CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 24th DECEMBER 2022

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF  24^th DECEMBER 2022

1. National Consumer Rights Day or Bharatiya Grahak Diwas is observed on 24 December every year.  
2. Writer M. Rajendran from Tamil Nadu has received the Sahitya Akademi Award 2022 for his novel ‘Kala Pani’. The ‘Kala Pani’ novel is a historical novel based on the war of Kalayarkoil or Kalayarkool.
3. On 21 December 2022, Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik launched the 24-Hour Drink from Tap project in 19 cities and towns of Odisha, which would benefit over 5 lakh people. 
4. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Justice Hemant Gupta, retired Supreme Court Judge, as the Chairperson of the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) and Ganesh Chandru and Anant Vijay Palli as part-time members of NDIAC. 
5. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Headquarter in New Delhi has won the prestigious GRIHA Exemplary Performance Award 2022.
6. On 21 December 2022, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) formally retired its Mars InSight lander after more than 4 years of collecting unique science on Mars. The last time InSight communicated with Earth was on 15 December, 2022.
7. Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 22 December, 2022. 
8. Actor Katrina Kaif has been signed as a brand ambassador for Pepsico India’s packaged-water brand Aquafina. 
9. Shalini Kumari from India received first prize in the Grassroots Innovation Competition at the third ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation forum for her innovation ‘Modified walker with adjustable legs’ on 22 December, 2022. 
10. NTPC Ltd., the country’s largest power generating utility, and GE Power India Limited have signed an MoU to demonstrate technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of its existing coal fired power plants. 
11. The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States (US)-based Austin University for the construction of a smart city of knowledge. 
12. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that a National Youth festival is poised to be hosted at Hubballi-Dharwad twin cities, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 January. 
13. On 20 December 2022, the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) launched GIXI, the first ever, nationwide price index to reflect benchmark natural gas prices in India. 
14. Goa will host India's first World Table Tennis (WTT) series event from 27 February to 5 March, 2023. 
15. Indian women wrestler Antim Panghal has been nominated for United World Wrestling 2022 Rising Star of the Year award. 
16. On 21 December 2022, H.R. Keshavamurthy, a senior gamaka exponent and a Padma Shri awardee passed away in Hosahalli in Karnataka.