Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Gujarat’s iconic handicraft ‘Gharchola’ has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, bringing the state’s GI count to 27, with 23 focused on handicrafts. The GI tag was awarded at the ‘GI and Beyond – Virasat Se Vikas Tak’ event in New Delhi. This recognition enhances Gharchola’s prestige and market presence globally.

Notes:
The government has set up the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) to improve urban infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. It is funded through the priority sector lending shortfall. The fund supports public agencies in providing basic services like sewerage, waste management, water supply, sanitation, and drainage. It aims to supplement state governments’ efforts and is managed by the National Housing Bank. The initial corpus of the fund is ₹10,000 crore. The UIDF is modeled after the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

Notes:
Ningol Chakouba, a festival of the Meitei community in Manipur, was celebrated near Moodbidri. The event was organized by Alva’s Education Foundation with participation from Northeast students. It highlights and preserves the Meitei community’s rich cultural heritage. The festival symbolizes the bond between mothers, daughters, brothers, and sisters, emphasizing women’s importance in Manipuri society and strengthening family ties.

Notes:
The Nazca Lines, ancient geoglyphs in Peru, have seen a surge in discoveries thanks to AI technology. A recent study utilized drones and AI to analyze over 600 sq km of the Nazca Pampa, leading to the identification of 303 new geoglyphs in just six months. This advancement marks a significant increase in archaeological discoveries, highlighting AI’s potential to revolutionize the field, similar to the impact of aerial imaging in the past. Nazca Lines (Pampa de Nazca) is located in the South American country Peru.

Notes:
Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya inaugurated the International Gita Mahotsav on 5 December 2024 in Kurukshetra, Haryana. The festival celebrates the birth of the ‘Srimad Bhagwat Gita,’ where Lord Krishna advised Arjuna during the Mahabharata war. This year, Tanzania is the foreign partner country, and Odisha is the State partner.

Notes:
The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities will implement the SMILE scheme in Puri, Jajpur, and Bhubaneswar. SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) is a central scheme launched by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in February 2022. The scheme aims to ensure the proper rehabilitation of beggars. The first phase of the scheme has been rolled out in select cities, and Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Jajpur are part of the second phase involving 50 cities.

Notes:
The India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) 2024 was held on December 9-10 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, supported by MeitY and NIXI. The event, under the theme “Innovating Internet Governance for India,” focused on bridging the digital divide, trust, safety, and advanced technologies. IIGF, established in 2021 as the Indian chapter of the UN IGF, fosters multi-stakeholder dialogue on Internet policies. It promotes secure, inclusive, and ethically governed Internet practices while addressing challenges like cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and data privacy. The forum emphasizes collaborative policymaking for a secure and accessible digital future.

Notes:
Cyclone Fengal caused record rainfall in Tamil Nadu’s Pennaiyar river basin, leading to heavy inflows into Sathanur Dam, which was already at 95% capacity. Sathanur Dam, built on the Pennaiyar River near Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. It was constructed in 1958. It is the third-largest dam in Tamil Nadu after Mettur and Bhavanisagar. The dam supports irrigation, drinking water supply, and electricity generation. It is also a tourist spot featuring a crocodile farm and a fish grotto.

Notes:
Google DeepMind unveiled GenCast, an AI model for weather prediction outperforming the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the world’s top forecast system. GenCast provides faster, more accurate forecasts up to 15 days ahead, advancing beyond its deterministic predecessor by generating 50+ weather scenarios. It uses diffusion AI adapted to Earth’s spherical geometry to model complex weather probabilities. GenCast improves predictions of extreme weather risks, aiding officials in saving lives, reducing damage, and cutting costs. It excels in forecasting tropical cyclone tracks and will soon release real-time and historical forecasts for public integration and research.

Notes:
Researchers from National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Odisha, studied the unique triple-star system GG Tau A, located 489 light-years from Earth. The system is only 1 to 5 million years old, ideal for studying early planet formation. GG Tau A has a disk of gas and dust around it, where planets form. The interaction between the three stars affects the disk, making planet formation harder to predict. This multi-star setup helps scientists understand how planets form in more complex environments.