15,December, 2018 Current Affairs - Daily Current Affairs
15,December, 2018 Current Affairs -
Daily Current Affairs
1. For which state, Union Ministry
of Agriculture conferred an award named Krishi Karman?
A. TamilNadu
B. Jharkhand
C. Kerala
D. Andra Pradesh
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Jharkhand has been selected
for "Krishi Karman" award in the rice category from the Union
Ministry of Agriculture. The award to be given away in February 2019 carries a
cash prize of Rs 2 crore and a citation.
2. With which Association did the
Indian Tea Association (ITA) sign MoU to promote green and black tea
consumption in major tea markets?
A. TTMA
B. NTMA
C. KTMA
D. CTMA
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Indian Tea Association (ITA)
signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Tea Marketing Association
(CTMA). It aims at promoting green and black tea consumption in major tea
markets in Europe, the U.S., Russia, and West Asia. The MoU covers the areas of
trade promotion, intellectual property protection, and technology exchange.
China imported 30 million kg of black tea annually amid its rising popularity
in the country where green tea had earlier held sway. Indian exports stood at
about 8.7 million kg in 2017 with the market being dominated by Sri Lanka and
Kenya. An export of 15 million kg was being targeted next year. China was the
world's third largest exporter, mainly of green tea.
3. Where was the 19th All India
Police (AIPDM) Shooting Competition 2018 held?
A. Manesar, Haryana
B. Mohali, Punjab
C. Manali, Himachal Pradesh
D. Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Minister of State for Home
Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the 19th All India Police (AIPDM) Shooting
Competition-2018 at Manesar, Gurugram in Haryana, on 6th December 2018. The
competition was held till 11th December 2018. More than 750 participants of 31
teams of State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces took part in the
event. Total of 13 matches and 41 medals and 13 Trophies were awarded to the
winners.
4. Who has been appointed as a
Secretary of NCST?
A. Ashwani Lohani
B. Nripendra Misra
C. Ashok Kumar Singh
D. Snehlata Shrivastava
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Ashok Kumar Singh, Lok Sabha
Secretariat Service, Additional Secretary, Lok Sabha Secretariat has assumed
charge as Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
5. This company has set up its
Global Artificial Intelligence Accelerator (GAIA) in India.
A. Etisalat
B. Siemens
C. Ericsson
D. ZTE
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Ericsson, Swedish telecom
company, said it has set up its Global Artificial Intelligence Accelerator
(GAIA) in India. The facility has been planned to be set up in Bengaluru. It
will focus on research and development in Artificial Intelligence and automation
and will be key in accelerating the execution of Ericsson's strategy. This
facility will help create 150 new jobs for data scientists, engineers, AI
architects and software developers in 2019.
6. ECO Niwas Samhita 2018 was
launched by the ministry of;
A. Ministry of Power
B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
C. Ministry of Coal
D. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Ministry of Power has
launched the ECO Niwas Samhita 2018, an Energy Conservation Building Code for
Residential Buildings (ECBC-R). The Code was launched on the occasion of
National Energy ConservationDay 2018 (14th December) in the presence of Chief
Guest Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha. It aims to benefit the
occupants and the environment by promoting energy efficiency in design and
construction of homes, apartments and townships.
7. Who launched a mobile app for
farmers in Myanmar?
A. Rajnath Singh
B. Venkaiah Naidu
C. Narendra Modi
D. Ram Nath Kovind
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
President Ram Nath Kovind
launched a mobile app developed for farmers in Myanmar and dedicated a centre
and a bio park to promote agriculture research and education to the people. App
provides crop and livestock knowledge and information apart from cropping
guidelines based on location. The app links farmers with more than 2,000
experts.
8. Who of the following has been
selected for the National Bravery Award?
A. Sajin Paul
B. Vimal Gogoi
C. Satyabatra Das
D. Situ Malik
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Situ Malik (15), a minor boy
from Kendrapara district of Odisha has been selected for the National Bravery
Award for saving his paternal uncle from a crocodile attack. He will be awarded
from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 23, 2019. Situ had saved his uncle
Binod Malik from attack of a crocodile which had sneaked into the village pond
on February 20 2018.
9.Who has been honoured with
Jnanpith Award for 2018?
A. Rohinton Mistry
B. Vikram Seth
C. Amitav Ghosh
D. Anita Desai
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Noted English author Amitav
Ghosh has been honoured with Jnanpith Award for 2018, an award for outstanding
contribution to literature. The decision was taken in a meeting of Jnanpith
Selection Board chaired by eminent novelist, scholar and Jnanpith laureate
Pratibha Ray. Ghosh, one of the most prominent contemporary Indian writers, is
known for a series of novels such as "Shadow Lines", "The Glass
Palace", "The Hungry Tide", and Ibis Trilogy - "Sea of
Poppies", and "River of Smoke". He has become the first English
author to be honoured with the award.
10. Name of the IAS Officer who took
Oath of Office and Secrecy as Member of Union Public Service Commission.
A. Sita Raman S
B. Rujuta Dev
C. Bharat Bhushan Vyas
D. Vinay Mittal A K
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Shri Bharat Bhushan Vyas,
IAS officer from Jammu and Kashmir cadre of 1986 batch was administered the
Oath of Office and Secrecy as Member, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) by
Shri Arvind Saxena, Chairman, UPSC. Born in 1957, Shri Bharat Bhushan Vyas has
served in State & Centre in various capacities, retired as Chief Secretary,
Jammu & Kashmir and was serving as Adviser to the Governor, Jammu &
Kashmir before assuming the charge as Member, UPSC.
11. Name of the Atomic Power Station
(APS) which has created a world record for the longest uninterrupted operation
for 941 days.
A. Kaiga
B. Kakrapar
C. Kudankulam
D. Kalpakkam
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
The Kaiga Atomic Power
Station (KAPS) has created a world record for the longest uninterrupted operation
for 941 days. The Unit-1 of Kaiga Generating Station (KGS) at Kaiga, located
the river Kali in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka, has been generating
electricity continuously since May 13, 2016. It is an indigenously-built PHWR
run by domestic fuel (uranium). It began commercial operations on November 16,
2000, and has produced 500 cr. units of power so far. It evidences the
excellence in design, construction, safety, quality and operation &
maintenance practices of Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL). Earlier,
the record of 940 days was held by Unit 2 of Heysham of the United Kingdom
(UK).
12. India's first private sector
unit for manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles was opened in __________.
A. Patna
B. Kolkata
C. Cochin
D. Hyderabad
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
India's first private sector
unit for manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) opened at Adani
Aerospace Park in Hyderabad. Built by the Adani Group and Israel-based Elbit
Systems, the 50,000 square feet facility will develop Hermes 900 medium altitude
long-endurance UAVs for the Indian and global markets. The unit will begin with
the manufacture of complete carbon composite aerostructures for Hermes 900,
followed by Hermes 480, catering to global markets.
13. The fourth Partners' Forum to
improve the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents, held in
__________.
A. New Delhi
B. Kolkata
C. Chennai
D. Hyderabad
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
The Prime Minister, Shri
Narendra Modi, inaugurated the 2-day fourth Partners' Forum in New Delhi. It
concluded on December 13, 2018. India is hosting the Partners' Forum for the
second time. The previous chapters were held in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2014, New Delhi, India in 2010 and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 2007. Its
objective was to improve the health and well-being of women, children and
adolescents.
14. How many states have achieved
complete household electrification under the PM Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana
(SAUBHAGYA) scheme, as per Ministry of Power's announcement?
A. 9
B. 11
C. 13
D. 14
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Ministry of Power announced
that 9 states have achieved complete household electrification under the PM
Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) scheme. Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Bihar,
Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Sikkim, Telangana and West Bengal.
With this, 16 States in the country now have 100 per cent household
electrification. Furthermore, the country is expected to achieve 100 per cent
household electrification by December 31, 2018. Additionally, 31.68 crore LED
bulbs have been distributed under the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LED for All
(UJALA) scheme resulting in estimated cost saving of Rs.16,457 crore per year.
The Power Ministry also aims to replace 1.34 crore conventional streetlights
with smart and energy efficient LED lights by March, 2019.
15. Who has been appointed as the
presiding officer in the Securities Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai?
A. Justice Pranay Tilak
B. Justice Mohit Aluwalia
C. Justice Varshani Mohak
D. Justice Tarun Agarwala
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Justice Tarun Agarwala
retired Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court has been appointed as the
presiding officer in the Securities Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai. Justice
Agarwala will remain presiding officer for a period of five years or till the
age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. The Securities Appellate Tribunal is a
statutory body established under the provisions of Section 15K of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI) Act, 1992, to hear and dispose of
appeals against orders passed by the SEBI or by an adjudicating officer under
the Act. Justice Agarwala had graduated from the Allahabad University with a
law degree. He started practicing as an advocate in the Allahabad High Court in
1981 in the matters of Civil Law, Constitutional, Taxation, Labour,
Testamentary and Corporate Affairs matters.
16. RBI grants 40 branch licenses to
which of the following bank?
A. Bandhan Bank
B. Dena Bank
C. Canara Bank
D. State Bank of India
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has allowed Bandhan Bank to open as many as 40 new branches, by the end of
December, releasing the restriction that RBI has put on the Bandhan bank's
branch opening spree three months back. The RBI had barred the bank from opening
new branches in September after the private-sector lender failed to bring down
main shareholder's stake to below 40 % as mandated in the licensing norms for
universal banks. Bandhan Financial Services (BFSL) the promoter of Bandhan
Bank, currently holds 82.28 % stake in the bank. The bank is planning either to
float an open offer for sale or to acquire a non-bank lender which would in
turn bring down the promoters' stake.
17. Which country has recently picked
the Chinese character "disaster" to define 2018?
A. South Korea
B. Israel
C. Russia
D. Japan
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Japan picked the Chinese
character "disaster" to define the year 2018, a year that saw deadly
floods, strong earthquakes and heavy storms. The selection came after Japan was
buffeted this year by torrential rains in the country's west and an large
earthquake in Hokkaido, heightening public awareness of the importance of
disaster prevention measures. Japan was also rocked by man-made calamities such
as stolen cryptocurrencies and the uncovering of harassment by coaches in the
athletic world. The competition is rum by every year by the Kyoto-based Kanji
Aptitude Testing Foundation since 1995. The Chinese characters (or Kanji) are used
widely in Japanese as well as other alphabets. Earlier, "North" won
in 2017 after North Korea's missile launches, and "gold" in 2016
after the Rio Olympics.
18. Who has entered the Limca Book
of Records for training 2,08,125 women and girls in 989 self-defence programme
in 2017?
A. Hyderabad Police
B. Delhi Police
C. Rajasthan Police
D. Uttar Pradesh Police
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Delhi Police has entered the
Limca Book of Records for training 2,08,125 women and girls in 989 self-defence
programme in 2017. The self-defence programme of Delhi Police was started in
2002 and is carried out by the Special Police Unit For Women and Children
(SPUWAC) which has trained 9,80,456 women under 5,140 programmes till November
2017. The Delhi Police will receive the award in February next year. The Delhi
Police have set a target to train around 3.5 lakh women in 2019.
19. India and this country agreed to
simplify export clearances to take forward joint manufacturing in the defence.
A. Finland
B. Denmark
C. Russia
D. Indonesia
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
India and Russia have agreed
to simplify export clearances to take forward joint manufacturing in the
defence. This decision was made during the 18th meeting of the India-Russia
Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC)
chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Russian counterpart
General Sergei Shoigu on 13th December 2018. India is planning for joint
production under Make in India. This includes allowing Indian companies, both
Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU) and private sector, to manufacture
spares for Russian systems in India. So far, four military-industry conferences
have been held between Russian manufactures and Indian companies to take the
process forward, in this regard.
20. UN honoured Indian startup
'HelpUsGreen' recently. This startup belongs to which state?
A. Uttarakhand
B. Haryana
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. West Bengal
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Uttar Pradesh-based
'HelpUsGreen' named startup has been honoured by the UN. The startup works to
clean up the mighty river Ganga by recycling thousands of tonnes of floral
waste from temples. 'HelpUsGreen' has come up with the world's first profitable
solution to the monumental temple waste problem: 'flowercycling'.
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