Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2023

Notes:
Leading automobile manufacturer Tata Motors has launched a registered vehicle scrapping facility (RVSF) in Punjab, which will be the company’s fourth such unit.
Named ‘Re.Wi.Re – Recycle with Respect, the facility uses environmentally friendly processes and has the capacity to disassemble 12,000 end-of-life vehicles safely and sustainably, each year. It is equipped to scrap both passenger and commercial vehicles, regardless of their brand.

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The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for procurement of 16 Upgraded Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) along with associated equipment/ accessories for Indian Navy under Buy (Indian) category at a total cost of ₹2956.89 Cr.
The upgraded SRGM, which will be manufactured by BHEL is a medium caliber anti-missile/anti-aircraft point defence weapon system which provides a sustained rate of fire and high accuracy.

Notes:
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) launched Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin for July – September 2023
As per the report, the unemployment rate in urban areas of the country decreased from 7.2% in July-September 2022 to 6.6% in July–September 2023.

Notes:
India’s Aditya L1 satellite has begun unravelling solar wind enigmas as two cutting-edge particle spectrometers commenced data gathering in recent months. The SWIS and STEPS instruments on the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment payload have detected protons, Helium ions and energy histograms exhibiting solar wind behavior fluctuations near Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L1.
SWIS’ 360-degree coverage and directional monitoring capacities will significantly further comprehension of solar wind properties, variability and links to space weather influencing Earth. Researchers eagerly anticipate more revelations to address enduring questions about the complex solar wind and corona heating as Aditya L1 nears L1 orbital point for uninterrupted solar observation.

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A lesser-known tribal rights party clinched its debut electoral win in Madhya Pradesh, signalling the rising political assertion of marginalized adivasi communities.
The Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) candidate defeated opponents from national parties to capture the Sailana constituency, located in a scheduled tribe reserved seat. Rajkumar Roat, founder of the BAP has won the Chorasi seat in the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly polls. The party calls itself the first environment-friendly party.

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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar recently inaugurated the 5th edition of Global Ayurveda Festival in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) 2023 with the theme ‘Emerging Challenges in Healthcare and a Resurgent Ayurveda’ was held from 1 – 5 December.
The conclave witnessed the participation of Kerala Governor, Chief Minister of Kerala, Union Ayush Minister, Union Minister of Animal Husbandry Parshottam Rupala, President of the Republic of Mauritius, Minister of State for Indigenous Medicine of Sri Lanka, among others.

Notes:
China’s regulator wants provinces to come up with their own plans to handle financial risks, according to a report.
‘One Province, One Policy’ comes after officials previously committed to establishing a mechanism to tackle local debt issues. China has struggled for traction this year as a bounce-back from restrictive Covid Zero policies proved to be softer than expected and a property crisis dragged on.

Notes:
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers delivered the largest survey vessel built in India, INS Sandhayak to the Indian Navy on Navy Day 2023.
INS Sandhayak is the first in a series of four Survey Vessels (Large) being built by GRSE. INS Sandhayak is the first of four advanced Survey Vessels (Large) or SVLs. It is a new version of a previous ship with the same name, which was a survey vessel in the Indian Navy from 1981 to 2021. These survey ships are capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of port and harbour approaches as well as the determination of navigation channels and routes.

Notes:
India and Oman begun talks for a free trade agreement. Mineral fuels, inorganic chemicals, compounds of precious metals and iron and steel are India’s top exports to Oman while oil, fertilisers and plastics are the top imports.
India’s exports to Oman in April-September FY24 were 2 billion and imports were 2.1 billion. The government has identified petroleum products, gems and jewellery, engineering products, pharmaceuticals, cement and ceramic products, ready-made textiles, and footwear as some goods with scope for more trade with Oman.

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The term extended reality (XR) covers virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and other technologies. It merges the real and virtual worlds, providing users an immersive experience.
The report, titled ‘Accelerating India’s Potential to Address the Global XR Opportunity’ which is supported by Meta, said Indian XR startups are evolving to develop global solutions, with 76% of those surveyed serving both domestic and international clients. The term extended reality (XR) covers virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and other technologies. It merges the real and virtual worlds, providing users an immersive experience.