GK Snapsots on 25 Dcember 2021

5th National Siddha Day – 23rd December 2021

Siddha day is annually observed across India on 23rd December to create awareness about the Siddha system of medicine. The day is annually organised by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy(AYUSH) on the eve of the birthday of Siddhar Agathiyar, which falls during the Ayilyam star in the Tamil month of Margazhi.

• In 2021, the Siddha Day falls on 23rd December 2021.

• The year 2021 marks the celebration of the 5th Siddha Day.

The theme of the 5th Siddha Day is “Strength of Siddha in Communicable Diseases”, which sensitises the public on the importance of the Siddha system in tackling communicable diseases.

Bharatiya Grahak Diwas or National Consumer Day 2021 – December 24

Bharatiya Grahak Diwas or National Consumer Day is annually observed across India on 24th December to create awareness about consumer rights and responsibilities.

The day also commemorates the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which received assent from the President of India on 24th December 1986.

• The National Consumer Day is also known as National Consumer Rights Day.

The theme of National Consumer Day 2021 is “Consumer – Know your Rights”.

Harjinder Singh Appointed India’s ‘Chef de Mission’ for 2022 Winter Olympics

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed Harjinder Singh as the ‘Chef de Mission’ of the Indian contingent for the upcoming Winter Olympics 2022 that will be held from 4-20th February in Beijing, China.

• Harjinder Singh, currently serves as the General Secretary of Indian Ice Hockey Association.

i.Harjinder Singh was also the Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent at the 23dr Winter Games 2018 held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where India had two representatives -Jagdish Singh, and Shiva Keshavan.
Note – The first edition of the Winter Games was held in 1924 at Chamonix, France.
ii.Alpine skier Mohammad Arif Khan is the only Indian to have earned a quota so far for Beijing 2022, who will compete in the men’s slalom event.
 

DRDO Successfully Conducts Flight-Test of Indigenous Aerial Target ‘Abhyas’

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the flight test of indigenously developed High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) Abhyas, Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

• The performance of the system during the entire flight duration has been confirmed from the data captured by various Range instruments deployed.

Developed by – Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO laboratory along with other laboratories.

Indian Navy Decommissions INS Khukri after 32 Years of Service

INS Khukri (Pennant number 49), the first indigenously built Missile Corvette, was decommissioned after 32 years of service at Visakhapatnam

• The national flag, naval ensign, and the decommissioning pennant were lowered at sunset in the presence of Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command the Chief Guest for the ceremony and some serving and retired former commanding officers of the ship.

Background:
i.The warship was built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MSD) & Commissioned on 23rd August 1989 and had been part of both the Western and Eastern Fleets.

ii.The ship was commissioned in Mumbai by Shri Krishna Chandra Pant, the then Raksha Mantri and Mrs Sudha Mulla, wife of late Capt Mahendra Nath Mulla

• Commander (now Retired Vice Admiral) Sanjeev Bhasin was the first Commanding Officer.

Veteran Indian spinner ‘Harbhajan Singh’ announced Retirement from All Forms of Cricket

On 24 December 2021, the senior Indian off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh announced retirement from all forms of cricket.

• Major boost in his international career was when he snapped 32 wickets in three Tests, including a hat-trick, against Australia in March in 2001.

• Harbhajan was the 1st Indian Cricketer to take Hat-trick wickets in Test

i.Harbhajan Singh is a 41-year-old cricketer from Jalandhar, Punjab who took 417 wickets in 103 Tests and is the 4th highest wicket taker for India in Test cricket. ii.He made his debut to the national cricket team, during an ODI (One Day International) against New Zealand at Sharjah in 1998 and lastly represented India in 2016 during a T20 against the UAE at Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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