This is the current affairs of 20 to 22 November 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. The President of which neighbouring country gave the honorary title of General of his army to Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi?
a. Pakistan
b. China
c. Bangladesh
d. Nepal
Answer: d. Nepal
– On November 21, 2024, Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel conferred the honorary title of “General of the Nepal Army” to Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.
– The honor ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace, Shital Niwas, in Kathmandu.
– Both countries confer honorary titles of General to each other’s Army Chiefs. This tradition reflects the strong ties between their armed forces.
– This tradition was initiated in 1950.
– For this, the Chiefs of the Indian and Nepalese Armies visit each other’s countries.
– India also honors the Chief of the Nepal Army with the honorary rank of “General of the Indian Army.”
– Previously, this honor was conferred upon General Manoj Pande in 2022.
General Upendra Dwivedi handed over military equipment to the Nepal Army
– General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Kathmandu on November 20, 2024, for a five-day official visit.
– During this time, he handed over various non-lethal military equipment to Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel.
India-Nepal Border
– Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 kilometers with five Indian states: Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Nepal
– Prime Minister: K.P. Sharma Oli
– President: Ram Chandra Poudel
– Capital: Kathmandu
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2. Who is the winning team of Women’s Asian Hockey Championship Trophy 2024?
a. China
b. Japan
c. Korea
d. India
Answer: d. India
– This event was held in Rajgir city of Nalanda district, Bihar, in November 2024.
– Team India defeated China 1-0 to win this title.
– Deepika scored the first goal for Team India, securing victory for India.
Secured the Trophy for the Second Consecutive Time
– Before 2024, the Indian team won the Asian Champions Trophy in Ranchi in 2023 and in Singapore in 2016.
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3. Name the world’s most powerful rocket, which has been tested several times by SpaceX company?
a. Saturn V
b. Starship
c. Starheavy
d. SLS block
Answer: b. Starship
– Elon Musk’s company SpaceX conducted the sixth test launch of the world’s most powerful rocket, Starship, on November 20 from Texas (USA).
– This was the sixth test of Starship.
– The term Starship collectively refers to the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy rocket.
– It can carry up to 150,000 kilograms of payload into space.
Capability to Reignite Engines in Space
– Before landing, Starship’s engines were reignited in space, after which it landed in the Indian Ocean.
– The ability to reignite engines in space is a unique capability of Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX.
Previous Test Caught by Mechazilla’s Arms
– The fifth test of Starship was conducted on October 13.
– In that test, the Super Heavy booster, sent 96 kilometers above Earth, was brought back to the launchpad and caught by Mechazilla.
– Mechazilla consists of two metal arms resembling chopsticks.
– Starship is equipped with six Raptor engines, while Super Heavy has 33 Raptor engines.
Starship’s Capabilities
– Starship can transport crew and cargo to Earth’s orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
– It is also capable of point-to-point transport on Earth, enabling travel anywhere in the world within an hour or less.
– For instance, a journey from New York to Delhi could take just one hour.
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4. ISRO’s GSAT-N2 communication satellite was launched in November 2024 by which American company’s rocket Falcon 9?
a. NSIL
b. SpaceX
c. Blue Origin
d. Rocket Lab
Answer: b. SpaceX
– On the midnight of November 18, Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched India’s GSAT-N2 communication satellite aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
– The satellite weighs 4,700 kilograms and is designed for a 14-year mission. It was placed in a geostationary transfer orbit.
Why Did ISRO Seek SpaceX’s Help?
– The GSAT-N2 satellite weighs 4,700 kilograms.
– Indian rockets currently lack the capacity to launch satellites weighing over 4 tons.
– Hence, ISRO collaborated with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for this mission.
– Previously, ISRO relied on the France-led Arianespace consortium to launch heavy satellites.
– GSAT-N2 is the first ISRO spacecraft to be launched on an American rocket since INSAT-1D in the 1990s.
– The satellite, originally named GSAT-20, has now been renamed GSAT-N2.
About GSAT-N2
– GSAT-N2 is a telecommunications satellite.
– It is a Ka-band high-throughput communication satellite developed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
– It is specifically designed to enhance communication systems in remote areas.
– The satellite will provide broadband internet services in remote regions at a speed of 48 Gbps.
– It will serve areas like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, and Lakshadweep, among others.
– GSAT-N2 will also enable in-flight mobile internet services on airplanes.
About NSIL
– NSIL (NewSpace India Limited) is the commercial arm of ISRO.
– It handles commercial agreements, while ISRO fulfills the technical requirements.
About SpaceX
– SpaceX was founded in 2002 by American engineer Elon Musk.
– It is a space transportation services company.
– SpaceX became the first private company to launch liquid-propellant rockets into space.
ISRO Chairman: S. Somanath
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5. Name the 56th Tiger Reserve of the country, which was established in Chhattisgarh?
a. Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve
b. Indravati Tiger Reserve
c. Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve
d. Achanakmar Tiger Reserve
Answer: c. Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve
– On November 18, the central government declared Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla in Chhattisgarh as India’s 56th Tiger Reserve.
– This tiger reserve spans an area of 2,829 square kilometers.
– It is named after Satnami reformer Guru Ghasidas.
– The reserve is located in Korea district of Chhattisgarh.
Benefits of Establishing the Tiger Reserve
– According to The Hindu newspaper, the establishment of this tiger reserve will promote eco-tourism in the state.
– It will create various employment opportunities for locals in the core and buffer zones, such as guides, tourist vehicle operators, and resort managers.
– Additionally, it will facilitate the initiation of new development projects in nearby villages.
Chhattisgarh now has four tiger reserves
1- Indravati in Bijapur,
2- Udanti-Sitanadi in Gariaband
3- Achanakmar in Mungeli
4- Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve
56 Tiger Reserves of the country
1. Bandipur (Karnataka)
2. Corbett (Uttarakhand) [Amangarh Buffer – Uttar Pradesh]
3. Kanha (Madhya Pradesh)
4. Manas (Assam)
5. Melghat (Maharashtra)
6. Palamu (Jharkhand)
7. Ranthambore (Rajasthan)
8. Simlipal (Odisha)
9. Sundarban (West Bengal)
10. Periyar (Kerala)
11. Sariska (Rajasthan)
12. Buxa (West Bengal)
13. Indravati (Chhattisgarh)
14. Namdapha (Arunachal Pradesh)
15. Nagarjunasagar Sagar (Andhra Pradesh)
16. Dudhwa (Uttar Pradesh)
17. Kalakad Mundanthurai (Tamil Nadu)
18. Valmiki (Bihar)
19. Pench (Madhya Pradesh)
20. Tadobha Andhari (Maharashtra)
21. Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh)
22. Panna (Madhya Pradesh)
23. Dampa (Mizoram)
24. Bhadra (Karnataka)
25. Pench – MH (Maharashtra)
26. Pakke (Arunachal Pradesh)
27. Nameri (Assam)
28. Satpura (Madhya Pradesh)
29. Anamalai (Tamil Nadu)
30. Udanti Sitanadi (Chhattisgarh)
31. Satkosia (Odisha)
32. Kaziranga (Assam)
33. Achanakmar (Chhattisgarh)
34. Kali (Karnataka)
35. Sanjay Dhubri (Madhya Pradesh)
36. Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu)
37. Nagarhole (Karnataka)
38. Parambikulam (Kerala)
39. Sahyadri (Maharashtra)
40. Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (Karnataka)
41. Kawal (Telangana)
42. Satyamangalam (Tamil Nadu)
43. Mukundra (Rajasthan)
44. Navegaon Nagzira (Maharashtra)
45. Amrabad (Telangana)
46. Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh)
47. Bor (Maharashtra)
48. Rajaji (Uttarakhand)
49. Orang (Assam)
50. Kamalang (Arunachal Pradesh)
51. Srivilliputhur Megamalai (Tamil Nadu)
52. Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan)
53. Ranipur Tiger Reserve (Uttar Pradesh)
54. Veerangana Durgawati Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh)
55. Karauli Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan)
56. Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh)
National Tiger Conservation Authority
– NTCA was established in December 2005.
– Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Chairman: Bhupendra Yadav
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6. In which state, due to increasing violence, the Central Government again implemented the Armed Forces Special Protection Act (AFSPA) in 6 police stations of 5 districts in November 2024?
a. Maharashtra
b. Manipur
c. Assam
d. Sikkim
Answer: b. Manipur
– The Armed Forces Special Protection Act (AFSPA) will be in force again in 6 police stations of 5 districts of Manipur till March 31, 2025.
– The Home Ministry issued its order on Thursday, November 14.
About AFSPA
– The British government had issued the Armed Forces Special Powers Ordinance on August 15, 1942, to suppress the Quit India Movement.
– It became the cornerstone for four ordinances, one of which was for the ‘Assam Disturbed Areas’, which was enacted in 1947 to deal with partition-induced internal security challenges.
– The Assam Disturbed Areas Act of 1955.
– The Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act of 1958 followed the Disturbed Areas Act of 1955 to deal with the insurgency in the Naga Hills and adjoining areas.
– AFSPA was brought in place of this Act for other uses.
– A similar Act was brought in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990.
Powers of AFSPA
– Section 3 of AFSPA empowers the Governor of a State and the Administrator of a Union Territory to declare an area as ‘disturbed’.
– Apart from this, it empowers the Center to deploy Armed Forces to assist the civil power.
– This Act empowers the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces deployed in ‘Disturbed Areas’ to kill any person acting in violation of the law, arrest any premises without warrant.
– Apart from this, it provides the right to search and prosecution and protection from legal suits.
– A commissioned officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or any other person of equivalent rank in the Armed Forces can use force as he deems fit after giving proper warning for the maintenance of public order.
– The situation is reviewed from time to time for the extension of AFSPA.
– Once declared ‘disturbed’, an area has to maintain the status quo for at least three months as per The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976.
Disturbed Area
– The government considers an area to be ‘disturbed’ if there is a threat to public peace in that area due to differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.
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7. Which was the last match that Rafael Nadal played, after which he retired?
a. US Open
b. Davis Cup
c. Wimbledon
d. ATP Files
Answer: b. Davis Cup
– On November 19, he played his last career match in the Davis Cup on his home ground in Malaga, though he lost it.
– He was defeated 6-4, 6-4 by the Netherlands’ 80th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp.
– With this, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal retired from tennis, although he had already announced his retirement earlier.
– The 38-year-old Spanish star Rafael Nadal is the second player to win the most Grand Slam titles in men’s singles.
– Nadal has won 22 titles.
– In terms of winning the most Grand Slams, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic leads with 24 Grand Slam titles.
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8. When is National Naturopathy Day celebrated?
a. 18 November
b. 19 November
c. 20 November
d. 21 November
Answer: a. 18 November
– The purpose of this day is to promote a medicine-free system by making changes in diet and lifestyle to prevent diseases.
– In India, Natural Therapy Day is celebrated every year on November 18 since 2018.
– On this day, Mahatma Gandhi became a lifelong member of the Nature Cure Foundation Trust and signed the deed.
– Gandhi Ji is considered the founder of natural therapy in India, as it was through his efforts that this healing system became popular in the country.
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9. When is World Toilet Day celebrated?
a. 18 November
b. 19 November
c. 20 November
d. 21 November
Answer: b. 19 November
Theme for the Year 2024
– Toilets – A Place for Peace
– The United Nations observes World Toilet Day annually on November 19.
– The aim of this day is to raise awareness about wastewater treatment, rainwater management, and handwashing.
History of the Day
– In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring November 19 as World Toilet Day.
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10. When is World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims observed?
a. First Sunday of November
b. Second Sunday of November
c. Third Sunday of November
d. Fourth Sunday of November
Answer: c. Third Sunday of November (November 17 in 2024)
Theme for the Year 2024
– Remember. Support. Act
– The purpose of this day is to remember the people killed and injured on the roads, along with their families, friends, and others affected by these incidents.
– The United Nations General Assembly recognized this day in 2005.
United Nations Statistics (Road Accidents)
– 1.35 million people die annually in road accidents worldwide, meaning one death occurs every 24 seconds.
– Road traffic injuries are the 8th leading cause of death worldwide.
– Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children aged 5-14 years and for young people aged 15-29 years.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Report (Road Accidents in India 2022)
Year, Accidents in India, Injured Persons, Dead
– 2022 : 4.61 lakh : 4.43 lakh, 1.68 lakh
– 2021 : 4.12 lakh : 3.84 lakh, 1.53 lakh
– 2020 : 3.72 lakh : 3.46 lakh, —
– 2019 : 4.56 lakh : 4.49 lakh, —
– In 2022, there were 67,000 hit-and-run cases, resulting in the death of over 30,000 people.
– In 2022, there were 98,000 cases of hit from behind, causing the death of 32,907 people.
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