Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2021

Notes:
North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi), a financial institution in the North-Eastern Region launched ‘Atmanirbhar Hastshilpkar Scheme’.
It aims to provide financial assistance in the form of term loan to the Artisans of the region, for setting up, modernization and other activities related to the sector. The credit facility is collateral free and carries a subsidized interest rate.

Notes:
A Royal Bengal Tiger has been spotted in Buxa tiger reserve in West Bengal, after at least 23 years, as per the West Bengal government.
A picture of a tiger was captured on a trap camera in the forest of East Damanpur of Buxa tiger reserve.  It was in 1998 that images of a Royal Bengal Tiger were captured at the reserve earlier. The reserve had lost its identity as a tiger reserve from the National Wild Life Board.

Notes:
The Log4j vulnerability is a software flaw as reported by cyber-security researchers that could allow attackers to have uncontrolled access to computer systems.
Dubbed CVE-2021-44228, it could impact several products from those of Apple to Microsoft. US government’s cyber-security agency has also issued a warning on the same. The issue was discovered in Microsoft-owned Minecraft.

Notes:
Max Verstappen recently became the first Dutchman ever to win the Formula One world championship title.
He achieved this feat when he won a dramatic season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit. The 24-year old is a Belgian-Dutch racing driver, who has been contesting since 2015.

Notes:
Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan is implemented by Maharashtra Government. The state’s Department of Environment and Climate Change and UNICEF have developed the Majhi Vasundhara curriculum on environment for school students.
The curriculum for Class I-VIII includes Biodiversity Conservation, Solid Waste Management, Water Resources Management, Pollution & Climate Change.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26 with an outlay of Rs.93,068 crore. PMKSY was launched in 2015-16.
The three components: Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Har Khet ko Paani (HKKP) and Watershed Development components have been approved for continuation during 2021-26.  AIBP is implemented by Ministry of Jal Shakti; Per Drop-More Crop and Micro Irrigation scheme of Agriculture Ministry and Watershed Development by Rural Development Ministry.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the All India Mayors’ Conference at Varanasi via video conferencing.
As many as 120 mayors from various states of the country participated in the conference, which was conducted with the theme of ‘New Urban India’.

Notes:
The Barn owl is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds. Its scientific name is “Tyto alba”.
Recently, the bird is spotted in the state of Bihar. Though it is seen across many parts of the world including the US, the UK and other parts of Europe, it is very rarely seen in the Indian subcontinent. It is generally found in countries with low temperature.

Notes:
The Defence Research Development Establishment (DRDE) is to set up an advanced biological defence lab to study viruses dangerous to humans, at Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior.
The proposed Advanced Biological Defence Research Centre (ABDRC) will focus on dangerous viruses, their effect on humans and it will come up with safeguards and develop equipment to fight them.

Notes:
Goa Liberation Day is observed on December 19 every year to mark the success of ‘Operation Vijay’ undertaken by Indian armed forces.
Operation Vijay liberated Goa from Portuguese rule. Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for nearly a decade more, after India attained independence. The Portuguese also ruled Daman, Diu, Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Anjediva Island.