Daily Current Affairs and GK | 24 November 2019

1. 71st Raising Day of National Cadet Corps (NCC)

• The NCC’s 71^stRaising Day is celebrated today all over the nation.
• Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar and NCC DG Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra paid tribute to the martyrs at the National War Memorial.
• National Cadet Corps (NCC):
  • It was established on 16^th April 1948 by an act of Parliament ‘The National Cadet Corps Act, 1948’.
  • It was inaugurated on 15^th July 1948.
  • It is the world’s largest youth organization and a youth wing of the Indian armed forces that aims to develop character, leadership, discipline, a secular outlook and impart ideals of selfless service.
  • Motto- “Unity and Discipline”
  • Headquarters- New Delhi

2. Government to promote the Maithili Language

• During the Mithila Vibhuti Smriti Parv Samaroh, J P Nadda reiterated the government’s commitment to promote Maithili Language.
• The 8^th Schedule of the Indian Constitution enlists 22 languages, Maithili is one among these recognized languages.
• Maithili language:
  • It is an Indo-Aryan language which is generally spoken in Bihar, Jharkhand and Nepal.
  • It is also finds the place among 122 recognized languages of Nepal.

3. Renowned actress Shaukat Kaifi passes way at 93

• The famous Bollywood actress Shaukat Kaifi passed away at the age of 93.
• She was the mother of renowned actress Shabana Azmi.
• She appeared in various roles in hit movies like ‘Bazaar’, ‘UmraoJaan’ and ‘Salaam Bombay’.
• She also wrote an autobiography after the death of her husband, titled ‘Kaifi and I’.

4. 20 Jan Aushadhi and Amrit Stores to be opened in J & K

• In order to provide financial benefit to the patients of J & K, twenty Jan Aushadhi and Amrit stores are being opened in the second phase.
• A total of 55 Jan Aushadhi stores will be set up in J & K, out of which 37 will be run on a private basis while the remaining by the government.
• Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Stores:

These are the stores where expensive branded drugs are sold at a lower price for treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc., unlike the Jan Aushadhi stores where generic versions of drugs are sold.

• Jan Aushadhi stores:
  • The purpose of Jan Aushadhi stores is to provide quality generic medicines to all at affordable prices.
  • These are opened under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan aushadhi Pariyojana, which is an initiative of Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.

5. El Nino caused due to rising surface temperature in Pacific for longer durations

• The researchers conducted a study which revealed that El Nino is caused due to increase in surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean for longer durations and the event has become more prominent due to anthropogenic factors leading to climate change.
• The study quoted that the ENSO in the present age is 25% stronger than in the pre-industrial era.
• El-Nino:
  • The word El-Nino means ‘Child Christ’. It is a phenomenon that occurs when the surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean increases due to warm counter equatorial current which replaces cold Peruvian current or Humboldt current.
  • It leads to floods, droughts, and other extreme conditions in different regions.

6. Researchers revealed an aquatic environment where no life was present

• According to a study published in journal ‘Nature Ecology and Evolution’, no microbial life was present in the salty and hyperacid ponds of the Dallol geothermal field in Ethiopia.
• The study will help in understanding the limits of habitability.
• Also, it provides evidence that despite the presence of liquid water, there are certain places on the surface fo the Earth where no life exists.

7. Sangai Festival 2019 begins

• Sangai Festival, designated as the grandest festival of Manipur, has started and is organized by the State Tourism Department.
• The Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh was present during the inaugural function that was held at Hapta Kangjei bung at Imphal.
• It will be a week-long festival that will end on 30^th November.
• The festival provides a platform for the people of Manipur to showcase its culture and tradition, handicrafts, handloom, indigenous sports, etc.
• The festival is being celebrated since the year 2010 and aims at promoting Manipur as a world-class tourism destination.

8. Government extends ban on NDFB by another 5 years

• The central government has extended the ban on the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and all its groups by another 5 years.
• The decision came in the wake of continuous involvement of the group in violent activities like killing, extortion, destruction of non-Bodos’ properties, etc.
• The extension is done under the provision of sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
• National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB):

• It is a separatist outfit in Assam that is active since 1986.
• The group demands sovereign Bodoland for the Bodo people.
• Its headquarters is located in Myanmar.

9. Indian wrestlers bagged eight golds at the U-15 Asian Championships

• Indian wrestlers won eight gold medals at the Under-15 Asian Wrestling Chamiponships going on in Taichung, Chinese Taipei.
• The six gold winners are as follows:
  • Akash- 48 kg category (freestyle)
  • Ankit Gulia- 68 kg category (Greco-Roman)
  • Chirag Dhalia- 75 kg category
  • Saloni- 33 kg category
  • Babli- 36 kg category
  • Komal- 39 kg category

10. Eliud Kipchoge and Dalilah Muhammad win World Athlete of the Year Award

• Eliud Kipchoge and Dalilah Muhammad have won the World Athlete of the Year Award 2019, organized by World Athletics (formerly IAAF).
• Eliud Kipchoge, 35, is a Kenyan marathon runner who became the first man to complete the marathon run in 1 hour 59 min 40.2 seconds.
• Dalilah Muhammad is an American athlete who recently set a world record in the 400m hurdles event.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the motto of the National Cadet Corps (NCC)?

1. Unity and Integrity
2. Discipline and service to Nation
3. Unity and Discipline
4. Duty and Discipline

Correct Answer: (c)

2. Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding the Maithili language?

1. It is an Indo-Aryan language.
2. It is one of the 22 recognized languages mentioned in the Indian constitution.
3. It is spoken only in Bihar.
4. It is also one of the 122 recognized Nepalese languages.

Correct Answer : (c)

3. Recently, Shaukat Kaifi passed away due to age-related illness. She belonged to which of the following fields?

1. Acting
2. Sports
3. Journalism
4. Politics

Correct Answer: (a)

4. Jan Aushadhi stores are being opened up under which of the following initiatives of the government of India?

1. Jan Aushadhi Scheme for All
2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Bhartiya Pariyojana
3. Affordable Medicines for All
4. Pradhan Mantri Amrit Pariyojana

Correct Answer: (b)

5. El-Nino event occurs in the Pacific Ocean when the ______ current is replaced by the warm counter equatorial current.

1. Cold Falkland current
2. Warm Equatorial current
3. Warm Brazilian current
4. Cold Humboldt current

Correct Answer: (d)

6. Recently, researchers have found an aquatic region where no form of life was present. This region is located in which of the following countries?

1. Australia
2. Ethiopia
3. India
4. Philippines

Correct Answer: (b)

7. Sangai festival is designated as the grandest festival of which state?

1. Assam
2. Odisha
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Manipur

Correct Answer: (d)

8. The central government has extended the ban on National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), which is a separatist outfit in ______.

1. Meghalaya
2. Mizoram
3. Assam
4. West Bengal

Correct Answer: (c)

9. Under-15 Asian Wrestling Championships are going on in -

1. Taichung, Chinese Taipei
2. Seoul, South Korea
3. New Delhi, India
4. Sai Kung, Hong Kong

Correct Answer: (a)

10. Who among the following won the World Athlete of the Year award?

1. Dalilah Muhammad
2. Serena Williams
3. Usain Bolt
4. Paul Pogba

Correct Answer: (a)