Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Botanists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) identified a new flowering plant species, Dicliptera srisailamica, in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The plant, named after the temple town of Srisailam, belongs to the Acanthaceae family. It was found in rare patches along stream banks and rocky edges near waterfalls. The plant grows up to 90 cm with four-angled stems, ovate leaves, and pink bi-lipped flowers blooming from October to January. This discovery adds to India’s plant diversity, with Dicliptera representing 27 species, eight of which are endemic.

Notes:
Indian tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran, 35, announced his retirement on November 15, 2024. He won a singles bronze at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and peaked at world No. 75 in ATP rankings in 2019. Gunneswaran turned pro in 2010, achieving a singles record of 11–28 and a doubles record of 1-1. His highest doubles ranking was 248, reached in 2018. Competed in all four Grand Slams, with his best performance at the Australian Open in 2019 and 2020. His career highlight includes defeating world No. 18 Nikoloz Basilashvili at the Indian Wells Masters in 2019.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs approved the formation of the first all-woman CISF battalion, with over 1,000 personnel. This unit will be led by a senior commandant and includes 1,025 personnel from within CISF’s existing sanctioned strength. CISF currently has 12 reserve battalions, with women making up more than 7% of the force. This Mahila battalion aims to inspire more women to join CISF and boost female representation in the force. Established in 1969, CISF provides counter-terrorism security to nuclear, aerospace, and private sector facilities, including Infosys and Reliance refinery sites.

Notes:
India aims to develop the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a tuna export hub under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The Department of Fisheries has already notified the formation of a Tuna Cluster in the region. The global tuna market is valued at $41.94 billion; the Indian Ocean is the second-largest producer, supplying 21% of global tuna. Andaman and Nicobar primarily harvest neritic tuna, with smaller quantities of skipjack, big-eye, and yellowfin. Tuna is a large, agile fish, part of the Thunnini tribe, found in tropical and temperate oceans. Rich in protein, omega-3s, vitamins, and minerals, tuna promotes heart and brain health.

Notes:
The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, covering 2,829 sq km, was recently notified as India’s 56th tiger reserve. It is located in Chhattisgarh. It includes a core area of 2,049.2 sq km and is contiguous with other reserves, enhancing conservation efforts. This reserve is the third-largest in India and is home to diverse fauna, including numerous threatened species. The initiative underscores India’s commitment to wildlife conservation and sustainable cohabitation of humans and wildlife.

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World Toilet Day is observed annually on 19 November. The day aims to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis, affecting 3.5 billion people without safe sanitation. Founded by the World Toilet Organization in 2001, it became a UN observance in 2013. It aligns with SDG 6: Water and sanitation for all by 2030. The 2024 theme, “Toilets – A Place for Peace,” focuses on the importance of sanitation and sustainable solutions. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is hosting a two-day workshop on advancing safely managed sanitation in urban areas, with experts in sanitation and water management.

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.

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The 4th edition of Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) was inaugurated at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. CMOT is a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. It aims to identify, nurture, and promote young filmmakers, fostering collaboration, skill-building, and mentorship. Recognized as India’s largest fully supported platform for emerging media talent. The 2024 edition runs from November 20 to 28, with support from Netflix and Pearl Academy. CMOT envisions a thriving future for Indian cinema on the global stage.

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The Ustad Bismilliah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2022 and 2023 recently conferred to 82 young artists in a ceremony in New Delhi. It was instituted by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006, it honors artists under 40 in music, dance, drama, folk arts, and puppetry. The award includes Rs 25,000, a plaque, and an angavastram. The award aims to encourage young artists in India. Ustad Bismillah Khan was a renowned Shehnai musician who performed at India’s first Republic Day in 1950 and was the first Indian at the Lincoln Centre in the USA.

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Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Mansukh Mandaviya launched the World Bank report ‘Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People’, covering six STARS states: Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. The report analyzes skills gaps, aligns school trades with local industries, and offers a roadmap to improve education and job linkages. It highlights embedding skill-based education from Classes 9-12, aligned with NEP 2020, targeting 50% skill education access by 2025. The initiative supports India’s vision to become a global skills hub and achieve high-income status by 2047 through market-linked, inclusive skill development.