September - 2024 Current Affairs

Correct Answer :   Afghanistan

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Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. The Taliban's decision to suspend polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan poses significant challenges to global polio eradication efforts.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Afghanistan has reported 18 polio cases this year, primarily in the southern region.

This suspension threatens to undermine progress made in combating polio and may have far-reaching consequences for public health.

The global campaign to eradicate polio has made significant progress, but endemic countries like Afghanistan require sustained efforts to eliminate the disease.

Correct Answer :   Angkor Wat

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Angkor Wat, located in Cambodia, has been recognized as the most photogenic UNESCO World Heritage site in Asia by Times Travel.

This accolade highlights the temple's stunning visual appeal, placing it ahead of other notable landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and Petra.

Angkor Wat is a significant historical site within the Angkor Archaeological Park, attracting hundreds of thousands of international visitors and generating substantial tourism revenue for Cambodia.

Correct Answer :   Atishi Marlena

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Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned on Tuesday (17th Sep 2024), paving way for Atishi Marlena to be the third woman CM of the national capital.

CM-designate Atishi handed over the letter of support from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs to L-G VK Saxena, staking claim to head the government.

After party members chose her to lead the government, an emotional Atishi thanked Kejriwal for his trust in her, saying such opportunities are unique to AAP, where a first-time politician can rise to this level. She also reiterated the party’s confidence in the outgoing chief minister, saying “Delhi has only one CM and his name is Arvind Kejriwal.”

Why did Kejriwal resign The former Delhi CM, who is facing corruption charges, resigned after being released on bail from Tihar Jail on moral grounds. While resigning, he said, “Let the people decide if I am imandaar (honest) or gunahgaar (guilty).”

Kejriwal said would only return to office after the people of Delhi determined his “innocence” as each vote in the upcoming Delhi assembly polls would act as a “certificate” of his integrity.

What detractors say Opposition leaders have criticised the party for choosing Atishi as chief minister, with Delhi BJP president Virender Sachdeva saying, “Changing the face does not change AAP’s character.”

While AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, who has alleged that she was “assaulted” by Kejriwal’s personal assistant Bibhav Kumar, criticised her own party’s move, saying: “A woman whose family fought to save terrorist Afzal Guru is being made CM.”..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Odisha

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On September 17, his 74th birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Subhadra Yojana, the Odisha government’s scheme to transfer Rs 10,000 per year to eligible women beneficiaries in the state between the ages of 21 and 60.

The Mohan Charan Majhi government has planned a massive congregation of women from across the state at Bhubaneswar’s Janata Maidan for the launch of the scheme. Arrangements have been made to telecast the PM’s program live at the panchayat and block levels.

Awareness drives are being organised statewide, and all government departments have been asked to use the Subhadra logo in their official communication and social media handles.

Subhadra scheme :

The scheme is named after Goddess Subhadra, the younger sibling of Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Odisha. Lord Jagannath, who is deeply revered in the 90%-Hindu state, is always depicted as part of a triad of deities that includes Subhadra and their oldest sibling, Balabhadra.

Over five years until 2028-29, the scheme will provide more than 1 crore women across the state with financial assistance of Rs 10,000 annually. The transfers will be made in two instalments of Rs 5,000 each, on Rakhi Purnima (Raksha Bandhan, which typically falls in August), and International Women’s Day (March 8) every year..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Amrit Mohan Prasad

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The Central Government has appointed IPS officer Amrit Mohan Prasad as the new Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved this decision based on a proposal from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Prasad, who currently serves as the Special DG of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), will now lead the SSB.

His term will last until his retirement on August 31, 2025, or until further orders are issued.

The SSB is responsible for securing India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Prasad’s appointment comes at an important time for national security, as he brings experience from his time at the CRPF to his new role. This move reflects the government’s effort to ensure strong leadership in the country’s border forces..

Source :Apacnews Network

Correct Answer :   Ayodhya

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Ayodhya, the temple town, has emerged as the top tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh with over 11 crore visitors. The city has overtaken Varanasi to bag the top position. The number includes both domestic and international visitors in the first six months of 2024 as compared to 4.61 crore visiting Varanasi.

The whopping number was shared by the state tourism department on Saturday (14th Sep 2024). These numbers are of tourists visiting the state in the first six months of the year. The figures mention that nearly 33 crore tourists visited UP during this time.

According to Jaiveer Singh, UP tourism and culture minister, “A total of 32, 98, 18, 122 ( 32 crore 98 lakh 18,000 and 122) people visited various parts of the state in the first six months of 2024, compared to 31.86 crore tourists who visited in the entire year in 2022.” This number includes 32, 87, 81, 348 (32 crore, 87 lakh, 81 thousand and 348) domestic tourists, and 10, 36, 774 international visitors.

The minister further said that the hike is quite evident when compared with the first six months of last year which saw 19,60, 34, 967 tourists. This also shows a boost of over 13 crore visitors this year.

As per the tourism department, Ayodhya secured the first spot with 10.99 crore visitors, which includes 2851 foreign visitors. Next was Varanasi with 4.61 crore tourists, which included 1,33,999 international travellers.

The other top destinations in UP are Prayagraj, Mathura, and Agra, attracting millions of travellers every year. Prayagraj saw a footfall of 4,53,94,772 domestic and 3,668 foreign visitors arriving in the first six months of 2024. Mathura followed closely with 3,07,02,513 domestic and 49,619 foreign visitors.

The minister also said that Uttar Pradesh is making its presence felt on the global arena as a top tourist destination with its development of tourist attractions and improved facilities.

Apparently, Ayodhya garnered a lot of international as well as national attention in the first month of 2024, thanks to the inauguration of the much-awaited Ram Mandir. Today, the city stands as one of the most revered destinations in the country..

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Gujarat

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India’s first Vande Metro train has been renamed as ‘Namo Bharat Rapid Rail’, top sources in the Indian Railways said. The much-awaited launch of the indigenously built train is slated for Monday (16th Sep 2024).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a two-day visit to Gujarat, will inaugurate the country’s first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service in Gujarat on Monday (16th Sep 2024), a day ahead of his birthday.

The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail will connect Bhuj (Gujarat’s Kutch district) with the capital Ahmedabad, thereby covering a distance of 360 kilometres in less than 6 hours. The train service will be flagged off at 4.15 p.m. virtually from Bhuj railway station while the train will officially start its services on 17 September 2024, the day when PM Modi celebrates his birthday.

The train will depart Bhuj at 5:05 a.m. and will reach Ahmedabad at 10:50 a.m. while the return from Ahmedabad to Bhuj is slated between 5:30 p.m. to 11:20 p.m.

Earlier, the Western Railways informed on X, “The Vande Metro train has 12 air-conditioned coaches with centrally controlled automatic sliding doors, modular interiors, continuous LED lighting, toilets with vacuum evacuation, route map indicators, panoramic windows, CCTV, phone charging facilities.”

The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and all modern amenities and has some distinct features, which differentiate it from the Vande Bharat Express. The Namo Rapid Rail is also equipped with advanced safety systems like KAVACH to avoid collisions and is also fitted with an automatic smoke/fire detection mechanism. It has a seating capacity of 1,150 passengers.

It has also provisions for cushioned sofas for added comfort to passengers. According to the Railways Ministry, it also has the exclusive features of Divyangjan-friendly toilets, a fully sealed flexible gangway and meal service among others..

Source : Sarkaritel

Correct Answer :   September 16

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The International Day for Interventional Cardiology is observed annually on September 16th to raise awareness about the critical field of interventional cardiology and its role in treating heart diseases.

This specialized field employs minimally invasive procedures, such as catheter-based techniques and stent insertions, to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions.

Recognizing the significance of interventional cardiology is crucial, as cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally.

By observing this day, healthcare professionals and organizations aim to promote education, awareness, and advancements in cardiac care.

Correct Answer :   Operation Sadbhav

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Operation Sadbhav is a humanitarian relief operation launched by the Government of India to provide assistance to countries affected by Typhoon Yagi, including Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.

The operation is part of India's broader effort to contribute to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) within the ASEAN region, aligning with its 'Act East Policy'.

Under Operation Sadbhav, India has extended assistance worth US$ 1 million to Vietnam, including 35 tons of humanitarian aid, such as water purification items, blankets, and solar lanterns.

Correct Answer :   Gujarat

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The 4th RE-INVEST Summit was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marking a significant milestone in India's renewable energy journey.

The prime minister's inauguration highlighted India's commitment to a green future, as it is the first G-20 nation to meet its Paris climate goals.

The summit showcased innovations in renewable energy, including the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, aimed at making every home a power producer.

Gujarat's hosting of this event underscores India's priority for accelerating the clean energy sector and advancing climate goals.