Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
High temperatures and reduced salinity in Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan, may have triggered avian botulism, causing mass deaths of migratory birds. Avian botulism results from a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, leading to paralysis and death in birds. These bacterial spores are common in wetland sediments and affect various wildlife, especially under high temperatures and low oxygen levels. Wild birds are primarily affected by botulism toxin types C and E. Sambhar Lake, India’s largest saltwater lake, spans over 200 sq. km in Nagaur and Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Notes:
National Epilepsy Day is celebrated in India on November 17 to raise awareness about epilepsy, its challenges, and the need for early diagnosis. Epilepsy, or seizure disorder, is a chronic brain condition where nerve cells misfire, causing recurrent seizures. Seizures happen when neurons fire rapidly at once, causing unusual movements, sensations, emotions, or behavior changes. This abnormal brain activity can lead to loss of awareness. Recovery time after a seizure varies from instant to hours. Epilepsy can result from genetics, brain abnormalities, infections, traumatic brain injury, stroke, or tumors, but for half of those affected, the cause remains unknown.

Notes:
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:
New Zealand has been recognized as the ‘most sustainable trade economy’ for the third consecutive edition of the Sustainable Trade Index 2024. This index evaluates global economies based on their economic growth, societal advancement, and environmental resilience. The report emphasizes the importance of building resilience in trade systems, especially in the context of post-pandemic recovery and ongoing global challenges such as climate change and geopolitical tensions.

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.

Notes:
India’s GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) communication satellite was launched by SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket. It was developed by New Space India Limited (NSIL), under ISRO’s Department of Space. GSAT-N2 operates in the Ka-band and supports high-throughput communication with a capacity of 48 Gbps. It offers data and internet services to remote areas and in-flight connectivity across India. The satellite features 32 user beams: 8 for the Northeast and 24 for the rest of India. It weighs 4,700 kg, has a mission life of 14 years, and supports India’s Smart Cities Mission.

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:
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:
Researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) developed a new technology for detecting HIV-genome derived G-Quadruplex (GQ). Current HIV tests often suffer from false positives and missed early infections. The new technology, GQ Topology-Targeted Reliable Conformational Polymorphism (GQ-RCP), improves reliability by targeting specific GQ structures. It was initially designed for detecting SARS-CoV-2 but has now been adapted for HIV. The fluorometric test offers higher reliability, reducing false positives and improving diagnosis.

Notes:
A new frog species named Raorchestes asakgrensis was discovered in Meghalaya. It is named after the Eman Asakgre Community Reserve in Garo Hills to honor local conservation efforts. The frog is arboreal, found at 174 meters elevation, with a pointed snout and visible tympanum. Males measure 20.49 mm in snout-vent length, and females are slightly larger at 22.8 mm. Males call from shrubs at dusk, perched 1.5 meters or higher, with peak calling activity after the first monsoon rains.