Current Affairs Quiz 15th October 2024 Quiz

Exp. Trachoma no longer a public health problem in India: WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified India, Nepal, and Myanmar as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

India joins 19 other countries in the world that have successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

According to the WHO, trachoma is still a major public health problem in 39 countries in the world and causes blindness in around 19 lakh people worldwide.

Trachoma was amongst the leading cause of blindness in the country during 1950-60.

The Government of India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963 and later on Trachoma control efforts were integrated into India’s National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB).

In 1971, blindness due to Trachoma was 5% and today, owing to the various interventions under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), it has come down to less than 1%.

WHO SAFE strategy was implemented throughout the country wherein SAFE stands for adoption of surgery, antibiotics, facial hygiene, environmental cleanliness etc. As a result, in 2017, India was declared free from infective Trachoma. However, surveillance continued for trachoma cases in all the districts of India from 2019 onwards till 2024.

What is Trachoma?

• Trachoma is a bacterial infection that affects the eyes. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis.
• Trachoma is contagious, spreading through contact with the eyes, eyelids, nose or throat secretions of infected people, if left untreated it causes irreversible blindness.

About World Health Organization (WHO)

• Formation – 7 April 1948
• Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
• First President – Andrija Štampar
• Director General – Tedros Adhanom (Ethiopia)
• Deputy Director General – Soumya Swaminathan (Indian)
• Member Countries – 194

Exp. EAM Jaishankar launches eMigrate V2.0 web portal & mobile app

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has inaugurated the eMigrate V2.0 web portal and Mobile App in Delhi.

The eMigrate portal has 2.81 lakh registered foreign employers. It promotes safe and legal mobility channels for Indian migrants.

The launch of the eMigrate V2.0 portal is a testament to the government’s efforts to create safe, transparent and inclusive mobility for Indians.

The revamped version of the portal is a symbol of the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of Indian workers in foreign lands. This is important because it also aligns with Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals which promotes the facilitation of orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people.  

Exp. HAL becomes 14th Maharatna CPSE in India

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will now be the 14th ‘Maharatna’ company among Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE), the Finance Ministry announced.

This status will give more autonomy to the company in terms of financial and strategic matters.

HAL is a Department of Defence Production (DoDP) CPSE with an annual turnover of ₹28162 crore and a net profit of ₹7595 crore for FY2023-24.

14^th Maharatna CPSEs

1. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
2. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
3. Coal India Limited
4. GAIL India Limited
5. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
6. Indian Oil Corporation Limited
7. NTPC Limited
8. Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited,
9. Power Finance Corporation
10. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
11. Steel Authority of India Limited
12. Rural Electrification Corporation Limited
13. Oil India Ltd
14. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Exp. India beat Taipei to win women’s single Bendigo International Challenge Badminton Tournament

India’s Tanya Hemanth beat Tung Ciou-Tong of Taipei in straight games to win the women’s singles title at the Bendigo International Challenge badminton tournament in Bendigo, Australia.

The second-seeded Tanya beat her opponent Tung, seeded sixth in the tournament, 21-17, 21-17 in the women’s singles final.

This was 21-year-old Tanya’s third international title and first of the year. She finished runner-up at the Polish Open and Azerbaijan International in 2024. She won titles at the India International in 2022 and Iran Fajr International in 2023.

In the men’s doubles final, the top-seeded Indian pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi lost to the Taipei duo of Chen Cheng Kuan and Po Li-Wei 17-21, 14-2.

Exp. Historic medal for Ayhika & Sutirthat at Asian T T Championships 2024

In Table Tennis, India’s top-ranked pair of Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee have scripted history by clinching the first-ever medal for the country in Women’s Doubles of Asian Championships 2024 at Astana in Kazakhstan.

The Indian pair settled for the bronze medal after losing to the Japanese combination of Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara 0-3 in the semi-finals.

Miwa Harimoto was part of Japan’s Paris 2024 Olympics silver-medal team, and Miyuu Kihara is a three-time World Championships medal winner.

This was the first medal for the Indian women’s doubles team in the Asian Table Tennis Championships since 1972.

India ended the 27th Asian Table Tennis Championships with three bronze medals. The Indian men’s and women’s teams won a bronze medal in their respective events.

Exp. India to host Junior World Cup of shooting in 2025

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) President Luciano Rossi confirmed that India will host the ISSF Junior World Cup in 2025.

India continues to be a significant force in the world of shooting not only with its talented athletes but also through its commitment to expanding the sport’s infrastructure and reach.

Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was present during the occasion.

Upcoming Sport Events

• Asian Track Cycling Championships 2024 – India
• FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – USA
• Kho Kho World Cup in 2025 – India
• AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 – Australia
• FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 – Brazil
• World Aquatics Championships 2029 – Beijing
• AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2029 – Uzbekistan

Exp. Harmanpreet Singh emerges as most expensive player in Hockey auction

India captain Harmanpreet Singh became the most expensive player on day one of the Hockey India League auction, with Soorma Hockey Club snapping the star drag-flicker for 78 lakh rupees.

Abhishek became the second-most expensive buy, acquired by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for 72 lakh rupees, while Hardik Singh went to UP Rudras for 70 lakh rupees.

The league will get underway on 28th December this year.  

Exp. JP Nadda inaugurates 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA).

The event which is being hosted for the first time in India, from 14th – 18th October by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with, the World Health Organization (WHO) brought together regulatory authorities, policymakers, and health officials from over 194 WHO member states.

The 5-day conference will feature a series of insightful sessions where regulatory authorities and industry leaders will deliberate on key issues affecting global drug and medical device regulation.

Exp. MSDE partners with Meta for AI Assistant in Skill India Mission and 5 Centers of Excellence in NSTIs

The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with Meta for the launch of two key initiatives.

1. An AI Assistant for the Skill India Mission and
2. the establishment 5 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) located at Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai, and Kanpur.

Under this partnership, an innovative AI chatbot powered by Meta’s open-source Llama model will be developed, which will enhance the learner experience on the Skill India Digital (SID) Portal.

The chatbot, which will be integrated into the SID Portal, offers 24/7 assistance to users, enabling quick discovery of course information, interactive Q&A, for course content, and access to lecture summaries and relevant videos for revision.

The chatbot will also provide valuable analytics to the MSDE to further optimize the platform. Sarvam AI, the technical partner for the AI assistant project, will be responsible for the development and deployment of the chatbot, which will be piloted over six months.

The Skill India Digital Portal has become a cornerstone of the nation’s skilling ecosystem, with millions of students accessing courses aimed at improving their employability. With the launch of the AI chatbot, MSDE and Meta are taking a significant step forward in revolutionizing how students interact with course content and prepare for the future.

Further, Skillveri, the technical partner for establishing the CoEs, will provide cutting-edge VR and MR resources, curriculum, and trained professionals to equip learners and instructors with the latest technology, enabling immersive and interactive learning experiences.

Exp. Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, James Robinson win Economics Nobel Prize 2024

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the 2024 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel has been awarded to economists Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A Robinson.

The trio has been recognised “for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.”

The laureates’ research examines how different political and economic systems, particularly those established during colonialism, have had long-lasting effects on the prosperity of nations. Their work has developed theoretical frameworks to explain why certain institutions endure over time and how they can evolve, shedding light on the persistent income gaps, between countries, the academy said in awarding the prize.

Daron Acemoglu, a Turkish American economist of Armenian heritage, has been a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) since 1993. His research spans multiple fields, including political economy, macroeconomics, and development economics.

Acemoglu is widely known for his influential work, co-authoring books such as The Narrow Corridor and Why Nations Fail with James Robinson.

Simon Johnson, a British American economist, is currently the Ronald A Kurtz Professor of Entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

He has held notable positions, including chief economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2007 to 2008. Johnson’s research has focused on entrepreneurship, economic growth, and the role of institutions in development.

James Robinson, a British economist and political scientist, is a professor of global conflict studies at the Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago. He also directs The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. He has authored several books, including Why Nations Fail, with Acemoglu.

The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was established in 1968 in memory of Alfred Nobel. It is awarded alongside the traditional Nobel Prizes in fields such as Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.

Exp. Manoj Kumar Dubey appointed as CEO and MD of IRFC

Public Sector Undertaking Indian Railways Financial Corporation has appointed Manoj Kumar Dubey as the CEO, Chairman, and Managing Director of the company for five years.

Dubey joined the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) in the 1993 batch after clearing the Civil Services examination in the first attempt.

During his decorated career with Indian Railways, he implemented key initiatives such as the near-universal payment of salaries through banks,the introduction of e-tendering and eauction systems etc.

He won the National Award for Outstanding Service at the Minister of Railways level in 2011 for his leadership and innovative approaches.

He was in the Board of Directors of a Joint Venture Company of General Electricals of USA and IR, Alstom of France and IR, and a Joint Venture Company of NMDC, SAIL, and Indian Railways. He took over as Director (Finance) & CFO, CONCOR.

Recent Appointment

• Chairman of Tata Trusts – Noel Tata (replace Ratan Tata)
• CEO of Government e Marketplace (GeM) Portal – L Satya Srinivas (additional charge)
• MD of Nestlé India Limited – Manish Tiwary (replace Suresh Narayanan); effect from 1 August 2025
• President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for 2024-25 – Prasanth Kumar
• Head of BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit – Sharad Kumar (replace KK Mishra)

Exp. 15 October – International Day for Rural Women

International Day for Rural Women is observed every year on 15 October.

The day recognizes the significant contributions of rural women to food systems, agricultural production, and the environment, and calls for equal opportunities for all.

Theme 2024 – Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future: Building climate resilience, conserving biodiversity, and caring for land towards gender equality and empowerment

The International Day for Rural Women, first established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes, “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including Indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.”  

Exp. 13 October – International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed every year on 13 October 2024.

The day aims to raise awareness and promote a culture of disaster reduction and risk awareness around the world. The theme for this year is Empowering the next generation for a resilient future.

Theme 2024 – Empowering the Next Generation for a Resilient Future

The primary focus of this year is to empower children through education and equip them to protect themselves and become agents of change in their families and communities.

Exp. Akashvani Darbhanga former radio presenter Indranand Singh Jha passes away

Indranand Singh Jha, the famous former radio presenter and compere of Akashvani Darbhanga passed away at the age of 77.

Well-known for his rural radio talk programme Gamghar from Akashvani Darbhanga station with the pen name of Khur Khur Bhai (खुर खुर भाई), he was very popular among radio listeners during his service.