Current Affairs Quiz 8th December 2021 : Daily GK Update Quiz

Exp. Kazhuveli Wetland declared as 16th Bird Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu

The Kazhuveli wetland situated in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu has been declared as the 16th Bird Sanctuary by Surpiya Sahu, Environment and Forest Secretary, at the Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change.

The declaration was made under subsection (1) of section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The Kazhuveli wetlands is referred to as the 2nd largest Brackish Water Lake in South India, only after Pulicat lake.

Exp. Adama Barrow won second term as President of Gambia

The President of Gambia, Adama Barrow, won the second term as President during Gambia’s presidential election by achieving over 53% votes from 50 of 53 constituencies.

He defeated his main challenger Ousainou Darboe who won 27.7% of vote. The results of the election were declared by Electoral commission Chairman Alieu Momarr Njai.

Exp. J&K Bank launched revised mobile banking app ‘mPAY Delight’

R K Chhibber, Chairman and Managing Director of Jammu & Kashmir Bank launched its revised and refurbished mobile banking app named ‘J&K Bank mPAY – Delight’ for the public.

The app was initially launched (soft launch) in July 2021. The features of the app include Account Details (Deposit and Advances), Fund Transfer, Bill Payments & Donations, Positive Pay System and Bharat Bill Pay, etc.

Exp. RBI Monetary Policy (8th December 2021): kept repo rate unchanged at 4% for the 9th consecutive time

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee headed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das kept the key lending rate, repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent for the ninth consecutive time while maintaining an ‘accommodative stance’ as long as necessary.

The reverse repo rate will continue to be 3.35 per cent. The central bank had last revised the policy rate on May 22, 2020, in an off-policy cycle to perk up demand by cutting the interest rate to a historic low.  The meeting was held between December (6 to 8). The remaining will take place in February (7 to 9, 2022).

• India’s GDP, in the second quarter of FY22, grew at 8.4 percent, compared with a decline of 7.4 percent in the corresponding period in the last year.
• The projection for real GDP growth is retained at 9.5% in 2021-22, consisting of 6.6% in Q3, & 6% in Q4.
• Real GDP growth is projected at 17.2% for Q1 of 2022-23 and at 7.8% for Q2 of 2022-23.
• The inflation projection was retained for FY22 at 5.3%, 5.1% for Q3, 5.7% for Q4, and 5% for Q1 FY23.

Exp. RBI Monetary Policy (8th December 2021): kept repo rate unchanged at 4% for the 9th consecutive time

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee headed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das kept the key lending rate, repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent for the ninth consecutive time while maintaining an ‘accommodative stance’ as long as necessary.

The reverse repo rate will continue to be 3.35 per cent. The central bank had last revised the policy rate on May 22, 2020, in an off-policy cycle to perk up demand by cutting the interest rate to a historic low.  The meeting was held between December (6 to 8). The remaining will take place in February (7 to 9, 2022).

• India’s GDP, in the second quarter of FY22, grew at 8.4 percent, compared with a decline of 7.4 percent in the corresponding period in the last year.
• The projection for real GDP growth is retained at 9.5% in 2021-22, consisting of 6.6% in Q3, & 6% in Q4.
• Real GDP growth is projected at 17.2% for Q1 of 2022-23 and at 7.8% for Q2 of 2022-23.
• The inflation projection was retained for FY22 at 5.3%, 5.1% for Q3, 5.7% for Q4, and 5% for Q1 FY23.

Exp. PayPhi became the 1st certified tokenization service for NTS to support tokenization of RuPay cards

On the lines of the guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in September 2021 regarding tokenization of cards during online transactions, NPCI announced the launch of NPCI Tokenization system (NTS).

In this regard, PayPhi, Phi Commerce’s API (Application programming interface) first digital payments platform, became the first certified tokenization service for NTS supporting tokenization of RuPay cards.

Exp. RBI imposed restrictions on Nagar Urban Co-operative Bank

The Reserve Bank of India imposed several restrictions on Nagar Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, including restriction on withdrawals upto Rs. 10,000 for customers.

RBI has issued the directions in the exercise of powers vested in it under subsection (1) of Section 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 for six months.

Exp. Shivalik SFB & Indiagold partnered to launch India’s 1st loan against ‘Digital Gold’

Shivalik Small Finance Bank (SSFB) signed a partnership agreement with fintech firm, Indiagold to launch India’s first Loan against Digital Gold.

This agreement will enable customers to use their digital gold balance to avail instant and digital loans upto Rs. 60,000 and also seamlessly access gold loans starting at a monthly interest of just 1%.

Aim: To provide access to secure and affordable credit to the customers looking for quick liquidity against their gold assets.

Exp. ICICI Bank partnered with Flipkart to offer instant digital Overdraft Facility

ICICI Bank partnered with Flipkart, an e-commerce platform, to offer an instant and digital overdraft (OD) facility of up to 25 lakh to individual sellers and businesses registered on Flipkart.

The OD is renewable on an annual basis, depending on the repayment track records of the seller. The OD Facility is enabled by Application Programming Interface (API) and the process from application to sanction to disbursement is completely digital.

Sellers having a current account with ICICI Bank can immediately avail OD and Customers of any bank can also avail of ODs from ICICI Bank if they are registered as sellers with Flipkart.

Exp. Ittira Davis appointed as MD & CEO of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank

The Board of Directors of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) appointed Ittira Davis as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a period of 3 years.

Ittira Davis is succeeded by former MD and CEO Nitin Chugh. The bank has also appointed Rajesh Kumar Jogi, Harish Devarajan and Umesh Bellur as additional directors.

Exp. Sanjiv Mehta will be appointed as Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) President

Sanjiv Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) will be appointed as Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) President.

He will be succeeding Uday Shankar, the current President of FICCI.

Exp. Nilmani Phookan Jr & Damodar Mauzo won Jnanpith Award

Sahitya Akademi and Padma Shri awardee Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan Jr won the 56th Jnanpith Award and Sahitya Akademi Awardee Konkani novelist Damodar Mauzo won the 57th Jnanpith Award.

Jnanpith Award is a literary award presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith organization to Indian writers every year. This was instituted in 1961 and is given only to Indian writers who write in Indian languages and English.

The country’s highest literary award, the Jnanpith is bestowed on writers for “their outstanding contribution to literature”.

Exp. Nilmani Phookan Jr & Damodar Mauzo won Jnanpith Award

Sahitya Akademi and Padma Shri awardee Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan Jr won the 56th Jnanpith Award and Sahitya Akademi Awardee Konkani novelist Damodar Mauzo won the 57th Jnanpith Award.

Jnanpith Award is a literary award presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith organization to Indian writers every year. This was instituted in 1961 and is given only to Indian writers who write in Indian languages and English.

The country’s highest literary award, the Jnanpith is bestowed on writers for “their outstanding contribution to literature”.

Exp. Indian Shuttler PV Sindhu won Silver at BWF World Tour Finals 2021; Viktor Axelsen and An Se-young won gold

Indian Shuttler and 2-time Olympic medalist Pusarla V Sindhu, world’s number 7, won the silver at the 2021 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals, officially known as the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2021, the final tournament of the Women’s Singles 2021 BWF World Tour.

The reigning world champion PV Sindhu has won the BWF World Tour finals in 2018 and became the only Indian to achieve the feat.

Women’s Singles title: An Se Young of South Korea

Men’s Single title : Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen,

Exp. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu launched a book titled ‘The Midway Battle: Modi’s Roller-coaster Second Term’ authored by Gautam Chintamani at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas, New Delhi.

The book mentioned about the political scenario of India. It marks the second tenure of the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Exp. 7 December: National Armed Forces Flag Day

National Armed Forces Flag Day, also known as the National flag day of India is celebrated and observed every year in India on 7th December.

A committee was set up on August 28, 1949, under the then Defense Minister of India. The committee decided to observe a Flag Day annually on December 7.

Exp. India’s 1st woman psychiatrist Sarada Menon passed away

Padma Bhushan Dr Mamballaikalathil Sarada Menon, India’s 1st woman Psychiatrist and the longest-serving head of the Institute of Mental Health has passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

She was born in a Malayali family in Mangaluru, Karnataka. She became the 1st woman Superintendent of the Institute of Mental Health in 1961.

Exp. Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and his wife passed away in IAF Chopper Crash in Tamil Nadu

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others died in an IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter crash on Wednesday, 8 December, the Indian Air Force has confirmed in a tweet.

An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with General Bipin Rawat, his wife and staff, as well as other senior officials on-board, crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor.