Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: December 19, 2022
The current affairs section needs to be given extra attention if you are preparing for competitive examinations. A candidate should constantly study fresh information about events in the globe, country, state, and all other sectors. To maintain a level of general knowledge, all you need to know are the essentials. Reading about current events is not difficult; it is really interesting. In order to help all the candidates score well in this section, we have analysed the most recent news from The Hindu, Indian Express, the Economic Times, and so on.
Current Affairs: Defence Technology
India Successfully Tests Agni V Missile Days after Tawang Clash
India, on Thursday night, successfully tested the nuclear-capable Agni V missile capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy.
Details:
India successfully carried out the night trials of the Agni V nuclear-capable ballistic missile.
This comes days after Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The test was carried out to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile, which is now lighter than before.
The trial has proved the capability to enhance the range of the Agni V missile if required.
The test-firing of the missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast came amid India’s ongoing border row with China.
About the AGNI V Project
The Agni V project is aimed at boosting India’s nuclear deterrence against China, which is known to have missiles like Dongfeng-41 having ranges between 12,000–15,000 km.
Agni V can bring almost the entire Asia, including the northernmost part of China as well as some regions in Europe, under its striking range.
Other Missiles of the AGNI Series:
The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km, and they have already been deployed.
India also carried out a similar test of the missile in October last year.
In June, India successfully carried out a night launch of the nuclear-capable Agni-4 ballistic missile in a boost to India’s military capabilities.
Following the test, the defence ministry had said that it reaffirmed India’s policy of having a ‘credible minimum deterrence capability’.
Question:
India recently successfully tested the nuclear-capable Agni V missile capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres from which testing facility?
A. Dr Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
B. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram (Thumba).
C. Satish Dhawan Space Centre (Sriharikota)
D. Master Control Facility (MCF), Hassan.
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Defence
The US Space Force Establishes the First Foreign Command in South Korea
The US military recently activated its first Space Force command on foreign soil in South Korea, with the unit’s new commander saying he is ready to face any threat in the region.
This move will likely enable Washington to monitor better its rivals North Korea, China and Russia.
The new unit “will be tasked with coordinating space operations and services such as missile warning, position navigation and timing and satellite communications within the region”.
What Is Space Security?
Space security deals with the abilities of a country to protect its assets in space – such as the hundreds of satellites used for communication and surveillance.
The space landscape is changing rapidly.
Terrestrial politics is casting its shadow on outer space.
Hence, the relevance of space to national security and conventional military operations is increasing day by day.
Rationale:
Competition in outer space
Protection of space assets
Countries developing counter-space capabilities
Does India have any Counter-space Programme?
India’s approach to the outer space programme can be described as purely civilian.
India has been developing its space capabilities for peaceful purposes.
India does not have a declared Space Security Policy to date.
However, due to changing landscape, in an effort to deny adversary advantages, India also started to develop its counter-space capabilities.
Question:
The US military activated its first Space Force command on foreign soil in which of the following countries?
A. Japan
B. Ukraine
C. South Korea
D. Australia
Answer: C
Question:
The Indian tri-service Defence Space Agency (DSA) is located in which of the following cities?
A. Itanagar
B. Jammu
C. Bengaluru
D. Hyderabad
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Defence
Indo-Nepal Joint Training Exercise “SURYA KIRAN”
The 16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise “SURYA KIRAN-XVI” between India and Nepal is being conducted at the Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi (Nepal), from today to 29th of December 2022.
About Exercise SURYA KIRAN:
Exercise “SURYA KIRAN” is conducted annually between India and Nepal with the aim of enhancing interoperability in jungle warfare and counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain and HADR under UN mandate.
The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation, which will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Details:
Nepal Army soldiers of the Shree Bhawani Baksh Battalion and Indian Army soldiers from the 5 GR will be participating in the exercise.
The two armies, through these contingents, shall be sharing the experiences gained during the conduct of various counter-insurgency operations over the years in their respective countries.
The joint exercise would focus on the evolution of combined drills for planning and conducting tactical operations at the unit level in counter-terrorism operations and disaster response mechanisms in general and the role of armed forces in the management of disasters.
Question:
Exercise Surya Kiran is recently initiated between the Indian Army and the Army of which of the following Countries?
A. Bangladesh
B. Bhutan
C. Nepal
D. Sri Lanka
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Days and Events
Vijay Diwas 2022
“1971 is not just a year. It is a benchmark against which any act of valour will forever be juxtaposed”.
Every year on 16 December, Vijay Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the Indian armed forces against Pakistan in the war of 1971. India honours all of the warriors who defended the country on this day.
Why Is Vijay Diwas Celebrated in India?
After 13 days of battle, India defeated Pakistan on 16 December 1971.
General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, the commander of the Pakistani forces, and 93,000 other Pakistani soldiers submitted to the combined forces of the Indian Army and Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini.
History:
It was also the largest-ever military surrender after World War II.
A rebellion against the Islamabad administration in East Pakistan started the war.
In East Pakistan, the Bengalis and the minority Hindu community were the victims of atrocities carried out by Pakistani forces.
Between 300,000 and 500,000 people are thought to have been killed by Pakistani forces; however, the Bangladeshi government estimates the number at three million.
Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to provide support to erstwhile East Pakistan. She took a decision to give refuge to people who fled from East Pakistan. It is estimated that 8–10 million people left the country.
There has been hostility between India and Pakistan ever since their separation in 1947 for many reasons, and East Pakistan was one of these factors.
The circumstances that precipitated the 1971 conflict forced Indian troops to intervene because non-Muslim residents of West Pakistan were being targeted. Bangladesh was liberated as a result of the 13-day conflict between Pakistan and India, which came to an end on 16 December 1971. India’s front forced approximately 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to surrender and changed the lines on the globe map.
Bangladesh also observes the day as “Bijoy Dibos”, commemorating the nation’s official separation from Pakistan. Over 3,800 Indian and Pakistani soldiers died in the conflict.
India consented to release the 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war in accordance with the agreement. Later, the accord came under fire for neglecting to address India’s dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir. Critics had said that India could have held the Pakistani troops as a negotiation chip to get its way.
Question:
Consider the following statements about Vijay Diwas
Every year on 16 December, Vijay Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the Indian armed forces against Pakistan in the war of 1971
It was also the largest-ever military surrender after World War II
After 13 days of battle, India defeated Pakistan on 16 December 1971
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. Only 1 and 2
B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3
D. All are correct
Answer: D
Current Affairs: International
The UN Recognises ‘Namami Gange’ as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships
The United Nations has recognised the ‘Namami Gange’ initiative to rejuvenate India’s sacred River Ganga as one of the top ten World Restoration Flagships to revive the natural world.
According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Namami Gange was selected from over 150 such initiatives from 70 countries across the globe.
They were selected under the banner of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global movement coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
What Is Namami Gange?
The Namami Gange programme was started in 2014 after Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister after recognising the need to rejuvenate River Ganga and committing over five billion dollars to ensure that the river gets clean.
Documentary on Ganga:
The documentary ‘Ganga: River from the Skies’, co-produced with National Geographic India, received awards under three categories – Best Documentary, Best Current Affairs and Best Natural History or Wildlife Programme – in the Asian Academy Creative Awards, 2022.
Other Restoration Projects:
The other inaugural world restoration projects include the Trinational Atlantic Forest Pact, which aims to protect and restore the forest in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, and the Abu Dhabi Marine Restoration project, which targets safeguarding the world’s second-largest dugong population in Abu Dhabi.
The Great Green Wall for Restoration and Peace initiative to restore savannas, grasslands and farmlands across Africa and the Multi-Country Mountain Initiative based in Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda, and Rwanda were also recognised in addition to the Small Island Developing States Restoration Drive focused on three small island developing states – Vanuatu, St Lucia and Comoros.
The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative in Kazakhstan to restore the steppe, semi-desert and desert ecosystems, the Central American Dry Corridor, and Shan-Shui Initiative in China were other projects on the list.
Question:
Which of the following projects in India is recognised as one of the top ten World Restoration Flagships by the UN?
A. Mid-Day Meal Scheme (M.D.M.S.)
B. Integrated Child Development Services
C. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
D. Namami Gange initiative to rejuvenate India’s river Ganga
Answer: D
Factbook: 16 December 2022
India receives all 36 Rafale aircraft from France
India has received all 36 Rafale aircraft from France, with the last aircraft landing in the country on 15th December.
According to the Indian Air Force, the aircraft arrived after a quick en-route mid-air refuelling from a UAE Air Force tanker aircraft after taking off from France.
India and France had signed the inter-government agreement in 2016, under which Paris agreed to provide 36 Rafale fighter jets at the cost of around ₹60,000 crores to India.
The first batch of five Rafale jets had arrived on 29th July 2020.
Peru govt announces nationwide emergency amid fiery protests
The Peru government has announced a nationwide state of emergency, granting special powers to police and limitingdoms, including the right to assembly.
Defence Minister Alberto Otarola informed this.
The development comes after a week of fiery protests that have left at least eight people dead.
The protests were sparked by the ousting of former President Pedro Castillo on 7th December in an impeachment vote.
Castillo, a leftist elected in 2021, was arrested after illegally trying to dissolve the Andean nation’s Congress.
This is the latest in a series of recent political crises Peru has faced.
Peru is a country in South America that’s home to a section of the Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains.
The region around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail and the colonial city of Cusco, is rich in archaeological sites.
IIT Ropar, Army Training Command signed an MoU to set up CoE in defence and security
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar and Lt Gen SS Mahal, General Officer Commanding–in–Chief of the ARTRAC, for setting up a centre of excellence (CoE) for studies and applied research in defence and security at the premier institute.
The CoE will be set up with an aim to leverage IIT Ropar’s technical expertise and ARTRAC’s operational expertise in advanced materials and manufacturing, design and development of deep learning algorithms, multipath and wireless networks, data transmission tools, remote sensing and forecasting, cyber security and some other areas.
The CoE will focus on emerging areas of research and technology, including Information Warfare or Security (Quadcopters and Drones, Medium and Light Weaponry, Missile Technologies, Body Armour, Force Survivability, Hypersonic Applications, Energy directed weapons etc.), wireless communication, and many other fields in the larger domain of Defence and Security.
World’s First Carbon Border Tariff
The EU has signed the world’s first carbon border tariff, known as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will impose a tariff on imports of polluting goods such as steel, Cement, fertilisers etc.
Currently, industries outside of the EU are required to buy permits/Certificates from the EU carbon market when they export any polluting products.
This will be applicable for imports within EU countries as well.
What Is a Carbon Border Tax?
A carbon border adjustment tax is a duty on imports based on the number of carbon emissions resulting from the production of the product in question. As a price on carbon, it discourages emissions. Last month, India opposed CBT at COP27 in Egypt.
RS clears Bill to include the Gond community in the ST category
The Rajya Sabha passed a Bill that seeks to include the Gond community in the Scheduled Tribes category in parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Bill Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022
Gonds, with a population of four million, are found in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh and are one of the most dominant tribes in India.
They belong to the strata of aboriginal peoples of India who pre-date the Aryan and Dravidian speakers of the country.
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