Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Eminent tabla player Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri from Kolkata received the ‘Rashtriya Tansen Samman’ for 2023. Sanand Nyas Sanstha from Indore was awarded the ‘Raja Mansingh Tomar Samman’ for 2023. The awards were presented during the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh 2024, held in Gwalior to mark the centenary year of legendary music maestro Tansen. The ‘Tansen Award’ is the highest national music honor in Indian classical music, instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government. Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri thanked the state government for the prestigious recognition.

Notes:
The Ministry of Textiles is promoting research into innovative natural fibers like milkweed fiber, derived from milkweed plant seed pods. Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L) is native to North America and grows wild in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu in India. Milkweed fiber is lightweight, soft, biodegradable, and renewable but brittle for spinning due to its oily material and lignin content. It has amphiphilic properties, both water-absorbing and water-repelling. Applications include water-safety equipment like life jackets and belts, and filtration systems due to its fine fiber structure.

Notes:
The Surajkund International Craft Fair will take place from February 7–23, 2025, in Faridabad. Around ₹1.50 crore is allocated for repair work to prepare for the event. The fair serves as both an art exhibition and a business hub, connecting craftsmen with art enthusiasts. It highlights India’s rich handicrafts, handlooms, and cultural heritage. The 2025 fair will expand with weather-proof huts to accommodate growing participation, though the number is yet to be finalized. In 2024, 1,150 huts hosted 1,500 indigenous and 250 foreign artisans. BIMSTEC countries are partner nations, with Northeastern states receiving special focus.

Notes:
California has declared a state of emergency due to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak, affecting its dairy industry and causing human infections. H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, affecting birds and occasionally humans. Symptoms in humans range from mild (pink eye, cough) to severe (fever, shortness of breath, respiratory complications). It spreads through contact with infected animal fluids and is rarely transmitted between humans. Treatment includes antiviral medications like Tamiflu and supportive care. Preventive measures involve avoiding contact with infected animals and properly cooking poultry.

Notes:
Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh lead in rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The scheme was launched on February 15, 2024 by PM Narendra Modi. The scheme aims to install 10 million rooftop solar units by March 2027. More than Over 679,000 installations are completed as of December 9, 2024, benefiting 538,000 residential units and 141,000 homes in welfare associations. Gujarat leads with 302,000 installations, followed by Maharashtra (139,000) and Uttar Pradesh (56,000). Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan also contribute significantly. This initiative is set to become the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar program, providing free electricity.

Notes:
The Northern giant hornet, nicknamed the “murder hornet,” has been eradicated in the U.S., as confirmed by the Department of Agriculture. It is the largest hornet in the world, growing up to 2 inches long, and inhabits lower altitude forests while avoiding plains and high altitudes. Native to China, Korea, Japan, and India, it is an invasive species threatening insects and pollinators. It can destroy an entire beehive in 90 minutes, feeding the brood to its young and defending the hive as its own. The hornet stings multiple times, delivering venom seven times stronger than a honey bee’s sting, even piercing beekeeper suits. It primarily preys on native insects like butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bees, and wasps, indirectly harming plants dependent on honey bee pollination.

Notes:
The Department of Consumer Affairs launched the ‘Jago Grahak Jago App,’ ‘Jagriti App,’ and ‘Jagriti Dashboard’ on National Consumers Day 2024 to protect consumers from deceptive dark patterns. Dark patterns are misleading designs that trick users into unintended actions, violating consumer rights; the term was coined by Harry Brignull in 2010. The ‘Jago Grahak Jago App,’ ‘Jagriti App,’ and ‘Jagriti Dashboard’ are part of a real-time intelligent system running on the Airawat AI Supercomputer under the National Supercomputing Mission. The ‘Jago Grahak Jago App’ alerts users about unsafe URLs during online activities. The ‘Jagriti App’ allows users to report URLs suspected of using illegal dark patterns, with complaints forwarded to the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA). The ‘Jagriti Dashboard’ generates real-time reports on dark patterns to monitor and regulate e-commerce practices. This system helps the CCPA resolve disputes and protect consumer rights effectively.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu has requested the Union government to add the mumps vaccine to the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). UIP provides free immunization against 12 diseases, including Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Hepatitis B, and others. Mumps is a contagious viral infection affecting the salivary glands, usually mild and self-limiting. It primarily affects children and young adults, with symptoms like jaw swelling, fever, fatigue, appetite loss, and headaches. Mumps spreads through direct contact or airborne droplets from an infected person’s upper respiratory tract.

Notes:
Sagar Island hosts the iconic Gangasagar Mela every January and is impacted by climate change. Sagar Island is located in the West Bengal. The island is also known as Gangasagar or Sagardwip. It lies in the Ganges delta on the Bay of Bengal’s continental shelf. The island consists of 43 villages and is separated from Mahisani Island by the River Muriganga Batala. Sagar, Mahisani, and Ghoramara islands fall under the sand group category. It is a significant Hindu pilgrimage site where Makar Sankranti is celebrated in honor of the Sun. The Kapil Muni temple on the island is a major attraction for devotees.

Notes:
Shahu Tushar Mane won gold in the men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the National Shooting Championship, securing his first senior national title. Mane, representing Railways, triumphed in the 24-shot final by a narrow margin, defeating Telangana’s Dhanush Srikanth, who took the silver medal. Himanshu from Haryana won gold in the youth category, while Madhya Pradesh’s Yash Pandey and West Bengal’s Abhiav Shaw won silver and bronze, respectively.