This is the current affairs of 28 & 29 November 2023. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. By which traditional technique were 41 laborers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel of Uttarakhand rescued?
a. Cat Hole Mining
b. Bulldozer Mining
c. Placer Mining
d. Rat Hole Mining
Answer: d. Rat Hole Mining
– Where big machines failed, only six rat miners, with the help of six others, completed the work by hand excavation within 28 hours.
About the Tunnel:
– The Silkara-Dandalgaon Tunnel is a 4.5 kilometers long tunnel under construction between Silkara and Dandalgaon. It is a part of the Char Dham All-Weather Road project connecting four sacred Hindu sites. This tunnel is located at the Yamunotri end of National Highway 134.
Summary of the Incident:
– Tunnel where workers were trapped: Silkara Tunnel in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand (under construction on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway).
– When did the tunnel collapse: Around 5:30 am on November 12, 2023.
Number of workers trapped: 41 laborers (the route out of the tunnel was blocked due to the collapse).
– When were the workers rescued: Late on November 28, 2023.
– Which traditional technique was used: Rat Mining
What is Rat Hole Mining?
– Rat refers to a mouse, hole means a cavity, and mining means excavation.
– It involves digging like a rat in a cavity.
– It begins with digging at the edge of the mountain from a narrow cavity and then drilling slowly with a small handheld drilling machine. The rubble is removed by hand.
Rat Hole Mining has traditionally been used in coal mining. It is carried out in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Northeastern states (Meghalaya and others). However, Rat Hole Mining is quite hazardous, leading to its prohibition several times.
– Rat Hole Mining comes with various challenges. It poses risks to both the safety of miners and the environment. In India, Rat Hole Mining is often unregulated and lacks proper safety kits for the workers.
Timeline of Events:
– On Diwali, November 12, 2023, a part of the tunnel collapsed, trapping laborers inside. Afterward, NDRF, SDRF, BRO, and other agencies began rescue operations. Arrangements were made for oxygen, electricity, and food supply to the trapped laborers through compressed air pipes.
– On November 13, debris continued to fall, extending up to 60 meters inside the tunnel.
– Between November 14-15, an advanced American auger machine was airlifted to the tunnel site from Delhi.
– Between November 16-18, drilling was initiated in the debris, but due to vibrations, there was a risk of further collapse. Work was halted, and there was also an intrusion of rocks.
– Between November 19-20, contemplation on digging approximately 90 meters above the mountain was considered.
– Between November 21-26, it was initially assumed that only debris was falling, so it was planned to create a passage by cutting it with the auger machine and getting the people out. However, it was not known that a lattice girder was also stuck inside (this is where machines go and it’s like a railway track that balances the weight). When the auger machine started digging, it encountered this obstacle, and the machine’s blades broke.
– On November 26, drilling was done to create an alternative exit route. However, approximately 10 meters of debris remained between the rescuers and the trapped laborers.
– On November 27, Rat Hole Mining specialists were called to horizontally dig approximately 10 meters of debris, assisting the rescue workers. Vertical drilling was also done from above the tunnel, reaching a depth of 36 meters.
– On November 28, the Rat Miners dug through the debris, creating a path. Pipes were inserted using machines for the laborers to exit.
How Rat Mining Was Conducted:
– Rat Miners used pickaxes, chisels, and trolleys (to remove debris) for this work.
They wore masks and had a blower for air circulation.
– Two individuals entered the pipe, one digging and the other removing debris.
– They also had a driller to break larger stones.
Naseem and Nasir were part of this team. Advocate Hasan was the team leader.
– “During manual drilling, 12 people (six Rat Miners and others) were working with me. Removing debris, cutting rods, and breaking large stones were challenging. Dust was also getting into our eyes, and we were drenched in sweat, making it difficult to breathe.”
Food Delivery to Laborers was Managed by a Separate Team:
– Supplies for food and drink were delivered to the 41 laborers trapped in the tunnel for 17 days using a 6-inch wide pipe.
What Action will be Taken Against the Construction Company?
– There’s no response to this question yet.
Uttarakhand:
CM – Pushkar Singh Dhami
Governor – Lieutenant General (Retired) Gurmeet Singh
Capital – Dehradun and Gairsain
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2. Who won the Booker Prize 2023?
a. Geetanjali Shree
b. Shehan Karunatilaka
c. Paul Lynch
d. Claire Keegan
Answer: c. Paul Lynch (for the Novel Prophet Song)
– The announcement of the Booker Prize 2023 took place at Old Billingsgate in Central London on November 26, 2023.
– The Booker Prize was awarded for the novel “Prophet Song.”
– The recipient is the fifth Irish author to win the Booker Prize.
– They have been consistently writing about cinema in the Irish newspaper called the Sunday Tribune.
– Their novel was chosen among 163 novels.
Note: The Booker Prize for the year 2022 was awarded to the Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka.
Difference between the ‘Booker Prize’ and the ‘International Booker Prize’:
– The ‘Booker Prize’ is a literary award for a single work of fiction worldwide.
– The Booker Prize is awarded to English-language fiction published in the UK and Ireland.
– While the ‘International Booker Prize’ is given annually for the best single work of fiction translated into English and published in the UK and Ireland.
– The ‘International Booker Prize’ for the year 2022 was awarded to the Indian author Geetanjali Shree for her novel “Tomb of Sand.”
Prize money received:
– They were awarded a Booker Prize of £50,000 ($63,000).
About the Booker Prize:
– The Booker Prize was first awarded in 1969.
Its objective was to encourage reading and discussion of contemporary fiction.
Booker Prize Foundation:
– The Booker Prize Foundation is a registered charity established in 2002, aimed at promoting the art and value of literature for the public benefit.
– Among its ways of fulfilling this mission is the awarding of the Booker Prize and the International Booker Prize.
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3. When is a Memorial Day of Remembrance observed for all victims of chemical warfare?
a. 30 November
b. 1 December
c. 2 December
d. 3 December
Answer: a. 30 November
– This day provides an opportunity to honor and remember those who were affected and lost their lives during a chemical war.
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4. Name the mascot of Khelo India Para Games 2023?
a. Elephant
b. Charioteer
c. Ujjwala
d. Bhavya
Answer: c. Ujjwala
– Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, unveiled the logo and mascot of the Khelo India Para Games 2023.
– The Khelo India Para Games 2023 will be hosted in Delhi for the first time from December 10 to December 17, 2023.
– Its mascot is named ‘Ujjwala’ Gauraiya.
Minister Thakur stated that representing the pride of Delhi, this small Gauraiya (bird) symbolizes determination and empathy.
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5. Which event caused floods in Sikkim in October 2023, rendering thousands of people homeless?
a. Due to cloud burst
b. Due to glacier breakage
c. Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)
d. None of these
Answer: c. Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)
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6. In which lake of Sikkim did the ‘Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)’ incident occur in October 2023, causing loss to thousands of people?
a. South Lhonak Lake
b. Gurudongmar Lake
c. Tsomgo Lake
d. Tso Lhamo Lake
Answer: a. South Lhonak Lake
Which lake caused the flood?
– The South Lhonak Lake situated in the North-West region of Sikkim became the cause of the flood. It is a glacial lake.
– A ‘Glacial Lake Outburst Flood’ event occurred in this lake, resulting in the devastation of several districts.
– The lake is located at an altitude of 5,200 meters (17,100 feet) in Northern Sikkim.
How many people were affected by the flood?
– About 42 people died due to the flood, and more than 77 are still missing.
– Over 88,000 people were affected.
14 bridges were washed away.
– It has been more than a month since this disaster occurred, but the lake still poses a potential threat.
Which hydropower projects were affected?
– 1,200-megawatt Teesta-III
– 510-megawatt Teesta-V
– 500-megawatt Teesta-VI
Note: Teesta-III is Sikkim’s largest hydropower project.
-The people of Sikkim are protesting against harmful dams on the Teesta River.
ISRO released images related to the flood
– On October 13, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) published satellite images through the National Remote Sensing Center.
– These images depict a large reservoir near the Chungthang Dam and several landslides.
– The unstable reservoir poses a future threat to lower areas.
– Talchat implies natural materials that break down into small particles or granules due to weathering and erosion, flowing with water.
[ ISRO Link: https://www.nrsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/pdf/DMSP/Cartosat3-Chungthang%20Dam_13oct2023.pdf ]
Impact of GLOF on the lake’s area
– Geomorphologist Dan Shugar from the University of Calgary in Canada, currently researching GLOFs, mentioned that the lake area was 1.62 square kilometers before the GLOF event.
– After the GLOF incident, the area decreased to 1.46 square kilometers.
What is a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)?
– GLOF is a sudden and potentially catastrophic flood event.
– In the event, water trapped in glaciers suddenly bursts out, known as a jokulhlaup.
– Several factors can cause such incidents, such as earthquakes, excessive rainfall, and glacial avalanches.
How are glaciers and lakes formed from them?
– Glaciers consist largely of ice, often referred to as ice caps.
– They resemble rivers and move very slowly.
– It takes many years for glaciers to form.
– They form in places where snow accumulates but does not melt.
– Some glaciers are small, like a football field, while others stretch for hundreds of kilometers.
– Glaciers cover around 10% of the Earth’s land and about 30% of the sea.
How many glaciers are at risk?
– A study conducted by the United Nations in 2022 stated that a third of the world’s heritage glaciers are at risk.
– According to The Hindu newspaper, if there is an increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius in global temperature, saving two-thirds of the glaciers would be possible.
On which continent are glaciers not found?
– According to The Hindu newspaper, glaciers are found on every continent except Australia.
– Most of these glaciers are thousands of years old.
– They are formed from compressed layers of snow that move due to gravitational forces and the softness of the snow compared to rocks.
Sikkim
Chief Minister: Prem Singh Tamang
Governor: Lakshman Acharya
Capital: Gangtok
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7. Name the winning team of Davis Cup-2023?
a. Spain
b. Italy
c. Australia
d. Serbia
Answer: b. Italy
– Italy’s tennis team won the Davis Cup 2023 after 47 years.
– Australia, with 28 titles, secured the second spot as champions.
– The final match was held in Spain.
India finished as runners-up three times:
– India was the runner-up in the Davis Cup in 1966 and 1974. Additionally, India reached the finals in 1987 but lost against Sweden.
About the Davis Cup:
– The Davis Cup is an international men’s tennis competition played between teams.
– The tournament began four years after the commencement of the Olympic Games, in 1900. So far, 16 teams have claimed the championship, with the United States winning the most titles, totaling 32.
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8. Who has become the new President (for the year 2024) of the International Sugar Organization (ISO)?
a. India
b. Britain
c. France
d. China
Answer: a. India
– In the 63rd meeting of the International Sugar Organization (ISO), India was elected as the Chair of the organization for the year 2024.
The headquarters of this organization is located in London.
India’s Food Secretary, Sanjeev Chopra, participated in the meeting of the council.
The International Sugar Organization, established in 1968 with its headquarters in London, is an intergovernmental body created to administer the International Sugar Agreement of 1968.
It has 88 member countries.
India: The largest consumer of sugar in the world
India consumes nearly 15 percent of global sugar and produces about 20 percent of it.
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9. Who was awarded the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2022?
a. Indian Medical Association (IMA)
b. Trained Nurses’ Association of India
c. Non-Governmental Organization ‘Pratham’
d. Both a and b
Answer: d. Both a and b (Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Trained Nurses Association of India)
– This award is given for peace, disarmament, and development.
– The award ceremony took place on November 19, 2023.
– Former Vice President Hamid Ansari conferred this honor upon Dr. Sharad Kumar Agarwal, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and Professor (Dr.) Roy K. George, President of the Indian Trained Nurses Association.
– Both organizations were honored for their work carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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10. When is International Human Solidarity Day celebrated?
a. 26 November
b. 27 November
c. 28 November
d. 29 November
Answer: d. 29 November
– This is celebrated as an International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
– It was established in the year 1977.
– The United Nations General Assembly observes this day every year on November 29.
– On this day, the United Nations General Assembly passed a proposal to divide Palestine into an Arab state and a Jewish state.
