Current Affairs Monthly Capsule Highlights December 2021

Current Affairs Monthly Capsule | December 2021
Art & Culture

3-day Kashi Indian International Film Festival begins in Varanasi
 The first three-day Kashi Indian International Film Festival began in Varanasi on 27 December
2021.
 UP Tourism, Culture, and Charitable Affairs Minister Neelkanth Tiwari inaugurated the festival.
 The festival is being organized by Information and Broadcasting Ministry in collaboration with
the Uttar Pradesh government.
 A panel discussion will be held on the second day of the event.
Jaipur hosting Lokrang Festival after 2 years from 16 December 2021
 Jaipur is hosting the 11-day Lokrang Festival 2021 after 2 years at the Jawahar Kala Kendra
(JKK) from 16 December 2021.
 More than 650 artists from various states will perform during the event.
 The event is being organized by Rajasthan’s Department of Art and Culture and Rural Non-
Farm Development Agency.
 It will comprise a handicrafts fair and Rajasthani language writing festival.
Traditional buffalo race 'Kambala' held in Moodabidri, Karnataka
 Kambala, a traditional buffalo race, was held at Moodabidri in the Dakshina Kannada district of
Karnataka on 11 December 2021.
 More than 200 pairs of buffaloes participated.
 Kambala is a folk sport, held traditionally by local Tuluva landlords and households in coastal
districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udipi of Karnataka and Kasaragod of Kerala, a region
collectively known as Tulu Nadu.
22nd Hornbill Festival of Nagaland begins on 1 December 2021
 The 22nd Hornbill Festival of Nagaland began on 1 December 2021.
 The festival is taking place after a gap of 1 year.
 It is being held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
 It will continue for 10 days.
 Organized by the State Tourism and Art and Culture Departments, the Hornbill Festival
showcases various cultural displays under one roof.
 The festival was first organized in the year 2000.
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Awards and Honours

Sahitya Akademi announces awards in 20 languages
 The Sahitya Akademi, on 30 Dec 2021, announced its awards for 2021 for literary works in 20
languages, including novels in Assamese and English.
 In English, Author Namita Gokhale won the award for her book Things to Leave Behind.
 This year, 7 books of poetry, five short stories, two plays, one each of biography, autobiography,
criticism and epic poetry have been chosen for the award.
Indian-origin Dr Imtiaz Sooliman named South African of the Year
 Indian-origin philanthropist and founder of disaster relief group 'Gift Of The Givers', Dr. Imtiaz
Sooliman has won the South African of the Year Award run by the Daily Maverick newspaper.
 Sooliman has also received National Orders, South Africa’s highest civilian honour.
 Earlier in 2021, he was named Social Justice Champion by the University of Stellenbosch in
Western Cape province.
Viral Desai honoured with Global Environment and Climate Action award
 Surat's industrialist Viral Desai, popularly known as Greenman, has been awarded the
prestigious Global Environment and Climate Action Citizen Award in Dubai.
 He was felicitated at Dubai's Atlantis, The Palm, in December 2021, with the Bharat Gaurav
Samman by Sanskruti Yuva Sansthan.
 Twenty-eight prominent personalities from 11 countries, including the UK, the US were
felicitated.
IIT Roorkee bags 1st position in Most Innovative Research Institutions
 For the second year in a row, IIT Roorkee has been selected by the prestigious Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII) for the Industrial Innovation Awards.
 IIT Roorkee bagged the first position under the Most Innovative Research Institutions category
in 2021.
 The second and third positions have gone to IIT Madras and the Indian National Centre for
Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad.
Anil Prakash Joshi, 2 others win Mother Teresa Memorial Award 2021
 Environmentalist Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi, who was conferred upon the Padma Bhushan this year,
has been awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice 2021.
 Vidyut Mohan, winner of the Earth shot Prize, and Ridhima Pandey, a young environmental
activist were also the recipients of the award.
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 Dr. Abraham Mathai, the founder chairman of Harmony foundation felicitated the awardees.
Hyderabad Airport wins National Energy Conservation Award 2021
 The GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. has been awarded the Certificate of Merit by the
Bureau of Energy Efficiency under ‘National Energy Conservation Awards 2021’ (NECA 2021).
 It has been awarded for its excellent efforts in the areas of energy conservation.
 The GMR Hyderabad International Airport was the only airport in the Airport Sector that
received this distinct recognition.
JGU wins "Digital Innovation of the Year" at THE Asia Awards 2021
 O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has won the "Digital Innovation of the Year" award at the
Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Awards 2021.
 JGU was the only Indian university to be shortlisted for the "Digital Innovation of the Year"
award.
 Its application called Tou has enabled the digital transformation of educational institutions
across 12 states of India.
SAIL receives Golden Peacock Environment Management Award 2021
 The Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) has been awarded the Golden Peacock Environment
Management Award for 2021 in the Steel Sector by the Institute of Directors.
 SAIL has been the winner of this award for successive three years.
 The company’s environmental protections measures are focused on adopting various
environmental measures including upgrading pollution control facilities.
DBS Bank India clinches two awards at ET BFSI Excellence Awards 2021
 DBS Bank India has been awarded the ET BFSI Excellence Awards 2021.
 The bank has won two awards - for the 'DBS Rapid (Real-time API)' solution in the 'Innovative
API/Open Banking model' category and 'for 'Intelligent Banking' in the 'Best Digital Customer
Experience initiative' category.
 The bank has designed a real-time, digital payments solution for Transport Corporation of India
Ltd.
Azim Premji receives Dr. Ida S. Scudder Oration award
 Azim Premji, founder Chairman of Wipro Ltd and founder of Azim Premji Foundation, is the
recipient of the 10th annual Dr. Ida S. Scudder Humanitarian Oration award, for 2021.
 The award was jointly established by Christian Medical College Vellore (CMC) and the US-based
Vellore CMC Foundation.
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 The award was presented to him in recognition of his contributions to society through the
foundation.
Karnataka Bank bags two DigiDhan award from MeitY
 Karnataka Bank has been conferred with two DigiDhan awards instituted by the Union Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
 The bank received these awards for achieving the target with the highest percentage in BHIM-
UPI transactions under the private sector bank category consecutively for two years – 2019-20
and 2020-21.
Gymnast Simone Biles named Time’s 2021 Athlete of the Year
 Gymnast Simone Biles from the USA has been named Time’s 2021 Athlete of the Year.
 She has won seven Olympic medals (4 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze).
 She holds the record for most gold medals by a USA Gymnast in a single Olympics.
 She won four gold medals at Rio Olympics 2016 in team, all-around, vault, and floor events.
 She has 32 combined medals in the Olympics and World Championships.
Avani Lekhara wins 'Best Female Debut' honour at Paralympic Awards
 Indian shooter Avani Lekhara won the Best Female Debut honour at the 2021 Paralympics
Awards on 16 Dec 2021.
 She is the first Indian to clinch a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics Games 2020.
 She also won a bronze in the 50m Rifle Three Positions Standing SH 1 event, becoming the first
Indian female to win two medals in Games’ history.
 She was also awarded Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
Lewis Hamilton receives knighthood at Windsor Castle
 Seven times Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton received his knighthood for services to
motorsport in Dec'21.
 Hamilton holds the record for most race wins with 103.
 He was made a Knight Bachelor by Britain's Prince Charles during an investiture ceremony at
Windsor Castle in England.
 Hamilton is the 4th F1 driver to be knighted and the only one to have received the award while
still racing.
Cate Blanchett to be honoured with French cinema's Cesar d'Honneur
 Australian actor Cate Blanchett will be receiving French cinema's top honour, the Cesar
d'Honneur, a lifetime achievement award, from the French Film Academy.
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 She will receive the prize in Paris on February 25, 2022, as part of the 47th Cesar ceremony,
France's equivalent to the Academy Awards.
 She has won two Oscars and a BAFTA award earlier.
Bhutan confers highest civilian award upon PM Narendra Modi
 Bhutan on 17 Dec 2021 conferred the country's highest civilian award - Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo
upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 17 Dec also marks the National Day of Bhutan.
 He was awarded for India's unconditional support during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Bhutan was the first country to receive India's gift of Covid-19 vaccines, manufactured by the
Serum Institute of India (SII).
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gives away Raksha Mantri Awards
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave away Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence 2021 on the
occasion of the 96th Raising Day of Directorate General Defence Estates in New Delhi on
December 16, 2021.
 The recipients were awarded for innovation and digital achievements in various fields.
 A new award has been instituted from 2021 for achievement in the implementation of the 'e-
Chhawani' project.
Kumar Mangalam Birla receives Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award
 Aditya Birla Group’s Chairman, Kumar Mangalam Birla received the Global Entrepreneur of the
Year Award- Business Transformation from The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) on 16 Dec 2021.
 He is the first Indian Industrialist to receive the award.
 In addition, awards were given out to Techstars for Best Global Accelerator for Startups and MIT
for Global University Promoting Student Entrepreneurship.
Sports Journalists' Federation of India to honour Sunil Gavaskar
 The prestigious Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) Medal will be conferred on
legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.
 Neeraj Chopra was adjudged the SJFI Sportsman of the Year while weightlifter Mirabai Chanu
was voted as the Sportswoman of the Year.
 The Indian men's team that won the hockey bronze in Tokyo was declared the Team of the
Year.
India's Harnaaz Sandhu crowned Miss Universe 2021
 India's Harnaaz Sandhu, hailing from Chandigarh, has been crowned Miss Universe 2021, two
decades after Lara Dutta won the title in 2000.
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 She beat contestants from Paraguay and South Africa.

 She was crowned at the contest held in Eilat, Israel on 13 December 2021.
 India had earlier won the coveted crown twice with Sushmita Sen bagging the title in 1994 and
Lara Dutta in 2000.
Amit Goenka wins 21st Century Icon Awards at House of Lords
 Amit Goenka, President of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), was felicitated with
the 21st Century Icon Awards at the House of Lords on Dec 11.
 The award was received on behalf of Amit Goenka by Parul Goel, ZEE Network UK’s Business
Head.
 The Squared Watermelon Company of London gives the 21st Century Icon Award every year to
the personalities who set an example for the world.
Apollo TeleHealth becomes first to get ISO 13131:2021 certification
 Apollo TeleHealth, a multi-speciality telemedicine network, has become the first-ever
organization in the world to attain the certification of ISO 13131:2021 presented by the British
Standards Institution (BSI).
 Achieving the certification showcases a provider's capability of managing quality, safety, and
patient data security effectively in this new age of telehealth service provisions.
Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians 2021 awarded to Neena Gupta
 Professor Neena Gupta, a mathematician at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, has been
awarded the 2021 DST-ICTP-IMU Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from developing
countries.
 She has been awarded for her outstanding work in affine algebraic geometry and commutative
algebra.
 Professor Gupta is the third woman to receive the Ramanujan Prize.
Balkrishna Doshi to be honoured with the Royal Gold Medal 2022
 Balkrishna Doshi will receive the Royal Gold Medal 2022 by the Royal Institute of British
Architects (RIBA), the world’s highest honor for architecture.
 The award will be presented at a ceremony in 2022.
 Many of his iconic buildings include the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and Aranya
Low-Cost Housing (1989), Indore, which won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1995.
IIT-Kanpur scientist bags "Young Geospatial Scientist" award
 Ropesh Goyal from IIT-Kanpur won the 'Young Geospatial Scientist' award in Dec'21.
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 He has been awarded in recognition of his unique contribution to developing the Indian Geoid
Model and computation software.
 The 'Young Geospatial Scientist' award and a gold medal are being presented every year since
2011 to promising scientists below 35 years of age in the memory of Rachapudi Kamakshi.
V Praveen Rao received the 7th Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for 2017-19
 The prestigious 7th Dr. MS Swaminathan Award for the period 2017-2019 was awarded to Dr. V
Praveen Rao.
 He is the Vice-Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University.
 This biennial national award jointly constituted by Retired ICAR Employees Association
(RICAREA) and Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL) carries a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakhs, a gold medal,
and a citation.
Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize to be merged for years 2021, 2022
 The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize will be awarded for the years 2021 and 2022 together.
 The annual award, won by Journalist-author Raj Kamal Jha in 2020 for his novel ''The City and
The Sea'', will now be held for both years in New Delhi in October 2022.
 The award for Social Achievement 2020 was conferred to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al
Said, the late Sultan of Oman.
President Ram Nath Kovind awards ‘President Standard’ to Navy squadron
 President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the President’s Standard to the 22nd Missile Vessel
Squadron at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on 8 December 2021.
 The President’s Standard is the highest honor bestowed by the Supreme Commander to a
military unit in recognition of the service rendered to the nation.
 A Special Day Cover along with a commemorative stamp was also released by the Postal
Department.
Nilmoni Phukan, Damodar Mauzo awarded Jnanpith Award
 Assamese poet Nilmoni Phukan has been awarded the Jnanpith Award for 2020.
 Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo won the award for the year 2021.
 A Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi awardee, Phukan had also received the Sahitya Akademi
fellowship.
 Damodar Mauzo was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983.
 Jnanpith Award is the highest Indian literary award presented annually.
Vevek Paul awarded 'Asia's Most creative Entrepreneur' in Dubai
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 Vevek Paul has been honoured at the 15th edition of Asia Africa Business & Social Forum 2021
(AABSF), in Dubai.
 He was awarded the title of 'Asia's Most creative Entrepreneur' and 'Asia's Most Innovative
platform for Short Films & Documentaries'.
 He is the founder of The Great Indian Film Festival (TGIFF) and CEO of the production house
Cinemaddicts9.
Kerala's Sruthy Sithara, first Indian to wins Miss Trans Global 2021
 2021 Miss Trans Global title was conferred to Kerala native Sruthy Sithara, who had been
competing in the pageant for the last six months. She is the first Indian to do so.
 Sithara worked as a project assistant at the Kerala government’s Social Justice Department.
 Miss Trans Global is an international online pageant for trans and gender-nonconforming
people from all backgrounds.
Nikhil Srivastava selected for inaugural Ciprian Foias Prize
 Nikhil Srivastava has been jointly selected for the inaugural USD 5000 Ciprian Foias Prize.
 Along with Nikhil Srivastava, the two other awardees are Adam Marcus and Daniel Spielman.
 Srivastava has now received the Ciprian Foias Prize for the third time after jointly winning the
George Polya Prize in 2014.
 The prize was established in 2020 in memory of Ciprian Foias.
Viktor Axelsen, Tai Tzu Ying named BWF Player of the Year
 Denmark's Viktor Axelsen and Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying have been named BWF Male and Female
Player of the Year respectively.
 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based Badminton World Federation (BWF) honoured all eight winners
on 3 Dec 2021.
 Qu Zimo (China) was named Male Para-Badminton Player of the Year, and Leani Ratri Oktila
(Indonesia) the Female Para-Badminton Player of the Year.
National Awards for work towards empowerment of PwDs presented
 President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the annual National Awards on individuals, institutions,
organizations, and state/district, etc., for their outstanding achievements and work towards the
empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
 The awards were presented on 3 December 2021.
 Tamil Nadu has been recognised as the ‘Best State in promoting empowerment of persons with
disabilities'.
Dadabhai Naoroji's biography wins NIF Book Prize 2021
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 A biography of Dadabhai Naoroji, one of the founders of the Indian National Congress, by
Dinyar Patel, has been named winner of the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2021.
 'Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism' was selected from the six shortlisted books.
 The award carries a cash award of Rs 15 lakh and a citation.
 This is the fourth edition of the prize instituted in 2018.
Kurukshetra University to award Rajib Goyal Prize to 4 scientists
 Four scientists, all below the age of 45 years, have been selected by Kurukshetra University for
the Rajib Goyal Prize for the 'Young Scientists'.
 Rajneesh Mishra, IIT, Indore, KM Sureshan, IISER, Thiruvananthapuram, Rajeev Varshney,
ICRISAT Hyderabad, and Suman Chakraborty, IIT, Kharagpur have been selected for the award.
 Goyal Prizes were instituted in 1992 by Ram S Goyal, a US-based NRI.
Anju Bobby George wins World Athletics’ Woman of the Year Award
 Anju Bobby George has been awarded the Woman of the Year Award by World Athletics.
 She was honored for grooming talent and encouraging young girls in India to take up sports
and fight for gender equality.
 She is a World Championships bronze medalist in the long jump.
 In 2016, Anju opened a training academy for young girls, which has already helped to produce a
world U20 medallist.
Books and Authors

'Glimpses of a Pioneer’s Life Journey’ book released by Venkaiah Naidu
 The Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu released the book ‘Dr. V L Dutt: Glimpses of a Pioneer’s
Life Journey'.
 The book was written by V L Indira Dutt, Chairperson and MD of KCP Group in Chennai.
 This book is based on the life of Late Velagapudi Lakshmana Dutt, former Chairman of KCP
Group.
 He has served as President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry in
1991-92.
Book titled 'The Monk Who Transformed UP' released
 A new book "The Monk Who Transformed Uttar Pradesh: How Yogi Aditynath Changed UP
Waala Bhaiya' abuse to a Badge of Honour" has been released.
 It has been written by author Shantanu Gupta and published by Garuda Prakashan.
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 The author has previously written, "The Monk Who Became Chief Minister: The definitive
biography of Yogi Adityanath" telling his journey of becoming a politician.
Narendra Singh Tomar releases the book “Spices Statistics at a Glance"
 Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar released the book
‘Spices Statistics at a Glance 2021’on 21 December 2021.
 The book is published by the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), Ministry
of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
 It highlights the growth achieved in the spices sector during the last 7 years from 2014-15 to
2020-21 in the country.
Odisha CM releases book 'Gajapati: A king without a kingdom'
 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has released a book on Gajapati kings of the state.
 The book titled 'Gajapati: A king without a kingdom' and written by Ashok Bal, was released on
18 December 2021.
 It deals with the history of Gajapati kings starting from Suryavanshi Gajapati Kapilendra Deb.
 Kapilendra Deb and his successors uninterruptedly used the royal title of Gajapati after the
Ganga kings.
Tusshar Kapoor comes up with new book 'Bachelor Dad'
 Actor-producer Tusshar Kapoor has announced his debut book ''Bachelor Dad: My Journey to
Fatherhood and More".
 The book will shed light on his journey to fatherhood.
 The book will be published by Penguin India.
 It will be launched in January 2022.
 Tusshar Kapoor featured in the films like Golmaal and Shootout at Lokhandwala.
SS Oberoi's book 'Rewinding the first 25 years of MeitY' launched
 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on 14 December 2021 launched the
book — Rewinding of the first 25 years of MeitY.
 It has been authored by S S Oberoi, a former adviser at MeitY.
 Through the book, he has shared his life experiences and challenges working as an advisor
under the MeitY.
 The book was launched by Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary of MeitY.
Rekha Chaudhari's book 'India's Ancient Legacy of Wellness' launched
 Dr Rekha Chaudhari's book 'India's Ancient Legacy of Wellness' was launched on 15 December
2021.
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 The book reveals how important it is for human beings to be close to nature which helps to
revive and recharge to do productive work.
 Dr Rekha’s research has also been published in WHO, and she was invited by John Hopkins,
Harward and Oxford University to publish her research.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu releases book ‘Gandhitopi Governor’
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu released the book 'Gandhitopi Governor' on 15 December
2021.
 It has been authored by the Chairman, Official Language Commission, Andhra Pradesh,
Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad.
 The book chronicles the life of Edpuganti Raghavendra Rao, a prominent freedom fighter,
legislator, and Governor of Central Provinces in the British administration.
Assam Governor releases book 'Principles and Practice of Oncology'
 Assam Governor Jagadish Mukhi released a book 'Principles and Practice of Oncology' on 14
December 2021.
 This book will benefit students and practicing clinicians across the country.
 The Director of Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute, Dr. Amal Kataki and faculty members have
published the book.
 The institute is one of the oldest cancer centers of India.
VP M. Venkaiah Naidu launches Rahul Rawail's book on Raj Kapoor
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu released the memoir 'Raj Kapoor: The Master at Work' on 14
December 2021.
 Published by Bloomsbury India, the book is written by filmmaker Rahul Rawail, who served as an
assistant director to Raj Kapoor on films like ''Bobby''.
 The book is about legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, who is acclaimed as the greatest showman
of Hindi cinema.
Vice President releases book ‘Public Service Ethics’ by Prabhat Kumar
 Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released the book, ‘Public Service Ethics’ in December 2021.
 It has been written by Prabhat Kumar, former Governor of Jharkhand and former Cabinet
Secretary to the Government of India.
 It has been published by IC Centre for Governance.
 Prabhat Kumar was the first Governor of Jharkhand.
Bala Krishna’s autobiography ‘At Home In The Universe’ released
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 An autobiography by Bala Krishna Madhur titled ‘At Home In The Universe’ was released by R.C.
Sinha, advisor to the Ministry of Road Development in Mumbai, in December 2021.
 Madhur is a former CEO at DHFL Property Services Ltd.
 The book tells about the policy environment in the 1980s and 1990s in the Housing Finance
Sector.
Business and Economy

Kishore Yedam conferred with World CEO Winner of the Year 2021 award
 The most prominent C-level executive awards have crowned Kishore Kumar Yedam as 'World
CEO Winner of the Year 2021'.
 The World CEO Rankings (TWCR) are online awards to acknowledge the best CEOs worldwide
through the strict nomination process and three-month-long voting season.
 Kishore Kumar Yedem is the CEO & MD of FSS.
 FSS is a Software Development and Services Company, based in Hyderabad.
SBI to acquire 9.95% stake in GIFT-IFSC-based Clearing Corporation
 State Bank of India announced the acquisition of a 9.95% stake in India International Clearing
Corporation (IICC) subject to a maximum investment of ₹34.03 crores.
 The Clearing Corporation is a GIFT City (Gandhinagar, Gujarat) based Market Infrastructure
Institution (MII).
 The Corporation is the first international clearing corporation to be set up at Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City.
LIC, GIC Re and New India systemically important insurers: IRDAI
 Life Insurance Corporation of India, General Insurance Corporation of India and New India
Assurance have been identified as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) for 2021-22
by IRDAI.
 D-SIIs are perceived as insurers that are ‘too big or too important to fail' (TBTF).
 D-SIIs refer to insurers of such size whose failure would cause dislocation of the financial system.
RBI extends deadline for KYC in bank accounts till March 31, 2022
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the deadline for KYC in bank accounts till March
31, 2022, from December 31, 2021.
 In the Know Your Customer (KYC) requirement, a bank customer is required to submit his details
which include PAN, Aadhaar, passport, etc.
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 A bank is required to undertake KYC compliance from its customers due to the Prevention of
Money-Laundering Act, 2002.
India’s green energy economy received $7.27 billion FDI since 2014-15
 According to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India’s green energy industry
received foreign direct investment (FDI) worth $7.27 billion from 2014 till June 2021.
 India recently announced reducing net carbon emissions to zero by 2070 at COP26 in Glasgow.
 India has the fourth-largest wind power capacity in the world.
 India has already reached an emission reduction of 28% in 2021.
RBI extends restrictions imposed on PMC Bank until March 2022
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the validity period of its directions imposed on Punjab
and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC) from January 1 to March 31, 2022, on December 28,
2021.
 The RBI had taken over the board of PMC Bank in September 2019 after finding major financial
irregularities in the bank.
 In Nov 2021, the RBI had issued a scheme to take over PMC Bank by Unity SFB.
SJVN to invest ₹60,000 cr for hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh
 State-owned power producer Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN) will invest ₹ 60,000 crore
to harness 5,097 megawatts (MW) of hydropower in Arunachal Pradesh.
 SJVN's CMD Nand Lal Sharma confirmed that the Arunachal Pradesh government has
accepted the allotment of 5 hydroelectric projects having a total capacity of 5,097 MW.
 Etalin Hydroelectric Project is one of them out of the total five.
IndusInd Bank announces launch of ‘Green Fixed Deposits’
 IndusInd Bank announced the launch of ‘Green Fixed Deposits’.
 The deposit proceeds will be used to finance projects and firms supporting the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 These deposits will be offered to both retail and corporate customer.
 It is amongst few banks globally, to bring forth this proposition, thereby integrating SDG into a
regular fixed deposit product.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) lifts ban on import of poultry from India
 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted a ban on the import of eggs and other poultry
products from India.
 This move follows New Delhi’s guarantee that it would follow biosafety norms set by the World
Organization for Animal Health to prevent infection from bird flu.
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 The UAE was India's third-largest trading partner in FY20.

 It was India's second-largest export destination after the US.
Russia doubled purchases of gas from Turkmenistan in 2021
 Russia has doubled the purchases of natural gas from Turkmenistan this year amid rising global
demand,
 As per Russian ambassador Alexander Blokhin Russia, this year stands to import about 10 billion
cubic meters of gas from Turkmenistan.
 China has replaced Russia as the top export destination.
 Turkmenistan is working to build a pipeline that would pump gas to Afghanistan, Pakistan &
India.
RBI allows Corporate-promoted NBFCs to hold up to 15% in private banks
 Corporate houses, which are not allowed to own a bank, can now pick up a 15% stake in
commercial banks through their non-banking financial companies.
 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed non-promoters to hold up to 15% in private sector
banks, on the recommendations of the Internal Working Group.
 Voting rights to be capped at 10% as is the case with other investors.
National Stock Exchange launches new initiative NSE Prime
 The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has launched a new corporate governance initiative ‘NSE
Prime’.
 It is a framework that prescribes higher standards of corporate governance for listed companies
than those required by regulations.
 NSE-listed companies that voluntarily choose to be part of NSE Prime will need to comply with
pre-defined norms on an ongoing basis, which will be monitored by NSE.
SBI picks up minority stake in JSW Cement for ₹100 crore
 State Bank of India (SBI) has acquired a minority stake in JSW Cement Limited at an investment
of ₹100 crores.
 The public sector bank has invested in the company, a part of the $13 billion JSW Group, via
compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS).
 This capital infusion will support JSW Cement’s capacity expansion from the current 14 MTPA
(million tonnes per annum) to 25 MTPA.
Mastercard, Google offer tokenization for card-based payments
 Mastercard and Google have announced the rollout of tokenization that will enable Google Pay
users to safely transact using their Mastercard credit and debit cards.
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 Through tokenization, Mastercard cardholders can make payments through a secure digital
token without having to share their credit or debit card details such as card number and expiry
date with a merchant.
RBI enforces 20-digit LEI for cross-border deals above Rs 50 crore
 RBI has made Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) mandatory for cross-border transactions for capital or
current account transactions of Rs 50 crore and above, from October 1, 2022.
 LEI is a 20-digit number used to uniquely identify parties to financial transactions worldwide to
improve the quality and accuracy of financial data systems.
 The LEI numbers are maintained in a global LEI database.
India registers highest-ever annual FDI inflow of $81.97 bn in 2020-21
 India has registered the highest ever annual Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow of $81.97
billion in 2020-21.
 Commerce and Industry Ministry informed that FDI inflows in the last 7 financial years are over
$440 billion.
 The top five countries from where FDI Equity Inflows were received during 2014 to 2021 are
Singapore, Mauritius, the USA, the Netherlands, and Japan.
CCI imposes ₹202 crore penalty on Amazon and suspends its deal
 The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 17 December 2021 suspended its approval for
Amazon's deal with Future Coupons.
 It also imposed a penalty totaling Rs 202 crore on it for allegedly not being upfront about the
actual scope and purpose of the deal.
 The approval was given by CCI back in November 2019 for Amazon's deal to buy a 49 percent
stake in Future Coupons.
ICICIPru is the first insurance company to sign UNPRI on ESG issues
 ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has become the first Indian insurance company to sign the UN-
supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), demonstrating its commitment
towards Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues.
 The UNPRI is an investor initiative in partnership with the two bodies of United Nations – UN
Environment Programme Finance Initiative and UN Global Compact.
Reserve Bank of India authorises RBL Bank to collect indirect taxes
 RBI has authorized RBL Bank to collect indirect taxes on behalf of the Central Board of Indirect
Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
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 The bank had recently been authorized to collect direct taxes on behalf of the Central Board of
Direct Taxes.
 RBL Bank’s corporate and individual customers will now be able to pay their indirect taxes
through RBL Bank’s mobile banking or net banking platforms.
State Bank of India hikes base rate by 0.1 per cent
 SBI has increased the benchmark lending rate or base rate by 0.1%.
 With the increase, the revised base rate is 7.55%.
 The new rate is effective from December 15, 2021.
 SBI has migrated to External Benchmark Lending Rate (EBLR) linked to repo rate since January
2019.
 There is no change in the EBLR rate.
 The bank has also revised the Benchmark Prime Lending Rate to 12.3% from 12.2%.
NPCI enables the market on Tokenization for RuPay users with NTS
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has partnered with brands and aggregators to
introduce a Tokenization facility supported by the recently launched NPCI Tokenization System
(NTS).
 It will help customers maintain the security of their card financial data for online transactions.
 The RuPay card details will now be completely safe and secure in a secure vault within NTS.
Govt cuts GST rate on ethanol meant for blending to 5% from 18%
 The government has slashed the GST rate on ethanol meant for blending under the Ethanol
Blended Petrol (EBP) programme to 5% from 18 %.
 Under the government's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, Oil Marketing Companies
(OMCs) sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10 percent.
 This programme has been extended to the whole India except UTs of Andaman Nicobar and
Lakshadweep islands.
Paytm launches EdTech platform “Paytm Wealth Academy”
 Paytm on 15 December 2021, launched its EdTech platform called ‘Paytm Wealth Academy’.
 It will give training to traders and investors across the country.
 The company through this tutorial platform will offer programs and webinars on buying and
selling and monetary ideas.
 Apart from the courses, the platform also provides webinars by experts in various fields.
RBI imposes monetary penalty on ICICI Bank, PNB
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 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on ICICI Bank and Punjab
National Bank.
 RBI has slapped ₹30 lakh fine on ICICI and ₹1.80 crore penalty on PNB.
 The penalty on ICICI Bank has been imposed “for non-compliance with certain directions issued
by RBI on ‘Levy of penal charges on non-maintenance of minimum balances in savings bank
accounts’ dated November 20, 2014".
RBI introduces prompt corrective action framework for NBFCs
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework
for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
 The new NBFC framework will be applicable to all deposit-taking NBFCs in the middle, upper
and top layers.
 The PCA framework for NBFCs will come into effect from October 1, 2022, based on the financial
position of NBFCs on or after March 31, 2022.
SBI Cards launches fitness-focused credit card ‘SBI Card PULSE'
 SBI Cards has launched a first-of-a-kind credit card ‘SBI Card PULSE' that offers a host of
fitness and health-related benefits.
 The contactless card comes with an annual membership fee of ₹1,499 and has been launched
on the Visa Signature platform.
 The renewal fee waiver is applicable on achieving an annual spend milestone of ₹2 lakh within
the card membership year.
Bank of Baroda launches bob World Wave, a wearable payment solution
 Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched a solution for digital banking payments, named bob World
Wave.
 The bob World Wave wearable device will allow customers to monitor their Sp02, body
temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
 The device will provide contactless payments of up to ₹5000 in all NFC (near field
communication)-enabled PoS devices.
LIC introduces savings life insurance plan Dhan Rekha
 LIC has introduced a non-linked, non-participating, individual savings life insurance plan.
 The plan, Dhan Rekha, provides a percentage of the basic sum assured as a survival benefit at
regular intervals starting from the end of the premium-paying term, provided that the policy is
in force.
 This plan also takes care of liquidity needs through a loan facility.
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LIC gets RBI approval to raise holding in IndusInd Bank to 9.99%

 Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has got approval from the RBI to raise its holding in
IndusInd Bank to 9.99% from the existing 4.95%.
 The investment will be subject to compliance with the Master Direction on 'Prior Approval for
Acquisition of Shares or Voting Rights in Private Sector Banks'.
 The central bank's approval is valid for a period of one year, i.e. up to December 8, 2022.
Paytm Payments Bank gets scheduled bank status from RBI
 Paytm Payments Bank Ltd, an associate entity of Paytm, has gained RBI's approval to function
as a scheduled payments bank.
 It had over 6.4 cr savings accounts and more than ₹5,200 cr deposits, including savings
accounts, current accounts and fixed deposits with partner banks at the end of March 2021.
 The payments bank will now be eligible to partner in Centre-run financial inclusion schemes.
Aviva Life Insurance launches Nivesh Bima
 Aviva Life Insurance, a private insurance company, has announced the launch of Aviva Nivesh
Bima.
 This is a non-linked, non-participating, individual savings life insurance plan that provides
guaranteed moneyback at every fifth policy year, in addition to a lump sum payout at maturity.
 The minimum annualized premium for it is as low as ₹25,000 and goes up to a maximum of
₹1,00,00,000.
Reserve Bank of India imposes curbs on Nagar Urban Co-op Bank
 The RBI has imposed several restrictions on Nagar Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd, Ahmednagar,
Maharashtra, including a cap of ₹10,000 on withdrawals for customers in the wake of
deterioration of its financial position.
 The restrictions, imposed through directions under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, shall
remain in force for a period of six months from the close of business on Dec 6, 2021.
IDFC FIRST Bank announces launch of FIRST Private Infinite card
 IDFC FIRST Bank has announced the launch of FIRST Private Infinite.
 It is the country's first-ever standalone metal debit card.
 It has been developed in partnership with Visa.
 FIRST Private Infinite is a lifetime free card designed specifically for customers who are part of
the Bank's FIRST Private program, premium savings and wealth offering.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance launches new income product
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 ICICI Prudential Life Insurance on 1 December 2021 launched a new non-participating savings
product ‘ICICI Pru Guaranteed Income for Tomorrow (Long-term)’.
 It provides customers with the option to either receive regular guaranteed tax-free ‘Income’ or
‘Income with 110% return of premium’.
 Both these plan options provide income for up to 30 years.
Tata Power bags India's largest solar and battery project
 Tata Power Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Tata Power Solar Systems has received a
Letter of Award (LoA) from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
 It will build India's largest utility-scale BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) project and a 100
MW EPC solar project.
 The total contract value of the project is approximately ₹945 crore, and it will be completed
within 18 months.
Gujarat becomes largest manufacturing hub in the country: RBI
 Gujarat state’s Gross Value Addition (GVA) growing at 15.9 % annually (in manufacturing) on
average between FY’12 and FY’20 to touch Rs 5.11 lakh crore.
 Gujarat displaced Maharashtra state.
 Rajasthan and Telangana were among the worst performer states which were already among
the top ten.
 RBI has released this data.
 Maharashtra continues to lead as the nation’s biggest services hub.
Government of India's fiscal deficit at ₹5.47 lakh crore in October 21
 Centre's fiscal deficit is ₹5.47 lakh crore or 36.3% of the budget estimates due to improvement
in revenue collection according to CGA data.
 The fiscal deficit was ₹5,47,026 crore in October 2021.
 In financial-year 2021-22, Govt expects the deficit at 6.8% of GDP or ₹15.06 lakh crore.
 The fiscal deficit for 2020-21 was 9.3 percent of the GDP, better than the 9.5% projected in
February 2021.
India's GDP grows 8.4% in July-September: Government
 The Indian economy grew 8.4% in the second quarter of the current fiscal (2021-22).
 Data released by the statistics department showed that the agriculture sector grew 4.5% during
the July-September quarter.
 Data separately released by the Controller General of Accounts showed that the Centre had
exhausted 52.4% of its total expenditure target by October.
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Committees and Recommendation

SEBI sets up panel for suggestions to detect early market anomalies
 Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has constituted an advisory committee for
guiding it to enhance technological capabilities and explore appropriate technological solutions
for early detection of market anomalies.
 It will be called Advisory Committee for Leveraging Regulatory and Technology Solutions
(ALeRTS).
 It will be headed by SEBI's ex-whole time member Madhabi Puri Buch.
Centre Govt. formed a new three member review panel for EWS criteria
 The Centre has constituted a three-member committee to review the criteria for 10%
reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in educational institutions and government
jobs.
 The three-member includes former Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Indian Council of
Social Science Research member secretary Prof VK Malhotra and principal economic advisor
Sanjeev Sanyal.
RBI appoints advisory panel to assist Reliance Capital administrator
 RBI has appointed a 3-member advisory committee to assist the administrator of Reliance
Capital.
 The members of the committee are Sanjeev Nautiyal, ex-deputy MD of SBI; Srinivasan
Varadarajan, ex-DMD, Axis Bank; and Praveen P Kadle, ex-MD and CEO, Tata Capital.
 Reliance Capital is the third shadow lender to be seized by the RBI, after Dewan Housing
Finance and Srei Infrastructure Finance.
Defence
Central government extends AFSPA in Nagaland for six more months
 The Union Home Ministry extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) in the
whole of Nagaland for another six months on December 30, 2021.
 Both the Central and State governments have powers to issue a notification under Section 3 of
the Act.
 It empowers the armed forces to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search
any premises without a warrant.
Indian Army establishes Quantum Laboratory at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh
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 The Indian army, along with the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), established a
Quantum Lab to spearhead research and training at the Military College of Telecommunication
and Engineering (MCTE) in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow.
 Indian Army has also established an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre at the same institution.
 Based in Mhow, MCTE provides an array of academic courses.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveils world's highest motorable road
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled 27 roads and bridges projects implemented by the
Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
 The 24 roads inaugurated virtually include one built at an altitude of more than 19,000 feet on
the Umling-La pass in southern Ladakh, which has now become the world's highest motorable
road.
 Out of 24 bridges, nine of those bridges are in J&K, five each in Ladakh and HP.
Defence Secretary inaugurates BRO Annual Chief Engineers Conference
 Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar inaugurated the Annual Chief Engineers and Equipment
Management Conference of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in New Delhi on 27 Dec'21.
 He also unveiled a fitness manual ‘Fit BRO Fit India’ for BRO personnel.
 During the conference, the BRO also carried out holistic review of the current projects and
prepare strategies for the upcoming working season in 2022.
Paras Defence bags DRDO contract for border surveillance technology
 Paras Defence has been selected by DRDO as one of the companies for handing over the
technology of border surveillance systems.
 The technology has been developed by the Instruments Research and Development
Establishment (IRDE) and DRDO.
 The system will provide all-weather surveillance for day and night monitoring of the border
areas and will consist of Radar, EO sensors, etc.
Rajnath Singh lays foundation for BRAHMOS Manufacturing Centre
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for Defence Technology and Test
Centre (DTTC) and BRAHMOS Manufacturing Centre on 26 December 2021.
 It is being established by DRDO in Lucknow, UP.
 A first of its kind DTTC is being set up to accelerate the growth of the defence and aerospace
manufacturing clusters in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC).
DRDO successfully flight tested Indigenous High-Speed HEAT Abhyas
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 The flight test of domestic High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) Abhyas was
successfully completed.
 The test was conducted from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast, Odisha.
 It is a high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT) that is being built by the Aeronautical
Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO.
 HAL secured an order for its manufacturing from ADE.
Indian Army launches ASIGMA, a messaging application
 Indian Army launched a contemporary messaging application named ASIGMA on 23 December
2021.
 ASIGMA stands for Army Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application.
 It is a new generation, state-of-the-art, web based application developed entirely in-house by a
team of officers of the Corps of Signals of the Army.
 The application is being deployed on the Army’s internal network.
INS Khukri decommissioned after 32 years of glorious service to nation
 INS Khukri was decommissioned in Visakhapatnam on 23 December 2021 after 32 years of
glorious service.
 It was the first of the indigenously built Missile Corvettes.
 The corvette was built by the Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders on 23 August 1989.
 During her service, the ship was commanded by 28 Commanding Officers and traversed a
distance of over 6,44,897 nautical miles.
India successfully tests 'Pralay' missile off Odisha coast
 India on 22 December 2021 successfully test-fired short-range, the surface to surface guided
ballistic missile 'Pralay' off the Odisha coast.
 The solid-fuel, battlefield missile developed by DRDO is based on Prithvi Defence Vehicle from
the Indian ballistic missile programme.
 'Pralay' is a 350-500 km short-range, surface-to-surface missile with a payload capacity of 500-
1,000 kg.
Government Policies and Schemes

Centre approves ₹15,381.72 crores for MP under Jal Jeevan Mission
 Drinking water supply schemes worth Rs 15,381.72 crore have been approved for Madhya
Pradesh under the Jal Jeevan Mission at the State-level Scheme Sanctioning Committee
(SLSSC) meeting.
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 As many as 22 multi-village schemes were sanctioned to provide tap water connection to more
than 1.09 crore rural population.
 The state plans to provide a tap water supply to all rural households by 2023.
CESL achieves 50 lakhs LED bulbs distribution under Gram Ujala program
 Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited
(EESL), has achieved a remarkable milestone of distributing 50 lakhs LED bulbs under the Gram
Ujala programme.
 CESL achieved this target under Project Crore of their Gram Ujala scheme which is being
implemented in rural households in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and
Telangana.
Government to make changes in nutrient-based subsidy policy
 The govt has decided to make changes to the existing nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) policy.
 It will be done to promote domestic production of phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilizers amid
a sharp rise in global prices.
 Under the policy, being implemented since April 2010, a fixed amount of subsidy decided on an
annual basis is provided on P&K fertilisers depending on their nutrient content.
Rajasthan CM approves three-year action plan to strengthen FPOs
 Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has approved a 3-year action plan to strengthen farmer producer
organizations (FPOs) in the state.
 It will be launched under the Mukhyamantri Krishak Sathi Yojana and aims at strengthening 120
FPOs.
 Under the scheme, cleaning, grinding, and processing units of agricultural products will be set up
so that farmers get fair prices for their produce.
UP launches ‘Free Smartphone Yojana’ on December 25
 The UP government launched the ‘Free Smartphone Yojana on December 25, 2021.
 Under the scheme, the state government will distribute smartphones and tablets to final year
students of graduation and above.
 In phase I of the scheme around one lakh smartphones and tablets will be given to final year
students of B.Tech, B.A, B.Sc, MA, ITI, MBBS, MD, M.Tech, PhD in Lucknow.
‘Khel Nursery Scheme 2022-23’ launched in Haryana
 Haryana Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sandeep Singh has informed that the
state government has started ‘Khel Nursery Scheme 2022-23’ to promote sports in the state.
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 Under this scheme, sports nurseries will be started in government, private educational
institutions, and private sports institutions.
 For this, applications have been invited by the department till 20 Jan 2022.
MoHUA launches star rating protocol of Garbage Free Cities
 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on 24 December 2021 announced the launch of the
‘Azadi@75 Star Rating Protocol of Garbage Free Cities- Toolkit 2022'.
 The earlier 25 components/ indicators have now been reduced to 24, of which only 16 indicators
are mandatory for 1-star and 3-star levels.
 The revised protocol is aligned with Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 priorities.
Drinking water supply schemes approved for Uttarakhand under JJM
 Drinking water supply schemes of over Rs 164 cr has been approved under Jal Jeevan Mission in
Uttarakhand.
 It will provide a tap water connection to more than 9,200 rural homes.
 These schemes will benefit 140 villages in Almora, Bageshwar, Dehradun, Nainital and
Uttarkashi districts.
 For 2021-22, the state has planned to provide tap water connections to two lakh 64,000
households.
Jharkhand CM launches SAHAY scheme for Maoist-hit areas
 Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren launched a scheme aimed at nurturing young sporting talents in
Maoist-hit districts, in December 2021.
 The scheme is called Sports Action toward Harnessing Aspiration of Youth (SAHAY).
 Boys and girls in the 14-19 age group from villages to ward level will be registered under the
scheme and given opportunities to display their skills in basketball, volleyball, etc.
Cabinet approves PLI scheme for semiconductor manufacturing
 The Union Cabinet has approved a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for semiconductor
and display board production in the country.
 The scheme envisages an investment of Rs 76,000 crore in semiconductor production over the
next 5-6 years.
 The incentives include a 25 percent subsidy on capital expenditure for establishing units of
Compound Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication (Fab), etc.
Days and Events

27 December: International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
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 The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is observed on 27 December.

 The day aims to raise public awareness on epidemics on all levels and prepare for future
outbreaks.
 The day was first observed in Dec 2020 by UN and WHO.
 The UN also aims at popularising the One Health approach that fosters integration of plant
health, human health and animal health along with other relevant sectors.
UNESCO marks semi-centennial anniversary of biosphere preservation
 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) commemorated the
50th anniversary of its Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) on 27 Dec 2021.
 This programme was created in 1971.
 It has been promoting a long-lasting connection between people and nature.
 Today 727 biosphere reserves integrate nature conservation and sustainable development in 131
countries.
AYUSH Ministry celebrated 5th Siddha Day on 23 December
 Fifth Siddha Day was celebrated by AYUSH Ministry on 23 December 2021.
 Siddha system of medicine is one of the oldest codified traditions of healthcare originated in the
Indian sub-continent and still being practised in the southern parts of the country.
 Ministry of Ayush observes Siddha Day on eve of Agathiyar’s birthday every year, which falls
during the Ayilyam star of Margazhi Month.
160th birth anniversary of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya on 25 Dec 2021
 25 December 2021 was observed as the 160th birth anniversary of Pandit Madan Mohan
Malviya.
 He was born on December 25, 1861, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
 He founded the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1916.
 He served on the Imperial Legislative Council for 11 years, from 1909 to 1920.
 Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya had received the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2014.
Good Governance Day: 25 December
 To commemorate the birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, December 25 is
celebrated as Good Governance Day every year.
 The Good Governance Day was established in 2014.
 Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as Prime Minister of India thrice.
 Pokhran-II nuclear test, Kargil war was fought during his tenure.
 In 2015, he was conferred with Bharat Ratna.
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National Consumer Day: 24 December

 National Consumer Day is observed on 24 December annually.
 The day is observed to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and spread
awareness about the rights and responsibilities of every consumer.
 On this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted.
 The theme for Consumer Rights Day 2021 is 'tackling plastic pollution'.
National Farmers Day: 23 December
 India observes National Farmers Day or Kisan Diwas on December 23 every year.
 The day marks the birth anniversary of India's former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.
 He served as the PM of India from July 28, 1979, to January 14, 1980.
 He was a farmer leader.
 On December 23, 1978, he founded the Kisan Trust, aiming to educate the rural masses of India
against injustice.
National Mathematics Day: 22 December
 India celebrates National Mathematics Day on December 22 every year.
 The day marks the birth anniversary of famous mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
 In 2012, PM Manmohan Singh declared the date National Mathematics Day to honour him.
 He became the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, in 1918.
 He discovered his own theorems and independently compiled 3900 results.
JAG Department celebrates 38th Corps Day on 21 December 2021
 The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department celebrated its 38th Corps Day on 21 December
2021.
 JAG is the judicial and legal wing of the Indian Army that deals with the dispensation of justice
to all ranks.
 It was on this day in 1949, the Bill for the Army Act was introduced in the Parliament.
 Major General Praveen Kumar is the Judge Advocate General currently.
International Human Solidarity Day: 20 December
 International Human Solidarity Day is observed on December 20 every year.
 The aim is to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity, especially in the global
arena.
 The UN General Assembly established World Solidarity Fund on 20 December 2002 with an aim
to get rid of poverty and to promote human and social development in developing countries.
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International Affairs
China Launches Five-Year Plan To Become Global Robotics Hub
 China has proposed a five-year strategy to help it achieve its goal of becoming a worldwide
robotics innovation centre by 2025.
 China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that the operating income
from the country's robotics industry is expected to expand by an average of 20 percent by 2025.
 As per the 2021 World Robot Report, South Korea is the most automated country.
UNESCO, Sweden partner to establish Palestinian Virtual Museum
 UNESCO, Sweden have partnered to establish the Palestinian Virtual Museum of Archaeological
Objects.
 The museum is developed by Palestinian experts with tools to facilitate accessibility and foster
an understanding of history through archaeology.
 This was implemented by UNESCO National Office for Palestine, Ministry of Tourism and
Antiquities, Palestine, with financial support from Sweden.
SBI to acquire 9.95% stake in GIFT-IFSC-based Clearing Corporation
 State Bank of India announced the acquisition of a 9.95% stake in India International Clearing
Corporation (IICC) subject to a maximum investment of ₹34.03 crores.
 The Clearing Corporation is a GIFT City (Gandhinagar, Gujarat) based Market Infrastructure
Institution (MII).
 The Corporation is the first international clearing corporation to be set up at Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City.
Indonesia lifts ban on Boeing 737 Max after 2018 Lion Air crash
 Indonesia has lifted a ban on the Boeing 737 Max, more than three years after the Lion Air
disaster that saw the loss of all 189 people on board.
 The aircraft was grounded globally after a similarly deadly accident in March 2019 involving one
of the aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines.
 Ethiopian Airlines will also resume such flights in February 2022.
Pakistan sets up first-ever body to take care of Hindu temples
 Pakistan on December 29, 2021, announced that it has set up the first-ever body of Hindu
leaders to take care of the minority community's temples.
 The Ministry of Religious Affairs constituted the Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee
on the pattern of the already working Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
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 Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.

UK pledges 105 million pounds to help vulnerable nations fight Omicron
 United Kingdom pledged 105 million pounds ($141.7 million) in emergency aid to help vulnerable
nations, particularly in Africa, suffering from highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant.
 The money would go towards measures helping to reduce transmission, increase testing and
boost oxygen supplies.
 Britain had delivered 30 million vaccines to the rest of the world in 2021.
Egypt becomes 4th new member of New Development Bank of BRICS
 India welcomed Egypt's entry as the fourth new member of the New Development Bank (NDB)
that was established by the BRICS countries in 2015.
 The NDB admitted Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Uruguay as its new members
in September 2021.
 The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) set up the bank to mobilize resources for
infrastructure and sustainable development projects.
Ray Illingworth, a former England cricket captain, passes away
 Ray Illingworth, a former England cricket captain who went on to coach the team passed away
in December 2021.
 He led England to a 2-0 series victory in Australia in the 1970-71 Ashes.
 He captained England 31 times, winning 12 of those matches.
 He served as chairman of selectors for England between 1993 and 1996 and coached the
national team in 1995-96.
Greece’s former President Karolos Papoulias passes away
 Former Greek President Karolos Papoulias, who served two terms between 2005 and 2015,
passed away in Dec 2021.
 He served as president during Greece’s economic crisis of 2010.
 President Katerina Sakellaropoulou paid tribute to Papoulias for his role in the resistance
against Nazi occupation during World War II.
 He was also a member of the Greek national volleyball team.
UNESCO marks semi-centennial anniversary of biosphere preservation
 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) commemorated the
50th anniversary of its Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) on 27 Dec 2021.
 This programme was created in 1971.
 It has been promoting a long-lasting connection between people and nature.
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 Today 727 biosphere reserves integrate nature conservation and sustainable development in 131
countries.
MOU and Agreements

Israel signs deal to buy $2 billion in U.S. helicopters, tankers
 Israel has signed a deal of $2 billion with the United States to buy 12 Lockheed Martin Corp CH-
53K helicopters and two Boeing Co KC-46 refuelling planes.
 As per Israel's Defence Minister, a deal signed on December 30, is part of an upgrade of Israel's
air force capabilities and includes an option to buy six additional helicopters.
 The first helicopter is due to arrive in Israel in 2026.
Bank of Maharashtra inks co-lending pact with MAS Financial Services
 Bank of Maharashtra has entered into a strategic co-lending partnership with MAS Financial
Services to offer loans to MSME borrowers under the priority sector.
 MAS Financial Services will originate and process the loans to MSME borrowers as per jointly
formulated credit parameters and eligibility criteria.
 Bank of Maharashtra will take into its book loans under mutually agreed terms.
Central Bank of India partners with NPCI to launch RuPay debit card
 Central Bank of India has announced its partnership with the National Payments Corporation of
India to launch ‘RuPay Business Platinum Debit Card’ for firms/corporates.
 This card offers an ATM withdrawal limit of ₹1 lakh along with a purchase of up to ₹3 lakh at
point of sale (POS) or E-Commerce.
 The card users can withdraw up to ₹75,000 at ATMs abroad.
Karnataka government implements e-RUPI with NPCI and SBI
 The National Payments Corporation of India, State Bank of India, and Department of e-
Governance, Government of Karnataka have partnered for enabling and implementing e-RUPI.
 It is a cashless and contactless payment solution for students under the State’s scholarship
programme.
 e-RUPI will be used to ensure a leak-proof delivery of education fees of eligible students.
IndusInd Bank ties up with NPCI to offer cross border payments via UPI
 IndusInd Bank has tied up with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to offer real-
time cross-border remittances to India using Unified Payment Interface(UPI) IDs.
 Indians can now get remittance money from their foreign sources in a much easier way.
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 IndusInd Bank has become the first Indian bank to go live on UPI for cross-border payments or
NRI remittances.
HDFC Life signs bancassurance deal with South Indian Bank
 HDFC Life has announced a bancassurance tie-up with South Indian Bank.
 It will enable customers of the bank to avail a range of life insurance products of the insurer that
include solutions for protection, savings and investment, retirement and critical illness.
 HDC Life is one of the largest life insurance companies with a market share of 22.3% (in terms of
overall new business premium).
NTPC partners with Greater Noida Authority to recycle plastic
 NTPC Ltd has signed an agreement with Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority
(GNIDA) for sourcing combustible parts of municipal solid waste also referred to as ‘Refused
Derived Fuel’ (RFD).
 As per the MoU, GNIDA will be supplying 20 Tonnes per Day (TPD) of RFD to NTPC for the
period of ten years.
 RFD shall be fed into the Oxy-Steam Gasification plant to produce syngas.
India, European Investment Bank sign loan of €250 mn for Agra Metro
 India and European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a finance contract for the first tranche loan of
Euro 250 million for the Agra metro rail project on 23 December 2021.
 In December 2020, the EIB had approved a total loan of Euro 450 million to fund the metro
project.
 The Agra Metro Project will connect major tourist attractions like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort,
Sikandra with railway stations.
Paytm Payments Bank enters into partnership with MoneyGram
 Paytm Payments Bank, an associate entity of Paytm, and Nasdaq-listed MoneyGram have
entered into a partnership.
 The partnership aims to enable MoneyGram customers globally to send money in real-time to a
Paytm Wallet user in India.
 With this partnership, MoneyGram users abroad can now conveniently transfer money to full
KYC Paytm wallet users in India.
REC inks pact with KfW Development Bank to finance power sector
 REC Ltd entered into an agreement with KfW Development Bank for availing ODA (Official
development assistance) term loan of USD 169.5 mn under Indo-German Bilateral Partnership.
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 Proceeds of ODA loan will be deployed for part financing of innovative Solar PV Technology-
based generation Projects.
 This is the 5th credit line signed between REC Ltd and KfW for financing of Power Sector
Projects.
Union Cabinet approves MoU between CCI and CCM
 The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of MoU between the Competition Commission of
India (CCI) and the Competition Commission of Mauritius (CCM).
 The MoU has been signed for promotion and strengthening of co-operation in competition law
and policy.
 It will improve enforcement of the Competition Act, 2002 by CCI, and address anticompetitive
restraints that affect international trade.
Union Cabinet approves MoU between ICAI and PIBR
 The Union Cabinet approved the signing of MoU between the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Polish Chamber of Statutory Auditors (PIBR).
 They will establish mutual co-operation in the areas of member management, audit quality
monitoring, etc.
 ICAI would be able to strengthen the partnership with Poland by providing Export of Services in
the accountancy profession.
Central Bank of India signs co-lending deal with U GRO Capital
 MSME lending fintech platform, U GRO Capital has signed a co-lending agreement with the
Central Bank of India.
 Under this partnership, the two entities aim to disburse up to ₹1000 crore to U GRO Capital's
varied MSME segments under its programmes like Pratham, Sanjeevani, Saathi, GRO MSME,
and Machinery financing, in the next 12 months.
NPCI partners with Udemy Business to upskill employees
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has partnered with Udemy Business to
encourage continuous learning and skill development for its employees.
 The three-year association with Udemy Business will offer courses on in-demand skills such as
tech, domain, behavioral, and leadership skills to all NPCI employees.
 Udemy Business offers courses in AI, Machine Learning (ML), etc.
NITI Aayog signs Statement of Intent with United Nations WFP
 NITI Aayog signed a Statement of Intent with United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on
20th December 2021.
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 The partnership focuses on mainstreaming millets and supporting India in taking lead globally in
knowledge exchange using the opportunity of 2023 as an International Year of Millets.
 Further, the partnership will aim at building resilient livelihoods for small-holder farmers.
SECI awards 100 MW solar contract with Battery Project in Chhattisgarh
 Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has awarded a contract for setting up a 100 MW (AC)
solar with 40 MW/120 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project to be set up at
Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
 It will be one of the largest grid-connected BESS projects in the country.
 The contract has been awarded to Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd.
Prasar Bharati signs MoU with ICCR to promote Indian culture
 Prasar Bharati and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) have signed an MoU for
promoting Indian culture.
 The MoU aims to bring forth the best of Indian Culture to the National and International
audiences and provide TV and Digital platforms to the performing artists.
 This MoU will be in operation for a period of three years from December 2021 till December
2024.
Edelweiss General Insurance, PhonePe join hands
 Edelweiss General Insurance (EGI) has partnered with PhonePe.
 It will offer quick and easy, digital motor insurance products to all its customers.
 PhonePe customers can purchase EGI’s motor insurance policy in just a few clicks with zero
paperwork.
 Customers can also opt for add-on benefits like depreciation protection, engine protection,
consumable expense protection, roadside assistance.
MoRTH, IIT Madras, MapmyIndia sign MoU to launch an app service
 Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), IIT Madras, and MapmyIndia have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
 They have jointly launched an indigenously developed, free-to-use navigation app service.
 The MapmyIndia app provides road safety alerts to users about upcoming accident hazards
while driving.
 By using this navigation app, users will get voice and visual alerts.
National Cadet Corps and NHAI sign MoU to reuse plastic waste
 The National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed an
MoU in December 2021.
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 They will reuse plastic wastes collected by NCC Cadets during Puneet Sagar Abhiyan and other
Swachhta activities for the construction of roads by NHAI throughout the country.
 A total of 3,40,000 cadets from 127 Coastal Area NCC Units are participating in the month-long
activity.
India Post Payments Bank ties up with NPCI for bill paymnent service
 India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has tied up with the National Payments Corporation of India’s
(NPCI) bill payments system Bharat BillPay.
 It will facilitate cash-based bill payments service at the customer’s doorstep.
 Payments for various utility bills can be done on the Bharat BillPay platform and the facility will
be made available to non- IPPB customers as well.
GACL, GAIL sign pact to set up a bioethanol plant in Gujarat
 Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd and GAIL India have signed an MoU to set up a bioethanol
plant at an estimated investment of Rs 1,000 crore in Gujarat.
 The plant would produce 500-kilo liters of bioethanol per day.
 Bioethanol is an alternative to fossil fuel used in vehicles and a form of renewable energy that
can be produced from agricultural feedstocks through microbial fermentation.
Centre govt and Maharashtra govt sign MoUs to set up 5 logistics parks
 The Centre government and Maharashtra government have signed a pact to set up five more
multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) in the state.
 The MMLPs will be set up in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik, and Dighi
Port Industrial Estate.
 MoUs have already been signed with JNPT, Chennai Port Trust, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh and Telangana for developing MMLPs.
Assam government inks loan agreement with Asian Development Bank
 Assam government inked a loan agreement on 17 December 2021 with Asian Development Bank
for setting up the Assam Skill University project with Asian Development Bank.
 The university is being set up under the External Aided Project (EAP) funded by Asian
Development Bank.
 An additional grant of $1 million is also provided as technical assistance by the ADB.
India, Germany Development Bank sign Euro 442.26 mn loan pact
 The government of India and the Germany Development Bank -- KFW (Kreditanstalt fur
Wiederaufbau) have signed a 442.26 mn euro loan pact for the Surat Metro Rail project.
 The total cost of the project is 1.5 billion euros, of which KfW is financing 442.26 million euros.
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 Surat Metro project aims to strengthen and augment the transport infrastructure of the Surat
urban agglomeration.
Union Bank partners with Home First Finance to offer home loans
 Union Bank of India (UBI) and Home First Finance Company India Ltd (HomeFirst) have entered
into a strategic co-lending partnership.
 They will offer home loans to customers at competitive interest rates.
 Under this partnership, HomeFirst will originate loans as per the agreed credit policy of UBI in
line with the provisions of RBI’s Co-Lending Model.
Govt accords approval to set up nuclear power reactors with France
 The govt has accorded in-principle approval of the site at Jaitapur in Maharashtra for setting
up 6 nuclear power reactors of 1650 MW each in technical cooperation with France.
 It would make it the largest nuclear power generating site with a total capacity of 9900 MW.
 The present installed nuclear power capacity in India is 6780 MW.
 This was informed by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Samunnati inks co-lending pact with IndusInd Bank for FPOs
 Agritech firm Samunnati has entered into a co-lending agreement with IndusInd Bank.
 They will expand credit accessibility and market linkages for farmer producer organizations
(FPOs) across the country.
 This strategic alliance will enable easy access to working capital to Samunnati's growing
network of 1,500 farmer collectives with a member base of 6 million farmers.
Innoterra ties up with NABFOUNDATION to provide services to farmers
 Food and tech platform Innoterra has signed an MoU with NABFOUNDATION.
 NABFOUNDATION is a not-for-profit organization of the National Bank for Agricultural and
Rural Development (NABARD).
 The tie-up will enable both organizations to engage with a network of over 5,000 Farmer
Producer Organizations and initially serve 1 lakh, small farmers, in select clusters over the next
two years.
India and Vietnam sign Letter of Intent in the field of digital media
 Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur signed a Letter of Intent (LoI)
with Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communication, Government of
Vietnam on 16 Dec'21.
 It has been signed on collaboration in the field of digital media.
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 The LoI envisages sharing of information and experience in establishing policies on digital
media and social networks.
Hindustan Aeronautics signs ₹2,400 cr deal with BEL for LCA fighters
 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 16 December 2021 signed a ₹2,400 crore contract with
defence public sector unit Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
 It has been signed for the development and supply of 20 types of systems for the LCA (Light
Combat Aircraft) Tejas Mk1A program.
 The five-year contract spans from 2023 to 2028.
 The pact involves the supply of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs).
NIPL, Western Union tie up to enable cross-border money transfers
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)'s international payments arm NPCI International
Payments Limited (NIPL) has signed an MoU with Western Union.
 NIPL and Western Union will work together over the next few months to enable bank account
holders in India to receive cross-border money transfers instantly using UPI IDs.
 NIPL was launched in August 2020.
PFC partners with GreenCell Mobility to finance 350 buses in UP
 Power Finance Corporation Ltd has signed an agreement to lend Rs 275 crore for the
deployment of 350 electric buses across nine cities of Uttar Pradesh.
 The agreement was signed with GreenCell Mobility, which is an e-mobility platform supported
by Governments of India and UK.
 The buses will be deployed in key cities of UP including Agra, Meerut, Aligarh, Bareilly,
Ghaziabad, Mathura, etc.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Financial Intelligence Unit sign MoU
 An MoU was signed on 15 Dec'21 between the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and Financial
Intelligence Unit (FIU)-India, Ministry of Finance.
 It will facilitate the sharing of data and information between MCA and FIU-INDIA on an
automatic and regular basis.
 It will enable sharing of specific information such as information relating to suspicious
transactions, KYC-related details, etc.
Union Cabinet approves Treaty between India and Poland
 The Union Cabinet has approved the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
between the Government of India
and the Republic of Poland.
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 The Treaty will enhance capability and effectiveness of both countries in investigation and
prosecution of crimes, including crimes related to terrorism through mutual legal assistance.
BSE, Gem & Jewellery Council sign MoU to promote EGR market in India
 BSE has signed an MoU with the Gem & Jewellery Council (GJC) to provide impetus for the
growth and development of commodities and proposed EGR market in India.
 The MoU will help standardise EGRs for Indian markets and enhance transparency in pricing.
 It will also explore potential business to promote the launch of the India International Bullion
Exchange at GIFT city IFSC.
Meta, CBSE expands partnership to train 10 million students
 Meta (formerly Facebook) will expand its partnership with the Central Board of Secondary
Education (CBSE).
 It will provide a curriculum on digital safety and online well-being and augmented reality for
over 10 million students and 1 million educators in the country over the next three years.
 The announcement was made by Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg at Meta’s Fuel for
India, 2021.
IndiGo partners with Kotak Mahindra Bank to launch credit card
 IndiGo airlines, in partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank, has launched a co-branded credit
card.
 It allows customers to gain points that can be used to purchase tickets on its flights.
 The Kotak IndiGo 'Ka-ching' credit card comes in two variants -- 6E Rewards and 6E Rewards
XL.
 It will enable customers to accrue accelerated '6E Rewards' (points) on all spending.
Tata Motors ties up with Bandhan Bank for passenger vehicle finance
 Tata Motors has signed a retail finance MoU with Bandhan Bank to offer financing options to all
its passenger vehicle customers.
 As part of the tie-up, Bandhan Bank will provide loans to Tata Motors’ customers at an interest
rate starting from as low as 7.50%.
 This scheme will offer a maximum of 90% financing on the total on-road cost of the vehicle.
UN-FAO and ICAR collaborate with Andhra govt to make agri sustainable
 Andhra Pradesh govt has entered into an MoU with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
 It has been signed for the Technical Cooperation Project to support farmers to adopt
sustainable agri-food systems.
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 The $2.67 lakh grant project will be implemented over 2 years from Dec 2021 to build the
capacities of Farmer Facilitation Centres (FCCs).
ADB approves $112M loan to establish Assam Skill University in India
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $112 million loan to strengthen skills
education and training through the establishment of the Assam Skill University (ASU).
 An additional $1 million grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction will support the
introduction of technologies for smart campus management and integrated teaching, learning,
and career development management.
IIT Delhi signs MoU with IAF to accelerate indigenization effort
 IIT Delhi and the Indian Air Force have signed an MoU for various projects.
 Under the ambit of the MoU, IAF has identified key focus areas involving technology
development and finding indigenous solutions towards the sustenance of various weapon
systems.
 IIT-Delhi will provide cooperation and consultancy, duly supported by research, for feasibility
studies and prototype development.
BLFA ties up with Bihar govt’s livelihood programme JEEViKA
 The Better Life Farming Alliance (BLFA), led by global life sciences firm Bayer, has tied up with
JEEViKA, the Bihar govt's livelihood programme for poverty alleviation.
 The partnership aims to empower the state's small and marginal farmers.
 Under this partnership, about 500 Agri Entrepreneur Service Centers will be set up to support
2,500 villages and over 2.5 Lakh farmers across the state.
BPCL, BARC collaborate to scale up tech for Green Hydrogen production
 Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited has collaborated with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
to scale-up Alkaline Electrolyser technology for green hydrogen production.
 This is a first-of-its-kind initiative to support the country's commitment to achieve renewable
energy targets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 Currently, hydrogen is made at the refinery via. steam reforming of natural gas.
Equitas SFB, Cholamandalam MS General Insurance tie up
 Equitas Small Finance Bank has partnered with Cholamandalam MS General Insurance to
launch a ‘Chola Sarva Shakti Policy’, a women-specific health insurance policy.
 It aims to provide women with an independent and comprehensive policy, which secures their
future against various contingency health situations.
 According to a recent survey among 1,009 women, only 39% of them had a health cover.
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State Bank of India to sign MoU with Kendriya Sainik Board

 State Bank of India (SBI) will sign an MoU with Kendriya Sainik Board to support and educate
the children of war veterans, ex-servicemen, and war widows.
 This will be done as a part of the bank’s philanthropic responsibilities.
 It will provide a grant of ₹1,000 per month to 8,333 war veterans’ children.
 The bank has also contributed ₹10 crores to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
Kotak Mahindra General Insurance partners with Vasai Vikas Bank
 Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Ltd and Vasai Vikas Sahakari Bank Ltd have
announced a strategic alliance.
 Under this agreement, Vasai Bank will offer Kotak General Insurance’s comprehensive suite of
general and health insurance products to its customers across its network of 21 branches.
 Kotak General Insurance is a 100% subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.
Karnataka govt joins hands with UNDP to employment opportunities
 The Karnataka Dept of Youth Empowerment and Sports has signed a Letter of Understanding
with UNDP (UN Development Programme).
 This is a part of the state-level initiative 'Code-Unnati' with the aim of improving access to
employment opportunities among the youth and women.
 The initiative will be implemented in 4 districts of Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Dakshina
Kannada, and Raichur.
MoD signs MoU with IITE Gandhinagar to train Sainik School teachers
 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has entered into an MoU with the Indian Institute of Teacher
Education (IITE) Gandhinagar.
 It will facilitate training for teachers of Sainik Schools.
 The MoU is for the period of five years commencing with effect from January 2022 under which
800 plus teachers will be trained through courses named ‘Gurudiksha’ and ‘Pratibaddhta’.
ISRO signs deal with Oppo to strengthen R&D of NavIC messaging service
 ISRO has signed an agreement with Oppo's Indian arm to strengthen the research and
development of the NavIC messaging service.
 They will exchange technical information of NavIC messaging services to build rapid, end-to-
end application-specific solutions
 The NavIC system provides regional navigation services covering the Indian mainland and an
area up to 1,500 km beyond the Indian mainland.
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Federal Bank and Star Health Insurance tie-up for bancassurance

 Federal Bank has joined hands with Star Health and Allied Insurance Co Ltd.
 Star Health will provide a wide range of innovative health insurance products for the bank’s
8.90 mn customers spread over 1,291 banking outlets across the country.
 The bank’s customers can avail benefits of Star Health’s retail products and group affinity
products through the bank's various distribution channels.
MoUs signed in Tamil Nadu to serve the MSME industries
 The Tamil Nadu government has announced the signing of MoUs between Tamil Nadu Industrial
Investment Corporation Ltd (TIIC) and Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation
(TANSIDCO).
 It has been signed to serve the micro, small and medium industries in the state.
 TIIC entered into two MoUs with TANSIDCO and TAICO Bank (Tamilnadu Industrial Co-
operative Bank Ltd) Bank.
Karnataka Higher Education Council to sign MoU with NSE Academy
 Karnataka Higher Education Council will be signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Academy.
 They will provide financial awareness for the holistic well-being of college students.
 NSE Academy has already introduced this program in seven states of the country and about 70
lakh students have been trained.
Google, WHO partner to help developers build digital health solutions
 Google is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to build an open-source software
developer kit (SDK).
 It will help Android developers everywhere build secure digital health solutions using the Fast
Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) framework.
 According to WHO, there will be a global shortage of 18 million healthcare workers by 2030.
Maharashtra signs business agreements worth Rs 5,051 crores
 The Maharashtra government on 7 December 2021 signed MoUs worth around Rs 5,051 crore
with 12 companies.
 The agreements will generate over 9,000 jobs.
 The MoUs will encourage sectors such as information technology, space research, biofuel, steel,
electric vehicle, and ethanol productions, food processing, and others in Maharashtra.
 They will help achieve all-round industrial growth.
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Government of Meghalaya partners with SIAL India

 The Government of Meghalaya has partnered with the world's no. 1 food innovation network,
SIAL India, for its event at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from 9-11 Dec'21.
 The event will encompass both wine and spirits and will have an exhibit of around 20-30
international wine producers alongside Indian producers.
 SIAL India will also see the launch and establishment of Vinexpo.
Tata Power, IIT Madras ink MoU to collaborate on R&D, training
 Tata Power and IIT Madras have signed MoU to collaborate on R&D, consultancy, advocacy,
training and technology solutions.
 As a part of the MoU, Tata Power and IIT Madras will aim to pursue advanced research in areas
of future technology.
 The agreement also includes campus recruitment opportunities for postgraduate students of IIT
Madras.
India’s mission to World Trade Organization inks MoU with 2 institutes
 Centre for Trade and Economic Integration of The Graduate Institute, Geneva have signed a
tripartite MOU to begin collaboration towards research and capacity-building in the field of
international trade law and policy.
 The MoU aims to enhance India’s capacity in formulating its foreign trade policy and contribute
towards ensuring stability in the global trade regime.
Centre inks two loan pacts of Rs 2,074 cr with Asian Development Bank
 The govt has inked two loan agreements of Rs 2,074 cr with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for
an affordable housing project in Tamil Nadu and a water sanitation programme in Uttarakhand.
 USD 150 mn loan agreement has been signed to provide access to housing for the urban poor in
Tamil Nadu.
 USD 125 mn loan was inked to improve access drinking water supply in Dehradun and Nainital,
Uttarakhand.
Aramco, L&T in pact to develop manufacturing capabilities in S. Arabia
 The Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) in collaboration with Indian conglomerate Larsen &
Toubro is developing manufacturing capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
 The companies have signed an MoU to establish the region’s first heavy wall pressure vessels
facility at Saudi Arabia’s strategically located Jubail Industrial City.
 The MoU is in line with the Aramco Namaat program, launched in Sept'21.
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ICICI Bank partners with Flipkart for digital overdraft facility

 ICICI Bank has partnered with Flipkart to offer an instant and completely digital overdraft
facility of up to Rs 25 lakh.
 The partnership will help individual sellers registered on Flipkart to avail an OD from the bank
instantly in a process that is entirely digital.
 Customers of any bank can avail of ODs from ICICI Bank if they are registered as sellers with
Flipkart.
India, Russia sign record 28 agreements
 India and Russia on 6 December 2021 concluded 28 pacts.
 The two countries also extended their military-technical cooperation pact by another 10 years.
 A third pact signed was between the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Russia in the field of
responding to cyber attacks.
 The two countries have a target of $30 billion in trade and $50 billion in investment by 2025.
MoHUA and UNDP sign MoU for strengthening waste management sector
 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has signed an MoU with the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) India.
 It has been signed to strengthen the waste management sector in India under the overall ambit
of Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban 2.0.
 It will be operational for a period of 5 years (2021-26).
 UNDP India will also be facilitating setting up of 75 Smart Swachhata Kendras.
Dell and AWS partner to protect customer data from ransomware
 Dell Technologies has partnered with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc.
company.
 It will protect customer data from ransomware by bringing Dell’s cyber recovery solution to the
AWS Marketplace with the launch of Dell EMC PowerProtect Cyber Recovery for AWS.
 Through the AWS Marketplace, customers can easily purchase and deploy an air-gapped cyber
vault from Dell.
SSEL, Germany's Viridis.iQ GmbH sign pact for setting up solar project
 Shirdi Sai Electricals Limited (SSEL) has signed an agreement with German engineering services
firm Viridis.iQ GmbH for setting up a 4,000-megawatt solar project.
 The manufacturing unit will be set up for Polysilicon + Ingot-Wafer + Cell + Module''.
 Hyderabad-based SSEL is a leading manufacturer of different types of transformers.
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IREDA, THDCIL sign MoU for green energy collaborations

 The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA) has entered into a pact with
THDC India Ltd (THDCIL).
 Under the MoU, IREDA will undertake techno-financial due diligence of renewable energy and
energy efficiency and conservation projects for THDCIL.
 IREDA will also assist THDCIL in developing an action plan to create and acquire renewable
energy projects for the next five years.
ONGC inks MoU with SECI to develop renewable, ESG projects
 Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) has signed an MoU with Solar Energy Corporation
of India (SECI).
 The MoU provides a broad framework for ONGC and SECI to collaborate and cooperate for
undertaking renewable energy projects including solar, wind, solar parks, EV value chain, green
hydrogen, etc.
 ONGC is the first non-American company to be a part of Global Methane Initiative (GMI).
Karnataka govt enters into pact with Bavarian Universities of Germany
 The Karnataka Department of Higher Education and Bavarian Universities of Germany on 2
December 2021 decided to join hands together under National Education Policy (NEP-2020).
 As per the schedule, an online seminar for Bavarian Universities on NEP will be held in February
2022 wherein representatives of Karnataka and the German Consulate will participate.
BDL and Indian Army sign a deal for refurbishment of IGLA-1M missiles
 Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and the Indian Army have signed a contract worth Rs 471.41
crore for the Refurbishment of IGLA - 1M missiles.
 After the Refurbishment, a fresh lease of life will be given to the missile for a period of ten years.
 The company, in addition to carrying out refurbishment, deals with the manufacture and supply
of Guided Missiles and associated equipment.
SBI partners with Adani Capital for co-lending to farmers
 State Bank of India (SBI) has inked an agreement with Adani Capital Private Ltd (Adani Capital)
for co-lending to farmers for the purchase of tractor and farm implements.
 Adani Capital is the non-banking finance company (NBFC) arm of Adani Group.
 SBI would be able to target farmer customers in the interior hinterland of the country looking for
the adoption of farm mechanization.
KMBL partners Worldline to enable EMIs on its debit cards
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 Kotak Mahindra Bank has announced a tie-up with Europe-based payment and transactional
service firm, Worldline.
 It will enable equated monthly installments (EMIs) payments via Kotak debit cards in India.
 The minimum purchase value to avail EMIs on the Kotak debit cards facility is ₹5,000, and
customers have the flexibility to repay the loan over tenures between three months and 12
months.
Rajasthan govt signs 125 MoUs for Rs 69,000 crore projects
 Rajasthan government has signed MoUs worth Rs 68,698 crore and received the Letter of
Intents (LoIs) for over Rs 10,099 cr.
 It has received investment commitments worth about Rs 78,700, the bulk of which came from
Renew Power and cement maker JK Lakshmi.
 The investments are majorly proposed in the industries across the state in areas such as Ghiloth,
Bhiwadi, Neemrana, Jaipur, Udaipur, etc.
IREDA, Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer ink deal for green energy project
 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) inked an agreement with
Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corp Ltd (BVFCL) on 30 November 2021.
 It will provide its techno-financial expertise in developing renewable energy projects and
fundraising.
 IREDA will assist BVFCL in developing an action plan to create and acquire renewable energy
projects for the next 5 years.
National Affairs
Sahitya Akademi announces awards in 20 languages
 The Sahitya Akademi, on 30 Dec 2021, announced its awards for 2021 for literary works in 20
languages, including novels in Assamese and English.
 In English, Author Namita Gokhale won the award for her book Things to Leave Behind.
 This year, 7 books of poetry, five short stories, two plays, one each of biography, autobiography,
criticism and epic poetry have been chosen for the award.
Arif Khan becomes first Indian to qualify for 2 Winter Olympics events
 Jammu and Kashmir-based alpine skier Arif Mohammed Khan has become the first Indian
athlete to qualify for two different events of the Winter Olympics 2022.
 He secured an Olympics quota spot in the men's giant slalom event, after booking his first
Winter Olympics ticket in alpine skiing slalom category in Nov 2021.
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 The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are set to take place from February 4 to 20.
Centre approves 3,063 crore additional assistance to six states
 A High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved ₹3,063.21
crores of additional central assistance to six states under the National Disaster Response Fund.
 The six states that will get additional money are Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.
 These states were affected by floods, landslides, and cyclones during 2021.
Durga Shankar Mishra appointed as Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary
 Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra was appointed as the Chief
Secretary of Uttar Pradesh on 29 Dec 2021.
 Mishra will succeed incumbent chief secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari, a 1985-batch IAS officer.
 The Personnel Ministry named Manoj Joshi as the new Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary in
place of Durga Shankar Mishra.
Tamil Nadu government unveiled New Policy for Women 2021
 Tamil Nadu government has unveiled Tamil Nadu State New Policy for Women 2021 (Draft) on
30 Dec 2021.
 This policy will be implemented for more than five years.
 The proposed policy calls for the creation of a victim support system for all cases of abuse, with
such a concentration on rehabilitation and identifying protection in the first step, to prevent
women from feeling discarded.
PM Modi inaugurates projects worth Rs 17,500 cr in Uttarakhand
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 23 projects worth
over Rs 17,500 crore in Uttarakhand on 30 Dec 2021.
 He will inaugurate six projects including road widening projects, a hydropower project in
Pithoragarh.
 PM Modi laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Rishikesh Satellite Centre and Jagjivan Ram
Government Medical College at Pithoragarh.
'Sankalp Smarak' dedicated to the nation by CINCAN
 A Sankalp Smarak was dedicated to the nation by Lt Gen Ajai Singh, Commander-in-Chief
Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), exactly 78 years after Netaji’s arrival on 29 Dec
2021 at 11:30 am.
 On this day, a national flag was hoisted for the first time on Indian soil, at Port Blair.
 Netaji escaped from Kolkata in 1941 and returned to Port Blair on 29 Dec 1943 at 11:30 am.
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Central government extends AFSPA in Nagaland for six more months

 The Union Home Ministry extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) in the
whole of Nagaland for another six months on December 30, 2021.
 Both the Central and State governments have powers to issue a notification under Section 3 of
the Act.
 It empowers the armed forces to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search
any premises without a warrant.
ITBP chief Sanjay Arora gets additional charge of SSB Director-General
 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) director-general Sanjay Arora will hold the additional charge
of another border guarding force SSB.
 He will replace the current chief of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Kumar Rajesh Chandra who is set
to retire on December 31, 2021.
 The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is primarily tasked to guard unfenced Indian borders with Nepal
and Bhutan.
Centre appoints Soma Sankara Prasad as new MD & CEO of UCO Bank
 The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Soma
Sankara Prasad as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UCO Bank with effect
from February 1, 2022.
 He will serve as MD & CEO of UCO Bank till the date of attaining the age of superannuation on
May 31, 2023.
 Currently, he is the Deputy Managing Director at the State Bank of India.
Bank of Maharashtra inks co-lending pact with MAS Financial Services
 Bank of Maharashtra has entered into a strategic co-lending partnership with MAS Financial
Services to offer loans to MSME borrowers under the priority sector.
 MAS Financial Services will originate and process the loans to MSME borrowers as per jointly
formulated credit parameters and eligibility criteria.
 Bank of Maharashtra will take into its book loans under mutually agreed terms.
IIT Madras ranks first in Atal Ranking 2021 third year in a row
 Ministry of Education has released the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements
(ARIIA) 2021 on December 29, 2021.
 IIT Madras has topped the ranking third year in a row, followed by IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi.
 The rankings were made under two categories- Technical and Non-Technical.
 Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology is the best among private technical universities.
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Tamil Nadu government increases Dearness Allowance from 17% to 31%

 Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has ordered an increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) from 17% to 31%,
an increase of 14 percentage points.
 The Tamil Nadu government also ordered a 'Pongal' gift (harvest festival) of ₹3,000 for C and D
category employees.
 ₹1,000 will be given for those drawing salary in the special pay matrix and ₹500 for pensioners,
including those who receive a special pension.
Paytm Payments Bank appoints three new independent directors
 Paytm Payments Banks has announced the appointment of three independent directors on 29
Dec 2021.
 The board of Paytm Payments Bank has approved the appointment of former DPIIT Secretary
Ramesh Abhishek, Manju Agarwal, and banker Shinjini Kumar as independent directors.
 Paytm Payments Bank has seven board members include MD & CEO Satish Kumar Gupta and
Chairman Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
Uttarakhand CM inaugurates 'Surai Ecotourism Zone' at Khatima
 Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 'Surai Ecotourism Zone' and 'Kakra
Crocodile Trail' at Khatima on 29 Dec'21.
 The Surai Ecotourism Zone will be the first such zone in the state where tourists will be able to
enjoy jungle safari.
 The Kakra Crocodile Trail is also the first such place where tourists will be able to witness the
crocodile species 'Marsh' from close, safely.
Central Bank of India partners with NPCI to launch RuPay debit card
 Central Bank of India has announced its partnership with the National Payments Corporation of
India to launch ‘RuPay Business Platinum Debit Card’ for firms/corporates.
 This card offers an ATM withdrawal limit of ₹1 lakh along with a purchase of up to ₹3 lakh at
point of sale (POS) or E-Commerce.
 The card users can withdraw up to ₹75,000 at ATMs abroad.
Gujarat CM launches portal to monitor benefits of state health scheme
 Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel has launched a health service management centre (HSMC) for
monitoring various national and state-level health schemes.
 It will also monitor and review the free diagnostic treatment given to patients such as screening
for non-communicable diseases.
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 He also unveiled the website named GERMIS to monitor the daily availability of hospital beds in
the state.
Karnataka government implements e-RUPI with NPCI and SBI
 The National Payments Corporation of India, State Bank of India, and Department of e-
Governance, Government of Karnataka have partnered for enabling and implementing e-RUPI.
 It is a cashless and contactless payment solution for students under the State’s scholarship
programme.
 e-RUPI will be used to ensure a leak-proof delivery of education fees of eligible students.
Andhra CM launches Amul Project in Krishna district
 Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the Jagananna Palavelluva- AP Amul project in
the Krishna district on 29th Dec 2021.
 The Andhra Pradesh government's Amul project to financially boost the dairy farmers of 264
villages in the Krishna district.
 The Amul project was already started in YSR Kadapa, Prakasam, Chittoor, Guntur, and West
Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Atul Kumar Goel appointed as new MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank
 The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Atul
Kumar Goel, MD & CEO of UCO Bank, as MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank (PNB) with effect
 Goel will replace Mallikarjuna Rao, incumbent MD & CEO of PNB.
 He will serve as PNB chief until December 31, 2024, which is his attaining the superannuation
age.
Indian Army establishes Quantum Laboratory at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh
 The Indian army, along with the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), established a
Quantum Lab to spearhead research and training at the Military College of Telecommunication
and Engineering (MCTE) in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow.
 Indian Army has also established an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre at the same institution.
 Based in Mhow, MCTE provides an array of academic courses.
Four-day Beypore International Water Fest to end on December 29
 The four-day Beypore Water Fest as part of the government's efforts to tap the tourism
potential of the ancient port town on the Malabar coast began on 26 Dec 2021.
 The fest was organised by the Govt of Kerala.
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 INS Sharda, an offshore patrol vessel and INS Kabra, a waterjet fast attack craft visited Beypore
port for participating in Beypore International Water Fest on 26 and 27 Dec 2021.
Vasudevan reappointed as MD, CEO of Equitas Small Finance Bank
 Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited board of directors has approved the proposal for re-
appointment of Vasudevan Pathangi Narasimhan (PN) as the MD & CEO.
 He has been reappointed for three years, with effect from July 23, 2022, up to July 22, 2025.
 Vasudevan was appointed as the MD of erstwhile Equitas Finance Limited, now a bank, with
effect from July 23, 2016.
Project launched to upskill the cane and bamboo artisans of Nagaland
 Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
digitally launched a pilot project on 28 December 2021 for upskilling the cane and bamboo
artisans of Nagaland.
 It will be done under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), component of Pradhan Mantri
Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
 The project targets to upskill over 4,000 craftsmen and artisans.
PM Modi inaugurates Bina (MP)-Panki (UP) Multiproduct pipeline project
 The Multiproduct pipeline from Bina Refinery (MP) to POL (Petroleum, Oil, & Lubricants) Terminal
at Panki, Kanpur was dedicated to the nation by PM Modi on 28 Dec'21.
 The project is 356 km long and has a capacity of around 3.45 million metric tonnes per annum.
 The project will cover 5 districts of UP: Lalitpur, Jhansi, Jalaun, Kanpur Dehat and Kanpur Nagar,
and 2 of MP: Sagar and Tikamgarh.
Centre forms committee to examine withdrawal of AFSPA in Nagaland
 The Union government on 27 December 2021 instituted a high-level committee to examine the
possibility of withdrawing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland.
 It will submit its report within 45 days.
 Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Vivek Joshi will head the five-member
committee and Piyush Goyal will be its Member-Secretary.
IAS Radhika Jha appointed as CEO of Energy Efficiency Services Limited
 Radhika Jha, Indian Administrative Service cadre 2002, has been appointed as the Chief
Executive Officer in state-run Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).
 Earlier, Radhika Jha spearheaded the Centre’s Integrated Power Development Scheme as
Executive Director in Power Finance Corp.
 EESL is a joint venture between NTPC, Power Grid, Power Finance Corp, and REC Limited.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveils world's highest motorable road

 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled 27 roads and bridges projects implemented by the
Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
 The 24 roads inaugurated virtually include one built at an altitude of more than 19,000 feet on
the Umling-La pass in southern Ladakh, which has now become the world's highest motorable
road.
 Out of 24 bridges, nine of those bridges are in J&K, five each in Ladakh and HP.
CESL achieves 50 lakhs LED bulbs distribution under Gram Ujala program
 Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited
(EESL), has achieved a remarkable milestone of distributing 50 lakhs LED bulbs under the Gram
Ujala programme.
 CESL achieved this target under Project Crore of their Gram Ujala scheme which is being
implemented in rural households in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and
Telangana.
Translumina to setup Asia's Largest Heart Valve manufacturing facility
 Translumina, a global developer and manufacturer of innovative cardiovascular medical
devices, performed the foundation stone laying ceremony of Asia's Largest Heart Valve
manufacturing facility at Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ) in Vishakhapatnam.
 The facility will be completed by December 2022.
 Heart valve disorders traditionally were treated by open-heart Surgery.
Corbevax, Covovax, Molnupiravir approved for restricted emergency use
 Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has given approval to Corbevax and Covovax
vaccine for restricted use in emergency situations.
 Corbevax vaccine is India's first indigenously developed RBD protein sub-unit vaccine against
COVID-19, made by Hyderabad-based firm Biological-E.
 It also gave approval to the drug Molnupiravir for the treatment of adult patients suffering from
COVID-19.
PM Modi to inaugurate Kanpur Metro stretch, to address students at IIT
 PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the completed section of the Kanpur Metro rail project in
Kanpur and attend the convocation ceremony of the IIT Kanpur on 28th Dec 2021.
 The entire length of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project is 32km and is being built at a cost of over
₹11,000 crores.
 At the 54th convocation ceremony of IIT Kanpur, all students will be issued digital degrees.
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Vikram Misri, former envoy to China, appointed as new Deputy NSA

 India’s former envoy to China Vikram Misri has been appointed as the Deputy National Security
Adviser (NSA) in the National Security Council Secretariat.
 Vikram Misri will report to National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.
 He will succeed Pankaj Saran whose term in office ends on December 31, 2021.
 The other two deputy NSAs are Rajender Khanna and Datta Pandsalgikar.
Oil India to set up green hydrogen plant in Assam
 Oil India Ltd, India's second-largest state-owned oil explorer, is setting up a plant to
manufacture green hydrogen at its Jorhat oilfield in Assam.
 The company has initiated action for setting up a 100 kW green hydrogen plant at its Pump
station-3 in Jorhat.
 The pilot plant will generate green hydrogen using AEM technologY.
 This is a first-of-its-kind project in the country.
Paras Defence bags DRDO contract for border surveillance technology
 Paras Defence has been selected by DRDO as one of the companies for handing over the
technology of border surveillance systems.
 The technology has been developed by the Instruments Research and Development
Establishment (IRDE) and DRDO.
 The system will provide all-weather surveillance for day and night monitoring of the border
areas and will consist of Radar, EO sensors, etc.
HDFC Life signs bancassurance deal with South Indian Bank
 HDFC Life has announced a bancassurance tie-up with South Indian Bank.
 It will enable customers of the bank to avail a range of life insurance products of the insurer that
include solutions for protection, savings and investment, retirement and critical illness.
 HDC Life is one of the largest life insurance companies with a market share of 22.3% (in terms of
overall new business premium).
3-day Kashi Indian International Film Festival begins in Varanasi
 The first three-day Kashi Indian International Film Festival began in Varanasi on 27 December
2021.
 UP Tourism, Culture, and Charitable Affairs Minister Neelkanth Tiwari inaugurated the festival.
 The festival is being organized by Information and Broadcasting Ministry in collaboration with
the Uttar Pradesh government.
 A panel discussion will be held on the second day of the event.
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Seven-term Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Prasad passes away

 Rajya Sabha MP from the Janata Dal(United) and industrialist Mahendra Prasad passed away in
December 2021.
 Estimated to be one of the richest members of Parliament, the founder of Aristo
Pharmaceuticals was a seven-term Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar and was also elected to the Lok
Sabha once.
 Prasad was first elected to the Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket in 1980.
NITI Aayog releases 4th “The Healthy States, Progressive India” report
 NITI Aayog on 27 December 2021 released the fourth edition of “The Healthy States, Progressive
India” report ranking states performance for the year 2019-20.
 Among the larger states, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have emerged among the best
three performers in terms of overall performance.
 Uttar Pradesh has ranked at the top in terms of incremental performance.
PM Narendra Modi launches Hydro-power projects in Mandi
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 December 2021 inaugurated and laid the foundation stone
for projects worth 11,000 crore rupees.
 It included Dhaula Sidh hydropower and Renukaji dam projects, at Mandi.
 He also laid the foundation stone of the Luhri Stage 1 Hydro Power Project, a 210-megawatt
dam that's built at a cost of more than ₹1,800 crores.
Madhya Pradesh government appoints new Public Relations Chief
 The Madhya Pradesh government has appointed Raghvendra Kumar Singh, as the new
Principal Secretary and Commissioner of the state Public Relations Department.
 He is a 1997-batch IAS officer.
 He has also been made the Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Madhyam, a communication
platform of the state government.
 He will replace Sheo Shekhar Shukla.
Grammy-winning musician JD Crowe passes away
 Grammy-winning musician JD Crowe passed away in December 2021.
 Crowe won a Grammy award in 1983 for best country instrumental performance for his song
'Fireball'.
 His career included stints with Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys, Mac Wiseman, and his own
band, the Kentucky Mountain Boys, which later became the New South.
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Gujarat government launches ‘Nadi Utsav’ to honour rivers

 The Gujarat government on 26 December 2021 launched 'Nadi Utsav', or river festival, to honor
rivers for their contribution to the development of the state as well as to raise awareness about
their protection.
 It is a 5-day event that will conclude on 30 December 2021.
 It will honour three main rivers of the western state: Narmada, Tapi and Sabarmati.
Government to make changes in nutrient-based subsidy policy
 The govt has decided to make changes to the existing nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) policy.
 It will be done to promote domestic production of phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilizers amid
a sharp rise in global prices.
 Under the policy, being implemented since April 2010, a fixed amount of subsidy decided on an
annual basis is provided on P&K fertilisers depending on their nutrient content.
Rajasthan CM approves three-year action plan to strengthen FPOs
 Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has approved a 3-year action plan to strengthen farmer producer
organizations (FPOs) in the state.
 It will be launched under the Mukhyamantri Krishak Sathi Yojana and aims at strengthening 120
FPOs.
 Under the scheme, cleaning, grinding, and processing units of agricultural products will be set up
so that farmers get fair prices for their produce.
Rajnath Singh lays foundation for BRAHMOS Manufacturing Centre
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for Defence Technology and Test
Centre (DTTC) and BRAHMOS Manufacturing Centre on 26 December 2021.
 It is being established by DRDO in Lucknow, UP.
 A first of its kind DTTC is being set up to accelerate the growth of the defence and aerospace
manufacturing clusters in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC).
Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu passes away
 Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who helped end apartheid in South Africa, passed away in
December 2021.
 He was one of the driving forces behind the movement to end the policy of racial segregation
and discrimination enforced by the white minority government against the black majority in
South Africa from 1948 until 1991.
 He was awarded the Nobel prize in 1984 for his role in this struggle.
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Justice SK Mishra appointed as acting Chief Justice of Uttarakhand HC

 President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra as acting Chief
Justice (CJ) of the Uttarakhand High Court.
 Justice Mishra is performing the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the HC from
December 24, 2021.
 He replaced Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan, Chief Justice of the High Court who retired on
December 23, 2021.
Equitas Small Finance Bank empanelled as Maharashtra's banking partner
 Equitas Small Finance Bank has been empanelled as a banking partner of the Govt of
Maharashtra to offer its services to the state govt employees.
 As per an agreement, the bank is entitled to distribute salaries and allowances to the existing
employees
 Bandhan Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, South Indian Bank are the other three banks that are
assigned this role.
UP launches ‘Free Smartphone Yojana’ on December 25
 The UP government launched the ‘Free Smartphone Yojana on December 25, 2021.
 Under the scheme, the state government will distribute smartphones and tablets to final year
students of graduation and above.
 In phase I of the scheme around one lakh smartphones and tablets will be given to final year
students of B.Tech, B.A, B.Sc, MA, ITI, MBBS, MD, M.Tech, PhD in Lucknow.
IIT Roorkee bags 1st position in Most Innovative Research Institutions
 For the second year in a row, IIT Roorkee has been selected by the prestigious Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII) for the Industrial Innovation Awards.
 IIT Roorkee bagged the first position under the Most Innovative Research Institutions category
in 2021.
 The second and third positions have gone to IIT Madras and the Indian National Centre for
Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad.
Union Minister Amit Shah launched Good Governance Index 2021
 Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah released the Good
Governance Index 2021 on 25 December 2021.
 It has been prepared by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.
 Gujarat has topped the composite ranking in the Good Governance Index 2021 covering 10
sectors, followed by Maharashtra and Goa.
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 Delhi topped the Union territories category.

Former Union Textiles Minister RL Jalappa passes away
 Former Union Minister RL Jalappa passed away in December 2021.
 He is a veteran leader of the Indian National Congress (INC) and the former Union Minister of
Textiles.
 He quit Congress in 1979 to form the Karnataka Kranti Ranga with former Chief Minister D
Devaraj Urs and he again joined congress in 1998.
 He was also the founder and chairman of Devaraj Urs Medical College in Kolar.
‘Khel Nursery Scheme 2022-23’ launched in Haryana
 Haryana Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sandeep Singh has informed that the
state government has started ‘Khel Nursery Scheme 2022-23’ to promote sports in the state.
 Under this scheme, sports nurseries will be started in government, private educational
institutions, and private sports institutions.
 For this, applications have been invited by the department till 20 Jan 2022.
Tamil CM Stalin declares ‘Tamil Thaai Vazhthu’ as state song
 The Tamil Nadu govt has announced ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu,’ as the state anthem.
 It is an invocation sung in praise of Mother Tamil.
 It should be sung before the start of any functions in all educational institutions, universities,
government offices, public sector undertakings, and other public fora in the state.
 There is no order requiring the attendees to stand up when it is sung.
Book titled 'The Monk Who Transformed UP' released
 A new book "The Monk Who Transformed Uttar Pradesh: How Yogi Aditynath Changed UP
Waala Bhaiya' abuse to a Badge of Honour" has been released.
 It has been written by author Shantanu Gupta and published by Garuda Prakashan.
 The author has previously written, "The Monk Who Became Chief Minister: The definitive
biography of Yogi Adityanath" telling his journey of becoming a politician.
RBL Bank MD, CEO Vishwavir Ahuja resigns
 RBL Bank's board has approved the request of its MD and CEO Vishwavir Ahuja to proceed on
leave with immediate effect.
 The bank's board has appointed Rajeev Ahuja, currently Executive Director, as the interim MD
and CEO with immediate effect.
 Vishwavir Ahuja joined RBL Bank in 2010.
 Prior to that, he was the MD and CEO of Bank of America, India from 2001 to 2009.
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NTPC partners with Greater Noida Authority to recycle plastic

 NTPC Ltd has signed an agreement with Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority
(GNIDA) for sourcing combustible parts of municipal solid waste also referred to as ‘Refused
Derived Fuel’ (RFD).
 As per the MoU, GNIDA will be supplying 20 Tonnes per Day (TPD) of RFD to NTPC for the
period of ten years.
 RFD shall be fed into the Oxy-Steam Gasification plant to produce syngas.
MoHUA launches star rating protocol of Garbage Free Cities
 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on 24 December 2021 announced the launch of the
‘Azadi@75 Star Rating Protocol of Garbage Free Cities- Toolkit 2022'.
 The earlier 25 components/ indicators have now been reduced to 24, of which only 16 indicators
are mandatory for 1-star and 3-star levels.
 The revised protocol is aligned with Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 priorities.
National Dope Testing Laboratory regains WADA accreditation
 National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) has regained the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA
accreditation.
 The accreditation was suspended in 2019 because of its failure to comply with global standards.
 The NDTL is based in the national capital and can resume testing with immediate effect.
 India is currently third in the WADA's global list of dope violators led by Russia.
AYUSH Ministry celebrated 5th Siddha Day on 23 December
 Fifth Siddha Day was celebrated by AYUSH Ministry on 23 December 2021.
 Siddha system of medicine is one of the oldest codified traditions of healthcare originated in the
Indian sub-continent and still being practised in the southern parts of the country.
 Ministry of Ayush observes Siddha Day on eve of Agathiyar’s birthday every year, which falls
during the Ayilyam star of Margazhi Month.
Union Minister Arjun Munda launches 'TRIFED Van Dhan' Chronicle
 Union Tribal Affairs Minister, Arjun Munda has launched 'TRIFED Van Dhan- A Pictorial
Chronicle of Tribal Grit and Enterprise'.
 It documents the work done for the promotion of tribal enterprise in the country.
 He also launched the formation of 14 Honey Farmer Producer Organizations.
 Ministry of Tribal Affairs also signed an MoU with UNICEF to launch the communication
campaign SAMVAAD.
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Drinking water supply schemes approved for Uttarakhand under JJM

 Drinking water supply schemes of over Rs 164 cr has been approved under Jal Jeevan Mission in
Uttarakhand.
 It will provide a tap water connection to more than 9,200 rural homes.
 These schemes will benefit 140 villages in Almora, Bageshwar, Dehradun, Nainital and
Uttarkashi districts.
 For 2021-22, the state has planned to provide tap water connections to two lakh 64,000
households.
Agriculture Minister inaugurates agriculture exhibition 'Agrovision'
 Minister of Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the four-day agriculture exhibition
'Agrovision', in Nagpur on 24 December 2021.
 The exhibition will continue till 27th December.
 It will feature seminars and conferences on various topics such as development of the dairy
industry.
 Workshops for farmers, Dairy Development Council will also be held in this exhibition.
NMCG and TERI launch Centre of Excellence on Water Reuse
 The Director-General of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Director-General of
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have launched the NMCG-TERI’s Centre of Excellence
(CoE) on Water Reuse.
 It was launched at the TERI Headquarters in New Delhi on 24 December 2021.
 The CoE is the first of its kind to be established in the country.
 It will be headed by Dr Nupur Bahadur.
160th birth anniversary of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya on 25 Dec 2021
 25 December 2021 was observed as the 160th birth anniversary of Pandit Madan Mohan
Malviya.
 He was born on December 25, 1861, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
 He founded the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1916.
 He served on the Imperial Legislative Council for 11 years, from 1909 to 1920.
 Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya had received the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2014.
Home Minister Amit Shah to inaugurate 'Bharat Darshan Park' in Delhi
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the 'Bharat Darshan Park' in Delhi which
showcases replicas of several iconic monuments of India built with scrap and waste material.
 The recreational garden spread over 8 acres, built by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
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 The park will have 22 replicas of monuments like Qutab Minar, Taj Mahal, Charminar, Gateway
of India, Konark Temple etc.
SDMC opens 'Nigam Haat' to promote waste recycling
 South Delhi Municipal Corporation inaugurated a 'Nigam Haat' in the city, with an aim to
promote reduction and recycling of waste at source.
 'Nigam Haat' has been set up in Lajpat Nagar's Central Market.
 The move is in line with PM Narendra Modi's vision of reducing the load on landfill sites.
 It is based on principles of 3 Rs -- 'Reduce, Reuse & Recycle' of waste.
DRDO successfully flight tested Indigenous High-Speed HEAT Abhyas
 The flight test of domestic High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) Abhyas was
successfully completed.
 The test was conducted from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast, Odisha.
 It is a high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT) that is being built by the Aeronautical
Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO.
 HAL secured an order for its manufacturing from ADE.
Punjab cabinet approves institute in Patiala for Gita research
 The Punjab Cabinet accorded approval for the setting up of Geeta Adhyayan and Sanatani
Granth Institute at Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Patiala.
 The centre will promote a considerate attitude towards the other’s spiritual, religious, ethnic and
metaphysical perspectives.
 The Cabinet also gave its assent for setting up of Film and Television Development Council
(FTDC).
INS Khukri decommissioned after 32 years of glorious service to nation
 INS Khukri was decommissioned in Visakhapatnam on 23 December 2021 after 32 years of
glorious service.
 It was the first of the indigenously built Missile Corvettes.
 The corvette was built by the Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders on 23 August 1989.
 During her service, the ship was commanded by 28 Commanding Officers and traversed a
distance of over 6,44,897 nautical miles.
18 Indian referees selected in FIFA's International list for 2022
 The All India Football Federation announced that 18 Indian referees have been selected in the
FIFA Refereeing International list for 2022, four are women, and 14 are men.
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 Members of the list are eligible to officiate at the international level and are also entitled to
wear a FIFA badge on their uniform for the year they are enlisted.
 FIFA is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland.
Punjab cabinet approves to establish State General Category Commission
 The Punjab Cabinet on 23 Dec 2021, gave its nod to set up Punjab State General Category
Commission for unreserved classes.
 This Commission will safeguard interests of the unreserved classes besides effective
implementation of various welfare schemes.
 The state already has an Scheduled Castes commission.
 It will constitute a General Category Commission on the pattern of Gujarat.
EESL aims to install 1.6 crore smart LED streetlights by 2024
 State-owned Energy Efficiency Services Limited is targeting the installation of 1.6 crores smart
LED streetlights across the nation by 2024.
 EESL has done a tie-up with the MSME ministry.
 LEDs will be installed under the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP).
 PM Narendra Modi launched SLNP in 2015, to replace conventional streetlights with smart and
energy-efficient LED streetlights.
RBI extends card tokenization deadline by 6 months, till June 30, 2022
 The Reserve Bank of India extended the card-on-file (CoF) tokenization deadline by 6 months to
June 30, 2022, the earlier deadline was December 31, 2021.
 This move comes after digital payment firms, like Merchant Payments Alliance of India (MPAI)
and the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), voiced their concerns over industry
readiness.
MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar launches 7 new Internet exchange nodes in UP
 Union Minister of State for Electronics, Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar launched
seven new Internet exchange nodes in Uttar Pradesh on 23 Dec 2021.
 These nodes will be located at Meerut, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi and
Gorakhpur.
 To date, only one Internet exchange node was operating in UP at Gautam Buddh Nagar.
 These exchange points will cover all zones of UP.
Hyundai Motor India signs golfer Aditi Ashok as brand-ambassador
 Hyundai Motor India Ltd signed an MoU with Aditi Ashok in December 2021 to strengthen the
brand’s voice, spirit and innovative approach.
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 As part of the two-year association, Hyundai will work closely with Aditi representing HMIL’s
Young & Progressive Imagery.
 Aditi Ashok is the 2020 Arjuna Awardee and World’s only golfer who has made the cut in every
major golf format.
H O Suri appointed as MD and CEO of IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance
 Private sector IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance has appointed H O Suri as its new Managing
Director and Chief Executive Officer.
 The appointment is effective October 1, 2021.
 Suri is one of the founder-members of IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company in 2000.
 He started his professional journey in the year 1982 with IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser
Cooperative Limited).
Tamil Nadu govt constitutes Urban Development Authority for Madurai
 Tamil Nadu government passed a Government Order on 23 December 2021, constituting a new
urban development authority for Madurai city.
 The authority would comprise 11 members including the principal secretary of the Housing and
Urban Development Department as chairman.
 The district collector will be appointed as the vice-chairman and a full-time member-secretary
will also be appointed.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan accounts surpass the 44 crore mark
 Centre’s financial inclusion scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), has crossed the
44 crore mark.
 As per Government data, the total number of accounts opened under PMJDY stood at 44.05
crores, with a total balance of ₹1,47,812 crore.
 Uttar Pradesh tops the state's list with the highest number of accounts followed by Bihar.
 PMJDY scheme was launched on 28th August 2014.
Narendra Singh Tomar releases the book “Spices Statistics at a Glance"
 Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar released the book
‘Spices Statistics at a Glance 2021’on 21 December 2021.
 The book is published by the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), Ministry
of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
 It highlights the growth achieved in the spices sector during the last 7 years from 2014-15 to
2020-21 in the country.
Union Cabinet approves MoU between CCI and CCM
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 The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of MoU between the Competition Commission of
India (CCI) and the Competition Commission of Mauritius (CCM).
 The MoU has been signed for promotion and strengthening of co-operation in competition law
and policy.
 It will improve enforcement of the Competition Act, 2002 by CCI, and address anticompetitive
restraints that affect international trade.
National Farmers Day: 23 December
 India observes National Farmers Day or Kisan Diwas on December 23 every year.
 The day marks the birth anniversary of India's former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.
 He served as the PM of India from July 28, 1979, to January 14, 1980.
 He was a farmer leader.
 On December 23, 1978, he founded the Kisan Trust, aiming to educate the rural masses of India
against injustice.
Harjinder Singh appointed as India’s Chef De Mission for Olympics
 The Indian Olympic Association of India (IOA) has appointed Harjinder Singh as the Chef de
Mission of the country’s contingent for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
 He is the General Secretary of Ice Hockey Association of India.
 He was also the Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent for the 23rd Winter Olympic Games in
2018.
 The event will be held from February 4 to 20, 2022.
Union Cabinet approves MoU between ICAI and PIBR
 The Union Cabinet approved the signing of MoU between the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Polish Chamber of Statutory Auditors (PIBR).
 They will establish mutual co-operation in the areas of member management, audit quality
monitoring, etc.
 ICAI would be able to strengthen the partnership with Poland by providing Export of Services in
the accountancy profession.
Atul Dinkar Rane appointed as BrahMos Aerospace chief
 Atul Dinkar Rane has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing
Director of the BrahMos Aerospace Limited that manufactures the BrahMos supersonic cruise
missile.
 He was one of the core team members of BrahMos Aerospace right from its foundation as a
Joint Venture with Russia.
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 BrahMos is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile system.

National Stock Exchange launches new initiative NSE Prime
 The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has launched a new corporate governance initiative ‘NSE
Prime’.
 It is a framework that prescribes higher standards of corporate governance for listed companies
than those required by regulations.
 NSE-listed companies that voluntarily choose to be part of NSE Prime will need to comply with
pre-defined norms on an ongoing basis, which will be monitored by NSE.
Karnataka government announces reservation for transgenders in police
 Karnataka govt has decided to give 1% reservation to transgenders across all the ranks in the
Police Dept.
 It has called for applications for the post of special reserve sub-inspector in Karnataka Police
and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB).
 Karnataka is the first state to reserve jobs in public employment for transgender persons
following a direction of the Karnataka High Court in July 2021.
Central Bank of India signs co-lending deal with U GRO Capital
 MSME lending fintech platform, U GRO Capital has signed a co-lending agreement with the
Central Bank of India.
 Under this partnership, the two entities aim to disburse up to ₹1000 crore to U GRO Capital's
varied MSME segments under its programmes like Pratham, Sanjeevani, Saathi, GRO MSME,
and Machinery financing, in the next 12 months.
Dr. Bharati Pravin inaugurates National Oxygen Stewardship Program
 Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare inaugurated the
National Oxygen Stewardship Program, at AIIMS New Delhi on 22 Dec'21.
 The program is of the Union Health Ministry.
 It aims to empower all healthcare workers engaged in oxygen management and administration
with the essential knowledge and skills to ensure rational utilization of medical oxygen.
India successfully tests 'Pralay' missile off Odisha coast
 India on 22 December 2021 successfully test-fired short-range, the surface to surface guided
ballistic missile 'Pralay' off the Odisha coast.
 The solid-fuel, battlefield missile developed by DRDO is based on Prithvi Defence Vehicle from
the Indian ballistic missile programme.
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 'Pralay' is a 350-500 km short-range, surface-to-surface missile with a payload capacity of 500-

1,000 kg.
Lok Sabha develops mobile app for live telecast of Parliament
 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on 21 Dec'21 announced the launch of a mobile application.
 It will enable the users to watch the live telecast of the House proceedings.
 It will enable members of the House to access important parliamentary documents, papers,
information related to legislative committees and bills, and written questions-answers and
reports of various committees.
Niti Aayog launches first of its kind Vernacular Innovation Program
 Atal Innovation Mission, Niti Aayog on 22 December 2021, launched the first of its kind
Vernacular Innovation Program.
 It will enable innovators and entrepreneurs to have access to the innovative ecosystem in 22
mother tongue languages.
 The first leg started on 22 December in partnership with IIT Delhi and will focus on design
thinking and entrepreneurship.
 It is divided into three phases.
Hyderabad Airport wins National Energy Conservation Award 2021
 The GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. has been awarded the Certificate of Merit by the
Bureau of Energy Efficiency under ‘National Energy Conservation Awards 2021’ (NECA 2021).
 It has been awarded for its excellent efforts in the areas of energy conservation.
 The GMR Hyderabad International Airport was the only airport in the Airport Sector that
received this distinct recognition.
Government appoints non-official directors on boards of various banks
 The central government has appointed independent directors on board of various public sector
banks, including Union Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, and Canara Bank
 The government has appointed Non-Official Director (NOD) for three years.
 Bank of Maharashtra has appointed Shashank Shrivastava and Sardar Baljit Singh as NOD.
 Nalini Padmanabhan was appointed on board of Canara Bank.
Parliament passes Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021
 Parliament on 21 December 2021 passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
 It seeks to link electoral rolls with Aadhaar and remove fake voters from electoral rolls.
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 It proposes to allow election commission officials to seek Aadhaar details of registered voters on
a voluntary basis and make the language of the Representation of the People Act, 1950,
gender-neutral.
IOC acquires 4.93 per cent equity stake in Indian Gas Exchange
 Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has acquired a 4.93 percent stake in Indian Gas Exchange Ltd
(IGX).
 IGX is the country's first automated national-level exchange for the trading of natural gas.
 It started operation in 2020 as a gas trading platform.
 Major equity holders of IGX include Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), Gas Authority of India
Limited (GAIL), Adani Total Gas, and Torrent Gas.
National Mathematics Day: 22 December
 India celebrates National Mathematics Day on December 22 every year.
 The day marks the birth anniversary of famous mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
 In 2012, PM Manmohan Singh declared the date National Mathematics Day to honour him.
 He became the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, in 1918.
 He discovered his own theorems and independently compiled 3900 results.
Former Supreme Court Judge GT Nanavati passes away
 Justice Girish T Nanavati, the retired Supreme Court judge passed away in December 2021.
 He headed the inquiry commissions into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the 2002 Gujarat riots.
 He was appointed as permanent Judge of the Gujarat High Court in July 1979.
 He was elevated as the Judge of the Supreme Court of India with effect in March 1995 and
retired as an SC Judge in February 2000.
Indigenously developed next-generation AERVs inducted into Army
 The first set of indigenously developed next-generation Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance
Vehicle (AERV) was inducted into the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army on 21 Dec 2021.
 Army Chief General M M Naravane flagged them off in a ceremony at the Bombay Engineer
Group (BEG) at Khadki near Pune.
 The system has been designed by DRDO and manufactured by Ordnance Factory Medak and
BEL, Pune.
SBI picks up minority stake in JSW Cement for ₹100 crore
 State Bank of India (SBI) has acquired a minority stake in JSW Cement Limited at an investment
of ₹100 crores.
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 The public sector bank has invested in the company, a part of the $13 billion JSW Group, via
compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS).
 This capital infusion will support JSW Cement’s capacity expansion from the current 14 MTPA
(million tonnes per annum) to 25 MTPA.
Mastercard, Google offer tokenization for card-based payments
 Mastercard and Google have announced the rollout of tokenization that will enable Google Pay
users to safely transact using their Mastercard credit and debit cards.
 Through tokenization, Mastercard cardholders can make payments through a secure digital
token without having to share their credit or debit card details such as card number and expiry
date with a merchant.
India's 1st Int’l Arbitration & Mediation Centre opens in Hyderabad
 India's first International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC) was jointly inaugurated by
Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramana, and Telangana Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao in
Hyderabad, in Dec'21.
 The establishment of IAMC in Hyderabad is an important step towards enhancing the
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) landscape of the country.
Nagaland creates 3 new districts - Tseminyu, Niuland, and Chumukedima
 Nagaland government has created three new districts in the state, taking the total number of
districts to 15.
 The three new districts are Tseminyu, Niuland, and Chumukedima.
 Niuland and Chumukedima have been formed out of Dimapur district, while the Tseminyu is the
sub-division of the Kohima district which has been promoted to a district.
NPCI partners with Udemy Business to upskill employees
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has partnered with Udemy Business to
encourage continuous learning and skill development for its employees.
 The three-year association with Udemy Business will offer courses on in-demand skills such as
tech, domain, behavioral, and leadership skills to all NPCI employees.
 Udemy Business offers courses in AI, Machine Learning (ML), etc.
PM Modi participates in a program on women empowerment in Prayagraj
 PM Narendra Modi visited Prayagraj on 21 Dec 2021 and participated in a one of its kind
program on women empowerment.
 He transferred an amount of Rs.1000 cr in the bank account of Self Help Groups (SHGs),
benefitting around 16 lakh women members of the SHGs.
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 It was a historic day for UP as the Supplementary Nutrition scheme worth around Rs 4000 cr
went into the hands of women completely.
JAG Department celebrates 38th Corps Day on 21 December 2021
 The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department celebrated its 38th Corps Day on 21 December
2021.
 JAG is the judicial and legal wing of the Indian Army that deals with the dispensation of justice
to all ranks.
 It was on this day in 1949, the Bill for the Army Act was introduced in the Parliament.
 Major General Praveen Kumar is the Judge Advocate General currently.
Parliament passes Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Bill
 The Parliament passed the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) (Amendment)
Bill, 2021 with the Rajya Sabha approving it on 20 December 2021.
 It seeks to replace the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Ordinance,
2021.
 The Bill amends the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 to correct a
drafting error.
IAF deploying first S-400 air defence system in Punjab sector
 The Indian Air Force (IAF) is deploying the first squadron of the S-400 air defence missile system
in the Punjab sector.
 The S-400 air defence system was contracted by India in a deal worth around ₹35,000 cr.
 It is equipped with four different missiles which can engage enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles, and
AWACS planes at 400 km, 250 km, the medium-range 120 km and the short-range 40 km.
SECI awards 100 MW solar contract with Battery Project in Chhattisgarh
 Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has awarded a contract for setting up a 100 MW (AC)
solar with 40 MW/120 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project to be set up at
Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
 It will be one of the largest grid-connected BESS projects in the country.
 The contract has been awarded to Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd.
Prasar Bharati signs MoU with ICCR to promote Indian culture
 Prasar Bharati and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) have signed an MoU for
promoting Indian culture.
 The MoU aims to bring forth the best of Indian Culture to the National and International
audiences and provide TV and Digital platforms to the performing artists.
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 This MoU will be in operation for a period of three years from December 2021 till December
2024.
Atul Anand takes over as Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area
 Rear Admiral Atul Anand, assumed duties of Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area
(FOK) on 20 Dec 2021.
 He was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area on 22 February 2021 prior
to taking up his present assignment.
 As a Flag Officer, he has served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and
Intelligence).
 He is a recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal.
Admiral Sanjay Bhalla takes over as Fleet Commander of Eastern Fleet
 Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla took over the Command of the Eastern Fleet, the Sword Arm of the
Eastern Naval Command, from Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti, on 20 Dec'21.
 He also served as the Naval Adviser at the High Commission of India, Islamabad.
 Prior to assuming this role, the Flag Officer was Assistant Chief of Personnel (HRD) at Integrated
Headquarters (Navy), New Delhi.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates Rishihood University
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Rishihood University at Vigyan Bhawan, New
Delhi on 18 December 2021.
 Books authored by Rishihood faculty members and founders were released by him.
 The university has also launched novel initiatives to promote social impact such as the Center
for Water, Center for Innovation in Governance, a gap year program for high school graduates,
etc.
Odisha CM releases book 'Gajapati: A king without a kingdom'
 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has released a book on Gajapati kings of the state.
 The book titled 'Gajapati: A king without a kingdom' and written by Ashok Bal, was released on
18 December 2021.
 It deals with the history of Gajapati kings starting from Suryavanshi Gajapati Kapilendra Deb.
 Kapilendra Deb and his successors uninterruptedly used the royal title of Gajapati after the
Ganga kings.
Odisha's longest bridge over Mahanadi inaugurated at Gopinathpur
 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 20 December 2021 inaugurated the state's longest
bridge over Mahanadi river at Gopinathpur in Cuttack district.
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 The 3.4-km-long bridge, connecting Singhanath Pitha and Baideswar in Cuttack district, will
reduce the distance by 45 km, benefitting around five lakh people.
 The bridge, constructed in T-shape, is built at a cost of Rs 111 crore.
3-day International Honey Bee Festival kicks off in Uttarakhand
 For the 1st time, a 3-day International Honey Bee Festival kicked off at Haldwani, Uttarakhand
on 18 Dec'21.
 The aim is to provide a global platform to hivers to display their products.
 8 MoUs were signed on the second day of the festival with Spiceless Switzerland, IIT Roorkee, to
name a few.
 There was also a special logo launch and book release by the Uttarakhand Horticulture Council.
Edelweiss General Insurance, PhonePe join hands
 Edelweiss General Insurance (EGI) has partnered with PhonePe.
 It will offer quick and easy, digital motor insurance products to all its customers.
 PhonePe customers can purchase EGI’s motor insurance policy in just a few clicks with zero
paperwork.
 Customers can also opt for add-on benefits like depreciation protection, engine protection,
consumable expense protection, roadside assistance.
Delhi Cabinet approves setting up of Delhi Teachers’ University
 Delhi Cabinet has approved the setting up of Delhi Teachers' University.
 This was announced by CM Arvind Kejriwal.
 The university will offer a four-year integrated teacher education programme after Class 12, in
which BA and BEd, BSc and Bed, and BCom and BEd courses will be incorporated.
 Those enrolled in the university will be attached to Delhi government schools for training
purposes.
Tusshar Kapoor comes up with new book 'Bachelor Dad'
 Actor-producer Tusshar Kapoor has announced his debut book ''Bachelor Dad: My Journey to
Fatherhood and More".
 The book will shed light on his journey to fatherhood.
 The book will be published by Penguin India.
 It will be launched in January 2022.
 Tusshar Kapoor featured in the films like Golmaal and Shootout at Lokhandwala.
Rajnath Singh launches GIS-Based automatic water supply system
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 The geographic information system (GIS)-based ‘Automatic Water Supply System’ for residents
of Cantonment Boards was launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Dec 2021.
 The module has been developed by the Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and
Geoinformatics (BISAG).
 It is the first of its kind system in the country and facilitates sanctions for water connection
online.
Indian Navy's begins first sea trials of stealth destroyer Mormugao
 Indian Navy conducted the first sea trials for Mormugao, the second indigenous stealth
destroyer of the P15B class on 19 December 2021 in the Arabian Sea.
 Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDSL), the ship has been named after the port town in
Goa.
 The Indian Navy plans to commission the stealth destroyer in mid-2022 when it will be known as
INS Mormugao.
NHPC plans clean energy projects of 27GW in 9 states and Nepal
 NHPC Ltd has decided to set up new hydro and solar projects of more than 27,000 MW
capacity in nine states and Nepal.
 The new capacities would come up in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,
Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
 This was informed by NHPC CMD Abhay Kumar Singh.
 NHPC, under the Ministry of Power, is the largest hydropower company in India.
Uttarakhand government appoints Rishabh Pant as state brand ambassador
 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 19 December 2021 appointed Rishabh Pant
as the state brand ambassador.
 He has been appointed with the aim of encouraging the youth of the state towards sports and
public health.
 In January 2019, Pant was named the ICC Emerging Player of the Year at the 2018 ICC Awards.
 In February 2021, Pant was named the ICC Men's Player of the Month.
Jal Jeevan Mission: Over ₹10,180 crore allocated to Rajasthan for FY22
 The Centre has allocated ₹10,180 cr under the Jal Jeevan Mission for FY22 to Rajasthan.
 It is a four-fold increase from ₹2,522 cr allocated in 2020-21.
 Of 1.01 cr rural households in the state, 11.74 lakh households had tap water supply as of August
15, 2019, when Jal Jeevan Mission was launched.
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 Since the launch of the mission, 9.65 lakh households have been provided tap water
connections.
Mohit Jain elected new President of Indian Newspaper Society
 Mohit Jain of The Economic Times has been elected President of the Indian Newspaper Society
(INS) for 2021-22.
 He will succeed Lakshmipathy Adimoolam of Health and the Antiseptic.
 K Raja Prasad Reddy of Sakshi has been elected Deputy President.
 Rakesh Sharma of Aaj Samaj has been elected Vice-President.
 INS was founded in 1939 and acts as the central organization of the Press of India.
Centre celebrating 'Good Governance' week from 20-26 December
 The Central government is celebrating 'Good Governance' week from December 20-26, 2021.
 This was informed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievance (DARPG).
 A nationwide campaign titled "Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur" will be launched during the event.
 Access to an online portal shall be provided to all District Collectors to upload and share the
progress and achievements.
Centre grants Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Mithila Makhana
 The Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) under the Central Ministry of Commerce has
accepted the plea to rename GI-tagged Bihar Makhana as Mithila Makhana.
 It has also suggested amendments in the brand logo to better reflect its origins apart from
protecting the product’s GI rights.
 Mithila region is known for a specific type of aquatic crop fox nut, which is identified with its
culture.
MoRTH, IIT Madras, MapmyIndia sign MoU to launch an app service
 Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), IIT Madras, and MapmyIndia have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
 They have jointly launched an indigenously developed, free-to-use navigation app service.
 The MapmyIndia app provides road safety alerts to users about upcoming accident hazards
while driving.
 By using this navigation app, users will get voice and visual alerts.
National Cadet Corps and NHAI sign MoU to reuse plastic waste
 The National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed an
MoU in December 2021.
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 They will reuse plastic wastes collected by NCC Cadets during Puneet Sagar Abhiyan and other
Swachhta activities for the construction of roads by NHAI throughout the country.
 A total of 3,40,000 cadets from 127 Coastal Area NCC Units are participating in the month-long
activity.
Jharkhand CM launches SAHAY scheme for Maoist-hit areas
 Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren launched a scheme aimed at nurturing young sporting talents in
Maoist-hit districts, in December 2021.
 The scheme is called Sports Action toward Harnessing Aspiration of Youth (SAHAY).
 Boys and girls in the 14-19 age group from villages to ward level will be registered under the
scheme and given opportunities to display their skills in basketball, volleyball, etc.
Uttarakhand's Askot wildlife sanctuary declared eco-sensitive zone
 Askot Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh has been declared as an Eco-Sensitive
Zone (ESZ) by the Union Environment Ministry.
 The sanctuary area is now limited from the original area of 599.93 square km to only 454.65
square km giving a comparatively little area for the fauna to move around.
 Known as ‘Green Paradise on the Earth’, the sanctuary was established in 1986.
DBS Bank India clinches two awards at ET BFSI Excellence Awards 2021
 DBS Bank India has been awarded the ET BFSI Excellence Awards 2021.
 The bank has won two awards - for the 'DBS Rapid (Real-time API)' solution in the 'Innovative
API/Open Banking model' category and 'for 'Intelligent Banking' in the 'Best Digital Customer
Experience initiative' category.
 The bank has designed a real-time, digital payments solution for Transport Corporation of India
Ltd.
Odisha tie-up with UNCDF to launch “Mission Shakti Living Lab”
 Odisha has launched the Mission Shakti Living Lab project with an aim to empower women
economically and drive gender equality.
 The Department of Mission Shakti and United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
have signed an agreement in this regard.
 It will help 10,000 women-led micro-enterprises get better access to affordable market
opportunities, capital for business promotion, etc.
India Post Payments Bank ties up with NPCI for bill paymnent service
 India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has tied up with the National Payments Corporation of India’s
(NPCI) bill payments system Bharat BillPay.
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 It will facilitate cash-based bill payments service at the customer’s doorstep.

 Payments for various utility bills can be done on the Bharat BillPay platform and the facility will
be made available to non- IPPB customers as well.
Azim Premji receives Dr. Ida S. Scudder Oration award
 Azim Premji, founder Chairman of Wipro Ltd and founder of Azim Premji Foundation, is the
recipient of the 10th annual Dr. Ida S. Scudder Humanitarian Oration award, for 2021.
 The award was jointly established by Christian Medical College Vellore (CMC) and the US-based
Vellore CMC Foundation.
 The award was presented to him in recognition of his contributions to society through the
foundation.
Karnataka Bank bags two DigiDhan award from MeitY
 Karnataka Bank has been conferred with two DigiDhan awards instituted by the Union Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
 The bank received these awards for achieving the target with the highest percentage in BHIM-
UPI transactions under the private sector bank category consecutively for two years – 2019-20
and 2020-21.
RBI enforces 20-digit LEI for cross-border deals above Rs 50 crore
 RBI has made Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) mandatory for cross-border transactions for capital or
current account transactions of Rs 50 crore and above, from October 1, 2022.
 LEI is a 20-digit number used to uniquely identify parties to financial transactions worldwide to
improve the quality and accuracy of financial data systems.
 The LEI numbers are maintained in a global LEI database.
SS Oberoi's book 'Rewinding the first 25 years of MeitY' launched
 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on 14 December 2021 launched the
book — Rewinding of the first 25 years of MeitY.
 It has been authored by S S Oberoi, a former adviser at MeitY.
 Through the book, he has shared his life experiences and challenges working as an advisor
under the MeitY.
 The book was launched by Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary of MeitY.
Goa Liberation Day: 19 December
 Goa Liberation Day is observed on Dec 19 every year to mark the success of Operation Vijay
undertaken by Indian armed forces that liberated Goa from Portuguese rule in 1961.
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 Goa did not achieve independence in 1947 and was ruled by the Portuguese for nearly a decade
more.
 PM Modi attended the Goa Liberation Day function in Goa and felicitated freedom fighters and
veterans of Operation Vijay.
Rajnath Singh inaugurates Centre of Excellence in Land Survey
 National Institute of Defence Estates Management, one of the premier Central Training
Institutes, has established a Centre of Excellence in Land Survey.
 This centre was inaugurated on 16th December 2021 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
 It will cater to the training needs of government officers and technical personnel who are
involved in surveys exclusively in emerging survey technologies.
India successfully testfires nuclear capable Agni Prime missile
 India successfully testfired the nuclear-capable strategic Agni Prime missile off the coast of
Odisha in Balasore on 18 December 2021.
 Agni Prime is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
 Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of Agni class of missiles.
 It is a two-stage canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.
India registers highest-ever annual FDI inflow of $81.97 bn in 2020-21
 India has registered the highest ever annual Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow of $81.97
billion in 2020-21.
 Commerce and Industry Ministry informed that FDI inflows in the last 7 financial years are over
$440 billion.
 The top five countries from where FDI Equity Inflows were received during 2014 to 2021 are
Singapore, Mauritius, the USA, the Netherlands, and Japan.
PM Modi lays foundation stone of Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur
 PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur on 18 Dec'21.
 The 594 km long six-lane Expressway will be built at a cost of over Rs 36,200 cr.
 Starting near the Bijauli village, the Expressway will extend till near the Judapur Dandu village in
Prayagraj.
 It will become the longest expressway of Uttar Pradesh, connecting the western and eastern
regions of the state
Rajnath Singh launches Rashtriya Ekta Geet composed by NCC Cadets
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched ‘Rashtriya Ekta Geet’ composed by the National
Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets in 22 languages on the theme of National Integration, on 17 Dec'21.
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 It was launched during the grand finale of the ‘Vijay Shrankhla aur Sanskrityon ka
Mahasangam’ campaign in New Delhi.
 The event comprised of honoring Bravehearts of 1971 Indo-Pak War at 75 locations across India.
GACL, GAIL sign pact to set up a bioethanol plant in Gujarat
 Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd and GAIL India have signed an MoU to set up a bioethanol
plant at an estimated investment of Rs 1,000 crore in Gujarat.
 The plant would produce 500-kilo liters of bioethanol per day.
 Bioethanol is an alternative to fossil fuel used in vehicles and a form of renewable energy that
can be produced from agricultural feedstocks through microbial fermentation.
CCI imposes ₹202 crore penalty on Amazon and suspends its deal
 The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 17 December 2021 suspended its approval for
Amazon's deal with Future Coupons.
 It also imposed a penalty totaling Rs 202 crore on it for allegedly not being upfront about the
actual scope and purpose of the deal.
 The approval was given by CCI back in November 2019 for Amazon's deal to buy a 49 percent
stake in Future Coupons.
Centre govt and Maharashtra govt sign MoUs to set up 5 logistics parks
 The Centre government and Maharashtra government have signed a pact to set up five more
multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) in the state.
 The MMLPs will be set up in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik, and Dighi
Port Industrial Estate.
 MoUs have already been signed with JNPT, Chennai Port Trust, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh and Telangana for developing MMLPs.
Reserve Bank of India authorises RBL Bank to collect indirect taxes
 RBI has authorized RBL Bank to collect indirect taxes on behalf of the Central Board of Indirect
Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
 The bank had recently been authorized to collect direct taxes on behalf of the Central Board of
Direct Taxes.
 RBL Bank’s corporate and individual customers will now be able to pay their indirect taxes
through RBL Bank’s mobile banking or net banking platforms.
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant launches ULIP Hackathon - LogiXtics
 NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has launched the Unified Logistics Interface Platform’s (ULIP)
Hackathon – LogiXtics.
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 It has been launched to crowdsource more ideas to benefit the logistics industry.
 The ULIP Hackathon – LogiXtics is being organized by NITI Aayog and Atal Innovation Mission
and supported by National Industrial Corridor Development Corp and NICDC Logistics Data
Bank Services Ltd.
State Bank of India hikes base rate by 0.1 per cent
 SBI has increased the benchmark lending rate or base rate by 0.1%.
 With the increase, the revised base rate is 7.55%.
 The new rate is effective from December 15, 2021.
 SBI has migrated to External Benchmark Lending Rate (EBLR) linked to repo rate since January
2019.
 There is no change in the EBLR rate.
 The bank has also revised the Benchmark Prime Lending Rate to 12.3% from 12.2%.
SEBI sets up panel for suggestions to detect early market anomalies
 Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has constituted an advisory committee for
guiding it to enhance technological capabilities and explore appropriate technological solutions
for early detection of market anomalies.
 It will be called Advisory Committee for Leveraging Regulatory and Technology Solutions
(ALeRTS).
 It will be headed by SEBI's ex-whole time member Madhabi Puri Buch.
Union Cabinet gives nod to raise women’s marriage age to 21
 The Union Cabinet on 15 December 2021 took the decision to raise the legal age of marriage for
women from 18 to 21 years.
 The legal age of marriage for men is already 21 years.
 The government will amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act, and the
Hindu Marriage Act to implement the new decision to increase the legal age of marriage of
women.
Nadi Utsav begins with formal flag-in of the Ganga Mashaal Yatra
 The flag in ceremony for Ganga Mashal was conducted on 16 December 2021 in the presence of
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Jal Shakti.
 The day also marked the beginning of Nadi Utsav which will end on 23 December.
 The Mashal was flagged off at Ganga Utsav.
 The National Mission for Clean Ganga had organized Ganga Utsav: A River Festival 2021 from
1st to 3rd November 2021.
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NPCI enables the market on Tokenization for RuPay users with NTS
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has partnered with brands and aggregators to
introduce a Tokenization facility supported by the recently launched NPCI Tokenization System
(NTS).
 It will help customers maintain the security of their card financial data for online transactions.
 The RuPay card details will now be completely safe and secure in a secure vault within NTS.
Vice President inaugurates National Parliamentary Conference on TB
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the National Parliamentary Conference on
Tuberculosis among Women on 16 December 2021.
 The conference underlined that undernutrition is an important and established risk factor for the
progression of latent TB infection to active TB.
 India is committed to end TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development
Goals target of 2030.
HAL bags ADE-DRDO supply order for 'ABHYAS' target platform
 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has secured an order for manufacturing, assembly, integration,
testing, and supply of a High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) System, known as
'ABHYAS'.
 It has received it from Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO.
 ABHYAS was first successfully flight-tested in May 2019 and subsequent evaluation trials are
being conducted by ADE, DRDO.
Union Bank partners with Home First Finance to offer home loans
 Union Bank of India (UBI) and Home First Finance Company India Ltd (HomeFirst) have entered
into a strategic co-lending partnership.
 They will offer home loans to customers at competitive interest rates.
 Under this partnership, HomeFirst will originate loans as per the agreed credit policy of UBI in
line with the provisions of RBI’s Co-Lending Model.
Thawar Chand Gehlot inaugurates Bengaluru Sustainability Conclave
 Governor of Karnataka Thawar Chand Gehlot inaugurated the Bengaluru Sustainability
Conclave on 15 December 2021.
 He also released the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2021.
 The launch was followed by a panel discussion and the theme of the event was, “Implementing
the Sustainable Development Goals: Role of Universities and Civil Society in Protecting the
Environment”.
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Centre announces to build 'Marma Chikitsa' training centre in U'khand

 The Ministry of AYUSH on 16 Dec'21 announced to build a 'Marma Chikitsa' training centre in the
Uttarakhand Ayurveda University as the nodal centre for the country.
 It will help students from across the country and world to specialize themselves in Ayurveda.
 This was announced under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) scheme in order to promote
Ayurveda, Unani, Naturopathy, herbal medicines.
Giriraj Singh launches MIS portal for Land Acquisition Projects
 Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh launched the MIS
(Management Information System) portal for rankings of States/UTs in Land Acquisition Projects
under RFCTLARR Act, 2013, on 16 Dec 2021.
 The top 3 states and top 3 districts will be awarded as per the ranking and performance.
 The Department of Land Resources has developed this MIS portal.
Report on the State of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy launched
 The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) released the report on the State
of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in India, on 16 Dec 2021.
 The report has been prepared by the Institute for Competitiveness.
 It highlights the importance of early education years in the overall development of a child.
 It further highlights the role of the National Education Policy (2020).
Rear Admiral Sandeep Mehta assumes office as FOMA
 Rear Admiral Sandeep Mehta has assumed office as the Flag Officer Commanding
Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA), Mumbai.
 His important staff appointments include Command Operations Officer at HQSNC, Chief Staff
Officer to NAVCC (ANC), etc.
 He was the Chief Instructor (Navy) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington prior to this
appointment.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gives away Raksha Mantri Awards
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave away Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence 2021 on the
occasion of the 96th Raising Day of Directorate General Defence Estates in New Delhi on
December 16, 2021.
 The recipients were awarded for innovation and digital achievements in various fields.
 A new award has been instituted from 2021 for achievement in the implementation of the 'e-
Chhawani' project.
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Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan assumes charge as the Chief of Staff ENC
 Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan assumed charge as Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command
on 16 Dec 21.
 He commanded the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam from Feb 2020 to Feb 2021.
 He was Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of the National Defence Academy before
assuming charge as the Chief of Staff, ENC, on promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral.
Govt cuts GST rate on ethanol meant for blending to 5% from 18%
 The government has slashed the GST rate on ethanol meant for blending under the Ethanol
Blended Petrol (EBP) programme to 5% from 18 %.
 Under the government's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, Oil Marketing Companies
(OMCs) sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10 percent.
 This programme has been extended to the whole India except UTs of Andaman Nicobar and
Lakshadweep islands.
Nagaland CM launches online Inner Line Permit module portal
 Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio has launched the online Inner Line Permit (ILP) module
portal.
 The module for the online issue of ILPs for tourists was made operational in November 2019.
 The new module will cover other categories such as businessmen, traders, labourers, priests,
students and expand online services.
 It is enforced under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
Paytm launches EdTech platform “Paytm Wealth Academy”
 Paytm on 15 December 2021, launched its EdTech platform called ‘Paytm Wealth Academy’.
 It will give training to traders and investors across the country.
 The company through this tutorial platform will offer programs and webinars on buying and
selling and monetary ideas.
 Apart from the courses, the platform also provides webinars by experts in various fields.
Samunnati inks co-lending pact with IndusInd Bank for FPOs
 Agritech firm Samunnati has entered into a co-lending agreement with IndusInd Bank.
 They will expand credit accessibility and market linkages for farmer producer organizations
(FPOs) across the country.
 This strategic alliance will enable easy access to working capital to Samunnati's growing
network of 1,500 farmer collectives with a member base of 6 million farmers.
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Rekha Chaudhari's book 'India's Ancient Legacy of Wellness' launched

 Dr Rekha Chaudhari's book 'India's Ancient Legacy of Wellness' was launched on 15 December
2021.
 The book reveals how important it is for human beings to be close to nature which helps to
revive and recharge to do productive work.
 Dr Rekha’s research has also been published in WHO, and she was invited by John Hopkins,
Harward and Oxford University to publish her research.
Innoterra ties up with NABFOUNDATION to provide services to farmers
 Food and tech platform Innoterra has signed an MoU with NABFOUNDATION.
 NABFOUNDATION is a not-for-profit organization of the National Bank for Agricultural and
Rural Development (NABARD).
 The tie-up will enable both organizations to engage with a network of over 5,000 Farmer
Producer Organizations and initially serve 1 lakh, small farmers, in select clusters over the next
two years.
Army Chief Naravane takes charge as head of Chiefs of Staff Committee
 Army Chief Gen M M Naravane has assumed the charge as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff
Committee that comprises the three service chiefs.
 Before the creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff. the senior-most among the three
service chiefs used to be the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
 The post fell vacant following the death of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat.
Hindustan Aeronautics signs ₹2,400 cr deal with BEL for LCA fighters
 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 16 December 2021 signed a ₹2,400 crore contract with
defence public sector unit Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
 It has been signed for the development and supply of 20 types of systems for the LCA (Light
Combat Aircraft) Tejas Mk1A program.
 The five-year contract spans from 2023 to 2028.
 The pact involves the supply of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs).
NIPL, Western Union tie up to enable cross-border money transfers
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)'s international payments arm NPCI International
Payments Limited (NIPL) has signed an MoU with Western Union.
 NIPL and Western Union will work together over the next few months to enable bank account
holders in India to receive cross-border money transfers instantly using UPI IDs.
 NIPL was launched in August 2020.
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Indian Army organizes Swarnim Vijay Gatha on 16 December

 ‘Swarnim Vijay Gatha’ was organized at Victoria Memorial, Kolkata on 16th December 2021.
 It also marked the culmination of celebrations of Swarnim Vijay Varsh.
 An exclusive anthem has been composed for the occasion called Vijaya Bhava.
 The symphonic military band of Eastern Command also performed patriotic and martial tunes.
PFC partners with GreenCell Mobility to finance 350 buses in UP
 Power Finance Corporation Ltd has signed an agreement to lend Rs 275 crore for the
deployment of 350 electric buses across nine cities of Uttar Pradesh.
 The agreement was signed with GreenCell Mobility, which is an e-mobility platform supported
by Governments of India and UK.
 The buses will be deployed in key cities of UP including Agra, Meerut, Aligarh, Bareilly,
Ghaziabad, Mathura, etc.
PM Modi to inaugurate All India Mayors’ Conference in Varanasi
 PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate and address the All India Mayors’ Conference in Varanasi via
video conferencing on 17 Dec 2021.
 The event will be organized by the Department of Urban Development, UP.
 The theme of the Conference is “New Urban India”.
 The govt has launched multiple schemes and initiatives to address the issues of dilapidated
urban infrastructure and lack of amenities.
PM Modi addresses National Summit on Agro and Food Processing
 PM Narendra Modi addressed the farmers during the valedictory session of the National Summit
on Agro and Food Processing on 16th December 2021 in Anand, Gujarat.
 The focus was laid on natural farming during the summit.
 The three-day summit was organized from 14-16 Dec.
 It was attended by over five thousand farmers.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu releases book ‘Gandhitopi Governor’
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu released the book 'Gandhitopi Governor' on 15 December
2021.
 It has been authored by the Chairman, Official Language Commission, Andhra Pradesh,
Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad.
 The book chronicles the life of Edpuganti Raghavendra Rao, a prominent freedom fighter,
legislator, and Governor of Central Provinces in the British administration.
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Jaipur hosting Lokrang Festival after 2 years from 16 December 2021

 Jaipur is hosting the 11-day Lokrang Festival 2021 after 2 years at the Jawahar Kala Kendra
(JKK) from 16 December 2021.
 More than 650 artists from various states will perform during the event.
 The event is being organized by Rajasthan’s Department of Art and Culture and Rural Non-
Farm Development Agency.
 It will comprise a handicrafts fair and Rajasthani language writing festival.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Financial Intelligence Unit sign MoU
 An MoU was signed on 15 Dec'21 between the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and Financial
Intelligence Unit (FIU)-India, Ministry of Finance.
 It will facilitate the sharing of data and information between MCA and FIU-INDIA on an
automatic and regular basis.
 It will enable sharing of specific information such as information relating to suspicious
transactions, KYC-related details, etc.
Vijay Diwas: 16 December
 Vijay Diwas is observed every year on 16 December.
 The day celebrates India’s Operation Vijay's historic military victory against Pakistan in the 1971
war; which also liberated Bangladesh from Pakistan.
 The chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi surrendered to the joint
forces of Indian Army and Bangladesh's Mukti Bahini, along with 93,000 Pakistani troops.
Cabinet approves PLI scheme for semiconductor manufacturing
 The Union Cabinet has approved a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for semiconductor
and display board production in the country.
 The scheme envisages an investment of Rs 76,000 crore in semiconductor production over the
next 5-6 years.
 The incentives include a 25 percent subsidy on capital expenditure for establishing units of
Compound Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication (Fab), etc.
CCEA approves Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana implementation
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of Pradhan
Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for 2021-26.
 It will have an outlay of Rs.93,068 crores and aims to benefit about 22 lakh farmers.
 Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Har Khet ko Paani (HKKP), and Watershed
Development components have been approved for continuation during 2021-26.
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Cabinet approves scheme to incentivise RuPay Debit Card, transactions

 The cabinet has approved a scheme to provide incentives to encourage digital transactions
through RuPay Debit Card and BHIM UPI of small amounts.
 The acquiring banks will be incentivised by the govt, by way of paying a percentage of value of
transactions (P2M) done through both modes of payments, at an estimated financial outlay of
Rs.1,300 cr for a period of 1 yr with effect from 1 Apr'21.
RBI imposes monetary penalty on ICICI Bank, PNB
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on ICICI Bank and Punjab
National Bank.
 RBI has slapped ₹30 lakh fine on ICICI and ₹1.80 crore penalty on PNB.
 The penalty on ICICI Bank has been imposed “for non-compliance with certain directions issued
by RBI on ‘Levy of penal charges on non-maintenance of minimum balances in savings bank
accounts’ dated November 20, 2014".
BSE, Gem & Jewellery Council sign MoU to promote EGR market in India
 BSE has signed an MoU with the Gem & Jewellery Council (GJC) to provide impetus for the
growth and development of commodities and proposed EGR market in India.
 The MoU will help standardise EGRs for Indian markets and enhance transparency in pricing.
 It will also explore potential business to promote the launch of the India International Bullion
Exchange at GIFT city IFSC.
NTPC awards India's first green hydrogen-based microgrid project
 NTPC has awarded a standalone fuel-cell-based green hydrogen microgrid project at Simhadri,
in Andhra Pradesh.
 This will be India's first green hydrogen-based energy storage project and one of the largest in
the world.
 The hydrogen would be produced using the advanced 240 kW Solid Oxide Electrolyser by
taking input power from the nearby Floating Solar project.
WhatsApp adopts 500 villages in India to promote digital payments
 WhatsApp has rolled out a pilot program across 500 villages across Karnataka and
Maharashtra.
 It is aimed at empowering villagers with access to digital payments through 'payments on
WhatsApp'.
 The announcement was made at Fuel For India 2021 - Meta's annual event in India.
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 The pilot called 'Digital Payments Utsav' was already rolled out on 15 Oct'21, in Kyathanahalli
village of Karnataka.
GoodDot signs Neeraj Chopra as brand ambassador
 Plant-based meat company GoodDot has signed up Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra as
its brand ambassador.
 The athlete will be a key part of its mission to create awareness about the category of plant-
based meats to encourage people to make compassionate food choices.
 The firm was founded in 2016 by Sinha and Deepak Parihar.
 The company provides alternatives to mutton, chicken and eggs.
IndiGo partners with Kotak Mahindra Bank to launch credit card
 IndiGo airlines, in partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank, has launched a co-branded credit
card.
 It allows customers to gain points that can be used to purchase tickets on its flights.
 The Kotak IndiGo 'Ka-ching' credit card comes in two variants -- 6E Rewards and 6E Rewards
XL.
 It will enable customers to accrue accelerated '6E Rewards' (points) on all spending.
Tata Motors ties up with Bandhan Bank for passenger vehicle finance
 Tata Motors has signed a retail finance MoU with Bandhan Bank to offer financing options to all
its passenger vehicle customers.
 As part of the tie-up, Bandhan Bank will provide loans to Tata Motors’ customers at an interest
rate starting from as low as 7.50%.
 This scheme will offer a maximum of 90% financing on the total on-road cost of the vehicle.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 71st death anniversary: 15 December 2021
 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 71st death anniversary was observed on 15 December 2021.
 He passed away in 1950.
 Sardar Patel is known as the iron man of India.
 He became India’s first Deputy Prime Minister after the Independence in 1947.
 In March 1931, Patel presided over the 46th session of the Indian National Congress called on to
ratify the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
Meghalaya gets Rs 700 cr from Japan agency for development of tourism
 Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma has informed that the state government has received Rs 700
crore from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
 It is for the promotion and development of the tourism sector in the state.
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 Of the total amount, the state government has earmarked Rs 350 crore each for the Khasi and
Garo Hills regions.
Odisha to open 11 new cybercrime and economic offence police stations
 Odisha govt has decided to establish 11 new cybercrime and economic offence police stations.
 The announcement was made by CM Naveen Patnaik.
 The number of cybercrime and economic offence police stations in the state will increase to 14.
 The new police stations will come up at Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Keonjhar, Angul, Balasore,
Mayurbhanj, Puri, Koraput, Bhawanipatna, Bolangir and Kandhamal.
Ladakh gets its first-ever FM radio station in Leh
 Ladakh got its first-ever FM radio station in its capital city Leh on 14 December 2021.
 Advisor Ladakh, Umang Narula launched the first-ever Top FM radio in Leh.
 The frequency for Leh and Kargil will be 91.1 FM and it will cover 50 kilometres of aerial distance
in radius.
 It will be a new source of entertainment and information for the people.
24th International symposium on plantation crops begin in Kochi
 The 24th International Symposium on Plantation Crops (PLACROSYM) began on 14 December
2021 at Bolgatty Palace, Kochi.
 Its theme is 'Coping with the Pandemic and Beyond: Research and Innovations in the Plantation
Crops Sector'.
 Dr R Chandra Babu, the Vice-Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University, inaugurated the
symposium.
 PLACROSYM was initiated in 1978 and is held biennially.
Assam Governor releases book 'Principles and Practice of Oncology'
 Assam Governor Jagadish Mukhi released a book 'Principles and Practice of Oncology' on 14
December 2021.
 This book will benefit students and practicing clinicians across the country.
 The Director of Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute, Dr. Amal Kataki and faculty members have
published the book.
 The institute is one of the oldest cancer centers of India.
VP M. Venkaiah Naidu launches Rahul Rawail's book on Raj Kapoor
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu released the memoir 'Raj Kapoor: The Master at Work' on 14
December 2021.
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 Published by Bloomsbury India, the book is written by filmmaker Rahul Rawail, who served as an
assistant director to Raj Kapoor on films like ''Bobby''.
 The book is about legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, who is acclaimed as the greatest showman
of Hindi cinema.
MHA approves setting up National Cyber Forensic Laboratory
 Ministry of Home Affairs has approved setting up a National Cyber Forensic Laboratory for
evidentiary purposes in the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Hyderabad.
 The Ministry has seven Central Forensic Science Laboratories in the country which has
dedicated facilities for electronic forensic, including computer and cyber forensics.
Axis Bank board appoints Ashish Kotecha as non-executive Director
 Axis Bank's board has approved the appointment of Ashish Kotecha, a nominee of Bain Capital,
as an additional non-executive Director.
 His appointment is for 3 yrs till Dec 2024, or till the time the entities affiliated to Bain Capital are
directly holding in the aggregate at least 2% equity capital in the bank.
 He joined Bain Capital Private Equity in 2010 and he is now its MD.
Sports Journalists' Federation of India to honour Sunil Gavaskar
 The prestigious Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) Medal will be conferred on
legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.
 Neeraj Chopra was adjudged the SJFI Sportsman of the Year while weightlifter Mirabai Chanu
was voted as the Sportswoman of the Year.
 The Indian men's team that won the hockey bronze in Tokyo was declared the Team of the
Year.
Skill India conducts Adarsh Gram Skill Camps in villages of Prayagraj
 Skill India Mission is conducting a special Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program for
candidates in Semra and Yarna in the Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh.
 It is being held under its SANKALP programme (Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for
Livelihood Promotion).
 SANKALP was launched on 19th January 2018 and has a tenure till March 2023.
Rajnath Singh hands over DRDO developed products to armed forces
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over five DRDO developed products to the armed
forces and other security agencies at an event held at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi on December
14, 2021.
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 He also handed over six Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreements to seven public and private
sector companies.
 He also handed over the Modular Bridge to the Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane.
RBI introduces prompt corrective action framework for NBFCs
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework
for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
 The new NBFC framework will be applicable to all deposit-taking NBFCs in the middle, upper
and top layers.
 The PCA framework for NBFCs will come into effect from October 1, 2022, based on the financial
position of NBFCs on or after March 31, 2022.
SBI Cards launches fitness-focused credit card ‘SBI Card PULSE'
 SBI Cards has launched a first-of-a-kind credit card ‘SBI Card PULSE' that offers a host of
fitness and health-related benefits.
 The contactless card comes with an annual membership fee of ₹1,499 and has been launched
on the Visa Signature platform.
 The renewal fee waiver is applicable on achieving an annual spend milestone of ₹2 lakh within
the card membership year.
Retail inflation rises to 4.91% in November from 4.48% in October
 Retail inflation based on Consumer Price Index, CPI, has risen to 4.91% in November 2021 from
4.48% in October.
 As per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data released on 13 Dec'21, this
is the fifth month that the retail inflation has remained within the RBI's target band of 2-6 per
cent.
 The CPI inflation in rural India stood at 4.29% and 5.54% in urban areas.
Central grant of Rs 604 cr released to J&K under Jal Jeevan Mission
 With a focus to expedite the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Jammu & Kashmir, the
central government has released Rs 604 crore to the UT.
 A central fund of Rs 2,747 crore has been allocated to the UT in 2021-22 for the implementation
of Jal Jeevan Mission, which is nearly four times the allocation made during 2020-21.
 J&K plans to become ‘Har Ghar Jal’ UT by August 2022.
Uttarakhand govt approves drinking water supply schemes
 Drinking water supply schemes of Rs 56.7 crore were approved under Jal Jeevan Mission by
Uttarakhand in the state-level scheme sanctioning committee (SLSSC) meeting held 13 Dec'21.
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 Of the five water supply schemes sanctioned, two are single-village schemes and three are
multi-village schemes.
 It will provide tap water connections to more than 6,800 rural households.
Bank of Baroda launches bob World Wave, a wearable payment solution
 Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched a solution for digital banking payments, named bob World
Wave.
 The bob World Wave wearable device will allow customers to monitor their Sp02, body
temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
 The device will provide contactless payments of up to ₹5000 in all NFC (near field
communication)-enabled PoS devices.
Ravinder Bhakar assumes charge of NFDC, Films Division, and CFSI
 Ravinder Bhakar assumed charge as the MD of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC),
Films Division, and CEO of Children Films Society of India (CFSI) on 13 December 2021.
 He is the CEO of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
 Mr. Bhakar is a 1999-batch officer of the Indian Railway Stores Service (IRSS).
PM Modi lays foundation stone of Maa Umiya Dham Development Project
 PM Modi addressed the foundation stone laying of the Maa Umiya Dham Development Project
in Gujarat on 13 Dec'21.
 The temple of Maa Umiya, the reigning deity of the Kadva Patidar farming community, and
other buildings will be built at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore on 74,000 square yards of land.
 The temple will have a total of 92 pillars, all detailed with engravings as per ancient scriptures.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launches ''Dilli Ki Yogshala'' programme
 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on 13 December 2021 launched the ''Dilli Ki Yogshala''
programme.
 It aims to help the city residents practice yoga regularly under the guidance of trained teachers.
 A mobile phone number was launched on which people can give a missed call and get the
guidance of yoga teachers.
 This programme will begin in Jan 2022.
IIT Delhi signs MoU with IAF to accelerate indigenization effort
 IIT Delhi and the Indian Air Force have signed an MoU for various projects.
 Under the ambit of the MoU, IAF has identified key focus areas involving technology
development and finding indigenous solutions towards the sustenance of various weapon
systems.
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 IIT-Delhi will provide cooperation and consultancy, duly supported by research, for feasibility
studies and prototype development.
National Energy Conservation Day: 14 December
 National Energy Conservation Day is observed every year on 14th December to raise awareness
about the significance of energy and the need of conserving energy by using less energy.
 The Ministry of Power is celebrating Energy Conservation Week from 8th to 14th December
2021.
 The theme of this year's 'AzadikaAmritMahotsav: Energy Efficient India”
BPCL, BARC collaborate to scale up tech for Green Hydrogen production
 Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited has collaborated with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
to scale-up Alkaline Electrolyser technology for green hydrogen production.
 This is a first-of-its-kind initiative to support the country's commitment to achieve renewable
energy targets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 Currently, hydrogen is made at the refinery via. steam reforming of natural gas.
Govt launches 2nd edition of Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge
 The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in partnership with Startup India, launched
the second edition of ‘Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge’ on 13 December 2021.
 The winner will be awarded Rs 10 lakh and runner-up Rs 7 lakh cash for each of the six problem
areas.
 The first edition of the challenge was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 12th
September 2019.
DRDO successfully test-fires supersonic missile assisted torpedo
 India on 13 December 2021 successfully tested a long-range supersonic missile assisted torpedo
(SMART) system developed by DRDO.
 The missile aimed at enhancing the country's anti-submarine warfare capability was launched
from Balasore in Odisha.
 The missile carried a torpedo, parachute delivery system, and release mechanisms.
 The weapon system is being developed by DRDO for the Indian Navy.
LIC introduces savings life insurance plan Dhan Rekha
 LIC has introduced a non-linked, non-participating, individual savings life insurance plan.
 The plan, Dhan Rekha, provides a percentage of the basic sum assured as a survival benefit at
regular intervals starting from the end of the premium-paying term, provided that the policy is
in force.
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 This plan also takes care of liquidity needs through a loan facility.
Maharashtra tops list of Atmanirbhar Rozgar Yojana beneficiaries
 Maharashtra has topped the list of states with a maximum number of beneficiaries under the
Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana.
 It was followed by Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
 The total beneficiaries under the scheme stand at 3.97 million.
 Maharashtra has 0.64 million beneficiaries.
 North-eastern state Nagaland was at the bottom with just 43 beneficiaries.
Equitas SFB, Cholamandalam MS General Insurance tie up
 Equitas Small Finance Bank has partnered with Cholamandalam MS General Insurance to
launch a ‘Chola Sarva Shakti Policy’, a women-specific health insurance policy.
 It aims to provide women with an independent and comprehensive policy, which secures their
future against various contingency health situations.
 According to a recent survey among 1,009 women, only 39% of them had a health cover.
PM Modi inaugurates Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi
 PM Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from 13 December 2021.
 He inaugurated the rejuvenated and transformed Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
 Phase 1 of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham has been constructed at a cost of around 339 crore
rupees.
 The 20-25 feet wide corridor will connect Lalita Ghat on Ganges to the Mandir Chowk in the
temple premises.
3rd edition of Manohar Parrikar Vigyan Mahotsav being held from 13 Dec
 The third edition of the Manohar Parrikar Vigyan Mahotsav is being held on 13 December 2021
at eight venues in Goa.
 The science festival, named after former Goa CM, will have former ISRO chairperson Professor K
Kasturirangan delivering a lecture on 'Space- A Promising Endeavour' at the National Institute
of Oceanography in Dona Paula.
 Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will be the chief guest.
Rakesh Asthana launches Delhi Police's e-learning platform
 Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on 12 Dec 2021 launched an e-learning platform,
'Unnati'.
 It was launched at the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Auditorium under the
Delhi Police's flagship scheme 'YUVA'.
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 It will help educate youths and impart skill training to school dropouts from the weaker sections
of society.
 The 'Unnati' placement cell has also been set up.
Kotak Mahindra Bank appoints Ashu Suyash as independent Director
 Kotak Mahindra Bank has appointed Ashu Suyash as an independent Director of the bank for a
period of 5 years.
 The appointment is effective from January 24, 2022, up to January 23, 2027.
 Suyash was earlier the Managing Director of rating agency CRISIL.
 The board has also approved raising Rs 5,000 crore in through debt instrument in one or more
tranches next fiscal (2023).
Gov. Acharya Devvrat inaugurates 34th edition of “Hunar Haat” in Surat
 Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on 12 Dec 2-21 inaugurated the 34th edition 'Hunar Haat'.
 Handmade products from over 30 states and Union Territories as well as traditional dishes are
available in the 300 stalls in the 34th 'Hunar Haat', with more than 600 artisans and craftsmen
participating.
 The next "Hunar Haat" will be organized at JLN Stadium in New Delhi.
Traditional buffalo race 'Kambala' held in Moodabidri, Karnataka
 Kambala, a traditional buffalo race, was held at Moodabidri in the Dakshina Kannada district of
Karnataka on 11 December 2021.
 More than 200 pairs of buffaloes participated.
 Kambala is a folk sport, held traditionally by local Tuluva landlords and households in coastal
districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udipi of Karnataka and Kasaragod of Kerala, a region
collectively known as Tulu Nadu.
Five Drone Schools to be set-up in Madhya Pradesh
 Gwalior Drone Mela was organized on 11 December 2021 by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and
the MP govt.
 It was held at Madhav Institute of Technology & Science (MITS), Gwalior.
 Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia informed that five drone schools will be opened across
Madhya Pradesh to train youngsters in drone technology.
 These will be opened in Gwalior, Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, and Satna.
Rajnath Singh inaugurated Swarnim Vijay Parv on 50 years of 1971 war
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Swarnim Vijay Parv in New Delhi on 12 Dec'21.
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 It is an event commemorating the valour and professionalism of the Armed Forces and their
contribution to the liberation of Bangladesh in the Indo-Pak 1971 war.
 The event marked the culmination of year-long celebrations of 50 yrs of India's victory in the
war and the journey of the Swarnim Vijay Mashal.
Centre govt to launch national helpline against atrocities on SCs/STs
 The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will launch a National Helpline Against
Atrocities (NHAA) on 13th Dec 2021.
 The aim is to ensure proper implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes
(Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
 It will be available on toll-free number 14566 across the country.
 The government will also launch a mobile application of the helpline.
Punjab National Bank launches new Android app for disabled employees
 Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched the PNB Pride-CRMD module tool.
 It is an android-based application for differently-abled employees, to monitor and effectively
follow up with the special mention account (SMA) borrowers.
 The app aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
Amit Goenka wins 21st Century Icon Awards at House of Lords
 Amit Goenka, President of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), was felicitated with
the 21st Century Icon Awards at the House of Lords on Dec 11.
 The award was received on behalf of Amit Goenka by Parul Goel, ZEE Network UK’s Business
Head.
 The Squared Watermelon Company of London gives the 21st Century Icon Award every year to
the personalities who set an example for the world.
Vice President releases book ‘Public Service Ethics’ by Prabhat Kumar
 Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released the book, ‘Public Service Ethics’ in December 2021.
 It has been written by Prabhat Kumar, former Governor of Jharkhand and former Cabinet
Secretary to the Government of India.
 It has been published by IC Centre for Governance.
 Prabhat Kumar was the first Governor of Jharkhand.
Bala Krishna’s autobiography ‘At Home In The Universe’ released
 An autobiography by Bala Krishna Madhur titled ‘At Home In The Universe’ was released by R.C.
Sinha, advisor to the Ministry of Road Development in Mumbai, in December 2021.
 Madhur is a former CEO at DHFL Property Services Ltd.
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 The book tells about the policy environment in the 1980s and 1990s in the Housing Finance
Sector.
UP Cabinet approves Atma Nirbhar Krishak development scheme
 The UP Cabinet has approved a scheme aimed at boosting the agriculture sector.
 Atma Nirbhar Krishak Integrated Development Scheme will be implemented from FY 2021-22.
 Under this scheme, 1,475 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) will be formed in the next three
years in each development block of the state.
 Rs 1 lakh crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans.
Chandigarh MC held a three-day Chrysanthemum Show from 10-12 Dec
 The Chandigarh municipal corporation organized a first-of-its-kind zero-waste Chrysanthemum
Show at the Terraced Garden, Sector 33, between December 10 and 12, 2021.
 The show was an attempt to showcase sustainable and environment-friendly initiatives.
 The purpose was to ensure that zero waste left the premises.
 Chrysanthemum show is the most popular flower show after the Rose Festival.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister launches 'Milk Price Incentive Scheme'
 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Milk Price Incentive Scheme in
December 2021.
 The scheme is aimed to supply incentives benefiting around 53,000 people of Uttarakhand.
 The amount will be directly put into the beneficiaries' accounts via Direct Bank Transfer (DBT).
 The state government will also spend Rs 444.62 crores to open 500 milk sales centers in
Uttarakhand.
Haiderpur Wetland in Uttar Pradesh added to Ramsar sites
 The Haiderpur Wetland, about 10 km from Bijnor in western Uttar Pradesh, has been recognized
under the 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
 Haiderpur wetland spreads over an area of 6,908 hectares in Uttar Pradesh.
 It was formed in 1984 on a floodplain of the River Ganga on the Madhya Ganga Barrage.
 Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India.
DRDO successfully flight-test indigenous Stand-Off Anti-Tank missile
 DRDO and Indian Air Force flight-tested the indigenously made helicopter-launched SANT
(Stand-off Anti-tank) missile from Pokhran ranges, on 11 Dec'21.
 The missile is equipped with a state-of-the-art millimeter wave seeker, which provides high
precision strike capability from a safe distance.
 The SANT missile has been designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI),
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Himachal Pradesh government notifies Commission for 'general category'

 Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur has announced the formation of a commission to
address the grievances of the general category.
 It will be called “Samanya Varg Aayog”.
 A Scheduled Caste Commission is already in operation in Himachal Pradesh and is chaired by
former Shimla MP Virendra Kashyap.
 While the Commission was abolished in Bihar, it is still functional in Madhya Pradesh.
Exhibition on Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat inaugurated on 12 December
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated an exhibition on Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat in
Hyderabad on 12 Dec'21.
 The exhibition was organized by the Regional Outreach Bureau, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting.
 It highlighted aspects of the paired states of Haryana and Telangana
 It will be open for viewing from 12-14 Dec at Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University Campus,
Nampally.
Srinivas Udgata, Divya Dutta receive Kalinga Literary Awards 2021
 Padmashree Srinivas Udgata was awarded Kalinga Literary Award and Arun Kamal was
awarded the Kalinga Literary International award.
 Divya Dutta was awarded Kalinga Literary (Woman Writer) Award.
 The eighth edition of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) was inaugurated by Odisha Tourism
Minister, Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi in Bhubaneswar on 10 Dec 2021.
Kotak Mahindra General Insurance partners with Vasai Vikas Bank
 Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Ltd and Vasai Vikas Sahakari Bank Ltd have
announced a strategic alliance.
 Under this agreement, Vasai Bank will offer Kotak General Insurance’s comprehensive suite of
general and health insurance products to its customers across its network of 21 branches.
 Kotak General Insurance is a 100% subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.
Tripura government gives nod to set up Buddhist university
 The Tripura government has given its approval for setting up a Buddhist university in Manu
Bankul in Sabroom.
 The state government has given a Letter of Intent to Bahujana Hitaya Education Trust for
setting up the university.
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 Students from 31 countries will get a chance to study as well as research Buddhist literature,
culture and tradition in the proposed varsity.
Mahakavi Subramanian Bharati's birth anniversary: 11 December
 11 December is marked as the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramanian Bharati.
 He was a poet, social reformer, and freedom fighter from Tamil Nadu.
 He was known as Mahakavi Bharathiyar.
 His participation and activities in the Benaras Session (1905) and Surat Session (1907) of the INC
impressed many national leaders for his patriotic fervor.
PM Modi inaugurates Saryu Canal National project in UP's Balrampur
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Saryu Canal National Project in the Balrampur
district of Uttar Pradesh on 11 December 2021.
 This project will solve irrigation-related problems in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and will be a boon to
the farmers.
 The project involves the interlinking of five rivers - Ghaghara, Saryu, Rapti, Banganga, and
Rohini.
DRDO successfully tests Pinaka Extended Range, indigenous fuzes
 DRDO successful tests of Pinaka Extended Range (Pinaka-ER), Area Denial Munitions (ADM),
and indigenously developed fuzes have been carried out at various test ranges.
 Pinaka-ER Multi Barrel Rocket System launcher is the upgraded version of the earlier version of
Pinaka
 Pinaka MK-I rocket system has a range of around 40 km, the Pinaka II variant can hit targets at
a distance of 60 km.
NITI Aayog and Bharti Foundation launch 'Convoke 2021-22'
 NITI Aayog in partnership with Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises,
has launched Convoke 2021-22.
 Convoke is a national research symposium that aims at addressing challenges in imparting
education and strengthening its quality.
 School teachers/ Heads/Principals of Government Schools will be encouraged to use research-
based solutions through a scientific approach.
NCW launches online resource center on cyber safety
 National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched an online resource centre.
 It was inaugurated by the Governor of Jharkhand Ramesh Bais.
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 It will offer help for women in distress on issues pertaining to online safety such as cyberbullying,
cyberstalking, financial frauds, etc under the ‘We Think Digital’programme, run collaboratively
by the Commission, Facebook, and Cyber Peace Foundation.
Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians 2021 awarded to Neena Gupta
 Professor Neena Gupta, a mathematician at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, has been
awarded the 2021 DST-ICTP-IMU Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from developing
countries.
 She has been awarded for her outstanding work in affine algebraic geometry and commutative
algebra.
 Professor Gupta is the third woman to receive the Ramanujan Prize.
MoD signs MoU with IITE Gandhinagar to train Sainik School teachers
 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has entered into an MoU with the Indian Institute of Teacher
Education (IITE) Gandhinagar.
 It will facilitate training for teachers of Sainik Schools.
 The MoU is for the period of five years commencing with effect from January 2022 under which
800 plus teachers will be trained through courses named ‘Gurudiksha’ and ‘Pratibaddhta’.
NITI Aayog releases two reports on emergency and injury care in India
 Niti Aayog released two reports on comprehensive country-level assessment of emergency and
injury care at secondary, tertiary level centres and district hospitals in India.
 The two reports released were titled ‘Reports on current status on Country level - secondary and
tertiary level and district level emergency’ and ‘Injury Care in India'.
Odisha CM lays foundation for Technical Ammonium Nitrate Complex
 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation for Technical Ammonium Nitrate (TAN)
Manufacturing Complex on a virtual platform at Gopalpur in Ganjam, on 9 Dec'21.
 Smartchem Technologies Ltd is setting up this unit at an investment of Rs 2200 crore.
 Used for multiple purposes in various sectors like agriculture, industry, and mining, it will provide
a huge boost to these sectors in the state.
Institute of Driving and Traffic Research inaugurated in Chhattisgarh
 Chhattisgarh government’s first Institute of Driving and Traffic Research was inaugurated by CM
Bhupesh Baghel on 9 Dec 2021.
 This institute has been built in Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur at 20 acres of land at a cost of Rs 17
crore.
 Driving training will be given by expert trainers of Maruti Suzuki company in this institute.
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 30 days of training will be given to drive large vehicles like trucks.

ISRO signs deal with Oppo to strengthen R&D of NavIC messaging service
 ISRO has signed an agreement with Oppo's Indian arm to strengthen the research and
development of the NavIC messaging service.
 They will exchange technical information of NavIC messaging services to build rapid, end-to-
end application-specific solutions
 The NavIC system provides regional navigation services covering the Indian mainland and an
area up to 1,500 km beyond the Indian mainland.
India to launch its human space mission 'Gaganyaan' in 2023
 India's first human space mission "Gaganyaan" will be launched in 2023.
 This was informed by Union of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Jitendra
Singh, on 9 December 2021.
 Two uncrewed missions of Gaganyaan will also take place in 2022.
 The second mission will carry "Vyommitra", a spacefaring human-robot developed by ISRO, at
the end of 2022.
LIC gets RBI approval to raise holding in IndusInd Bank to 9.99%
 Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has got approval from the RBI to raise its holding in
IndusInd Bank to 9.99% from the existing 4.95%.
 The investment will be subject to compliance with the Master Direction on 'Prior Approval for
Acquisition of Shares or Voting Rights in Private Sector Banks'.
 The central bank's approval is valid for a period of one year, i.e. up to December 8, 2022.
NITI Aayog to set up 1,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in Jammu and Kashmir
 NITI Aayog will be establishing 1,000 Atal Tinkering Laboratories in J&K, of which 187 will be
established by the end of this financial year (2022).
 The labs will be built as a part of an initiative to provide children with opportunities to
experiment and widen their understanding of scientific phenomena.
 The process for establishing the remaining 106 labs will also be initiated shortly.
NEDFi announces new Atmanirbhar Hastshilpkar Scheme for the Artisans
 North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) has introduced Atmanirbhar
Hastshilpkar Scheme.
 The objective is to develop the artisans of the North Eastern Region by providing financial
assistance in the form of term loans for income-generating activities.
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 The credit facility is collateral-free and carries a subsidized interest rate of 6% p.a., which is
repayable in 24 months.
Federal Bank and Star Health Insurance tie-up for bancassurance
 Federal Bank has joined hands with Star Health and Allied Insurance Co Ltd.
 Star Health will provide a wide range of innovative health insurance products for the bank’s
8.90 mn customers spread over 1,291 banking outlets across the country.
 The bank’s customers can avail benefits of Star Health’s retail products and group affinity
products through the bank's various distribution channels.
MP govt implements commissionerate system for Bhopal and Indore
 Madhya Pradesh government has implemented a Police Commissionerate system in Bhopal and
Indore.
 It has been implemented in view of the law and order requirements arising out of geographical
expansion and technology.
 Inspector-General of Police level officer will be the Commissioner of Police in both the cities.
 The Commissioner of Police will have the powers of the Executive Magistrate.
ETS launches Business School Advisory Council in India
 ETS has announced the formation of the Business School Advisory Council (BSAC) in India.
 ETS is the world's largest, nonprofit educational assessment, measurement, research, and
learning organization.
 This newly established council will help bolster the support of learners and graduate business
education programs in India.
 It is comprised of a diverse group of higher education leaders.
NITI Aayog launches 'e-Sawari India E-Bus Coalition' with CESL
 NITI Aayog has launched 'e-Sawaari India Electric Bus Coalition' in partnership with
Convergence Energy Service Ltd (CESL) and World Resources Institute, India (WRI India).
 It has been launched with support from the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI).
 The coalition aims to share knowledge and learnings on e-bus adoption in India among various
stakeholders.
Paytm Payments Bank gets scheduled bank status from RBI
 Paytm Payments Bank Ltd, an associate entity of Paytm, has gained RBI's approval to function
as a scheduled payments bank.
 It had over 6.4 cr savings accounts and more than ₹5,200 cr deposits, including savings
accounts, current accounts and fixed deposits with partner banks at the end of March 2021.
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 The payments bank will now be eligible to partner in Centre-run financial inclusion schemes.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman at 37 on Forbes 2021 list of 100 powerful women
 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made it to the Forbes’ annual list of powerful
women — The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
 She is ranked at number 37.
 This is the third year in a row that she made it to the list.
 In 2020, she was in the 41st spot and 34th in 2019.
 Jeff Bezos’ former wife Mackenzie Scott has earned the topmost spot on this list.
For the first time in centuries, world’s population set to decline
 The world’s population is set to decline for the first time ever in the next century, a new study
published in the Lancet journal has revealed.
 The study has predicted that the peak in the global population would expectedly be around 9.7
bn in 2064 and then decline to 8.79 bn in 2100.
 The population in India, the second biggest populous country, would set to hover around 1·09 bn
in 2100.
V Praveen Rao received the 7th Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for 2017-19
 The prestigious 7th Dr. MS Swaminathan Award for the period 2017-2019 was awarded to Dr. V
Praveen Rao.
 He is the Vice-Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University.
 This biennial national award jointly constituted by Retired ICAR Employees Association
(RICAREA) and Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL) carries a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakhs, a gold medal,
and a citation.
National Energy Conservation Week: 8-14 December
 National Energy Conservation Week is being observed from 8th–14th December 2021.
 It is being marked as Iconic Week under "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav".
 The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) virtually launched the “Certification Course on Home
Energy Audit (HEA)” on 8 December 2021 during the event.
 It would enable the creation of a pool of professionals to perform home energy audits.
Aviva Life Insurance launches Nivesh Bima
 Aviva Life Insurance, a private insurance company, has announced the launch of Aviva Nivesh
Bima.
 This is a non-linked, non-participating, individual savings life insurance plan that provides
guaranteed moneyback at every fifth policy year, in addition to a lump sum payout at maturity.
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 The minimum annualized premium for it is as low as ₹25,000 and goes up to a maximum of
₹1,00,00,000.
MoUs signed in Tamil Nadu to serve the MSME industries
 The Tamil Nadu government has announced the signing of MoUs between Tamil Nadu Industrial
Investment Corporation Ltd (TIIC) and Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation
(TANSIDCO).
 It has been signed to serve the micro, small and medium industries in the state.
 TIIC entered into two MoUs with TANSIDCO and TAICO Bank (Tamilnadu Industrial Co-
operative Bank Ltd) Bank.
India test-fires air version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
 Air version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from the supersonic
fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30 MK-I from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha
on 8 December 2021.
 The missile launched from the aircraft followed the pre-planned trajectory meeting all mission
objectives.
 BrahMos is a Joint Venture between India (DRDO) and Russia.
Education Ministry launches mobile app called Bhasha Sangam
 Education Ministry has launched a mobile app called Bhasha Sangam in order to help people
acquire basic conversation ability in languages other than one's mother tongue to at least 75
lakh people.
 The App has more than 100 sentences of common usage, both in text and audio format, in 22
Indian languages.
 The app aims to foster the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
Parliament passes Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill
 Parliament has passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021.
 It provides for the regulation and supervision of the assisted reproductive technology (ART)
clinics and the assisted reproductive technology banks.
 Every ART clinic must be registered under the National Registry of Banks and Clinics of India.
 The Upper House also passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020
Disney Byju's Early Learn App signs Neeraj Chopra as brand ambassador
 Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has been announced as brand ambassador for Disney
Byju's Early Learn App.
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 Think And Learn Privately Limited, which runs Byju's has taken Disney-licensed characters for its
early learning app for younger children.
 As part of this two-year commitment, Chopra will inspire young learners to learn in a more
creative and interactive way.
Karnataka Higher Education Council to sign MoU with NSE Academy
 Karnataka Higher Education Council will be signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Academy.
 They will provide financial awareness for the holistic well-being of college students.
 NSE Academy has already introduced this program in seven states of the country and about 70
lakh students have been trained.
INA market becomes first 'clean and fresh fruit and vegetable market'
 Delhi's INA fruit and vegetable market has become the first market to be certified as the 'clean
and fresh fruit and vegetable market'.
 It has been certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
 Rajesh Bhushan is the current Chairperson for FSSAI.
 Shri Arun Singhal is the current Chief Executive Officer for FSSAI.
Fitch Ratings cut India's FY22 economic growth forecast to 8.4%
 Fitch Ratings has cut economic growth projections for India marginally to 8.4 percent for the
current financial year (2021-22) from an earlier forecast of 8.7 percent.
 However, it raised India’s growth projection to 10.3 percent from the earlier forecast of 10
percent for next financial year (FY23).
 It also expects headline inflation to average 4.9 percent in 2022 and 4.2 percent in 2023.
Padma Shri awardee Nanda Prusty passes away
 Noted educationist and Padma Shri awardee Nanda Kishore Prusty passed away in December
2021.
 In his native Kantira village, he was popularly known as Nanda Master or Nanda Sir. Working to
educate the masses, he had always upheld the tradition of Chatshali.
 The Chatshali tradition refers to a non-formal school for primary education common in Odisha.
NMCG and c-Ganga organize 6th India Water Impact Summit
 The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) along with the Centre for Ganga River Basin
Management and Studies are organizing the 6th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) from 9-14
Dec'21.
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 It is being organized in a hybrid mode - online and physically at the NMCG office, New Delhi,
and IIT Kanpur.
 The theme for 2021 is ‘River Resources Allocation “Planning and Management at the Regional
Level'.
Cabinet approves Ken-Betwa interlinking of rivers project
 The Union Cabinet has approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa inter-
linking of rivers project.
 The total cost of the Ken-Betwa link project has been assessed at Rs.44,605 crore at 2020-21
price levels.
 This project involves the transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa River through the
construction of the Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers.
Cabinet clears continuation of housing scheme till 2024
 The union cabinet on 8 December 2021 cleared the continuation of the rural housing scheme
Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana-Gramin till 2024.
 It will help facilitate the intended target of building 29.5 million houses under the scheme.
 As on 29 November 2021, 16.5 million houses have been constructed under the scheme out of
the total targeted 29.5 million houses.
India's top military officer CDS General Bipin Rawat passes away
 General (retd) Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, passed away in December 2021.
 An Indian Air Force helicopter ferrying him and 13 others crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
 Rawat, a former Indian army chief, took office as the first CDS on 1 January 2020 at the start of
a three-year term.
 He was the one point defence advisor to the Defence Minister.
Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize to be merged for years 2021, 2022
 The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize will be awarded for the years 2021 and 2022 together.
 The annual award, won by Journalist-author Raj Kamal Jha in 2020 for his novel ''The City and
The Sea'', will now be held for both years in New Delhi in October 2022.
 The award for Social Achievement 2020 was conferred to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al
Said, the late Sultan of Oman.
‘Localization of Sustainable Development Goals’ report released
 Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj released the report on
“Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Panchayati Raj Institutions” on
7 Dec'21.
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 Two dedicated Dashboards namely Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) Monitoring
Dashboard and Training Management Portal were launched.
 Handbook on Training Management Portal was also released.
Central grant of ₹120 cr released to Manipur under Jal Jeevan Mission
 To expedite the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Manipur, the Government of India
has released Rs. 120 crore of central grant to the State.
 Central fund of Rs. 481 crore has been allocated to the State for 2021-22 for the implementation
of Jal Jeevan Mission.
 As on date, out of 4.51 lakh rural households in the state, 2.67 lakh (59.2%) households have tap
water connections.
India’s first woman psychiatrist, Sarada Menon passes away
 Sarada Menon, considered India’s first woman psychiatrist, passed away in December 2021.
 She has been a recipient of several awards, including the Padma Bhusan in 1992 for her work in
the field of mental health.
 She became the first woman psychiatrist in the country when she began working in 1959 at
what is now the Institute of Mental Health in Chennai.
President Ram Nath Kovind awards ‘President Standard’ to Navy squadron
 President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the President’s Standard to the 22nd Missile Vessel
Squadron at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on 8 December 2021.
 The President’s Standard is the highest honor bestowed by the Supreme Commander to a
military unit in recognition of the service rendered to the nation.
 A Special Day Cover along with a commemorative stamp was also released by the Postal
Department.
RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at four percent for 9th time in a row
 RBI maintained the status quo in key policy rates as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)
voted unanimously to keep the policy repo rate at four percent.
 The Bi-monthly Policy was announced by RBI Governor Shaktikant Das on 8 December 2021.
 Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and bank rate will remain unchanged at 4.25 percent.
 Reverse repo rate will also remain unchanged at 3.35 percent.
Maharashtra signs business agreements worth Rs 5,051 crores
 The Maharashtra government on 7 December 2021 signed MoUs worth around Rs 5,051 crore
with 12 companies.
 The agreements will generate over 9,000 jobs.
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 The MoUs will encourage sectors such as information technology, space research, biofuel, steel,
electric vehicle, and ethanol productions, food processing, and others in Maharashtra.
 They will help achieve all-round industrial growth.
Nilmoni Phukan, Damodar Mauzo awarded Jnanpith Award
 Assamese poet Nilmoni Phukan has been awarded the Jnanpith Award for 2020.
 Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo won the award for the year 2021.
 A Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi awardee, Phukan had also received the Sahitya Akademi
fellowship.
 Damodar Mauzo was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983.
 Jnanpith Award is the highest Indian literary award presented annually.
Government of Meghalaya partners with SIAL India
 The Government of Meghalaya has partnered with the world's no. 1 food innovation network,
SIAL India, for its event at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from 9-11 Dec'21.
 The event will encompass both wine and spirits and will have an exhibit of around 20-30
international wine producers alongside Indian producers.
 SIAL India will also see the launch and establishment of Vinexpo.
NCW launches ‘She is a Changemaker' programme for women
 The National Commission for Women (NCW) on 7 December 2021 launched a pan-India
capacity building programme,‘She is a Changemaker’.
 It is for women representatives at all levels, gram panchayats to parliament members and
political workers.
 The official launch of training programmes under ‘She is a Changemaker’ series was held on 7
Dec in Thane, Maharashtra.
Tata Power, IIT Madras ink MoU to collaborate on R&D, training
 Tata Power and IIT Madras have signed MoU to collaborate on R&D, consultancy, advocacy,
training and technology solutions.
 As a part of the MoU, Tata Power and IIT Madras will aim to pursue advanced research in areas
of future technology.
 The agreement also includes campus recruitment opportunities for postgraduate students of IIT
Madras.
Microsoft launches cybersecurity skilling program in India
 Microsoft on 7 Dec'21 launched a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity skilling program that aims to skill
over 1 lakh learners by 2022.
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 The program is designed to give learners hands-on experience in the fundamentals of security,
compliance, and identity.
 Microsoft will conduct these courses along with its strategic partners including CloudThat,
Koenig, RPS, and Synergetics Learning.
DRDO successfully test-fires short-range Surface to Air Missile
 DRDO successfully test-fired the vertically launched Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-
SRSAM) from Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
 The air defence system can engage targets at around 15 km.
 The missile system has been developed for naval warships.
 DRDO had also successfully tested the high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT), ABHYAS.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates AIIMS in Gorakhpur
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Gorakhpur on 7 December 2021.
 The 300-bed AIIMS Gorakhpur costs Rs 1,011 crore.
 The capacity of the AIIMS hospital will be expanded to 750 in the coming days.
 With the inauguration, a 35-bed emergency ward will also come into service, which will provide
quick treatment to critical patients.
Jyoti Prasad appointed Member (Law) of JERC for Goa and UTs
 Power Minister R K Singh on 6 Dec'21 administered the oath of office to Jyoti Prasad as Member
(Law) of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Goa and UTs.
 She retired as senior general manager from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) on
June 30, 2021.
 The JERC for all UTs except Delhi was established by the govt under the provisions of the
Electricity Act, 2003.
Central govt grant released to Meghalaya and Punjab under JJM
 With a focus to expedite the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Meghalaya and
Punjab, the central govt has released Rs169.60 cr and Rs 402.24 cr respectively to both states.
 There are 5.90 lakh rural households in Meghalaya, out of which 1.88 lakh households have tap
water connections.
 Jal Jeevan Mission was launched on August 15, 2019.
NITI Aayog and CSE releases ‘Waste-wise Cities’ on 6 December 2021
 'Waste-wise Cities: Best practices in municipal solid waste management was released on 6th
December by NITI Aayog and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
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 It is a comprehensive knowledge repository of how Indian cities are managing their solid waste.
 The report documents best practices from 28 cities in 15 states of India.
ICICI Bank partners with Flipkart for digital overdraft facility
 ICICI Bank has partnered with Flipkart to offer an instant and completely digital overdraft
facility of up to Rs 25 lakh.
 The partnership will help individual sellers registered on Flipkart to avail an OD from the bank
instantly in a process that is entirely digital.
 Customers of any bank can avail of ODs from ICICI Bank if they are registered as sellers with
Flipkart.
Ittira Davis appointed MD, CEO of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank
 Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has appointed Ittira Davis as Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) for a period of three years.
 He has been with Ujjivan since 2015 and was previously CEO of Ujjivan Financial Services.
 His appointment as Director (Executive) will be for a period co-terminus with his tenure as MD
and CEO.
 He will replace Nitin Chugh, who resigned on 30 Sept'21.
Armed Forces Flag Day: 7 December
 Armed Forces Flag Day is celebrated on December 7, every year in India.
 It has an objective to collect the funds from people for the betterment of the Armed Forces Staff
by selling Indian flags, batches, stickers, and other items.
 A committee was set up on August 28, 1949, under the then Defence Minister of India.
 The committee decided to observe a Flag Day annually on December 7.
MoHUA and UNDP sign MoU for strengthening waste management sector
 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has signed an MoU with the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) India.
 It has been signed to strengthen the waste management sector in India under the overall ambit
of Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban 2.0.
 It will be operational for a period of 5 years (2021-26).
 UNDP India will also be facilitating setting up of 75 Smart Swachhata Kendras.
Sanjiv Mehta gets appointed as FICCI President
 The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has announced that
Sanjiv Mehta will be appointed as its President on December 18, 2021.
 He is the Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Limited.
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 Mr. Mehta, currently, the Senior Vice President of FICCI, will be succeeding Mr. Uday Shankar,
the current President of FICCI.
Reserve Bank of India imposes curbs on Nagar Urban Co-op Bank
 The RBI has imposed several restrictions on Nagar Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd, Ahmednagar,
Maharashtra, including a cap of ₹10,000 on withdrawals for customers in the wake of
deterioration of its financial position.
 The restrictions, imposed through directions under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, shall
remain in force for a period of six months from the close of business on Dec 6, 2021.
Nita Ambani 2nd on India’s Most Powerful Women list, Sitharaman tops
 Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation has been ranked second in the list
of Fortune India’s Most Powerful Women.
 During the pandemic, her foundation took the responsibility of vaccinating 25L people through
the digital platform - JioHealthHub.
 She launched Her Circle - A Reliance Foundation initiative.
 Nirmala Sitharaman has topped the list.
UP gets 2nd earth station for Doordarshan Kendra in Gorakhpur
 Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated Earth Station of Doordarshan Kendra
Gorakhpur.
 It would enable it to telecast directly the locally generated programmes across the world
through DTH.
 It is Uttar Pradesh's second earth station that is built for Rs 7 cr.
 3 FM relay centres of 10KW each at Etawah, Gadania in Lakhimpur Kheri and Nanpara in
Bahraich districts were also inaugurated.
SBI invites bids to sell NPA account KSK Mahanadi Power with dues
 SBI invites bids from asset reconstruction companies to sell NPA account KSK Mahanadi Power
with dues over ₹4,100 crores.
 The e-auction of KSK Mahanadi is scheduled to take place on December 31, 2021.
 The interested parties can submit an expression of interest by December 6.
 KSK Mahanadi Power Company is under the corporate insolvency resolution process.
Himachal Pradesh becomes first fully COVID- 19 vaccinated state
 Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to fully vaccinate 100 percent of its
adult population against COVID-19.
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 Himachal Pradesh has the first state in the country to achieve the 100 percent mark of the first
dose in August 2021.
 A special function is being organised to honour COVID-19 workers at the All-India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bilaspur on 5 Dec.
Document Registration System and Banadhikar app launched in Tripura
 Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh inaugurated the
National Generic Document Registration System and Banadhikar mobile application in Tripura.
 1.3 lakh tribal people will get forest Patta lands under the Banadhikar mobile app and get a
uniform map of their land.
 Through these new schemes, each and every plot in the state will get a unique ID.
PM Modi to lay foundation of Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor
 Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of 11 development projects.
 This includes the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor (from Eastern Peripheral Expressway
Junction to Dehradun).
 It will have seven major interchanges for connectivity to Haridwar, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, etc.
 It will have Asia's largest wildlife elevated corridor (12 kilometers) for unrestricted wildlife
movement.
Event to mark 100 years of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) begins
 The celebration of 100 years of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is scheduled on December
4-5, 2021.
 The event will be inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind, in the presence of Vice President
and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, Speaker Om Birla.
 52 nations, including Pakistan, were invited to the celebrations of 100 years of PAC.
 MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is a PAC chairperson.
Kinara Capital appoints Ravindra Jadeja as brand ambassador
 Bengaluru-based fintech firm Kinara Capital has signed Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja as its
brand ambassador.
 With this partnership, the company aims to boost its outreach in financing the MSME sector.
 Founded in 2011, the firm has disbursed over 70,000 collateral-free loans till date.
 Kinara Capital plans to grow 500% by the year 2025.
SSEL, Germany's Viridis.iQ GmbH sign pact for setting up solar project
 Shirdi Sai Electricals Limited (SSEL) has signed an agreement with German engineering services
firm Viridis.iQ GmbH for setting up a 4,000-megawatt solar project.
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 The manufacturing unit will be set up for Polysilicon + Ingot-Wafer + Cell + Module''.
 Hyderabad-based SSEL is a leading manufacturer of different types of transformers.
Pawan Kumar takes over as Director at Indraprastha Gas Ltd
 Pawan Kumar has taken over as Director (Commercial) of Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL).
 Kumar has taken over the position from Amit Garg, who has been repatriated to his parent
organization BPCL to head the new vertical of renewable energy.
 IGL is a joint venture of GAIL (India) Ltd and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) along
with the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
IREDA, THDCIL sign MoU for green energy collaborations
 The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA) has entered into a pact with
THDC India Ltd (THDCIL).
 Under the MoU, IREDA will undertake techno-financial due diligence of renewable energy and
energy efficiency and conservation projects for THDCIL.
 IREDA will also assist THDCIL in developing an action plan to create and acquire renewable
energy projects for the next five years.
ONGC inks MoU with SECI to develop renewable, ESG projects
 Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) has signed an MoU with Solar Energy Corporation
of India (SECI).
 The MoU provides a broad framework for ONGC and SECI to collaborate and cooperate for
undertaking renewable energy projects including solar, wind, solar parks, EV value chain, green
hydrogen, etc.
 ONGC is the first non-American company to be a part of Global Methane Initiative (GMI).
Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan begins in Nashik
 The 94th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan began in Nashik, Maharashtra on 3
December 2021.
 It was inaugurated by veteran writer Vishwas Patil in the presence of the first scientist president
of the Sammelan Dr. Jayant Naralikar.
 Granth Dindi which carries famous books and novels in a palanquin began from the residence
of great Marathi poet and novelist late V V Shirwadkar.
National Awards for work towards empowerment of PwDs presented
 President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the annual National Awards on individuals, institutions,
organizations, and state/district, etc., for their outstanding achievements and work towards the
empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
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 The awards were presented on 3 December 2021.

 Tamil Nadu has been recognised as the ‘Best State in promoting empowerment of persons with
disabilities'.
Dr Rajendra Prasad's 137th birth anniversary: 3 December 2021
 First President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad's 137th birth anniversary was observed on 3
December 2021.
 Apart from being involved in politics, he was also a freedom fighter, teacher, and lawyer.
 He was known to be an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi.
 Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as the President from 1950 to 1962.
 He remains the longest-serving president of the country to date.
IDFC FIRST Bank announces launch of FIRST Private Infinite card
 IDFC FIRST Bank has announced the launch of FIRST Private Infinite.
 It is the country's first-ever standalone metal debit card.
 It has been developed in partnership with Visa.
 FIRST Private Infinite is a lifetime free card designed specifically for customers who are part of
the Bank's FIRST Private program, premium savings and wealth offering.
Armed Forces Flag Day Corporate Social Responsibility Conclave held
 The third edition of the Armed Forces Flag Day Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave
was held in New Delhi on 2 December 2021.
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh felicitated the prominent contributors to the Armed Forces Flag
Day Fund (AFFDF) for Financial Year (FY) 2020-21.
 Chairman, State Bank of India Dinesh Khara and Executive Director Sun TV Group Kavery
Kalanithi were felicitated.
Parliament passes Dam Safety Bill, 2019 to prevent disasters
 Parliament has passed the Dam Safety Bill, 2019 with the Rajya Sabha approving it on 2
December 2021.
 The House also approved the amendments moved by the government to the bill.
 The bill provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dam
for prevention of dam failure related disasters and for an institutional mechanism to ensure their
safe functioning.
Fifth International Ambedkar Conclave held on 2 December 2021
 President of India Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the fifth International Ambedkar Conclave on
2 Dec 2021 in New Delhi.
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 It was organised by the Forum of SC and ST Legislators and Parliamentarians and Dr Ambedkar
Chamber of Commerce.
 The event is being held from 2-3 December 2021.
 It will focus on constitution, education, skill development, entrepreneurship, start-ups and
economic development.
Dhanlaxmi Bank part-time Chairman G Subramonia Iyer resigns
 Dhanlaxmi Bank's part-time Chairman G Subramonia Iyer has resigned on 2 December 2021.
 Iyer was appointed as part-time chairman in February 2021.
 His resignation is to be effective from December 31, 2021.
 In 2020, Sajeev Krishnan, part-time Chairman and independent director of Dhanlaxmi Bank, too
had resigned on June 29.
BDL and Indian Army sign a deal for refurbishment of IGLA-1M missiles
 Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and the Indian Army have signed a contract worth Rs 471.41
crore for the Refurbishment of IGLA - 1M missiles.
 After the Refurbishment, a fresh lease of life will be given to the missile for a period of ten years.
 The company, in addition to carrying out refurbishment, deals with the manufacture and supply
of Guided Missiles and associated equipment.
Oyo appoints former SBI head Rajnish Kumar as strategic group advisor
 OYO has announced the appointment of Rajnish Kumar, former Chairman of the State Bank of
India (SBI), as its strategic group advisor.
 Kumar will play a key role in advising OYO's management on short-term and long-term
strategy, and regulatory and stakeholder engagement.
 He is currently on the boards of HSBC Asia Pacific, L&T infotech, Hero Motocorp, and BharatPe.
Kurukshetra University to award Rajib Goyal Prize to 4 scientists
 Four scientists, all below the age of 45 years, have been selected by Kurukshetra University for
the Rajib Goyal Prize for the 'Young Scientists'.
 Rajneesh Mishra, IIT, Indore, KM Sureshan, IISER, Thiruvananthapuram, Rajeev Varshney,
ICRISAT Hyderabad, and Suman Chakraborty, IIT, Kharagpur have been selected for the award.
 Goyal Prizes were instituted in 1992 by Ram S Goyal, a US-based NRI.
SBI partners with Adani Capital for co-lending to farmers
 State Bank of India (SBI) has inked an agreement with Adani Capital Private Ltd (Adani Capital)
for co-lending to farmers for the purchase of tractor and farm implements.
 Adani Capital is the non-banking finance company (NBFC) arm of Adani Group.
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 SBI would be able to target farmer customers in the interior hinterland of the country looking for
the adoption of farm mechanization.
Sambit Patra appointed as Chairman of India Tourism Development Corp.
 Sambit Patra has been appointed as the Chairman of India Tourism Development Corporation
(ITDC) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
 The Appointments Committee has approved the Tourism Ministry's proposal to split the post of
Chairman and Managing Director of ITDC.
 IAS officer, GKV Rao will hold the post of Managing Director of .
Nagaland's 59th Statehood Day: December 1, 2021
 Nagaland's celebrated its 59th Statehood Day on December 1, 2021.
 On this day in 1963, it became the 16th state of India.
 Nagaland is a North-eastern state of India which is bordered by Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,
Manipur, and Myanmar.
 The capital of the state is Kohima.
 Nagaland is inhabited by 16 tribes including Kachari, Angami, Sumi, etc.
Renowned Bangaldeshi scholar Rafiqul Islam passes away
 Renowned scholar and national professor of Bangladesh Professor Rafiqul Islam passed away in
November 2021.
 Prof. Rafiqul Islam was one of the greatest scholars on the national poet of Bangladesh Kazi
Nazrul Islam.
 He was honored with Swadhinta Padak and the Ekushey padak, which is the highest civilian
award in Bangladesh.
 He had written close to 30 scholarly books.
World Computer Literacy Day: 2 December
 World Computer Literacy Day is observed on 2 December every year.
 It was launched by Indian computer company NIIT to mark its 20th anniversary in 2001, in
response to research that suggested the majority of computer users around the world were men.
 The theme for 2021 is “Literacy for human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide”.
National Pollution Control Day: 2 December
 India observes National Pollution Prevention Day on December 2 in memory of people who lost
their lives in the Bhopal gas disaster.
 The industrial accident occurred in 1984 when the gas Methyl Isocyanate leaked on the night of
December 2-3 and killed thousands.
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 The main objective of the day is to spread awareness on managing and controlling industrial
disasters.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance launches new income product
 ICICI Prudential Life Insurance on 1 December 2021 launched a new non-participating savings
product ‘ICICI Pru Guaranteed Income for Tomorrow (Long-term)’.
 It provides customers with the option to either receive regular guaranteed tax-free ‘Income’ or
‘Income with 110% return of premium’.
 Both these plan options provide income for up to 30 years.
Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta takes over as FOC-in-Chief, ENC
 Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief
(FOC-in-C), Eastern Naval Command (ENC) on 1 December 2021.
 He is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished
service.
 He was also awarded the Yudh Seva Medal.
 He was the Chief of Staff, ENC since June 2020 prior to being elevated as the Commander-in-
Chief.
All India Radio launches youth programme AIRNxt
 All India Radio has started a new programme called AIRNxt to offer youth a platform to air their
voices as part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.
 The programme began on November 28, 2021, and will continue for the next 52 weeks.
 It is the biggest single theme show on AIR and is being broadcast in all major Indian languages
and dialects.
Rajasthan govt signs 125 MoUs for Rs 69,000 crore projects
 Rajasthan government has signed MoUs worth Rs 68,698 crore and received the Letter of
Intents (LoIs) for over Rs 10,099 cr.
 It has received investment commitments worth about Rs 78,700, the bulk of which came from
Renew Power and cement maker JK Lakshmi.
 The investments are majorly proposed in the industries across the state in areas such as Ghiloth,
Bhiwadi, Neemrana, Jaipur, Udaipur, etc.
Tata Power bags India's largest solar and battery project
 Tata Power Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Tata Power Solar Systems has received a
Letter of Award (LoA) from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
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 It will build India's largest utility-scale BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) project and a 100
MW EPC solar project.
 The total contract value of the project is approximately ₹945 crore, and it will be completed
within 18 months.
Centre Govt. formed a new three member review panel for EWS criteria
 The Centre has constituted a three-member committee to review the criteria for 10%
reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in educational institutions and government
jobs.
 The three-member includes former Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Indian Council of
Social Science Research member secretary Prof VK Malhotra and principal economic advisor
Sanjeev Sanyal.
Drinking water supply schemes approved for Rajasthan
 Drinking water supply schemes worth Rs 1,816 crore were approved for Rajasthan in the State-
level Scheme Sanctioning Committee (SLSSC) meeting held on 29 November 2021.
 These schemes will provide tap water connections in 2,348 villages spread over 20 districts of
the State.
 The SLSSC has given special attention on water quality issues in 16 districts impacted with geo-
genic contamination.
Lt General Manoj Kumar Mago takes over as NDC Commandant
 Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Mago has taken over as the 34th Commandant of National
Defence College (NDC), New Delhi.
 He took over from Air Marshal D Choudhury who superannuated on Nov 30, 2021.
 He has been awarded Yudh Seva Medal and Sena Medal (twice) for his distinguished services.
 The General Officer has distinguished himself on two United Nations peacekeeping assignments
in Somalia.
Padma Shri awardee lyricist Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry passes away
 Renowned Telugu lyricist Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry passed away in November 2021.
 He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019.
 Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry wrote over 2000 songs in his career.
 He rose to popularity with his song Vidhatha Thalapuna for K Viswanath's 1986 film Sirivennela.
 He won several Filmfare Awards and Nandi Awards for his work in the south cinema.
IREDA, Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer ink deal for green energy project
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 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) inked an agreement with
Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corp Ltd (BVFCL) on 30 November 2021.
 It will provide its techno-financial expertise in developing renewable energy projects and
fundraising.
 IREDA will assist BVFCL in developing an action plan to create and acquire renewable energy
projects for the next 5 years.
India's GDP grows 8.4% in July-September: Government
 The Indian economy grew 8.4% in the second quarter of the current fiscal (2021-22).
 Data released by the statistics department showed that the agriculture sector grew 4.5% during
the July-September quarter.
 Data separately released by the Controller General of Accounts showed that the Centre had
exhausted 52.4% of its total expenditure target by October.
RBI appoints advisory panel to assist Reliance Capital administrator
 RBI has appointed a 3-member advisory committee to assist the administrator of Reliance
Capital.
 The members of the committee are Sanjeev Nautiyal, ex-deputy MD of SBI; Srinivasan
Varadarajan, ex-DMD, Axis Bank; and Praveen P Kadle, ex-MD and CEO, Tata Capital.
 Reliance Capital is the third shadow lender to be seized by the RBI, after Dewan Housing
Finance and Srei Infrastructure Finance.
Appointments
RBI approves Rajeev Ahuja's name as interim MD & CEO of RBL Bank
 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Rajeev Ahuja as Interim Managing
Director & CEO of the bank for a period of three months or till the appointment of a regular MD
& CEO.
 The development came after its Chief executive Vishwavir Ahuja went on immediate leave.
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also appointed an additional director on the board of the
private lender.
ITBP chief Sanjay Arora gets additional charge of SSB Director-General
 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) director-general Sanjay Arora will hold the additional charge
of another border guarding force SSB.
 He will replace the current chief of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Kumar Rajesh Chandra who is set
to retire on December 31, 2021.
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 The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is primarily tasked to guard unfenced Indian borders with Nepal
and Bhutan.
Pankaj Sharma appointed as India's next ambassador to Mexico
 Pankaj Sharma, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1991 batch, has been appointed as the
next Ambassador of India to Mexico.
 He is presently the Permanent Representative of India to the UN Conference on Disarmament,
Geneva.
 Pankaj Sharma will replace Mridul Kumar as the new ambassador.
Anupam Ray appointed India's new permanent representative at UN body
 Anupam Ray has been appointed as India's new permanent representative at UN Conference
on Disarmament.
 Indian Foreign Service officer, Anupam Ray is currently serving as a joint secretary in the MEA's
headquarters in Delhi.
 Ray will succeed Pankaj Sharma, who has been appointed as India's next ambassador to
Mexico.
 UN Conference on Disarmament is headquartered in Geneva.
Centre appoints Soma Sankara Prasad as new MD & CEO of UCO Bank
 The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Soma
Sankara Prasad as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UCO Bank with effect
 He will serve as MD & CEO of UCO Bank till the date of attaining the age of superannuation on
May 31, 2023.
 Currently, he is the Deputy Managing Director at the State Bank of India.
Paytm Payments Bank appoints three new independent directors
 Paytm Payments Banks has announced the appointment of three independent directors on 29
Dec 2021.
 The board of Paytm Payments Bank has approved the appointment of former DPIIT Secretary
Ramesh Abhishek, Manju Agarwal, and banker Shinjini Kumar as independent directors.
 Paytm Payments Bank has seven board members include MD & CEO Satish Kumar Gupta and
Chairman Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
Atul Kumar Goel appointed as new MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank
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 The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Atul
Kumar Goel, MD & CEO of UCO Bank, as MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank (PNB) with effect
 Goel will replace Mallikarjuna Rao, incumbent MD & CEO of PNB.
 He will serve as PNB chief until December 31, 2024, which is his attaining the superannuation
age.
Vasudevan reappointed as MD, CEO of Equitas Small Finance Bank
 Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited board of directors has approved the proposal for re-
appointment of Vasudevan Pathangi Narasimhan (PN) as the MD & CEO.
 He has been reappointed for three years, with effect from July 23, 2022, up to July 22, 2025.
 Vasudevan was appointed as the MD of erstwhile Equitas Finance Limited, now a bank, with
effect from July 23, 2016.
Government appoints Praveen Kumar as DG & CEO of IICA
 Praveen Kumar has been appointed to the post of Director General & Chief Executive Officer
(DG & CEO), Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA).
 He is the Former Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
 He is a 1987 batch retired IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre.
 IICA is a central civil service training institute under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Corporate
Affairs
IAS Radhika Jha appointed as CEO of Energy Efficiency Services Limited
 Radhika Jha, Indian Administrative Service cadre 2002, has been appointed as the Chief
Executive Officer in state-run Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).
 Earlier, Radhika Jha spearheaded the Centre’s Integrated Power Development Scheme as
Executive Director in Power Finance Corp.
 EESL is a joint venture between NTPC, Power Grid, Power Finance Corp, and REC Limited.
IPS officer Violet Baruah becomes first woman IG of Assam Police
 Violet Baruah has become the first-ever woman to get promoted to the rank of Inspector
General in Assam Police.
 She is currently posted as a Deputy Inspector General of Police in the Kokrajhar district.
 She has been promoted to the rank of IG of Police with effect from January 1, 2022.
 In 2021, she received President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
Vikram Misri, former envoy to China, appointed as new Deputy NSA
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 India’s former envoy to China Vikram Misri has been appointed as the Deputy National Security
Adviser (NSA) in the National Security Council Secretariat.
 Vikram Misri will report to National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.
 He will succeed Pankaj Saran whose term in office ends on December 31, 2021.
 The other two deputy NSAs are Rajender Khanna and Datta Pandsalgikar.
Madhya Pradesh government appoints new Public Relations Chief
 The Madhya Pradesh government has appointed Raghvendra Kumar Singh, as the new
Principal Secretary and Commissioner of the state Public Relations Department.
 He is a 1997-batch IAS officer.
 He has also been made the Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Madhyam, a communication
platform of the state government.
 He will replace Sheo Shekhar Shukla.
Justice SK Mishra appointed as acting Chief Justice of Uttarakhand HC
 President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra as acting Chief
Justice (CJ) of the Uttarakhand High Court.
 Justice Mishra is performing the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the HC from
December 24, 2021.
 He replaced Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan, Chief Justice of the High Court who retired on
December 23, 2021.
Indian-origin judge appointed to South Africa's highest judicial bench
 Indian-origin Narandran 'Jody' Kollapen has been appointed to South Africa's highest judicial
bench.
 President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the appointment of Kollapen, Rammaka Steven
Mathopo as the latest additions to the Constitutional Court and will join office from January 1,
2022.
 He was appointed as chair of the South African Law Reform Commission in 2016.
Hyundai Motor India signs golfer Aditi Ashok as brand-ambassador
 Hyundai Motor India Ltd signed an MoU with Aditi Ashok in December 2021 to strengthen the
brand’s voice, spirit and innovative approach.
 As part of the two-year association, Hyundai will work closely with Aditi representing HMIL’s
Young & Progressive Imagery.
 Aditi Ashok is the 2020 Arjuna Awardee and World’s only golfer who has made the cut in every
major golf format.
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Harjinder Singh appointed as India’s Chef De Mission for Olympics

 The Indian Olympic Association of India (IOA) has appointed Harjinder Singh as the Chef de
Mission of the country’s contingent for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
 He is the General Secretary of Ice Hockey Association of India.
 He was also the Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent for the 23rd Winter Olympic Games in
2018.
 The event will be held from February 4 to 20, 2022.
Atul Dinkar Rane appointed as BrahMos Aerospace chief
 Atul Dinkar Rane has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing
Director of the BrahMos Aerospace Limited that manufactures the BrahMos supersonic cruise
missile.
 He was one of the core team members of BrahMos Aerospace right from its foundation as a
Joint Venture with Russia.
 BrahMos is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile system.
PV Sindhu appointed BWF's Athletes’ Commission member
 PV Sindhu has been appointed as a member of the Badminton World Federation's (BWF)
Athletes' Commission.
 She was named alongside five others who will serve as members till 2025.
 The six members of the BWF Athletes’ Commission 2021 – 2025 are Iris Wang, Robin Tabeling,
Greysia Polii, Kim Soyeong, Pusarla V Sindhu, and Zheng Si Wei.
 Sindhu had won a bronze medal in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Government appoints non-official directors on boards of various banks
 The central government has appointed independent directors on board of various public sector
banks, including Union Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, and Canara Bank
 The government has appointed Non-Official Director (NOD) for three years.
 Bank of Maharashtra has appointed Shashank Shrivastava and Sardar Baljit Singh as NOD.
 Nalini Padmanabhan was appointed on board of Canara Bank.
Atul Anand takes over as Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area
 Rear Admiral Atul Anand, assumed duties of Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area
(FOK) on 20 Dec 2021.
 He was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area on 22 February 2021 prior
to taking up his present assignment.
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 As a Flag Officer, he has served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and
Intelligence).
Admiral Sanjay Bhalla takes over as Fleet Commander of Eastern Fleet
 Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla took over the Command of the Eastern Fleet, the Sword Arm of the
Eastern Naval Command, from Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti, on 20 Dec'21.
 He also served as the Naval Adviser at the High Commission of India, Islamabad.
 Prior to assuming this role, the Flag Officer was Assistant Chief of Personnel (HRD) at Integrated
Headquarters (Navy), New Delhi.
India appoints Pradeep Kumar Rawat as new Ambassador to China
 Senior diplomat Pradeep Kumar Rawat has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to
China.
 Rawat, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1990 batch, will succeed Vikram Misri.
 He is presently the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
 He served as Ambassador of India to Indonesia and Timor-Leste from September 2017 to
December 2020.
Uttarakhand government appoints Rishabh Pant as state brand ambassador
 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 19 December 2021 appointed Rishabh Pant
as the state brand ambassador.
 He has been appointed with the aim of encouraging the youth of the state towards sports and
public health.
 In January 2019, Pant was named the ICC Emerging Player of the Year at the 2018 ICC Awards.
 In February 2021, Pant was named the ICC Men's Player of the Month.
Mohit Jain elected new President of Indian Newspaper Society
 Mohit Jain of The Economic Times has been elected President of the Indian Newspaper Society
(INS) for 2021-22.
 He will succeed Lakshmipathy Adimoolam of Health and the Antiseptic.
 K Raja Prasad Reddy of Sakshi has been elected Deputy President.
 Rakesh Sharma of Aaj Samaj has been elected Vice-President.
 INS was founded in 1939 and acts as the central organization of the Press of India.
Rear Admiral Sandeep Mehta assumes office as FOMA
 Rear Admiral Sandeep Mehta has assumed office as the Flag Officer Commanding
Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA), Mumbai.
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 His important staff appointments include Command Operations Officer at HQSNC, Chief Staff
Officer to NAVCC (ANC), etc.
 He was the Chief Instructor (Navy) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington prior to this
appointment.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan assumes charge as the Chief of Staff ENC
 Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan assumed charge as Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command
on 16 Dec 21.
 He commanded the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam from Feb 2020 to Feb 2021.
 He was Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of the National Defence Academy before
assuming charge as the Chief of Staff, ENC, on promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral.
Army Chief Naravane takes charge as head of Chiefs of Staff Committee
 Army Chief Gen M M Naravane has assumed the charge as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff
Committee that comprises the three service chiefs.
 Before the creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff. the senior-most among the three
service chiefs used to be the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
 The post fell vacant following the death of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat.
Leena Nair named global CEO of French fashion group Chanel
 Indian-origin Leena Nair has been named as the global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the
French fashion group Chanel.
 Nair, who was born in Maharashtra and is a British national, will join Chanel by the end of
January 2022 and will be based in London.
 She would replace Maureen Chiquet, who was CEO of Chanel for nine years until early 2016.
GoodDot signs Neeraj Chopra as brand ambassador
 Plant-based meat company GoodDot has signed up Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra as
its brand ambassador.
 The athlete will be a key part of its mission to create awareness about the category of plant-
based meats to encourage people to make compassionate food choices.
 The firm was founded in 2016 by Sinha and Deepak Parihar.
 The company provides alternatives to mutton, chicken and eggs.
Axis Bank board appoints Ashish Kotecha as non-executive Director
 Axis Bank's board has approved the appointment of Ashish Kotecha, a nominee of Bain Capital,
as an additional non-executive Director.
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 His appointment is for 3 yrs till Dec 2024, or till the time the entities affiliated to Bain Capital are
directly holding in the aggregate at least 2% equity capital in the bank.
 He joined Bain Capital Private Equity in 2010 and he is now its MD.
Ravinder Bhakar assumes charge of NFDC, Films Division, and CFSI
 Ravinder Bhakar assumed charge as the MD of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC),
Films Division, and CEO of Children Films Society of India (CFSI) on 13 December 2021.
 He is the CEO of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
 Mr. Bhakar is a 1999-batch officer of the Indian Railway Stores Service (IRSS).
Former ICC CFO Faisal Hasnain appointed new CEO of PCB
 The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed former ICC Chief Financial Officer Faisal Hasnain as
its new Chief Executive, replacing Wasim Khan.
 Hasnain will take charge in January 2022.
 As ICC's CFO, Faisal was involved in the sale of governing body's commercial rights for the
2007-2015 and 2016-2023 cycles.
 Faisal Hasnain also served Zimbabwe Cricket.
Kotak Mahindra Bank appoints Ashu Suyash as independent Director
 Kotak Mahindra Bank has appointed Ashu Suyash as an independent Director of the bank for a
period of 5 years.
 The appointment is effective from January 24, 2022, up to January 23, 2027.
 Suyash was earlier the Managing Director of rating agency CRISIL.
 The board has also approved raising Rs 5,000 crore in through debt instrument in one or more
tranches next fiscal (2023).
Gautam Raghavan has been elevated to Head of the WH personnel office
 Gautam Raghavan has been elevated as the head of the White House office of presidential
personnel.
 He replaces Catherine Russell who has been appointed as the Executive Director of UNICEF.
 He has served as Deputy Assistant to the President and deputy director of the White House
office of Presidential Personnel.
Catherine Russell appointed new Executive Director of UNICEF
 The United Nations has appointed Catherine Russell as the next Executive Director of the UN
children's agency UNICEF.
 She will succeed Henrietta Fore.
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 Russell, currently Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office and assistant to the
president, is the eighth American to head UNICEF.
 Since its establishment in 1946, UNICEF's executive directors have been American.
Neeli Bendapudi: 1st woman President of Pennsylvania State University
 Indian-origin professor Neeli Bendapudi has created history as the first woman and person of
colour to be named as the President of America's prestigious Pennsylvania State University.
 She is currently serving as the President and professor of marketing at the University of
Louisville in Kentucky.
 She was earlier the Executive Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.
Disney Byju's Early Learn App signs Neeraj Chopra as brand ambassador
 Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has been announced as brand ambassador for Disney
Byju's Early Learn App.
 Think And Learn Privately Limited, which runs Byju's has taken Disney-licensed characters for its
early learning app for younger children.
 As part of this two-year commitment, Chopra will inspire young learners to learn in a more
creative and interactive way.
Former CEC Sunil Arora joins Board of Advisors for IDEA
 Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Sunil Arora has joined the Board of Advisors
for International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
 The institute is assisted by a 15-member Board of Advisors that consists of eminent personalities
from various fields.
 IDEA is an inter-governmental organization based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman of IOC elected President of WLPGA
 Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has been elected as
President of the World LPG Association (WLPGA).
 He is the second Indian to head the organization.
 Sarthak Buheria, former IOC Chairman was the first Indian to head it in 2008.
 Headquartered in Paris, WLPGA represents the global LPG network of over 300 members
operating in more than 125 countries.
Jyoti Prasad appointed Member (Law) of JERC for Goa and UTs
 Power Minister R K Singh on 6 Dec'21 administered the oath of office to Jyoti Prasad as Member
(Law) of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Goa and UTs.
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 She retired as senior general manager from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) on
June 30, 2021.
 The JERC for all UTs except Delhi was established by the govt under the provisions of the
Electricity Act, 2003.
Ittira Davis appointed MD, CEO of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank
 Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has appointed Ittira Davis as Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) for a period of three years.
 He has been with Ujjivan since 2015 and was previously CEO of Ujjivan Financial Services.
 His appointment as Director (Executive) will be for a period co-terminus with his tenure as MD
and CEO.
 He will replace Nitin Chugh, who resigned on 30 Sept'21.
Sanjiv Mehta gets appointed as FICCI President
 The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has announced that
Sanjiv Mehta will be appointed as its President on December 18, 2021.
 He is the Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Limited.
 Mr. Mehta, currently, the Senior Vice President of FICCI, will be succeeding Mr. Uday Shankar,
the current President of FICCI.
Neelam Shammi Rao appointed Provident Fund Commissioner in the EPFO
 Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer Neelam Shammi Rao was appointed as the Central
Provident Fund Commissioner in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
 The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) approved her name.
 Before this, she was the Director-General (Training) in the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship, sent to the top post of the retirement fund body EPFO.
Pradip Shah appointed as head of NARCL, Sanjay Jain as IDRCL Chief
 Pradip Shah has been appointed as the Chairman of National Asset Reconstruction Company
(NARCL) on 3 Dec'21.
 He is the founder of IndAsia Fund Advisors.
 He is credited for establishing India's first housing finance company, HDFC and rating firm Crisil.
 Sanjay Jain will be the Chief Executive of India Debt Resolution Company (IDRCL).
 He is MD of Aditya Birla Asset Reconstruction Company.
Alka Upadhyaya appointed as the chairperson of NHAI
 Senior bureaucrat Alka Upadhyaya has been appointed as the chairperson of the National
Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on 4 December 2021.
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 Upadhyaya is a 1990-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre.

 She is currently Additional Secretary, Department of Rural Development.
 Also, Sanjay Bandopadhyay has been named Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of
India.
Kinara Capital appoints Ravindra Jadeja as brand ambassador
 Bengaluru-based fintech firm Kinara Capital has signed Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja as its
brand ambassador.
 With this partnership, the company aims to boost its outreach in financing the MSME sector.
 Founded in 2011, the firm has disbursed over 70,000 collateral-free loans till date.
 Kinara Capital plans to grow 500% by the year 2025.
Pawan Kumar takes over as Director at Indraprastha Gas Ltd
 Pawan Kumar has taken over as Director (Commercial) of Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL).
 Kumar has taken over the position from Amit Garg, who has been repatriated to his parent
organization BPCL to head the new vertical of renewable energy.
 IGL is a joint venture of GAIL (India) Ltd and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) along
with the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
IMF appoints Gita Gopinath as First Deputy Managing Director
 The International Monetary Fund has appointed its outgoing chief economist Gita Gopinath as
its First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD).
 Gopinath was scheduled to leave IMF in January 2022 to return to her academic position at
Harvard University after holding the position at the Fund for three years.
 She will replace the current FDMD Geoffrey Okamoto.
Oyo appoints former SBI head Rajnish Kumar as strategic group advisor
 OYO has announced the appointment of Rajnish Kumar, former Chairman of the State Bank of
India (SBI), as its strategic group advisor.
 Kumar will play a key role in advising OYO's management on short-term and long-term
strategy, and regulatory and stakeholder engagement.
 He is currently on the boards of HSBC Asia Pacific, L&T infotech, Hero Motocorp, and BharatPe.
Sambit Patra appointed as Chairman of India Tourism Development Corp.
 Sambit Patra has been appointed as the Chairman of India Tourism Development Corporation
(ITDC) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
 The Appointments Committee has approved the Tourism Ministry's proposal to split the post of
Chairman and Managing Director of ITDC.
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 IAS officer, GKV Rao will hold the post of Managing Director of .
Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta takes over as FOC-in-Chief, ENC
 Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief
(FOC-in-C), Eastern Naval Command (ENC) on 1 December 2021.
 He is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished
service.
 He was also awarded the Yudh Seva Medal.
 He was the Chief of Staff, ENC since June 2020 prior to being elevated as the Commander-in-
Chief.
General Atlantic appoints former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga as VC.
 Ajay Banga, the former CEO of Mastercard Inc. is joining General Atlantic as Vice Chairman.
 Ajay Banga will assume his responsibilities with General Atlantic on January 1, 2022.
 He retired from Mastercard on 30 November 2021.
 Current lead Independent Director Merit Janow would be the Non-Executive Independent Chair
of Mastercard.
Lt General Manoj Kumar Mago takes over as NDC Commandant
 Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Mago has taken over as the 34th Commandant of National
Defence College (NDC), New Delhi.
 He took over from Air Marshal D Choudhury who superannuated on Nov 30, 2021.
 He has been awarded Yudh Seva Medal and Sena Medal (twice) for his distinguished services.
 The General Officer has distinguished himself on two United Nations peacekeeping assignments
in Somalia.
Obituaries
Ray Illingworth, a former England cricket captain, passes away
 Ray Illingworth, a former England cricket captain who went on to coach the team passed away
in December 2021.
 He led England to a 2-0 series victory in Australia in the 1970-71 Ashes.
 He captained England 31 times, winning 12 of those matches.
 He served as chairman of selectors for England between 1993 and 1996 and coached the
national team in 1995-96.
Edward. O. Wilson, known as a ‘modern-day Darwin, passes away
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 Edward. O. Wilson, the trailblazing U.S. scientist, professor and author passed away in
December 2021.
 His study of insects and clarion call to protect Earth earned him the nickname “Darwin’s natural
heir.”
 He was the author of hundreds of scientific papers and more than 30 books.
 Two of his books won him Pulitzer Prizes for nonfiction: 1978’s On Human Nature, and The Ants
in 1990.
Greece’s former President Karolos Papoulias passes away
 Former Greek President Karolos Papoulias, who served two terms between 2005 and 2015,
passed away in Dec 2021.
 He served as president during Greece’s economic crisis of 2010.
 President Katerina Sakellaropoulou paid tribute to Papoulias for his role in the resistance
against Nazi occupation during World War II.
 He was also a member of the Greek national volleyball team.
Seven-term Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Prasad passes away
 Rajya Sabha MP from the Janata Dal(United) and industrialist Mahendra Prasad passed away in
December 2021.
 Estimated to be one of the richest members of Parliament, the founder of Aristo
Pharmaceuticals was a seven-term Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar and was also elected to the Lok
Sabha once.
 Prasad was first elected to the Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket in 1980.
Emmy-winning Director Jean-Marc Vallee passes away
 Canadian filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallee, who directed films including 'Dallas Buyers Club' and TV
projects such as 'Big Little Lies', passed away in December 2021.
 He worked with Witherspoon on the HBO series 'Big Little Lies', for which he won the Emmy for
directing a limited series, movie or special.
 His 2009 feature, The Young Victoria picked up three Oscar nominations.
Grammy-winning musician JD Crowe passes away
 Grammy-winning musician JD Crowe passed away in December 2021.
 Crowe won a Grammy award in 1983 for best country instrumental performance for his song
'Fireball'.
 His career included stints with Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys, Mac Wiseman, and his own
band, the Kentucky Mountain Boys, which later became the New South.
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Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu passes away

 Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who helped end apartheid in South Africa, passed away in
December 2021.
 He was one of the driving forces behind the movement to end the policy of racial segregation
and discrimination enforced by the white minority government against the black majority in
South Africa from 1948 until 1991.
 He was awarded the Nobel prize in 1984 for his role in this struggle.
Former Union Textiles Minister RL Jalappa passes away
 Former Union Minister RL Jalappa passed away in December 2021.
 He is a veteran leader of the Indian National Congress (INC) and the former Union Minister of
Textiles.
 He quit Congress in 1979 to form the Karnataka Kranti Ranga with former Chief Minister D
Devaraj Urs and he again joined congress in 1998.
 He was also the founder and chairman of Devaraj Urs Medical College in Kolar.
Joan Didion, legendary American writer, passes away
 Joan Didion, the legendary essayist, novelist, and screenwriter who has long been revered as
one of America’s preeminent writers, died in December 2021.
 She won the 2005 National Book Award for Nonfiction for her best-selling memoir, “The Year of
Magical Thinking.”
 In 2012, she was awarded the National Humanities Medal by then-President Barack Obama.
Former Supreme Court Judge GT Nanavati passes away
 Justice Girish T Nanavati, the retired Supreme Court judge passed away in December 2021.
 He headed the inquiry commissions into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the 2002 Gujarat riots.
 He was appointed as permanent Judge of the Gujarat High Court in July 1979.
 He was elevated as the Judge of the Supreme Court of India with effect in March 1995 and
retired as an SC Judge in February 2000.
Pritzker Prize winner architect Richard Rogers passes away
 British architect Richard Rogers passed away in December 2021.
 He designed a series of landmark buildings around the world, including London's "Cheesegrater"
and the famous multi-coloured, pipe-covered Pompidou arts centre in Paris.
 He was a winner of the prestigious Pritzker prize in 2007.
 He also won France's Legion d'Honneur in 1986 and was a member of Britain's House of Lords.
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Gothic novel author Anne Rice passes away

 American author Anne Rice, widely known for her bestselling gothic novel, Interview with the
Vampire, passed away in December 2021.
 Interview with the Vampire was published in 1976 and went on to become a best seller.
 It was later adapted into a movie starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in 1994.
 Anne Rice went on to write sequels to the book, forming a series called The Vampire Chronicles.
Grammy winner Vicente Fernandez, legendary Mexican singer, passes away
 Vicente Fernandez, a legendary Mexican singer, passed away in December 2021.
 He was awarded three Grammys and nine Latin Grammys.
 Fernández was known for hits such as “El Rey,” “Volver, Volver” and “Lástima que seas ajena,”
 He sold more than 50 million records and appeared in more than 30 films.
 He was also known also by his nickname ″Chente″.
Padma Shri awardee Nanda Prusty passes away
 Noted educationist and Padma Shri awardee Nanda Kishore Prusty passed away in December
2021.
 In his native Kantira village, he was popularly known as Nanda Master or Nanda Sir. Working to
educate the masses, he had always upheld the tradition of Chatshali.
 The Chatshali tradition refers to a non-formal school for primary education common in Odisha.
India's top military officer CDS General Bipin Rawat passes away
 General (retd) Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, passed away in December 2021.
 An Indian Air Force helicopter ferrying him and 13 others crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
 Rawat, a former Indian army chief, took office as the first CDS on 1 January 2020 at the start of
a three-year term.
 He was the one point defence advisor to the Defence Minister.
India’s first woman psychiatrist, Sarada Menon passes away
 Sarada Menon, considered India’s first woman psychiatrist, passed away in December 2021.
 She has been a recipient of several awards, including the Padma Bhusan in 1992 for her work in
the field of mental health.
 She became the first woman psychiatrist in the country when she began working in 1959 at
what is now the Institute of Mental Health in Chennai.
Bob Dole senate leader, former U.S. Presidential candidate passed away
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 Bob Dole, an American politician who overcame disabling war wounds to become a sharp-
tongued Senate leader from Kansas, a Republican presidential candidate passed away.
 During his 36-year career on Capitol Hill, Dole became one of the most influential legislators
and party leaders in the Senate.
 He shaped tax policy, foreign policy, farm & nutrition programs and rights for the disabled, etc.
Renowned Bangaldeshi scholar Rafiqul Islam passes away
 Renowned scholar and national professor of Bangladesh Professor Rafiqul Islam passed away in
November 2021.
 Prof. Rafiqul Islam was one of the greatest scholars on the national poet of Bangladesh Kazi
Nazrul Islam.
 He was honored with Swadhinta Padak and the Ekushey padak, which is the highest civilian
award in Bangladesh.
 He had written close to 30 scholarly books.
Padma Shri awardee lyricist Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry passes away
 Renowned Telugu lyricist Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry passed away in November 2021.
 He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019.
 Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry wrote over 2000 songs in his career.
 He rose to popularity with his song Vidhatha Thalapuna for K Viswanath's 1986 film Sirivennela.
 He won several Filmfare Awards and Nandi Awards for his work in the south cinema.
Person in News
Leftist Gabriel Boric to become Chile's youngest President
 In Chile, Gabriel Boric, 35 yrs old former student leader will become the country's youngest
president after he won a presidential runoff election on 19 Dec'21.
 Out of 99.95% of ballots counted, Boric won with 55.87% of the vote, securing victory over Jose
Antonio Kast.
 By 2014 he had joined the National Congress as a lower-house legislator.
 Boric will be sworn in on 11 March 2022.
Avani Lekhara wins 'Best Female Debut' honour at Paralympic Awards
 Indian shooter Avani Lekhara won the Best Female Debut honour at the 2021 Paralympics
Awards on 16 Dec 2021.
 She is the first Indian to clinch a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics Games 2020.
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 She also won a bronze in the 50m Rifle Three Positions Standing SH 1 event, becoming the first
Indian female to win two medals in Games’ history.
 She was also awarded Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
Elon Musk named Time's 2021 'Person of the Year'
 Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has been named Time magazine's "Person of the Year"
for 2021.
 Musk is also the founder and CEO of SpaceX and leads brain-chip startup Neuralink and
infrastructure firm The Boring Company.
 Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris had been chosen as Time magazine's 2020
"Person of the Year"
FM Nirmala Sitharaman at 37 on Forbes 2021 list of 100 powerful women
 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made it to the Forbes’ annual list of powerful
women — The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
 She is ranked at number 37.
 This is the third year in a row that she made it to the list.
 In 2020, she was in the 41st spot and 34th in 2019.
 Jeff Bezos’ former wife Mackenzie Scott has earned the topmost spot on this list.
Adama Barrow re-elected as The Gambia’s President
 Adama Barrow has won a second term in The Gambia’s presidential election.
 He will officially begin his second five-year term on January 19, 2022.
 He has been in office since 2017.
 The Gambia is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, with a narrow Atlantic
coastline.
 Its capital is Banjul and its currency is Gambian dalasi.
NASA picks up Indian-origin Anil Menon for a mission to Moon and Mars
 SpaceX flight surgeon Anil Menon is among the 10 latest trainee astronauts who will join the
2021 class of NASA as it plans for the first human missions to the moon in more than 50 years.
 He served NASA as the crew flight surgeon for various expeditions on the International Space
Station (ISS).
 He will now report for duty in January 2022 at the Johnson Space Center in Texas.
Dhanlaxmi Bank part-time Chairman G Subramonia Iyer resigns
 Dhanlaxmi Bank's part-time Chairman G Subramonia Iyer has resigned on 2 December 2021.
 Iyer was appointed as part-time chairman in February 2021.
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 His resignation is to be effective from December 31, 2021.

 In 2020, Sajeev Krishnan, part-time Chairman and independent director of Dhanlaxmi Bank, too
had resigned on June 29.
Science and Technology

Russia successfully conducts test launch of carrier rocket Angara-A5
 Russian heavy-lift rocket Angara-A5 was launched on 27th Dec 2021 from the Plesetsk
cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region.
 This is the third successful test firing of this type of rocket by the Russian space force.
 Its first successful test launch took place in 2014.
 Angara A5 is designed to replace the Proton M heavy-lift rocket.
China launches camera satellite "Ziyuan-1 02E" with high resolution
 China on 26 Dec'21 launched a new satellite with a camera that can take pictures of the ground
with a resolution of 5 m.
 The satellite, called "Ziyuan-1 02E" or "five-meter optical satellite 02," was launched by a Long
March-4C rocket from north China's Shanxi province.
 The rocket also sent into orbit a small satellite that belongs to Beijing 101 Middle School.
NASA launches world's largest telescope James Webb Space
 The world's largest and most powerful space telescope rocketed away on 25 Dec 2021 to behold
light from the first stars.
 NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America's
northeastern coast, on a European Ariane rocket.
 The $10 billion observatory hurtled toward its destination one million miles (1.6 million
kilometres) away.
 It will take a month to get there.
Hong Kong researchers develop the first anti-COVID-19 stainless steel
 The project team of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has produced the first anti-COVID-19
stainless steel.
 It kills the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) on its surface.
 The anti-COVID-19 stainless steel can also inactivate the H1N1 virus and E.coli on its surface.
 The findings were published in Chemical Engineering Journal on 25 November 2021.
SpaceX launches 52 Starlink satellites from California base
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 A SpaceX rocket carried 52 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from California on 18 December
2021.
 The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base.
 The Falcon's first stage returned and landed on a SpaceX droneship in the ocean.
 The mission was the 34th launch for Starlink, a constellation of nearly 2,000 satellites in low
Earth orbit.
DRDO conducts demonstration of Controlled Aerial Delivery System
 DRDO has conducted a flight demonstration of its Controlled Aerial Delivery System (CADS).
 The demonstration was carried out by the DRDO's Aerial Delivery Research and Development
Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra on 18 Dec'21.
 CADS is used for precise delivery of payloads up to 500 kilograms at a predetermined location
by making use of maneuverable capabilities of Ram Air Parachute (RAP).
IIT Madras researchers develop motion planning algorithms
 Researchers at IIT Madras have developed a class of fast and efficient "motion planning"
algorithms.
 They can think like human beings and enable autonomous aerial, ground or surface vehicles to
navigate obstacle-cluttered environments.
 The algorithms have been developed on a novel notion of 'Generalised Shape Expansion' (GSE).
 The GSE-based algorithms function by calculating a safe region.
Scientists develop new molecule that blocks COVID-19 infection
 Scientists have developed a new molecule that attaches to the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus
and prevents it from entering human cells and spreading COVID-19.
 The researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark noted that the molecule is cheaper and easier
to manufacture than the antibodies currently used to treat COVID-19.
 The molecule belongs to a class of compounds known as RNA aptamers.
IIT Delhi develops RT-PCR based assay for detection of Omicron
 Researchers at IIT Delhi have developed an RT-PCR-based assay for the specific detection of
the Omicron variant of COVID-19 within 90 minutes.
 It has been developed by its Kusuma School of Biological Sciences.
 The assay is based on detecting specific mutations which are present in the Omicron variant
and absent in other currently circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2.
IIT-Kanpur develops portable devices for soil testing
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 IIT Kanpur has developed a portable testing device that can detect soil health in just 90
seconds.
 This first-of-its-kind invention is based on near Infrared spectroscopy technology that provides
real-time soil analysis reports on smartphones with an embedded mobile application, named
Bhu Parikshak.
 The technology has been transferred to AgroNxt Services Private Limited.
Sports
Rupa Gurunath steps down as Tamil Nadu Cricket Association president
 Rupa Gurunath has stepped down from the post of president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket
Association (TNCA) on Dec 31, 2021.
 Rupa had taken over as the TNCA president in Sep,2019, becoming the 1st woman to head a
state cricket association in India.
 During her tenure, TNCA hosted two Test matches against England, IPL and the Tamil Nadu
Premier League (TNPL).
Arif Khan becomes first Indian to qualify for 2 Winter Olympics events
 Jammu and Kashmir-based alpine skier Arif Mohammed Khan has become the first Indian
athlete to qualify for two different events of the Winter Olympics 2022.
 He secured an Olympics quota spot in the men's giant slalom event, after booking his first
Winter Olympics ticket in alpine skiing slalom category in Nov 2021.
 The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are set to take place from February 4 to 20.
India becomes the first Asian team to win a Test match at Centurion
 India became the first Asian team to win a Test match at Centurion after beating South Africa
by 113-run.
 The only other teams to beat South Africa in Centurion are England (2000) and Australia (2014).
 2021 is the second time India has won four Tests outside Asia in a calendar year (Brisbane,
Lord's, Oval, Centurion).
 Earlier in 2018 (Johannesburg, Nottingham, Adelaide, Melbourne).
Carrom player Rashmi Kumari wins her third Federation Cup
 The two-time World Champion Rahmi Kumari has won her third Federation Cup title in
Varanasi.
 Rashmi Kumari is the most accomplished woman carrom player in the country.
 It was her third Federation Cup trophy, after the earlier triumph in 2012 and 2010.
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 Rashmi beat the reigning World Champion S. Appoorwa in the final.

 Rashmi has also won the World Cup twice, and four times SAARC champion.
S Africa's Quinton de Kock announces retirement from Test cricket
 South African wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock announced retirement from Test cricket.
 The announcement came after South Africa's first Test match against India in Centurion, where
India won by 113 runs.
 Quinton de Kock made his Test debut against Australia in Gqeberha in 2014.
 In 54 matches, he scored 3300 runs with a high score of 141 not-out, at an average of 38.82.
Mohammed Shami becomes 5th Indian fast bowler to claim 200 Test wicket
 Mohammed Shami has become the fifth Indian pacer to take 200 Test wickets.
 Shami achieved the feat against South Africa in Centurion on 29 Dec 2021.
 Shami has joined Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, and Ishant Sharma in the elusive list.
 Shami reached the milestone in 55 Test matches and is the third quickest Indian after Kapil and
Srinath to join the list.
Ross Taylor announces retirement from international cricket
 New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor announced his retirement from international cricket on
December 30, 2021.
 He made his debut back in 2006 and amassing 18,074 runs in 445 appearances - also the most
by anyone from his country.
 He is also the first cricketer to play 100 matches in all three formats- Test, ODI and T20.
 Taylor has scored the most runs for NZ in Tests (7584).
Rishabh Pant becomes fastest Indian keeper to reach 100 Test dismissal
 Rishabh Pant has become the fastest Indian wicket-keeper to reach 100 dismissals in Test
cricket.
 He achieved this feat against South Africa in Centurion on Dec 28, 2021.
 The left-handed batter broke former skipper MS Dhoni's record to reach 100 dismissals.
 Pant reached the milestone in 26 matches, Dhoni had taken 36 games to reach 100 dismissals.
Nitesh Kumar wins 2 gold at 4th Para-Badminton National Championship
 Haryana's Nitesh Kumar doubled his gold tally in the 4th Para-Badminton National
Championship held at Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 27 Dec'21.
 Nitesh along with his partner Tarun defeated World No.1 Paralympic Games gold medallist
Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar in straight sets 21-19, 21-11 in the Men’s doubles finals.
 Earlier, Nitesh also won the gold medal in the Men’s singles category.
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Uttar Pradesh wins 11th Hockey India junior national championship

 In Hockey, Uttar Pradesh Hockey was crowned the winner of the 11th Junior National Men’s
Championship in the final at Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu on 25 December 2021.
 It defeated Hockey Chandigarh by 3-1.
 Hockey Association of Odisha secured third place by defeating Hockey Haryana.
Summits and Conferences

Dr S Jaishankar to host 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue
 The 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue is being held from 18-20 Dec, in New Delhi.
 It is a ministerial-level dialogue between India and the Central Asian countries.
 Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan will
participate in the meeting.
 External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be hosting the meeting in New Delhi.
Vice President inaugurates National Parliamentary Conference on TB
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the National Parliamentary Conference on
Tuberculosis among Women on 16 December 2021.
 The conference underlined that undernutrition is an important and established risk factor for the
progression of latent TB infection to active TB.
 India is committed to end TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development
Goals target of 2030.
Anurag Thakur inaugurates 21st Biennial Conference of ISCPES
 Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on 16 Dec'21 inaugurated the 21st Biennial Conference of
the International Society for Comparative Physical Education and Sport (ISCPES).
 The conference was based on the theme "State of the Art in Physical Education, Sport and
Physical Activity in the International context".
 This is for the first time ISCPES allotted the event to India.
PM Modi to inaugurate All India Mayors’ Conference in Varanasi
 PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate and address the All India Mayors’ Conference in Varanasi via
video conferencing on 17 Dec 2021.
 The event will be organized by the Department of Urban Development, UP.
 The theme of the Conference is “New Urban India”.
 The govt has launched multiple schemes and initiatives to address the issues of dilapidated
urban infrastructure and lack of amenities.
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NMCG and c-Ganga organize 6th India Water Impact Summit

 The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) along with the Centre for Ganga River Basin
Management and Studies are organizing the 6th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) from 9-14
Dec'21.
 It is being organized in a hybrid mode - online and physically at the NMCG office, New Delhi,
and IIT Kanpur.
 The theme for 2021 is ‘River Resources Allocation “Planning and Management at the Regional
Level'.
Dr S Jaishankar addressed 5th Indian Ocean Conference
 External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar addressed the fifth Indian Ocean Conference in Abu
Dhabi on 4 Dec 2021.
 The theme of the Indian Ocean Conference 2021 is "Indian Ocean: Ecology, Economy,
Epidemic".
 Around 200 delegates and over 50 speakers attended it.
 The Minister held a meeting with his UAE counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the
sidelines of the conference in Abu Dhabi.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to visit India on December 6
 Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive in India on 6 Dec for the 21st India-Russia Annual
Summit.
 During the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will
review the state and prospects of bilateral relations between India and Russia.
 The last India-Russia annual summit took place in 2019 during the visit of Prime Minister Modi in
Russia.
Event to mark 100 years of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) begins
 The celebration of 100 years of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is scheduled on December
4-5, 2021.
 The event will be inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind, in the presence of Vice President
and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, Speaker Om Birla.
 52 nations, including Pakistan, were invited to the celebrations of 100 years of PAC.
 MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is a PAC chairperson.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurates InFinity Forum on 3 December 2021
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated InFinity Forum through video conferencing on 3
December 2021.
135 | P a g e
 The event was hosted by International Financial Services Centres Authority under the aegis of
the Government of India in collaboration with GIFT City and Bloomberg.
 Indonesia, South Africa, and the U.K. were partner countries in the first edition of the Forum.
Fifth International Ambedkar Conclave held on 2 December 2021
 President of India Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the fifth International Ambedkar Conclave on
2 Dec 2021 in New Delhi.
 It was organised by the Forum of SC and ST Legislators and Parliamentarians and Dr Ambedkar
Chamber of Commerce.
 The event is being held from 2-3 December 2021.
 It will focus on constitution, education, skill development, entrepreneurship, start-ups and
economic development.
136 | P a g e

Current Affairs Monthly Capsule Highlights December 2021

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Current Affairs Monthly Capsule | December 2021

Art & Culture

Awards and Honours

 She beat contestants from Paraguay and South Africa.

Books and Authors

Business and Economy

 The UAE was India's third-largest trading partner in FY20.

LIC gets RBI approval to raise holding in IndusInd Bank to 9.99%

Committees and Recommendation

Government Policies and Schemes

Days and Events

 The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is observed on 27 December.

National Consumer Day: 24 December

 Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.

MOU and Agreements

State Bank of India to sign MoU with Kendriya Sainik Board

Federal Bank and Star Health Insurance tie-up for bancassurance

Government of Meghalaya partners with SIAL India

ICICI Bank partners with Flipkart for digital overdraft facility

IREDA, THDCIL sign MoU for green energy collaborations

Central government extends AFSPA in Nagaland for six more months

Tamil Nadu government increases Dearness Allowance from 17% to 31%

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveils world's highest motorable road

Vikram Misri, former envoy to China, appointed as new Deputy NSA

Seven-term Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Prasad passes away

Gujarat government launches ‘Nadi Utsav’ to honour rivers

Justice SK Mishra appointed as acting Chief Justice of Uttarakhand HC

 Delhi topped the Union territories category.

NTPC partners with Greater Noida Authority to recycle plastic

Drinking water supply schemes approved for Uttarakhand under JJM

 BrahMos is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile system.

 'Pralay' is a 350-500 km short-range, surface-to-surface missile with a payload capacity of 500-

 It will facilitate cash-based bill payments service at the customer’s doorstep.

Centre announces to build 'Marma Chikitsa' training centre in U'khand

Rekha Chaudhari's book 'India's Ancient Legacy of Wellness' launched

Indian Army organizes Swarnim Vijay Gatha on 16 December

Jaipur hosting Lokrang Festival after 2 years from 16 December 2021

Cabinet approves scheme to incentivise RuPay Debit Card, transactions

Himachal Pradesh government notifies Commission for 'general category'

 30 days of training will be given to drive large vehicles like trucks.

 The awards were presented on 3 December 2021.

Harjinder Singh appointed as India’s Chef De Mission for Olympics

 He is a recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal.

 Upadhyaya is a 1990-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu passes away

Gothic novel author Anne Rice passes away

 His resignation is to be effective from December 31, 2021.

Science and Technology

 Rashmi beat the reigning World Champion S. Appoorwa in the final.

Uttar Pradesh wins 11th Hockey India junior national championship

Summits and Conferences

NMCG and c-Ganga organize 6th India Water Impact Summit

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