18 December 2024 Current news

18 December 2024 Current Affairs

Minorities Rights Day is observed annually on 18 th December.
The theme for 2024 is "Promoting Diversity and Protecting Rights.”
It is done to commemorate the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities in 1992.
It was first observed in 2013 in India.
It is being organised by the National commission on Minorities.

The rights of minorities are guaranteed under various constitutional provisions in India, particularly Articles 29 and 30.
These articles ensure the rights to education, culture and freedom from discrimination based on religion or language for minorities.

National commission for Minorities

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was officially established in 1992.
It was done under the National Commission for Minorities Act.
Its role is to monitor the implementation of the constitutional rights of recognized minority communities

Minorities in India

Gadhimai festival is being celebrated in Nepal every five year around November and December.
Animals are slaughtered and offered as sacrifice at Gadhimai temple.
It includes animal from rats and pigeons to goats and water buffalos
There is belief that the mass sacrifice will appease the Hindu goddess Gadhimai, who will in return bring prosperity.
During the last festival in 2019, around 250,000 creatures were beheaded.
The people belive that ritual is an important, untouchable cornerstone of Hinduism.
It is a month long observance.

History of the festival

The mass slaughter is traced back to Bhagwan Chowdhary
He was the founder of the Gadhimai temple in Bariyarpur, Bara District.
Gadhimai imprisoned Chowdhary, promising power and prosperity in exchange for a blood sacrifice.

Delhi airport became the first airport in India to connect 150 destinations.
Thai AirAsia X launched direct flights between Delhi and Bangkok-Don Mueang marking the 150th destination connected to Delhi Airport.
Over the years, Delhi Airport has added more than 20 exclusive international destinations, including Phnom Penh, Bali Denpasar, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, Tokyo Haneda, etc.
Delhi Airport enables 4 million domestic passengers annually to connect to international destinations.

About Delhi Airport

India is set to host the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup.
It will be done at the iconic IGI Stadium in New Delhi from January 13-19, 2025
It will be done by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in partnership with The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI).
24 countries will compete, including teams from Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world
The tournament will feature 16 men's and 16 women's teams.

About Kho kho

Each team has 12 players, but only 9 players take the field during a match.
The game is played on a rectangular field measuring 27 meters in length and 16 meters in width.
A match consists of two innings. Each inning has two turns of 7 minutes for chasing and defending.
It was formalized in 1914, and the first set of rules was introduced by the Deccan Gymkhana of Pune.
The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI), formed in 1955, governs the sport in India.

Tulsi Gowda, the ‘Encyclopaedia of Forest’, passed away at 86.
Canada's deputy Prime Minister resigns over rift with Justin Trudeau on Trump tariffs.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz loses the confidence vote.
Indians Will Soon Be Able To Travel To Russia Without A Tourist Visa.
China successfully launched low-orbit internet satellites.
Taiwan received the first batch of US-made Abrams tanks.
Bangladesh grabbed Seven-Run Win In West Indies T20I Opener.
Jaitley is set to become DDCA president again.
Rashid Khan in line to play first Test since 2021 as Afghanistan announced squad for Zimbabwe series.
Cyclone Chido is causing destruction in Mozambique after killing people in French-administered Mayotte.

Download PDF