Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2023

Notes:
On the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PwD) on 3rd December, 2023, a new Accessibility Widget was launched at the iGOT Karmayogi Platform.
The Widget currently offers user-friendly features such as: Screen Reader, Smart Contrast, Text Spacing, Dyslexia Friendly, Saturation, Pause Animations, and Page Structure. iGOT’s Accessibility Widget seeks to create an inclusive and equitable learning experience for all. iGOT Karmayogi is a comprehensive online learning portal to guide government officials in their capacity-building journey.

Notes:
The India Infrastructure Report 2023 on Urban Planning and Development was released by Venkaiah Naidu, former Vice-President of India, along with Amitabh Pant, G20 Sherpa of India and former CEO, NITI Aayog.
The Report has been a collaborative effort of the IDFC Foundation, Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). It contains 25 chapters by prominent names in the urban development and policy ecosystem on the current state of urban development in India. The India Infrastructure Report (IIR) series was initiated by the IDFC Foundation in 2001.

Notes:
The three-day 9th International Food Convention, IFCON – 2023, jointly organised by CSIR-CFTRI and Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India) (AFSTI) will be held at Mysuru.
The event, which is held once in five years, is expecting more than 3,000 delegates including students, industrialists, researchers and others taking part. While the international research and conferences are held in foreign countries, the food convention is being held in India.

Notes:
Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched a global service account (GSA) to address the banking needs of companies in the service export sector.
The account includes advisory services on forex markets and trends for a competitive edge. Clients will also have access to trade experts and digital solutions for expert trade insights and innovative digital solutions. They can also access business financing up to Rs 2 crore for on-time salaries, vendor payments or other short-term requirements. The bank said that the sector export sector contributes to 40% of total exports in India and grew at 26.8% in FY23 to $323 billion.

Notes:
Ministry of Commerce and Industry released the revised draft Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2023, to reconstitute the Rubber Board.
On a direction by the government, the Rubber Board is scheduled to hold three open house sessions, to discuss the revised draft. An earlier Bill introduced by the Union Government—Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022, which sought to repeal the Rubber Act of 1947—had ignited widespread protests among rubber farmers.

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:
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:
The Union government has approved setting up a breeding centre for cheetahs at the Banni grasslands in Gujarat’s Kutch district.
The Gujarat government sent a proposal to the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management Authority under National CAMPA. Wildlife experts said that there were records of cheetah hunting in Saurashtra and Dahod until 1921, adding that several reference journals have mentioned cheetah presence in Gujarat until the early 1940s. The Gujarat government will have to set up breeding centres and introduce a prey base in this area before cheetahs are brought.

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:
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the Khelo India Para Games 2023 in New Delhi.
More than 1400 players from 32 states and Union Territories and Services Sports Board are participating in these Games between December 10 and 17 at three venues in New Delhi. The Competition will be held in seven para-sports which include athletics, shooting, archery, football, badminton, table tennis and weightlifting. Some of India’s top international para stars like Sheetal Devi, Bhavina Patel, Ashok and others will participate in the event.