NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVED ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ROJGAR YOJANA
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) to boost employment in the formal sector by encouraging the businesses to do fresh hiring amid the pandemic.
ABRY will also incentivize the creation of new employment opportunities under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0.
The Cabinet has approved an expenditure of ₹ 1,584 crores for the current financial year and ₹ 22,810 crores for the entire scheme period from 2020 to 2023.
The scheme will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after October 1, 2020, and up to June 30, 2021.
PM-WANI SCHEME APPROVED BY CABINET
The Union Cabinet has approved a scheme called the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Initiative (PM-WANI), to improve wireless connectivity and pave the way for free wireless internet in public spaces across the country.
The scheme will allow anyone, from an individual in a residential area to a Kirana shop owner to a tea shop vendor, to set up public Wi-Fi hotspot and deliver wifi services. It aims to promote the growth of public Wi-Fi networks in the country.
The scheme includes Public Data Office (PDO), Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA), App Provider, Central Registry.
VICE PRESIDENT INAUGURATED 12TH GRIHA SUMMIT
The opening ceremony of the 12th Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Summit was organized virtually. Theme: Rejuvenating Resilient Habitats.
Purpose: As a platform to discuss innovative technologies and solutions, this will help in creating robust mechanism to develop sustainable and resilient solutions for the benefit of the entire community.
Launching the event: During the event, the Vice President of India released the "SHASHWAT" magazine and the book "30 Stories Beyond Architecture".
Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) is the national rating system of India for any completed building construction.
LAKSHADWEEP INDIA’S FIRST 100% ORGANIC UT
The Ministry of Agriculture has declared Lakshadweep as India’s first Union Territory to become 100 per cent organic.
All farming activity in the UT is carried out without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. Lakshadweep is second only to Sikkim, which was India’s first state to be declared completely organic.
This comes after the UT received proper certifications and declarations under the Centre’s Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (organic farming improvement programme).
5TH INDIA WATER IMPACT (IWIS) KICKED OFF VIRTUALLY
The 5th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) kicked off on 10th December 2020 virtually. The event was inaugurated by Ratan Lal Kataria, Minister of State for Jal Shakti.
The objective of IWIS 2020 is Comprehensive Analysis and Holistic Management of Rivers and Water Bodies.
IWIS 2020 has been organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) to discuss water-related issues and steps taken to save the planet’s most precious resource.
The theme of IWIS 2020 is Arth Ganga: River Conservation Synchronised Development. The conference will have a comprehensive analysis and review of river rejuvenation and local river.
9TH SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT HELD
The 9th edition of Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS) held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
The four-day-long summit was organised by Indian Mountain Initiative (IMI) and hosted by Sustainable Development Forum Uttaranchal (SDFU), Dehradun.
The theme for 2020 SMDS was ‘Emerging Pathways for Building a Resilient Post COVID-19 Mountain Economy, Adaptation, Innovation and Acceleration’.
35TH EDITION OF INDIA-INDONESIA NAVAL CORPAT
The 35th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy is being conducted from 17 to 18 December 2020.
The 35th IND – INDO CORPAT will contribute towards the Indian Navy’s efforts to consolidate inter-operability and forge strong bonds of friendship across the Indo Pacific.
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kulish, an indigenously built missile corvette along with P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) will undertake coordinated patrol with Indonesian Naval Ship KRI Cut Nyak Dien, a Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I) class corvette and an MPA of the Indonesian Navy.
• Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.
• Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
QATAR & SAUDI ARABIA TO HOST 2030 & 2034 ASIAN GAMES
The 2030 Asian Games were awarded to Doha, Qatar and the 2034 event went to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after a deal was struck between the rival nations.
Doha beat Riyadh for the 2030 Games in the vote at the Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) general assembly.
The OCA reached a deal to vote on the 2030 host but to give the other candidate the 2034 event.
• Olympic Council of Asia Headquarters: Kuwait City, Kuwait.
• Olympic Council of Asia President: Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah.
NASA SELECT RAJA CHARI AS COMMANDER OF SPACEX CREW
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have selected Indian-American Raja Chari to be the Commander of the SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station.
Presently Raja Chari, is a colonel in the US Air Force. He will be the commander of SpaceX Crew-3 mission, while Nasa’s Tom Marshburn will be pilot and ESA’s Matthias Maurer will serve as a mission specialist. This mission is expected to be launched next year.
The crew will have a slight overlap with the Crew-2 astronauts, who are expected to launch in the spring of 2021.
PM MODI HOLDS VIRTUAL SUMMIT WITH SHEIKH HASINA
The Government of India and Bangladesh held a virtual summit to hold comprehensive discussions on the entire spectrum of the bilateral relationship, including further strengthening cooperation in the post-COVID-19 era.
The meeting was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina. The two leaders jointly inaugurated the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link, which would connect the borders of the two neighbouring countries.
The rail route lies between Haldibari in West Bengal and Chilahati in Bangladesh. It is re-opened after a gap of 55 years. The railway line has been defunct after rail links between India and then East Pakistan snapped in 1965.
Both the leaders also digitally inaugurated the digital exhibition in the honour of Mahatma Gandhi and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
RBL & ICICI PRUDENTIAL BANCASSURANCE PARTNERSHIP
RBL Bank and ICICI Prudential have joined hands under a bancassurance partnership. 398 RBL Bank branches across 28 states will distribute ICICI Prudential Life’s protection and savings products.
The protection products of ICICI Prudential Life will help the bank’s customers to develop a strong financial plan and its long-term savings products will help the customers of the bank to achieve their financial goals.
This partnership will allow more than 8.7 million customers of RBL Bank to access and purchase ICICI Prudential Life’s customer-centric protection and long-term savings products.
BSE LAUNCHES ELECTRONIC SPOT PLATFORM BEAM
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Ltd. has launched an electronic spot platform, “BSE E-Agricultural Markets Ltd (BEAM)”, for agricultural commodities through its subsidiary BSE Investments Ltd.
The platform aims to boost the competitiveness of the Indian agricultural market by enhancing the strength of the BSE in financial markets, market technology and its vibrant ecosystem.
BEAM will function as a national level, institutionalised, electronic, transparent commodity spot trading platform in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to create a single market.
IPPB WITH DOP LANCHES DIGITAL PAYMENT APP 'DAKPAY'
The India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) along with Department of Posts (DoP) launched a digital payment application called ‘DakPay’ on 15 December 2020, in an effort to provide Digital Financial inclusion at the last mile across India.
The app was launched by Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad.
The app ‘DakPay’ will facilitate the customers of the DoP and IPPB in easy digital transactions and other banking and postal services.
• MD and CEO of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB): J Venkatramu.
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Headquarters: New Delhi.
APPOINTMENTS
CEO OF PRASAR BHARATI ELECTED AS ABU VICE PRESIDENT
CEO of Prasar Bharati was elected as the Vice President of Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).
ABU was established in 1964 and is a non-profit, non-governmental, non-political professional association whose mission is to assist the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region.
ABU promotes the collective interests of television and radio stations and major industry players, and promotes regional and international media cooperation.
It is a member of the World Broadcaster’s Union and works closely with other regional broadcasting unions on other issues of common concern.
Currently, ABU has more than 260 members in more than 70 countries on four continents. It is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
AWARDS & HONOURS
YOUNG DR. CAROLINA ARAUJO WINS RAMANUJAN PRIZE 2020
The year 2020 Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians was awarded to Dr Carolina Araujo, Mathematician from the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Her work area focuses on birational geometry, which aims to classify and describe the structure of algebraic varieties.
The prize is awarded annually to a researcher from a developing country funded by the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India in association with ICTP (International Centre for Theoretical Physics), and the International Mathematical Union (IMU) was given for her outstanding work in algebraic geometry.
PAUL SEIN TWA AWARDED GOLDMAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Asia Regional Office awarded Paul Sein Twa, for Goldman Environmental Prize 2020 for Asia.
This award is given to him for his efforts in promoting the self-determination of the Karen people in managing their natural resources. Paul is the co-founder of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN), established in 2001.
The Goldman Environmental Prize is one of the most prestigious environmental prizes awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world’s six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America.
• Director-General of IUCN:Dr Bruno Oberle.
• IUCN Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland
SPORTS
BAJRANG PUNIA & ELAVENIL VALARIVAN BAGGED TOP HONOURS
Indian athletes, Bajrang Punia (Freestyle-Wrestling) and Elavenil Valarivan (Shooting), bagged the top honours at the virtually held FICCI India Sports Awards 2020 on the back of the 10th Global Sports Summit.
The two athletes, who have had an impressive 2019-20 season, won the Sportsperson of the Year awards in their respective categories.
Award Personality
Sportsperson of the Year (Female) Elavenil Valarivan
Sportsperson of the Year (Male) Bajrang Punia
Best State Promoting Sports Award Madhya Pradesh
Best Company Promoting Sports (Private) Anil Kumble
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2020
Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2020, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
This was his second victory of the season and 10th victory of his career. The race was the 17th and final round of the 2020 Formula One World Championship.
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) stood second, followed by world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) at third place.
ODISHA TO HOST 2023 FIH MEN HOCKEY WORLD CUP
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) had announced that the 2023 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup will be hosted in Odisha, for a second consecutive time.
The tournament will be held at two venues, Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. The Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 was also hosted by Odisha.
The 2023 tournament will be 15th edition of the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup. It will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and at the Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. FIH Hockey World Cup is held after every four years.
IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES
UNICEF DAY 2020: DECEMBER 11TH
Every year the UNICEF Day is observed on December 11.
The United Nations General Assembly created UNICEF on December 11, 1946, as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children devastated due to World War II.
UNICEF’s name was subsequently changed from United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund to United Nations Children’s Fund though; it continued to be known by the popular acronym based on the previous title.
• UNICEF Headquarters: New York, United States of America.
• UNICEF Executive Director: Henrietta H. Fore.
INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 2020: 11TH NOVEMBER
The International Mountain Day is observed globally on December 11 every year.
The day is celebrated to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development.
“Mountain biodiversity” is the theme of this year’s International Mountain Day, so let’s celebrate their rich biodiversity, as well as address the threats they face.
INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE DAY 2020
International Universal Health Coverage Day is a United Nations’ recognized international day celebrated every year on December 12.
The Day aims to raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems and universal health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners.
This year's theme of International Universal Health Coverage Day is ‘Health For All: PROTECT EVERYONE’.
The theme reflects that to end this crisis (COVID-19) and build a safer and healthier future, we must invest in health systems that protect us all-now.
UN ARABIC LANGUAGE DAY 2020: 18TH DECEMBER
UN Arabic Language Day is observed annually on December 18 every year.
The day was established by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2010 to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six of its official languages throughout the Organization.
December 18 was chosen as the date for the Arabic language as it is “the day in 1973 when the General Assembly approved Arabic as an official UN language “.
• UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.
• UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.
COUNTRY OBSERVES VIJAY DIWAS: 16TH DECEMBER
In India, Vijay Diwas (also called Victory Day) is celebrated every year on December 16. The country is celebrating the 49th Vijay Diwas in 2020.
Vijay Diwas is observed to commemorate the service, valour, and sacrifices of the gallant men of the Indian Armed Forces’ victory over Pakistan in 1971 war.
The end of the war also resulted in subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh.
INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY: 18TH DECEMBER
The International Migrants Day is observed globally on 18 December every year.
In December 2000, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 18 December as International Migrants Day after considering the large and increasing number of migrants in the world.
The theme of International Migrants Day 2020 is ‘Reimagining Human Mobility’.
The day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, which was adopted by the United Nations (UN) on 18 December 1990.
REPORTS AND INDEXES
JOE BIDEN NAMED AS TIME 'S PERSON OF THE YEAR 2020
US President-elect, Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has been jointly named Time magazine’s 2020 “Person of the Year”.
Apart from this, Time magazine has named the Korean pop group BTS as its Entertainer of the Year, and basketball star LeBron James as Athlete of the Year.
Zoom founder Eric Yuan was aptly named Businessperson of the Year, as the video communications company has come to define the way millions have connected with each other during the pandemic.
SONU SOOD TOPS 50 ASIAN CELEBRITIES LIST 2020
Indian actor, Sonu Sood has topped the first-of-its-kind ’50 Asian Celebrities in the World’ 2020 list, published by UK based Eastern Eye newspaper.
The 47-year-old talented Bollywood star has been honoured for his inspiring philanthropic work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, especially helping migrant workers reach their hometowns.
Sixth-placed Priyanka Chopra Jonas remains the most famous Indian star in the world, while the rest of the top 10 includes pan-Indian star Prabhas (7).
KYLIE JENNER TOPS FORBES HIGHEST PAID CELEBRITIES
American media personality and reality TV star, Kylie Jenner has been crowned the highest-paid celebrity of 2020 by Forbes.
The top-earning stars in the world earned a combined of $6.1 billion in 2020 with Kylie Jenner.
Ranked at number 2 on the list by making $170 million was American rapper and record producer Kanye West, who is also coincidentally Kylie’s brother-in-law.
In addition to Tyler Perry, Howard Stern, and Dwayne Johnson, A-lister athletes like Roger Federer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar and LeBron James helped round out the top 10.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ISRO TO LAUNCH COMMUNICATION SATELLITE CMS-01
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a communication satellite CMS-01, formerly named GSAT-12R, on December 17, using its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket’s XL variant numbered as PSLV-C50.
The CMS-01 will be a replacement for GSAT-12 that weighed 1,410 kg and was launched on July 11, 2011, with a mission life of eight years.
CMS-01 is a communication satellite envisaged for providing services in Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum, which will include the Indian mainland, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
ISRO SETS UP DEDICATED CONTROL CENTRE ‘NETRA’
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has set up a dedicated Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Control Centre named “NETRA”, at its ISTRAC campus at Peenya, Bengaluru.
The ISRO SSA Control Centre ‘NETRA’ was formally inaugurated by ISRO Chairman K Sivan.
The “NEtwork for space object TRacking and Analysis (NETRA)” will monitor, track and protect India’s space assets. It will function as a hub of all SSA activities within India.
It has been set up as a ‘Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management (DSSAM)’ aiming to protect high valued space assets from space debris close approaches and collisions.
The state-of-the-art facility, dedicated to SSA activities, will also help to coordinate between Indian agencies, their foreign counterparts and international bodies.
The main elements of NETRA would be a radar, an optical telescope facility, and a control centre.
SSA is the science of tracking objects (man-made and natural) that are in orbit and also predicting what they would be at a given point in time. Only the US, Russia and Europe have similar facility in place to track space objects and share collision warnings.
• ISRO Chairman: K.Sivan.
• ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
