NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Union Minister S Jaishankar addressed 5th Indian Ocean Conference: Union Minister of
External Affairs (EAM) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has visited Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the 5th Indian Ocean Conference on December 4-5,
2021. The theme of the conference was ‘Indian Ocean: Ecology, Economy,
Epidemic’. The Conference is chaired by Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa
& Vice Chairs are S.Jaishankar, Vivian Balakrishnan, Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad
Bin Hamoud Al Busaidi.
Some important points discussed in
the conference:
(1) The conference is being organised by
India Foundation in collaboration with the RSIS Singapore, Institute of
National Security Studies (INSS), Sri Lanka, and the Emirates Centre for
Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), UAE.
(2) This year the conference is dealing
with the challenges faced by the Indian ocean, due to the effects of the
pandemic, economic decline and climate change.
(3) Addressing the event, Dr S Jaishankar
highlighted China’s growing power in the region.
(4) The External Affairs Minister also met
his counterparts from the UAE and Oman and discussed bilateral cooperation with
them before the start of the international conference.
2.
‘She is a Changemaker’ programme launched by National Commission for Women: National Commission
for Women (NCW) has launched a pan-India capacity building programme, ‘She is a
Changemaker’ for women representatives at all levels, gram panchayats to
parliament members and political workers including office bearers of
National/State political parties. The programme was launched by Ms Rekha
Sharma, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women. To improve leadership
skills of grassroots women political leaders.
About the programme: The official
launch of training programmes under the ‘She is a Changemaker’ series was held
in collaboration with Rhambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Thane, Maharashtra. The
three-day capacity building programme for ‘Women in Municipal Corporation’ will
be organised from 7thto 9th December. The capacity building programme will be
undertaken in association with region-wise training institutes with an
objective to undertake capacity building of women political leaders and improve
their decision making and communication skills including, oration, writing,
etc.
Note: National Commission for Women Formed:
1992; National Commission for Women Headquarters: New Delhi.
3.
Kazhuveli Wetland declared as 16th Bird Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu: The Kazhuveli
wetland situated in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu has been declared as the
16th Bird Sanctuary by Surpiya Sahu, Environment and Forest Secretary, at the
Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change. The declaration was made
under subsection (1) of section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The
Kazhuveli wetlands is referred to as the 2nd largest Brackish Water Lake in
South India, only after Pulicat lake. About Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary:
(1) It covers 5,151.60 hectares of land in
Vanur taluk and 3,027.25 hectares in Marakkanam taluks.
(2) The sanctuary lies adjacent to the Bay
of Bengal along the East coast of Tamil Nadu.
(3) Kazhuveli is a wetland of international
importance that is spread over 670 square km in the east coast of Tamil Nadu.
(4) Note- Southern part of the wetland was
declared reserved land in the year 2001.
(5) The Sanctuary covers 13 villages in the
Villupuram district.
(6) The place is home to a diverse species
of flora and fauna, giving accommodation to long-distance migrant birds from
Central Asia and Siberia.
Note: Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai; Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister: MK Stalin; Tamil Nadu Governor: R.N.Ravi; Tamil Nadu State
Dance: Bharathanatyam.
4.
FICCI appoints Sanjiv Mehta as its President: The Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) announced that Sanjiv Mehta,
the Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), will be
appointed as its President. Mehta, presently the Senior Vice President of
FICCI, will be succeeding media industry veteran Uday Shankar. Mehta is also
the President of Unilever South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
& Nepal), and is a member of the ‘Unilever Leadership Executive’ which is
Unilever’s Global Executive Board.
Note: FICCI Founded: 1927; FICCI
Headquarters: New Delhi; FICCI President: Harshavardhan Neotia; FICCI Secretary
General: Arun Chawla.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. US
announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics: The Biden
administration has announced that US officials will not attend the 2022 Winter
Olympics in Beijing after China pledged unspecified “countermeasures” against
any such diplomatic boycott. The US cited that “China’s human rights
ATROCITIES” is the main reason for its boycott. The US has named the boycott as
“Diplomatic Boycott”. It means that the US is not sending any official or
diplomatic representation to participate in the Olympics. However, the US is
allowing American athletes to participate in the Olympics. The US is boycotting
for the following human rights atrocities of China: Situations in Taiwan and
Tibet, The crackdown in Hong Kong and Abuse of minority Muslim Uyghurs in
Xinjiang.
2.
International Day of Neutrality: 12th December: International Day
of Neutrality is a United Nations recognized day held on December 12 each year
to raise public awareness of the value of neutrality in international
relations. It was officially declared by a UN General Assembly resolution
adopted in February 2017 and first observed on December 12, 2017.
About Neutrality: Neutrality defined
as the legal status arising from the abstention of a state from all
participation in a war between other states, the maintenance of an attitude of
impartiality toward the belligerents, and the recognition by the belligerents
of this abstention and impartiality is critically important for the United
Nations to gain and maintain the confidence and cooperation of all in order to
operate independently and effectively, especially in situations that are
politically charged.
History of the Day: On 2 February
2017, the UN General Assembly adopted without a vote resolution 71/275 —
introduced by Turkmenistan, recognized by the UN as a permanently neutral state
since 12 December 1995, which noted the link between the preservation of peace
and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and declared 12 December as
the International Day of Neutrality.
3.
International Universal Health Coverage Day: 12th December: International
Universal Health Coverage Day is a United Nations’ recognized international day
celebrated every year on December 12. International Universal Health Coverage
Day aims to raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems
and universal health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners. Each year on 12
December, UHC advocates raise their voices to share the stories of the millions
of people still waiting for health, champion what we have achieved so far, call
on leaders to make bigger and smarter investments in health, and encourage
diverse groups to make commitments to help move the world closer to UHC by
2030. This year theme of International Universal Health Coverage Day is “Leave
No One’s Health Behind: Invest in health systems for all.”
History of the day: On 12 December
2012, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution urging
countries to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) – the
idea that everyone, everywhere should have access to quality, affordable health
care – as an essential priority for international development. On 12 December
2017, the United Nations proclaimed 12 December as International Universal
Health Coverage Day.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Russia defeated Croatia to win Davis Cup tennis tournament 2021: The Davis Cup 2021
was won by the Russian Tennis Federation by a 2-0 lead over Croatia in the
Davis Cup final in Madrid. Medvedev defeated Marin Cilic in the second singles
match to give Russia an insurmountable 2-0 lead over Croatia and its first
Davis Cup title since 2006. Croatia also was seeking its third title after
triumphs in 2005 and 2018. Andrey Rublev was named the Most Valuable Player.
The Russian team is officially being called RTF (Russian Tennis Federation) in
the competition amid its ongoing doping suspension in international sport.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
RBI Monetary Policy: Repo rate unchanged for the 9th consecutive time: The Reserve Bank of
India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das kept the repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent for
the ninth consecutive time while maintaining an ‘accommodative stance’ as long
as necessary. The reverse repo rate will continue to be 3.35 per cent. The
central bank had last revised the policy rate on May 22, 2020, in an off-policy
cycle to perk up demand by cutting the interest rate to a historic low. The meeting was held between December (6 to
8). The remaining will take place in February (7 to 9, 2022).
The Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)
rate and bank rates remain unchanged:
Policy Repo Rate: 4.00%
Reverse Repo Rate: 3.35%
Marginal Standing Facility Rate: 4.25%
Bank Rate: 4.25%
CRR: 4%
SLR: 18.00%
RBI Monetary Policy Highlights &
Key Decisions:
(1) The projection for real GDP growth is
retained at 9.5% in 2021-22, consisting of 6.6% in Q3, & 6% in Q4. Real GDP
growth is projected at 17.2% for Q1 of 2022-23 and at 7.8% for Q2 of 2022-23.
(2) The inflation projection was retained
for FY22 at 5.3%, 5.1% for Q3, 5.7% for Q4, and 5% for Q1 FY23.
The composition of the Monetary
Policy Committee is as follows:
(1) Governor of the Reserve Bank of India –
Chairperson, ex officio: Shri Shaktikanta Das.
(2) Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of
India, in charge of Monetary Policy– Member, ex officio: Dr Michael Debabrata
Patra.
(3) One officer of the Reserve Bank of
India to be nominated by the Central Board – Member, ex officio: Dr Mridul K.
Saggar.
(4) A professor at the Mumbai-based Indira
Gandhi Institute of Developmental Research: Prof. Ashima Goyal.
(5) A professor of finance at the Indian
Institute of Management in Ahmedabad: Prof. Jayanth R Varma.
(6) An agricultural economist and a senior
adviser with the National Council of Applied Economic Research in New Delhi: Dr
Shashanka Bhide.
DEFENCE
1.
Pune to host joint military exercise PANEX-21 with BIMSTEC countries: PANEX-21 is a
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise. It is to be held for the
BIMSTEC countries. The exercise is to be held among the BIMSTEC countries:
Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. The main aim
of the exercise is to build regional cooperation in responding to natural disasters.
It is to be conducted in Pune from December 20 to December 22. About the
exercise:
(1) The participants of the exercise will
be divided into eight syndicates. One syndicate from the participating
countries and two from India.
(2) It will analyse the capabilities of
member states in responding to the natural disasters. The countries will share
their best practices.
(3) The exercise will review the procedures
of preparedness and response. It will then recommend the evolution of organised
structure.
(4) During the exercise, the countries will
discuss military–to–military cooperation protocol.
2.
India-Maldives joint military Exercise EKUVERIN in Maldives: The 11th edition of
Exercise EKUVERIN-21 between India and Maldives, held at Kadhdhoo Island, Maldives.
Ekuverin means “Friends” in the Dhivehi language. It is an Indo – Aryan
language. It is spoken in India, Lakshadweep and Maldives. The exercise
enhances synergy and inter-operability between the Armed Forces of both nations
in terms of understanding transnational terrorism both on land and at sea,
conducting Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency Operations and sharing best
military practices and experiences.
Besides rigorous training, the joint
military exercise will also include cultural and sports activities to enhance
defence cooperation and bilateral relations. The exercise will go a long way in
strengthening India’s relations with the Maldives amidst emerging security
dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region. The Exercise is being conducted between
India and Maldives since 2008. In 2019, the exercise was held in Pune,
Maharashtra and in 2018, it was held in the Maldives.
OBITUARIES
1. World’s Oldest Test Cricketer, Eileen Ash passes away: World’s oldest Test Cricketer, former English legend, Eileen Ash passed away at the age of 110. The right-arm seamer made her debut to the national side in 1937 against Australia and in a career spanning till 1949, she took 10 wickets in the seven matches she played. Her career was interrupted by the Second World War – she was seconded to MI6, the UK’s intelligence service – and retired from the sport in 1949. Eileen Ash was given the honour of ringing the bell at Lord’s in the Finals of the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup where the host, England have crowned the champions after beating India in a thrilling Finals.
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