NATIONAL AFFAIRS
PM MODI ADDRESSED INDIA MOBILE CONGRESS 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated and addressed the virtual edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2020 on 8th December 2020 through video conference.
The objective of IMC 2020 is to align with the Prime Minister’s vision to promote ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, ‘Digital Inclusivity’, and ‘Sustainable development, entrepreneurship & innovation.
The theme for IMC 2020 is “Inclusive Innovation – Smart, Secure, Sustainable”. The three-day event will be held from 8th to 10th December 2020.
IMC 2020 has been organised by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
GWALIOR AND ORCHHA INCLUDED AS UNESCO’S SITES
The historical fort cities of Gwalior and Orchha in Madhya Pradesh have been included in the list of UNESCO’s world heritage cities under it’s The World Heritage Cities Programme.
With this Inclusion, the total number of UNESCO World Heritage Cities of India will increase to 40.
Gwalior was established in the 9th century and ruled by Gurjar Pratihar Rajvansh, Tomar, Baghel Kachvaho and Scindias. Orchha means ‘hidden palace’, as its name suggests it is popular for its temples and palaces and was the capital of the Bundela kingdom in the 16th century.
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre Director: Mechtild Rossler.
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre Headquarter: Paris, France.
PM MODI INAUGURATED AGRA METRO PROJECT
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the construction work of the Agra Metro project in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The Agra Metro project comprises 2 corridors with a total length of 29.4 km.
It would connect major tourist attractions like Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra with railway stations and bus stands.
The estimated cost of the project will be around Rs 8,379.62 crore. It will be completed in 5 years. The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) has set the target to complete the first phase of the Agra Metro Rail Project by December 2022.
NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR INAUGURATED 'SAHAKAR PRAGYA'
The Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar recently unveiled a new initiative called Sahakar Pragya.
Sahakar Pragya is an initiative of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), to help in capacity development of the cooperative sector in India, through the training programme.
Under this initiative, 45 new training modules have been developed for the farmers and would be imparted to primary cooperative societies in rural areas of the country by NCDC.
UK PM BORIS JOHNSON as CHIEF GUEST AT REPUBLIC DAY
United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson is expected to be the chief guest at 2021 Republic day with Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inviting him.
Johnson, on his part, has invited PM Modi to the G-7 summit in the United Kingdom next year. The last British prime minister at the Republic Day parade was John Major in 1993.
Indo–British relations refer to international relations between the Republic of India and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. India has a high commission in London and two consulates-general in Birmingham and Edinburgh.
PASSEX EXERCISE: INDIAN AND RUSSIAN NAVY
The Indian Navy (IN) and the Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) are undertaking Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The exercise will help in enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices between both the friendly navies.
Indian Navy is being represented by indigenously constructed guided-missile frigate Shivalik and anti-submarine corvette Kadmatt along with integral helicopters. Russian Federation Navy includes guided-missile cruiser Varyag, the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev and medium ocean tanker Pechenga.
MT. EVEREST DECLARED TALLER BY CHINA & NEPAL
The world’s highest mountain peak ‘Mount Everest’ has become taller by 86 cm, as per a survey conducted jointly by Nepal and China.
The Government of Nepal and China jointly conducted an exercise to measure the world’s highest peak. The new height of Mt Everest has been calculated at 8,848.86 metres, which is 0.86m more than the previous measurement done by India in 1954.
In feet, the new elevation is about 29,031 ft, or about 3 ft higher than Nepal’s previous claim. In Tibetan language, Mount Everest is known as Mount Qomolangma while in Nepalese language it is famous as Sagar-Matha.
In 1955, the height of Mount Everest was measured at 8848 m (29,028 feet) by the Survey of India.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
NEW ZEALAND DECLARES CLIMATE EMERGENCY
New Zealand has declared a “climate emergency” and promised to make its public sector carbon neutral by 2025.
New Zealand now joins 32 other countries that have declared a climate emergency. They include Japan, Canada, France and the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern told legislators that the climate emergency declaration was “an acknowledgement of the next generation – an acknowledgement of the burden that they will carry if we do not get this right and do not take action now”.
• Prime minister of New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern.
• Capital of New Zealand: Wellington.
CYCLONE 'BUREVI' HITS NORTHERN SRI-LANKA AND INDIAN REGIONS
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), 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.
BANGLADESH SIGNED ITS FIRST PTA WITH BHUTAN
Bangladesh has signed its first Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Bhutan, which will allow duty-free access to a range of goods between the two countries and hence boost bilateral trade between them.
Under the PTA, 100 Bangladeshi products will get duty free access to Bhutan, while 34 items from Bhutan will get duty free access into Bangladesh.
The PTA was signed on 6th December 2020, to mark 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Bhutan. In 1971, Bhutan was the first country in the world to recognise Bangladesh as an independent country.
SINGAPORE TO HOST WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM'S MEETING 2021
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has decided to host its 2021 annual meeting in Singapore, which earlier was scheduled to take place in Lucerne-Burgenstock, Switzerland from 13-16 May 2021.
This would be the second time since its inception in 1971 that the forum will be held outside Switzerland.
The meeting is generally held in Davos, Switzerland, but amid covid, the meeting was first shifted to Lucerne-Burgenstock, Switzerland in October 2020.
• World Economic Forum Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland.
• World Economic Forum Founder: Klaus Schwab.
• World Economic Forum Founded: January 1971.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
OECD PROJECTS INDIA'S FY21 GDP AT -9.9%
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has marginally raised its GDP forecast for India to a contraction of 9.9% in 2020-21 (FY21) from its earlier projection of (-) 10.2% in September 2020.
OECD expects the GDP to rebound to 8% in 2021-22 (FY22) and 5% in 2022-23 (FY23).
In terms of the global economy, OECD expects the world GDP to contract 4.2% in 2020. This estimate was (-) 4.5 per cent in September forecast.
• OECD Headquarters: Paris, France.
• OECD Secretary-General: Jose Angel Gurria.
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT’s QRMP SCHEME FOR GST PAYER
The Central Government has launched ‘Quarterly Return filing & Monthly Payment of Taxes (QRMP)’ scheme for small taxpayers under the GST system.
The notifications for the same were issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
After the above changes, the act is named as the Central Goods and Services Tax (Thirteenth Amendment) Rules, 2020.
• CBIC Chairman: M. Ajit Kumar.
APPOINTMENTS
VARSHA JOSHI APPOINTED AS 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.
Joshi’s appointment is made effective from December 1, 2020, until further orders.
• National Dairy Development Board Founded: 16 July 1965.
• National Dairy Development Board Headquarters: Anand, Gujarat.
UTPAL KUMAR SINGH AS SECRETARY GENERAL OF LOK SABHA
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appointed senior IAS officer Utpal Kumar Singh as Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha and Lok Sabha Secretariat.
His appointment will come into effect from December 1, 2020. He will succeed incumbent Snehlata Shrivastava.
Mr. Singh is a 1986 batch IAS officer of Uttrakhand Cadre and has been appointed as Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha in the rank and status of Cabinet Secretary.
RAJEEV CHAUDHARY APPOINTED AS 27TH DG OF BRO
Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhary has been appointed as the 27th Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
His appointment is effective from 1st December 2020. Lt Gen Chaudhary succeeds Lt Gen Harpal Singh who has been appointed as the new Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
The BRO is responsible for construction and maintenance of all border roads including those along the frontiers with China and Pakistan.
• BRO Headquarters: New Delhi.
• BRO Founder: Jawaharlal Nehru.
• BRO Founded: 7 May 1960.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF IGF
The International Golf Federation (IGF) elected Annika Sorenstam as its new president effective January 1, 2021.
IGF President, Peter Dawson, is stepping down after 10 years of leadership and service. Sorenstam, a 72-time winner on the LPGA Tour and former No. 1 from Sweden.
• International Golf Federation Founded: 1958.
• International Golf Federation Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
• Golf became an Olympic sport again in 2016 after 112 years.
AWARDS & HONOURS
AR RAHMAN: AMBASSADOR OF BAFTA BREAKTHROUGH
Oscar and Grammy-winning Indian composer, AR Rahman has been roped in as ambassador of the BAFTA Breakthrough initiative in India.
The BAFTA Breakthrough initiative is part of the Academy’s year-long programme to support new talent, coming up in the film, games and television industries in the UK, China, India and the US and gives them access to unique career development and mentoring opportunities.
It is a unique opportunity for promising artists to be supported by a world-renowned organisation, including connections with other talented creatives across the world and being mentored by BAFTA-winners and nominees.
RANJITSINH DISALE: GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE 2020
Ranjitsinh Disale, a government teacher from Zilla Parishad Primary School, in Paritewadi village, Solapur district of Maharashtra, has won the 2020 Global Teacher Prize. He is the first Indian to win this award, which carries prize money of $1 million (Rs 7.4 crore).
The 32-year-old has won the annual Global Teacher Prize 2020 in recognition of his efforts to promote girls’ education in his village and trigger a quick-response (QR) coded textbook revolution in India.
The Global Teacher Prize is an annual prize founded by the Varkey Foundation in 2014 to recognise an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. The award is given in partnership with UNESCO.
RAJ KAMAL WON RABINDRA NATH TAGORE LITERARY PRIZE
Journalist-author, Raj Kamal Jha has won the 3rd Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for his novel, “The City and The Sea”.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the winner of the $5,000 prize was announced online in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jha’s book, which is based on the December 2012 Nirbhaya rape and murder case, was chosen from ten shortlisted books including Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island, Nirmala Govindarajan’s Taboo and Ranjit Hoskote’s Jonahwhale.
The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize was founded in 2018 by US-based publisher Bundalo as a platform for world peace, literature, art, education and human rights.
UNITED NATIONS INVESTMENT PROMOTION AWARD 2020
The Geneva-based United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has awarded the 2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award to Invest India, the National Investment Promotion Agency of India.
The Invest India was declared the winner from among the 180 global Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs).
The response of IPAs to the COVID-19 pandemic was the basis for the evaluation of the 2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award. The annual award recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements and best practices of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) across the globe.
• Invest India MD & CEO: Deepak Bagla.
• Invest India Headquarter: New Delhi.
SPORTS
LEWIS HAMILTON WON BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2020
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) has won the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain.
The race was the fifteenth round of the 2020 Formula One World Championship. This is the 11th victory for Hamilton of the season, and 95th F1 win of his career.
Also, Hamilton now holds the records for the most wins (95), in Formula One history. Red Bull Racing teammates Max Verstappen (Netherlands) and Alexander Albon (Thailand) were second and third respectively.
COREY ANDERSON RETIRED FROM ALL FORMS OF CRICKET
New Zealand all-rounder, Corey Anderson has announced his retirement from international cricket.
Anderson has played 13 Tests, 49 ODIs and 31 T20Is for New Zealand, scoring 2277 runs with two hundred and 10 half-centuries and 90 wickets.
Anderson rose to fame after scoring fastest 100 in the history of One Day International cricket (ODI), in 36-ball against West Indies in January 2014. However, this record was broken by AB de Villiers, in January 2015 who scored the fastest ODI century against the West Indies in Johannesburg in 31 balls.
JEHAN DARUVALA BECOMES 1ST INDIAN TO WIN F2 RACE
Jehan Daruvala created history, as he became the first Indian to win a Formula 2 race at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, Bahrain.
This was the final race of the F2 season. The Formula 2 Championship is a second-tier single-seater racing championship.
The 22-year-old Jehan Daruvala is currently a member of the Red Bull Junior Team and competes for Carlin Motorsport.
SWEDISH ATHLETE NAMED AS WORLD ATHLETES OF YEAR
Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas are the 2020 Male and Female World Athletes of the Year.
They are their countries’ first recipients of the prestigious athletics award announced during the virtual awards.
At the age of 20, Duplantis is the youngest ever winner of the Male Athlete of the Year Award after twice breaking the absolute world record (6.17m and 6.18m) in February before producing the highest outdoor vault in history (6.15m) in September.
Rojas who broke the world indoor triple jump record with a leap of 15.43m, finished the shortened 2020 season undefeated in four triple jump competitions indoors and outdoors.
IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES
BSF 56TH RAISING DAY: 1ST DECEMBER
The Border Security Force (BSF), is observing its 56th Raising Day on 01 December 2020. BSF was formed on December 1, 1965, as a unified central agency, after the Indo-Pak and India-China wars
It was established for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith. BSF has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India and stands as the world’s largest border guarding force.
• BSF Director General: Rakesh Asthana.
• BSF Headquarters: New Delhi.
WORLD AIDS DAY: 1ST DECEMBER
Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day.
The day provides an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
This year the theme of World AIDS Day is “Global solidarity, shared responsibility”. In 2020, the world’s attention has been focused by the COVID-19 pandemic on health and how pandemics affect lives and livelihoods.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed annually on 2nd December since 1986 by the United Nations General Assembly.
The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, and the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, marks the date of the adoption of the convention by the General Assembly, of the United Nations.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSON WITH DISABILITIES
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed annually on December 3.
The IDPWD day was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly. The 2020 theme: ‘Not all Disabilities are Visible’.
The day is celebrated to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
• United Nations Secretary-general: António Guterres.
• United Nations Headquarters: New York, United States.
NATIONAL 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.
The Indian Navy is the marine branch of the Indian Armed Forces and is led by the President of India as Commander-in-Chief.
• Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.
WORLD SOIL DAY 2020: 5TH DECEMBER
The World Soil Day is celebrated every year on December 5 to raise awareness of the importance of soil quality for human well-being, food security and ecosystems.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) campaign “Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity” aims to raise awareness of the importance of sustaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being.
The date of 5 December was chosen because it corresponds with the official birthday of the late H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, who was one of the main proponents of this initiative. An international day to celebrate Soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002.
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION DAY: 7TH DECEMBER
The International Civil Aviation Day is celebrated every year on December 7 to recognize the importance of aviation to the social and economic development of the world.
The purpose of International Civil Aviation Day is to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States.
The Day was established in 1994 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1996.
• International Civil Aviation Organization Headquarter: Montreal, Canada.
• International Civil Aviation Organization Council President: Salvatore Sciacchitano.
REPORTS AND INDEXES
RELIANCE INDUSTRIES TOPPED FORTUNE 500 LIST 2020
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has topped the 2020 Fortune 500 list of Indian companies, released. The revenue of RIL clocked Rs 615,854.00, accounting for 7% of cumulative revenues and 11 per cent profit of the companies.
The country’s biggest oil firm, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC), bagged the second spot, followed by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at the third position.
The list was published by Fortune India, which is part of the Kolkata-based RP Sanjiv Goenka Group.
GITANJALI RAO: KID OF THE YEAR BY TIME MAGAZINE
The Indian-American young scientist and inventor, Gitanjali Rao, has been named as the first-ever ‘Kid of the Year’ by the iconic TIME magazine. This is the first time that the TIME magazine has launched the Kid of the Year” award.
The 15-year-old Gitanjali Rao was chosen from among more than 5,000 nominees, for her “astonishing work” using technology to tackle issues ranging from contaminated drinking water to opioid addiction and cyberbullying.
She has created applications named ‘Kindly’ to help people, especially kids, fight opioid addiction and cyberbullying.
• TIME magazine Headquarters: United States.
• TIME magazine Editor: Edward Felsenthal.
ADAR POONAWALLA NAMED AS 'ASIAN OF THE YEAR'
Adar Poonawalla, the Chief Executive of the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), has been named among six “The Straits Times Asians of the Year” for 2020, by Singapore’s leading daily, The Straits Times, for their work in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
SII has collaborated with the University of Oxford and the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to develop COVID-19 vaccine, ‘Covidshield’, and is conducting trials in India.
The other five Asians of the Year includes, Chinese researcher Zhang Yongzhen, China’s Major-General Chen Wei, Japan’s Dr Ryuichi Morishita, Singapore’s Professor Ooi Eng Eong, South Korean businessman Seo Jung-jin
INDIA’s Ranked AS 10TH NATION IN CCP INDEX
India is ranked at 10th place in the ‘Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2021’, released on 7th December 2020. The overall score of India is 63.98.
It is for the second time in a row that India emerged among the top 10 countries with higher climate performance from among 58 economies. India was at 9th spot last year in the index.
Sweden (4th) United Kingdom (5th), Denmark (6th), Morocco (7th), Norway (8th), Chile (9th) were among the top 10 rankers in the index. It was also noted that, from the G20 countries, only the EU as a whole, along with the UK and India, ranked among high performers.
NIRMALA SITHARAMAN 41ST SPOT IN FORBES LIST
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has grabbed the 41st spot in the 2020 list of Forbes 100 most powerful women in the world.
This is the second time she features in the list, in 2019 ranked at 34 and ranked 41st in 2020. India’s leading Businesswomen, Kiran Mazumdar-shaw, Chairman of Biocon Limited also featured in the list at 68th position.
The list also saw the biggest jump in ranking to 3rd position by Kamala Harris, Vice President-Elect of USA, and Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wajed is ranked at 39.
• Forbes is the 103-year-old American Business Magazine, issued weekly.
• Editor in Chief- Steve Forbes.
• First issued in September 1917.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
'PIXXEL' TO LAUNCH REMOTE SENSING SATELLITE
The Bengaluru-based space-technology start-up “Pixxel”, has signed a pact with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch its first remote-sensing satellite on Isro’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket in early 2021.
Earlier, the startup had planned to launch this satellite towards the end of 2020 and on a Russian Soyuz rocket. Pixxel aims to put a constellation of 30 earth observation micro-satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit by mid-2023.
The agreement was signed between Pixxel with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company under the Department of Space.
CHINA: 2ND NATION TO UNFURL FLAG ON THE MOON
China has become the second country in the world to unfurl its national flag on the moon surface.
Earlier this feat was achieved only by the USA when it planted its flag on the Moon during the Apollo mission in 1969.
China achieved the historic feat when ‘Chang’e 5‘ probe of China, which was launched to collect soil and rock samples of the lunar surface, took off from the moon to return to earth after planting the national flag on 3rd December 2020. Till date, this record is maintained only by the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.
OBITUARIES
OWNER OF MDH MASALA 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. He officially established the company in 1959. The business did not just flourish in India only but Gulati became a distributor and exporter as well.
FORMER PM OF PAKISTAN PASSED AWAY
The 15th Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zafarullah Khan Jamali passed away.
He served as PM from November 2002 to June 2004 for duration of 1 Year, 7 Months and 3 days. He is the first politician from Balochistan to become Prime Minister.
Jamali served the country when former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was the President of the country. In 2004, Jamali made the first high-level visit from Pakistan to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban government in 2001.
MISCELLANEOUS
ADB RELEASED NEW BOOK ON REGIONAL COOPERATION
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.
VICE PRESIDENT RELEASED BOOK ON APJ ABDUL KALAM
The Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu has released the book titled “40 Years with Abdul Kalam- Untold Stories”, a book on the life of the former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
The book was authored by Dr A.Sivathanu Pillai. The book is published by Pentagon Press LLP and the foreword was written by Pranab Mukherjee, former president of India.
The book provided a first-hand account of the life of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who was described as the epitome of simplicity, honesty and wisdom. The book discusses his life events including the events at ISRO, DRDO and BrahMos and his interaction with the power corridors.
