NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Ist India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024 Concludes in New Delhi: The two-day first India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024 concluded in New Delhi. The Conclave highlighted India’s rich maritime legacy since the Harappan period.Apart from highlighting India’s rich maritime heritage, the Conclave also deliberated on developing the maritime sector in India to create employment opportunities and make India a global hub and a leading maritime player.Four State Governments – Gujarat, Goa, Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh participated in the Conclave.The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways organized the India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024.The Union Ministry for Labour and Employment, the Union Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports, the Union Ministry for Education, and the Union Ministry for Tourism and Culture collaborated with the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
2. Himachal Pradesh Govt launched Him Bhog Atta and five Welfare scheme: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched six welfare schemes in the state to mark the two years of the completion of his government. The recently launched welfare schemes are as follows.‘Him Bhog Atta’ was launched by the Chief Minister, made from maize grown by farmers in Uttarakhand through natural farming methods.Natural farming systems involve traditional techniques like biomass mulching, round-the-year green cover, and indigenous cow-based dung and urine formulations.The state government procured maize from 1,506 farmers across ten districts of the state.To promote natural farming, the government aims to enroll 36,000 farmers in the Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Start-up Scheme, part of the Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Scheme.
3. Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition Project (HP Shiva): Total budget for the scheme -Rs1292 croreAim -to encourage horticulture development in nine districts.It will cover 6,000 hectares and promote the cultivation of fruits like oranges, guavas, litchi and plums,Expected to benefit 15,000 farming families directly. The target is to produce 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of fruit annually by 2032 with a market value of Rs. 400 crore.
4. E-taxi under the Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Swarojgar Yojna: The Chief Minister symbolically handed keys to 16 electric taxi owners under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme 2023. The beneficiary of the scheme receives a 50 % subsidy for the purchase of vehicles. Electric vehicles will be leased to the state government for five years.The state government will buy organic and vermicompost directly from farmers at Rs 300 per quintal. The amount is directly transferred into the farmer’s account.This is expected to boost farmer’s income.
5. Uber launches women-only bike taxi service ‘Moto Women’ in Bengaluru: Ride-hailing giant Uber India has introduced ‘Uber Moto Women’ in Bengaluru, marking its first women-exclusive bike taxi service globally.The service, which connects female riders with female drivers, is set to expand to other major metropolitan cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad.Uber Moto Women drivers will have the option to switch between accepting only female riders or all passengers.Additionally, to ensure passenger safety, Uber has integrated real-time trip sharing with up to five trusted contacts, phone number anonymisation, and RideCheck – a system that monitors route deviations and unexpected stops.A dedicated 24×7 safety helpline also offers priority support for women users.
6. TransUnion CIBIL appoints Bhavesh Jain as MD & CEO: TransUnion CIBIL has appointed Bhavesh Jain as its Managing Director and CEO. He replaces Rajesh Kumar, who stepped down after five years in the role.Rajesh has decided to move on after a continuous 32-year career in financial services. Jain, who served as chief revenue officer for five years, now assumes the top role.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. CM Dhami inaugurated 10th World Ayurveda Congress 2024 at Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 10th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2024 at Dehradun. The 10th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2024 will be held in Dehradun from 12-15th December 2024.Theme 2024 – Digital Health- an Ayurveda Perspective
The first Ayurveda Conference was organised in Kochi, Kerala, in 2002.It is organised every two years, and the 9th edition of the World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo was held in Goa from 8-11 December 2022.The World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2024 are being organised by the Union Ministry of Ayush and the World Ayurveda Foundation.About the World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya ExpoThe World Ayurveda Foundation established the World Ayurveda Congress to promote Ayurveda as a healthcare system in India and Abroad.
2. 12 December – International Day of Neutrality: International Day of Neutrality is commemorated on December 12 every year to raise awareness regarding the importance of neutrality in intergovernmental relations and to strengthen peace and security at the global level.
On 2 February 2017, the UN General Assembly adopted without a vote resolution 71/275 introduced by Turkmenistan, recognised by the UN as a permanently neutral state since 12 December 1995 which noted the link between the preservation of peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and declared 12 December as the International Day of Neutrality.
3. 11 December – International Mountain Day: International Mountain Day is celebrated every year on 11 December.Objective – To raise awareness about the importance of mountains to life, highlight opportunities and constraints in mountain development.Theme 2024 – Mountain solutions for a sustainable future – innovation, adaptation and youthThis day, which was instituted by the UN in 2003, emphasizes the need for protecting mountain ecosystems and sustaining the means of subsistence for mountain populations.
4. 11 December – UNICEF Day: UNICEF Day is celebrated annually on 11 December to commemorate the establishment of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 1946.This day highlights the organization’s critical role in advocating for and protecting the rights of children worldwide.The day also stresses the significance of worldwide collaboration in tackling children’s difficulties, campaigning for equal chances, and ensuring impoverished children have access to important services.On December 11, 1946, the United Nations General Assembly and Ludwik Rajchman established UNICEF to address the needs of children in World War II-affected nations and give emergency aid to war-affected children and mothers.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh becomes youngest World chess champion: Indian Grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh became the youngest chess champion in the world.Gukesh made history as he clinched 18th World Chess Championship defeating Ding Liren of China in the 14th and the final match of the FIDE World Chess Championship in Singapore.With the endgame dragging out into the fifth hour, Ding made a blunder in the 55th move which cost him the match and the crown.India’s 18-year-old prodigy capped his meteoric rise scoring 7.5 points while defending champion Ding got 6.5 points in the championship. In total 14 matches, Gukesh won three while Ding succeeded in two, rest nine matches were drawn.Gukesh beat the record previously held by Garry Kasparov who got the crown at age of 22. Gukesh is the second world champion from India after Viswanathan Anand, who won the title four times.
2. Mumbai Indians appoint Carl Hopkinson as new fielding coach: Mumbai Indians have appointed Carl Hopkinson as their new fielding coach ahead of IPL 2025.Hopkinson has replaced James Pamment, who was MI’s fielding coach for seven years.Hopkinson recently finished his stint as England’s long-standing fielding coach, a role which he took up in 2018.He was involved in England’s ODI World Cup win on home soil in 2019 and the T20 World Cup triumph in Australia in November 2022. Hopkinson was also the head fielding coach for the England U19 team in the 2022 ICC U19 World Cup.
3. India Wins Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024: India’s women’s hockey team triumphed in the Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024, held in Muscat, Oman. They secured victory against China after a tense shootout, marking their second consecutive title in this tournament. The final match began with China taking an early lead when Jinzhuang Tan scored in the 30th minute. India equalized in the third quarter with a goal from Kanika Siwach in the 41st minute. The match concluded with a 1-1 draw, leading to a penalty shootout.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. NISAR Satellite Launch Set for March 2025: In March 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the NISAR satellite, a milestone in space exploration, the 2.8-tonne satellite will be deployed using the GSLV Mk-II rocket. NISAR represents a collaborative effort between India and the United States, culminating in a ₹5,000-crore project initiated in 2009. NISAR is a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite. Unlike traditional satellites that capture images with cameras, SAR satellites emit radio signals that bounce back to generate detailed images. This technology allows NISAR to operate effectively in darkness, adverse weather, and dense vegetation.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Asian Development Bank approves $788 million loan for Amaravati in AP: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a USD 788.8 million (over Rs 6,600 crore) results-based loan to Andhra Pradesh for the development of Amaravati as a green and smart capital city that offers world-class infrastructure.The loan will be provided in Japanese yen, amounting to 121.97 billion yen.The Amaravati Inclusive and Sustainable Capital City Development Programme is designed to transform Amaravati into a growth hub for the region, enhancing economic prospects, providing job opportunities, and improving living conditions of the residents.ADB and other multilateral development banks (MDBs) will bring global expertise and technical support to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, establishing a strong foundation for a dynamic, sustainable, and vibrant capital city.
2. ADB approves $500 million loan to boost India’s sustainable infrastructure: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million loan to support India’s economic growth by promoting environmentally sustainable infrastructure.The ADB loan, with a sovereign guarantee, to India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) will advance sustainable infrastructure development.This will help IIFCL provide long-term capital for infrastructure projects focusing on connectivity and energy transition as well as under-resourced sectors like urban projects, education, and health care.
3. HSBC, IFC launch $1 bn trade finance programme for emerging markets: HSBC and the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) will jointly provide funding to trade transactions valued at up to $1 billion, in a move to help fill a gap in financing for emerging market trade.They would equally share the risk on a portfolio of trade-related assets held by emerging-market banks in 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.The deal aims to support cross-border trade and bolster exports in critical industries as economies face geopolitical tensions and trade barriers that could create uncertainty for supply chains and threaten economic growth.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Nobel Prize 2024 winners Honoured in Stockholm and Oslo: The 2024 Nobel Prize winners were honored in ceremonies held in Stockholm and Oslo on 10 December 2024.The Nobel Prize was instituted by the Nobel Foundation in memory of Alfred Nobel, who passed away on 10 December 1896.The Nobel Prizes are conferred every year on 10th December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.The Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economic Science Nobel laureates are honored at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. The Peace Prize is awarded to its recipient in Oslo, Norway.
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