Daily Current Affairs December 21

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December 21 | Daily Current Affairs 2021

Sports – Daily Current Affairs December 21

1. Pankaj Advani is related to which sports?
A) Cricket
B) Baseball
C) Basketball
D) Volleyball
E) Snooker
Answer: E) Snooker

• Ace cueist Pankaj Advani defended his national billiards title — his 11th in the tournament — after he defeated his PSPB teammate Dhruv Sitwala 5-2 in a best of nine games final here.
• Advani responded with breaks of 56 and 46 to restore parity at 1-1 after Sitwala’s breaks of 64 and 42.
• Sitwala, displaying excellent in-offs, pots and cannons, surged ahead by pocketing the third game with a sizeable break of 84.
• He was on course to even wrest the fourth game after he compiled a wonderful effort of 101, but a costly lapse by him gave a window of opportunity to Advani.
• Composing himself, in a superb rally the maestro chalked up a classy break of 127 to snatch the game and draw level once again at 2-2.
• Then Advani struck a purple patch, cajoling and nursing the balls at the top of the table to craft identical unfinished breaks of 150 in the fifth and sixth games to run up a crucial 4-2 games lead.
• Not giving up, Sitwala put up a tremendous show of skill, patience and temperament to strike a break of 134, but sadly, when in prime position he could not hold the balls together to give another chance to Advani after a sequence of safety exchanges.
• Advani never looked back after that, compiling an unfinished 148 break to take the game, match and title.

Obituary – Daily Current Affairs December 21

2. K.P. Geethakrishnan passed away. He was served as Secretary of___?
A) Culture
B) Sports
C) Women
D) Home
E) Finance
Answer: E) Finance

• K.P. Geethakrishnan, former Union Finance Secretary, died at his residence in Chennai afternoon.
• He was 86 and is survived by his wife, Renuka and two daughters. S. Krishnan, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) in the State Government, is his son-in-law.
• Born in November 1935, Mr. Geethakrishnan, who did his graduation in Statistics and got a post-graduate degree from the Presidency College here, joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in May 1958 and belonged to the Tamil Nadu cadre.
• He held various positions in the State Government, including that of the Collector of Salem, Industries Secretary and Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Industries Development Corporation.
• After holding the post of Secretary of Environment and Forests at the Centre in the late 1980s, Mr. Geethakrishnan was posted as Expenditure Secretary in July 1989, and two years later, Finance Secretary.
• He was a key member of the team led by the then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, which oversaw the introduction of economic reforms in the country.
• After his retirement in November 1993, he became the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and held the post until July 1996.
• During 1999-2001, he headed the Expenditure Reforms Commission which was constituted by the Union Government to go into the subject of downsizing the Central Government’s departments and other bodies.

Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs December 21

3. RBI empanels which bank to undertake banking biz of central, state govts?
A) Kotak Mahindra Bank
B) Bank of Baroda
C) CSB Bank
D) ICICI Bank
E) HDFC Bank
Answer: C) CSB Bank

• Private sector lender CSB Bank said it has been empanelled as an ‘agency bank’ by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to undertake general banking business of central and state governments.
• This appointment will allow CSB Bank to undertake general banking business of the central and state governments which may be entrusted by the RBI, the bank said in a statement.
• It will also enable CSB Bank to handle a broad range of transactions related to government business, such as tax deducted at source (TDS), goods and services tax (GST), stamp duty, registration, property tax, value-added tax and professional tax, it said further.

4. The Oriental Insurance Company has been categorised to public category from promoter category shareholder in which bank?
A) Kotak Mahindra Bank
B) Axis Bank
C) CSB Bank
D) ICICI Bank
E) HDFC Bank
Answer: B) Axis Bank

• Axis Bank said The Oriental Insurance Company has been categorised to public category from promoter category shareholder in the bank.
• In October, applications were made to BSE and NSE for reclassification of The New Oriental Insurance Co to public category from promoter category.
• As per the shareholding pattern, The Oriental Insurance Co Ltd held 0.17 per cent stake in Axis Bank as on September 30, 2021.
• Stock of Axis Bank traded at Rs 676.10 apiece on BSE, up by 0.19 per cent from the previous close.

5. Mastercard and which company partner for tokenisation for card-based payments?
A) SBI Cards
B) Innoviti
C) BharatPe
D) PhonePe
E) Google Pay
Answer: E) Google Pay

• Mastercard and Google announced the rollout of tokenisation for Google Pay users transacting through Mastercard credit and debit cards.

6. Which organisation has partnered with Udemy Business to encourage continuous learning and skill development for its employees?
A) IRDAI
B) NPCI
C) SIDBI
D) SEBI
E) RBI
Answer: B) NPCI

• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said it has partnered with Udemy Business, a destination for learning and teaching online, to encourage continuous learning and skill development for its employees.
• NPCI said it offers programmes to build capability in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Blockchain, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Advance Open Source, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Product Strategy and Relationship Management, among others.

Acquisitions and Mergers – Daily Current Affairs December 21

7. IOCL acquires _____ per cent equity stake in Indian Gas Exchange?
A) 3.93
B) 1.93
C) 2.93
D) 5.93
E) 4.93
Answer: E) 4.93

• Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) said it has acquired a 4.93 per cent equity share in Indian Gas Exchange Limited, the country’s first automated national level gas exchange.
• The Board of Directors of Indian Oil approved the deal at its meeting held on December 20, Indian Oil said in a regulatory filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.
• The acquisition of an equity stake in IGX is a strategic opportunity for Indian Oil to become part of India’s natural gas market and to increase its presence to achieve a leadership position in the market.
• IGX started operations on June 15, 2020 as a gas trading platform and has been operating as the gas exchange since December 2020.
• It operates under the regulatory framework of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).
• Major equity holders of IGX include Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Adani Total Gas, and Torrent Gas.

SBI acquires minority stake in JSW Cement for Rs 100 cr:

• The country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has acquired a minority stake in JSW Cement Ltd with an investment of Rs 100 crore via compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS).
• This capital infusion will support JSW Cement’s capacity expansion from the current 14 million tonnes per annum to 25 MTPA, a release said.
• CCPS are instruments that compulsorily convert into equity shares of the issuing company on mutually pre-decided conditions at the time of issuance.
• The conversion of such CCPS into common equity of the company will be linked to the company’s future business performance and valuation determined at the time of the proposed initial public offering, accord to the release.

CCI approves acquisition equity share capital of IRB Infrastructure Developers by Bricklayers Investment:

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition up to 16.94% equity share capital of IRB Infrastructure Developers Limited (IRB / Target) by Bricklayers Investment Pte. Ltd. (GIC Investor /Acquirer) under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
• The proposed combination relates to GIC Investor’s proposed acquisition of up to 16.94% of the share capital of Target on a fully diluted basis and non-fully diluted basis, through the subscription of new shares issued by way of a preferential issue on private placement.
• The proposed combination is in the nature of acquisition and falls under Section 5(a) of the Competition Act, 2002.

CCI approves acquisition of controlling stake in Forbes Enviro Solutions by Lunolux:

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition of controlling stake in Forbes Enviro Solutions Limited (Target / FESL) by Lunolux Limited (Acquirer / LL) under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
• The proposed combination pertains to the acquisition of controlling stake in FESL by LL through the primary acquisition of up to 72.56% and the subsequent acquisition of up to 26% by way of an open offer under the provisions of the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011.
• FESL will house the Health and Safety Business of Eureka Forbes Limited – i.e., the business of (a) water purifiers, (b) air purifiers, (c) security solutions, (d) vacuum cleaners, and (e) electric air cleaning systems.
• The proposed combination is in the nature of acquisition and falls under Section 5(a) of the Competition Act, 2002.

Appointments – Daily Current Affairs December 21

8. Who is appointed India’s Chef de Mission for Beijing Winter Olympics?
A) Varun Singh
B) Sathish Singh
C) Hari Singh
D) Harjinder Singh
E) Anand Singh
Answer: D) Harjinder Singh

• The Indian Olympic Association of India (IOA) appointed Ice Hockey Association of India’s general secretary, Harjinder Singh, as the Chef de Mission of the country’s contingent for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
• Singh was the Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent for the 23rd Winter Olympic Games too, which was held in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018.
• IOA president Narinder Batra shared two pictures of him with Singh after the latter’s appointment.
• The Beijing Games, the 24th edition of the showpiece that started way back in 1924, will be held from February 4 to 20.
• US, UK, Australia, Lithuania and Canada have decided to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics due to the alleged human rights abuse in China.
• But Russian President Vladimir Putin recently confirmed he will attend the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing as a show of unity. Kashmir’s Arif Khan is the only Indian athlete to have so far qualified for the upcoming Games.

International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs December 21

9. Which country successfully test-fires ‘enhanced range version’ of Babar cruise missile?
A) USA
B) Japan
C) Afghanistan
D) Pakistan
E) Iran
Answer: D) Pakistan

• Pakistan successfully test-fired an “enhanced range version” of the indigenously-built surface-to-surface Babur cruise missile that can strike targets up to 900 kilometres, twice the distance of an earlier missile of the same model.
• In February, Pakistan had conducted a successful training launch of the earlier version of Babar cruise missile that had the limited capacity to strike targets up to 450 kilometres.
  Lt Gen Nadeem Zaki Manj, Director General, Strategic Plans Division; Dr Raza Samar, Chairman National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM); Lt Gen Muhammad Ali, Commander Army Strategic Force Command and senior officers witnesses the launch of Babur Cruise Missile 1B, according to the army.

National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs December 21

10. Which organisation signs Sol with WFP to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture?
A) CII
B) CCI
C) NHAI
D) NTPC
E) NITI Aayog
Answer: E) NITI Aayog

• Recognizing the importance of millets, Government of India observed 2018 as a year of millets to encourage and promote millet production.
• Leading this initiative further, GoI spearheaded the UNGA resolution for declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets.
• Numerous steps have been taken to promote millets including establishment of centre for Excellence, Integration of nutri-cereals in National Food Security Act, and establishment of Millet Mission in multiple states.
• Despite this, various challenges in terms of production, distribution and adaptability among consumers remain.
• Under the distribution system, it is time that we shift the focus of food distribution programmes from ‘calories fundamentalism’ to providing a more diversified food basket, including coarse grains and millets to improve the nutritional status of pre-school children and women of reproductive age.
• NITI Aayog and WFP intend to identify and address these challenges in a systematic and effective manner.
• NITI Aayog signed a Statement of Intent with United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on 20th December 2021.
• The partnership focuses on mainstreaming of millets and supporting India in taking lead globally in knowledge exchange using the opportunity of 2023 as an International Year of Millets.
• Further, the partnership will aim at building resilient livelihoods for small-holder farmers and adaptation capacities to climate change and transforming food systems.
• The Sol focuses on strategic and technical collaboration between NITI Aayog and WFP, to strengthen the climate-resilient agriculture for enhanced food and nutrition security in India.
• The parties will be working on the following activities:
  • Joint development of a compendium of good practices around millets mainstreaming in priority states and development of a scaling up strategy.
  • To provide technical support for scaling up of millets mainstreaming through intense engagement in select states with support from state governments, IIMR & other associated institutions.
  • Parties will jointly organize a national consultation for line ministries of the Government of India, concerned departments of State governments, select academic institutions and organizations working in the field of millets mainstreaming.
  • To support leveraging of India’s expertise to benefit other developing countries for millets mainstreaming by creation of knowledge management platforms and facilitation of knowledge exchange.
• The outcome of this partnership will be achieved in following four phases:
  • Phase I: Development of a best practice compendium around millet mainstreaming and a scale-up strategy
  • Phase II: Support scale-up of millet mainstreaming through knowledge sharing and intense engagement with select states
  • Phase III: Leverage India’s expertise to support developing countries for millet mainstreaming
  • Phase IV: Working on building capacities for climate resilient and adaptive livelihood practices

AIM, NITI Aayog and UNCDF roll out first AgriTech Challenge cohort:

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) rolled out their first AgriTech Challenge cohort for its ambitious innovative Agri-tech program that aims to help smallholder farmers across Asia and Africa to address their challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic.
• The event was held on 21st December, 2021.
• AIM, NITI Aayog in partnership with UNCDF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Rabo Foundation launched a South-South innovation platform to enable cross-border exchange of innovations, insights and investments in July this year 2021.
• Through this platform, cross-border collaborations among emerging markets across India, Indonesia, Malawi, Malaysia, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia would be enabled.
• For its first platform AgriTech Challenge Cohort and Agri-Fintech innovators, applications were invited to facilitate their expansion to the international markets through two tracks- Main track and AIM track.
• A total of 10 high-growth innovators have been selected in the Main track, out of a total 100 applications.
• The key objective of the main track applications was ‘Expansion – Support solution pilot in the chosen international market.’
• The Cohort represents a diverse range of solutions across the value chain of the smallholder farmer, including soil analysis, farm management & intelligence, dairy ecosystem, carbon credits, solar-based cold storage, digital marketplace, fintech, livestock insurance, among others.

11. The Government of Gujarat is organising _____ Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2022, from 10 -12 January 2022, at Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat?
A) 11th
B) 12th
C) 13th
D) 14th
E) 10th
Answer: E) 10th

• The Government of Gujarat is organising the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2022, from 10 -12 January 2022, at Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• A pre-event summit has been organised by the Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Gujarat, with a theme “Holistic Healthcare focused on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices” on December 18, 2021, in Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The pre-event summit was inaugurated by Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers and Shri Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat. Ms. S. Aparna, IAS, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, Dr. Sarah Mcmullen, India Office Country Director, United States Food and Drug Control Administration (US FDA) and Dr. V. G. Somani, Drugs Controller General of India were also present on the occasion.
• The focus of the pre-event summit was on the following:-
  • Boosting Bulk Drug Production through Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
    Reducing India’s Dependence in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs & Medical Devices
  • Jan Aushadhi Kendras – Generic Medicines
• During the summit, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated the stall of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) through the PMBJP stall, PMBI informed the salient features of PMBJP and benefits of Jan Aushadhi Generic Medicines which are available at affordable prices through more than 8500 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras, functioning across the country.
• During this pre-event summit, technical sessions covered various aspects of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme and the opportunities to enhance bulk drug production.
• It also consisted of sessions to discuss status & scope of generic medicines in India and experience sharing sessions by medical experts and beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
• This pre-summit was followed by a panel discussion session where K. Beji George, Chairman & Managing Director, HLL Lifecare, Parth Gautam Sharma, Deputy CEO, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), and Prabhav Joshi, Managing Director, Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Limited were present and discussed about the healthcare services and availability of generic medicines at affordable prices with the attendees.

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