Daily Current Affairs Quiz: December 19, 2024

Answer: b

Observed on 20 December annually.

• Purpose:To celebrate unity in diversity and promote solidarity for poverty eradication and sustainable development.
• Establishment: Formally established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 22, 2005

Answer: d

Current Context : Israel plans to double its settler population, citing security concerns from Syrian instability on the occupied Golan Heights

About Golan Heights:

• Location:Southwestern Syria, overlooking the Jordan River valley and Sea of Galilee.
• Boundaries:Jordan River (west), Mount Hermon (north), Wadi Al-Ruqqād (east), Yarmūk River (south).

History:

• Captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.
• Syria’s 1973 attempt to reclaim it failed; armistice signed in 1974.
• Israel annexed it in 1981 (unrecognized internationally).

Population: 30+ Israeli settlements (~20,000 residents), deemed illegal under international law.

Strategic Importance:

• Controls routes to Damascus (~60 km) and borders Jordan and Lebanon.
• Key water resource: Sea of Galilee.

Answer: a

Current Context : Recently, experts suggest that Santa Ana winds contributed to wildfires in Malibu, California, highlighting their role in intensifying fire hazards.

About Santa Ana Wind:

• Santa Ana winds are Strong, dry winds originating inland and affecting coastal Southern California and northern Baja California.
• It is named after Southern California’s Santa Ana Canyon.

Cause: High pressure over the Great Basin and low pressure over California’s coast drive winds westward.

Characteristics:

• Heat up as they descend from mountains.
• Low humidity (often below 10%), creating extremely dry conditions.

Seasonality: Occur primarily from October to January.

Impact on Wildfires: Dry vegetation and strong gusts increase wildfire risks and spread.

Answer: c

Current Context : INS Nirdeshak is set to be commissioned  at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.

About INS Nirdeshak:

• It is the second ship in the Indian Navy’s Survey Vessel (Large) project.
• Named after the previous INS Nirdeshak, which served for 32 years until decommissioned on December 19, 2014.

Meaning of ‘Nirdeshak’: ‘Pathfinder,’ indicating its role in precise sea charting.

Specifications:

• Displacement:Approximately 3,400–3,800 tons.
• Length:110 meters.
• Speed:Exceeds 18 knots.
• Endurance:Capable of over 25 days at sea.
• Propulsion:Two marine diesel engines with fixed-pitch propellers.

Builder: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

Indigenous Content: Over 80%, aligning with ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative.

Answer: d

Recently, scientists have discovered a chemical pathway that worsens air quality in extremely cold winters, involving the formation of hydroxymethanesulphonate in aerosol particles.

About HydroxyMethaneSulphonate (HMS)

HMS is a compound formed when formaldehyde reacts with sulfur dioxide in the presence of liquid water.

Formation in Cold Conditions:

• Occurs in aerosol particles during extremely cold winters, such as in Fairbanks, Alaska.
• Supercooled aerosol particles (liquid water droplets below freezing point) facilitate HMS formation.

Impact on Air Quality:

• HMS contributes significantly to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), worsening air pollution during cold weather.

About Aerosols: Tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, such as dust, smoke, fog, or chemical particles like sulfates and ammonium.

PM2.5: Fine particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (µm), capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract, causing health issues.

Answer: b

Current Context : The Ram Temple project in Ayodhya has been honored with the ‘Sword of Honour’ by the British Safety Council, acknowledging its exceptional safety standards during construction.

About the ‘Sword of Honour’:

• Prestigious Safety Award:One of the highest accolades in health and safety management, awarded to organizations demonstrating excellence in this field.
• Eligibility Criteria:Organizations must achieve a five-star rating in the British Safety Council’s audit, followed by a comprehensive on-site assessment.
• Significance:One of the highest global awards in the field of safety, showcasing the organization’s commitment to safety standards and risk management.

Answer: a

Current Context : Mount Semeru, located in East Java, Indonesia, erupted on 15th December, releasing a thick column of white-to-grey ash up to 1,000 meters into the sky.

About Mount Semeru

• Location : Mount Semeru is located in East Java, Indonesia.
• It is the highest volcano on the island of Java, standing at 3,676 meters (12,060 feet).
• Activity:One of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes.
• Geological Setting:Located in a subduction zone where the Indo-Australian plate subducts under the Eurasian plate.
• Significance:Part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for high volcanic and seismic activity.
• Cultural Reference:Named after Sumeru, the central world mountain in Hinduism.