Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Gujarat is the first state to generate “Farmer IDs” for 25% of its targeted farmers under the Digital Agriculture Mission launched in September 2024. Farmer IDs are unique digital identities based on Aadhaar, dynamically linked to state land records for real-time updates. Other states like Madhya Pradesh (9%), Maharashtra (2%), Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and others have also initiated Farmer ID generation. Farmer IDs enable seamless access to government schemes, instant crop loans, personalized agricultural services, and enhanced market connectivity. The initiative supports efficient policy-making, sustainable agriculture, and improved farmer incomes through a digital ecosystem. Modes for ID generation include self-registration, assisted registration, camps, and Common Service Centres (CSCs).

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:
Burkina Faso’s military junta appointed Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo as the new Prime Minister after dissolving the government without explanation. The junta, led by Ibrahim Traore, dismissed former Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela via a presidential decree. The junta seized power in September 2022, ousting Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had removed President Roch Marc Kaboré earlier. Burkina Faso faces severe security challenges, with extremist attacks displacing over 2 million people and leaving half the territory outside government control.

Notes:
Human Rights Day is observed on December 10 every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted in 1948. The UDHR promotes human rights principles like freedom, equality, right to life, liberty, security, and freedom of thought and expression. India’s Constitution and the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 reflect these values, leading to the formation of the NHRC on October 12, 1993. The NHRC organizes a Human Rights Day programme at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on December 10, 2024.

Notes:
The latest Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS) by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows weakened consumer confidence in the economy, employment, income, and spending. The survey indicates that consumer optimism drives higher spending, while pessimism can lead to recession. It is released bi-monthly by RBI. It uses the Current Situation Index (CSI) and Future Expectation Index (FEI) as key indicators. The FEI improved by 0.5 points to 121.9, indicating higher optimism for future spending. The CSI declined by 0.7 points to 94 in November 2024, reflecting weaker sentiments, except in household spending.

Notes:
Japan won the 20th Asian Women’s Handball Championship on December 10, 2024, by defeating South Korea 25-24 in a thrilling final. The Indian handball team secured sixth place at the 2024 Asian Women’s Handball Championship, matching the country’s best-ever finish. The tournament was hosted in India for the first time at the Indira Gandhi Arena, organized by the Asian Handball Federation and the World Handball League.

Notes:
Japan’s iconic rice wine, sake, is now on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, emphasizing its cultural significance. Sake symbolizes Japanese traditions and plays a key role in ceremonies and modern gastronomy. It is brewed in ancient mountainous breweries using local rice, involving a two-month process of steaming, fermenting, and pressing. Sake has been part of Japanese history for nearly 1,000 years and is mentioned in the 11th-century classic The Tale of Genji. Japanese Ambassador Takahiro Kano described sake as a “divine gift” integral to Japan’s social and ceremonial practices.

Notes:
The India Maritime Heritage Conclave (IMHC) was held on December 11-12, 2024, at Yashobhoomi Convention Center, New Delhi, celebrating India’s maritime history. It was organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The event highlighted India’s rich seafaring legacy and its role in global cultural and economic exchanges. Ministers from Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh participated in the event. The event promotes sustainable practices, aligns with India’s Vishwaguru vision, and addresses marine biodiversity and ocean health.

Notes:
NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission revealed structures in the newly discovered X-ray binary system Swift J1727. IXPE is a collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency. It was launched on December 9, 2021, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It is NASA’s first mission focused on studying X-ray polarization from celestial objects. The mission helps study high-energy X-rays from objects like black holes, active galactic nuclei, microquasars, and supernova remnants. IXPE’s three telescopes feature polarization-sensitive X-ray detectors, offering new insights into cosmic X-ray sources.

Notes:
The Supreme Court stressed balancing wildlife protection in Sariska Tiger Reserve with devotees’ religious sentiments visiting the Pandupol Hanuman temple. Pandupol Hanuman Temple, located in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Alwar, Rajasthan, is a 5000-year-old revered shrine. The temple has deep ties to Hindu mythology and the Mahabharata era. It is believed the Pandavas and Draupadi visited this area, then called Viratnagar, during their exile. The site is known for Bhima’s encounter with Lord Hanuman. The temple houses a reclining statue of Lord Hanuman, said to have been established by the Pandavas.