Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
INS Tabar conducted a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with the Spanish Navy’s Ship Atalaya in the Mediterranean Sea.
The exercise signifies India’s naval outreach and marks a milestone in maritime cooperation between India and Spain. The MPX included advanced exercises like Station Keeping, Replenishment at Sea Approaches, Flying Exercise, Steam Past, and PHOTOEX. Both navies showed high professionalism and commitment, reinforcing strong bilateral naval ties and enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain.

Notes:
Dhulikhel, Nepal, is the first city in the country to be recognized as a “healthy city” by the World Health Organization (WHO). Dhulikhel is located in the Kavrepalanchok district, about 18 miles from Kathmandu. The WHO monitored Dhulikhel for two years before making the announcement in August 2024. The WHO’s decision was based on factors like environmental improvements, progress in primary health care, and access to health for poor citizens. Dhulikhel was also named the second healthiest city in Asia.

Notes:
TV Somanathan has been appointed as the 33rd Cabinet Secretary of India. He succeeded Rajiv Gauba, the longest-serving Cabinet Secretary since August 2019. Rajiv Gauba, a 1982 batch IAS officer, got three one-year extensions until August 2024. The government amended retirement rules to extend Gauba’s term. Before Gauba, Pradeep Kumar Sinha held the longest term as Cabinet Secretary for over four years. Somanathan, a 1987 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, was previously Finance Secretary and Expenditure Secretary. He has a PhD in Economics, is a Chartered Accountant, and has held significant roles in Tamil Nadu and the World Bank.

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:
Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki recently won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, known as Asia’s Nobel Prize. This award is Asia’s top honor, recognizing transformative leadership and spirit. Winners receive a certificate and a medallion with Ramon Magsaysay’s profile. From 1958 to 2008, the award was given in six categories: Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism and Creative Arts, Peace and International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership. The award ceremony is held annually on August 31 in Manila, Philippines, marking the birth anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay, after whom the award is named.

Notes:
Sharath Kamal has been named the first Indian ambassador of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Foundation.
The announcement was made during day 11 of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) season five at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Sharath was elected to the ITTF’s Athlete’s Commission in November 2022. He will promote table tennis for development, especially among children from underprivileged backgrounds. He holds the record for the most medals in Commonwealth Games history for table tennis, including 13 medals with three golds at the 2022 Birmingham Games.

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:
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh became the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force in New Delhi. After taking his new position, he paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial. Tejinder Singh is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and joined the IAF fighter stream on June 13, 1987. He is a Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor with over 4,500 flying hours. He studied at the Defence Service Staff College and National Defence College. He has commanded a Fighter Squadron, a Radar Station, a Fighter Base, and was Air Officer Commanding in Jammu and Kashmir. He received the Vayu Sena Medal in 2007 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.

Notes:
The three-day Armed Forces Festival began at Surya Khel Parisar in Lucknow Cantonment with much enthusiasm. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the festival. He praised the Indian Armed Forces as unparalleled globally, recognized even by India’s enemies. He highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s leading role in national defense efforts. The Defense Corridor in Uttar Pradesh provides significant employment opportunities for youth. Over 8,000 people attended the festival, enjoying a display of the latest military equipment. The exhibition showcased tanks, helicopters, artillery guns, and more, highlighting India’s technological advancements. The T-90 tank was a notable exhibit.

Notes:
The government recently celebrated Uttarakhand’s rich folk culture at the Jagar Lok Sanskriti Utsav. A book titled Uttarakhand ka Lok Putra Pritam Bharatwan by Sachidanand Semwal was released, honoring Pritam Bharatwan as the brand ambassador of the state’s folk culture. Jagar Lok Sanskriti Utsav highlights Uttarakhand’s folk traditions. Jagar, a Hindu form of Shamanism practiced in Uttarakhand, involves rituals where gods and deities are awakened for favors or remedies. Pritam Bharatwan is recognized for promoting Uttarakhand’s traditional culture and folk arts.