Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The Ministry of Health designated snakebite cases and deaths as a notifiable disease to improve monitoring and response. Notifiable diseases are legally required to be reported to authorities for better surveillance and outbreak prevention. States are responsible for implementing and notifying such diseases. The National Action Plan for Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE) aims to reduce snakebite deaths and disabilities by 50% by 2030. Other notifiable diseases include AIDS, hepatitis, and dengue. WHO’s International Health Regulations mandate reporting certain diseases to WHO for global health monitoring.

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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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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.

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.

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The Tikhir tribe of Nagaland held its first-ever Log Drum Pulling Ceremony during the 25th Hornbill Festival 2024. The Tikhir tribe is an indigenous Naga tribe from Nagaland, with some members living in Myanmar. They speak Naga Yimchungru, a Tibeto-Burman language, and were once headhunters. Their livelihood is based on agriculture and hunting, but as a small tribe, they face harassment from larger tribes. Most Tikhirs have converted to Christianity, blending it with elements of their folk religion. Their main festival, “Tsonglaknyi,” is celebrated from 9th to 12th October, symbolizing the sanctification of shields.

Notes:
The government launched the SHe-Box portal, a centralized system to address and monitor workplace sexual harassment complaints. Developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, it serves as a complaint registration and monitoring platform. It includes a public repository of Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) in workplaces across government and private sectors. Workplaces must designate nodal officers to update data for real-time monitoring of complaints. The portal aligns with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, ensuring inquiries are completed within 90 days. It ensures safer workplaces and supports women with a reliable grievance mechanism.

Notes:
The 16th GRIHA Summit held in New Delhi, focusing on the theme “Accelerating Climate Action in the Built Environment.” It brings together leaders and experts to discuss sustainable urban development and climate resilience in construction. The summit highlights the importance of sustainability in the built environment for global climate commitments by 2030 and decarbonization by 2050. It aligns with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, integrating sustainability with economic and social progress.GRIHA stands for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment.

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The 2024 World Weightlifting Championship has started in Bahrain, showcasing elite weightlifters from across the world. This marks the first time Bahrain hosted the event, having previously hosted the 2022 Asian Weightlifting Championship. More than 500 weightlifters, including world and Olympic champions, participating in the championships. Paris 2024 gold medalists like Reeves, Nasar, and Juniansyah are expected to be standout participants in the event.

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Gorakhpur will establish India’s first Integrated Waste Management City-cum-Learning Centre by September 2025. The 40-acre project in Suthni village aims to make the city garbage-free and promote sustainable waste management through a circular economy model. The centre will process various waste types, generating charcoal and Bio-CNG. The initiative will create jobs, boost revenue, and serve as a learning hub for technical expertise. It has been presented in Vishakhapatnam and Delhi and will be showcased at the National Chief Secretaries’ Conference in December 2024.

Notes:
Union Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the “Amrit Gyaan Kosh” Portal. It is jointly developed by the Capacity Building Commission and Karmayogi Bharat. It aims to promote self-reliance in governance training. Built on the iGOT platform, it serves as a repository for best practices in governance and policy implementation. The portal aligns with 15 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covering areas like health, education, agriculture, and digital governance. It provides resources to help faculty align their teaching with global standards while addressing India’s administrative challenges.