Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2023

Notes:
A video produced by the Supreme Court in 10 different Indian languages gives a history of the Kesavananda Bharati judgment.
The historic judgment delivered on April 24, 1973 by a Supreme Court Bench of 13 judges, the largest in the court’s history till date, propounded the Basic Structure doctrine. The judges, on a majority of 7:6, had declared that the Parliament cannot amend or abrogate the fundamental features or the soul of the Constitution, including the rule of law and independence of the judiciary.

Notes:
Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Mizoram.
Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Lalduhoma. Former Indian Police Service officer Lalduhoma’s Zoram People’s Movement won 27 of the State’s 40 Assembly seats.

Notes:
India’s plan for 50,000 electric buses on its roads has recently received support from the United States.
The USD 390 million fund will act as a guarantee for manufacturers seeking loans to expand production, Indian and US officials said at a side event at COP28. India currently only has 12,000 e-buses in operation.  The payment security mechanism is established with $150 million from the US government and philanthropic groups, and $240 million from the Indian government.

Notes:
The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention, is an environmental treaty of the United Nations.
Climate change and biodiversity loss is having catastrophic impacts on many migratory species population, impacting their habitats, food availability and reproduction cycles. This is directly affecting the important ecosystem services they provide to humans, a new report by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), a UN biodiversity treaty stated.

Notes:
Researchers from Berhampur University in Odisha discovered a new species of marine amphipod in Chilika Lake, which was named Demaorchestia alanensis after renowned crustacean taxonomy expert, Professor Alan Myers. Very little is known about amphipods around the Indian coasts and their ecological roles. The new discovery takes the number of known Demaorchestia species globally to six. It will help study the impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems by analyzing these bioindicator organisms.

Notes:
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber is an Emirati politician who is the minister of industry and advanced technology of the United Arab Emirates. He is also head of United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) state-owned oil company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the president of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference COP28.

Notes:
In February 2023, a substantial lithium reserve of 5.9 million tonnes was found in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). This discovery is crucial for India’s efforts to reduce its reliance on imported lithium. In addition to this domestic discovery, India is also actively seeking lithium sources abroad. Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL), a state-owned joint venture, is nearing the final stages of securing lithium blocks in Argentina. As per recent studies, over 5.9 lakh tonnes of lithium reserves can fulfil India’s entire lithium demand for EV batteries over the next 50 years domestically. This would enable self-reliance and reduce import dependency as the EV ecosystem expands.

Notes:
The Anand Marriage Act, which provides statutory recognition and registration provisions for Sikh wedding rituals, has been implemented in Jammu & Kashmir. This fulfills a long-standing demand of the Sikh community as separate rules have now been notified for Anand marriage registration in J&K under this landmark Act.

Notes:
Renowned classical pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian peace activist Ali Abu Awwad have been jointly awarded the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2023. The award recognizes their exceptional contributions in bringing together the youth and peoples of Israel and the Arab World for a non-violent resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Maestro Daniel Barenboim, known for his exceptional performances and his efforts in utilizing music as a tool for fostering cultural understanding and peaceful cooperation, has been acknowledged for his significant role in bridging social and cultural gaps through the universal language of music.
Ali Abu Awwad, an eminent Palestinian peace activist, has been recognized for his peace-building efforts, including co-founding the initiative “Roots” and establishing the mass independent movement Taghyeer, dedicated to addressing social development needs and forging a non-violent path towards ending the Israeli occupation.
The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development is a prestigious award presented annually to individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of international peace, disarmament, and development.

Notes:
The United Kingdom has seen a notable rise in cases of norovirus infection in recent weeks, often colloquially called the winter vomiting bug. By early December, the UK had reported around 1500 confirmed norovirus cases – a 60% jump from last year signalling a challenging winter for healthcare systems. Marked by vomiting, nausea and diarrhea, norovirus spreads quickly in closed settings. With no vaccine available, the spike in cases highlights the importance of hygiene, sanitation and adequate fluid intake in curbing transmission.