Current Affairs | December 7, 2021

 This article presents a quick overview of everyday events on December 7, 2021, in the form of GK one-liners to help you prepare for the upcoming Kerala PSC, UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, and other competitive examinations.

Current Affairs

December 7, 2021

Important Days & Events

  • International Civil Aviation Day.
    • Theme: Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development.
  • National Flag Day / National Armed Forces Flag Day. 

New Appointments

  • President of Gambia - Adama Barrow (second term).
  • Brand Ambassador of Kinara Capital - Ravindra Jadeja.
  • Brand Ambassador of Unix -  Jasprit Bumrah.

National & International 

  • The first country in the world to decrease the national working days to shorter than the global five days - UAE.
  • Which country is the biggest plastic polluter in the world? USA (42 million metric tons (MMT) in plastic waste in 2016).
    • According to a report titled 'Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste', part of Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (USA).
  • Name the comet that will pass near the earth on December 18, 2021 - Comet A1 Leonard.
    • Long period comet - Comets with eccentric orbits, range >200 years.
    • Discovered by - GJ Leonard
    • The first comet to be discovered in 2021.
  • Host of SCO cyber security seminar - India (New Delhi).
    • SCO - Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
    • 2-day seminar conducted from December 7 to 8.
  • Fourth largest foreign exchange reserve in the world - India (USD 640.4 billion).
  • Which country is now the top exporter of food ingredients to Arab League countries surpassing Brazil? India.
  • How many MoUs did India sign with Russia on December 6, 2021, on various fields? 28.
    • including a 10-year defense cooperation agreement from 2021 to 2031.
    • 21st India - Russia annual Summit.
  • What was the title of the joint statement issued by India and Russia after the inaugural 2+2 ministerial meeting? Partnership for Peace, Progress, and Prosperity.
  • Who was invited to join the board of advisors for the IDEA? Sunil Arora (Former Chief Election Commissioner).
    • IDEA -  International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. 
    • Headquarters - Strömsborg, Sweden.
    • Formed - 1995 February 28.
  • In which Indian city did Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate 3 mega projects worth Rs. 9,600 crores? Gorakhpur (Gujarat).
  • What is Operation Parivarthana? A special operation of the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) of Andhra Pradesh to eradicate cannabis cultivation along the Andhra-Odisha border (AOB).

Kerala

  • For the first time in history, a Malayali (US citizen) was selected by NASA for a trip to the Moon and Mars. Identify the person - Anil Menon.
  • Leonardo da Vinci Fellowship was given to - Raju Narayanaswamy.
    • For recognition of intellectual property law research using blockchain technology and artificial intelligence.
    • Instituted by - George Mason University (USA).
  •  Water Metro ferries are a project under - KMRL (Kochi Metro Rail Limited).
  • Which villages of Kottayam district is chosen to be part of the STREET project? Manchira & Maravanthuruth.
    • STREET - Sustainable, Tangible, Responsible, Experiential, Ethnic, Tourism.
  • Venue of 11th Kerala Travel Mart - Kochi.
  • CM Pinarayi Vijayan officially launched the logo of the handloom products collective on Dec 7. What is its brand name? Kerala Kaithari.
    • Knowledge Partner - National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kannur.
  • Which public sector company from Kerala will supply cast iron bricks for solid ballast to INS Vikrant? Autokast Limited.
    • INS Vikrant - First indigenous aircraft carrier of India.
  • NoRKA has signed an MoU with the agency of which country to provide job opportunities for nurses? Germany (German Federal Employment Agency).

Armed Forces - National & International

  • Name the multi-national disaster relief exercise held for the BIMSTEC countries - PANEX-21.
    • BIMSTEC countries - Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India & Thailand.
    • Venue - Pune.
    • Conducted from - December 20-22.
  • According to  SIPRI Top 100 for 2020 rankings, how much did the combined arms sales of the three Indian businesses in the world increase? 1.7%.
    • SIPRI -  Stockholm Institute Peace Research Institute.
  • Which are these three Indian companies? Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Ordnance Factory Board, and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL).

Books & Awards

  • Winners of Jnanpith Award  -
    • 56th Jnanpith Award - Nilmani Phukan (Poet, Assam).
      • Notable Works - Gulapi Jamur Lagna, Surya Henu Nami Ahe Ei Nodiyedi & Kobita. 
      • Sahitya Akademi Award (1981) & Padma Shri (1990).
    • 57th Jnanpith Award - Damodar Mauzo (Konkani Short Story writer & Novelist, Goa).
      • Sahitya Akademi Award (novel Karmelin; 1983).
      • Best Screenplay Award, Goa Film Festival (Film: Aleesha).
  • Author of 'False Allies: India’s Maharajahs in the Age of Ravi Varma' - Manu S. Pillai.

Sports

  • Winner of the First edition of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Lewis Hamilton.
    • Ambassador for the inaugural edition of the Saudi Grand Prix - Reema Juffali.
  • Which country has chosen to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in protest of China's continued genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang? USA.
  • Venue of 4th edition of the Asia Youth Para Games 2021 - Manama (Bahrain).
  • Which country topped Asia Youth Para Games 2021? Iran (97 medals).
    • India - 5th.
  • How many medals did the Indian Badminton Contingent win at the 4th Asia Youth Para Games? 15.
  • The second Indian bowler to take 300 Test wickets in home conditions - Ravichandran Ashwin.
    • First - Anil Kumble (350).
  • The second-fastest bowler to take 300 Test wickets at home - R. Ashwin (300 wickets in 49 matches).
    • First - Muttiah Muralitharan (300 wickets in 48 matches; Srilanka).

Today in History

  • 1941 – The Attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • 1995 - Balamaniamma won Saraswathi Samman.
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