ALL EXAM QUIZ 21.11.2024

Explanation:

• India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Implementation (MOI) for “co-development” of Unicorn (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) Masts for the Indian Navy.The agreement was signed in Tokyo, Japan, on 15 November 2024. This is the first India-Japan joint production venture in defence equipment since the bilateral agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology in 2016. The MOI was signed by Sibi George, the Indian ambassador to Japan, and Ishikawa Takeshi, the Commissioner of the Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) under the Japanese Ministry of Defence.

What is the UNICORN

• The Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN), also known as NORA-50, is an integrated antenna system developed by Japan's NEC Corporation. It is currently installed on the mast of the Mogami-class frigates of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Japanese Navy).
• The UNICORN system is an antenna mast with sensors and transponders for communications, electronic warfare, and navigation. It increases naval ships' stealth capability.

Who will manufacture UNICORN in India

• The UNICORN to be used in Indian naval ships will be produced by the Bengaluru-based Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) with the assistance of Japan's NEC Corporation.

Explanation:

• Dubai Sports Council has appointed ex-Indian cricket player Harbhajan Singh and women's Tennis player Sania Mirza as the Sports Ambassador.
• They join Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov and French football player Patrice Evra as the four sporting icons appointed by the Dubai Sports Council.
• The Dubai Sports Council announced the names of the four sports ambassadors in the presence of Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai Sports Council..
• As sports ambassadors, these four former players will play a vital role in enhancing Dubai’s status as a premier global sports destination. They will help strengthen Dubai’s sports ecosystem by attracting prestigious international events, nurturing local talent, and promoting sports tourism.

Explanation:

• World No.1 men's tennis player Jannik Sinner of Italy won his first ATP Finals title in Turin, Italy, by defeating American Taylor Fritz in straight sets in the final. Earlier, American Coco Gauff won the season-ending 2024 WTA Finals by defeating Zheng Qinwen of China.
• The German pair of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz won the season-ending ATP Finals doubles title.
• The season's ending ATP Finals which is the last tournament of the year in the men’s professional tennis was held in the Italian city of Turin from 10-17 November 2024.

Explanation:

• 31st Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting, in which the leaders of the 21 member countries participated, was held in Lima, Peru on 15&16 November 2024.
• Along with the Economic Leaders Meeting, the 35th APEC Ministerial meeting was held in Lima on 15 & 16 November 2024. The meeting was hosted by the Peruvian President, Dina Boluarte.
• It was the last summit meeting of United States President Joe Biden, as his terms end on 19 January 2024, and Donald Trump will be sworn in on 20 January 2025.
• APEC is an intergovernmental group of 21 countries in the Asia Pacific region that promotes economic ties among its members. Around 40 per cent of the world's population lives here.
• The members of APEC contribute around 50 % of world trade, and they constitute around 60 per cent of the world's gross domestic product(GDP).
• The next Summit meeting will be hosted by South Korea in 2025, followed by China in 2026 and Vietnam in 2027.

Explanation:

• President of India, Droupadi Murmu, has appointed K Sanjay Murthy as India's next Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). He will succeed the incumbent, Girish Chandra Murmu, who is due to retire on 21 November 2024.
• The Comptroller General of India is the head of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which controls the country's entire financial system. It is also called the Guardian of Public Funds.
• The incumbent GAG of India, Girsh Chandra Murmu, a 1985 Gujarat Cadre IAS officer, assumed the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on 8 August 2020.
• Before being appointed as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu was the first Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

K Sanjay Murthy

• The newly appointed CAG of India, K. Sanjay Murthy, is a 1989 batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre. He is currently Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education and was due to retire on 31 December 2024.

Explanation:

• The four-day Global Soils Conference 2024 was inaugurated in New Delhi on 19 November 2024 and will be held from 19 to 22 November 2024.
• The conference, which is the apex global platform for world soil scientists and stakeholders, provides a platform for the stakeholders- government, scientists, industry leaders, farmers, etc. to discuss various issues regarding the importance of soils and to find a solution to concerns about the issue of soil degradation and its sustainable management.
• “Caring Soils Beyond Food Security: Climate Change Mitigation and Ecosystem Services” was the 2024 Global Soils Conference theme.

Agenda of the Conference

• The Global Soils Conference will deliberate on managing Soils, which directly or indirectly produce 95 % of the global food.
• With the human population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, sustainable management of soil resources worldwide will be key to feeding the population and addressing the global problems related to food insecurity, food shortage, malnutrition, and poverty.
• The Conference will aim to find a solution to these problems.

Explanation:

• Recently, the three armies of India organized the joint military exercise 'East Prahar' in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The event took place in Shi-Yomi district of the state from 14-17 November 2024. Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General RC Tiwari and Air Marshal IS Walia participated in the exercise.

Explanation:

• India's first night safari park is being developed in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. It will become the fifth such safari in the world.
• Kukrail Night Safari Park and Wildlife Center is being prepared in 900 acres. CM Yogi Adityanath aims to complete this project by June 2026.

Explanation:

• Recently, the Indian Army organized Exercise 'Sanyukt Vimochan 2024' in Ahmedabad and Porbandar on 18-19 November 2024.
• The event was attended by the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard. It was a multilateral annual joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise.

Explanation:

• The first Kho-kho World Cup will be held from 13 to 19 January 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor (IGI) Stadium in New Delhi.
• The Indian Olympic Association and the Indian Kho-kho Federation are organizing it.