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Daily Current Affairs
29 & 30 December, 2024
1. What strategic waterway is Donald Trump reportedly planning to take control of?
- A) Suez Canal
- B) Panama Canal
- C) Kiel Canal
- D) Strait of Hormuz
- E) Malacca Strait
Answer: B) Panama Canal
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Explanation:
Donald Trump is reportedly planning to annex Canada and Greenland and take control of the Panama Canal, a strategic waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This move is motivated by increased shipping rates and concerns over Chinese influence in the region. The U.S. currently benefits significantly from the canal, owning 74% of its traffic.
2. What caused the oil floods in the Black Sea as reported in December 2024?
- A) Earthquake
- B) Volcanic eruption
- C) Collision of two tankers
- D) Industrial spill
- E) Heavy rainfall
Answer: C) Collision of two tankers
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Explanation:
The oil floods in the Black Sea were caused by a collision between two tankers near Crimea in the Kerch Strait on December 15. This incident led to significant environmental damage, including the destruction of coral reefs and loss of marine biodiversity. The Black Sea is bordered by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine, and is a critical marine ecosystem.
3. What is the primary purpose of India’s commissioning of INS Vagsheer (S-26) and INS Tushil?
- A) To enhance coastal tourism
- B) To boost blue-water combat capabilities
- C) For scientific research
- D) To assist in humanitarian missions
- E) For commercial shipping
Answer: B) To boost blue-water combat capabilities
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Explanation:
The commissioning of INS Vagsheer (S-26), a diesel-electric submarine, and INS Tushil, a Russian-built frigate, by the Indian Navy is aimed at enhancing India’s blue-water combat capabilities. This move is intended to counter China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean Region and strengthen India’s naval presence in distant seas.
4. What initiative aims to make Lothal a global hub for maritime heritage?
- A) Swadesh Darshan Scheme
- B) National Maritime Heritage Complex Museum
- C) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
- D) Jan Swasthya Abhiyan
- E) Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited
Answer: B) National Maritime Heritage Complex Museum
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Explanation:
The National Maritime Heritage Complex Museum is under construction in Lothal and is set to make the city a global hub for maritime heritage. With an investment of over ₹4,000 crore, the complex will feature 14 galleries, a lighthouse museum, coastal state pavilions, a recreated Lothal city, theme-based parks, an amusement park, and a nature conservation park. Phase 1A of the project is approximately 60% completed.
5. What is the main objective of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) in India?
- A) To promote digital payments
- B) To regulate hospital fees and protect patient rights
- C) To enhance agricultural productivity
- D) To develop infrastructure in rural areas
- E) To support microfinance institutions
Answer: B) To regulate hospital fees and protect patient rights
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Explanation:
Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) is an alliance of health activists and professionals in India that seeks to intervene in petitions against the regulation of hospital charges. The group aims to protect patients’ rights by controlling the costs of private hospitals, advocating for better care standards, and preventing patient rights violations in the healthcare sector.
6. What impact did the relocation of tigers from Ranthambore National Park have on the tiger population?
- A) Increased genetic diversity
- B) Improved sex ratio
- C) Disrupted sex ratio leading to territorial conflicts
- D) Enhanced breeding programs
- E) Reduced overall tiger numbers
Answer: C) Disrupted sex ratio leading to territorial conflicts
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Explanation:
The relocation of five male and eleven female tigers from Ranthambore National Park (RNP) to other reserves disrupted the existing sex ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 (males to females). This imbalance has led to increased territorial conflicts and the deaths of young male tigers, negatively affecting the stability of the tiger population in RNP.
7. Which regulatory body oversees health insurance in India and reported that only 71.3% of claims worth ₹1.2 lakh crore were settled in FY24?
- (A) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
- (B) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
- (C) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
- (D) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
- (E) Ministry of Finance
Answer: (B) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
Explanation: IRDAI is the statutory body responsible for regulating the insurance sector in India. In FY24, it reported that health insurers paid only 71.3% of registered claims.
8. What is the primary purpose of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) as tested by the RBI?
- (A) To replace cryptocurrency
- (B) To act as a decentralized currency
- (C) To counter cryptocurrencies and offer safer payment options
- (D) To eliminate fiat currency entirely
- (E) To facilitate global transactions only
Answer: (C) To counter cryptocurrencies and offer safer payment options
Explanation: CBDC, introduced by RBI, is a digital version of fiat currency, aiming to provide a safer and smarter payment alternative to cryptocurrencies while maintaining central bank control.
9. What was the reported growth in India’s electric vehicle (EV) industry in 2024?
- (A) 20%
- (B) 23.5%
- (C) 26.5%
- (D) 30%
- (E) 35%
Answer: (C) 26.5%
Explanation: According to Vahan data, EV sales in India grew by 26.5% in 2024, reaching 1.94 million units, with penetration increasing to 7.46%.
10. What does the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme aim to achieve?
- (A) Provide loans to small businesses
- (B) Support projects that are economically desirable but not commercially viable
- (C) Reduce tax burden on infrastructure projects
- (D) Finance agricultural storage facilities
- (E) Subsidize electric vehicle purchases
Answer: (B) Support projects that are economically desirable but not commercially viable
Explanation: VGF is a scheme by the Government of India to financially support public-private partnership (PPP) projects that serve public interest but lack commercial viability, such as industrial housing initiatives.
