This is the current affairs of 30 November & 01 December 2023. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which became the first South Asian country to register gay marriage?
a. India
b. Shri Lanka
c. Pakistan
d. Nepal
Answer: d. Nepal
– Nepal officially registered its first same-sex marriage on November 29, 2023.
– It became the first South Asian country to do so.
– Nepal accomplished this five months after the Supreme Court validated it.
First Same-Sex Marriage in Nepal:
– Maya Gurung, a 35-year-old trans woman, and Surendra Pande, a 27-year-old gay man, legally married.
– Their marriage was registered in the Dordi Rural Municipality of the Lamjung district in western Nepal.
– Sanjib Gurung (Pinky), the president of the Blue Diamond Society, an organization working for the rights and welfare of sexual minorities in Nepal, stated that this is a significant achievement for our third gender community in Nepal. “It is not only the first case in Nepal but also in all of South Asia, and we welcome this decision.”
What is Same-Sex?
– When a person is attracted to a person of the same gender, it is called homosexuality or being homosexual.
– In this situation, people are attracted to individuals of the same sex.
In India, Homosexuality:
– Homosexuality is legally recognized in India, but permission to register same-sex marriages is not granted.
– On October 17, the Constitutional Bench of 5 judges rejected legalizing same-sex marriage.
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2. When is Red Planet Day celebrated?
a. 27 November
b. 28 November
c. 29 November
d. 30 November
Answer: b. 28 November
– In reality, on November 28, 1964, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the Mariner 4 mission.
– Mariner 4 provided crucial information and images about the planet Mars for the first time.
Size and Distance:
– It is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet in the solar system.
– Mars is approximately half the size of Earth.
– Mars has a tilted rotation axis of about 25 degrees in relation to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. This is similar to Earth, which has an axial tilt of 23.4 degrees.
– The red appearance of Mars is due to oxidation of iron in its rocks and Martian dust. Therefore, it is also called the Red Planet.
– The largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, is located on Mars.
– It has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos.
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3. The American police filed a charge sheet in the court accusing the Indian officer of conspiring to murder whose terrorist?
a. Hardeep Singh Nijjar
b. Gurpatwant Singh Pannu
c. Rakesh Maria
d. None of these
Answer: b. Gurpatwant Singh Pannu
– In the case of the attempted murder of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in the United States, the New York Police’s chargesheet was revealed on November 30, 2023.
– It alleges an attempt to murder Pannu by an Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta.
– According to The New York Times, the accused was instructed to carry out the act by an official of the Indian government.
Allegations against the Indian Official:
– The chargesheet does not disclose the name of the Indian official.
– He is referred to as CC-1. According to the chargesheet, CC-1 is an employee of an Indian government agency who has identified himself as a senior field officer on several occasions. He is responsible for security management and intelligence.
India Forms High-Level Inquiry Committee:
– Following this, the Indian government formed a high-level committee on November 18 for the investigation, stating that action would be taken based on the results.
– Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “It goes against the policy of the Indian government. We are investigating the involvement of an Indian official in the attempted murder of Pannu. A high-level committee has been formed for this. This is a matter of great concern.”
– Bagchi mentioned that there is a serious issue for Indian agencies to have connections with organized international crimes, trafficking, and extremist groups at the international level. Further action will be taken based on the investigation results.
What Was the Case?
– In reality, according to a report by The Publish Financial Times on November 22, 2023, the US government alleged that a conspiracy for a deadly attack on Pannu in New York was orchestrated, and India was involved. The conspiracy was thwarted.
– However, it was not disclosed on which day the attack was supposed to take place. The issue was raised before India by American officials after Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States in June.
How the Conspiracy Was Formed:
– According to the U.S. Department of Justice, as per the statement of the Indian official, Nikhil contacted a criminal to arrange Pannu’s murder, but this criminal was actually an American agent.
– This agent had another undercover officer establish Nikhil’s identity, who was tasked with carrying out the murder. A deal of around 83 lakh rupees was made for this purpose.
– After the deal, Indian official CC-1 provided Gupta with Pannu’s New York address, his phone number, and detailed information about his daily routine.
– Gupta communicated this information to other individuals.
– Gupta urged the undercover officer to complete the task quickly.
– However, he was instructed not to carry out the murder on those dates when high-level meetings were scheduled between Indian and American officials.
– According to the chargesheet, Gupta informed the hitman that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was also on their list of targets. After Nijjar’s murder in Canada, CC-1 had sent Gupta a news article related to Pannu, emphasizing that it was now a priority to eliminate him.
CC-1 Works for India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):
– According to the chargesheet, the Indian officer also disclosed that he works for India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
– As per the U.S. Department of Justice, this Indian government official stated that he is receiving officer-level training in warfare skills and firearms usage.
– Nikhil informed American federal agents that he was instructed to carry out the murders of several people, not just Pannu. The chargesheet included a bill of a hundred dollars, given as an advance payment to the accused.
– According to the Department of Justice, under the extradition treaty, officials of the Czech – Republic arrested Nikhil Gupta on June 30. If proven guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Pannu Declared a Terrorist in 2020:
– In 2019, the Indian government banned Pannu’s organization, SFJ, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, accusing it of engaging in terrorist activities. The Ministry of Home Affairs stated in its notification that SFJ was supporting separatism and extremist ideologies in Punjab under the guise of advocating a referendum for Sikhs.
– In 2020, Pannu was accused of promoting separatism and encouraging Punjabi Sikh youth to take up arms. Following this, the central government declared Pannu a terrorist under the UAPA on July 1, 2020. In 2020, the government also banned over 40 web pages and YouTube channels associated with SFJ.
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4. Name the President of International Tunneling Association, who was continuously present there in the relief operation after the Silkyara tunnel accident in Uttarakhand?
a. Roger Victor
b. Virendra Verma
c. Philip Roger
d. Arnold Dix
Answer: d. Arnold Dix
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5. Which country’s former Foreign Minister and renowned diplomat Henry Alfred Kissinger passed away on 29 November 2023?
a. Japan
b. America
c. Australia
d. Brazil
Answer: b. America
– He passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut.
About Henry Alfred Kissinger:
– Born on May 27, 1923, in Fürth, Germany.
– His father was a teacher, and they moved to the United States in 1938.
– He became a U.S. citizen in 1943.
– He served in the U.S. Army for three years and later in the Counter Intelligence Corps.
– He worked in the U.S. as a national security advisor and Secretary of State.
– In 1973, he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, which he did not accept.
– Note: In July 2023, Henry Kissinger suddenly visited Beijing to meet with China’s President Xi Jinping.
– Senior journalist Dr. Prakash Re believes that Henry Kissinger has contributed as much, if not more, than dozens of crazy rulers, terrorists, militant groups, and terrorist leaders combined in destabilizing the world after the Second World War.
– From the Middle East to Latin America, Kissinger’s fingerprints are the only constant source of instability in today’s world.
United States:
– President: Joe Biden
– Capital: Washington, D.C.
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6. How many rupees did the Union Cabinet approve for PM PVTG Development Mission?
a. 22,104 Crores
b. 24,104 Crores
c. 25,104 Crores
d. 44,104 Crores
Answer: b. 24,104 Crores
– Mission’s Full Name: PM PVTG Development Mission (Prime Minister’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups {PVTG} Development Mission)
Total Expenditure: ₹24,104 Crores
– Contribution: Central Government ₹15,336 Crores and State Governments ₹8,768 Crores
– Duration for Fund Allocation: Three Years
– Decision by the Central Cabinet: November 29, 2023
– Launch Date of the Plan by PM Modi: November 15, 2023 (Tribal Pride Day)
Mission Objectives:
– Construct 4.9 Lakh Permanent Houses
– Build 8,000 Kilometers of Long Connectivity Roads
– Provide Piped Water to All Homes in Over 22,000 Villages
– Implement Community Water Pipelines in 2,500 PVTG Villages with Less than 20 Households
– Enhance Telecommunication Connectivity
– Improve Access to Education, Healthcare, and Nutrition
Who are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?
– In India, PVTGs are one of the most unprotected groups among tribal communities.
– These groups exhibit distinct traits such as primitive traits, geographical isolation, low literacy rates, negative population growth, and economic backwardness.
– Additionally, they rely considerably on hunting for food and primitive agriculture techniques.
– Along with consumption, PVTGs also gather non-timber forest products (NTFP) like honey, gum, bamboo, and wax for sale.
– Due to their dietary habits, these communities often suffer from ailments such as anemia, malaria, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin infections.
– In 1973, the Dhebar Commission established a separate category for Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
– In 1975, the central government identified 52 tribal groups as PTGs.
– In 1993, 23 more groups were added to the list.
In 2006, these groups were designated as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
– Currently, there are 28 lakh PVTGs related to 75 tribal communities in 22,544 villages across 18 states and union territories in India.
– According to the 2011 census, Odisha has the largest PVTG population with 866,000, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 609,000 and Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana) with 539,000.
– The largest PVTG community in Odisha is the Saura community with a population of 535,000.
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7. Where is UN Climate Change Conference-28 (COP-28) being held?
a. London
b. New Delhi
c. Sharm El Sheikh
d. Dubai
Answer: d. Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
– The UN Climate Change Conference-28 (COP 28) commenced in the city of Dubai, UAE, on November 30, 2023.
– This conference will continue until December 12, 2023.
What is COP-28?
– The UN Climate Summit is organized every year to garner agreement among governments on steps to limit global temperature rise.
– This summit is known as COP, which stands for “Conference of the Parties.”
– Parties are countries that signed the original UN Climate Agreement in 1992.
– COP-28 is the 28th annual meeting of the UN on climate change.
Why is COP-28 important?
– In the past years, there have been discussions and agreements on the Paris Climate Change Accord.
– COP-28 is entirely about implementing the accord and enhancing ambition and action.
– A 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is needed compared to 2019 levels.
– It is crucial to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.
– Mitigating the worst impacts of climate change (severe droughts, heatwaves, and rainfall) is essential.
Topics of discussion in COP-28:
– The closure of the Global Stocktake will happen for the first time in COP 28.
– Clarifying the details of the Loss and Damage Finance Facility, enabling vulnerable communities to cope with immediate climate impacts.
– Advancing towards a global target on finance that will support efforts in developed countries to combat climate change.
– Accelerating both energy and a just transition.
Reducing the emission gap on a large scale.
Who is participating in COP-28?
– Approximately 70,000 participants are expected to attend COP-28 in Dubai.
– Representatives from all 199 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention are participating in the conference.
Note:
– Britain’s King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Vatican leader Pope Francis, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present at COP-28.
– However, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will not participate in the Dubai Climate Summit.
COP (Conference of the Parties)
– COP operates under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
– It was established in 1994.
– COP-1 took place in Germany in 1995.
– COP-8 was held in India in 2002.
– The goal of COP is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations.
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8. In which summit will the Global Stocktake be concluded for the first time?
a. G-20
b. COP-28
c. G-7
d. BRICS
Answer: b. COP-28
– The UN Climate Change Conference-27 (COP 27) started in Dubai, UAE, on November 30, 2023.
– This conference will continue until December 12, 2023.
– The Global Stocktake occurs every five years. – It is the first practice under the Paris Agreement. The Global Stocktake calls for greater global ambition and competition to bring about changes in net-zero emissions.
– The Global Stocktake is a crucial part of the Paris Agreement. It monitors the implementation of the agreement’s actions.
– The Global Stocktake assesses the world’s progress on climate action and support. It identifies shortcomings and works towards creating a better path for accelerating climate action.
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9. When is World AIDS Day celebrated?
a. 1 December
b. 2 December
c. 3 December
d. 4 December
Answer: a. 1 December
– World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1.
– This day is celebrated by the World Health Organization and the United Nations.
– Its purpose is to raise awareness about AIDS so that people can protect themselves from the infection of this deadly disease.
– It was first observed in the year 1988.
– AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
– The cause of AIDS is a virus named HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
Theme for 2023:
‘Let communities lead’
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10. Which state government launched ‘Mission Daksh’ for weaker students in schools?
a. Rajasthan
b. Uttar Pradesh
c. Bihar
d. Madhya Pradesh
Answer: c. Bihar
– Under ‘Mission Daksh,’ each teacher will teach groups of five marked students from classes three to eight after the completion of school activities or after the lunch break.
Bihar:
– Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
– Governor: Rajendra Arlekar
– Capital: Patna
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