NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. AIIMS Delhi campus declared
‘tobacco-free zone’: The All
India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi premises have been
declared as a “Tobacco Free Zone”. Smoking and spitting of tobacco on the
premises of AIIMS Delhi are prohibited and are a punishable offence with a fine
of Rs 200. The Director AIIMS has issued guidelines in this regard and
mentioned the risk factor for leading causes of death and a number of
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) including cancers, and lung disorders. Tobacco
is a prominent risk factor for leading causes of death and a number of
non-communicable diseases (NCD), including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and
lung disorders. AIIMS New Delhi was established in 1956 and is under the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kaam
Karyakram PMKKK renamed as PMVIKAS Scheme: The central government has renamed the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam
Karyakram (PMKKK) as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) PM
VIKAS aims to improve the livelihoods of the minorities, particularly the
artisan communities, using the components of skill development, education,
women leadership & entrepreneurship. This integrated scheme amalgamates the
five earlier schemes of the Ministry – Seekho aur Kamao, Ustad, Hamari
Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil. The scheme has been approved by the
cabinet for the period of the 15th Finance Commission.
3. 8th India International Science Festival
2022 to be held in Bhopal: The eighth edition
of the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2022 will be held
in Bhopal In January 2023. The IISF 2022 is the eighth edition since its
inception in 2015. Objective -To celebrate the country’s achievements in the
field of science, technology, and innovation. IISF is the initiative of the
Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in association with
Vijnana Bharati.
14 events will be organized during the four-day event beginning January 21
at the Maulana Azad Institute of Technology, Bhopal. The first and second IISF
were held in New Delhi, the third in Chennai, the fourth one in Lucknow, fifth
in Kolkata, sixth through virtual mode and the last one IISF was held in Goa.
4. 48th GST Council meeting held in New
Delhi: The 48th GST Council meeting was held in New
Delhi. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the meeting. Tax rates,
rules, and regulations under GST are governed by the Council, which consists of
the Finance minister, and her counterparts. The GST Council agreed to
decriminalize certain offences and doubled the threshold for launching
prosecution to ₹2 crore. The Council has
recommended to raise the minimum threshold of tax amount for launching
prosecution under GST from Rs. One Crore to Rs. Two Crores, except for the
offence of issuance of invoices without supply of goods or services or both.
Monetary threshold will be increased, from the current Rs 5 crore to Rs 20
crore, for launching legal proceedings against offenders.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India announced candidature for UNSC
membership for 2028-29 term: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar announced
the candidature of India for non-permanent membership at
the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term. India
assumed the monthly rotating Presidency of the UNSC in December. This is the
second time India got the Presidency after holding the top spot in August 2021.
India has presided over the Security Council during its two-year tenure as an
elected member. UNSC rules of procedure say that the Council presidency rotates
between each of the 15 members of the UNSC in alphabetical order.
2. Leo Varadkar re-elected as Prime
Minister of Ireland: Indian-Origin Leo
Varadkar has been re-elected as the Prime Minister of Ireland in
line with a coalition deal struck in 2020. Varadkar replaced Micheal Martin as
Taoiseach (premier) in a rotation between his Fine Gael and Martin’s Fianna
Fail parties. He was born in Dublin to an Irish mother who worked as a nurse
and an Indian immigrant father, who was a qualified doctor. He became the
country’s youngest Taoiseach at the age of 38 as well as its first openly gay
head of government and first of Indian heritage. In 2007, he secured the
election for Fine Gael in Dublin West.
3. Iran Removed From
UN Commission on the Status of Women: Iran has been
expelled from the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women
(UNW) in a vote on which India abstained. The US proposal at
the UN Economic and Social Council to remove Iran from the panel
received 29 votes, while there were eight votes against and 16 abstentions in
the 54-member elected body. Mahsa Amin who died after being held
by “morality police” in September. Her death sparked the protests,
during which, “government security forces have reportedly detained and tortured
thousands of people, killed hundreds of peaceful protestors, and badly injured
many more. Men supporting women in the streets are now being targeted with the
death penalty.
The UN Commission on the Status
of Women (CSW) was established in 1946, and has become instrumental in
promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout
the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment
of women. Its 45 members are elected by ECOSOC, based on equitable
geographical distribution, and serve for four years.
4. New York,
Singapore most expensive cities, List of top universities and tuition fees: New York and
Singapore are the most expensive cities in the world, according to the
Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Worldwide Cost of Living Index for this
year. For many students, pursuing higher education in New York has long been a
dream. Students will be exposed to the rich culture and way of life of the Big
Apple while studying there, which will open up various job prospects. Ivy
League institutions like Cornell University and Columbia University are located
in New York.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Neeraj Chopra becomes the most
written-about athlete in 2022: Tokyo Olympics gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra
(India) has the most written-about track and field athlete in 2022,
displacing the Jamaican legend Usain Bolt from the top lists. World Athletics
said that in 2022, Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra displaced the charismatic
Bolt, who is still the world record holder in the 100m and 200m despite
retiring in 2017. Chopra leads the way with 812 articles ahead of a troika of
Jamaican women sprint stars, Elaine Thompson-Herah, with 751 articles, world
100m champion Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce (698) and world 200m champion Shericka
Jackson (679), with Bolt still featuring in 574 articles. Neeraj Chopra also
became the first athlete from India to win the Diamond League final this year.
2. India won blind T20 cricket world
cup for 3rd consecutive times: India defeated
Bangladesh by 120 runs in the final to win the 3rd T20 World Cup for
Blind played at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It was the
third title for India having won it in 2012 and 2017. All three T20 World Cup
for Blind has been hosted by India. India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Australia,
Bangladesh, and South Africa competed in the tournament. The Pakistan team was
denied a visa by the Indian government. It was organized by the Cricket
Association for the Blind in India (CABI). The 4th T20 World Cup for Blind will
be held in Pakistan in 2023.
3. Rehan Ahmed
Becomes England’s youngest Cricketer to Debut in Test Cricket: Rehan
Ahmed becomes England’s youngest-ever Test Cricketer to debut in
the final match between Pakistan and England. Rehan Ahmed will be 18 years and
126 days old when the match begins. Till now, Brian Close, who was 18 years and
149 days old, was the youngest player in England during the New Zealand vs
England match in 1949. Ben Stokes announced the debut of Rehan
Ahmed in the Final match of England vs Pakistan. Rehan Ahmed beats Brian
Close for being the youngest cricketer to debut for England in Test
Cricket. Rehan Ahmed is 18 years and 126 days old.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. TPG to acquire Poonawalla housing
finance: US-headquartered private
equity major TPG Capital wraps the deal with Poonawalla Fincorp to acquire
100 percent stake in its housing finance arm. The transaction is sized at ₹3,900 crore. TPG Capital will deploy ₹1,000 crore into Poonawalla Housing Finance as part
of its capital infusion commitment. In May, Poonawalla Fincorp’s board had
approved a capital raise permitting an equity dilution by the promoter of up to
15 percent in the housing finance company. However, with limited interest,
Poonawalla Fincorp started exploring a complete exit from the business by July.
The existing management team led by ManishJaiswal will continue to carry out
the operations. PHFL currently has over 153 branches spread across 20 states. The
group had planned for value unlocking for the housing finance business with an
IPO planned in 2025.
OBITUARIES
1. Nation Pays Tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on His Death Anniversary: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union Ministers paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 71st death anniversary. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the “Iron Man of India,” was born in Nadiad village in present-day Gujarat on October 31, 1875. In India’s freedom struggle, he was a political and freedom leader. He is known as the Iron Man of India because of his strong views on the union of princely states into one nation, his good attitude toward women’s emancipation, and his active participation in shaping India into what it is now. Vallabhbhai Patel was given the title of ‘Sardar’ by Mahatma Gandhi. In 1991, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna. Since 2014, his birthday has been celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day). Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel joined the princely kingdoms in British Indian territory, preventing India from becoming divided.
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