Daily Current Affairs Quiz: October 11, 2023

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: C

• With China and India holding multiple rounds of talks on the border row along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Territorial Army (TA) has inducted Mandarin experts to act as interpreters during border personnel meetings between the two sides.

ABOUT TERRITORIAL ARMY

• It is an arm of the Indian Army, established under TA Act 1948.
• Raised on 9 October, 1949, the TA is a volunteer force of India that can be quickly mobilised and utilised during war as well as “no-war, no-peace” scenarios in regions with a history of unrest — for instance, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and the Northeast.
• Thus, it relieves Regular Army from static duties and assist Civil Administration in dealing with natural calamities etc.
• It enables young citizens (18 to 42 years age) to serve in a military environment without having to sacrifice their primary professions.
• The TA has also been undertaking ecological tasks around the country and has raised 10 Ecological Task Force (ETF) battalions that solely undertake ecology-related work around the country.
  • The first such battalion was raised in December 1982.
  • About more than nine crore trees have been planted on around 90,000 hectares of land that had been allotted for the work by various state governments.
• The TA’s annual target includes planting roughly 40-45 lakh trees across the country.
• TA personnel can be decorated for their gallantry services through Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, Shourya Chakra, etc.

ANSWER: B

• The 19^th Asian Games 2023 came to an end with a closing ceremony at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

• Hosts China finished with a record 201 gold medals followed by Japan and Republic of Korea.
• India finished fourth with a total of 107 medals that included 28 gold.
• The 20^th Asian Games will be held in Japan in 2026.

ABOUT ASIAN GAMES

• Asian Games are the oldest and most prestigious event on Olympic Council of Asia calendar.
• Asian Games is recognised by International Olympic Committee.
• It is second largest multi-sport event after Olympics.
• They are held every four years.

ANSWER: C

• Scientists from a University in Thailand are conducting groundbreaking research into the potential of watermealas a source of nutrition and oxygen for astronauts.

ABOUT WATERMEAL

• It is the world’s smallest flowering plant.

• This rootless, stemless plant typically floats on the surface of water bodies in regions like Thailand and other parts of Asia.
• Its simplicity and rapid growth rate make it an ideal candidate for studying the effects of altered gravity on plant development.
• It’s a prolific producer of oxygen through photosynthesis and a rich source of protein.

ANSWER: B

• Since its first edition in 2015, the Annual Joint HADR Exercise, CHAKRAVAT, has transformed itself into a multi-agency endeavour involving participation of all three Services, Paramilitary Forces, as well as several disaster response organisations, NGOs, academic institutions and international organisations.
• The 2023 edition would further synergise efforts at the national level among all stakeholders, as well as witness participation from eight countries of the Indian Ocean Region.
• The exercise has been conducted by Indian Army, Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF) in rotation since 2016.
• The last edition of the exercise was conducted at Agra by IAF.
• The 2023 edition of the exercise is being hosted by the Indian Navy at Goa from 09 to 11 Oct 23.

ANSWER: A

• A juvenile reticulated python was sighted inside IIT Madras, slithering across a residential zone.

ABOUT RETICULATED PYTHON

• Scientific name- Malayopython reticulatus
• Reticulated pythons are the world’s longest and third heaviest snakes ever recorded.
• This species has a broad range across southeastern Asia.
  • In India, they are found in the wild only in Nicobar Islands.
• The species, despite its striking color patterns, camouflage well within its environment.
• Growing Conditions- Tropical environments, Heavily dependent on water, Highly adaptable python species.
• Reticulated pythons are non-venomous, slow-moving reptiles and are commonly found in Southeast Asia.
  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists reticulated python as “least concern” globally in view of its wide distribution.

ANSWER: A

• CM recently released the District Good Governance Index (DGGI) Annual Report-2022.
• As per the rankings for 2022, Kangra district bagged the first prize of Rs 50 lakh, Hamirpur district was second and got Rs 35 lakh reward while Lahaul and Spiti district was third and got the third prize of Rs 25 lakh.
• The DGGI report includes eight themes of essential infrastructure, support to human development, social protection, women and children, crime, law and order, environment, transparency and accountability and economic performance.
• In the second tier, there are 19 focus subjects like power, water, roads, education, health, PDS, social justice, employment, children & women, crime, law & order, atrocities, environmental violations, forest, transparency & accountability, farm & allied sectors and commerce and industry.

In the third tier, there are 90 specific variables on which the data available in the districts is analysed and integrated.