Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard hosted SAREX-24 in Kochi from November 27-30, 2024, under the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board. The event aims to validate the National Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR) framework through an inclusive, collaborative approach. It addresses India’s vast 4.6 million sq km Search and Rescue Region (ISRR), emphasizing cooperation with agencies, littorals, and friendly nations. The focus will be on Mass Rescue Operations (MRO) during large-scale sea contingencies. The theme, “Enhancing Search and Rescue capabilities through Regional Collaboration,” highlights ICG’s dedication to providing aid across ISRR.

Notes:
Paleontologists recently discovered a new species of pterosaur, Nipponopterus mifunensis, from Japan’s Late Cretaceous period. Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that thrived throughout the Mesozoic Era. They were the first vertebrates to fly, using strong forelegs to launch into the air. Pterosaurs are not dinosaurs but are archosaurs, sharing a group with birds and crocodiles. The largest flying vertebrate, Quetzalcoatlus, was a pterosaur. They went extinct about 65.5 million years ago during the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. Birds, descendants of dinosaurs, replaced pterosaurs as dominant flyers.

Notes:
The Annual Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2024 was held in Goa from 20 to 22 November. Key discussions focused on implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Naval Schools. Meetings included the Executive Committee, Management Advisory Committee (MAC), and Academic Advisory Committee (AAC). Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty chaired the Executive Committee meeting, while Commodore SM Urooj Athar led the MAC and AAC. Schools excelling academically were awarded Rolling Trophies. Vice Admiral McCarty emphasized the importance of NEP implementation and fostering a well-rounded learning environment.

Notes:
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio recently launched the Ura Cabs initiative to boost local tourism and transport sectors. The Ura Cabs initiative aims to improve travel experiences for tourists while providing stable income for local taxi operators in Nagaland. This launch is part of a broader effort to enhance tourism infrastructure and economic empowerment in the region, showcasing the government’s commitment to supporting local entrepreneurs and innovative solutions for the state’s growth.

Notes:
The UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report 2024, titled “Take the right path to end AIDS”, was launched. Of 39.9 million people living with HIV, 9.3 million lack access to life-saving treatment. In the past year, 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses, and 1.3 million contracted HIV. UNAIDS is a joint program of 11 UN organizations, including UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO, and World Bank. Its vision is to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths.

Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs established a permanent NSG hub in Jammu city, J&K, to respond quickly to terror attacks. The hub ensures faster deployment of NSG commandos without relying on airlifting from Delhi or other locations. NSG commandos participated in an anti-terror operation in Akhnoor, marking their first operation in Jammu. The hub addresses the rise in terror incidents in districts like Kathua, Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi. The NSG hub in Jammu is equipped with enough personnel to handle any emergency situation effectively.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
A Siberian Demoiselle crane, Sukpak, set a record by migrating over 3,676 km to Rajasthan, India. It is the smallest crane species, known for its solitary and social behavior. The bird holds cultural importance in India, where it is called Koonj or Kurjaa. Demoiselle cranes inhabit fields, steppes, deserts, and plains near water, breeding in Central Eurasia and wintering in India and sub-Saharan Africa. Sukpak followed an unusual route through Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to reach India. Conservation efforts include India’s first Demoiselle crane reserve at Khichan, Rajasthan. Their conservation status is “Least Concern,” but they face threats like habitat loss and hunting.

Notes:
The Rengma Naga tribe celebrated the Ngada festival-cum-Mini Hornbill Festival at the Tseminyu RSA ground in Nagaland. The Rengma Nagas are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group living in Nagaland and Assam. As per the 2011 Census, their population is 62,951 in Nagaland and around 22,000 in Assam. They identify as “Njong” or “Injang” and belong to the Mongoloid racial stock. They migrated from Southeast Asia through the Yunnan Mountains to upper Burma before settling in Northeast India. Slavery was once practiced among them but had declined by the time the British arrived in the region.

Notes:
India has been re-elected to the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for the 2025-2026 term, reaffirming its dedication to global peace. The PBC, formed in 2005, advises the UN on peacebuilding efforts in conflict-affected regions. India, a founding member, actively shapes initiatives within the Commission. The PBC fosters collaboration among UN bodies, member states, and other actors, promoting peace through strategic, integrated approaches. It prioritizes nationally-led efforts and coordinates humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actions, involving briefers from peacekeeping missions.