Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

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International Mountain Day is celebrated annually on December 11 to raise awareness about the importance of mountains for life. The day highlights opportunities and challenges in mountain development and promotes alliances for positive change for mountain communities and environments. Mountains are home to 15% of the global population and host nearly half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The UN General Assembly designated December 11 as International Mountain Day in 2002. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN coordinates the annual celebration to enhance understanding of mountain-related issues.

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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 joint committee informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) about stone-crushing units altering the Chakki River’s course. The Chakki River is a tributary of the Beas River, flowing through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, and merging with the Beas near Pathankot. It is fed by snow and rain from the Dhauladhar mountains. Unregulated sand mining is damaging the riverbed and banks. The Beas River is crucial for Punjab, one of the Five Rivers of the region, and was known as Arjiki or Hyphasis in ancient times.

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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 SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0 initiative, under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, aims to enhance competitiveness in India’s capital goods sector. It focuses on spreading awareness about Industry 4.0 technologies among manufacturers, vendors, and customers. Four SAMARTH Centres have been established: C4i4 Lab in Pune, IITD-AIA Foundation at IIT Delhi, I-4.0 India at IISc Bengaluru, and Smart Manufacturing Cell at CMTI Bengaluru. These centres assist industries, including MSMEs, by organizing seminars, providing training, and offering consultancy in IoT, software, and data analytics. No financial assistance is provided for adopting Industry 4.0 technologies under this initiative.

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Israel plans to double its population in the occupied Golan Heights, a hilly region overlooking the upper Jordan River valley. The Golan Heights, originally Syrian territory, was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981, though this is not internationally recognized. It spans 71 km north to south, 43 km wide, and covers 1,150 sq. km. The region has 30+ Israeli settlements with 20,000 settlers, considered illegal under international law, alongside 20,000 Druze Arabs who remained after the occupation. The Golan Heights is strategically important for water resources, overlooks Damascus, and borders Jordan and Lebanon.

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A male humpback whale swam over 13,046 km from South America to Africa, setting a record for the longest whale migration ever documented. Humpback whales are named for the hump on their backs, with long pectoral fins inspiring their scientific name Megaptera (big-winged). Females are larger than males and have black or grey bodies with white undersides and large knobs on their heads and jaws. They inhabit all oceans and migrate between polar feeding grounds in summer and tropical breeding grounds in winter. They feed using bubble netting, a spiral swimming method. Humpback whales are listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN.

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The Ram Temple in Ayodhya won the prestigious ‘Sword of Honour’ award from the British Safety Council for excellence in safety management. This award requires a five-star safety audit and on-site assessment by the British Safety Council. Larsen & Toubro, the temple’s construction firm, earlier received the ‘Golden Trophy’ from the National Safety Council for safety measures. The temple’s construction, including its Shikhar and key statues, is in the final phase, set to finish by June 2025. Statues of Shri Ram Darbar and various sages will be completed by January 2025, using 15 lakh cubic feet of Bansi Paharpur stone.

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The National Green Tribunal has issued a notice regarding the critically endangered status of feral horses in Assam’s Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. This park is the only place in India where feral horses are found. Feral horses are not recognized under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and are not legally considered wild animals. They prefer grassy river flats, forests, and woodlands, staying within 5–6 km of water sources. Feral horses are not true wild horses; the Takhi is the only true wild horse. Australia has the largest population of feral horses globally.

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A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.3 struck Vanuatu, causing significant damage and potential casualties. Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and west of Fiji. Its capital, Port Vila, is located on the island of Efate. The country consists of 13 principal volcanic islands and many smaller ones, with active volcanoes like Yasur, Manaro, and Garet. Initially colonized by Melanesians, it became the New Hebrides under Anglo-French rule and gained independence in 1980. Vanuatu is highly vulnerable to climate change, with sea levels rising twice the global average, ranking it most at risk globally.