Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Prime Minister Modi will hand over 5.8 million property cards to owners in 50,000 villages across 12 states, four years after the Svamitva scheme’s launch. Svamitva (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) was launched by Ministry of Panchayati Raj in 2020. It was launched to provide rural property owners with official property records. It grants access to loans, reduces disputes, and improves village planning. The scheme has issued 20.19 million property cards and completed 92% of drone mapping in 317,000 villages. It empowers women, strengthens land rights, and promotes community development.

Notes:
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched India’s first Undergraduate Minor Program in Quantum Technologies, designed to prepare students for the quantum revolution. This program covers four verticals: Quantum Computation, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing, and Quantum Materials. It aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering a skilled workforce for innovation in quantum technologies. The curriculum emphasizes project-based learning and is open to engineering students from their third semester, ensuring practical experience and interdisciplinary appeal in this cutting-edge field.

Notes:
Arunish Chawla, a 1992-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre, has been appointed as the next revenue secretary, replacing Ajay Seth. Chawla currently serves as secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals since November 1, 2023, and holds additional charge of the Ministry of Culture until a permanent appointment is made. He has over three years left in service, with his tenure ending in July 2028. Chawla’s previous roles include joint secretary in the Finance Ministry, minister (economics) at the Indian Embassy in the U.S., and senior economist with the IMF. He holds a postgraduate degree and a PhD in economics from the London School of Economics. In Bihar, he served as additional chief secretary of planning, secretary of the State Planning Board, and project director for disaster rehabilitation.

Notes:
India sent 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to Lesotho to address food security and nutrition challenges. Lesotho is a landlocked country entirely within South Africa, with its capital and largest city being Maseru. Known as “The Mountain Kingdom,” it is located in the Maloti Mountains and includes Thabana Ntlenyana, Southern Africa’s highest peak. The Orange River, one of Africa’s longest rivers, originates in the Lesotho Highlands.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the ‘Atal Yuva Maha Kumbh’ in Lucknow. The event celebrates the birth centenary year of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Certificates and prizes were awarded to meritorious students excelling in various competitions.

Notes:
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tribute to Brigadier General Amitabh Jha of India, serving with the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Golan Heights. UNDOF was established in 1974 to maintain the ceasefire and supervise the demilitarized buffer zone between Israel and Syria. The mission’s mandate is renewed every six months and extended until June 2025. UNDOF is funded annually by the UN General Assembly. India is the third-largest troop and police contributor to UNDOF. Golan Heights is a hilly region, part of Syria, occupied by Israel since 1967. UNDOF headquarters is at Camp Faouar.

Notes:
The Ministry of Ayush launched a film series, “Ayush for All: Holistic Health Care through National Ayush Mission (NAM),” showcasing the transformative impact of NAM. NAM aims to strengthen Ayush healthcare services, integrate them into mainstream public health, and promote preventive care via Ayushman Arogya Mandir. NAM established 3883 Yoga Wellness Centres, 1055 Ayush Grams, and 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. The film series highlights NAM’s success in reducing healthcare costs and improving access, especially for rural and underserved populations.

Notes:
Researchers developed FELUDA, a low-cost diagnostic tool for detecting H. pylori and its mutations in dyspeptic patients in rural India with limited lab access. H. pylori is a common bacterium in the digestive tract, infecting over 43% of the world’s population and causing peptic ulcers, gastritis, dyspepsia, and gastric cancer. It survives in the stomach by reducing acidity and penetrating the lining, evading immune cells. Symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Treatment involves a 14-day triple therapy using antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor to reduce stomach acid.

Notes:
BEML Ltd launched the BD475-2 Dozer, India’s largest and most advanced crawler dozer, showcasing the country’s engineering excellence and self-reliance. Powered by a 950 HP engine, it was developed entirely in-house at BEML’s Kolar Gold Fields facility. The BD475-2 Dozer enhances fuel efficiency and performance, supporting mining operations. This launch highlights India’s technological growth, aligning with the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat vision for sustainable development.

Notes:
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.