Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Typhoon Man-yi was among six major storms to hit northern Philippines in a month. It had powerful winds reaching 195 km/h (125 mph) and struck Catanduanes province. The typhoon left at least three villagers missing, destroyed houses, and caused widespread power outages. Entire towns lost power, and many villagers were displaced. Man-yi worsened the crisis already caused by five earlier storms.

Notes:
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:
India is ranked 23rd on the Sustainable Trade Index 2024. The index was created in 2022 by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Center and the Hinrich Foundation. It assesses 30 economies on readiness for global trade, focusing on economic, environmental, and societal pillars. Sustainable trade ensures mutual benefits for partners while balancing economic growth, social development, and environmental protection. New Zealand, the UK, and Australia are the top-performing nations on the index.

Notes:
The Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024) was inaugurated by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). The 12-day exercise aims to strengthen India’s cybersecurity resilience. It focuses on leadership engagement and capacity building for tackling cyber challenges. Key activities include immersive training on cyber defense, live-fire simulations of attacks on IT and OT systems, and collaboration among government and industry stakeholders. A Strategic Decision-Making Exercise will simulate national-level cyber crises to improve strategic decision-making under high-pressure scenarios.

Notes:
Gabon held a referendum to approve a new constitution with major reforms. The constitution introduces a 2-term presidential limit, each term lasting 7 years. It abolishes the position of prime minister and bans family succession to the presidency. Ousted leader Ali Bongo is disqualified from running due to nationality and spouse-related rules. The reforms received overwhelming support, with 91.8% of voters in favor.

Notes:
SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) is facing bribery allegations. It is a major public sector undertaking in India’s renewable energy sector, under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Established in 2011, SECI was originally a not-for-profit company and became a commercial entity in 2015. SECI is the only Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) dedicated to renewable energy. It plays a key role in implementing India’s National Solar Mission and renewable energy projects like solar, wind, and hybrid. SECI holds the status of Mini-Ratna Category-I CPSU.

Notes:
Kurram district in Pakistan is experiencing sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Kurram borders Afghanistan’s Logar and Nangarhar provinces. Its strategic position includes important border crossings along the Durand Line, such as the Peiwar Kotal Pass, a key route to Kabul. The Durand Line is the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, established by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand to protect British Empire interests from Tsarist Russia.

Notes:
India’s is set to launch Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) the world’s first parallel satellite to study the Sun’s corona under Proba-3 mission. Proba-3 is an European Space Agency (ESA) mission to observe the Sun’s outer atmosphere using two satellites in parallel formation, creating an artificial eclipse in space. The mission could lead to future multi-satellite missions and enhance space weather understanding. It highlights international collaboration, with contributions from ESA member states and ISRO. Data from the mission will aid solar research and improve space weather forecasting, benefiting satellite operations.

Notes:
The TeacherApp, launched by Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, aims to revolutionize education in India by equipping teachers with essential skills for modern classrooms. Developed by Bharti Airtel Foundation, it offers over 260 hours of resources including courses, videos, and interactive sessions. The platform aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, emphasizing the importance of continuous teacher development to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. By fostering a community of educators, the app supports innovative teaching practices and aims to transform schools into effective learning environments.

Notes:
Paleontologists recently discovered a new species of pterosaur, Nipponopterus mifunensis, from Japan’s Late Cretaceous period. Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that thrived throughout the Mesozoic Era. They were the first vertebrates to fly, using strong forelegs to launch into the air. Pterosaurs are not dinosaurs but are archosaurs, sharing a group with birds and crocodiles. The largest flying vertebrate, Quetzalcoatlus, was a pterosaur. They went extinct about 65.5 million years ago during the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. Birds, descendants of dinosaurs, replaced pterosaurs as dominant flyers.