This is the current affairs of 7 & 8 December 2023. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Who became the new Chief Minister of Telangana?
a. Konda Surekha
b. Uttam Kumar Reddy
c. Anumula Revanth Reddy
d. K. Chandrashekar Rao
Answer: c. Anumula Revanth Reddy
– Congress leader Revanth Reddy took oath as the Chief Minister of Telangana on December 7, 2023.
– Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka became the Deputy Chief Minister.
– They were administered the oath by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.
– He became the second Chief Minister of Telangana. Before him, K. Chandrashekhar Rao served as the CM for two terms.
Telangana Assembly Election 2023 gave Congress a majority.
– In the Assembly elections, Congress won 64 seats, and the Bharatiya Rashtriya Samithi (BRS) got 39 seats.
About Revanth Reddy:
– He is 56 years old.
– His full name is Anumula Revanth Reddy.
– Revanth graduated from Osmania University and began his political career with the BJP’s student wing, ABVP.
– In 2007, he was elected as a member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council as an independent candidate.
– Later, at the invitation of Chandrababu Naidu, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
– In 2009, he contested and won the elections from the Kodangal Assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh against Congress’ five-time MLA Gurunath Reddy.
– Naidu appointed him as the party leader in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
– In 2014, Telangana was separated from Andhra Pradesh.
– He resigned from TDP after his alleged involvement in a cash-for-vote scandal surfaced.
– In 2017, Revanth Reddy joined the Congress party.
– He lost the 2018 Assembly elections.
– In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he contested from the Malkajgiri constituency and entered Parliament for the first time.
– In June 2021, the Congress high command appointed him as the head of Telangana, replacing senior leader N. Uttam Reddy, making him the Pradesh Congress Committee president.
– Under his leadership, Congress achieved a majority in the 2023 Assembly elections.
– On December 7, 2023, he became the Chief Minister of Telangana.
Telangana:
– CM: Anumula Revanth Reddy
– Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
– Capital: Hyderabad
– Formation: June 2, 2014
– It is a landlocked state.
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2. Which traditional dance of Gujarat has been included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list by UNESCO?
a. Rasa
b. Bhavai
c. Padhar
d. Garba
Answer: d. Garba
– On December 6, 2023, UNESCO included Gujarat’s traditional dance ‘Garba’ in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
– This is India’s 15th intangible cultural heritage in this list.
– Garba was recognized for safeguarding under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee.
– This meeting took place in December 2023 in Botswana.
– Two years ago, in December 2021, Kolkata’s Durga Puja was also included in this list, marking India’s 14th cultural heritage.
UNESCO said – ‘Celebration of feminine power’
– Garba is celebrated for nine days during Navaratri in Gujarat.
– This festival is dedicated to the celebration of feminine energy or power.
– Through Garba dance, the cultural, performative, and visual expressions of this feminine energy are showcased.
– Garba performances take place in households, temple courtyards, public spaces in villages, urban intersections, roads, and large open grounds.
– Thus, Garba becomes a participatory community event.
– Garba is a unique expression of worship of the divine feminine.
List of UNESCO recognized intangible cultural heritages:
(1) Vedic Chanting Tradition
(2) Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana
(3) Kutiyattam, Sanskrit Theater (Kerala)
(4) Ramman, religious festival and ritual theater of Garhwal Himalayas (Uttarakhand)
(5) Mudiyettu of Kerala, ritual theatre and dance drama
(6) Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
(7) Chhau dance (Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand)
(8) Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India
(9) Sankirtana, traditional singing, ritual drumming, and dancing of Manipur
(10) The traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Punjab
(11) Yoga
(12) Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nowruz, Nauryz, Nawruz, Noruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nooruz, Navruz
(13) Kumbh Mela
(14) Durga Puja in Kolkata
(15) Garba, the folk dance of Gujarat
Gujarat:
CM – Bhupendra Bhai Patel
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
Capital – Gandhinagar
UNESCO:
– Full Name – United Nations Educational, – Scientific and Cultural Organization
– Headquarters – Paris, France
– Director-General – Audrey Azoulay
– Established – November 16, 1945
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3. How much amount of loan facility has been announced by the Government of India to Kenya for the modernization of agriculture sector?
a. 250 million dollars (approximately 2 thousand crore rupees)
b. 500 million dollars (approximately 4 thousand crore rupees)
c. 750 million dollars (approximately 6 thousand crore rupees)
d. 1000 million dollars (approximately 8 thousand crore rupees)
Answer: a. 250 million dollars (approximately 2 thousand crore rupees)
– President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya visited India in December 2023.
– During this visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a loan facility of $25 billion (approximately 2 trillion rupees) to Kenya for modernizing its agriculture sector.
– Both countries decided to enhance cooperation in agriculture, defense, counter-terrorism, technology, digital innovations, clean energy, and other areas.
– PM Modi also announced Kenya’s interest in joining international solar and global biofuel alliances.
– Kenya has offered land availability, adhering to Kenyan laws, for Indian companies and institutions to cultivate crops including sorghum.
Relations between Kenya and India:
– Approximately 80,000 people of Indian origin reside in Kenya, mainly descendants of laborers brought by the British in 1911 for the construction of the Uganda Railway. They were granted Kenyan citizenship in 2017 after a long wait.
– The bilateral trade between India and Kenya in 2019-20 stood at $2.2158 billion. Indian exports to Kenya amounted to $2.126 billion, and imports from Kenya were $89.62 million.
– India exports petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, steel products, machinery, yarn, vehicles, and electrical transmission equipment to Kenya. In return, India imports soda ash, vegetables, tea, leather, and metal scrap from Kenya.
Kenya:
– Capital: Nairobi
– President: William Samoei Ruto
– Currency: Kenyan Shilling
– Population: 51.5 million
– Continent: Africa
– Connected to which ocean: Indian Ocean
– Neighboring countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.
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4. Lok Sabha passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill 2023, how many seats are there for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly?
a. 107
b. 112
c. 114
d. 120
Answer: c. 114 (Increased by 107 to 114 seats)
– On December 6, during the winter session of Parliament in New Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced this bill in the Lok Sabha. The bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha.
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5. How many seats have been provisioned in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for ‘Pak Occupied Kashmir’ (PoK) in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill 2023?
a. 14
b. 24
c. 34
d. 44
Answer: b. 24
Where are the seats and how many?
– There are 43 seats in Jammu (previously 37 seats).
– There are 47 seats in Kashmir (previously 46).
– 24 seats have been reserved in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) because PoK belongs to us.
– The total number of seats in the current bill has been increased to 90 + 24.
Reservation for some categories in the assembly:
– The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, with 114 seats, reserves seats for “Kashmiri migrants, displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir [PoK], and Scheduled Tribes” (ST).
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill 2023:
– This bill amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.
– It reorganizes the state of Jammu and Kashmir into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without a legislature), governed by the Central Government.
Zero-Tolerance Plan until 2026:
– The Home Ministry has devised a Zero-Tolerance Plan and Complete Area Domination Plan.
– The plan will be fully implemented by 2026.
When was Article 370 abolished?
– On August 5, 2019, the central government rendered Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, ineffective.
– Additionally, Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two separate union territories.
Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill 2023:
– Another bill has passed in the Lok Sabha.
– This bill amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
– It provides reservation for members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and other socially and educationally backward classes (OBC) in jobs and professional institutes.
Lieutenant Governors of Jammu and Kashmir – Manoj Sinha.”
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6. For which term was India re-elected with the highest number of votes in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council?
a. 2025-26
b. 2024-25
c. 2023-24
d. 2026-27
Answer: b. 2024-25
– Elected with the highest votes for the biennial term of 2024-25 in India.
– There are 10 countries in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) council with the “highest interest in international maritime trade.”
– In this category, along with India, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were also selected.
– The IMO council functions as the executive body of the International Maritime Organization.
– It oversees maritime industry regulations and supports global trade, transportation, and maritime management.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways – Sarbananda Sonowal
IMO – International Maritime Organization
– Establishment: March 17, 1948
– Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
– Secretary-General: Kitack Lim
– Part of the UN: United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC)
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7. When is International Civil Aviation Day celebrated?
a. 4 December
b. 5 December
c. 6 December
d. 7 December
Answer: d. 7 December
– International Civil Aviation Day is observed annually on December 7th.
– The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the importance of international civil aviation for social and economic development worldwide.
– The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) observes this day.
– Its declaration was made by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
– Establishment: December 7, 1944
– Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
– President: Salvatore Sciacchitano
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8. Who was chosen as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year 2023?
a. Narendra Modi
b. Taylor Swift
c. Joe Biden
d. Tom Cruise
Answer: b. Taylor Swift
– Taylor Swift is an American singer-songwriter.
– In 2023, she became the most searched music artist on the streaming platform Spotify.
– She was born on December 13, 1989.
– Recognized for her songwriting, versatile musical talent, artistic reinvention, and impact on the music industry, she is considered a major cultural figure of the 21st century.
– She is the highest-earning female artist to date.
– She has won 12 Grammy Awards in her career.
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9. Survey Ship (Large) INS Sandhyak built by which company was handed over to the Indian Navy?
a. HAL
b. GRSE
c. Mazgaon Dock
d. CSL
Answer: b. GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers)
– On December 4, 2023 (Indian Navy Day), it was handed over to the Indian Navy.
– Of the four survey vessels (large) being constructed by GRSE, Kolkata, this is the first.
Process of constructing the four survey vessels:
– The contract for these four survey vessels (large) was signed on October 30, 2018.
– The construction process of this vessel commenced on March 12, 2019, and it was launched on December 5, 2021.
– Handed over to the Indian Navy on December 4, 2023.
Role of INS Sandhayak:
– It will conduct comprehensive hydrographic surveys of approaches to ports/harbors and deep-water navigational channels/routes.
– Its operational zone includes Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)/Extended Continental Shelf boundaries.
– The vessel will also gather oceanographic and geophysical data for defense and civilian applications.
– Additionally, it will collect oceanographic and geophysical data for defense and civilian use.
– Furthermore, it will provide limited medical assistance in times of war or emergencies.
About INS Sandhayak:
– It is a leading vessel in its category.
– Total Length: 110 meters
– Maximum Speed: 18 nautical miles (approximately 33 kilometers per hour)
– Operating Range: 6,500 nautical miles (approximately 12,000 kilometers)
– It has a displacement of approximately 3400 tons.
– It is equipped with hydrographic instruments such as data acquisition and processing systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, DGPS long-range positioning systems, digital side-scan sonar, etc.
– It also has two diesel engines.
– Indian Navy Chief – Admiral R. Hari Kumar
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10. Which great man’s death anniversary (6 December) is celebrated as Mahaparinirvan Day?
a. Jawaharlal Nehru
b. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
c. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
d. Jyotirao Phule
Answer: b. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
– The term ‘Mahaparinirvan’ signifies liberation or salvation.
– On this day, followers of Dr. Ambedkar and other Indian leaders pay their respects to him.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar:
– Birth: April 14, 1891
– Demise: December 6, 1956
– Baba Saheb was the first Indian to obtain a doctorate in economics from abroad.
– He was the first Law Minister of independent India.
