Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2022

Notes:
Indian scientist Professor Thalappil Pradeep, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras received VinFuture special prize on 20th Dec. 2022 in Hanoi.
He was awarded for innovation of a low-cost filtration system to remove arsenic and other heavy metals from groundwater. Thalappil was earlier conferred with the Padma Shri in honour of his work to develop affordable and safe drinking water solutions using nanomaterials.

Notes:
Zydus Worldwide DMCC, a subsidiary of Zydus Lifesciences has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market Selexipag Tablets in different strengths.
Selexipag is used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), to delay disease progression and reduce the risk of hospitalisation in adults.

Notes:
After the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by 196 parties was agreed at the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the final text of the framework has been released.
The framework, released Montreal city in Canada, includes four goals and 23 action-oriented global targets for urgent action to be achieved by 2030. It also has four long-term goals for 2050 related to the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity.

Notes:
Flipkart and PhonePe announced the full ownership separation of PhonePe, India’s largest digital payments platform.
The PhonePe Group was acquired by the Flipkart Group in 2016 and is one among India’s largest digital payments platform. PhonePe has over 400 million registered users, as it builds products and offerings tailored to the Indian market.

Notes:
Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has launched Khelo India’s new Dashboard.
The Dashboard includes all the statistical data related to the Khelo India Scheme and the Khelo India events. It will be updated in real-time and will also include Information about playgrounds with geo-tagging.

Notes:
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined a 10-point peace plan to end the war with Russia.
He has been promoting his 10-point peace plan, discussing it with U.S. President Joe Biden among others. He also urged the the world leaders to hold a Global Peace Summit based on it. Zelenskiy announced his peace formula at a November summit of the Group of 20 major economies.

Notes:
The Maharashtra Assembly unanimously passed the Maharashtra Lokayukta Act, 2022, which will give additional powers to the Lokayukta to direct state agencies to probe public servants, including the chief minister and state ministers.
The government has accepted all the recommendations made by the committee led by social activist Anna Hazare. The Act will now be presented in the Legislative Council for approval.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid foundation stone and projects worth more than ₹7,800 crore in West Bengal.
He also virtually inaugurated Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee – National Institute of Water and Sanitation (DSPM – NIWAS). It will serve as an apex body in the country on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the country, serving as a hub of information and knowledge for Central, State and local governments.

Notes:
The Indian Army has offered the first 3D printed houses for soldiers at Ahmedabad Cantt. They are constructed by the Military Engineering Services (MES) in collaboration with MiCoB Pvt Ltd.
The dwelling unit, with a ground floor plus one configuration are not only cheap but can be constructed in less time. Construction work of the dwelling unit with garage space and first floor was completed in 12 weeks.

Notes:
Leaders and people of Meghalaya paid rich tribute to the Freedom Fighter U Kiang Nangbah on his 160th death anniversary.
U Kiang Nangbah had revolted against the British when Khasi-Jaiñtia Hills region were not part of India. He was hanged publicly at in Jowai town on December 30, 1862.