NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Praveen Kumar Srivastava appointed as acting Central Vigilance
Commissioner: Government of India has appointed Vigilance Commissioner, Praveen
Kumar Srivastava as the acting Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC). He
has replaced Suresh N Patel, who completed his term as the chief of
CVC on December 24, 2022. Srivastava is a 1988-batch IAS officer of
Assam-Meghalaya cadre. He was retired as Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet
Secretariat on January 31, 2022. The tenure of a CVC is of four years or
till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years. Srivastava’s appointment comes after Suresh N
Patel completed his term as the chief of the anti-corruption watchdog Central
Vigilance Commission on December 24, they said. The commission is headed by a CVC and
can have a maximum of two Vigilance Commissioners.
2. IndianOil embarks on TB Elimination Project in UP and Chhattisgarh: IndianOil has
signed an MoU with the Central TB Division (Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare), Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh to undertake intensified TB
elimination project. Aim: To end TB in India by 2025, five years ahead of
SDG It also aims to provide sustainable and equitable access to free
TB treatment, and support services to the citizens of UP and Chhattisgarh. IndianOil
will also introduce Mobile Medical Vans equipped with modern diagnostic
technology. In
a historic milestone that underscores India's commitment to counter the menace
of Tuberculosis, IndianOil (Indian Oil Corporation Limited) signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the Central TB Division (CTD) under the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), and the states of Uttar Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh to undertake intensified TB elimination project. The MoU bolsters
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision to end Tuberculosis in India by
2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
3. ADB ranks WAPCOS amongst Top Consulting Services Firm: According to
the report on Annual Procurement, released by the Asian Development
Bank, WAPCOS (under the Ministry of Jal Shakti) has been ranked
as top amongst Consulting Services Firm in Water and other Infrastructure
Sectors. WAPCOS is the only Indian Public Sector featuring in the above
categories. It is a leading technology driven Consultancy and Engineering,
Procurement and Construction firm in the fields of Water Resources, Power
and Infrastructure Development. In a major breakthrough for WAPCOS, a Government of India Enterprise
under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its
report released on Annual Procurement, ranked WAPCOS as Top amongst Consulting
Services Firm in Water and other Infrastructure Sectors, with highest
sanctioned financed amount.
4. Telangana govt launches 10th phase of Rythu Bandhu: Telangana
government has launched the 10th phase of Rythu Bandhu, the
investment support scheme for farmers. Under this phase, 7,676 crores
rupees will be deposited in the bank accounts of over 70 lakh 54
thousand farmers towards investment support for the Rabi crop season.
Rythu Bandhu scheme: It is a cash
transfer programme. It provides investment support for agriculture and
horticulture crops by way of a grant of Rs 5,000 per acre to farmers each
season. Telangana
government has launched the 10th phase of Rythu Bandhu, the investment support
scheme for farmers. Under this phase, 7,676 crores will be deposited in the
bank accounts of over 70 lakh 54 thousand farmers towards investment support
for the Rabi crop season.
5. World-class Kayaking-Canoeing Academy to be set up in Uttarakhand: Union Minister of Power, RK Singh has
inaugurated the National Championship "Tehri Water Sports Cup"
at Tehri Lake, Uttarakhand. During the event, he has
also announced that world-class Kayaking-Canoeing Academy will
be set up at Tehri in Uttarakhand. This is the first time that the
national-level sports competition is being organized at Tehri Lake. CM, Pushkar
Singh Dhami has also informed that the new sports policy has been
implemented in the State. Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy RK
Singh said, a world-class Kayaking-Canoeing Academy is to be set up at Tehri in
Uttarakhand. Speaking at the inauguration of the National Championship
"Tehri Water Sports Cup" at Tehri Lake today, he exclaimed, the
promotion of sports is the priority of the Union Government.
6. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launches ‘Stay Safe Online’ Campaign: Minister of Meity, Ashwini Vaishnaw has
launched the "Stay Safe Online" campaign and "G20 Digital
Innovation Alliance" (G20-DIA) Aim of 'Stay Safe Online': To raise
awareness about the online world due to the widespread use of social media and
rapid adoption of digital payments Aim of G20-DIA: To identify, recognize,
and enable the adoption of innovative and impactful digital technologies
developed by startups Nodal Ministry for G20 Digital Economy Working
Group: MeitY The
event was graced by Shri Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, dignitaries from Union
Ministries and Departments, representatives of Embassies and Consulates,
invited guests from the Government, Industry associations, social media
platforms, start-ups, and civil society organisations.
7. Road accidents decreased by 8.1% in 2021: According to the report, released by the
Road Transport and Highways Ministry, the road accidents in India
have been decreased by 8.1% in 2021 as compared to 2019. Report title:
Road accidents in India – 2021 The injuries due to road accidents
have also decreased by 14.8%. But the fatalities on account of
road accidents have increased by 1.9% in 2021 The MoRTH has also
implemented a scheme Grant of Financial Assistance for Administering Road
Safely Advocacy and Awards
8. DGCA accords Marut Drones with DGCA Type Certification & Approval: The Director General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) has accorded the Marut Drones with the DGCA Type
Certification and Approval. Marut Drones product, 'AG 365
Agricopter’ is India’s first Multi-utility Agriculture Medium
Category Drone to receive the prestigious certificate. It is extensively tested
in Agriculture in collaboration with agriculture universities and research
institutes. It is designed and developed for Indian conditions and can be
used for multiple purposes.
The Director General of Civil Aviation today
accorded Marut Drones DGCA Type Certification and Approval. Marut Drones in a
release stated in Hyderabad that its product -‘AG 365 - Agricopter’ is India’s
first Multi-utility Agriculture Medium Category Drone to receive the
prestigious certificate.
9. President Murmu lays foundation stone for PRASHAD project in
Telangana: President Droupadi
Murmu has laid the foundation stone of the project for development of
pilgrimage facilities at the Bhadrachalam group of temples in
Telangana under the ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage
Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ scheme. She also laid the foundation stone
for another project called ‘Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage
Infrastructure of UNESCO World Heritage Site at Rudreshwara (Ramappa)
Temple’ at Mulugu in the state. Both these projects have been approved
under the PRASHAD (National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual
Heritage Augmentation Drive) Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism. PRASHAD scheme
has launched in the year 2014-15, the scheme aims to provide integrated
infrastructure development to pilgrimage and heritage tourism destinations in
the country. The temple at Bhadrachalam, Sri Seetha Ramchandra Swamyvari
Devasthanam, is said to be more than 350 years old and is closely associated
with epic of Ramayana. It is believed that Lord Rama with his wife Goddess Sita
and brother Lakshmana spent some part of their 14 years of exile at a village
called Parnasala, a part of Dandakaranya forest near Bhadrachalam Temple.
10. LG Arvind Walia appointed as Engineer-in-Chief of Army: Lieutenant General Arvind
Walia has been appointed as the Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
He would be succeeding Lt Gen Harpal Singh who is superannuating on December
31. An officer of the 1986 batch Walia is an alumnus of the Indian Military
Academy, Dehradun.
·
Chairman of the National Highways Authority
of India (NHAI) – Santosh Kumar Yadav
·
CEO of the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI) – Ganji Kamala V Rao
·
Chief advisor to the Gujarat CM – Hasmukh
Adhia
·
Chairman of Railway Board – Anil Kumar Lahoti
(replace Vinay Kumar Tripathi)
·
Captain Indian team at the FIH men’s world
cup 2023 – Harmanpreet Singh
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates first Metro rail in Dhaka: Bangladesh PM,
Sheikh Hasina has flagged off the first metro rail in Dhaka for its first
journey between Diabari and Agargaon station. This is part of the
ambitious Bangladesh project of Mass Rapid Transit to be completed by
2030, that will cover a total length of 129 kilometres out of which 61
kilometres will be underground. The rail service was built with financial
and technical support from Japan.
The event was attended by Kiminori Iwama
(Japanese Ambassador). The
first metro rail in Bangladesh was inaugurated in Dhaka by Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday. The train was flagged off in Dhaka for its first
journey between Diabari and Agargaon station. This is part of the ambitious
Bangladesh project of Mass Rapid Transit to be completed by 2030.
OTHER UPDATES:
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Banks' balance sheet grows in double digits after 7 years: RBI
report: According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) annual report on trend
and progress of banking in India, the health of Indian banks continued
to improve in 2021–2022 with their balance sheet rising at double digits
after a gap of seven years. PSBs account for 62% of the deposits of
scheduled commercial banks, while on loans, they corner 58% market
share. Credit growth of banks was at a 10-year high at the end September
2022. “If downside risks
materialise, asset quality could be affected. Hence, slippages in restructured
assets need to be monitored closely,” it said, adding that timely resolution of
stressed assets was essential to prevent asset value depletion.
2. RBI released web publication entitled ‘Statistical Tables relating to
Banks in India: 2021-22’: The Reserve Bank of India released its web
publication entitled ‘Statistical Tables relating to Banks in India: 2021-22’ covering
the activities of the Indian banking sector. The publication presents
entity-wise information on major items of liabilities and assets along with
their maturity profile; income and expenses; select financial ratios, number of
employees, and details of priority sector advances for scheduled commercial
banks excluding regional rural banks. In addition, capital-to-risk-weighted
asset ratios, non-performing assets, exposure to sensitive sectors, contingent
liabilities, and unclaimed deposits are included. State-wise distribution of
consolidated balance sheet of rural cooperative banks are also presented. The
publication can be accessed on the RBI website through the link ‘Time Series
Publications’ under the Database on Indian Economy.
3. Bajaj Allianz launched Respect Senior Care Rider: Leading private general insurer of India Bajaj
Allianz General Insurance has launched a unique health insurance rider
‘Respect Senior Care Rider’. It might become difficult to fulfil all the
responsibilities associated with caring for aging parent; this rider helps one
fulfill their parental responsibility smoothly. The company offers a
comprehensive network of services and professionals who collaborate with one
another to ensure that senior citizen will always receive the highest possible
level of care. This network can be accessed by them or their family members at
any time, this product will protect the customers from shelling out significant
sums of cash and reduces worries and brings a plethora of services at their
fingertips.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Chhattisgarh police ‘Nijaat’ campaign received IACP 2022 Award: The anti-drug &
illicit liquor campaign of Chhattisgarh police named ‘Nijaat’ has
been selected for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
2022 award under the 'Leadership in Crime Prevention' in the
institutional category. This campaign was launched under the leadership of
the IPS officer Santosh Kumar Singh. Under this campaign, strict action taken
against illegal drug dealers, intensive public awareness and rehabilitation of
the addicts. International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the
US-based international organisation has selected the anti-drug & illicit
liquor campaign ‘Nijaat’ of Chhattisgarh police for 'Leadership in Crime
Prevention' in the institutional category.
2. Arshdeep Singh, Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Singh nominated for ICC
emerging cricketer of the year 2022: The International Cricket Council (ICC) named the
nominees for the Emerging Cricketer of the Year for 2022 Indian Arshdeep
Singh has been included in the men’s and Yastika Bhatia and Renuka
Singh in the women’s section of the International Cricket Council’s
(ICC) emerging player of the year 2022 award nominee list. ICC
emerging Men’s player of the year award 2022 nominee
OBITUARIES
1. Sanskrit scholar, Sribhashyam Vijayasarathi passes away: Veteran Sanskrit scholar, Sribhashyam Vijayasarathi, who is known for his poetry, has been passed away at the age of 86 in Telangana. In 2020, he was honoured with the Padma Shri for his excellent work in the field of Literature and Education. He was also the founder of Sri Yagna Varaha Swamy Kshetram (temple complex). He has written 100 books in Sanskrit and Telugu. He also introduced Seesam, a Telugu poetic form, in the Sanskrit language.
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