Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2021

Notes:
Universal Health Coverage Day is observed every year on December 12. According to UN, this year’s theme – “Leave No One Behind When It Comes to Health: Invest in Health Systems for All”.
Universal Health Coverage Day seeks to renew global efforts to ensure that people have access to health care when they need it and progress toward a more equitable and healthy society.

Notes:
As per a new research, Quetzalcoatlus was the largest known flying animal to have ever lived on Earth.
The animal is claimed to have a 12-metre wingspan, as per a research collection published by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. The research team found that the creature took flight like a fighter jet off an aircraft carrier after years of research.

Notes:
The United States witnessed over 30 tornadoes ripped through at least six states (Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee).
As per the officials, the death toll could exceed 80 due to the tornadoes that hit across parts of the central and southern United States. More damages were found in the state of Kentucky, where over 70 people died and several buildings, factories and warehouses were damaged.

Notes:
The world’s largest natural corundum blue sapphire- named the “Queen of Asia”, was found from a gem pit in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.
Ratnapura, also known as gem city, is situated around 85 km away from capital Colombo. The rare gem weighs around 310 kg. The National Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka certified the gem stone and said that more tests are to be carried out on the gem stone.

Notes:
Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton received his knighthood from Prince Charles at Windsor Castle for his services to motorsport.
A knighthood is a title conferred on a person by a British king or queen for their high achievement and services to their country within their industry. Hamilton is also the only black driver in the 70-year history of Formula One. Hamilton was earlier awarded the MBE, a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

Notes:
The ‘Index on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy’, an indicator of literacy among children below 10 years was released by Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
The Index was prepared by ‘Institute for Competitiveness’. West Bengal (58.95) topped the chart and Bihar was placed at the bottom in the ‘large states’ category. In the ‘small states’ category, Kerala (67.95) grabbed the top spot. Lakshadweep (52.69) and Mizoram (51.64) are top-scoring regions in the UT and Northeast state category, respectively.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet passed a proposal to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years — the same as men.
This step is based on recommendations submitted to NITI Aayog in December 2020 by the task force headed by Jaya Jaitly, which was constituted to examine “matters pertaining to age of motherhood, imperatives of lowering MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate), improvement of nutritional levels and related issues”.

Notes:
Ministry of Women and Child Development has organised a National Conference on Tuberculosis at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu was the Chief Guest, along with Minister of Women & Child Development Smriti Irani and Minister of Health & Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya. Prime Minister of India announced the government’s vision to eliminate TB by 2025, ahead of the SDG timeline of 2030.

Notes:
Jharkhand has launched an initiative called the Safe and Responsible Migration Initiative (SRMI). It aims for a systemic registration of migrant workers in the source as well as destination districts.
This programme will help the state to analyse the movement of people through a formal structure. The state government has also decided to set up two “labour consulates” in Ladakh and Kerala. Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged all migrant workers to get registered under SRMI.

Notes:
The Indian Navy recently had maiden sea trials of its second indigenous stealth destroyer of the P15B class named Mormugao, which is built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDSL). The ship has been named after the port town in Goa.
It has been proposed to commission the stealth destroyer in mid-2022 and would add significantly to the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities.