Current Affairs Quiz - October 2023

Current Affairs

• Air Vice Marshal Vikas Sharma assumed command of the Air Officer Commanding at the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh headquarters
• India's National Space Commission approved the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Lupex), a joint venture between ISRO and JAXA, to explore lunar resources, particularly water at the South Pole
• BEL and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) formed a joint venture, BEL IAI AeroSystems Private Ltd, to provide long-term support for MRSAM systems used by Indian defense forces
• Han Kang, a South Korean author, was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her poetic prose that confronts historical trauma and human life's fragility
• Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun jointly received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of microRNA and its role in gene regulation
• John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for their groundbreaking work in machine learning with artificial neural networks
• India and the United States signed an agreement to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain in response to concerns about China's dominance
• David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John M. Jumper were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their advancements in protein science
• Assam's 'Nijut Moina' scheme aims to combat child marriage by encouraging girls to continue their education
• The third 25T Bollard Pull Tug, 'Ashva', was launched by Cmde Ajay Yadav at Titagarh Rail Systems Limited in Kolkata, supporting India's "Make in India" vision
• DRDO successfully conducted three flight tests of the 4th Generation VSHORADS at Pokhran Field Firing Ranges
• The Union Cabinet approved the designation of Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali as Classical Languages, increasing the total number to 11
• World Mental Health Day was observed on October 10th, 2024, emphasizing the importance of mental health and support, with the theme "Mental Health at Work"

Jammu & Kashmir

• L.Governor: Manoj Sinha

Assam

• Chief Minister: Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

• Founded: 1958
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairman: Dr. Samir V. Kamat

Key Locations

• Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary (Jammu & Kashmir)
• Hirapora Wildlife Sanctuary (Jammu & Kashmir)
• Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (Jammu & Kashmir)
• Dachigam National Park (Jammu & Kashmir)
• Salim Ali National Park (Jammu & Kashmir)
• Dibru Saikhowa National Park (Assam)
• Akashiganga Waterfalls (Assam)
• Kakochang Waterfall (Assam)
• Chapanala Waterfalls (Assam)
• Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
• Nameri National Park (Assam)
• Manas National Park (Assam)
• Pokhran Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan)

Air Vice Marshal Vikas Sharma

• Air Vice Marshal Vikas Sharma took charge as the Air Officer Commanding of Headquarter Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Jammu and Kashmir is a state in India with a number of notable wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
• Some of these include: Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary, Hirapora Wildlife Sanctuary, Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary, Dachigam National Park, and Salim Ali National Park.
• The current Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir is Manoj Sinha.

Lunar Polar Exploration Mission

• India's National Space Commission has approved the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Lupex).
• The mission will be a joint effort between India's ISRO and Japan's JAXA.
• The focus of the mission is to explore lunar resources, particularly water at the lunar south pole.

BEL IAI AeroSystems Private Ltd.

• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have formed a joint venture named BEL IAI AeroSystems Private Ltd.
• This venture will provide long-term product support for the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems used by India's defense forces.

Nobel Prizes 2024

• The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2024 was awarded to South Korean author Han Kang.
• Kang was recognized for her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life".
• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun.
• They were recognized for their discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
• The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for their work on machine learning with artificial neural networks.
• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John M.Jumper for their contributions to protein science.

"Nijut Moina" Scheme

• The Assam government launched the 'Nijut Moina' scheme to combat child marriage.
• The scheme aims to encourage girls to continue their education.
• Child marriage is a significant issue in Assam, and this initiative hopes to address it.
• Assam is a state in India known for its diverse wildlife.
• Important wildlife areas in Assam include: Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, and Nameri National Park.
• Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma is the current Chief Minister of Assam.

25T Bollard Pull Tug, Ashva

• The third 25T Bollard Pull Tug, named Ashva, was launched by Cmde Ajay Yadav at Titagarh Rail Systems Limited in Kolkata.
• This launch is a testament to India's "Make in India" initiative and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" vision.

DRDO's VSHORADS

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted three successful flight tests of the 4th Generation VSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defence System).
• The tests were conducted at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
• The tests demonstrated the missile's key performance metrics, including range, altitude, and hit-to-kill capability.

Classical Language Status

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the conferral of classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali languages.
• This brings the total number of classical languages in India to 11.

World Mental Health Day

• World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10th.
• The day aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage support for those experiencing these issues.
• The event was first observed in 1992 and is organized by the World Federation for Mental Health.
• The theme for World Mental Health Day 2024 is "Mental Health at Work".

DRDO

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was founded in 1958.
• Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
• The current Chairman of DRDO is Dr. Samir V. Kamat.

Test your knowledge on the latest current affairs, including significant military appointments, groundbreaking space missions, and notable Nobel Prize winners. This quiz covers major events and figures that have shaped recent news in both national and international arenas.