Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Jauljibi Mela 2024 in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. Jauljibi is at the confluence of the Gori and Kali rivers and lies on the traditional Kailash Mansarovar route, adding religious and historical significance. The fair symbolizes cultural and economic unity between India and Nepal, drawing merchants from Tibet, Nepal, and India.

Notes:
National Press Day is celebrated every year on November 16 in India, highlighting the press’s crucial role in democracy. The press is called the “Fourth Pillar of Democracy” for its role in informing the public and holding power accountable. The day commemorates the press’s duty to report truthfully and ethically, promoting transparency and democracy. Established by the Press Council of India in 1966, National Press Day emphasizes press freedom and responsibility. The 2024 theme is “changing nature of the press,” with the official event in Delhi, inaugurated by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) held the Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise (Re-PREX-24) in Paradip, Odisha, from November 12-14, 2024. The exercise aimed to improve oil spill and marine pollution response coordination among key stakeholders. Activities included presentations, discussions, and a mock drill onboard an ICG ship. Paradip Port Authority, Dharma Port, Gopalpur Port, BPCL, HPCL, IOCL, and Odisha State Pollution Control Board participated in this exercise. The ICG leads pollution response efforts in India, conducting regular scenario-based training to protect the marine environment and coastal communities.

Notes:
BSNL launched India’s first direct-to-device satellite internet service, aiming to bridge the digital divide in remote areas. The service provides high-speed internet without the need for traditional infrastructure, using advanced satellite technology. The launch allows users to make emergency calls, send SOS messages, and make UPI payments when there’s no cellular or Wi-Fi network. The satellite service offers wide coverage, reliable connectivity, and is designed to function in all weather conditions.

Notes:
Chinese astronauts recently reared four zebrafish in space as part of the Shenzhou-18 mission. Zebrafish are small freshwater fish (2-3 cm) with horizontal blue stripes, native to South Asia’s Indo-Gangetic plains. They are important in developmental biology due to their ability to regenerate organs like the brain, heart, and spinal cord. Zebrafish have transparent embryos, making them ideal for live imaging studies. With 70% of their genes similar to humans, they are valuable in studying vertebrate development and diseases. The species is listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN.

Notes:
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated Symbiosis International University’s first overseas campus at Dubai Knowledge Park. UAE’s Minister of Tolerance, Sheikh Nahyan, attended the event, highlighting the strong Indo-UAE ties. The campus, fully accredited by UAE’s Ministry of Education, offers programs in management, technology, and media, focusing on 21st-century skills. This initiative aligns with India’s National Education Policy 2020, encouraging global expansion of Indian institutions. The campus supports UAE’s goal of a knowledge-based economy and Dubai’s Economic Agenda 33. This development enhances educational cooperation and supports Dubai’s diverse expatriate community, which forms 85% of its population.

Notes:
A severe drought has lowered the water levels of Lake Kariba, threatening to shut down the Kariba Dam for the first time in its 65-year history, impacting Zambia and Zimbabwe’s economies. Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made lake, spanning 2,000 square miles along the Zambia-Zimbabwe border. Formed by damming the Zambezi River, the Kariba Dam is 128 meters high and provides power to both countries. The lake hosts 102 islands, including Chete Island, which has the world’s largest protected wetlands and the largest population of African elephants.

Notes:
Researchers found meter-high chimneys on the Dead Sea floor formed by crystallized minerals from high-salt groundwater. The Dead Sea, also called the Salt Sea, is a saline lake between Jordan and Israel. Its eastern shore lies in Jordan, and the western shore is divided between Israel and the West Bank. It is one of the saltiest water bodies globally, with 34.2% salinity, making swimming feel like floating. The lake has no outlet, so water mainly evaporates, leaving it devoid of life except for algae and microorganisms.

Notes:
Odisha won its first Hockey India Senior Men National Championship title with a 5-1 win over Haryana in the final at SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai. Shilanand Lakra scored a hat-trick in the 48th, 57th, and 60th minutes, sealing Odisha’s victory. Rajat Akash Tirkey gave Odisha an early lead in the 11th minute. Pratap Lakra doubled the lead in the third quarter with a penalty stroke in the 39th minute. Joginder Singh scored the only goal for Haryana in the 55th minute.

Notes:
Pathogen spillover from managed honey bees to wild pollinators poses a significant threat. Thai Sacbrood Virus (TSBV) affects honeybee larvae, killing them and hindering colony growth, particularly endangering Asiatic honeybees (Apis cerana indica). The virus spreads through the movement of bee colonies for pollination and honey production. TSBV caused a major outbreak in South India in 1991-1992, wiping out about 90% of Asiatic honey bee colonies. The virus resurfaced in Telangana in 2021 and has also been reported in countries like China and Vietnam.