Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2023

Notes:
The United Nations released the latest draft of a global climate agreement which presented three options to tackle fossil fuels which ranged from phasing them out to not talking about it at all.
The first proposes an ‘orderly and just phase out of fossil fuels’ stance and one seen as essential by low-lying island nations at threat from rising seas. The second calls for faster efforts to phase out projects that lack the means to capture and store emissions, and to “rapidly” reduce fossil fuel use to achieve carbon neutrality in global energy production by 2050.The third option contained in the 24-page draft is “no text” at all, a position supported by oil giant Saudi Arabia and China.

Notes:
The University of Toronto is named the world’s most sustainable university, followed by the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) in second and the University of Manchester in third place.
Ranked 220th globally, Delhi University is at the top among Indian universities in the “QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024,” It is the only Indian entity in the top 300, as IITs from Bombay, Madras, Kharagpur and Roorkee are ranked among the top 400.

Notes:
State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has become the fourth largest insurer in the world, ahead of US-based MetLife and Prudential Financial Inc.
The LIC is only behind Germany’s Allianz SE, China’s China Life Insurance (CLI), and Japan’s Nippon Life Insurance, according to a new ranking by capital market company S&P Global.

Notes:
Lionel Messi has been named as Times magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2023. The news comes after Messi won the 2023 Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time, further elevating his status in football folklore.
Messi played a key role in Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup campaign, where he led them to the title, defeating France in the final. He was adjudged as the tournament’s Best Player and was also the second-highest goalscorer.

Notes:
Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Mizoram.
Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Lalduhoma. Former Indian Police Service officer Lalduhoma’s Zoram People’s Movement won 27 of the State’s 40 Assembly seats.

Notes:
UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change unveiled the “Green Rising” initiative at COP28 in Dubai.
The main goal is to mobilize millions of young people worldwide, encouraging their active participation in green initiatives addressing and adapting to the severe impacts of climate change on their communities. Through the YuWaah campaign in India, the focus is on engaging youth to drive impactful environmental actions at the grassroots level, inspired by the Mission Life movement.

Notes:
National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) was set up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, in New Delhi.
The Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, bestowed the “National Award for Innovations and Good Practices in Educational Administration” upon 65 exemplary district and block education officers nationwide.NIEPA initiated the awards for district- and block-level education officers in 2014. The scheme aims to inspire innovations and good practices in educational administration at the grassroots level to enhance the public education system’s efficiency.

Notes:
Union Home Minister is the Chairman of these five Zonal Councils, while the Chief Ministers of the Statesand the Administrator/Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territories from the respective Zonal Council are its members, one of whom is the Vice-Chairman by rotation every year.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently chaired the 26th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council in Patna, Bihar. The Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar, and senior Ministers from Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand attended the meeting.

Notes:
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) has launched its retail division, geared towards enhancing emphasis on providing loans to borrowers in the PM-KUSUM scheme, Rooftop Solar, and other Business-to-Consumer (B2C) sectors. The strategic division became operational on 5th December, 2023.
IREDA also proposed a significant stride towards sustainable investing by suggesting a 1%-2% Assets Under Management (AUM) allocation for domestic pension and insurance funds into Renewable Energy (RE) bonds.

Notes:
Vishnu Deo Sai, a prominent tribal face of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
Raman Singh, who has run the state government for 15 years, has been made the Speaker of the state assembly.