Daily Current Affairs Quiz: December 18, 2024

Answer: (c)

Celebrated annually on 19th December.

• Significance: Marks Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961after an extended freedom movement and military operation.
• Historical Event: Indian Armed Forces conducted Operation Vijay, which ended 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule.

Answer: (a)

Current Context : Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former professional footballer, was elected President of Georgia on  by a 300-member electoral college.

• He secured 224 out of 225 votes, with the opposition boycotting the election, alleging illegitimacy.

About Georgia

• Location: Georgia is a country in the South Caucasus region, situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
• It is bordered by Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the southeast, Armenia and Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the west.
• Capital: Tbilisi.
• Area: Approximately 69,700 square kilometers.
• Population: Around 3.7 million people.
• Language: Georgian is the official language.

Answer: (b)

Current Context : Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, has launched the ‘CHARAK’ initiative—Community Health: A Responsive Action for Koylanchal—to provide free treatment for life-threatening diseases to economically weaker sections in the Singrauli region.

• Objective:To ensure access to quality healthcare while easing the financial and emotional burden on affected families.

Features of the CHARAK Initiative:

• Target Beneficiaries:Residents of Singrauli and Sonbhadra districts with an annual family income below ₹8 lakhs.
• Covered Diseases:Malignancy (cancer), tuberculosis (TB) and related complications, HIV/AIDS and related complications, organ transplants, neurological disorders, and connective tissue disorders.
• Treatment Facilities:Free treatment is provided at NCL’s dedicated hospital (Neheru Shatabdi Chikitsalaya) or at specialized empaneled hospitals across the country.

About Singrauli Coalfield:

• Location:Situated in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, with a portion extending into Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.
• Area:Covers approximately 2,200 square kilometers.
• Significance:Known as the energy capital of India, it houses extensive coal reserves and several thermal power plants.

Answer: (b)

Current Context : Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 tropical cyclone with wind speeds exceeding 220 km/h (136 mph), has caused significant devastation in the Indian Ocean region, particularly affecting the French overseas territory of Mayotte and parts of Mozambique.

General Information about Cyclones:

Formation: Cyclones are caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-pressure area, characterized by rapid and often destructive air circulation.

Classification: Cyclones are categorized based on wind speeds:

• Category 1: 120-150 km/h
• Category 2: 150-180 km/h
• Category 3: 180-210 km/h
• Category 4: 210-250 km/h
• Category 5: Above 250 km/h

Cyclone Chido’s classification as a Category 4 storm underscores its severity and the extensive damage it has inflicted on the affected regions.

About Mayotte:

• Location:French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and Mozambique.
• Geography:Composed of two main islands, Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre.
• History:Colonized by France in 1843, voted to remain French in 1974.

Mozambique:

• Location:Southeastern Africa, bordered by the Indian Ocean, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini.
• Capital:
• Geography:Long Indian Ocean coastline (~2,700 km).
• Economy:Rich in natural resources, including arable land, water, and natural gas.

Answer: (c)

Current Context : Jharkhand’s Birhor tribe have actively participated in a movement against child marriage in Giridih district, marking a significant cultural shift.

About Birhor Tribe

The Birhor tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Jharkhand, has traditionally been a semi-nomadic, forest-dependent community.

• Location:Primarily found in Jharkhand, with populations also in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
• Language:Speak Birhor, a language belonging to the Munda group of the Austroasiatic language family, sharing similarities with Santali, Mundari, and Ho languages.
• Lifestyle:Historically semi-nomadic, engaging in hunting and gathering, particularly of monkeys. Some have transitioned to settled agriculture.
• Physical Characteristics:Typically of short stature, with long heads, wavy hair, and broad noses.
• Economic Activities:Traditionally rope-making from specific vines, sold in local markets.
• Social Structure:Divided into Uthlus (wandering) and Janghis (settled) groups.

Answer: (a)

Current Context :Bilateral naval exercise SLINEX held between India and Sri Lanka.

Location: Visakhapatnam, under Eastern Naval Command.

Participating Units:

• India: INS Sumitra (Offshore Patrol Vessel) and Special Forces team.
• Sri Lanka: SLNS Sayura (Offshore Patrol Vessel) and Special Forces team.

Answer: (c)

Current Context : Moldova has recently become a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

1. Established: Launched in 2015 by India and France during COP21 (Paris Agreement).
2. Objective: Promote solar energy adoption, mobilize funding for solar projects, and enhance energy access, security, and transition globally.
3. Membership: 104 member countries.
4. Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India.
5. Key Initiatives:
   1. Green Grids Initiative – One Sun, One World, One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG): Aims to create a global interconnected solar energy grid.
   2. Solar Applications for Agriculture: Supports solar-powered irrigation and farming solutions.

Answer: (a) 

Current Context :The state government is exploring the possibility of the construction of an underwater transport tunnel in the Gobind Sagar Lake to connect Bilaspur city with the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway near Rishikesh.

About Gobind Sagar Lake

• Location: Situated in Bilaspur and Una districts, Himachal Pradesh.
• Origin: Created by the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River, a 225.5 m high gravity dam.
• Size: 90 km long, covering 170 sq. km.
• Purpose: Hydro-power generation, irrigation, flood control, fisheries, and water sports.
• Historical Impact: Submerged the old Bilaspur town, rich in cultural heritage.