Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, is seeing a rise in migratory bird arrivals with the onset of winter. The sanctuary was declared a reserve forest in 1971 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1987. It has the highest density of Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, with around 102 rhinos in 38.8 sq. km. The landscape is dominated by alluvial lowlands and marshland, with the Brahmaputra River to the north and Garanga Beel to the south.

Notes:
Researchers spotted a large adult antlion, Palpares contrarius, resembling a dragonfly, for the first time in Tamil Nadu on the Madras Christian College campus. Antlions belong to the order Neuroptera and family Myrmeliontidae, with predatory larvae that trap ants in sandy pits. Found worldwide, mainly in dry, sandy areas, they are hard to spot during the day but visible at night near lights. Adults resemble damselflies but have softer bodies, lacy wings, and long clubbed antennae. Antlions are harmless, weak fliers, and beneficial by feeding on insects like ants.

Notes:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published the Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas, 2024, building on the 2022 Global Peatlands Assessment and Global Peatland Map 2.0. The UNEP Global Peatlands Initiative was formed at the 2016 UNFCCC COP in Marrakech, Morocco. Peatlands are wetland ecosystems where waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing, leading to the accumulation of peat, which is dead and partially decomposed plant matter. Peatlands play a crucial role in organic matter production, with decomposition rates being slower than accumulation.

Notes:
November 25 is recognized as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, honoring the Mirabal sisters, who were assassinated in 1960 for opposing the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. Their murders catalyzed resistance against Trujillo’s oppressive regime, leading to greater awareness and activism against violence towards women. The day also marks the start of 16 days of activism culminating in Human Rights Day on December 10, highlighting the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence globally.

Notes:
Three poachers were arrested by Assam Forest Department and SSB from Raimona National Park in Kokrajhar. Raimona National Park is located along the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region. It was declared a national park on June 5, 2021. It shares forest areas with Bhutan’s Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, forming a 2,400 sq km trans-boundary conservation area. The Sonkosh River borders the park to the west, and the Saralbhanga River runs along the eastern side.

Notes:
The ‘Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan’ is a health awareness campaign aimed at educating citizens about their unique Ayurvedic Prakriti, or mind-body constitution. Launched by the Ministry of Ayush, it encourages individuals to adopt Ayurvedic principles for better health. As of now, over 10,000 volunteers are involved, and many participants have pledged to incorporate these practices into their lifestyles. The campaign also aims to set Guinness World Records, enhancing its outreach and impact on public health awareness in India.

Notes:
The Chief of Army Staff recently presented the President’s Colours to four Mechanised Infantry battalions. The President’s Colours, or “Rashtrapati ka Nishaan,” is the highest honor for military units or police forces for exceptional national service. The tradition dates back to ancient India when flags or “dhwajas” symbolized a king’s supremacy. During British rule, military units carried the monarch’s flag, which was replaced by the President’s Colours in 1950. The Indian Navy first received it in 1951. The flag features a golden border, unit insignia, and sometimes its motto and achievements, symbolizing pride during ceremonial parades.

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.

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The 10th India International Science Festival (IISF) held at IIT Guwahati, Assam, from November 30 to December 3, 2024. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is the nodal department, with National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram) coordinating the event. IISF, initiated in 2015 by Vijnana Bharati, engages society in celebrating science, inspiring young minds, and fostering scientific collaboration. This is the first IISF hosted in Northeast India, with thousands participating annually. The 2024 theme is “Transforming India into an S&T driven Global Manufacturing Hub,” reflecting the government’s vision of merging science with industrial growth.

Notes:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has classified packaged drinking water and mineral water as “high-risk foods,” enhancing safety measures. This follows the removal of mandatory BIS certification, with a focus on regular inspections and audits by FSSAI. High-risk foods require strict safety protocols to prevent public health issues. The classification aims to ensure consumer safety through rigorous testing and monitoring. The regulation falls under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, simplifying the certification process.