Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
The insurance sector regulator – Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has accorded “in principle” approval for merger of Bharti AXA General Insurance with ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company.
On successful merger, the consolidated entity would have a market share of 8.7% in non-life business. Bharti Enterprises own 51% share in Bharti AXA General Insurance and the remaining 49% is owned by French insurer AXA.

Notes:
Japan’s spacecraft named ‘Hayabusa2’ is approaching the Earth after a year-long journey from an asteroid Ryugu, about 300 million kilometers from earth.
As per the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the spacecraft will bring soil samples and data that could provide clues to the origins of the solar system and life on Earth. The agency would drop the capsule containing the samples, in southern Australia.

Notes:
World Investor Week (WIW) is a week-long global campaign observed to raise awareness about the importance of investor education.
The campaign is promoted by the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). In India, the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chose November 23 – 29, 2020 to celebrate this week. Various bodies including AMFI, NSDL and stock exchanges conduct awareness campaigns.

Notes:
The France’s new security bill makes it an offence to show the face or identity of any Police Officer on duty with the aim of damaging the officer’s integrity. The offence would make the convict liable of one-year imprisonment.
This proposed amendment is protested by many people in France and is seen a curtail of press freedom. It is feared by many that this law would increase police brutality on civilians.

Notes:
The cyclone name “Burevi” was suggested by Maldives. The second cyclone approaching India from Bay of Bengal has been named as “Burevi” as per the guidelines of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
The storm commenced its course from South West Bay of Bengal and it is the fifth tropical cyclone system that has developed in the Norther Indian Ocean, this year.

Notes:
As per the provisional 2020 State of the Global Climate report released by U.N.’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the last 6 years from 2015 to 2020 are the hottest years on record.
The report has stated that the average global temperature in 2020 would be 1.2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level

Notes:
The National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) is located in the city of Pune. The present building of NIN is called the “Bapu Bhavan”. Gandhiji performed many Naturopathy experiments and organised various national and International activities while staying here.
The Ministry of Ayush has proposed to name the upcoming new campus of National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune as “Nisarg Gram”.

Notes:
The United Kingdom became the first country in the world to start using the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech was approved by the regulators.
Several hubs across the country are vaccinating the people. The vaccine is given as two injections with 21 days apart. The complete immunity is said to be reached seven days after the second dose.

Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution stating that December 27th of every year to be observed as International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.
This has been decided to strengthen world wide measures to prevent pandemic like COVID-19. The resolution has been passed by a consensus by the 193-member.

Notes:
The entire Union Territory of Lakshadweep has been declared as fully organic region. It is the second region after the state of Sikkim to be declared as 100% organic.
The certification has been given by the Union Government under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (Organic cultivation development programme). The UT has not allowed any chemical inside the islands since 2005.