Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2021

Notes:
UN General Assembly declared December 12 as the International Day of Neutrality. Neutrality is defined as a legal status which arises when the state decides not to take part in any armed conflict.
International Day of Neutrality aims to raise awareness in public about the value of neutrality in international relations. Article 2 of the UN charter permits the member states to settle their disputes by peaceful means.

Notes:
Chief Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose inaugurated the digital platform named LokpalOnline, which enables people to file corruption complaints with the Lokpal.
At present, complaints are being sent by post, e-mail or hand-delivered. The new portal can be accessed by the citizens of the country and complaints can be filed from anywhere, anytime at lokpalonline.gov.in. In 2019, Justice Ghose was appointed as the country’s first Lokpal.

Notes:
Photodynamic therapy involves the use of light-sensitive medicine, which is activated by a light source. The treatment is used to treat certain cancers, and patients report a side effect due to the treatment.
Many people claim to have better night vision and also vision of unusual patterns and silhouettes in the dark. Researchers discovered Rhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein found in retinas, interacts with chlorin e6, a photosensitive used in cancer treatment.

Notes:
Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the India-Poland treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
The treaty will enhance capability of both countries in investigation and prosecution of crimes, including crimes related to terrorism through mutual legal assistance. It will also increase India’s effectiveness in tackling criminal activities involving Poland.

Notes:
World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has asked India to withdraw its subsidies under the ‘Production Assistance, the Buffer Stock, and Marketing and Transportation Schemes.’
Australia, Brazil and Guatemala raised complaints against India over its policy measures in the sugar sector, at WTO in the year 2019.  WTO also asked India to conform to its obligations under the Agreement on Agriculture and the SCM Agreement.

Notes:
Meta-owned WhatsApp announced its pilot programme of adopting 500 villages across Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The programme aims to empower people with access to digital payments through ‘payments on WhatsApp’. The announcement regarding the programme was made at “Fuel For India 2021 — Meta’s annual event in India”.

Notes:
Wholesale inflation, based on the Wholesale Price Index, jumped to 14.23 per cent in November from 12.54 per cent in October.
As per the data released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the rise is primarily due to rise in food prices especially of vegetables, and minerals and petroleum products. This is the highest level of wholesale inflation in the 2011-12 series.

Notes:
The Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO), Ministry of Railways has been the first organisation to be Bureau of Indian Standards, under the BIS scheme of Standards Development Organizations (SDOs).
As per BIS Act 2016, BIS is empowered recognize or accredit any institution in India or outside which is engaged in standardization.

Notes:
The Government of India has appointed Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, following the demise of General Bipin Rawat.
Here, the Government of India has adopted the old system of appointing a Chiefs of Staff Committee instead of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Under the old system, the senior most among the chiefs among the armed forces would assume charge as Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Notes:
Veteran American Black feminist author Bell hooks, passed away at the age of 69.
Her famous works include “Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism,” in which she examined the impact of sexism and racism on Black women. She also argued for a more inclusive movement, and focussed the impact of racism within feminism.