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.

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The Union government has approved loans under the Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme to develop the Ramappa Region Sustainable Tourism Circuit in Telangana. The Ramappa Temple, also known as the Rudreshwara Temple, is a Kakatiya-style Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. Built in 1213 AD, it was commissioned by Kakati Ganapathi Deva and his Chief Commander Rudra Samani. The temple is named after its chief sculptor, Ramappa, making it unique as a temple named after an architect.

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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.

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The 4th India-Malaysia Joint Military Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI conducted at Bentong camp, Pahang, Malaysia. It is scheduled from December 2 to 15, 2024. It involves 78 Indian personnel from the MAHAR Regiment and 123 Malaysian personnel from the Royal Malaysian Regiment. The exercise focuses on counter-insurgency operations in jungle terrain under the UN Mandate’s Chapter VII. It includes cross-training, simulated drills like Anti-MT Ambush, Recce Patrol, and terrorist area attacks. This annual event alternates between the two countries, enhancing interoperability, defence cooperation, and bilateral ties.

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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:
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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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.

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 Union Minister launched ‘Anna Chakra’ and SCAN portal to optimize the Public Distribution System (PDS) supply chain. Developed with the World Food Programme and IIT-Delhi, it uses advanced algorithms for route optimization and efficient food grain movement. It integrates with PM Gati Shakti and Railways’ FOIS portal, covering 4.37 lakh Fair Price Shops and 6700 warehouses. Optimization for 30 states shows potential cost savings of ₹250 crore annually. Benefits include faster food distribution, reduced logistics costs, lower fuel consumption, and reduced carbon emissions, supporting 81 crore beneficiaries under the world’s largest food security program.

Notes:
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) launched its 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD). The initiative is led by CGIAR centers International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The initiative focuses on food security, biodiversity conservation, and resilient livelihoods. It targets 2.7 billion people living in drylands, especially in Asia and Africa. The strategy was launched at COP16 in Riyadh, after consultations with national research organizations, governments, private sector, and civil society. It aims to address the specific needs of different dryland regions and enhance sustainability and resilience in these areas.