Current Affairs Quiz-December, 2019

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:
Sree Padmavathi Venkateswara Foundation, the Vijayawada headquartered body that has been supporting research in medical education and care, has announced a grant of Rs 3 crore for research in biological and chemical sciences. Vidita Vaidya, a young scientist working at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), has secured the grant of Rs 3 crore. The TIFR scientist proposes to take up research on stress at young age leading to changes in brain and eventually leading to changes in behavioural patterns.

Notes:
FICCI ARISE Conference 2019 in New Delhi on December 9-10,2019 with theme: ‘Future Ready Learners and Schools’. Inaugurating the FICCI ARISE Conference on School Education, M. Venkaiah Naidu called for value-based education and said that education is not just for employment but also for empowerment and enlightenment of individuals and the society. He stressed upon inculcating values such as patience, honesty, respect, tolerance and empathy in the students.

Notes:
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), India’s anti-doping body has selected Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty as its brand ambassador. NADA hopes that his celebrity status would help its efforts to clean up sports in the country from the menace.

Notes:
In order to secure the CPEC sea route, China and Pakistan have signed a deal to build drones with maximum payload of 480 kg, with top speed of 370 km per hour and can fly up to 20 hours. The drones are called Loong II. These drones are similar to the MQ-9 Reaper drones developed by the US. Pakistan and China have agreed to build 48 drones in the Pakistan soil. The deal is to be implemented by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and Aviation Industry Corp of China. This deal is considered to be the biggest drone sale of China to any country.

Notes:
George Laurer, the US engineer who helped develop the barcode, has passed away at the age of 94.Mr. Laurer has been recognized as the co-inventor of the Universal Product Code (UPC) or barcode. It is found on millions of products, services, and other items for identification. When he was working as an electrical engineer with IBM, he developed UPC or barcode. He developed a scanner that could digitally read codes. He used stripes to print the codes.

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:
PepsiCo has appointed actor Salman Khan as the new brand ambassador of its flagship Pepsi brand of carbonated beverage in India.Brand Pepsi will base its summer 2020 campaign on Salman Khan’s upcoming movie “Dabangg-3”. PepsiCo India will launch a 360 degree campaign to leverage the new association.
Salman Khan has also represented the Pepsico’s product “Thums Up” three years ago.

Notes:
Aleem Dar broke Steve Bucknor’s record of umpiring in most number of Tests. Pakistan’s Aleem Dar on December 12,2019 surpassed Steve Bucknor’s record for officiating in most number of Test matches as an umpire during the first Test of the three-match series between Australia and New Zealand at the Perth Stadium.

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed two Bills, namely Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Tribes Bill and Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Castes Bill on 16 December 2019. The two bills were passed by voice note. The Bills will enable to set up the separate Commissions for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). The Andhra Pradesh State Commission for ST Bill was tabled by the State Minister for Tribal Welfare Pushpa Srivani. It will allow setting up of separate Commissions to safeguard the interests of STs.