Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The 4th India-Malaysia Joint Military Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI conducted at Bentong camp, Pahang, Malaysia. It is scheduled from December 2 to 15, 2024. It involves 78 Indian personnel from the MAHAR Regiment and 123 Malaysian personnel from the Royal Malaysian Regiment. The exercise focuses on counter-insurgency operations in jungle terrain under the UN Mandate’s Chapter VII. It includes cross-training, simulated drills like Anti-MT Ambush, Recce Patrol, and terrorist area attacks. This annual event alternates between the two countries, enhancing interoperability, defence cooperation, and bilateral ties.

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The Red-Breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) was recently spotted at Ameenpur Lake in Hyderabad. It is a small bird (11-12 cm) from the Old World Flycatcher family. Males have a reddish-orange throat, while females are brown. The bird has a unique toe arrangement, aiding in clinging to branches. It migrates from Eastern Europe to South Asia to escape harsh winters. Breeds in Eastern Europe and Central Asia during spring and summer, migrating to India from October to March. It is listed as Least Concern by IUCN.

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UNESCO has recognized West Bengal as a top destination for heritage tourism. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighted the state’s progress in religious, heritage, and tea tourism. This recognition has boosted tourism and created thousands of jobs for youth. West Bengal is focusing on enhancing iconic religious sites and heritage spots. The state’s efforts are elevating its tourism sector, making it a key player in India’s tourism industry.

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The Ministry of External Affairs received approval to establish nine One-Stop Centres (OSCs) for supporting women in vulnerable situations. Seven OSCs with shelter homes will be set up in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Jeddah, and Riyadh, while Toronto and Singapore will have OSCs without shelters. A dedicated budget line has been introduced to facilitate these initiatives, with support from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). ICWF provides emergency aid like boarding, travel, medical care, legal assistance, and repatriation. Legal panels assist abandoned women and resolve minor legal issues for overseas Indian nationals.

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India will host the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup for Blind Cricket in 2025. The decision was confirmed at the World Blind Cricket Council’s AGM in Multan, attended by representatives from 11 countries. Hosting rights were granted to India last year, but the event gains significance after India withdrew from the Men’s T20 Blind Cricket World Cup in Pakistan due to security concerns. This event highlights India’s commitment to promoting inclusivity in sports, especially for visually impaired athletes.

Notes:
The 16th GRIHA Summit held in New Delhi, focusing on the theme “Accelerating Climate Action in the Built Environment.” It brings together leaders and experts to discuss sustainable urban development and climate resilience in construction. The summit highlights the importance of sustainability in the built environment for global climate commitments by 2030 and decarbonization by 2050. It aligns with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, integrating sustainability with economic and social progress.GRIHA stands for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment.

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The Indian Navy will commission INS Tushil, a stealth guided missile frigate, in Kaliningrad, Russia. INS Tushil is part of the upgraded Krivak III-class frigates under Russian-designed Project 1135.6. It is the seventh vessel in this series and the first of two upgraded frigates from a 2016 India-Russia contract. “Tushil” means “protector shield,” symbolizing the Navy’s commitment to maritime security. The ship is 125 meters long, displaces 3,900 tons, and features advanced stealth for radar evasion. It includes 26% indigenous technology with 33 systems by Indian manufacturers. Assigned to the Western Fleet, it strengthens India’s naval capabilities.

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The 2nd Edition of the Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam Music Festival celebrated at the Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetra Auditorium in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The three-day festival features over 140 artists and 35 programs celebrating Carnatic music and Andhra Pradesh’s cultural legacy. The festival showcases GI-tagged handicrafts and handlooms from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Indian Culinary Institute (ICI), Tirupati, highlights Andhra Pradesh’s culinary traditions with regional delicacies. The event integrates music, crafts, and cuisine, promoting Music Tourism and celebrating the state’s cultural heritage and traditions.

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Burkina Faso’s military junta appointed Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo as the new Prime Minister after dissolving the government without explanation. The junta, led by Ibrahim Traore, dismissed former Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela via a presidential decree. The junta seized power in September 2022, ousting Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had removed President Roch Marc Kaboré earlier. Burkina Faso faces severe security challenges, with extremist attacks displacing over 2 million people and leaving half the territory outside government control.

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The Coimbatore District Collector recently granted community forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, to three tribal settlements in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR). It is a protected area at 1400 m altitude in the Anamalai Hills, Tamil Nadu, located south of the Palakkad gap. It is surrounded by Parambikulum Tiger Reserve, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulum National Park, and several Kerala forests. Declared a tiger reserve in 2007, it features wet evergreen forests, dry deciduous forests, montane grasslands, and marshy grasslands, supporting diverse habitats.