CURRENT AFFAIRS - 1st & 2nd December 2024

NATIONAL
❖ Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users' Conference will held in New Delhi
➢ The 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users' Conference
(AOMSUC-14) is scheduled to be held from December 4-6, 2024, in
New Delhi.
➢ The conference will be hosted by the India Meteorological
Department (IMD), and the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
➢ Aim: To promote the significance of satellite observations.
➢ About 150 participants from different countries will participate in this event.
➢ The first AOMSUC was held in Beijing, China, in 2010.
➢ The conference has been hosted annually in various locations across the Asia-Oceania.
❖ India and Cambodia commence inaugural Joint tabletop exercise CINBAX in Pune
➢ The 1st edition of Joint Tabletop Exercise, CINBAX, between the Indian
Army and the Cambodian Army commenced at the Foreign Training Node,
Pune.
➢ It will be conducted from 1st to 8th December 2024.
➢ The Cambodian Army contingent comprising 20 personnel will take part in
this exercise with an Indian Army contingent from an Infantry Brigade.
➢ Joint Counter Terrorism (CT) operations will be part of this exercise.
➢ The exercise will focus on discussions pertaining to the establishment of a Joint Training Task Force for
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance besides planning operations in Counter terrorism
environment.
➢ The exercise will also involve discussion on information operations, cyber warfare, hybrid warfare,
logistics and casualty management, HADR operations etc.
➢ It will be conducted in three phases:
• Phase I will focus on preparations and orientation of participants for CT operations.
• Phase-II will involve conduct of the Tabletop exercises.
• Phase-III will involve finalization of plans and summing up.
❖ Government of India to host 1st Astha Lakshmi Mahotsav in New Delhi
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Asthalakshmi
Mahotsav in New Delhi.
➢ It is scheduled from 6-8 December 2024.
➢ The Mahotsav will focus on 8 North-Eastern States of India.
➢ The Union Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, also released the mascot for Asthalakshmi Mahotsav Purvi
(a girl, and she is wearing attire that represents the elements of the eight states of the Northeast).
❖ APSRTC bags Skoch Award 2024 for Unified Ticketing System
➢ The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has bagged
the Skoch Award 2024 for its Unified Ticketing System (UTS) project.
➢ The APSRTC’s Unified Ticketing system integrates ticketing, reservations, bus
passes, and cargo services into a single platform, enhancing passenger convenience and
operational efficiency.
❖ India’s First Vertical Lift Rail Bridge, Pamban 2.0, Set to Operate Soon in Rameswaram
➢ The new Pamban rail bridge is likely to be operational within
a fortnight, after inspection by Southern Circle Railway Safety
Commissioner A M Chaudhari on November 13 and 14.
➢ The first of its kind in India, this vertical lift bridge is inspired
by the dynamic rail bridges of Germany and Spain.
➢ Experts from Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, the construction arm of the Railways, visited the ports of Valencia
and Barcelona in Spain and Hamburg in Germany to study similar structures.
➢ Valencia's rail bridge opens horizontally to allow ferry operations, Barcelona's double bascule bridge
opens vertically, and the Port of Hamburg has a vertical lift bridge similar to Pamban's new structure.
➢ While approving the operation on the newly constructed bridge after rectifying the given improvements,
the speed limit on the lift bridge has been fixed at 50 km per hour.
➢ The new bridge, which will replace the 110-year-old iconic cantilever bridge, has 100 spans of which 99
spans are 18.3 metres long and a 72.5-metre-long navigational span across the sea.
❖ Jay Shah became the new Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC)
➢ Jay Shah took charge as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council
(ICC).
➢ He is the fifth Indian to become the Chairman of the International Cricket
Council (ICC).
➢ He has been the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the last five years.
➢ He has been selected by ICC’s Board of Directors to succeed New Zealand attorney Greg Barclay.
➢ He is focused on leveraging cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
 STATE
❖ Nagaland statehood day – 1st December
➢ After India became independent in 1947, the Naga territory initially
remained a part of Assam.
➢ The State of Nagaland Act, 1962, was enacted by the Parliament to give
Nagaland statehood.
➢ Nagaland achieved statehood on 1st December 1963, with Kohima being
declared as its capital.
➢ A democratically elected government took office in 1964.
➢ State Animal of Nagaland – Mithun.
➢ State Bird of Nagaland – Blyth’s Tragopan.
➢ GI Tagged products: Naga Mircha, Naga Tree Tomato, Naga Cucumber, Chakhesang Shawls.
➢ Folk Dances - Zeliang dance, Naga war dance, Nokinteker Tsungsang, Rengma Naga Folk Dance.
❖ Maha Kumbh area of Prayagraj declared a new district by the UP government
➢ The newly formed district will be known as “Maha Kumbh Mela”.
➢ This step has been taken to smoothly manage the special event of
Kumbh Mela and to conduct the administrative work in a better manner.
➢ The intention behind this decision was expressed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during Magh
Mela 2024.
➢ With this district, Uttar Pradesh now has 76 districts.
➢ The upcoming Maha Kumbh, held once every 12 years, will be held from January 13 to February 26, 2025,
in Prayagraj.
❖ ‘Mission Arun Himveer' has been launched by the Arunachal Pradesh government to support
agri-horti producers
➢ To increase market linkage of agri-horti producers, the Arunachal
Pradesh government launched the 'Mission Arun Himveer'.
➢ Aim: To provide markets for far-flung villages and circles with low
marketable surplus and create a vibrant economy for solving
employment issues across the state.
➢ Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP), Northeast Frontier have signed a MoU regarding it.
➢ Under this MoU, the state government will supply fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry products to the ITBP
from the local farmers, Self Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organisations and farmer cooperatives.
➢ Under such an initiative, about 400 tons of fruits and vegetables worth Rs 72 lakhs were provided through
indigenous farmers to the Indian Army.
 APPOINTMENTS
❖ Kash Patel’s name as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director has been
announced by US President-elect Donald Trump
➢ Patel will be the first South Asian and Indian American to head America's
top investigative agency if the US Senate confirms him, which is mandatory.
➢ The Indian American Republican politician Nikki Haley was appointed by
Trump as his first administration’s ambassador to the United Nations.
➢ Before Kamala Harris was elected vice president in 2020, Haley was the
highest-serving Indian American in the US political system, holding a position
equivalent to a federal cabinet.

 DAYS & THEMES 

❖ World AIDS Day 2024
➢ Every year on 1 December, World AIDS Day is celebrated worldwide.
➢ It is celebrated to raise awareness and celebrate positive achievements in
dealing with AIDS.
➢ Theme: “Take the rights path: My health, my right!”.
➢ The theme is a call for accessible, rights-based healthcare that empowers people affected by HIV/AIDS to
lead vibrant and fulfilling lives.
➢ It was first observed in 1988, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised the day.
➢ AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is the final stage of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
infection.
➢ Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens people’s defence against
many infections and some types of cancer.
➢ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.

OBITUARIES
❖ Blood donation pioneer Kanta Krishen passes away
➢ Padma Shri Kanta Krishen, who spearheaded the voluntary blood donation
movement in India, passed away.
➢ She served as Secretary and later as President of the Blood Bank Society,
established in 1964.
➢ Under her leadership, Chandigarh became the fountainhead of the safe blood
movement.
➢ She received awarded with the Padma Shri in 1972.
➢ She was instrumental in filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) through the organisation Common Cause,
leading to the landmark 1996 Supreme Court judgment banning the buying and selling of blood in India.
 SPORTS
❖ Joe Root breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become highest 4th innings run scorer in Test history
➢ England batter Joe Root surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for most
runs in Test run chases during his team’s win against New Zealand.
➢ Most 4th innings run in Test cricket:
▪ 1630 – Joe Root (49 innings)
▪ 1625 – Sachin Tendulkar (60)
▪ 1611 – Graeme Smith (41)
▪ 1611 – Alastair Cook (53)
▪ 1587 – Shivnarine Chander Paul (49)
▪ 1552 – Rahul Dravid (56)