NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 3
big announcement by PM Modi for Covid-19 vaccine: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has announced the Covid-19 vaccine for children and booster doses
for Health workers and senior citizens, amid the Omicron scare. During his
address to nation, the Prime Minister urged the people to be cautious while
celebrating as coronavirus cases are rising in the country due to highly
infectious variant, Omicron. Therefore, from the point of view of precaution,
the government has decided that precaution dose of vaccine will also be started
for healthcare and frontline workers. It will be started from January 10.
Key points of the address:
(1) Children between the age group of 15 to
18 years will be getting the Covid vaccine from January 3, 2022.
(2) Senior citizens with comorbidities will
receive booster doses from January 10, 2022. Citizens above 60 years of age
with co-morbidities will also have the option of a precautionary dose of the
vaccine on the advice of their doctor.
(3) Healthcare workers are spending many
hours of their day tending to COVID-19 patients even today. So, healthcare and
frontline workers will be given another ‘precaution dose’ [booster shot]
starting from January 10.”
2. Docprime
tech launched India’s first ABDM integrated Health Locker: Docprime tech has
launched India’s first health locker integrated with Ayushman Bharat Digital
Mission (ABDM). ABDM was launched in August 2020 for developing an integrated
digital health infrastructure in the country. ABDM integrated Health Locker
will provide users a digital and self-consented health data management system
without any charges. It will store and manage health records electronically.
About the Health Locker:
(1) Users can create digital Health IDs for
themselves and for their family members on ABDM integrated Health Locker.
(2) Health Locker received the ABDM Sandbox
approval for activating their ABDM integrated Health Locker.
(3) The users can also fetch and store
their Cowin vaccination certificates through the ABDM integrated Health Locker.
3. Tamil
Nadu Govt launched monitoring system “CM Dashboard Tamil Nadu 360”: Tamil Nadu government
has launched the Chief Minister (CM) Dashboard monitoring system, “CM Dashboard
Tamil Nadu 360” in Chennai. It will enable CM to track all welfare schemes,
including the status of their implementation, fund allocation, and the number
of beneficiaries along with updates on the storage of water in dams and
rainfall patterns.
About the dashboard:
(1) This dashboard will provide real-time
information on all State government departments, storage levels of key
reservoirs, rainfall patterns, price mesh, which monitors the price stability
over 25 foodgrains/vegetables/fruits, and it will provide projections on
possible increases in price, enabling government intervention.
(2) Apart from this, the first batch of
dashboards will also cover current employment trends to indicate the status of
the economy, civil supplies, Chief Minister’s Helpline, and status of CM in
Your Constituency petitions, health-related information, daily police reports
of major crimes in the State with reference to districts that require
attention, housing progress for the urban and rural poor and progress of water
supply schemes, particularly tap connections to all households.
Note: Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai; Tamil
Nadu Chief minister: M. K. Stalin; Tamil Nadu Governor: R. N. Ravi.
4. Centre
extends Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till March 2022: Terming it as a
pro-people move, the Centre announced it was extending the Pradhan Mantri Garib
Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for another four months i.e., from December 2021
till March 2022 as Phase 5 of the scheme started during the lockdown last year.
The scheme envisages five kg grain per person per month free of cost for all
the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)
(Antyodaya Anna Yojana & Priority Households), including those covered
under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Japan launches Inmarsat-6 F1 Communications Satellite: Japan has launched
Inmarsat-6 F1, a communication satellite, through a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
(MHI) H-IIA204 rocket from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center that will enter
geostationary orbit, about 22,240 miles (35,790 kilometres) above the earth. It
is developed by the London-based company Inmarsat as a part of its
next-generation satellite broadband service. The satellite is 12,060-pound
(5,470 kilograms) and is the first of two ‘I-6’ spacecraft.
Key Points:
(1) Designated H-IIAF45, Inmarsat-6 F1 launch
is Japan’s third orbital flight of 2021 and H-IIA’s second mission of the year,
marking the 45th flight of the H-IIA vehicle overall.
(2) It is dual-payload satellite featuring
both L-band (ELERA) and Ka-band (Global Xpress).
(3) It is the world’s largest and most
sophisticated commercial communications satellite ever launched.
(4) H-IIA is Japan’s longest-serving
liquid-fueled rocket (since 2001) and currently largest rocket operated by MHI
for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Note: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Founded: 1 October 2003; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Headquarters:
Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh announced retirement from cricket: Senior Indian
off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh has announced retirement from all forms of
cricket. He was the 1st Indian Cricketer to take Hat-trick wickets in Test
Cricket. He took 417 wickets in 103 Tests and is the 4th highest wicket-taker
for India in Test cricket. He made his debut to the national cricket team,
during an ODI (One Day International) against New Zealand at Sharjah in 1998
and lastly represented India in 2016 during a T20 against the UAE at Dhaka,
Bangladesh.
2.
Aanchal Thakur won bronze medal at FIS Alpine Skiing Competition 2021: Indian skier
Aanchal Thakur has bagged a bronze medal at the International Ski Federation
(FIS) Alpine Skiing Competition in Montenegro. She finished 3rd with an overall
timing of 1:54:30. With this, Aanchal has become the first Indian Ski athlete
to win two medals at the international level. She has previously won the bronze
medal in the 2018 FIS Alpine 3200 Cup held in Turkey Georgia Epiphaniouwon
silver medal and was just 2 seconds ahead of Anchal. Croatia’s Dora Ljutic
(1:50.61) won the gold medal while Cyprus skier Georgia Epiphaniou (1:52.71)
clinched silver.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
Oriental Insurance categorised as public shareholder in Axis Bank: Axis Bank has
announced the approval to reclassify Oriental Insurance Company Ltd (OICL) from
promoter category to public category shareholder in the bank. In October,
applications were made to BSE and NSE for reclassification of The New Oriental
Insurance Co to the public category from the promoter category. At present,
OICL holds a 0.16 per cent stake in Axis Bank. Currently, BSE & NSE gave
approval for the reclassification of New Oriental Insurance Company to the
public category from the promoter category.
Note: Axis Bank Founded: 3 December 1993;
Axis Bank Headquarters: Mumbai; Axis Bank MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhary; Axis
Bank Chairperson: Rakesh Makhija; Axis Bank Tagline: Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi.
2.
RBL Bank: Rajeev Ahuja appointed new MD: The RBL Bank board has appointed
Rajeev Ahuja, who’s currently working as the Executive Director at the bank, as
interim Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the bank with
immediate effect, subject to the regulatory and other approvals. The board of
directors at its meeting has accepted the request of Vishwavir Ahuja, Managing
Director and CEO of the bank, to proceed on leave with immediate effect.
Note: RBL Bank Founded: 1943; RBL Bank
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; RBL Bank CEO & MD: Vishwavir Ahuja; RBL
Bank Tagline: Apno Ka Bank.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem elected FIA president: Mohammed Ben Sulayem of the United
Arab Emirates has been elected successor to Jean Todt as the first non-European
president of motorsport’s world governing body, the International Automobile
Federation (FIA). The FIA is the governing body for Formula One, the World
Rally Championship, World Endurance and Formula E among other series. The
60-year-old Dubai-born former rally driver was standing against British lawyer
Graham Stoker, who has been Todt’s deputy president for the sport since 2009.
Note: International Automobile Federation
Headquarters location: Paris, France; International Automobile Federation
Founded: 20 June 1904.
2.
IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance appoints HO Suri as MD & CEO: IFFCO-TOKIO
General Insurance has announced the appointment of HO Suri as its new managing
director and chief executive officer. He was the financial advisor, head,
internal audit & legal, at the company and the new position took effect
from October 1. IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance Company Limited is a 51:49 joint
venture between IFFCO and Japan’s Tokio Marine Group. The firm offers retail
products like motor, health, travel, home and personal accident insurance and
corporate insurance products.
About the HO Suri: HO Suri began his
professional journey in 1982 with Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited
(IFFCO). A chartered accountant by profession, he is one of the founder-members
of IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company in 2000.
Note: IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance CEO:
Anamika Roy Rashtrawar (27 Mar 2020–); IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance
Headquarters: Gurugram; IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Founded: 2000.
AWARDS AND HNOURS
1.
O.P. Jindal Global University won “Digital Innovation of the Year” award: O. P. Jindal
Global University (JGU) has won the ‘Digital Innovation of the Year Award’ in
the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Awards 2021 for creating a
free, cloud-based application to help schools and universities manage data. JGU
was the only Indian University to be shortlisted for the “Digital Innovation of
the Year”. The university was awarded under the ‘Technological or Digital
Innovation of the Year category for its transformative work in the last 2
years. This award is also a reflection of JGU’s commitment to ensure continued
education for its students during the ongoing pandemic. In March 2020, we were
faced with one of the most unprecedented crises of our time.
Times Higher Education Awards Asia
2021 winners:
|
Category |
Winner |
|
Leadership and
Management Team of the Year |
Kalinga Institute of
Industrial Technology (India) |
|
Workplace of the Year |
Saint Joseph
University of Beirut (Lebanon) |
|
International Strategy
of the Year |
Hangzhou Dianzi
University of Hong Kong |
|
Teaching and Learning
Strategy of the Year |
National University of
Singapore |
|
THE Datapoints Social
Impact Award |
Institute Teknologi
Sepuluh Nopember (Indonesia) |
|
THE Datapoints
Improved Performance Award |
University Utara
(Malaysia) |
|
Excellence and
Innovation in the Arts |
Hong Kong Baptist
University |
|
Technological or Digital
Innovation of the Year |
O.P. Jindal Global
University (India) |
|
Outstanding Support
for Students |
University Teknologi
Petronas (Malaysia) |
|
Student Recruitment
Campaign of the Year |
Hanoi University of
Science and Technology (Vietnam) |
2.
Anukrti Upadhyay’s Kintsugi wins the Sushila Devi Award 2021: Anukrti Upadhyay
has won the Sushila Devi Award 2021 for the Best Book of Fiction for her novel,
Kintsugi, which was published by the Fourth Estate imprint. The Ratanlal
Foundation and the organizing Committee of the Bhopal Literature and Art
Festival announced the winner, for this notable award for fiction written by a
woman author and published in 2020. This prize has been instituted by the Shri
Ratanlal Foundation.
About the novel: Kintsugi — named after the ancient Japanese art of mending broken objects with gold — is a novel about young women breaching boundaries, overcoming trauma, and challenging the social order. And about men surprised by women who are unconventional, unafraid and independent. It is the story of Meena, rebellious and unexamined, and Yuri, as complex as Meena is naive. Of Hajime, an outsider to two cultures, and Prakash, unable to see beyond his limited horizons.
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