Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Maharashtra’s ‘Shashan Aaplya Dari’ initiative won the SKOCH Award for its innovation and impact in governance. The program, meaning “government at your doorsteps,” delivers government schemes directly to people. It was launched in Satara in May 2023. More than 280 projects nationwide competed, showcasing its effectiveness. The initiative aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and will evolve into ‘Shashan Aaplya Dari 2.0’ under Eknath Shinde’s guidance for further growth. The SKOCH Award is an award that recognizes people, projects, and institutions that work to improve India. It was established in 2003 and is considered one of the highest civilian honors in the country.

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 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.

Notes:
The 1st edition of Joint Table Top Exercise, CINBAX, conducted at Foreign Training Node, Pune, between the Indian and Cambodian Armies. The exercise focuses on joint Counter Terrorism (CT) operations under the UN Charter, with personnel from both armies participating. The exercise has three phases: orientation, Table Top exercises, and finalization of plans. It aims to enhance trust, interoperability, and showcase India’s indigenous defense capabilities.

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.

Notes:
UNESCO has recognized West Bengal as a top destination for heritage tourism. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighted the state’s progress in religious, heritage, and tea tourism. This recognition has boosted tourism and created thousands of jobs for youth. West Bengal is focusing on enhancing iconic religious sites and heritage spots. The state’s efforts are elevating its tourism sector, making it a key player in India’s tourism industry.

Notes:
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched the Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training (RESET) Programme. The aim is to support retired athletes’ career development through education, internships, and skill enhancement. Eligibility includes retired athletes aged 20-50, with achievements in recognized events. The program offers 16 specialized courses like Strength & Conditioning, Sports Nutrition, Yoga, and Sports Entrepreneurship. It combines academic learning with internships to provide practical exposure. The objective is to fill the human resource gap in the sports sector and offer career paths for retired athletes.

Notes:
World Soil Day is celebrated every year on December 5 to raise awareness about the importance of soil. The theme for this year is “Caring for soils: measure, monitor, manage.” Soil is a living ecosystem that sustains plant life and regulates the Earth’s temperature. Over 33% of global soils are degraded due to erosion, deforestation, over-farming, and pollution. World Soil Day, initiated in 2002 and endorsed by the FAO in 2014, urges sustainable soil management. In India, soil health is deteriorating due to excessive fertiliser use, over-irrigation, and deforestation.

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.

Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) was launched to promote digital literacy in rural India. The scheme aimed to train one individual per household in 6 crore rural households. It successfully exceeded its target, training 6.39 crore individuals by March 31, 2024. The initiative is part of India’s broader strategy to strengthen IT skills and digital infrastructure, supporting the government’s vision to empower rural communities and foster economic growth through technology.