Daily Current Affairs Quiz: December 29-30, 2024

Notes:
A 334-member Indian Army contingent is participating in the 18th Surya Kiran exercise hosted by the Nepali Army in Saljhandi, Nepal, from 31st December 2024 to 13th January 2025. The annual exercise is alternately hosted by India and Nepal; the 17th edition was held in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, in 2023. Surya Kiran aims to strengthen bonds between Indian and Nepali army personnel and improve their professional skills.

Notes:
A recovering sea otter population in California’s Elkhorn Slough has controlled the invasive green crab population. Green crabs, also known as shore crabs, are among the world’s top 100 invasive species. They are native to the Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea. They have spread to Australia, South America, and South Africa also. They feed on small crustaceans, molluscs, and worms, damaging seagrass beds and overhunting prey species. Green crabs outcompete native species, disrupting coastal ecosystems.

Notes:
India proposes the 11,000 MW Upper Siang Hydropower Project in Arunachal Pradesh as a strategic counter to China’s planned 60,000 MW dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet. The project is located on the Siang River, the upper course of the Brahmaputra. It holds cultural significance as Aane Siang (Mother Siang) to locals. The project aims to strengthen India’s strategic position and manage water resources effectively amid China’s dam-building plans. The region is home to the Adi Tribe, who rely on riverbank agriculture (pani kheti) due to limited farming options in the hilly terrain.

Notes:
Ongoing excavation at Rakhigarhi, an ancient Harappan site in Haryana’s Hisar district, has revealed advanced water management systems and cultural practices from nearly 5,000 years ago. Rakhigarhi, the largest known Harappan-era site, spans 865 acres and is globally recognized for its historical significance. The excavation uncovered a water storage area between mounds, approximately 3.5 to 4 feet deep, showcasing advanced water management. A dried riverbed of the Chautang (Drishavati) River was also discovered, adding to the site’s historical importance.

Notes:
Researchers developed FELUDA, a low-cost diagnostic tool for detecting H. pylori and its mutations in dyspeptic patients in rural India with limited lab access. H. pylori is a common bacterium in the digestive tract, infecting over 43% of the world’s population and causing peptic ulcers, gastritis, dyspepsia, and gastric cancer. It survives in the stomach by reducing acidity and penetrating the lining, evading immune cells. Symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Treatment involves a 14-day triple therapy using antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor to reduce stomach acid.