Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2024

Notes:
The National Science Drama Festival 2024 will be held at the National Science Centre, New Delhi, on December 27-28, 2024. More than 40,000 students from 28 states and 8 Union Territories participated in earlier stages, showcasing creative dramas on topics like Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, and Water Conservation. The festival integrates science with arts, promoting cross-curricular learning and countering misinformation.

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AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal announced the Dr. Ambedkar Samman Scholarship for Dalit students. The scholarship offers full financial support for Dalit students to pursue higher education abroad. It covers tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses for studying at top universities worldwide. The initiative ensures deserving Dalit students can access world-class education without financial barriers. This step by the Delhi government aims to empower the Dalit community through higher education opportunities.

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Aisake Valu Eke was elected as the Prime Minister of Tonga and will replace Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, who resigned on December 9. Eke will officially take office in February and serve until the next election in November 2025. Tonga’s Parliament has 17 elected members, nine nobles, and two members who couldn’t vote in this election. Eke, a former Finance Minister (2014–2017), was first elected to Parliament in 2010 as an independent. He earned a PhD from the University of Southern Queensland, focusing on public sector service quality in Tonga. In 2011, he opposed increased allowances for MPs during Tonga’s economic challenges.

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Two red pandas from Rotterdam Zoo, Netherlands, are being brought to Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNZP) in Darjeeling for conservation breeding. Red pandas, also called lesser pandas, are shy, solitary, herbivorous, and arboreal animals, using their bushy tails for balance and warmth in winter. They are an indicator species for ecological change and are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. They are found in mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India (Eastern Himalayas), Myanmar, and Nepal. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNZP) is located in Darjeeling, West Bengal. The park specializes in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions and has successful programs for species like snow leopards, Himalayan wolves, and red pandas.

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The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched India’s first Undergraduate Minor Program in Quantum Technologies, designed to prepare students for the quantum revolution. This program covers four verticals: Quantum Computation, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing, and Quantum Materials. It aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering a skilled workforce for innovation in quantum technologies. The curriculum emphasizes project-based learning and is open to engineering students from their third semester, ensuring practical experience and interdisciplinary appeal in this cutting-edge field.

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Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the ‘Atal Yuva Maha Kumbh’ in Lucknow. The event celebrates the birth centenary year of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Certificates and prizes were awarded to meritorious students excelling in various competitions.

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DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) has cleared the Kaveri engine for inflight testing. The Kaveri engine project started in the late 1980s to power India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. It was developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The clearance represents progress in India’s indigenous aero-engine technology development.

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The SLINEX 24 bilateral naval exercise between India and Sri Lanka was held from December 17-20, 2024, in Visakhapatnam. India was represented by INS Sumitra from the Eastern Fleet and a Special Forces team. Sri Lanka participated with the SLNS Sayura Offshore Patrol Vessel and its Special Forces team. The exercise aimed to improve interoperability and strengthen maritime cooperation between the two navies.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the “Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2023-24” report. The report highlights the banking sector’s performance. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) showed improved profitability for the sixth consecutive year, with a 13-year low in Gross NPAs at 2.5%. The Capital-to-Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) for SCBs stood at 16.8%, exceeding regulatory requirements. Urban Co-operative Banks saw expansion, with improved asset quality. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) reported double-digit credit growth and reduced GNPA to 3.4%. Technological advancements like Unified Lending Interface (ULI) and Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) aim to improve credit access. The report highlights rising banking frauds, with cases surging to ₹21,367 crore in 2024.

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The alarming levels of arsenic contamination in Bihar’s staple foods—rice, wheat, and potatoes—pose serious health risks, particularly for rural populations. A study by Mahavir Cancer Sansthan found that 14% of rice, 63% of wheat, and 3% of potato samples exceeded permissible arsenic limits set by the FAO. The contamination is linked to groundwater pollution and sediment deposits from the River Ganga, affecting infants and children most severely. Urgent interventions are needed to address this public health crisis and mitigate risks associated with arsenic exposure.