Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated Himachal Pradesh’s first digital library in Bilaspur. The library includes seating for 40 people and essential amenities. It houses around 2,500 books, with offline access to NCERT and CBSE books for classes 1 to 12. The library provides free reading access to the public.

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Karnataka launched ELEVATE 2024 and Karnataka Acceleration Network (KAN) to support start-ups. ELEVATE 2024 is a grant scheme offering up to ₹50 lakh per start-up to help early-stage companies with seed funding. ELEVATE also provides support through incubation, expert mentorship, incentives, and venture capital access. Karnataka Acceleration Network (KAN) offers mentorship, market access, and funding opportunities for growth-stage start-ups across Karnataka. Both initiatives aim to address funding challenges and foster growth for start-ups in the state.

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The Nepal government has announced provide free cancer treatment to children under 14 in designated public hospitals.This initiative is effective from November 16 and aims to ease the financial burden on parents. Treatment can be accessed at Kanti Children Hospital, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, and BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital. If government funds are insufficient, the Ministry will arrange additional funding from internal sources. In 2022, Nepal reported 22,000 new cancer patients, with cancer causing 11% of deaths, and around 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year.

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The Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry released the Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTG), the first comprehensive guidelines for animal and bird diseases. The guidelines aim to reduce antibiotic, hormone, and drug residues in animal-source foods, improving food safety and soil health. The guidelines include dosages, treatment durations, withdrawal periods, and potential side effects. They integrate Ayurvedic and ethnoveterinary practices for cost-effective treatments, particularly benefiting small-scale farmers. SVTG is expected to lower treatment costs and enhance health management in livestock and poultry, reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) risks.

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An adult tigress and three cubs were recently spotted in Goa’s Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) for the first time since 2020. Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is located near Chorla Ghat, between North Goa and Belgavi, bordering Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Mhadei River flows through the sanctuary, which is part of Goa’s protected Western Ghats region. This area is renowned globally for its tiger population and is crucial for connecting tiger habitats across the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra and the Kali Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

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Researchers from India’s Physical Research Laboratory have discovered TOI-6651b, a dense, Saturn-sized exoplanet. This is the fourth exoplanet identified by PRL scientists, highlighting India’s role in space exploration. TOI-6651b weighs about 60 times that of Earth and has a radius five times larger. It resides in the “Neptunian desert,” a rare zone with few planets of this size, prompting questions about planetary formation. The planet orbits its star, TOI-6651, in 5.06 days, with an eccentric orbit that differs from typical gas giants. TOI-6651b’s density suggests it’s composed of 87% rocky and iron-rich materials, indicating unique evolutionary processes. This discovery challenges existing theories on planet formation, providing valuable insights into planetary system dynamics.

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Bangladesh won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship 2024, defending their title by beating Nepal 2-1. The final match took place at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. Nepal became the first runner-up in the tournament. Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli announced a cash prize for the Nepali women’s football team as an incentive for their achievement.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its first analogue space mission Hab-1 or Habitat-1 in Leh, a major milestone for India’s space exploration. Analogue space missions simulate the conditions of actual space exploration on Earth. They are essential for testing technologies and studying human behavior for long-duration space flights. The mission aims to replicate living conditions for astronauts traveling to the Moon, Mars, or asteroids. It focuses on understanding the physical and psychological effects of isolation and confinement. This joint effort includes ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre, AAKA Space Studio, the University of Ladakh, and IIT Bombay.

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The AI Preparedness Index (AIPI) evaluates nations on digital infrastructure, human capital, technological innovation, and legal frameworks. As of 2023, Singapore leads with a score of 0.80, indicating its strong commitment to AI integration. In contrast, India ranks 72nd with a score of 0.49, despite having a significant number of AI startups and user engagement. This index highlights the disparities in AI readiness between advanced and emerging economies.

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The Seventh Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly starts today at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. It focuses on enhancing energy access, security, and promoting solar energy among member countries. The session is led by India with France as co-president, featuring delegates from 120 countries. Key discussions will revolve around accelerating solar deployment, especially in areas with limited energy access. Updates on flagship initiatives for entrepreneurs, skill development, and mobilizing finance for solar energy will also be shared during the three-day assembly.