Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Ningol Chakkouba, a key festival in Manipur, was celebrated with enthusiasm. Traditionally held on the second lunar day of Hiyangei month, its origins trace back to King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba’s rule. “Ningol” means “married woman,” and “Chakouba” means “feast invitation,” where married daughters are invited by their parents for a family feast. The festival strengthens bonds among brothers, sisters, and parents. Initially celebrated by the Meitei community, it is now observed by many other communities as well.

Notes:
The Harare Declaration, adopted at the Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC 2024) in Zimbabwe, emphasizes enhancing climate resilience within health systems across Africa. It aims to address the severe health impacts of climate change, advocating for immediate collaborative actions from governments, researchers, and civil society. The declaration calls for prioritizing climate change as a public health emergency and strengthening research to combat climate-related health risks, ensuring that African nations proactively shape their health futures amidst climate challenges.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal to introduce diploma and certificate courses in animal husbandry and para-veterinary medicine. Both private and government institutions will offer these courses to train para-vets. The initiative aims to improve veterinary care, especially in rural areas, where para-vets assist with vaccinations, first aid, and animal health care. UP currently has a shortage of para-vets, with only 8,193 compared to 34,500 across India. The policy will standardize training, course content, and institutional guidelines. Expert committee will finalize the policy, based on a report prepared for this purpose.

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:
World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 is celebrated from November 18–24. The theme for the World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 is “Educate. Advocate. Act now.” This theme emphasizes the need to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), advocate for policy changes, and take concrete actions to address this global health concern. WAAW is a global campaign that aims to raise awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This year’s World AMR Awareness Week emphasizes the need for effective training of health workers to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through improved infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. Despite some progress, many countries still face challenges in integrating AMR education into health worker training.

Notes:
The 83rd annual session of the Indian Roads Congress is in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the four-day event, ending on November 11. Gadkari released three new guidelines and a manual on road construction and safety. Over 2,000 experts, scientists, and engineers are attending. Eighteen documents on road construction and safety are under discussion. The Congress sets standards and guidelines for road and bridge infrastructure development. A Highway Research Board meeting will focus on using lab research, advanced technologies, and sustainable practices. Participants include central and state officials, researchers, IITs, and private sector representatives.

Notes:
The President of India recently witnessed a demonstration on INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited. It strengthens India’s position as a ‘Blue Water Navy’ with global reach, joining the US, Russia, France, UK, and China in the elite group capable of building aircraft carriers. The ship has a displacement of 43,000 tonnes, an endurance of 13,890 km, and can accommodate up to 30 aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters. It uses the STOBAR method for aircraft operations.

Notes:
Indian Men’s Hockey Team captain Harmanpreet Singh and former goalkeeper PR Sreejesh won the FIH Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year titles for 2024. Awards were presented at the 49th FIH Statutory Congress in Oman. Harmanpreet, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, received over 63% of votes, while Sreejesh polled over 62%. Winners were chosen through votes from an expert panel, national hockey associations, fans, and media. The Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH), the global governing body for hockey, is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Notes:
The Toto tribe, with fewer than 1,600 members, lives in Totopara village, West Bengal, near the Bhutan border. They are a Tibetan-Mongoloid ethnic group and are considered one of the most endangered tribes, categorized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). Their language, Toto, is Sino-Tibetan, written in the Bengali script. Totos are endogamous and follow a unique culture of having only one wife and opposing dowry practices. They live in elevated bamboo huts with thatched roofs and are facing identity struggles and poor infrastructure.

Notes:
The 8th International Ancient Arts Festival and Symposium was held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, from November 8-10, 2024, in collaboration with the Rays of Wisdom Society and supported by the Ministry of Culture. It featured an exhibition on metaphysical and healing themes in visual arts and a conference on ‘Art, Religion, and Healing.’ Dr. Reela Hota presented ‘Antar Yatra’ dance, and Smt. Yamini Reddy performed Kuchipudi. The conference discussed the healing power of ancient art, covering topics like spirituality, conflict resolution, and art in therapy. Dr. Madhu Khanna delivered the keynote, and Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi was the special guest.