Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2023

Notes:
Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have made a significant discovery by detecting the presence of avian flu in the Antarctic region for the first time. This development has raised concerns about the health of remote populations of penguins and seals in the area.
The discovery came after reports of potentially symptomatic birds and unexplained deaths, and subsequent tests confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Notes:
Rashtriya Gokul Mission, India’s flagship program aimed at enhancing indigenous cattle breeds, was launched in 2014.
Instead of enhancing the quality of all indigenous breeds as originally intended, the scheme has predominantly promoted one specific indigenous variety, the Gir cow, nationwide. This trend, if left unaddressed, could pose a risk to the genetic purity of indigenous cattle breeds throughout the country.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Amrit Vatika and Amrit Mahotsav Memorial and launched the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform, designed for the country’s youth.
It was launched at an event marking the culmination of the “Meri Maati Mera Desh” campaign’s Amrit Kalash Yatra at Kartavya Path in New Delhi.

Notes:
Sweden’s Saab has become the first foreign company that has bagged 100% FDI in India’s defence projects.
According to a report, Sweden’s Saab will set up a new facility in the country that will manufacture shoulder-fired rockets. Currently, India allows only 74% FDI in the defence sector under the automatic route. Beyond that, clearance can be obtained on a case-by-case basis.

Notes:
Moroccan archaeologists recently unearthed a Roman-era site in Rabat, Morocco that dates back to the second century. The site includes a port district, a bath, and a cemetery. The site’s proximity to water made it a key trading hub for the import of Italian marble and export of African ivory.
The archaeologists also discovered a statue of a woman, possibly a deity or empress, draped in cloth. Morocco was conquered by the Romans, but they left little or no evidence of their reign. The Arabs and Islam had a significant impact on the region.

Notes:
According to a survey published by McKinsey Health Institute, India is the second-best country in the world for employee well-being.
Turkey stands first in the survey with 78% score, while India has the second highest score of 76%, closely followed by China. The survey measured employee well-being by assessing physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. The global average was 57%. Researchers found that individuals aged 18 to 24, employees of smaller enterprises, and non-managerial professionals exhibit elevated rates of burnout symptoms.

Notes:
Mundra Port in Gujarat became the first port in the country to handle 16 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in a month in October 2023.
This was the highest volume ever handled by any port in India. Mundra Port is owned by the Adani Group and is the flagship of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ). It has a capacity to handle 338 MMT of cargo per year, which is the largest among all operational ports in India.

Notes:
Ashok Leyland commenced delivery of India’s first batch of 12 LNG-powered haulage trucks – AVTR 1922.
With this, Ashok Leyland becomes the first Indian Original Equipment Manufacturer to unveil an in-house LNG engine compliant with BSVI Stage II emission standard.

Notes:
To boost exports of agricultural products to the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCCs), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global retail major Lulu Hypermarket.
With the MoU, APEDA would promote Indian agricultural products, including Millets across the GCC as the LuLu Group International (LLC) has its presence across the GCC, Egypt, India and the Far East.

Notes:
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) in collaboration with Wadhwani AI developed Krishi 24/7, first-ever AI-powered solution for automated agricultural news analysis.
It addresses the need for an efficient mechanism to identify and manage agricultural news articles of interest to aid timely decision-making.