Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 18, 2024

ANSWER: D

Current Context : After a long gap of 18 years, the Nilgiri hills are once again painted blue with the blooming of Neelakurinji flowers (Strobilanthes kunthianus).

ABOUT NEELKURUNJI

• Neelkurunji, scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana, is a flowering plant native to the Western Ghats of India, particularly found in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• Neelkurunji is a herbaceous perennial plant that can grow up to 1 meter tall. It has long, narrow leaves and produces striking blue or purple flowers.
• Blooming Cycle: One of its most unique features is its synchronized flowering cycle, which occurs once every 12 years. When it blooms, the landscape is transformed into a vibrant sea of blue.
• It typically grows in hilly regions, often found at altitudes of 1,200 to 2,500 meters. Neelkurunji thrives in montane forests and grasslands. The seeds mature ten months after flowering.
• Tourism: The flowering events attract tourists and nature enthusiasts, contributing to ecotourism in the Western Ghats.

Answer: B

Current Context : PM Modi to visit US from September 21 to 23; take part in Quad Summit, address ‘Summit of Future’ at UNGA.

ABOUT SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE

• It is a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.
• It serves as a moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively tackle current challenges as well as those that have emerged in recent years or may yet be over the horizon.
• The high-level event will bring together UN Member States, UN agencies, non- governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), academic institutions, the private sector, and youth under the theme, ‘Summit of the Future: Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’.
• Aim : to build upon the Sustainable development Goal (SDG) Summit and deliver an action-oriented Pact for the Future to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
• This will be achieved through an action-oriented outcome document called the Pact for the Future.
• The Pact will be negotiated, and endorsed by countries in the lead-up to and during the Summit in September 2024.
• UN Member States have agreed the Summit of the Future is centered around five key targets:
  • Reaffirm the UN Charter.
  • Reinvigorate multilateralism.
  • Boost implementation of existing commitments. o Agree on solutions to new challenges.
  • Restore trust.

Answer: C

Current Context : The Odisha government recently approved a proposal to transfer 95 percent of the equity shares of Gopalpur Port to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ).

• Gopalpur Port, situated near Berhampur town in southern Odisha, is about 175 kilometers from Bhubaneswar.
• This will be the second port owned by Adani in Odisha, as APSEZ also owns the Dhamra port.
• The port has been developed through a public-private partnership, enhancing its operational efficiency and capacity.
• The port handles 43 million metric tonne per annum of cargo, employs 4,000 people.
• It shares 7.5% of its gross revenue with Odisha govt.

Answer: B

Current Context : The Railway Ministry has renamed the Bhuj-Ahmedabad Vande Metro to Namo Bharat Rapid Rail.

• Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, which aims to enhance intercity connectivity, will cover 359 km distance from Bhuj to Ahmedabad in 5:45 hours. In between, the train will stop at nine stations.
• Namo Bharat trains will connect the heart of Ahmedabad with its peripheral cities.
• Developed on the same platform as the Vande Bharat Express, the Vande Metro train is a self-propelled train set designed for short-distance inter-city travel.

Answer: D

Current Context : Recently, Delhi government has started preparations to spray bio-decomposer over 5,000 acres of farmland in New Delhi.

• Aim : to reduce pollution and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

ABOUT

• It is a microbial liquid spray that breaks down paddy stubble, making it easily absorbable into the soil and eliminating the need for burning.
• Developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).
• The government has been providing the bio-decomposer solution free of charge since 2020 in outer Delhi.
• Adopted in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and NCT of Delhi.

ADVANTAGES:

• Pollution ReductioN: Prevents the burning of paddy stubble, helping to lower air pollution.
• Soil Fertility: Enhances soil fertility by enriching it with organic carbon, nutrients, and improving biological and physical prop
• Practical Solution: Offers an efficient, cost-effective, and practical method to combat stubble burning.
• Eco-Friendly: Promotes environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.

Answer: A

Current Context : The Honorable Vice President of India Shri. Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the “Constitutional Temple – Samvidhan Mandir” at 433 Industrial Training Institutes across Maharashtra.

• This programme was organized by the Maharashtra Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Department.
• The Constitution Temples have been designed to educate students about the importance and sanctity of the Constitution of India and to disseminate the ideas and thoughts of the father of the Indian Constitution, Bharat Ratna, Bhimrao R Ambedkar.

Answer: B

Current Context : Typhoon Bebinca, strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai in China.

• Typhoon Bebinca, which disrupted flights and destroyed infrastructure was recorded to have attained speeds as high as 150 kilometres per hour.
• Typhoon Bebinca, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Ferdie, was a strong tropical cyclone that affected East China, Guam, Philippines and the Ryukyu Islands in early September 2024.

About Cyclone

• Cyclones are powerful storms characterized by rotating winds and low atmospheric pressure, typically forming over warm ocean waters.

Types of Cyclones:

Tropical Cyclones:

• Form in warm tropical regions.
• Classified into categories based on wind speed (e.g., tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane/typhoon).

Extra-Tropical Cyclones:

• Form in temperate regions.
• Often associated with fronts and can occur year-round.

Answer: B

Current Context : Neeraj Chopra concluded his 2024 season with another impressive second-place finish at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.

• His best throw of 86m was just 0.01m (or 1cm) short of Anderson Peters’ winning throw of 87.87m.

ABOUT DIAMOND LEAGUE

• The Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field competitions that includes fifteen of the top invitational athletics meetings.
• It is recognized as part of the premier tier of World Athletics (formerly IAAF) one-day meeting competitions.
• Launched in 2010, the Diamond League was created to replace the IAAF Golden League, which had run since 1998.
• It features 32 Diamond Discipline events, with each meeting hosting several of these events.
• The 32 disciplines of the Diamond League are as follows: •
• Both Men and Women: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m/Mile, 3000m/5000m, 3000m SC(Steeplechase), 110m Hurdles (100m for women), 400m Hurdles, High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Discus Throw, Javelin Throw;

Answer: C

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh will be the first state in the country to formulate horticulture policy.

Aim : to boost horticultural production and transforming the state into the fruit bowl of the country.

About Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition (HPSHIVA)

• Project aims to increase the income of farm households in seven districts (Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan, Sirmour and Una) of subtropical areas of Himachal Pradesh.
• Project would cover 6,000 hectares of land across seven districts of the state.
• Project is an initiative by the State Government of Himachal Pradesh, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• Total outlay of Project is USD 163 million (approximately INR 1300 crores).
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) : Provides USD 130 million in financial assistance.
• State Government : Contributes the remaining USD 33 million.