This is the current affairs of 26 & 27 December 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which bird has been officially declared as the national bird of USA?
a. Pigeon
b. Parrot
c. Bald Eagle
d. Turkey
Answer: c. Bald Eagle
– The Bald Eagle, which has been a symbol of the power and strength of the United States for over 240 years, was named the national bird.
– President Joe Biden officially signed the bill making it the national bird of the country on December 25, 2024.
– The Bald Eagle is known to many for its white head, yellow beak, and brown body.
– This bird has appeared on the Great Seal of the United States, which has been used on official documents since 1782.
– The distinctive seal consists of an olive branch, arrows, a flag-like shield, the motto “E Pluribus Unum,” and a group of stars.
– The Bald Eagle is native to North America.
USA
– Elected President – Donald Trump
– Capital – Washington, D.C.
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2. When is Veer Bal Diwas celebrated?
a. 24 December
b. 25 December
c. 26 December
d. 27 December
Answer: c. 26 December
vent in Memory of the Martyrdom of the Younger Sahibzadas
– An event was organized on December 26 to commemorate the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzadas of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji.
Announcement of the Day
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced this day on January 9, 2023, on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday.
– He stated that December 26 would be observed as ‘Veer Bal Divas’ to honor the martyrdom of the Sikh Guru’s sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh.
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3. PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of which dam of the Ken-Betwa River Linking National Project?
a. Daudhan Dam
b. Bina Dam
c. Mahoba Dam
d. Panna Dam
Answer: a. Daudhan Dam
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4. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of Ken-Betwa river linking national project on the 100th birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In which states will this project be completed?
a. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
b. Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh
c. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
d. Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
Answer: d. Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
– On December 25, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched this project.
– He laid the foundation stone for the Doudhan Dam.
– This is India’s first river interlinking project.
– The river linking project has been declared a “National Project.”
– This means that the central government will bear 90 percent of the cost, while the remaining 10 percent will be borne by the two states.
Ken-Betwa Interlinking Project: 221 kilometers
– Total project cost: ₹44,605 crores.
Project duration: 8 years.
– Length of the canal connecting Ken and Betwa: 221 kilometers, including a 2-kilometer tunnel.
– Water will be transferred from the Ken River in Panna district, Madhya Pradesh, to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh.
– The project will benefit the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, alleviating water scarcity and bringing prosperity to the area.
– After completion, 12 districts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh will receive water. These are drought-affected districts.
Districts that will benefit:
– Madhya Pradesh: Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Damoh, Sagar, and Datia, as well as Shivpuri, Vidisha, and Raisen.
– Uttar Pradesh: Mahoba, Jhansi, Banda, and Lalitpur.
Where the dams will be constructed:
– In the first phase of the project, a dam will be built on the Ken River near Doudhan village to block the water. The water will be transferred to the Betwa River via a canal. This dam will be named the Doudhan Dam.
– In the second phase of the project, four dams will be built on the Betwa River near Vidisha district.
– Additionally, dams will be built on the Betwa’s tributaries, the Bina River in Sagar district and the Ur River in Shivpuri district.
– The project will provide irrigation to 10.62 lakh hectares of land.
– Over 62 lakh people will receive drinking water.
– Work on the project was originally supposed to begin in 2015. However, it was delayed due to disagreements between the Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments over water sharing and cost distribution.
– Following the central government’s initiative, a trilateral agreement (MOU) was signed in March 2021 between the chief ministers of both states and the Union Minister of Jal Shakti.
– There are environmental concerns related to the project.
– Congress MP and former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh stated that the project would “destroy the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.”
Ken River:
– The length of the Ken River is 427 kilometers. It flows through the Panna National Park, passing through Panna and Chhatarpur districts before entering Banda district in Uttar Pradesh and joining the Yamuna River.
Betwa River:
– The length of the Betwa River is 590 kilometers. It flows through Vidisha, Sagar, and Lalitpur districts before entering the Jhansi, Jalaun, and Hamirpur districts in Uttar Pradesh. Finally, it joins the Yamuna River in Hamirpur.
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5. When is National Mathematics Day celebrated?
a. 23 December
b. 22 December
c. 21 December
d. 20 December
Answer: b. 22 December
– India celebrates National Mathematics Day every year on December 22.
– This day is celebrated in honor of the birth anniversary of the great mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
– The objective of this day is to raise awareness among people about the benefits of the development of mathematics.
– The Government of India announced this on January 26, 2012.
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6. How much amount of loan has been approved by the World Bank to promote the development of Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati?
a. $100 million
b. $300 million
c. $600 million
d. $800 million
Answer: d. $800 million
– The World Bank approved this loan on December 20, 2024.
– The purpose of this amount is to establish the capital city as a well-planned, climate-resilient development center in Andhra Pradesh.
– This will create employment and improve the lives of its current and future residents, especially the most vulnerable people.
– Tanvi Koume, the World Bank’s Country Director for India, stated that India’s urban population is expected to double to 950 million by 2050. Therefore, India’s goal is to create sustainable and livable cities as development centers, and Amaravati offers an exciting opportunity to build a model for this urban transformation.
Andhra Pradesh
– Capital: Amaravati
– Chief Minister: N. Chandrababu Naidu
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7. When is National Consumer Rights Day celebrated?
a. 23 December
b. 24 December
c. 25 December
d. 26 December
Answer: b. 24 December
– National Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 24.
– The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about consumer rights.
– On this day in 1986, the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, received the President’s assent.
– The aim of the Act is to prevent the exploitation of consumers.
– World Consumer Rights Day – March 15.
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8. Who has been appointed as the chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to consider the ‘One Country, One Election’ Bill?
a. Bhartrihari Mahtab
b. Om Birla
c. Bansuri Swaraj
d. Supriya Sule
Answer: a. Bhartrihari Mahtab
– In fact, on December 17, 2024, the ‘One Nation, One Election 129th Constitutional (Amendment) Bill’ was introduced in the Lok Sabha, and then it was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
– The purpose of this JPC is to determine whether elections for the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies can be held simultaneously.
– On December 19, 2024, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the formation of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill.
– The JPC formed for the necessary constitutional amendments has 39 members.
– This includes 27 members from the Lok Sabha and 12 members from the Rajya Sabha, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi.
– Bhartrihari Mahatab, a BJP MP from the Lok Sabha, has been appointed as the chairman of the JPC.
– The Joint Parliamentary Committee will present its report in the House on the first day of the last week of the next session.
– Since this is a constitutional amendment bill, a two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is required to pass it. Because of this, the government had to form the JPC.
What is a JPC?
– A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is an ad-hoc panel formed to investigate a specific bill or issue.
– Historically, JPCs have investigated important and controversial issues like the Bofors scandal, 2G spectrum allocation, and safety standards for soft drinks. In 2024, a similar 31-member committee was formed to review the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
How effective are JPCs?
– JPCs play an important role in legislative investigations, but they do not have enforcement powers.
– The government is not obligated to act on their recommendations, although it must report follow-up actions in Parliament.
– These reports can speed up discussions and make the government more accountable.
One Nation, One Election
– The committee, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which was formed to consider the idea of One Nation, One Election, submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu on March 14, 2024.
Suggestions of the Panel…
– The terms of all state assemblies should be extended until the next Lok Sabha elections in 2029.
– In the case of a hung assembly (where no party has a majority) or a no-confidence motion, elections can be held again for the remaining five-year term.
– In the first phase, Lok Sabha and state assembly elections can be held together, followed by local body elections within 100 days in the second phase.
– The Election Commission will prepare a single voter list and voter ID cards for Lok Sabha, state assembly, and local body elections in consultation with state election officials.
– The Kovind panel has recommended advance planning for equipment, manpower, and security forces to conduct elections simultaneously.
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9. When is Good Governance Day celebrated?
a. 23 December
b. 24 December
c. 25 December
d. 26 December
Answer: c. 25 December
– Good Governance Day is celebrated every year on December 25.
– This day marks the birthday of India’s former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
– The Government of India announced the celebration of this day starting from 2014.
– The purpose of this day is to raise awareness among people about the accountability of the government.
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10. Which country has been selected to host the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2025?
a. China
b. Japan
c. India
d. Australia
Answer: c. India
– India was confirmed as the host for the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 on December 20, 2024, through an official letter from the ISSF.
Previous ISSF Events Held in India
– In 2023, the senior ISSF World Cup was held in Bhopal.
– In 2024, the season-ending ISSF World Cup Final.
– In the past decade, India has hosted a total of eight top-level ISSF events.
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11. Which state/union territory of India will host the Para Athletics World Championships 2025?
a. Delhi
b. Mumbai
c. Bhubaneswar
d. jamshedpur
Answer: a. Delhi
– This competition will be held from September 26 to October 5, 2025, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
– India will host the Para Athletics World Championship for the first time.
– More than 1,000 athletes from over 100 countries will participate in the competition.
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