Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: December 20, 2022
Current affairs are included in significant government exams including the SSC, RRB NTPC, UPSC CDS, Railways, and more. The current events section of the test is given a higher weightage. This section’s preparatory phase is essential. How well-versed the candidate is in current affairs will determine whether or not they can pass this section. We have analysed the most current news from The Hindu, Indian Express, the Economic Times, and other sources to assist all the contenders in performing well in this part.
Current Affairs: Game Time
FIFA World Cup 2022
In the FIFA World Cup 2022 final between Argentina vs France, seen as probably the wildest contest in the tournament’s 92-year history, Argentina won its third World Cup title by beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw featuring two goals from the 35-year-old Messi and a hat trick by his heir apparent, France forward Kylian Mbappé.
Previously Argentina had won two world cups in 1978 and 1986 under Diego Maradona.
Details:
It is a Fairytale ending for Argentina after the fascinating final. Argentina was enjoying the 2-0 lead (Messi 23′ P, Di Maria 36′) till the 80 minutes when Kyllian Mbappe’s brace in just 90 seconds almost ended all the hopes for winning the final in the regulation time, and the match went to the extra time where Messi(108′) scores his second for the night and Mbappe(118′ P) completes his extraordinary hat-trick to make the scoreline 3-3. But in the penalty shootouts, Argentina beats France 4-2.
2022 FIFA World Cup Awards
Top 4 team Rankings: Argentina (Winner), France (2nd), Croatia (3rd) and Morocco (4th)
Golden Boot Award: Kylian Mbappe (France); (8 Goals)
Golden Ball Award: Lionel Messi (Argentina); (7 goals and registering 3 assists)
Golden Glove Award: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)
FIFA Young Player Award: Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)
FIFA Fair Play Award: England
Silver Boot Award: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Bronze Boot Award: Olivier Giroud (France)
Silver Ball Award: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Bronze Ball Award: Luka Modric (Croatia)
What Is the Prize Money for Winning the FIFA World Cup 2022?
FIFA announced a total prize pool of USD 440 million for the Qatar tournament
Winners – $42 million / INR 347 crore
Runners-up – $30 million / INR 248 crore
Third Place – $27 million / INR 223 crore
Fourth Place – $25 million / INR 206 crore
FIFA World Cup: List of All Previous Winners
2018: France
2014: Germany
2010: Spain
2006: Italy
2002: Brazil
Golden Ball Winners:
2018: Luka Modric (Croatia)
2014: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2010: Diego Forlán (Uruguay)
2006: Zinedine Zidane (France)
2002: Oliver Kahn (Germany)
Golden Boot Winners:
2018: Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals
2014: James Rodriguez (Colombia) – 6 goals
2010: Thomas Muller (Germany) – 5 goals
2006: Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 5 goals
2002: Ronaldo (Brazil) – 8 goals
Question:
How many goals did the winner of the golden boot award in the 2022 FIFA World Cup score during the competition?
A. 7
B. 8
C. 12
D. 14
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Economy
Ladakh Gets Its First-Ever GI Tag
Ladakh got its first ever Geographical Indication (GI) Tag to its Raktsey Karpo Apricot.
The coveted GI tag certification for twenty years.
What Is Raktsey Karpo Apricot?
Raktsey Karpo Apricot is one of the nine items recently registered in the GI tag lists. Although Ladakh grows more than thirty types of Apricots, the Raktsey Karpo variety is unique to the region.
This Ladakh exclusive variety is matchless in sweetness and colourful with a white Kernel.
Fact:
Apricot is the major fruit of Ladakh, with large-scale cultivation in both Leh and Kargil Districts among the nine fruits grown in Ladakh.
Apricot is also being promoted under ‘One District One Product’ for Kargil.
GI tag got a boost from the central government after a series of export promotion programmes under the Ladakh Apricot brand through Agriculture and Processed Food Export Development Authority.
What Are GI Tags, and How Are They Awarded?
A geographical indication or GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Geographical Indications are part of the intellectual property rights that come under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999. Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
Question:
Ladakh got its first-ever GI tag recently for which of the following products?
A. Yak Milk
B. Apple
C. Apricot
D. Peach
Answer: C
Current Affairs: International
India and Sri Lanka to Launch Ferry Service
Passenger ferry service is slated to commence next month between India and Sri Lanka.
The ferry service will connect the Kankesanthurai port in Jaffna district and Puducherry.
The passenger ferry service is likely to boost the tourism sector and strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries.
India is separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow channel of seas formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
What Is Ferry Service?
A Ferry is a place where passengers, freight, or vehicles are carried by boat across a river, lake, arm of the sea, or other body of water.
The term applies both to the place where the crossing is made and to the boat used for the purpose.
Services:
The vessels under the new service will carry 300 to 400 passengers on a trip that would take about three and a half hours.
Ferry owners suggested that they would charge US $60, equivalent to ₹5,000 per passenger, for a single journey and that each passenger could carry up to 100 kg of luggage.
Rationale/Benefits from Ferry Service:
The ferry services will make travel to Sri Lanka easier from south India, thus providing a boost to tourism in Sri Lanka, which is suffering from its worst-ever economic crisis. Indians are the largest source of tourists to Sri Lanka.
They will also strengthen the cultural bonds between the two regions with linguistic similarities.
Tamils from Sri Lanka, who are Hindus, often visit India for religious purposes.
The majority Sinhalese population of Sri Lanka are Buddhist and frequently visit Buddhist tourist places in India.
Similarly, many Tamils from India visit the temples of Sri Lanka. The ferry service will make travel easier for pilgrims from both nations.
Question:
India will soon launch the passenger ferry service with which of the following countries?
A. Sri Lanka
B. Bangladesh
C. Indonesia
D. Maldives
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Defence
Missile Destroyer INS Mormugao Commissioned into the Indian Navy
The second of the Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyers built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), INS Mormugao (Pennant D67), was commissioned into the Indian Navy recently.
The ship, named after a key port in Goa, was commissioned a day before the Goa Liberation Day celebrations.
What Is Project 15B:
The contract for the four ships of Project 15B, known as the Visakhapatnam class ships, was signed on 28 January 2011.
The project is a follow-on to the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers commissioned in the previous decade.
Four Ships are to be developed under Project 15B –
Visakhapatnam
Mormugao
Imphal
Surat
These four ships have been named after major cities from the four corners of the country. Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat.
These are designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, the Indian Navy’s in-house design organisation and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai.
P-15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, seakeeping and manoeuvrability.
Enhanced stealth has also been achieved, making the ships difficult to detect.
With a significantly increased indigenous content, P-15B destroyers are a hallmark of self-reliance in warship design and building and a shining example of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
About INS Mormugao:
Stealth, firepower and manoeuvrability with indigenous content
Measuring 163 m in length and 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes, INS Mormugao is packed with sophisticated state-of-the-art weapons and sensors such as Surface-to-Surface Missiles and Surface-to-Air Missiles.
The ship is fitted with a modern Surveillance Radar which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems.
Its Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities are provided by indigenously-developed Rocket Launchers, Torpedo Launchers and ASW helicopters.
The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare conditions. It is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines in a Combined Gas and Gas configuration, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots.
The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section. INS Mormugao has a complement of about 300 personnel.
With over 75% indigenous content, it is a testimony to India’s excellence in the design and development of warships, either directly through design and development by Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or through strategic tie-ups and Transfer of Technology with reputed foreign OEMs.
Strategic Significance:
Technically, destroyers are a category of warships that have high speed, manoeuvrability, and longer endurance to be part of the escort for larger vessels in a fleet or a carrier battle group, also known as a carrier strike group.
Modern destroyers are swift, sleek, and difficult to detect, and primarily protect the fleets and carrier battle groups from the short-range surface, air, and sub-surface attacks. Guided missile destroyers are capable of anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare, apart from anti-surface operations.
Because of their speed, manoeuvrability, and strike capability, guided missile destroyers are key assets in various types of naval operations, mainly offensive.
Besides several new features, the Visakhapatnam class incorporates user feedback on the Kolkata class.
The state-of-the-art stealth feature ensures it has the radar signature of a very small ship, and a very high indigenous component gives it a strategic edge.
Question:
Which of the following is not among the four ships that Project 15B will develop?
A. INS Visakhapatnam
B. INS Mormugao
C. INS Imphal
D. INS Kochi
Answer: D
Current Affairs: Science and Technology
NASA Launched the First Global Water Survey Satellite
A NASA-led international satellite was launched from Southern California on a major Earth science project to conduct a comprehensive survey of the world’s oceans, lakes and rivers for the first time.
Details:
The launched satellite is named SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography).
The advanced radar satellite is designed to give an unprecedented view of life covering 70% of the planet, shedding new light on the mechanics and consequences of climate change.
The satellite incorporates advanced microwave radar technology, which will collect surface measurements of oceans, lakes, reservoirs and rivers in high-definition detail.
Partners:
SWOT is being jointly developed by NASA and Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the United Kingdom Space Agency.
The Rationale of the Satellite:
It sweeps off the planet at least twice every 21 days, will enhance Ocean circulation models, bolster weather and climate forecasts and aid in managing scarce freshwater supplies in drought-stricken regions.
It is equipped to observe the entire length of nearly all rivers wider than 330 feet and more than 1 million lakes and reservoirs larger than 5 acres.
It will precisely measure fine differences in surface elevations around smaller currents and eddies, where much of the oceans’ drawdown of heat and carbon is believed to occur.
Question:
Recently, which space agency in the world launched the first global water survey satellite?
A. China National Space Administration (CNSA)
B. European Space Agency (ESA)
C. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
D. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Answer: D
Current Affairs: National
Indian Scholar at Cambridge Solves 2,500-Year-Old Sanskrit Algorithm Problem
Rishi Rajpopat made the breakthrough by decoding a rule taught by Panini, known as the father of linguistics, and has created history after achieving something that has not been attained in over 2,500 years.
For centuries, numerous Sanskrit scholars have been grappling with a grammatical problem. However, now an Indian PhD student at the University of Cambridge has solved the puzzle that has been confounding scholars since the 5th century BC.
The young scholar has demystified a rule taught by Panini, a Sanskrit grammarian from ancient India. His thesis ‘In Panini, We Trust: Discovering the Algorithm for Rule Conflict Resolution in ‘Astadhyayi’.
About the Code:
Panini taught a “metarule” in the event of a conflict between two rules of equal strength.
Traditionally, scholars interpreted it in terms of using the rule that comes later in the grammar’s serial order, which often led to grammatically incorrect results.
The new research argues that in such conflicts, Panini wanted us to choose the rule applicable to the right side over the left side of a word.
Significance:
It could revolutionise Sanskrit study and allow Sanskrit grammar to be taught to computers.
About Panini and Astadhyayi:
Panini was a Sanskrit grammarian who gave a comprehensive and scientific theory of phonetics, phonology, and morphology.
He is also referred to as an Informatician, as he used language to decode information.
Panini’s grammar, known as the Astadhyayi (or Astaka, given in the 6th or 5th century BCE), contains 4000 sutras to explain the science behind Sanskrit.
It relies on a system that functions like an algorithm to turn the base and suffix of a word into grammatically correct words and sentences.
It is compared to the Turing Machine of Alan M Turing due to its complex set of rules for creating words.
Question:
Which of the following Indian scholars of Cambridge university recently solved the 2,500-year-old Sanskrit algorithm problem in Panini’s text?
A. Tathagat Bhatia
B. Anwesha Lahiri
C. Rishi Rajpopat
D. Rishabh Bajoria
Answer: C
Current Affairs: National
Grih Pravesh programme
Prime Minister of India recently launched the Grih Pravesh programme for over 2 lakh beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban, Rural in Tripura.
What Is Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U):
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) Mission is being implemented during 2015-2022. It is implemented by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
To achieve the goal of Housing for All in Urban areas by 2022, when the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence.
What Is Covered by PMAY-U, and Who Is Eligible?
Under it, central assistance will be provided to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other implementing agencies through States/UTs for:
In-situ Rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers using land as a resource through private participation
It provides the facility of Credit Linked Subsidy
Affordable Housing in Partnership
Subsidy for Beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement
Credit linked subsidy component will be implemented as a Central Sector Scheme, while the other three components will be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
All statutory towns as per Census 2011 and towns notified subsequently would be eligible for coverage under the Mission.
What Is Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G):
The main aim of the scheme is to provide the pucca houses with some of the basic amenities
This scheme is meant for people who do not own a house and those who live in kutcha houses or houses severely damaged
At present, the minimum size of the houses to be built under the PMAY-G scheme is 25 sq. mt., with a hygienic cooking space
The Ministry who is Concerned with this programme is the Ministry of Rural Development
Beneficiaries are identified using parameters from Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data and verified by Gram Sabhas
FactBook: 19 December 2022
Tal Chhapar sanctuary
The famous Tal Chhapar blackbuck sanctuary in Rajasthan’s Churu district has received a protective cover against a proposed move of the State government to reduce the size of its eco-sensitive zone.
The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has also taken up a major project for the conservation of raptors in the sanctuary, spread over an area measuring 7.19 sq. km.
The Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is known as the home of blackbuck and a variety of birds in Rajasthan.
The sanctuary is flanked by the Great India Desert, Thar and boasts a unique ecosystem and is an important bird-watching destination in India.
Migratory birds in the sanctuary: Harriers, eastern imperial eagles, tawny eagles, short-toed eagles, sparrows, little green bee-eaters, black ibis and demoiselle cranes, whereas skylarks, crested larks, ring doves and brown doves are seen round the year.
Fauna: Desert foxes and desert cats can be spotted in the sanctuary.
India jumps from 7th to 3rd global ranking in scientific publications
India has recently jumped from 7th to 3rd global ranking in scientific publications.
India’s scholarly output increased from 60,555 papers in 2010 to 1, 49,213 papers in 2020.
China leads the world in the publication of the maximum number of scientific papers, followed by the United States of America.
Dr Jitendra Singh also said that India now ranks 3rd in terms of the number of PhDs in science and engineering.
The National Science Foundation is an independent agency of the United States government that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering.
Neeraj Chopra becomes the most written-about athlete in 2022, breaking Usain Bolt’s record
Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was the most written-about track and field athlete in 2022, displacing Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt from the top of the list after years.
Neeraj Chopra, the Tokyo Olympics men’s javelin champion, led the way with 812 articles ahead of the Jamaican women’s sprint trio of Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah (751 articles), 100m world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (698 articles) and 200m world champion Shericka Jackson (679 articles).
Usain Bolt, the world record holder in the 100m and 200m men’s sprint, comes fourth in the list with 574 mentions. The Jamaican, who is now retired, had previously topped the annual list for the most written-about athlete for years.
The data collated by media analysis company Unicepta was cited by World Athletics, the global governing body for athletics.
‘Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore’ Campaign
Union Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions inaugurated the Prashasan Gaon ki Ore (governance towards the village) today, 19 December 2022.
It is a nationwide Campaign under Good Governance Week 2022.
The Nationwide Campaign for the Redressal of Public Grievances and Improving Service Delivery will be held in all Districts, States and Union Territories of the country.
Over 700 District Collectors will participate in the Campaign, and officials will be visiting Tehsils and Panchayat Samiti Headquarters.
Over 3,100 new government services will be added for online delivery during the five-day good governance week.
The good governance week, or Sushasan Saptah, will witness the nation’s grievance redressal platforms functioning in unison—grievances received on the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) will be redressed along with grievances received on State portals.
Group of Friends
India has recently launched a ‘Group of Friends’ to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers.
This Group of Friends will act as a platform to promote accountability for all acts of violence against the United Nations peacekeepers by facilitating support to the host state, creating awareness, exchanging information, sharing best practices, supporting initiatives, and mobilising resources.
Bangladesh, Egypt, France, India, Morocco and Nepal have joined the group as co-chairs to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers.
Group of Friends represents the “political will” of member states, particularly of the troop and police contributing countries, to champion the implementation of the provisions of the UN Security Council resolution 2589, which was adopted in August last year under India’s Presidency of the Council.
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