Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Fiji awarded Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar the “Honourary Officer of the Order of Fiji,” its highest civilian honor, for his global peace and community work. Fiji’s President, Ratu Wiliame M. Katonivere, presented the award, and Sri Sri expressed gratitude on social media. As founder of The Art of Living, Sri Sri has received top civilian awards from five other nations, highlighting his humanitarian influence in over 180 countries. In Fiji, he met with leaders, including the Deputy Prime Minister and UN Coordinator, to discuss youth empowerment and mental health.

Notes:
China opposes Taiwan’s establishment of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) in Mumbai. This is Taiwan’s third office in India, following openings in New Delhi in 1995 and Chennai in 2012. India and Taiwan set up representative offices in 1993: the India-Taipei Association in Taipei and TECC in New Delhi. Other countries like the US, Australia, and Russia have similar centers for visa services and cultural exchanges. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and considers the PRC the sole legitimate government. India officially recognizes the PRC but does not recognize Taiwan.

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 contingent of 25 Indian Army personnel has participated in Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 24 from November 1 to 12, 2024. This is the 9th edition of the India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces exercise, featuring troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces). The exercise aims to familiarize both sides with each other’s procedures and enhance cooperation and interoperability. This exercise includes tactical military drills, planning special operations, and sharing advanced skills and techniques.

Notes:
The traditional ‘Hingot war Festival’ takes place annually in Gautampura, Madhya Pradesh. Participants throw “burning arrows” (Hingots) at each other in this event. This tradition is seen as a display of bravery, not just a ritual. This annual event involves two rival groups, Kalangi and Turra, who engage in a fiery battle by throwing ‘Hingot’ rockets at each other. Thousands of spectators attended, with extensive safety measures by the administration and police to protect them.

Notes:
Haryana’s boxer Mandeep Jangra won the World Boxing Federation’s super featherweight world title by defeating British boxer Conor McIntosh. The title match took place in the Cayman Islands. Mandeep, 31, turned professional in 2021 and trains under American boxing legend Roy Jones Junior. He won silver at the 2013 Asian Championship and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Mandeep received the Arjuna Award from the Indian government in 2015.

Notes:
The DANA storm, or “depresión aislada en niveles altos,” caused severe flooding in Spain in late October 2024, attributed to climate change. This isolated low-pressure system generated intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, leading to over 200 fatalities. Areas like Chiva and Valencia experienced unprecedented rainfall, with Chiva recording 491 millimeters in eight hours. The phenomenon results from warm, moist air from the Mediterranean colliding with cold polar air, creating conditions for extreme weather events, exacerbated by human-induced climate change.

Notes:
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jawf region experienced snowfall for the first time in recorded history. Al-Jawf, one of Saudi Arabia’s most fertile areas, has a human history dating back to the Stone Age. Known for olive cultivation, it hosts the world’s largest modern olive farm, as recognized by Guinness World Records. Al-Jawf is also one of the coldest regions in Saudi Arabia during winter.

Notes:
The Seventh Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi focused on sustainable energy and agrivoltaic farming. Agrivoltaic farming involves using land for both agriculture and solar energy generation, with crops growing under solar panels. It maximizes land efficiency, provides shade to crops, reduces heat stress, and supports climate resilience. This practice boosts renewable energy generation, contributes to food security, and offers economic benefits by diversifying income through both crops and solar energy.

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Archaeologists discovered a 4,000-year-old fortified town called Al-Natah in the Khaybar oasis in northwest Saudi Arabia. This site reveals a transition from nomadic life to organized urban settlement between 2400 and 1500 BCE. Led by French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, the excavation uncovered a sophisticated Bronze Age town. Al-Natah spans 2.6 hectares, enclosed by a 14.5-kilometer wall, and could house about 500 residents. It served as a hub for agriculture and trade, supporting cooperative life in an arid region. The town had multi-story stone and mudbrick dwellings connected by narrow paths.