Daily GK Update- 21st Dec, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Govt laid foundation stone for Maa Umiya Dham Development Project in Gujarat: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has laid the foundation stone of Umiya Mata Dham temple and temple premises under Maa Umiya Dham Development Project at Umiya Campus in Sola in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. They will be developed at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore on 74,000 square yards of land. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually attended and addressed the foundation stone laying of the project. He stated the Project as an example of the notion of ‘SabkaPrayas’ (Efforts of everyone).

About the Umiya Mata Temple: Umiya Mata Temple is the Temple of Goddess Umiya, who is worshipped as the clan-deity or kuldevi of Kadava Patidars. The temple is located in the centre of Unjha in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. It celebrated its silver jubilee in November 2009. Apart from Temple, a trust running the main temple in Unjha will also construct a 13-storey complex adjacent to the temple in order to provide training and a hostel facility to Patidar youths who are preparing for UPSC and GPSC entrance tests.

Note: Gujarat Capital: Gandhinagar; Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat; Gujarat Chief Minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel.

 

2. Uttarakhand’s Askot Wildlife Sanctuary declared Eco-Sensitive Zone: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), an area of 454.65 square kilometres around the boundary of Askot Wildlife Sanctuary in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand has been declared as the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-sensitive Zone (ESZ). The notified area extends from 0 to 22 km around the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary. The Askot Wildlife Sanctuary was established to protect the endangered flagship species Musk Deer and its habitat. The Askot Wildlife Sanctuary is also known as Musk Deer Park.

Note: Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Bhupender Yadav.

 

3. UNESCO recognises Kolkata’s Durga Puja as Intangible Cultural Heritage: UNESCO has added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its 2021 list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, giving international recognition to the biggest religious festival of the 331-year-old city and the state of West Bengal. The UNESCO’s announcement was welcomed by Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) as chief minister Mamata Banerjee is widely recognized as the biggest patron of the festival. With the inclusion of Durga Puja, the number of elements in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage from India has increased to 14. As many as 36,946 community Durga Pujas are organised in Bengal. Of these, around 2,500 are held in Kolkata. In recent years, several organisations had urged UNESCO to recognise the festival.

About the Durga Puja: Durga Puja is an annual festival celebrated in September or October, most notably in Kolkata, in West Bengal of India, but also in other parts of India and amongst the Bengali diaspora. Durga Puja is seen as the best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and as thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers. The festival is characterized by large-scale installations and pavilions in urban areas, as well as by traditional Bengali drumming and veneration of the Goddess. During the event, the divides of class, religion and ethnicities collapse as crowds of spectators walk around to admire the installations.

 

4. 7th edition of India International Science festival begins in Panaji: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the seventh edition of the India International Science Festival at Panaji, Goa. The theme of the 4-day science festival is ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ – “Celebrating Creativity, Science, Technology and Innovation for a prosperous India”. First India International Science Festival was held in 2015 at IIT Delhi. The main aim of the Science Festival is to bring into use the innovations by the people and develop technology that is affordable to the masses.

 

5. Ravinder Bhakar assumed charge of NFDC, films division and CFSI: CEO of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Ravinder Bhakar has assumed charge of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Films Division, and Children Films Society of India (CFSI). He is a 1999-batch officer of the Indian Railway Stores Service (IRSS). He has been assigned these charges in addition to his present duties as CEO of the film certification body.

 

6. Good Governance Week 2021: 20th to 25th December: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has inaugurated the Good Governance Week campaign themed “Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur” aimed at showcasing and replicating the best governance practices to the grassroots level. Good Governance Week is being celebrated on 20-25 December as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration. During the week-long event, over 700 Districts Collectors will visit Tehsil and Panchayat Samiti Headquarters in order to provide timely grievance redressal and improve service delivery. It is being celebrated by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in collaboration with various other ministries and departments.

During the campaign, the following events will be held:

(1) December 21st: Deliberation on “Good Governance Initiatives by Ministry of External Affairs”.

(2) December 22nd: Deliberations on “National Workshop on Next Phase of Reforms to reduce compliance burden and Integrated & effective Governance practices by DPIIT”.

(3) December 23rd: A workshop by the Department of Personnel & Training on the theme – “Mission Karmayogi-The Path Ahead”

(4) December 24th: Workshop by Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances on the theme- “Initiative for Increasing efficiency in Decision Making in Central Secretariat”.

(5) December 25th: “Good Governance Day” would be celebrated.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe enters the Sun’s upper atmosphere: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has entered the Sun’s upper atmosphere for, first time in history. In 2018, launched the Parker Solar Probe aims to unravel the mysteries of the Sun by travelling closer to it. After three years of launching, Parker has finally arrived in the solar atmosphere. Parker Solar Probe has flown through the Sun’s upper atmosphere for the first time in history – the corona. The probe sampled particles and magnetic fields there.

The new milestone marks one major step for Parker Solar Probe and one giant leap for solar science. Just as landing on the Moon allowed scientists to understand how it was formed, touching the very stuff the Sun is made of will help scientists uncover critical information about our closest star and its influence on the solar system.

Note: NASA administrator: Bill Nelson; Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States; NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.

 

2. US Fashion Brand “Patagonia” selects Khadi Denim for its Apparels: US-based world’s leading fashion brand, Patagonia, is now using handcrafted Khadi Denim fabric for making Denim apparels. Patagonia, through textile major Arvind Mills, has purchased nearly 30,000 meters of Khadi Denim Fabric worth Rs 1.08 crore from Gujarat. The purchase of Khadi Denim by Patagonia has created additional 1.80 lakh man-hours, i.e. 27,720 man-days of work for Khadi artisans. In July 2017, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) signed an agreement with Arvind mills Limited, Ahmadabad, to trade Khadi Denim products around the world. Since then, Arvind Mills has been purchasing a large quantity of Khadi Denim fabric every year from KVIC-certified Khadi institutions of Gujarat.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Olympics India inducts 148 athletes in list of TOPS athletes for 2024: A total of 148 athletes, including 20 new inductees, in seven Olympic disciplines and six Paralympic disciplines, have been identified for support under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme at a meeting of the Mission Olympic Cell of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The TOP scheme which is an attempt to provide assistance to India’s top athletes. This scheme was started in 2014. The Mission Olympic Cell approved lists in Cycling, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling as well as Para Sports (Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis). Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Equestrian, Fencing, Golf, Gymnastics, Judo, Rowing and Tennis will be taken up in the next meeting later this month.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI comes up with PCA framework for large NBFCs: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a prompt corrective action (PCA) framework for large non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) with effect from October 2022, putting restrictions on para-banks whenever vital financial metrics dip below the prescribed threshold. This brings them almost on a par with banks in terms of supervision and regulatory reach. The PCA framework for NBFCs comes into effect on October 1 next year on the basis of their financial position on or after March 31.

About the PCA framework:

(1) The PCA framework will be applicable to All Deposit-Taking NBFCs (NBFCs-D) and All Non-Deposit Taking NBFCs (NBFCs-ND) in the Middle, Upper, and Top Layers. It will put restrictions on para-banks whenever vital financial metrics dip below the prescribed threshold.

(2) The move will bring NBFCs almost on a par with banks in terms of supervision and regulatory reach. This follows scale-based regulations and revision in non-performing asset norms brought in by the regulator for the sector.

Note: RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikanta Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB projected growth forecast for 2021-2022 for India at 9.7%: Asian Development Bank has trimmed its 2021 growth forecast for India to 9.7 per cent from 10 per cent but left the 2022 growth forecast unchanged at 7.5 per cent. The inflation forecast of developing Asia was revised to 2.1 per cent for 2021 and unchanged at 7 per cent for 2022.

Asian Development Outlook Supplement Report 2021-22:

(1) In its Asian Development Outlook Supplement Report of December 2021, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has trimmed the growth forecasts for developing Asia for 2021-2022 to reflect the economic impact and uncertainty caused by the new Omicron COVID -19 variant.

(2) ADB marks the 2021 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth projection of developing Asia to 7 per cent, down from its earlier projection of 7.1 per cent (September 2021), and 2022 growth to 5.3 per cent, down from 5.4 per cent.

 

2. Wholesale inflation surges to 14.23% in November: Producers’ inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) has reached an all-time high in the current series at 14.23 per cent in November. This is the eighth successive month of double digits WPI (mainly due to the hardening of prices of mineral oils, basic metals, crude petroleum and natural gas). Wholesale Price-based Index (WPI) inflation base year is 2011-12. Also, the spike is highest since April 2005.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Bhutan confers PM Modi with its highest civilian award: Bhutan has honoured PM Modi with its highest civilian award, Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo. Bhutan’s Prime Minister Lotay Tshering has announced PM Modi’s name for Bhutan’s highest honour. The honour comes as an appreciation for India’s friendly approach to Bhutan under PM Modi’s governance. During the pandemic, India had extended support to the neighbouring country in the form of vaccines, medicines and other emergency services.

According to PMO Bhutan, ‘Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has played an unconditional friendship over the years and has helped immensely during the Coronavirus Pandemic.  Before this, the current Prime Minister of India had been accorded the respective top honours of Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Russia, the Maldives, Palestine and Bahrain.

Note: Bhutan Capital: Thimphu; Bhutan Prime minister: Lotay Tshering; Bhutan Currency: Bhutanese ngultrum.

 

2. Sunil Gavaskar honoured with SJFI Medal 2021: The Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) has decided to honour former Indian Cricketer and cricket commentator Sunil Manohar Gavaskar with its prestigious ‘SJFI Medal 2021’ at SJFI Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Guwahati, Assam. SJFI Medal is the highest honour of SJFI. SJFI was founded on 27th February 1976 at the Eden Gardens, Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal.

Other SJFI Awards:

Award	Winner
SJFI Sportsman of the year 2021	Neeraj Chopra (Javelin)
SJFI Sportswoman of the year 2021	Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting)
SJFI Team of the Year 2021	Indian Men’s Hockey team
SJFI Parathletes of the year 2021(Men)	Pramod Bhagat (Badminton) and Sumit Antil (Javelin)
SJFI Parathletes of the year 2021(Women)	Avani Lekhara (rifle shooter)
SJFI Special Recognition Award	Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ)

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Army Chief Naravane takes charge as Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee: Army Chief General M.M. Naravane has assumed the charge as the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee that comprises the three service chiefs. The post fell vacant following the death of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat in the Indian Air Force helicopter crash on December 8. General Naravane has been given the charge, as he is the senior-most among the three service chiefs. IAF Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari and Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar had taken over their respective positions on September 30 and November 30. Before the creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff, the senior-most among the three service chiefs used to be the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.