NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Govt to boost nuclear power capacity from7480 MW to
22480 MW by 2032: The Government has initiated steps to increase the nuclear power capacity from 7480
MW to 22480 MW by 2031-32. The annual electricity generation from
nuclear power plants has increased from 35334 Million Units (including infirm)
in 2013-14 to 46982 Million Units (including infirm) in 2022-23. The installed
nuclear power capacity in 2013-14 has also increased from 4780 MW to 7480 MW at
present. At present 23 nuclear power reactors are installed. The total
electricity generated from nuclear power plants during the last ten years
(2013-14 to 2022-23) was about 411 BUs averting release of about 353 Million
Tons of CO2 equivalent to the environment.
2. 22 December – National
Mathematics Day: National
Mathematics Day is celebrated annually on December 22 to honour the birth anniversary
of the renowned Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan. The day is an
opportunity to recognise and celebrate the importance of mathematics in our
lives and to pay homage to one of the greatest mathematical minds in history.
National
Mathematics Day is commemorated on the birthday of Srinivasa Ramanujan, born on
December 22, 1887, in Erode, Tamil Nadu, India. Ramanujan was largely
self-taught and made significant contributions to mathematical analysis, number
theory, infinite series, and continued fractions.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Dalai Lama inaugurates first International Sangha
Forum in Bodh Gaya: Tibetan Spiritual
leader Dalai Lama has inaugurated the three-day International Sangha Forum 2023 in
Bodh Gaya, Bihar, Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. Organized
jointly by the Office of the Dalai Lama and the International Buddhist
Confederation (IBC), the forum will be held at the International Convention
Centre in Bodha Gaya, Bihar. The event will see discussions among monks, nuns,
and Bhikkhu scholars, that delve into the profound teachings of Buddhism. The
event will also witness the coming together of practitioners of the Pali
traditions of the Southeast and South Asian countries of India, Thailand,
Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, as well as those
of the Sanskrit tradition from Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Vietnam, China, Taiwan,
Japan, Korea, Russia, Mongolia and other parts of the world.
2. World Bank sets up task force to act on MDB reform
plan: The World Bank has set up a task force to study the recommendations made
by the Independent Experts Group, formed under India’s G20 Presidency, for strengthening multilateral
development banks (MDBs). The World Bank, which other MDBs looked up to,
must take the lead in carrying forward the reform roadmap for MDBs so as to
make these global institutions bigger, better, and bolder. Both Ajay Banga and
Nirmala Sitharaman discussed outcomes of the G20India Presidency, evolution of
the World Bank and its engagement with India in various sectors, besides issues
of mutual interest.
World
Bank has identified eight unique global challenges to focus on in the next few
years as they affect many countries and require attention and Sitharaman
expressed India’s support for it.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Defence Ministry signs deal for 6 next-gen OPVs for
Coast Guard: The Defence Ministry has signed a
₹1,614.89 crore contract with Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)
Mumbai for the procurement of six next-generation Offshore Patrol
Vessels (OPV) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). Out of the six vessels being
procured, four would replace the existing ageing OPVs and the other two would
augment the ICG fleet. These modern and high-tech ships will play a critical
role in enhancing surveillance, law enforcement, search and rescue, maritime
pollution response, and other important capabilities including humanitarian
assistance by the ICG. These multirole state-of-the-art vessels will be
indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by MDL, and will be
delivered in a total period of 66 months (5.5 years).
SPORTS
1. Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sai Raj Rankireddy to get
Khel Ratna Award: The Government of India has announced the
National Sports Awards 2023. Badminton players Chirag C Shetty and Satwik Sai Raj Rankireddy will be
honoured with the Major Dhyan
Chand Khel Ratna Award. Twenty-six sportspersons will receive the Arjuna
Awards. They are Archers Ojas Pravin Deotale and Aditi Gopichand Swami, Para
Archer Sheetal Devi, Athletes Sreeshankar M and Parul Chaudhary, Boxer Mohameed
Hussamuddin, Chess player R Vaishali, Cricketer Mohammed Shami, Blind Cricketer
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy, Equestrian players Anush Agarwalla and Divyakriti
Singh, Golfer Diksha Dagar, Hockey players Krishan Bahadur Pathak and P Sushila
Chanu, Kabaddi players Pawan Kumar and Ritu Negi, Kho-Kho player Nasreen, Lawn
Bowls player Pinki, Shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh and Esha Singh, Squash
player Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, Table Tennis player Ayhika Mukherjee,
Wrestler Sunil Kumar and Antim, Wushu player N Roshibina Devi and Para Canoeing
player Prachi Yadav.
2. Natasha Chethan won sub-junior snooker title: Karnataka’s Natasha
Chethan won the sub-junior
girls’ snooker title to record a double in the ongoing 90th
National Billiards & Snooker Championships at the Nehru Indoor Stadium. The
Bengaluru teenager rallied to beat Gujarat’s Aanya Patel 3-1 (35-57, 57-43,
55-42, 41-29) in the snooker final after defeating her for the sub-junior
girls’ billiards crown last week. It was the second defeat of the day in a
final for Aanya, who lost to Tamil Nadu’s L Shruthi in the junior girls’
billiards title category.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Karur Vysya Bank, HDFC Life enter into corporate
agency tie-up: Private sector Karur Vysya Bank and HDFC
Life have entered into a corporate agency agreement to offer life
insurance products to their respective customers. This corporate agency
arrangement would enable customers of Karur Vysya Bank to avail HDFC Life’s
wide range of life insurance products which include solutions for protection,
savings and investment, retirement, and critical illness. Our corporate tie-up
with HDFC Life will provide one more option to our customers while charting
their insurance plans. Since HDFC Life offers claim intimation process online,
our customers can avail the services without stepping out of their homes. MD
and CEO of Karur Vysya Bank – B Ramesh Babu
2. Indian economy to grow 6.3% in FY24 and FY25: IMF: India’s economy is projected to
grow at 6.3 percent in the current fiscal year and the next, according to
the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The country’s digital public infrastructure
and a strong government infrastructure program will continue to sustain growth.
India has potential for even higher growth, with greater contributions from
labour and human capital, if comprehensive reforms are implemented,” the IMF
said. The IMF’s growth projection for the current financial year, ending March
31, 2024, is lower than the 7 percent forecast by the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI). Volatile food prices pushed up retail inflation to 5.55 percent in
November from 4.87 percent the previous month. While this was within the RBI’s
tolerance band of 2 percent-6 percent, it remains above the target of 4
percent.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Poonam Khetrapal Singh awarded Bhutan’s National Order
of Merit Gold Medal: WHO Regional Director (South-East Asia) Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh has
been awarded Bhutan’s National
Order of Merit Gold Medal for her distinguished services to the country.
The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk honoured Singh, an Indian
national, at Bhutan’s 116th National Day celebration. Dr Poonam Khetrapal
Singh, the first woman regional director of the WHO South-East Asia region,
played a pivotal role in supporting transformative healthcare leadership in Bhutan
from 2014 to 2024. Her tenure witnessed remarkable strides, including Bhutan,
becoming one of the first countries to eliminate measles and rubella ahead of
schedule. She made significant contributions to help Bhutan excel in COVID-19
vaccination.
2. NTPC Kanti received FICCI Water Award 2023 for water
use efficiency: NTPC
Kanti has received the 11th
edition of the FICCI Water Award 2023 under the “Industrial Water Use Efficiency” category.
The prestigious accolade was presented during the inaugural event of the 9th
Edition of India Industry Water Conclave held at FICCI Federation House in New
Delhi. The award acknowledges NTPC Kanti’s notable water conservation efforts
and efficient use of water resources in its operations. The company has also
launched awareness campaigns to promote responsible water usage among employees
and the local community. The FICCI Water Awards, presented annually, play a
pivotal role in acknowledging organizations across various sectors for their
exemplary efforts in water conservation and management. By promoting best
practices, these awards contribute to the broader goal of encouraging
sustainable water management practices throughout India.
3. IREDA CMD Pradip Kumar Das bagged ‘CMD of the Year’
award: Chairman & Managing Director
of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), Pradip Kumar Das has been
bestowed with the esteemed “CMD of the
Year” award under the Mini-Ratna category at the 13th PSE Excellence Awards, hosted by
the Indian Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi. This prestigious
recognition marks the second consecutive financial year in which Shri Pradip
Kumar Das has received this accolade, acknowledging his exceptional leadership
that has boosted the company’s growth, pioneering energy transition initiatives,
and outstanding contributions for IREDA and Renewable Energy sector
development. IREDA also bagged runner-up accolades, emphasizing its commitment
to operational, governance, socio-environmental excellence, and inclusivity.
4. Chandrayaan-3 Moon Mission Earns Leif Erikson Lunar
Prize: For its’s indomitable
spirit in advancing lunar exploration & contributing to understanding
celestial mysteries and in celebration the first soft landing of Chandrayaan 3, Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO) has been awarded Leif Erikson Lunar Prize. This is the first time that ISRO has
received this award.
It is
for the first soft landing of a spacecraft near the Lunar South Pole and ISRO’s
indomitable spirit in advancing lunar exploration. On behalf of ISRO, this was
received by the Indian Ambassador to Iceland Ambassador B Shyam from the
Exploration Museum in Husavik (Iceland).
5. Sahitya Akademi Awards for 2023 announced: Sahitya Akademi has announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Award 2023 in 24 Languages. Sanjeev will get Sahitya Akademi Award for his Hindi novel Mujhe Pahachaano. Neelam Saran Gour will get the award for her English Novel Requiem in Raga Janki. Nine books of poetry, six novels, five short story collections, three essays and one literary study have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards this year. The awards recommended by distinguished jury members in 24 languages were approved by the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi which met under the Chairmanship of Madhav Kaushik, President of the Akademi. The awards relate to books first published during the five years immediately preceding the year of award, that is between January 2017 and December 31, 2021
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