Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The Business for Land Forum, held during COP16 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, focused on sustainable land solutions and resilience-building. The Business 4 Land Initiative (B4L) was launched by UNCCD, a legally binding global agreement. B4L aims to involve private sector actors in sustainable land management strategies. It is supported by the World Economic Forum, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and Sustainable Fibre Alliance. B4L raises awareness about sustainable land management, encourages business commitments to land restoration, and fosters collaboration among businesses, governments, and civil society.

Notes:
The Supreme Court will hear a petition in January on reducing the permissible water level of the Mullaperiyar Dam. Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River in Thekkady, Idukki district, Kerala. Built between 1887 and 1895 by the British Corps of Royal Engineers led by Pennycuick, it is 155 ft high and 1200 ft long. Made with limestone and “Surkhi,” it stands 881 m above sea level in the Western Ghats’ Cardamom Hills. The dam diverts water from Periyar River to Tamil Nadu’s Vaigai River basin, irrigating 685,000 hectares in five districts. It also created an artificial lake central to Periyar National Park. While located in Kerala, Tamil Nadu operates the dam under a 999-year British-era lease agreement.

Notes:
The Indian Navy will commission INS Tushil, a stealth guided missile frigate, in Kaliningrad, Russia. INS Tushil is part of the upgraded Krivak III-class frigates under Russian-designed Project 1135.6. It is the seventh vessel in this series and the first of two upgraded frigates from a 2016 India-Russia contract. “Tushil” means “protector shield,” symbolizing the Navy’s commitment to maritime security. The ship is 125 meters long, displaces 3,900 tons, and features advanced stealth for radar evasion. It includes 26% indigenous technology with 33 systems by Indian manufacturers. Assigned to the Western Fleet, it strengthens India’s naval capabilities.

Notes:
The 2nd Edition of the Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam Music Festival celebrated at the Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetra Auditorium in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The three-day festival features over 140 artists and 35 programs celebrating Carnatic music and Andhra Pradesh’s cultural legacy. The festival showcases GI-tagged handicrafts and handlooms from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Indian Culinary Institute (ICI), Tirupati, highlights Andhra Pradesh’s culinary traditions with regional delicacies. The event integrates music, crafts, and cuisine, promoting Music Tourism and celebrating the state’s cultural heritage and traditions.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Rashi Yojna (MMMSY) is a financial assistance program launched by the Delhi government, offering monthly payouts of Rs 1,000 to women. This initiative was first announced in the 2024-25 budget by Finance Minister Atishi. However, concerns about fiscal responsibility and the potential long-term financial liabilities associated with the scheme have been raised by the Finance Department, particularly regarding its impact on future budgets and the state’s borrowing capacity.

Notes:
IIT Madras became the first research organization globally to release detailed 3D high-resolution images of the fetal brain, called DHARANI. The data set includes 5,132 brain sections captured using advanced brain mapping technology. The research was conducted at the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre on the IIT Madras campus. The team created a 3D atlas of the brain, identifying over 500 regions at a cellular resolution. This work helps understand brain development from foetal stages to adulthood. It also aids in studying developmental disorders like autism and cerebral palsy.

Notes:
IIT Delhi has ranked first in India in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025, followed by IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay. These engineering institutions are recognized globally for their commitment to sustainability goals. The University of Toronto holds the top position for sustainability worldwide this year. The QS Sustainability Rankings highlight universities that prioritize environmental and social responsibility in their practices.

Notes:
International Universal Health Coverage Day is celebrated on December 12th every year. The day is a United Nations-designated day that aims to raise awareness about the need for universal health coverage (UHC). UHC is the idea that everyone should have access to quality, affordable healthcare.  The day was established in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly. It marks the anniversary of the year 2012, when the United Nations unanimously endorsed UHC as a priority for international development.

Notes:
A meeting was held to plan the reintroduction of rhinoceroses to the D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary (DEWS) in East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh. D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1976 and renamed from Lali Wildlife Sanctuary in 1986. Located in a tropical climate, it receives both northeast and southwest monsoons and is home to the Siang River, a major river in Arunachal Pradesh. The sanctuary features riverine plains, thatch, grasses, and trees like Termenelia myriocarpa, Dillenia indica, and Bombax ceiba.