Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
The Ministry of Culture’s Amrit Parampara series celebrates India’s shared art and culture legacy. The series began with “Kaveri Meets Ganga,” inaugurated on 2nd November and held till 5th November 2024. The event, inspired by Chennai’s Margazhi Festival, featured traditional and folk arts, representing India’s cultural diversity. The event was held at Kartavya Path and CCRT Dwarka. It showcased South Indian music and dance for North Indian audiences. Organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Kalakshetra, and CCRT, the festival aligns with the Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat initiative, promoting unity through cultural exchange.

Notes:
The traditional ‘Hingot war Festival’ takes place annually in Gautampura, Madhya Pradesh. Participants throw “burning arrows” (Hingots) at each other in this event. This tradition is seen as a display of bravery, not just a ritual. This annual event involves two rival groups, Kalangi and Turra, who engage in a fiery battle by throwing ‘Hingot’ rockets at each other. Thousands of spectators attended, with extensive safety measures by the administration and police to protect them.

Notes:
India’s new consulate in Brisbane, Australia, was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The consulate marks a milestone in India-Australia relations, strengthened by recent trade deals. Queensland, home to about 100,000 of Australia’s nearly one million Indian-origin residents, is key to these ties, with India as its second-largest export market. India also has consulates in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. The Brisbane consulate will be led by diplomat Neetu Bhagotia, who has prior experience in India’s missions in Bhutan and Russia.

Notes:
Rajasthan’s Chief Wildlife Warden formed a three-member committee after reports of 25 tigers missing at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. Ranthambore is located at the junction of the Aravalis and Vindhyan ranges in Eastern Rajasthan. It’s one of northern India’s largest tiger reserves and was once a hunting ground for Jaipur’s Maharajas. The reserve is bounded by the Chambal River to the south and the Banas River to the north, with diverse landscapes and wildlife.

Notes:
Anil Pradhan, a 28-year-old engineer from Odisha, won the third Rohini Nayyar Prize for promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in rural India. He co-founded the Young Tinker Foundation and launched ‘Tinker-on-Wheels,’ a mobile lab bringing robotics and 3D printing to rural students. His work has impacted over 2.5 lakh students across Odisha, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. The Rohini Nayyar Prize, honoring contributions to rural development, includes ₹10 lakh, a citation, and a trophy. It’s awarded annually to individuals under 40 by the Nayyar Foundation.

Notes:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the Adaptation Gap Report 2024. The report assesses the world’s progress on adaptation planning, financing, and implementation. The adaptation gap is estimated at US187-359 billion per year, reflecting resource limitations. International public adaptation finance to developing countries reached US27.5 billion in 2022, showing progress toward the Glasgow Climate Pact. It also suggests ways to improve national and global adaptation efforts. The 2024 report emphasizes the need for countries to increase their efforts to adapt to climate change, starting with a commitment to finance at COP29. It also provides a more in-depth analysis of capacity building and technology transfer.

Notes:
National Legal Services Day is observed annually on November 9 in India to promote legal awareness and ensure justice for all, especially marginalized communities. It was started in 1995 by the Supreme Court to provide free legal assistance to the weaker sections of society. The day emphasizes empowering people with knowledge about their legal rights and promoting conflict resolution. Legal Services Authorities across India celebrate this day with programs and initiatives, including workshops and camps. NALSA releases information on legal rights, aid schemes, and Lok Adalats to raise awareness and bridge the gap between the law and the public.

Notes:
IIT Delhi ranked 44th in QS Asia University Rankings 2025, securing the top position in India. Delhi University (DU) improved to 81st from 94th, with strong scores in faculty-student ratio and research. JNU climbed to 110th from 117th, and Jamia Millia Islamia moved up to 188th from 206th. IIT Delhi outperformed other Indian institutes, followed by IIT Bombay at 48th and IIT Madras at 56th. IIT Delhi topped the Southern Asian category, which includes universities from India and Pakistan. IIT Bombay ranked 27th in academic reputation globally among employers and academics.

Notes:
The International Week of Science and Peace is celebrated annually from November 9 to 15. It started in 1986 as part of the International Year of Peace. Initially a non-governmental initiative, it gained international recognition and became an annual event in December 1988. The week was formally adopted by the UN General Assembly in resolution 43/61. The celebration promotes the connection between science and peace, affirmed by the UN’s “Science and Peace” resolution.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu has declared snakebite envenomation a notifiable disease under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939. Snakebite envenomation is life-threatening and a major health concern in rural, snake-endemic areas, affecting agricultural workers, children, and tropical/subtropical populations. WHO lists snake antivenoms as essential medicines and has launched a global strategy to reduce snakebite-induced deaths and disabilities. India’s National Action Plan for Snakebite aims to reduce snakebite deaths by 50% by 2030 through a ‘One Health’ approach. The notifiable status will enhance data collection, improve clinical infrastructure, ensure anti-venom supply, and integrate reporting into the State’s health information system.