Daily GK Update- 8th Dec, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Lalduhoma takes oath as Chief Minister of Mizoram: Veteran politician and Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma sworn-in as the Chief Minister of  Mizoram at Raj Bhawan in Aizawl. Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath to Mr Lalduhoma. Former IPS officer Lalduhoma led his party to a decisive victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections. The party bagged 27 seats in the 40-member House. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) was reduced to 10 seats while the BJP got 2 seats.

 

2. PM Modi to inaugurate Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit in Dehradun: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ‘Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023’ at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. The two-day summit is being organized on the theme of “Peace to Prosperity”. ‘Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023’ is a step towards establishing Uttarakhand as a new investment destination. The summit will be attended by thousands of investors and delegates from across the world.

 

3. RBI keeps policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent in its latest monetary review meeting. This is for the fifth time in a row that the MPC has maintained the status quo. The Governor said, real GDP growth for the current year 2023-24 is projected at 7% - with Quarter 3 at 6.5% and Quarter 4 at 6%. Real GDP growth for Quarter one of 2024-25 is projected at 6.7% for Quarter 2 at 6.5% and for Quarter 3 at 6.4%.

 

4. Max Life Insurance appoints Rajiv Anand as chairman: Max Life Insurance Board of Directors has appointed Rajiv Anand as the new chairman of Max Life Insurance. He has been associated with the Company as a Non-Executive Director since April 6, 2021. Earlier, Mr. Rajiv was the deputy managing director at Axis Bank. Rajiv has joined Max Life Insurance with more than 30 years of experience. Govt. extends restrictions on onion exports to March 31: India has extended restrictions on the export of onions until March 31, 2024. The restriction, which stipulates a minimum export price of $800 per metric ton, was earlier valid until Dec. 31, 2023. This measure aims to boost the availability of onions in the domestic market and control their prices.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UNICEF to unveil 'Green Rising' initiative at COP28: UNICEF's Generation Unlimited, in collaboration with India's Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change will unveil the "Green Rising" initiative at COP28 in Dubai. The global "Green Rising" initiative and the "Green Rising India Alliance" marks a collaborative effort involving UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, and a diverse network of public, private, and youth partners.

 

2. Ajit Doval participates in 6th NSA-level Meeting of Colombo Security Concla: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval participated in the 6th NSA-level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave in Port Louis, Mauritius. The 6th NSA-level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave was hosted by Mauritius. The NSA of Member Countries participated along with senior delegates from Bangladesh and Seychelles. Member States reviewed the progress of the decisions taken at the 5th NSA-level Meeting and agreed on a Roadmap of Activities for 2024.

 

3. Nirmala Sitharaman & 3 other Indians among Forbes list of ‘World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’ of 2023: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, HCL Corporation Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Steel Authority of India Chairperson Soma Mondal and Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw are the four Indians among the 100 named in Forbes’ annual list of ‘The World’s Most Powerful Women of 2023. Sitharaman has made it to the list for the fifth year in a row, ranking at number 32. This is the 64-year-old BJP leader’s best ranking so far — in 2022, she had ranked at 36, while she was 37 in 2021, 41 in 2020 and 34 in 2019. While Malhotra was ranked 60th, Mondal took the 70th spot and Mazumdar-Shaw the 76th. They had made it to the prestigious list last year also at 53rd, 67th and 72nd spots respectively.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. ICC unveils vibrant logo for men's and women's T20 World: The International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled a vibrant makeover of the ICC T20 World Cup’s new brand identity. The logo seamlessly transforms the ‘T20’ text into a battling stance enclosed within a kinetic sphere, embodying the drama of each delivery. The transformation aims to encapsulate the inherent drama, fast-paced action and high-octane moments that define T20 cricket – a format celebrated for its relentless energy.

 

2. China’s Ningbo to host World Weightlifting Championships 2026: The Chinese city of Ningbo will host the 2026 World Weightlifting championships, following the 2024 edition in Manama (Bahrain) and the 2025 edition in Forde (Norway). The International Weightlifting Federation announced in a statement after a vote by the IWF Executive Board, meeting in Doha, Qatar, that Ningbo has experience in successfully staging international sports events. Ningbo, located in China’s eastern coastal province of Zhejiang, is not far from the cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou. The venue of the championship will be the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre, which was built in 2019 with a 10,000-seat capacity, reports Xinhua.

 

 

 

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Meta and IBM launched ‘AI Alliance’ to promote open-source AI development: Facebook’s parent company, Meta, and IBM have launched a new group called the AI Alliance advocating for an “open-science” approach to AI development that puts them at odds with rivals Google, Microsoft and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. These two diverging camps – the open and the closed – disagree about whether to build AI in a way that makes the underlying technology widely accessible. The AI Alliance – led by IBM and Meta and including Dell, Sony, the chipmakers AMD and Intel and several universities and AI startups – is “coming together to articulate, simply put, that the future of AI is going to be built fundamentally on top of the open scientific exchange of ideas and on open innovation, including open source and open technologies”, Gil said in an interview with the Associated Press before its unveiling.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. 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. As per the data submitted by the bank, 98.32 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

 

2. SBI to acquire 20 percent stake in SBI Pension Funds for Rs 230 crore: The Executive Committee of the Central Board (ECCB) of the State Bank of India (SBI) has accorded final approval to the Bank for acquiring 20 percent stake held by SBICAPS (SBI Capital Markets Ltd) in SBIPFPL (SBI Pension Funds Private Ltd). The acquisition, which will be completed by December 15, 2023, is for a cash consideration of ₹229.52 crore, as per SBI’s regulatory filing. SBICAPS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBI. Post-acquisition, SBI will have 80 percent stake in SBIPFPL, with the balance being held by SBI Funds Management Ltd. The latter is a joint venture of SBI (62.53 percent) and Amundi (36.73 percent).

 

3. Federal Bank Named “Bank of the Year (India)” by Financial Times: Federal Bank, a leading financial institution, has been recognized as “Bank of the Year (India)” by Financial Times owned The Banker, one of the only three global awards that considers the work of banks spanning 120 countries. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the Bank’s unwavering commitment to innovation, customer-centric services, and its outstanding contributions to the banking industry over the past year. One of the standout initiatives that garnered attention was the introduction of the Digital Personal Loan by Federal Bank. This innovative product allows customers to seamlessly apply for and receive loans entirely online.

 

 

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. CII Sports Business Awards 2023 to KIIT India: Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) bagged the Best Sports Facility award in the first edition of the CII Sports Business Awards 2023.

Dr. Achyuta Samanta (KIIT and KISS founder) received the award from Chanakya Chaudhry, chairman of the CII National Committee on Sports. Jay Shah and Nita Ambani and Samanta were recognised as the best Sports Business Leaders.

 

2. Indian-Origin Novelist Meira Chand Receives Singapore’s Highest Arts Award: 81-year-old Indian-origin writer Meira Chand was among the three Singaporeans conferred the Cultural Medallion, the city-state’s most prestigious arts accolade, in recognition of their artistic excellence and contribution to enriching the country’s arts and culture scene. Meira Chand, fellow novelist Suchen Christine Lim and Malay dance veteran Osman Abdul Hamid received the award from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a ceremony held at the Istana. The award comes with an SGD 80,000 (approximately Rs 49 lakh) grant for each recipient to support their artistic pursuits. A Singaporean of Swiss-Indian parentage, Meira Chand, along with Lim, is the first English-language female writer to be conferred the award since Ho Minfong in 1997.

 

3. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi named Time Athlete of the Year for 2023: Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina, has been named Time magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2023. Messi won the Ballon d’Or for a record-breaking eighth time and, by moving to Inter Miami, raised awareness of the sport in the US. Messi joins the likes of Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, LeBron James, and the United States women’s national team to win the award. New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge won the award in 2022.

Daily GK Update- 7th Dec, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Revanth Reddy takes oath as Telangana CM: Senior Congress leader A Revanth Reddy sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Telangana at Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad. Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Revanth Reddy and a few ministers.

Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu was sworn in as Telangana's Deputy CM. Congress won 64 seats by leaving the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi party with 39 seats and forming its first government in the state.

 

2. Garba of Gujarat inscribed in UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Garba of Gujarat has been inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity by UNESCO. This decision was taken at the Botswana convention of UNESCO. Garba of Gujarat is the 15th ICH element from India to join this list.  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage is underway in Botswana.

 

3. Government decides to implement component of "Nari Adalat" in phased manner: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani has informed the Rajya Sabha that the Government has decided to implement the component of "Nari Adalat" in a phased manner under Mission Shakti. In the first phase, Assam and the Union  Jammu and  Kashmir have been selected by her Ministry to implement the component of Nari Adalat.  The Central government is implementing 'Mission Shakti' as an umbrella scheme for the safety, security and empowerment of women.

 

4. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates 59th Fertiliser Association of India Annual S: Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilisers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates 59th Fertiliser Association of India Annual Seminar 2023 at a glittering function in Delhi. The theme of the seminar was “Innovations in Fertiliser and Agriculture Sectors”. India is the first nation to introduce Nano fertilisers such as Nano DAP and Nano Urea through the Indian Research ecosystem.

 

5. Lok Sabha passes Jammu and Kashmir Reservation & Reorganisation (Amendment): The Lok Sabha has passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, regarding reservation in jobs and admission in professional institutions to members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other socially and educationally backward classes.

 

6. Rizz Crowned Oxford Word of the Year 2023: This year, a shortlist of eight words was created, all chosen to reflect the mood, ethos, or preoccupations of the past year, and put them to the public to vote for their favourites. Through head-to-head competitions over a four-day voting period, the public narrowed down our shortlist of worthy contenders to four finalists: rizz, Swiftie, prompt, and situationship. ‘rizz’ is a colloquial noun, defined as ‘style, charm, or attractiveness.

 

7. UP Municipality passed proposal to rename Firozabad as Chandra Nagar: Firozabad Municipal Corporation in Uttar Pradesh has approved the proposal to rename Firozabad as Chandra Nagar.

Firozabad is famous for the construction of bangles. It is located 40 kilometres from Agra and 250 km from the capital city on the east side. Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow is about 250 km east from here. Two towns come under Tundla and Shikohabad under the Firozabad district. Earlier the Indian Railways in October announced the renaming of three railway stations -Pratapgarh, Antu and Bishnathganj — in the Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh. Railways informed that the Pratapgarh station was renamed as ‘Maa Belha Devi DhamPratapgarh Junction’, Antu as Maa Chandika Devi Dham Antu, and Bishnathganj as ‘Shanidev Dham Bishnathganj’. Varanasi’s Manduadih Rail Station has also been renamed as Banaras. Uttar Pradesh government also renamed the Jhansi railway station as Veeranagana Laxmi Bai railway station.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Samir Shah Picked as New Chairman of the BBC: India-born Media Executive Samir Shah named as UK's Preferred Candidate for BBC Chair. He will replace Richard Sharp, who had been forced to resign after his communication with former prime minister Boris Johnson came under scrutiny.

His appointment will almost certainly be ratified by a parliament committee. Samir Shah has worked in television for more than 40 years and has held a number of roles at the BBC, including as head of current affairs.

 

2. International Civil Aviation Day 2023: 7th December: International Civil Aviation Day is observed on 7th December  to emphasize the crucial role of innovation in shaping the future of civil aviation worldwide. It holds special significance as it marks the establishment of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1944.  This year’s theme, “Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development,”.

 

3. Italy withdraws from China's Belt and Road Initiative: Italy has withdrawn from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), more than four years after becoming the only Group of Seven (G7) nation to sign up. The decision was long-anticipated and signals a strategic shift in Italy’s approach to its relationship with China. The Belt and Road Initiative, spearheaded by Chinese President Xi Jinping, aims to enhance China’s influence globally by investing in infrastructure projects across participating countries.

 

4. Saudi Arabia introduces 96-hour Umrah stopover visa for Indian: Saudi Arabia has introduced a 96-hour stopover visa for Indians traveling to the West or the Middle East. This initiative, part of the Saudi Vision 2030 to streamline Umrah visits, was announced by Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan. The Umrah Visa, valid for 90 days, enables holders to reside and travel within Saudi Arabia, ensuring an efficient and convenient pilgrimage experience.

 

5. World’s biggest experimental nuclear fusion reactor JT-60SA inaugurated in Japan: The world’s largest and most advanced nuclear fusion reactor ‘JT-60SA’ started its official operations in Japan’s Ibaraki Prefecture. JT-60SA is a joint initiative between the European Union and Japan The experimental nuclear fusion reactor is quite a new technology. However, some say that it is the answer to humanity’s future energy needs by establishing nuclear fusion as a clean energy source. Notably, fusion differs from fission, the technique currently used in nuclear power plants. The process includes fusing two atomic nuclei instead of splitting one. The JT-60SA reactor is a six-storey-high machine, which is kept in a hangar in Naka north of Tokyo. It comprises a doughnut-shaped “tokamak” vessel set to contain swirling plasma heated up to 200 million degrees Celsius.

 

7 December – International Civil Aviation Day: The International Civil Aviation Day is observed every year on 7 December across the globe. The day aims to raise awareness of the importance of civil aviation and its significant contribution to the world economy as well as other fields. Theme 2023 – Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development The celebration of the day is linked to the establishment of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is the regulatory body behind effectively managing international travel, security, and cooperation. ICAO is a United Nations body, which was formed 75 years ago and aims to maintain aviation safety worldwide The celebration day of International Civil Aviation was established in 1994 while commemorating the 50th anniversary of signing the Convention on International Civil Aviation by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Later in 1996, the United Nations General Assembly declared December 7 to be observed as International Civil Aviation Day. The date marks the establishment of ICAO on December 7, 1944.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India observes Armed Forces Flag Day to honour martyrs & soldiers in armed: India observes Armed Forces Flag Day today to honour the martyrs and the soldiers in the armed forces. It has been observed on the 7th of December annually since 1949. Flag Day is aimed at expressing gratitude and celebrating the selfless contribution the soldiers make towards the nation.

 

2. Captain Geetika Koul becomes first woman medical officer to be deployed at Siachen: Captain Geetika Koul has become the first woman medical officer in the Indian Army to be deployed at Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield. This achievement follows her successful completion of rigorous induction training at the esteemed Siachen Battle School, which includes high-altitude acclimatization, survival techniques, and specialized medical procedures. Captain Geetika Koul from the Snow Leopard Brigade becomes the first woman medical officer of the Indian Army to be deployed at the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen after successfully completing the induction training at Siachen Battle School. Siachen, located in the northern Himalayas, poses challenges due to its strategic importance, harsh climate, and demanding terrain

 

3. Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi appoints as VC of Naval Staff: The Government of India has appointed Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi as the new Vice Chief of Naval Staff. Currently, at the helm of the Indian Navy’s Western Command headquartered in Mumbai, Vice Admiral Tripathi is set to assume his new responsibilities on January 4, 2024. The present Vice Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral SJ Singh, will be stepping into the role of the new Western Naval Commander. Vice Admiral Tripathi has served in various prestigious roles, including Chief of Personnel at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Navy). An alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, he joined the Indian Navy in July, 1985. Specialising in Communication and Electronic Warfare, Tripathi has held key roles on frontline warships, such as Signal Communication Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer.

 

SPORTS

 

1. India bags 3 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze medals in IBA Junior World Boxing: India bagged three gold, five silver, and one bronze medals at the IBA Junior World Boxing Championship 2023 in Yerevan, Armenia. Akansha won gold in 70 kg category, Pari clinched gold medal in 48 kg weight category, while Nisha won gold in 52 kg category. In 52 kg weight category, Vini won silver medal, while Srishti Sathe won silver medal in 63 kg weight category. In the boys’ category, Jatin won the silver medal in the 54 kg category.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI Card joins Bharat BillPay in the credit card category: NPCI Bharat BillPay (NBBL) has integrated SBI Card, one of India’s leading pure-play credit card issuers, into the credit card category of Bharat BillPay. This integration marks a significant advancement, streamlining the credit card bill payment process for millions of customers. NBBL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). SBI Card has an extensive customer base, totalling around 1.68 crores.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Taylor Swift named Time Magazine's person of the year: Taylor Swift has been named Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2023. The star, whose Eras tour broke box office records and provoked an inquiry into Ticketmaster's sales practices, follows the likes of Barack Obama, Greta Thunberg and Volodymyr Zelensky. The award goes to an event or person deemed to have had the most influence on global events over the past year.

 

Daily GK Update- 6th Dec, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Maharashtra govt declares Mahaparinirvan Din a public holiday in Mumbai: Maharashtra govt declares 'Mahaparinirvan Din' a public holiday in Mumbai. Mahaparinirvan Diwas pays tribute to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his death anniversary. This day has been declared as a public holiday in Mumbai and its suburbs as per official notification which states that government and non-government institutions will remain closed on account of Mahaparinirvan Diwas.

 

2. Govt introduces face recognition & Aadhaar identification based eKY: The government has introduced Face recognition and Aadhaar identification based eKYC of farmers to ensure transparency in the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme (PM-Kisan). In the scheme, an amount of six thousand rupees is transferred annually in three equal installments of two thousand rupees directly into the bank accounts of the farmers. The Government of India has disbursed over 2.60 Lakhs Crore rupees to more than 11 Crore farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme.

 

3. Nagaland Marks 5th Honey Bee Day Celebrating Apicultural Tradition: The 5th Nagaland Honey Bee Day was celebrated under the theme- 'Bee & Honey Trials' at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.

Under the guidance of the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) , traditional beekeeping has transformed into a sustainable source of income for many in the state, contributing to economic sustainability. Nagaland currently has over one lakh beekeepers and total honey production in the state stands at 440 Metric Tonnes per annum.

 

4. Jithesh John takes charge as IBBI's Executive Director: Jithesh John took charge as Executive Director, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI). IBBI is a key institution in implementing the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Jithesh John, an Indian Economic Service Officer of the 2001 batch, brings with him over two decades of diverse experience in the Government of India.

 

5. Tamil Nadu Government to set up Footwear Park: The Tamil Nadu (TN) government has planned to set up a footwear manufacturing park at an outlay of Rs 400 crore on a 250-acre land. The industrial project would generate 20,000 new jobs in Ranipet district. Chief Minister Stalin announced this after virtually inaugurating a footwear manufacturing facility set up at an investment of Rs 400 crore by JR One Footwear Pvt Ltd at Eraiyur in Perambalur district, about 250-km south of Chennai.

 

6. Delhi Government Launched Motor Vehicle Aggregator Scheme: Delhi Government has introduced the Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme. The scheme mandates a complete transition to electric vehicles (EVs) for all cab aggregators and delivery service providers by 2030. The policy applies to all aggregators offering passenger transport services in Delhi. It also includes those engaged in delivery services, including e-commerce vehicles.·

 

7. Revanth Reddy takes oath as CM of Telangana: Telangana Congress president and newly minted Kodangal MLA Revanth Reddy takes oath as the chief minister of the state. The Congress had swept into power, defeating the incumbent BRS by bagging 64 seats in the 119-house assembly

Reddy will be the second man to occupy the CM’s chair in the state, which was formed in 2014.

Born in Mahboobnagar district, Anumula Revanth Reddy started his career in politics with the ABVP while he was a student. He was also associated with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (now changed to Bharat Rashtra Samithi). Reddy has been an MLA thrice, twice from the TDP and once from the Congress, which he joined in 2017.

 

8. 6 December – National Microwave Oven Day: National Microwave Oven Day is observed every year on 6 December. Objective – To create awareness about the things that a microwave oven can perform and explore ways by which we can simplify our kitchen work. In 1945, Percy Spencer – a self-taught engineer, realised that while working with active radar, a candy bar placed inside his pocket was melting. He used the same technique to make popcorn in a microwave. However, that became a funny story to be told later – the popcorn test blew up in his coworker’s face After multiple trials, microwaves came to be used in the households. It got a negative reputation in the early days because of leaks in some of the models – however, soon microwaves became a necessity in the kitchen.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UAE's Mohammed Al Ramsi appointed chairman of WRC23: United Arab Emirates' Mohammed Al Ramsi has been appointed Chairman of World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC 23). The event is being held in Dubai, UAE, from November 20th to December 15th, 2023. WRC is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) every four years to revise the global use of radio-frequency spectrum, geostationary - satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits.

 

2. China Adopts ‘One Province, One Policy’ Approach to Financial Risk Management: China’s National Financial Regulatory Administration, led by Li Yunze, is introducing a groundbreaking approach to tackle financial risks at the provincial level. This move comes in the wake of concerns about the country’s economic struggles, exacerbated by the lingering effects of restrictive Covid Zero policies and a persistent property crisis. Li Yunze’s directive of “one province, one policy” underscores the commitment to customize risk management approaches. This shift aims to enhance the effectiveness of financial policies by acknowledging and addressing the unique challenges faced by individual provinces.

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army Hosts 'Inno Yodha 2023' for Innovation and Modernization: The Indian Army today 'Idea and Innovation Competition and Seminar -Inno Yodha 2023' in New Delhi. The event aimed at signifying the importance accorded by the Indian Army in embracing modernisation and pursuing technological advancement through indigenization. Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande encouraged the 'Thinking Warriors' in the Indian Army to continue conceptualising practical and innovative solutions for the nation and Indian Army.

 

2. GRSE delivers India’s largest survey vessel INS Sandhayak to Navy: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers has delivered the largest survey vessel built in India, INS Sandhayak to the Indian Navy on Navy Day. INS Sandhayak is the first in a series of four Survey Vessels (Large) being built by GRSE. The Naval vessel was launched on 05 December 2021. INS Sandhayak is the first of four advanced Survey Vessels (Large) or SVLs. It is a new version of a previous ship with the same name, which was a survey vessel in the Indian Navy from 1981 to 2021. The new INS Sandhayak and its companions are more advanced than the older vessels, which have all been decommissioned. GRSE has partnered with the Indian Navy for the last 62 years after delivery of the first indigenously-built warship INS Ajay in 1961. Since then, GRSE has delivered 70 more warships to the Indian Navy.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Men's Volleyball Club World Championship to begin in Bengaluru: FIVB ( Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) Men's Volleyball Club World Championship 2023 commenced at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru. This is the first time that the prestigious tournament will be held in India. The five-day tournament will see six teams compete for the top honours. Prime Volleyball League Season 2 champions, Ahmedabad Defenders, will become the first Indian team to feature in the competition.

 

2. 3rd ITF Title by Winning Kalaburagi Open Tennis 2023: India's Ramkumar Ramanathan won his third ITF title by defeating Austria's David Pichler in straight sets in a one-sided men's singles final at the Kalaburagi Open tennis tournament. Ramkumar, who won the ITF Mumbai Open title in early December 2023, defeated Pichler 6-2, 6-1 in just 64 minutes to clinch his third ITF title. Ramkumar, who was a member of the Indian Davis Cup team, received a check of US $ 3200 and 25 ATP points for this victory.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Indian woman Akshata at NASA on Mars rover mission: Dr Akshata Krishnamurthy is the first Indian citizen to operate the Mars Perseverance rover and currently works for NASA as the mission science phase lead for the NASA-ISRO Synthetic. The scientist had travelled to the US 13 years ago for higher studies and faced numerous challenges as she carved out a space for herself.

The ‘rocket scientist’ obtained her Masters from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before pursing a Doctorate at MIT.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bharti Airtel Becomes the 8th Company to Surpass ₹6 Lakh Crore Mcap: Bharti Airtel, one of India’s leading telecommunications companies, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the 8th company to surpass Rs.6 lakh crore market capitalization. This surge was attributed to the positive market sentiment following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s resounding victory in state elections. The company’s stock witnessed a 2% increase during trade, contributing to a year-to-date gain of 28%.

 

2. RBI cancels licence of Shankarrao Pujari Bank in Maharashtra: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Shankarrao Pujari Nutan Nagari Sahakari Bank Limited in Kolhapur city. The Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra, has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank. According to RBI, the licence was cancelled as the bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects and it does not comply with the provisions of Section 11(1) and Section 22 (3) (d) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act 1949. The bank has also failed to comply with various other sections of the Banking Regulation Act 1949. As per the data submitted by the bank, 99.85 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Olympian M. Sreeshankar Clinches 35th Jimmy George Foundation Award: Olympian M. Sreeshankar has been honored with the prestigious 35th Jimmy George Foundation Award for emerging as the best sportsperson of Kerala. This recognition comes as a testament to Sreeshankar’s outstanding achievements, including securing the long jump silver medal in both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Sreeshankar’s triumph in being named the best sportsperson of Kerala in the 35th Jimmy George Foundation Award is a testament to his dedication, skill, and consistent excellence in the field of athletics.

 

2. Jason Momoa’s ‘Deep Rising’ movie won ALT Environment Film Festival: Jason Momoa produced “Deep Rising” and director Luke Griswald-Tergis’ “Pleistocene Park” are the top winners at the All Living Things Environment Film Festival. ALT EFF focuses on imperative topics of climate change and the environment at large through the lens of cinema. The festival, which runs till 19 December, is screening over 60 films from 50 countries with shows in across 20 cities in India Deep Rising,” produced by Momoa and directed by Matthieu Rytz, won the best international feature, while the best of the festival award by the Habitat Trust went to Griswald-Tergis’ “Pleistocene Park” at an event.

 

3. ISRO and team Chandrayaan-3 honoured at India Business Leader: Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Lunar South Pole, marking India as the first country to achieve this feat. The mission’s accomplishment solidified India’s status as a space superpower and earned ISRO a prestigious award at the India Business Leader Awards. Chandrayaan-3 endured extreme lunar conditions, showcasing Indian scientific resilience and ingenuity. The Chandrayaan-3 mission endured extreme conditions, including lunar nights with temperatures dropping to minus-280 degrees Celsius. Its Vikram rover navigated uncharted lunar terrain to successfully complete its objectives. On August 23, India’s Chandrayaan-3 made a successful lunar landing, marking a significant achievement as India became the first country to reach the Lunar South Pole.