Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
Kerala Tourism won the PATA Gold Award 2024 for its ‘Holiday Heist’ online contest in the Digital Marketing Campaign category. The campaign, launched in July 2023, used a bidding game on the WhatsApp ChatBot ‘Maya’ to attract tourists. Over 80,000 bids were made by travellers across India to visit Kerala’s prime destinations at low prices. The campaign generated more than 45 million impressions and over 13 million video views. Some participants won tour packages worth ₹30,000 for just ₹5. Kerala Tourism received the award in Bangkok on August 28, 2024.

Notes:
Poba Reserve Forest in Assam’s Dhemaji district will soon become a wildlife sanctuary. It is a rainforest in northeastern Assam, created in 1924, covering 10,221 hectares. It is located near the Himalayan foothills. The forest is bordered by the Siang, Dibang, and Lohit rivers, Brahmaputra, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, and Jonai villages. Ethnic groups like Mising, Bodo, Sonowal Kachari, and Hajong inhabit the area. Rich in flora and fauna, including slow loris, capped langur, and wild boar. Home to 45 species of birds and reptiles, and diverse fish species. Important migratory route for elephants, connecting other wildlife areas.

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:
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 2024 edition of Indo-French bilateral naval ‘Exercise Varuna’ held in the Mediterranean Sea from September 2-4, 2024, involving advanced tactical exercises. The Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft landed at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube in France for its first-ever European deployment. This was for the 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna with the French Navy. The last time an Indian Navy aircraft flew in France was 63 years ago when the Alize aircraft from INS Vikrant operated at Hyeres Airbase. The India-France naval exercise began in 1993, was named ‘Varuna’ in 2001, and reflects a strong strategic partnership between the two countries.

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:
In response to a tragic crime of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital on August 9, the West Bengal Assembly passed the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, to strengthen protections for women and children. The bill amends several criminal laws, including the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012. It proposes harsher penalties for rape, including life imprisonment for the convict’s natural life or the death penalty. The bill mandates time-bound investigations of rape cases within 21 days. It also imposes penalties for unauthorized publication of court proceedings and ensures convicts bear victims’ medical costs.

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.

Notes:
Harvinder Singh won a historic gold medal in men’s individual recurve archery at the Paris Paralympics 2024. This win marked India’s 22nd medal in the event. He defeated Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek in the final. His achievement adds to India’s successes in other Paralympic sports like shot put and club throw. This highlights India’s increasing presence and accomplishments in Paralympic sports.

Notes:
Sea turtles in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), are showing improvement in health after years of suffering from fibropapillomatosis. Fibropapillomatosis is a serious infectious disease affecting sea turtles globally, causing benign tumors on their bodies. These tumors hinder the turtles’ movement, vision, and feeding, often leading to death. The disease is caused by a herpes virus and is linked to polluted coastal areas, high human density, agricultural runoff, and harmful algae.