Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Bibek Debroy, the chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC-PM), recently passed away. EAC-PM is an independent body that advises the Prime Minister on economic issues. It analyzes economic matters referred by the Prime Minister and addresses macroeconomic concerns. The council’s role is advisory and non-binding on the government. It promotes economic understanding through reports and public engagement. EAC-PM is led by a chairperson and includes eminent economists, with no fixed number of members. The NITI Aayog acts as the nodal agency for administrative support to the council.

Notes:
The National Achievement Survey (NAS) will be held on December 4, 2024, under a new name, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan. PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) aims to enhance understanding of India’s educational landscape and is led by NCERT and CBSE. The survey assesses students from government, aided, and private schools using multiple-choice questions for Grades 3, 6, and 9 in subjects like Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. It evaluates school effectiveness across districts, utilizing paper-based assessments and Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology. The approach focuses on foundational education as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, providing report cards at national, state, and district levels. PARAKH is managed by the National Assessment Center, PARAKH, under the Ministry of Education.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal criticized three district magistrates in Uttar Pradesh and the state’s pollution control board for carelessly approving mining in the Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is India’s first freshwater turtle sanctuary, covering a 7 km stretch of the Ganga River. The sanctuary was created to protect turtles, which were released to help naturally decompose half-burnt human remains in the Ganga as part of the Ganga Action Plan. Turtle hatchlings are bred in Sarnath, with 2,000 eggs brought annually from Chambal and Yamuna rivers. The sanctuary also hosts Gangetic Dolphins, diverse turtles, and fish species like Rohu and Tengra.

Notes:
The Ministry of Culture’s Amrit Parampara series celebrates India’s shared art and culture legacy. The series began with “Kaveri Meets Ganga,” inaugurated on 2nd November and held till 5th November 2024. The event, inspired by Chennai’s Margazhi Festival, featured traditional and folk arts, representing India’s cultural diversity. The event was held at Kartavya Path and CCRT Dwarka. It showcased South Indian music and dance for North Indian audiences. Organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Kalakshetra, and CCRT, the festival aligns with the Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat initiative, promoting unity through cultural exchange.

Notes:
The Harare Declaration, adopted at the Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC 2024) in Zimbabwe, emphasizes enhancing climate resilience within health systems across Africa. It aims to address the severe health impacts of climate change, advocating for immediate collaborative actions from governments, researchers, and civil society. The declaration calls for prioritizing climate change as a public health emergency and strengthening research to combat climate-related health risks, ensuring that African nations proactively shape their health futures amidst climate challenges.

Notes:
World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed annually on November 5 to raise awareness about tsunami dangers and promote preparedness. The United Nations General Assembly established this day in 2015, highlighting the need for early warning systems and community education. November 5 was chosen for its historical significance, linked to the Japanese tale of Inamura-no-hi. The day emphasizes that early warning and preparedness can greatly reduce loss of life and property. It promotes best practices, effective evacuation plans, and encourages global cooperation to strengthen resilience against tsunamis.

Notes:
The US Army is conducting a test launch of the Minuteman III hypersonic nuclear missile after Election Day voting closes. The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) used by the United States (US). It became operational in the 1970s and is the sole land-based component of the US nuclear triad. Designed by Boeing, it was originally meant for ten years of service but has been modernized. The missile was the first to have multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). The US currently has about 440 Minuteman III missiles in its arsenal, with a replacement planned for 2029.

Notes:
India will launch the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission from Sriharikota next month. Proba-3 is ESA’s first mission focused on precision formation flying. It will demonstrate two satellites creating an artificial eclipse to study the Sun’s faint corona. The mission includes a Coronagraph satellite and an Occulter satellite flying 150 meters apart. The Occulter will block the Sun’s light, allowing the Coronagraph to image the corona. The mission aims to understand solar mass ejections and track solar energy changes impacting Earth’s climate.

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:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched ‘TULIP,’ a digital platform for marginalized artisans at the Shilp Samagam Mela 2024 in New Delhi. The TULIP (Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment Livelihood Programme) aims to provide marginalized artisans, including those from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and persons with disabilities, with a digital platform for global exposure and sales. The program is part of broader efforts to economically empower targeted communities through financial assistance and skill training.