Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Scientists in India successfully used gene therapy to treat severe hemophilia A, a rare inherited blood disorder. Hemophilia A is caused by a lack of clotting factor VIII, leading to difficulty in blood clotting. It is a sex-linked disorder carried on the X chromosome, resulting in prolonged bleeding from minor cuts or injuries. Treatment typically involves boosting or replacing missing clotting factors. Gene therapy offers a potential breakthrough by addressing the root cause of the disorder, improving clotting abilities in patients.

Notes:
Israel’s military recently targeted several key Syrian military sites, including naval vessels at Latakia Port. Latakia Port is located on the East Mediterranean coast, with a good harbor and a vast agricultural hinterland to the west of Syria. It serves as Syria’s principal port, exporting products like bitumen, asphalt, cereals, cotton, fruit, eggs, vegetable oil, pottery, and tobacco. The port city’s local industries include cotton ginning, vegetable oil processing, tanning, and sponge fishing.

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National Energy Conservation Day is observed annually in India on December 14, promoting energy efficiency and sustainability. It highlights the importance of conserving energy and adopting sustainable practices for a greener future. Introduced in 1991, it is led by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power. Energy conservation focuses on reducing unnecessary energy use through efficient practices and technologies, ensuring resource availability for future generations. The day features the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA), honoring industries and institutions for reducing energy consumption while maintaining efficiency.

Notes:
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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The Malwa Canal project in Punjab will require the felling of nearly 1.30 lakh trees and plants for its 150-km length. It is Punjab’s first major irrigation and water management project since independence, with an estimated cost of ₹2,300 crore. The canal will originate from the Harike headworks on the Sutlej River in Ferozepur and end at Waring Khera village in Muktsar, near Haryana’s border. It will run parallel to the Sirhind and Rajasthan Feeder canals, carrying 2,000 cusecs of water.

Notes:
India’s first diabetes biobank has been established in Chennai by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF). It stores biological samples to support scientific research with ICMR’s approval. The biobank focuses on studying the causes, variations, and related disorders of Indian diabetes. Blood samples are collected from two ICMR studies: the India Diabetes (INDIAB) study (2008-2020) and the ongoing registry of young-onset diabetes (since 2006).

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A Russian oil tanker recently split during a storm, spilling oil into the Kerch Strait. The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov and separates Crimea from Russia’s Taman Peninsula. It’s 3 km long, 15 km wide, and 18 meters deep, with its narrowest point being just 3-5 km. Kerch city is located on the Crimean side, and the strait is a vital global shipping route. After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, it has been a point of conflict. The Kerch Strait Bridge, completed in 2018, links Russia to Crimea and is Europe’s longest bridge.

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The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences has developed an upgraded version of its Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT). SARAT, launched in 2016, aids in locating people or vessels in distress at sea quickly. It uses model ensembling to account for uncertainties in the object’s last known location and time. The tool factors in currents and winds and operates on high-resolution ocean models. Users can select from 60 types of objects and input details like the last seen location. Version 2 improves search area accuracy, visualizations, and user interface for easier identification of missing objects.

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United Kingdom became the 12th member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), its largest trade deal since Brexit. The agreement now includes 12 countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and United Kingdom. The CPTPP is a free-trade agreement (FTA) between countries around the Pacific Rim. The CPTPP aims to boost economic cooperation across the Pacific. Members reduce tariffs, open markets for services and investments, and set rules on competition, intellectual property, and foreign company protection.

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Over 63.17 lakh teachers were trained under various NISHTHA programs by NCERT between 2019 and 2022. The NISHTHA Scheme (National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement) is a teacher training program launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Education. It aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of teachers and principals across India. The program focuses on improving elementary education quality through training in child development, pedagogy, and ICT. The initiative aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) to create a vibrant and inclusive education system.