Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
India hosts the second Global Food Regulators Summit from September 19-21, 2024, in New Delhi. It is organized by FSSAI under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Delegates from over 70 countries are expected, with 5,000 attending in person and 1.5 lakh joining virtually. The summit aims to enhance global collaboration on food safety, risk assessment, and regulatory strategies. FSSAI will launch new initiatives like the Food Import Rejection Alert Portal, Food Import Clearance System 2.0, and update the State Food Safety Index 2024.

Notes:
Nadi Utsav 2024 was inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi. The 5th edition of the festival focuses on the theme ‘Rivers in Reverse: Making of a Lifeline’, highlighting river ecosystems and their cultural importance. The first day featured various activities, including a photo exhibition of the Kansabati River, a unique boat display, and paintings by school students centered around rivers. The three-day event runs from 10 AM to 8 PM at IGNCA with free public entry.

Notes:
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister launched the standard operating procedure for ‘White Revolution 2.0’ to empower women and combat malnutrition through dairy development. The initiative aims to empower women farmers, increase local milk production, improve dairy infrastructure, and boost dairy exports. The goal is to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50% over five years by providing market access in uncovered villages. It plans to set up and strengthen 100,000 cooperative societies linked to milk routes with necessary infrastructure like AMCU, DPMCU, and Bulk Milk Coolers. Initial funding of ₹40,000 per M-PACS will be provided by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), with future support expected from the National Programme for Dairy Development 2.0.

Notes:
A small asteroid named 2024 PT5 will temporarily orbit Earth from September 29 to November 25, 2024. It is also known as a “mini-moon”. It changes its path due to Earth’s gravity. It was detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on August 7, 2024. It likely originated from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which contains rocks orbiting near Earth. 2024 PT5 is expected to return in January 2025 and again in 2055. It will provide valuable data on near-Earth asteroids, helping predict future encounters and impacts. Asteroids are small, rocky or metallic objects that orbit the Sun, distinct from planets or comets.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park in Amravati, Maharashtra, covering 1,000 acres. The park is part of a plan to establish seven PM MITRA Parks to boost the textile industry, developed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).

Notes:
The Prime Minister addressed the National PM Vishwakarma Program in Maharashtra. He launched the ‘Acharya Chanakya Skill Development’ scheme and ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme’ of the Maharashtra Government. The Punyashlok Ahilyadevi scheme offers financial assistance of up to ₹25 lakh for early-stage women-led startups. The PM Vishwakarma Program is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in 2023 for five years. It supports artisans and craftspeople working with their hands and tools, covering eighteen traditional trades initially under the scheme.

Notes:
The Giant Crystal Cave, discovered in 2000, in the Naica Mines. It contains some of the largest crystals on Earth, reaching lengths of up to 39 feet and weighing up to 55 tons. It is located in Mexico. This cave is off-limits to tourists due to extreme temperatures that can reach 59 degrees Celsius and high humidity. Only scientists with special permits can study this remarkable natural phenomenon, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Notes:
Researchers from JNCASR and ICAR-NBAIR have created a sustainable pheromone dispenser that ensures a controlled release rate of pheromones, significantly reducing pest control costs. This innovation utilizes a mesoporous silica matrix, allowing for stable pheromone release and improved efficiency in pest management. The technology aims to benefit farmers by transitioning from laboratory research to large-scale industrial production, thus enhancing agricultural practices while promoting environmentally friendly methods in pest control.

Notes:
Antimicrobial resistance is a major crisis of the 21st century, with Staphylococcus aureus playing a significant role. S. aureus is a gram-positive, sphere-shaped bacterium commonly found on the skin and in the noses of about 30% of people.
Usually harmless, it can cause infections, particularly skin infections, which may lead to blisters, abscesses, and swelling. The bacteria can spread through the bloodstream to organs like heart valves and bones. Transmission occurs through direct contact, contaminated objects, or inhaling droplets from sneezing or coughing. S. aureus can also be transmitted between humans and animals.

Notes:
The Bihar government recently approved the “Mukhyamantri Gramin Setu Nirman Yojana” (MGSNY) to improve rural infrastructure. The scheme aims to enhance connectivity by constructing 1,000 small bridges in rural areas. It focuses on remote regions that struggle with poor infrastructure. The initiative will help address accessibility issues during monsoon seasons when rivers overflow and cut off villages.