Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024 held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.
The event is organized jointly by the Payments Council of India, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC). The GFF is considered one of the world’s largest gatherings of fintech startups, investors, experts, bankers, and regulators from around the globe.

Notes:
The Union government has decided to establish foot-and-mouth disease-free zones in eight states: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral illness affecting livestock such as cattle, swine, sheep, and goats, but not horses, dogs, or cats. It impacts livestock production and disrupts trade but poses no human health or food safety risk. FMD is caused by an aphthovirus and has seven strains. Immunity to one strain does not protect against others. The disease spreads through excretions and secretions, with high transmission rates in young animals but low fatality in adults.

Notes:
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has postponed granting Environmental Clearance (EC) for Stage-II of the Uri-I Hydroelectric Project. The Uri-I Hydroelectric Project is located on the Jhelum River in Uri town, Baramulla district, Jammu & Kashmir. It is close to the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan. Commissioned in 1997, the project has an installed capacity of 480 MW. The plant is owned by the Central Government and operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC). It has four units, each with a capacity of 120 MW.

Notes:
The world’s first fast-charging e-bus is named ‘Veera Mahasamrat.’ It was launched in Bengaluru by Veera Vahana and Exponent Energy. The bus aims to improve travel by eliminating range anxiety with its fast charging. It will first operate on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad route. Four charging stations will be set up along this route to support the e-bus. The launch of ‘Veera Mahasamrat’ is a major step in promoting sustainable transportation in the region.

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:
Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly introduced Zero Hour for the first time in its proceedings. Zero Hour, an Indian parliamentary invention from the Sixties, is gradually being adopted by state assemblies. It is a convention, not a rule, and is not mentioned in the rules of Parliament or State Assemblies. Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, announced its introduction at the start of the monsoon session on 3 September 2024. Zero Hour begins at 12:30 PM, after the Question Hour, and lasts for 30 minutes. During Zero Hour, members can raise urgent matters of public importance, with each member getting about a minute to speak.

Notes:
Researchers have discovered that an antidepressant drug has potential for cancer management through drug repurposing. Drug repurposing involves using existing drugs for new treatments or conditions not originally intended. This process, also known as drug repositioning or reprofiling, identifies new uses for drugs initially developed for different medical conditions. It is often an unexpected discovery with the goal of finding compounds with established safety profiles that could be effective for other diseases. Pharmaceutical companies use drug repurposing to address rare diseases, cancer, infections, autoimmune diseases, and more. This approach can significantly reduce the time and cost compared to developing new drugs from scratch.

Notes:
Zoologists in Assam have recently added a new spider species, Phrynarachne decipiens, to India’s list of arachnids. Commonly known as the bird dung or bird-dropping crab spider, it mimics bird excrement with its web. Previously found in Malaysia and Indonesia’s Java and Sumatra, it has now been recorded in Assam’s Sonapur and Chirang Reserve Forest. The spider is usually motionless on the upper side of broad leaves, blending in with its white, bird-dropping-like web. It features stout spermathecae, a reproductive organ in females, with nearly touching posterior heads. The genus Phrynarachne has 35 accepted species; three others were previously recorded and re-described from Assam.

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:
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.