NATIONAL AFFAIRS
PM MODI ADDRESSED 6TH INDIA-JAPAN SAMVAD CONFERENCE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the sixth edition of the India-Japan SAMVAD conference 2020, via virtual conferencing.
The purpose of this Samvad Conference is to discuss the need to build the future of Asia on the positive influence of traditions of non-violence and democracy in Asia.
This library will collect digital copies of Buddhist literature from across different parts of the world. The library will then translate these works and make them available for all scholars and monks of Buddhism.
'JSA II: CATCH THE RAIN' AWARENESS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
“Jal Shakti Abhiyan II: Catch the Rain” Awareness Generation Campaign launched to promote rainwater harvesting.
The National Water Mission launched a publicity campaign "Jal Shakti Abhiyan II: Catch the Rain" to promote rainwater harvesting.
The National Water Mission launched the campaign in cooperation with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
NYKS will carry out this awareness-raising campaign through various IEC activities, including educational and motivational programs and mass awareness campaigns.
INDIA'S 1ST COE FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN GURUGRAM
The Minister of State for Skill Development, Raj Kumar Singh has inaugurated the first Centre of Excellence (CoE) for ‘skill development in the power sector’ in Gurugram.
The CoE has been established in the campus of National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurugram, Haryana.
This new centre has been set up by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education and Youth, Government of France and Schneider Electric.
PM MODI LAUNCHES SEHAT-HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch ‘SEHAT’ – Health Insurance Scheme for the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on 26th December.
This scheme will cover the remaining One crore population which was not covered under Ayushman Bharat Scheme. Under Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), eligible beneficiaries were covered under Health Cover of Rs 5 Lakh.
Under PMJAY scheme, 30 lakh people are being covered in J&K. With the launch of ‘SEHAT’ Scheme by the Prime Minister on December 26, J&K will be among the first in the country to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
UNION CABINET APPROVED 100% FDI IN DTH SERVICES
The Union Cabinet approved revised guidelines for Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasting services, allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as increasing the licence period to 20 years.
Under the revised guidelines the licenses will be issued for a period of 20 years, compared to 10 years at the moment, and will be renewed for a 10-year period.
The license fee has been revised from 10 per cent of gross revenue (GR) to 8 per cent of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), which will be calculated by deduction of GST from GR.
NITI AAYOG LAUNCHED STORAGE PLATFORM 'DIGIBOXX'
NITI Aayog has launched indigenously developed India’s first Digital Asset Management and Storage platform, called ‘DigiBoxx’.
The initiative will give a boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, as India now has its own cloud storage platform.
This cloud storage and file sharing service will be available for desktop, iOS, and Android users, including both regular users as well as businesses. Digiboxx offers free 20GB cloud storage space, and 100GB space per month at just Rs 30.
• Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant.
HARDEEP SINGH PURI LAUNCHED E-SAMPADA PORTAL
Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri has launched E-Sampada, a new web portal and mobile app on Good Governance Day.
The portal provides online facility to users across India to lodge complaints, submit documents and appear for the virtual hearing.
This is a significant step towards the promotion of e-governance to enhance transparency and accountability in providing various estate services like allotment, retention, regularisation and no dues certificate.
PM NARENDRA MODI FLAGS OFF '100TH KISAN RAIL'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the 100th ‘Kisan Rail’ on 28th December 2020. The 100th run of the Kisan Rail was flagged off from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal virtually.
The first Kisan Rail was introduced from Devlali in Maharashtra to Danapur in Bihar on August 7, 2020, which was further extended up to Muzaffarpur.
Currently, of only a handful of trains plying across the India connecting states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Nagpur, there are nine Kisan Rail running on nine routes.
PM MODI FLAGGED OFF INDIA'S FIRST DRIVERLESS TRAIN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the country’s first-ever fully-automated driverless train service on the Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro.
Apart from this, PM also launched fully operational National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) on the Airport Express Line of Delhi Metro, to connect DMRC with the NCMC service.
About National Common Mobility Card: NCMC, also known as ‘One Nation One Card’, is an inter-operable transport card that allows the holders all in one service to pay for their travel, toll taxes, parking charges, retail shopping and even withdraw money.
HARSH VARDHAN LAUNCHES INDIA'S 1ST PNEUMONIA VACCINE
The Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched India’s first indigenously developed vaccine against pneumonia.
The Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) named ‘Pneumosil’ has been developed by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and PATH, an international, nonprofit global health organization based in Seattle.
The vaccine will provide protection against 10 variants of pneumococcus bacteria that causes pneumonia, meningitis, ear, and blood infections in children.
• Serum Institute of India CEO: Adar Poonawalla.
• Serum Institute of India Headquarters location: Pune.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE'S 'HAWKER CULTURE' GETS UNESCO RECOGNITION
The Hawker Culture of street food in Singapore has been inducted by UNESCO in its prestigious ‘Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’.
The Hawker Culture is a popular Singaporean style of street dining and culinary practices in a multicultural urban environment. Hawker centres are naturally-ventilated premises with stalls selling food from various cultures like Chinese, Malay, Indian, among others.
The Hawkers of Singapore are known to master a variety of cuisines which they serve at the ‘community dining rooms’ where people from across all walk of life gather and share their unique experiences.
20TH IORA COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING HELD IN UAE
The 20th edition of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers (COM) Meeting via video conferencing under the Chairmanship of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The theme of the meeting was “Promoting a Shared Destiny and Path to Prosperity in the Indian Ocean”.
The Indian delegation was led by V. Muraleedharan, MoS, Ministry of External Affairs. Sri Lanka has assumed the charge of Vice-Chair of IORA for the period 2021-23.
• Secretary-General of Indian Ocean Rim Association: Nomvuyo Nokwe.
• Indian Ocean Rim Association Founded: 7 March 1997.
• Indian Ocean Rim Association Headquarters: Ebene, Mauritius.
USA PLANS TO SET UP FIRST NUCLEAR REACTOR ON MOON
USA’s plan to set up the first nuclear reactor on the moon by the end of 2026. In early 2021, the US Department of Energy in collaboration with NASA intends to solicit industry design proposals. It also got an impetus with a recent White House directive.
The outgoing President Donald Trump issued the “National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion” on 16 December.
The objective of NASA behind this was to establish a flight hardware system that is ready for integrating with the lunar lander by 2026 end. The nuclear reactor is known as the fission power system that will benefit future robotic and human expedition missions to the moon as well as Mars.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
RBI IMPOSED FINE UPON URBAN COOPERATIVE BANK
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 50.00 lakh on The Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd in Kerala.
This fine is imposed for non-compliance with directions issued on Income Recognition and Asset Classification (IRAC) norms and on Management of Advances-UCBs.
• RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikanta Das
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
ICICI BANK LAUNCHED ONLINE PLATFORM 'INFINITE INDIA'
ICICI Bank has launched an online platform ‘Infinite India’ to support foreign companies to establish or expand business in India.
The one-stop portal will offer banking solutions as well as value-added services such as the incorporation of a business entity, corporate filings, licences and registrations, HR services, compliances and taxation among others.
The initiative is part of our strategy to further strengthen our technology-enabled offerings aimed to partner with foreign companies coming to India.
• ICICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• ICICI Bank MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi.
APPOINTMENTS
HARSH VARDHAN NOMINATED TO THE BOARD OF 'GAVI'
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has been nominated as the board member of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).
The seat is currently held by Myint Htwe of Myanmar. Dr Vardhan will represent the South East Area Regional Office (SEARO)/ Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) constituency on the GAVI Board.
The vaccine alliance GAVI is an international organisation that provides a forum for balanced strategic decision-making, innovation and partner collaboration.
• GAVI Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland.
• GAVI Founded: January 2000.
VINEET AGARWAL TAKE OVER AS NEW ASSOCHAM PRESIDENT
Managing Director of logistics major Transport Corporation of India Limited, Vineet Agarwal has taken over as the new President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).
He replaces Niranjan Hiranandani, Co-Founder and MD, Hiranandani Group of Companies. Sumant Sinha, Chairman and Managing Director of ReNew Power, is the new Senior Vice-President of Assocham.
The organisation represents the interests of trade and commerce in India, and acts as an interface between issues and initiatives.
• Assocham Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Assocham Founded: 1920.
AWARDS & HONOURS
ASSOCHAM ENTERPRISE OF THE CENTURY AWARDS 2020
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the ‘ASSOCHAM Foundation Week 2020’ via video conferencing. The week-long Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) Foundation Week was organised from 15 to 19 December 2020.
The theme of the programme was ‘India’s resilience: Atmanirbhar roadmap towards $5 trillion economies.’
As a part of the celebration, PM Modi also presented the ‘ASSOCHAM Enterprise of the Century Award’ to Shri Ratan Tata, on behalf of the TATA Group, for his distinguished contributions to the country.
NTPC AWARDED WITH PRESTIGIOUS SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Country’s largest power producer, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has been conferred “Excellence” in the prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Awards 2020 in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Domain.
NTPC has been honoured in the Corporate Excellence Category, Commendation for Significant Achievement.
NTPC wins the prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Awards in Corporate Excellence category second time in a row i.e. in the year 2019 and 2020.
• NTPC MD & CEO: Gurdeep Singh.
• NTPC Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
DRDO'S SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 2020
Senior scientist Hemant Kumar Pandey has been honoured with DRDO’s”Scientist of the Year Award” for his contribution in developing several herbal medicines, including the popular drug Lukoskin meant for the treatment of leucoderma.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had recently facilitated the scientist at an event here with the prestigious award that comprises a certificate and cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.
The scientist has developed six herbal drugs so far, Lukoskin used for treating leucoderma or Vitiligo, a condition in which white patches get developed on the skin, has been most widely appreciated and found huge acceptance in the market.
Apart from Lukoskin, Pandey has developed drugs for the treatment of eczema and toothache as well as an anti-radiation cream, most of which are already being sold in the market following the transfer of technology (ToT).
SPORTS
4 INDIGENOUS GAMES INCLUDED IN KHELO INDIA YOUTH GAMES
The Sports Ministry has approved the inclusion of four indigenous Games to be a part of Khelo India Youth Games 2021, which is scheduled to be held in Haryana.
The four new games are, Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba.
Place of origin of the newly inducted games
• Kalaripayattu has its origin from Kerala.
• Mallakhamba is practised in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Gatka originates from Punjab. It is a traditional fighting style of the Nihang Sikh Warriors, used both as self-defence as well as a sport.
• Thang-Ta is a Manipur martial art.
LEWIS HAMILTON: SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton has won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020. This is the second time that the 35-year-old Hamilton has been crowned Sports Personality of the Year. Prior to this, he won the award in 2014.
Other award winners at Sports Personality 2020
• Helen Rollason Award: Captain Sir Tom Moore
• Coach of the Year: Jurgen Klopp (Football)
• Team of the Year: Liverpool FC
• Young Sports Personality of the Year: Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (British diver)
FIFA CANCELS NEXT YEAR MEN'S WORLD CUP
FIFA has cancelled men’s U-20 and U-17 World Cup tournaments in 2021 for the novel coronavirus.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to cancel the 2021 editions of the men’s FIFA U-20 World Cup and FIFA U-17 World Cup, and to appoint Indonesia and Peru respectively, who were due to host the tournaments in 2021, as the hosts of the 2023 editions.
So Peru will host the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2023. In the same year, the FIFA U-20 World Cup will be held by Indonesia.
MS DHONI WINS ICC SPIRIT OF CRICKET AWARD OF THE DECADE
M S Dhoni won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade for his gesture of calling back England batsman Ian Bell after a bizarre run out in the Nottingham Test in 2011.
The incident won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award in 2011.
In 2011, during his tour of England, in the second Test, Bell was run out after scoring 137 runs as he had left the crease before the ball was dead at the cusp of tea.
VIRAT KOHLI WON AWARDS AT ICC AWARDS OF THE DECADE
Indian Captain Virat Kohli won two prestigious awards at the ICC Awards of the Decade. The two awards are Sir Garfield Sobers award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade & ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Decade.
Virat Kohli Numbers:
• In Tests: 86 matches, 7240 runs, 53.62 average, 27 100s
• In ODIs: 208 matches, 10388 runs, 61.83 average, 39 100s
• In T20Is: 80 matches, 2768 runs, 50.32 average, 24 50s
IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES
GOOD GOVERNANCE DAY: 25TH DECEMBER
In India, Good Governance Day (Sushasan Divas) is observed annually on 25th December. In this day nation celebrates the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna and former-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Good Governance Day was established in 2014 to honour Prime Minister Vajpayee by fostering awareness among the Indian people of accountability in government.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India for three times. His first term was for only 13 days in 1996.
GOA LIBERATION DAY 2020: 19TH DECEMBER
Goa Liberation Day is observed on 19 December every year in India and it marks the day Indian armed forces freed Goa in 1961 following 450 years of Portuguese rule.
The Portuguese colonised several parts of India in 1510 but by the end of the 19th-century Portuguese colonies in India were limited to Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Anjediva Island.
The 36-hour military operation, conducted from December 18, 1961, was code-named ‘Operation Vijay’ meaning ‘Operation Victory,’ and involved attacks by the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Army.
• Governor of Goa: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
• Chief Minister of Goa: Pramod Sawant.
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN SOLIDARITY DAY: 20TH DECEMBER
International Human Solidarity Day is observed globally on 20 December every year to celebrate unity in diversity and raise awareness about the importance of solidarity.
According to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, solidarity is among the fundamental values that are essential to international relations.
Solidarity is defined as an awareness of shared interests and objectives that create a psychological sense of unity and ties in a society that bind people together as one.
KISAN DIWAS OR NATIONAL FARMER'S DAY: 23RD DECEMBER
Kisan Diwas (Divas) or National Farmer’s Day or Kisan Samman Divas is observed in India on 23 December.
The day is observed to mark the birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of the Indian Republic.
The aim is to promote awareness among the citizens to understand the importance of the contributions of the farmers to the society.
Charan Singh served as the Prime Minister of India from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980. Chaudhary Charan Singh has done various deeds to enhance the scenario of Indian agriculture.
NATIONAL MATHEMATICS DAY 2020: 22ND DECEMBER
India observes the National Mathematics Day every year on 22 December since 2012. The day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
This year nation celebrates his 133rd birth anniversary of Ramanujan.
The main objective behind the celebration of National Mathematics Day is to make people aware of the development of mathematics and its importance in the growth of humanity.
NATIONAL CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY: DECEMBER 24TH
National Consumer Rights Day is observed every year on December 24. On this day in 1986, the Consumer Protection Act 1986 received the Presidential assent and thus came into force.
The Act aims to provide consumers with effective safeguards against different types of exploitation, such as defective goods, deficiency in services and unfair trade practices.
‘Jago Grahak Jago’, which means ‘Be aware consumer’, is a consumer awareness program launched by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
REPORTS AND INDEXES
WHO RELEASED 2019 GLOBAL HEALTH ESTIMATES
World Health Organization (WHO) released the 2019 Global Health Estimates. According to the report, non-communicable diseases currently account for 7 of the top 10 causes of death in the world, an increase from 4 of the 10 leading causes of death in 2000.
The new data covers the period from 2000 to 2019.
Heart disease:
• In the past 20 years, it has been the leading cause of death worldwide;
• It now accounts for 16% of total deaths from all causes;
• The number of deaths from heart disease increased by more than two million since 2000 to nearly 9 million in 2019.
Diabetes and dementia are also among the top 10 causes of death in the world. HIV/AIDS dropped from the 8th leading cause of death in 2000 to the 19th in 2019.
Tuberculosis is no longer in the top 20 in the world. It has dropped from 7th place in 2000 to 13th in 2019, and the number of deaths worldwide has decreased by 30%.
In 2019, people will live more than 6 years longer than in 2000. In 2019, the global average life expectancy was more than 73 years, compared with 67 years in 2000.
There has been a global decline in deaths from communicable diseases, which, however, still remain a major challenge in low- and middle-income countries.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SKYROOT AEROSPACE TEST-FIRED SOLID FUEl ROCKET ENGINE
Indian Space startup, Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test-fired a solid propulsion rocket engine, named Kalam-5.
With this, it has become the first private company of India to successfully design, develop and test a full solid-fueled rocket stage.
Kalam is a series of five solid-fueled rocket engines with a thrust ranging from 5kN to 1000kN (approx 100Tons). The remaining four motors are in various stages of manufacturing and will be tested in 2021.
INCOIS LAUNCHED 'DIGITAL OCEAN' FOR DATA SHARING
The Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan virtually inaugurated the web-based application “Digital Ocean”.
It has been developed by Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) an autonomous organization under M/o Earth sciences.
Digital Ocean is a step towards Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India, to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Digital Ocean will serve as a one-stop-solution for all the data related to the ocean.
• Director of INCOIS: T. Srinivasa Kumar.
• Headquarters of INCOIS: Pragathi Nagar, Hyderabad.
UNION CABINET APPROVED EXPORT OF AKASH MISSILE SYSTEM
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to export indigenously-developed Akash Missile System.
The Cabinet has also approved to set up of a committee for faster approvals of exports. The export version of Akash will be different from System currently deployed with Indian Armed Forces.
Akash is a short-range Surface to Air Missile with a range of 25 Kms to protect vulnerable areas and vulnerable points from air attacks.
It was inducted in IAF in 2014 and in the Indian Army in 2015.
