Current Affairs 21st December 2016

Current Affairs 21st December 2016 - Important Points

• Name the long range nuclear-capable subsonic cruise missile which has been successfully tested – Nirbhay
• Researchers develop first - Chikungunya Vaccine
• Which country ranks 4th in 2016 Global Wind Power Installed Capacity Index – India
• Merriam-Webster names which word as the word of the year – Surreal

Current Affairs 21st December 2016 - Details

Name the long range nuclear-capable subsonic cruise missile which has been successfully tested – Nirbhay

Among Important National Current Affairs, the long range nuclear-capable subsonic cruise missile named Nirbhay was successfully test fired from the launch complex 3 of the Integrated Missile Test Range in Balasore, Odisha. 

However, this test was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 

Here, after blasting off from launch pad the Nirbhay missile took a unique trajectory in its entire path to the target. 

Also it was third launch of Nirbhay. The maiden launch was conducted in March 2013 and second test was conducted in October 2014.

Researchers develop first - Chikungunya Vaccine

Among Important International Current Affairs, researchers from the United States have developed the first vaccine for Chikungunya fever, which is made from an insect-specific Eilat virus. 

However, the newly-developed vaccine does not have any effect on people, which makes it safe and effective for humans. Its clinical trials on mice and non-human primates show that it quickly produces a strong immune defence and completely protects them from disease when exposed to the chikungunya virus. 

Which country ranks 4th in 2016 Global Wind Power Installed Capacity Index – India

Among Important National Current Affairs, India ranked 4th in the Global Wind Power Installed Capacity index with cumulative installed wind power generation capacity of 25,088 MW in the year 2015. 

However, the index was released was released as part Global Wind Report: Annual Market, flagship publication of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

Merriam-Webster names which word as the word of the year – Surreal

On 19th December 2016, Merriam Webster named surreal word of the year for 2016. 

According to Merriam-Webster, the word surreal saw major spikes following Brussels terror attacks in March 2016, the coup attempt in Turkey and the terrorist attack in Nice. 

Well, the largest spike in lookups for surreal was noticed after the U.S. Election in the month of November, 2016.