NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM
Modi inaugurated thought Leadership Forum on FinTech ‘InFinity Forum’: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated a thought leadership forum on FinTech, ‘InFinity
Forum’. The event was hosted by International Financial Services Centres
Authority (IFSCA), under the aegis of the Government of India in collaboration
with GIFT City and Bloomberg. Indonesia, South Africa and the United Kingdom
were the partner countries in the 1st edition of the Forum. The Forum focused
on the theme of ‘Beyond’ with various sub-themes. The sub-themes include
FinTech beyond boundaries, FinTech beyond Finance, and FinTech Beyond Next,
with a focus on how Quantum Computing could impact the nature of the Fintech
industry in the future and promote new opportunities.
Partners of the Forum: NITI (National
Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, Invest India, FICCI (Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) and NASSCOM (National Association
of Software and Service Companies) are some of the key partners of 2021’s
Forum.
2.
Jharkhand CM launched ‘Hamar Apan Budget’ Web Portal: Jharkhand Chief
Minister, Hemant Soren has launched a web portal named ‘Hamar Apan Budget’ and
a mobile application prepared by the state finance Department from the Chief
Minister’s residential office in Ranchi. Through this portal, the general
public of the state can share their suggestions for the 2022-23 budget. The
public can give suggestions through Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and e-mail and
also through the app by downloading the ‘Hamar Budget’ from Google Playstore
for Android phones. How to give suggestions:
(1) The public could use the hyperlink
https://finance.jharkhand.gov.in/budgetvichar to register oneself on ‘Hamar
Apan Price range Portal’.
(2) The portal requires a Mobile number and
e-mail (non-compulsory) to generate OTP.
(3) After profitable authentication of the
OTP, the public can file the suggestion for the desired area in the budget.
Note: Chief Minister of Jharkhand: Hemant
Soren; Governor: Ramesh Bais.
3.
Amitabh Kant launches Genesys International’s digital twin platform: Genesys
International has launched its pan India program to make the Digital Twin of
the entire Urban India. The launch programme was inaugurated by Amitabh Kant,
CEO, NITI Aayog. The creation of this very accurate 3D data will mean a host of
applications would open up in high-definition mapping, which was hitherto not
possible, for smart cars, e-commerce, logistics, gaming, utilities planning for
next-generation networks in telecom, renewable energy and in disaster
management and emergency response.
Moreover, with all the smart city
components, the digital twin of cities will put India on the map with advanced
cities that are now using this geospatial technology. Genesys has a
constellation of advanced sensors in India, consisting of aerial mobile and
terrestrial systems capable of imaging at very high speeds and resolution.
Genesys has also filed for patents in unique Geocoding for addressing 3D data
as well as automated capture of features from 3D Street map imagery.
4.
Alka Upadhyaya appointed as chairperson of NHAI: Centre effects
major bureaucratic reshuffle. The Centre has appointed Alka Upadhyaya as
chairperson of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). A 1990-batch
IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, Upadhyaya is currently Additional
Secretary, Department of Rural Development. Other appointments:
Sanjay Bandopadhyay, Additional Secretary,
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has been named chairman, Inland
Waterways Authority of India, a Personnel Ministry order said.
Sundeep Kumar Nayak has been appointed as
Director-General, National Productivity Council, Department for Promotion of
Industry & Internal Trade.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
South Sudan to end child marriages by 2030: South Sudan’s Government has
promised to end child marriage by 2030 in line with the African Union’s
campaign to end child marriages in the continent. Paramount chiefs from 10
regional states and the three administrative areas are meeting in the capital,
Juba, for the second national conference on ending child marriages.
2.
Cambridge Dictionary names ‘perseverance’ Word of the Year 2021: Perseverance, a
word that captures the undaunted will of people across the world to never give
up, despite the many challenges of the last 12 months, is Cambridge
Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2021. Perseverance has been looked up more than
243,000 times on the website in 2021, the first time it has made a noticeable
appearance. NASA’s Perseverance Rover made its final descent to Mars on 18
February.
3.
International Anti-Corruption Day: 9th December: International
Anti-Corruption Day is observed annually on 9 December to raise public
awareness for anti-corruption. The day is observed since the passage of the
United Nations Convention Against Corruption on 31 October 2003. The 2021
International Anti-Corruption Day seeks to highlight the rights and
responsibilities of everyone– including States, Government officials, civil
servants, law enforcement officers, media representatives, the private sector,
civil society, academia, the public and youth – in tackling corruption. The
theme of International Anti-Corruption Day 2021: “Your right, your role: say no
to corruption”.
History of the day: On 31 October
2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against
Corruption and requested that the Secretary-General designate the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as secretariat for the Convention’s
Conference of States Parties (resolution 58/4). The Assembly also designated 9
December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption
and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it. The
Convention entered into force in December 2005.
4.
Remember the Victims Prevent Genocide: 9th December: The International
Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of
the Prevention of this Crime is observed annually on December 9. The purpose of
the day is to raise awareness of the Genocide Convention and its role in
combating and preventing the crime of genocide, as defined in the Convention,
and to commemorate and honour its victims.
Significance of the day: 9 December 2021
marks the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the
Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, as well as the 73rd
anniversary of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide (the “Genocide Convention”), the first human rights treaty
adopted by the General Assembly. The Convention signifies the international
community’s commitment to “never again” and provides the first international
legal definition of “genocide,” widely adopted at national and international
levels. It also establishes a duty for State Parties to prevent and punish the
crime of genocide.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Lewis Hamilton wins inaugural edition of Saudi Arabian GP: Mercedes driver
Lewis Hamilton (Britain) won the inaugural edition of the Saudi Arabian Grand
Prix (GP), by surpassing Max Verstappen (Netherlands) in the event held at the
30-kilometre (18.6-mile) coastal resort area in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reema
Juffali, has been appointed as an ambassador for the first edition of the Saudi
Grand Prix, under the Formula 1 (F1) World Championship.
About the Reema Juffali: Reema Juffali is
the 1st Female F1 driver of Saudi Arabia. She is a 29-year-old driver, who has
competed in the British Formula 3 championship 2021. She is the first racer to
take a lap on the street circuit in Jeddah and also participate in the Williams
team car display, dating back to 1979 that is sponsored by Saudi Airlines.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. IDFC
FIRST Bank debuts India’s first standalone metal debit card: IDFC FIRST Bank
announced the launch of FIRST Private Infinite, the country’s first-ever
standalone metal debit card, in partnership with Visa. FIRST Private Infinite
is a lifetime free card designed specifically for customers who are part of the
Bank’s FIRST Private program, premium savings and wealth offering. The FIRST
Private program offers an unrivalled banking and investment experience to
customers and comes with a range of exceptional investment, banking, lifestyle
and wellness benefits. IDFC FIRST Bank offers a comprehensive digital savings
account solution that includes a seamless online account opening process, video
KYC and a new-age digital platform for mobile and net banking with an
easy-to-navigate user interface. The Bank’s digital wealth management solutions
are available to customers on the mobile app and net banking platform which
offer unique features such as a ‘Consolidated Investment Dashboard’.
Note: IDFC FIRST Bank CEO: V. Vaidyanathan;
IDFC FIRST Bank Headquarters: Mumbai; IDFC FIRST Bank Founded: October 2015.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Global trade expected to rise 23% to $28T in 2021: UN report: Global trade is
expected to reach $28 trillion in 2021, up 23% from last year, according to a
report issued by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Global
goods trade set a new record by reaching $5.6 trillion in the third quarter of
this year, the Global Trade Update report said.While this was a 24% increase
from the same period of 2020, it was a 13% gain compared to the third quarter
of 2019. Trade in goods is expected to remain constant at about $5.6 trillion
in the fourth quarter of 2021, while the trade in services will likely continue
to slowly recover. Services trade stood at about $1.5 trillion in the
July-September period of this year, according to the report.
2.
Former SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar becomes new strategic group advisor of OYO: IPO-bound
hospitality unicorn Oyo Hotels and Homes (Oyo) has appointed Rajnish Kumar,
former Chairman of State Bank of India (SBI) as Strategic Group Advisor. In his
role, Kumar will advise Oyo’s management on short-term and long-term strategy,
regulatory and stakeholder engagement, and enhancing the brand of the company
globally. He is currently a part of the boards of HSBC Asia Pacific, L&T
infotech, Hero Motocorp and BharatPe.
Note: OYO Rooms Founded: 2013; OYO Rooms
CEO: Ritesh Agarwal.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Nizamuddin Basti project wins two UNESCO heritage awards: Nizamuddin Revival
Project, India’s project on the holistic urban revitalisation of the historic
Nizamuddin Basti community, in New Delhi has won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards
for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2021. The project involves the meticulous
restoration of over 20 historic monuments clustered around the 14th-century
mausoleum of the revered Sufi saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. Nizamuddin
Revival Project won these awards under 2 categories:
(1) Award of Excellence
(2) Special Recognition for Sustainable
Development.
About Nizamuddin Basti: The settlement
around the tomb of Noted Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, who settled in a
Delhi village Ghiyaspur located on the tributary of River Yamuna, is known as
the Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. The Nizamuddin area comprises the Humayun’s Tomb,
Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti and Sunder Nursery, Batashewala Tomb-Garden Complex,
the tomb of courtier poet Khan I Khanan ‘Rahim’, and the Mughal-period
caravanserai of Azimganj Serai.
Winners of UNESCO Asia-Pacific
Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2021: The jury of
Heritage experts honoured 9 projects from 6 countries (Bangladesh, China,
India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand) with the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for
Cultural Heritage Conservation 2021.
OBITUARIES
1. Veteran journalist Vinod Dua passes away: Veteran journalist Vinod Dua passed away recently. He was one of the pioneers in Hindi broadcast journalism, worked with Doordarshan to present the youth programme Yuva Manch in the mid-’70s and later with several other television news channels. He was an integral part of NDTV’s journey as well. His much-loved food show ‘Zaika India Ka’ saw him crisscrossing the whole country just for the best taste. More recently, he was known for his political commentary in web shows for digital media platforms The Wire and HW News. Mr Dua was honoured with several awards for his contribution to journalism.
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