Current Affairs Quiz 26 September 2023

Ans: (d)

Answer: C

International Day of Sign Languages: Celebrating Linguistic and Cultural Diversity
• The International Day of Sign Languages is an annual event dedicated to promoting the linguistic and cultural diversity of deaf communities worldwide.
• In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared September 23rd as the day to celebrate the International Day of Sign Languages.
• This day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the significance of sign languages in the lives of deaf communities and the imperative to safeguard them as a vital aspect of human diversity.
• Sign languages are intricate visual-gestural communication systems with their own unique grammar and syntax, serving as the primary mode of communication for millions of people globally.

Theme of 2023:
The theme for 2023 is “A World Where Deaf People Can Sign Anywhere,” emphasizing the importance of ensuring accessibility to sign languages in all aspects of life.

History:
• The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), representing 135 national federations of the deaf, proposed the concept of this day, representing approximately 70 million deaf individuals worldwide.
• A resolution, co-sponsored by 97 UN Member States and led by the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, was unanimously adopted in December 2017.
• The date of September 23rd was chosen to commemorate the establishment of the WFD in 1951.
• In 2018, the International Day of Sign Languages was observed for the first time as part of the International Week of the Deaf.

Status of Deaf People:
• According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are over 70 million deaf individuals globally.
More than 80% of them reside in underdeveloped countries, collectively utilizing more than 300 different sign languages to communicate.

Answer: C

The JPMorgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) Index
• The JPMorgan GBI-EM Index is a widely recognized benchmark index tracking the performance of Sovereign Bonds denominated in local currencies, issued by emerging market countries.
• It serves as a comprehensive gauge of the fixed income market in emerging economies, aiding investors in assessing their performance.

Composition:
• This index encompasses government bonds from a variety of emerging market nations.
• Eligibility criteria determine the inclusion of bonds, and the composition may evolve over time.

Answer: B

About Wild Ass Sanctuary in Gujarat, India
Location:
• The sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, India.
• It is the only place where the Indian wild ass, known as Khacchar locally, can be found.
• The sanctuary is also home to a sizeable population of Rabari and Bharwad tribes.

Topology:
• The sanctuary can be considered a large ecotone, a transitional area between marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
• It is a continuum of a dry area of dark silt with salt encrustation.
• It is dotted with about 74 elevated plateaus or islands, locally called ‘bets’.
• During the monsoon, large parts are flooded to depths of up to 2 meters.

Flora:
• The sanctuary is full of dry thorny scrub, and there are no large trees except on the fringes and bets.
• Some of the plants and trees found in this sanctuary are Morad, Unt morad, Theg, Dolari, Khijdo, Kerdo, Mithi jar, Kheri pilu, Akado, etc.

Fauna:
• Besides Indian Wild Ass, the other mammals found here include Blackbuck, Nilgai, Bluebull, Hare, Wolf, Foxes, Desert Cat, Indian fox, Jackal, Hyena, Wild boar, etc.
• There is rich birdlife, including the Houbara bustard, Sandgrouse, Pale harrier, Black-shouldered kite, Pelican, etc.

Answer: C
Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974, does not consider noise as a
pollutant.