Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
The first Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC 2024) is taking place in Harare, Zimbabwe, from October 29-31. This conference brings African nations into the global discussion on climate change and its health impacts, where Africa faces high burdens of climate-sensitive diseases. More than 400 participants, including government officials, health and climate experts, and researchers, attended the conference. It focuses on sharing innovations, best practices, and solutions to build climate resilience in health.

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The Union Government plans to add Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Vertical Farming, and Precision Agriculture to the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). MIDH is a Central Sponsored Scheme started in 2014-15 for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector. It promotes the cultivation of various crops, including fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, spices, flowers, coconut, cashew, cocoa, and bamboo. The mission also offers technical advice and support to State Governments and State Horticulture Missions for the Saffron Mission and other horticulture activities under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

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Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) epigraphists recently found a Telugu inscription above a Lord Hanuman statue at the 13th-century Simhachalam temple. Simhachalam Temple, also called Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, is in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Dedicated to Vishnu’s Narasimha avatar, it was initially built in the 11th century by Odisha’s Gajapati rulers. The temple was renovated by Vengi Chalukyas and later by Narasimha I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the 13th century. Its architecture blends Kalinga and Dravidian styles, with a stone chariot, intricate carvings, and sculptures of Vishnu’s avatars and royal figures.

Notes:
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal attended the 8th Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. India and Saudi Arabia share strong economic, cultural, and strategic ties reinforced by high-level visits and the 2019 Strategic Partnership Council.
The council oversees cooperation, structured in Political-Security-Socio-Cultural and Economic-Investment pillars.
Saudi Arabia is India’s fifth-largest trade partner, with bilateral trade at USD 43 billion in 2023-24, mainly oil imports and Indian exports in goods. Both nations are exploring renewable energy, with shared interests in solar, wind, and hydrogen. Saudi’s Vision 2030 aligns with India’s development goals, fostering collaborations in food security, pharma, ICT, and defense.

Notes:
PM Modi launched India’s first helicopter ambulance service at Rishikesh AIIMS to improve emergency healthcare access.
The service aims to transport critical patients quickly within the ‘golden hour’ for better trauma care. It is part of a larger healthcare upgrade project worth over Rs 12,850 crore. A toll-free number will link all district disaster management centers to facilitate this service. Drones will aid in delivering blood samples and medicines to remote regions. The initiative extends to Uttarakhand and some border areas of Uttar Pradesh, transforming healthcare access in tough terrains.

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The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) is observed on November 2, recognized by the United Nations to protect journalists and seek justice for crimes against them. IDEI was proclaimed by the UN in Resolution A/RES/68/163, marking the 2013 killing of two French journalists in Mali. It aims to tackle violence against journalists, crucial for freedom of expression and access to information. The 2024 theme, “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies,” focuses on protecting journalists in conflict zones. Journalists in high-risk areas face violence, restricted access, and detention, creating “zones of silence.”

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World Health Organization (WHO) released the “Global TB Report 2024”. India has significantly improved treatment coverage for tuberculosis (TB), achieving 85% coverage among diagnosed individuals. The World Health Organization’s Global TB Report highlights an increase in preventive therapy for high-risk groups, such as household contacts of TB patients and people living with HIV. In 2023, 12.2 lakh people received preventive therapy, up from 10.2 lakh in 2022 and 4.2 lakh in 2021. The government provides free TB medications to alleviate financial burdens, as treatments can be costly and last up to two years. Treatment success rates are 89% for drug-susceptible TB, 73% for drug-resistant TB, and 69% for extremely drug-resistant TB. Challenges include the long duration of treatment, leading to poor compliance, prompting the government to introduce innovative solutions like pill boxes and shorter treatment courses.

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The Pradhan Mantri Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (PMVKY) was launched on October 28, 2014, to empower tribal communities in India. It addresses historical neglect by providing financial assistance and promoting sustainable development. The initiative includes the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana for integrated development in 36,428 tribal villages, focusing on connectivity, education, health, and sanitation. It supports Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups with tailored development projects, allocating ₹15,000 crore for housing, water, sanitation, and education over three years. It provides pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for tribal students and funds research on tribal cultures and challenges. Funds are also allocated for project management units to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of welfare schemes.

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Three XI standard students tragically drowned while bathing in the Koel River in Lohardaga district, Jharkhand. The Koel River originates from the Palamau Tiger Reserve and flows through the western part of Palamu District. It consists of two parts: North Koel River and South Koel River. The North Koel River is tapped for irrigation and joins the Son River, while the South Koel flows through Odisha before merging with the Brahmani River. The river is prone to seasonal flooding, especially during the monsoon, and has hydropower potential, with the North Koel Dam built to generate electricity and supply irrigation.

Notes:
The National Achievement Survey (NAS) will be held on December 4, 2024, under a new name, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan. PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) aims to enhance understanding of India’s educational landscape and is led by NCERT and CBSE. The survey assesses students from government, aided, and private schools using multiple-choice questions for Grades 3, 6, and 9 in subjects like Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. It evaluates school effectiveness across districts, utilizing paper-based assessments and Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology. The approach focuses on foundational education as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, providing report cards at national, state, and district levels. PARAKH is managed by the National Assessment Center, PARAKH, under the Ministry of Education.