Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

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AIIMS in New Delhi has launched the GRASSROOT Gravity Stent-Retriever System for Reperfusion of Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke Trial) to improve stroke treatment in India. The trial evaluates the safety and effectiveness of a next-generation stent-retriever designed for stroke clots. India struggles with stroke care, with only 4,500 out of 375,000 eligible patients receiving critical mechanical thrombectomy annually. The trial aims to provide a cost-effective stent-retriever to quickly and safely restore blood flow, developed with both international and Indian expertise.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the expanded Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme. The scheme will cover all individuals aged 70 and above, regardless of their socio-economic status. Each eligible senior citizen will receive a benefit cover of ₹5 lakh per year in empanelled hospitals across India. This expansion is part of a ₹12,850 crore health initiative aimed at benefiting 60 million senior citizens. Senior citizens from families already under AB-PMJAY can access an additional ₹5 lakh cover. Those not covered by the scheme will also receive up to ₹5 lakh annually on a family basis. The expansion will be supported by an outlay of ₹3,437 crore.

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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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Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology have developed a novel security ink using luminescent nanomaterials to combat counterfeiting in currency, certificates, branded goods, and medicines. This ink exhibits different colors under various light wavelengths, enhancing its security features. The synthesis process involves rare earth doping and a co-precipitation method, allowing the ink to remain effective under diverse conditions. This innovation provides a reliable solution for verifying authenticity and preventing counterfeit products.

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International Labour Organization (ILO) released the report titled ‘The impact of care responsibilities of women’s labour participation’. According to the report, 53% of women in India are outside the labor force due to care responsibilities, needing more investment in the care economy. Only 1.1% of men are out of work for similar reasons. The report emphasizes the need for early childhood care and education (ECCE) to boost women’s labor force participation and gender equality. In India, 97.8% of women and 91.4% of men are out of the workforce due to personal or family reasons. Globally, 708 million women and 40 million men are outside the labor force due to caregiving, highlighting a significant gender disparity.

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India’s new consulate in Brisbane, Australia, was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The consulate marks a milestone in India-Australia relations, strengthened by recent trade deals. Queensland, home to about 100,000 of Australia’s nearly one million Indian-origin residents, is key to these ties, with India as its second-largest export market. India also has consulates in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. The Brisbane consulate will be led by diplomat Neetu Bhagotia, who has prior experience in India’s missions in Bhutan and Russia.

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Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru have made significant observations using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) on ADITYA-L1, India’s first solar mission. The VELC successfully captured and estimated the onset time of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that occurred on July 16. This marks the first scientific result from India’s solar mission. The VELC’s capabilities allowed for close observation of the CME near the Sun’s surface, a breakthrough since such events are usually seen from a distance.

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The Tumaini Festival in Malawi, founded in 2014, is an annual cultural event held within the Dzaleka Refugee Camp. It is unique as the only festival held in a refugee camp and is organized entirely by refugees. The festival promotes community, solidarity, and cultural exchange between refugees and locals. It attracts thousands of attendees and features music, dance, theater, and visual arts from global performers. Tumaini Festival received the Cultures of Resistance Award in 2024, highlighting its impact and significance.

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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.

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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.