Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2021

Notes:
Researchers at IIT Delhi’s Kusuma School of Biological Sciences have developed an RT-PCR based kit for detection of the Omicron (B.1.1.529.1) variant of SARS-CoV-2.
The assay is based on detecting specific mutations, which are present in the Omicron variant and absent in other currently present variants of SARS-CoV-2. Globally, the detection of the Omicron variant requires over 3 days.

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:
The Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO), Ministry of Railways has been the first organisation to be Bureau of Indian Standards, under the BIS scheme of Standards Development Organizations (SDOs).
As per BIS Act 2016, BIS is empowered recognize or accredit any institution in India or outside which is engaged in standardization.

Notes:
Veteran American Black feminist author Bell hooks, passed away at the age of 69.
Her famous works include “Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism,” in which she examined the impact of sexism and racism on Black women. She also argued for a more inclusive movement, and focussed the impact of racism within feminism.

Notes:
Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh launched MIS (Management Information System) portal for rankings of States/UTs in Land Acquisition Projects.
It is based on RFCTLARR Act, 2013 (Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013). The Department of Land Resources developed this MIS portal and top 3 Districts and States will be awarded based on their rankings on the portal

Notes:
India being world’s second largest coal producer and it is currently producing over 729 million tonnes of coal. Jharkhand has the most Coal reserves in the country.
Union Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi has recently launched the fourth tranche of auction of 99 coal mines including 24 new mines. Of these 99 mines, 59 are fully explored mines and 40 are partially explored. These mines are spread across 8 states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the 594-km Ganga Expressway in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
After completion of work, it will be the longest expressway of Uttar Pradesh, connecting the western and eastern regions of the state. The six-lane expressway, which is expandable to eight lanes, will be built at a cost of over Rs 36000 crore.

Notes:
The Nadi Utsav (River Festival) is being celebrated in India across 16 states and 41 districts from Uttarkashi to Kerala, under the four chosen themes of Cleanliness, Patriotism, Nature and Ecology, Devotion and Spirituality. The festival is being conducted from 16th Dec to 23rd Dec 2021.
This is in line with the Prime Minister’s speech in Man Ki Bath, urging all people living near rivers to celebrate a river festival at least once in a year.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to launch the ‘happiness curriculum’ in 150 primary schools of Uttar Pradesh under a pilot project.
It aims to make the students more sensitive towards nature, society and the country. Uttar Pradesh will be the third state in the country after Chhattisgarh and Delhi to implement the curriculum. The happiness curriculum will be introduced to the students of Classes 1 to 8.

Notes:
Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), Self help groups (SHGs) receive the Community Investment Fund (CIF).
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi transferred ₹1,000 crore to bank accounts of self help groups to benefit around 16 lakh women.  This transfer is being done under the DAY-NRLM scheme. ₹4000 will be provided as the first month’s stipend in the account of 20000 Business correspondent-Sakhis (BC-Sakhis).