December 21, 2017 - Current Affairs Quiz (Not Published) - Current Affairs MCQ

Union Minister of Communications, Manoj Sinha launched DARPAN – “Digital Advancement of Rural Post Office for A New India”. DARPAN project will be implemented with financial outlay of Rs. 1400 Crore. Under the project, each Branch Postmaster (BPM) will be provided a low power technology solution that will enable each of approximately 1.29 Lakhs Branch Post Offices (BOs) to enhance the quality of services being offered to rural customers across all the states of India. Till date, 43171 Branch Post Offices have migrated under the “DARPAN” Government has set a target to complete the project by March 2018. The ensuing Information Technology (IT) modernisation will enable BOs not only to improve mail operations processes by allowing for automated booking and delivery of accountable article but will also lead to an increase in financial remittances, savings accounts, Rural Postal Life Insurance and increased revenue through retail post business.

Union Cabinet has approved Railway Ministry’s initiative to set up the first ever National Rail and Transport University (NRTU) in Vadodara, Gujarat. Primary objective for setting up NRTU is to skill Indian Railways workforce and build capability. The university will be managed by a not-for-profit Company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. NRTU will be equipped with technology applications including satellite based tracking, Radio Frequency Identification and Artificial Intelligence to improve on-the-job performance and productivity. All approvals related to setting up of NRTU will be procured by April 2018 and Government is planning to launch the first academic program in July 2018.

World University of Deisgn (WUD), India’s first and only Design University opened its campus at Sonipat, Haryana. The World University of Design is promoted by Om Parkash Bansal Educational and Social Welfare Trust of Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab. WUD offers 23 specialized UG and PG programs in various fields like Design, Fashion, Communication, Visual Arts, Design and Retail Management, and Architecture. It follows a special curriculum that encourages research, academic excellence, industry preparedness and social innovation. It is the first university in India dedicated to education in the creative domain. It has a well-facilitated residential campus.

The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed in the Lok Sabha. The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan.As per the bill’s Statement of Objects and Reasons, section 2, the amended will exclude the word “bamboos” from the definition of tree. This will eliminate the need for permission to transport bamboos grown in non-forest area.This will also allow farmers to plant bamboos in degraded land.

Uttar Pradesh government announced the setting up of Cow Protection Committees (Gau Sanrakshan Samitis) in all districts of Uttar Pradesh to make sure that cow sheds (gaushalas) are operated efficiently.The Cow Protection Committees will be headed by the district magistrate. The superintendent of police and the district’s chief development officer will act as the district magistrate’s deputies. The Cow Protection Committees would sell cow-related products like soaps, incense sticks, mosquito repellant coils, biogas, compost and phenyl made from cow urine. This has been done in order to make the cow sheds self-sufficient. These committees would also rescue and take care of cattle, to prevent them from getting illegally slaughtered or smuggled.

The 11th edition of ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ or ‘Sea Breeze’ exercise was conducted off the coast of Oman. Naseem Al Bahr is a biennial exercise. This was started in 1993. Indian ships reached Muscat on 16th December 2017. Indian Naval ships – INS Trikand and INS Teg participated in the exercise. P8I – a versatile, long-range maritime aircraft also participated from Indian Navy. From Royal Navy of Oman – Al Rasikh, Khassab, Al Mubashir and Al Bushra ships participated in the exercise. In 1953, Indo-Oman Treaty of Friendship, Navigation and Commerce was signed between Indian and Oman. This led to bilateral relations between both the countries. This was the first treaty signed between India and an Arab country.

India and Myanmar signed a MoU for improving socio-economic condition of Rakhine State. The MoU was signed by India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Myanmar Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Soe Aung in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. S Jaishankar had been to Myanmar on an official visit. This is the first government to government MoU signed by Myanmar for the socio-economic development of Rakhine. This MoU will enable Myanmar to restore normalcy in Rakhine and help return of displaced persons. As a part of this MoU, India would take up a project to build prefabricated housing in Rakhine State Chittagong.

China announced its plan for a national carbon market that would be the world’s biggest trading system for climate-warming emissions. China’s National Development and Reform Commission vice-chairman Zhang Yong said, this national carbon market will initially include only the power sector. It was not mentioned when this trading would start. This trading was piloted in cities like Jiangsu, Fujian etc. China intends to use this national carbon market to limit emissions by around 2030. Chinese financial institutions and businesses will be mandated to consider the carbon impact when they develop medium and long-term plans.

According to Expedia Vacation Deprivation Report 2017, India is the fifth most vacation deprived country. This report has been compiled on basis of an online survey conducted by Northstar Research Partners on behalf of Expedia, an international travel company. In the survey, 60 per cent Indian respondents admitted of being vacation deprived due to heavy work schedule.Around 55 percent Indians take fewer days of the vacation days than they are entitled to. Norway has emerged as the least vacation deprived country as only 38 percent respondents admitted of being vacation deprived.

German Development Bank (KfW) and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO) signed a loan agreement for additional funding of 20 million Euro for Pare Hydro Electric Plant (Pare HEP).This 20 million Euro will be utilized for continuing the construction and to implement commissioning of Pare Hydro Electric Plant (Pare HEP). Already in 2008, Germany had contributed 80 million Euro to Pare HEP. For compliance with environmental and social standards and development of early flood warning system, German government provides 0.5 Million Euro to NEEPCO. Pare HEP is developed by NEEPCO in the Papumpare District of Arunachal Pradesh. Its capacity is 110 megawatts. The project will generate electricity from Dikrong River.

Cricketer Virat Kohli has replaced actor Shah Rukh Khan as India’s top-ranking celebrity brand. The ‘Rise of the Millennials: India’s Most Valuable Celebrity Brands’ report for 2017 was published by Duff & Phelps. It has stated that Virat Kohli is the top scorer in the list with brand value of $144 million. He is followed by actors Shah Rukh, Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh. The report highlights trends in brand endorsements, like celebrities endorsing tourism campaigns, sports tournaments, and launching their own line of merchandise.

The United Kingdom has scored the top spot in Forbes’ rankings of best countries in the world for business in 2018 for the first time. United Kingdom occupied fifth position in this list, last year. United Kingdom is followed by New Zealand and the Netherlands. India has been ranked 62nd on the list. The Forbes’ rankings of best countries in the world for business in 2018 has ranked 153 countries on 15 factors like property rights, innovation, taxes, technology, corruption, freedom, red tape and investor protection.

Authors Mamang Dai and Ramesh Kuntal Megh were announced Sahitya Akademi award winners for 2017. The Sahitya Akademi has announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Awards 2017 in 24 languages.Mamang Dai has been awarded Sahitya Akademi award for his novel, The Black Hill, in English. Ramesh Kuntal Megh has been awarded for his literary criticism Vishw Mithak Sarit Sagar, in Hindi. The award consists of a copper-plaque, a shawl and a cheque of Rs 1 lakh. The awards will be handed over at a function on February 12, 2018.

Justice Umesh Dattatraya Salvi assumed office as the acting Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Justice Salvi has replaced Justice Swatanter Kumar, who retired recently. Justice Salvi will serve as chairperson until a new chairperson is appointed or till his superannuation, whichever is earlier. He will retire on February 13, 2018. Justice Salvi become an advocate in 1977. In August 1993, he was appointed City Civil and Additional Sessions Judge, Mumbai. He was promoted as judge at the Bombay High Court in 2009. In 2013, he was appointed a Judicial Member of the NGT.

Dr Samiran Panda was appointed as director of National AIDS Research Institute (NARI), Pune.Dr Samiran Panda replaces Dr R RGangakhedkar, as the full time director of NRAI. Dr Samiran Panda was earlier the deputy director at the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (Kolkata). In 1990s he was with the Indian Council of Medical Research. He played an important role in HIV/AIDS documenting in northeastern states, mainly Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Director General of Indian Coast Guard, Rajendra Singh commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) ‘Sujay’ in Goa. In Hindi, ‘Sujay’ mean ‘Great Victory’. ICGS ‘Sujay’ is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) that has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Ltd. 105-meter long ICGS ‘Sujay’ is equipped with 30mm CRN 91 Naval Gun, Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS), Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and state-of-the-art Power Management System (PMS).It can carry one twin engine Light Helicopter and five high speed boats. Initially, the ship will be deployed for exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surveillance. It can also be used for search/rescue operations as well as in operations to contain oil spill at sea.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh launched PUDA-UCIC app to check unauthorised construction and a new web portal of the housing department for online issue of change of land use.The PUDA-UCIC app will facilitate swift action to stop illegal construction. The PUDA-UCIC app is based on Android platform. PUDA-UCIC (Unauthorised constructions and illegal colonies) has been opened for public use in Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA)region. Field staff and public can take pictures of any unauthorised construction and upload them on the app for necessary action. Through the new web portal, developer can get a change of land use online, without having to visit the office

Scientists have discovered a new frog species “Odorrana arunachalensis” in Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Odorrana arunachalensis species was discovered in Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), Arunachal Pradesh. It has has been named as Odorrana arunachalensis, after Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery has been published in the Journal of Biosciences, a science journal of Rajiv Gandhi University. Odorrana arunachalensis species is seen only during the wet season, from April to September. Odorrana (odorous frog) is a genus of true frogs (Ranidae). This new frog species is medium sized.The discovery was made by a team of scientists from the Zoological Survey of India. Bhaskar Saikia, Bikramjit Sinha and Ilona Jacinta Kharkongor led the research team.

The 9th edition of International Youth Sailing Competition of India is held in Krishnapatnam Port in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, from December 27th to December 31st 2017.This is the largest sailing competition in India. It is organised by the Navayuga Sailing Academy, Tamil Nadu Sailing Association (TNSA) and Yachting Association of Andhra Pradesh (YAAP) under the control of the Yachting Association of India (YAI) and the Asian Sailing Federation (ASAF). From 21st December to 25th December 2017 YAI Senior and Youth National Championships is held in the Krishnapatnam Port. International race officer Mr. IlkerByandir, Turkey is the Principal Race Officer for this event. He is assisted by TNSA member and RYA race officer Mylai Prabhakar. International Judge Mr. Chris Watts, UK is the chairperson of the jury.

Louise Martin, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation announced Birmingham as host city of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Common Wealth Games is to be hosted in England for the first time since Manchester hosted the Games in 2002. The expenses of the Common Wealth Games is expected to be around £750m. The government would cover £560m. The local council would contribute around £180m. The 2018 Common Wealth Games will take place in Australia’s Gold Coast from 4-15 April 2018.