Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

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:
Vigilance Awareness Week 2024, themed “Culture of Integrity for Nation’s Prosperity,” runs from October 28 to November 3. Central Vigilance Commissioner Shri Praveen Kumar Srivastava and Vigilance Commissioner Shri A.S. Rajeev led the Integrity Pledge at Satarkata Bhawan, New Delhi. A three-month campaign supporting this week runs from August 16 to November 15, 2024. A special event at Vigyan Bhawan on November 8 will feature the President of India as Chief Guest. Ministries and departments are focusing on capacity building, systemic improvements, guideline updates, complaint resolutions, and digital transparency to enhance accountability.

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 Himachal Chief Minister recently launched water sports activities at Gobind Sagar Lake. Gobind Sagar Lake is a manmade reservoir in the Una and Bilaspur districts of Himachal Pradesh. Named after Guru Gobind Singh, it is fed by the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River. The Bhakra Dam is one of the highest gravity dams in the world, standing 225.5 m tall. The lake is 90 km long, covers about 170 sq. km, and has a maximum depth of 163.07 m, making it one of the deepest artificial lakes. It supplies irrigation water to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, benefiting regional agriculture.

Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister urged the Central government to consider running green hydrogen trains on the Kalka-Shimla Railway (KSR). KSR is a narrow-gauge railway from Kalka (Haryana) to Shimla (Himachal Pradesh). It was built in 1898 to connect Shimla, then the British summer capital, to the Indian rail network. The 96 km line, opened in 1903, is known as the “toy train” and includes 18 stations, 102 tunnels, and over 850 bridges. The line climbs from 655 m to 2,076 m altitude, showcasing remarkable engineering with the Kanoh multi-arch bridge and Barog tunnel. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, it holds a Guinness World Record for its steep ascent.

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.

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The Armed Forces Flag Day Fund in Telangana, chaired by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, aims to provide financial assistance to ex-servicemen and their families. Recent meetings have focused on immediate relief and long-term support initiatives, including increased grants for families of fallen soldiers, marriage grants for daughters of ex-servicemen, and enhanced monthly assistance for disabled soldiers. The fund also supports educational needs and sports incentives for ex-servicemen and their children, ensuring that those who served the nation receive the necessary care and support.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
NITI Aayog launched the 15-day ‘Jal Utsav’ to raise awareness about water conservation and management. The campaign, inspired by Prime Minister Modi’s vision, follows the ‘Nadi Utsav’ model discussed in the 3rd Chief Secretaries Conference. It will run from today until November 24 in 20 Aspirational Districts and Blocks, in collaboration with the National Jal Jeevan Mission. The festival aims for community involvement in water protection and promotes responsible water use. School students will participate in water management activities, becoming change agents in their families and communities. ‘Jal Bandhan’ will symbolically mark the launch.

Notes:
The government approved the PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme with a budget of Rs 3,600 crore for five years from FY 2024-25. It aims to provide financial aid to meritorious students in top higher education institutions (QHEIs). Students with family incomes up to Rs 8 lakh are eligible for 3% interest subvention on loans up to Rs 10 lakh, with no collateral or guarantor required. The scheme aims to benefit over 22 lakh students annually, with a digital loan application process. The scheme complements other education loan initiatives and will be managed through a unified portal, “PM-Vidyalaxmi.”