Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

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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.

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Google recently unveiled its next-generation quantum computing chip called ‘Willow’. Willow includes advanced components like single and two-qubit gates, qubit reset, and readout, all integrated to ensure seamless performance. The chip solved a complex problem in five minutes, a task that would take classical computers longer than the history of the universe. Willow completed a benchmark computation in under five minutes, which would take today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years. It uses superconducting transmon qubits, which behave like artificial atoms at low temperatures. Quantum chips use qubits instead of bits, enabling faster and more complex calculations.

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The Prime Minister launched the Kumbh Sah’AI’yak chatbot for Mahakumbh Mela 2025. Mahakumbh Mela 2025 will be held in Prayagraj from January 13th to February 26th, 2025. The chatbot blends culture and technology to enhance devotees’ experience. It offers text and voice interactions for a smooth and engaging experience. It aims to guide and update millions of attendees during the mega event.

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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.

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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.

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The Homi Bhabha Chair Scheme was discussed in the Rajya Sabha by the Union Minister of State for Science & Technology. It is administered by the Department of Atomic Energy. The scheme benefits distinguished scientists, professors, and retired engineers working on sensitive or critical technologies. The duration of the scheme ranges from one to five years, decided by a Selection Committee. It provides an honorarium and allowances to the beneficiaries.

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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched the Sanchar Saathi portal to empower citizens and address fraud communications and Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC). The portal includes the Chakshu facility to report fraud communications, enabling DoT to act on mobile connections, handsets, bulk SMS senders, and WhatsApp accounts. DoT and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) developed a system to block international spoofed calls mimicking Indian numbers, often used in scams like fake arrests and impersonation. DoT, through citizen reports on Chakshu, has disconnected mobile connections, blocked handsets, disengaged WhatsApp accounts, and blacklisted headers and SMS templates.

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The IndiaAI Future Skills platform has enrolled 8.6 lakh candidates, announced by the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT. It is a key pillar of the IndiaAI Mission, aiming to prepare India’s AI workforce. The platform removes barriers to AI education, boosts AI courses in UG, PG, and Ph.D. programs, and fosters inclusive AI access. Data and AI Labs are being set up in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities like Gorakhpur and Patna for foundational AI courses. IndiaAI Mission is led by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) under the Digital India program.

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The European Space Agency launched Proba-3 from India to study the Sun’s corona using artificial solar eclipses created by precise satellite alignment. An artificial solar eclipse mimics a natural one, using two satellites to block sunlight and create a controlled shadow. The Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) observes the Sun, while the Occulter (OSC) casts a shadow, maintaining millimetres-level alignment for up to six hours per orbit. It allows extended study of the Sun’s corona, far longer than natural eclipses. The mission aids in understanding corona mysteries, predicting geomagnetic storms, and mitigating satellite disruptions.

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A Little Bunting bird, never before seen in Rajasthan, was recently spotted in Mount Abu. The Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) is a small passerine bird from the bunting family. It breeds in the taiga regions of Europe and northern Eurasia and migrates to northern India, southern China, and parts of Southeast Asia in winter. It measures 12–14 cm in length, with white underparts and dark streaks. It is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.