Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is working to remove a new invasive plant species, Senna tora, in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). Senna tora, native to Central America, has recently appeared in the Sigur and Moyar areas of MTR’s buffer zone. Officials are concerned that this plant may spread, threatening MTR’s open grasslands, crucial for local wildlife like elephants, deer, and Indian gaur. The plant’s cyclical nature and preference for drier areas complicate management efforts, as it could significantly disrupt the fragile ecosystem already facing other invasive flora.

Notes:
Rajasthan launched the Sahakar Kisan Kalyan Yojana, an interest subvention scheme for long-term cooperative loans. The scheme aims to boost farm productivity and increase farmers’ income. Farmers can access loans through primary cooperative land development banks and Central cooperative banks in Rajasthan. The scheme rewards timely repayment with interest subsidies: 7% for agricultural loans and 5% for non-agricultural loans. Loans support projects like tube well deepening, drip irrigation, land leveling, greenhouses, solar installations, vermicomposting, silkworm rearing, and beekeeping.

Notes:
China’s president has launched the $1.3 billion Chancay megaport in Peru, transforming a small fishing town into a major global port. The port, majority-owned by China’s Cosco shipping company, is located in Peru’s coastal desert. Chancay, a remote area where many lack basic amenities like running water, is being developed into a deep-water port. This megaport aims to capitalize on China’s increasing interest in South America’s resources, linking the region more closely with Asian markets.

Notes:
BSNL launched India’s first direct-to-device satellite internet service, aiming to bridge the digital divide in remote areas. The service provides high-speed internet without the need for traditional infrastructure, using advanced satellite technology. The launch allows users to make emergency calls, send SOS messages, and make UPI payments when there’s no cellular or Wi-Fi network. The satellite service offers wide coverage, reliable connectivity, and is designed to function in all weather conditions.

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 G20 summit is being held in Rio de Janeiro at the Modern Art Museum, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, and China’s Xi Jinping, are discussing trade, climate change, and international security. PM Modi addressed the summit on “Social Inclusion and the Fight against Hunger and Poverty.” The G20, established in 1999, became a forum for Heads of State/Government in 2008. It includes 19 countries and the EU, with special invitees like the UN and the World Bank. G20’s decisions influence policies but are not legally binding.

Notes:
The Forest Department started evening coaching classes for school children in 10 tribal hamlets in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR). These classes have greatly improved the learning skills of tribal children. STR is located in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu, at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats. It is contiguous with Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Bandipur and BR Tiger Reserves in Karnataka. The Nilgiris biosphere landscape hosts the world’s largest tiger population, with over 280 tigers.

Notes:
World Fisheries Day is celebrated annually on November 21 to promote sustainable fisheries and recognize the role of small-scale fishers in food security and livelihoods. It originated in 1997 during the World Forum on Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers (WFF) in New Delhi, which led to the creation of the World Fisheries Forum. The FAO and WFF proposed the day, which was adopted by the FAO General Assembly in 2003. Fisheries provide over 20% of animal protein for 3 billion people globally but face threats like overfishing, climate change, and pollution. The day promotes responsible fisheries management and conservation.

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:
A study shows that Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite causing Chagas disease, can survive in dead kissing bugs, even in insecticide-treated dog kennels. Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is found in the feces of triatomine bugs, also known as “kissing bugs.” The disease is common in South America, Central America, and Mexico. If untreated, it can lead to serious heart and digestive issues. Early treatment focuses on killing the parasite, but chronic cases focus on symptom management.