ANSWER: C

• Every year, Goa’s Liberation Day is observed on December 19 in India. The day is celebrated to recognise the achievements of Goa in the tourism sector and also for being the highest per capita income among all the states and Union Territories in India. The state has its own history that is the story of its liberation. The day is marked with enormous celebrations and events which bring honour to the country’s smallest state.

About Goa Liberation Day

• Goa Liberation Day was celebrated on 19th December, 2021 in commemoration of the Indian armed forces freeing Goa from Portuguese colonial rule.

Goa Liberation Day 2021: Celebrations

• PM Modi was a part of inauguration projects like the renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum in North Goa, the Super Specialty Block at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, the New South Goa District Hospital, Aviation Skill Development Center at Mopa Airport, and the Gas-insulated Substation at Dabolim-Navelim, Margao.

ANSWER: D

• Rishabh Pant has been appointed the brand ambassador of Uttarakhand with an aim to promote sports and create mental health awareness among the state’s youth.

About the news

• Pant, 24, was born in the state’s Roorkee town in Haridwar district.
• Pushkar Singh Dhami took to Twitter to confirm the news. He labelled Pant as one of the best cricketers of the Indian side and added that Pant is the idol of the youth of the country. Dhami also added that Pant has been appointed as the State Brand Ambassador to encourage the youth to focus on sports.

ANSWER: C

• During the last 3 years, KVIC has empowered over 300 potters’ families in Bundelkhand region, creating livelihood for nearly 1200 persons of the community. It has also given a big thrust to the PMEGP scheme by setting up nearly 11,000 new manufacturing units in the region and thereby, creating 8800 direct employments. To support these projects, KVIC also disbursed subsidy amount of Rs 75 crore. Also, 16 Khadi institutions are currently working in the Bundelkhand region that are engaged in spinning and weaving activities by mostly women artisans.

About Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body formed in April 1957 by the Government of India, under the Act of Parliament, ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956’.
• It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with regard to khadi and village industries within India, which seeks to – “plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.
• The broad objectives that the KVIC has set before it is…
• The social objective of providing employment.
• The economic objective of producing saleable articles.
• The wider objective of creating self-reliance amongst the poor and building up of a strong rural community spirit.

ANSWER: A

• International Human Solidarity Day was introduced by the UN General Assembly. The purpose of solidarity is to build our movement and to embody our mutual care and concern for justice. Solidarity works best when there is respect and understanding of each other’s needs and life circumstances.
• The principle of solidarity is a socio-ethical and political concept which states that it is fair and just that benefits and obligations are shared between members of society.

About International Human Solidarity Day 2021

International Human Solidarity Day 2021: Date

• International Human Solidarity Day is observed annually on December 20, every year.
• Solidarity is capable of reducing inequality and social injustice in the world. It leads to the sustainable development of people.
• Solidarity can be cultivated through education.

International Human Solidarity Day 2021: Significance

• The United Nation’s creation brought the nations and people of the world together to promote human rights, social and economic development and peace.
• The organization was founded on the fundamentals of unity and harmony among its members.
• It is expressed in the concept of collective security that relies on the solidarity of its members to unite and maintain peace and security.

ANSWER: D

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Kidambi Srikanth’s silver medal win in the World Badminton Championships, saying it will inspire several sportspersons and further interest in badminton.

About Kidambi Srikanth

• Srikanth clinched a historic silver medal in the World Badminton Championships after suffering a straight-game defeat to Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the summit clash to notch up the best ever performance by an Indian in the men’s singles
• Srikanth Kidambi (born 7 February 1993) is an Indian badminton player who trains at the Gopichand Badminton Academy, Hyderabad. He ranked as world number 1 at the BWF ranking in April 2018. Kidambi was awarded with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award in 2018 and Arjuna award in 2015.

ANSWER: C

• Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has awarded a contract for setting up a 100 MW (AC) solar with 40 MW/120 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project to be set up at Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. The project, with one of the largest grid-connected BESS projects in the country, will demonstrate how, by using a large battery storage system like BESS, solar power can be used to provide clean solar energy during evening peak hours.

About Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI)

• Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) is a company of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, established to facilitate the implementation of the National Solar Mission (NSM).
• It is the only Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) dedicated to the solar energy sector. The company’s mandate has been broadened to cover the entire renewable energy domain and the company will be renamed to Renewable Energy Corporation of India (RECI).
• The company is responsible for implementation of a number of government schemes, major ones being the VGF schemes for large-scale grid-connected projects under NSM, solar park scheme and grid-connected solar rooftop scheme, along with a host of other specialised schemes such as defence scheme, canal-top scheme, and Indo-Pak border scheme.