Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2021

Notes:
An Indian Air Force helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on board crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor.
Thirteen people have been confirmed dead in the incident. Group Captain Varun Singh, honoured with the Shaurya Chakra this year, who was the lone survivor of the crash, is in critical condition.

Notes:
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security released the ‘Global Health Security (GHS) Index’.
As per the index, the world remains unprepared for future epidemic and pandemic threats. The world’s performance on the GHS Index score slipped to 38.9 (out of 100) in 2021, from a score of 40.2. India, with a score of 42.8, has slipped by 0.8 points since 2019.

Notes:
Google released its ‘Year in Search 2021′ list, which, like displays what was searched the most on its search engine around the world.
Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra became the most searched-for personality in India in 2021. Among the most searched-for subjects on Google in India in 2021, ICC T20 World Cup and Indian Premier League, CoWin, Euro Cup, and Tokyo Olympics occupied the first five spots.

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:
New Zealand will ban the sale of tobacco to its next generation, with an aim of eventually phasing out smoking in the country.
As per the law expected to be enacted next year, anyone born after 2008 will not be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products in their lifetime. New Zealand’s health ministry recently announced a crackdown on smoking.

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:
Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program is implemented by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The program comes under the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984 and was designed to recognize pilots and flight crew. Recently, FAA announced that it will no longer issue Commercial Space Astronaut Wings, the pins given to individuals reaching space but instead recognise on its website.

Notes:
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar has launched a National Helpline against Atrocities (NHAA).
The Helpline is available on toll-free number “14566” across the country in Hindi, English and regional language of the State/UTs. It aims to ensure proper implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) [PoA] Act, 1989.

Notes:
Embassy of India in Madagascar organized the monthly literary program LaLitTana. It was held in a virtual platform for the first time due to the Omicron spread.
The event witnessed Malagasy and Indian poets reading their translations of poems to each other. The event was attended by several Indian poets. The Indian ambassador to Madagascar & Comoros Abhay Kumar highlighted that the Malagasy language has about 300 Sanskrit words.

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.