Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Dhudmaras village in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, gained global recognition by being selected among United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO’s) best tourism villages. It is one of 20 villages chosen from 60 nations for its sustainable tourism practices. Located in Kanger Valley National Park, it offers eco-tourism with dense forests and the Kanger River. UNWTO will assist in upgrading tourism facilities, preserving culture, and improving villagers’ lives. Dhudmaras and Chitrakot received India’s Best Tourism Village Award on September 27.

Notes:
The Bihar Cabinet has allocated Rs 225 crore for ‘Mahila Samwad’, an initiative aimed at empowering women by informing them about government policies. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and officials will engage with women at district and block levels, gathering their expectations from the government. This initiative highlights the government’s focus on women’s issues, as women constitute nearly 48% of Bihar’s voters, emphasizing their significant role in governance and policy-making.

Notes:
The 2023 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development was awarded to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad. Ali Abu Awwad is a Palestinian peace activist promoting peaceful conflict resolution in the Middle East. Daniel Barenboim, an Argentine-born classical pianist, uses music to foster harmony in West Asia. The prize, established in 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, includes ₹25 lakh and a citation. It honors individuals or institutions for exemplary contributions to humanity and the planet. In 2022, it was awarded to the Indian Medical Association and the Trained Nurses Association of India for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notes:
Recent research has identified Candidatus Phytoplasma as the causative agent of a peculiar disease in sesame fields in Midnapore, West Bengal. Sesame, known as the “Queen of Oil,” is an ancient oilseed crop with medicinal properties. The disease causes disfigurement and virescence in the plants, impacting their yield. Researchers, led by Prof. Gaurab Gangopadhyay, have been studying this issue and aim to improve sesame varieties through molecular marker-assisted breeding to combat this threat and enhance the crop’s benefits.

Notes:
Six Viragallu (hero stones) were discovered near the Anjaneya Temple between Rukmapur and Kupagal villages in Shorapur, Karnataka. Viragallu are memorial stones honoring heroes who died in battle. The discovery was made by the Surapura Hitarakshana Samiti team, led by Shravanakumar Nayak and researcher Rajgopal Vibhuti, who are working to protect the inscriptions. Shorapur, also known as the Surpur Empire, was a princely state in present-day Yadgir district, Karnataka. The region was ruled by the Nayak Dynasty, with Raja Venkatappa Nayak as its last ruler.

Notes:
An international team of astronomers used the MeerKAT radio telescope to study giant radio galaxies in the Cosmological Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field. MeerKAT is located in South Africa’s Northern Cape province and originally had 20 receptors, but with increased funding, it now has 64. It is part of South Africa’s contribution to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, which aims to build the largest radio telescope. MeerKAT is a powerful radio interferometer, consisting of 64 dishes, each 13.5 meters wide, studying the universe’s evolution using radio signals.

Notes:
November is celebrated as Adoption Awareness Month, led by Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The 2024 theme is “Rehabilitation of Older Children through Foster Care and Foster Adoption,” focusing on older and special-needs children. A key event is being held in Lucknow on 21st November 2024. Activities include offline events like interactive sessions, cultural programs, and Q&A with adoptive parents and stakeholders. Online initiatives with MyGov India involve storytelling, poster-making, slogans, and surveys. CARA uses social media to promote legal adoption and foster care, ensuring brighter futures for children in need.

Notes:
Harsha Vardhan Agarwal, Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Emami Group, became the President of FICCI for 2024-25, succeeding Anish Shah. FICCI’s new office bearers include Senior Vice President Anant Goenka (Vice Chairman of RPG Group) and Vice President Vijay Sankar (Chairman of Sanmar Group). FICCI is a major business lobby group in India, representing business interests and lobbying for favorable policies. Founded in 1927, FICCI claims to be the largest business organization in India.

Notes:
Tripura Forest Department detained an autorickshaw driver near Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary for alleged deer poaching involvement. Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, in South Tripura, spans 197.7 sq. km and was established in 1988. The sanctuary features Tropical Semi Evergreen, Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest, and Savanna woodland. It has perennial water rivulets, water bodies, and grasslands.

Notes:
Around 500 miners protested against the privatization of the Cayirhan coal mine and power plant near Ankara, Turkey. The Cayirhan mine is located in Ankara Province, Turkey and produces lignite, a low-grade coal. It supplies the nearby 620 MW Cayirhan coal-fired power station. The mine is vital for Turkey’s energy production and local employment. Proposed extensions have raised concerns over inefficiency, pollution, and environmental impact.