Daily Current Affairs Quiz: December 22-23, 2024

Notes:
India ranks 49th in the Network Readiness Index 2024 (NRI 2024), improving by 11 places from last year. The Network Readiness Index, published by the Portulans Institute, evaluates countries on technology use in governance, citizen engagement, and impact. India’s score increased from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024, reflecting advancements in technology and digital infrastructure. Key areas driving this growth include artificial intelligence, mobile networks, and broadband development. These technologies enhance ease of living and support global research efforts. The improved ranking underscores India’s progress in digital transformation and its emergence as a global tech leader.

Notes:
Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary in Assam has seen a 72% decline in avian species over 27 years. The decline is linked to human activities like fishing, poaching, egg collection, and land-use changes. Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary is a freshwater lake spanning 11.25 sq. km in Assam, located between Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts. The sanctuary experiences a moist tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of 2,000 mm. Its vegetation is dominated by flooded valley grasslands and wetland ecosystems.

Notes:
The Minister of State for Home Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha about the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme. The Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme was launched on 15th August 1972 by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It provides pensions to living freedom fighters, their families, and families of martyrs. Eligible individuals include those imprisoned or underground for over six months, interned or externed for six months or more, or those whose property was confiscated during the freedom struggle. Benefits include free lifetime railway passes, PSU hospital treatments, and free transit stays with meals at State Bhawan, New Delhi. Collectors/SDMs are directed to ensure the well-being of freedom fighters and address pension issues.

Notes:
Scientists at the World Health Organisation (WHO) have endorsed a new class of medicines called Glucagon-Like Peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists. These drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which regulates appetite, blood sugar, and lipid metabolism, helping manage obesity. GLP-1 receptor agonists have therapeutic potential for treating diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Most GLP-1 agonists are injectable medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, with transformative potential. GLP-1 is a hormone released by the intestines after food intake, playing a key role in regulating blood glucose and metabolism.

Notes:
The Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change recently released the ‘India State of Forest Report 2023’ (ISFR 2023) at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. The report, published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) since 1987, assesses forest and tree resources using satellite data and National Forest Inventory (NFI). India’s forest and tree cover is 8,27,357 sq km (25.17% of the country’s area), with forest cover at 7,15,343 sq km (21.76%) and tree cover at 1,12,014 sq km (3.41%). There is an increase in forest and tree cover, with states like Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Mizoram, Gujarat, and Odisha showing significant growth. Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra have the largest forest and tree covers. Lakshadweep has the highest forest cover percentage (91.33%). 19 states/UTs have over 33% forest cover, with eight exceeding 75%. Mangrove cover is 4,992 sq km, and bamboo-bearing areas have increased. India’s carbon stock reached 30.43 billion tonnes, surpassing its 2030 carbon sink target.