Daily Current Affairs Quiz: November 15, 2024

Answer: C

Celebrated on November 16th each year.

• Purpose: Promotes awareness of the importance of tolerance, fostering mutual understanding among diverse cultures and people.
• Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996.

Answer: B

Celebrated annually on November 16th.

• Purpose: Recognizes and honors the Press Council of India (PCI), symbolizing a free, responsible, and ethical press.
• Significance: This day highlights the importance of press freedom and responsible journalism in fostering democracy and informed citizenry.

Press Council of India (PCI):

• An autonomous body established to uphold journalistic ethicsand maintain freedom of the press.
• Acts as a watchdog to ensure the press operates without external influence or pressure while maintaining high standards of professional conduct.

Answer: D

Current Context : 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project located on the Subansiri River at the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border. Set to begin producing 750 MW of power by March 2025.

About the Subansiri River :

• Type: Trans-Himalayan river and right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra.
• Nickname: Known as the “Gold River” for its gold dust.
• Origin and Course:
  • Starts in the Himalayas, China.
  • Flows east and southeast into India, through Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Joins the Brahmaputra in Assam’s Lakhimpur district.
• Length: About 518 km.
• Drainage Basin: Covers 32,640 sq. km.
• Significance: Largest tributary of the Brahmaputra, contributing 7.92% of its flow.

Answer: A

Current Context : India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is planning a 1 GeV proton accelerator to convert thorium into nuclear fuel by producing uranium-233 (U-233), which can be used in reactors for electricity.​

About Thorium

• Thorium is a naturally occurring, abundant element, more common than uranium.
• Symbol and Atomic Number: Represented by Th, atomic number 90.
• Nuclear Fuel: Converts to uranium-233 (U-233)for use in reactors, supporting a sustainable nuclear cycle.
• Extracted from monazite, which contains 10-12% thorium dioxide.

Answer: C

Current Context : The World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024 report is released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Data Related to India:

Patents:

1. India ranked 6th globallywith 64,500 patent filings, a 15.7% growth in 2023.
2. The patent-to-GDP ratiorose significantly from 144 (2013) to 381 (2023), indicating robust development.
3. Continuous annual growth for over a decade, driven by increased local filings.

Trademarks:

1. India’s IP office ranked 2nd globallyin trademark activities.
2. 4th globallyin trademark filings, contributing to a 6.1% increase in applications​

Industrial Designs:

1. Positioned 10th globally, with a 36% increase in design applications in 2023, reflecting a rise in creative output. 

Reasons for Growth:

• Government Initiatives: Simplified procedures like the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024, reduced fees, and policies such as the National IPR Policy, 2016.
• Improved Processing: Faster application clearances, with 103,000 patents grantedin FY 2023-24.
• Enhanced IP Infrastructure: Digital filing processes and IPR facilitation centers.

Global Context:

• Asia’s Dominance: 68.7% of global patent activity in 2023 came from Asian countries. China led with 64 million filings, followed by the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Germany

Answer: C

Current Context : UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) 2024 began in Azerbaijan.

• Host & Duration: Held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11–22, 2024.
• Purpose: A global forum for nations to negotiate and agree on measures to combat climate change.
• Focus areas include curbing global temperature rise to 1.5°C and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

About Azerbaijan

• Land Borders: Shares borders with Russia, Iran, Armenia, and Georgia.
• Water Bodies: Located by the Caspian Sea to the east.
• Major Rivers: Kura and Aras rivers are prominent.
• Highest Point: Bazardyuzyu Mountain in the Greater Caucasus range.
• Natural Resources: Rich in oil, natural gas, and minerals like lead, zinc, iron, and copper.

Answer: D

Current Context : British author Samantha Harvey has won the Booker Prize 2024 for fiction with her novel Orbital, a short and imaginative story set aboard the International Space Station.

About the Booker Prize:

• The Booker Prizeis the most prestigious global award for a single work of fiction.
• Founded: In 1969, originally focusing on Commonwealth writers. It has since become open to authors from around the world.
• Goal: To celebrate the best English-language novel of the year.
• The winning author receives a prize of £50,000, while shortlisted authorsreceive £2,500

The Booker Prize Foundation:

• A charityfounded in 2002, it manages the Booker Prize for Fiction and the Man Booker International Prize(established in 2005).

Answer: B

Current Context : Recently, Deputy Commissioner of Hamirpur called teachers and principals from both government and private schools across the district to approach the National Survey 2024, known as “PARAKH” (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), with full dedication.

About PARAKH :

A national survey aimed at assessing and improving student learning and educational standards.

Initiative by: National Assessment Centre under NCERT.

Goals:

• Set consistent educational norms and guidelines.
• Focus on student assessments.
• Strengthen teacher training and promote competency-based learning.
• Address gaps in current educational practices.

2023 Achievement:

• The State Educational Achievement Survey (SEAS) 2023, conducted under PARAKH, involved about 80 lakh students across 3 lakh schools in 5,917 blocks
• This assessment aimed to provide insights into educational achievements at the foundational, preparatory, and middle school stages, contributing data for improved educational policies.