16th December Current Affairs : Vision IAS Current Affairs
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. Name the ministry that has recently (in Dec ‘22) implemented a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) called ‘Scheme of Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups’.
1) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
2) Ministry of Home Affairs
3) Ministry of Minority Affairs
4) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
5) Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Option “1” is correct. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) implemented a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) namely ‘Scheme of Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups’. It is aimed at planning for the socio-economic development of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). i. The information for the same was provided by Minister of State (MoS) Bishweswar Tudu, MoTA. ii. The scheme will utilize habitat development approaches so that their culture and heritage is retained.
2. In December 2022, ___________ became India’s first carbon-neutral Power Exchange.
1) Indian Oil Corporation
2) Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited
3) Indian Energy Exchange
4) Gas Authority of India Limited
5) Hindustan Petroleum Limited
Option “3” is correct. The Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) has become India’s first carbon-neutral Power Exchange, using market based tradable instruments to offset its carbon emissions. i. As the sustainability partner of IEX, EKI Energy provided advisory & consultancy services in this climate action exercise. ii. EKI Energy is a global service provider in Energy, Carbon Credit & Quality Management.
3. Name the organisation’s foundation that has recently (in Dec ‘22) launched the “Aspirational Districts Programme”to digitally enable and skill over 3.5 million people by March 2024.
1) Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
2) Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
3) Confederation of Indian Industry
4) National Association of Software and Service Companies
5) Quality Council of India
Option “4” is correct. The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) Foundation launched the “Aspirational Districts Programme” intending to digitally enable and skill over 3.5 million people by March 2024, to empower marginalized people in remote and backward areas of India. i. NASSCOM Foundation is tapping into more than 100 aspirational districts through the programme, with 55 districts identified so far across 23 states.
4. The Geographical Indication (GI) Tag has been granted by the Government of India (GoI) to 9 new products in December 2022, which raises the total number of GI tags in India to ________.
1) 301
2) 398
3) 401
4) 528
5) 432
Option “5” is correct. The Geographical Indication (GI) Tag has been granted by the Government of India (GoI) to 9 new products from different states, including the Attappady Aattukombu Avara (Kerala), Alibag White Onion (Maharashtra), Raktsey Karpo Apricot (Ladakh), Tandur Redgram (Telangana), and Gamosa (Assam). • Attappady Thuvara (Attappady red gram) from Kerala, Kanthalloor Vattavada Garlic (Kanthalloor Vattavada Veluthulli) from Kerala, Kodungallur Snap Melon (Kodungallur Pottuvellari) from Kerala and Onattukara Sesame (Onattukara Ellu) from Kerala. i. Out of the 9 GI tags that are granted, five are for products from Kerala. ii. This brings the total number of GI tags in India to 432, of which 401 are for products with Indian origin and 31 are for products with foreign origin.
5. In which Indian city, the 1st G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) Meeting was held under Indian Presidency in December 2022?
Option “2” is correct. The 1st G20 (Group of Twenty) Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) Meeting, under the Indian Presidency, was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. i. It was co-chaired by Secretary Ajay Seth, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), and Deputy Governor Dr. Michael Patra, Reserve Bank of India (RBI). ii. It should be noted that India holds the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023 on the theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.
6. Name the organisation that has recently (in Dec ‘22) conducted a 2-day exercise in the Eastern Sector on 15 & 16 December 2022?
1) Indian Navy
2) Indian Army
3) Assam Rifles
4) Indian Air Force
5) Border Security Force
Option “4” is correct. The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducts a 2-day exercise in the Eastern Sector on 15 & 16 December 2022. It involves practically all of its frontline fighter jets and other assets stationed in the region, following the recent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. i. The exercise is intended to assess the IAF’s overall combat capability and military preparedness in the region.
ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
7. In December 2022, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation declined to a 21-month low of _________ in November 2022.
1) 7.23%
2) 4.32%
3) 5.85%
4) 6.23%
5) 5.12%
Option “3” is correct. As per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation declined to a 21-month low of 5.85% in November 2022 due to easing prices of food, fuel and manufactured items. • It declined to 8.39% in October 2022. The inflation was 14.87% in November 2021. • The WPI rate on manufactured products was 3.59% from 4.42% in November 2022 and Food inflation in November 2022 was 2.17% against 6.48% in October 2022.
8. Name the company that has recently (in Dec ‘22) collaborated with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub to help 100 Indian startups with the 2nd edition of Appscale Academy Programme -Appscale Academy 2023.
1) Google
2) Tata Consultancy Services
3) Microsoft Inc
4) Infosys
5) Wipro
Option “1” is correct. Google Inc, in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub will help 100 Indian startups, across different Indian cities and scale up their app businesses with the 2nd edition of Appscale Academy Programme – Appscale Academy 2023 . i. Appscale Academy is a growth and development program which was started in 2022. It helps in training early- to mid-stage startups to build apps. ii. Until now, the programme helped around 100 startups to scale their businesses. Google has now opened applications for the Appscale Academy Class of 2023.
9. Which company has recently (in Dec ‘22) partnered with Viasat to deliver satellite internet access globally by 2025?
1) Google
2) Microsoft Inc
3) Wipro
4) Tata Consultancy Services
5) Infosys
Option “2” is correct. Viasat, a global satellite communications company partnered with Microsoft Inc, a tech giant to deliver satellite internet access to 10 million people across the world, with five million of them based in Africa by 2025. i. This partnership is a part of Microsoft’s Airband initiative. Viasat is the first satellite partner with Microsoft and together deepens Airband’s work. ii. According to the International Telecommunication Union at the United Nations (UN), around onethird of the world’s population, that is, 2.7 billion people, have still never used the internet.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
10. In Arton Capital’s “Passport Index 2022,” (as of 16th Dec ’22), India secured _______ rank in the world’s strongest passport list, while ________ ranked 1st in the list.
1) 70th; United Arab Emirates
2) 66th; Germany
3) 70th; Sweden
4) 66th; United Arab Emirates
5) 87th; Germany
Option “4” is correct. According to Arton Capital’s “Passport Index 2022,” India is placed 66 in the world’s strongest passport list, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is ranked 1st in the passport ranking for 2022. i. The Passport Index 2022 ranks the strongest and weakest passports in the world and indicates the number of countries that can be entered without a visa.
11. Which of the following Indian companies has been listed in the ‘Top 100 arms-producing and military services companies 2021’ released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in December 2022?
Option “4” is correct. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Swedish think-tank, released a report titled ‘Top 100 arms-producing and military services companies 2021’, which lists companies making arms, weapons, military planes and equipment. i. India’s military equipment manufacturing companies Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have been listed in the top 100. ii. HAL has improved to 42nd position in 2021 ranking, compared to 43rd in 2020 and BEL has secured 63rd position, showing improvement from 69th position in 2020. iii. The United States (US) has topped the list with 40 companies followed by China, for the second successive year.
12. Name the organisation that has recently (in Dec ‘22) released a report with key findings that the current agrifood systems don’t change, the world will continue to experience persistent food insecurity and unsustainable economic growth.
1) Food and Agriculture Organization
2) World Food Programme
3) International Fund for Agricultural Development
4) United Nations Children’s Fund
5) United Nations Environment Programme
Option “1” is correct. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) recently released a report titled “The Future of Food and Agriculture: Drivers and Triggers for Transformation,” which claims that if current agrifood systems don’t change, the world will continue to experience persistent food insecurity, resource degradation, and unsustainable economic growth. i. If considerable efforts are not taken to halt current trends, there will be 10 billion people in the world by 2050, creating an unimaginable burden to feed.
13. Which country has recently (in Dec ‘22) removed from “The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW)”, a Women’s rights body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council?
1) Iran
2) United Arab Emirates
3) Israel
4) Syria
5) Afghanistan
Option “1” is correct. The 54-member United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) removed the country Iran from its Women’s rights body “The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW)” for the remainder of its 2022-2026 term with immediate effect by the voting system. i. Iran was removed from UNCSW due to a brutal crackdown on women-led protests in its capital,Tehran.
14. As per the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s Global Wage Report 2022-23 report, the global monthly wages fell in real terms to minus ________ in the first half of 2022.
1) 0.3%
2) 0.5%
3) 0.9%
4) 0.4%
5) 0.6%
Option “3” is correct. According to the Global Wage Report 2022-23: The impact of COVID-19 and inflation on wages and purchasing power released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), it is estimated that the global monthly wages fell in real terms to minus 0.9% in the first half of 2022. • For the 1st time in this century, the real global wage growth has been negative. i. In Asia and the Pacific, real wage growth increased to 3.5% in 2021 and slowed down in the first half of 2022 to 1.3%. ii. Excluding China from the calculations, real wage growth increased by much less, at 0.3% in 2021 and 0.7% in the first half of 2022.
15. In December 2022, Indian Government allowed Sri Lanka citizens to hold up to ________ in Indian rupees in cash.
Option “4” is correct. The Indian Government has allowed Sri Lankan citizens to hold up to USD 10,000 (8.14 lakh Indian rupees) in Indian rupees in cash, though the Indian Rupees would not be legal tender in Sri Lanka. i. To enable this, Sri Lankan banks must enter into an agreement with an Indian bank to open INR Nostro accounts held in another bank in a foreign currency. ii. Sri Lankan banks’ Offshore Banking Units (OBU) have been granted permission to accept nonresident savings, time, and demand deposits.
APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
16. Name the personality who has recently (in Dec ‘22) taken over the additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited.
1) Yamuna Kumar Chaubey
2) Amit Kansal
3) Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi
4) Mohammad Afzal
5) Rajendra Prasad Goyal
Option “3” is correct. Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi has taken over the additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited, an Indian Hydropower generation company, with effect from 13th December 2022. i. Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi currently serves as CMD of Rishikesh (Uttarakhand)-based Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited (THDCIL). ii. Prior to his appointment, Yamuna Kumar Chaubey NHPC’s Director (Technical) was holding the additional charge of CMD of NHPC.
SPORTS
17. Which company has recently (in Dec’ 22) became an official partner of the Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) Men’s World Cup 2023 in Odisha, India ?
1) Tata Steel Limited
2) MPL Sports Foundation
3) RuPay
4) Adani Sportsline
5) Madras Rubber Factory
Option “1” is correct. Tata Steel Limited signed an MoU with Hockey India to become an Official Partner of the Fédération Internationale de Hockey (International Hockey Federation) (FIH) Men’s World Cup 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, cities in Odisha. i. The 2023 FIH Men’s World Cup, the 15th edition of the event, will be held from January 13 to 29 2023, 16 nations will feature in the tournament. ii. The FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 will be India’s 4th hosting of the prestigious tournament, following hosts in 1982 in Bombay, 2010 in New Delhi, and 2018 in Odisha.
18. Which of the following points are ‘Incorrect’ with respect to the Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2022 held in Nonthaburi, Thailand in December 2022?
A) Indian Shuttler Unnati Hooda became 1st Indian to win a medal in the U17 category in an Asia meet by winning silver medal Women’s Singles U17 Category, in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2022.
B) Indian shuttler Gnana Dattu won a silver medal in the Under-15 men’s singles at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2022.
C) Indian squad won three silver and two bronze medals in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2022 in U17 and U15 category.
1) Only A
2) Only B
3) Only C
4) Only A & B
5) Only B & C
Option “2” is correct. Indian Shuttler Unnati Hooda won the silver medal Women’s Singles – Under 17(U17) Category, in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2022 held in Nonthaburi, Thailand from 29th November 2022 to 4th December 2022. • She became the first ever Indian to win a medal in the U17 category in an Asia meet. i. The 36-member Indian squad ended their Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2022 campaign with three silver and two bronze medals.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
19. In December 2022, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted the maiden blow-down test of _______ Trisonic Wind tunnel at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
1) 250m
2) 70m
3) 160m
4) 80m
5) 100m
Option “3” is correct. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted the maiden blow-down test of their 160 metre(m) Trisonic Wind tunnel, the all-new wind tunnel, installed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. i. The test has been facilitated under three conditions including, subsonic (below the speed of the sound), at the speed of sound and supersonic (faster than the speed of sound). ii. The Indian space agency is working on a manned spaceflight programme, on a test vehicle Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) that can be launched like a rocket and land like a plane and also various heavy-lift rockets for future use.
20. Which organisation’s astronauts Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio has recently (in Dec ‘22) installed the 3rd Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA 3A) on the starboard truss structure of the International Space Station (ISS)?
1) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
2) Indian Space Research Organisation
3) SpaceX
4) National Aeronautics and Space Administration
5) Canadian Space Agency
Option “4” is correct. The two NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) astronauts, Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio have successfully installed the 3rd Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA 3A) on the starboard truss structure of the International Space Station (ISS). • This was the 256th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, upgrades, and maintenance. i. After being installed on the station’s Starboard-4 truss segment, the roll-out solar array successfully extended to its full length of 60 feet. ii. The 4th ROSA will be installed on another spacewalk planned for 19th December 2022.
STATE NEWS
21. Which state has recently (in Dec’ 22) launched “Orunodoi 2.0”, a direct beneficiary transfer (DBT) scheme to benefit over ten lakh people?
Option “5” is correct. Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched ‘Orunodoi 2.0’, the flagship scheme of the Assam government with a financial outlay of Rs. 4142 crore per annum, in a virtual meet in Guwahati, Assam. i. This financial outlay of Rs 4142 crore, makes it one of the largest direct beneficiary transfer (DBT) schemes in India. ii. During the 1st phase of Orunodoi, around 17 lakh women have been receiving a guaranteed cash flow of Rs 1,250 each on the 10th of every month through DBT. • With the addition of another 10.54 lakh new beneficiaries, the scheme would reach a total of 27 lakh-plus beneficiaries.
CA STATIC GK
22. In which state Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary is located?
Option “2” is correct. About Assam: Governor – Jagdish Mukhi Chief Minister (CM) – Himanta Biswa Sarma Wildlife sanctuaries – East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary, Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary Zoological Park – Assam State Zoo (Green Lung)
23. In which year Neeraj Chopra received Padma Shri award from Government of India?
1) 2020
2) 2018
3) 2021
4) 2019
5) 2022
Option “5” is correct. Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra received the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award of India in 2022 in the field of Sports. i. Usain Bolt has failed to top the list of the most written-about athletes for the first time in years in a sign that track and field is emerging from the hold the retired Jamaican sprint legend had over the sport. ii. World Athletics said that in 2022, Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra displaced the charismatic Bolt, who is still the world record holder in the 100m and 200m despite retiring in 2017. iii. Neeraj Chopra leads the way with 812 articles ahead of a troika of Jamaican women sprint stars, Elaine Thompson-Herah, with 751 articles, world 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (698) and world 200m champion Shericka Jackson (679), with Bolt still featuring in 574 articles.
24. Every Year ‘Vijay Diwas’ is celebrated across India on _________.
1) 15th December
2) 14th December
3) 12th December
4) 16th December
5) 13th December
Option “4” is correct. India is celebrating Vijay Diwas on 16th December 2022 to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war. i. On 16th December 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93 thousand troops, surrendered unconditionally to the allied forces led by Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, in Dhaka after their defeat. ii. The end of the war resulted in the freedom of Bangladesh.
25. The Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme under the ________ Ministry.
1) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
2) Ministry of Education
3) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
4) Ministry of Science and Technology
5) Ministry of Civil Aviation
Option “5” is correct. The Central Government’s dream initiative, Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. i. The Airport Authority of India has awarded 1098 routes under Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, (UDAN) till 7th of December 2022. ii. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen. V K Singh said out of this 453 UDAN routes have commenced under the scheme.
26. Which state/UT has recently (in Dec ‘22) launched the online Visitor Management System called SWAGATAM?
Option “2” is correct. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta launched the online Visitor Management System called SWAGATAM at Srinagar Civil Secretariat in presence of Administrative Secretaries to ensure easy and hassle-free entry of visitors to both Secretariats at Jammu and Srinagar. i. The system shall enable a person to schedule a meeting in advance for the redressal of his genuine grievances, informed the state Department of information and public relations.
27. In December 2022, Tamil Nadu Governor unveiled the statue of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on the campus of the Madras Institute of Technology.
Who is the current (in Dec ‘22) Governor of Tamil Nadu?
1) Biswa Bhusan Harichandan
2) Thaawarchand Gehlot
3) R. N. Ravi
4) B. D. Mishra
5) Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan
Option “3” is correct. Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi unveiled the statue of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on the campus of the Madras Institute of Technology. i. R.N. Ravi recollected the services of Kalam and the innovative contributions made by him in critical areas of defence, science and technology towards the nation’s self-reliance.
28. Where is the Headquarters of Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) located?
1) Lausanne, Switzerland
2) New York City, USA
3) Rome, Italy
4) Vienna, Austria
5) Montreal, Canada
Option “1” is correct. About the Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH): President- Tayyab Ikram Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland Establishment- 1924 (in Paris, France)
29. How many member nations are in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
1) 130
2) 189
3) 190
4) 164
5) 202
Option “4” is correct. About the World Trade Organization (WTO): Director-General – Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Establishment – 1995 Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland Members – 164 Members
30. What is the validity period of a GI tag?
1) 8 years
2) 5 years
3) 10 years
4) 6 years
5) 2 years
Option “3” is correct. A registered ‘Geographical Indication’ (GI) Tag shall be valid for 10 years and can be renewed on payment of renewal fee.
