Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
PM Modi launched India’s first helicopter ambulance service at Rishikesh AIIMS to improve emergency healthcare access.
The service aims to transport critical patients quickly within the ‘golden hour’ for better trauma care. It is part of a larger healthcare upgrade project worth over Rs 12,850 crore. A toll-free number will link all district disaster management centers to facilitate this service. Drones will aid in delivering blood samples and medicines to remote regions. The initiative extends to Uttarakhand and some border areas of Uttar Pradesh, transforming healthcare access in tough terrains.

Notes:
Scientists have discovered a lost Mayan city in the dense Mexican jungle using LiDAR technology. LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging and is a remote sensing method that uses pulsed lasers to measure distances to the Earth’s surface. It can create high-resolution 3-D models of ground elevation with vertical accuracy of up to 10 cm. The LiDAR system includes a laser, scanner, and GPS receiver. The laser fires rapidly, hitting surfaces like vegetation and buildings, with the reflected light recorded by the sensor.

Notes:
Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) faculty and staff have appealed to the Education Minister regarding delays in implementing 7th Central Pay Commission pay scales. ICSSR was founded by the Government of India in 1969, based on Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao’s recommendations. It is an autonomous body under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, promoting social science research. ICSSR funds projects, fellowships, international collaborations, and publications in social sciences. It supports 24 research institutes, six regional centers, and five recognized institutes across India.

Notes:
The fifth Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2024 conducted in Ambala, Haryana. VINBAX-2024 aims to strengthen the joint military capabilities of India and Vietnam. For the first time, the exercise includes Bi-Service participation, with personnel from both countries’ Army and Air Force. India’s contingent consists of 47 members, mainly from a Regiment of the Corps of Engineers, alongside personnel from other services.

Notes:
Three Yanadi tribe children who went missing in Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, were recently found. Yanadis are a major scheduled tribe in Andhra Pradesh, living in poverty and social exclusion. They are one of India’s most vulnerable tribal groups, mainly residing in Nellore and other plains areas. The Yanadi population in Andhra Pradesh was recorded as 4,62,167 in the 2001 census. They speak Telugu and traditionally work in hunting, gathering, and agriculture. Yanadis possess rich traditional health knowledge, using plants to treat various ailments. Their culture includes forest-linked religious beliefs and the Dhimsa dance, performed during festivals.

Notes:
Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions , Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the Digital Life Certificate campaign 3.0 in New Delhi. The campaign, by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, spans 800 cities and districts until the 30th of this month. Its goal is to promote digital life certificates and empower pensioners through face authentication technology. Pensioners must submit life certificates annually to continue receiving pensions. Jeevan Pramaan, an Aadhaar-based scheme, was launched in 2014 for easy digital life certificate submission. Collaboration with banks, India Post Payments Bank, and pension organizations ensures awareness reaches even remote areas.

Notes:
The Indian Army inducted 550 units of the indigenously developed ‘Asmi’ machine pistols into the Northern Command, advancing the ‘Atmanirbharta’ initiative. The pistol was developed by Colonel Prasad Bansod and DRDO, and manufactured by Lokesh Machines in Hyderabad. Designed for close-quarter battles, it features a compact, lightweight, and semi-bullpup configuration, allowing efficient one-handed operation. It has a high firing rate, reliable accuracy for short to medium ranges, and is durable in tough conditions. ‘Asmi’ is a 100% Make in India weapon, offering customization and rapid production for operational flexibility.

Notes:
Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha, known as ‘Bihar Kokila,’ passed away at 72 on 5 November 2024. She was suffering from multiple myeloma and died at AIIMS, New Delhi, on the first day of Chhath Puja. Sinha was celebrated for her Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magadhi songs, especially for Chhath Puja and Vivah Geet, which resonated widely in Bihar. She received the Padma Bhushan (2018), Padma Shri (1991), and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Notes:
The report, titled ‘Hunger Hotspots’ for the period between November 2024 and May 2025, was published recently. The new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) indicates that acute food insecurity is expected to worsen in 22 countries over the next six months. Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali are on the highest alert. Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, and Niger are newly added hunger hotspots. Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe remain on the list. Climate issues like La Niña may increase floods in Southern Africa and cause drought in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.

Notes:
The first Integrated Check Post (ICP) along the India-Bhutan border was inaugurated at Darranga, Assam, on November 7, 2024. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Bhutan’s Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay were present. ICP Darranga spans 14.5 acres and is equipped with modern facilities like an office complex, parking, loading zones, and residential quarters. Developed by the Land Ports Authority of India, it includes inspection spaces, plant quarantine, and parking. The location is well-connected to National Highway 27 in India and customs infrastructure in Bhutan, enhancing trade and connectivity.