Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 11, 2024

Answer: C

Observed annually on September 11th 

• Aim : to honor the sacrifices of those who have laid down their lives in defense of the country’s forests and wildlife.
• This date was chosen by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2013 to coincide with the historic Khejarli Massacre of 1730, where members of the Bishnoi community sacrificed their lives to protect trees in the Marwar Kingdom.

Answer: B

Current Context : Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY) has completed five years of its implementation.

ABOUT PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN MAAN-DHAN YOJANA (PM-KMY)

• Launched on September 12, 2019.
• Aim : to provide social security to all land-holding Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) across the country.
• Target Group: Small and marginal farmers aged between 18 and 40 years.
• Landholding Criteria: Farmers with landholdings of up to 2 hectares.
• Income Ceiling: Farmers with an annual income of less than ₹2 lakh.
• Monthly Pension: ₹3,000 per month will be given after the age of 60.
• As of August, 2024, a total of 38 lakh farmers have joined the scheme.
• Under the scheme, Bihar leads with over 3.4 lakh registrations while Jharkhand ranks second with over 2.5 lakh registrations.

Answer: B

Current Context : The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) have set up a multi-donor trust fund to support and lower the costs of solar power projects globally.

• The MIGA-ISA Solar Facility will initially focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Both MIGA and ISA will collaborate to launch solar power and distributed-energy projects in eligible developing countries.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE (ISA)

• Established:November 30, 2015
• Initiated By:India and France
• Headquarters:Gurugram, India
• Purpose:To promote solar energy deployment, enhance solar technology, and facilitate access to solar financing.
• Signatory Countries : 119 member countries

ABOUT MULTILATERAL INVESTMENT GUARANTEE AGENCY (MIGA)

• Established:1988
• Part of:World Bank Group
• Headquarters:Washington, D.C., USA
• Purpose:To encourage investment in developing countries by providing guarantees against political risks.
• Member Countries: 186 member countries.

Answer: C

Current Context : Recently, Indian government has confirmed a new mpox (monkeypox) case in India.

ABOUT MPOX (MONKEYPOX):

It is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus.

• First Recorded:1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
• Types (Clades):
  • Central African Clade (Clade I)
  • West African Clade (Clade II)

• Symptoms : Skin Rash/Mucosal Lesions: Rash can develop into fluid-filled bumps that crust over.
• Systemic Symptoms: Fever, Headache, Muscle Aches, Back Pain, Low Energy, Swollen Lymph Nodes and generally last 2-4 weeks.
• Transmission
• Human-to-Human Transmission:
  • Direct contact with body fluids or lesions of infected individuals.
  • Prolonged face-to-face contact, including sexual contact.
  • Indirect contact with contaminated clothing or bedding.

TREATMENT

• Specific Treatments:No specific antiviral treatments are available for monkeypox.
• Management:Early and supportive care to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications.

What are Zoonotic diseases?

• These are infections that are spread between people and animals.
• These infections are caused by germs, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.
• Some can be severe and life-threatening, such as rabies, and others may be milder and get better on their own.

Answer: B

Current Context : The 54th GST Council concluded under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi

ABOUT GST COUNCIL

• It is a key body in India responsible for making decisions related to the GST regime, which is a comprehensive indirect tax system introduced to replace multiple state and central taxes.
• Established: The GST Council was constituted in 2016 following the introduction of GST in India.
• Constitution: Article 279A of the Indian Constitution.
• Purpose: To administer and oversee the GST regime in India.

COMPOSITION

• Chairperson:Union Finance Minister.
• Members:
  • State Finance Ministers:Each state and union territory with a legislature is represented.
  • Union Minister of State for Finance:Also a member.

Answer: D

Current Context : The 20th edition of India-USA Joint Military Exercise YUDH ABHYAS-2024 commenced in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.

• The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 9th to 22nd September 2024.
• It has been held annually since 2004, alternating between India and the USA.
• Aim : to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter terrorism operations
• It will focus on operations in the semi-desert environment.

Answer: C

Current Context : Union Health Secretary, Apurva Chandra released “Health Dynamics of India (Infrastructure and Human Resources) 2022-23”.

• It is an annual publication formerly known as “Rural Health Statistics”.
• It has been published every year since 1992.
• It provides important data about India’s National Health Mission (NHM), helping leaders make better healthcare decisions.

KEY DATA FROM THE REPORT

On March 31, 2023, the report gives a clear picture of India’s healthcare system:

• There are 1,69,615 Sub-Centres (SCs).
• 31,882 Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
• 6,359 Community Health Centres (CHCs).
• 1,340 District Hospitals (DHs).
• The healthcare system is supported by 2,39,911 health workers, 40,583 medical officers, and many nurses and paramedics.

Answer: A

Current Context : Rajasthan is set to have sixth tiger reserve in the state soon.

• The state government has formed an 11-member expert committee to finalise the boundaries of the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary,
• Currently, The five tiger reserves in Rajasthan are at Sariska, Ranthambore, Mukundara Hills, Ramgarh Visdhari and Dholpur-Karauli

ABOUT KUMBHALGARH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 

• Situated in Rajsamand district, Rajasthan.
• Surrounds the Kumbhalgarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Kumbhalgarh was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1971 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• The proposed tiger reserve will be spread over around 2,800 sq km.
• Lies in the Aravalli Range with rugged terrain, hills, valleys, and dry deciduous forests.
• Flora: Dominated by dry deciduous forests and species include : Dhok, Salar, Khair, Mahua, and Ber.

FAUNA:

• Mammals: Indian leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, hyena, sambar, nilgai, chinkara.
• Birds: Over 200 species including peacocks, grey junglefowl, white-breasted kingfisher, and eagles.
• Reptiles: Various snakes, lizards, and turtles.

Answer: B

Current Context : Himachal government is adopting ‘vetivar’ grass technology to prevent landslips in the state.

• Solan district has been selected by the State Disaster Management Authority, Shimla, for the implementation of the project on a pilot basis.
• In the first phase, the grass will be planted in Shamti, Sanwara and Mansar areas of Solan district to prevent landslides.

ABOUT VETIVER GRASS 

• Scientific name: Chrysopogon zizanioides
• Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
• Commonly known as Khus grass
• Known for its deep root system, which can grow up to 3-4 meters deep, making it highly effective for soil conservation, erosion control nd will play an important role in preventing landslides
• Native to Indiabut cultivated in various tropical regions across the world.
• Widely grown in countries like India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Haiti.