Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2023

Notes:
Pressmud, a residual byproduct in the sugar industry often known as filter cake or press cake, has been acknowledged as a valuable resource for green energy production.
The byproduct can help Indian sugar mills generate extra revenue by utilising it as a feedstock for biogas production through anaerobic digestion and subsequent purification to create compressed biogas (CBG).

Notes:
India’s Union Ministry of Tourism hosted an industry round-table on developing the country as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism destination in New Delhi.
During India’s G20 Presidency, more than 200 meetings have been organized in 56 cities across the country.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Terms of Reference for the Sixteenth Finance Commission.
The 16th Finance Commission’s recommendations, upon the acceptance by the government, would cover the period of five years commencing April 1, 2026. Article 280(1) of the Constitutions lays down that the modalities for setting up of a Finance Commission. The Fifteenth Finance Commission was constituted in 2017, whose recommendations are valid up to the financial year 2025-26.

Notes:
Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, considered the most dominant American statesman of the Cold War period, passed away at age 100. As National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, the German-born Kissinger was the primary architect of historic rapprochement with China, landmark nuclear arms control talks with the Soviets, the 1973 Israel-Arab peace deal, and the eventual Vietnam War exit. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for the Vietnam negotiations. However, Kissinger’s legacy also prompts sharp criticism over his backing of controversial policies in places like Latin America, South Asia and Africa that allegedly violated human rights.

Notes:
Indian Navy will conduct its biggest ever multilateral exercise Milan-2024 in Vizag deploying both its aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and new indigenous INS Vikrant. The event involving 50 friendly foreign navies aims to demonstrate India’s expanding military prowess as security provider in the Indian Ocean region.
Flagship participation of the carriers equipped with fighter jets and helicopters will showcase naval aviation capabilities across mission spectrums from combat preparedness to humanitarian aid.

Notes:
India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at 7.6% in the July-September 2023 quarter, as per initial estimates from the National Statistical Office.
GDP growth of 7.6 per cent beat most estimates, including 6.5 per cent projected by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). In the April-June quarter, the gross domestic product (GDP) growth was 6.2 percent.

 

Notes:
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has enabled two-factor authentication for all e-waybill and e-invoice systems to further enhance the security of the goods and services tax systems.
The feature was enabled on December 1 and was rolled out on Monday. Currently the pilot rollout has been done for a state of Haryana and after seamless operation of the same in the state, it is being rolled out for Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Delhi taxpayers in the first phase. In the second phase, it will be rolled out across the country.

Notes:
Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII) was launched at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The ambitious programme to upscale and accelerate green industries and businesses across Africa was launched by presidents and representatives from Kenya, Angola, Burundi, Djibouti, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia, as well as COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. The initiative underscores the importance of green industrialisation to harness Africa’s vast and quality resources to secure prosperity for all.

Notes:
The Indian Railways launched an AI-based surveillance system to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks. ‘Gajraj System’ will be installed on 700 kilometres of route passing through forest areas.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said forest areas in Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, Jharkhand and some parts of Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu which are home to elephants, are identified. The technology, which was created by the railroads in association with a few start-ups, was implemented on a 150-kilometer section of Assam last year.

Notes:
The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) unveiled its 2023 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR).
According to IMD’s study, India has made significant in terms of cybersecurity knowledge but lacks on fronts like technology and future readiness. India has been ranked at 49th rank among 64 economies.