Daily Current Affairs Quiz: December 26, 2024

Answer: B

Observed on December 27 annually.

• Aim: To raise awareness, share information and scientific knowledge, and promote quality education to reduce epidemic fatalities.
• Adopted by: United Nations General Assembly in 2020.

Answer: D

Current: One of the world’s most active volcanoes Hawaii’s Kilauea is erupting again.

About Kilauea Volcano

• Location:Southern part of Hawaii’s Big Island, within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, U.S.A.
• Type:Kīlauea is the youngest and most active Hawaiian shield volcano, renowned for its frequent eruptions.

Volcanoes in India:

• Barren Island (Andaman Islands):India’s only active volcano, located in the Andaman Sea. It has erupted multiple times, with recent activity observed in 2017.
• Narcondam (Andaman Islands):A dormant volcanic island situated in the Andaman Sea.
• Baratang (Andaman Islands):Known for its mud volcanoes, which are tourist attractions.
• Deccan Traps (Maharashtra):A vast volcanic plateau formed by ancient eruptions approximately 66 million years ago, covering large parts of western and central India.
• Dhinodhar Hills (Gujarat):An extinct volcano located in the Kutch district, known for its geological significance.
• Dhosi Hill (Haryana):An ancient volcanic site with historical and mythological significance, situated on the border of Haryana and Rajasthan.

Answer: C

Current Current : Recently, the US President-elect Donald Trump has once again expressed interest in buying Greenland.

About Greenland

• Largest non-continental island; located between North America and Europe in the North Atlantic Part of North America.
• Borders: Arctic Ocean (north), Greenland Sea (east), North Atlantic Ocean (southeast), Davis Strait (southwest), Baffin Bay (west).
• Political Status: Autonomous territory of Denmark; capital is Nuuk.
• Highest Point: Gunnbjørn Fjeld (3,693 meters).

Answer: D

Current Current : Sagar Island in West Bengal where the iconic Gangasagar Mela takes place every January is getting impacted by climate change.

Sagar Island (Ganga Sagar/Sagardwip) :

• Location:Situated in the Ganges delta on the continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal, West Bengal, India.
• Composition:Comprises 43 villages; separated from Mahisani Island by the Muriganga River.
• Classification:Along with Mahisani and Ghoramara islands, categorized under the sand group.

Religious Significance:

• Pilgrimage Site:Hosts the annual Gangasagar Mela during Makar Sankranti, attracting Hindu devotees.
• Kapil Muni Temple:A prominent shrine dedicated to Sage Kapila, significant in Hindu tradition.

Answer: B

Current Current : Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated India’s first bio-bitumen-based National Highway stretch on NH-44 in Mansar, Nagpur.

This milestone, using lignin-based bio-bitumen technology developed by Praj Industries with CSIR-CRRI, NHAI, and Oriental, marks a significant advancement in roads.

About Bio-bitumen:

• Bitumen is a dense, highly viscous, petroleum-based hydrocarbon, found naturally or obtained as a residue from crude oil distillation.
• Uses:Primarily used in road construction, roofing, and waterproofing due to its adhesive and waterproofing properties.

Answer: B

Current Current : President Droupadi Murmu has appointed new governors for five Indian states, implementing significant changes in regional leadership.

New Appointments and Transfers:

• Manipur:Ajay Kumar Bhalla, former Union Home Secretary, has been appointed as the Governor of Manipur.
• Bihar:Arif Mohammed Khan, previously serving as the Governor of Kerala, has been transferred to Bihar.
• Kerala:Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, formerly the Governor of Bihar, has been reassigned to Kerala.
• Odisha:Hari Babu Kambhampati, who was the Governor of Mizoram, has been transferred to Odisha.
• Mizoram:General Dr. Vijay Kumar Singh, a retired Army Chief and former Union Minister, has been appointed as the Governor of Mizoram, succeeding Hari Babu Kambhampati.

Constitutional Provisions

• Appointment: Appointed by the President of Indiaunder Article 155; serves a 5-year term at the President’s pleasure.
• Qualifications: Must be an Indian citizen, at least 35 years old.
• Transfer & Removal: Transferred or removed by the President without fixed criteria (Doctrine of Pleasure).

Answer: C

Current Current : India has made significant strides in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024, improving its position by 11 places to rank 49th among 133 countries, up from 60th in 2023.

• Overall Score:Increased from 49.93 in 2023 to 63 in 2024.

Top 5 Countries:

1. United States (1^st), Singapore (2^nd ), Finland (3^rd ), Sweden (4^th), Republic of Korea (5^th)

Bottom 5 countries in the ranking are:

• Burundi(Rank 133), Chad (Rank 132), Yemen (Rank 131), Haiti (Rank 130), Angola (Rank 129)

About the Network Readiness Index:

• The Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024, published by the Portulans Institute and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, evaluates the digital readiness of 133 economies based on four pillars:

1. Technology
2. People
3. Governance
4. Impact

• These pillars encompass 54 variables, assessing how nations leverage information and communication technologies for economic and social development.

Answer: B

Current Current : Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

Justice Sandhawalia was the senior-most puisne Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

About

Justice Sandhawalia graduated with a BA (Hons) from DAV College, Chandigarh, in 1986, and obtained his law degree from the Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh.