Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The central government announced that corporate exits are now processed in 70-90 days under the Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE). It was established by Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). It operates under the Registrar of Companies (RoC) and is supervised by the Director General of Corporate Affairs (DGCoA). It is located at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Gurgaon. It aims to ease doing business, reduce registry burden, and provide hassle-free, timely company closures.

Notes:
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed on December 2 to raise awareness about modern slavery, human trafficking, and promote human rights. It marks the adoption of the UN Convention to suppress trafficking and exploitation in 1949. Slavery today includes forced labor, sexual exploitation, child labor, and forced marriage. The UN reports one in ten children work globally, mostly for economic exploitation. India has the highest number of modern slaves, with over 11 million affected.

Notes:
Indian Navy Day is celebrated annually on December 4 to honor the Navy’s role in safeguarding India’s maritime borders and security. It highlights the Navy’s efforts in coastal defense, monitoring trade routes, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid. The 2024 theme is “Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation.” The day commemorates Operation Trident during the 1971 India-Pakistan war when the Navy successfully attacked Karachi, showcasing India’s naval strength.

Notes:
The Indian government has decided to revise the base year for GDP calculation from 2011-12 to 2022-23. This change, announced by Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, aims to reflect structural economic changes and ensure accurate economic data. The advisory committee, ACNAS, comprising members from the Reserve Bank of India, state governments, and academia, will assist in this revision, expected to be completed by early 2026. Regular updates align with international practices for economic data collection.

Notes:
The All India Home Price Index (HPI) is released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The Reserve Bank of India’s All-India Home Price Index (HPI) rose by 4.34%, reaching 322 in September 2024, compared to 308.6 in September 2023. Over the last decade, the HPI has increased by nearly 67%. The HPI tracks changes in residential property prices across cities and regions in India, offering insights into the housing market. All eight major cities reported an annual rise in housing prices. Delhi NCR recorded the highest increase at 32%, followed by Bengaluru with a 24% rise.

Notes:
The Assam Forest Department captured the first photographic evidence of a Royal Bengal Tiger in Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary. Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Assam, spans 175 sq. km and was established in 1998. Situated at the foothills of the Great Himalayan Range, it features diverse landscapes and rich biodiversity. The sanctuary is bordered by Gabhoru and Panchnoi rivers, Rowta reserve forest, and Kameng reserve forest in Arunachal Pradesh. It includes four perennial rivers—Dolsiri, Gabharu, Gelgeli, and Belsiri—and wetlands called “bheels.” The region has a subtropical climate with hot summers, heavy rains, and seasonal flooding.

Notes:
1,500 members of the Angami Naga tribe recently participated in a cultural ceremony at Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival. The Angami Naga tribe, residing mainly in Kohima, Nagaland, migrated from Myanmar and is recognized in Manipur. They belong to the Mongoloid race and speak Tenyidie, with Nagamese as a common spoken language. Known for terrace wet cultivation, shifting cultivation, and animal husbandry, they also excel in cane and bamboo basketry. Their society is patriarchal and patrilineal, with most members practicing Christianity. The tribe celebrates the Sekrenyi festival.

Notes:
Gujarat is the first state to generate “Farmer IDs” for 25% of its targeted farmers under the Digital Agriculture Mission launched in September 2024. Farmer IDs are unique digital identities based on Aadhaar, dynamically linked to state land records for real-time updates. Other states like Madhya Pradesh (9%), Maharashtra (2%), Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and others have also initiated Farmer ID generation. Farmer IDs enable seamless access to government schemes, instant crop loans, personalized agricultural services, and enhanced market connectivity. The initiative supports efficient policy-making, sustainable agriculture, and improved farmer incomes through a digital ecosystem. Modes for ID generation include self-registration, assisted registration, camps, and Common Service Centres (CSCs).

Notes:
The Prime Minister launched the Bima Sakhi Yojana in Panipat, Haryana. The scheme is an initiative by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to empower women aged 18-70 with Class 10 education. Women will receive specialized training, financial literacy, and insurance awareness. They will get a stipend of Rs. 7,000 in the first year, Rs. 6,000 in the second, and Rs. 5,000 in the third year. Female agents will also earn commissions, starting with Rs. 48,000 in the first year. The goal is to appoint 2 lakh Bima Sakhis in three years, with the possibility of future development officer roles.

Notes:
The Hindon River, once crucial for Western Uttar Pradesh, is now heavily polluted due to industrial and domestic waste. It has been declared a “dead river” by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) due to severe health and environmental issues. Hindon is a tributary of Yamuna River. The river originates in the Lower Shivalik ranges, Saharanpur District, Uttar Pradesh, and flows for 400 km, merging with the Yamuna in Noida. It passes through cities like Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar.