Weekly CA Quiz: December 2019 1st week

Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan announced that Hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts will be made mandatory across the country from January 15, 2021.

Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar inaugurated Pension Week (30th Nov, 2019 – 6th Dec 2019) to enroll one crore beneficiaries for PM-SYM (Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan) and 50 lakh beneficiaries for NPS-traders by March 2020

40th Session of the UNESCO General Conference was held in Paris, France. It meets every two years, and is attended by Member States and Associate Members, together with observers for non-Member States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Each country has one vote, irrespective of its size or the extent of its contribution to the budget.

According to the report from the Lowy Institute, China now has 276 diplomatic posts globally, three more than the US. India is ranked 12th in terms of such diplomatic heft, with 123 embassies and high commissions, and 54 consulates, across the world. France, Japan, and Russia are ranked at 3rd,4th, and 5th, after China and the United States.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, member state of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), was elected to the World Heritage Committee for the first time.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silivia of Sweden have arrived in New Delhi for a five-day visit to India. This is the Swedish King’s third visit to India, the earlier visits being in 1993 and 2005.

The government has launched a drive to enroll one crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan and the National Pension Scheme for traders and self employed persons by March next year.

For the first time in the history of Hornbill Festival, Bureau of Outreach & Communication, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is organising a Multi Media Exhibition commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at World War II museum, Kisama in Nagaland.

The seventh iteration of the Indo Srilanka Joint Exercise “Mitra Shakti”, focused on Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism (CI-CT) operations, began at Aundh Military Station in Maharashtra.

Saudi Arabia has taken over the G20 Presidency from Japan, will host world leaders for a global summit in its capital on 21-22 November in 2020.

The six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton won the Abu Dhabi GP 2019. It was his 11th win this year and the 84th of his career.

World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1 since 1988 to celebrate and support global efforts to prevent new HIV infections, increase HIV awareness and knowledge, and support those living with HIV. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day.This year’s World AIDS Day is theme “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic:Community by Community”,” highlighting the role of communities in preventing, treating and supporting people with HIV.

The Indigenous Faith Day was celebrated on December 1 throughout Arunachal Pradesh with day-long programme. The IFCSAP calendar was also launched in the event.

The two-day Regional Conference on ‘Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat’ focusing on ‘Jal Shakti’ and ‘Disaster Management’ concluded with adoption of Sahyog-Sankalp resolution in Jammu.

International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has anchored an investment round of 200 million dollars (about Rs 1,430 crore) in Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd to create a dedicated pool of financing for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in low-income states

Star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik defated Haryana’s Anju 7-3 in the 55kg category and Radhika of Haryana 4-2 in the 62kg category in the finals to claim gold medals at the Senior Wrestling National Championships in Jalandhar, Punjab.

The third edition of Khelo India Youth Games 2020 Logo was launched in Guwahati by Assam Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal in the presence of Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports. The Mascot, Jersey and Theme song of the event were also launched at Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium, Sarusajai.

A 1982-batch Indian Ordnance Factories’ Service (I.O.F.S.) officer, Mr Hari Mohan has taken over the charge as Chairman, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) w.e.f. December 01, 2019 from Mr Saurabh Kumar who superannuated from the services.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced that Masatsugu Asakawa has appointed as its 10th president. He will succeed Takehiko Nakao, who will leave office on January 16, 2020.

English author Tony Joseph has won the 12th ‘Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize’ for his 2018 book, Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From, the Shakti Bhatt Foundation.

Veteran Hollywood actress with a 50-year career, Shelley Morrison passed away from heart failure after a brief illness. She was 83 year old.

Prominent theatre artist of Odisha, Paramananda Sahu passed away due to old age-related illness.He was 72.

The 14th edition of bilateral annual military exercise SURYA KIRAN-XIV between Indian and Nepal Army commenced at Nepal Army Battle School (NABS), Salijhandi, Rupendehi district of Nepal.

India defeated Pakistan in the final of the South Asian Games (SAG) 2019 in Male Category of Volleyball, thus clinching a goal medal in Kathmandu, Nepal. The bronze medal went to Sri Lanka.

Meghalaya clinched the Sub Junior National Football Championship 2019-20 title after defeating Arunachal Pradesh by 3-0 in the final played at the Kalyani Stadium in West Bengal

Vijayawada based archer Vennam Jyothi Surekha from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Arjuna awardee Abhishek Verma won compound mixed pair gold in the 21st Asian Archery Championship in Bangkok.

Bihar based Sub-lieutenant Shivangi became the first woman pilot for the Indian Navy Shivangi was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2018. She will be flying the Dornier surveillance aircraft of the Indian Navy.

The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence named Ajay Banga, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mastercard, as ‘Global Indian of the Year’ in the presence of Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs and Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Railways and Commerce in Mumbai

The book titled “The Legacy of Militancy in Punjab: Long Road to ‘Normalcy’” was released recently which was written by civil rights activist Inderjit Singh Jaijee and journalist Dona Suri. This book details how militancy in Punjab affected judiciary by delaying trials, how it influenced the popular culture and how the youth today are still responding to conditions in the northern state.

India handed over a patrol vessel named “KAAMIYAAB” to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) during a video conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Government launched the Operation Clean Art across India. The operation is aimed to crackdown illegal trade in the mongoose hair.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the “Bharatiya Poshan Anthem” which aims at taking the message of making India malnutrition-free by 2022 to all corners of the country.

The central government has decided to establish a National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal, a Harappan site on the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat. It will be India’s first Maritime Museum.

Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik launched a smart learning phone application “Madhu” app for school children. The app named after Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das. This app is aimed at helping school students in learning their lessons through videos and tutorials.

According to survey released by Transparency International, fewer Indians paid bribes in the last one year than in the preceding 12 months.

The typhoon known internationally as Kammuri and called Tisoy in the Philippines reached the Bicol Peninsula southeast of Manila with wind speeds of up to 208 kilometers per hour.

The Central government and Asian Development Bank have signed a 206 million dollar loan agreement to develop water supply and sewerage infrastructure in 5 cities of Tamil Nadu

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the repo rate unchanged at the current 5.15 per cent level but revised gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection to 5 per cent from 6.1 per cent for the current financial year 2019-20.

Rating agency Crisil sharply cut its growth forecast for the current financial year to 5.1 per cent from an earlier estimate of 6.3 per cent. Growth in the second half of 2019-20 will go up to 5.5 per cent, up from the 4.75 per cent in the first half.

In wrestling, Asian Championships silver medallists Gurpreet Singh and Sunil Kumar clinched gold medals on the final day of the senior national championships in Jalandhar.

Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu to defend its Syed Mushtaq Ali crown in a nail-biting finish at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.

United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed every year on December 3 to focus on issues that affect people with disabilities worldwide.The theme for this 2019 IDPD is ‘Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda’.

The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the launch of Bharat Bond Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) which will be the first corporate bond ETF in the country.

India extended Line of Credits for one water supply and two solar projects in Guinea. The development of the solar projects reflected Guinea’s commitment to the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Election Commission of India has reviewed the system and process of registration of political parties. The new guidelines will be effective from 1st January, 2020.

Punjab Government has partnered with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to design a Public-Private pilot on shared, clean and electric mobility. It is a part of collaboration to be formulated at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos in January 2020.

In Madhya Pradesh, Union Minister for food processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated Avantee mega Food Park in Dewas. This first food park of central India is spread over 51 acres and has been constructed at a cost of about 150 crore rupees.

India is the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, according to a report released by Environment think tank, Germanwatch. In the Climate Risk Index 2020, India’s rank has worsened from the 14th spot in 2017 to 5th in 2018 in the global vulnerability ladder.

India has ranked 73rd out of 152 countries in a business-to-consumer E-commerce index 2019 released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which is slightly improving its position from 80 in 2018 and 83 in 2017.

The Reserve Bank of India released guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks in the Private Sector. Now payments banks willing to convert themselves into small finance banks (SFBs) can apply for such a licence only after 5 years of operations.

India’s third-largest non-life insurance provider in the private sector, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company has launched of my:health Woman Suraksha policy.

The government said that ratings agency S&P Global has reaffirmed India’s sovereign rating at BBB- with stable outlook and it expects India’s economy to continue to outperform its peers along with strong growth over the next two years.

The United Nations (UN) annually observes the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on December 5.2019 International Volunteer Day is celebrated with the theme “Volunteer for an inclusive future”, highlighting SDG 10 and the pursuit of equality – including inclusion – through volunteerism.

A national initiative – YuWaah – aimed at imparting skills among the youth and providing employment to more than 300 million young Indians was launched by Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani with an alliance of national and international partners, including Unicef.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that Rs 24,396.19 crore was collected from fee plazas of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) across the country in 2018-19.

The first aqualab stone under the National Mission for Clean Ganga was laid by the state forest minister in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The aquatic life forms found in the 2525 km long Ganges River would be preserved in the country’s first centralized Ganga Aqualabs .

According to a new report from Britain-based tech research firm Comparitech, India is fifth worst country after China, Malaysia, Pakistan and the US in terms of extensive and invasive use of biometric data.

Leaders from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states gathered in London for 2019 NATO summit.. 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance’s meetings.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that former India women cricketer GS Lakshmi become the first woman match referee to oversee a men’s One-Day International match from December 8, 2019.

International Civil Aviation Day is observed each year on 7th December. The purpose of International Civil Aviation Day is to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States, and of the unique role of ICAO in helping States to cooperate and realize a truly global rapid transit network at the service of all mankind.The theme for International Civil Aviation Day in 2019 is “75 years of connecting the world”.