Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan launched PMeVIDYA Channel 31, a 24×7 platform dedicated to Indian Sign Language (ISL). The channel promotes ISL as both a language and school subject, ensuring inclusivity for children with hearing impairments. NEP 2020 prioritizes education for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) and standardizes ISL nationally while respecting local sign languages. ISL-based learning content covers school curricula, career guidance, skill training, and mental health, accessible on TV and YouTube. The initiative fosters inclusivity, aligns with constitutional rights, and aims to create global benchmarks and employment opportunities for the hearing-impaired community.

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The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities will implement the SMILE scheme in Puri, Jajpur, and Bhubaneswar. SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) is a central scheme launched by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in February 2022. The scheme aims to ensure the proper rehabilitation of beggars. The first phase of the scheme has been rolled out in select cities, and Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Jajpur are part of the second phase involving 50 cities.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched MuleHunter.AI to help financial institutions detect mule bank accounts and combat digital fraud. Mule accounts are used by criminals for money laundering and are often opened by unsuspecting individuals for a fee. MuleHunter.AI, developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), uses AI and machine learning to identify suspected mule accounts. It provides near-real-time monitoring to detect such accounts efficiently, helping to curb illicit activities in the banking system.

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The India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) 2024 was held on December 9-10 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, supported by MeitY and NIXI. The event, under the theme “Innovating Internet Governance for India,” focused on bridging the digital divide, trust, safety, and advanced technologies. IIGF, established in 2021 as the Indian chapter of the UN IGF, fosters multi-stakeholder dialogue on Internet policies. It promotes secure, inclusive, and ethically governed Internet practices while addressing challenges like cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and data privacy. The forum emphasizes collaborative policymaking for a secure and accessible digital future.

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Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched the AP Urjaveer Scheme to promote energy efficiency. The scheme trains 1,12,000 private electricians to handle energy-efficient appliances. A network of Urjaveer-trained workers will promote six appliances: LED inverter lamps, LED tubelights, BLDC ceiling fans, 5-star air conditioners, induction stoves, and LED bulbs. The initiative aims to make energy conservation a lifestyle at the grassroots level. EESL and Andhra Pradesh will jointly run the National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) with the Women Development & Child Welfare Department.

Notes:
The Markhor, a wild goat with spiral-shaped horns, was recently spotted in Noorkha village, Baramulla, North Kashmir. Markhors are large wild goats known for their thick fur, flowing beard, and corkscrew horns. They are diurnal animals, active in early mornings and late afternoons. Found in mountain areas of Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. In Jammu and Kashmir, they inhabit Shopian, Banihal, Shamsbari, Kazinag Uri, and Pir Panjal ranges. The Markhor is Pakistan’s national animal and is listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN.

Notes:
A recent study evaluated the efficacy and safety of filgotinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) 1 inhibitor, for treating moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) causing chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. Its exact cause is unclear but may result from an abnormal immune response. It typically starts in childhood or early adulthood, though it can develop at any age. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, anemia, and weight loss. While there’s no cure, treatments can help manage symptoms.

Notes:
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.

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Ghana’s Electoral Commission declared ex-president John Dramani Mahama the winner of the presidential election with 56.55% votes. Mahama, 66, served as Ghana’s president from 2012 to 2016 and aims to address Ghana’s economic crisis. He plans to renegotiate the $3-billion IMF bailout, ease business regulations, introduce a triple-shift work system, enact tax reforms, and invest $10 billion in infrastructure modernization.

Notes:
The National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) was launched in 2003 during the 10th Five Year Plan by the Ministry of Culture to document, conserve, and promote access to Indian manuscripts. An expert committee recommended its continuation with broader reach and direct ministry oversight. NMM operates under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), receiving government funding. It uses technology from IGNCA for preservation and digitization, with digitized manuscripts available on Pandulipi Patala. Preservation methods include lamination, restoration, and deacidification, alongside training in preventive conservation. Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs) and Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs) address collection and conservation gaps.