Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
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.”

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Thadou tribe in Manipur rejected colonial and post-independence classifications labeling them as part of the Kuki group, calling it an arbitrary imposition. The Thadou are indigenous people living in the hill country near Imphal Valley, Manipur. They are also known by names such as Chillya, Kukihin, Teizang, and Theruvan. The Thadou language, Chin and Thado, belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of Sino-Tibetan languages. In their villages, the chief’s house is the largest, with a platform outside for men to gather, discuss important matters, and mediate disputes.

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu government has declared a heatwave as a State-specific disaster to provide relief and compensation for heat-related casualties. Interim actions will be taken to manage the heat, funded by the State Disaster Response Fund. A heat wave is defined as a period of abnormally high temperatures above the normal maximum. In India, heat waves usually occur from March to June and can extend into July. On average, five to six heat wave events happen annually in northern India. A heat wave is considered if temperatures reach 40°C or more in plains and 30°C or more in hilly areas. Severe heat waves are classified by greater temperature deviations or higher maximum temperatures.

Notes:
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has formed a team to investigate the death of ten elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. The Madhya Pradesh government has also set up a five-member committee, led by APCCF (Wildlife), to conduct an inquiry. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is situated between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges in Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district. It was designated as a national park in 1968 and became a tiger reserve in 1993.

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:
Ten wild elephants died in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, possibly due to “mycotoxins associated with kodo millet.” Kodo millet, also called Kodra or Varagu, is a drought-tolerant, hardy crop rich in vitamins and minerals. It is a staple food for many tribal and economically weaker communities in India. Best suited for tropical and subtropical regions, it grows on poor soils in arid and semi-arid areas. Originating in India, Madhya Pradesh is a major producer, along with Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu. Kodo millet is also cultivated in Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and West Africa.

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:
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.