Daily GK Update- 5th Dec, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Internet Governance Forum IIGF’23 held in New Delhi: The third edition of the IIGF has been conducted under the overarching theme ‘Moving Forward–Calibrating Bharat’s Digital Agenda’ Calibrating Bharat’s Digital Agenda’ in New Delhi. The first two editions of the IIGF were convened in 2021 and 2022. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a multi-stakeholder platform bringing together representatives from various groups, considering all to be at par to discuss public policy issues related to the Internet.

 

2. RK Singh inaugurates National Conference on “Energy Transition in India”: Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable EnergyK. Singh has inaugurated a two-day National Conference on “Energy Transition in India – Road Travelled and Opportunities Ahead” in Gandhinagar. Organized as a part of the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, the event is being attended by more than 250 Indian and foreign representatives of power and renewable energy sector. The two-day conference was focused on scaling up renewable energy, generation and consumption by considering challenges related to grid integration, financing tools and developing supporting infrastructure. The main objective of this conference is to move forward with an ambitious vision of promoting clean energy and facilitating the energy transition. India is committed to reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030 compare to 2005 level. 80 percent of the carbon emission burden lies with developed countries, which account only one-third of the world’s population.

 

3. PM Modi unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort”: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. Modi paid homage to the rich maritime heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who constructed several coastal and sea forts, including the Sindhudurg Fort. The Maratha empire founder’s seal inspired the new naval ensign that was adopted last year when PM Modi commissioned the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Digital Competitiveness Ranking: India ranked 49th; topped by US: The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) unveiled its 2023 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR) revealing India’s position at 49th among 64 economies. According to IMD’s study, India has made significant in terms of cybersecurity knowledge but lacks on fronts like technology and future readiness. This ranking shed light on crucial elements contributing to a nation’s digital prowess, a quality gaining paramount importance as technology continues to reshape societies globally. According to IMD, the United States has reclaimed the top spot in this year’s ranking, solidifying its position as a “digital nation” that actively integrates digital technologies, including AI, across governmental, corporate, and individual domains. The Netherlands secured the second position, advancing four places, while Singapore, leading in the technology factor, secured the third spot. Denmark, the previous overall leader, slipped to fourth place due to declines in future readiness and technology factors. Switzerland, excelling in the knowledge factor, maintained its top position, completing the top five.

 

2. The word “Rizz” chosen as the Oxford Word of the Year 2023: Often associated with celebrities and other famous figures, “Rizz” has been chosen by the Oxford University Press as its word of the year 2023. It’s a term Gen Z has mainly embraced, and it beat out words such as “prompt,” “situationship” and “Swiftie” that were considered by Oxford University Press, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary. While Merriam-Webster’s word of the year was “authentic,” rizz was also under consideration. Collins Dictionary selected “artificial intelligence” as their word of the year in November Last year, the slang term “Goblin mode” took the prize as Oxford’s 2022 word of the year. Oxford described it as a type of behavior when someone is “unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.

 

3. 5 December – World Soil Day: World Soil Day is observed every year on 5 December. Objective – To highlight the significance of maintaining healthy soil and advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. Theme for 2023 – Soil and water, a source of life The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) recommended establishing an international day for celebrating soil in 2002. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly designated 5 December 2014 as the 1st official World Soil Day.

 

4. 5 December – International Volunteer Day: International Volunteer Day is celebrated every year on 5 December. Objective – To highlight the contributions of volunteers worldwide and recognize the impact of their selfless actions on communities and societies. Theme 2023 – The Power of Collective International Volunteer Day, established by the United Nations in 1985, provides an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of millions of volunteers who dedicate their time, skills, and resources to make a positive difference.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Ruturaj Gaikward becomes the fastest Indian to 4,000 T20 runs: Ruturaj Gaikwad has become the fastest Indian to accomplish 4,000 runs in men’s T20 cricket. He accomplished this remarkable feat in only 116 innings. He achieved the feat in the fourth T20I against Australia at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. The fastest to achieve this landmark is the legendary Chris Gayle, who accomplished it in just 107 innings. Gaikwad’s name sits among illustrious company, with players like Shaun Marsh (113 innings) and Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam (115 innings) also ahead of him in this regard. The 26-year-old only needed seven runs to achieve 4,000 runs in the shortest format of the game.

 

2. Vaishali Rameshbabu becomes India’s 84th grandmaster: Vaishali Rameshbabu has become India’s 84th grandmaster after surpassing 2500 rating during the 2023 IV Elllobregat Open. Vaishali is now the third female grandmaster from India after Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. Vaishali and her younger brother R. Praggnanandhaa is now the first sister-brother pair to be grandmasters. She defeated Turkish FM Tamer Tarik Selbes (2238) in the second round to surpass rating and has started the tournament with two consecutive wins. She is now the current world number 11 in women’s ranking with a live rating of 2501.5 and India’s number two.

In the memorable year, Vaishali has won FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2023 and qualified for Candidates 2024.

 

3. Amazon acquires ICC cricket rights for Australia till 2027: E-commerce giant Amazon’s streaming service Prime Video has signed a four-year deal with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to provide exclusive live broadcast rights in Australia for ICC cricket, which will be available on Prime Video Australia. The partnership will see Prime Video Australia exclusively stream all men’s and women’s events, including the Men’s and Women’s Cricket World Cups, T20 World Cups, Champions Trophy, U19s, and the World Test Championship Final. The deal includes streaming rights in Australia for 448 live games from 2024 to 2027. The new partnership, which begins in January 2024, will give cricket fans across Australia exclusive access to all matches in every tournament of elite ICC competition in all cricket formats, at no extra cost to a Prime membership.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. LIC introduces new whole life insurance policy Jeevan Utsav: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched a special scheme, named Jeevan Utsav. LIC’s Jeevan Utsav is a non-linked, non-participating, individual, savings, whole life insurance plan based on the selected Premium Paying Term (Regular Income to Flexi Income), 10% of the Sum Assured is paid back annually after the specified years. The fact that this plan offers life insurance coverage for the duration of the policyholder’s life is a plus point. This plan is available for age starting from 90 days to 65 years. It gives guaranteed lifelong income and lifelong risk cover.

 

2. Kanchan Devi first woman DG of Doon-based ICFRE: Kanchan Devi, an IFS officer from the 1991 batch of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was appointed as director general of the Dehradun-based Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). This marks a historic moment as Kanchan becomes the first woman officer to hold this prestigious position in the premier council under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The ICFRE, headquartered in Dehradun, plays a crucial role in advising the Government of India, state governments, and various stakeholders, including farmers, industries, and academicians, on forestry research and technologies. It addresses emerging challenges in the field of forest conservation.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. India’s Safeena Husain honoured with Qatar WISE Prize 2023: Safeena Hussain, founder of ‘Educate Girls,’ has become the first Indian woman to bag the WISE Prize worth 5 lakh USD for mobilizing 14 lakh out-of-school girls in Indian villages to get back to mainstream education. The prize, awarded by the Qatar Foundation at the 11th Edition of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Summit earlier this week in Doha, is one of the most prestigious awards in education. Safeena said, Sixteen years back, when ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ was unheard of, I had decided to set up Educate Girls, an NGO to bring out-of-school girls back to mainstream education. Even in the 21st century, there are villages in India where goats are considered assets but girls are considered liability. The WISE prize was established in 2009 by the Qatar Foundation.

 

2. ESIC bagged “ISSA Vision Zero 2023” Award at the 23rd World Congress: The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has bagged the “ISSA Vision Zero 2023” Award at the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Sydney, Australia “Vision Zero” is a transformational approach for the prevention of accidents at workplaces integrating the three dimensions of safety, health, and well-being at all levels of work. ESIC had great success in outreach in the field of safety and health at workplaces by aligning the prevention strategy besides post-accidental mechanism for medical care and cash benefits to the workers and their dependents. The award also underlines the improvements that have been made in the service delivery of the ESI Corporation as well as increase in its administrative and operational efficiency using IT-enabled initiatives

 

3. Amazon won National Award for empowering individual with disabilities:  Amazon India received the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for fostering an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities awarded by Gol. The award underscores their commitment to diversity and inclusion, making significant strides in empowering persons with disabilities. Amazon India’s focus on inclusivity includes diverse workplace representation.

Daily GK Update- 4th Dec, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi unveil the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort: Prime Minister Narendra Modi  unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district. Modi paid homage to the rich maritime heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who constructed several coastal and sea forts, including the Sindhudurg Fort. The Maratha empire founder's seal inspired the new naval ensign that was adopted last year when PM Modi commissioned the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.

 

2. Tap water supply reaches around 13.69 Crore households under Jal Jeevan Mis: Tap water supply has reached around 13.69 Crore households under the Jal Jeevan Mission - Har Ghar Jal.

This covers 71 percent of total rural households, up from 17 per cent in 2019. According to a data released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, nine states and union territories including Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

 

3. Andhra Pradesh braces for Cyclone Michaung: The Andhra Pradesh administration has issued a high alert for eight districts given that Cyclone Michaung is set to make landfall near Bapatla. The cyclone is expected to hit the coastline at a speed of 90-100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph. Special funds have been allocated to collectors of the eight districts to evacuate people from low-lying areas and the path of the cyclone and provide food, dry ration at relief camps.

 

4. Dhami releases Book Highlighting PM Modi's Role In Transforming DM: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami  released  a book which highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts in bringing about a "paradigm shift" in India's disaster management. The book, 'RESILIENT INDIA: How Modi Transformed India's Disaster Management Paradigm'.

 

5. President of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto arrives in New Delhi: President of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India. He is being accompanied by a high-level official delegation. He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan tomorrow. President Ruto will hold detailed discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the afternoon tomorrow. The visit is expected to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

 

6. 2 December – National Pollution Control Day: The National Pollution Control Day is observed every year on December 2. It is marked in the memory of those who lost their lives in the 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy that took place on December 2 and 3. The theme for National Pollution Control Day 2023 is “Sustainable Development for a Clean and Healthy Planet“ It is estimated that at least 4,000 people died when a pesticide plant by American chemical company Union Carbide’s pesticide plant began leaking the toxic methyl isocyanate gas into a populated area in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India re-elected to International Maritime Organisation Council: India was re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with the highest number of votes in the elections held in London for the 2024-25 biennium session. The 33rd Assembly of the IMO Council is being held from 27 November to 6 December 2023 at the IMO Headquarters in London.

The Council is an executive body of the IMO and is responsible for monitoring the work of the organization.

 

2. India ranks 49th in 2023 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking: India has been ranked 49th out of 64 economies in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR) released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). India has made significant in terms of cybersecurity knowledge but lacks on fronts like technology and future preparedness. The United States has topped in the report. The Netherlands took second place in the ranking, while Singapore, the leader in the technology factor, took third place.

 

3. ADB Commits USD 170 Million to transform Kochi's Water Landscape: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a significant loan of USD 170 million for the modernization of water supply services in Kochi, Kerala. Objective of the loan is to modernize water supply services, elevate urban living standards, ensure access to clean water, and enhance climate resilience in Kochi. The project will rehabilitate and upgrade five existing water treatment plants that have a cumulative production capacity of 325 million litres per day (MLD).

 

4. Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts, spewing ash 3 km high: Indonesia’s Marapi volcano in West Sumatra province erupted,spewing volcanic ash as high as 3,000 metres into the air.  According to the country's disaster management agency BNPB, the 2,891-metre-high volcano erupted at 2.54 p.m.  Volcanic ash was dispersed at high intensity to nearby districts. Pictures from BNPB showed cars and roads covered with ash.

 

5. 2 December – International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed every year on 2 December. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 2, 1986. This observance recognizes the efforts of all those who continue to fight against modern manifestations of slavery like trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the most severe forms of child labour, forced marriage and enlistment of children into the armed forces. Theme 2023 – Fighting Slavery’s Legacy of Racism through Transformative Education On this day, organizations, governments, and individuals come together to fight against the deplorable practice of slavery in any form across societies. The United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, adopted by the General Assembly on December 2, forms the basis of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. 4 December – Indian Navy Day: India celebrates Indian Navy Day every year on December 4. This day holds a special place in the hearts of Indians, who celebrate the occasion with great pride and vigour. This is the day when the Indian Navy proudly shows its strength, commitment and resilience. The Indian Navy celebrates Navy Day on December 4, in memory of “Operation Trident” launched by the Indian Navy against Karachi Harbour during the India-Pakistan war in 1971. The operation was started in response to Pakistan’s operation Chengiz Khan, which was a preemptive airstrike against an Indian airbase in the western sector. The Indian Navy bravely gave a blunt reply to Pakistan’s attack through Operation Trident. After Operation Trident, the Indian Navy also launched Python and Operation Cactus. It is also a day to remember the brave soldiers who lost their lives during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Amazon acquires ICC cricket rights for Australia till 2027: E-commerce giant Amazon's streaming service Prime Video has signed a four-year deal with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to provide exclusive live broadcast rights in Australia for ICC cricket, which will be available on Prime Video Australia The partnership will see Prime Video Australia exclusively stream all men’s and women’s events, including the Men’s and Women’s Cricket World Cups, T20 World Cups, Champions Trophy, U19s, and the World Test Championship Final

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Qatar WISE Prize 2023 for India's Safeena Husain: The prestigious WISE Award 2023 was honoured to Safina Hussain at the WISE 11 Summit (World Innovation Summit for Education). The WISE Prize for Education is the first global award of its kind that honours an individual for outstanding contributions to education. Working in partnership with government and communities, Educate Girls reintegrates them into the formal education system. The WISE prize was established in 2009 by the Qatar Foundation.

 

Daily GK Update- 3rd Dec, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurated Sahitya Akademi Book Fair: Union Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal has inaugurated the Sahitya Akademi Book Fair in New Delhi. The Sahitya Akademi Book Fair will continue till 9th of this month and feature a host of cultural programs and rendezvous with prominent writers. The Minister said that books played an important role in nation-building and the constitution makers were all voracious readers. He added that the decision to put equality before liberty as a fundamental right in the constitution was due to a greater understanding of the society achieved from reading various constitutions and important books.

 

2. Bihar government launched “Mission Daksh” to minimize school dropout: Bihar government has launched its ambitious scheme to minimize school dropout. The scheme, called Mission Daksh (Dynamic Approach for Knowledge and Skill) aims at offering special Hindi, Mathematics, and English classes to weak students of classes 3-8 across the state. A teacher will teach only five students, who cannot read and write Hindi and English fluently and are not good at basic Mathematics. Daksh classes were run successfully between 3.30 pm and 4.15 pm in over 60,000-plus schools across the state. An estimated five lakh teachers taught over 25 lakh students.

 

3. Narayan Sheshadri appointed as IDRCL chairman: Former KPMG managing partner Narayan Seshadri has been appointed as chairman of the India Debt Resolution Co Ltd (IDRCL). IDRCL chairman Diwakar Gupta resigned to take up a post at parent National Asset Reconstruction Co Ltd (NARCL). NARCL and IDRCL aim to address the mounting problem of bad loans and non-performing assets (NPAs) in the Indian banking sector. Seshadri, a chartered accountant, is a financial sector veteran with experience in buying and turning around distressed companies. He is currently an independent director in the company and will take over immediately.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities being observed today: The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is commemorated every year on 3rd December to spread awareness and mobilize support for the rights and well-being of people with disabilities globally. This year’s theme is “United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for, with, and by persons with disabilities”.

 

2. World’s first portable hospital ‘Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube’ unveiled in Gurugram: The World’s first portable hospital, ‘Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube’ was unveiled in Designed indigenously under the Project ‘BHISHM’, the modular trauma management and aid system is made up of 72 detachable mini-cubes, each being a specialized station for emergency response and humanitarian efforts. It can handle bullet injuries, burns, head, spinal and chest injuries, minor surgeries, fractures and major bleeding. It can treat as many as 200 patients. These cubes are light and portable, and can be rapidly deployed anywhere, from airdrops to ground transportation.

 

3. Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia becomes 8th wonder of the world: Angkor Wat temple, located in the northern province of Siem Reap in Cambodia has become the eighth Wonder of the World. The unofficial title Eighth Wonder of the World is sometimes given to buildings, structures, projects, designs, or even people who are thought to be comparable to the seven Wonders of the World.

 

4. India re-elected to International Maritime Organization: India was re-elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council with the highest tally and the term of council will be for the biennium 2024-25. India’s re-election falls under the category of 10 states with “the largest interest in international seaborne trade”, alongside Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The highest votes are indicative of the government’s determination to strengthen India’s varied contributions to international maritime operations. The council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the assembly, for supervising the work of the organization.

 

5. 2 December – World Computer Literacy Day: The World Computer Literacy Day is marked annually on December 2. It is observed to celebrate the advancements in computer technology and promote digital literacy, especially amongst marginalized communities. The theme for 2023 is believed to be: Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies. World Computer Literacy Day was started in 2001 by NIIT Limited (National Institute of Information Technology), an Indian multinational skills and talent development corporation. The company was then dedicated to the cause of educating more women and children by providing them with computer literacy skills. Since its inception in 1981, NIIT has spread to over 30 countries. Rajendra Singh Pawar and Vijay K. Thadani, the founder of NIIT launched World Computer Literacy Day.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. West Indies’ Dowrich announces retirement from cricket: Former West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich (32-year) has retired from international cricket. He played in 35 tests, scoring 1570 runs with a high score of 125 not out against Sri Lanka in 2018. Dowrich made his Test debut against Australia in 2015 and went on to play 35 Tests. His only ODI came against Bangladesh in 2019, and he was set to add to it in the upcoming ODI series against England. His last outing for the West Indies was against New Zealand in December 2020. The 32-year-old played 35 Tests, scoring 1570 runs with the best of 125 not out against Sri Lanka. As a wicketkeeper, he also recorded 85 catches and five stumpings.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. ISRO to launch ‘XPoSat’ Satellite: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is all set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat); the mission aims to explore the polarization of powerful X-ray sources. The primary payload Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX) developed by Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru (RRI). According to ISRO, while space-based X-Ray astronomy has been established in India, focusing predominantly on imaging, time-domain studies, and spectroscopy, the upcoming XPoSat mission marks a major value addition. This research, supplementing traditional time and frequency domain studies, introduces a novel dimension to X-Ray astronomy, generating anticipation and excitement within the scientific community. The XPoSat spacecraft is designated for observation from Low Earth Orbit (non-sun synchronous orbit of ~650 km altitude, low inclination of approximately six degree), carrying two scientific payloads. With these two payloads, the XPoSat mission is capable of simultaneous studies of temporal, spectral, and polarization features of the bright X-Ray sources.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank partners Water.org to offer sanitation loan: Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has partnered with Water.org, a global non-profit organisation that helps people get access to safe water and sanitation through affordable financing, such as small loans. Under the partnership, Water.org will assist Ujjivan SFB in identifying areas that require financing for clean water and hygienic sanitation. org will provide technical assistance, market assessment, development of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material, monitoring and evaluation support. To support the cause, Ujjivan SFB will be offering loans to existing as well as new customers starting from Rs 6,000 up to Rs 1,00,000 to enable them to construct and/or renovate water and sanitation facilities.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ranveer Singh honoured by Sharon Stone at Red Sea Film Festival: Ranveer Singh was honoured by Sharon Stone at the Red Sea International Film Festival. The festival was held in Jeddah. Ranveer received the honour for his contributions towards cinema. Alongside him, actor Diane Kruger and actor-writer Abdullah Al-Sadhan will be honoured as well.

Daily GK Update- 2nd Dec, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Bengaluru To Get India’s Largest Circular Railway, Spanning 287 Kilometers.: A new circular railway expanding 287 kilometers around Bengaluru and connecting major nearby towns, is set to become India’s largest network, as mentioned by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The goal of this project is to reduce traffic congestion and enhance connectivity in the region. The government has allocated Rs 7 crore for alignment study of this circular railway, aiming to improve local train services alleviating congestion on existing rail networks, and complement the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project and Namma Metro initiatives.

 

2. Cyclone Michaung is going to landfall on coastal Andhra.: Cyclone ‘Michaung’ is expected to strike the eastern coast of the country. The IMD has given an update on the current situation of the cyclone. The name Michaung is given by Myanmar. According to MD Sunanda from the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre,It is expected to get stronger, turning into a deep depression and eventually a cyclonic storm within the next 48 hours. The Cyclone Warning Centre also forecasts increased winds and rainfall along the North Tamil Nadu coast and South Andhra coast starting from December 3.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. The United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting is scheduled to be held in Accra Ghana.: Minister of state for Defense Ministry, Ajay Bhatt is going to visit Accra, Ghana on December 5-6, 2023, for an official visit. He will be there for a United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting. The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting plans to talk about the problems UN peacekeepers are dealing with. India consistently leads by sending the most troops and equipment to these missions. Further the Defense Minister will have one-on-one talks with other Ministers, discussing defense collaboration to enhance partnerships. He will also connect with the Indian community in Accra during his visit.

 

2. The 91st edition of Interpol General Assembly is held in Vienna, Austria.: The INTERPOL General Assembly started its 91st meeting in Vienna a hundred years after the organization began in the capital of Austria. Karl Nehammer, who is the Federal Chancellor of Austria, officially opened the conference. This year, over 1,000 police and law enforcement leaders from more than 160 countries have come together to talk about making international police cooperation stronger. They aim to address the increasing transnational crime happening worldwide. The General Assembly is the governing body of INTERPOL, making decisions on what the organization will do and how it will spend money in the next year. It will talk about stopping environmental crimes, preventing child sexual abuse, and catching people involved in financial crimes, with detailed reports on each.

 

3. ALTERRA Fund for climate investment is launched by the UAE.: The United Arab Emirates announced its commitment to contribute $30 billion to a new fund focused on addressing climate issues. This fund, called Alterra, has influential partners like BlackRock, Brookfield, and TPG joining in as initial supporters. Alterra aims to attract $250 billion in investments by 2030. Its main focus is to enhance access to funding, particularly for developing nations in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, collectively known as the Global South. The fund also aims to guide private markets towards investments that tackle climate challenges. It will be actively involved in areas such as transitioning to cleaner energy, reducing industrial carbon emissions and advancing climate technology. The COP, a yearly meeting that brings together leaders, scientists, environmentalists, activists, business figures, and others, is taking place in the Emirates this year from November 30 to December 12.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India-Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise Culminates At Southern Command In Pune.: The Mitra Shakti 2023 joint military exercise, involving the Indian and Sri Lankan Armies, finished at Pune’s southern command foreign training node. The 12-day exercise aimed to help both armies understand each other’s strategies and tactics better. The exercise had troops from both the Indian Army and Air Force, demonstrating a strong teamwork involving different parts of the military.

 

2. Amritsar To Host Military Literature Festival Next Year.: The Military Literature Festival is coming back for its second district-level edition in Amritsar. This event is organized by the Military Literature Festival Association and led by Lt. Gen TS Shergill (retd.).It aims to raise awareness about the important role of the armed forces and inspire the youth. The festival is planned for early 2024, considering student’s exam schedules and other logistical factors. The next edition, set to start in Chandigarh on December 2 with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurating. This edition focuses a lot on Punjab and its history. It looks at the military history of the region discussing Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s strategy and how he added places like Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Baltistan, and Ladakh to India through conquest.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. The total GST revenue 1.68 lakh crore in the month of November 2023.: As of December 1, the Ministry of Finance reported a 15% increase in the government’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for November, totaling Rs 1.68 lakh crore. However, this figure shows a 2% drop from October’s GST collection of Rs 1.72 lakh crore. Despite the slight decrease the monthly GST collection has remained above Rs 1.5 lakh crore for nine months in a row. Although November’s total GST collections decreased slightly from October, the year-on-year growth exceeded 15%, making it the highest in 2023 to 2024.

2. SEBI is announced to extend the timeline of implementation for SCORES platforms.: SEBI, the market regulator, has extended the deadline for linking the SEBI Complaint Redressal (SCORES) platform with the online dispute resolution platform. Initially set for December 4, the new deadline is now April 1, 2024. In a notice dated September 20, 2023, SEBI stated that market entities should request SCORES authentication and Application Programming Interface (API) integration by December 4, the original deadline, to comply with the circular. The deadline for applying for SCORES authentication has now been extended to April 1, 2024.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. SKOCH Gold Award 2023 was given to PGCIL: The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has been honored with the prestigious SKOCH Gold Award 2023 in recognition of the revolutionary Pugalur Thrissur 2000 MW Voltage Source Converter High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) System that it developed. PGCIL is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Power. This award is a notable recognition of the company’s achievement in the power sector.

 

2. Abdullahi Mire Wins 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.: Somali refugee Abdullahi Mire is getting the 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award Global Laureate for helping displaced kids get education. He grew up in Kenya’s Dadaab camps and gave over 100,000 books to children and youth there. The award ceremony is on December 13, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland.