Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Cyclone Fengal, which recently hit the eastern coast of India, was named by Saudi Arabia. The name “Fengal” is of Arabic origin. Cyclone Fengal made landfall near Puducherry on November 30, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. It was the second cyclone to affect India’s east coast in two months, after Cyclone Dana.

Notes:
Ningol Chakouba, a festival of the Meitei community in Manipur, was celebrated near Moodbidri. The event was organized by Alva’s Education Foundation with participation from Northeast students. It highlights and preserves the Meitei community’s rich cultural heritage. The festival symbolizes the bond between mothers, daughters, brothers, and sisters, emphasizing women’s importance in Manipuri society and strengthening family ties.

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A tiger from Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh traveled 400 km to Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh. Achanakmar Tiger Reserve is located in Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh. It was established in 1975, and declared a tiger reserve in 2009. It is part of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve and connects to Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves via a corridor. The Maniyari River flows through the reserve, sustaining the forest. The reserve hosts the Baiga tribe, a “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG),” with 25 villages in its core area.

Notes:
The World Maritime Technology Conference (WMTC) held in Chennai from December 4 to 6, 2024. This marks the first return to India in 15 years, with the previous event held in Mumbai. The conference covers critical topics such as climate change, sustainability, and geopolitical dynamics impacting the maritime industry. The last edition took place in Copenhagen in April 2022, with previous hosts including Shanghai, Houston, and St. Petersburg.

Notes:
Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA) is a fungal lung infection caused by the mold Aspergillus, commonly found in indoor and outdoor environments. CPA affects people with chronic lung diseases like emphysema, bronchitis, or tuberculosis. CPA is not contagious and cannot spread between individuals. Early symptoms may be absent; common signs include coughing up blood, weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, and wheezing. CPA is usually a lifelong condition requiring long-term antifungal treatment. Surgery may be needed to remove fungal masses causing lung bleeding. CPA claims over 340,000 lives annually, highlighting its severe impact.

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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.

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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has classified packaged drinking water and mineral water as “high-risk foods,” enhancing safety measures. This follows the removal of mandatory BIS certification, with a focus on regular inspections and audits by FSSAI. High-risk foods require strict safety protocols to prevent public health issues. The classification aims to ensure consumer safety through rigorous testing and monitoring. The regulation falls under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, simplifying the certification process.

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The Department of Consumer Affairs is developing the National Legal Metrology Portal (eMaap) to unify State Legal Metrology systems. eMaap will streamline licensing, verification, and compliance processes, eliminating the need for multiple State portal registrations. Currently, enforcement activities and compounding are not online, but eMaap will integrate all functions, including enforcement, into one system. Hybrid meetings have involved industry associations and state representatives to refine the portal. eMaap simplifies procedures, reduces compliance burdens, ensures accuracy in market transactions, and supports data-driven government decisions.

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Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under the NITI Aayog and the Swedish Embassy’s Office of Science & Innovation concluded SheSTEM 2024. SheSTEM celebrates women in STEM and inspires students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The event invited students from grades 6-12 across India to submit ideas on Battery Technology and Energy Storage (BEST) systems. It was part of the India-Nordic BEST project, aiming to advance sustainable energy solutions. Over 1000 submissions were received, showcasing India’s youth creativity and problem-solving skills. Participants presented their prototypes or concepts in a two-minute video, contributing to global sustainability efforts.

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The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) received a certificate of merit for its mobile app (Ask An Appointment – AAA+) at the Resilience at the Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific (RSSF Asia-Pacific), organized by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The International Social Security Association (ISSA) was founded in 1927 under the International Labour Organization (ILO) and promotes excellence in social security systems. ISSA helps governments and social security organizations through professional guidelines and support. It has a General Assembly, Council, Bureau, and Control Commission for governance. ISSA’s headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland, and India is a member country.