Assam and NE Current Affairs & GK- August 10-12, 2024
(Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for August 10-12, 2024)
Five Assamese movies Shines at 70th National Film Awards
Five Assamese movies Shines at 70th National Film Awards. Three films from Assam bagged Rajat Kamal and two other films from the state got certificates of special mention at the 70th National Film Awards for the year 2024.
Key Points
Emuthi Puthi (A very fishy trip), produced by Metanormal Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd. and directed by Kulanandini Mahanta, bagged the Rajat Kamal Award as the best Assamese film.
- Sikaisal (if only trees could talk) also bagged the Rajat Kamal Award as the best Tiwa film.
- Xunyota (void) also got the Rajat Kamal Award as the best short film (up to 30 minutes).
- Two other non-feature category films from Assam—Birubala ‘Witch to Padmashri’ produced by Aimee Baruah Production Society and directed by Aimee Baruah and
- Hargila—The Greater Adjutant Stork, produced by PI Entertainment and directed by Partha Sarathi Mahanta—got certificates of special mention.
MEA and NSIL sign MoU for grant assistance for the launch of Munal satellite
An MoU was signed between India’s Ministry of External Affairs and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) to launch Nepal’s Munal satellite.
About Munal satellite
- Munal Satellite is an indigenous satellite developed in Nepal, under the aegis of NAST. APN, a Nepali space startup, has assisted Nepali students in the design and fabrication of this satellite.
- The satellite aims to build a vegetation density database of the Earth’s surface.
- This satellite is expected to be launched soon on NSIL’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
Largest-ever Kashmiri folk dance at ‘Kashur Riwaaj’ cultural festival
Youth of Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district created a world record by registering their names to the Universal Records Forum (URF) for the largest-ever Kashmiri folk dance performed by 10,000 young women at the ‘Kashur Riwaaj’ cultural festival.
About the festival
- The mega event was organised by the Dagger Division of Chinar Corps in collaboration with Baramulla District Administration and Indrani Balan Foundation (IBF).
- This was the largest-ever Kashmiri Folk Dance performed by 10,000 young women at Kashur Riwaaj Cultural Fest on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day.
- The festival took place at Prof. Showkat Ali Indoor Stadium to showcase the vibrant traditions of Kashmir through traditional dances, music, calligraphy and cultural activities.
Aman Sehrawat clinches 57kg wrestling bronze at Paris 2024 Olympics
Aman Sherawat won a bronze medal in the men’s 57kg freestyle event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Aman holds the distinction of being the youngest Indian to win an Olympic medal at just 21 years. It is India’s fifth bronze and sixth overall medal from the Paris Olympics 2024.
Aman’s career has been marked by a series of impressive accomplishments. His significant achievement came in 2022 when he became the first Indian wrestler to secure a gold medal at the U23 Wrestling World Championships.
This victory set the stage for further success, including gold medals at the U23 Asian Championships and the Senior Asian Championships in 2023.
In addition to his gold medals, Aman’s consistent performances in various ranking series events have demonstrated his skill and determination. His medal haul includes victories at the 2024 Ranking Series in Zagreb and the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial, as well as podium finishes in prestigious tournaments like the Yasar Dogu and Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov events.
India’s First Grain ATM Launched in Odisha
India’s first round-the-clock grain ATM was opened at Mancheswar in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This initiative is known as Annapurti Grain ATM which is designed and developed by the World Food Programme India.
About Grain ATM:
- This initiative would simplify the process for beneficiaries to access their entitled food grains; anyone with a Public Distribution System ration card valid in India, regardless of the State and Union Territory, can access their entitlement.
- This user-friendly system ensures that beneficiaries can access their full ration of food grains without any complications.
- It can dispense grain up to 50 kilograms in five minutes 24 hours a day, reducing waiting time by 70 percent.
- It is an automated multi-commodity dispensing solution that provides fast, clean and precise access to commodities (rice, wheat, grains) to beneficiaries, post biometric authentication.
- It will dispense rice or wheat 24/7, providing a reliable and consistent source of food for the state’s residents.
Chhattisgarh Establishes India’s Third Largest Tiger Reserve
Chhattisgarh has recently approved the creation of the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, due to the recent plunge in its tiger population.
About Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve
- Guru Ghasidas National Park and the Tamor Pingla Sanctuary, located in the districts of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur, and Balrampur, to form the new reserve.
- It is Chhattisgarh’s fourth tiger reserve, following Indravati, Udanti-Sitanadi, and Achanakmar.
- It aims to bolster conservation efforts and provide a protected habitat for tigers, thereby promoting eco-tourism and creating employment opportunities for local communities.
- It would promote eco-tourism and create employment opportunities for local communities.
Declining Population of Tigers
- According to a National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) report released in July 2023, Chhattisgarh’s tiger population dropped from 46 in 2014 to just 17 in 2022.
- The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change highlighted this concerning trend in a 2023 statement, noting that states like Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh have reported worrisome declines in their small tiger populations.
About NTCA:
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- It was set up under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 which was amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation.
- It works on protecting habitats, stopping poaching, and involving communities.
- It works with different states to improve monitoring.
IIT Indore develops e-shoes for live location tracking
IIT Indore has created advanced shoes incorporating Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG) technology, which generates electricity from human motion and integrates GPS for real-time location tracking.
Key Points
- The shoes are designed to improve safety and coordination among soldiers by providing real-time location data and power for essential devices.
- They offer the ability to analyze athletes’ movements, potentially enhancing performance.
- These shoes can be beneficial for monitoring movement of Alzheimer’s patient’s, tracking school children, and managing factory worker attendance.
- The first set of 10 pairs of these high-tech shoes has been sent to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for testing and evaluation. This project is led by Professor Suhas Joshi at IIT Indore, with support from Professor I A Palani, demonstrating the institution’s dedication to developing cutting-edge technology.
India Names Three Underwater Structures in Indian Ocean
India has successfully proposed names for three underwater geographical structures located in the Indian Ocean. These are the Ashoka Seamount, Chandragupt Ridge, and Kalpataru Ridge.
These names were proposed by India and approved by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
Key Facts About the Underwater Structures
Previously Named Structures:
- Raman Ridge (1992): Named after the famous physicist Sir CV Raman.
- Panikkar Seamount (1993): Honoring oceanographer NK Panikkar.
- Sagar Kanya Seamount (1991): Named after the Indian research ship.
- Wadia Guyot (1993): Recognizing geologist DN Wadia.
Recently named Structures
- Ashoka Seamount: Discovered in 2012 by a Russian research ship called Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, this underwater mountain covers about 180 square kilometers.
- Chandragupt Ridge: Found in 2020 by the Indian research ship MGS Sagar, this ridge is elongated and oval-shaped, stretching across 675 square kilometers.
- Kalpataru Ridge: Also discovered in 2012 by the Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, this ridge covers 430 square kilometers and might serve as a habitat and food source for marine life.
Significance of Discoveries: These structures contribute to understanding marine life habitats and offer insights into the geological and biological processes of the Indian Ocean.
