NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
IMO: India re-elected to International Maritime Organisation Council: India has been
re-elected to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the
2022-2023 biennium under category B states. The Assembly of the International
Maritime Organization has elected the Members of its Council for the 2022-2023
biennium. The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under
the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.
Candidates for IMO Council:
Category (a): 10 States with
the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China,
Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation,
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States.
Category (b): 10 State with the
largest interest in international seaborne trade: India, Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Arab
Emirates.
Note: International Maritime Organisation
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom; International Maritime Organisation
Founder: United Nations; International Maritime Organisation Founded: 17 March
1948.
2.
Centre to launch National Helpline against atrocities on SCs, STs: Union Minister
Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr Virendra Kumar has launched National
Helpline against atrocities on SCs, STs. The objective of the helpline,
reportedly, is to build awareness about the provisions of the Act that are
aimed at ending discrimination and providing protection to all. The Helpline
will be available 24-7 on toll-free number – 14566. The objective of the
service:
(1) This Service will be available in
Hindi, English, and Regional languages of the States. The objective of this
helpline is to spread awareness about the provision of the Scheduled Castes and
the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
(2) All registered complaints will be
investigated and all charge sheets filed are prosecuted in the Courts for
decision within the given timelines in the Act. A docket number will be given
for each complaint received from Victim/Complainant/NGOs regarding
non-compliance with The Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955 and the Prevention
of Atrocities (POA) Act, 1989.
3.
Madhya Pradesh govt organised first drone Mela at Gwalior: In Madhya Pradesh,
the first drone fair in the country was organised at Gwalior. Gwalior Drone
Mela was organised jointly by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Government of
India, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, and the Federation of Indian Chambers
of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). Addressing the youths and farmers present
at the “Drone Mela” in Gwalior, MP Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh will
be made a leading state by using drone technology. Mr Scindia said that five
Drone Schools will be opened in Gwalior, Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Satna in
Madhya Pradesh.
Note: Madhya Pradesh Capital: Bhopal;
Madhya Pradesh Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel; Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister:
Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
4.
‘Watershed: How We Destroyed India’s Water And How We Can Save It’ authored by
Mriduala Ramesh:
Mriduala Ramesh, the founder of Sundaram Climate Institute, which works on
water and waste solutions and the angel investor in cleantech start-ups, has
authored a new book titled “Watershed: How We Destroyed India’s Water And How
We Can Save It”. Mriduala Ramesh is the author of “The Climate Solution” and
she writes regularly on climate issues. She is also a member of the board of
trustees of World Wildlife Fund (WWF), India, and chairperson of the board of
governors at the National Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
5.
National Minorities Rights Day: 18th December: Every year,
December 18 is observed as the Minorities Rights Day to uphold the right to
freedom and equal opportunities for the ethnic minorities in India and create
awareness about the respect and dignity of the minorities. India has faced many
obstacles since the British Rule regarding basic human rights. However, these
rights were safeguarded after the independence and people must be made aware of
it. Thus we celebrate Minorities Rights Day on 18th December every year. The
Minority Rights Day 2021 aims to uplift all the minority sections of society
and back them to voice their opinion. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, all
the sessions, seminars, and debates are likely to take place digitally.
History of the day: 18 December was
declared as the Minorities Rights Day back in 1992 by the United Nations. The
UN had adopted the statement on the individual’s Rights belonging to religious
or Linguistic National or Ethnic Minorities. In India, it is the responsibility
of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to carry out the events on this
day. The NCM was established by the Union Government under the National
Commission for Minorities Act, in 1992.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
UAE becomes first country to transition to 4.5-day Work Week: The United Arab
Emirates has announced to change its existing five-day workweek to a
four-and-a-half day starting January 1, becoming the world’s first country to
make the employee-friendly transition as part of its efforts to improve
productivity and work-life balance. According to the new schedule, Monday to
Thursday the work timings would be from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm, followed by a
half-day on Friday from 7.30 am to 12.00 pm. Saturdays and Sundays are full-day
holidays under the new rule. The government’s move is expected to make it come
closer to the timings of the US, the UK, and Europe, boosting commerce. The
Emirati govt of Dubai and Abu Dhabi have already announced the four-and-a-half
day workweek.
Note: UAE Capital: Abu Dhabi; UAE Currency:
United Arab Emirates dirham; UAE President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
2.
Global Health Security Index 2021: India ranked 66th: As per the Global
Health Security (GHS) Index 2021, the world’s average overall GHS Index score
was reduced to 38.9 (out of 100) in 2021, from a score of 40.2 in the GHS
Index, 2019. GHS Index is developed in partnership with the Nuclear Threat
Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the
Bloomberg School of Public Health.
India ranked 66 out of 195 countries with
an overall Index score of 42.8 and along with a change of -0.8 from 2019. The
United States of America (USA) ranked 1st on the index with a score of 75.9
followed by Australia and Finland.
The overall ranking of GHS Index
2021:
|
Rank |
Country |
Score |
|
1 |
USA |
75.9 |
|
2 |
Australia |
71.1 |
|
3 |
Finland |
70.9 |
|
4 |
Canada |
69.8 |
|
5 |
Thailand |
68.2 |
|
66 |
India |
42.8 |
|
195 |
Somalia |
16 |
3.
World Arabic Language Day: 18th December: World Arabic Language Day is
observed globally on 18th December every year. The Arabic language is one of
the pillars of the cultural diversity of mankind. It is one of the most widely
used languages in the world, spoken daily by more than 400 million people.
The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the history, culture and
development of the language by preparing a program of special activities and
events. The theme of this year’s World Arabic Language Day is “The Arabic
Language and Civilizational Communication”, and it is considered as a call to
reaffirm the important role that the Arabic language plays in building bridges
of connection between people on the rise of culture, science, literature and
many other fields.
History of the day: United Nations
was decided to celebrate the Arabic language on December 18, being the day on
which General Assembly resolution 3190 (XXVIII) of December 18, 1973, concerned
the inclusion of the Arabic language among the official and working languages
of the United Nations.
4.
International Migrants Day 2021: 18th December: The International
Migrants Day is observed globally on 18 December every year. The day is marked
by the United Nations, through the UN-related agency International Organization
for Migration (IOM). The day is observed to highlight the contributions made by
the 272 million migrants, which includes more than 41 million people who are
internally displaced persons, and the challenges they face. The theme of
International Migrants Day 2021 is ‘Harnessing the potential of human mobility’.
History of the day: On 18 December
1990, the General Assembly acquired a resolution on the International
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members
of Their Families, to recognize the contributions made by millions of migrants
to the economies of their host and home countries promotes respect for their
basic human rights. The day was firstly observed in 1990. Also, In 1997,
Filipino and other Asian migrant organizations began celebrating and promoting
18 December as the International Day of Solidarity with Migrants.
Note: International Organization for
Migration Headquarters: Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland; International Organization
for Migration Founded: 6 December 1951; International Organization for
Migration Director General: António Vitorino.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
India won Six medals at Asian Rowing Championship: India won a total
of six medals, including two gold and 4 silver medals in the Asian Rowing
Championship in Thailand. Senior rower Arvind Singh bagged a gold in the
lightweight Men’s single sculls event while his compatriots won three silver
medals. India bagged silver medals in Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls, Men’s
Quadrapul Sculls and in Men’s Coxless Four. In Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls,
India’s Ashish Phugat and Sukhjinder Singh won the silver.
2.
Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi GP 2021 F-1 Drivers’ championship: Red Bull’s Max
Verstappen won his maiden F1 Drivers’ championship title by beating Lewis
Hamilton of Mercedes in the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP 2021. Mercedes bagged
another World Constructor’s Championship title but were denied the double they
would have wanted. Verstappen ended the season with 10 wins to Hamilton’s
eight, having also led more laps and taken more poles and podiums.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
IPPB and NPCI tie up to launch doorstep bill payments service: India Post Payments
Bank (IPPB) has tied up with National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI)
bill payments system Bharat BillPay to facilitate cash-based bill payments
service at customer’s doorstep. Payments for various utility bills can be done
on the Bharat BillPay platform and the facility will be made available to non-
IPPB customers as well. The aim is to provide access to payment solutions to
millions of unbanked and underserved customers in remote locations at their
doorstep, NPCI said in its statement. The service will enable payments of
mobile postpaid, D2H recharge, school fees, and other utility services by using
the bank’s mobile banking service. With this collaboration, NPCI Bharat BillPay
Ltd. and IPPB are set to empower citizens by enabling bill payments at the
doorstep through our ubiquitous network of Gramin Dak Sevaks and Postal staff.”
Note: IPPB Founded: 2018; IPPB
Headquarters: New Delhi; IPPB MD & CEO: J Venkatramu; IPPB Tag line: Aapka
Bank, Aapke Dwaar.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
ISRO, Oppo collaborate to strengthen R&D of NavIC messaging service: The Indian Space
Research Organisation has signed an agreement with Chinese smart devices maker
Oppo’s Indian arm to strengthen the research and development of the NavIC
messaging service. The messaging service is mainly used for broadcasting
safety-of-life alerts in areas with poor or no communication, particularly in
the oceans. Oppo India has its manufacturing unit in Noida and an R&D
centre in Hyderabad.
As per the Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU): Both ISRO
and Oppo India will exchange technical information of NavIC messaging services
to build rapid, ready-to-use, end-to-end application-specific solutions. This
will enable integrating NavIC messaging service with the mobile handset
platform keeping in mind the need of Indian users.
About the NavIC: NavIC is a
messaging service platform, which provides regional navigation services
covering the entire country and an area up to 1,500 km beyond the Indian
boundaries. Notably, the messaging platform primarily provides PNT (position,
navigation, and timing) services along with the capability of broadcasting
short messages (safety-of-life alerts) in areas with poor or no communication,
particularly in oceans.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Karnataka Bank won 2 DigiDhan Awards by MeitY: Karnataka Bank has
been conferred with two DigiDhan awards instituted by the Union Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The awards were given during
Digital payment Utsav in New Delhi. The award recognized banks for achieving
the target with the highest percentage in BHIM-UPI transactions under the
private sector bank category consecutively for two years 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Karnataka Bank has always stood ahead of the time in adopting the latest
digital technology to its products in order to provide best in class service to
our customers.
Note: Karnataka Bank Ltd Chairman: Pradeep
Kumar Panja; Karnataka Bank Headquarters: Mangalore; Karnataka Bank Founded: 18
February 1924.
2. Azim Premji receives Dr. Ida S. Scudder Oration award: Azim Premji, founder chairman of Wipro Limited and founder of Azim Premji Foundation is this year’s recipient of the 10th annual Dr Ida S. Scudder Humanitarian Oration, jointly established by Christian Medical College Vellore (CMC) and the U.S.-based Vellore CMC Foundation. The award is presented to Mr Premji in recognition of his contributions to society. Established in 2001, the Foundation has contributed immensely towards education, runs Azim Premji University in Bengaluru and also supports several not-for-profit organisations with financial grants. The Foundation also funded organisations in the field of healthcare.
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