Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) held a global India Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme with the World Bank on November 28-29, 2024, in New Delhi. AEO is part of the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) SAFE Framework to secure global trade and enhance supply chain security. It grants AEO status to businesses that comply with supply chain security standards, offering benefits like simplified procedures and faster customs clearance. It was introduced in India in 2011.

Notes:
Scientists have taken the first zoomed-in image of the Red Supergiant WOH G64 star located in another galaxy. The star was imaged with high sharpness by the ESO’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). WOH G64 is in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, about 160,000 light years from Earth. A red supergiant, WOH G64 is 2,000 times the size of the Sun and is nearing the end of its life, shedding its outer layer surrounded by gas and dust.

Notes:
Russia plans to deploy the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, also called “Satan 2,” to replace older models. The RS-28 Sarmat is a three-stage, liquid-fueled missile with an 18,000 km range and a 208.1 metric ton launch weight. It measures 35.3 meters in length and 3 meters in diameter, carrying a 10-ton payload. The missile can carry up to 10 heavy nuclear warheads, 16 smaller ones, or hypersonic glide vehicles. It features a short initial boost phase, making it harder for enemy systems to track and intercept.

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:
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia’s vice president, has been elected as the country’s first female president, securing 57% of the votes. She defeated Panduleni Itula of IPC, who received 26%, and SWAPO continues its 34-year dominance. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory ensures SWAPO retains power since Namibia’s independence in 1990. She has held key roles, including foreign minister, and is seen as a unifying figure. SWAPO also won 51 out of 96 National Assembly seats. Namibia faces challenges like high unemployment and inequality, despite political stability.

Notes:
India is the most targeted country for mobile malware attacks, with 28% of global attacks occurring there. The Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 report analyzed mobile, IoT, and OT attacks from June 2023 to May 2024. After India, the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and the Netherlands were the next most targeted countries. India was ranked third for mobile malware attacks globally in the 2023 report. In IoT attacks, the U.S. topped the list, followed by Singapore, the U.K., Germany, and Canada. India accounted for 66.5% of mobile malware attacks in the Asia Pacific region.

Notes:
The National Pension Scheme (NPS) Vatsalya, launched in September 2024, allows parents or guardians to invest on behalf of children. It is designed for Indian minors (under 18) and regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The scheme offers an interest rate between 9.5% and 10%, making it a valuable financial tool for children’s future. It promotes early saving habits and financial planning for minors. The account is in the child’s name, managed by a guardian, with the child as the sole beneficiary.

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:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the successful implementation of three new criminal laws in Chandigarh. Chandigarh is the first administrative unit in India to achieve 100% implementation of these laws. The laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—replaced the British-era IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act, respectively. These laws came into effect on July 1, 2024. They aim to uphold constitutional ideals and protect citizens’ rights effectively. The new laws signify a shift from colonial frameworks to a system that prioritizes justice and citizen welfare.

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.