Current Affairs Quiz-December, 2019

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh State government sanctioned a sum of Rs.156 crore for the development of Omkareshwar. It was approved in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The State government had earlier sanctioned Rs.300 crore for development of areas in and around Ujjains Mahakaleshwar and a jyotirlinga shrine located in Madhya Pradesh.
Omkareshwar: It is a famous pilgrimage centre.  It houses one of the 12 jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva.  It is located about 80km from Indore.

Notes:
The Delhi government launched a booklet on the life and teachings of Dr. BR Ambedkar for students of class 6-8 in government schools. The booklet was launched on Ambedkar’s 63rd death anniversary. It is a three-part booklet. It explores the life and education of Ambedkar, his social reforms initiatives, contribution to women empowerment. It also ponders on his roles and efforts on writing the Constitution of India and his contributions to social and gender justice.

Notes:
Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who brought beloved “Sesame Street” characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch to life, died. Spinney passed away at his Connecticut home after battling dystonia, a common movement disorder. He was 85. The legendary puppeteer was known for his “kind and loving view of the world,” giving two of the show’s most iconic characters the joyous (and grouchy) personalities that viewers around the world adored.

Notes:
Bharti Airtel launched the Wi-Fi calling service for its subscribers. The service is currently rolling out in Delhi-NCR, gradually implemented in other cities. This service will significantly enhance indoor calling services without incurring any extra charges. Airtel Wi-Fi to enhance voice calling experience for Airtel smartphone customers, especially when they are indoors. The ‘Airtel Wi-Fi Calling,’ customers with Wi-Fi at home or office will get excellent signal quality indoors.

Notes:
Four people won the Right Livelihood Award for the year 2019. The awardees are Greta Thunberg, Aminatou Haidar, Guo Juanmei and Davi Kopenawa Yanomami.
Awarded for:The award aims to honour Greta Thunberg for her fight against climate change. Davi Kopenawa Yanomami for her commitment and efforts to protect the indigenous rights and land. Guo Juanmei was awarded for her work for women’s rights in China for 25 years. The award recognized Aminatou Haidar’s efforts for the independence of Western Sahara. She spent four years in a secret prison, isolated from the outside world.The Right Livelihood Award was established in 1980.

Notes:
Union Cabinet has approved certain amendments in Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (code), through Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019. The amendments aim to remove certain difficulties being faced during insolvency resolution process to realise objects of code, protect corporate debtors, prevent ill-thought-out triggering of bankruptcy proceedings and to further ease doing of business (ADB). Amendment Bill seeks to amend sections 5(12), 5(15), 7, 11, 14, 16(1), 21(2), 23(1), 29A, 227, 239, 240 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) and insert new section 32A in it.It aims to remove bottlenecks, streamline Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) and protect last mile funding in order to boost investment in financially distressed sectors of country.

Notes:
Senior diplomat Vikas Swarup is appointed as the Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs. The Appointments Committee (ACC) of the Cabinet has approved the appointment. Swarup is a 1986 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. As the Secretary (West), he will be responsible for India’s affairs with the UK and other European nations.

Notes:
A former US college baseball player who helped inspire the global phenomenon known as the “ice bucket challenge” to tackle a deadly neurodegenerative disease has died at the age of 34.A one-time college athlete from the Boston area, Pete Frates’ struggle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, was one of the inspirations behind the ice bucket challenge which took social media by storm in 2014.

Notes:
The Haryana Police Department has adopted a unique barcoding software. The software is used to ensure that 1000s of digital forensic reports are stored safe and secure. It offers a foolproof security to the samples collected from the crime scene.The Software features two stages of bar coding to maintain the secrecy of the samples. The samples and reports are sent through biometrically authorized chain. The cases are allocated to the biotechnology experts through automated case allocation. Therefore, the experts will not know about the details of the case or the names associated with case.

Notes:
The Union Territory Puducherry unveiled a startup policy of the Industries Department. It was announced by Puducherry Industries Minister Shajahan. The policy lays emphasis to provide financial grants, monthly stipend, fiscal incentives to interested entrepreneurs and bring new business ventures to the Union Territory.The policy creates a corpus fund of Rs.10 crore to support the setting up of startup incubators and to develop co-working spaces. It will provide a grant of Rs.3 lakh to the projects recommended by incubators that are established by the government or private sector as a startup grant.