Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated Himachal Pradesh’s first digital library in Bilaspur. The library includes seating for 40 people and essential amenities. It houses around 2,500 books, with offline access to NCERT and CBSE books for classes 1 to 12. The library provides free reading access to the public.

Notes:
AIIMS in New Delhi has launched the GRASSROOT Gravity Stent-Retriever System for Reperfusion of Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke Trial) to improve stroke treatment in India. The trial evaluates the safety and effectiveness of a next-generation stent-retriever designed for stroke clots. India struggles with stroke care, with only 4,500 out of 375,000 eligible patients receiving critical mechanical thrombectomy annually. The trial aims to provide a cost-effective stent-retriever to quickly and safely restore blood flow, developed with both international and Indian expertise.

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Nepal’s five-day Tihar festival, also called the festival of lights, began with Yamapanchak Tihar. Tihar is a spiritual and cultural Hindu festival celebrating lights and lasting five days. On the second day, Kukur-Tihar, people honored dogs for their loyalty and companionship. Laxmi Puja, worshipping the goddess of wealth, is traditionally held on Tihar’s third day. Many Nepalis are observing Laxmi Puja this evening, while others will celebrate tomorrow on the New Moon day.

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India’s Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has joined the Steering Committee of the Asset Recovery Interagency Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP). ARIN-AP is a major network focused on tracking and recovering criminal proceeds across the Asia-Pacific region. It enhances cross-border cooperation in tracing, freezing, and confiscating assets linked to crime. With 28 member jurisdictions and nine observers, ARIN-AP serves as a vital, informal framework for intelligence sharing. The network, part of the broader CARIN Network, helps law enforcement quickly access information on assets, aiding in efficient crime proceeds recovery across more than 100 countries.

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The Thadou tribe in Manipur rejected colonial and post-independence classifications labeling them as part of the Kuki group, calling it an arbitrary imposition. The Thadou are indigenous people living in the hill country near Imphal Valley, Manipur. They are also known by names such as Chillya, Kukihin, Teizang, and Theruvan. The Thadou language, Chin and Thado, belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of Sino-Tibetan languages. In their villages, the chief’s house is the largest, with a platform outside for men to gather, discuss important matters, and mediate disputes.

Notes:
Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the “One District One Product” (ODOP) Wall at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ODOP initiative showcases unique products from different Indian districts on international platforms, promoting “Made in India” items. It aims to turn districts into hubs of local products, increasing market reach and visibility globally. The program focuses on sustainable livelihoods for Indian artisans and entrepreneurs by partnering with global retail chains.

Notes:
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Digital India Common Service Centre (DICSC) project to reduce the digital divide in rural India. The project begins in Pilibhit and Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, providing access to e-governance, financial, and commercial services. A total of 4,740 model DICSC centers will be set up in gram panchayats across 10 districts nationwide. Pilibhit will have 720 centers, Gorakhpur 1,273, and other districts include Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (870), Chamba (309), Khammam (589), Gandhinagar (288), Mamit (100), Jodhpur (415), Leh (95), and Puducherry (81).

Notes:
Ten wild elephants died in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, possibly due to “mycotoxins associated with kodo millet.” Kodo millet, also called Kodra or Varagu, is a drought-tolerant, hardy crop rich in vitamins and minerals. It is a staple food for many tribal and economically weaker communities in India. Best suited for tropical and subtropical regions, it grows on poor soils in arid and semi-arid areas. Originating in India, Madhya Pradesh is a major producer, along with Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu. Kodo millet is also cultivated in Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and West Africa.

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At least 10 people died in eastern Indonesia after Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, prompting nearby village evacuations. It is located on Flores Island, Indonesia. The volcano is in East Nusa Tenggara province. Mount Lewotobi is part of a twin-volcano system, with Lewotobi Laki-laki (male) erupting, while Lewotobi Perempuan (female) remains inactive. Both are stratovolcanoes, formed by repeated layers of lava, making them common globally. Indonesia frequently experiences volcanic eruptions as it lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area prone to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tsunamis due to active tectonic plates.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal to introduce diploma and certificate courses in animal husbandry and para-veterinary medicine. Both private and government institutions will offer these courses to train para-vets. The initiative aims to improve veterinary care, especially in rural areas, where para-vets assist with vaccinations, first aid, and animal health care. UP currently has a shortage of para-vets, with only 8,193 compared to 34,500 across India. The policy will standardize training, course content, and institutional guidelines. Expert committee will finalize the policy, based on a report prepared for this purpose.