Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
The Square Kilometer Array (SKA), the world’s largest radio telescope, has started its first observations, marking partial functionality. SKA is an international mega science project aiming to build the most sensitive radio telescope to explore advanced scientific goals. It is located in Australia (SKA-Low) and South Africa (SKA-Mid), with its operational headquarters in the UK. SKA-Low in Australia consists of 1,31,072 antennas, each two meters tall, and operates in the 50-350 MHz frequency range. SKA-Mid in South Africa includes 197 large parabolic dish antennas and works in the 350 MHz – 15.4 GHz range, offering the largest observational bandwidth.

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The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) commended India for achieving high technical compliance with its recommendations to combat illicit finance. FATF is an intergovernmental body focused on fighting money laundering and terrorist financing. Its objective is to set international standards and promote effective policies at national and international levels. It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris. FATF expanded its mandate to include terrorism financing in 2001. It includes 39 member countries, such as the US, India, China, and several European nations. India joined FATF in 2010.

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Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched the new MSME Policy-2024 to address six key challenges faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. The policy includes an investment of 4,000 crore rupees over five years. The launch event in Hyderabad was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu. The Chief Minister praised former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao for his role in liberalizing India’s economy. The policy aims to create industrial opportunities for Dalits and women and support MSMEs.

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Gujarat hosted the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo, winning the most awards during the three-day event, held outside Delhi for the first time. The state ranked among the top three in several categories, including overall renewable energy capacity, solar power, and wind power. Gujarat secured the top spot in overall renewable energy and wind power capacity, while it ranked second in solar power capacity, with Rajasthan leading.

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Tata Steel has commissioned India’s largest blast furnace at its Kalinganagar plant in Odisha as part of Phase II expansion. A blast furnace is a vertical steel shaft lined with fire-resistant materials, producing liquid metals by reacting air with metallic ore, coke, and flux. The furnace operates at over 300°C, with the hottest part water-cooled and supported by a steel frame. It produces pig iron from iron ore and is used for processing other metals like lead and copper. The process is continuous, with raw materials added at the top and molten metal and slag removed from the bottom.
Once started, it runs continuously for 4-10 years, stopping only for maintenance.

Notes:
India establishes its first national security semiconductor fabrication plant named ‘Shakti’ through a collaboration with the U.S. This initiative marks the first technology partnership involving the US Space Force and Indian businesses, with an emphasis on manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride, and silicon carbide semiconductors. The project aims to enhance capabilities in advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics, addressing critical needs in both military and civilian applications, while reducing India’s reliance on semiconductor imports.

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Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has launched a ‘Dust-free Delhi’ drive to reduce air pollution before winter. This 10-day campaign involves multiple agencies like the MCD and PWD, focusing on cleaning roads and drains to prevent dust accumulation. Dried mud and silt from recent dry weather contribute significantly to pollution. The initiative aligns with the Delhi government’s Winter Action Plan to tackle pollution levels during winter months

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World Gorilla Day, on September 24, emphasizes the need to protect gorillas, our closest relatives after chimpanzees.
The day encourages action to help gorillas, following international agreements like the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Historically, gorillas have been misunderstood, often depicted negatively, such as in the 1933 film King Kong. Contrary to these portrayals, gorillas are gentle creatures, akin to bonobos and smaller chimpanzees. The name “gorilla” was first used in 1847 by Thomas Staughton Savage and Jeffries Wyman, based on stories from ancient explorer Hanno.

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The Mankidia community in Odisha is now the 6th Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) to gain habitat rights over forests. They are a semi-nomadic group, part of the Birhor tribe, living primarily off the forest. Mankidias are hunters and gatherers, known for their wandering lifestyle and temporary settlements called Kumbhas. They speak a form of the Munda language and some also speak Odia. Their beliefs center around spirits and ancestors, with Logobir and Budhimai as their supreme deities. The community is found in Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal.

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Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito thrives in urban areas, particularly in clean, stagnant water, making densely populated regions susceptible to outbreaks. In 2024, more than 12 million cases were reported globally, with significant spikes in countries like Brazil and India. The rise in dengue cases is attributed to factors such as urbanization, climate change, and increased global movement, which facilitate the spread of the virus and its vectors. Preventative measures include reducing mosquito breeding sites and personal protection against bites.