Current Affairs One - Liner : 17th & 18th December 2023

• National:
• To mark the 150th anniversary of Rio Tinto, the Department of Posts in India launched a customized ‘My Stamp’ and a special cover called 'Rio Tinto 150’. The stamp signifies 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.

• Bhajan Lal Sharma, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was sworn in as the 14th Chief Minister of Rajasthan on December 15, 2023. He represents the Sanganer constituency in the 16th Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
• The collaboration between Hyderabad-based HC Robotics and French company Merio was announced on December 15, 2023. A high-level delegation from Merio, led by its CEO Remi Plenet, met with D. Sridhar Babu, Telangana’s Minister for Industries and IT, to discuss the company’s plans of building new technologies in Hyderabad. The aim of the collaboration between Hyderabad-based HC Robotics and French company Merio is to develop advanced gimbals for the Indian Armed Forces.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the second phase of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 at Namo Ghat in Varanasi. The event celebrates the cultural links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. The second edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam is being held from December 17 to 30, 2023. On this occasion, the PM also unveiled translations of Thirukkural.
• The Army Hospital in Delhi has recently conducted a successful Bone Marrow Transplant on a 7-year-old child. This is a significant medical achievement as the procedure aimed to replace defective immune cells with healthy ones, offering the child a renewed chance at a healthy and vibrant life.
• The Logistics Performance Index 2023 has recognized 13 states and Union Territories as ‘achievers’. This index is an indicator of the efficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports and economic growth. The ‘achievers’ include Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, and Gujarat. Other states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland are also included as 'fast movers’.
• According to a report, from 2029 onwards, the number of women voters in India is projected to surpass the number of male voters. The report suggests that women voters could constitute 37% of the total, outstripping the number of registered male voters at 36 crore.
• International:
• The ongoing war in Ukraine could indeed pose a significant threat to the conservation of the Wisent, also known as the European wood bison. This species was almost wiped out by 1927, but conservation efforts in its last remaining strongholds, including Ukraine and Russia, have raised hopes of a revival.
• Banking:
• Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India have written off an aggregate loan amount of Rs. 10.42 lakh crore in the last nine years, from the financial year 2014-15 to the financial year 2022-23. This information was provided by the Minister of State Finance Bhagwat Karad in a written reply to Loksabha. During this period, PSBs have recovered an aggregate amount of Rs. 1.61 lakh crore from written-off loans. This recovered amount is approximately 15.45% of the total written-off amount.
• Economy:
• In October 2023, India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose to a 16-month high of 11.7%. This growth was mainly due to double-digit growth in the manufacturing, power, and mining sectors. The Quick Estimates of IIP with base 2011-12 stands at 144.7. As for retail inflation, it increased to a three-month high of 5.55% in November56, up from 4.87% in October. This rise was driven by higher food prices. The retail inflation is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
• Sports:
• Hardik Pandya has been appointed as the new captain of the Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2024 season. He takes over from Rohit Sharma, who led the team to five IPL titles and is the joint-most-successful captain in the tournament’s history alongside Chennai Super Kings’ MS Dhoni.
• On 13th December, The United World Wrestling (UWW) named India’s Antim Panghal, Greece’s Georgios Kougioumtsidis, and Azerbaijan’s Hasrat Jafarov as the Rising Stars of the Year 2023 in their respective categories. Antim Panghal from India was named the Women’s Rising Star of the Year 2023. The 19-year-old Indian wrestler, who competes in the 53kg weight category, had a stellar season.
• The first-ever Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) 2023 concluded in New Delhi. Haryana topped the KIPG 2023 medal tally with 31 gold, 35 silver, and 18 bronze medals. Uttar Pradesh came second on the medal table with 23 gold, 17 silver, and nine bronze.
• Defence:
• On 15th December, The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Pune, for the procurement of electronic fuzes for the Indian Army. The contract, worth Rs 5,336.25 crore, is for a period of 10 years.
• Three Indian Armed Forces officers were indeed honored with the ‘Golden Owl’ for their outstanding performance at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Sri Lanka. The officers are: Wing Commander Sumeet Mahajan, Major Rohit, & Lieutenant Commander Sunny Sharma.
• The historic milestone of India’s Akash Missile System was achieved during the Astrashakti 2023 exercise held at Suryalanka Air Force station in Andhra Pradesh. The system successfully hit 4 unmanned aerial targets in one go. This event took place on December 17, 2023.
• Awards & Honors:
• The Advocates Association For Social Responsibility And Awareness (AASRAA), a Non-Governmental Organization established by a group of advocates from all over India, has honored Dr. Srinivas Naik Dharavath with the Visionary Leader Icon Award of the Year 2023.
• Obituaries:
• Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was the ruler of Kuwait from 29 September 2020 until his death on 16 December 2023. He was born on 25 June 1937 and was the fifth son of Kuwait’s former ruler Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. During his three-year rule as emir, he grappled with internal political disputes.

Questions:

Q.1 Who was named the Women’s Rising Star of the Year 2023 by the United World Wrestling (UWW)?
a. Georgios Kougioumtsidis
b. Hasrat Jafarov
c. Antim Panghal
d. None of the above
Q.2 Who unveiled the translations of Thirukkural at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023?
a. President of India
b. Prime Minister of India
c. Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
d. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu