Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
The government approved the PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme with a budget of Rs 3,600 crore for five years from FY 2024-25. It aims to provide financial aid to meritorious students in top higher education institutions (QHEIs). Students with family incomes up to Rs 8 lakh are eligible for 3% interest subvention on loans up to Rs 10 lakh, with no collateral or guarantor required. The scheme aims to benefit over 22 lakh students annually, with a digital loan application process. The scheme complements other education loan initiatives and will be managed through a unified portal, “PM-Vidyalaxmi.”

Notes:
The third edition of the virtual interaction MAHASAGAR took place on 5 Nov 2024, led by Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff. It involved leaders from maritime agencies of Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries, including Bangladesh, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and others. The theme was “Training Cooperation to Mitigate Common Maritime Security Challenges in IOR,” focusing on improving training collaboration. MAHASAGAR is a bi-annual Indian Navy initiative, launched in 2023, aimed at enhancing security and growth through maritime cooperation and capacity building.

Notes:
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jawf region experienced snowfall for the first time in recorded history. Al-Jawf, one of Saudi Arabia’s most fertile areas, has a human history dating back to the Stone Age. Known for olive cultivation, it hosts the world’s largest modern olive farm, as recognized by Guinness World Records. Al-Jawf is also one of the coldest regions in Saudi Arabia during winter.

Notes:
Archaeologists discovered a 4,000-year-old fortified town called Al-Natah in the Khaybar oasis in northwest Saudi Arabia. This site reveals a transition from nomadic life to organized urban settlement between 2400 and 1500 BCE. Led by French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, the excavation uncovered a sophisticated Bronze Age town. Al-Natah spans 2.6 hectares, enclosed by a 14.5-kilometer wall, and could house about 500 residents. It served as a hub for agriculture and trade, supporting cooperative life in an arid region. The town had multi-story stone and mudbrick dwellings connected by narrow paths.

Notes:
A 16-month-old child with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) received gene therapy at a private hospital. SMA is a genetic disorder affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems and voluntary muscle movement. It leads to the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and is classified as a motor neuron disease. There are five subtypes of SMA, categorized by age of onset, severity, and life expectancy. Symptoms include muscle weakness, especially in central body muscles, while involuntary muscles like those in the heart are not affected.

Notes:
The Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project, supported by a $200 million loan from the Asian Development Bank, aims to enhance urban infrastructure in the state. It focuses on improving water supply, sanitation, urban mobility, and disaster resilience in cities like Haldwani, Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar. Key components include developing climate-resilient roads, smart water supply systems, and women’s empowerment initiatives. This project aligns with both the Indian government’s urban development agenda and Uttarakhand’s sustainability goals, enhancing livability and public services for residents.

Notes:
The Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park, located in Darjeeling, India, has become a pioneer in conservation efforts for Himalayan species. It is the first zoo in the country to establish a genetic biobank aimed at preserving the DNA of endangered animals such as red pandas and snow leopards. This facility is crucial for ensuring genetic diversity and safeguarding the reproductive potential of these species, especially in light of threats like habitat destruction and inbreeding depression. The zoo also focuses on rewilding programs to help restore these animals to their natural habitats.

Notes:
Gujarat government introduced the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-2027, aiming to make Gujarat a leader in semiconductor manufacturing by 2047. The policy includes India’s first AI-enabled semiconductor fabrication facility in Dholera’s ‘Semicon City,’ with investments over Rs 91,000 crore. Tata Electronics and Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor are partnering to set up this facility. Dholera is being developed as India’s first Greenfield Smart City. The policy supports the vision of a developed India and boosts the semiconductor industry’s growth in Gujarat.

Notes:
Researchers discovered a new aphid wasp species, Arpactophilus pulawskii, in Nagaland’s Khuzama district at 1,800 meters altitude. This is the first time the Arpactophilus genus has been recorded outside the Australasian region. Arpactophilus species target aphids as prey and show unique nesting behavior, using silk from their abdomen to form protective cells. Arpactophilus pulawskii has a distinct square-shaped head, inverted V-shaped clypeus, rust-colored body markings, and a uniquely textured thorax. This genus is notable for exhibiting social behavior, which is rare among wasps.

Notes:
The Defence Space Agency has launched India’s first space exercise, Antariksha Abhyas – 2024, in New Delhi. This exercise focuses on addressing growing threats to space-based assets and services. It aims to secure national strategic space objectives and integrate India’s space capabilities into military operations. The exercise will deepen understanding of operational dependencies on space assets and identify vulnerabilities if space services are disrupted. Participants include the Defence Space Agency, Army, Navy, Air Force, and specialist branches like the Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency, and Strategic Forces Command.