Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

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:
Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) member states signed a Charter and MoU to establish the CSC Secretariat in Colombo. CSC is a regional security group that includes India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius. Its main goal is to enhance regional security by addressing shared transnational threats. CSC started as the Trilateral for Maritime Security Cooperation in 2011, involving India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Tensions between India and the Maldives paused its activities after 2014. Revived and renamed in 2020, Mauritius and Bangladesh joined as members, with Seychelles as an observer. CSC meetings include National Security Advisors and their deputies.

Notes:
IIT Delhi’s first international campus was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. This new campus aims to enhance the UAE’s status as a global education and innovation hub. It is the second international IIT campus, following IIT Madras’s in Zanzibar. The inaugural cohort includes 52 students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Energy Engineering. Students were admitted through JEE Advanced and CAET exams and come from various backgrounds, including Indian, Emirati, and international students. IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi also launched an MTech program in Energy Transition and Sustainability earlier this year.

Notes:
India’s Deepthi Jeevanji won a bronze medal in the women’s 400m T20 race at the Paris Paralympics 2024. She completed the race in 55.82 seconds. Jeevanji secured third place, finishing behind Yuliia Shuliar from Ukraine, who clocked 55.16 seconds. The second-place finisher was Aysel Onder from Turkey, who holds the world record and finished in 55.23 seconds. This achievement highlights Jeevanji’s significant performance on an international stage.

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:
“Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas” is a mock drill conducted under the National One Health Mission (NOHM) to prepare for pandemic situations. NOHM focuses on the “One Health” approach, integrating disease control across human health, animal husbandry, and wildlife sectors. The exercise aimed to assess the readiness and response of the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT). A simulated scenario of a zoonotic disease outbreak was created to mimic a real-world situation. The drill involved multiple national and state agencies, including ICMR, AIIMS Jodhpur BSL-3 Lab, and state administrations.

Notes:
The third Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and Kenya was held in New Delhi. Discussions covered military cooperation, training, defence industries, and research and development. The Kenyan delegation met Indian defence industry representatives in Delhi and will visit Pune to explore their capabilities. India and Kenya share a longstanding, friendly relationship, strengthened by a 2016 MoU on Defence Cooperation. JDCC serves as a key platform to discuss and enhance defence ties. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, and the Kenyan side was led by Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter.

Notes:
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Sootea Police Station in Biswanath District. He paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1942 Quit India Movement. He announced that August 20 will be celebrated as Sootea Day. Sarma revealed plans to build a heritage monument at the site. Rs 5 crores have been allocated for this project.

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.

Notes:
Jyoti Berwal won a gold medal in the women’s 76 kg freestyle category at the U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. She defeated Ukraine’s Mariia Orlevych in the final, not allowing her to score any points. Jyoti also beat opponents from Mongolia, China, and Turkey on her way to the final. This is India’s second consecutive U20 world title in this category, following Priya Malik’s win in 2023. Indian wrestlers Komal and Sristhi won bronze medals in the 59 kg and 68 kg categories, respectively.