Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2021

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to demonstrate the use of indigenously developed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
With this, India will be one of the few countries to have an indigenous force-multiplier. The developed AESA radar is 95% indigenous, with only one imported subsystem. It has the capacity to track as many as 50 targets in the sky at a range in excess of 100 km.

Notes:
Olaf Scholz has been sworn in as Germany’s new chancellor, officially taking over from Angela Merkel, who served historic 16 years as the Chancellor.
The 63-year old leader steered the Social Democrats to election victory in September. He has played a key role in the Merkel government as vice-chancellor. All 16 ministers took the oath of office, becoming Germany’s first cabinet to include as many women as men.

Notes:
A recent report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has said China is the world’s biggest captor of journalists with at least 127 reporters detained at present.
The report titled ‘The Great Leap Backwards of Journalism in China’ reveals China’s violations against its international commitments to freedom of opinion and expression. At least ten journalists and online commentators were arrested in 2020 for informing public about the COVID-19 crisis.

Notes:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space, and the government of India signed an MoU with smartphone maker OPPO to strengthen research and development of NavIC messaging service.
NavIC messaging service is the domestic satellite navigation system of India. They will develop indigenous solutions by incorporating the NavIC short messaging feature in the smartphones released by OPPO.

Notes:
UN recognised the 38 degrees Celsius measured in Siberian region of Russia, as the new record high for the Arctic
The heat equivalent to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit was seen on June 20, 2020 in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk. It marked the highest temperature ever recorded above the Arctic Circle, as per the World Meteorological Organization.

Notes:
India’s External Affairs Ministry, along with the Indian Council of World Affairs hosted the eighth Indian Ocean Dialogue.
The theme for this year’s edition was “Leveraging Digital Technologies for Health, Education, Development, and Trade in Indian Ocean Rim Association Member States”. The representatives discussed on the potential for IORA cooperation in health, education, trade, and development.

Notes:
The Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) has accepted the plea to rename Bihar Makhana as Mithila Makhana.
It also suggested amendments in the brand logo to reflect its origins along with identifying and protecting the product’s Geographical Indications (GI) rights. Makhana or fox nut is one of the most famous products of mithila region, span across Bihar and Jharkand.

Notes:
Keechant Sewell has been named the New York City’s next police commissioner, making her the first woman to lead the nation’s largest police force.
Keechant Sewell was a Long Island police official. The 49-year-old will also be the third Black person to serve as New York Police Department commissioner. Among about 35,000 uniformed members of the department, around 45% are white, 30% are Hispanic, 15% are Black and 10% are Asian.

Notes:
Haryana government has launched “Khel Nursery Scheme” to promote sports in the state. Under the scheme, sports nurseries will be started in government, private educational institutions and private sports institutions.
Under the scheme, sports nurseries are being opened for the sports included in the Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth Games.

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.