Today’s Current Affairs MCQs/ GK Quiz 13th December 2023

These current affairs today are a part of our daily current affairs. We cover a wide range of topics from state, national, and international news that are relevant and important for competitive exams. Our team prepares today’s current affairs after going through many newspapers, such as The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, PRS, etc.

Scroll down for current affairs for 13th December 2023.

Indian Parliament Faces Security Breach, ‘Intruders Throw Smoke Bombs’ at MPs

• Two unidentified individuals breached the lower house of India’s parliament, reportedly deploying smoke bombs, marking a significant security lapse. 
• This incident occurred on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack on parliament. The intruders entered the area where lawmakers were seated during the zero hour, releasing smoke canisters and filling the space with yellow smoke. 
• The two persons, Neelam (42) and Amol Shinde (25), were detained for the protest outside the Parliament.

India Backs Urgent Ceasefire in Israel-Gaza Conflict

• India voted in favor of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the unconditional release of hostages. 
• The UNGA, with 153 votes in favor, adopted the resolution introduced by Egypt in an Emergency Special Session.
• The resolution, sponsored by several nations, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Palestine, demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
• It reiterates the obligation for all parties to comply with international law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, ensuring humanitarian access.

Strong Growth in Industrial Production and Inflation Rise in India

• India experienced mixed economic indicators in October and November. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) surged by 11.7% in October, reaching a 16-month high. 
• Key sectors driving this growth included electricity, mining, and manufacturing. The robust IIP performance is expected to impact GDP projections for 2023-24. 
• However, retail inflation also increased to 5.55% in November, a three-month high. 
• This contrasting trend in economic indicators holds significance for monetary policy decisions and GDP forecasts.

India Joins UN’s ‘Race to Resilience’ at COP28

• India has taken a significant step to address climate change challenges by joining the global campaign ‘Race to Resilience’ initiated by the United Nations. 
• This decision, announced during COP28 in Dubai, emphasizes India’s dedication to enhancing climate resilience in its urban areas. 
• The Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) at NIUA, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, will lead India’s involvement in the campaign.
• ‘Race to Resilience’ aims to bring together non-state actors, investors, businesses, cities, regions, and civil society to bolster the resilience of vulnerable communities to climate change impacts by 2030.

Nine States Witness Higher Inflation Rates Than National Average

• In November, nine Indian states saw inflation rates surpassing the national average of 5.55%. Odisha led with the highest inflation at 7.65%, followed by Rajasthan at 7% and Haryana at 6.8%. 
• Other states exceeding the national average include Bihar, Karnataka, Punjab, Telangana, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi, Chhattisgarh, and Jammu and Kashmir reported milder inflation increases. 

Lok Sabha Greenlights Additional Spending of ₹58,378 Crore

• The Lok Sabha has approved a net additional spending of ₹58,378 crore in the current fiscal year ending in March 2024. 
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized fiscal prudence with a focus on social welfare programs. 
• The government sought over ₹1.29 lakh crore in gross additional spending, allocating significant amounts to areas like fertilizer subsidies and food security measures through the Department of Food and Public Distribution.

Grihum Housing Finance Unveiled as Poonawalla Housing Finance Rebrands

• Poonawalla Housing Finance has undergone a substantial rebranding following its acquisition by TPG Capital Asia, emerging with a new identity — Grihum Housing Finance. 
• TPG Capital Asia acquired a significant 99.02% equity stake from Poonawalla Fincorp earlier this year. 
• The rebranding reflects the company’s commitment to collaboration and unity, with Grihum being a fusion of ‘Grih’ (home) and ‘Hum’ (togetherness). 
• Grihum Housing Finance focuses on providing ‘Dream Homes’ for self-made individuals and micro-entrepreneurs in semi-urban, peri-urban, and rural regions.

Observing National Energy Conservation Day 2023

• India celebrates National Energy Conservation Day on December 14 annually, acknowledging the nation’s progress in energy efficiency. The day encourages individuals, communities, businesses, institutions, and governments to reflect on their roles in energy conservation. 
• The theme for National Energy Conservation Day 2023 is yet to be announce
• The day aims to raise awareness about global warming, climate change, and promote initiatives for conserving energy resources, celebrating India’s achievements in energy efficiency.

Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme Launched for Sustainable Management

• The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change introduces the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme, a voluntary initiative promoting sustainable forest management and agroforestry practices in Indi
• The scheme covers forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and chain of custody certification. 
• The Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, will oversee the scheme’s implementation. 
• The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Council will act as a multistakeholder advisory body, and the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies will accredit certification bodies conducting independent audits to assess adherence to prescribed standards.

PM Modi Inaugurates AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi

• The annual Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit kicked off at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on December 12, focusing on essential discussions about AI safety and developmental challenges. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his opening speech, emphasized the need to address ethical, economic, and social aspects to build trust in AI. 
• Policymakers and industry experts engaged in comprehensive discussions on various AI-related topics. 
• PM Modi raised crucial questions about AI’s impact on employment, global education, and stressed the necessity for standardized AI standards, also addressing concerns related to AI misuse by proposing the idea of watermarking AI products.

India and Oman Accelerate Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

• Officials from India’s Department of Commerce are in Muscat, engaged in negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with Oman. 
• The department aims to finalize the deal by the end of the month. This development is crucial as negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) faced obstacles, particularly with Saudi Arabi
• If successful, Oman would become the second GCC member, after the UAE, to sign an FTA with India
• Bilateral trade between India and Oman has shown robust growth, reaching $4.48 billion during FY23.

Quad Summit Meeting Postponed by India Due to Strained Relations and Scheduling Issues

• India has decided to postpone the Quad summit meeting, initially slated for January 2024, citing scheduling conflicts among certain Quad partners. 
• The summit involves the participation of India, Australia, the US, and Japan. 
• Originally expected as the chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations, US President Joe Biden is unlikely to attend the Quad Summit due to the rescheduling. 
• New dates for the summit in 2024 are being explored to accommodate the schedules of all Quad partners. 
• The Quad, comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the US, is a diplomatic partnership aiming to foster an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, strategically counterbalancing China’s growing influence in the region.

YUVAi Showcased at GPAI Summit 2023: Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI

• “YUVAi-Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI,” a collaborative initiative of the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and Intel India, is set to take the spotlight at the upcoming Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit. 
• This pioneering program focuses on imparting essential AI skills to the youth, gaining recognition for its innovative approach in building a future-ready workforce. YUVAi aims to deepen AI understanding among school students nationwide, from class 8 to 12. 
• The primary objective is to equip students with crucial AI skills, empowering them to become human-centric designers and users of artificial intelligence, contributing to responsible and impactful AI usage to address societal challenges.

K.S. Reddy Assumes Role as Hyderabad Commissioner Of Police

• Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has appointed seasoned police officials to lead the Hyderabad and Cyberabad police commissionerates. 
• Kothakota Srinivas Reddy, known for effective leadership, takes on the role of Hyderabad Police Commissioner, while Avinash Mohanty, a seasoned officer from the 2005 batch, assumes the position of Cyberabad Police Commissioner. 
• G. Sudheer Babu, a 2001 IPS officer, is appointed as the new Rachakonda Police Commissioner, succeeding D.S. Chauhan. Sudheer Babu, with experience as additional police commissioner, traffic, Hyderabad, and roles in Warangal, has a proven record of enhancing policing standards.

Dr. Atul Shah Recognized for Game-Changing Innovation in Leprosy Care

• Dr. Atul Shah, a plastic surgeon, receives the 2023 REACH Game Changing Innovator award for his groundbreaking contribution to leprosy care. 
• Three decades ago, he introduced a simple surgery technique, ‘One in Four Lasso,’ addressing deformities in leprosy patients. 
• Dr. Shah’s ‘self-care kit’ for managing foot ulcers, part of India’s National Leprosy Eradication Programme since 2007, has benefited over 80,000 individuals.

Myanmar Overtakes Afghanistan as World’s Leading Opium Source in 2023: UN Report

• Myanmar has become the world’s largest source of opium in 2023, surpassing Afghanistan, according to a new report by the United Nations. 
• This shift is attributed to a third consecutive year of expanding cultivation fueled by Myanmar’s civil war and a significant decline in opium cultivation in Afghanistan. 
• The change resulted in substantial earnings for Myanmar farmers, with opium poppy farming yielding about 75% higher profits. 
• The average price of opium poppies has risen to approximately $355 per kilogram, and the cultivation area has expanded by 18% year-on-year, reaching 47,000 hectares, marking the highest potential yield since 2001.

Ban Ki-Moon Honored With 2023 Diwali ‘Power Of One’ Award At UN

• Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and three distinguished diplomats were honored at the annual ‘Diwali Power of One Awards,’ celebrating their selfless contributions to shaping a more perfect, peaceful, and secure worl
• The awards aim to recognize former Permanent Representatives and high-level members of the UN committed to global peace and development.

China and Egypt Jointly Launch Satellite MisrSat-2

• China and Egypt achieve a significant breakthrough with the successful launch of the MisrSat-2 satellite. Jointly developed and assembled, the satellite marks a pivotal moment in their space partnership. 
• Launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the MisrSat-2 project, valued at $72 million, positions Egypt as the first African country with satellite assembly and testing capabilities.

Javed Akhtar to Receive Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award

• Veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar is set to be honored with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival. 
• The award recognizes his remarkable contributions to the Indian film industry, including iconic works like ‘Zanjeer,’ ‘Deewar,’ ‘Sholay,’ ‘Don,’ ‘Kala Patthar,’ and ‘Mr India.’ The ceremony will take place on January 3, 2024.

1. What global campaign did India join during COP28 to address climate change challenges?

1. Race to Prosperity
2. Climate Resilience Initiative
3. Race to Resilience
4. Climate Action Now

2. What organization will lead India’s involvement in the ‘Race to Resilience’ campaign?

1. UN Environment Programme
2. Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) at NIUA
3. Greenpeace India
4. Ministry of Climate Change

3. What incident occurred in the Indian Parliament recently?

1. Fire Outbreak
2. Security Breach with Smoke Bombs
3. Peaceful Protest
4. Cyber Attack

4. In which conflict did India back a UN resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire?

1. Syria Civil War
2. Israel-Gaza Conflict
3. Ukraine Crisis
4. Yemen Civil War

5. What is the newly rebranded name of Poonawalla Housing Finance following its acquisition by TPG Capital Asia?

1. Humble Housing Finance
2. Grihum Housing Finance
3. Unity Housing Finance
4. Collabora Housing Finance

6. Which annual day does India observe on December 14 to reflect on the nation’s progress in energy efficiency?

1. National Conservation Day
2. Energy Awareness Day
3. National Energy Conservation Day
4. Sustainable Energy Day

7. What is the focus of the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change?

1. Wildlife Conservation
2. Sustainable Forest Management
3. Carbon Footprint Reduction
4. Wetland Conservation

8. Where did the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2023 take place, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

1. Washington D.C.
2. Tokyo
3. New Delhi
4. Beijing

9. Why did India decide to postpone the Quad summit meeting originally scheduled for January 2024?

1. Diplomatic Crisis
2. Scheduling Conflicts
3. Security Concerns
4. Climate Emergency

10. What is the primary objective of the “YUVAi-Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI” initiative showcased at the GPAI Summit 2023?

1. Promoting Sustainable Development
2. Building Future-Ready Workforce
3. Enhancing Space Exploration
4. Encouraging Environmental Conservation

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