Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

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:
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:
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:
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.

Notes:
A new mouse species, Otavalo’s Andean mouse, was discovered near the dormant Mojanda volcano in Ecuador. The mouse has a notably long tail and is found in the temperate, high-altitude Andean montane forest. The discovery site is about 50 miles from Quito, in northern Ecuador’s Andes. It is named after the local Otavalo culture, known for its music, weaving, and textile commerce. This species is endemic to the region, meaning it is found only in this specific area.

Notes:
A Eurasian Otter was spotted in Pune, Maharashtra, for the first time. It is one of three otter species in India, alongside the Smooth-coated and Small-clawed otters. The Eurasian Otter is found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, mainly in the Himalayan foothills, Northeast India, and Western Ghats. It is solitary, nocturnal, and an apex predator in river ecosystems, regulating fish populations. The IUCN status is Near Threatened. Its threats include habitat pollution from pesticides, oil spills, and destruction of riverbanks.

Notes:
IIT Madras and ISRO are setting up a Centre of Excellence for research in Fluid and Thermal Sciences. ISRO is providing Rs. 1.84 crore as initial funding for the Centre’s setup and essential infrastructure. The Centre will focus on thermal management research for spacecraft and launch vehicles, aiding ISRO’s missions. Key research areas include spacecraft thermal management, hybrid rocket combustion instability, and cryo-tank thermodynamics. This collaboration will strengthen industry-academia ties, with IIT Madras faculty and ISRO scientists working together on advanced research.

Notes:
Shigeru Ishiba, leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was re-elected as Prime Minister of Japan. He won the most votes in both houses of Japan’s Parliament, the Diet, after a runoff with opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda. The LDP-Komeito ruling coalition lost its majority in the recent general election. Ishiba, 67, received 221 votes in the House of Representatives, short of the 233 majority mark but enough to secure his position.

Notes:
The 5th National EMRS Cultural & Literary Fest and Kala Utsav held from November 12-15, 2024, at Shiksha ‘O’ Anusandhan, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This event, hosted by the Odisha Model Tribal Educational Society (OMTES), coincides with the 150th Birth Anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The theme honors tribal freedom fighters and aims to showcase the diverse cultural heritage of India’s tribal communities through various artistic events, promoting holistic development and bridging the gap between tribal and mainstream communities.

Notes:
The 16th India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) recently held in Hyderabad. It is organized by the Game Developer Association of India (GDAI). With more than 150 sessions and 250 speakers, the conference aims to explore trends, challenges, and innovations in gaming. It serves as a vital platform for showcasing talent and shaping policies to advance India’s video game industry. The event underscores India’s rising influence in the global gaming market, addressing the need for dedicated gaming hubs and expanding the nation’s incubator ecosystem, inspired by initiatives like Telangana’s IMAGE Tower.