Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2017

Notes:
President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated the 18th Hornbill festival 2017 and the 54th Statehood Day celebrations of Nagaland at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama on December 1, 2017. The 10-day Hornbill fest is the perfect showcase of rich Naga culture and traditions, preserved over the years in the form of music, dance and food. It is also called the ‘Festival of Festivals’. The festival is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the state’s tribes. The highlights of festival includes the traditional Naga Morungs exhibition and the sale of arts and crafts, food stalls, herbal medicine stalls, flower shows and sales, cultural medley – songs and dances, fashion shows, the Miss Nagaland beauty contest, traditional archery, Naga wrestling, indigenous games, and musical concert.

Notes:
Japan will host a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on December 15, which will be focused on finding peaceful ways to pressure North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile tests and de-nuclearise the Korean peninsula. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to brief the council. This year’s meeting has the backing of nine members – the United States, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, Senegal, Sweden, Ukraine and Uruguay.

Notes:
The first International exhibition and Conference on AYUSH and Wellness sector- AROGYA 2017 has started in New Delhi on December 4, 2017. The 4-day event inaugurated by Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik with theme “Enhancing the global potential of Ayush”. The purpose of the event is to showcase the strength and scientific validation of Indian System of Medicine in the global context. It will also facilitate International promotion, development and recognition of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy. The fair will give a boost to AYUSH Products in International Market. Over 200 Ayush and wellness delegates from over 50 countries are attending the conference. AYUSH is the acronym of the medical systems that are being practiced in India such as Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.

Notes:
The Indian Navy Day (IND) is observed every year on 4th December every year to remember the courage and determination that Indian Navy had shown during the 1971 war. During the India-Pakistan war of 1971, the Indian Navy played a significant role in the bombing of the Karachi harbor and sank Pakistan Naval Ship PNS Ghazi. The Navy Day celebrations not only display the nation’s technological progress but also the maritime achievements of India. The Indian Navy plays a great role in securing the marine borders of the country as well as enhancing the international relations of the country through foreign port callings, joint exercises, humanitarian missions and calamity relief.

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh assembly has unanimously passed the Kapu reservation bill to provide 5% quota to Kapu community under the Backward Castes (BC) ‘F’ Category in education and employment in the state. The bill will be sent to Centre for its approval and to include the Kapu reservation in Schedule 9 so that it will become legitimate. Though, Kapu quota if issued, will take the total quota in the state to 55%, which is more than 50% limit restricted by the Supreme Court. The state already has 29% reservation for Backward Castes under A, B, C, D and E categories. Apart from this, 15% and 6% reservations exist for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), respectively.

Notes:
The Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS) is located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh and is spread over an area of 6.14 square kilometers. It is home to a varied set of faunal and avifaunal species such as foxes, jackals, bonnet macaques, jungle cats, sloth bears and black bucks. It also houses 132 bird species with the Alganur reservoir near the sanctuary frequented annually by migratory species.

Notes:
Rahul Singh, Founder & CEO of The Beer Café, has taken over as the new President of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) in New Delhi. The appointment was made unanimously after Riyaaz Amlani, CEO & MD, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. Resigned from his duties due to health reasons. The NRAI represents independent & chain of Restaurant/Bars/Café owners and operators of India.

Notes:
Michael I (96), the former King of Romania, has passed away in Aubonne, Switzerland on December 5, 2017. He ruled Romania twice – first in the 1920s, when he was just five years old and then again from 1940 to 1947. He was one of the last people alive to have served as a head of state during World War Two. King Michael was known for ousting fascist ruler Antonescu and ending his country’s alliance with the Nazis in 1944, switching sides to the Allies. However, in 1947 he was forced to abdicate by the country’s communists, who ruled until the revolution of 1989. He went into exile until the 1990s when he returned to Romania after the fall of the country’s communist leader, Nicolae Ceaucescu. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2016, he retired from public life.

Notes:
The Armed Forces Flag Day is observed every year in India on December 7 to remember the sacrifices and commemorate the honour to the soldiers, airmen and sailors. The day observed since 1949 and is dedicated towards collection of funds from people for the welfare of the Armed Forces personnel. It is the duty of every Indian to look after the wellbeing of those who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. Flag Day is an opportunity for every Indian citizen to contribute most generously to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.

Notes:
Kanchanmala Pande from Nagpur, the visually impaired swimmer, has scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win gold at the World Para Swimming Championship in Mexico on December 7, 2017. Pande, who works with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), stood first in the in 200 meters medley event in S-11 category. In the World Championships that started on 2nd December 2017, Pande was the lone female swimmer from India to have qualified for the event. She was qualified for this championship after she brought home silver at the IDM Berlin Para Swimming Championship in July 2017. With this, she was selected to represent India in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley categories. Unfortunately, she missed a podium finish in the 100 metres freestyle and came 5th in the breaststroke and backstroke category.