Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
World Ozone Day is celebrated on 16th September since 1995 to raise awareness about ozone layer depletion. In India, the Ozone Cell under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change observes this day at national and state levels.
The day was established by the UN in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on 16th September 1987.
The first World Ozone Day was observed in 1995. The theme for the 30th World Ozone Day 2024 is “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Actions,” highlighting the protocol’s role in protecting the ozone layer and promoting climate action.

Notes:
The 4th South Asian Junior Athletics Championships took place in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, from September 11-13, 2024. India dominated middle-distance races and throwing events, while Sri Lanka excelled in sprint events. Sri Lanka won the men’s 4x100m relay, while India secured silver. The Indian women won the 4x100m relay, with Sri Lanka second. Seven South Asian countries participated, with India sending the largest team of 62 athletes. India topped the medal tally with 48 medals (21 gold), followed by Sri Lanka with 35 medals, and Bangladesh secured third place with three bronze. Pakistan and Bhutan did not win any medals.

Notes:
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has launched the Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas. This atlas identifies areas with high potential for generating energy from marine sources. It includes data on various types of marine energy such as solar, wind, wave, tide, currents, ocean thermal, and salinity gradients. The atlas is intended to help policymakers, industries, and researchers utilize energy resources in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). INCOIS, established in 1999 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, provides ocean data and advisory services to various sectors.

Notes:
Researchers found a new species of wasp named Syntretus perlmani. This wasp infects adult fruit flies, unlike others that target fly larvae or pupae. It’s called a parasitoid because it kills its host, unlike parasites which don’t. Female wasps inject their eggs into the abdomen of fruit flies using an ovipositor. The eggs grow into larvae inside the fly, eventually killing it after 18 days by emerging from the body. Evidence of this wasp was found in the eastern United States, including Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina.

Notes:
Cellulitis disease, once rare, is now common in the erstwhile Karimnagar district, Telangana. It is a serious skin infection caused by bacteria, mainly affecting legs, feet, and toes, but can appear on any part of the body. It usually occurs after an injury or break in the skin, allowing bacteria like streptococcus or staphylococcus to enter. Symptoms include swollen, painful, warm skin, and possibly blisters, spots, or skin dimpling. Other signs include fever, chills, and nausea. If untreated, it can spread to the bloodstream and become life-threatening.

Notes:
The 127th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi was celebrated on September 12, marking one of the greatest last stands in military history. The battle took place on September 12, 1897, in the North-West Frontier Province of British India, at Saragarhi post. 21 soldiers from the 36th Sikh regiment, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, fought against over 8,000 tribal militants. Punjab declared September 12 as Saragarhi Day in 2017. The British built an obelisk for the martyrs, and the Pakistani Khyber Scouts still honor the memorial. Saragarhi post was crucial for linking two British forts, Lockhart and Gulistan, to monitor Afghan movements.

Notes:
Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) are more efficient in handling rape cases and those under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. FTSCs were launched in 2019 under a centrally sponsored scheme, extended until 2026.
The Centre funds FTSCs through the Nirbhaya Fund, and the Department of Justice implements the scheme. The goal is swift disposal of rape and POCSO cases. Currently, 755 FTSCs, including 410 exclusive POCSO courts, are operational across 30 states/UTs. In 2022, FTSCs resolved 83% of cases, compared to 10% in conventional courts.

Notes:
The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has designated the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute as a Centre of Excellence for seaweed cultivation. Seaweed refers to various species of marine plants and algae that grow in oceans, rivers, and lakes. Seaweed is classified into green (Chlorophyta), brown (Phaeophyta), and red (Rhodophyta). Nutritionally, seaweed provides minerals like calcium, sodium, and potassium, and vitamins A, B12, C, D, and E. It offers health benefits such as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and is used in cancer treatment. Seaweed is also used in manufacturing as a binding agent in toothpaste and cosmetics, and enhances agricultural productivity.

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A 59-year-old British man nearly died after a minor spider bite led to necrotising fasciitis. Necrotising fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, is a rare and life-threatening bacterial infection. It affects the tissue under the skin, known as fascia, causing tissue death and severe inflammation. There are two types: Type I, caused by multiple bacteria (polymicrobial), and Type II, caused by a single bacteria (monomicrobial). Type II is typically caused by group A streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The infection progresses rapidly and can be fatal if not treated promptly.

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India’s first CO2-to-Methanol Pilot Plant was introduced in Pune, Maharashtra, with a capacity of 1.4 tons per day under a Public-Private Partnership supported by the Department of Science and Technology. CO2-to-methanol conversion captures carbon emissions from industrial sources like power plants or directly from the air. The captured CO2 is reacted with hydrogen to produce methanol. This technology helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provides a sustainable fuel source. The plant marks a significant step in advancing indigenous Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies, aligning with India’s Panchamrit climate goals.