Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2022

Notes:
According to a recent clarification, the Central Government will allow a consortium of foreign funds and investment companies to own over 51% in IDBI Bank Ltd.
As per the current Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules, foreign ownership is restricted in new private banks. At present, the government and the Life Insurance Corporation of India hold 94.71% in IDBI Bank and are looking to sell 60.72%.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to introduce additional features to the existing Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platforms to allow multiple debits.
The central bank will roll out single-block and multiple debit functionality that will enable users to block funds in their accounts. With the added feature, merchants can make multiple debit transactions within a permitted limit.

Notes:
Haryana Government issues orders which prohibit dismissing an employee without a proper enquiry. The move comes after a recommendation of Punjab and Haryana high court which states that authorities have been ignoring the law regarding dismissal of an employee under Article 311 (2) (b) of the Constitution.
Article 311 empowers the competent authority to dismiss, remove or reduce in rank a government employee subject to various riders.

Notes:
UN General Assembly declared 2002 as the UN International Year of Mountains and designated 11 December, as “International Mountain Day” from 2003 onwards.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the coordinating agency for this celebration (IMD). ‘Women Move Mountains’ is the theme of this year’s International Mountain Day. International Mountain Day 2022 raises awareness about the need to empower mountain women.

Notes:
The two-day-long National conclave of Universal Health Coverage was organised in Varanasi, by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched operational guidelines for AB-HWCs, Tele-MANAS along with training modules for CHOs and SASHAKT portal at the inaugural ceremony. He also felicitated Best Performing States/UTs.

Notes:
The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL) signed MoU with Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB).
The MoU seeks to help attract commercial capital into infrastructure opportunities in the state. Seven projects are identified across departments which have the potential to attract private investments of approximately Rs. 5,000 to 6,000 crores.

Notes:
The Prime Minister virtually inaugurated the Goa-based All India Institute of Ayurveda, Ghaziabad-based National Institute of Unani Medicine, and Delhi-based National Institute of Homeopathy from Goa.
He addressed the 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) and Arogya Expo. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the All India Institute of Ayurveda at Dhargal will have 50 per cent reservation in seats for Goans.

Notes:
Ministry of Culture has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at seven places namely Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur.
These centers aim to conserve and develop art, culture and crafts across the country. The government provides regular annual grant-in-aid for conducting various activities and programmes to ZCCs. ZCCs organize a minimum 42 Regional Festivals for promotion of art and culture every year.

Notes:
The Okavango delta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern African country Botswana and Murchison Falls is Uganda’s oldest and largest national park.
As per the report ‘Who is Financing Fossil Fuel Expansion in Africa?’, Oil companies are threatening these biodiversity hotspots in an effort to drill for oil, which will benefit other rich countries.

Notes:
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is the first woman to head the Treasury and chair the US Federal Reserve.
She unveiled the first US banknotes printed with two women’s signatures. The new banknotes were being produced at the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) site. USD 1 and USD 5 bills were printed with signatures of Yellen and US Treasury Chief Lynn Malerba, the first Native American to serve in that role.