NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Anil Kumar Lahoti appointed as
Chairman of Railway Board: Former
General Manager of Central Railway, Anil Kumar Lahoti has been appointed
as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Railway Board with effect
from January 1, 2023. He will replace Vinay Kumar Tripathi. Lahoti belongs
to the 1984 batch of Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE). Lahoti was
appointed as the general manager of Central Railway in July 2021. He has also
worked in several key positions in both zonal railways and the railway board in
Delhi.
He reportedly also worked on developing
the public private partnership model for station redevelopment, along with
important infrastructural interventions leading to decongestion in stations in
Delhi during his tenure with Northern and North Central Railways.
2. Ministry of Power signs MoU with
DRDO for Vulnerable Hydro Projects: Ministry of Power has signed an MoU with DRDO for the implementation
of Early Warning System (EWS) for Vulnerable Hydro Projects/Power Stations. Alok
Kumar (Secretary, Ministry of Power) and Dr. Samir V Kamat (Chairman, DRDO)
signed the MoU. Both will work towards developing suitable mitigation
measures against avalanches, landslides, and other geo-hazards
Ministry of
Power has already signed MoUs with CSIR-NGRI, IMD, WIHG and
NRSC-ISRO for implementation of EWS Ministry of Power
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Defence Research and Development
Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence today here for Implementation of Early
Warning System for Vulnerable Hydro Projects/Power Stations. Shi Alok Kumar,
Secretary, Ministry of Power and Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of
Defence (R&D) & Chairman, DRDO, signed the MoU.
3. President Murmu inaugurates project
worth Rs 43.08 cr at Srisailam Temple: President Droupadi Murmu has inaugurated the project “Development of
Srisailam Temple” at Srisailam Temple Complex, Andhra Pradesh. The
project has been sanctioned and executed under PRASHAD scheme, under
Ministry of Tourism. The project has been completed with a cost of Rs
43.08 crores. The project is 100% funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt
of India. Srisailam Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva
and his consort Goddess Parvati.
President of
India Smt. Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the project “Development of Srisailam
Temple in the State of Andhra Pradesh” today at Srisailam Temple Complex,
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. The project has been sanctioned and executed
under PRASHAD scheme viz. National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive of the Ministry of Tourism.
4. IIT Kanpur develops Artificial Heart
to deal with Acute Cardiac Problems: IIT Kanpur has developed an artificial heart that would
be of great help to people with acute cardiac problems. IIT Kanpur and
cardiologists from across the country have developed this artificial
heart. As per the IIT Kanpur Director, Abhay Karandikar, the trial on animals
would begin next year, after success in the trial, transplantation can be
done in humans in the next two years. Most of the implants and stents for heart
patients are being imported. "Artificial heart is being developed to reduce the
sufferings of the patients," he said, adding, "a team of 10
scientists and doctors has prepared this artificial heart. After the success of
the trial on animals, heart transplantation in humans will begin within two
years."
5. Madhya Pradesh Government to build Atal
Bihari Vajpayee’s grand memorial in Gwalior: Madhya
Pradesh Government will build a huge statue of former prime minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee and a research centre as part of his grand memorial in
Gwalior. The ‘Gwalior Gaurav Diwas’ function marked the 98th birth
anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The event was also attended by Union
ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Narendra Singh Tomar. The Madhya Pradesh
government has allotted nearly 4,050 hectares of land in the Sirol area of
Gwalior to build a memorial of Vajpayee. Vajpayee was born in Gwalior on
December 25, 1924.
6. Bulandshahr prison foods become the
2nd jail in UP to be rated five star by FSSAI: The Food
Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has awarded the food
provided by the Bulandshahr prison of Uttar Pradesh a five-star rating and
the tag ‘Eat Right Campus’. Bulandshahr Jail is the second prison after
Farrukhabad jail to get this tag from Uttar Pradesh.
The FSSAI team inspected
the kitchen’s food quality, storage and hygiene on stringent measures, based on
which the Bulandshahr prison was given a five-star rating, the ‘Eat Right
Campus’ tag in addition to the remark of ‘Excellent’ by the FSSAI.
7. Losar Festival celebrated in Ladakh: Losar
Festival was celebrated in Ladakh on 24 December 2022 to mark
the Ladakhi New Year. Ladakhi New Year is the major socio-religious
festival of Ladakh celebrated in winter. The Losar festivities continue for
nine more days from the New Year with the offering of prayers in the name of
God and Goddess, dances and songs in honour of Ibex, and the pilgrimage of
Mount Kailash. The lighting of prayer lamps, illumination of buildings, houses,
religious places like monasteries, stupas, and other business establishments
making appear that the entire Ladakh is lit in lights are part of celebrations
of the Losar Festival.
8. Kerala’s Dharmadam becomes first
complete library constituency in India: Dharmadam, Kerala
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s constituency has achieved
the position of complete library constituency in India, the first in
India. Out of the total 138 wards in the constituency, there were no libraries
in 63 wards. Dharmadam reached the achievement with the opening of libraries in
these wards too. Complete librarianisation was made possible with the support
of all sections of the people of the constituency. The People’s Mission for
Social Development, a people’s organization, has taken up the work of
establishing libraries and expanding the existing ones in Dharmadam
constituency A mission was formed to consolidate operations. The District
Library Council and local self-governing bodies, which are part of the mission,
became active participants in the activities.
1. India’s Cuisine Ranked Fifth in the
list of best Cuisines of the World: According to Taste Atlas, India is ranked fifth on
the global list of the best cuisines for 2022. The ranking is based on
audience votes for ingredients, dishes, and beverages. Italy’s food came in
first place followed by Greece and Spain. India received 4.54 points and the
best-rated foods of the country include “garam masala, malai, ghee, butter
garlic naan, keema”. It has a total of 460 items in the list. Furthermore, the
best restaurants to try Indian cuisine are Shree Thaker Bhojanalay (Mumbai),
Karavalli (Bengaluru), Bukhara (New Delhi), Dum Pukht (New Delhi), Comorin
(Gurugram) and 450 others, according to the list. Japan, the United States of
America, Turkiye, France, and Peru were also among the top 10 countries with
the best cuisines.
Chinese
cuisine, which is the world’s most popular, however, ranked 11th on the list.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Nikhat Zareen won gold at 2022
Women’s Boxing National Championship: Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain have won gold medals
at Women’s National Boxing Championship 2022, organised in Bhopal, Madhya
Pradesh. Lovlina Borgohain has defeated Arundhati Choudhary of Services in
the 75kg final. Nikhat Zareen defeated Anamika of Railways in
the 50kg category.
While,
The Railways team has topped the medals tally with 10 medals – five
golds, three silvers and two bronze. MP placed second in medal tally, followed
by Haryana. Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen have won Gold medals
at Women’s National Boxing Championship 2022 in Bhopal. While Lovlina Borgohain
beat Arundhati Choudhary of Services 5-0 in the 75kg final, Nikhat Zareen
defeated Anamika of Railways 4-1 in the final of the 50kg category.
2. Cricket Australia renames Test
Player of the Year award: Australia's
men's Test Player of the Year award has been renamed to honour
legendary spinner Shane Warne. The Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year
award will be presented annually at the Australian Cricket Awards. Warne
himself won the award once, in 2006 after an incredible year that included a
record 40 wickets in the famous 2005 Ashes series in England. This Australian
Cricket Awards will be announced on January 30, 2023.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India will become third largest
economy by 2035 : CEBR: According to
the British consultancy, Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR)
report, India will become third largest economy by 2035 from the current fifth
spot. Report title: World Economic League Table
India's
annual rate of GDP growth is expected to average 6.4% after which growth is
expected to average 6.5% in the subsequent nine years. The world gross domestic
product will be doubled by 2037 as developing economies will catch up with the
richer ones. CEBR also adds that by 2037, world gross
domestic product will be doubled as developing economies will catch up with the
richer ones. The shifting balance of power will see the East Asia and Pacific
region account for over a third of global output by 2037, while Europe's share
shrinks to less than a fifth.
2. RBI to migrate payments fraud
reporting module to Daksh on January 1: RBI has issued an order to migrate the payments fraud reporting module
to DAKSH (RBI’s advanced supervisory management system) on January 1, 2023. Aim: To
streamline reporting, enhance efficiency and automate the payments fraud
management process. Earlier, it was facilitated through Electronic Data
Submission Portal (EDSP). As per the RBI, all authorised Payment System
Operators (PSOs) and payment system participants in India are required to
report all payment frauds.
3. Infibeam Avenues receives RBI nod
for Bharat Bill Payment licence: Infibeam Avenues Ltd has received Perpetual Licence from
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for its bill payments business,
BillAvenue. The licence will allow BillAvenue to function as a
Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU) under Bharat Bill Payment System
(BBPS). BillAvenue can operate as both biller and customer
operating unit onboarding billers and agent institutions to service
customers. It will help the company offer safe, secure and
uninterrupted services. Infibeam Avenues Ltd., the country’s
first listed payments infrastructure firm, has received Perpetual Licence from
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for its bill payments business,
BillAvenue.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Aleida Guevara to be honoured with
first KR Gouri Amma national award: Cuban social worker and human rights activist, Dr Aleida Guevara has
been selected for the first KR Gouri Amma national award 2022. She is an
active member of the Cuban Medical Mission that works to improve the
health profile of children in Latin America. The award will be presented
by Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan at Olympia Hall at Chandrasekharan Nair
Stadium. The award consists of $3,000, a statute and a citation It has
been instituted by the K R Gouri Amma Foundation
2. IIT Madras wins Wharton-QS Reimagine
Education Awards 2022: IIT Madras
programmes on BS Data Science and NPTEL in collaboration with IISc
Bangalore, have won the Wharton-QS Reimagine Education Awards 2022 for the
best programmes. The BS in Data Science and Applications programme
won Silver in the ‘Best Online Program’ category. The NPTEL-National
Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning, has won the Gold in the
‘Lifelong Learning' category. The Wharton-QS Reimagine Education Awards are
considered to be the Oscars of Education.
3. Cyclist Swasti Singh gets Ekalabya
Puraskar: The ‘Ekalabya Puraskar’ for the year 2022 was
presented to cyclist Swasti Singh. The award is given every year to
encourage young sports talents. Singh was presented with a citation, trophy,
and Rs 5 lakh cash in a programme organized by the Indian Metals Public
Charitable Trust (IMPaCT). She was honoured for her performance from April 1,
2020 to March 31, 2022 at both national and international levels. Football
player Pyari Xaxa and Hockey player Shilanda Lakra also were honoured with a
citation and Rs 50,000 cash each.
4. Beth Mead won BBC Sports Personality
of the Year 2022 award: English football
player Beth Mead has been awarded the BBC Sports Personality of
the Year 2022 as she was the player of the tournament and top scorer at
Euro 2022. Beth Mead has defeated Germany in the finals at Wembley to win
England’s first major women’s football trophy. The 27-year-old competed against
Ben Stokes and Ronnie O’Sullivan for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for
2022 award. While Sarina Wiegman (England’s manager) has won the Coach of the
Year.
OBITUARIES
1. Veteran golfer, Kathy Whitworth
passes away: Kathy Whitworth, the winningest
golfer in history, has been passed away at the age of 83. She is
considered one of the greatest golfers of all time. She had 88 wins on the
Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour which include six LPGA
major championships. Her 88 wins are six more than Sam Snead and Tiger
Woods, who hold the record for the men’s game. In 1981, she became the first
LPGA golfer to earn $1 million in career earnings.
2. England Football Player George Cohen passed away: England’s 1966 World Cup-winning George Cohen passed away recently at the age of 83. Cohen played every minute of England’s victorious campaign on home soil. He made 37 appearances for his national team as a right-back. Cohen played his entire club career for Fulham, where he made 459 appearances between 1956 and 1969. He retired from playing at 29 after a serious knee injury. Cohen was the vice-captain for England when the team beat West Germany 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. England striker Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick in that match, which went to extra time.
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