Daily Current Affairs December 18

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs December 18. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing  Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly  current affairs pdf.

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December 18 | Daily Current Affairs 2023

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs December 18

1. What is the theme for International Migrants Day?
A) “Global Solidarity for Migrants”
B) “Ensuring Migrant Rights”
C) “Building Bridges for Migration”
D) “Promoting Safe Migration”
E) “Empowering Migrant Communities”
Answer: D) “Promoting Safe Migration”

• International Migrants Day is observed on December 18.
• Theme: “Promoting Safe Migration.”
• On December 4, 2000, the UN General Assembly designated December 18 as International Migrants Day.
• This date was chosen to commemorate the adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families by the UN General Assembly in 1990.
• Note: According to UN estimates, in 2020, over 281 million people were international migrants, and by the end of 2021, more than 59 million people were internally displaced

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2. What operation led to the celebration of Vijay Diwas by commemorating the victory of the Indian Armed Forces?
A) Operation Blue Star
B) Operation Vijay
C) Operation Meghdoot
D) Operation Trident
E) Operation Cactus
Answer: B) Operation Vijay

• 53rd Vijay Diwas (Bjoy Dibosh) is celebrated in the country on 16 December.
• On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to the heroes of India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.
• Vijay Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the Indian Armed Forces in ‘Operation: Vijay’ against infiltrating Pakistani troops.
• Pakistani troops attacked 11 Indian airfields on December 3, 1971, which was declared a war.
• India decided to go to war with Pakistan on 3 December 1971 to save Bengali Muslims and Hindus in East Pakistan.
• The war was finally won by India on 16 December 1971 in just 13 days.
• As a result of this war, Bangladesh became an independent nation from Pakistan as a separate country

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Ranking – Daily Current Affairs December 18

3. Which city in India ranks the highest in Mercer’s worldwide quality of living ranking for 2023?
A) Hyderabad
B) Pune
C) Bengaluru
D) Mumbai
E) New Delhi
Answer: A) Hyderabad

• Hyderabad with a rank of 153, Pune at 154 and Bengaluru in the 156th position are the three highest placed among Indian cities in Mercer’s worldwide quality of living ranking for 2023.
• Vienna in Austria placed at the top of the list.
• It is followed by Zurich, Switzerland and Aukland, New Zealand in second and third place, respectively.
• Mercer’s Quality of Living data assesses the practicalities of daily life for expatriate employees and their families in assignment locations worldwide.

Mercer’s worldwide quality of living ranking for 2023:

1. Vienna, Austria
2. Zurich, Switzerland
3. Aukland, New Zealand

Indian Cities in Mercer’s worldwide quality of living ranking for 2023:

• Hyderabad – 153rd place
• Pune – 154th place
• Bengaluru – 156th place
• Chennai – 161 th place
• Mumbai – 164th place
• Kolkata – 170th place
• New Delhi – 172nd place

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Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs December 18

4. How much worth of shares did private equity firm Bain Capital sell in private sector lender Axis Bank?
A) Rs 2,549 crore
B) Rs 3,175 crore
C) Rs 3,737 crore
D) Rs 4,211 crore
E) Rs 4,866 crore
Answer: C) Rs 3,737 crore

• Private equity firm Bain Capital sold shares worth Rs 3,737 crore in private sector lender Axis Bank.
• More than 50 entities, largely comprising foreign funds, were among the buyers, including Societe Generale, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and UBS.

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5. What collaboration was announced between Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) and Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL)?
A) Launch of India’s first fully integrated bank at IIT Kanpur
B) Establishment of a new research center for financial technology
C) Creation of India’s first fully integrated school of sustainability
D) Introduction of a joint program for entrepreneurship development
E) Collaboration for a financial literacy campaign
Answer: C) Creation of India’s first fully integrated school of sustainability

• The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) and Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (“KMBL” or “Kotak”) announced the launch of the Kotak School of Sustainability,India’s first fully integrated school of sustainability at IIT Kanpur.
• The launch event was graced by Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, as the chief guest.
• Institutions, through Education, Empowerment, and Engagement (3E), can lead climate action, empowering communities and conserving the natural ecosystem.
• To address this challenge, IIT Kanpur and KMBL have come together to establish India’s first integrated school of sustainability.
• KMBL is funding IITK through its CSR program to establish the Kotak School of Sustainability with a vision to promote pedigree education, research, and outreach.
• Kotak School of Sustainability will have dedicated centres of excellence covering different aspects of sustainability, such as clean energy, environment, ecology, circular economy, climate finance, sustainable societies, and policy

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Appointments - Daily Current Affairs December 18

6. Who has been approved as the new Ambassador of Israel to India by the Israeli government?
A) Benjamin Netanyahu
B) Reuven Azar
C) Shimon Peres
D) Naftali Bennett
E) Avigdor Lieberman
Answer: B) Reuven Azar

• The Israeli government approved the appointment of Reuven Azar as the new Ambassador to India.
• He will also serve as the non-resident Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
• He is currently serving as the Ambassador of Israel to Romania

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Awards - Daily Current Affairs December 18

7. Who was the female player alongside Novak Djokovic as the ITF World Champion for 2023?
A) Serena Williams
B) Ashleigh Barty
C) Aryna Sabalenka
D) Naomi Osaka
E) Simona Halep
Answer: C) Aryna Sabalenka

• Novak Djokovic from Serbia and Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus were honored as the International Tennis Federation's 2023 ITF World Champions after being the only singles players to reach at least the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments this season.

Records of Djokovic in 2023:

• No. 1 in the ATP rankings for a record-extending eighth time.
• He won the Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open to raise his major trophy total to a men's-leading 24.
• He was the runner-up at Wimbledon.
• He went 56-7 and led the men's tour with seven titles.
• This is his eighth ITF World Champion award.

Records of Sabalenka in 2023:

• Sabalenka received the honor for the first time after winning the Australian Open for her first Grand Slam title.
• She is the runner-up at the U.S. Open.
• She went to the semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
• She made her debut at No. 1 in the WTA rankings in September, before finishing the year at No. 2 behind Iga Swiatek, the WTA Player of the Year.

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8. What innovation in healthcare earned Genrobotics the recognition at the GPAI Summit 2023?
A) Development of AI-powered surgical robots
B) Creation of an AI-driven patient care system
C) Introduction of an AI-powered robotic gait trainer called G Gaiter
D) Implementation of AI in diagnostic tools
E) Designing AI-based personalized medicine platforms
Answer: C) Introduction of an AI-powered robotic gait trainer called G Gaiter

• Genrobotics, a Kerala-based startup has been adjudged among top three Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups of India at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2023 organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in New Delhi.
• Genrobotic's G-gaiter Robotic Technology won the award in 'AI Game Changers' category at the summit held at Bharat Mandapam.
• S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT presented the award to Afsal Muttikkal, Regional Director, Genrobotics Medical and Mobility and Arun Dominic, Regional Business Development Manager.
• G-Gaiter robot that assists patients with paraplegic conditions caused by stroke, traumatic spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy to increase their mobility, consistency, and quality of gait pattern.
• Genrobotics was honoured for its outstanding innovation in healthcare by developing G Gaiter — an advanced AI-powered robotic gait trainer.
• It also secured the Medicall Made in India Innovation 2023 Golden Award for G Gaiter earlier in this year.

Note:

• Founders of Kerala-based Genrobotic Innovations, one of India’s leading robotics companies, have been featured in the prestigious ‘Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2023’ list.
• Genrobotics bagged ‘Kerala Pride’ award from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Huddle Global 2022 conclave organised by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM)

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9. Who were the recipients of the 'Golden Owl' award among the Indian Armed Forces officers?
A) Wing Commander Sumeet Mahajan, Major Rohit, and Captain Sunny Sharma
B) Wing Commander Sumeet Mahajan, Major Rohit, and Lieutenant Commander Sunny Sharma
C) Wing Commander Sumeet Mahajan, Lieutenant Rohit, and Lieutenant Commander Sunny Sharma
D) Flight Lieutenant Sumeet Mahajan, Major Rohit, and Lieutenant Sunny Sharma
E) Group Captain Sumeet Mahajan, Major Rohit, and Lieutenant Sunny Sharma
Answer: B) Wing Commander Sumeet Mahajan, Major Rohit, and Lieutenant Commander Sunny Sharma

• All three Indian Armed Forces officers undergoing the Command and Staff Course at Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Sri Lanka have been awarded the 'Golden Owl' for their outstanding performance.
• Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe handed over the award to Wing Commander Sumeet Mahajan, Major Rohit and Lieutenant Commander Sunny Sharma, as per the Indian High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• The DSCSC course is a program designed to prepare senior officers for leadership roles in joint operations and higher command.
• Note: The joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka recently concluded at the Southern Command Foreign Training Node, Aundh in Pune

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Science and Technology - Daily Current Affairs December 18

10. What type of technology has Pune-based KPIT Technologies rolled out to reduce import dependency on core battery materials?
A) Graphene-based batteries
B) Sodium-ion battery technology
C) Nickel-metal hydride batteries
D) Lithium-polymer batteries
E) Lead-acid batteries
Answer: B) Sodium-ion battery technology

• Pune-based KPIT Technologies, a software integration firm, has rolled out its sodium-ion battery technology, which aims to reduce import dependency on core battery materials.
• This new technology is set to lower the cost of electric vehicle batteries, with an anticipated reduction of 25-30% compared to existing lithium-ion batteries.
• According to KPIT, sodium-ion battery technology provides a prolonged lifespan with 80% capacity retention over 3000-6000 cycles and quicker charging capabilities in comparison to lithium-ion batteries.

Note:

• The Indian Li-ion battery market is expected to surge from 4 GWh in 2022 to 120 GWh by 2030, necessitating rapid innovation and scaling by cell manufacturers to meet a 53% CAGR in demand.
• As per an EY report, India aims to electrify 30% of its vehicle fleet by 2030, with the domestic EV market projected to grow at a 49% compound annual growth rate between 2022 and 2030, reaching annual sales of 10 million by 2030.

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National Affairs - Daily Current Affairs December 18

11. Which city witnessed the inauguration of the world's largest meditation centre, Swarved Mahamandir?
A) New Delhi
B) Mumbai
C) Varanasi
D) Kolkata
E) Bengaluru
Answer: C) Varanasi

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world's largest meditation centre Swarved Mahamandir in Varanasi.
• The centre can seat 20,000 people at a time for meditation.
• Verses of the Swarveda have been carved upon the walls of the Mahamandir, a seven-floor superstructure.

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12. What is the denomination or value of the stamp introduced by Rio Tinto and the Department of Posts?
A) One Indian rupee
B) Two Indian rupees
C) Three Indian rupees
D) Four Indian rupees
E) Five Indian rupees
Answer: E) Five Indian rupees

• Rio Tinto has collaborated with the Department of Posts in India to launch a customised 'My Stamp' and special cover called 'Rio Tinto 150'.
• The stamp denotes Rio Tinto's commitment to driving innovation and continuous improvement to produce the minerals and metals used in everyday life in the safest and most sustainable way possible.
• Mr. Ashok Kumar, Postmaster General, Delhi Circle, Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications released the stamp and special cover on 12 December 2023 to commemorate 150 years of Rio Tinto in the presence of H.E. Mr. Philip Green OAM, High Commissioner of Australia to India, Ms. Sharlene Cosgrave, Head of Group Services, Rio Tinto and Mr. Vikram Merchant, Country Head-India, Rio Tinto.
• The stamp, valued at five Indian rupees, is available for purchase by the public at the National Philatelic Museum of India Post and is also available for online purchase at www.epostoffice.gov.in.

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13. Which two states or Union Territories have moved up from the "fast movers" category in 2022 to the "achievers" category in the logistics index chart for 2023?
A) Sikkim and Tripura
B) Punjab and Uttar Pradesh
C) Haryana and Karnataka
D) Tamil Nadu and Telangana
E) Assam and Gujarat
Answer: A) Sikkim and Tripura

• Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, and Gujarat, Delhi, Assam, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh are among the 13 states and Union Territories labeled as “achievers” in the logistics index chart for 2023.
• Compared to the previous year’s count of 15 states and UTs, the number has reduced to 13 as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have transitioned into the “aspirers” and “fast movers” categories, respectively.
• Sikkim and Tripura made notable progress, moving up from “fast movers” in 2022 to the “achievers” category.
• The report categorizes Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry as “fast movers.”
• Those falling into the “aspirers” category include Goa, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
• The LEADS 2023 report ranks states based on their logistics ecosystem, highlighting key challenges faced by stakeholders and providing recommendations.

Note:

• The logistics sector will play in driving the country’s economy to approximately USD 35 trillion by 2047.
• The country’s logistics cost currently ranges from 7.8% to 8.9%.

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14. What is the primary objective of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam event?
A) To celebrate Tamil Nadu's Independence Day
B) To promote tourism in Varanasi
C) To strengthen cultural ties between North and South India
D) To launch a new economic initiative
E) To celebrate the harvest festival
Answer: C) To strengthen cultural ties between North and South India

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi Launched Second Edition Of The Kashi Tamil Sangamam At Varanasi.
• The Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a celebration of the shared history and culture of North and South India. The event aims to strengthen the bonds between the two regions by sharing knowledge, culture, and best practices.
• An exhibition showcasing the rich tapestry of art, music, handlooms, handicrafts, cuisine, and other distinctive products from both Tamil Nadu and Kashi was also on the agenda.
• It will be held from December 17-31, will witness the participation of 1,400 dignitaries from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
• Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 is an initiative by the Government of India, part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to uphold the Spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat.

Note:

• Kashi Tamil Sangamam was a month-long programme in 2022 organized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India to celebrate, reaffirm and rediscover the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Varanas.
• The frst phase of this sangamam launched by Prime Minister on November 19, 2022.
• The Program was sponsored by IIT Madras in association with Banaras Hindu University.
• Ministry of Railways had also announced special trains for Sangamam.

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15. Where did the Indian Air Force conduct the successful firing trials of its in-house designed SAMAR air defence missile system?
A) Hindon Air Force Station, Uttar Pradesh
B) Suryalanka Air Force Station, Andhra Pradesh
C) Jodhpur Air Force Station, Rajasthan
D) Chabua Air Force Station, Assam
E) Udhampur Air Force Station, Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: B) Suryalanka Air Force Station, Andhra Pradesh

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out successful firing trials of its in-house designed and developed SAMAR air defence missile system during Astrashakti 2023 exercise at Suryalanka Air Force Station in Andhra Pradesh.
• The air defence system SAMAR (Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation), has been developed by a unit under IAF’s Maintenance Command.

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