Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) epigraphists recently found a Telugu inscription above a Lord Hanuman statue at the 13th-century Simhachalam temple. Simhachalam Temple, also called Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, is in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Dedicated to Vishnu’s Narasimha avatar, it was initially built in the 11th century by Odisha’s Gajapati rulers. The temple was renovated by Vengi Chalukyas and later by Narasimha I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the 13th century. Its architecture blends Kalinga and Dravidian styles, with a stone chariot, intricate carvings, and sculptures of Vishnu’s avatars and royal figures.

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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.

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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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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.”

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Karnataka celebrates the Bali Padyami festival today, marking the fourth day of Deepavali. The festival honors Asura king Bali Chakravarty, who visits Earth as per a boon from Lord Vishnu. Bali Padyami follows worship of Ganga Matha, Naraka Chaturdashi, and Lakshmi Pooja on the preceding days. Temples are decorated with colorful rangoli, and thousands of lamps are lit at night. Special Abhisheka rituals with milk and auspicious ingredients are performed for the deity. Houses display triangular images of King Bali, made from clay or cow dung and adorned with flowers, symbolizing prosperity and welfare.

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The National Achievement Survey (NAS) will be held on December 4, 2024, under a new name, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan. PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) aims to enhance understanding of India’s educational landscape and is led by NCERT and CBSE. The survey assesses students from government, aided, and private schools using multiple-choice questions for Grades 3, 6, and 9 in subjects like Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. It evaluates school effectiveness across districts, utilizing paper-based assessments and Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology. The approach focuses on foundational education as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, providing report cards at national, state, and district levels. PARAKH is managed by the National Assessment Center, PARAKH, under the Ministry of Education.

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Japan will test the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry. It will be launched on a SpaceX rocket and sent to the International Space Station. LignoSat, made from Japanese honoki wood, will orbit for six months to test wood’s durability in space. Wood, unlike metal, doesn’t rot or catch fire in space, and it burns up cleanly upon reentry without polluting. Former astronaut Takao Doi envisions this as a step toward using wood for sustainable construction on the Moon and Mars, like planting trees and building timber houses.

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Meluri, home to the Pochury Naga tribe, is now the 17th district of Nagaland. The state government has elevated Meluri Sub-Division from Phek District to a full district, effective immediately. Chief Secretary Dr. J. Alam issued the official notification on November 2. The new district will include the area previously known as Meluri Sub-Division. This decision aims to enhance governance and development in the region, following Cabinet approval on November 1.

Notes:
The Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) is a crucial report being drafted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It aims to offer policymakers a comprehensive assessment of environmental changes and effective solutions to combat pressing ecological issues. Scheduled for launch at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in December 2025, GEO-7 will cover a broad spectrum of environmental topics, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental health with economic and social stability, thereby influencing decisions across various sectors for sustainable development.