NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
India assumed the chairmanship of Council of RATS SCO: India assumed the
Chairmanship of Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (RATS SCO) for 1 year from October 28, 2021. The
National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Government of India, in
association with Data Security Council of India (DSCI), as a Knowledge Partner,
organized a 2-day Practical Seminar on ‘Securing Cyberspace in the Contemporary
Threat Environment’ for delegates from SCO member States. The seminar is the
1st event to be hosted by India during its Chairmanship of Council of RATS SCO.
This Seminar addressed key areas like Policies and Strategies, Cyber Terrorism,
Ransomware, and Digital Forensics amongst others. The representatives from the
Executive Committee (EC) of RATS SCO and all SCO member countries attended this
Seminar.
Note: SCO Headquarters: Beijing, China; SCO
Founded: 15 June 2001; SCO Secretary-General: Vladimir Norov.
2.
NITI Aayog to establish 1,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in J&K: The NITI Aayog has
planned to establish 1000 Atal Tinkering Laboratories in Jammu and Kashmir. Out
of 1000 Atal Tinkering Laboratories, 187 will be established by the end of the
financial year 2021-22. Out of 187 ATLs, 31 are being established across
government schools of J&k while 50 will be established in several
educational institutions like KVs, JNVs, and Private schools.
About the Atal Tinkering Labs: Atal Tinkering
Labs (ATL) is a sub-mission under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of the
Central Government in India. It is the flagship initiative of AIM, that seeks
to nurture an innovative mindset amongst high school students across India.
Note: NITI Aayog Formed: 1 January 2015;
NITI Aayog Headquarters: New Delhi; NITI Aayog Chairperson: Narendra Modi; NITI
Aayog Vice Chairperson: Rajiv Kumar; NITI Aayog CEO: Amitabh Kant.
3.
Fortune India’s Most Powerful Women 2021 announced: Fortune India
released the list of most powerful women in India 2021 in which Union Minister,
Ministry of Finance & Ministry of Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman
ranked 1st. She is followed by Reliance Foundation Chairperson and Goodwill
Ambassador Nita Ambani in 2nd position, and Soumya Swaminathan, Chief
Scientist, World Health Organization (WHO) at 3rd.
Fortune India’s List of Top 5 Most Powerful
Women in India:
|
Rank |
Name |
Position |
|
1 |
Nirmala Sitharaman |
Union Ministry,
Ministry of Finance |
|
2 |
Nita Ambani |
Reliance Foundation Chairperson
and Goodwill Ambassador |
|
3 |
Soumya Swaminathan |
Chief Scientist, World
Health Organization (WHO) |
|
4 |
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw |
Executive Chairperson,
Biocon |
|
5 |
Suchitra Ella |
Co-founder and Joint
MD, Bharat Biotech International Ltd |
4.
Nation Observes 50th Vijay Diwas on 16 December 2021: In India, Vijay
Diwas (also called Victory Day) is celebrated every year on December 16. The
country is celebrating the 50th Vijay Diwas in 2021. Vijay Diwas is observed to
commemorate the service, valour, and sacrifices of the gallant men of the
Indian Armed Forces’ victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. On this day, we pay
homage to all the soldiers who had defended the nation in the war.
About Vijay Diwas: The Indo-Pakistan
war of 1971 which began on December 3 lasted for 13 days and officially ended
on December 16, after which Pakistan surrendered to India. It was on this day
in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General AA Khan Niazi, along with
93 thousand troops, had surrendered unconditionally to the allied forces
consisting of the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini. The end of the war also
resulted in the subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM
Modi participates in ‘Summit For Democracy’: US President Joe Biden hosted the
first of two Summits for Democracy, which takes place virtually. India’s Prime
Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the summit saying that ‘democratic
spirit’ and ‘pluralistic ethos’ are ingrained in Indians. A total of 100 nations
participated in this ‘Summit for Democracy’. Even Ukraine and Taiwan were
invited to the summit but Russia and China were not. Both these countries
released a joint statement in which they said that the US is displaying a
“Cold-War mentality” that will “stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift
in the world”.
PM Modi highlights in the summit:
(1) In his address, PM Modi highlighted
India’s civilisational ethos as one of the original sources of democracy. He
outlined sensitivity, accountability, participation, and reform orientation as
four pillars of Indian democratic governance, stressing that principles of
democracy should also guide global governance.
(2) India’s Prime Minister also recalled
that 75 years ago, India’s Constituent Assembly had held its first session. He
said how democratic countries must deliver on values enshrined in their
respective constitutions.
2.
Indian origin Anil Menon is SpaceX’s first flight surgeon: Nasa-turned-SpaceX
flight surgeon, Anil Menon is among the 10 latest trainee astronauts who will
join the 2021 class of the American space agency as it plans for the first
human missions to the moon in more than 50 years. He is born to Indian and
Ukrainian parents and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Menon is a lieutenant colonel
in the US air force. He was SpaceX’s first flight surgeon, helping to launch
the company’s first humans to space during NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission and
building a medical organisation to support the human system during future
missions.
About the Anil Menon: Anil Menon served
Nasa as the crew flight surgeon for various expeditions on the International
Space Station (ISS). Menon started as a Nasa flight surgeon in 2014 and
supported four long-duration crew members on ISS as the deputy crew surgeon for
Soyuz missions Soyuz 39 and Soyuz 43 and prime crew surgeon for Soyuz 52. He
graduated in neurobiology from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
in 1999 and got his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from California’s
Stanford University in 2004. He has a doctor of medicine as well from Stanford
Medical School.
Note: NASA administrator: Bill Nelson;
Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States; NASA Founded: 1 October
1958.
SpaceX founder & CEO: Elon Musk; SpaceX
Founded: 2002; SpaceX Headquarters: California, United States of America.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
India won 41 medals at Asian Youth Para Games 2021: India claimed 41
medals (12 Gold, 15 Silver, 14 Bronze) at the 4th Asian Youth Para Games
(AYPG), Asia’s biggest event held at Riffa city, Bahrain. The event is
organized by the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Bahrain with the
support of the local government. Over 700 athletes from around 30 countries
participated in the event from 2ndto 6th December 2021. The 5th edition of the
Asian Youth Para Games 2025 will be hosted by Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
About the Asian Youth Para Games
2021:
Over 700 athletes from around 30 countries participated in the continental
youth showpiece event that took place from December 2 to 6. The athletes
competed across nine sports – Para athletics, Para badminton, boccia, goalball,
Para powerlifting, Para swimming, Para table tennis, Para taekwondo, and
wheelchair basketball.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
Federal Bank and Star Health Insurance tie-up for bancassurance: Federal Bank has
entered into a Bancassurance partnership with Star Health and Allied Insurance
Co Ltd as a corporate agent to provide health insurance products for the Bank’s
8.90 million customers across India. The Bank’s customers can avail benefits of
Star Health’s retail products and group affinity products through the bank’s
various distribution channels which help the customers to address their
complete financial needs under one roof.
Note: Federal Bank Establishment: April 23,
1931; Federal Bank Headquarters: Aluva, Kerala; Federal Bank Managing Director
& CEO: Shyam Srinivasan; Federal Bank Tagline: Your Perfect Banking
Partner.
2.
SBI signed MoU with Kendriya Sainik Board: State Bank of India (SBI) has signed
an MoU with Kendriya Sainik Board to support and educate the children of war
veterans, ex-servicemen, and war widows. India’s largest bank said it will
provide a grant of ₹ 1,000 per month to 8,333 war veterans’. The bank has
contributed ₹ 10 crores to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. The Armed Forces
Flag Day is celebrated on December 7. According to the statement, the bank has
contributed ₹10 crores to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. The Armed Forces Flag
Day is celebrated on December 7.
Note: State Bank of India Founded: 1 July
1955; State Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai; State Bank of India Chairman:
Dinesh Kumar Khara.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Airtel, Invest India launch ‘Startup Innovation Challenge’: Bharti Airtel and
Invest India, National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency jointly
launched ‘Airtel India Startup Innovation Challenge’ for Startups to develop
solutions in 5G, IoT. Under the Startup Innovation Challenge, early-stage
technology companies are being invited to demonstrate differentiated solutions
in areas such as 5G, Cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital
entertainment. The winners of the challenge will win Rs 3.5 lakh, first
runner-up Rs 2.5 lakh and second start-up Rs 1 lakh. The top 10 start-ups will
also be able to leverage Airtel’s Digital Innovation Lab for three months.
Select start-ups will be offered the opportunity to onboard onto the Airtel
Startup Accelerator Program. The top 10 will also be given an Airtel Office
Internet plan for a year.
The challenge has invited start-ups to
demonstrate solutions for the following:
(1) 5G: B2B or B2C use cases and apps that
will leverage high-speed and low-latency 5G tech.
(2) IoT: Solutions for enterprises that
will empower their digital transformation journey.
(3) Cloud communication: Leveraging AI and
ML tech to create B2B and B2C products to improve customer engagement and
experience.
(4) Digital advertising: Creating unique ad
formats for both digital and others. Digital entertainment: Disruptive
solutions in music, video or gaming.
Note: Airtel Founded: 1995; Airtel
Headquarters: New Delhi, India; Airtel Chairman: Sunil Bharti; Airtel MD &
CEO: Mittal Gopal Vittal.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Balkrishna Doshi Awarded 2022 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for Architecture: The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced that Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi will be the recipient of the 2022 Royal Gold Medal. The distinction, approved by Her Majesty The Queen and awarded each year since 1848, is given to architects or practices in recognition of a lifetime’s work and the impact on the evolution of the field and the built environment.
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