Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

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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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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Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park in Kangra’s Dehra constituency will be India’s first IGBC-certified zoo for sustainable infrastructure. It is located in the Bankhandi area of Kangra. The park will have 34 enclosures featuring 73 species, including Asiatic lions, crocodiles, gharials, and indigenous birds. With a budget of ₹619 crore, it focuses on eco-friendly design. The zoo aims to boost tourism, create jobs, and promote eco-tourism, enhancing Kangra’s status as Himachal Pradesh’s “Tourism Capital.”

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An adult tigress and three cubs were recently spotted in Goa’s Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) for the first time since 2020. Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is located near Chorla Ghat, between North Goa and Belgavi, bordering Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Mhadei River flows through the sanctuary, which is part of Goa’s protected Western Ghats region. This area is renowned globally for its tiger population and is crucial for connecting tiger habitats across the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra and the Kali Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

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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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Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) faculty and staff have appealed to the Education Minister regarding delays in implementing 7th Central Pay Commission pay scales. ICSSR was founded by the Government of India in 1969, based on Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao’s recommendations. It is an autonomous body under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, promoting social science research. ICSSR funds projects, fellowships, international collaborations, and publications in social sciences. It supports 24 research institutes, six regional centers, and five recognized institutes across India.

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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.

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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.

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The US Army is conducting a test launch of the Minuteman III hypersonic nuclear missile after Election Day voting closes. The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) used by the United States (US). It became operational in the 1970s and is the sole land-based component of the US nuclear triad. Designed by Boeing, it was originally meant for ten years of service but has been modernized. The missile was the first to have multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). The US currently has about 440 Minuteman III missiles in its arsenal, with a replacement planned for 2029.

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India will launch the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission from Sriharikota next month. Proba-3 is ESA’s first mission focused on precision formation flying. It will demonstrate two satellites creating an artificial eclipse to study the Sun’s faint corona. The mission includes a Coronagraph satellite and an Occulter satellite flying 150 meters apart. The Occulter will block the Sun’s light, allowing the Coronagraph to image the corona. The mission aims to understand solar mass ejections and track solar energy changes impacting Earth’s climate.