Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) launched the Saarthi app in collaboration with Bhashini. Saarthi helps businesses create their own buyer-side apps with multilingual support. It currently supports Hindi, English, Marathi, Bangla, and Tamil, with plans to include all 22 languages provided by Bhashini. Features include real-time translation, transliteration, and voice recognition to help businesses reach new regions and customers. Bhashini is India’s AI-led language translation platform, aiming to provide easy internet access and digital services in Indian languages. It offers AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) resources to MSMEs, startups, and innovators, and includes a crowdsourcing section called ‘Bhasadaan.’

Notes:
Mexico became the first country to allow voters to elect judges at all levels. The decision followed protests that interrupted debate in the upper house. The reform was approved with 86 votes in favor and 41 against. A two-thirds majority was required to amend the constitution, and the reform achieved this threshold.

Notes:
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) appointed Mr. R. Ravindran as the next ambassador to Iceland. He has served in various organizations and locations throughout his career. R. Ravindran is an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1999 batch. He is currently India’s Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations.

Notes:
Hindi Diwas, celebrated on September 14, honors Hindi as one of India’s official languages. This date marks the anniversary of the 1949 decision by India’s Constituent Assembly to adopt Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language. The celebration has roots in the 1918 formation of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, which advocated for Hindi as a national language. The first Hindi Diwas was observed in 1953, and it aims to promote Hindi and unite India’s diverse linguistic and cultural regions. In 2024, Hindi Diwas falls on Saturday, September 14.

Notes:
The National Instructional Media Institute (NIMI) launched YouTube channels for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) students. NIMI was established in 1986 as the Central Instructional Media Institute (CIMI) and is now an autonomous body under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. It develops Instructional Media Packages (IMP), digital content, and assessment tools for vocational courses. The YouTube channels provide high-quality training videos in nine languages, including English, Hindi, and Tamil. The content includes tutorials, skill demonstrations, and theoretical lessons. This initiative supports the National Skill Development Mission and the New Education Policy (NEP).

Notes:
India has advanced to Tier 1 in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This achievement reflects India’s strong commitment to cybersecurity and its positive impact. The Global Cybersecurity Index measures how countries commit to cybersecurity on a global level, raising awareness about its importance. Cybersecurity is important because it affects many industries and sectors across the world. India’s role-modeling in cybersecurity demonstrates its leadership and efforts in ensuring safer digital spaces globally.

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh raised concerns about irregularities in the previous government’s implementation of the School Jatan Yojana. Mukhyamantri School Jatan Yojana is launched by Chhattisgarh government. It is designed to improve infrastructure and facilities in government schools. It focuses on building new classrooms, renovating existing structures, and enhancing amenities like libraries and restrooms. The scheme aims to create a better learning environment through improved seating and upgraded facilities. This initiative is expected to boost student enrollment and satisfaction for both students and teachers.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently approved its first Mpox vaccine for use in Africa. The vaccine, developed by Bavarian Nordic A/S, is a major step forward in tackling Mpox in the African region. With this approval, the vaccine can be pre-qualified for purchase by international donors like GAVI and UNICEF. Although there is limited supply due to having only one manufacturer, this vaccine is crucial for controlling outbreaks and enhancing public health in Africa.

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:
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) released the 2nd Edition of the Ozone and UV Bulletin on World Ozone Day (16 September). This day celebrates the Montreal Protocol and its amendment, the Kigali Agreement. The theme for this year is “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Actions.” Key findings show the ozone layer is recovering, with ozone-depleting substances (ODS) decreasing. Full recovery is expected by 2066 over Antarctica, 2045 over the Arctic, and 2040 globally. The Kigali Amendment could reduce global warming by 0.5°C by 2100. Ozone depletion is mainly caused by ODS, especially in the Antarctic.