Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal attended the 8th Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. India and Saudi Arabia share strong economic, cultural, and strategic ties reinforced by high-level visits and the 2019 Strategic Partnership Council.
The council oversees cooperation, structured in Political-Security-Socio-Cultural and Economic-Investment pillars.
Saudi Arabia is India’s fifth-largest trade partner, with bilateral trade at USD 43 billion in 2023-24, mainly oil imports and Indian exports in goods. Both nations are exploring renewable energy, with shared interests in solar, wind, and hydrogen. Saudi’s Vision 2030 aligns with India’s development goals, fostering collaborations in food security, pharma, ICT, and defense.

Notes:
The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) is observed on November 2, recognized by the United Nations to protect journalists and seek justice for crimes against them. IDEI was proclaimed by the UN in Resolution A/RES/68/163, marking the 2013 killing of two French journalists in Mali. It aims to tackle violence against journalists, crucial for freedom of expression and access to information. The 2024 theme, “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies,” focuses on protecting journalists in conflict zones. Journalists in high-risk areas face violence, restricted access, and detention, creating “zones of silence.”

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:
The Pradhan Mantri Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (PMVKY) was launched on October 28, 2014, to empower tribal communities in India. It addresses historical neglect by providing financial assistance and promoting sustainable development. The initiative includes the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana for integrated development in 36,428 tribal villages, focusing on connectivity, education, health, and sanitation. It supports Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups with tailored development projects, allocating ₹15,000 crore for housing, water, sanitation, and education over three years. It provides pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for tribal students and funds research on tribal cultures and challenges. Funds are also allocated for project management units to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of welfare schemes.

Notes:
A Columbia University study found that long-term exposure to arsenic in water may increase cardiovascular disease risk. Arsenic is a natural element found in air, water, and soil, and can also be released by industries like mining. It exists in organic and highly toxic inorganic forms; contaminated water and food are common exposure sources. High arsenic levels cause poisoning, with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, while long-term exposure can lead to skin changes. Arsenic is used in rat poisons, insecticides, semiconductors, glass-making, and wood preservation, though its use is heavily controlled due to toxicity.

Notes:
Astronomers discovered a rare triple black hole system named V404 Cygni, altering our understanding of black hole formation. It is located about 8,000 light years away from Earth in the constellation of Cygnus. The first star orbits the black hole closely every 6.5 days, while the second is much farther, at 100 times Pluto’s distance from the Sun. This system suggests a “direct collapse” formation, where the black hole forms quietly without a supernova explosion. Thousands of simulations confirmed that this formation spared the distant star from being ejected.

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 Asia–Pacific Climate Report is a new initiative by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help the region address climate change through policy reforms. It highlights India’s transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, showcasing key reforms and subsidy reallocations. India has achieved an 85% reduction in fossil fuel subsidies, dropping from 25 billion in 2013 to 3.5 billion in 2023. A cess on coal production funded clean energy projects like the Green Energy Corridor and National Solar Mission. Tax hikes on petrol and diesel have redirected funds to renewable initiatives, improving LPG access in rural areas. National programs support clean energy investments and progress toward India’s 2070 net-zero target.

Notes:
Scientists at Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, discovered a protein IL-35 that can help treat type 1 and autoimmune diabetes mellitus. IL-35 is made of IL-12α and IL-27β chains. It protects against type 1 and autoimmune diabetes by regulating immune cells. IL-35 inhibits immune cells attacking pancreatic beta cells and reduces inflammation. Autoimmune diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks insulin-producing beta cells, causing insulin deficiency and lifelong dependence on external insulin.

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.