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.

Notes:
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has recognized the indigenously developed Surface Hydrokinetic Turbine (SHKT) under the Hydro Category. SHKT generates electricity using the kinetic energy of flowing water with almost zero potential head, unlike conventional systems requiring dams or barrages. It is easy to install, cost-effective, and has a low generation cost of ₹2-3 per unit. The technology benefits both renewable energy buyers and generators, offering significant opportunities for GW-scale renewable energy production. SHKT can drive the growth of the power sector while promoting sustainable energy solutions.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
IIT Kanpur developed the Anālakáṣhya Metamaterial Surface Cloaking System (MSCS), advancing stealth technology. This system aims to make objects nearly invisible to radar, enhancing defence and national security. It is a textile-based broadband metamaterial microwave absorber, created by researchers and students. The MSCS can absorb radar waves across a wide spectrum, effectively neutralizing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The 13th National Seed Congress 2024 was inaugurated on November 28 by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan via virtual address. It is organized by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. The three-day event is held from November 28 to 30, 2024, at International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi. Over 700 delegates, including experts, policymakers, industry leaders, scholars, and farmers, participated. The Congress focuses on key issues and advancements in the seed sector.

Notes:
The Vizhinjam International Seaport, located in Kerala, is set to enhance container handling capacity significantly. Recently, the State government extended the project completion deadline to 2028, following a supplementary concession agreement with the Vizhinjam Private Port Limited. This port, built under a public-private partnership, is poised to handle large mother ships and reduce India’s reliance on foreign ports for transshipment. The total revenue from the port is estimated to reach ₹2,15,000 crore, with the State’s share projected at ₹35,000 crore.

Notes:
The ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR) has developed a biopolymer-based seed coating technology that enhances crop yields by 25-30%. This innovative method protects beneficial microbes and nutrients, promoting stress resilience under climate change. The technology, known as Film Coating Biopolymer Composition, gradually releases active ingredients, offering economic benefits to farmers by reducing input costs. IIOR is recognized for its advancements in eco-friendly agricultural technologies.

Notes:
The Koraga tribal community in Kerala will receive land titles under the Operation Smile project. The Koragas are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) found in Kerala’s Kasaragod district and Karnataka. PVTGs are identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, with 75 such communities currently listed. The Koragas were recognized as a Scheduled Tribe under the Presidential Order of 1956. Their traditional occupation is basket making, and they speak Tulu along with their own language. Operation Smile, launched by the Kerala government, aims to rehabilitate and support homeless people.

Notes:
BIPEX-2024, a national postal exhibition, held in Patna’s Gyan Bhawan Auditorium. It is inaugurated by Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The three-day exhibition highlights Bihar’s rich postal history, featuring around 20,000 postal stamps from 153 collectors. A major attraction is the world’s first postal stamp, released 250 years ago in Patna, in the form of copper coins. Two books, Glory of Bihar and Postal Heritage of Bihar, is also launched at the event.