Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 December 2021

Topic: Sports

1. Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the seventh time in his career.

• Lionel Messi of Argentina won the men's Ballon d'Or for the record seventh time, while Alexia Putellas of Barcelona won the women's Ballon d'Or.
• Messi, 34, led Argentina to the Copa America title in July after losing four major international finals. Putellas, a 27-year-old midfielder received the trophy for the first time.
• She scored in the Champions League final against Chelsea and won the UEFA Women's Player of the Year award in August.
• Ada Hegerberg of Norway won the women's prize in 2018 and Megan Rapinoe of the United States won it in 2019.
• The 2020 awards were cancelled as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the season.
• Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich has won "Striker of the Year," while Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy has won "Best Goalkeeper."
• Pedri of Barcelona has won the Kopa Trophy for best young player. Chelsea has received the title for best club award.
• Since 1956, when Stanley Matthews won the Ballon d'Or, the award has been given to men every year by France Football magazine.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Personality in News

2. Stephen Sondheim, a veteran Broadway composer, died in Roxbury at the age of 91.

• Stephen Sondheim, a veteran songwriter who redefined American musical theatre, has died. He was 91 years old when he died.
• The farcical 1962 comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," for which Mr. Sondheim composed both the words and the music, had won a Tony Award for best musical.
• He also received a Tony Award for lifetime achievement in 2008.
• He also won a Pulitzer Prize for "Sunday in the Park" and an Academy Award for the song "Sooner or Later."
• Mr. Sondheim won the Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime accomplishment in 1993, and President Barack Obama gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

Topic: Important Days

3. National Pollution Control Day: 02 December

• National Pollution Control Day or National Pollution Prevention Day is observed every year on 2nd December in India in memory of the people who lost their lives in Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
• On the night of 2–3 December in the year 1984, Bhopal gas tragedy occurred and many people died due to poisonous gas Methyl Isocyanate (MIC).
• The objective of National Pollution Prevention Day is to increase awareness on managing and controlling industrial disasters.
• National Pollution Prevention Day also aims to prevent the pollution produced by industrial processes or human negligence.
• It also aims to spread awareness among people and industries about importance of pollution control acts.

Topic: Art and Culture

4. Ancient sculpture recovered in Khag area of central Kashmir's Budgam district.

• Ancient sculpture has been recovered by J&K Police in Khag area of central Kashmir's Budgam district.
• On the examination of recovered sculpture, it has been revealed that it is of Goddess Durga and it dates back roughly to 7th century AD (about 1300 years old).
• The sculpture is carved in a black stone with Goddess Durga seated on lion throne.
• It is having the influence of Gandhara School of Art. Khag is renowned for its hot springs.
• Gandhara School of Art is also known as Indo-Greek art. It was patronized by Kushana rulers.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

5. India becomes a member of G20 ‘Trioka’.

• India has become a member of G20 ‘Trioka’, the top grouping within G20 that includes current, previous and incoming presidencies. 
• Apart from India, Trioka includes Indonesia and Italy. India will assume the G20 Presidency in December 2022 from Indonesia.
• India will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit for the first time in the country in 2023.
• As a Trioka member, India will work closely with Indonesia and Italy to ensure continuity of the G20’s agenda.
• Indonesia has taken over the G20 Presidency on 01 December 2021.
• Under the overall theme of Recover Together Recover Stronger, Indonesia will host various G20 meetings throughout the year culminating with G20 Leaders’ Summit in October next year.

Topic: Books and Authors

6. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu releases English and Hindi versions of book titled “Democracy, Politics and Governance”.

• Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has released English and Hindi versions of books titled “Democracy, Politics and Governance”.
• The book is authored by Dr. A. Surya Prakash, Vice Chairman, Executive Council of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library.
• Dr. A. Surya Prakash is a leading commentator on parliamentary and constitutional issues and a veteran journalist.
• The book is titled as ‘Democracy, Politics and Governance’ in English and ‘Loktantr, Rajniti and Dharm’ in Hindi. 
• What Ails Indian Parliament is another book by Dr. A. Surya Prakash.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that PMGDISHA is bridging the digital gap in the country.

• Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Digital literacy programme PMGDISHA is bridging the digital gap in the country.  
• 5.36 crore candidates have been enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharata Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA) scheme. 
• Out of the enrolled candidates 4.54 crore candidates have been trained and 3.37 crore candidates have been certified.
• The Minister also said that after an impact assessment scheme Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) recommended continuation of PMGDISHA scheme.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Appointments

8. Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Mago takes charge as 34th Commandant of National Defence College (NDC).

• Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Mago took charge as the 34th Commandant of National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi.
• He took charge from Air Marshal D Choudhury who superannuated on November 30, 2021.
• Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Mago is an alumnus of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
• He commanded one of the largest and challenging Infantry Brigade and a versatile Infantry Division, all on the active line of control in Jammu and Kashmir.
• He has been awarded Yudh Seva Medal and Sena Medal (Twice) for his distinguished services.
• Prior to taking over as the Commandant of NDC, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Mago was commanding the prestigious 10 Corps.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Personality in News

9. Veteran choreographer Shiva Shankar passed away.

• Shiva Shankar, a veteran choreographer, died due to complications of coronavirus.
• In 2008, Shiv Shankar had won a National Award for choreography for the song Dheera Dheera Dheera from Magadheera.
• Shiv Shankar has dabbled with choreography as well as acting.
• He has had memorable parts in films like as director Bala's Paradesi, actor Ajith's Varalaru, and Vijay's Sarkar, among others.

Topic: International News

10. Caribbean island of Barbados broke link with Queen to become the newest republic.

• Barbados, a Caribbean island, has become the world's newest republic, removing the Queen as its head of state.
• Dame Sandra Mason, the island's governor-general since 2018, has been named as the nation's president-elect.
• Dame Sandra Mason was sworn in as president during the ceremony in the capital, Bridgetown.
• Barbados' new age brings an end to Britain's decades of dominance, which included more than 200 years as a hub for the transatlantic slave trade.
• Barbados abolished slavery in 1834, and the island became fully independent in 1966.
• Since 2018, Mia Mottley has been serving as Prime Minister of Barbados.
• The Prince of Wales and Barbadian singer Rihanna took part in the event, which coincided with the 55th anniversary of the country's independence.
• Mia Motley has announced that President Mason will nominate pop star Rihanna as a national hero.

Topic: State News/ Himachal Pradesh

11. Police Department of Himachal Pradesh has organized a 'President's Colour Award’ ceremony.

• On December 1, Himachal Pradesh Police has conducted the 'President's Colour Award' ceremony at Shimla's historic Ridge Ground.
• The Governor bestowed the 'President's Color Award' to the State Police on this occasion. Director-General of Police Sanjay Kundu received the award on the behalf of state police.
• The Chief Guest was Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, while Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also there as a special guest.
• Himachal Pradesh Police is India's eighth state police force to receive this honour.
• 'President Colour' is a special achievement, demonstrating that the state police ranks highly in the service of humanity, as well as performance, professionalism, integrity, human rights protection, and other factors.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Defence

12. Bangladesh and the United States began a bilateral exercise, CARAT.

• Bangladesh Navy (BN) and US military personnel began the 27th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) maritime exercise virtually from 1 December in the Bay of Bengal.
• The nine-day exercise focuses on a wide range of naval capabilities and includes cooperative actions that demonstrate the US and Bangladesh's capacity to work together to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.
• The aim of CARAT is to promote regional cooperation and build relationships, according to Bangladesh Navy Fleet Commander Rear Admiral S M Abdul Kalam Azad.
• Since 2011, the Bangladesh Navy has been participating in the CARAT exercise, which is celebrating its 27th anniversary this year.