Daily Current Affairs Quiz: December 11, 2023

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: B

• The Gujarat government said that the central government has approved setting up a cheetah breeding and conservation centre in Banni Grassland
• The government said a proposal had been sent to the centre which has been accepted.
• Banni Grassland used to be the habitat of cheetahs, which became extinct over time.

About Banni Grassland

• Banni Grassland, considered one of the finest, spans 2,618 sq km and is located along the northern border of Kutch.
• It is also home to 40,000 Maldharis, a pastoral community known for rearing high-yielding buffaloes and cows.
• Banni comprises grassland and wetlands with rich flora and fauna.
• The Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary which spans over an area of 380 Sq. km and the recently notified 227 Sq. km Chhari Dhand Conservation Reserve are part of the Banni Grasslands.
• Research estimates indicate approximately 200 species of plants, 250 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.
  • Flora – Prosopis Juliflora, Cressa critica, Cyperus spp, Sporobolus, Dichanthium, and Aristida.
  • Fauna- Nilgai, Chinkara, Blackbuck, Wild boar, Golden Jackal, Indian Hare, Indian Wolf, Caracal, Asiatic Wildcat and Desert Fox, Banni buffalo and the Kankrej cow etc.
• The grassland is facing encroachment due to increased agricultural activities.

ANSWER: D

• The sixth meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave was held at Mauritius recently.
• It agreed on a roadmap to ensure the security and stability of the Indian Ocean region in the face of non-traditional and emerging hybrid challenges.
• Ocean Information Services portal was also launched at the conclave.

ABOUT COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE

• The conclave is a gathering of the region’s leaders focused on maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean.
• The Colombo Security Conclave was formed in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
• The roadmap of activities was later expanded, with Mauritius joining as the fourth member and Bangladesh and Seychelles participating as observer countries.
• Secretariat- Colombo, Sri Lanka
• The five pillars of cooperation within the CSC encompass
  • maritime safety and security,
  • counterterrorism and counter-radicalisation initiatives,
  • the combat against trafficking and transnational organised crime,
  • cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure, and
  • humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

ANSWER: B

• UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change unveiled the “Green Rising” initiative at COP28 in Dubai.
• The global “Green Rising” initiative and the “Green Rising India Alliance” marks a collaborative effort involving UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, and a diverse network of public, private, and youth partners.
• The main goal is to mobilize millions of young people worldwide, encouraging their active participation in green initiatives addressing and adapting to the severe impacts of climate change on their communities.
• The “Green Rising” initiative focuses on engaging youth for impactful environmental actions at the grassroots level, aligning with the global effort to address the severe impacts of climate change.
• Through the YuWaah campaign in India, the focus is on engaging youth to drive impactful environmental actions at the grassroots level, inspired by the Mission Life movement.

ABOUT GENERATION UNLIMITED

• Launched in
• It is a global Public-Private-Youth Partnership aimed at co-creating and delivering innovative solutions on global scale.

ANSWER: D

• In an effort to foster gender inclusivity and strengthen the skills of women military personnel in peacekeeping operations, the Indian Army conducted a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.
• The exercise was designed specifically for women officers from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• It was organized by the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK), a premier institution of the Indian Army dedicated to providing training in peacekeeping operations
• The TTX aligns with CUNPK’s ongoing commitment to strengthening international cooperation and capacity-building in peacekeeping missions, with a special emphasis on empowering women in the field.
• The tabletop exercise serves as a follow-up to the joint military training between India and ASEAN member states, highlighting India’s dedication to global peace, stability, and gender equality.

ANSWER: D

• Representative from the Delhi government presented the “Kejriwal model of governance” at the COP28 in Dubai while representing the Capital at a discussion held by the C40.
• Delhi’s “breakthroughs” in fighting climate change were mentioned, including-
  • ‘City of Lakes’ project, which aims to rejuvenate water bodies in the city, and
  • Delhi’s “3i model” for Electric Vehicles, which focuses on “inclusion, incentivization, and innovation”.

ABOUT C40

• C40 is a global network of nearly a hundred mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis.

ANSWER: C

• Training launch of ‘Agni-1’ missile was carried out successfully from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
• Agni-1 is a proven very high precision missile system.
• The user training launch, carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, successfully validated all operational and technical parameters.

ABOUT AGNI 1

• It is a short-range ballistic missile having range 700–900 km.
• It is a single-stage, solid-fuel missile.
• It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with an estimated payload of 1,000 kg.
• It is road-mobile, which gives it a high degree of mobility and makes it difficult for an enemy to target.
• It was first test-fired in 2002 and first deployed in 2007 by Indian Army’s Strategic Forces Command.
• It originated from India’s 1983 Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).
• Agni-1 to 5 missiles are designed & developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).