Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The 100th Tansen Music Festival in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records on 15 December 2024. The festival is celebrated every year in December in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. A record was set by playing nine instruments continuously for nine minutes. 536 male and female artists from across India participated in the tribute to Tansen, the king of voices. The performance included three of Tansen’s compositions: Malhar, Miyan ki Todi, and Darbari Kanhra. The presentation featured nine instruments: tabla, flute, violin, santoor, sarod, sarangi, sitar, banjo, and harmonium.

Notes:
The Gadhimai Mahotsav, held every five years at the Gadhimai Temple in Bariyarpur, Nepal, is known for the world’s largest animal sacrifice. More than two crore people attended the festival this year, despite decades of criticism from animal activists. The festival features the largest animal sacrifice, with devotees sacrificing buffaloes, goats, cocks, and ducks during Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami. Devotees also release doves in the temple when their wishes are believed to be fulfilled. The festival takes place at the Gadhimai Temple in Bara district, near the Indo-Nepal border.

Notes:
Hindi writer Suryabala won the 34th Vyas Samman 2024 for her novel Kaun Des Ko Vasi: Venu Ki Diary, published in 2018. The novel explores cultural conflicts and identity struggles of Indian youth in America. Vyas Samman, instituted by the KK Birla Foundation in 1991, honors outstanding Hindi literary works from the past decade with ₹4 lakh, a citation, and a plaque. Suryabala, born in 1943 in Varanasi, has written over 50 socially themed works, reflecting cultural insights. The novel highlights the alienation and identity crisis faced by overseas Indians, struggling to connect with their roots.

Notes:
The Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme was introduced by the government as an alternative to physical gold investment. Issued by the Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the government, each bond unit represents one gram of gold. Investors earn fixed interest and can redeem bonds at market value upon maturity. The scheme has faced scrutiny due to high financing costs and reduced issuance as the government shifts focus to other investment strategies.

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Environmentalists oppose mining near Bukkapatna Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. The sanctuary, established in 2019, aims to protect chinkaras (Indian gazelles). It is the second chinkara sanctuary in Karnataka after Yadahalli Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in Sira Taluk of Tumakuru district, the sanctuary spans 148 km² (57 sq mi). Named after the village Bukkapatna, it is a vital habitat for chinkaras. Mining proposals raise concerns about potential threats to the sanctuary’s ecosystem and wildlife.

Notes:
December 21, 2024, is observed as the first World Meditation Day, designated by the United Nations in a resolution passed on November 29, 2024. India led the initiative for this day at the UN, co-sponsoring the resolution. A special programme was held at the UN headquarters on December 20, 2024, with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, as the chief guest, conducting a global meditation session. The theme of the first World Meditation Day is “Inner Peace, Global Harmony,” aiming to raise awareness about meditation’s benefits for health and well-being.

Notes:
December 19 is celebrated as Goa Liberation Day, marking Goa’s freedom from 451 years of Portuguese rule in 1961. The Indian Army liberated Goa, Daman, and Diu, integrating them into the Indian Union. While influenced by India’s independence movement in the 1940s, Goa remained under Portuguese control until 1961. Goa Liberation Day is observed annually with enthusiasm, highlighting its historical importance and liberation from colonial rule.

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India plans to launch a quantum satellite for secure communications within 2-3 years. A quantum satellite is a communication satellite that employs the principles of quantum physics to secure its signals, ensuring highly secure and tamper-proof communication by using methods like quantum encryption and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The National Quantum Mission (NQM), launched by India in April 2023, aims to boost quantum technology for advanced communication and sensing systems. China launched the first quantum communications satellite, Micius, in 2016.

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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will use advanced ‘Intelligent Machines’ for National Highway construction under the AIMC system. AIMC (Automated & Intelligent Machine-aided Construction) is an advanced system introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for efficient National Highway construction. AIMC integrates intelligent machines with real-time data sharing to speed up construction and improve road quality. It aims to boost productivity, ensure durable roads, and reduce reliance on traditional post-construction surveys. The initiative addresses challenges like outdated technologies, uncoordinated data, and poor contractor performance, which often cause delays.

Notes:
RBI released the “State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2024-25” report addressing key fiscal challenges for sustainable development. The report highlights the need to address rising subsidy expenditure, which hampers investments in infrastructure and education. State debt exceeds the 20% GDP threshold, requiring a clear plan for fiscal stability. Proliferation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) limits states’ fiscal autonomy. Inefficiencies in public spending reduce development impact. The report calls for rationalizing subsidies, debt consolidation, outcome budgeting, and integrating climate action into fiscal planning. It also emphasizes improving fiscal transparency and timely reporting of fiscal data.