Current Affairs Quiz-December, 2019

Notes:
The Gujarat police was presented the ‘President’s Colours’ by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu at a ceremony held in Karai Police Academy in Gandhi Nagar on 15 December 2019. Gujarat now becomes the seventh state to receive the prestigious President’s Colours, also called as Nishaan, an emblem which all police officers of Gujarat would wear on left-hand sleeve of their uniform. A new logo of Gujarat Police was also unveiled and the force was also awarded a specially designed flag and an emblem.

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.

Notes:
Apple, Microsoft and Google’s parent Alphabet are among the tech giants who were named in a case that is currently looking into the death of child labourers in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest producer of Cobalt, a rare metal and a vital raw material for batteries used in mobile phones and electric vehicles.

Notes:
The ministry of women and child development is planning to implement the ‘Saksham Anganwadi’ scheme. Through this program, 2.5 lakh anganwadis are to be upgraded over the next 5 years. The scheme will introduce upgraded facilities like smart teaching, smart learning, crèche facilities, etc.

Notes:
The laser fencing of the Indo-Nepal border is being put up by the Sashastra Seema Bal. The project was commenced in December to curb the entry of Third Party nationals into the country without permission. The SSB is involved in guarding the Indian border with Bhutan and Nepal.

Notes:
The state government of Karnataka is in talks to rename the food subsidisation program called Indira canteen after Valmiki. The program is to be renamed as Maharishi Valmiki Anna Kuteera. The Indira Canteen program was started in 2017 to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to the economically disadvantaged people of the state.

Notes:
The Ludhiana Tiger Safari is in Punjab. It is the one such facility in the state. The safari is to welcome 2 new tigers from Chhattisgarh. Three of its tigresses had passed in 2013 and its remaining two tigers are of failing health.

Notes:
The United Kingdom government is set to introduce the National Health Service visa. This visa will fast track the entry of medical professionals like doctors and nurses into the country for filling the workforce shortage of its health security program.

Notes:
The EChO network was recently launched by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Dr. Vijay Raghavan. The EChO network is to improve ‘cross- disciplinary leadership’ for research and creation of knowledge and awareness about Indian ecology and environment.

Notes:
Ethiopia recently launched its first ever satellite, ETRSS-1. It is a remote sensing satellite and was launched from China’s Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. The 70kg satellite will serve civil observation purposes for Ethiopia. The project was developed in collaboration with China.