Current Affairs 16th December 2020
Current Affairs of the morning are here with the top headlines of the morning. Current Affairs are very important for all competitive exams including Banking, SSC, RBI, NABARD, etc.
01. Who among the following has
been elected as new President of
the Inter-Parliamentary Union?
A. Olaf Scholz
B. Duarte Pacheco
C. Om Birla
D. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury
Answer: B.
Explanation:
Mr. Duarte Pacheco of Portugal has been elected the new
President of Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) for the period
2020
-2023.
● The election process to elect the new IPU President took
place through remote electronic secret ballot, with a 24 hour
the window for casting votes.
● Earlier, the Governing Council of IPU, Geneva resumed its
business during the 206th Session in a virtual format.
02. Writer Paul Zacharia has been
selected for 2020 Ezhuthachan
Puraskaram. Ezhuthachan
Puraskaram is the highest literary
award of __________.
A. Kerala
B. Karnataka
C. Maharashtra
D. Tamil Nadu
Answer: A.
Explanation:
Noted Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia has been selected for 2020
Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, for his contribution to Malayalam
literature during the past five decades.
● Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is the Kerala government ’s highest
literary honour, named after Ezhuthachan, the father of the
Malayalam language.
● The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and a citation. ● Zacharia won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979 and the
Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2004
03. Who among the following won the
gold at the Alexis Valentine
International Boxing Tournament
held in Nantes, France?
A. Amit Panghal
B. Sanjeet
C. Ashish Kumar
D. A, B and C
Answer: D.
Explanation: Indian boxers Amit Panghal, Sanjeet and Ashish Kumar have
won gold medals at the recently concluded Alexis Valentine
International Boxing Tournament held in Nantes, France.
● The tournament was the first international event that Indian
boxers were a part of since the lockdown enforced earlier
this year in March.
04. Recently, TN Krishnan passed away.
He was a/an _________.
A. Journalist
B. Violinist
C. Actor
D. Cricketer
Answer: B.
Explanation: Renowned violinist TN Krishnan breathed his last in
Chennai.
● TN Krishnan was born in Tripunithura in Kerala in 1928.
● Apart from performing at concerts, TN Krishnan also
taught at the Chennai Music College.
● TN Krishnan was the recipient of Sangeetha Kalanidhi,
Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
05. India’s 1st solar-powered miniature
train launched in __________.
A. Rajasthan
B. Karnataka
C. Kerala
D. Punjab
Answer: C.
Explanation: India’s first of its kind solar energy-driven miniature train was
inaugurated at the Veli Tourist Village, Kerala.
● It is a Rs 10 crore project and covers a distance of 2.5 km with 3
bogies. It features a fully- equipped rail system, including a
tunnel, station and a ticket office.
06. Union Territory of Ladakh
celebrated its first raising day on
__________.
A. 28 October
B. 29 October
C. 30 October
D. 31 October
Answer: D.
Explanation: Union Territory of Ladakh celebrated its first raising day on 31
October.
● It was on this day last year, Ladakh became a union territory. ● With a theme of One year of Development, Prosperity and
Empowerment the Union Territory administration has
planned the first year anniversary celebrations across the
region.
07. Madhya Pradesh observed its
Foundation Day on 01 November.
Madhya Pradesh does not share its
land boundary with _________.
A. Gujarat
B. Rajasthan
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Jharkhand
Answer: D.
Explanation: Madhya Pradesh celebrated its 65th Foundation Day on
01 November.
● The new state of Madhya Pradesh came into existence on
the First of November 1956 as a result of the
reorganization of states in 1956.
● It shares its border with Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
08.
Who among the following broke
the record for most ODIs as an on-
field umpire?
A. Simon Taufel
B. Aleem Dar
C. Billy Bowden
D. Kumar Dharmasena
Answer: B.
Explanation: Aleem Dar broke the record for most ODIs as an on-field umpire when he stood for his 210th match in the series’ second match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
● The 52 -year -old from Pakistan surpassed South African Rudi Koertzen’s record of officiating in most ODIs.
● Dar also holds the record of umpiring in most Test matches.
09. John Magufuli has been re-elected
as the President of Tanzania. What
is the capital of Tanzania?
A. Nairobi
B. Dodoma
C. Accra
D. Bamako
Answer: B.
Explanation: Tanzania’s president is declared the winner of election, while the
ruling party have secured the two-thirds majority in parliament
required to change the constitution.
● The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party has won 194 parliament
seats, while opposition parties have won just two.
10. Which of the following will set up an
“Strategic Policy & Facilitation
Bureau” in partnership with Invest
India?
A. NITI Aayog
B. AYUSH Ministry
C. Defence Research and
Development Organisation
D. State Bank of India
Answer: B.
Explanation: Ministry of AYUSH and M/s Invest India will form a
collaboration to set up a “Strategic Policy &
Facilitation Bureau” to facilitate planned and
systematic growth of the Ayush sector.
● This Bureau will support the Ministry in strategic and
policymaking initiatives that shall help pave the way
to reach the full potential of the Sector and stimulate
growth and investment.
