DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS – DECEMBER 20, 2021

Q.) Which of the following country has not been invited as the chief guest for republic day
2022?

[a] Kyrgyzstan

[b] Kazakhstan

[c] Uzbekistan

[d] Azerbaijan

[e] Tajikistan
 Chief Guest For Republic Day
2022
India has invited leaders of five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, ANS - D
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan – as chief guest
for Republic Day 2022.
• This is the first time that all central Asian countries will be present
as the guest.
• This is also the second time when so many countries will be invited
together after 2018 when ASEAN was invited.
President of Kazakhstan - President of Kyrgyzstan - President of Uzbekistan -
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Sadyr Japarov Shavkat Mirziyoyev

President of Tajikistan - President of Turkmenistan

Emomali Rahmon - Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedow
Q.) Which of the following states has established the Samanya Varg Aayog for general
category?

[a] Himachal Pradesh

[b] Madhya Pradesh

[c] Rajasthan

[d] Only A and B

[e] Only B and C

 Samanya Varg Aayog

Himachal Pradesh has established the Samanya Varg Aayog (General ANS - D

Category Commission) for redressal of grievances of the general

category people.
• HP is the second state after Madhya Pradesh to establish the
Samanya Varg Aayog.
Q.) What is the global average score of the Global Health Security Index 2021?

[a] 40.2

[b] 38.9

[c] 70.8

[d] 45.4

[e] 34.6
 Global Health Security Index 2021
2nd edition of Global Health Security Index 2021 has been released by
ANS - B
non-profits Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins
Center for Health Security.
• Total – 195 countries
• Top 3 – USA, Australia, Finland
• India’s rank – 66th rank (score 42.8)
• Bottom – Somalia
• Parameters – 37 indicators divided into six categories
Global Health Security Index 2021

ANS - B
 Global Health Security Index 2021

• Global Average Score was 38.9 out of 100, reduced from a score of 40.2 ANS - B
in the GHS Index, 2019.
• No country is fully prepared for future pandemic or epidemic threats. No
country scored above 75.9.
• The world is acutely vulnerable to health emergencies in the future.
• Most countries, including high-income ones, have not made dedicated
financial investments in strengthening epidemic or pandemic
preparedness.
• Time period assessed in this report is August 2020 and June 2021.
Q.) With which institute has Ministry of Defence signed an MoU to facilitate training to
teachers of Sainik Schools?

[a] Indoss, Teacher Training Institute, Delhi

[b] National Institute of Teacher Education, Delhi

[c] Asian College of Teachers, Delhi

[d] B.D. Shah College of Teacher Education, Aravalli

[e] Indian Institute of Teacher Education, Gandhinagar

 Sainik Schools

Ministry of Defence has signed an MoU with Indian Institute of Teacher ANS - E
Education (IITE) Gandhinagar to facilitate training to teachers of Sainik
Schools.
• The MoU is for the period of five years commencing with effect from
January 2022 under which 800 plus teachers of all Sainik Schools
will be trained through courses named ‘Gurudiksha’ and
‘Pratibaddhta’.
• Presently, 33 Sainik schools are operational in India. 100 more are to
be established by affiliating existing govt/private schools or NGOs
with the Sainik School Society.
Q.) ) In which ocean is New Caledonia located?

[a] Indian Ocean

[b] Arctic Ocean

[c] Pacific Ocean

[d] Southern Ocean

[e] Arctic Ocean

 New Caledonia

New Caledonia archipelago is a French territory located in the ANS - C

Southwest Pacific Ocean, and it is a part of Melanesia.

• Why in News? – A referendum has been passed in this group of
island nation that favours French sovereignty of the archipelago.
• French President - Emmanuel Macron
Q.) Which organization has released the BRICS Economic Bulletin 2021 report?

[a] Reserve Bank of India

[b] Central Bank of Brazil

[c] Central Bank of Russian Federation

[d] Central Bank of the Republic of China

[e] South African Reserve Bank

 BRICS Economic Bulletin 2021
report
BRICS Economic Bulletin 2021 report was released by RBI on the ANS - A

theme of ‘Navigating the Ongoing Pandemic: The BRICS Experience of

Resilience and Recovery’.
• Developers – BRICS Contingency Reserve Arrangement Research
Group with members from Central banks of BRICS nations.
• India’s recovery will be higher than other BRICS nations.
Q.) Which payments bank has partnered with NPCI Bharat BillPay to facilitate cash-based
assisted bill payments at the doorstep of customers?

[a] Fino Payments Bank

[b] Jio Payments Bank

[c] Airtel Payments Bank

[d] India Post Payments Bank

[e] Paytm Payments Bank

 NPCI BHARAT BILLPAY

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and NPCI Bharat BillPay have partnered to ANS - D

facilitate cash-based assisted bill payments at the doorstep of customers.

 Schedule II of RBI Act, 1934

RBI has given the status of scheduled bank to Paytm Payments Bank. ANS - D

• Schedule banks are the banks that are mentioned in the Second
Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
• Total 3 payment banks – Fino Payments Bank, India Post Payment
Bank, and Paytm Payment Bank – are included in the Schedule II of
RBI Act, 1934.
 Schedule II of RBI Act, 1934

• Total 6 payment banks are operational in India. ANS - D

o Airtel Payment Bank

o India Post Payment Bank
o Fino Payment Bank
o Paytm Payment Bank
o NSDL Payment Bank
o Jio Payment Bank
WELCOME TO GK FACTORY!!!
• Thar Desert / GID
spread across India
and Pakistan.
• In India, it is spread
across Rajasthan,
Haryana, Punjab
and Gujarat.
• In Pakistan, it is
spread in Sindh and
Punjab provinces.
• In Punjab province
of Pak, it is known
as Cholistan (or
Rohi)
• Most densely
populated desert
in the world.
• Over 80 people
per km2.
• Average
precipitation -
100-500 mm in
July-September
Monsoon season
• Presence of a
good biodiversity
• World’s 17th
largest desert
• 85% in India and
15% in Pakistan
• Aravalli Range of
Mountains
• 70% of Rajasthan’s
total area is Thar
desert.
• Desert National Park (famous
for Chinkara, Desert Cat, Fox,
Great Indian Bustard)
• Tal Chappar Wildlife Sanctuary
(famous for Blackbucks)
• Sundha Mata Wildlife
Sanctuary
• Art and culture is
prominent
• Agriculture and
animal husbandry
is main occupation
of people.
• 40% of Rajasthan’s
total population
lives in Thar desert
area.
• Largest river of the
Thar - Luni River
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