Current Affairs 21 December 2023

Ruby Thakur
December 21, 2023
724

In Current Affairs for 21 December 2023, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.

Current Affairs 21 December 2023

Decline In Agriculture’s GDP Share

India’s economic landscape has witnessed a significant transformation over the past few decades, marked by a notable decline in the share of agriculture in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The share of agriculture in India’s GDP dropped from 35% in the fiscal year 1990-91 to 15% in 2022-23.

This shift can be attributed to the rapid growth experienced by the industrial and service sectors during this period.
Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, in a written reply to Lok Sabha, shed light on the factors contributing to this decline. He emphasized that the decrease in the share of agriculture in the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the economy is not a result of a reduction in agricultural GVA but rather stems from the remarkable expansion of the industrial and service sector GVAs.

Drawing a parallel with international experiences, he highlighted that the share of agriculture in the world’s GDP has also dwindled over the decades and currently stands at around 4% in recent years.
Despite the declining share in GDP, the agricultural and allied sector has demonstrated resilience, registering an average annual growth of 4% over the last five years.
This indicates that while agriculture’s contribution to the overall economy may be diminishing proportionately, the sector is still experiencing positive growth.

Smishing Threats

The Indian government has issued a warning regarding a new and sophisticated scam known as “Smishing.”
This term is a combination of “SMS” (Short Message Service) and “phishing,” signifying a malicious practice that exploits text messages to deceive individuals into divulging confidential information.
With the increasing reliance on mobile phones, smishing has emerged as a significant threat, necessitating individuals to remain vigilant and well-informed.
Smishing scams often adopt a guise of legitimacy by posing as communication from trusted sources.

Fraudulent messages may impersonate banks, government agencies, or well-known brands, creating a false sense of urgency that compels recipients to take immediate action.
The ultimate goal is to trick individuals into revealing sensitive personal information.
These deceptive messages may request personal details such as credit card numbers, social security information, or login credentials.
The pretext for these requests often revolves around security verification or account updates.
To combat the rising tide of smishing, individuals are encouraged to report any incidents promptly.
In the unfortunate event of falling victim to a smishing attack, individuals can take immediate action by dialing 1930 to report online financial fraud. Additionally, any instances of cybercrime can be reported at cybercrime.gov.in. Timely reporting is crucial to mitigating the impact of such scams and preventing further harm.

Gaja Capital Business Book Prize

The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2023 has crowned two exceptional narratives, Against All Odds: The IT Story of India and Winning Middle India: The Story of India’s New-Age Entrepreneurs.
The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, a prestigious annual recognition, has crowned two exceptional narratives in its 2023 edition.

Against All Odds: The IT Story of India and Winning Middle India: The Story of India’s New-Age Entrepreneurs emerged as joint winners, capturing the essence of India’s dynamic business landscape.
This article delves into the winning books and the insights they offer into the insights they offer into the realms of technology, entrepreneurship and the evolving consumer sphere.
Authorized by Kris Gopalkrishnan, N Dayasindhu and Krishnan Narayanan, Against All Odds meticulously weaves together the firsthand accounts of over fly distinguished individuals who have played pivotal role in shaping IT industry. The jury commended the book for its detailed exploration of the challenges, triumphs and transformative moments that have defined the trajectory of the IT sector in India.
Winning Middle India: Navigating New Frontiers in Entrepreneurship
Penned by TN Hari and Bala Srinivas, Winning Middle India explores the exciting potential for enhancing accessibility, affordability and product- service quality for millions of Indians.

The book focuses on a new generation of startup founders who leverage technology platforms, smartphone ubiquity and rapid digitization to navigate the evolving landscape of the Indian consumer market. The jury applauded the book for its insightful examination of the entrepreneurial spirit driving innovation in Middle India.
Established as an annual tradition, the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize holds immense significance in recognizing and celebrating outstanding narratives in Indian business and entrepreneurship.
The cash prize of Rs.15 lakhs serves as both a tribute to the authors’ contributions and an encouragement for future writers to delve into the diverse stories that define India’s economic and business tapestry.

FIH Awards

Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has congratulated Indian Women’s Hockey team Goalkeeper Savita Punia on winning the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year for the third consecutive time.
Savita, the unsurpassable wall of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team, has not only defended goals but also transformed dreams into reality with her prolific form and unyielding blocks.

Savita’s passion and sincerity towards the game make her an inspiration to all. The Minister said, she continues to lead the team with determination.
He extended best wishes to Savita and the entire squad for the exciting journey ahead.
Mr Thakur also congratulated Hardik Singh on winning the 2023 FIH Player of the Year (Male) Award.

He said, with his precise passes and ability to orchestrate attacks, Hardik not only sets the turf ablaze but inspires a generation of upcoming hockey stars with his grit and determination.
The Fédération Internationale de Hockey (English: International Hockey Federation), commonly known by the acronym FIH, is the international governing body of field hockey and indoor field hockey. Its headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Task Force To Counter Houthi Threat In Red Sea

The US has announced the creation of a new multinational task force to counter Houthi threat in Red Sea.
The 10 nation Task Force, named as Operation Prosperity Guardian will include the Navies of Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles Spain and United Kingdom.
During a briefing, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Houthis have violated international law by harassing ships in the Red Sea.

The new security initiative will address the security challenges in the southern Red Sea,the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near Yemen and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity, Mr Austin added.
The Iran-backed Houthis rebel group has been continuously attacking multiple merchant vessels and forced companies to suspend routes through the region for the past weeks.

IMF Says India Emerges As Star Performer

India has emerged as a star performer and is projected to contribute more than 16 percent of the global growth.
This was stated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while saying that the nation has been growing at a robust rate due to economic reforms in key sectors like digitisation and infrastructure.
Mission of India at IMF said that the country is one of the fastest growing large emerging markets and it is contributing more than 16 percent of global growth this year in the current projections.
She said that there is a very strong push by the Indian government to invest in infrastructure and develop the logistics that are needed for a solid basis for growth.

She further said that India has a very large and young and growing population, and thus has the potential to grow at stronger rates, if this potential is harnessed through structural reforms.
The IMF in its annual report recommended that policy priorities should focus on replenishing fiscal buffers, securing price stability, maintaining financial stability, and accelerating inclusive growth through comprehensive structural reforms while preserving debt sustainability.
It noted that India’s recent inflation dynamics had not followed the same pattern as in other countries.
India’s economy has rebounded strongly from the pandemic to become an important driver of global growth.

First Ever Bharat NCAP 5 Star Safety Rating

The Tata Safari and the Tata Harrier scored a five-star safety rating at the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) as well.
The first set of crash test results under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) are out with the Tata Safari and the Tata Harrier scoring a five-star safety rating.

The two SUVs garnered five stars in both adult and child safety categories.
Tata Motors flagship SUVs, the new Safari and Harrier, have become the first vehicles to receive a 5-star rating from the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat-NCAP).
This rating covers both adult and child occupant protection. The Tata SUVs are also the first cars to be tested under the new crash test certification.

Gyanvapi Mosque Case

The Allahabad High Court dismissed five petitions by the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board and the Gyanvapi mosque committee, holding that a suit filed in 1991 over the Varanasi mosque is not barred under provisions of the Places of Worship Act.

The case will now be heard by the Varanasi Civil Judge’s court, which has been directed “to proceed with the matter expeditiously and conclude the proceedings” within six months.
The Gyanvapi mosque abuts the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The Waqf Board and the Gyanvapi mosque committee had challenged the maintainability of the original suit — Ancient Idol of Swayambhu Lord Vishweshwar and others vs. Anjuman Intezamia Masajid and another — filed in 1991, saying it was barred by the Places of Worship Act.

The Places of Worship Act states that the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, must be maintained. The long title describes it as “An Act to prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”
Section 3 of the Act bars the conversion, in full or part, of a place of worship of any religious denomination into a place of worship of a different religious denomination — or even a different segment of the same religious denomination.

The 1991 suit seeks an order that the “structure” (mosque) on top of the cellars (taikhana), the adjoining part of the “old temple” of Lord Vishweshwar, and some other structures are the property of Lord Visheshwar and devotees.
Claiming that the Muslim community had illegally occupied the property, the plea said that Hindus have every right to use it as a place of worship and to renovate and reconstruct their temple.
The 1991 suit had also asked the court to pass an order directing the defendants “to remove its effects” from the said property and hand over possession “over the said structures to the plaintiffs”.

As per the plea, the “temple was constructed by King Vikramaditya about 2050 years ago and duly consecrated the idol of Lord Vishweshwar therein”.
It said that due to religious antipathy it was pulled down several times during Muslim Rule in the country.
It also said that besides the original temple of Lord Vishweshwar, there are four mandaps around the temple known as Mukti Mandap, Gyan Mandap, Aishwarya Mandap and Shringar Mandap.
The plaint said that in 1669 AD, “on a wrong information reaching Emperor Aurangzeb, he ordered for demolition of such schools and temples of infidels (kafirs)”. “The aforesaid event of demolition has been mentioned in Ma-Asir-iAlamgiri printed in Arabic in 1871 by Asiatic Society of Bengal,” the plaint said.
awyers appearing on behalf of the mosque committee and the Sunni Waqf Board said that the petitioners “have every right to offer their prayer in temple in question and are neither debarred nor anybody has stopped them to perform religious rites inside the temple”.

Current Affairs 21 December 2023 Question

What Was The Percentage Of Agriculture In India’s GDP In 1990-91
A. 25%
B. 15%
C. 35%
D. 45%
ANSWER: B
Decline In Share Of Agriculture In India’s GDP Primarily Stems From
A. Decrease In Agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA)
B. Increase In Industrial And Service Sector GVA’s
C. Government Policies Restricting Agricultural Output
D. Natural Disasters Affecting Agricultural Production
ANSWER: B
Joint Winners Of The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize In 2023 Are
A. ‘Tech Titans’ and ‘Business Revolution’
B. ‘The Entrepreneurial Journey’ and ‘Market Dynamics’
C. ‘Success Stories’ and ‘Corporate Strategies’
D. ‘Against All Odds’ and ‘Winning Middle India’
ANSWER: D
‘Winning Middle India: Story Of India’s New-age Entrepreneurs’ Primarily
Focuses On
A. Historical Accounts Of Indian Entrepreneurs
B. Innovations In The Agricultural Sector
C. Navigating The Evolving Consumer Market
D. International Business Strategies
ANSWER: C
The FIH Player Of The Year (Male) Award Was Won By
A. Hardik Pandya
B. Hardik Singh
C. Virat Kohli
D. Rohit Sharma
ANSWER: B
Which Multinational Task Force Formed To Counter Houthi Threat In Red Sea
A. Operation Guardian Angel
B. Operation Red Shield
C. Operation Prosperity Guardian
D. Task Force Red Alert
ANSWER: C
Tata Safari & Harrier Received A Five-star Safety Rating Under Which Program
A. Global New Car Assessment Programme
B. Bharat New Car Assessment Programme
C. International Vehicle Safety Initiative
D. Global Safety Standards Certification
ANSWER: B
According To The IMF, India Is Projected To Contribute Over What Percentage
To Global Growth
A. 12%
B. 16%
C. 20%
D. 25%
ANSWER: B
Indian Women’s Hockey Team Goalkeeper Who Won FIH Goalkeeper Of The
Year For The Third Consecutive Time Is
A. Rani Rampal
B. Savita Punia
C. Deepika Thakur
D. Poonam Rani
ANSWER: B
What Does “Smishing” Refer To
A. Social media phishing
B. Email-based scams
C. Phishing through text messages
D. Smartphone hacking
ANSWER: C
Who Is 6 Time World Woman Boxing Champion
A. Sarita Devi
B. MC Mary Kom
C. Jenny RL
D. Nikhat Zareen
ANSWER: B
Where Is The HQ Of OPEC
A. Vienna
B. Riyadh
C. Paris
D. Geneva
ANSWER: A
What Is The Currency Of Tanzania
A. Shilling
B. Franc
C. US Dollar
D. Euro
ANSWER: A
__ Was The 1st Governor Of RBI From Indian Origin
A. C D Deshmukh
B. C Rajagopalachari
C. S Somnath
D. Anthony Williams
ANSWER: A
Which Among The Following Act Provided For The Public Service Commission
In India For The First Time
A. GOI Act 1909
B. GOI Act 1919
C. GOI Act 1935
D. GOI Act 1948
ANSWER:B
Which Among The Following Act Provided For The Public Service Commission In India For The First Time
A. GOI Act 1909
B. GOI Act 1919
C. GOI Act 1935
D. GOI Act 1948
ANSWER: B
Zojila Day Is Observed On __
A. 1 November
B. 3 November
C. 5 November
D. None
ANSWER: A
RBI Was Established Through Which Commission?
A. Hilton Young Commission
B. Keynes Commission
C. Sundaram Commission
D. None
ANSWER: A
When Was R.B.I. Nationalised
A. Bank Rate
B. Cash reserve Ratio
C. Monetary Card
D. Repo Rate
ANSWER: C
Which Of The Following Is Not Used In Monetary Policy
A. Bank Rate
B. Cash reserve Ratio
C. Monetary Card
D. Repo Rate
ANSWER:C