Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Navy and South African Navy signed an agreement to enhance naval cooperation, ensuring the safety of the South African Navy’s submarine crew during emergencies. Under this agreement, the Indian Navy will assist by deploying its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) when needed. This strengthens the maritime relationship between India and South Africa. The agreement follows a 2023 incident where three South African Navy personnel died off Cape Town’s coast. South Africa, with a few submarines, will benefit from India’s DSRV, which is used for submarine rescues and covert operations.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Textiles launched the VisioNxt web portal to make India a global fashion leader. The portal provides real-time, India-specific fashion trend insights, reducing reliance on foreign forecasting agencies. It was launched by Union Minister Giriraj Singh on 5 September 2024 in New Delhi. The India-specific Fashion Trend Book ‘Paridhi 24×25’ was also unveiled at the event. The VisioNxt portal was developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Located at NIFT Chennai, VisioNxt uses AI and emotional intelligence, with a prediction model called “DeepVision” to interpret Indian fashion trends.

Notes:
The Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2024 was passed to stop unauthorized developments. It aims to make property registration easier for small landowners. The law regulates illegal colonies and imposes strict penalties for violations. The Chief Minister emphasized its importance for public welfare. This legislation highlights Punjab’s commitment to addressing illegal colonies and promoting proper development in the state.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry set a target of 500 million tonnes of steel production by 2034 at the 5th ISA Steel Conclave. India is the second-largest producer of crude steel, surpassing Japan in 2018. In FY24, India produced 143.6 million tonnes (MT) of crude steel and 138.5 MT of finished steel. India’s finished steel consumption rose to 138.5 MT in FY24, up from 119.17 MT in FY23. In FY24, finished steel exports stood at 7.49 MT, while imports were 8.32 MT. The per capita steel consumption in India was 86.7 kg in FY23.

Notes:
Recent analysis shows that about 50,000 trees were uprooted in a 200-hectare area along 2 to 3 km length in Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary, established in 1953, is located near the Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana borders. The perennial Dayyam Vagu river flows through it, dividing the sanctuary into two parts. The sanctuary is known for the Sammakkka Sarakka Jathra, one of Asia’s largest tribal festivals, held every two years. The River Godavari also flows through the sanctuary.

Notes:
The 17th Paris Paralympics concluded on 8 September 2024 with a ceremony at Stade de France, Paris. It was held from 28 August to 8 September 2024, organized by the International Paralympics Committee. The 18th Summer Paralympics will take place in Los Angeles, USA, in 2028. India won a record 29 medals, surpassing the 19-medal haul from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. China topped the medal tally with 220 medals, while India ranked 18th. Harvinder Singh and Preeti Pal were India’s flag bearers at the closing ceremony.

Notes:
Iran has delivered short-range ballistic missiles, including the Fath-360, to Russia, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The Fath-360 is a precise and mobile Iranian SRBM designed for tactical strikes on military and infrastructure targets. It weighs 787 kilograms and travels at speeds of Mach 3 to 4. Equipped with a solid-fuel engine, it enables rapid deployment with a range of 120 to 300 kilometers. It carries a 150-kilogram warhead and is difficult to intercept due to its small, maneuverable design. The missile uses an inertial guidance system and satellite navigation for 30-meter accuracy. The Fath-360 is launched from a truck-mounted system capable of deploying multiple missiles.

Notes:
A Russian missile strike on Poltava, Ukraine, killed 51 people and injured 271 others. Poltava is a city in east-central Ukraine, located 300 km east of Kyiv, along the Vorskla River. Archaeological evidence traces its origins to the 8th-9th centuries; it was first referenced in 1174. The city was destroyed by Tatars in the 13th century and became a Cossack regiment center by the 17th century. In 1709, Peter the Great defeated Sweden’s Charles XII at Poltava, marking Russia’s rise as a power. Modern Poltava was rebuilt after World War II and is a key agricultural hub.

Notes:
Researchers discovered a new species, Curcuma ungmensis, in Nagaland’s Mokokchung district. It belongs to the Curcuma genus, part of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). Named after Ungma village, where it was found, Curcuma ungmensis is a rhizomatous herb with underground stems. It can be used as an ornamental ground cover plant in gardens after domestication. The plant flowers from August to October, with blooms lasting only a day. It faces threats from road development, construction, and natural disasters. The Curcuma genus has about 40 species in India, primarily found in the northeast, south, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Notes:
Indian Railways introduced a helmet camera system in North Bengal to improve safety and prevent train accidents. This live monitoring system allowed railway workers to detect mechanical issues in real-time, ensuring safer operations. Initially launched in the Maldah Division, the system aimed to expand to other regions. The helmet cameras captured detailed images and videos, enabling quick responses to potential hazards. This initiative demonstrated Indian Railways’ dedication to enhancing passenger safety through advanced technology.