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:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for the Vadhvan Port project in Palghar, Maharashtra, worth around ₹76,000 crore. Vadhvan Port is set to become one of the top 10 ports globally, with a handling capacity of 23.2 million TEUs. The port, near Dahanu town, Maharashtra, will be one of India’s largest deep-water ports, offering direct connectivity to international shipping routes. Equipped with modern technology and infrastructure, it will feature deep berths and efficient cargo handling. The project will create significant employment, boost local businesses, and support regional economic growth. It emphasizes sustainable development, minimizing environmental impact. Once operational, the port will enhance India’s maritime connectivity and strengthen its global trade position.

Notes:
The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah began from 1 September at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, focusing on nutrition awareness and well-being. Union Minister Annpurna Devi, Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, and other officials attended the event. The day started with a nationwide tree-planting drive called “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,” promoting nutrition and environmental sustainability. Union Minister Annpurna Devi outlined Poshan 2.0’s pillars: good governance, convergence, capacity building, and community participation. Nutri-baskets were distributed to mothers, and schemes like Vahli Dikri Yojna were highlighted. The campaign will focus on issues like anemia, growth monitoring, and complementary feeding, supporting the vision of a ‘Suposhit Bharat.’

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.

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:
Wildlife researcher Chris Ketola shared a video of a tarantula infected by a zombie fungus called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. This fungus drains its host of nutrients and fills its body with spores for reproduction. The fungus takes control of the host’s mind and motor functions, then eats away at the body. Cordyceps fungi mainly infect invertebrates, especially insects like ants and spiders. Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders belonging to the Theraphosidae family. Over 900 species of tarantulas exist worldwide, except in Antarctica. Tarantulas are nocturnal predators with an average body length of 5 inches and a leg span of up to 11 inches.

Notes:
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the AgriSURE Fund and Krishi Nivesh Portal in New Delhi. He conferred the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Excellence Awards to top-performing banks and states. The awards recognized and appreciated outstanding efforts in agricultural infrastructure. Ministers of State and representatives from various states and banks attended the event. The Ministry believed the award ceremony would inspire other banks to improve their performance. The AIF was launched in 2022 to develop post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.

Notes:
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan recorded the highest growth in real Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in FY24 among the 10 largest states. Telangana, the ninth largest state, grew at 9.2%, reaching ₹7.9 lakh crore, surpassing national GDP growth of 8.2%. Tamil Nadu, the third largest state, saw an 8.2% growth, reaching ₹15.7 lakh crore. Rajasthan, the seventh largest state, grew by 8%. GSDP measures the total value of all goods and services produced within a state’s boundaries in a year. GSDP is crucial for understanding a state’s economic growth and development trends over time.

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The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) signed an MoU with the UAE Accountability Authority to enhance collaboration between the two countries in public sector auditing. CAG of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, emphasized the shared values and strong ties between India and the UAE, and the MoU will create opportunities for learning and cooperation. The partnership focuses on knowledge exchange, capacity building, and best practices in public sector auditing. UAE Accountability Authority President, Humaid Obaid Khalifa, highlighted the MoU’s role in improving governance and accountability in both nations. This agreement strengthens audit cooperation, promoting transparency and efficiency in government operations.

Notes:
The Rajasthan government approved 33% reservation for women in the police force. A 5% additional allowance was approved for pensioners aged 70 to 75. Amendments were made to the Rajasthan Police Subordinate Services Rules, 1989. Rules 67 and 87 of the Rajasthan Civil Services Pension Rules, 1996, were amended under central pension rules. Specially-abled children, dependent parents, and siblings can now be permanently added to the Pension Payment Order (PPO). Gratuity and death gratuity for state employees were increased from ₹20 lakh to ₹25 lakh.