15th December Current Affairs : Vision IAS Current Affairs
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. Name the country that has recently (in Dec ‘22) signed a joint declaration of Intent On Migration and Mobility with India.
1) Finland
2) Norway
3) France
4) Germany
5) Australia
Option “1” is correct. India and Finland have signed a joint declaration of Intent On Migration and Mobility in order to reach a mutually beneficial agreement on migration and mobility. i. The Joint Declaration was signed by Union Minister of State (MoS) V. Muraleedharan, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (GoI), and Tuula Haatainen, Finland’s Minister of Employment. ii. India and Finland have warm and friendly relations based on common values such as democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. iii. On May 4, 2022, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi met Finland PM Sanna Marin on the margins of the 2nd India-Nordic Summit in Copenhagen (Denmark).
2. Which department has recently (in Dec ‘22) signed an MoU with Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) to develop the Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS)?
1) Department of Science and Technology
2) Department of Biotechnology
3) Department of Space
4) Department of Telecommunications
5) Department of Commerce
Option “3” is correct. An MoU was signed by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), and the Department of Space (DOS) to develop the Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS). i. The Krishi-DSS will be developed using geospatial technology and associated databases to enhance the capability of all agricultural stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions. ii. The MoA&FW is developing Krishi-DSS, a decision support system modelled after Gati Shakti, using RISAT-1A and the Visualization of Earth Observation Data and Archival System (VEDAS) of DOS. • RISAT-1A, India’s first radar imaging satellite, was launched on February 14, 2022.
3. In December 2022, ‘Gamocha’ of ____________ was granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Central Government of India.
Option “5” is correct. ‘Gamocha’, a symbol of Assamese culture and identity, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Central Government, 5 years after the initial application in 2017. • A GI is primarily a product that originates in a certain geographical location, whether it is a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods), a natural product, or an agricultural product. i. The “gamocha” is a handwoven rectangular cotton cloth with red borders and various designs and motifs. ii. A “gamocha”, which literally means a towel, is widely used in Assamese households for daily activities.
4. Which company has recently (in Dec ‘22) showcased the ‘Wagon R Flex Fuel prototype model’, India’s first mass segment Flex Fuel prototype car in New Delhi, Delhi?
1) Renault India
2) Hyundai India
3) Tata Motors
4) Maruti Suzuki
5) Honda Motor
Option “4” is correct. Maruti Suzuki India Limited (Maruti Suzuki) showcased the Wagon R Flex Fuel prototype model, India’s first mass segment Flex Fuel prototype car in the presence of Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi. i. It has developed engine management system strategies and emission control systems to comply with BS6 Phase-II emission norms in order to align with the latest government regulations. ii. The Wagon R Flex Fuel prototype is aligned with the Government of India (GoI)’s clean and green initiatives and has been designed to run on any ethanol-petrol blend between 20 percent (E20) and 85 percent (E85) fuel.
BANKING AND FINANCE
5. In December 2022, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) exempted the Non-Resident (NR) taxpayers from mandatory electronic filing of Form 10F until ___________.
1) 31st May 2023
2) 31st January 2023
3) 30th April 2023
4) 31st March 2023
5) 28th February 2023
Option “4” is correct. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has exempted the Non-Resident (NR) taxpayers from mandatory electronic filing of Form 10F until March 31, 2023. This will be applicable to those NR taxpayers who are not having a Permanent Account Number (PAN) and not required to have a PAN as per relevant provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 read with Income-tax Rules, 1962. • These taxpayers can file Form 10F till March 31, 2023 in manual form. i. NR taxpayers are required to provide a Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) to avail the benefits of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between their country of residence and India in respect of any income earned in India.
6. In December 2022, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) declined Asia’s economic growth at _______ in 2022 from 4.3% forecasted in September 2022, while India’s FY23 GDP growth was retained at 7%.
1) 4.0%
2) 4.2%
3) 3.9%
4) 4.1%
5) 3.8%
Option “2” is correct. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its ‘Asian Development Outlook (ADO) Supplement, December 2022- Global Gloom Dims Asian Prospects’ declined developing Asia’s economic growth at 4.2% in 2022 from 4.3% forecasted in September 2022. • For 2023 also it is declined to 4.6% from 4.9% projected in September 2022. i. For India, Gross domestic product (GDP) growth projections were maintained at 7% in 2022 and 7.2% in 2023. • India’s inflation rates are forecasted at 6.7% in 2022 and 5.8% in 2023.
7. Which bank has recently (in Dec ‘22) acquired 7.75 % of the total share capital of Mintoak Innovations (Mintoak) for Rs 31.14 crore?
1) IndusInd Bank
2) ICICI Bank
3) Axis Bank
4) HDFC Bank
5) YES Bank
Option “4” is correct. HDFC Bank has acquired 7.75 % of the total share capital of Mintoak Innovations (Mintoak), a fintech startup, on a fully diluted basis for a total cash consideration of Rs 31.14 crore. i. Lawrencedale Agro Processing (LEAF) headquartered in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, has entered into a strategic partnership with HDFC Bank to offer customised financial products and services to marginalised farmers. ii. The product improves and provides financial access and inclusion to the entire rural ecosystem and brings an impact to more than 5 million marginalised farmers.
8. The GoI has recently (in Dec ‘22) repaid the sum of Rs. 1109 crore to ________ and __________ to German state-owned lender KfW to fulfill guarantees offered to Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS).
1) Asian Development Bank; Rs. 29 crore
2) World Bank; Rs. 54 crore
3) Asian Development Bank; Rs. 54 crore
4) World Bank; Rs. 29 crore
5) International Monetary Fund; Rs 980 crore
Option “1” is correct. The Government of India (GoI) has repaid the sum of Rs. 1109 crore to Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Rs. 29 crore to German state-owned lender KfW to fulfil guarantees offered to Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS). i. The Government provided loan guarantees becoming a lender and entered into the list of IL&FS creditors. ii. According to IL&FS’ recent status report, a loan of USD 50.4 million was availed by IL&FS from ADB in August 2002. and was ensured by the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India (GoI).
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
9. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in its ‘Global Trade Update (Dec’ 22)’,the Global trade to surge __________ in 2022.
Option “2” is correct. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in its ‘Global Trade Update (December 2022)’ report projected an increase in the value of global trade by about 12% to an estimated USD 32 trillion. i. However, global trade will decline in 2023 due to geopolitical frictions, lower economic growth, higher prices for goods and record levels of global debt. ii. Trade in merchandise goods is expected to soared USD 25 trillion in 2022, an increase of about 10% as compared to 2021. • Indian scenario: India recorded a trade growth in Q32022 with 26% y-o-y import growth, and 3% y-o-y export growth. • In the case of services, it has 49% y-o-y growth for imports and 35% for exports.
10. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Worldwide Cost of Living (WCOL) Index released in December 2022, which of the following countries has been declared as joint most expensive cities in the world to live in?
1) Singapore
2) New York (USA)
3) Tel Aviv (Israel)
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 2 & 3
Option “4” is correct. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Worldwide Cost of Living (WCOL) Index, Singapore and New York (United States of America) has been declared as joint most expensive cities in the world to live in. i. New York has topped the rankings for the first time along with Singapore which has topped the list 8 times in 10 years. ii. Tel Aviv of Israel which topped the list in 2021 has secured the 3rd rank in the 2022 index. iii. Indian cities like Ahmedabad, Chennai and Bengaluru are among the Bottom 10 positions of the index, ranked 165th, 164th and 161st respectively. • According to the index, the cheapest cities in the world are Damascus (Syria) ranked 172nd, Tripoli (Libya) at 171 and Tehran (Iran) at 170.
11. The World Health Organization Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO-GCTM) will emerge as a Centre of Global Wellness.
The WHO-GCTM located in which Indian city?
1) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
2) Bengaluru, Karnataka
3) Pune, Maharashtra
4) Hyderabad, Telangana
5) Jamnagar, Gujarat
Option “5” is correct. The World Health Organization Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO-GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat will be the 1st and only global outpost centre for traditional medicine worldwide as it will emerge as an international hub of global wellness. i. This was announced by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ayush in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. ii. WHO-GCTM is an outpost centre of WHO-HQ (Geneva) funded by the Government of India. It will help establish strong linkages among the Member States of WHO.
12. Which country’s scientists have successfully produced (in Dec ‘22) more energy from a nuclear fusion experiment than the laser energy used to power it?
1) United States of America
2) Russia
3) Israel
4) China
5) South Korea
Option “1” is correct. The United States of America (USA)’s Department of Energy announced that for the first time, the US scientists have successfully produced more energy from a nuclear fusion experiment than the laser energy used to power it. i. This is a major breakthrough in the efforts to source clean and limitless energy from nuclear fusion. ii. Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)’s National Ignition Facility have successfully produced a nuclear fusion reaction resulting in a net energy gain. iii. The Fusion projects across the globe mainly use the elements deuterium (D, or 2H) and tritium (T, or 3H) – both of which are isotopes of hydrogen.
13. Which country has recently (in Dec ‘22) received Membership Candidate Status from the European Union?
1) Bulgaria
2) Albania
3) Montenegro
4) Bosnia and Herzegovina
5) Slovenia
Option “4” is correct. The European Union’s (EU) general affairs ministers from the 27 EU nations agreed to give Bosnia and Herzegovina “candidate status” to join the union during the meeting in Brussels, Belgium. i. The decision to grant candidate status is to be formalised on 15th December 2022 when EU leaders descend on Brussels for a meeting.
ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
14. In December 2022, the Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), announced at the “India SatCom 2022”, that India will be the first country in the world to auction satellite communications (SatCom) spectrum.
Who is the current (as of Dec ‘22) Chairman of TRAI?
1) Mahendra Srivastava
2) Bhaskar Ramamurthi
3) Meenakshi Gupta
4) V. Raghunandan
5) P. D. Vaghela
Option “5” is correct. Dr. P. D. Vaghela, Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), announced at the “India SatCom 2022”, the 8th international summit of the Broadband India Forum (BIF), that India will be the first country in the world to auction satellite communications (SatCom) spectrum. i. It will be aimed at attracting investments in the SatCom sector. ii. To improve the ease of doing business in the sector, the TRAI will shortly offer suggestions to streamline the approvals needed for satellite communication from several ministries/departments.
15. Which company has recently (in Dec ‘22) signed an MoU with the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) to support MSME exporters in India?
Option “3” is correct. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) signed an MoU with Shiprocket to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) exporters in India showcasing their products on the Indian Business Portal (IBP). i. This MoU will enable FIEO member exporters to choose premium economy & express options from the Shiprocket panel. ii. Shiprocket will offer solutions to the enquiries and service issues of the FIEO members though its dedicated helpdesk.
APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
16. Name the personality who has recently (in Dec ‘22) appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organising committee for the 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.
1) Jonathan Breene
2) Cindy Hook
3) Nathaniel Riley
4) Ben Phillips
5) Jeff Bleich
Option “2” is correct. American executive Cindy Hook was appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organising committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. • The 2032 organising committee held its first board meeting in April 2022. i. Brisbane was confirmed as host of the 2032 Summer Olympics at the 138th IOC Session on 21 July 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Brisbane became the first host city to be selected to host the Olympics through the new bid process and also become the first Olympic host city to ever be selected unopposed Note – Previously, Australia has twice hosted the Summer Olympics, at Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
17. Name the company that has recently (in Dec ‘22) received ‘Safety Performer of the Year’ at the GMR Delhi Airport Awards 2022.
1) IndiGo
2) SpiceJet
3) Air India
4) Go First
5) Vistara
Option “2” is correct. The GMR Delhi Airport Awards 2022 awarded SpiceJet with the ‘Safety Performer of the Year’. This award acknowledged its top performance among the self-handling airlines and its efforts to reduce ground safety violations significantly. i. Recently, the airline was audited by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and its operations, safety processes, and systems were found to be strong and at par with the global best practices and safety standards.
18. Which company has recently (in Dec ‘22) honoured with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry Corporate Social Responsibility (FICCI CSR) Special Commendation Award?
1) Bharat Aluminum Company
2) Hindalco Industries Ltd
3) Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd
4) Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd
5) Jindal Steel and Power Ltd
Option “5” is correct. Jindal Steel and Power (JSP) Ltd was honoured with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry Corporate Social Responsibility (FICCI CSR) Special Commendation Award for its efforts to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. • The award was presented by the Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda to company executives in New Delhi. i. NTPC limited, India’s largest power generator was conferred with the prestigious FICCI Special Jury Commendation Awards in the Environmental Sustainability category for the project – ‘Revival & Operation of Municipal Solid Waste plant’ at Karsada, Varanasi. • The Award was presented by Arjun Munda, Honourable Union Tribal Affairs Minister, GoI and on behalf of NTPC, Dillip Kumar Patel, Director (HR), received the Award at FICCI Federation House, Delhi.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
19. Which of the following organizations/companies has recently (in Dec ‘22) granted an inprinciple approval for the transfer of non-convertible debentures (NCD) issued by HDFC Limited to its subsidiary HDFC Bank?
1) Bombay Stock Exchange Limited
2) National Stock Exchange of India Limited
3) Calcutta Stock Exchange Limited
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 2 & 3
Option “4” is correct. The stock exchanges BSE Limited (formerly known as Bombay Stock Exchange) and NSE Limited (National Stock Exchange of India Ltd) granted an in-principle approval for the transfer of nonconvertible debentures (NCD) issued by Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Limited to its subsidiary HDFC Bank. i. The approval was provided in terms of Regulation 59 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations 2015, subject to sanctioning of the Scheme by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). ii. Post-merger HDFC Bank will be twice the size of ICICI Bank, the third-largest lender presently. HDFC Bank will be 100 percent owned by public shareholders, and the existing shareholders will own 41 percent shares of the bank.
ENVIRONMENT
20. In the COP15 biodiversity conference at Montreal, Canada in December 2022, IUCN Red List unveiled, 239 new species analysed in India have entered the list.
How many species are entered into the threatened list?
1) 29
2) 32
3) 49
4) 102
5) 87
Option “1” is correct. According to the Latest update to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List unveiled during the COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal, Canada, 239 new species analysed in India have entered the list. Of these, 29 are threatened. i. White-cheeked Dancing Frog (Micrixalus candidus) found in Western Ghats of Karnataka has entered the Red List as endangered and the Andaman Smoothhound (Mustelus andamanensis) found in Andaman Sea in the Eastern Indian Ocean has been included in the Red List as Vulnerable.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
21. In December 2022, ________ based Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems Pvt Ltd (KRAS) rolled out the 100th Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) Kit for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force.
1) Hyderabad, Telangana
2) Bengaluru, Karnataka
3) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
4) Pune, Maharashtra
5) Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Option “1” is correct. Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Indo-Israeli joint venture, Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems Pvt Ltd (KRAS) rolled out the 100th Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) Kit for delivery to the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. i. MRSAM, an advanced network-centric combat, is a high-response, quick-reaction, vertically launched Supersonic missile, designed to neutralise enemy aerial threats: missiles, aircraft, guided bombs, and helicopters. It has a 70 km range. ii. The MRSAM kit is part of the MRSAM air defence missile which is jointly developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
IMPORTANT DAYS
22. When was National Energy Conservation Day 2022 observed across India?
1) 13th December 2022
2) 10th December 2022
3) 14th December 2022
4) 11th December 2022
5) 12th December 2022
Option “3” is correct. National Energy Conservation Day 2022 was celebrated across India on 14th December 2022. The MoP celebrates National Energy Conservation Week 2022 by the Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Mission (APSECM) from 14th to 20th December. i. The National Energy Conservation Day is organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) which operates under the Ministry of Power (MoP). The 1st National Energy Conservation Day was observed on 14th December 1991. ii. Droupadi Murmu, President of India, the Chief Guest of the event presented the 32nd National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA), 2nd National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards (NEEIA) and National Painting Competition prizes in New Delhi, Delhi, on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day (14th December 2022). • The President also launched the ‘EV-Yatra Portal’ on the occasion.
CA STATIC GK
23. Which country has emerged as the top oil supplier to India replacing Iraq in November 2022?
1) Russia
2) Iran
3) Saudi Arabia
4) Kuwait
5) United Arab Emirates
Option “1” is correct. Russia has for the first time emerged as top oil supplier to India replacing Iraq as refiners in November 2022 with 23% share. i. India’s oil imports from Russia rose for the fifth straight month, totaling 908,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November, up 4% from October, 2022.
24. Where is the Headquarters of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)?
1) Geneva, Switzerland
2) Rome, Italy
3) Montreal, Canada
4) Vienna, Austria
5) London, United Kingdom
Option “1” is correct. About United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): Secretary-General– Rebeca Grynspan (first woman and Central American to serve as UNCTAD’s secretary-general) Member States– 195 Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
25. In which state is the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant located?
1) Andhra Pradesh
2) Karnataka
3) Kerala
4) Maharashtra
5) Tamil Nadu
Option “5” is correct. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant situated in Tamil Nadu and it is India’s first pressurized water reactor belonging to the Light Water Reactor (LWR) category. i. ZIO-Podolsk JSC, an arm of the machine-building division of Rosatom State Corporation – JSC Atomenergomash, which is supplying critical components to the now operational 2 x 1,000 MWe VVER reactors and also four more similar reactors under construction, has fabricated and successfully tested a set of main equipment, the first set of separator-reheater for Unit 5 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP).
26. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Textiles Piyush Goyal announced that India will aim to achieve USD 100 billion exports for textiles by ___________.
1) 2035
2) 2026
3) 2030
4) 2025
5) 2027
Option “3” is correct. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Textiles Piyush Goyal said India will aim to achieve USD 100 billion exports for textiles by 2030 as there are huge opportunities in the sector.
27. The “white paper revolution” recently seen in the news refers to ______.
1) Summit signed during COP27
2) Protests in China against the country’s zero covid policy
3) JP Morgan commits climate neglect protests
4) Protests in Iran against the female dress code
5) Military MoU signed between Russia and Ukraine
Option “2” is correct. Cities across China have been witnessing waves of protests against the country’s tough zero-Covid policy in recent weeks. The movement, which is no longer limited to China alone, is widely being dubbed the ‘white paper revolution’. i. This is because of the blank sheets of white A4-sized paper many of the demonstrators have been seen holding during these protests. The humble white sheet of paper became a symbol of the protests. It has come to symbolize the lack of free speech in the country. ii. White papers as a sign of protest were previously used in Hong Kong in 2020, to avoid slogans banned under the city’s new national security law.
28. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) celebrated completion of 60 years of Customs Act, 1962.
Who is the current (as of Dec ‘22) Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC)?
Option “4” is correct. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) celebrated completion of 60 years of Customs Act, 1962 in New Delhi. i. Vivek Johri is Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs and Special Secretary to the Government of India.
29. In which year Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was established?
1) 1995
2) 1999
3) 2000
4) 1997
5) 1998
Option “4” is correct. About the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): TRAI was established under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, to regulate telecom services, including the fixation and revision of telecom tariffs, which had previously been vested in the central government. Chairman – Dr. P. D. Vaghela Established – 1997 Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
STATE NEWS
30. Which state’s Disaster Management Authority has recently (in Dec ‘22) signed an MoU with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to strengthen & densify the weather forecasting network?
Option “5” is correct. Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) and Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) signed an MoU at DMMC Hall, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, to strengthen and densify the weather forecasting network in Uttarakhand. i. The MoU has been signed for the next 5 years for the installation of equipment for collecting weather data from different places in the state.
