Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $98 million loan to boost access to disease-free planting materials for horticulture farmers under the Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme. The Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP) is related to horticulture and aims to provide farmers with access to high-quality, virus-free planting material. It includes nine advanced Clean Plant Centers with diagnostic and tissue culture labs and a robust certification system for accountability and traceability. It ensures affordable access, engages women farmers, and develops region-specific plant varieties. It is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture through National Horticulture Board (NHB) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, it aims to strengthen India’s global fruit market position.

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The International Conference on Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in Guwahati, led by Union Minister Giriraj Singh, addresses environmental pollution and climate change. The event emphasizes sustainable practices in sectors like textiles and promotes carbon neutrality through innovative solutions. It highlights the importance of collaboration among experts and stakeholders to enhance global efforts in sustainability, particularly utilizing the rich biodiversity of Northeast India to foster local and global climate action.

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The mass die-off of nearly 400 elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in 2020 was linked to climate change-induced toxic algal blooms. Researchers found that elephants drank from contaminated waterholes where cyanobacteria thrived due to a shift from a very dry year to an extremely wet one. This environmental change led to the proliferation of harmful toxins in stagnant water, resulting in the deaths of elephants across the region. The study emphasizes the need for monitoring water quality to prevent similar ecological disasters. Okavango Delta is located in Botswana. It is both UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar Wetland.

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An Ajmer court has admitted a petition to survey the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, leading to calls for a similar probe into the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra. It is located in Ajmer, Rajasthan. It is one of India’s oldest mosques and the second oldest in North India, after Delhi’s Quwwat ul Islam mosque. The Deputy Mayor claims it was initially a Sanskrit college and Jain temple before being converted into a mosque in the 12th century. Commissioned by Qutubuddin Aibak in 1199 CE, it was later enhanced by Iltutmish in 1213 CE. The structure showcases early Indo-Islamic architecture.

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The Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana was recently discussed in the Rajya Sabha by the Union Minister of State for Ayush. The Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana is a Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Ayush. It regulates Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy (ASU&H) medicines under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. The scheme enhances India’s manufacturing and export capabilities for traditional medicines under Atmanirbhar Bharat. It supports infrastructure, technology upgrades, and institutional activities for Ayush drug standardization and testing. It strengthens regulatory frameworks for quality control, safety, and monitoring misleading Ayush advertisements. The scheme fosters collaborations to promote standards and quality of Ayush drugs and materials.

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World Wildlife Conservation Day is observed on December 4 to raise awareness about protecting endangered flora and fauna. The day emphasizes the importance of wildlife conservation and encourages action to safeguard endangered species. India hosts four global biodiversity hotspots: Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, and Sundaland. With only 2.4% of the world’s land area, India supports 7-8% of recorded species, making it a megadiverse country.

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The Supreme Court will hear a petition in January on reducing the permissible water level of the Mullaperiyar Dam. Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River in Thekkady, Idukki district, Kerala. Built between 1887 and 1895 by the British Corps of Royal Engineers led by Pennycuick, it is 155 ft high and 1200 ft long. Made with limestone and “Surkhi,” it stands 881 m above sea level in the Western Ghats’ Cardamom Hills. The dam diverts water from Periyar River to Tamil Nadu’s Vaigai River basin, irrigating 685,000 hectares in five districts. It also created an artificial lake central to Periyar National Park. While located in Kerala, Tamil Nadu operates the dam under a 999-year British-era lease agreement.

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Former Chile President Michelle Bachelet has been awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development 2024. She is recognized for her contributions to gender equality, human rights, and democracy. The Indira Gandhi Prize honors efforts promoting international peace, disarmament, and development. The award includes ₹10 million, a trophy, and a citation. Recipients are selected by a jury of 5-9 eminent persons appointed by the Chairperson of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

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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.

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iHub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) at IIT Ropar launched the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Gateway and Node System under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems. It is a cost-effective system that connects Bluetooth-enabled sensors to cloud platforms. The system supports real-time data transmission and environmental monitoring. It enables advanced analytics across sectors like agriculture, logistics, and environmental resilience, offering efficient and seamless operation for various applications.