Genesis January 2022

Endeavor Careers – Dream … Endeavor… Achieve 2
The Genesis
January 2022
(Based on Current Affairs of December 2021)
Current Affairs
Nagaland: Peace in peril 3
GD: Compensation package for surrendering Maoists 5
GD: Schools should be graded for quality 6

India, India & the World 7, 12
World, Sports 14, 17
Economy, Corporate 19, 21

Nagaland: Peace in peril: 3
Cyber Buzz 26
Science & Technology 28
People
Business Biographies: Azim Premji, Ray Dolby 29, 30
Knowledge Corners
Biz Biographies: 29, 30
Book Review: ‘Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw’ 31
Book Review: ‘The Everything Store’ 32
Do you remember?, Corporate Knowledge Quiz 33, 35

Crossword, Sudoku 37, 38
Point-Counterpoint 39
Book Reviews: 31, 32
Ahmedabad CO & Centre: 101, Suyojan Towers, Near. Hotel President, Off. C.G. Road Ahmedabad– 09☎:079 – 26464053/26420509
VV Nagar (Anand): SF-1, 2nd Floor, Jash Lalita Smruti, Nana Bazar, Vallabh Vidyanagar – 388120 ☎:6354071434
Vadodara: 401, 402, Tithi Complex, Above Jade Blue, BPC Road, Alkapuri, Vadodara 390007 ☎:9870083879
Mumbai ☎: Vashi:022–65652221/+917666587770; Vile-Parle-022–8655267788; Borivali: 9029064535/9029064515, Dadar:022–4116600/+919004469889
Rajkot: 3rd floor, Kings, Opp Punjab Honda, Near G T Seth School, Kalawad Road, Rajkot, ☎:0281–6555525/+917228008434
Gandhi Nagar: 302, Swagat Rain Forest - I, Block A, Near. City Pulse, Gandhinagar – 382007☎:9512268010
Surat: Surat: Shop no 3, Lower Ground Floor, Platinum Plaza, Athwalines, Athwa, Surat 395007 ☎:9510473699
Jaipur: 312-313, 3rd Floor, Sunny Paradise, Near Big Bazaar, Tonk Road, Jaipur 302015☎:0141–2709341/+91–9549332248
Kanpur: 117/H1/365, 1st Floor, Above SBI Bank, Near Neer Ksheer Chouraha, Pandunagar, Kakadeo, Kanpur 208002☎:+91 8081442233/8808017100
Kolkata: 1st Floor, Shree Manjari, 1/1 Camac Street, Near Camac Street – Park Street Crossing, Kolkata 700016☎033–40735191/+91 9674935191
Nagpur: 1st F Flat no. 3, Ground Floor, Vijay Raj Tower, Bharatnagar Square, Amravati Road, Nagpur – 440033 ☎7796442234
Thane: 501, 5th Floor, “Thakor Niwas”, Opp. Thane Station (West), Near Thane PO– 400601☎:022–41009898/41319898/ +91 9920076435
Bangalore: No. 23, 1stfloor, Vasavi Plaza, Near Cool Joint, 11thmain, 4thblock Jayanagar, Bangalore KA 560041☎:080-41310888/41550888
Bangalore (Koramangala): Transpade Towers, J. N. Road, Koramangala Industrial layout, 5th Block 560095☎:080-43007713/43007712
Bhubaneswar: A-102, Janaki Bhawan, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar 751012☎:0674–2561114/+91–9437155330
New Delhi: 4th Floor, H-11A, Block H, Middle Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001☎011-49405833
New Delhi: 2531-A, 1st Floor, Hudson Lane, Kingsway Camp, GTB Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110009☎011–49067171
Pune: 1201-E, 2nd Floor, Dinkar Vertex, Shirole Road, Off. F C Road, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune – 411004 ☎:020-42701706, 6354038879
Dehradun: 1st Floor, Ambika Complex, Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 ☎9219655426
“Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” – Booker T. Washington
www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

Nagaland: Peace in peril
Fatal error stretch of road. In normal circumstances disobedience of
A tense clam prevailed for more than six years in the any order to stop would have caused the security forces to
insurgency-hit northeastern state of Nagaland till chase the vehicle and force it to stop. In this case, they
December 4 when it was shattered by a case of mistaken started firing on the Bolero immediately after it sped past
identity in which 11 civilians were killed by security the check post because one of the workers in the vehicle
forces who suspected them to be terrorists. The incident possessed a hunting rifle. This was seen by the security
took place between Oting and Tiru villages when some forces as a terrorist carrying a lethal weapon. They soon
daily-wage labourers were returning home in a Bolero realised their mistake and started sending the dead and the
from a coal mine on December 4. The Army’s 3 Corps injured to the hospital. In the meantime, enraged people
based near Dimapur town in the state admitted to an from surrounding areas arrived and attacked the security
intelligence failure with a statement of regret. forces killing many.
Nagaland is one of the border states where armed Locals have a different version. They say the commando
separatist agitations have smouldered since India became started firing without any provocation. A rule which
independent in 1947. Physical integration with the requires presence of a police guide in any anti-terrorist
country has been accomplished but emotional operation was also not followed. The FIR filed by state
assimilation is yet to be achieved. Nagaland is also one of police alleges that the firing was deliberate and intended
the few states where citizens from rest of the country to cause grievous injury and death to innocent civilians.
require an inner line permit (ILP) to visit. Obtaining it The promise of speedy and impartial investigation is
from Nagaland Bhavan in New Delhi or after arrival in unlikely to assuage people and the centre is worried over
the state is a mere formality but is an indication of the the impact this incident could have over peace talks.
state’s aloofness from the idea of Indianness. The army
has been able to clamp down on terrorist attacks by Naga Demands
insurgents in recent times but the state remains a troubled Naga demands for a separate country are unacceptable to
part of India. the Indian government. Peace talks have been pursued by
every government at the centre but the insistence of some
The incident of December 4 has enraged social and Naga groups on granting of a separate flag and
political organisations in Nagaland and terrorist forces constitution for Nagaland have stalled negotiations.
targeting security forces are hoping for more public
support as a result. Another fallout is the resumption of Unlike Kashmir, demands of terrorists active in Nagaland
agitation for removal of the Armed Forces Special Power are not just for independence from India. The problem
Act (AFSPA) of 1958 from Nagaland. Chief Minister does not end with persuading the separatists to give up
Neiphiu Rio has led the demand for withdrawal. demand for seceding from India. They also want merger
Interestingly, Rio’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive of Naga-majority districts from neighbouring states into
Party (NDPP) is a member of the BJP-led NDA (National Nagaland. The Nagas prefer to call this enlarged state as
Democratic Alliance) government at the centre. In the 60- ‘Nagalim’. The state is bordered by Arunachal Pradesh,
member Nagaland Assembly, Rio’s NDPP has 21 MLAs Assam, Manipur and has Myanmar on the international
while its larger coalition partner Naga People’s Front border. These three neighbouring states are against ceding
(NPF) has 25. In the opposition, BJP has 12 while 2 are any territory for merger with Nagaland. Forcing them to
independent MLAs. AFPSA gives security forces give up their land to Nagaland will be difficult for the
unbridled power and allows them to shoot at people on centre and is likely to create a new set of problems. The
mere suspicion of being a terrorist without facing any problem is similar to the demand made by Maharashtra to
penal consequences. At the most, those guilty face merge Belgaum district of Karnataka on grounds of
transfer to other state or withholding of promotions. majority population there being Marathi speaking.
Two versions The centre has succeeded in reaching peace agreements

The army version of the incident says that the Bolero with insurgent groups in the northeast in the past. A
carrying workers returning from a coalmine did not stop noteworthy achievement was the Mizoram Peace Accord
when a commando asked them to halt. The security forces of 1986 that was an official agreement between the
had information on terrorist movements in the vicinity Government of India and the Mizo National Front (MNF)
and wanted to inspect every vehicle passing through that to end insurgency and violence in Mizoram that started in

1966. In this case the MNF enjoyed total support of the – Bangladesh. With East Pakistan becoming history,
Mizo people and its peace deal with the Indian training camps there were wiped out and weapons flow to
government was acceptable to everyone. Mizoram’s Naga terrorists ceased. This forced the separatist groups
physical and emotional integration with India was fruitful. to come to the negotiating table and the historic Shillong
Agreement was signed between NNC (Naga National
The situation in Nagaland is difficult because centre’s Council) and the centre on December 11, 1975. Under the
efforts have been frustrated by the tendency of insurgent terms of the agreement, NNC agreed to recognise the
groups to split. A peace settlement with a large insurgent Indian constitution. But disgruntled elements played
group is invariable followed by disgruntled elements spoilsport and three influential Naga separatists -- Isak
forming a separate group and resuming attacks against the Chishi Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah and S. S. Khaplang
security forces. rejected the Shillong Agreement and set up National
Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) on January 31,
Background 1980. The objective was to create an independent
The incident on December 4 was preceded by few years Nagaland nation that also included Naga-populated
of peace dating back to August 3, 2015 when the Indian districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur. After
government signed a ‘framework agreement’ for eight years, Khaplang left NSCN and set up NSCN-K.
negotiations on Naga demands with NSCN (I-M), the After his exit NSCN became NSCN (I-M). In decades
most virulent terrorist group in the state. National since then NSCN has splintered so many times that
Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M) was founded by Isak almost all alphabets of English language can be found in
Chishi Swu (1926-2016) and Thuingaleng Muivah (born: the suffixes of terrorist groups having the name NSCN.
1934). This agreement had significant positive impact on
peace. The number of deaths due to terrorist violence in Road ahead
the state went down from 47 in 2015 to just 3 in 2021 till Clearly, the number of terrorists active in the state have
December 3. declined drastically in recent times. The security forces
have destroyed their training camps and hideouts across
Peace in Nagaland has been elusive even after plethora of the border with help from Myanmar Army. But the
efforts by the centre since independence. Led by Angami terrorists continue to have access to smuggled weapons
Zapu Phizo (1913–1990), the Naga National and demonstrate their capability to
Council (NSC) had announced the first revolt harm the security forces from time to
against the Indian government on August 14, 1947. time. People’s active support for
Phizo was arrested in July 1948 but freed in the terrorist groups has waned but real
next year. High-level talks between Phizo and and imagined grievances against the
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1952 turned centre persist. These terrorist groups,
futile. After four years, Phizo set up an which are various factions of the
‘underground government’ called Naga Federal perennially splintering NSCN, have
Government (NFG). In April 1956, the centre sent become unpopular because of their
troops to quell revolt in ‘Hill District of Assam’, criminal activities. They extort
the nomenclature of Nagaland then. Phizo escaped money from government and private
to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and then to London sector employees and businessmen and businesses
from there in June 1960. operating in the state by levying illegal taxes. Commercial
vehicles plying on the national highway passing through
Nagaland state came into being on December 1, 1963 but Nagaland are also targeted. The anti-India sentiment
centre’s hopes of having satisfied the aspirations of the emanating from the December 4 incident could snowball
people were premature. Separatist movements continued. into renewal of public support for terrorist groups. The
Phizo’s NFG continued its attacks on security forces with centre has to tread with caution and continue with its
material and training support coming from Pakistan and peace efforts. Intelligence gathering should be made
China. Centre banned the NFG in 1972 under the better and anti-terrorist operations should be conducted
Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The security forces only after careful scrutiny of the ground situation. The
intensified their anti-terrorist operations and were helped security force can’t afford to alienate the civilians any
by the creation of a friendly country on the eastern border further.

Group Discussion
Compensation package for surrendering Maoists should be raised
FOR AGAINST
The armed struggle of Maoists in India against their Government provides huge amount of financial assistance
perceived oppression of the poor, tribals and the landless to the Maoists who surrender. In most cases this is more
is more than half a century old. The government is yet to than what is given as compensation to families of police
find a lasting solution to this problem which is graver and paramilitary personnel martyred in operations against
than the threat of cross-border terrorism promoted by them. There are calls for further increase to cajole more
neighbouring enemy nations. Efforts have been made Maoists to surrender. This is not only counterproductive
over the years to convince the Maoists to give up arms but also demotivating for those battling the Maoists.
and join the mainstream of the society and fight for their
rights through the democratic process of contesting Few people will oppose policies to encourage the Maoists
elections instead of taking to the gun. One way of to give up violence and facilitate their return to the
breaking the Maoists stranglehold over many parts of the mainstream of the society. Generous financial packages to
country is to eliminate their top leadership in police and enable them to start a new life are welcome but if huge
paramilitary operations. Another way is to provide them amounts such as Rs.15-20 lakh are given to every
financial aid for their rehabilitation after giving up arms surrendered Maoist then it will worsen the problem
to start a new life. instead of solving it. What is the guarantee that such a
lucrative amount will not encourage others to take up
The fact that the Maoist problem has persisted for more arms in the hope of getting the largesse from the
than half a century is a revelation of the faulty approach government after surrendering? Also, there is no way to
of the government in resolving this problem. Relentless ensure that the surrendered Maoist will give up criminal
police and paramilitary operations against the Maoists activities and not fritter away the easy cash he has been
will only result in deaths on both sides. A significant provided with.
number of Maoists are a disgruntled lot and can be
persuaded to give up arms if their legitimate demands to Surrender of Maoists is always a big media event in the
end oppression of the poor and the tribals are addressed. affected states with top police authorities receiving guns
Providing them decent financial package for starting new and other arms from the Maoists and announcing their
life will also encourage them to eschew the path of abjuring of violence. The proper course of action that
violence. The government needs to change its outlook in should follow their surrender is a period of rehabilitation
solving this problem. Surrendered Maoists should not be involving education and job training. Efforts should be
left to starve. While providing them with government jobs made to provide them employment. Financial package
is out of question, their retraining for self-employment is can come after the surrendered Maoists pass an exam or
a noble objective. This should be accompanied by a better skill training test. This will ensure that money goes only
financial package that could enable them to start their to those who have truly given up violence. Giving huge
own small business ventures. This becomes important as amount of cash in one instant is akin to giving bribes to
society is harsh on ex-convicts and even reformed obtain surrenders and will be counterproductive.
criminals find it hard to get employment.
There is another danger with providing huge financial
Demands for higher financial package for those assistance on surrender. This will weaken the
surrendering are appropriate. While survivors of martyrs commitment of police and paramilitary forces fighting
of police and paramilitary forces get pension, free them. Instead of diligently fulfilling their duties of
education for their children and government job for a gathering intelligence, identifying the hideouts of
family member in addition to financial aid which is Maoists, the forces will want to defang the top Maoists by
substantial, the surrendered Maoist does not have bribing them to give up arms. This never works as each
anything other than the cash given by the government to surrendered Maoist is easily replaced by another rebel and
rebuild his life. This should not be seen as bribing for the cycle of violence continues. Living conditions and
obtaining surrenders. Successfully rehabilitated Maoists salaries of police and paramilitary forces confronting the
will serve as role models encouraging more to give up the Maoists should be improved. The substantial funds spent
gun. On the other hand surrendered Maoists living in in bribing the Maoists surrender will be better spent in
poverty and destitution will discourage others of their ilk welfare activities for improving the lives of the tribals and
from eschewing violence. the oppressed who the Maoists claim to fight for.

Group Discussion
Schools should be graded for quality
FOR AGAINST
Everyone is aware of the inconsistency in the quality of Grading of schools is not a good idea by any yardstick.
education imparted to students in schools across the The decision makers in this country’s education system
country, especially the government-run ones. The system have become obsessed with gradings and rankings. It is a
of grading schools should be started in India. The process concept copied from developed nations of the west. It
involves visiting schools and evaluating the quality of started with grading of universities and colleges and is
education being imparted there. This should preferably be now sought to be applied in schools.
done by high-ranking government officers such as those
from Indian Administrative and Indian Police Service. The outcome of grading schools will be
They should visit schools at random, conduct thorough counterproductive. Instead of improving the country’s
inspection and assign grades. The school should be education system it will end up worsening it. There is talk
required to display this grade prominently so that people
of allocating government aid and grants to schools on the
are aware about it. Grades once given are not permanent.
basis of the grades they get. Schools getting poor grades
Visits and inspections should be a continuous process.
will get less government aid while those performing well
Schools getting poor grades will have the incentive to
improve and get better grades in future. will be entitled to increase in support from the
government.
Having a formal grading system for schools managed by
the government is a step in the right direction. Most Allocating government funding for schools is not like job
schools and colleges make extravagant claims appraisal in private sector where the better
regarding the quality of their education and performing employees get increments and the
infrastructure in their advertisements and publicity poorly faring ones get sacked. Doing so will
material. This might fool gullible parents into be like punishing children for the faults of the
selecting a lower quality school for their children. government, school authorities and the
Many private agencies routinely grade schools, teachers.
colleges and universities. Their grading process is not
objective and standardised and open to bias and This will hurt their chances of improvement. Schools not
manipulation. When grading is done by the government getting good grades are likely to be shunned by people.
the process will be objective and open to scrutiny for Parents will want to send their children to schools distant
improvements. from their place of residence if schools in their own
locality are given a poor grade. This will needlessly
When schools are graded people relocating to other cities increase the time and money spent in commuting from
and states will not have to worry about finding a proper home to schools. This will also create a feeling of
school for their children. Grading of the school will be inferiority complex in children of schools getting lower
seen as an assurance they can trust. Grading will induce a grades.
spirit of competition among schools that will encourage
them to improve the quality of education they deliver.
Quality of education in government schools suffers
The grading process will also familiarise them with their
because of appointment of teachers on a temporary basis
shortcomings and the graders can devise a plan for
improvement for them that can be monitored. In the in many states. Funding from the budget has been
absence of grading most schools will remain unaware of reducing year after year and is insufficient to provide
their faults. Only grading by an agency enjoying basic infrastructure for proper conduct of classes. On top
credibility can provide them with an opportunity to of all these government induced shortcomings, grading
improve. Grading will help the government in allocating will further lower the reputation of the school in the eyes
its financial resources appropriately as the schools getting of the people. Instead of indulging in the wasteful and
poor grades will be entitled to better support for time-consuming process of grading schools, government
improvement. Also grading will expose the quality of should provide sufficient material and human resources
education being provided in government schools when and regular monitoring for improving their functioning.
compared to their private sector counterparts and spur Instead of grading, all schools should be given equal
demands from parents for making them better. encouragement and resources.

Current Affairs: India
HAPPENINGS
Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill passed Bill linking Aadhaar to voter ID passed
 Parliament passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill,  Parliament passed a Bill that will link the electoral rolls
2019 in December. The bill aims to constitute a with the Aadhaar ecosystem in December. The Election
National Surrogacy Board and State Surrogacy Boards Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021 amends both The
for regulation of the practice and process of surrogacy. Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951.
 Surrogacy is permitted when it is for couples who Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the bill will cleanse
suffer from proven infertility. The Bill prohibits the election system and eliminate multiple entries. The
commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy. Bill seeks to allow electoral registration officers to seek
 Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary Aadhaar number of people who want to register as
compensation to the surrogate mother other than the voters “for the purpose of establishing the identity”. It
medical expenses and insurance coverage during the also seeks to allow the electoral registration officers to
pregnancy. Commercial surrogacy is the surrogacy ask for Aadhaar number from persons already included
undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or in the electoral roll.
kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and Judges’ salaries bill passed
insurance coverage.  Parliament passed the High Court and Supreme Court
 A married woman between the ages of 25 and 35 who Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service)
has a child of her own can be a surrogate or can help in Amendment Bill, 2021 in December. The Bill seeks to
surrogacy by donating her egg. The surrogate mother amend the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions
can become a surrogate only once in her lifetime. of Service) Act, 1954, and the Supreme Court Judges
 The intending couple should have been married for at (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958. The
least five years. The wife must be in the age group of Bill clarifies that a person will be entitled to the
23-50, and the husband in the age group of 26-55. The additional pension or family pension from the first day
intending couple should not have any surviving of the month in which they complete the minimum age
biological child, through adoption or through under the concerned age bracket.
surrogacy. Bill on tenure of CBI Director passed
Pharmaceutical Education Bill passed  Parliament passed a bill to extend the tenure of the
 The Parliament passed the National Institute of director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to
Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) a maximum of five years from the present two years in
Bill, 2021 in December. The Bill seeks to amend the December. The bill is titled ‘The Delhi Special Police
original act of 1998 to declare six additional National Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021’. Subodh
Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research as Kumar Jaiswal is the Director of CBI since May 2021.
Institutions of National Importance. These institutes are Bill on tenure of ED Director passed
located in Ahmedabad, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata,  Parliament passed a bill in December to extend the
Guwahati and Raebareli. The Bill also provides for a tenure of director of Enforcement Directorate to a
Council to coordinate the activities among the institutes maximum of five years. The bill is titled ‘The Central
to ensure development of pharmaceutical education and Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021’.
research. Sanjay Kumar Mishra is the Director of ED currently.
Reproductive Technology Bill passed Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declines
 Parliament passed the Assisted Reproductive  The Health & Family Welfare Ministry said in
Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021 in December. The December that India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
Bill is for the regulation and supervision of the assisted declined to 2.0 in 2019-20 which is below replacement
reproductive technology clinics and the assisted level. As many as 31 out of 36 states and Union
reproductive technology banks, and prevention of territories (UTs) have already achieved the replacement
misuse. Among other objectives are ensuring safe and level fertility.
ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology  TFR is the average number of children born to a
services for addressing the issues of reproductive health woman over her lifetime.
where the technology is required for becoming a parent  Replacement level is the level of fertility at which a
or for freezing gametes, embryos, embryonic tissues for population replaces itself exactly from one generation
further use due to infertility, and other conditions. to the next.
 According to the United Nations (UN), in countries was released by the Gurgaon-based ‘Institute for
with a Total Fertility Rate lower than 2.1, a generation Competitiveness’ in December. There are four
is not producing enough children to replace itself. Such categories in which regions have been divided -- large
a situation results in an outright reduction in the states, small states, Union Territories and North East.
population of that country. West Bengal (58.95) was first and Bihar was last in the
Niti Aayog health index ‘large states’ category. In the ‘small states’ category,
 Government think tank Niti Aayog released the fourth Kerala (67.95) was first and Jharkhand worst on the
edition of its health index, which ranked states based on index. Lakshadweep (52.69) and Mizoram (51.64) are
overall health performance, in December. Kerala was top-scoring regions in the Union Territory and
ranked as the best performer on top, while Uttar Northeast state category, respectively.
Pradesh was the worst. Oxygen Stewardship Program
 The report was divided in three parts - larger states,  In view of the importance of ensuring availability of
smaller states and union territories. Among the smaller trained personnel required for administering medical
states, Mizoram was the best performer and Nagaland oxygen which is a life-saving public health commodity,
was at the bottom. Among the union territories, the Health Ministry launched the National Oxygen
Chandigarh was on top while Puducherry was the worst Stewardship Program in December. The aim is to
performer. identify and train at least one “Oxygen Steward” in
 The fourth round of the Health Index took into account each district. These trained professionals would be
the period 2019-20 (reference year). responsible for training others in their district and also
 The report has been prepared in collaboration with the ensuring availability of oxygen during Covid surge.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with technical UP: Lakhimpur case investigation
assistance from the World Bank.  The Special Investigation Team probing the Lakhimpur
Good Governance Index Kheri violence of October 3 has described the killing of
 The Good Governance Index 2021 (GGI), prepared by fours farmers and a journalist as a “pre-planned
DARPG (Department of Administrative Reforms and conspiracy”.
Public Grievance), was released by the government on  In an application submitted to the court in December,
Good Governance Day (December 25) which is the the investigation officer has asked for dropping the
birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari charges of death due to negligence and rash driving and
Vajpayee. Gujarat has topped the composite ranking in adding attempt to murder and voluntarily causing
the index that covers ten sectors and 58 indicators grievous hurt to the warrant of the accused.
followed by Maharashtra and Goa. The sectors of GGI  Ashish Mishra, son of Central Minister Ajay Mishra
are 1) Agriculture and Allied Sectors, 2) Commerce & Teni, is the main accused in the case as it was his SUV
Industries, 3) Human Resource Development, 4) Public that allegedly crushed the farmers on Oct 3.
Health, 5.) Public Infrastructure & Utilities, 6) UP: Ganga Expressway
Economic Governance, 7) Social Welfare &  PM Modi laid the foundation stone of Ganga
Development, 8) Judicial & Public Security, 9) Expressway on Dec 18. The 594 Km long six-lane
Environment, and 10) Citizen-Centric Governance. Expressway will be built at a cost of over Rs 36,200
ARIIA 2021 crore. Starting from Meerut, the Expressway will pass
 Atal Rankings of Institutions on Innovation through Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal,
Achievements (ARIIA), 2021 were announced by the Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, RaeBareli and
Education Ministry in December. Indian Institute of Pratapgarh before ending in Prayagraj.
Technology-Madras got the first rank under the Central UP: Kashi Vishwanath Dham
University and Institute of National Importance  PM Modi on Dec 13 inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath
category. Among the government and government Temple Corridor project in Varanasi that connects the
aided institutions, the top rank was bagged by Panjab iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the ghats along
University. ARIIA ranks major higher educational the river Ganga. The project is aimed at ensuring easy
institutions in the country on indicators related to movement of pilgrims and devotees between the ghats
innovation, start-up and entrepreneurship development and the temple. Earlier, they had to pass through
among students and faculties. congested streets to reach the temple.
Index on Literacy and Numeracy Goa Liberation Day celebrated
 The ‘Index on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy’,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Goa
an indicator of literacy among children below 10 years, Liberation Day celebrations at Shyamaprasad
Mukherjee Stadium at Taligao in Goa on December 19.  The first batch of next-generation Armoured Engineer
Modi also inaugurated several projects including the Reconnaissance Vehicles (AERV), indigenously
renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum. Goa Liberation designed and developed by DRDO, and manufactured
Day is celebrated on December 19 every year to mark by Bharat Electronics Ltd, Pune, was inducted into the
the success of ‘Operation Vijay’ undertaken by the Indian Army in December. AERV is an amphibious
Indian Armed Forces that liberated Goa from Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) fitted with instruments
Portuguese rule in 1961. for water reconnaissance, land reconnaissance,
Defence News navigation and data backup.
 DRDO successfully launched Supersonic Missile  DRDO successfully conducted the flight test of
Assisted Torpedo System (SMAT) from Abdul Kalam Indigenously developed High-speed Expendable Aerial
Island, formerly known as Wheeler Island, off the Target (HEAT) Abhyas in December from Integrated
Odisha coast, on December 13. The system has been Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast, Odisha.
designed to enhance anti-submarine warfare capability Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE),
far beyond the conventional range of the torpedo. Bengaluru based DRDO laboratory has developed this
 DRDO successfully test-fired the air version of the unmanned aerial target system to meet the requirement
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the integrated of aerial targets of Indian Armed Forces.
test range of Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha on  DRDO successfully conducted the two flight-tests of
December 8. The air version of the missile was test- indigenously made conventional surface-to-surface
fired from supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I. missile ‘Pralay’ from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off
BrahMos Aerospace Limited is a joint venture between the coast of Odisha in December. The missile has a
India (Defence Research and Development range of 150-500 kilometres and can be launched from
Organisation (DRDO)) and Russia (NPOM). The a mobile launcher.
missile has been inducted into the Armed Forces.  INS Khukri, the first of the indigenously built missile
Sudhir Kumar Mishra is the chief executive officer and corvettes, was decommissioned “after 32 years of
managing director of BrahMos Aerospace. glorious service” on December 23 at Visakhapatnam.
 The Pinaka Extended Range (Pinaka-ER) Multiple The corvette was built by the Mazagaon Dock
Launch Rocket System (MLRS), was successfully Shipbuilders on August 23, 1989 and had the
tested by the DRDO in December. The Pinaka MLRS distinction of being part of both the Western and
has been developed by two DRDO laboratories in Pune Eastern Fleets.
– Armament Research & Development Establishment  The Navy Day was celebrated on December 4. On this
(ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research day in 1971, the Indian Navy undertook Operation
Laboratory (HEMRL) – in partnership with two private Trident during the Indo-Pak war in which its missile
sector firms, L&T and Tata Power Company Ltd boats carried out an audacious attack to sink enemy
(TPCL). The Enhanced Pinaka has demonstrated a ships.
range of 75 km and an ability to strike within 10 metres  ‘Swarnim Vijay Parv’ was celebrated at India Gate,
of where it is aimed. New Delhi on December 12-13 to commemorate 50
 DRDO and Indian Air Force (IAF) flight-tested the years of India’s historic victory in the 1971 war and the
indigenously designed and developed Helicopter Indo-Bangladesh friendship. The event was inaugurated
launched Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile from by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Major weapons
Pokhran ranges in December. and equipment used during the 1971 war were
 ‘Sandhayak’, the first of the four Survey Vessels displayed along with the snippets of major battles.
(Large) project being built for the Indian Navy, was  The 50th Vijay Diwas was celebrated on December 16
launched in the waters of Hooghly River in Kolkata in at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. The day
December. It has been designed and developed by marks India’s victory in 1971 war and formation of
Defence PSU, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Bangladesh. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a
Engineers (GRSE) Limited. commemorative stamp on the occasion of Swarnim
 DRDO successfully test-fired the Agni Prime missile Vijay Diwas.
(Agni-P) off the coast of Odisha on December 16.  The Armed Forces Flag Day was celebrated on
Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of Agni December 7. Since 1949, December 7 is observed as
class of missiles. It is a two-stage canisterised missile the Armed Forces Flag Day throughout the country to
with range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km. honour the martyrs and the men in uniform.

All India Mayors’ Conference Schools in Targeted Areas (SRESHTA) in
 The All-India Mayors’ Conference was organised in December for socio-economic upliftment and overall
Varanasi on December 17. As many as 120 mayors development of Scheduled Castes students.
from various states participated in the conference India Water Impact Summit
whose theme is ‘New Urban India’.  The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and
Rishihood University the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Studies (c-Ganga) organised the sixth edition of the
Rishihood University in New Delhi on December 18. India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) from December 9
Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Prabhu is the Founder and to 14. The summit was organized in a hybrid mode --
Chancellor of the University. online and physically at the NMCG office, New Delhi
‘She is a Changemaker’ launched and IIT, Kanpur. The theme of IWIS 2021 was ‘River
 To improve leadership skills of grassroot women Resources Allocation: Planning and Management at the
political leaders, the National Commission for Women Regional Level’.
(NCW) launched a pan-India capacity building Punjab: Ludhiana Court blast
programme, ‘She is a Changemaker’ in December. It  Center has sought a report from the Punjab government
included women representatives at all levels, gram on the explosion in Ludhiana District Court Complex.
panchayats to parliament members and political An explosion in the court complex on December 23 left
workers including office bearers of National/State one person dead and five injured and demolished a part
political parties. The programme was launched by of second floor. Police suspect that the man killed in
Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, NCW. the blast was trying to set off the explosive device, or
SMILE scheme for beggars may even have been a suicide bomber.
 The Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry J&K: Delimitation Commission proposals
announced plans to launch a scheme for rehabilitation  The Delimitation Commission on Jammu and Kashmir
of beggars in December. The SMILE (Support for has proposed six additional assembly seats for Jammu
Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and region and one for Kashmir while reserving 16
Enterprise) scheme will cover rehabilitation, provision constituencies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
of medical facilities, counselling, education, skill Tribes. Kashmir division currently has 46 seats and
development and economic linkages. Jammu 37. The population of Jammu region is 53.72
SRESHTA for SC students lakh and Kashmir division 68.83 lakh, according to the
 Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry launched census of 2011. The commission is headed by former
Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai.
AWARDS
Sahitya Akademi Awards under the PM-YUVA Mentorship Scheme in
 The winners of the Sahitya Akademi Award 2021 in 20 December.
Indian languages were announced by the government in  75 Authors were through this contest for a Scholarship-
December. In English, Namita Gokhale won for her cum-Mentorship Scheme for the young authors below
novel ‘Things to Leave Behind’. the age of 30 years.
 The winners of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar  Entries in 22 Official languages and English were
2021 in 22 Indian languages were announced by the invited.
government in December. In English, Megha  During mentorship, the selected authors will receive a
Majumdar won her novel ‘A Burning’. scholarship of ₹50,000 per month for a period of six
 Winners of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2021 in 22 Indian months.
languages were announced by the government in  Further, a royalty of 10% will be payable to the authors
December. In English, Anita Vachharajani won her on successful publications of their books.
children’s book ‘Amrita Shergil: Rebel With A RedInk Awards
Paintbrush’.  Photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, who died during an
PM- YUVA book awards assignment in Afghanistan, was posthumously awarded
 Education Ministry’s National Book Trust (NBT) as the Journalist of the Year’ for 2020 at the annual
announced the results of the All-India Contest ‘RedInk Awards for Excellence in Journalism’ by the
organized on the theme ‘National Movement of India’ Mumbai Press Club in December.

 Journalist Prem Shankar Jha (83) received the lifetime Mathematicians from developing countries for her
achievement award “for his long and distinguished outstanding work in geometry and algebra.
career of incisive and analytical writing”.  The prize is administered by the Abdus Salam
 Apart from Siddiqui and Jha, various other journalists International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)
were awarded in 12 categories. jointly with government’s Department of Science and
Ramnath Goenka Awards Technology (DST) and the International Mathematical
 Winners of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Union (IMU).
Journalism Awards were announced by the Indian  Ramanujan Prize is given annually to an eminent
Express Group in December. Mathematician who is less than 45 years of age on 31
 In the ‘Uncovering India Invisible’ category, Shiv December of the year of the award.
Sahay Singh of The Hindu is the winner from print Jnanpith award
media, while Tridip K Mandal of The Quint, is the  Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo won the 57th Jnanpith
broadcast media winner. Singh won for his 2019 story Award 2022 while noted Assamese poet and litterateur
“Death by Digital Exclusion” which exposed how the Nilmani Phookan bagged the 56th Jnanpith award
Jharkhand government’s insistence on digitisation 2021. The announcement of both these awards was
deprived people living on the margins of the benefits of made in December by the Bharatiya Jnanpith.
the public distribution system (PDS). Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay Prize
 Winners in several other categories were also  Author Dinyar Patel won the Kamaladevi
announced. Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2021 for his book
DST-ICTP-IMU Ramanujan Prize “Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism” in December
 Professor Neena Gupta, a mathematician at the Indian by the New India Foundation in Bengaluru. The
Statistical Institute in Kolkata, was awarded the 2021 winning book is a biography of Dadabhai Naoroji, one
DST-ICTP-IMU Ramanujan Prize for Young of the founders of the Indian National Congress.
PERSONS IN NEWS
Appointments  Former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh
 Former diplomat Vikram Misri was appointed Deputy and veteran Congress leader Konijeti Rosaiah (88) died
National Security Advisor (Dy NSA) in December. Ajit on December 4.
Doval is NSA while other Dy NSAs are Rajinder  Centenarian teacher Nanda Prusty (104), a class 8 pass-
Khanna and Dattatreya Padsalgikar, both from the IPS. out who had been educating children and village elders
 V. S. Pathania was appointed as the new Director free of cost for the last seven decades in Odisha, died in
General of the Indian Coast Guard in December. Bhubaneswar on December 7. He was awarded Padma
 The Indian Newspaper Society, the apex body of Shri in November for his long contribution in the field
publishers of newspapers, magazines and periodicals in of education and social service.
the country elected Mohit Jain of The Economic Times  Veteran journalist Vinod Dua (67) died in New Delhi
as President of the society for the year in December. on December 4. Dua, a Hindi broadcast journalism
Resignations pioneer, had stints in Doordarshan and NDTV.
 Telangana Rashtra Samithi MP Banda Prakash resigned  Rajya Sabha MP from the Janata Dal (United) and
from Rajya Sabha in Dec. His term was to end in 2024. industrialist Mahendra Prasad (81) died in Delhi on Dec
Obituaries 27. Prasad was a seven-term Rajya Sabha MP from
 Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat (63) died Bihar and was also elected to the Lok Sabha once.
in the air crash with 13 others on board in Tamil Nadu  Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Girish Thakorlal
on December 8. An Indian Airforce helicopter Mi 17 V- Nanavati (86), who investigated the 1984 anti-Sikh and
5 carrying them crashed in the forest area near Coonoor the 2002 Godhra riots, passed away on December 18.
in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. He served as Book releases
Chief of the Army Staff from 2017 to 2019. Gen Bipin  ‘The Fractured Himalaya: India, Tibet, China 1949-
Rawat became India’s first Chief of Defence Staff on 1962’, a book by former Foreign Secretary and
January 1, 2020. He was awarded several gallantry and Ambassador to China Nirupama Rao.
distinguished service awards during his exemplary  ‘Public Service Ethics–A Quest for Naitik Bharat’, a
service in the Army. book by ex-cabinet secretary Prabhat Kumar

Current Affairs: India & the World
HAPPENINGS
India Russia Annual Summit  ‘Maitri Diwas’ (Friendship Day) was celebrated on
 The 21st India Russia Annual Summit between Prime December 6 to mark India recognising Bangladesh in
Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President 1971. Ten days before the liberation of Bangladesh,
Vladimir Putin was held in New Delhi on December 6. India had recognised Bangladesh on December 6, 1971.
Both countries renewed the military-technical Durga Puja gets UNESCO recognition
cooperation agreement for another 10 years till 2031.  UNESCO inscribed ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the
 The first-ever India-Russia ‘2+2’ dialogue was also Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of
held. Participants were Russian Foreign Minister Humanity during its session held at Paris, France in
Sergey Lavrov, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, December. The Committee commended Durga Puja for
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence its initiatives to involve marginalized groups, and
Minister Sergei Shoigu. individuals as well as women in their participation in
 Under a deal signed during the visit, India will procure safeguarding the element.
6 lakh AK-203 assault rifles from Indo-Russian Rifles Summit for Democracy
Private Ltd. (IRRPL) which is based at Amethi in Uttar  Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Summit
Pradesh. The IRRPL is a joint venture between Indian for Democracy hosted by US President Joe Biden via
and Russian companies. video conferencing. Biden organised the virtual summit
Afghanistan “to renew democracy at home and confront autocracies
 A special flight arrived in Delhi Airport from Kabul on abroad” on December 9–10. Its themes were: defending
December 10 carrying 110 stranded persons. The against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting
special Kam Air flight arranged by India arrived from corruption, and advancing respect for human rights.
Kabul to Delhi under Operation Devi Shakti. External Indian Ocean Dialogue
Affairs Ministry said the flight brought 10 Indians and  The eighth Indian Ocean Dialogue was held on
94 Afghans including members of the Afghan Hindu- December 15. It was jointly hosted by External Affairs
Sikh minority community. Ministry and the Indian Council of World Affairs. The
 As India stepped up efforts to send humanitarian aid to theme for this year’s edition was Leveraging Digital
Afghanistan “without conditionalities”, Pakistan Technologies for Health, Education, Development, and
announced in December that it would allow Indian aid Trade in Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
to pass through on Afghan trucks, dropping an earlier Member States’.
demand that Pakistani trucks be used. Indian Ocean Conference
SAARC Charter Day  The fifth Indian Ocean Conference was organised in
 The 37th Charter Day of SAARC (South Asian Abu Dhabi, UAE on December 4-5 under the theme:
Association for Regional Cooperation) was observed on “Indian Ocean: Ecology, Economy, Epidemic”. Leaders
December 8. SAARC was established when its Charter from Indian Ocean littoral countries discussed issues
was formally adopted on December 8, 1985 by the related to the region. India was represented by External
Heads of State/Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Global Technology Summit
First Summit meeting in Dhaka. Afghanistan was  The Global Technology Summit 2021 was organised in
admitted as 8th Member of the SAARC in 2007. hybrid format from December 14 to 16 by Carnegie
Bangladesh India and External Affairs Ministry. The summit was
 President Ram Nath Kovind held talks with his themed ‘Global Meets Local’. Industry experts,
Bangladeshi counterpart Md. Abdul Hamid at his policymakers, scholars, scientists, and other
official residence Bangabhaban in Dhaka on December stakeholders from all over the world deliberated on 3
15. President Kovind presented a small-scale model of sub-themes: ‘The Future of Technology: Resilience and
MIG 21 used in 1971 as a token of friendship between Partnerships’, ‘Technology & Innovation: Roadmap to
the two countries. On December 17, Kovind Sustainability and Inclusion’ and ‘Glocalizing
inaugurated the historic Sri Ramna Kali Mandir in Emerging Technologies: Building Digital Capabilities’.
Dhaka, 50 years after it was destroyed in 1971 by the India votes against UN climate resolution
Pakistani Army’s operation codenamed ‘Operation  India on December 16 voted against a UN Security
Searchlight’. Council draft resolution that linked climate change with
global security challenges. Moved jointly by Niger and “does not alter” the fact that Arunachal Pradesh is an
Ireland, the draft resolution called on UN Secretary integral part of India.
General Antonio Guterres to “integrate climate-related Most powerful country in Asia
security risk as a central component into  India is the fourth most powerful country in Asia after
comprehensive conflict-prevention strategies.” The US, Japan and China, the Sydney-based Lowy Institute
resolution was vetoed by Russia, which is a permanent revealed in its Asian Power Index for 2021. The report
member of the UN Security Council. said that while leading Asian countries witnessed a
WTO opposes India’s sugar subsidies decline in influence, the US managed to expand its
 A World Trade Organization panel ruled in favour of power through better diplomacy and retained its
Brazil, Australia and Guatemala in December in their position as the most influential nation in the region.
trade disputes with India over sugar subsidies and asked Exercises
New Delhi to conform with global rules.  The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
 In the cases brought before the WTO in 2019, the rival (HADR) Exercise – PANEX-21 – was conducted
producers alleged that India had broken WTO rules by between the member nations of BIMSTEC (Bay of
providing excessive domestic support and export Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and
subsidies for sugar and sugarcane. Economic Cooperation) on December 20-22 in Pune.
China names places in Arunachal Pradesh The exercise saw participation from defence forces of
 China issued “standardised” names for 15 places in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka
Arunachal Pradesh in December to be used henceforth and Thailand.
on official Chinese maps, part of broader recent moves  11th edition of joint military Exercise EKUVERIN
by Beijing to step up its territorial claims. India’s between India & Maldives was conducted at Kadhdhoo
External Affairs Ministry said the move by Beijing Island, Maldives from December 6 to 19.
AWARDS
UNESCO heritage awards several years at school. The Yidan Prize is awarded by
 A project on urban revitalisation of the historic the Yidan Prize Foundation based in Hong Kong SAR.
Nizamuddin Basti community in Delhi won this year’s Royal Gold Medal
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage  Renowned Indian architect Balakrishna Doshi (94) was
Conservation in two categories in December. The awarded the Royal Gold Medal 2022, the highest
project has won the ‘Award of Excellence’ and another honour for architecture in the United Kingdom in
award in the ‘Special Recognition for Sustainable December. The Royal Institute of British Architects
Development’ category. (RIBA) made the announcement praising Doshi’s
Yidan Prize influence on the architecture of India and its
 Rukmini Banerji, CEO of Pratham Education neighbouring regions.
Foundation, was awarded the 2021 Yidan Prize for Bhutan’s highest civilian award
Education Development in December. Pratham is  The Kingdom of Bhutan conferred its highest civilian
known for its Annual Status of Education Report award ‘Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo’ on Prime Minister
(ASER) assessment approach that revealed literacy and Narendra Modi on the occasion of the country’s
numeracy gaps among children who have already spent National Day on December 17.
PERSONS IN NEWS
 Actor-model Harnaaz Sandhu (21) was crowned Miss Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
Universe 2021 on December 13 in the 70th edition of (IDEA) which is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
the event held in Eilat, Israel. Nadia Ferreira of  New diplomats in India: Alejandro Simancas Marin:
Paraguay was first Runner-Up while South Africa’s Ambassador of Cuba, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh: High
Lalela Mswane was the second Runner-Up. Sandhu is Commissioner of Ghana, Ganbold Dambajav:
the third Indian after Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Ambassador of Mongolia and Rashid Sesay: High
Dutta in 2000 to win this crown. Commissioner of Sierra Leone.
 Sunil Arora, former Chief Election Commissioner of  Diplomat Pavan Kapoor was appointed India’s new
India, joined the Board of Advisers for International ambassador to Russia in December.

Current Affairs: World
HAPPENINGS
EU’s Global Gateway plan Mali (MINUSMA) on December caused the death
 The European Union (EU) announced its Global seven UN peacekeepers from Togo. The attack took
Gateway plan in December to mobilise €300 billion place in Bandiagara region in Mali.
($340 billion) in public and private infrastructure  More than 12 people were killed in Karachi on
investment around the world. The move is being seen as December 18 when a massive blast, apparently
a response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI) triggered by a gas explosion in a sewage system, ripped
that was launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013. EU through the premises of a private bank situated on it.
chief Ursula von der Leyen called the plan it a  Twenty-seven people are feared dead after a fire broke
“roadmap for major investment in infrastructure out in a commercial building in Osaka in western Japan
development around the world.” on December 17.
 Officially B&RI aims to develop land and sea  Four people were hurt, one seriously injured, when a
infrastructure to better connect China to Asia, Europe World War II bomb blew up on a railway construction
and Africa for trade and development, and it has found site in the German city of Munich in December.
many partners around the world.  Two cargo ships collided in the Baltic Sea off the
 The West, however, sees it as a tool for China to Swedish coast, causing one to overturn on Dec 13. The
influence poorer countries. They criticise Beijing for overturned ship, the Karin Hoej, is registered in
inciting emerging economies to take on too much debt, Denmark and the other vessel is the UK-flagged Scot
and allege the secretive tender process is prone to Carrier. The cause of the collision is not yet clear.
corruption. World Inequality Report
Accidents/calamities  The richest 1 per cent have since the mid-nineties
 More than 13 people died after a migrant boat capsized captured 38 per cent of wealth growth globally, said the
in the Aegean Sea on December 24. The human World Inequality Report 2022 published by the Harvard
smugglers were transporting migrants on perilous route University Press in December. The annual report that
from Turkey to Italy. called for “modernising tax systems” to reduce
 A crowded three-storey ferry carrying around 800 inequality. The richest 10 per cent own around 60-80
passengers caught fire on the Sugandha river in per cent of wealth and the poorest half less than 5 per
Bangladesh on December 24 killing more than 40 cent of wealth.
people, in the latest maritime tragedy to hit the country Ethiopia-Tigray conflict
criss-crossed by rivers. The ferry named ‘MV Abhijan-  The government of Ethiopia claimed to have recaptured
10’ was going from Dhaka to Barguna. several towns from Tigrayan rebels in December, as
 Several devastating tornadoes roared through six US fierce fighting raged in the 13-month war that has left
states on December 11 causing the death of more than thousands of people dead. The conflict between forces
80 people. More than 70 people are believed to have loyal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray
been killed in Kentucky alone. Other affected states People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group has
were Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis.
Mississippi. IAEA, Iran agreement
 More than 14 people were killed due to the eruption of  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said
3,676 m high Mount Semeru on Java Island of in December that it will soon install new surveillance
Indonesia on December 4. cameras at Iran’s Karaj nuclear facility under an
 Super typhoon Rai battered southern Philippines agreement between the two sides. Iran’s rival nations
forcing thousands of people to take shelter in accuse it of making nuclear weapons under the guise of
December. The storm made landfall in Siargao, a civilian nuclear power programme. The agreement was
popular tourist island, packing winds of about 175km/h. concluded by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano
 Fourteen people died in the crash of a military Grossi and the Head of the Atomic Energy
helicopter in Azerbaijan on November 30 in the east of Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami.
the Caucasus country. The helicopter belonging to state Paperless Dubai govt
border service was in a training flight.  Dubai has become the world’s first government to turn
 A terrorist attack on the convoy of the United Nations 100% paperless, the Emirate’s Crown Prince, Sheikh
Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
announced in December, pointing at savings of 1.3 region over concerns about forced labour. The
billion Dirham (USD 350 million) and 14-million-man Uighur Forced Labour Prevention Act is part of the
hours. U.S. pushback against Beijing’s treatment of the
Saudi Arabia bans Tablighi Jamaat China’s Uighur Muslim minority, which Washington
 Saudi Arabia government banned the Tablighi Jamaat has labelled genocide. Earlier in December, the US
in December calling it one of the gates of terrorism. Senate and the House of Representatives passed the bill
Saudi Islamic Affairs Ministry has directed the mosques with overwhelming support.
to warn people during Friday sermon against the Pro-China candidates dominate HK polls
Tablighi Jamaat. Government has also warned people  Pro-Beijing candidates dominated Hong Kong’s
against associating with the Tablighi Jamaat which has legislative elections, beating out moderates and
been banned in Saudi Arabia. independents in the city’s first public poll after Beijing
UAE transitions to shortest work week passed a resolution to amend the city’s election laws.
 The United Arab Emirates announced to change its Candidates loyal to Beijing won a majority of the seats
existing five-day workweek to a four-and-a-half day in the election held on December 19, after the laws
starting January 1, 2022 becoming the world’s first were changed to ensure that only pro-Beijing “patriots”
country to make the employee-friendly transition as part could run the city. Voter turnout was 30.2%, the lowest
of its efforts to improve productivity and work-life since the British handed Hong Kong over to China in
balance. According to the new schedule, Monday to 1997.
Thursday the work timings would be from 7.30 am to World Petroleum Congress organised
3.30 pm, followed by a half day on Friday from 7.30  The World Petroleum Congress (WPC), the largest
am to 12.00 pm. triennial gathering for the industry, was organised in
New Caledonia remains with France Houston (US) from December 5 to 9. WPC is organized
 Voters in the French island territory of New Caledonia every three years by the London-based World
in the South Pacific Ocean chose overwhelmingly to Petroleum Council which includes 65 member
stay part of France in a referendum held on December countries, representing over 96 per cent of global oil
12. New Caledonia, whose capital is Noumea, is a vast and gas production and consumption.
archipelago of about 2,70,000 people east of Australia Defence exercises
that is 10 time zones ahead of Paris and hosts a French  Bangladesh and the US organised the annual
military base. It was colonised by France in the 19th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)
century. maritime exercise in December. The nine-day exercise
Nicaragua snubs Taiwan was carried out virtually and in the Bay of Bengal.
 China opened an embassy in Nicaragua in December OECD global growth forecast
for the first time since 1990, acting just over three  The Organization for Economic Cooperation and
weeks since President Daniel Ortega’s government Development (OECD) revised its global growth
broke off relations with Taiwan. With the departure of forecast for 2021 down to 5.6% in December over
Nicaragua, Taiwan only has 14 formal diplomatic allies concerns about the impact of coronavirus mutations on
left. These are mostly small countries in the Pacific, the recovery. “The strong rebound we have seen is now
Caribbean, Latin America and Southern Africa that easing and supply bottlenecks, rising inflation, and the
receive heavy foreign aid donations and loans. Taiwan continuing impact of the pandemic are clouding the
is formally known as the Republic of China (ROC), horizon,” OECD said. The Paris-based organization had
whose government retreated to the island at the end of predicted in September that the global economy would
the Chinese Civil War in 1949. expand 5.7% this year. It left the 2022 projection
EU rebukes Poland on judicial restraints unchanged at 4.5%.
 The EU announced in December that it is launching Important days
legal action against Poland for ignoring European  International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was
Union law and undermining the independence of its observed by the United Nations on December 27.
national judiciary. Poland’s new laws allow government  International Human Solidarity Day was observed by
to decide appointment of judges and monitor their the UN on December 20.
conduct. EU is withholding approval of coronavirus  International Migrants Day was celebrated on Dec 18.
recovery funds for Poland over the row. Theme: ‘Harnessing the Potential of Human Mobility’.
US bans imports from Xinjiang  The World Arabic Language Day was observed by
 U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law legislation in UNESCO on December 18. Arabic is spoken by over
December that bans imports from China’s Xinjiang 290 million people worldwide.

 International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of  The International Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Day was celebrated on December 12 with the theme
Prevention of this Crime was observed on December 9. ‘Leave No One’s Health Behind: Invest in Health
 International Anti-Corruption Day was observed on Systems for All.’
December 9 with its theme as ‘Your right, your role:  The International Civil Aviation Day was celebrated on
say no to corruption.’ December 7. The was “Advancing Innovation for
 UN celebrated Human Rights Day on December 10 Global Aviation Development”.
with its theme as ‘EQUALITY - Reducing inequalities,  The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was
advancing human rights’. On December 10, 1948 the observed on December 2.
United Nations General Assembly adopted the  World AIDS Day was observed on December 1.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).  The International Day of Banks was celebrated by the
 The International Mountain Day was celebrated on UN on December 4.
December 11 with its theme as ‘sustainable mountain  International Volunteer Day was observed by the UN
tourism’. on December 5 with the theme ‘Volunteer now for our
 International Day of Neutrality was observed by the UN common future’.
on December 12. Neutrality is defined as the legal  The World Soil Day was observed by the UN’s FAO on
status arising from the abstention of a state from all December 5 to focus attention on the sustainable
participation in a war between other states. management of soil resources.
AWARDS
Lin Zhao Freedom Award: The US-based Christian promoting the Chinese civil society and advancing the
rights group ChinaAid awarded journalist Zhang Zhan rule of law. Zhan has been jailed by Chinese authorities
with the Lin Zhao Freedom Award, for her work in for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic.
PERSONS IN NEWS
Appointments honoured by Prime Minister Mia Mottley at an event
 Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party succeeded which marked Barbados’s new status as a republic.
Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union party Obituaries
as the new Chancellor of Germany in December.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu (90), a veteran of South
Lawmakers voted by 395-303 with six abstentions to Africa’s struggle against white minority rule, died on
elect Scholz in the 736-seat lower house of parliament December 26. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
(Bundestag). Scholz, 63, Germany’s vice chancellor in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to apartheid. A
and finance minister since 2018, leads an untried decade later, he witnessed the ends of that regime and
coalition of his center-left Social Democrats, the he chaired a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set
environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free up to unearth atrocities committed during those dark
Democrats. days.
 Gabriel Boric (35) was elected as the youngest  Pioneering US biologist Edward O. Wilson (92) dies on
president of South American nation Chile in December. December 26. He is known for his 1975 book,
The leftist Boric won with 55.87% of the vote, securing ‘Sociobiology: The New Synthesis’, in which he
victory over his right-wing rival, Jose Antonio Kast. spelled out the evidence suggesting a link between
 US government official Catherine Russell was human behaviour and genetics.
appointed as the new Executive Director of the UN  Canadian film-maker Jean-Marc Vallee (58) died on
children’s agency UNICEF by UN Secretary-General December 25 in Canada. He was the producer-director
Antonio Guterres in December. She will succeed of ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ that won 2013 Academy
Henrietta Fore, who resigned in July. Awards for actors Matthew McConaughey and Jared
 The International Monetary Fund announced the Leto for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor
appointment of its chief economist Gita Gopinath as the respectively. In recent years, he has drawn acclaim for
First Deputy Managing Director from 2022 in place of his work on TV series ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘Sharp
incumbent Geoffrey Okamoto. Kristalina Georgieva is Objects’.
Managing Director of IMF.  New Zealand’s Keri Hulme (74), whose 1984 novel
 US singer Rihanna was declared a national hero by the ‘The Bone People’ won the Man Booker Prize, died on
government of Barbados in December. She was December 27.

Current Affairs: Sports
BWF World Badminton Championships  The tournament comprised eight teams: Mumbai Leon
 Loh Kean Yew of Singapore won the gold medal in Army, Delhi Binny’s Brigade, Chennai Stallions,
men’s singles at the 2021 BWF World Badminton Bengaluru Spartans, Hyderabad Strikers, Rajasthan
Championships by defeating India’s Kidambi Srikanth Tigers, Gujarat Panthers and Pune Jaguars.
21-15, 22-20 in the final played in Huelva, Spain on Centena Pro Tennis League
December 19. Another Indian, Lakshya Sen won bronze  Team Radiant defeated Bangalore Challengers 22-18 in
after losing in semifinal. Women’s singles gold was the final to win the Centena Pro Tennis League in New
won by Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi who defeated Delhi on December 25.
Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu-ying in the final 21-14, 21-11.  Bangalore Challengers won the first match when Aman
 The mixed doubles gold was won by Thailand’s Dahiya defeated Parv Nage 5-1 in men’s singles.
Dechapol Puavaranukroh & Sapsiree Taerattanachai  Team Radiant won the second match when Parv Nage &
who won against Japan’s Yuta Watanabe & Arisa Prerna Bhambri beat Aman Dahiya & Sai Samhitha 5-2
Higashino in the final. Women’s doubles gold was won in mixed doubles.
by China’s Chen Qingchen & Jia Yifan who defeated  Team Radiant won the third match when Saketh Myneni
South Korea’s Lee So-hee & Shin Seung-chan in the beat Niki Poonacha 5-0 in men’s singles.
final 21-16, 21-17. Men’s doubles gold was won by  Bangalore Challengers won the fourth match when Niki
Japan’s Takuro Hoki & Yugo Kobayashi who defeated Poonacha & Paras Dahiya won 5-3 in men’s doubles
China’s He Jiting & Tan Qiang in final 21-12, 21-18. against Saketh Myneni & Suraj Prabodh.
BWF World Tour Finals  Bangalore Challengers won the fifth match when Paras
 Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) and An Se-young (South Dahiya beat Suraj Prabodh 5-3 in men’s singles.
Korea) won the men’s and women’s singles titles  Both teams were tied 17-17 after the fifth match. Team
respectively at the 2021 BWF World Tour Finals Radiant won the sixth match and the tournament when
badminton tournament held in Bali, Indonesia. Axelsen Arjun Uppal & Prerna Bhambri beat Dilip Mohanty &
defeated Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand) in the final 21- Sai Samhita 5-1 in mixed doubles.
12, 21-8 on December 5. Women’s singles title was won  Eight teams participated in the tournament: Bangalore
by An Se-young (South Korea) who beat PV Sindhu Challengers, DMG Crusaders, Indian Aviators, Pro Veri
(India) 21-16, 21-12. Super Smashers, Sankara, Sapphire Superstars, Stag
 Men’s doubles title was won by Hoki Takuro & Babolat Yoddhas and Team Radiant
Kobayashi Yugo (Japan) who beat Marcus Fernaldi Davis Cup tennis
Gideon & Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (Indonesia) 21-16,  Russia won the Davis Cup men’s team tennis
13-21, 21-17. Women’s doubles title was won by South tournament by defeating Croatia 2-0 in the final played
Korea’s Kim So-yeong & Kong Hee-yong who beat in Madrid, Spain in December. In the first match,
Matsuyama Nami & Shida Chiharu (Japan) 21-14, 21- Andrey Rublev beat Borna Gojo 6-4, 7-6(5). Daniil
14. Mixed doubles title was won by Dechapol Medvedev defeated Marin Cilic 7-6(7), 6-2 in the
Puavaranukroh & Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Thailand) second match to give Russia an unbeatable 2-0 lead.
who beat Watanabe Yuta & Higashino Arisa (Japan) 21- India-NZ test series
19, 21-11.  India (325 & 276/7d) defeated New Zealand (62 & 167)
Tennis Premier League in the second test by a record-breaking 372-run margin
 Hyderabad Strikers defeated Mumbai Leon Army 49-31 to clinch the two-Test series 1-0 on the fourth day in
in the final of the Tennis Premier League tournament at Mumbai on December 6. This was India’s biggest win
the Celebration Club in Mumbai on December 19. The in Tests in terms of runs surpassing the victory of 337
winners won all four matches. runs against South Africa at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground,
 In the first match Karman Kaur beat Sowjanya Bavisetti Delhi on December 3, 2015. The first test at Green Park
15-5 in women’s singles. In men’s singles Arjun Kadhe Stadium, Kanpur ended in a draw on November 29.
beat Ramkumar Ramanathan 12-8.  Most runs in the series were made by India’s Mayank
 In mixed doubles match, Vishnu Vardhan & Karman Agarwal (242) followed by Tom Latham (163). Most
Laur beat Niki Poonacha & Sowjanya Bavisetti 11-9. wickets were taken by Ravichandran Ashwin (14)
 In men’s doubles, Vishnu Vardhan & Arjun Kadhe beat followed by Ajaz Patel (17) of NZ. Ravichandran
Ramkumar Ramanathan and & Niki Poonacha 11-9. Ashwin was Player of the series.

 India-born left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel became only the terms of points. Verstappen had 395.5 points from the
third bowler in the 144-year-old history of Test cricket year while Hamilton had 387.5.
to take all 10 wickets in an innings on December 4 on  Mercedes team won the Constructors’ championship by
the second day of the second match against India at the aggregating 613.5 points ahead of Red Bull Racing
Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Patel, who had (585.5).
migrated to New Zealand with his parents in 1996,  The 2021 season featured 22 races in different
ended the Indian innings with figures of 47.5-12-119-10 destinations around the world.
to equal England great Jim Laker (1956) and Indian World Chess Championship
legend Anil Kumble (1999).  Norway’s Magnus Carlsen won the 2021 FIDE World
Vijay Hazare Trophy Chess Championship in December after beating his
 Himachal Pradesh (299/4; 47.3 overs) defeated Tamil challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia. 7.5-3.5 in the
Nadu (314 all out in 49.4 overs) by 11 runs in the final final played at Dubai. Carlsen got 1.2 million euros
of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Jaipur on December 26. while his challenger won 800,000 euros.
With Himachal 299/4 in 47.3 overs, and needing 16 off World blitz & rapid chess
15 balls, bad light suspended play at 5 PM, before  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (31) of France won the World
Himachal were declared winners under the VJD Method blitz chess title in Warsaw on December 30. The
that was invented by engineer V. Jayadevan. women’s title was won by 17-year-old Bibisara
U-19 Asia Cup cricket Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan.
 India won the Under-19 Asia Cup cricket title in Dubai  Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov (17) won the
on December 31 by defeating Sri Lanka by nine wickets World rapid chess title at Warsaw, Poland, on December
in the rain-hit final. Sri Lanka made 106 for 9 in the 28. Alexandra Kosteniuk (37) of Russia won the
revised quota of 38 overs. India then required just 21.3 women’s title.
overs to chase down the target that had been reduced to Awards
102 off 38 overs under the DLS method.  Former Indian athlete Anju Bobby George won Woman
Asian team squash championships of the Year Award given by World Athletics in
 Malaysia defeated India 2-1 in the men’s final of the December for grooming talent in the country and for her
Asian team squash championships in Kuala Lumpur in advocacy of gender equality. George is the only Indian
December. Saurav Ghosal lost in the first match to Ng to have won a medal in the World Championships with
Eain Yow 10-12, 4-11, 8-11. Mahesh Mangaonkar made a long jump bronze in 2003.
the score 1-1 by defeating Mohammad Shafiq Kamal  Simone Biles was named 2021 Athlete of the Year by
11-9, 11-7, 11-8 in the second match. Ramit Tandon lost Time magazine in December. The US gymnast was
to Ivan Yuen 8-11, 11-8, 3-11, 1-11 in the third and hailed for putting her mental health first when she
deciding match. The hosts also won the women’s withdrew from four event finals at the Tokyo Olympics.
championship by beating Hong Kong 2-1 in the final. Obituaries
Asian Champions Trophy men’s hockey  Former England captain Ray Illingworth (89) died on
 South Korea won the Asian Champions Trophy men’s December 25. Illingworth played 61 Tests for England
hockey tournament in Dhaka on December 22 by between 1958 and 1973 and captained the country 31
beating Japan 4-2 in a shootout following a 3-3 times, winning 12 matches and an Ashes series in
stalemate at the end of the regulation 60 minutes of the Australia in 1970-71. He scored 1,836 Test runs at an
final. India got a bronze after defeating Pakistan 4-3 in average of 23.24 and claimed 122 wickets with his off-
the match between losing semi-finalists. spin bowling at 31.20.
Men’s Junior hockey World Cup  Lamine Diack (88), the former head of world athletics’
 Argentina defeated Germany 4-2 in the final to win the governing body who was convicted of corruption in
men’s Junior hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium 2020, died in Senegal on December 3. Diack led the
in Bhubaneswar on December 5. France defeated India International Association of Athletics Federations
3-1 to win bronze medal. (IAAF) from 1999 to 2015, during which he was later
2021 Formula One Season found guilty of running a clique that covered up Russian
 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the 2021 Formula One doping in return for millions of dollars in bribes.
Drivers’ Championship after winning the season-ending  Former India football goalkeeper Sanat Seth (91), who
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 12 and also was part of the 1954 Asian Games squad, died on
finishing ahead of rival Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes in December 23.

Current Affairs: Economy
Electoral bonds’ sale 40% power from non-fossil sources
 The government announced the sale of electoral bonds  India’s New and Renewable Energy Ministry said in
from January 1 to 10. These can be purchased from any December that the country has achieved the target of 40
of the 29 specified branches of SBI by citizens or per cent of its installed electricity generation capacity
entities of India for donation to political parties. coming from non-fossil energy sources. “At COP 21, as
 An electoral bond is an interest-free banking instrument. part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),
The bonds can be purchased for any value in multiples India had committed to achieving 40 per cent of its
of Rs. 1,000; Rs. 10,000; Rs. 1 lakh; Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. installed electricity capacity from non-fossil energy
1 crore. sources by 2030. The 2015 United Nations Climate
 Registered political parties that have secured not less Change Conference (COP 21) was held in Paris.
than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last election of  India’s installed renewable energy (RE) capacity stands
the Lok Sabha or legislative assembly are eligible to at 150.05 GW, while its nuclear energy-based installed
receive electoral bonds from citizens. electricity capacity is 6.78 GW. This brings the total
 An electoral bond will be valid for 15 days from the non-fossil fuels based installed energy capacity to
date of issue. After receiving bonds from donors, parties 156.83 GW -- which is 40.1 per cent of the total
can get them encashed by depositing them in their bank installed electricity capacity of 390.8 GW.
accounts.  The government has set a target of achieving 500 GW of
 The objective behind issuing of electoral bonds is to installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources
ensure transparency in the funding of political parties. by 2030.
Dam Safety Bill passed Forex reserves
 A bill providing for surveillance, inspection, operation,  India’s foreign exchange reserves decreased by USD
and maintenance of all specified dams across the 587 million to USD 635.08 billion in December.
country and for constituting the National Committee on Foreign currency assets (FCA), a major component of
Dam Safety was passed by the Parliament in December. the overall reserves, dipped by USD 847 million to USD
 The bill provides for the constitution of the National 571.369 billion. Gold reserves rose by USD 207 million
Committee on Dam Safety to prevent dam failure- to USD 39.39 billion. The special drawing rights
related disasters and to maintain standards of dam (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
safety. The committee will evolve dam safety policies increased by USD 24 million to USD 19.114 billion.
and recommend necessary regulations as may be The country’s reserve position with the IMF increased
required. by USD 28 million to USD 5.207 billion.
 It provides for establishing National Dam Safety Energy Conservation Day
Authority as a regulatory body to implement the policy,  On the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day
guidelines and standards for proper surveillance, on December 14, the Power Ministry distributed LED
inspection and maintenance of specified dams and bulbs at a highly subsidised rate at Rs. 10 in over 2,500
resolve issues between the State Dam Safety villages in five states - Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana,
Organisation (SDSO) of two states, or between the Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka under the expanded
SDSO of a state and the owner of a dam in that state. Gram UJALA programme. The programme was
Ken-Betwa Interlinking Project launched in March 2021 and already achieved a
 The centre announced the launch of Ken-Betwa distribution mark of more than 33 lakh LED bulbs in
Interlinking of Rivers Project in December that involves Bihar and UP. It has now been expanded to include AP,
transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa River Telangana and Karnataka.
through the construction of Daudhan Dam and a canal White label ATMs
linking the two rivers. The Rs. 44,605 crores project  India1 Payments, promoted by the Banktech Group of
shall be completed in 8 years and is expected to generate Australia and formerly known as BTI Payments,
103 MW Hydro Power plus 27 MW Solar Power. A announced in December that it has crossed a milestone
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link of deploying 10,000-white-lable ATMs which are
Project Authority (KBLPA) to be set up for its labelled as India1ATMs, making it the largest player in
implementation. The Project will benefit the water the segment. The company has installed these machines
starved Bundelkhand region, spread across the states of mostly in semi urban and rural areas across 14 states and
MP and UP. union territories. The Automated Teller Machines

(ATMs) which are set up, owned and operated by non- Boost for semiconductor industry
bank entities are called “White Label ATMs” (WLAs).  The government announced a ₹76,000 crore scheme to
PM-SYM pension scheme boost semiconductor and display manufacturing in the
 The number of unorganised workers registered under country in December. The scheme would provide fiscal
the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) support of up to 50% of the project cost for setting up
pension scheme crossed 45 lakhs, the labour ministry semiconductor and display fabrication units in India.
said in December. To provide old-age protection in the The centre will work with the States to set up high-tech
form of a monthly pension, the government launched clusters with the required infrastructure such as land and
the PM-SYM pension scheme in 2019. Under this semiconductor-grade water.
scheme, a minimum assured monthly pension of Rs National Consumer Day
3,000 will be provided to the unorganised workers after  The National Consumer Day was observed on
attaining the age of 60 years. December 24. On this day the Consumer Protection Act,
e-Shram portal 1986 was enacted. The Act aims to provide consumers
 Over 10 crore unorganised sector workers have been with effective safeguards against different types of
registered on the e-SHRAM portal as on December 1, exploitation, such as defective goods, deficiency in
Labour & Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav said. services and unfair trade practices.
 The portal was launched in August to register India’s nuclear power capacity
unorganised sector workers such as migrant workers,  The government revealed a target of raising India’s
construction workers, domestic workers, street vendors present nuclear power capacity of 6,780 MW to 22,480
etc, who are seeded to AADHAR. MW by 2031 in December. The share of nuclear power
 West Bengal leads the states of maximum registration in the total electricity generation in the country is about
followed by UP and Odisha. e-SHRAM is India’s first 3.1 per cent in the year 2020-21.
national database on unorganised sector workers. Those Disinvestment
registered on the portal can obtain benefits of various  The government announced disinvestment of PSU
social security and employment-based schemes from the Central Electronics Ltd in December. Nandal Finance
government. and Leasing Private Limited will buy 100% equity
LGSCATSS for tourism sector shareholding of the government for Rs. 210 crores.
 Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy handed over Abbreviations
cheques and sanction letters to the first lot of  CAMPA: Compensatory Afforestation Fund
stakeholders who have been granted the loan approval Management and Planning Authority
under the Loan Guarantee Scheme for COVID-Affected  PM-KISAN: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
Tourism Sector Services (LGSCATSS) in December. Appointments
PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana  Pradip Shah was appointed chairman of National Asset
 The centre announced implementation of Pradhan Reconstruction Company Ltd. (NARCL) in December
Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26 by the government. Sanjay Jain was appointed CEO of
with an outlay of Rs.93,068 crore in December. This India Debt Resolution Company Ltd. (IDRCL), the
includes central funding of 90% for two national privately-owned asset management company (AMC)
projects: Renuka Ji Dam Project in Himachal Pradesh tasked to resolve bad loans acquired by NARCL.
and Lakhwar Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand.  Bureaucrat Alka Upadhyaya was appointed as the
Components of PMKSY include: Accelerated Irrigation Chairperson of National Highways Authority of India
Benefit Programme (AIBP), Har Khet ko Paani (HKKP) (NHAI) in December. Sanjay Bandopadhyay was
and Watershed Development. appointed Chairman of Inland Waterways Authority of
Inflation India (IWAI). G. Asok Kumar was appointed Director
 India’s annual wholesale price index (WPI)-based General of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
inflation accelerated to a record high of 14.23% in  Vinay Kumar Tripathi was appointed as the Chairman
November, boosted by increases in manufacturing and and CEO of Railway Board by govt. in December. He
food prices. It is the highest since April 2005. was General Manager, North Eastern Railway.
 Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation (retail  BJP’s Sambit Patra was appointed Chairman of India
inflation) inched up to a three-month high of 4.91 per Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in
cent in November, mainly due to an uptick in food December. Bureaucrat GKV Rao was appointed
prices, government data showed in December. managing director.

Current Affairs: Corporate
HAPPENINGS
Launches  House of Kieraya (HoK) launched luxury furniture and
 Okaya Electric Vehicles launched high-speed e-scooter lifestyle brand ‘Prava’ in December. HoK now includes
Faast in December at an introductory price of Rs 89,999 three brands — Furlenco, a furniture rental brand;
(before subsidies). Furbicle, which sells remanufactured furniture; and
 Bounce, the Bengaluru-based smart mobility solution Prava, a luxury furniture and home lifestyle brand.
company, launched electric scooter, the Bounce Infinity  Adani Enterprises Ltd, the flagship company of the
E1 with a unique ‘battery as a service’ option in diversified Adani Group, forayed in to the aluminium
December. The scooter with battery and charger is Rs sector in December with the setting up of Mundra
68,999 and the price of scooter with ‘battery as a Aluminium Ltd.
service’ is priced at Rs 45,099 plus subscription to  Textile and apparels firm Raymond incorporated a step-
‘battery as a service’. down subsidiary Ten X Realty Ltd (TXRL) in
 TI Cycles of India (TII), part of the Murugappa Group’s December to carry on real estate business for the
Tube Investment of India, announced in December that development of land and properties at Thane,
it will market its electric vehicles under ‘Montra’ brand Maharashtra.
across three segments — last-mile commute, last-mile  10 years after it exited the sector by selling Cinemax
delivery and personal mobility. India to PVR, Mumbai-based real estate company
 South Korean automaker Kia unveiled its all-new Kanakia Group announced plans in December to re-
model ‘Carens’ for the Indian market in December. The enter the cinema exhibition space under the Cineline
name of the model, which the company refers to as a brand
recreational vehicle (RV), is based on the concept of  Tablez, an Abu Dhabi-based retail B group with a
‘Car + Renaissance’. The Carens would be Kia’s fourth substantial presence in India, has announced launch of
product in the Indian market. The automaker already its new proprietary retail chain House of Toys in India
sells Seltos, Sonet, and Carnival in the domestic market. in December. The first store of the brand was launched
 German luxury carmaker BMW launched its in Bengaluru in December.
technology flagship all-electric SUV iX in India at Rs  Tata International Ltd., the global trading arm of Tata
1.16 crore in December. Group and an exporter of leather and leather products,
 Tata Motors announced the setting up of its electric announced the introduction of Tagra, a premium range
vehicle subsidiary Tata Passenger Electric Mobility of performance footwear for safety, manufacturing,
(TPEML) in December. military and security sectors. The shoes have been
 Investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Akasa Air crafted using FeetScience, Tata International’s
revealed its brand identity with the unveiling of its scientific study of human feet.
‘Rising A’ symbol and tagline, ‘It’s Your Sky’ in  Brillare, a personal care brand owned by Emami,
December. forayed in the offline retail space in December with
 Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced the exclusive retail outlets in metro cities.
launch of ‘Hyundai Spotlight’ in collaboration with  Poultry Suguna Foods launched its first click and
Universal Music India (UMI) in December. Hyundai mortar brand ‘Delfrez’ in December. Delfrez will be in
Spotlight is a platform for budding artists across India both online and offline retail format.
to showcase their talent to the nation.  MTR Foods Pvt. Ltd forayed into the fresh Idli and
 Automobile company MG Motor India announced the Dosa batter category December with the launch of
launch of ‘Taal’ (meaning Rhythm) in partnership with MTR Minute Fresh.
Songdew in December to promote indie musicians. The  PepsiCo India has entered the thin wafer segment in
partnership has selected Fiddlecraft from Pune and The December with a new variant of chips called Lay’s
Tapi Project from Surat to help them realise their Wafer Style in three flavours--Salt & Pepper, Tangy
potential. Treat and Sundried Chilli.
 French hospitality group Accor introduced Emblems  Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) finalised
Collection, a new portfolio of luxury boutique hotels, in ‘Namami Govinda’ as the brand name for the bouquet
December. The luxury brand, which will launch first in of Panchagavya-based products in December. The
China’s Guizhou province, aims to have 60 properties products include toilet soaps, hand wash, nasal drops,
in cities around the world by 2030. agarbathi, etc. it plans to launch. Equipped with a dairy
farm that shelters hundreds of native cattle, the TTD got brands, known worldwide for its high-performance
down to making productive use of the residual products outerwear and jackets.
such as cow dung and cow urine.  Commercial vehicles maker Ashok Leyland, the
 Dabur India forayed in the health food drink business flagship company of the Hinduja group, announced
with the launch of Vita in December, in a bid to widen foray into the used vehicles business in December in tie
its Ayurveda-backed health products portfolio. up with Shriram Automall India Limited (SAMIL).
 FMCG major CavinKare forayed into the QSR (quick  Mahindra Group announced partnership with Jio-bp, a
service restaurant) segment in December with the joint venture of Reliance Industries Ltd and BP Plc, in
launch of its first outlet in Chennai under the brand - December to explore the creation of products and
Jango’z. services in electric vehicles sector. Under the non-
 BBLUNT, a hair care and styling brand from Godrej binding deal, the company will evaluate Jio-bp’s
Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), launched Hot Shot charging and battery swapping technology for its
range of styling products in December and roped in electric three- and four-wheelers, as well as
actress Jennifer Winget as the face of this new hair quadricycles and small commercial vehicles.
styling range.  Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), the retail arm of
 FMCG company Emami Ltd launched its German Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL),
skincare brand Creme 21 into Indian markets in and Indian couturier Anamika Khanna announced a
December. Creme 21 was acquired by Emami Ltd in 60:40 joint venture in December for owning and
January 2019. developing the brand AK-OK.
 D2C (direct-to-consumer) apparel brand Bewakoof  Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)
launched its streetwear collection ‘Seedhe Gully Se’ in announced the launch of a strategic joint venture with
December. Abu Dhabi Chemicals Derivatives Company RSC Ltd
 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) (TA’ZIZ) in December for chemical projects worth $2
approved a testing kit for detecting the Omicron variant billion in Ruwais, a town located 240 km to the west of
of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in December. The kit Abu Dhabi City. The joint venture, named ‘TA’ZIZ
is manufactured by Tata Medical and Diagnostics and is EDC & PVC’, will be located at the TA’ZIZ Industrial
named OmiSure. The RT-PCR kit, Omisure, was earlier Chemicals Zone in Ruwais.
sent to the ICMR for approval after continued testing. Merges & Acquisitions
The kit uses S-Gene Target Failure (SGTF) strategy.  Advent International, a global private equity firm,
 Pharmaceutical company Lupin Ltd forayed into the announced completion of merger of its portfolio
diagnostics business in December with the launch of companies Dixcy Textiles and Gokaldas Intimatewear,
Lupin Diagnostics. Desh Bandhu Gupta founded Lupin. the parent company of brand Enamor, in December.
His daughter Vinita D. Gupta is the CEO. The new merged entity, Modenik Lifestyle, will be
 Amrutanjan Healthcare, a 128-year-old company, headquartered in Bengaluru. Modenik will have a
forayed into the Direct-To-Customer (D2C) channel portfolio of five sub-brands, including Dixcy Scott
with its first physical store in Chennai in December. Originals, Dixcy Scott Maximus, Josh by Dixcy Scott,
Apart from its pain management range, Amrutanjan Slimz and Enamor.
sells Comfy sanitary napkins and food & beverages  Warburg Pincus-owned Parksons Packaging has
under Fruitnik and Fruitnik Electro+ brands. acquired Manohar Packaging, a Mumbai-based
 Online education company Unacademy launched a specialist in alcobev packaging. The company, founded
programme - Shikshodaya - that aims to educate five in 1994, is one of India’s top producers of carton
lakh girl students in the country. packaging and the industry leader in the alcoholic
 The government released a commemorative postage beverages segment.
stamp on the Mahindra group on December 1 to mark  The New York-based impact fund TFCC International
75 years of the company. Kailash Chandra Mahindra & announced investing USD 4.14 billion (over Rs 31,000
his brother JC Mahindra founded Mahindra & crore) for a 46 per cent stake in Ramcharan Co, a
Mahindra in 1945 with Malik Ghulam Mohammed. Chennai-based company, which is mainly into the
Joint ventures/collaborations distribution of chemicals, in December.
 Motorcycle maker Royal Enfield announced  Paris-headquartered music company Believe announced
collaboration with British brand Belstaff in December the acquisition of Think Music, which is a South Indian
to market an exclusive range of apparel. Launched in film soundtrack label founded and run by Swaroop
1924, Belstaff is one of the leading British Heritage Reddy and Kiran Reddy, in December.

 L&T Finance Holdings Limited (LTFH) announced the conglomerate Central Group in December for four
sale of its mutual fund business to HSBC Asset billion pounds ($5.4 billion). Central Group, which is
Management (India) Private Limited in December for owned by the Chirathivats, one of Asia’s wealthiest
$425 million (approximately Rs 3,200 crore). families, and Signa Holding of Austria, have formed a
 Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited (SPNI) joint venture to buy the retail group. Central and Signa
and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) will own the chain in a 50-50 partnership.
announced in December that they have signed definitive  Canada’s Bank of Montreal agreed to buy BNP Paribas
agreements to merge ZEEL with and into SPNI and SA’s Bank of the West unit for $16.3 billion, extending
combine their linear networks, digital assets, production its presence in key U.S. growth markets.
operations and program libraries. Contracts
 Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL), a wholly  Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), the flagship company of
owned subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani led Reliance the Adani Group, won the bid from Uttar Pradesh
Industries Ltd (RIL), announced a deal in December to Expressways Industrial Development Authority
acquire UK-based sodium-ion battery technology (UPEIDA) in December to implement 464-km length of
company Faradion for an enterprise value of GBP 100 the greenfield Ganga Expressway on a DBFOT
million. (Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer) basis. The
 Anil Agarwal-promoted Vedanta Limited announced concession period shall be 30 years. The Ganga
acquisition of Goa-based Nicomet, a leading nickel and Expressway will connect Meerut with Prayagraj. Of its
cobalt producer, in December thus becoming the only 594-km length,
nickel producer in the country. India’s demand for  Indian infrastructure major GMR Group won a contract
nickel is currently pegged at 45,000 tonne per annum to develop Medan Airport in Indonesia in December.
which is entirely met through imports at present.  Adani Green Energy (AGEL) signed an agreement with
 The State Bank of India (SBI) acquired a minority stake PSU Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) in
in JSW Cement Limited, part of USD 13 billion JSW December to supply 4667 MW of green energy.
Group, in December. The PSU bank has invested Rs According to a company statement, this is the world’s
100 crore in the company via compulsorily convertible largest ever green power purchase agreement (PPA).
preference shares (CCPS). Auctions
 Mumbai-based Darwin Platform Infrastructure Ltd  A rare copy of a Superman #1 comic book that sold on
(DPIL) won the bid for Lavasa Corporation, India’s newsstands for a dime in 1939 was purchased for $2.6
first privately-built smart city near the Lonavala million by an anonymous buyer in an auction on
hillstation in Pune in December. The Committee of December 16. Considered a pioneer in the superhero
Creditors (CoC) of Lavasa Corporation voted and genre, the ‘Superman’ character was created by writer
accepted a Rs 1,814-crore final Total Resolution Plan to Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster.
revive the city.  Manohari Gold Tea, a rare variety of tea cultivated in
 Singapore-headquartered Xcelerate Pte Ltd announced Assam, broke its own record as it was sold for Rs 1 lakh
acquisition of controlling stake in Madurai-based per kilogram on December 14 at Guwahati Tea Auction
Aparajitha Corporate Services Pvt. Ltd in December for Centre. In 2020, the tea was auctioned at Rs 75,000 per
an undisclosed sum. Aparajitha is a leading compliance kg.
services solutions provider in India. Capital Markets
 US-based agri-business MNC Cargill announced  The National Stock Exchange (NSE) launched ‘NSE
acquisition of an edible oil refinery located in Nellore in Prime’ framework in December that allows listed
Andhra Pradesh for $35 million in December. Cargill companies to sign-up for higher governance standards
has been operating its edible oils business in India since than what is required under the law. “Improved
2001. Its edible oils and fats brands portfolio include corporate governance standards, greater transparency
NatureFresh, Gemini, Sweekar, Leonardo, Rath and and better disclosures will help companies build
Sunflower. stronger and sustainable businesses that can stand the
 Crocs Inc announced a deal in December to acquire test of time,” said Vikram Limaye, MD & CEO, NSE.
privately owned footwear label Heydude for $2.5  Two-wheeler company Bajaj Auto was replaced in the
billion, as the rubber clogs maker looks to cash in on 30-share S&P BSE Sensex by information technology
the pandemic-led surge in demand for casual shoes. (IT) company Wipro replaced from Dec 20.
Heydude was founded by Alessandro Rosano. Renaming
 The Weston family announced sale of British retail  Grocery delivery startup Grofers rebranded itself as
group Selfridges & Co. to a consortium led by Thai Blinkit in December signifying shift in the company’s

business model to quick commerce, Co-founder and PepsiCo-potato farmers’ dispute
CEO Albinder Dhindsa said.  Two years after PepsiCo India sued nine farmers in
 Samsung Electronics Co named its newly merged Gujarat for allegedly infringing patent rights by
mobile-phone and home-appliances businesses “DX growing its registered potato variety, the company’s
Division”. DX, which stands for Device eXperience, registration of the variety was revoked by the Protection
reflects the company’s focus on targeting consumer of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights’ Authority
demand in a variety of electronics. (PPV&FRA) in December.
Rankings/Indexes  NGO Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture
 U.S. companies accounted for 54% of the Top 100’s had filed the petition to revoke the food giant’s
total arms sales in 2020 followed by Chinese firms registration.
which accounted for 13%, Swedish think tank  The FL-2027 variety of potatoes is used in Lays potato
Stockholm Institute Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) chips. The potato was grown by about 12,000 farmers
revealed in a report released in December. The world’s with whom the company had an exclusive contract to
top five arms manufacturers are US-based companies: sell seeds and buy back their produce.
Lockheed Martin ($58 billion), Raytheon Technologies,  Alleging that farmers who were not part of its
Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics. “collaborative farming programme” were also growing
Indian companies in the list: Hindustan Aeronautics and selling this variety in Gujarat, PepsiCo had filed
Limited (HAL), Ordnance Factory Board and Bharat rights infringement cases against nine farmers.
Electronics Ltd. (BEL). Their ranks are – HAL: 42, Amazon-Future Group dispute
BEL: 66 & Indian Ordnance Factories: 60.  On December 18, the Competition Commission of India
 Israel’s Tel Aviv was named as the world’s most (CCI) on December 18, 2021 froze its approval given in
expensive city to live in by the Economist Intelligence November 2019 to Amazon’s investment in a Future
Unit (EIU) in its Worldwide Cost of Living 2021 report Group unit on the grounds that the U.S. e-commerce
released in December. Tel Aviv is followed by Paris, company had suppressed the scope and full details of its
Singapore, Zurich and Hong Kong in the top-five. The investment while seeking regulatory approval.
soaring shekel and price increases for goods including  CCI also imposed a penalty of ₹200 crore on Amazon
groceries and transport were the main factors in Tel for failing to notify the details of its ‘combination’, as
Aviv taking the top spot, according to the EIU. required in law.
Words of the Year  The Commission had on November 28, 2019, granted
 From questions over mandates to concerns over global approval for Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings’
distribution, “vaccine” has been the clear word of the proposal to acquire 49% in Future Coupons Private Ltd.
year, according to dictionary publisher Merriam-  Amazon is seeking to block the Future Group’s 2020
Webster in December. The choice of word of 2021 was decision to sell its retail assets to Reliance Industries.
a seemingly obvious one for the US publisher, which SpiceJet- Credit Suisse dispute
said searches for “vaccine” on its website increased by  The Madras High Court ordered the winding up of
601% compared with 2020, amid a broad rollout of private carrier SpiceJet Limited in December and
vaccinations for Covid-19. directed the official Liquidator attached to the High
 Allyship, an old noun made new again, was announced Court to take over its assets, in a plea filed by
as its ‘word of the year 2021’ by Dictionary.com in Switzerland-based company Credit Suisse AG over
December. The site offers two definitions for allyship: unpaid dues.
The role of a person who advocates for inclusion of a Campaigns
“marginalized or politicized group” in solidarity but not  Britannia Good Day launched the campaign ‘Kayi
as a member, and the more traditional relationship of Smiles, Nayi Smiles’ to introduce its new identity.
“persons, groups or nations associating and cooperating  Visa launched campaign ‘Cashless Confidence’.
with one another for a common cause or purpose.”  Online education company Vedantu launched the
Most subscribers on YouTube “Zindagi Ka Syllabus” campaign.
 India’s music label and movie studio, T-Series, crossed  On the occasion of International Day of Persons with
the milestone of 200 mn subscribers on YouTube, first Disabilities (Dec 3), Dabur Honey launched the
ever channel across the world to do so, in December. campaign “Shuddhata Sabke Liye”.
Sponsorships  Hindustan Unilever Limited’s dishwashing brand VIM
 CavinKare acquired Third Umpire brand partnership for launched campaign “Nazariya Badlo, Dekho Bartano Se
all home matches of the Indian cricket team in 2021-22. Aage”.

NEWSMAKERS
MacKenzie Scott Business Transformation from Silicon Valley (US)-
 US philanthropist MacKenzie Scott topped the list of based The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) in December.
‘world’s 100 most powerful women’ by Forbes released  Birla is the first Indian Industrialist to receive the award
in December. Scott, who has donated her wealth at an for global entrepreneurship along with top global
unprecedented scale, has given away $8.6 billion of her business leaders Satya Nadella, Elon Musk, and Jeff
fortune in charitable giving, including $2.7 billion in Bezos.
2021 alone. U.S. Brand Ambassadors
 US Vice President Kamala Harris is second in the list  Pankaj Tripathi: Nouriture Godhenu Gold, Milk-o-milk
followed by European Central Bank President Christine plus & Super 20 plus (cattle feed brands of Anmol
Lagarde, Mary Barra (CEO, General Motors), Melinda Feeds Pvt. Ltd)
French Gates (Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates  Bhau Kadam: Godrej Veg Oils
Foundation), Abigail Johnson (Chairman & CEO,  Vijay Raaz & Varun Sharma: EaseMyTrip.com
Fidelity Investments), Ana Patricia Botín (Executive  Neeraj Chopra: GoodDot (plant-based meat company)
Chairman, Santander Group), Ursula Von Der Leyen  Tanya Hope: Spinz BB Face Talc (brand of CavinKare)
(President, European Commission), Tsai Ing-Wen  Hrithik Roshan: Euronics (washroom automation
(President, Taiwan), Julie Sweet (CEO, Accenture) in accessory brand)
top-10.  Sunil Gavaskar: Chhotu (five-Kg LPG refill brand of
 The list has four Indians with finance minister Nirmala IndianOil)
Sitharaman at 37th. According to Forbes, before her  Juhi Chawla: Hari Darshan (incense stick brand)
career in politics, Sitharaman held roles at the U.K.-  Malaika Arora: Lotus Herbals Youth Rx
based Agricultural Engineers Association and BBC  Sachin Tendulkar: Spinny (pre-owned car retailing
World Service. She has also served as a member of the platform)
National Commission for Women.  Farhan Akhtar: Piramal Realty
 Other Indians in the list were Falguni Nayar (88th),  Arjun Rampal: US Polo Association
founder and CEO, Nykaa, Roshni Nadar (52nd),  Akshay Kumar: Sting (PepsiCo brand)
chairperson of HCL Technologies, and Kiran  Brett Lee: Phoenix Business Advisory (business visa
Mazumdar-Shaw (72nd), executive chairperson and immigration consultancy)
founder of Biocon.  Pat Cummins: Healthquad (Indian health & fitness
Jeff Bezos platform)
 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pledged $443 million in  Kiara Advani: Charmis (ITC brand)
December in grant as part of his Earth Fund to fight  Ananya Panday: Esprit
climate change, protect and restore nature, and advance  Ranveer Singh: Vicks
environmental justice and economic opportunity. Bezos  Megha Akash: CakeZone (dessert brand)
launched Earth Fund in 2020 to execute his $10 billion  Shreya Chaudhary: Blue Nectar (Ayurveda-based
-- about 5 per cent of his current net worth -- beauty and wellness brand)
commitment to fight climate change.  Kareena Kapoor Khan: St. Botanica (hair care brand)
Elon Musk  Ravindra Jadeja: Kinara Capital
 Tesla CEO Elon Musk was named as its “Person of the Appointments
Year” for 2021 by the Time magazine in December.  Srinivasan Swamy (Chairman of R K SWAMY
 The year 2021 saw Musk’s electric car company HANSA): Chairman of Asian Federation of Advertising
become the most valuable carmaker in the world and Associations (AFAA)
his rocket company soar to the edge of space with an  Sanjiv Mehta (CMD of Hindustan Unilever Ltd):
all-civilian crew. Tesla’s market value soared to more President of FICCI
than $1 trillion this year.  Soma Sankara Prasad: MD & CEO of UCO Bank
 Musk is also the founder and CEO of SpaceX, and leads  Leena Nair: CEO of Chanel (French fashion house)
brain-chip startup Neuralink and infrastructure firm The  Susan Arnold: Chairperson of Walt Disney
Boring Company. Obituaries
Kumar Mangalam Birla  Suresh Jadhav, Executive Director of Serum Institute of
 Aditya Birla Group’s chairman, Kumar Mangalam Birla India (SII) and a doyen of the Indian vaccine industry
received the Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award- passed away in Pune on December 7 at the age of 72.

Cyber Buzz
Launches and affordable meetings solution to support
 Intel company piloted a project in India called WoW collaboration, connection and productivity in a hybrid
(Wireless over Wire) that transmits internet through work environment.
electricity wires. Given that most villages have Joint ventures
electricity connections, this could be a big breakthrough  French gaming company Gameloft entered into a
in making the internet available to remote areas if the partnership deal with Delhi-based social gaming
technology is proved viable. Laying optical fibre to all platform WinZO in December to enable the creator of
villages is expensive and will take a long time. popular games like Asphalt 9 to tap into a large potential
 Uber and WhatsApp announced a partnership in market in the country. India accounts for 12%, or more
December that will allow people in the country to book than 150 million people, of Gameloft’s downloads, but it
a ride via WhatsApp - a global-first initiative by the accounts for only 0.6% of its worldwide income.
ride-hailing platform. With this integration, riders will  Paytm founder Vijay Shekar Sharma launched a
no longer need to download or use the Uber app. Portfolio Management Scheme (PMS) in an alliance
 Indian Army launched a messaging application for its with PMS Bazaar, a Mumbai-based start-up that would
personnel named ASIGMA (Army Secure IndiGeneous devise investment strategies that will primarily focus on
Messaging Application) in Dec. Developed in-house by equities.
Corps of Signals of the Army, ASIGMA will replace Mergers & Acquisitions
Army Wide Area Network (AWAN) messaging  Online education firm Adda247 announced acquisition
application which has been in service for past 15 years. of UPSC-focused edtech platform StudyIQ Education
 Lokpal Chairperson Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose for $20 million (around ₹150 crore) in a cash and stock
launched a digital Platform for Management of deal in December. Adda247 was founded by Anil Nagar
Complaints called Lokpal Online in December. Lokpal and Saurabh Bansal in 2010.
is an anti-corruption body or ombudsman, responsible  Online education company Byju’s announced
for looking into corruption complaints at the national acquisition of Austria-headquartered GeoGebra in
level. Justice Ghose said that Lokpal Online is an end- December. The Austrian company has a dynamic,
to-end digital solution for the management of complaints interactive and collaborative mathematics learning tool.
against public servants filed under the Lokpal and  Credit card payment platform Cred announced a deal in
Lokayuktas Act, 2013. December to acquire Happay, a corporate expense
 The National Testing Agency (NTA), launched a Mobile management platform. Happay, is a unified platform for
App namely ‘National Test Abhyas’ to facilitate business expenses, payments, and travel bookings.
candidates’ access to high-quality mock tests online free  Online education company upGrad announced a deal in
of cost, the government said in December. December to acquire Australia-based Global Study
 Swiggy launched a new gifting feature on its mobile app Partners (GSP) for AUD 16 million.
called ‘Swiggy Moments’ in December starting with  Logistics service provider Delhivery announced
customers in Mumbai. acquisition of California-based Transition Robotics Inc
 JioMart announced plans in December to open a digital (TRI), a company focused on developing unmanned
storefront on WhatsApp that will allow consumers and aerial system (UAS) platforms, in December.
other retailers to order products on the Reliance Retail’s  Online education company upGrad announced a deal in
e-commerce platform and to conduct Jio mobile phone December to acquire Talentedge, an online higher
recharges from within the Meta-owned messaging education company for Rs 400-500 crore.
services application.  Hyderabad-based adtech company Brightcom
 Zomato Ltd., a restaurant discovery and food delivery announced acquisition of digital marketing firm
platform, launched a programme called Zomato Wings MediaMint in a cash-and-stock deal of Rs 566 crore in
in December to help restaurants secure funding. The December.
Wings team will help select restaurants and cloud  PB Fintech, which operates Policybazaar, announced a
kitchens to “position their story and metrics in the right deal in December to acquire 70.1% stake in Delhi-based
manner and connect them with the right investors”. Myloancare which is engaged in the business of
 Microsoft announced the availability of Teams sourcing and servicing of financial products, generating
Essentials, the standalone Microsoft Teams offering, leads for banks and financial institutions, developing
designed specifically for small businesses, in December. software and providing services in relation to data
Teams Essentials gives small businesses a professional processing.

 SME neo-banking platform Open announced its  Mensa Brands, a technology-led ‘House of Brands’
acquisition of consumer neo-banking platform Finin for built for the e-commerce industry announced acquisition
$10 million in a cash-and-stock deal in December. of Folkulture, a home décor label born in India that
Founded by Suman Gandham and Sudheer Maram, caters majorly to the US and UK markets, in December.
Finin offers a savings account that allows consumers to  Apartment management solution provider, MyGate
save and invest their money. announced the acquisition of MyCommunity Genie – a
 Walmart-owned Flipkart announced to invest $145 Bengaluru-based community commerce platform – in
million in agritech startup Ninjacart, which has helped December.
over 1,00,000 farmers across 150 villages to generate  E-commerce major Amazon announced a deal to acquire
better revenues, in December. Prione Business Services - its joint venture firm with
 Online travel platform EaseMyTrip announced Catamaran in December. In August, Amazon and NR
acquisition of YoloBus, a next-generation premium Narayana Murthy’s Catamaran had announced that they
intercity mobility platform, in December to expand its will not continue their joint venture, Prione Business
non-air business. Services, beyond May 2022.
 E-commerce firm Purplle, which deals in beauty and  Fitness and wellness startup Cult.fit announced
personal care products, announced acquisition of 100 acquisition of at-home cardio equipment brands - RPM
per cent stake in Indian arm of cosmetics and skincare fitness, Fitkit and Onefitplus in December. Cult.fit is
brand Faces Canada in December. also forayed into outdoor bicycles business with
 Nike Inc announced acquisition of virtual sneaker acquisition of brand Urban Terrain.
company RTFKT for an undisclosed sum in December.  Wipro announced a deal in December to acquire Austin,
Formed in 2020 by Benoit Pagotto, Chris Le and Steven Texas-headquartered Edgile for USD 230 million, a
Vasilev, RTFKT also makes NFT collectibles and move that will strengthen the IT major’s play in the
memes. cybersecurity services space.
 Women-only platform Eve World announced the  US-based IT company Oracle announced a deal in
acquisition of Femcy, a Femtech brand focused on December to acquire electronic medical records
personalised menstrual wellness solutions, in December. company Cerner in an all-cash deal valued at about USD
Founded by Nandhini Gopal, Femcy has built solutions 28.3 billion. Hospitals and clinics use Cerner software to
for menstrual health and nutrition. record and share health and medical data.
 Good Glamm Group, an Indian content-to commerce  Twitter announced acquisition of Quill which is a
conglomerate, acquired MissMalini Entertainment in messaging app for collaboration and communication
December which is touted as India’s largest celebrity with teams. It is focused on keeping messages organized
media and influencer talent management network. and its notification system was designed to keep
MissMalini Founder Malini Agarwal and Co-founders notifications to a minimum.
Nowshad Rizwanullah (also CEO) and Mike Melli (also India Mobile Congress
CRO) will continue to lead the company.  The virtual India Mobile Congress was jointly organised
 The Good Glamm Group, which owns the MyGlamm by the Department of Telecom and Cellular Operators
brand of beauty and personal care products, announced Association of India (COAI) from December 8 to 10
acquisition of majority stake in feminine hygiene startup with its theme as: ‘Connectivity for the next decade.’
Sirona in an all-cash deal worth Rs 100 crore in IMC is a telecom, media and technology forum.
December. Sirona, founded in 2014 by Deep and Mohit  India will see a new generation of mobile
Bajaj, makes menstrual hygiene products. communications in less than 10 years as there is already
 Mensa Brands has acquired homegrown denim brand a buzz of 6G technology, when 5G is not even fully
High Star that caters to digital-first consumers and was deployed, TRAI Chairman P. D. Vaghela said at the
founded in 2012 by Rohit Mirchandani. Mensa Brands is event.
an Indian startup that acquires direct-to-consumer Renaming
brands and helps them scale within the home market and  Square Inc., the payments company led by Twitter Inc.’s
overseas. It was founded by founded by Ananth cofounder Jack Dorsey, announced change of its name
Narayanan, who previously served as CEO of fashion e- in December to Block Inc as it looks to expand beyond
commerce portal Myntra. its payment business and into new technologies like
 Mensa Brands acquired LilPicks, an emerging digital- blockchain. The San Francisco-based firm said the name
first fashion brand in the children’s wear segment, in “Square” had become synonymous with its seller
December. LilPicks was founded by Riya Gupta in business. The new name would distinguish the corporate
2017. entity from its businesses, Square added.

Science & Technology
First paid tourists since 2009 visit ISS and most powerful space telescope, the $10 billion
 Japanese fashion billionaire Yusaku Maezawa (46) and observatory hurtled toward its destination 1.6 million
his producer Yozo Hirano (36) became the first paying kilometres away. It will take a month to get there and
space tourists since 2009 to visit the International Space another five months before its infrared eyes are ready to
Station (ISS) in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft on start scanning the cosmos. The telescope is named after
December 8, 2021. They were accompanied by Russian former NASA Administrator James E. Webb and is
cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin. The launch was from intended to succeed the Hubble Space Telescope as
Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan. NASA’s flagship mission in astrophysics.
 The three-member crew returned safely to earth on NASA’s spacecraft enters Sun’s corona
December 20 after spending 12 days in space. The  A spacecraft launched by NASA has done what was
landing was in the Russian Soyuz capsule in the steppes once thought impossible. On April 28, the Parker Solar
of Kazakhstan. Probe successfully entered the corona of the Sun -- an
 Maezawa made his fortune in retail fashion, launching extreme environment that’s roughly 2 million degrees
Japan’s largest online fashion mall, Zozotown. Forbes Fahrenheit. A scientific paper describing the milestone
magazine estimated his net worth at $1.9 billion. was published in December.
 Staying behind at the ISS are NASA astronauts Raja IUCN Red List updated
Chari, Thomas Marshburn, Kayla Barron and Mark  The updated IUCN (International Union for
Vande Hei; Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species
Pyotr Dubrov; and Matthias Maurer of the European has revealed that the number of species at risk of
Space Agency. extinction on the Red List has exceeded 40,000 for the
Blue Origin sends 3rd private crew into space first time. The IUCN Red List now includes 142,577
 Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, Blue Origin launched its species of which 40,084 are threatened with extinction.
third private crew into space from Texas on December  Based at Gland, Switzerland, IUCN is an international
11 on its New Shepard rocket and capsule named after organization working in the field of nature conservation
former US astronaut Alan Shepard. and sustainable use of natural resources.
 In a 10-minute flight, the rocket reached more than 60  Established in 1964, IUCN’s Red List of Threatened
miles above the Earth’s surface before parachuting to a Species has evolved to become the world’s most
landing. comprehensive information source on the global
 The crew consisted of TV show host Michael Strahan, conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species.
Laura Shepard Churchley (the daughter of astronaut India International Science festival held
Alan Shepard) and four paying customers on a  The seventh edition of India International Science
supersonic joy ride. The paying customers were: Dylan festival (IISF- 2021) was organised at Panaji, Goa on
Taylor, Evan Dick, Lane Bess and Cameron Bess. December 11-14. With its theme as “Celebrating
NASA launches X-ray space telescope Creativity, Science, Technology and Innovation for a
 US space agency NASA launched its new X-ray prosperous India”. IISF 2021 was organised jointly by
Mission on December 9 to unlock the secrets of extreme the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, in
cosmic objects. The first space observatory of its kind, collaboration with Vijnana Bharati.
the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), is built India’s first indigenous server launched
to study some of the most energetic objects in the  India’s first indigenous server named Rudra was
universe -- the remnants of exploded stars, powerful launched by the government in December. Developed
particle jets spewing from feeding black holes, and by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
much more. The mission lifted off aboard SpaceX’s (C-DAC) under the National Supercomputing Mission
Falcon 9 rocket from the NASA’s Kennedy Space (NSM), Rudra’s design can be used for manufacturing
Center in Florida. The project is a collaboration between classical standalone commercial servers and also as
NASA and the Italian Space Agency. building blocks for building large supercomputing
NASA’s James Webb telescope launched systems of tens of petaflops of computing performance.
 NASA launched its James Webb Space Telescope on  A wide spectrum of sectors, including high-performance
European Ariane rocket from French Guiana in South computing (HPC) systems, hyperscale data centres, edge
America on Dec 25 on a high-stakes quest to behold computing, banking & commerce, manufacturing, oil &
light from the first stars and galaxies and scour the gas industry and healthcare, can benefit from the
universe for hints of life. Touted as the world’s largest indigenously-built server.

Business Biography
Azim Premji: From soaps to IT
Wipro founder Azim Premji has emerged as India’s “most business. Many people advised him to sell-off his family
generous” philanthropist industrialist for the second business because he did not have any experience of the
straight year. He topped the Edelgive Hurun India sector. But Premji decided to run his late father’s
Philanthropy List 2021 ahead of the likes of Mukesh business. Later many people who had advised him to sell
Ambani and Shiv Nadar, among others. The 76-year-old appreciated his business skills and predicted that he
Premji’s total donation of ₹9713 crore in FY 2021, would do even better than his father. And they were right.
amounting to ₹27 crore per day. With a networth of $8.6
billion, Premji was ranked 13th in Forbes’ list of richest In 1977, Premji renamed his company as Wipro Products
Indians in 2021. Ltd. and introduced other products such as tubelights and
electric bulbs in addition to the soap and cooking oil the
Today Premji has transformed the soap and cooking oil company was selling. Premji had foreseen the prospects
manufacturing company founded by his father in 1940s in IT sector during his stay in the US and decided to
into a conglomerate that employs close to 1.8 lakh people venture into a sector totally unrelated to Wipro’s line of
in India and abroad. Apart from his business acumen, business. In 1980, he further shortened the name of his
Premji is also known for his philanthropy. Premji is company to Wipro Limited in view of the IT services the
known to donate a large share of his income for social company had planned to offer. Wipro formed a joint
welfare projects run by his Azim Premji Foundation in the venture with Sentinel Corporation of US and started
fields of education and healthcare. manufacturing and selling minicomputers. While Premji’s
foray into IT hardware was short-lived and unsuccessful,
Azim Premji was born on July 24, 1935 in Mumbai. His his venture into the services aspect of IT was a
father Muhammed Hashim Premji founded the Western resounding success and today Wipro is among India’s top
Indian Vegetable Products Ltd in Amalner town of three companies in the sector alongwith TCS and Infosys.
Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district in 1945. Its products were
soap and cooking oil. The brand of cooking oil was In 2001, he set up the Azim Premji Foundation which has
Sunflower and the soap brand was 787. Residues from the worked with several state governments to improve the
manufacturing of cooking oil were used in making soap. standard of teaching in government schools by training
teachers. Later Azim Premji University was set up in
Two years after Azim Premji was born, India became Karnataka to develop professionals in the field of
independent. Being a Muslim industrialist of repute, education and focus on educational research.
Muhammed Hashim Premji was asked by Pakistan’s
founder Jinnah to become citizen of the country founded In 2013, Wipro demerged its non-IT businesses into
on the basis of religion. But Premji decided to stay in the separate companies in the field of lighting, infrastructure
land of his birth and participate in the building of the and medical systems to bring in more focus on
newly independent nation. independent businesses.
Azim Premji studied at Mumbai’s St. Mary’s School till In 2010, world’s two wealthiest people Bill Gates and
12th standard. His father wanted him to get college Warren Buffett started the ‘Giving Pledge’. This unique
education from a reputed university abroad before joining initiative encourages wealthy people to donate some of
the family business. Premji got admitted into the their fortune for philanthropy. Premji became the first
prestigious Stanford University in United States. The new prominent Indian businessman to accept this Pledge.
environment at Stanford opened new vistas for the young
Premji and he started envisioning new products and The Government of India honoured Premji with Padma
management practices he could introduce in his company Bhushan in 2006 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011. Premji
after completing his education in the US and returning to has continued as Founder Chairman while his son Rishad
India. During those days information technology sector Premji is Executive Chairman of Wipro. Thierry
had made its start in the US but was unknown in India. Delaporte is MD & CEO since July 2020. Wipro’s
Premji understood the potential of growth in IT compared revenue was Rs 61,943 crore and net profit was Rs
to his Wipro’s traditional business of soaps and cooking 10,796.4 crore in 2020-21. The company’s IT business is
oils. However, tragedy struck his family in 1966, when India’s fourth largest behind TCS (revenue: Rs 164,177
his father passed away. 21-year-old Azim Premji had to cr, net profit: Rs 32,430 cr), Infosys (revenue: Rs
leave his Electrical Engineering course at Stanford 1,00,472 cr, net profit: Rs 19,351 cr) and HCL Tech
unfinished and return to India to take charge of his family (revenue: Rs. 75,379 cr, net profit: ₹13,011 cr).

Business Biography
Ray Dolby: Surround Sound
Ray Dolby (1933–2013) was a sound innovator who from where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in electrical
established Dolby Laboratories and transformed the engineering in 1957. Dolby continued his education and
recording industry with the discovery of the Dolby noise- joined Cambridge University in Britain on a scholarship.
reduction system. His pathbreaking invention He received Ph.D in physics from Cambridge in
altered cinema and home entertainment with the 1961.
development of Dolby digital surround sound.
Today the brand name Dolby is synonymous with Dolby worked as a technical advisor to the United
high fidelity sound. For his pioneering contributions Nations in India for two years in 1963-65. He
to audio engineering, Dolby received an Oscar, returned to England where he started Dolby
several Emmy Awards and a Grammy. He was also Laboratories in 1965. In 1976, he shifted to San Francisco
awarded the National Medal of Technology and (US) where the company is headquartered even today.
Innovation by the US President and was appointed a 1977 was a great year for the company when its Dolby
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Stereo, a system for recording films in multichannel
Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. sound, caught the fancy of top film producers in
Hollywood and was used in popular movies such as ‘Star
Educated in engineering and physics, Dolby founded Wars’ and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’. In the
Dolby Laboratories in London in 1965 and soon after 1980s, Dolby Labs launched surround sound technology
launched technology that created cleaner, crisper audio by for television, compact discs, and laser discs.
electronically cutting down the hiss produced by analogue
tape recording. Decca Records was the first customer to Dolby’s contribution to the science of sound was seminal.
purchase the Dolby System. The noise-reduction Reputed film editor Walter Murch said, “you could divide
technology was an innovation that rapidly became an film sound in half: there is BD, Before Dolby, and there is
essential requirement of major record labels. By the AD, After Dolby.”
1970s, movie studios began using the system as well. It
was first utilised in the movie ‘A Clockwork Orange’ in The wizard of sound took the noise out of music and
1971. In the 1980s, the Dolby debuted its digital surround revolutionised the recording industry. Dolby served as
sound technology into home entertainment. chairman of the Dolby board until 2009, retiring from the
board in 2011. Some of his memorable quotes are:
Dolby was born in 1933, in Portland, Oregon (US), the
son of salesperson Earl Dolby and Esther Dolby. Ray was On Success:
an audiophile from a tender age and started learning to —”There is no major next step. It’s a matter of constantly
play the musical instrument clarinet. He first became being aware of one’s environment, of keeping track of
enchanted with sound when studying the vibrations of his what’s happening in the various industries that we’re
clarinet reeds as a kid. He was curious about the operating in and just sort of sensing what’s possible and
technology behind the recording and playing of music. He what’s not possible, what’s needed, what’s not needed—
was not satisfied with the clarity of sound from music just having all your antennae going, sensitized to all the
systems of those times and wanted to reduce the noise signals that are out there.”
that accompanied the audio.
On Inventing:
As a youngster he came into contact with Alexander —”Remember that most of my life was that of an
Poniatoff, a Russian immigrant to the US and an electrical adventurer, not of somebody who is trying to invent
engineer who had founded an electronics firm called something all the time. I wanted the experience of
Ampex that produced tape recorders. At the age of 16, traveling to many parts of the world. Inventions were part
Dolby joined Ampex and worked there from 1949 to of my life, but they didn’t overtake everything that I was
1957. His noteworthy contribution at Apex included doing.”
design and fabrication of electronic parts used in the
videotape recording system. —”To be an inventor, you have to be willing to live with
a sense of uncertainty, to work in this darkness and grope
After close to a decade in his professional career, Dolby towards an answer, to put up with anxiety about whether
shifted to academics and joined the Stanford University there is an answer.”.

Book Review
‘Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw-The Man and His Times’
On December 16, 2021 Bangladesh celebrated 50 years of Manekshaw’s leadership was based on his trust in the
victory over Pakistan in a gory war for independence. On army’s capability in handling enormous operation such as
December 16, 1971, Pakistani troops surrendered to a the severance of the western part of Pakistan into a new
joint India-Bangladesh force, formally making nation. India had committed the mistake of rushing into a
Bangladesh a new country under the stewardship of war with China without adequate preparedness in 1962
freedom leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of and paid a heavy price. In the Bangladesh liberation war,
current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Manekshaw was against a hurried war against Pakistan
and convinced the then government led by PM Indira
The demise of West Pakistan is half a century old and a Gandhi to allow him to strike at the time and place of his
thriving and progressive Bangladesh is a reality. The own choosing. He beefed up the army’s preparedness
country’s secular foundation and success in democratic before hitting Pakistani army hard.
politics has debunked the doctrine of nationhood based on
religion. The task of freeing Bengali speaking people Whether it was the Prime Minister or his own junior
from the yoke of Pakistan’s oppressive rule was difficult colleagues in the army, Manekshaw had an inimitable
but was made possible by the indomitable courage of style of conversation. His unique sense of humour
superheroes from the Indian defence forces. Field Marshal endeared him to everyone he interacted with. This book
Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw (3 April recounts many such incidents. One among them is his
1914 – 27 June 2008) was one such military legend who relation with his former colleague and future enemy
played a decisive role in the emergence of Bangladesh as Yahya Khan, the dictator of Pakistan. Both Yahya and
a new nation on the world map. This is not the only Manekshaw were stationed in the same unit of the British
achievement of India’s first five-star General. Field Indian Army around the time of independence in 1947.
Marshal Manekshaw has left a widespread imprint on the Manekshaw had a James motorcycle model that was the
history of post-independent India. ‘Field Marshal Sam envy of everyone including Yahya. After independence
Manekshaw-The Man and His Times’, co-authored by when Yahya decided to go to Pakistan, he entreated
Brigadier Behram M. Panthaki & Zenobia Panthaki, has Manekshaw many times to sell the motorcycle to him.
rekindled the sterling contribution of the revered military Reluctant in the beginning, Manekshaw sold it to him for
legend to the country’s defence preparedness. Rs. 1000, a princely sum during those times. Yahya
promised to send a cheque after settling down in his new
This book describes the journey of Manekshaw from his country. Manekshaw kept on waiting for the cheque that
birth in a Parsi family in Amritsar to his recruitment in the never came. In an irony of sorts, Yahya was Pakistan’s
British Indian Army, his progress from an ordinary military leader when Bangladesh was created in 1971.
soldier to the top post in the Indian Army’s hierarchy, his Manekshaw quipped that he waited for 24 years for the
daredevil military successes and his unparalleled ability to cheque to arrive but Yahya did not keep his promise. Now
inspire his troops and finally his demise at the age of 94. he has repaid his debt by giving up half his country.
Obviously, the authors have enlightened the readers on Because the authors have worked closely with
different aspects of Manekshaw’s glorious life. Various Manekshaw, the contents of this book are authentic.
incidents in this book outline the professional Nowhere does the reader get the feeling that things are
competence, personality traits such as courage, integrity, being exaggerated or its protagonist glorified excessively.
honesty and humorousness of Manekshaw that made him Rare and informative photographs in the book make it
the legend as we know him as today. This book tells us even more interesting. The flow of narration in the book
about his commitment to his values and his selfless is seamless. It will be useful reading for not only those
service to the nation without getting affected by concerns interested in India’s military history but also general
regarding career prospects such as promotions. He was readers curious about the journey of India’s defence
always objective in his assessment of the military forces in post-independence era. This book introduces us
scenario and briefed the civilian leadership of the country to a stalwart who are born once in a generation.
in a matter-of-fact way. Under his leadership, the Indian Manekshaw’s astute military strategy and his leadership
Army and the nation scaled new heights of respectability altered the map of the Indian subcontinent and gave us a
on the international stage. friendly neighbour on the eastern border.

Book Review
‘The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon’
What is common to world’s longest river and largest of at least ten books. Bezos did not have enough funds to
online store? Both carry the same name and it is Amazon. make huge orders and found a smart way out of this
The history of river Amazon dates back to ancient times problem. When he required copies of one only book that
but Amazon.com has become well-known in just two and was in demand from buyers, he used to send names of
a half decades after its founding. The company has been nine other books that were out of print or were rarely
relentlessly expanding around the globe and the guiding published. This way he met the distributors’ requirement
force is its founder, Jeffrey Preston ‘Jeff’ Bezos. Amazon of ordering a minimum of ten different books in every
turned 27 on July 5, 2020 and on the same day founder order but as the nine books were difficult to source they
Bezos resigned as CEO to pursue other interests. These were forced to supply copies of only the book that Bezos
include the aerospace and spaceflight services company desired. The writer introduces readers to certain business
Blue Origin founded by him in 2000. traits unique to Bezos who is known for his concern for
clarity in communication with the customers. In an era
Obviously, people are interested in knowing about the where companies are obsessed with guessing the moves
remarkable growth of Amazon and the achievements of of their competitors, Bezos chose customers as his
its founder Bezos. ‘The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and primary focus. He minutely scrutinised every press
the Age of Amazon’, a book by Brad Stone, satiates this release, every product description and shareholder
curiosity to a considerable extent. The book progresses by communication and deleted words he believed customers
exploring answers to several questions. For example, why would find confusing.
did Bezos begin his e-commerce venture with books as
his first product? Why did he choose Seattle as the Instead of costly high-decibel advertising, Bezos relied on
headquarters for his company’s operations instead of the word-of-mouth publicity to attract new customers. This
more established ones lke California and New York? Amazon did by offering discounts and free delivery at the
customer’s doorstep. Prices lower than those charged by
Bezos decided to start Amazon after having made up his brick & mortar stores invariably attracted more customers
mind to exit Wall Street. Starting his career at Fitel, a to visit the Amazon portal. More customers increased the
fintech telecommunications start-up, Bezos forayed into volume of sales and attracted more commission-paying
the banking industry by joining Bankers Trust where he third-party sellers to the portal.
worked from 1988 to 1990. He then joined D. E. Shaw &
Co, a newly founded hedge fund and worked there until On the employee front, the Amazon management has
1994. The book narrates the story of an ordinary looking faced severe criticism for treating its staff shabbily. The
business enterprise transforming into an extraordinary author says that the work culture at Amazon was tense
corporate success story on a global scale. Beginning with because of Jeff’s single-minded focus on cutting costs and
books stocked in a small garage, Amazon spread its wings enhancing productivity and “many Amazon employees
far and wide by venturing into sales of everything from live in perpetual fear” of termination.
apparel and toys to electronic goods by providing the
customer the comfort of buying from the home. Next, The writer interacted with many serving and former
Amazon redefined the entertainment industry by employees of Amazon, as well as Bezos’s parents and
launching e-books and music and video streaming friends, but had only limited contact with Bezos himself
services. A company that was seen as one among the for gathering the material for this book. The book
many that sprouted in the dotcom boom of the last decade enlightens readers about aspects of his work ethics and his
of the 20th century only to fold up after the initial euphoria personality that have made him so successful. Any person
had died down, not only survived the dotcom bust with other than Bezos would have celebrated and basked in the
the advent of 21st century but grew from strength to glory of becoming world’s largest online bookseller and
strength and changed people’s and investors’ perception rested on his laurels. But Bezos saw himself as much
about online businesses which were seen as lacking more than the world’s biggest book seller. His ambition
longevity and foundational strength. Amazon’s journey was to become the largest online seller of every consumer
to becoming world’s numero uno e-commerce company product and not just books. He heralded an e-commerce
was not easy. When Bezos started with selling books, revolution that is unparalleled in the global corporate
distributors bluntly told him that his every order should be history.

Do you remember?
(All questions based on content of this issue; Answers on page 38)
1. The Surrogacy Regulation Bill 2019 passed by 16. Navy Day was celebrated on December 4. It marks
Parliament in December allows a married woman Operation ____ (Trident/Harpoon/Excalibur/Axe) of
(who has a child of her own) in the age group (20- Indian Navy on this day in 1971.
25/25-35/30-35/20-30) to ____ serve as surrogate. 17. The Armed Forces Flag Day was celebrated on (Dec
2. Which state (Haryana/Odisha/Gujarat/Kerala) topped 5/Dec 6/Dec 7/Dec 8):
the Good Governance Index 2021 of DARPG 18. 11 civilians were shot dead by security forces in Mon
(Department of Administrative Reforms and Public district of which state on Dec 4 in a case of mistaken
Grievance) launched in December? identity (Meghalaya/Tripura/Nagaland/Manipur)?
3. The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021 passed by 19. Which writer won Sahitya Akademi Award in English
parliament in December links voter identity card to for the novel ‘Things to Leave Behind’ (Namita
(Passport/Aadhaar/PAN Card/Driving license): Gokhale/Anuradha Desai Megha Majumdar/Anita
4. Who is the Director of CBI (Rajesh Kumar Vachharajani)?
Gupta/Subodh Kumar Jaiswal/Bharat Kumar 20. The annual ‘RedInk Awards for Excellence in
Saxena/Manish Kumar Malhotra)? Journalism’ are given by the ____ Press Club
5. Who is the Director of Enforcement Directorate (Kolkata/Madras/Mumbai/Delhi) in December.
(Sanjay Kumar Mishra/Ajay Kumar Sharma/Vijay 21. The Indian Express Group presents journalism awards
Kumar Mohanty/Jay Kumar Shrivastava)? every year named after which industrialist (Jamnalal
6. The Health Ministry launched National Oxygen ____ Bajaj/Ramnath Goenka/Keshub Mahindra/Aditya
(Leadership/Productivity/ Stewardship/Competency) Vikram Birla)?
Program in December to ensure availability of medical 22. Which Konkani writer won the 57th Jnanpith Award
oxygen during emergencies such as Covid surge. for literature (Manohar Kelkar/Purandar
7. Which state (Haryana/Odisha/Gujarat/Kerala) topped Nilmani/Damodar Mauzo/Gajendra Naik)?
the health index of Niti Aayog launched in December? 23. Who won the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book
8. IIT Madras topped the Atal Rankings of Institutions on Prize 2021 for his biography of Dadabhai Naoroji in
____ (Indigenous/Innovation/International/Indicator) December (Rohinton Mistry/Dinyar Patel/Roshen
Achievements (ARIIA) launched by the Education Dalal/Ardashir Vakil)?
Ministry in December. 24. Who was appointed as the new Director General of the
9. The ‘Index on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy’, Indian Coast Guard in December (Maninderjeet Singh
an indicator of literacy among children below 10, was Sandhu/Vikram Misri/Rajinder Khanna/Dattatreya
released by the Gurgaon-based ‘Institute for__’ in Dec Padsalgikar/Virender Singh Pathania)?
(Productivity/Leadership/Efficiency/Competitiveness). 25. A WTO panel asked India to discontinue export
10. Goa was freed from Portuguese rule in which year subsidies for ____ (coffee/silk/jute/sugar) after
(1957/1961/1965/1969)? complaints by rival exporting countries.
11. Varanasi hosted the All-India ___ (Chief 26. India will procure 6 lakh AK-203 assault rifles from
Ministers’/State Police Chiefs’/Mayors’/Governors’) Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd. (IRRPL) which is
Conference on Dec 17. based in __ (AP/MP/UP/Gujarat):
12. Who is the Chairperson (Geeta Mehra/Lata 27. ‘Maitri Diwas’ (Friendship Day) was celebrated on
Gupta/Suman Gaur/Rekha Sharma) of the National ___ (Dec 3/Dec 4/Dec 5/Dec 6) to mark India
Commission for Women (NCW)? recognising Bangladesh in 1971.
13. SMILE scheme for rehabilitation of beggars is Support 28. The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
for ___ (Miserable/Mendicant/Muted/Marginalised) (HADR) Exercise – PANEX-21 – was conducted in
Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. India on Dec 20-22. The exercise involved which
14. Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry launched group of countries (SAARC/BRICS/BIMSTEC/SCO)?
Scheme for _____ Education for Students in High 29. UNESCO inscribed ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the
Schools in Targeted Areas (SRESHTA) in December Representative List of ___
for the benefit of SC students (Invaluable/Immersive/Immense/Intangible) Cultural
(Responsible/Remunerative/Refreshing/Residential). Heritage of Humanity in December.
15. SMAT system tested by DRDO for enhancing 30. Which President/Prime Minister hosted the Summit
submarine warfare capability is ____ for Democracy on December 9-10 (Joe
(Smart/Sunbeam/Scimitar/Supersonic) Missile Biden/Vladimir Putin/Emmanuel Macron/Boris
Assisted Torpedo system. Johnson)?
31. Exercise EKUVERIN was conducted between defence 50. Who won women’s singles title at the 2021 BWF
forces of India and _____ (Sri World Badminton Championships in Spain on Dec 19
Lanka/Bangladesh/Maldives/Bhutan) in December. (Chen Qingchen/Shin Seung-chan/ Akane
32. Which country presented its highest civilian award Yamaguchi/An Se-young)?
‘Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo’ to PM Modi in December 51. Who won Tennis Premier League tournament in
(Vietnam/Thailand/Mongolia/Bhutan)? Mumbai on Dec 19 (Pune Jaguars/Hyderabad
33. Who was crowned Miss Universe 2021 on December Strikers/Rajasthan Tigers/Gujarat Panthers)?
13 in Israel (Swastika Haldar/Harnaaz Sandhu/Nadia 52. Who won Centena Pro Tennis League in New Delhi
Ferreira/Lalela Mswane)? on Dec 25 (Bangalore Challengers/Indian
34. Pavan Kapoor was appointed India’s new ambassador Aviators/Sapphire Superstars/Team Radiant)?
to which country (Russia/China/US/France) in Dec? 53. Who won Davis Cup men’s team tennis tournament by
35. Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group defeating Croatia 2-0 in the final in Spain in Dec
is fighting for separating from which country (Serbia/Austria/Russia/Bulgaria)?
(Nigeria/Ethiopia/Kenya/Zambia)? 54. Who won the Constructors’ Championship in 2021
36. The territory of New Caledonia in the South Pacific Formula One Season (Red Bull Racing-
Ocean recently decided to remain a part of which Honda/Mercedes/Ferrari/Alpine-Renault)?
country in a referendum held in December 55. India achieved its highest victory margin of _____
(Denmark/New Zealand/Canada/France)? (272/322/372/452) runs in the second test against New
37. Which city in US hosted the World Petroleum Zealand in Mumbai on Dec 6.
Congress in Dec (Detroit/Seattle/Honolulu/Houston)? 56. Jim Laker of England was the first bowler to take all
38. International Day of ____ ten wickets in a test innings in the year
(Endemic/Epidemic/Pandemic/Disease) Preparedness (1926/1936/1946/1956):
was observed by UN on Dec 27. 57. Himachal Pradesh defeated Tamil Nadu by 11 runs in
39. International Anti-Corruption Day was observed on the final to win _____ (Duleep/Mankad/Deodhar/Vijay
____ (Dec 8/Dec 9/Dec 10/Dec 11). Hazare) Trophy in Jaipur on Dec 26.
40. The International ____ (River/Mountain/Desert/Lake) 58. Who won the Asian Champions Trophy men’s hockey
Day was celebrated on Dec 11. tournament in Dhaka on Dec 22
41. The International Universal ____ Coverage Day (India/Pakistan/Japan/South Korea)?
(Telecom/Education/Habitat/Health) was on Dec 12. 59. Who won the Drivers’ Championship in the 2021
42. The International Day of ____ (insurance Formula One Season (Valtteri Bottas/Lewis
companies/cooperatives/stock exchanges/banks) was Hamilton/Max Verstappen/ Sebastian Vettel)?
celebrated by the UN on Dec 4. 60. Who won the 2021 FIDE World Chess Championship
43. The World ____ (Seed/Soil/Farm/Water) Day was in December (Nodirbek Abdusattorov/Magnus
observed by the UN’s FAO on December 5. Carlsen/Ian Nepomniachtchi/Maxime Vachier-
44. Who succeeded Angela Merkel as the new Chancellor Lagrave)?
of Germany in December (Wolfgang Schmidt/Olaf 61. Who acquired Quill, a messaging app for collaboration
Scholz/ Robert Habeck/Ralph Volker)? and communication with teams, in Dec
45. Gabriel Boric (35) was elected as the youngest (Facebook/Google/Twitter/Microsoft)?
president of which South American nation in 62. Ken-Betwa Interlinking Project connects rivers in MP
December (El Salvador/Honduras/ Chile/Belize))? and ____ (Rajasthan/Gujarat/UP/Maharashtra).
46. Who became new head (Executive Director) of 63. What were India’s foreign exchange reserves in
UNICEF in December (Becky Sauerbrunn/Catherine December ($435.08 bn/$535.08 bn/$635.08
Russell/Kristine Lilly/Abigail Wambach)? bn/$735.08 bn)?
47. Who is the head (Managing Director) of IMF (Simona 64. National Energy Conservation Day was observed in
Dyankova/ Kristalina Georgieva/Madlen India on ___ (Dec 13/Dec 14/ Dec 15/Dec 16).
Radukanova/Erika Zafirova)? 65. Centre’s pension scheme for unorganised sector
48. Desmond Tutu (died: Dec 26) won Nobel Prize in ___ workers PM-SYM is Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi
in 1984 (Literature/Peace/Economics/Physics). ____ (Madhyam/Manthan/Marg/Maandhan).
49. Who won men’s singles title at the 2021 BWF World 66. What is India’s present nuclear power capacity (2,780
Badminton Championships in Spain on December 19 MW/4,780 MW/6,780 MW/8,780 MW)?
(Loh Kean Yew/ Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi/Viktor 67. Govt.’s NARCL is National Asset ____ Company Ltd
Axelsen)? (Regeneration/Rehabilitation/Renewal/Reconstruction)

Corporate Knowledge Quiz
(Questions based on content of this issue)
(Answer Key on page 37)
1. Which vehicles company was replaced in the 30-share 13. The government released a commemorative postage
S&P BSE Sensex by IT company Wipro from Dec 20? stamp on which corporate group on December 1 to mark
a) Bajaj Auto b) Tata Motors 75 years of the company?
c) Hero MotoCorp d) Maruti Suzuki a) ITC b) Godrej c) L&T d) Mahindra
2. Which of the following launched ‘Teams Essentials’ 14. Which corporate group announced the sale of its
software to provide affordable virtual meetings platform mutual fund business to HSBC Asset Management
for small businesses? (India) in December for $425 million?
a) Google b) Oracle c) Intel d) Microsoft a) Aditya Birla b) Adani c) L&T d) Tata
3. Which of these was chosen as its word of the year by 15. Which company forayed into the QSR (quick service
dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster in December? restaurant) segment in December with the launch of its
a) Lockdown b) Delta c) Vaccine d) Quarantine first outlet in Chennai under the brand - Jango’z?
4. Which foods MNC unsuccessfully sued farmers in a) Dabur b) Godrej c) Marico d) CavinKare
Gujarat for cultivating a variety of potato without its 16. Which of the following launched ‘Carens’ automobile
permission? in December based on concept of ‘Car + Renaissance’?
a) Domino’s b) PepsiCo c) McDonald’s d) Nestle a) Hyundai b) MG Rover c) Kia d) Tata Motors
5. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) finalised what 17. Which luxury carmaker launched its electric SUV iX
brand name for its bouquet of Panchagavya-based in India at Rs 1.16 crore in December?
products in December? a) Porsche b) Jaguar Land Rover c) BMW d) Bentley
a) Namami Narasimha b) Namami Govinda 18. Which is the new airline launched by investor Rakesh
c) Namami Venkateswara d) Namami Krishna Jhunjhunwala?
6. Which commercial vehicles maker announced foray a) Udaya Air b) Akasa Air c) Udaan Air d) Asman Air
into the used vehicles business in December in tie up with 19. Which framework was launched by National Stock
Shriram Automall India Limited (SAMIL)? Exchange in December that allows listed companies to
a) Force Motors b) Mahindra & Mahindra sign-up for higher governance standards than what is
c) Tata Motors d) Ashok Leyland required under the law?
7. Which food MNC markets edible oil brands a) NSE First b) NSE Fair c) NSE Prime d) NSE Star
NatureFresh, Gemini, Sweekar, Leonardo, Rath and 20. Which automobile company launched ‘Taal’
Sunflower in India? (meaning Rhythm) in partnership with Songdew in
a) ConAgra Foods b) Bunge c) Cargill d) General Mills December to promote indie musicians?
8. Which energy storage solutions provider launched e- a) Skoda b) MG Rover c) Suzuki d) Toyota
scooter Faast in December? 21. Which hospitality group introduced a new portfolio of
a) Amara Raja b) Luminous c) Exide d) Okaya luxury boutique hotels named ‘Emblems Collection’ in
9. Which automobile company launched Spotlight in December worldwide?
collaboration with Universal Music India (UMI) in a) Hilton b) Hyatt c) Marriott d) Accor
December to provide a platform for budding artists across 22. Gautam Adani’s Adani Group forayed in to the
India to showcase their talent to the nation. aluminium sector in December with the setting up of ___
a) Hyundai b) MG Rover c) Kia d) Tata Motors Aluminium Ltd.
10. Tata Medical and Diagnostics launched a testing kit a) Saurashtra b) Kandla c) Mundra d) Bilaspur
for detecting the Omicron variant of coronavirus in 23. _____ Green Energy signed an agreement with PSU
December. Under what brand? Solar Energy Corporation of India in December to supply
a) OmiKnow b) OmiSure c) OmiSelf d) OmiFind 4667 MW of green energy, the world’s largest ever green
11. Which is world’s most expensive city according to power purchase agreement (PPA).
Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living a) Adani b) JSW c) Reliance d) Vedanta
2021 report? 24. Which textile company set up Ten X Realty Ltd
a) Luanda b) Tel Aviv c) Hong Kong d) London (TXRL) in December to conduct its real estate business?
12. Which online education company Unacademy a) Raymond b) Arvind c) Welspun d) Bombay Dyeing
launched Shikshodaya programme to educate five lakh 25. Mumbai-based Kanakia Group announced plans in
girl students in the country? December to foray into the cinema exhibition space under
a) Byju’s b) upGrad c) Unacademy d) Vedantu which brand?

a) Cinshine b) Cinestar c) Cineline d) Cinevista Ltd (TA’ZIZ) in December for chemical projects
26. Manohari Gold was auctioned for a record price of Rs worth $2 billion in UAE?
1 lakh per kilogram on December 14 in Guwahati. It is a a) Adani b) ONGC c) L&T d) RIL
variety of: 39. Writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster created
a) Silk b) Tea c) Saffron d) Coffee which superhero?
27. Which corporate group launched Tagra, a premium a) Ironman b) Superman
range of performance footwear, in December? c) Batman d) Spiderman
a) Tata b) ITC c) RIL d) Aditya Birla 40. Pharmaceutical company Lupin forayed into the
28. Who among the following industrialists received the diagnostics business in December. Which family is the
Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award-Business promoter of Lupin?
Transformation from Silicon Valley (US)-based The a) Agarwal b) Gupta c) Saxena d) Patel
Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) in December? 41. Which family sold British retail group Selfridges to a
a) Anand Mahindra b) Kumar Mangalam Birla consortium led by Thailand-based Central Group for four
c) Adi Godrej d) Azim Premji billion pounds in December?
29. Which corporate group has become the only nickel a) Malcom b) Carlton c) Weston d) Jardine
producer in India after acquiring Goa-based Nicomet in 42. Fruitnik is a food & beverage brand of:
December? a) Dabur b) Emami c) Hamdard d) Amrutanjan
a) Vedanta b) Adani c) Tata d) Aditya Birla 43. Which two-wheeler maker announced collaboration
30. Which of the following announced launch of retail with British brand Belstaff in December to market an
outlets for selling personal care products in metro cities exclusive range of apparel?
under the brand Brillare in December? a) Bajaj Auto b) TVS Motor Company
a) Wipro b) Emami c) Marico d) Godrej c) Hero MotoCorp d) Royal Enfield
31. When was the National Consumer Day observed? 44. Which company announced a deal in December to
a) Dec 22 b) Dec 24 c) Dec 26 d) Dec 28 acquire footwear brand Heydude for $2.5 billion?
32. ____ New Energy Solar Ltd announced a deal in a) Umbro b) Crocs c) Lotto d) Nike
December to acquire UK-based battery company 45. Indian infrastructure major GMR Group won a
Faradion for GBP 100 million. contract to develop Medan Airport in which country in
a) Adani b) Reliance c) L&T d) Vedanta December?
33. Which company forayed into the health food drink a) Indonesia b) Brunei
business with the launch of Vita in December? c) Vietnam d) Thailand
a) Dabur b) Godrej 46. Who is MD & CEO of National Stock Exchange
c) Marico d) CavinKare (NSE)?
34. Who is No: 1 on the list of ‘World’s 100 Most a) Vikram Limaye b) Pranay Awasthi
Powerful Women’ by Forbes in December? c) Manoj Purohit d) Vipin Khare
a) MacKenzie Scott b) Christine Lagarde 47. The Madras High Court ordered the winding up of
c) Mary Barra d) Kamala Harris which airline in December over unpaid dues to
35. Which corporate group announced JV in December Switzerland-based company Credit Suisse AG?
with couturier Anamika Khanna, owner of apparel brand a) Go First b) IndiGo c) SpiceJet d) Vistara
AK-OK? 48. Which of the following is launching electric vehicles
a) RIL b) Tata c) ITC d) Aditya Birla under ‘Montra’ brand?
36. Who is the founder of infrastructure firm ‘The Boring a) Atlas Cycles b) Hero Cycles
Company’ and neurotechnology company ‘Neuralink c) Avon Cycles d) TI Cycles
Corporation’? 49. Which IT MNC has piloted a project in India called
a) Larry Page b) Jeff Bezos WoW (Wireless over Wire) that transmits internet
c) Elon Musk d) Mark Zuckerberg through electricity wires?
37. BBLUNT is a hair care and styling brand marketed a) Google b) Cisco
by: c) Intel d) Microsoft
a) Marico b) Hindustan Unilever 50. Which Indian FMCG company owns the German
c) Procter & Gamble d) Godrej Consumer Products personal care brand Creme 21?
38. Which of the following announced a joint venture a) Emami b) Marico
with Abu Dhabi Chemicals Derivatives Company RSC c) Godrej d) Dabur

Crossword (Solution on page 38)
ACROSS
1. One of hundred to a rupee? (5)
4. Lists of duties or customs to be paid? (7)
8. Wooden piece in a cricketer’s hands (3)
10. Young man? (3)
11. Took part in a competition of speed (5)
12. A review or summary at the end of a speech (5)
13. Waste canal of the human body (7)
15. Of or pertaining to blood (5)
16. I _________: three little words for (or from) a sweet
heart? (4,3)
17. Silent, refraining from speech (4)
20. _______ has: everything that is owned by me? (3,1)
23. Pakistani language (4)
24. American Red Indian (6)
26. Port side (8)
27. Uproar (8)
28. Winter melon (6)
31. Kind of meat (4)
32. Those people over there! (4)
ACROSS ACROSS
34. Grease – “blue” anagram? (4) 42. Causes a boat to turn over or fall down. (5)
35. Obtain (7) 43. Parents’ org. (3)
36. Force out (5) 44. Ind. Pol. Ser. (3)
38. Drank to health of (7) 45. Bears witness or testifies under oath (7)
41. _______ on: lingered over a topic? (5) 46. Hazardous or venturesome (5)
DOWN DOWN
1. Dry up (5) 21. Reduction in intensity or relaxation of efforts (3,2)
2. Under concealment or in judge’s chambers (2,6) 22. Overcome or overpower, in a way? (5)
3. Omar of J&K (8) 23. They are used to store ashes (4)
4. Child in the street or a pup (4) 25. _________ one’s lip: show or express scorn? (4)
5. A skin infection (4) 27. Repasts or feasts (8)
6. The grand ___________: curtains in a grand style, perhaps? (6) 29. Father of India’s Constitution (8)
7. Endeavoured (6) 30. Substances that stimulate the growth of antibodies? (8)
8. Area behind a house (8) 33. A dim ___________ person: a moron or a dullard? (6)
9. Old time king of Mysore who fought the British (5,6) 34. ____ ___ on: treats less severely; is more lenient with?
14. Chennai locale (5,4) (4,2)
18. Frightens, harasses or intimidates (9) 37. Very appetising (5)
19. Indian Airlines pilot who went on to become India’s Prime 39. Tools used by a shoemaker (4)
Minister (5,6) 40. Outdoes or surpasses (4)
Corporate Knowledge Quiz: Answer Key
1. a 2. d 3. c 4. b 5. b 6. d 7. c 8. d 9. a 10. b
11. b 12. c 13. d 14. c 15. d 16. c 17. c 18. b 19. c 20. b
21. d 22. c 23. a 24. a 25. c 26. b 27. a 28. b 29. a 30. b
31. b 32. b 33. a 34. a 35. a 36. c 37. d 38. d 39. b 40. b
41. c 42. d 43. d 44. b 45. a 46. a 47. c 48. d 49. c 50. a

Sudoku (Solution below)
SUDOKU I SUDOKU II
Solutions
SUDOKU I SUDOKU II
Do You Remember: Answers

1. 25-35 24. Virender Singh Pathania 47. Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgarian
2. Gujarat 25. Sugar economist)
3. Aadhaar 26. UP 48. Peace
4. Subodh Kumar Jaiswal 27. Dec 6 49. Loh Kean Yew of Singapore
5. Sanjay Kumar Mishra 28. BIMSTEC 50. Akane Yamaguchi of Japan
6. Stewardship 29. Intangible 51. Hyderabad Strikers
7. Kerala 30. Joe Biden 52. Team Radiant
8. Innovation 31. Maldives 53. Russia
9. Competitiveness 32. Bhutan 54. Mercedes
10. 1961 33. Harnaaz Sandhu 55. 372
11. Mayors’ 34. Russia 56. 1956
12. Rekha Sharma 35. Ethiopia 57. Vijay Hazare
13. Marginalised 36. France 58. South Korea
14. Residential 37. Houston 59. Max Verstappen of Red Bull
15. Supersonic 38. Epidemic Racing
16. Trident 39. Dec 9 60. Magnus Carlsen of Norway
17. Dec 7 40. Mountain 61. Twitter
18. Nagaland 41. Health 62. UP
19. Namita Gokhale 42. Banks 63. $635.08 bn
20. Mumbai 43. Soil 64. Dec 14
21. Ramnath Goenka 44. Olaf Scholz 65. Maandhan
22. Damodar Mauzo 45. Chile 66. 6,780 MW
23. Dinyar Patel 46. Catherine Russell 67. Reconstruction

Point-Counterpoint
“There are basically two types of people in “When I started from Delhi, I was waiting
the world, some who really work and some for someone to say that he had cut the
who appropriate others’ work. This is the ribbon of this project and started this
difference between the govt. of the SP and scheme. This is the habit of some people.
today’s ‘kainchijivi’ (ribbon cutting) Maybe in their childhood they had cut its
govt.” ribbon.”
–Akhilesh Yadav, ex-CM, UP, claiming

that most of the Saryu Nahar National –Narendra Modi, PM
Project (inaugurated by Modi on Dec 11)
work was done during his tenure as CM
“When I was young, the prevalence of “Sitting in the lap of BJP and RSS, Jitan
Satyanarayana Puja was not much in our Ram Manjhi’s language has also become
community. These days, it is prevalent in like them. The words used by Manjhi for
almost every house. More alarmingly, the the Brahmin community cannot be
Brahmin (Pandits) come to our house, justified by anyone and are unpardonable.”
conduct Puja but they do not eat food in
our houses. They shamelessly demand
money (Dakshina) instead of eating food” –Mritunjay Tiwari, RJD spokesperson
–Jitan Ram Manjhi, former Bihar CM,
who is from Maha Dalit community
“Aadhaar is not a proof of citizenship. By “The Opposition has not understood the
linking it with the electoral process, we are objectives of the Bill. It will make the
potentially giving voting rights to non- election process more credible. The Bill is
citizens.” in consonance with the Supreme Court
judgment.”
–Shashi Tharoor, Congress Lok Sabha
MP, opposing the bill that links voter –Kiren Rijiju, Law Minister
identity card with Aadhaar
“A Taiwan emergency is a Japanese “Anyone who dares to repeat militarism

emergency, and therefore an emergency and challenge the bottom line of the
for the Japan-U.S. alliance. People in Chinese people will surely be shattered in
Beijing, President Xi Jinping in particular, the face.”
should never have a misunderstanding in
recognising this.” –Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign
–Shinzo Abe, former PM of Japan, saying Ministry spokesperson
Japan and the US could not stand by if
China attacked Taiwan
“I believe that when a girl is mature and “Those who opposed making the social
attains the age of fertility, she should get evil of triple talaq a crime and raised
married. If a girl is mature at 16, she can questions on the removal of restriction on
get married at 16. If she can vote at 18, Muslim women to perform Haj with
why can’t she get married?” mehram only are now creating commotion
on the constitutional equality regarding the
–S. T. Hasan, Samajwadi Party MP from marriage age of women. These people are
UP, opposing centre’s move to raise professional protesters.”
marriage age of girls from 18 to 21 –Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minorities
Affairs Minister
“Businesses and individuals that do not ““What the US has done runs counter to
exit supply chains, ventures, and/or market rules and business ethics. It will
investments connected to Xinjiang could only destabilise the global industrial and
run a high risk of violating U.S. law.” supply chains and disrupt the international
trade order.”
–Jen Psaki, White House press secretary,
announcing ban on imports from Xinjiang –Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry
(China) over human rights issues spokesperson

“If we want, we can strengthen our own “Cow and its urine have their own uses but
economy and make the country financially the economy will improve only when
capable through cows, their dung and investment comes in and financial
urine.” activities increase.”
–Kamal Nath, former MP CM and
–Shivraj Singh Chouhan, MP CM Congress leader
“The Chinese are building villages, “Hyping up China threat has severely
possibly for billeting and locating their breached the strategic guidance set by
civilians or for the military in the future all leaders of the two countries that China and
along the LAC, particularly after the recent India pose no threat to each other.”
face offs that we’ve had.”
–Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence –Wu Qian, Chinese defence ministry
Staff, saying China is India’s biggest spokesperson
security threat
“The relief given even after prices “After the BJP’s defeat in the bypolls, the
increased internationally is a very sensitive Centre reduced the fuel prices by ₹5. If the
decision. I thank Modiji for this.” price has to be brought down by ₹50, then
the BJP must be defeated completely.”
–Amit Shah, Home Minister, on centre’s –Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP, Shiv
decision to cut excise duty on petrol by Rs Sena
5 per litre and diesel by Rs 10 a litre
“A contingent of CSTO (Moscow-led “Once Russians are in your house, it’s
Collective Security Treaty Organisation) sometimes very difficult to get them to
peacekeeping forces has been sent to leave.”
Kazakhstan -- and I want to emphasise this
-- for a limited time period.” –Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State,
cautioning Kazakhstan govt. on inviting
–Vladimir Putin, President, Russia
Russian troops to quell domestic unrest
“I am hopeful that there will be at least a “I asked Tesla officials not to make the car
temporary tariff relief for electric vehicles. in China and sell it in India. Come to
That would be much appreciated.” India, make it here, sell it here, and export
from here. The government will provide
–Elon Musk, Tesla founder, asking for you all the help and support you need.”
tariff reduction by India on his company’s
electric car exports –Nitin Gadkari, Transport Minister
“By combining rich natural resources with “The Government of India’s brazen loot
external investment and technical and sale of resources show that the sole
expertise, the citizens of Jammu and motive is to annihilate our identity and
Kashmir will now have access to a higher change the demography.”
quality of life.”
–Hardeep Singh Puri, Housing & Urban –Mehbooba Mufti, former J&K CM &
Affairs Minister, justifying decision to PDP president
allow all Indians to buy land in J&K

Genesis January 2022

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Genesis January 2022

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Endeavor Careers – Dream … Endeavor… Achieve 2

GD: Compensation package for surrendering Maoists 5

GD: Schools should be graded for quality 6

World, Sports 14, 17

Economy, Corporate 19, 21

Science & Technology 28

Do you remember?, Corporate Knowledge Quiz 33, 35

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

Two versions The centre has succeeded in reaching peace agreements

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

Corporate Knowledge Quiz: Answer Key

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

Do You Remember: Answers

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

–Akhilesh Yadav, ex-CM, UP, claiming

“A Taiwan emergency is a Japanese “Anyone who dares to repeat militarism

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

www.endeavorcareers.com January 2022 THE GENESIS

You might also like