NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Aditya Birla Health introduces product 'Activ One': Aditya Birla Health Insurance introduces
“Activ One” - A streamlined and comprehensive health insurance solution that
offers 100% health and 100% health insurance. This streamlined and
all-encompassing health insurance plan is designed to offer policyholders
personalized solutions, addressing not only their health insurance requirements
but also fostering their journey towards optimal well-being.
2. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurates ‘Krishnaveni Sangeetha
Neerajanam’ in Vijaya: Union Minister of Finance and Corporate
Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated
Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram, Vijayawada. This
three-day classical music extravaganza will host a variety of activities,
including classical music performances by renowned musicians of the country. The
event provides an enchanting glimpse into the glorious Indian classical music
heritage by accomplished musicians.
3. Govt to procure two lakh tonnes of onion during Kharif
season 2023: The Government will procure
two lakh tonnes of onion during this Kharif season to make available enough
quantity of the crop in the market. The Government has banned the export of
onion till the 31st of March next year given the current production scenario
and global situation. Mr Singh said, that in the last month, the Onion consumer
retail price has declined by 4.3 per cent.
4. PM Modi launches ‘Viksit Bharat@2047- Voice of Youth’: PM Modi launched the ‘Viksit Bharat@2047 - Voice of Youth’ and
also addressed the Vice Chancellors and Heads of other Higher Education
Institutes including students across the nation virtually. Assam Governor hosted
the programme at IIT Guwahati, Vice Chancellors and the Heads of Institutions
from about 61 Higher Educational Institutions of Assam attended physically. About
45 Higher Educational Institutions and about 600 colleges also participated in
the virtual mode.
5. PM Modi addressed financial technology event “Infinity
Forum 2.0”: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has addressed the 2nd
Edition of the flagship Financial Technology event – Infinity Forum 2.0.
The event is hosted by the International
Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and Gujarat International Finance
Tec-City, GIFT City, under the aegis of the Union Government. Organized
as a pre-cursor event to Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, the 2nd edition of
the Infinity Forum 2.0, was held in hybrid mode, with an invite-only in-person
event scheduled in GIFT City and for virtual participation from participants
across the globe. The Infinity Forum is a global thought leadership platform on
financial services, where progressive ideas, pressing problems, and innovative
technologies from across the world get Discovered, Discussed, and Developed
into solutions and opportunities.
6. Vishnu Deo Sai becomes the new CM of Chhattisgarh: Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) leader Vishnu Deo Sai has
become the new Chief Minister of
Chhattisgarh. He will be the central Indian State’s fourth Chief
Minister, and the first tribal leader to hold the post. He is also the first to
hail from a region beyond the Other Backward Class-dominated central plains in
Chhattisgarh’s 23-year-old history. A prominent tribal face of the BJP, Sai
will take over as the next Chhattisgarh CM before January 3, 2024 — when the
tenure of the Chhattisgarh Assembly ends. Vishnu Deo Sai belongs to a tribal
community. He hails from the influential Sahu (Teli) community which has a
sizable presence in the Durg, Raipur, and Bilaspur divisions. Vishnu Deo Sai
served as the BJP’s Chhattisgarh president from 2006 to 2010 and again from
January to August 2014. After the BJP lost power in the state in 2018, he was
again given the responsibility to lead the party in Chhattisgarh in 2020. He
was replaced with Arun Sao, an OBC leader, in 2022, just a year ahead of the
assembly polls.
10 December – Human Rights Day: The Human Rights Day is celebrated around the
world on December 10 every year. It focuses on the fundamental rights and
liberties of people and advocates for the rights that transcend nationality,
gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality, religion, or any other distinctions. Theme
2023 – Freedom, Equality and Justice for All This year marks the 75th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). 1950, Human
Rights Day was formally established after the adoption of the UNGA Resolution
423. As per the resolution, all the states and interested organizations were
invited to celebrate the day and commemorate the proclamation of the UDHR.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India hosts 27th WAIPA World Investment Conference in
New Delhi: India is hosting the four-day 27th WAIPA World Investment Conference at
the India International Convention & Expo Centre - Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. Under
the aegis of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, it
will be the largest World Investment Conference ever. The WIC is being held in
India for the first time. Over 1000 attendees, 50 Investment Promotion Agencies
(IPAs) and various multilateral agencies will attend the conference.
2. UNICEF Day 2023: 11th December: UNICEF (United Nations International
Children's Emergency Fund) Day is observed on December 11th each year to rais
awareness globally to help children who need help and support. Theme 2023: This
year, the theme for UNICEF Day is “For every child, every right." It also
protects the rights of children and helps them fulfill their potential from
childhood to adolescence.
3. Nikhil Dey named as International Anti-Corruption
Champion by US State Dept: An Indian social activist Nikhil
Dey has been named as the International Anti-Corruption Champion by
the US State Department. He has been acknowledged for his noteworthy support of
social movements that oppose corruption in government welfare programs in India
by encouraging transparency and accountability and participatory democracy. Dey's
efforts as a co-founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan contributed to
anti-corruption and transparency reforms in India.
4. Sri Lanka to host FAO conference in 2024: Sri Lanka will
host the 37th session of the Asia
Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO) in February 2024. The conference will enable
ministers of agriculture and high officials from 46 member countries across the
Asia Pacific region to discuss challenges and priorities related to food and
agriculture, promoting regional coherence. According to the FAO, by hosting the
event, Sri Lanka demonstrates the country’s dedication to the growth of
sustainable agriculture, not just at home but across the region, and showcases
its commitment to being partner in sustainable agricultural development.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Army conducted Table-top Exercise for Asean
Women Peacekeepers: In a landmark initiative to promote gender
inclusivity and enhance the capabilities of women military personnel in
peacekeeping operations, the Indian
Army conducted a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) for the Women Officers of
Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The Exercise is part of
ongoing efforts of Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) to strengthen
international cooperation and capacity-building in peacekeeping missions, with
specific focus on empowering women in the field. CUNPK is a premier institution
of the Indian Army to impart training in peacekeeping operations. CUNPK had
earlier conducted ASEAN Women Military Officers Course from 18th to 29th
September 2023.
SPORTS
1. Travis Head wins ICC Men's Player of Month award for
Nov 2023: Australian batter Travis Head has been named as the ICC Men's Player of the
Month for November 2023. Head is only the second Australia Men's player to take
the award after David Warner, who won it in November 2021. Head beat tough
competition from teammate Glenn
Maxwell and India seamer Mohammed Shami to claim the honour.
2. Anurag Thakur formally inaugurates first-ever Khelo
India Para Games: Union Minister of Youth
Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh
Thakur formally inaugurated the first-ever Khelo India Para Games
(KIPGs) in New Delhi. More than 1,400 participants from across 32 states and
Union Territories including Services Sports Control Board are participating in
the 8-day event. Khelo India Para Games aim to provide opportunity for aspiring
para-athletes to showcase their skill and develop their career in para sports.
3. Italy won Admiral’s Cup 2023 held at Indian Naval
Academy, Ezhimala: The 12th edition of ‘Admiral’s Cup’ Sailing Regatta concluded with a
glittering closing ceremony at
Ettikulam Beach at Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala. Team Italy
represented by Midshipman Avallone Antonio & Midshipman Creati Carlo
Leonardo won the Admiral’s Cup 23. Team India represented by Midshipman PPK
Reddy and Cadet GY Reddy was the Runners-Up and Team United Kingdom &
Germany represented by Officer Cadet Lucy Bell and Midshipman Aaron Middleton
from United Kingdom and Cadet Beckman Carl & Cadet Hinz Anton from Germany
shared the third position. Seaman Gorkunov Petr from Russia stood first in the
individual position in the men’s category followed by Midshipman Avallone
Antonio from Italy and Midshipman PPK Reddy from India at second and third
positions respectively.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Google launches its largest and ‘most capable’ AI
model, Gemini: Google has introduced to the
world its newest language model (LLM) called Gemini. This new LLM can
seamlessly understand, operate across, and combine different types of
information, including text, code, audio, images, and video. Google claims that
Gemini is their most capable and general-purpose AI model to date. However,
there’s more to it than meets the eye.
2. Gemini isn’t just one model; it’s actually a family of AI models that
come in three sizes: Gemini Ultra, Gemini Pro and Gemini Nano According
to Google, its new flagship AI model, Gemini, has arrived in its first
iteration, version 1.0, and comes in three distinct sizes, each tailored to
specific needs. It has the flexibility to run on everything from data centres
to mobile devices
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s economy to grow at 6.8% in FY24, accelerate to
7% in FY25: CII: Industry chamber
CII expects the country’s economy
to grow at 6.8 percent in the current fiscal and accelerate to 7 percent in 2024-25, driven
by the government’s continued focus on infrastructure development and promotion
of ease of doing business. The expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of
6.8 percent will be more than the 6.5-6.7 percent estimated earlier by the
industry body. India’s economy recorded a growth of 7.7 percent in the first
half of the current fiscal ended in September.
2. RBI has canceled the license of Sitapur-based Urban
Co-operative Bank: The Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) has canceled the license
of Sitapur-based Urban Co-operative Bank in Uttar Pradesh. The bank’s
license was canceled due to lack of adequate capital and prospects of earning. The
RBI has prohibited the bank from any banking, including depositing money and
repaying its customers. On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to
receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary
ceiling of ₹5 lakh from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation
(DICGC). As per the data submitted by the bank, 98.32 percent of the depositors
are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Bhutanese author Tshering Tashi conferred with Sahitya Akademi’s Premchand Fellowship: Noted Bhutanese author Tshering Tashi was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi’s ‘Premchand Fellowship’. Based in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu, Mr. Tashi is a writer known for his works in the field of creative non-fiction. He has written numerous books on Bhutan and has made his country accessible, engaging, and interesting for the youth. He is also the co-director of the Bhutan Echoes Literary Festival. Tashi is the co-author of The Bodhisattva King, Bold Bhutan Beckons, Symbols of Bhutan, and is an independent author of works like Mysteries of the Raven Crown, Legacy of Gongzim Ugyen Dori, and Myth and Memory – Untold Stories of Bhutan.
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