Answer: C

• DRDO successfully conducted the flight test of indigenously developed High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) Abhyas recently. The successful flight test of Abhyas was conducted from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

About High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) Abhyas and its test

• Abhyas is a high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT) that is being built by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO.
• HEAT Abhyas demonstrated a high subsonic speed trajectory at a very low altitude with high endurance during the flight test. The two boosters provided initial acceleration during launch and a small turbojet engine was used to sustain the high subsonic speed with long endurance.
• Abhyas’s radar cross-section (RCS) and its visual and infrared signatures can be boosted to simulate a variety of aircraft for air-defense weapon practices.
• Abhyas is also GPS-enabled and has an onboard flight control computer and a miss-distance indicator.
• The aircraft is designed for autonomous flight with the help of an autopilot.

Answer: C

• Recently, the Fifth Siddha Day was celebrated in India.

About Siddha and Siddha Day

• Siddha system of medicine is one of the oldest codified traditions of healthcare originated in the Indian sub-continent with many intricate, novel therapeutic interventions and treatment modalities.
• The fundamentals and principles largely rely upon Panchabootham, taste and three humours.
• It enjoys state patronage as part of the officially recognized Ayush systems and caters to considerable proportion of population through public and private health care facilities Ministry of Ayush observes Siddha Day on eve of Agathiyar’s birthday every year, which falls during the Ayilyam star of Margazhi Month.
• This year, the Fifth Siddha Day celebration on “Strength of Siddha Medicine for Communicable Diseases” has been jointly organized by Central Council for Research in Siddha, National Institute of Siddha and Directorate of Indian Medicine & Homeopathy, Government of Tamil Nadu on 23rd December 2021.

Answer: A

• Government of India & European Investment Bank (EIB) recently signed finance contract for first tranche loan of Euro 250 million for Agra Metro Rail project

About the contract

• Government of India & European Investment Bank sign finance contract for first tranche loan of Euro 250 million for Agra Metro Rail project
• EIB had approved a total loan of Euro 450 million to fund the Agra Metro Rail Project.
• The project aims to provide a safe, reliable, affordable, and environment-friendly public Mass Rapid Transit System for Agra city which will improve mobility and support endeavor for planned urban development in Agra, according to the statement.

Answer: B

• The Jharkhand Assembly recently passed Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021

About the Bill

• The Bill seeks punishment for “conspiracy or abetment or attempt to lynch”; “obstructing legal process” as well as “dissemination of offensive material”.
• The government has brought this Bill to maintain peace, communal harmony, and brotherhood in the state,” Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said after the Bill was passed in the state Assembly.

Answer: D

• Divya Hegde from Udupi, coastal Karnataka, has won the UN Women’s Award for Leadership Commitment at the 2021 Regional Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles Awards ceremony on November 18th, 2021.

About Divya Hegde and the award

• The UN Leadership Commitment Award recognises leaders who have been instrumental in setting up strong commitments that aim to promote gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and/or community.
• This award is a joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact aimed at empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors.
• Divya Hegde has been recognised for her sustained efforts in advancing gender equality through climate action efforts. Her organisation, Baeru Environmental Services, works in the areas of waste management, creation of livelihoods for rural women, and developing a circular economy in the region.

Answer: B

• Recently, the foundation stone was laid by PM Modi for ‘Banas Dairy Sankul’ at Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority Food Park, Karkhiyaon, Varanasi.

About Banas Dairy Sankul

• It is a dairy project covering an area of 30 acres and built at a cost of about Rs 475 crore which is likely to process about 5 lakh litre milk per day.
• This will strengthen the rural economy and help the farmers of the region by creating new opportunities for them.