25th-26th December Current Affairs : Vision IAS Current Affairs
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. Which of the following points are ‘correct’ with respect to the Cabinet approval in December 2022?
A) Union Cabinet approved the revision of the pension of Armed Forces pensioners and family pensioners under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, effective July 1, 2019.
B) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for copra for the 2023 season.
C) The MSP for fair Average Quality milling copra is Rs. 10860 per quintal for the 2023 season, and Rs. 11750 per quintal for ball copra.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Option “5” is correct. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved the revision of the pension of Armed Forces pensioners and family pensioners under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, effective July 1, 2019, at an annual additional expenditure of Rs. 8,450 crore and arrears of Rs. 23,638 crore. i. According to the appropriate dearness relief (DR), arrears will be paid from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022, for a total of about Rs. 23,638 crores. ii. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for copra for the 2023 season on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) as well as the perspectives of key coconutgrowing states. iii. The MSP for fair Average Quality milling copra is Rs. 10860 per quintal for the 2023 season, and Rs. 11750 per quintal for ball copra.
2. Name the union minister who has recently (in Dec ‘22) launched the Khelo India Dashboard in New Delhi, Delhi.
1) Jitendra Singh (MoS of Science and Technology)
2) Amit Shah (Minister of Home Affairs)
3) Anurag Singh Thakur (Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports)
4) Ashwini Vaishnaw (Minister of Electronics and IT)
5) Dharmendra Pradhan (Minister of Education)
Option “3” is correct. Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS), launched the Khelo India Dashboard in New Delhi, Delhi, which has all the statistical data related to the Khelo India Scheme and the Khelo India events. i. The unique platform also includes a database of Khelo India Centres (KICs), Khelo India Academies, SAI Training Centres, and National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs). ii. It will assist athletes in locating the nearest facility where sports training in various disciplines is available.
BANKING AND FINANCE
3.What is the total loan amount provided by International Finance Corporation (IFC) (as of Dec ‘22) to the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Limited to boost green affordable housing finance in India?
1) USD 200 million
2) USD 400 million
3) USD 500 million
4) USD 800 million
5) USD 150 million
Option “2” is correct. International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, provided a loan of USD 400 million to Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Limited to boost green affordable housing finance in India, which shall support India’s shift towards a more sustainable growth path, creating jobs and ensuring long-term business growth. i.This new investment would help in bridging the urban housing gap and improve access to climatesmart affordable homes in India.
4. _________ is the reported growth rate made by International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the current fiscal year (FY23) (as of Dec ‘22) for India, which will be falling to _________ in the next fiscal year (FY24).
Option “1” is correct. On 23rd December 2022 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Article IV consultation report projected a growth rate of 6.8 percent in the current fiscal year (FY23) and falling to 6.1 percent in the next fiscal year (FY24). i.The IMF board also suggested that the Monetary tightening must be communicated to balance inflation objectives and growth needs.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
5. According to 2022 Forbes’s World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes, (as of Dec ‘22), Indian Badminton player PV Sindhu became the only Indian and the only badminton player among the list of top 25 and ranked ______ in the list.
1) 5th
2) 10th
3) 15th
4) 12th
5) 9th
Option “4” is correct. According to Forbes’s World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2022, Indian Badminton player PV Sindhu is ranked 12th with a total earning of USD 7.1 million (0.1 million on-field and USD 7 million off-field). She is the only Indian and the only badminton player among the top 25 of the list.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
6. Name the organisation that has recently (in Dec ‘22) won the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) Excellence Award 2022 under ‘Best Security Practices in Government Sector’ category.
1) Unique Identification Authority of India
2) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
3) NITI Aayog
4) Central Board of Direct Taxes
5) National Payments Corporation of India
Option “1” is correct. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been honoured with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) Excellence Award 2022 under ‘Best Security Practices in Government Sector’ category. i. The award recognises UDAO’s contribution in securing national critical ‘Aadhaar’ infrastructure which provides digital identity based welfare services to residents. ii. The award was given during the 3-day Annual Information Security Summit (AISS) of Data Security Council of India (DSCI) in New Delhi, Delhi.
7. Name the personality who has recently (in Dec ‘22) won the “VinFuture Special Prize 2022”.
Option “2” is correct. Professor Thalappil Pradeep, an Indian scientist from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, was awarded the “VinFuture Special Prize 2022” in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. i. He received the “Special Prize for Innovators from Developing Countries” for developing a low-cost filtration system to remove arsenic and other heavy metals from groundwater.
8. Name the personality who has recently (in Dec ‘22) received 30th Ekalabya Puraskar for the year 2022.
Option “3” is correct. International cyclist Swasti Singh hailing from Odisha has been honoured with the 30th Ekalabya Puraskar for the year 2022 during a programme organized by Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable wing of IMFA. It is an annual award given to encourage young sports talents. i. The award was presented with a citation, trophy and Rs 5 lakh cash in a programme organized by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT). ii. Swasti Singh was honoured for her performance from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2022 at both national and international levels. iii. Ekalabya Puraskar- the recognition was instituted by the IMPaCT in 1993 and it was recognized as the most prestigious sports award of Odisha, with parallels to many national awards.
9. Which of the following personalities has recently (in Dec ‘22) won the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2021-2022?
1) Shobhana Kumar
2) Sudeep Sen
3) Raj Kamal Jha
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 2 & 3
Option “4” is correct. The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2021-22 has been jointly won by Sudeep Sen for his genre and form bender “Anthropocene: Climate Change, Contagion, Consolation” published by Pippa Rann Books & Media in 2021and Shobhana Kumar for her haibun collection “A Sky Full of Bucket Lists” published by Red River in 2021 at the Multipurpose Hall, India International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi. • The award carries a cash prize of USD 10,000 each. • A Rabindranath Tagore statuette was chosen from a shortlist of 11. i. The Tagore Prize for social achievement was awarded to Sanjoy K Roy, producer of the Jaipur Literature Festival.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
10. In December 2022, researchers from _______ based Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) showed the infrared light emission and absorption for the first time with GaN nanostructures.
1) Bengaluru, Karnataka
2) New Delhi, Delhi
3) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
4) Ahmedabad, Gujarat
5) Pune, Maharashtra
Option “1” is correct. Researchers of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, Karnataka, have shown for the 1st time infrared(IR) light emission and absorption with Gallium Nitride (GaN), new artificial nanostructures for Infrared Absorption Technologies can be useful in Defense, Imaging & Sensing. i. The research has been published in the prestigious journal Nano Letters.
11. As of December 2022, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will carry scientific instruments of the United States of America (USA) on board the Forthcoming ________ Mission.
Option “4” is correct. Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) forthcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission will carry scientific instruments of the United States of America (USA). i. In the last 5-years, India has signed 4 cooperative agreements to collaborate on space exploration. ii. Apart from the USA, India has also signed an agreement with Japan to conduct a feasibility study for a joint lunar polar exploration mission, while the UK has an agreement to conduct a feasibility study for collaboration in future space science missions.
APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
12. Recently (in Dec ‘22) who has been awarded the UNESCO’s fellowship of World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), for which the fellowship comes into effect from 1st January 2023 ?
Option “5” is correct. Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore K.S. Rangappa has been awarded a fellowship of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), a programme unit of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation UNESCO, headquartered in Trieste, Italy for the advancement of science in developing countries. • This fellowship comes into effect from 1st January 2023. Prof Rangappa, being the fellow, can nominate young scientists from the State universities for getting research grants.
13. In December 2022, Sitiveni Rabuka was elected as 12th Prime Minister (PM) of Which country?
Option “2” is correct. Sitiveni Rabuka, a former military commander, has been chosen as Fiji’s 12th Prime Minister (PM), replacing Frank Bainimarama, who has been in office for 16 years. i. Sitiveni Rabuka, who served as PM of Fiji from 1992 to 1999, is being elected to the post for the second term. • Frank Bainimarama of the Fiji First Party overthrew the government in a coup in 2006 and became Prime Minister in 2007.
14. As of Dec’ 22 who has been re-appointed as the MD & CEO of Equitas Small Finance Bank for a term of 3 years?
1) Navin Avinashchander Puri
2) Ramesh Rangan
3) Narayanaswamy Balakrishnan
4) P N Vasudevan
5) Arun Ramanathan
Option “4” is correct. On 23rd December 2022, the Board of Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB) has decided to extended the term of PN Vasudevan as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a period of 3 years of with effect from 23rd July 2022, subject to approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). • PN Vasudevan is the founder of Equitas SFB and his current term as MD & CEO expires on 22nd July 2023.
15. Who has been recently (in Dec ‘22) nominated by Joe Biden, President of the United States, to serve as the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources?
1) Neomi Rao
2) Amit Mehta
3) Kudrat Dutta Chaudhary
4) Vanita Gupta
5) Richard Verma
Option “5” is correct. Joe Biden, President of the United States, nominated Indian-American lawyer diplomat Richard Verma to be the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. i. Richard Verma is currently the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at Mastercard. ii. Prior to his top diplomatic position in the State Department, he served as a former US ambassador to India from 16th January 2015, to 20th January 2017.
OBITUARY
16. What is the name of England’s legendary footballer who recently (in Dec ‘22) passed away, was a part of England’s 1966 Football World winning team.
1) Gordon Banks
2) Ray Wilson
3) George Cohen
4) Bobby Moore
5) Jimmy Greaves
Option “3” is correct. England’s legendary footballer George Cohen, who was a part of England’s 1966 Football World winning team, passed away at the age of 83. He was born in Kensington, London (England), in 1939. He was one of only three surviving members of that World Cup-winning squad, along with Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst. • In 2000, he was awarded an MBE for services to football alongside four of his team-mates including Roger Hunt, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson and Nobby Stiles from 1966.
STATE NEWS
17. Which state has recently (in Dec ‘22) launched an upgraded Inner Line Permit (ILP) System portal?
Option “5” is correct. On 23rd December 2022, Manipur Chief Minister (CM) N. Biren Singh launched an upgraded Inner Line Permit (ILP) System portal, for saving the indigenous population of Manipur. • The portal also makes it convenient for visitors from outside Manipur to apply for ILP. • This portal had been launched with new development added to the earlier ILP system.
IMPORTANT DAYS
18. When was National Consumer Day/Bhartiya Grahak Diwas 2022 observed across India?
1) 22nd December 2022
2) 24th December 2022
3) 21st December 2022
4) 23rd December 2022
5) 20th December 2022
Option “2” is correct. National Consumer Day or Bhartiya Grahak Diwas 2022 was observed across India on 24th December 2022 to create awareness about consumer rights and responsibilities. i. The 1st National Consumer Day was observed on 24th December 1986. ii. National Consumer Day is also known as National Consumer Rights Day.
CA STATIC GK
19. When was World Consumer Rights Day 2022 observed?
1) 14th April
2) 15th March
3) 15th April
4) 14th March
5) 11th March
Option “2” is correct. World Consumer Rights Day is annually observed across the globe on 15th March to create awareness about the power of consumers and their rights. i. The theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2022 is “Fair Digital Finance”. • In India, World Consumer Rights Day was celebrated on 15th March 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi. ii. Jago Grahak Jago (Wake Up Customer) is a consumer awareness program launched in 2005 by the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food& Public Distribution, Government of India.
20. Who is the President of Fiji (as of Dec ‘22)?
1) Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere
2) Josefa Iloilo
3) Epeli Nailatikau
4) Jioji Konrote
5) Frank Bainimarama
Option “1” is correct. About Fiji: President – Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere Capital – Suva Currency – Fiji Dollar (FJD)
21. Where is the Headquarters of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) situated?
1) Geneva, Switzerland
2) Madrid, Spain
3) Vienna, Austria
4) Trieste, Italy
5) New York, United States
Option “4” is correct. About TWAS: President – Mohamed H.A. Hassan (Sudan) Secretary General – Luiz Davidovich (Brazil) Headquarters – Trieste – Italy Establishment – 1985 (officially inaugurated)
22. Who is the Chairman and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as of December 2022?
Option “2” is correct. Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, from Bulgaria, is Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Board from October 1, 2019 • Before joining the IMF, Ms. Georgieva was CEO of the World Bank from January 2017 to September 2019, during which time she also served as Interim President of the World Bank Group for three months.
23. Who is the Managing Director of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) as of Dec ’22?
Option “3” is correct. About the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED): NAFED is registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act. It was established with the goal of promoting cooperative marketing of agricultural products to help farmers. Managing Director (MD) – Rajbir Singh Panwar Established – 2nd October 1958 Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
24. When was the International Finance Corporation (IFC) established ?
1) 1953
2) 1944
3) 1957
4) 1962
5) 1959
Option “2” is correct. About International Finance Corporation (IFC): Managing Director (MD) – Makhtar Diop Headquarters – Washington D.C, New York (NY) Establishment – 1944 Parent Organisation – World Bank
25. In which State/ Union Territory the Dampa Tiger Reserve situated?
Option “1” is correct. Dampa Tiger Reserve or Dampha Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve of western Mizoram, India. It covers an area of about 500 km² in the Lushai Hills at an altitude range of 800–1,100 m. It was declared a tiger reserve in 1994 and is part of Project Tiger.
