Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
December 18 is celebrated as Minority Rights Day to commemorate the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to Minorities, adopted in 1992. This day raises awareness about minority rights, highlights their contributions to society, and promotes their protection and empowerment. The non-binding Declaration ensures the right to culture, religion, and language for minorities, shaping global human rights discussions. The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights for all citizens, promoting equality and protecting minorities from discrimination.

Notes:
The 22nd edition of CII Connect was held on December 17-18, 2024, in Chennai, focusing on “Artificial Intelligence in Action – Real-World Applications in Business.” Discussions highlighted AI’s role in rural and urban development, manufacturing, supply chain resilience, smart governance, and community empowerment. Advancements in quantum computing and AR/VR were explored, along with AI-driven products for business operations. The event emphasized industry-academia collaboration to develop an AI-ready workforce for future challenges.

Notes:
India’s first analog space mission, named Hab-1, was tested in Ladakh to simulate space conditions for astronaut training. This mission is part of ISRO’s preparations for the Gaganyaan project, which aims to send astronauts into low-Earth orbit. Hab-1 is designed to replicate the limited living conditions expected on the Moon or Mars, featuring essential amenities like a kitchenette and a dry toilet. The extreme environment of Ladakh, with its rocky terrain and high altitude, provides an ideal setting for such simulations, helping to prepare astronauts for future missions.

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All 17,130 police stations in India are now linked via the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) platform. CCTNS, launched in 2009 under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is part of India’s National e-Governance Plan with a budget of ₹2,000 crore. It enhances police efficiency and transparency, offering tools for investigation, analytics, and citizen services. The system stores comprehensive crime data, including accused, offenders, missing persons, and stolen vehicles. It supports nationwide integration, even in remote areas, and connects police data with courts, prisons, and forensics under the Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS).

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Environmentalists oppose mining near Bukkapatna Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. The sanctuary, established in 2019, aims to protect chinkaras (Indian gazelles). It is the second chinkara sanctuary in Karnataka after Yadahalli Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in Sira Taluk of Tumakuru district, the sanctuary spans 148 km² (57 sq mi). Named after the village Bukkapatna, it is a vital habitat for chinkaras. Mining proposals raise concerns about potential threats to the sanctuary’s ecosystem and wildlife.

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Masali village in Suigam taluka, Banaskantha, Gujarat, became India’s first border solar village. Located 40 km from the Pakistan border, the village has a population of 800 people. The village became part of a Border Development Project aiming to make 17 villages fully solar-powered. The Rs 1.16 crore project was supported by the Revenue Department, UGVCL (Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited), banks, and solar companies. It received Rs 59.81 lakh subsidy under PM Suryaghar Yojana, Rs 20.52 lakh from public contributions, and Rs 35.67 lakh from CSR (corporate social responsibility).

Notes:
India plans to launch a quantum satellite for secure communications within 2-3 years. A quantum satellite is a communication satellite that employs the principles of quantum physics to secure its signals, ensuring highly secure and tamper-proof communication by using methods like quantum encryption and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The National Quantum Mission (NQM), launched by India in April 2023, aims to boost quantum technology for advanced communication and sensing systems. China launched the first quantum communications satellite, Micius, in 2016.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was bestowed with Kuwait’s highest honour ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ on December 22. ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ is a knighthood order of Kuwait and the highest honour given by the country. This marks the 20th international honour that PM Modi received from a country.

Notes:
The central government has abolished the no-detention policy for classes 5 and 8, allowing schools to retain students who fail annual exams. This change affects over 3,000 central government schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. The policy was part of the 2009 Right to Education (RTE) Act. The new policy, notified on December 16, mandates remedial instruction and re-examinations for failed students. Schools must offer additional teaching and re-examination within two months. At least 18 states and Union Territories had already removed the no-detention policy after the 2019 RTE amendment.

Notes:
Aisake Valu Eke was elected as the Prime Minister of Tonga and will replace Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, who resigned on December 9. Eke will officially take office in February and serve until the next election in November 2025. Tonga’s Parliament has 17 elected members, nine nobles, and two members who couldn’t vote in this election. Eke, a former Finance Minister (2014–2017), was first elected to Parliament in 2010 as an independent. He earned a PhD from the University of Southern Queensland, focusing on public sector service quality in Tonga. In 2011, he opposed increased allowances for MPs during Tonga’s economic challenges.