Daily Current Affairs Quiz: October 12, 2023

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: B

• Hemochromatosis is a rare genetic disorder that quietly threatens the health of affected individuals by causing iron overload, which can lead to severe organ dysfunction.
• Hemochromatosis has been dubbed “bronze diabetes” because of the skin darkening and concomitant pancreatic illness.
• This health condition is primarily classified into two types–
  • Hereditary hemochromatosis
    • It is a genetic disorder driven by a mutation in the HFE gene, resulting in individuals being homozygous for the C282Y variant.
    • This genetic anomaly sets the stage for a lifelong struggle with excessive iron absorption within the intestines.
    • Individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis have a relentless and indiscriminate iron absorption mechanism, leading to a gradual buildup of iron in their system.
    • Over time, this iron overload becomes a ticking time bomb for multiple organs.

• Secondary hemochromatosis
  • On the other hand, Secondary hemochromatosis differs from the hereditary form as it is typically caused by external factors like frequent blood transfusions, excessive iron supplementation, or certain medical conditions.
  • The iron accumulation in secondary hemochromatosis is often more rapid and can have a similar impact on organ function.
• Common symptoms include- Feeling very tired all the time (fatigue),weight loss,weakness and joint pain etc.
• Treatment– Phlebotomy is the standard treatment for primary hemochromatosis. Iron toxicity can be reduced by removing red blood cells, the body’s main mobilizer of iron. Phlebotomy is usually performed once or twice a week.

ANSWER: C

• The dancing frogs that are endemic to the Western Ghats are the most threatened amphibian genus of India, according to the Wildlife Trust of India, which analysed the second edition of the Global Amphibian Assessment released recently.
• It is also the fifth most threatened genus in the world with 92 per cent of its species in the threatened category.
• Of the 24 species of the frogs belonging to the Micrixalus genus that were assessed, two were found to be critically endangered and 15 were endangered.
• Characteristic behaviour- The dancing frogs that are found near the streams do a unique display to mate. The males stretch up their hind legs one at a time and wave their webbed toes in the air in a rapid motion akin to a dance. This act is called “foot flagging” and gives the species their name.
• The species prefer habitats in areas with thick canopy cover of at least 70-80 per cent.
• Threats- invasive species, land use change, extreme weather, etc

ANSWER: A

• The ‘Iron Dome’ is ground-to-air short-range air defence system which intercepts incoming missiles, rockets and even Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and destroys them mid-air.
• The system, which has been standing guard since 2011, has been deployed across Israel for times like these.
• The Dome has a range of close to 70 km and has three crucial components, Detection and Tracking radar, Battle Management and Weapons Control and the Missile Launcher armed with 20 Tamir Missiles.
• It is reportedly capable of handling multiple rocket attacks and has a 90% success rate.
• Also Operation Iron Swords has been launched by Israel Defence Forces in response to an attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group.

ANSWER: D

• Udangudi ‘Panangkarupatti’ (palm jaggery/ gur) has been given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• The palm jaggery preparation procedure in this area is traditional till date without inclusion of any additional modern strategies.
  • No chemical additives are used in Udangudi Panangkarupatti.
• The karupatti prepared from the palm sap from the region around Udangudi in Tiruchendur taluk in Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu has some uniqueness.
• This is due to presence of red sand dune soil found in the region.
  • This soil holds less groundwater.
• The moisture content in the atmosphere is less because of the dry climatic condition, which leads to high sucrose content, in turn adding taste.
• The region’s dry climate is also suitable for storage of karupatti for a longer duration.
• Udangudi jaggery is even exported to foreign countries, including Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore.

ANSWER: A

• World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9^th October.
• The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) creation in 1874.
• Theme for World Post Day 2023 is “Together for Trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected future.”
  • It urges governments and their postal services to support the development of a digital single postal territory that complements the extensive physical network developed over centuries.

ANSWER: B

• Every year on October 11^th, the global community observes the International Day of Girl Child 2023.
• The day aims to focus on the importance of “girls’ education, their rights and promoting gender equality.”
• The theme of International Day of the Girl 2023 according to the UNICEF website is, “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being.”
  • It focuses on taking action to curtail girls’ and women’s rights and gain progress on gender equality.
• The United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution 66/170 in 2011 to declare ‘October 11’ as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognise their rights and the challenges they face.