Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
Manipur recently commemorated Nupi Lal Numit 2024, honoring women who fought for justice and freedom, led by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The Nupi Lal uprisings of 1904 and 1939 were key moments in Manipuri history when women protested against British colonial injustices, showing remarkable courage. The Chief Minister announced initiatives like the Ima Nongthangleima Yaipha Tengbang Scheme for unemployed women and Ima markets in districts to boost women’s economic participation. Financial support is also provided to women athletes and aspiring sports talent.

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Science and Technology Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh Kisan Kavach, India’s first anti-pesticide bodysuit to protect farmers from harmful pesticide exposure. Developed by Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC-inStem), Bangalore, Bengaluru, with Sepio Health Pvt. Ltd., the suit promotes farmer safety and sustainable agriculture. It is washable, reusable for up to a year, and priced at ₹4,000, with plans for greater affordability. The suit uses advanced fabric technology that deactivates pesticides through nucleophilic hydrolysis, preventing health risks like respiratory issues and vision loss. This innovation aims to address pesticide toxicity while empowering farmers and ensuring sustainable farming practices.

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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:
Eminent tabla player Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri from Kolkata received the ‘Rashtriya Tansen Samman’ for 2023. Sanand Nyas Sanstha from Indore was awarded the ‘Raja Mansingh Tomar Samman’ for 2023. The awards were presented during the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh 2024, held in Gwalior to mark the centenary year of legendary music maestro Tansen. The ‘Tansen Award’ is the highest national music honor in Indian classical music, instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government. Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri thanked the state government for the prestigious recognition.

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The Ministry of Textiles is promoting research into innovative natural fibers like milkweed fiber, derived from milkweed plant seed pods. Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L) is native to North America and grows wild in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu in India. Milkweed fiber is lightweight, soft, biodegradable, and renewable but brittle for spinning due to its oily material and lignin content. It has amphiphilic properties, both water-absorbing and water-repelling. Applications include water-safety equipment like life jackets and belts, and filtration systems due to its fine fiber structure.

Notes:
California has declared a state of emergency due to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak, affecting its dairy industry and causing human infections. H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, affecting birds and occasionally humans. Symptoms in humans range from mild (pink eye, cough) to severe (fever, shortness of breath, respiratory complications). It spreads through contact with infected animal fluids and is rarely transmitted between humans. Treatment includes antiviral medications like Tamiflu and supportive care. Preventive measures involve avoiding contact with infected animals and properly cooking poultry.

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Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh lead in rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The scheme was launched on February 15, 2024 by PM Narendra Modi. The scheme aims to install 10 million rooftop solar units by March 2027. More than Over 679,000 installations are completed as of December 9, 2024, benefiting 538,000 residential units and 141,000 homes in welfare associations. Gujarat leads with 302,000 installations, followed by Maharashtra (139,000) and Uttar Pradesh (56,000). Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan also contribute significantly. This initiative is set to become the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar program, providing free electricity.

Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 72nd Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Agartala, Tripura, on 21 December 2024. Agartala last hosted the NEC plenary in 2008. The NEC, established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, coordinates development across eight states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.

Notes:
US President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that his administration may consider efforts to regain control of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is a 40-mile-long man-made waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across the Isthmus of Panama. Built by the United States, it was completed in August 1914 and is one of the world’s two most strategic artificial waterways, alongside the Suez Canal. The U.S. controlled the canal solely from 1914 to 1979, after which control transitioned to the Panama Canal Commission, and full control passed to Panama on December 31, 1999. The canal uses a sophisticated lock system to manage elevation differences between the two oceans, acting as water elevators to lift or lower ships. It has three sets of locks, serviced by artificial lakes and channels.

Notes:
The ‘Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi’ initiative was launched on Good Governance Day by the Union Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. It aims to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through innovative tools and capacity-building frameworks. Piloted in Odisha, Assam, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, it uses e-learning platforms, AI chatbots, and mobile apps to enhance governance and service delivery. The program promotes decentralized governance and participatory decision-making at the grassroots level. Part of the ‘Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur’ campaign, it equips PRI officials for effective governance and sustainable rural development.