NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. West Bengal
launches massive ‘Duare Sarkar’ outreach campaign: West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee
has launched a massive campaign titled ‘Duare Sarkar’ (government at doorsteps)
to aware people about the 11 state-run welfare schemes and help them avail its
benefits. The two-month-long outreach programme has been launched keeping in
view the 2021 state assembly elections which are due in April-May. The campaign
will continue from December 1, 2020, to January 30, 2020, in four phases, with
slogan ‘jar jekhane darkar, asche apnar duare sarkar’ (government will be at
your doorsteps whenever you need it). The 11 schemes will be made available to
the beneficiaries through camps set up for the purpose.
Note: Chief Minister of West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee;
Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar.
2. ADB sign $132.8
million loan agreement for Meghalaya’s Power supply: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the
Government of India have signed a USD 132.8 million loan agreement for
Meghalaya Power Distribution Sector Improvement Project. The project aims to
strengthen and modernize the distribution network and improve the quality of
power supplied to households, industries, and businesses in the northeastern
state of Meghalaya.
About the Project: This project supports Meghalaya’s ‘24×7
Power for All’ initiative and will help the State reduce its high technical and
commercial losses through network strengthening, metering and billing efficiency
improvements. The project will construct 23 substations; renovate and modernise
45 substations, including the addition of control room equipment and protection
systems; and install and upgrade 2,214 km of distribution lines and associated
facilities covering three out of the six circles in the State. The installation
of smart meters will benefit about 180,000 households.
Note: Meghalaya Capital: Shillong; Meghalaya Governor: Satya
Pal Malik; Meghalaya Chief minister: Conrad Sangma
3. IAS officer
Varsha Joshi named Chairperson of NDDB: The Government of India has appointed IAS officer Varsha
Joshi as the new Chairperson of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). She is
presently served as Joint Secretary (CDD), Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India.
With incumbent Dilip Rath’s tenure as Chairman of NDDB ends on November 30,
2020, Joshi’s appointment is made effective from December 1, 2020, until
further orders.
Note: National Dairy Development Board Founded: 16 July 1965;
National Dairy Development Board Headquarters: Anand, Gujarat.
4. Andhra CM launches Jagananna Thodu
scheme: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
launched the Jagananna Thodu scheme under which an amount of ₹905 crore was
deposited into the bank accounts of 9.05 lakh small traders towards provision
of interest-free loan. The aim of the scheme to benefitting several vegetable
traders in the state. Vegetables, small tiffin shops, flowers, motorcycle
vendors, teeth, groceries, loom work, cloth and handlooms, lacework, steel
shops, pottery, kitchen and plastic goods, electronic goods, and several other
items will be made available for beneficiaries of the scheme.
5. Cyclonic Storm
“Burevi” over southwest Bay of Bengal: The Deep Depression formed over the southeast and adjoining
the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a Cyclonic Storm ‘Burevi’ over
southwest Bay of Bengal. It is about 240 km east-southeast of Trincomalee (Sri
Lanka), 470 km east-southeast of Pamban (Tamil Nadu) and 650 km nearly
east-northeast of Kanniyakumari (Tamil Nadu). The name of Cyclone ‘Burevi’, has
been contributed by the Maldives. This is the second cyclone formed in the
southwest region of the Bay of Bengal within a week. Cyclone Alert has been
issued for South Tamilnadu and South Kerala coasts by the India Meteorological
Department (IMD).
6. Ministry of
I&B release booklet on birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji: A booklet titled ‘PM Modi and his
Government’s special relationship with Sikhs’ was released, on the occasion of
birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It has been produced by Bureau of
Outreach Communication under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and is released
in three languages Hindi, Punjabi and English.
The booklet was jointly inaugurated by the Union Minister for
Information and Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar and Union Minister for
Civil Aviation and Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri. The
Minister credited the Prime Minister for personally supervising the smallest of
arrangements and personally seeing off the first Jattha for Kartarpur Corridor.
Mentioning other important decisions, the Minister
highlighted the decision on no taxation on Langars, FCRA Registration to Sri
Harmandir Sahib, allowing global Sangat participation, revision of ‘Blacklist’
as per the demand of Sikh community et al.
7. Indian Navy Day:
4th December: In India, December
4 is observed as the National Navy Day every year, to celebrate the
achievements and role of the naval force to the country. The theme of Navy Day
2020 is “Indian Navy Combat Ready, Credible & Cohesive”. The day is marked
in recognition of the launch of Operation Trident during the Indo-Pakistan war
in 1971. During Operation Trident, on December 4 in 1971, the Indian Navy sank
four Pakistani vessels and also killed over 500 Pakistani Navy personnel,
meanwhile, the Indian side suffered no losses.
Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh; Indian
Navy Founded: 26 January 1950
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. US Air Quality
Index: Lahore is world’s most polluted city: Lahore, the cultural capital Pakistan, has been ranked as
the world’s most polluted city, according to air pollution data released by the
US Air Quality Index (AQI). Lahore reported a particulate matter (PM) rating of
423. New Delhi stood second with a PM of 229, while Nepal’s capital Kathmandu
ranked the third with a PM of 178.
About AQI: The Air Quality Index (AQI) is released by the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to give people an idea of whether it’s
safe to breathe the air. AQI is based on the levels of five major pollutants
regulated by the EPA: ground-level ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon
monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. AQI measures air quality by
placing it on a scale of 0-500, where air quality is regarded as satisfactory
if the AQI is under 50.
2. Bata names
Sandeep Kataria as global CEO: Footwear major Bata Shoe Organization has appointed Sandeep
Kataria as the new global Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He is the first Indian
to be appointed to the global role of Bata (Headquarter-Lausanne, Switzerland).
He takes over from Alexis Nasard, who has stepped down after almost five years
in the role. Before this, Kataria was the CEO of Bata India since 2017. Under
Kataria, Bata India managed to transform into the largest footwear retailer in
India within a relatively short span.
Note: Bata Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; Bata Founded:
24 August 1894.
3. A book titled ‘Future of Regional
Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific’ by ADB: The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) has released a new book titled ‘Future of Regional
Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific’. The book provides insight on how stronger
regional cooperation strategies, including in health, trade, finance, and
disaster risk, can help governments in Asia and the Pacific accelerate economic
growth and robust recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It also explores
opportunities for economies in the region to work together to recover and
rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note: President of ADB:
Masatsugu Asakawa; Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
4. International
Day of Banks: 4th December: International Day of Banks is observed globally on the 4th of December.
On 19 December 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 74/245, which
designated 4 December as the International Day of Banks. The day is celebrated
to the recognition of the significant potential of multilateral development
banks and other international development banks in financing sustainable
development and providing know-how, and also in recognition of the vital role
of the banking systems in the Member States in contributing to the improvement
of the standard of living.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Virat Kohli
fastest to 12000 runs in ODI cricket: Virat Kohli became the fastest to reach 12,000 runs in
One-day International cricket. Kohli breached the mark in the third ODI against
Australia in Canberra. He got to the milestone in his 242nd inning thus
bettering the previous record set by Sachin Tendulkar, who got his 12000th run
in his 300th inning. Kohli is the second-highest scorer for India in ODIs
behind Tendulkar’s 18,426 from 463 ODIs. The India captain also holds the
record for the fastest batsman (in terms of innings) to 10,000 and 11,000 runs
in ODIs. Kohli reached 11,000 runs in 222 innings and became the fastest to
breach the 10000-run mark by doing so in his 205th inning.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Punjab National
Bank launches loan management solution to speed up delivery: Punjab National Bank (PNB) launched a
tech-based loan management solution called ‘LenS-The Lending Solution’, to
speed up and maintain accuracy in online loan processing and sanctioning of
credit proposals. To standardise the system, process and appraisal formats for
loan processing, speed up the process of credit sanctions, and auto-generate
loan documents, among others are the main purpose behind the launch of it. For
all kinds of loans such as MSME, agriculture, retail and other credit, the
system is expected to be implemented in a phased manner.
2. SBI along with
NPCI, Japan’s JCB launch contactless debit card: State Bank of India has partnered with
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Japan’s JCB International Co
for unveiling new ‘SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card’ on the RuPay
network. The newly launched card is loaded with unique dual interface feature
that enables the customers to use it for both contact and contactless
transaction. This card can be used in
both domestic as well as for the transactions overseas market.
Note:
IRDAI Founded: 1999; IRDAI Headquarters: Hyderabad; IRDAI Chairperson: Subhash
Chandra Khuntia.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. OECD projects
India’s GDP at -10.2% in FY21: The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) expects the Indian economy to contract by 10.2% in FY21 (2020-21) as
compared to its previous estimate of 16.7% in June. For FY22 (2021-22), the
Paris-based OECD projects India’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at
10.7%.
Note: OECD Headquarters: Paris, France; OECD Founded: 1961;
OECD Secretary-General: Jose Angel Gurria.
2. S&P Retains
India’s Growth Forecast at (-)9 Per Cent This Fiscal: S&P Global Ratings retained its
forecast of 9 per cent contraction in the Indian economy for the current
fiscal, saying even though there are now upside risks to growth but it will
wait for more signs that COVID infections have stabilised or fallen. S&P,
in its report on Asia Pacific, projected the Indian economy to grow at 10 per
cent in the next fiscal. While there are now upside risks to growth due to a
faster recovery in population mobility and household spending, the pandemic is
not fully under control.
OBITUARIES
1. MDH owner
‘Mahashay’ Dharampal Gulati passes away: The owner of MDH Masala, Dharampal Gulati passed away. He was
born in 1923 in Sialkot, Pakistan. He was fondly called ‘dalaji’ and
‘Mahashayji’. A school dropout, Dharampal Gulati joined his father’s spice
business in the early days. Back in 2019, the government honoured him with
Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in the country.
About Dharampal Gulati: After partition in 1947, Dharampal Gulati moved to India and stayed at a refugee camp in Amritsar. He then moved to Delhi and opened a store in Delhi’s Karol Bagh. Gulati officially established the company in 1959. The business did not just flourish in India only but Gulati became a distributor and exporter as well. His company exports Indian spices to various parts of the world including the UK, Europe, UAE, Canda, etc.
