:
Two new ginger species, Globba tyrnaensis and Globba janakiae, were discovered in Meghalaya’s Double Decker Living Root Bridge area. These plants, called “dancing girls” for their flower movement, belong to the Globba genus of ornamental plants in the ginger family. Globba tyrnaensis was found in Tyrna village at 731 meters elevation and also near Thangkharang Park. It has orange flowers, large anthers, and produces bulbils for propagation. Globba janakiae, with fewer than 10 individuals, has unique heart-shaped labellum and is critically endangered. It honors botanist EK Janaki Ammal.

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The government is set to launch the ‘INDIAsize’ initiative to establish standardized body measurements suited for Indian body types. Currently, international and domestic brands in India use US and UK size charts, which differ from Indian body structures, causing fitting issues. INDIAsize, led by the Ministry of Textiles, aims to resolve these disparities by creating standard sizes for Indian consumers. The project will collect data from 25,000 Indians aged 15 to 65 using 3D body scanning technology. This size chart will help brands produce better-fitting garments, balancing demand and supply for well-fitted clothes in India.

Notes:
Since its launch in 2021, over 1,400 accessibility complaints have been lodged through the Sugamya Bharat mobile app, with 75% resolved. The app is an initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). It helps people with disabilities and the elderly report accessibility issues in public infrastructure, transportation, and buildings. Complaints are filed using geotagged photos, sent to relevant authorities. The app will soon be upgraded with AI features, including a chatbot and multilingual interface. Partnerships with Mission Accessibility and I-STEM support the app’s development.

Notes:
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the First India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The GCC is a political and economic alliance of six Arabian Peninsula countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Established in 1981, the GCC promotes economic, security, cultural, and social cooperation among its members. India shares a strong relationship with GCC countries, which are major trading and investment partners. Geostrategically, the Persian Gulf, near GCC nations, is vital for global trade, and both India and GCC aim for regional stability and security.

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The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY) has completed five successful years. It was launched on September 12, 2019. It provides social security to land-holding small and marginal farmers across India. The scheme is a voluntary old-age pension program offering Rs. 3,000 per month to eligible farmers after they turn sixty. Farmers contribute monthly to the pension fund, with the central government matching their contributions.