Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
The SBI Foundation launched the third edition of its Asha Scholarship Program. It aimed to provide financial support to 10,000 talented students from underprivileged backgrounds. The scholarship offered amounts between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20 lakh. It helped students from Class 6 to postgraduate levels pursue their educational goals. This initiative showed SBI’s commitment to supporting educational opportunities for disadvantaged students across India.

Notes:
The second summit on Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM) started in Seoul on September 9. It is co-hosted by Kenya, the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The first REAIM summit was held in February 2023 in The Hague, hosted by the Netherlands. The summit expands the discussion from just autonomous weapons to broader issues of AI in warfare. The Seoul summit aims to understand AI’s impact on global peace and security, implement new norms for military AI use, and develop ideas for long-term global governance of AI in the military.

Notes:
The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) was launched by India in 2019 at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok as a global, non-treaty initiative. It builds on India’s 2015 ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’ concept. IPOI promotes community building and partnerships with like-minded countries through practical cooperation. It has 7 pillars, with countries voluntarily leading different areas of focus. IPOI offers an alternative to geopolitical competition and aligns with India’s Maritime Vision 2030 and global initiatives like AIIPOIP and ASEAN’s AOIP.

Notes:
The Paraguay River is facing its lowest water level in over a century. It is the fifth-largest river in South America and a main tributary of the Paraná River. The river originates in Mato Grosso, Brazil, and flows through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. A key feature of its upper basin is the Pantanal, a vast seasonal swamp. The climate in the river’s drainage basin is hot and humid, with dry winters and heavy summer rains. This significant drop in water level poses challenges for the regions relying on the river.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation dissolved the 14-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS), led by economist Pronab Sen. The government cited overlap with the Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys, chaired by Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar, as the reason for dismantling SCoS. SCoS, formed in December 2019 as SCES, was renamed in July 2023 to advise on surveys for MoSPI. SCoS guided survey methodologies, data gaps, and pilot surveys. A new Steering Committee with 17 members replaces SCoS, with a similar role but more official members.

Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) completed four years since its launch in 2020. It is the flagship scheme of the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. The scheme aims to boost the fisheries sector through a combination of initiatives and schemes. PMMSY has two components: Central Sector Scheme (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS). India is the 3rd largest fish producer and 2nd in aquaculture globally, with Andhra Pradesh leading. The fisheries sector supports over 30 million livelihoods in India. PMMSY aims for sustainable growth of the fisheries sector through a Blue Revolution.

Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the inauguration of the Official Language Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the 4th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan in New Delhi on September 14, 2024. The event, marking 75 years of Hindi as an official language, is organized by the Department of Official Language. Shah will launch the Diamond Jubilee special issue of ‘Rajbhasha Bharti,’ a commemorative stamp, and coin, and present awards. The event also includes the launch of Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag. This Sammelan continues the tradition of celebrating Hindi Diwas and promoting Indian languages as initiated in 2019.

Notes:
Union Home Minister announced that Port Blair will be renamed ‘Sri Vijaya Puram.’ Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was named after naval officer Archibald Blair. It is located on the east coast of South Andaman Island and hosted the first Tiranga unfurling by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Historically, the Andaman Islands were used by Chola emperor Rajendra I for a naval base to attack Srivijaya (present-day Indonesia). The Cholas called the islands “Ma-Nakkavaram,” which may have led to the name Nicobar. The Chola invasion of Srivijaya marked a significant event in India-Southeast Asia relations.

Notes:
The water level of Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar Dam recently reached 136.43 meters, just over two meters short of its full capacity. This concrete gravity dam is situated on the Narmada River in Kevadia, Gujarat, and is named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. At 163 meters high, it is the third highest concrete dam in India, following Bhakra and Lakhwar. It ranks as the second largest gravity dam by concrete volume, after the Grand Coulee Dam in the USA. Part of the Narmada Valley Project, the dam supports extensive irrigation and hydroelectric systems. The river catchment area is 88,000 sq. km., and the dam’s spillway can discharge 87,000 cubic meters per second. The canal network includes the world’s longest canal system and the largest irrigation-lined canal, the Narmada Main Canal, at 458.3 km.

Notes:
The Tuticorin International Container Terminal in Tamil Nadu was inaugurated, described as a key part of India’s marine infrastructure. The terminal enhances the capacity of the V.O. Chidambaranar Port, contributing to India’s goal of becoming a developed nation. It has a deep draft of over 14 meters and a 300-meter-long berth, helping reduce logistics costs and save foreign exchange. The terminal promotes gender diversity, with 40% of its workforce being women. Tamil Nadu plays a vital role in India’s economic growth, with significant investments in port development, including an Outer Harbour Container Terminal. The port is also recognized for its role in Green Hydrogen and offshore wind energy. India’s vast transportation network positions it as a key player in the global supply chain.