ALL EXAM QUIZ 15.11.2024

Explanation:

• 9th edition of Garuda Shakti exercise concluded between India and Indonesia.
• On 12 November, the 9th edition of India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise Garuda Shakti concluded at Mokopassus, Sijantung, Indonesia.
• Its closing ceremony was attended by senior military officers of both the countries.
• In this program, Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakraborty, Defense Attache in the Indian Embassy Captain Shiv Kumar and Colonel Inf J of the Indonesian Army were present. S. Elling were present.
• Exercise Garuda Shakti has enabled both the contingents to enhance their capabilities to conduct joint military operations in counter-terrorism environment in sub-conventional domain.
• Began on November 1, the Garuda Shakti exercise was designed to enhance bilateral military cooperation and strengthen ties between the armed forces of the two countries.
• 25 personnel from the Indian Army Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) as well as 40 Indonesian personnel from the elite Kopassus Special Forces also participated.
• The exercise was particularly significant as 2024 is the “Year of Technology Absorption” for the Indian Army, which will further deepen technological cooperation between the two countries.
• India and Indonesia are also celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, as well as the completion of a decade of India's Act East Policy, with Indonesia as a key pillar.

Explanation:

• Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk selected by Trump to lead new US government efficiency department.
• On November 12, US President-elect Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk to this role aimed at creating a more efficient government.
• Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswami will co-lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, which Trump has indicated will work across government boundaries.
• The new department would fulfill a long-standing Republican dream and “provide advice and guidance from outside the government.”
• Donald Trump has given Elon Musk the big responsibility of reducing government expenditure and making policies that will make the country profitable.
• The new department will work closely with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to "enact large-scale structural reform and an entrepreneurial approach to government never seen before."

Explanation:

• Britain’s Samantha Harvey won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel ‘Orbital’.
• Orbital takes readers on an extraordinary journey to the International Space Station.
• Harvey’s win is not just significant for its content but also for the records it has broken. It has also outsold the last three Booker winners combined.
• Harvey wrote the novel during the pandemic while watching footage of the Earth in low orbit on her screen.
• Orbital is the second-shortest novel to win the Booker Prize in history. It is only 136 pages.
• Samantha Harvey is also the first woman to win the Booker Prize since 2019.
• The winner was announced by the chair of the judges, Edmund de Waal, at a ceremony held at Old Billingsgate in London.
• Harvey receives £50,000 and a trophy, which was presented to her by Paul Lynch.

Explanation:

• Aravindh clinched the Chennai Grand Masters 2024 Masters title.
• In chess, GM Aravindh Chithambaram clinched the Chennai Grand Masters title after defeating GM Levon Aronian.
• GM V Pranav remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and claimed the Challengers title.
• The Chennai Grand Masters 2024 has two categories: Masters & Challengers.
• Aronian settled for a quick draw against GM Amin Tabatabaei.
• The Masters category witnessed a three-way tie for the top spot.
• Pranav ended the tournament with four wins and three draws and gets a direct entry in the Masters category next year.

Explanation:

• The 43rd Edition of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) started on 14 November at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• The theme of this year’s India International Trade Fair (IITF) is Viksit Bharat in 2047.
• The focus state of this year’s India International Trade Fair (IITF) is Jharkhand.
• Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are the partner states for this year’s IITF.
• 43rd IITF will continue till 27 November 2024.
• As many as 11 countries are also taking part in the fair.
• These countries include China, Egypt, Iran, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, Türkiye, Tunisia, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE.

Explanation:

• International Conference on Communication and Dissemination of Traditional Knowledge started at Gurugram University on 13 November.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) and Gurugram University jointly inaugurated the conference.
• Director of CSIR-NIScPR, Professor Ranjana Aggarwal, provided an overview of SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated Traditional Knowledge).
• Professor Aggarwal highlighted its significance in promoting scientifically validated Indian traditional knowledge.
• NIScPR has disseminated SVASTIK stories in 17 Indian languages through social media.
• At the inaugural session of the Conference, the Souvenir and Abstract Book were also released.

Explanation:

• Navin Ramgoolam was sworn in as prime minister for his fourth term.
• His Alliance du Changement (ADC) coalition won a landslide 60 of the 62 national assembly seats with 62.6% of votes.
• Ramgoolam took the oath of office during a brief ceremony at State House.
• Ramgoolam launched a program in 2006 to cut bureaucracy and simplify taxes to diversify the $10 billion economy from tourism, textiles, and sugar exports.
• The outgoing Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth’s popularity had decreased due to the cost of living crisis and corruption allegations.
• Pravind Kumar Jugnauth succeeded his father, Aneerood Jugnauth, in 2017. He again became Prime Minister in 2019.

Explanation:

• Pankaj Advani clinched a historic 28th world title by defeating England’s Robert Hall 4-2 at the IBSF World Billiards Championship in Doha.
• It is his seventh world title in a row, a streak that started in 2016.
• He continued his strong performance in the fifth frame with another impressive break of 154 points.
• Advani quickly regained control after reaching the 150-point mark first in the second frame.

Explanation:

• The new Rules – Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Manner of Holding Inquiry and Imposition of Penalty) rules, 2024 have been notified.
• The new rules have been notified for holding inquiry and imposing penalties for violations of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
• The new rules have been notified in the backdrop of the amendments made to the Water Act earlier in the 2024.
• The amendments had allowed the Centre to appoint officers to adjudicate offences, and violations and determine penalties.
• Under the amendments made in July, the Environment Ministry also notified Rules exempting non-polluting ‘white’ category industries from obtaining prior permissions to establish and operate under the Water Act.
• The Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards, Pollution Control Committees and Integrated Regional Offices of the Ministry of Environment can now file a complaint to the adjudicating officer regarding any contravention under this act.

Explanation:

• Central government has extended the tenure of India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri till July 14, 2026. Misri took charge as Foreign Secretary on July 15, 2024.
• He is a 1989 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service. Misri has worked in the Ministry of External Affairs, PMO and several Indian missions in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.