Current Affairs Quiz 21st December 2022 Quiz

Exp. Nitin Gadkari launched Surety Bond Insurance product from Bajaj Allianz

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has launched one of India’s first-ever Surety Bond Insurance products from Bajaj Allianz.

Surety Bond Insurance — which will help replace bank guarantees — is expected to optimize capital for contractors while giving a fillip to the country’s infrastructure sector.

This product launch is in line with the Government’s vision to up-scale the infrastructure development in the country.

In Budget 2022-23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that Surety Bond Insurance would be allowed as a substitute for bank guarantees in case of government procurement and also for gold imports.

Surety Bond Insurance, which is mainly aimed at infrastructure development, is a risk transfer tool that shields the principal from the losses that may arise in case the contractor fails to perform their contractual obligation.

Exp. Government accords approval for setting up 21 Greenfield Airports

The Government has accorded in-principle approval for the setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country.

So far nine Greenfield airports have already been operationalized and the tenth Greenfield airport at Mopa, Goa has been inaugurated last week

This information was given by Minister of State for Civil Aviation General V. K. Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

During the pre-covid period, in the year 2018-19 the number of passengers footfall at airports across the country had increased by 11.6 per as compared to 2017-18.

Passenger footfall had decreased during the pandemic era. However, post-covid, in the year 2021-22, the trend shows an increase of 63.7 percent over the year 2020-21.

Development of a Greenfield airport is governed under the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008.

Exp. Assam government launched Orunodoi 2.0 scheme

Assam government has launched a special scheme Orunodoi 2.0.

The flagship scheme of the state government aimed at providing financial security to financially disadvantaged families.

Around 17 lakh women have been receiving an amount of Rs 1,250 each on the 10th of every month through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method under the first phase of this social sector scheme

April 2023 onwards, all the existing beneficiaries of the Deen Dayal Divyangan Pension Yojana and Indira Miri Widow Pension Scheme would be subsumed under Orunodoi 2.0. Divyangans and transgenders would also be included under the ‘Orunodoi’ scheme.

About Assam

• Capital –Dispur

Chief Minister –Himanta Biswa Sarma

Governor – Prof Jagdish Mukhi

Recent Scheme launched by Assam government

Ayushman CAPF scheme

Uttaran scheme

Dhanwantari Scheme

Arundhati scheme

Aponar Apon Ghar Scheme

Abhinandan Scheme

Pragyan Scheme

Bhasha Gourab Scheme

Sneha Sparsha Scheme

Orunodoi Scheme

Atal Amrit Abhiyan Health Insurance Scheme

Silpi Sambardhana Scheme

Gyan Deepika Scheme

Assam Deen Dayal Divyangjan Sahajya Scheme

Exp. Jyotiraditya Scindia launched India’s first Green Steel Brand

Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has launched India’s first Green Steel Brand ‘KALYANI FeRRESTA’ in New Delhi.

This first-of-its-kind steel has been manufactured by a Pune-based Steel company, Kalyani group by using renewable energy resources, leaving zero carbon footprints in the environment.

The plant where green steel is being produced has the capacity to manufacture 250,000 tonnes of steel.

Exp. UAE to host 13th WTO Ministerial Meeting in 2024

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Meeting in February 2024.

Representatives of the 164 countries of the World Trade Organization would meet in the country’s capital.

The WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 12 to June 17. It was originally meant to be held in Kazakhstan in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.

The last time the conference was held in the Gulf was in 2001 in Doha, which resulted in China being approved as the 143rd member.

The Ministerial Conference is the topmost decision-making body of the WTO and usually meets every two years.

It brings together all members of the WTO, all of which are countries or customs unions, and takes decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.

African country Cameroon has also expressed its desire to host the 13th WTO Ministerial Meeting.

About United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Capital – Abu Dhabi

Currency – Dirham

President – Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime Minister – Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

About World Trade Organization (WTO)

Founded – 1 January 1995

Headquarters – Geneva Switzerland

1st Director General – Peter Sutherland

Director General – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria)

Member Countries – 164

Exp. Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2022: India ranked 68th; topped by Finland

The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2022 report has been released by the British weekly The Economist.

The 11th Global Food Security Index shows a deterioration in the global food environment for the third year, threatening food security.

In this report, South Africa overtook Tunisia to become the most food-secure country in Africa.

It measures the underlying drivers of food security based on the following factors- Affordability, Availability, Quality and Safety, Natural Resources and Resilience.

India is ranked at 68th position along with Algeria with the overall score of 58.9. China’s position is at 25th with the score of 74.2. While Finland topped.

India was ranked at 71st position in the Global Food Security (GFS) Index 2021 of 113 countries with an overall score of 57.2 points on the GFS Index 2021.

Recent index

• Global ranking in scientific publications – India ranked 3^rd, topped by China
• Passport Index 2022 published by Arton Capital – India ranked 87^th; topped by UAE
• Global Aviation Safety Rankings: India ranked 48th; topped by Singapore
• List of countries at risk of mass killings: India ranked 8th; Pakistan topped
• Global Prime Cities Index by Knight Frank: Mumbai ranked 22nd

Exp. Gross Direct Tax Collections for FY 2022-23 register growth of 25.90%

The Gross collection of Direct Taxes has registered a growth of 25 .90% which stood at Rs 13,63,649 cr in the financial year 2022-23.

The Gross collection in the corresponding period stood at Rs 10,83,150 cr.

The Net Direct tax collection for FY 2022-23 stood at 11,35,754 crore rupees, registering a growth of 19.81%.

The Net Direct tax collection for the corresponding period was recorded at 9,47,959 crore rupees.

Meanwhile, Advance Tax collections for FY 2022-23 recorded at 5,21,302 crore rupees, which showed a growth of 12.83 percent.

Exp. Note in circulation rise 8% annually to Rs 32 lakh crore: FM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has informed that note in circulation (NiC) has witnessed an annual growth of 7.98% to Rs 31.92 lakh crore as of December 2, 2022.

The demand for currency depends upon several macroeconomic factors, including economic growth and the level of interest rates.

The quantum of cash or banknotes in the economy depends on the requirement for meeting the demand for banknotes due to GDP growth, inflation, and the replacement of soiled banknotes.

Exp. Major General Mohit Seth takes over as GoC Kilo Force

Major General Mohit Seth took over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Counter Insurgency Force Kilo.

He took over from Major General Sanjiv Singh Slaria who has been moved to Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur,

Major General Slaria’s tenure saw the Kilo Force take distinctive steps towards peace and stability in North Kashmir.

Major General Seth was commissioned into the 3 MADRAS Regiment in December 1991.

Major General Mohit Seth has also served as Indian Army Liaison Officer, High Commission of India, and United Kingdom.

Exp. Cindy Hook appointed as CEO of Olympic Organizing Committee

American executive Cindy Hook has been appointed as CEO of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in December 2022.

She is currently a member of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Singapore Economic Development Board.

She became CEO of the Australian operation in 2015.

The organizing committee announced the appointment after engaging with 50 candidates over six months.

The International Olympic Committee in July 2021 decided to host the 2032 Games in Brisbane, Australia.

Recent Appointment 

• First black president in Harvard University – Claudine Gay
• CMD of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd. – Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi
• Chief Scientist of WHO – Jeremy Farrar (replace Soumya Swaminathan)
• President of Cardiological Society of India – Dr. PC Rath
• Judge of Supreme Court – Justice Dipankar Dutta
• First woman president of Indian Olympic Association – PT Usha

Exp. INSV Tarini to participate in 50th edition of Cape Town to Rio Race 2023

INSV Tarini has set sail for an expedition to Cape Town, South Africa for participating in the 50th edition of Cape to Rio Race 2023.

This ocean sailing race will be flagged off on 2nd January 2023 from Cape Town and will culminate at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Objective – To train crew onboard, in essential seamanship skills including Navigation, Communication, and Planning.

During the expedition, while transiting from Goa to Rio de Janeiro via Cape Town and back, INSV Tarini would be covering a distance of almost 17000 nautical miles.

The crew, over a period of 5-6 months in this trans-oceanic voyage is expected to face extreme weather and rough sea conditions of the Indian, Atlantic, and Southern oceans.

INSV Tarini is known for circumnavigating the globe with an all-women officer crew in the historic expedition titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ in 2017.

Exp. Fifth Scorpene Submarine ‘Vagir’ delivered to Indian Navy

The fifth submarine of the Project – 75, Kalvari Class submarines, Yard 11879 was delivered to the Indian Navy.

These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.

Project – 75 includes the indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.

Launched on November 12, 2020, ‘Vagir’ commenced the sea trials on February 1, 2022, and has completed all major trials including the weapon and sensor trials in the shortest time in comparison to the earlier submarines.

The construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is another step towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and instills confidence in the region.

What is also a remarkable achievement is that this is the third submarine delivered to the Indian Navy in a span of 24 months.

Exp. Karim Benzema announces retirement from international football

France forward Karim Benzema announced his retirement from International football after the FIFA World Cup 2022 came to an end.

Benzema ends his time with France with 37 goals in 97 appearances.

When Benzema made his debut for France against Austria in March 2007, he scored while playing as a substitute.

He was included in the France team for Euro 2020, and he ended up being the third-highest scorer with four goals.

Exp. Rehan Ahmed becomes youngest to claim 5 wickets on Test Cricket debut

England’s leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has become the youngest men’s Test cricketer to take a five-wicket haul on debut during the ongoing third match against Pakistan.

He made his Test debut at 18 years and 126 days during Pakistan and England match.

He claimed three wickets in six overs on his way to 5-48 in the second innings against Pakistan.

Rehan broke the record of now-Australian captain, right-arm fast-bowler Pat Cummins, who was 18 years and 193 days when he took 6-79 on his Test debut against South Africa in 2011.

Exp. A book ‘Fit At Any Age’ launched by Retd. Air Marshal PV lyer

Retd. Air Marshal PV lyer has launched his book ‘Fit At Any Age’ at India International Centre, New Delhi.

He penned his journey to fitness in the book and shared anecdotes from his life to explain how he became motivated to work out daily.

He also writes about why it’s important to work out and why one’s journey toward fitness should start early.

The book is published by Bloomsbury India.

Recent Book

• Miracles of Face Yoga – Mansi Gulati
• India: The Mother of Democracy – Prepared and published by ICHR & launched by Dharmendra Pradhan
• Now You Breathe – Rakhi Kapoor
• The World: A Family History – Simon Sebag
• Nuclearization of Asia – French author Rene Naba