Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The Ministry of Defence launched the ‘Rashtraparv’ website and mobile app. It provides citizens easy access to information on national festivals organized by the ministry. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh highlighted its convenience for staying informed about events. The platform aims to offer details for participation and learning about national celebrations. It ensures accessibility, real-time updates, and a user-friendly experience. Citizens can get comprehensive event details at their fingertips through this initiative.

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.

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 alarming levels of arsenic contamination in Bihar’s staple foods—rice, wheat, and potatoes—pose serious health risks, particularly for rural populations. A study by Mahavir Cancer Sansthan found that 14% of rice, 63% of wheat, and 3% of potato samples exceeded permissible arsenic limits set by the FAO. The contamination is linked to groundwater pollution and sediment deposits from the River Ganga, affecting infants and children most severely. Urgent interventions are needed to address this public health crisis and mitigate risks associated with arsenic exposure.

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:
India proposes the 11,000 MW Upper Siang Hydropower Project in Arunachal Pradesh as a strategic counter to China’s planned 60,000 MW dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet. The project is located on the Siang River, the upper course of the Brahmaputra. It holds cultural significance as Aane Siang (Mother Siang) to locals. The project aims to strengthen India’s strategic position and manage water resources effectively amid China’s dam-building plans. The region is home to the Adi Tribe, who rely on riverbank agriculture (pani kheti) due to limited farming options in the hilly terrain.

Notes:
The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) organized a Multi-Stakeholder Convention in New Delhi. The event was held in collaboration with the Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network (RRAN) and Watershed Support Services & Activities Network (WASSAN). It was established in 2006. The NRAA aims to manage dry land and rainfed agriculture. It has a two-tier structure: a Governing Board chaired by the Union Agriculture Minister and an Executive Committee with technical experts. The NRAA focuses on water conservation, sustainable development of rainfed areas, and improving livelihoods of landless and marginal farmers. It operates under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

Notes:
India’s first Fishing Cat Collaring Project will be executed by the Wildlife Institute of India at Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh. It is located in Andhra Pradesh. The sanctuary spans sea-backwaters and creeks, with 40% affected by tidal waters. It has extensive mangrove and dry deciduous forests, the second-largest mangrove stretch in India, with species like Rhizophora, Avicennia, and Sonnertia. It hosts endangered species like Smooth Indian otter, Fishing cat, Jackal, and birds such as Black-capped kingfisher and Brahminy kite. The sea coast serves as a breeding ground for Olive Ridley turtles.

Notes:
Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the US, passed away at 100 in Plains, Georgia. President Joe Biden praised Carter’s life of principle, faith, and humility, calling him a man of courage and compassion. January 9 will be a national day of mourning in the US. Carter served from 1977 to 1981 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his peace efforts.