Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Sikkim has been declared the partner state for the Hornbill Festival 2024. The Hornbill Festival is an annual cultural event in Nagaland, named after the Indian hornbill bird featured in tribal folklore. It is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, 12 km from Kohima, Nagaland. The festival is organized by Nagaland’s Tourism and Art & Culture Departments. Its objective is to promote cultural heritage and foster inter-tribal interaction in Nagaland.

Notes:
The 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference (AOMSUC-14) will be held from December 4-6, 2024, in New Delhi, India, hosted by the India Meteorological Department. This conference aims to promote satellite observations, enhance remote sensing science, and facilitate collaboration among satellite operators and users. It will feature presentations, discussions, and a training workshop with around 150 participants from various countries, highlighting the importance of satellite data in meteorology and climatology.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has requested a response from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) regarding the deteriorating condition of Varkala cliff, a national geo-heritage site. It is located in Varkala, Kerala. The cliff stretches 3 km and exposes sedimentary rocks from the Mio-Pliocene Age (13 lakh to 2.5 crore years ago). Varkala is the only place on India’s west coast where these ancient sediments are visible. The cliff towers up to 80 meters and is home to the Papanasam Beach, known for its therapeutic springs. It supports local biodiversity and is essential for coastal aquifers and fishing communities.

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Chhattisgarh launched the ‘Bus Sangwari App’ to simplify bus travel, especially for remote areas. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai introduced the app, highlighting its role in improving governance and public convenience. The app offers access to bus schedules and route information without visiting bus stands. Currently, it provides data on over 5,000 buses operating across the state. GPS integration allows real-time bus tracking, with plans to include interstate bus details soon.

Notes:
Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, has been overtaken by Islamist rebel factions for the first time in over a decade. Located in northern Syria, about 30 miles from the Turkish border, Aleppo is a significant ancient trade hub. The Quwayq River runs through Aleppo, often drying up due to heavy water usage in Turkey. The terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is involved in the takeover. Aleppo is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site “Old City of Aleppo,” known for its medieval Islamic architecture, including the iconic citadel.

Notes:
The 9th International Conference on Waste to Worth, organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), focused on sustainable waste management practices. It brought together global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, academics, and researchers to collaborate and exchange knowledge. Discussions revolved around innovative strategies, technologies, and policies promoting waste reduction, recycling, and circular economy principles. The theme, “Enabling & Building Global Tech-Partnerships for Future Ready & Sustainable Growth Environs along with Circular Economies,” emphasized global collaboration. The conference aimed to drive sustainable growth, create a cleaner environment, and support the transition to circular economies for future generations.

Notes:
The PENCiL portal was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to enforce the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. It has five components: Central Government, State Government, District Project Societies, Child Tracking System, and Complaint Corner. District Nodal Officers (DNOs) are appointed to ensure strict implementation of the Act. A model State Action Plan (SAP) guides State Governments in eradicating child labour, focusing on migrant, girl, and SC/ST children. The portal promotes efficient monitoring and grievance redressal to combat child labour effectively.

Notes:
Oxford University Press named ‘brain rot’ as the Oxford Word of the Year 2024. It describes cognitive decline caused by consuming trivial social media content. The term gained popularity amid trends like digital detoxes to counter mental fatigue. It reflects concerns about technology’s impact on human thought and habits. Public voting chose ‘brain rot’ over contenders like ‘heat domes’ and ‘neurospicy.’ Over 37,000 people participated in the voting, highlighting its cultural relevance. The term’s casual tone appeals to younger audiences and raises awareness about mental health. Past winners include ‘goblin mode’ (2022) and ‘climate emergency’ (2019).

Notes:
National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, recognized IN-SPACe as a dual awarding body to strengthen vocational education in the space sector. IN-SPACe, under the Department of Space, promotes and enables space activities like satellite manufacturing and space services. The collaboration aligns IN-SPACe training with global standards, supporting initiatives like Skill India Mission. Six National Occupational Standards (NoS) for space-related training were approved, covering areas like satellite manufacturing, orbital mechanics, and space propulsion. NCVET ensures quality standards in vocational training, fostering a skilled workforce for industry demands.

Notes:
The third Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite was launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The Copernicus Programme is an Earth Observation initiative managed by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the European Union (EU). It integrates data from satellites, ground stations, airborne, and sea-borne sensors to provide near-real-time information services. The programme offers free and open access to data for various applications. The Sentinel satellites are tailored to meet the needs of Copernicus services in areas like atmosphere, marine, land, climate, emergency response, and security. Copernicus aims to deploy nearly 20 satellites by 2030, funded and managed by the European Commission.