Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The bald eagle, symbolizing U.S. power and strength for over 240 years, is now officially the national bird. President Joe Biden signed legislation amending the U.S. Code to make the designation official. The bald eagle, with its white head, yellow beak, and brown body, has been on the Great Seal of the United States since 1782. The Great Seal includes the eagle, an olive branch, arrows, a shield, the motto E Pluribus Unum, and a constellation of stars. The eagle was already the national emblem, appearing on documents, flags, military insignia, and currency. It is indigenous to North America.

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December 27 is observed as International Epidemic Preparedness Day worldwide. The day aims to raise awareness about pandemics by sharing scientific knowledge, information, and best practices internationally. Governments play a primary role in pandemic response, and the day emphasizes their responsibility. It educates people about pandemics, promotes information sharing at all levels, and enhances future health preparedness. The UN General Assembly established the day on December 7, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The first observance took place on December 27, 2020, focusing on prevention, preparedness, and global cooperation.

Notes:
Rwanda has declared its first-ever Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak over, with 42 days without new cases, confirmed by WHO. MVD is a severe, often fatal hemorrhagic fever caused by the Marburg virus, with no approved vaccines or treatments. First identified in 1967 in Marburg, Germany, linked to infected green monkeys. Outbreaks are mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania, Uganda, Angola, Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The virus is transmitted from fruit bats to humans, spreading through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces.

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The RBI formed a committee named FREE-AI to establish a framework for responsible and ethical AI use in the financial sector. The committee is led by Pushpak Bhattacharyya, a professor at IIT Bombay. The committee will propose frameworks for AI governance, risk mitigation, and ethical adoption for banks, NBFCs, FinTechs, and PSOs. It will also address broader AI-related matters in the Indian financial sector. The committee will submit its report within six months of its first meeting.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the “Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2023-24” report. The report highlights the banking sector’s performance. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) showed improved profitability for the sixth consecutive year, with a 13-year low in Gross NPAs at 2.5%. The Capital-to-Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) for SCBs stood at 16.8%, exceeding regulatory requirements. Urban Co-operative Banks saw expansion, with improved asset quality. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) reported double-digit credit growth and reduced GNPA to 3.4%. Technological advancements like Unified Lending Interface (ULI) and Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) aim to improve credit access. The report highlights rising banking frauds, with cases surging to ₹21,367 crore in 2024.

Notes:
India’s Deep Ocean Mission captured high-resolution images of an active hydrothermal vent 4,500 meters below the Indian Ocean’s surface. Hydrothermal vents are underwater hot springs near tectonic plate boundaries, releasing hot water and minerals into the ocean. The mission is a multi-ministerial and multi-disciplinary initiative to explore deep-sea living and non-living resources. It supports India’s goal of achieving Blue Economy status and developing technologies for ocean resource harnessing. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is the nodal agency implementing this mission.

Notes:
MT Vasudevan Nair, renowned writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker, was celebrated for capturing human emotions and rural life. Born in 1933 in Kudallur, Kerala, he became a prominent figure in Malayalam literature and cinema over seven decades. His works include novels, short stories, screenplays, and films, deeply resonating with diverse audiences. He passed away at 91, marking the end of an era in Indian literature and cinema. Early life influences came from Kudallur and Punnayurkulam; he completed schooling locally and graduated in chemistry from Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1953.

Notes:
A recovering sea otter population in California’s Elkhorn Slough has controlled the invasive green crab population. Green crabs, also known as shore crabs, are among the world’s top 100 invasive species. They are native to the Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea. They have spread to Australia, South America, and South Africa also. They feed on small crustaceans, molluscs, and worms, damaging seagrass beds and overhunting prey species. Green crabs outcompete native species, disrupting coastal ecosystems.

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered copper plates and ancient inscriptions in the Ghantamandapam of Srisailam Temple. Srisailam Temple, also called Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, is located in Andhra Pradesh, surrounded by Nallamala Hills and Krishna River. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Shakti as Bhramarambha. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and a rare site combining Jyothirlingam and Mahashakthi in one campus. The temple, built in Dravidian style, showcases Vijayanagara architecture. Its origins trace back to the 2nd century AD, with contributions from the Satavahanas, Kakatiyas, and Vijayanagara kings. Aadi Sankara is said to have visited and composed Sivananda Lahiri here.

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Three poachers were arrested for killing a sambar deer inside Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) is a large species native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is known as Jarao in Nepal and the Four-eyed deer in China. They are water-dependent and found in diverse forest habitats. They are solitary or live in small groups, with males reaching up to 550 kg. Sambar deer have long antlers and dark brown coats, and are most active at dusk and night. The species is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.