Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The government has set up the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) to improve urban infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. It is funded through the priority sector lending shortfall. The fund supports public agencies in providing basic services like sewerage, waste management, water supply, sanitation, and drainage. It aims to supplement state governments’ efforts and is managed by the National Housing Bank. The initial corpus of the fund is ₹10,000 crore. The UIDF is modeled after the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

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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:
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.

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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 Indian government has decided to revise the base year for GDP calculation from 2011-12 to 2022-23. This change, announced by Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, aims to reflect structural economic changes and ensure accurate economic data. The advisory committee, ACNAS, comprising members from the Reserve Bank of India, state governments, and academia, will assist in this revision, expected to be completed by early 2026. Regular updates align with international practices for economic data collection.

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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.

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The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) launched an Air Quality Dashboard offering real-time and forecasted air pollution data. It combines ground sensor data with satellite imagery for insights on local, sub-regional, and regional pollution levels. The dashboard uses the WRF-Chem model to track PM2.5 spread in hotspots like Lahore, New Delhi, and Kolkata and its links with weather patterns. It provides two-day air quality forecasts and cross-border pollution data for policymakers, communities, and researchers. ICIMOD, established in 1983, serves Hindu Kush Himalaya countries with knowledge-sharing and sustainable development solutions.

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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.

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The Inland Waterways Authority of India’s Kalughat Intermodal Terminal in Bihar received a five-star SVAGRIHA rating. SVAGRIHA stands for Simple Versatile Affordable GRIHA. SVAGRIHA promotes green buildings and sustainability through the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) system for small buildings. The rating applies to projects under 2500 sq.m. with 14 criteria across five categories: architecture & energy, water & waste, materials, landscape, and lifestyle. The terminal achieved this rating by using recyclable materials like fibre, recyclable glass, and eco-friendly fixtures. This project is part of the IWAI’s efforts to enhance National Waterway 1 on the River Ganga.

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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.