Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2022

Notes:
In a suspected hooch (intoxicant) tragedy in dry Bihar, as many as 21 deaths were reported from Saran district.
Sale and consumption of alcohol was completely banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government in April, 2016. As it is suspected that all the deceased consumed some intoxicant, after the post-mortem the viscera will be sent to a forensic laboratory at Muzaffarpur for examination.

Notes:
According to a new report, India currently has around 350 million online transacting users across e-commerce, shopping, travel and hospitality, and OTT.
There are about 40-45 million mature users who spend a significant share of their wallet online. The report also estimates that these mature users would account for USD 400 billion online spending by 2030. With 780 million, India is home to the second-largest Internet user base in the world.

Notes:
The Namami Gange initiative was recognised during the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada on World Restoration Day.
Namami Gange initiative to rejuvenate river Ganga was recognised as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships aimed at reviving the natural world. The initiatives were selected under the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Notes:
The Minister of Minority Affairs, Smriti Zubin Irani informed that the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) has now been named as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme.
The integrated scheme merges five erstwhile schemes of the Ministry: Seekho aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil. The scheme has been approved by the Cabinet for the period of 15th Finance Commission.

Notes:
The 16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise ‘SURYA KIRAN-XVI’ between India and Nepal commenced at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi.
Exercise SURYA KIRAN is conducted annually between India and Nepal. Last year, the 15th India-Nepal combined ‘Surya Kiran’ military training exercise took place in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.

Notes:
India celebrates Vijay Diwas to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
On 16th December 1971, Pakistani forces, along with 93 thousand troops, surrendered unconditionally to the allied forces led by Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, in Dhaka after their defeat. The end of the war resulted in the freedom of Bangladesh.

Notes:
India has received all 36 Rafale aircraft from France, with the last aircraft landing in the country recently.
India and France signed the inter-government agreement in 2016, under which France agreed to provide 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around 60,000 crore rupees to India.

Notes:
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank has collaborated with Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company for marketing the products of the insurance arm of Kotak Mahindra Bank.
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank had earlier tied-up with Cholamandalam General Insurance and Max Life Insurance Company to offer their insurance products.

Notes:
Leo Varadkar takes over for the second time as Ireland’s Prime Minister. He is still one of Ireland’s youngest ever leaders even in his second stint in the role.
Varadkar’s Fine Gael and current premier Micheal Martin’s Fianna Fail parties is unprecedented in Irish history, agreed to the rotating premiership as part of a coalition with Ireland’s Greens following 2020 elections.

Notes:
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council met after a gap of six months under the chairmanship of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently, over videoconference.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council clarified tax provisions on several items to reduce disputes. It also approved decriminalisation of some offences but did not discuss about the setting up of a GST Appellate Tribunal.