Current affairs 24 September 2024

U.P., Rajasthan, M.P. top in cases of atrocities on Dalits: Report.

• Of the 51,656 cases registered under the law for SCs in 2022, UP accounted for 23.78%, followed by Rajasthan, 16.75%, & Madhya Pradesh, 14.97%.
• Of the 9,735 cases filed for STs, Madhya Pradesh reported the highest 30.61%.
• The cases were registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
• In 2022, the conviction rate dropped to 32.4% from 39.2% in 2020.

India’s First CO2-to-Methanol Pilot Plant proposed in Pune.

• CO2-to-Methanol: Less developed than capture technologies, it converts captured CO2 into methanol.
• Capture Process: CO2 is captured from industrial sources like power plants or directly from the air.
• Hydrogenation: Captured CO2 is reacted with hydrogen to produce methanol.
• Environmental Impact: CO2-to-methanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides a sustainable fuel source.

Quad countries launched Cancer Moonshot Initiative in Indo-Pacific.

• The Quad countries (U.S., Australia, India, and Japan) have launched the Cancer Moonshot initiative, focusing initially on cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific.
• This effort aims to improve healthcare infrastructure, boost HPV vaccination rates, increase cancer screenings & expand treatment access in underserved areas.
• The U.S. has pledged $1.58 billion over 5 years to support the initiative.

FSSAI signed MoU with Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture for food safety.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) during the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 in New Delhi.
• The MoU focuses on enhancing food safety through joint projects and technical collaboration between both nations, strengthening institutional ties.

India secured historic double Gold at 2024 Chess Olympiad.

• India won two gold medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, in both the open and women's categories.
• The open team, featuring players like Arjun Erigaisi and Gukesh D, claimed their first-ever gold after a critical win and China dropping points.
• The women's team, led by Harika Dronavalli, dominated Azerbaijan to secure their victory.