Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
The National Board for Wildlife deferred road expansion projects impacting Pranhita Wildlife Sanctuary due to environmental concerns. Pranhita Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Adilabad district, Telangana. The sanctuary spans around 136 sq. km and is set in the scenic Deccan plateau. It features thick deciduous teak forests, hilly landscapes, and plateaus. Pranahitha River runs along its eastern boundary, and the Godavari River is to the south. Known for prehistoric rock formations, the sanctuary holds ecological and geological significance.

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The first Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC 2024) is taking place in Harare, Zimbabwe, from October 29-31. This conference brings African nations into the global discussion on climate change and its health impacts, where Africa faces high burdens of climate-sensitive diseases. More than 400 participants, including government officials, health and climate experts, and researchers, attended the conference. It focuses on sharing innovations, best practices, and solutions to build climate resilience in health.

Notes:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated Himachal Pradesh’s first digital library in Bilaspur. The library includes seating for 40 people and essential amenities. It houses around 2,500 books, with offline access to NCERT and CBSE books for classes 1 to 12. The library provides free reading access to the public.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of India announced that over 60,000 Amrit Sarovars have been built in villages, creating a legacy for future generations. The initiative began on April 24, 2022, aiming to construct 75 Amrit Sarovars for the 75th year of independence. It addresses water crises in rural areas, with each Sarovar having at least 1 acre of pond area and a capacity of about 10,000 cubic meters. The mission promotes water conservation, community participation, and the use of excavated soil for infrastructure. It involves six government ministries but has no separate financial allocation.

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Researchers reported a 4% increase in the North Atlantic right whale population since 2020, following a 25% decline from 2010 to 2020. These migratory whales spend winters in warmer waters and migrate to the poles in late summer. They inhabit temperate and subpolar waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Right whales are often found near bays and peninsulas in shallow, coastal waters, mainly along the East Coast of the United States and Canada. They feed by skimming plankton at or just below the water’s surface. Conservation status: IUCN lists North Atlantic right whales as critically endangered.

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Madhya Pradesh has approved 35% reservation for women in all state government recruitments. This decision was made under Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla. The recruitment age for assistant professors in medical colleges has been increased. These initiatives aim to empower women, boost employment, improve citizens’ lives, and drive economic growth.

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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.

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Neft Daslari, also known as “Oil Rocks,” is the world’s oldest offshore oil platform situated about 100 kilometers from Baku, Azerbaijan. Established in the late 1940s, it evolved from a single drilling rig to a vast network of oil wells and bridges, once housing over 5,000 workers. Recently, environmental concerns over pollution and declining production highlight its significance in Azerbaijan’s oil industry as discussions around climate initiatives intensify globally. There are proposals to transform it into a tourist site or museum.

Notes:
The 83rd annual session of the Indian Roads Congress is in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the four-day event, ending on November 11. Gadkari released three new guidelines and a manual on road construction and safety. Over 2,000 experts, scientists, and engineers are attending. Eighteen documents on road construction and safety are under discussion. The Congress sets standards and guidelines for road and bridge infrastructure development. A Highway Research Board meeting will focus on using lab research, advanced technologies, and sustainable practices. Participants include central and state officials, researchers, IITs, and private sector representatives.

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The President of India recently witnessed a demonstration on INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited. It strengthens India’s position as a ‘Blue Water Navy’ with global reach, joining the US, Russia, France, UK, and China in the elite group capable of building aircraft carriers. The ship has a displacement of 43,000 tonnes, an endurance of 13,890 km, and can accommodate up to 30 aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters. It uses the STOBAR method for aircraft operations.