Current Affairs Quiz 25th and 26th December 2021 : Daily GK Update Quiz

Exp. Centre extended Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till March 2022

Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, the Centre is providing five-kilogram food grains per person per month free of cost to all beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act.

The scheme is a food security welfare scheme that was envisaged by PM Modi to provide assistance and help mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19.

The government will be incurring an expenditure of nearly two lakh 6000 crore rupees on Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

Exp. World Sangeet Tansen festival or Tansen Samaroh organized in Gwalior, MP

In Madhya Pradesh, the 97th edition of World Sangeet Tansen festival started in Gwalior.

The festival will be organised till 30th December 2021. The stage of the program has been constructed on the theme of the Siddhanath temple situated in Omkareshwar.

Exp. Tamil Nadu Government launched CM Dashboard monitoring system “CM Dashboard Tamil Nadu 360”

Tamil Nadu government launched the Chief Minister (CM) Dashboard monitoring system, “CM Dashboard Tamil Nadu 360” in Chennai.

It will enable CM to track all welfare schemes, including the status of their implementation, fund allocation and the number of beneficiaries along with updates on the storage of water in dams and rainfall patterns.

Exp. India and Maldives signed an MoU to launch pilot project on ‘pre-arrival customs data exchange’

India and Maldives signed an MoU between the customs of two countries for the joint launch of a pilot project on ‘pre-arrival customs data exchange’ in a virtual ceremony.

It was launched by Vivek Johri, Chairman Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and Abdulla Shareef, Commissioner General, Maldives Customs Service.

This MoU helps in faster Export-Import (EXIM) clearances, fast-track customs payments and help identify frauds.

Exp. “2019 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) Report: India ranked 3rd; Russia topped

World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has published its latest Report titled “2019 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) Report”, compiled based on decisions received by WADA before 31 January 2021.

India ranked 3rd among dope violators in the world with 152 (17 per cent of the world total) ADRVs.

Bodybuilding (57), Weightlifting (25), and Athletics (20) has recorded more number of dope offenders in India. Russia tops the list with 167 ADRVs, followed by Italy with 157 ADRVs. Brazil (78) and Iran (70) has ranked 4th and 5th respectively.

Exp. “2019 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) Report: India ranked 3rd; Russia topped

World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has published its latest Report titled “2019 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) Report”, compiled based on decisions received by WADA before 31 January 2021.

India ranked 3rd among dope violators in the world with 152 (17 per cent of the world total) ADRVs.

Bodybuilding (57), Weightlifting (25), and Athletics (20) has recorded more number of dope offenders in India. Russia tops the list with 167 ADRVs, followed by Italy with 157 ADRVs. Brazil (78) and Iran (70) has ranked 4th and 5th respectively.

Exp. GoI signed 140 mn Euro loan agreement with KfW bank for energy reforms in MP

The Government of India signed agreements with the German based KfW Development bank a 140 million Euro reduced interest loan & 2 million Euro grant for an energy reform programme in Madhya Pradesh.

The project consists of two components, implementation of Smart Meters & Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and separation of agriculture and non-agriculture feeders.

Exp. SEBI restructured its advisory committees on Secondary Markets, Mutual Funds, Corporate Bonds

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has restructured its 3 advisory committees that includes the secondary market, mutual funds, corporate bonds and securitisation, Information Systems.

Secondary Market Advisory Committee (SMAC): headed by Madhabi Puri Buch: Advisory committee on Mutual Funds: headed by Usha Thorat: Corporate Bonds and Securitization Advisory Committee (CoBoSAC): headed by G Mahalingam.

Exp. SEBI restructured its advisory committees on Secondary Markets, Mutual Funds, Corporate Bonds

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has restructured its 3 advisory committees that includes the secondary market, mutual funds, corporate bonds and securitisation, Information Systems.

Secondary Market Advisory Committee (SMAC): headed by Madhabi Puri Buch: Advisory committee on Mutual Funds: headed by Usha Thorat: Corporate Bonds and Securitization Advisory Committee (CoBoSAC): headed by G Mahalingam.

Exp. PM Modi transferred Rs 1000 crores under DAY-NRLM to Bank Accounts of SHGs

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India addressed the gathering of women beneficiaries of several government scheme at Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh and transferred Rs 1000 crores into the bank accounts of the women Self Help Groups in UP.

The amount was transferred under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM).

This will benefit around 16 lakh rural women in UP and make them self-reliant and financially independent.

80000 SHGs received a Community Investment Fund (CIF) of Rs 1.10 lakh per SHG and 60000 SHGs received a Revolving Fund of Rs 15000 per SHG.

Exp. RBI extended CoF Tokenisation deadline till June 2022

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the card-on-file (CoF) tokenisation deadline by 6 months i.e., to June 30, 2022. Earlier the deadline was fixed till December 31, 2021.

In March 2020, RBI had issued guidelines for the regulation of payment aggregators and payment gateways, prohibiting payment aggregators and merchants to store customer card credentials within their database or server from 30 June 2021

In September 2021, RBI extended the scope of tokenization from device-based tokenization to CoF tokenization services and barred merchants from storing actual card data while online transactions. RBI has fixed the deadline for card tokenization to January 1, 2022.

Exp. BOB Financial and Indian Navy launched co-branded credit card

BOB Financial Solutions Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, and the Indian Navy have launched a co-branded credit card for navy personnel.

The credit card will be offered on the RuPay platform and will be equipped with contactless features.

A navy personnel up to the age of 64 years will be eligible to choose from 3 variants of the co-branded credit card.

Headquarters: Alkapuri, Vadodara, Gujarat

Exp. DRDO successfully conducted flight test of Indigenously developed HEAT Abhyas

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted flight test of Indigenously developed High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ‘Abhyas’ from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off Odisha coast.

During its trial, high subsonic speed trajectory at a very low altitude with high endurance was demonstrated.

It is Developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO laboratory along with other laboratories.

Exp. Indian Navy decommissioned INS Khukri after 32 years of service

INS Khukri (Pennant number 49), the first indigenously built Missile Corvette, was decommissioned after 32 years of service at Visakhapatnam.

The warship was built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MSD) and commissioned on 23rd August 1989 and had been part of both the Western and Eastern Fleets.

The ship was commissioned in Mumbai by Shri Krishna Chandra Pant, the then Raksha Mantri and Mrs Sudha Mulla, wife of late Capt Mahendra Nath Mulla. Commander (now Retired Vice Admiral) Sanjeev Bhasin was the first Commanding Officer.

Exp. Bangladesh won SAFF U 19 Women’s Championship 2021 by defeating India

Bangladesh Under-19 Women’s team won SAFF U-19 Women’s Football Championship in Dhaka, after defeating India by 1-0 at BSSS Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Dhaka in Bangladesh.

2021 SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship was 2nd edition of an international football competition for women’s under-19 national teams organized by SAFF.

Shaheda Akter Ripa of Bangladesh scored the maximum number of goals in the tournament. She received the ‘most valuable player’ award.

Exp. Aanchal Thakur won bronze at FIS Alpine Skiing Competition 2021

Indian skier Aanchal Thakur has bagged bronze medal at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Skiing Competition in Montenegro.

She finished 3rd with an overall timing of 1:54:30. With this, Aanchal has become first Indian Ski athlete to win two medals at international level.

She has previously won bronze medal in the 2018 FIS Alpine 3200 Cup held in Turkey Georgia Epiphaniou won silver medal and was just 2 seconds ahead of Anchal.

Exp. An Autobiography of Arup Roy Choudhury titled “The Turnover Wizard – Saviour Of Thousands” released by M Venkaiah Naidu

Vice-President of India M Venkaiah Naidu released the book titled “The Turnover Wizard – Saviour Of Thousands”, an autobiography of Arup Roy Choudhury, the former Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC Limited and NBCC (India) Limited.

The book consolidates Arup Roy Choudhury’s learnings from life and brings out the management lesson from his life. The book is also endorsed by E Sreedharan, The Metro Man of India.

Exp. 23 December: National Siddha Day 2021

5th Siddha Day has been observed across India on 23rd December 2021 to create awareness about the Siddha system of medicine.

The day is annually organised by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) on the eve of the birthday of Siddhar Agathiyar, which falls during the Ayilyam star in the Tamil month of Margazhi.

Theme 2021: “Strength of Siddha in Communicable Diseases”

Exp. 25 December: Good Governance Day

Good Governance Day or Sushasan Divas is observed every year on 25th December in India.

On this day nation commemorates the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna and former-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

On 23rd December 2014, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya were announced to receive the highest civilian award of the nation, Bharat Ratna. After the announcement, the newly elected prime minister Narendra Modi has announced 25th December to be celebrated and observed as the Good Governance Day.

Exp. Malayalam Director KS Sethumadhavan passed away

The legendary Malayalam filmmaker KS Sethumadhavan passed away at the age of 90 years in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

He directed over 60 movies in five languages including Tamil, Telugu and Hindi during his career. He directed popular movies such as Odayil Ninnu, Anubhavangal Palichakal, Oppol, Aranazhikaneeram, Achanum Bappayum, etc.

He has won 10 National Film Awards, 9 Kerala State Awards among others.