Current Affairs Quiz 27th December 2021 : Daily GK Update Quiz

Exp. Tamil Nadu CM launched ‘Meendum Manjappai’ scheme to promote the usage of cloth bags

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched ‘Meendum Manjappai’ scheme to promote the use of cloth bags by the public and discourage the use of plastic bags.

This awareness campaign on using ‘yellow’ cloth bag or ‘manjapai’ as it is called in Tamil, is aimed at encouraging the people to return to the use of this eco-friendly bag and discard the plastic bags.

The state government had enforced a ban on the production, use, storage, distribution, transportation or sale of 14 types of plastics with effect from January 1, 2019.

Exp. Govt set up 2 sub-committees under PMFBY to lower Crop Insurance Premium

The Central government has appointed 2 sub-committees with separate groups of experts comprising officials from Centre, key crop-producing states and top executives of public sector insurance companies to lower crop insurance premium under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

The sub-committees will submit their report by January 10, 2022, to the working group which was constituted in September, 2021, headed by PMFBY CEO, currently Ritesh Chauhan, to examine alternate risk management mechanisms for rationalising the premiums.

First Committee is a ten-member committee under scientist KR Manjunath of ISRO that will explore the feasibility of adoption of various technology-based approaches developed through pilot projects by ISRO and its arm National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) as well as Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) of the Union Agriculture Ministry.

Second Committee is headed by Saurabh Mishra, joint secretary in Ministry of Finance. It will conduct cost benefit analysis of all ‘accepted models – agriculture insurance pool, cup and cap 80-110 percent and co-insurance 20-80 percent’ as well as any profit-loss sharing model.

Exp. Gujarat topped the Good Governance Index 2021

Good Governance Index 2021 was launched by Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on the occasion of the Good Governance Day on 25 December 2021.

Gujarat has topped the composite ranking in the Good Governance Index (GGI), followed by Maharashtra and Goa while Uttar Pradesh showed an incremental growth of 8.9 per cent in the indicators. Delhi has topped the union territories category composite ranking. Rajasthan has topped the Other States (Group B) category in Judiciary and Public Safety, Environment & Citizen Centric Governance.

In the North-East and Hill States category, Mizoram and Jammu and Kashmir have registered an overall increase of 10.4% and 3.7% respectively over GGI 2019. GGI 2021 was prepared by the Department of Administration Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). The GGI 2021 framework covered 10 sectors and 58 indicators.

Exp. RBI imposed monetary penalty on payment operators One Mobikwik & Spice Money

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalty on two payment system operators, One Mobikwik Systems Private Limited and Spice Money Limited, for violation of norms.

Both the payment companies have been slapped with a fine of Rs 1 crore, as per the order issued by the central bank.

In a statement, the RBI said it has imposed the penalty on the two payment system operators for “committing offences of the nature referred to in Section 26 (6) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSSAct).”

Exp. SIDBI signed MoU with West Bengal to develop MSME ecosystem

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed an MoU with the government of West Bengal to develop the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem in the state.

According to the MoU, a project management unit (PMU) of SIDBI will work with the state government.

PMU will study the existing framework and guide stakeholders for the cluster, sector-specific products, interventions for MSMEs by placing an expert agency of SIDBI with the state MSME department.

Exp. Rajeev Ahuja appointed as MD & CEO of RBL Bank

The RBL Bank board has appointed Rajeev Ahuja, who’s currently working as the Executive Director at the bank, as interim Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the bank with immediate effect.

The board of directors at its meeting has accepted the request of Vishwavir Ahuja, Managing Director and CEO of the bank, to proceed on leave with immediate effect.

Exp. UAE’s Mohammed Ben Sulayem elected as president of FIA

Mohammed Ben Sulayem of the United Arab Emirates has been elected successor to Jean Todt as the first non-European president of motorsport’s world governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

The FIA is the governing body for Formula One, the World Rally Championship, World Endurance and Formula E among other series.

Exp. HDFC Bank won CII Dx award for ‘Most Innovative Best Practice’ 2021

HDFC Bank has been selected under ‘Most Innovative Best Practice’ at the coveted Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Digital Transformation Award 2021 or CII DX Award 2021.

It will be recognized for the HDFC’s efforts in world class financial inclusion in Village Level Executive (VLE) centres along with Government of India’s Common Service Centres (CSC).

Exp. NASA launched world’s largest telescope “James Webb Space Telescope”

NASA’s $10 billion telescopes James Webb Space Telescope designed to capture the first glimpse of the universe just shortly after the Big Bang is targeted for blastoff from the European Space Agency’s Kourou, French Guiana.

The revolutionary world’s first-of-its-kind space-science observatory of the next decade will capture the earliest galaxies believed to have formed during the early universe’s formation. The new telescope will help scientists to probe the structures and origins of our universe and our place in it.

Webb will be the premier space observatory for astronomers worldwide to extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope. It will be the largest telescope ever placed in space and 100 times more powerful than Hubble, with a total mass of 6200 kg.

Exp. Pankaj Advani won 2021 National Billiards Title

Pankaj Advani defended his National Billiards Title by winning his 11th on, after defeating his PSPB teammate Dhruv Sitwala in a 5-2 game final that was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

He represented the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) team in the National Billiards Championship. The 88th National Billiards and Snooker Championships 2021, organised by Cue Sports India at Bhopal, MP.

Exp. Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021: Himachal Pradesh beats Tamil Nadu to win first title

Himachal Pradesh created history by winning their first ever Vijay Hazare Trophy in a thrilling final against former champions Tamil Nadu in Jaipur.

Tamil Nadu had set a target of 315 runs in front of Himachal Pradesh in the final. Himachal had scored 299 for four in 47.3 overs. After this, due to bad light, the umpires gave the result of the match by VJD rule (V Jayadevan rule).

Exp. A new book titled “The Modi Gambit: Decoding Modi 2.0” authored by Sanju Verma

Sanju Verma, an economist and the BJP National Spokesperson, has authored a new book titled “The Modi Gambit: Decoding Modi 2.0”.

The book features the various achievement in the last 2 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2nd term as PM of India.

The foreword of the book is written by Padma Shri Mohandas Pai and the Afterword is written by ace journalist, Anand Narasimhan, Managing Editor at CNN News 18.

Exp. 27 December: International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

The United Nations and World Health Organization marked December 27 as the International day for Epidemic Preparedness.

The day was first observed on December 27, 2020 when the United Nations General Assembly had emphasised on the need to advocate the importance of the preparedness for, prevention of and partnership against epidemics.

Exp. South African anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu passed away

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and veteran of South Africa`s struggle against white minority rule, has died aged 90.

He was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to apartheid.

Exp. Former England Test Captain Ray Illingworth passed away

Former England captain Ray Illingworth has died at the age of 89, his county, Yorkshire.

Illingworth played 61 Tests for England between 1958 and 1973 and captained the country 31 times, winning 12 matches and an Ashes series in Australia in 1970-1. He was an all-rounder who scored 1,836 Test runs at an average of 23.24 and claimed 122 wickets with his offspin bowling at 31.20.

He was chairman of the England selectors between 1993 and 1996, and coached the team in 1995-96.