Current Affairs Quiz 19th December 2022 Quiz

Exp. Ministry of Culture organized Delhi International Arts Festival

Ministry of Culture in collaboration with Prasiddha Foundation has inaugurated Delhi International Arts Festival at Kartavya Path with the tagline – ‘Where Bharat Meets India’.

The festival aims to celebrate the great Epics, the Warriors Who Fought for Our Freedom, and the many policy decisions and schemes instituted by our government towards ‘Women Empowerment’.

The festival is being organized from 17th December to 30th December.

Exp. Hinduja group to invest Rs 35,000 crore in Maharashtra across 11 sectors

Maharashtra government has signed an MoU with Hinduja group for an investment worth Rs 35,000 crore in 11 sectors.

The Hinduja group will invest Rs 35,000 crore in the state to boost the development of the state and create employment opportunities.

The conglomerate will invest in the fields of renewable energy, media and entertainment, rural economic development, cyber security, commercial automobiles, banking finance, health, infrastructure, education, manufacturing, and new technology.

It also focuses on the economic development of the rural sector for creating opportunities and employment for the people of Maharashtra.

About Maharashtra

• Capital – Mumbai
• Chief Minister – Eknath Sindhe
• Governor – Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Recent MoUs

• Meghalaya signed MoU with Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for MSME borrowers
• Haryana government signed an MoU with Dubai for economic cooperation
• Haryana government has launched Nirogi Haryana project
• Finland partnered with Kerala government to replicate Little KITEs model
• IRCTC signed an agreement with Chhattisgarh toursim board to promote tourist spots of state

Exp. PM Modi inaugurated projects worth Rs 6,800 crore in Tripura, Meghalaya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth over 6,800 crore rupees in Tripura and Meghalaya.

In Tripura, the Prime Minister launched projects worth 4,350 crore rupees.

The projects include ‘Grih Pravesh’ programme for beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Rural.

These houses, which have been developed at a cost of more than 3400 crore rupees, will cover over two lakh beneficiaries.

In Meghalaya, the Prime Minister unveiled projects worth over 2,450 crore rupees.

The multiple projects include the inauguration of 320 completed and 890 under construction 4G mobile towers, the new campus of IIM Shillong, at Umsawli, the Shillong – Diengpasoh Road which will provide better connectivity to the new Shillong satellite township and four other roads projects across the three states of Meghalaya, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Modi also laid the foundation stone of the Integrated Hospitality and Convention Centre at Tura and Shillong Technology Park Phase -II. He also inaugurated 21 Hindi libraries in Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, and Assam.

Modi also inaugurated State’s first Dental College in Agartala

He will also participate in the golden jubilee celebration of the North Eastern Council and attend its meeting in Shillong.

Recent Inauguration by PM Modi

• PM Modi launched projects worth Rs 75,000 cr in Maharashtra
• PM Modi inaugurated the first phase of the international airport at Mopa in north Goa.
• PM Modi flagged off 6th Vande Bharat train in Nagpur, Maharashtra
• PM Modi inaugurated AIIMS in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh
• PM Modi inaugurated 4th Vande Bharat Express in Himachal Pradesh
• PM Modi inaugurated Shri Mahakal Lok complex in Ujjain

Exp. India & Sri Lanka to launch ferry service between Kankesanthurai and Pondicherry in Jan 2023

Sri Lanka and India will start a passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai port in Jaffna district and Karaikal ports in Pondicherry in January 2023.

A large number of Indian citizens are engaged in business activities in the Jaffna Peninsula.

With such engagement, the new service is expected to generate a large portion of foreign revenue. It will also be of immense convenience for Buddhist pilgrims to India.

The ferry service between Tamil Nadu and the Northern part of Sri Lanka which is dominated by Sri Lanka Tamils was disrupted in 1980’s due to the civil war in Sri Lanka.

After the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2009, efforts were made to revive the old transportation link between the two countries.

About Sri Lanka

• Legislative capital – Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
• Executive and Judicial capital – Colombo
• Currency – Sri Lankan rupee
• President – Ranil Wickremesinghe
• Prime Minister – Dinesh Gunawardena

Exp. CSIR’s “One Week, One Lab” countrywide campaign from 6th Jan 2023

Union Minister for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh has announced the launching of “One Week, One Lab” countrywide campaign from January 6, 2023.

Singh is also the vice president of CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research).

Jitendra Singh announced this while addressing the 200th Governing Body Meeting of CSIR at the Science Centre in New Delhi.

The Prime Minister had urged CSIR in the Society meeting to develop a vision for 2042 when CSIR turns 100 years old and also highlighted the significance of documenting the journey of the past 80 years, which can help take a review of progress achieved and identify areas of lacunae which can be addressed.

He also suggested that a virtual summit of all labs can be held regularly in which they can learn new things from each other’s experiences.

CSIR was established on 26 September 1942 and was registered as a CSIR Society under the Societies Registration Act, of 1860. The first meeting of the Governing Body was held on 09 March 1942 that framed the Bye-Laws for the Council amongst other agenda items.

Exp. 63rd session of the IHRC inaugurated in Lucknow.

The Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) Daya Shankar Singh has inaugurated the 63rd Session of the Indian Historical Records Committee (IHRC) in Lucknow.

A total of 24 papers based on the original sources of post-1600 of Indian history were presented by Scholars on various aspects of history.

The IHRC is an all-India forum of creators, custodians, and users of records which was set up in 1919 to advice the Government of India on all issues connected with the management of records and their use for historical research.

The IHRC is headed by the Union minister of culture and comprises 134 members including agencies of the Government of India, nominees of the central government, representatives from archives at various states and Union Territories, universities and institutions.

About Uttar Pradesh

• Capital – Lucknow
• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath
• Governor – Anandiben Patel

Exp. Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated ‘Prashasan Gaon ki Ore’ campaign

Union Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh has inaugurated a nationwide campaign, Prashasan Gaon ki Ore.

This campaign was launched under the Good Governance Week 2022 in New Delhi.

He has also launched the Good Governance Week portal, http://www.pgportal.gov.in.

More than 700 district collectors will participate in the campaign and officers will visit tehsil and panchayat samiti headquarters.

In the 5 days campaign, over 300 New Services identified by District Collectors across the country will be added for Online Service Delivery.

Recent Inauguration by Jitendra Singh

• Jitendra Singh announced ‘One Week One Lab’ campaign
• Jitendra Singh launched portal for PM’s Excellence Awards
• Jitendra Singh inaugurated a conference on women’s leadership

Exp. Hardeep Puri addressed 7th Petrochemical Conclave held in New Delhi

Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri has addressed the Plenary Session at the 7th Petrochemical Conclave in New Delhi.

The Conclave aims to provide a comprehensive platform for varied Petrochemical stakeholders to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges with the sector and brainstorm on the impacts of forces like energy transition, Crude Oil to Chemicals, Industry 4.0, emerging Green pathways, and Circular economy.

The theme of the Conclave – India’s Petchem Future -Sustainable and Atmanirbhar

Exp. NMDC won IEI Industry Excellence Award 2022

National Miner National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) won the Institution of Engineers, India (IEI) Industry Excellence Award 2022 in Chennai.

The largest producer of iron ore in the country was felicitated at the 37th Indian Engineering Congress for its outstanding performance and high level of business excellence.

The Institution of Engineers (India) has given the Industry Excellence Award to NMDC, after reviewing the business operations, financial performance, environmental performance, research and development, CSR, and corporate governance policies of a company.

About NMDC

• Founded – 1958
• Headquarters -Hyderabad
• Under – Ministry of Steel
• It is a Government of India public enterprise.
• It is India’s largest producer of iron ore.

Recent Awards

• Two Golden Globe Award nominations – Indian film RRR
• WTA Player of the Year for 2022 – Iga Swiatek
• SIES Award for public leadership – Venkaiah Naid
• Safety Performer of the Year’ award by Delhi airport – SpiceJet
• US Presidential Lifetime Award – Indian origin Krishna Vavilala
• First prize in Ayushman Bharat health account ID generation – Jammu and Kashmir

Exp. Anurag Thakur unveiled Hockey World Cup trophy in New Delhi

Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur has unveiled the Hockey World Cup trophy in New Delhi.

The event was also attended by 1975 Hockey World Cup winners.

The FIH Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar – Rourkela will begin on 13th January 2023.

The nationwide Trophy Tour was launched in Bhubaneswar on 5th December by Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.

The trophy will travel across 13 states and one Union Territory before returning to Odisha on 25 December, thus giving the fans and public a chance to engage with the prestigious trophy before the winning team lifts it on 29th January.

Recent Inauguration by Anurag Thakur

• Anurag Thakur inaugurated Water Sports Center in Himachal Pradesh
• Anurag Thakur launched the WADA Athlete Biological Passport Symposium.
• Anurag Singh Thakur has inaugurated ’53 Hours Challenge’ for ‘75 Creative Minds Tomorrow’.
• Anurag Thakur inaugurated Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union Assembly in New Delhi
• Anurag Thakur inaugurated India’s 1st Drone Training Conference

Exp. Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek crowned ITF World Champions 2022

Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek were crowned the International Tennis Federation (ITF) world champion 2022 in their respective categories.

Rafael Nadal was crowned the ITF world champion for the fifth time in his career.

Nadal swept to the Australian Open and then backed it up with a 14th French Open, taking his majors total to a men’s record of 22.

Swiatek, who inherited the world number one spot in March following the shock retirement of Ashleigh Barty, claimed a second French Open and then captured the US Open.

In the men’s doubles category, Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury won the award.

While Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova took the women’s doubles honour for the third time.

Exp. Argentina won FIFA World Cup 2022 championship

Argentina won the FIFA World Cup 2022 title third time after defeating defending champions France 4-2 on penalties.

The final match was played at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.

Argentina has been able to win the World Cup after 36 years. It has now won the title for the third time after 1978 and 1986.

Kylian Mbapp (France) has won the FIFA World Cup 2022 Golden Boot award with 8 goals.

Lionel Messi won Golden Ball (best player award) at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Fair play award -England Golden Ball Award – Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Golden Boot Award – Kylian Mbappe (France)

Golden Glove Award – Emi Martinez (Argentina)

Young Player Award – Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)

FIFA Event

• FIFA World Cup 2022 – Qatar (32 Teams)
• FIFA World Cup 2026 – Canada, Mexico, USA (48 teams)
• FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2022 – Costa Rica
• FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 – India
• FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2023 – Australia and New Zealand

Exp. 18 December – Arabic Language Day

Arabic Language Day is observed every year on December 18.

Objective – To honour the language and cultural diversity of the Middle Eastern region.

The annual celebration of the Arabic culture falls on the day in 1973 when the UN General Assembly adopted Arabic as the sixth official language of the international organization.

Theme 2022 – The Contribution of the Arabic Language to Human Civilization and Culture

Exp. 19 December – Goa Liberation Day

India observed Goa Liberation Day every year on December 19 to celebrate the independence of the smallest state of the Union in 1961.

Goa did not gain its independence in 1947 like the other princely states of British India. Then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru tried to secure the accession of Goa through diplomacy.

But Portugal’s dictator thwarted his efforts and India ultimately merged Goa into the Union through force. India’s armed forces carried out Operation Vijay which freed Goa from 450-year-old colonial subjugation.

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia led the Goa liberation movement on June 18, 1946, with the aim of liberating Goa by gathering young Goans.

The Union of India was completed with Goa’s liberation on December 19, 1961.

Goa continued to be a UT till 1987 and then was given statehood by becoming the 25th state of India.