Current Affairs Quiz- November, 2019

Notes:
Girija Kir (86), the noted Marathi author, has passed away in Bandra, Maharashtra on 31st October 2019. Kir has written dozens of novels, stories, travelogues and children’s books. She also worked as an assistant editor of ‘Anuradha’ magazine for 10 years from 1968 to 1978. Kir has won several awards for her writings, which largely originated from her on-field experiences in labour colonies, residences of patients suffering from leprosy and tribal areas. Her recent book ‘Janmathep’ was based on her study of inmates at Pune’s Yerawada jail.

Notes:
The documentary on Real Kashmir Football Club has bagged the prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) and Scotland Awards 2019 at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow, Scotland. The documentary narrates the journey of former Rangers ace David Robertson as the coach of Real Kashmir FC, which is currently India’s second tier football league. The hour-long film won in the ‘Single Documentary’ category.

Notes:
The 15-day National Tribal festival (or Aadi Mahotsav ) will be held in New Delhi from 16th of November 2019. The theme of the festival is a celebration of the spirit of tribal culture, craft, cuisine and commerce. The festival will feature exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through two hundred stalls. Approx 1000 tribal artisans from 27 states will participate in the event. 

Notes:
Noted writer Anand has been selected for the 27th Ezhuthachan Puraskaram for his overall contributions to Malayalam language and Literature. It is the highest literary honour of the Kerala government. The prize is named after Ezhuthachan, the father of Malayalam language. It consists of a purse of Rs 5 lakh and a citation.    

Notes:
Indian-origin researcher, Dr Neeraj Sharma has won the Australian government’s  ‘Early Career Researcher of the Year (Physical Sciences)’ for developing next-generation battery systems such as sodium-ion battery that will leave minimal environmental impact. The awarded research explores inherently safe solid-state batteries, energy-dense lithium-sulfur batteries, dual function solar batteries and methods for recycling. DR. Sharma is researcher at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) of Sydney.

Notes:
The Danakil Depression is the northern part of the Afar Triangle or Afar Depression in Ethiopia. It is one of the world’s hottest as well as lowest places on Earth (100 m below sea level). The hot springs in Danakil Depression offer a research opportunity for studying extremophile microbes. It is in news recently because according to new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, active and naturally occurring life cannot be sustained at Danakil. It identifies two barriers: a) magnesium-dominated brines that cause cells to break down; and b) an environment having simultaneously very low pH and high salt. Hence, the combination of both  barriers makes adaptation highly difficult.

Notes:
Nepal has recently formally protested over the inclusion of the disputed area of Kalapani on the fringes of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand as part of Indian Territory in the new political map of India. Kalapani is claimed by Nepal as a part of its Darchula district. It has been controlled by India’s Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) since the 1962 war with China.

Notes:
Sanjay Gupta, the former Star and Disney India managing director, has been appointed new country manager and vice-president of sales and operations for Google India. He will take his new role in 2020 and will be based in Mumbai. At Star and Disney, Gupta played an important role in making it the India’s largest media company and increased its digital footprint with Hotstar, which is India’s largest OTT platform. He also built Star’s sports business through acquisitions of cricketing properties and launch of the Pro-Kabaddi League (PKL) and football league – Indian Super League (ISL).

Notes:
The University of Michigan in partnership with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and the Kasturba Medical College in Manipal on genetic testing in India. The $2.3 million grant from the National Institute of Health over 5 years will help the University of Michigan and Indian geneticists identify and confirm genetic changes that are the basis of developmental disorders.

Notes:
The Sanskrit Bharati Vishwa Sammelan has started in New Delhi on 9th of November 2019. Thousands of Sanskrit lovers from 17 countries are attending the 3-day mega event.