Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2021

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Rural) for another three years till March 2024.
The extension of the scheme will help in the construction of the remaining 155.75 lakh houses. It will help achieve the target of 2.95 crore ‘pucca’ houses.

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:
US President Joe Biden inaugurated the first White House Summit for Democracy. It was launched as a two-day virtual summit.
The US President Biden warned about a global slide for democratic institutions and called for world leaders to demonstrate democracies can deliver. Over 100 participants representing governments, civil society and private-sector leaders participated in the summit.

Notes:
The NITI Aayog launched Convoke 2021-22, a national level symposium in partnership with Bharti Foundation.
Through this platform, school teachers and heads of government schools and teachers from the Bharti Foundation network will be encouraged to use research-based solutions through scientific approaches, for improving learning outcomes.

Notes:
A recent terrorist attack on convoy of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) killed seven UN peacekeepers.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack held in Bandiagara region in Mali that resulted in the killing of seven UN peacekeepers from Togo.

Notes:
In the United States, the House voted to pass the Protect Our Democracy Act, which addresses presidential abuses of power. The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, at present.
The Act also stresses the checks and balances between the branches of government. It aims to strengthen limitation on presidential pardons, requirement for candidates for president and vice president to submit their personal tax returns for 10 years, and acceptance of any foreign or domestic emoluments.

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:
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:
The World Health Organization recently released the “Tracking Universal Coverage – 2021 Global Monitoring Report”.
On the occasion of Universal Health Coverage day, World Bank also released the “Global Monitoring Report on Financial Protection in Health 2021”. The report showed that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to halt two decades of global progress towards Universal Health Coverage.

Notes:
Russia has proposed a draft agreement to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on measures to ensure the security of both sides.
It suggested that Russia and NATO reaffirm that they do not consider each other as adversaries. Russia asked NATO to stop further enlargement, the accession of Ukraine, and to cease any military activity in Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.