Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Mass vaccination of stray dogs has begun around Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Madhya Pradesh to prevent the spread of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in wild animals. Panna Tiger Reserve is located in the Vindhyan mountain range, Madhya Pradesh. It is the only Tiger Reserve in Bundelkhand, declared in 1994 as a Project Tiger Reserve. The reserve has a ‘Table Top’ topography with plateaus and gorges, and the Ken River flows through it.

Notes:
The Red-Headed Vulture, also called the Asian King vulture or Pondicherry Vulture, was sighted for the first time at Manhampothikunnu near Mavungal in Kasaragod, Kerala. It is a dark, medium-sized vulture with a reddish head and loose neck flaps. It is found in Central India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
The first-ever Indian Bison (Gaur) census was conducted in Odisha’s Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Bargarh district near the Hirakud dam. This sanctuary, declared in 1985, is noted for its historical link to freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. The sanctuary has dry deciduous forests with flora like Sal and Bija trees and fauna including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and gaurs. Indian Bisons are one of the largest wild cattle, mainly found in India, Burma, and Thailand.

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Nepal started exporting electricity to Bangladesh for the first time on November 15, 2024, using India’s electricity grid. The inauguration involved Union Minister Manohar Lal (India), Nepal’s Minister Dipak Khadka, and Bangladesh’s Energy Adviser Fouzal Kabir Khan. This initiative is expected to enhance sub-regional connectivity in the power sector. Nepal, a Himalayan country with significant untapped hydropower potential, has long sought cross-border electricity cooperation. The power export marks a key step in regional energy collaboration.

Notes:
The Global Freight Summit 2024 started in Dubai on November 18, hosted by DP World. More than 5,000 leaders from 155 countries are attending the three-day event. The theme is “Acting today to reach the opportunities of tomorrow.” Discussions focus on AI, blockchain, sustainable shipping, and resilient trade routes. Indian firms like Wipro, Tech Mahindra, and SRM Tech are participating.

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The 4th National Finswimming Championship 2024 took place in New Delhi with 1500 participants from 26 states and UTs. West Bengal won the team championship with 151 medals (67 gold, 43 silver, 41 bronze). Karnataka was the runner-up with 50 medals (17 gold, 18 silver, 15 bronze). Uttarakhand and Haryana both secured 21 medals, but Uttarakhand placed third due to more gold medals (8 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze). The event, organized by Underwater Sports Federation of India (USFI) and the Physical Education Foundation of India, highlighted India’s growing finswimming talent.

Notes:
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:
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the VISION (“Viksit Bharat Initiative for Student Innovation and Outreach Network”) Portal in New Delhi on November 21, 2024. The portal aims to empower underprivileged youth through education, skill development, and sustainable livelihoods. India has the third-largest startup ecosystem, growing from 350 startups in 2014 to 1.67 lakh in 2024. The Startup India programme, launched in 2016, nurtures innovation and supports startups, particularly for disadvantaged groups like SCs, STs, and women. The VISION Portal was developed by the Utsav Foundation, a Gurugram-based non-profit focusing on youth empowerment and skill development.

Notes:
India’s first Constitution Museum was inaugurated on November 23, 2024, at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat, Haryana. The museum was launched by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the National Convention on the Constitution of India. It celebrates the 75-year journey of the Indian Constitution and pays tribute to its architects. The museum features sections dedicated to the Constitution’s parts, their significance, and the historical debates behind its creation. The initiative aims to enhance public understanding of the Constitution and serve as a key educational destination.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 100 TPD cattle dung-based Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plant in Gwalior. The plant is located in Adarsh Gaushala, Laltipara, Gwalior, operated by the Gwalior Municipal Corporation. Adarsh Gaushala is home to over 10,000 cattle and is India’s first modern, self-sufficient gaushala. The plant converts cattle dung and organic waste, like vegetable and fruit scraps, into biogas. It is the first CBG plant in Madhya Pradesh, promoting the “Waste to Wealth” initiative and sustainability.