Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 26 2024

Ans (C)

The United States has agreed to return 297 stolen or smuggled Indian antiquities to India.

The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the 6th Quad summit in Wilmington, Delaware.

Since 2016, the US has returned a total of 578 artifacts to India.

During PM Modi’s first visit to the USA in June 2016, 10 antiquities were returned.

In September 2021, 157 artifacts were returned during Modi’s visit to the US.

105 artefacts were returned in June 2023, and 297 during the September 2024 visit.

The Archaeological Survey of India and the US State Department signed a Cultural Property Agreement in July 2024.

The agreement facilitates the return of Indian artifacts listed in the US government’s designated list.

The 297 artifacts to be returned are from the period 2000 BCE to 1900 CE.

Artifacts include terracotta, stone, metal, wood, and ivory objects from various parts of India.

Notable artifacts include an Apsara in sandstone from Central India (10-11th century CE) and a Jain Tirthankar in bronze (15-16th century CE).

Ans (B)

Indian A team, led by Mayank Agarwal, won the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy by defeating India C.

India A finished the tournament with 12 points and was declared the winner of the 61st edition.

The Duleep Trophy is a four-day premier domestic first-class match organized by the BCCI.

Players are often selected for the Indian Test team based on their Duleep Trophy performance.

The 2024-25 edition had four teams: India A, India B, India C, and India D.

Ricky Bhui of India D was the top run-scorer with 359 runs.

Anshul Kamboj of India C was the highest wicket-taker with 16 wickets.

West Zone is the most successful side, having won the Duleep Trophy 19 times.

Ans (A)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the USA from September 21 to 23, 2024.

He attended the sixth Quad Summit and addressed the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the UN General Assembly.

During the sixth Quad Summit, it was agreed that India would host the seventh Quad Summit in 2025, while the USA would host the foreign minister’s meeting.

President Joe Biden hosted the sixth Quad Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, attended by leaders from India, Japan, and Australia.

A joint declaration was issued at the end of the summit, highlighting several initiatives:

Quad Cancer Moonshot: A program announced by Biden focusing on cancer prevention, initially targeting cervical cancer. India committed US $7.5 million to this program.

MAITRI Initiative: A new regional initiative for maritime training in the Indo-Pacific, with the first workshop to be held in India.

Quad Ports of the Future Partnership: A partnership to develop sustainable port infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific, with an inaugural conference in Mumbai in 2025.

Clean Energy Investment: India will invest USD 2 million in solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles.

Coast Guard Cooperation: The Coast Guards of the four member countries will launch a Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025.

Ans (D)

The Indian Navy will embark on the second edition of the Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition to circumnavigate the globe.

The expedition will be flagged off from INS Mandovi, Goa, on October 2, 2024.

Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini will be used for the expedition, manned by Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A.

The voyage will last eight months and cover over 21,600 nautical miles (approx. 40,000 km) without external assistance, relying solely on wind power.

The route includes treacherous waters around Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and Cape of Good Hope.

5. What are the locations of the two new Indian consulates announced recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

(A) New York and San Francisco

(B) Chicago and Seattle

(C) Boston and Los Angeles

(D) Miami and Atlanta

(E) Washington D.C. and Houston

[spoiler title="Show solution"]
Solution: Option C.)

Ans (C)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the opening of two new Indian consulates in the US: one in Boston and another in Los Angeles.

The decision is aimed at addressing the growing Indian-American population and their facility demands in these cities.

Boston is known as the US education capital, while Los Angeles is recognized as the entertainment capital of the country.

PM Modi made this announcement while addressing approximately 13,000 Indian-Americans at Long Island’s Nassau Veterans Coliseum.

The announcement was part of his three-day visit to the US, which included bilateral talks with leaders from the US, Japan, and Australia at the Quad Summit in Wilmington, Delaware on September 21.

Ans (A)

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change successfully created 111 Nagar Vans, surpassing the target of 100 in the 100 Days Action Plan.

The scheme offers Rs. 4 lakh per hectare to promote urban forests with citizen involvement.

The aim is to develop 1000 Nagar Vans by 2027 with funding from the National Fund of National Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority.

Launched on World Environment Day (June 5, 2024), the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign aims to plant 80 crore trees by September 2024 and 140 crore by March 2025.

A tree plantation drive was held on September 17, 2024, under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative in newly approved Nagar Vans, promoting eco-friendly city transformation.

Ans (B)

Haroon Lorgat, former ICC CEO (2008-2012), has been appointed as commissioner of America’s National Cricket League (NCL) to popularize cricket in the US.

Lorgat oversaw three World Cups during his tenure at ICC and played a key role in the Decision Review System, anti-corruption measures, and the growth of cricket in associate nations.

The NCL will host its inaugural Sixty Strikes Tournament, a 60-ball format, from October 4 to 14 at the University of Dallas.

NCL chairman Arun Agarwal emphasized the league’s potential in the global cricket arena with Lorgat’s leadership and partnerships focused on sustainability.

Ans (D)

President Droupadi Murmu has inaugurated the Assembly of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI).

The four-day conference has focused on the evolving role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in fostering transparency and accountability.

CAG of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, has assumed the chair of ASOSAI for the term 2024-2027.

More than 200 delegates from 42 countries and international organizations have participated, highlighting the diverse nature of ASOSAI.

ASOSAI, which has been founded in 1979 with 11 members, has grown to 48 SAIs and has promoted collaboration and knowledge exchange among its members.

Ans (A)

The Government aims to establish 100 new Sainik Schools across India in partnership mode, with 45 schools approved in collaboration with state governments, NGOs, and private schools.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Sainik School, Jaipur, in Rajasthan in September, 2024.

Forty out of the 100 planned schools have started operations, including Sainik School, Jaipur.

In September 2023, an agreement was signed for the establishment of a new Sainik School at Shri Bhawani Niketan Public School, Jaipur.

Ans (C)

Shankh Air has received approval from the Civil Aviation Ministry to operate in India, making it the first scheduled airline from Uttar Pradesh.

The airline will operate from Lucknow and the upcoming Jewar Airport in Noida, as well as New Delhi.

Established in 2023, Shankh Air aims to connect major cities across India, providing both interstate and intrastate routes.

The airline’s motto, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” translates to “The World Is One Family,” emphasizing a commitment to the well-being of passengers and stakeholders.

The chairman is Sharvan Kumar Vishwakarma.