Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Eight-year-old Divith Reddy from Hyderabad won the Under-8 World Cadets Chess Championship in Montesilvano, Italy. He scored 9/11 points, tying with Sattwik Swain and Ziming Guo, but secured gold due to a better tie-break score. Divith, with a FIDE rating of 1784, won his first four matches, lost two, but then won five consecutive matches to clinch the title. The FIDE World Cadet Championships 2024 were held from November 14-27, 2024, in Montesilvano, Italy, with categories for U8, U10, and U12.

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United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Climate Club recently launched the Global Matchmaking Platform (GMP) to accelerate decarbonization in heavy-emitting industries in emerging and developing economies. The platform connects countries with global technical and financial support to reduce emissions in energy-intensive sectors. Launched in December 2023 at COP28, GMP connects nations with delivery partners for policy development, technology transfer, and investments. It helps countries tailor decarbonization efforts and access resources for achieving zero and low-emission industrial practices. The GMP is part of the Climate Club, with support from OECD, IEA, and UNIDO.

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Gujarat has introduced the New Cottage Policy 2024, effective for five years, aiming to develop self-sustaining cottage industries. The policy focuses on credit access, market support, infrastructure, skill development, technology upgrades, and innovation for artisans and entrepreneurs. Maximum loan amounts under the scheme have increased from ₹8 lakh to ₹25 lakh, and subsidies have risen from ₹1.25 lakh to ₹3.75 lakh. The policy aims to create 12 lakh jobs over five years, including 3.3 lakh direct and indirect opportunities through enhanced financial support. It seeks to expand access to local and international markets for artisans.

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Recent research has shown that minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) can hear high-frequency sounds up to 90 kilohertz (kHz), significantly higher than previously thought. This discovery raises concerns about the effects of anthropogenic ocean noise on marine mammals, as it suggests they may be more vulnerable to disturbances than recognized. The study utilized a novel catch-and-release method to measure the whales’ auditory sensitivity, emphasizing the need for better understanding and regulatory consideration of noise impacts on baleen whales.

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The 5th Anniversary of the National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) web portal was celebrated. It was launched by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on November 26, 2019. It aims to expand Youth Parliament participation nationwide, including untouched areas, promoting democratic values. The portal provides guidelines, training modules, video tutorials, and sample scripts for self-learning. Participants receive e-certificates after conducting physical or virtual Youth Parliament sittings. NYPS 2.0, launched in 2024, allows participation through Institutions, Groups, or Individuals. More than 1,00,000 students have participated since its inception. The initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of strengthening democracy by engaging youth.

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The Sambhal riots in Uttar Pradesh raise concerns about the relevance of the Places of Worship Act, 1991. The Act aims to prohibit the conversion of religious places and maintain their character as of August 15, 1947. It bans altering places of worship between religious denominations or sections within the same denomination. Court interventions on issues concerning the religious character of such places are prohibited. The Ayodhya site was exempted, allowing the trial to proceed despite the Act. The Act also provides specific exemptions besides Ayodhya.

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India ranks 49th in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024, up 11 spots from 2023. NRI evaluates 133 economies based on Technology, People, Governance, and Impact, using 54 variables. Published by the Portulans Institute, the report highlights India’s score improvement from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024. India leads globally in AI scientific publications, AI talent concentration, and ICT services exports. It ranks 2nd in FTTH subscriptions, mobile broadband traffic, and international internet bandwidth, and 3rd in domestic market scale. Among lower-middle-income countries, India is 2nd, reflecting strong digital progress and innovation.

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India successfully tested the nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile from INS Arighaat. The test occurred off Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal and marked a major milestone. The K-4 missile, powered by solid fuel, has a range of 3,500 km and was launched from a 6,000-tonne submarine. This was the first launch from an operational submarine, moving beyond previous tests with submersible pontoons. The test aimed to validate performance parameters, with results under analysis. A public warning and NOTAM were issued for this intermediate-range missile test.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspectors Generals of Police 2024 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The three-day conference, from November 29 to December 1, focused on national security issues like counter-terrorism, extremism, coastal security, new criminal laws, and narcotics. The President’s Police Medal for distinguished service was awarded. The conference served as a platform for police professionals to discuss crime control, law and order, and internal security threats. It included yoga sessions, business sessions, and thematic dining tables for informal discussions. This was the 59th conference, continuing a tradition started in 2014.

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Five bar-tailed godwits were recently spotted at Pulicat Lake by a naturalist. Bar-tailed godwits are known for their extraordinary endurance during migration. Their scientific name is Limosa lapponica. They are found in Europe, Asia, Alaska, Africa, the Persian Gulf, India, Southeast Asia, China, and Australia, breeding in the Arctic. In India, they winter in states like Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They hold the record for the longest non-stop flight, traveling 13,500 km from Alaska to Tasmania in 11 days. They are large waders with mottled brown plumage and a barred white tail. They are listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN.