This is the current affairs of 26 to 28 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. India’s first marine power link project will be between which two places, for which a proposal of Rs 31000 crore was made?
a. Andaman – Paradip
b. Andaman – Chennai
c. Lakshadweep – Kolkata
d. Porbandar – Andaman
Answer: a. Andaman – Paradip
– The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has proposed the Rs 31,000 crore Andaman-Paradip Marine Power Link Project.
– The project will provide power connectivity to Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Paradip in Odisha.
– It will be the first of its kind project in India with under-sea 500 MW HVDC (±320 kV) interconnection and VSC technology.
– It is important for the energy security of the Indian region and potential ASEAN electric connection.
– It will also enhance India’s geopolitical influence.
Andaman – Paradip Sub-Sea Power Link Project
– Undersea cable: 1150 km long cable will be laid
– Electrical capacity: 500 MW HVDC (±320 kV); in the initial phase the cable will have a capacity of 250 MW.
– This electric line will not be an AC (Alternating current) line, but a DC (Direct Current) line.
What is its international objective?
– To ensure energy supply to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
– To build international energy trade relations with ASEAN countries, particularly Singapore, under the OSOWOG (One Sun, One World, One Grid) framework.
One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) Project
– Aims to maintain the production capacity of solar power plants continuously, especially after sunset.
It is planned to be implemented in three phases:
– Phase 1: Grid connection between Asia and West Asian countries.
– Phase 2: Connecting Africa, South Asia and East Asian countries.
– Phase 3: Establishing a global grid to connect all countries with renewable energy.
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2. Which country became the 104th permanent member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)?
a. liberia
b. gardener
c. niger
d. armenia
Answer: d. armenia
– India is the host country of the International Solar Alliance. Its headquarters is in Gurugram (Haryana).
Members of ISA
– 104th permanent member: Armenia
– 103rd permanent member: Syria
– 102nd permanent member: Antigua and Barbuda
– 101st permanent member: Nepal
– 100th permanent member: Paraguay
– 99th permanent member: Spain
What is the International Solar Alliance?
– The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based international intergovernmental organization. Its aim is to bring about change in the field of solar energy. The headquarters of ISA is in Gurugram, Haryana.
– ISA was formed on 30 November 2015 in Paris by India and France.
– Initially, countries located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn were eligible to become members of the International Solar Alliance.
– Later, the framework agreement of ISA was amended under which now all members of the United Nations can become its members.
Objective of ISA
– To work for efficient consumption of solar energy
– To reduce dependence on fossil fuels
– To facilitate access to energy
– To ensure energy security
– To promote energy transition
– To promote solar energy for an environmentally friendly future
Armenia
Capital – Yerevan
President – Vahagn Khachaturyan
Prime Minister – Nikol Pashinyan
Currency – Dram
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3. The Hakka dance of the Maori community of which country was in the news?
a. Sri Lanka
b. Australia
c. Canada
d. New Zealand
Answer: d. New Zealand
– In fact, the youngest MP in the New Zealand Parliament, Hana Rahati Maipe-Clarke, protested by performing the Haka dance.
– She was suspended for some time after performing the “Haka” dance against the controversial bill.
– The new bill reinterprets the 184-year-old treaty between the British and the Maori.
What is the Haka and why is it important?
– The Haka has deep cultural significance for Maori identity and is traditionally performed by warriors on the battlefield or to welcome another tribe.
– According to the New Zealand Tourism website, the Haka was “a display of physical prowess, but also a symbol of cultural pride, strength and unity.”
– It is usually performed in a group and includes chanting, dramatic facial expressions, hand movements and clapping with the feet.
New Zealand
– Capital – Wellington
– Prime Minister – Christopher Luxon
– Currency – New Zealand Dollar
– Population – 5.4 million
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4. When is Indian Constitution Day celebrated?
a. 23 November
b. 24 November
c. 25 November
d. 26 November
Answer: d. 26 November
– The Constitution of India was accepted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949.
– While the Indian Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950.
Constitution Day
– In the year 2015, the Government of India announced to celebrate 26 November as Constitution Day.
– Earlier this day was celebrated as Law Day.
– 26 November was chosen to spread the importance of the Constitution and the thoughts of Ambedkar.
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5. In which two languages did the President release copies of the Constitution on Constitution Day 2024?
a. Bajjika and Pali
b. Sanskrit and Maithili
c. French and Sanskrit
d. German and Maithili
Answer: b. Sanskrit and Maithili
– On the completion of 75 years of the Constitution of the country, a special program was held on 26 November in the Central Hall of the old Parliament.
– During this program, President Draupadi Murmu released copies of the Constitution in Sanskrit and Maithili.
– The Constituent Assembly passed the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949. While the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950.
– The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had announced on 19 November 2015 to celebrate ‘Constitution Day’ every year on 26 November.
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6. When is National Organ Donation Day celebrated?
a. 25 November
b. 26 November
c. 27 November
d. 28 November
Answer: c. 27 November
– It is celebrated every year on 27 November by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
– Its purpose is to encourage people to donate organs.
– A healthy person can save lives by donating his organs after death.
– In this, people can donate heart, liver, kidney, intestine, lungs etc.
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7. Nobel Prize 2024
Subject, winner, why awarded
– Physiology/Medicine: Victor Ambrose (USA) and Gary Ruvkun (USA), discovery of microRNAs
– Physics: John J. Hopfield (USA) and Geoffrey E. Hinton (British-Canadian), use of statistical physics concepts in the development of artificial neural networks
– Chemistry: David Baker (USA), Demis Hassabis (British) and John M. Jumper (USA): David Baker ‘for computational protein design’; Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper ‘for protein structure prediction.’
– Literature: Han Kang (South Korean author): for his deeply poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and highlights the fragility of human life.
– Peace: Nihon Hidankyo (Japanese organization): for its efforts to create a world free of nuclear weapons and to demonstrate through witness statements that nuclear weapons should never be used again
– Economics: Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson (USA): study of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity
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8. Name the winner of Nobel Prize 2024 in the field of Medicine/Physiology?
a. Victor Ambrose and Gary Ruvkun
b. Caitlin Karikó and Drew Weissman
c. Erdem Patapoutian
d. Svante Pääbo
Answer: a. Victor Ambrose and Gary Ruvkun (American scientists)
Physiology: Physiology
Medicine: Medicine
Nobel Prize is given in these 6 fields –
– Physiology or Medicine
– Physics
– Chemistry
– Literature
– Peace
– Economics
About Nobel Prize
– This award is given in the name of scientist and inventor Alfred Bernhard Nobel on the basis of his will.
– Nobel Prizes were given for the first time in 1901.
– Alfred Nobel has 355 patents to his name today, but people know him more because of dynamite.
– The Nobel Prize for Peace is awarded in Norway.
– While all other categories of prizes are given in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
– First Indian to win the Nobel Prize – Rabindranath Tagore
– 2023 winner (Medicine / Physiology) – Catalin Kariko and Drew Weisman. They enabled the development of mRNA vaccines. Due to this, the vaccine for Kovid-19 could be made immediately.
– 2022 winner (Medicine / Physiology) – Svante Paabo for discoveries related to the genome of extinct hominins and human evolution
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9. For which achievement (research) in the field of medicine, Victor Ambrose and Gary Ruvkun were selected for the Nobel Prize 2024?
a. Discovery of malaria vaccine
b. Discovery of mRNA
c. Discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation
d. All of the above
Answer: c. Discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation
– This discovery was made in 1992. But a few years later, the world came to know about its importance. After this, it is being used a lot in the field of medicine.
What is Micro-RNA (miRNA)?
– At the core of a cell lies DNA, which stores genetic instructions essential for the growth, functioning, and reproduction of an organism.
– mRNA (messenger RNA) transfers genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm, where it is used to produce proteins. This process involves three types of RNA: mRNA (messenger), tRNA (transfer), and rRNA (ribosomal), with mRNA acting as the messenger.
– Embedded within mRNA are micro-RNAs (miRNA), small, non-coding molecules of RNA.
– miRNAs are typically 19-24 nucleotides long and play a crucial role in determining how much of the genetic information carried by mRNA is ultimately translated into proteins.
– Essentially, miRNAs help cells regulate protein production. Without them, cells and tissues in the human body cannot develop.
– Proteins produced by cells are vital for nearly all biological processes in living organisms. For instance, in humans:
– Hemoglobin transports oxygen.
– Insulin aids in glucose absorption from the blood.
Evolution of Micro-RNA
– miRNAs have evolved and expanded within the genomes of multicellular organisms over 500 million years.
– To date, more than 1,000 distinct miRNA genes have been identified in humans.
Impact of Disruptions in Micro-RNA
– Any disruption affecting protein production can have significant consequences for human health. For example:
– Abnormal changes in miRNA can lead to diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Mutations in miRNA genes can cause issues with hearing ability, vision, and physical development in humans.
– RNA (ribonucleic acid) transfers information stored in DNA to proteins in cells. In laboratories, RNA can be modified to create various drugs due to its structural flexibility.
– Additionally, miRNAs can be used to control gene behavior, offering potential therapeutic applications.
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10. Name the winner of Nobel Prize 2024 in the field of physics?
a. Victor Ambrose and Gary Ruvkun
b. Caitlin Karikó and Drew Weissman
c. John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton
d. Jon Fosse
c. John J. Hopfield (American) and Geoffrey E. Hinton (British-Canadian)
Why did he get this award
– Use of statistical physics concepts in the development of artificial neural network (AI)
– All the winners are called the godfathers of AI.
– They have been given this honor for the development of new techniques related to machine learning which is based on artificial neurons.
– With this, machines are taught to think and understand like the human brain. Jeffrey has received the Nobel for machine learning, but he had called its developed form AI a threat to humanity.
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11. Who is the winner of Nobel Prize 2024 in the field of Chemistry?
a. David Baker and David Baker
b. John M. Jumper
c. Louis Caffarelli
d. Both a and b
Answer: d. Both a and b (David Baker {USA}, Demis Hassabis {British} and John M. Jumper {USA})
Why the award was given
– David Baker for ‘computational protein design’
– Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper for ‘protein structure prediction’.
The prize is divided into two parts.
– The first part was given to David Baker, who created a new type of protein. Protein design is a technique in which proteins with new properties are created by changing the structure of the protein. This helps in making medicines and vaccines.
– The second part of the prize was given to Demis and John Jumper, who created an AI model that helped in understanding the structure of complex proteins.
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12. Name the winner of Nobel Prize 2024 in the field of Literature?
a. Narges Mohammadi
b. Erdem Patapoutian
c. Svante Paabo
d. Han Kang
Answer: d. Han Kang (South Korean writer)
Why did he receive the award?
– For his deeply poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and reveals the fragility of human life.
– His works shed light on the delicate balance between life and death, body and spirit, and demonstrate his unique insight into the human condition.
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13. Which organization is the winner of Nobel Prize 2024 in the field of Peace?
a. Narges Mohammadi
b. Nihon Hidankyo
c. Svante Paabo
d. Anne Houllier
Answer: b. Nihon Hidankyo (Japanese organization)
Why did he get the award
– For his efforts to create a world free of nuclear weapons and to demonstrate through witness accounts that nuclear weapons should never be used again
– Nihon Hidankyo is a grassroots movement that includes survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – commonly known as hibakusha.
– This global movement emerged in response to the atomic bombings in August 1945, uniting individuals committed to raising awareness of the devastating human consequences of the use of nuclear weapons.
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14. Name the winner of Nobel Prize 2024 in the field of Economics?
a. Daron Acemoglu
b. Simon Johnson
c. James A. Robinson
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above (Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson {USA})
Why the award was given
– Study of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity
– The award winners have highlighted the importance of social institutions for the prosperity of a nation.
– Their research helps us understand why societies with poor law and order and exploitative institutions are unable to develop or bring about positive change.
The winners have provided a model for understanding how political institutions are formed and changed. This model has three main components:
– Conflict over resource allocation: Addresses issues of authority in decision making, focusing on whether power lies with the elite or the masses.
– Mass movement as a threat: It highlights how the masses can challenge the ruling elite, and shows that power is not solely in the hands of decision makers.
– Commitment problem: The book highlights the possible need for the elite to hand over decision making power to the masses.
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15. When is World Environment Protection Day celebrated?
a. 23 November
b. 24 November
c. 25 November
d. 26 November
Answer: d. 26 November
– This day is celebrated to maintain environmental balance and to make people aware to improve the environment.
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