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AFFAIRSCLOUD TODAY
Current Affairs 23 December 2023 : Headlines
MOCI Minister Piyush Goyal releases 5th LEADS Survey Report: 13 States and UTs among
Achievers
Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane Launched 3 Sub-schemes under RAMP Programme
ICG & Amazon India Join Hands to Create Work Opportunities for Ex-Service Personnel
United Nations Declared 2024 as the International Year of Camelids
IOM Launches Project PRAYAS for Orderly, Safe Movement of Indians Overseas
Bhutan King Announces Gelephu Mindfulness City Project of 1,000 sq km on Assam Border
JICA Signs Japanese ODA Loan Agreements with GoI for High-Speed Rail Project & SDGs
Axis Bank & American Express Partners to Launch Co-Branded Credit Card
Kotak Life Has Introduced a New Insurance Product ‘T.U.L.I.P’
DEA Grants One-Time Exemption to LIC to Achieve 25% MPS in 10 Years
UNESCO Announced Winners of 2023 Heritage award; Rambagh Gate in Punjab wins Award of
Excellence
T2 of KIA wins World Special Prize for Interior 2023 at UNESCO Prix Versailles
Sanjay Kumar Singh Elected as a New President of WFI
Govt Reconstitutes National Startup Advisory Council, MoCI Nominates 31 Non-Official Members
Bisleri ropes in Actress Deepika Padukone its 1st-ever Global Brand Ambassador
CCI Approvals on 19th December 2023
National Mathematics Day 2023- December 22

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
MOCI Minister Piyush Goyal releases 5th LEADS Survey Report: 13 States and UTs among
Achievers
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MOCI) released the 5th LEADS ( Logistics
Ease Across Different States) 2023 Survey Report in New Delhi, Delhi.
The report was released in the presence of Smt. Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary (Logistics), Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Mr. Sajiv Puri, President-Designate of Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII) & MD ITC, and Mr. Mihir Shah, Partner, Ernst & Young.
• Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are categorized as achievers among the Coastal
states in the 5th LEADS 2023 Survey Report.
• Union Minister also stated that the logistics sector will play a major role in increasing its growth 10
times from USD 3.5 trillion to USD 35 trillion by 2047.
Assessment of LEADS 2023:
A total of 7,321 responses were received across 36 States/ Union territories (UTs) and additionally, 750
stakeholder consultations, facilitated by National, Regional, and State Associations, significantly contributed to
this comprehensive evaluation. The assessment is based on 32 indicators which include 15 objective indicator,
and 17 perception indicators
• The perception indicators are overarched by 3 pillars viz. Infrastructure (covers 6
indicators), Service(covers 7 indicators), and Operating & Regulatory Environment(covers 4
indicators)
• The objective indicators are divided in two categories Policies process improvement taken by
states/UTs(covers 8 indicators) and Logistics infrastructure and enablers(covers 7 indicators).
Performance Categories:
LEADS 2023 categorizes States based on their geographic demographics into 4 categories viz. Landlocked
Group, Coastal Group, north-eastern Group and UTs Group. For grading each of these categories is divided into
the following three categories.
i.Achievers: These are States that have shown exemplary logistics ecosystems with exceptional infrastructure
and transparent regulatory processes.
• Score- 90% or more percentage
ii.Fast Movers: These are States that are in the process of becoming achievers through progressive policy,
legislative initiatives, and new infrastructure projects.
• Score- Between 80% to 90%
iii.Aspirers: States that have adopted national best practices to further improve their contribution to make
India a global manufacturing and logistics hub.
• Score- Below 80%

Results of LEADS 2023/LEADS 2023 Index: 13 States and UTs are Achievers
The Leads 2023 index indicates the efficiency of logistics services necessary for promoting exports and
economic growth.
• 13 states and UTs categorized as achievers, 10 are fast movers, and 13 are aspirers
Categories Achievers Fast Movers Aspirers
Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,

Madhya Pradesh,
Landlocked States Telangana, Uttar Himachal Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
Pradesh Jharkhand
Andhra Pradesh,
Goa, Odisha, West
Coastal States Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra
Bengal
Tamil Nadu
Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya,

North-Eastern Region
Tripura Nagaland Mizoram
Andaman & Nicobar, Daman & Diu/ Dadra &

UTs Chandigarh, Delhi Lakshadweep, Nagar Haveli, Jammu &
Puducherry Kashmir, Ladakh
Key Points
i.23 States/UTs have notified their State Logistics Policies in line with National Logistics Policy and 16 States
and UTs have given industry status to logistics
ii.Two sessions were held during the event
• Leveraging Data and technologies to Ease Logistics
• Green and Sustainable Logistics
iii.This edition focuses on precision in assessment and hence includes state initiatives, including the adoption of
Prime Minister GatiShakti (PMGS) National Master Plan for project planning, aligning State Logistics policies
with National Logistics Policy, along with developing City Logistics, etc.
Click Here for Official LEADS Report 2023
About LEADS Report:
It is a follow-up of an annual LEADS Survey which assesses the viewpoints of various users and stakeholders
across India’s logistics ecosystem. This report processes the data received from the Survey and ranks the
logistics ecosystem of each State/UT using a statistical model. It envisages improving logistics performance
across states to enhance India’s trade and reduce transaction costs.
• The first LEADS report was released in 2018, which conceived its roots from the Logistics
Performance Index (LPI) of World Bank in 2018.
Points to be noted:
i.According to the October 2023 global trade outlook by the World Trade Organisation(WTO), global
merchandise trade is expected to rebound at 3.3% in 2024 while global GDP growth will remain at 2.5%
ii.According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD), international seaborne trade
and containerized trade is expected to grow at approximately 2% and 3% between 2024 and 2027 respectively
iii.According to the UN Global Survey on Sustainable Trade Facilitation, India has the highest rate of
implementation measures for trade facilitation in South Asia 94%(78.49% in 2019)

About Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI);

Union Minister- Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha Maharashtra)
Minister of State- Anupriya Singh Patel (Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh); Som Prakash (Hoshiarpur, Punjab)
Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane Launched 3 Sub-schemes under RAMP Programme
On 20th December 2023, Union Minister Narayan Rane, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises(MoMSME), launched three sub-schemes under the aegis of the Raising and Accelerating MSME
Performance (RAMP) programme.
The 3 sub schemes are:

• MSME Green Investment and Financing for Transformation Scheme (MSME GIFT Scheme).
• MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy (MSE SPICE Scheme).
• MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments (MSE ODR scheme).
The schemes were launched during the 2nd meeting of the National MSME Council chaired by Union
Minister Narayan Rane.
• Union Minister of State(MoS), Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, MoMSME, graced the event as the Vice
Chairperson of the National MSME Council.
About RAMP Programme:
i.RAMP, launched in June 2022, is a World Bank supported 5 year central scheme by MoMSME.
Aim: To strengthen governance at Central and State; improve Centre-State linkages and partnerships and
improve access of MSMEs to market and credit,
ii.RAMP will be implemented over a period of 5 years with a financial outlay of Rs 6,062.45 crore or USD 808
Million.
• USD 500 Million will be funded by WB and USD 308 million will be funded by GoI.
iii.The National MSME Council is the administrative and functional body of RAMP.
Details of the new Sub-schemes:
i.MSME GIFT Scheme – will support the MSMEs to adopt green technology with interest subvention and credit
guarantee support.
ii.MSE SPICE Scheme – this is the 1st ever governemnt scheme to support circular economy projects which will
be done through credit subsidy.
This will aid to achieve the target of MSME sector towards zero emissions by 2070.
iii.MSE ODR scheme –this is a first of its kind scheme to Integrates legal support with IT (Information
Technology) tools and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to address delayed payment issues for MSEs.
Implementing Agencies:
MoMSME has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the implementing agencies Small Industries
Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for MSME GIFT Scheme and MSE SPICE Scheme and with National
Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI) for MSE ODR scheme.
New Initiatives:
i.MoMSME’s Zero Defect and Zero Effect (ZED) scheme has been made free for women led MSMEs.

ii.Support for Commercialisation of IP Programme (MSME – SCIP Programme) enables MSME innovators to
commercialize their Intellectual Property Rights(IPR).
ICG & Amazon India Join Hands to Create Work Opportunities for Ex-Service Personnel
Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to
provide career opportunities for ex-service personnel.
• The partnership aims to help ex-servicemen from military backgrounds pursue corporate careers
through opportunities at Amazon or in other corporate roles.
• The collaboration also aims to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion in Amazon India’s
workplace.
Note: Amazon India also renewed its MoU with the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), the Ministry of
Defence (MoD) to reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ex-service personnel.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
United Nations Declared 2024 as the International Year of Camelids
The United Nations (UN) has declared the year 2024 as the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024) to
raise awareness of the economic and cultural significance of camelids in protecting ecosystems, conserving
biodiversity, assuring food security, and adapting to climate change.
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) is the lead agency for celebrating the IYC
2023 in collaboration with other relevant organizations and bodies of the UN system.
Slogan of IYC 2024: Heroes of deserts and highlands: Nourishing people and culture
Background:
i.On 20 December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/210 and
declared 2024 as the IYC upon recommendation by FAO.
• This was adopated following the resolution 7/2017
of the 40th session of the Conference of the FAO.
ii.The resolution for the IYC was proposed by
the Government of Bolivia and presented by Ecuador as the
Country Chair of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean
Countries (GRULAC).
iii.FAO officially launched the IYC 2024 on 4 December 2023
in Rome, Italy.
Significance of IYC 2024:
• Raise awareness of the potential of camelids
• Encourage increased investment in the camelid
sector

• Promote research, capacity development, and innovative practices and technologies.

• Promotes actions that improve the management of camelids to contribute to the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
Camelids:
i.Camelids are members of the family “Camelidae”, the only currently living family in the suborder Tylopoda.
ii.Dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, wild Bactrian camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos are the 7
distinct members of this Camelids.
iii.Camelids contributes to the livelihoods of millions of households across over 90 countries.
iv.They contribute to food security, nutrition and economic growth and holds a strong cultural significance for
communities across the world.
Camelids and SDGs:
Camelids contribute significantly to achieving SDGs, combating hunger, eradicating extreme poverty,
empowering women, and ensuring the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
About Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO):
With 195 members – 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
Director-General– Qu Dongyu
Headquarters– Rome, Italy
Established in– 1945
IOM Launches Project PRAYAS for Orderly, Safe Movement of Indians Overseas
On December 21, 2023, International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched Project PRAYAS (Promoting
Regular & Assisted Migration for Youth and Skilled Professionals) in partnership with the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA), Government of India (GoI) to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration for Indian workers
and students.
• The project was launched by Muktesh K. Pardeshi, Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and
Overseas Indian Affairs/CPV& OIA), MEA, to commemorate the International Migrants Day (18
December).
Note: IOM is a leading United Nations(UN) agency promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of
all.
About Project PRAYAS:
i.This project is a joint collaboration between the IOM India and Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
ii.PRAYAS, backed by the IOM Development Fund, seeks to develop a roadmap for enhanced coordination
between Central and State Governments, fostering the sharing of best practices among States and bolstering
engagement with MEA on international migration matters.

Key Points:
i.PRAYAS consolidates state initiatives for safe migration in alignment with GoI’s migration priorities and Goal
10.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• SDG Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people,
including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies
ii.It adheres to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Migration
Governance Framework (MiGOF).
iii.India’s working-age population will be 68.9% by 2030, with over a billion workers.
iv.With Over 32 million Indians and people of Indian origin residing abroad, India plays a major role in the
international migration dynamics.
About International Organisation for Migration (IOM):
Director General (DG)– Amy E. Pope (First woman DG of IOM)
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Establishment– 1951
Bhutan King Announces Gelephu Mindfulness City Project of 1,000 sq km on Assam Border
Bhutan’s Reigning King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has announced that the Gelephu Mindfulness City,
or Special Administrative Region (SAR) project on the 116th National Day of the Kingdom of Bhutan held at the
Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu (Bhutan).
i.The project covers over 1,000-square-kilometre area in Gelephu, located in Sarpang District in Bhutan which
also borders the Indian state of Assam.
About the project:
i.The Special Administrative Region (SAR) in Gelephu will have the autonomy to formulate laws and policies
that are needed.
• It will also have executive autonomy and legal independence.
ii.The project of Mindfulness City encompasses conscious and sustainable businesses inspired by Buddhist
spiritual heritage and distinguished by the uniqueness of the Bhutanese identity.
iii.The project also includes building a second international airport for Bhutan at Gelephu.
iv.During the Bhutan King’s speech on National Day, he thanked the Indian government for the approval of
the first India-Bhutan railway line that connects Gelephu (Bhutan) to Kokrajhar (58 km rail link) in Assam.
• The preliminary Engineering-cum-Traffic (PET)survey for the Kokrajhar-Gelephu link has been
completed by the Indian Railways.
v.The project aims to establish an economic corridor connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia via India’s
northeastern states.
Note:
Bhutan’s National Day (celebrated on December 17th every year) commemorates the coronation of the
first King of Bhutan, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck, in 1907, to mark the unification of Bhutan under single
monarchy.
Related News:
Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has made an official visit to India from 03-10 November 2023.

About Bhutan:
Bhutan borders with four Indian states namely West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Capital – Thimphu
Currency – Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
BANKING & FINANCE

JICA Signs Japanese ODA Loan Agreements with GoI for High-Speed Rail Project & SDGs
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed loan agreements with the Government of
India (GoI) in Delhi to offer Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans totalling 415,301 million
yen for the following two projects:
i.Project for the Construction of Mumbai -Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (V) (loan amount: 400,000 million yen)
ii.Program for Japan-India Cooperative Actions towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India (Phase
2) (loan amount: 15,301 million yen)
Project for the Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail:
i.By constructing a high-speed rail between Mumbai(Maharashtra) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat) (approximately
500-km section), the project aims to improve the efficiency of the
transportation network and contribute to broad economic
development.
ii.The project will promote regional economic development and
the attainment of the following Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs):
• Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 9 – Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 13 – Climate action
iii.India’s under-construction bullet train follows the style of
Japan’s Shinkansen high-speed bullet trains.
Program for Japan-India Cooperative Actions towards SDGs
in India:
i.The program aims to contribute to the promotion of the SDGs in
India, especially in the field of social development.
ii.The loan will fund projects overseen by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog which
impact 112 aspirational districts and 500 aspirational blocks across India.
iii.The program will also promote policy actions, implement effective practices, and enhance the Japan-India
partnership through the exchange of human resources.
iv.The project is currently in the second phase which was started in April 2021 and scheduled to be completed
in March 2026.

Policy Matrix Pillars:

The program aims to work on areas (Policy Matrix Pillars) like
i.Health and nutrition – to promote regional healthcare systems and improve maternal and child nutrition
ii.Education – to enhance learning outcomes, foster inclusive school environments, and maintain hygienic
educational facilities.
iii.Agriculture and water resources – to increase farmers’ income and improve the efficacy of agricultural
producer associations
iv.Financial inclusion and skill development – to provide vocational training for youth and enhance financial
inclusion and social security coverage.
v.Basic infrastructure – to increase internet access and ensure universal availability of water supplies.
Note: The quantitative and qualitative outcomes of these policy actions will be monitored and evaluated by
JICA across three tranches.
About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA):
President – Tanaka Akihiko
Headquarters – Tokyo, Japan
Established in – 1974
Axis Bank & American Express Partners to Launch Co-Branded Credit Card
Axis Bank Limited has partnered with the American Express Company and launched the “Axis Bank
Privilege Credit Card” on the American Express network.
• Under this partnership, Axis bank customers will benefit with the local and global benefits of the
American Express network.
About Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card:
i.Eligibility: The applicant should be a resident of India aged between 18 to 70 with a net annual income of Rs
6 lakhs or more.
ii.Joining fee is Rs. 1500(NIL for priority customers) and the annual fee is (2nd year onwards) of Rs 1500.
• The standard fee will be reversed by spending Rs.2.5 lakh in the previous anniversary year.
iii.The finance charges of the card are 3.6% per month and the Cash Withdrawal Fee is 2.5% of the Cash
Amount.
iv.Reward Points: EDGE Reward point is the new point redemption currency of this credit card. These
reward points can be redeemed against multi-brand vouchers.
About American Express (AMEX):
American Express is a leading, globally integrated payments company
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Stephen J. Squeri
Headquarters – New York, United States of America (USA)

About Axis Bank Limited:

MD & CEO– Amitabh Chaudhry
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Tagline – Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi
Kotak Life Has Introduced a New Insurance Product ‘T.U.L.I.P’

On 20th December 2023, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited launched “Kotak T.U.L.I.P”, a new
term insurance policy with benefits of a unit-linked insurance plan (Ulip).
T.U.L.I.P, stands for term and Ulip, offers comprehensive protection like a term plan and also the opportunity
to grow their wealth like a ULIP.
• This offers a refund of 2 times the premium allocation charges in the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th
years.
• The policy also offers loyalty addition up to 30% of the fund value as part of the maturity benefits,
• This also offers 8 fund options to choose from for the policyholder to invest according to their
financial goals.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS

DEA Grants One-Time Exemption to LIC to Achieve 25% MPS in 10 Years
On 21st December 2023, The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance (MoF), granted one-
time exemption (in the public interest) to Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to achieve 25% Minimum
Public Shareholding (MPS) within 10 years from the date of listing, till May 2032.
i.In January 2023, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has amended the Securities Contracts
(Regulation) Act, 1956 which will exempt Indian state-run companies from the MPS norm that requires listed
companies to maintain a 25% public shareholding even after their privatisation, if the government decides
so “in public interest”.
ii.The exemption to the MPS rule was earlier available only to government-controlled companies.
Note: LIC was listed on the exchanges in May 2022 and the Government of India (GoI) has sold over 22.13
crore shares (3.5% statke) through Initial Public Offering (IPO). At present, GoI holds 96.5% stake in LIC.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

UNESCO Announced Winners of 2023 Heritage award; Rambagh Gate in Punjab wins Award of
Excellence
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s 2023 Asia-Pacific Awards for
Cultural Heritage Conservation, also known as Heritage Awards, were awarded to a total of 12
projects from India(6), China(5), Nepal(1).
• Rambagh Gate and Ramparts in Punjab(India), has won the “Award of Excellence”, the highest
honour of UNESCO heritage awards.
• Karnikara Mandapam, Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple, Kerala, India have won the 2 awards. It
was recognised with Special Recognition for Sustainable Development category and Award of
Distinction.
The awards were announced by UNESCO Regional office in Bangkok, Thailand(UNESCO Bangkok), the Asia-
Pacific Regional Bureau for Education as well as a Cluster Office in the Asia-Pacific region of the UNESCO.

Winners of 2023 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation:
Project Location
Award of Excellence
Rambagh Gates and Ramparts Punjab, India
Award of Distinction
Fanling Golf Course Hong Kong SAR, China
Dongguan Garden Residences Yangzhou, China
Karnikara Mandapam, Kunnamangalam

Kerala, India
Bhagawati Temple
Award of Merit
Yan Nan Yuan in Peking University Beijing, China
Pan Family Residence Suzhou, China
Church of Epiphany Haryana, India
David Sassoon Library and Reading Room Mumbai(Maharashtra), India
Bikaner House New Delhi(Delhi), India
Special Recognition for Sustainable Development
Pipal Haveli Punjab, India
Sikami Chhen Kathmandu, Nepal
Karnikara Mandapam, Kunnamangalam

Kerala, India
Bhagawati Temple
Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts
Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital Luoyang, China

2023 winners from India:

i.Rambagh Gate and Ramparts has been recognised for its commitment to preserving the essence of the site
while fostering inclusivity and community access.
• The project demonstrates an exceptional model for inclusive and resilient urban revitalization.
• It is located at the crossroads of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s city wall and modern Amritsar.
ii.Karnikara Mandapam is a a semi-open, wooden-pillared prayer hall in the Kunnamangalam Bhagawati
Temple complex in Kerala.
iii.Church of Epiphany, located in Gurugram, was initiated by the Church Committee with Parish support. The
church’s restoration project stands as a testament to the commitment to preserving local history.
• The refurbished church is a model conservation project which aims to catalyse a multiplier effect in
the area.
iv.David Sassoon Library and Reading Room, a 19th-century Gothic architectural structure located in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
v.Bikaner House in New Delhi was constructed in 1930s. It has also served as bus terminal, a tourism office, and
government offices.
vi.Pipal Haveli is a contemporary community-centered, multi-use educational building rooted in time-
honoured principles of sustainability. It is located in Rural Punjab, within a gated ‘haveli.’
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation:
i.The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, establsihed in 2000, recognise efforts of
private individuals and organizations to restore or conserve structures, places, or properties of heritage value
in the Asia-Pacific region.
ii.The Awards programme has been supported by a partnership between UNESCO and Ng Teng Fong Charitable
Foundation (NTFCF) since 2021.
iii.The Projects were selected on the basis of their understanding of place, technical achievements, and
sustainability and impact, as specified in the Awards Criteria.
iv.Award of Special Recognition for Sustainable Development, introduced in 2020 to acknowledge
noteworthy achievement in overall criteria and promise a significant contribution to sustainable development.
• It is an additional award (which may be won separately or in addition to another).
Recent related News:
Santiniketan in West Bengal and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka were inscribed on the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General– Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Founded in– 1945 (came into force in 1946)
Members– 194 Members and 12 Associate Members
T2 of KIA wins World Special Prize for Interior 2023 at UNESCO Prix Versailles
India’s Kempegowda International Airport’s (KIA) Terminal 2 (T2) in Bengaluru, Karnataka received the
“World Special Prize for an Interior 2023” from UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization) Prix Versailles under the category of Airports.
• The award recognizes creativity, innovativeness, ecological efficiency, and the reflection of local
heritage.
• As per Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), it is the only Indian airport to receive such
global recognition.
Other two Prix Versailles (Airports) Awards and Winners:
i.Prix Versailles Award– It was won by Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Satellite Concourse, Shenzhen,
China

ii.Special prize for an Exterior– It was won by Newark Liberty International Airport, Terminal A, Newark,
New Jersey, United States (US)
Click Here for full list of Awards
About KIA Terminal 2:
i.The 2,55,661 sqm Terminal 2 is built on four pillars: technological leadership, environmental stewardship, a
terminal within a garden, and a tribute to Karnataka’s culture.
ii.It is designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), with civil construction by Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
• SOM is an American architectural and engineering firm known for its expertise in urban planning.
About Prix Versailles Awards:
Established in 2015, it recognizes intelligent sustainability as a cultural catalyst, acknowledging attributes such
as innovation, creativity, reflection of local heritage, ecological efficiency, and promotes social interaction.
• The Prix Versailles 2023 World Judges Panel was chaired by Elie Saab.
About Prix Versailles:
Secretary General– Jerome Gouadain
Secretariat– Versailles, France
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sanjay Kumar Singh Elected as a New President of WFI
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) names Sanjay Kumar Singh as its new President, he is also the Vice-
President of Uttar Pradesh(UP) Wrestling Association.
i.Sanjay Kumar won the election with 40 votes (special majority) by defeating former India wrestler and
Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Anita Sheoran who secured only 7 votes.
Other elected members of WFI:
Secretary General: Prem Chand Lochab (Gujarat)
Treasurer: Satya Pal Sigh Deswal (Uttarakhand)
Joint Secretaries: Bellippady Gunaranjan Shetty (Karnataka) and R K Purushottam (Andhra Pradesh)
Senior Vice President: Devender Singh Kadian (Assam)
Vice-Presidents: Asit Kumar Saha (West Bengal), Jai Prakash (Delhi), Kartar Singh (Punjab) and N Phoney
(Manipur)

Executive Committee (EC) members: M Loganathan

(Tamil Nadu), Neivkuolie Khatsii (Nagaland), Prashant Rai
(Chattisgarh), Rajnish Kumar (Jharkhand) and Ummed
Singh (Rajasthan).
Previous WFI President:
i.Previously the position of ‘President’ was held by Brij
Bhushan Sharan Singh
Member of Parliament(MP) representing Kaiserganj
Constituency of UP in the Lok Sabha.
ii.Brij Bhushan was serving the post since 2011 (three
tenure 2011-15, 2015-19, 2019-23).
iii.However, in January 2023, he was removed from the
post.
iv.In April 2023, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) set up a
two-member ad-hoc committee comprising, Bhupender
Singh Bajwa, IOA executive council member and Suma
Shirur, former Indian shooter of outstanding Merit of IOA, to overlook the operations of the WFI.
Note:
The WFI’s electoral college comprised 50 voters.
Additional Info:
United World Wrestling (UWW), the governing body of wrestling, has banned the WFI in August 2023 for not
conducting its election on time.
About Wrestling Federation of India (WFI):
President – Sanjay Kumar Singh
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Govt Reconstitutes National Startup Advisory Council, MoCI Nominates 31 Non-Official

Members
On 18th December 2023, Government of India reconstituted the National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC)
upon the completion of its 2 year term. Following the reconstitution, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
(MoCI) has nominated 31 non-official members to represent various stakeholders of the startup eco-system.
Note: The term of the non-official members of NSAC shall be 2 years or until further orders.
About National Startup Advisory Council(NSAC):

i.NSAC was constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), MoCI in
January 2020.
ii.Aim: To advise the government on measures required to build a strong ecosystem to foster innovation and
startups in India to promote sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities.
iii.The council with a term of 2 years aims to promote a culture of innovation, and enhace access to capital for
startups.

About the Reconstituted NSAC:

i.The nominated members includes founders of startups, individuals representing investor interests and
representatives from incubators and accelerators.
ii.The 31 nominated non-official members includes Kunal Bahl, Co-Founder of Snapdeal, Sanjeev Bikhchandani,
Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge; Nithin Kamath, Founder and CEO of Zerodha; and Nivruti
Rai MD & CEO of Invest India.
Click here for the complete list of nominated members
Additional info:
The 8th meeting of NSAC was held on 19th December 2023 under the chairmanship of Union Minister Piyush
Goyal, MoCI, in New Delhi, Delhi.
Bisleri ropes in Actress Deepika Padukone its 1st-ever Global Brand Ambassador
Bisleri International Private Limited, leading Indian bottled water company, has roped in Deepika Padukone, a
bollywood actress and producer as its first ever global brand ambassador.
• As the brand ambassdor, she will feature on the Bisleri’s #DrinkItUp campaign, which embraces the
fun and excitement of visualising hydration.
• Padukone will also be a part of all Bisleri product packaging.
Note:Bisleri was launched in India in 1965. In 1969, Parle Group acquired the Bisleri brand, from an Italian
entrepreneur, Signor Felice Bisleri
About Bisleri International Private Limited:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Angelo George
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI Approvals on 19th December 2023
On 19th December 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the following:
i.Proposal to acquire certain business undertakings of Ind Swift Laboratories Limited(ISLL) and Essix
Biosciences Limited(Essix) by Synthimed Labs Private Limited(Synthimed).
ii.Proposal to acquire majority shareholding of Glenmark Life Sciences Limited(GLS) by Nirma Limited.
iii.Amalgamation of a list of companies and demerger of Real Estate Business Undertaking of India Land Hotels
Mumbai Private Limited into Indiabulls Pharmacare Limited
CCI Approved the acquisition of business under ISLL & Essix by Synthimed:
CCI approved the proposal for the slump sale of certain business
undertakings of ISLL and Essix to Synthimed. following this, ISLL will acquire a minority shareholding in the
Synthimed.
Target: ISLL and Essix
Acquirer: Synthimed

Key Points:
i.Synthimed is a part of the Bain Capital Group and Piramal Group headquartered in Chandigarh.
• It has incorporated a company set-up to facilitate the Proposed Combination.
ii.ISLL and Essix (both based in Chandigarh) are involved in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical
ingredients (APIs), Intermediates and formulations.
Note: Slump sale refers to transferring a part or whole of a business to another firm for a lump sum amount.
CCI approved the acquisition of majority shares of GLS by Nirma Limited
CCI approved the proposal related to the acquisition of majority shareholding of GLS by Nirma Limited through
the
• purchase of shares from the GLS’s promoter
• purchase of shares from the public shareholders under an open offer as per the Securities and
Exchange Board of India(SEBI) (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011.
Target: GLS
Acquirer: Nirma Limited
Key Points:
i.GLS based in Hyderabad, Telangana, is involved in the manufacture and sale of APIs and intermediaries and
Contract Development and
Manufacture Organisation (CDMO) services for APIs.
ii.The operations of Nirma Limited based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, include soda ash, soaps and detergents, salt,
caustic soda, Linear Alkyl Benzene and other industrial products.
CCI approved the scheme of arrangement involving a list of Companies:
CCI approved the scheme of arrangement involving a list of organisations, the details of the proposed
combination are as follows:
i.Amalgamation of Dhani Services Limited (Dhani/DSL) and Indiabulls Enterprises Limited (IEL) into and with
Yaari Digital Integrated Services Limited
• Listed Amalgamating Companies: DSL and IEL
• Amalgamated Company – Yaari Digital
ii.Amalgamation of the following companies into Yaari Digital.
• Savren Medicare Limited;
• Auxesia Soft Solutions Limited;
• Gyansagar Buildtech Limited;
• Pushpanjli Finsolutions Limited;
• Devata Tradelink Limited;
• Evinos Developers Limited;
• Milky Way Buildcon Limited;
• Indiabulls Consumer Products Limited;
• Indiabulls Infra Resources Limited;
• Jwala Technology Systems Private Limited;
• Mabon Properties Limited;
• YDI Consumer India Limited;
• Indiabulls General Insurance Limited; and
• Indiabulls Life Insurance Company Limited (Unlisted Amalgamating Companies)
iii. Amalgamation of Juventus Estate Limited with and into Yaari Digital;
iv.Demerger of the Real Estate Business Undertaking of India Land Hotels Mumbai Private Limited into
Indiabulls Pharmacare Limited and discharge of consideration thereof by way of issuance of shares by Yaari
Digital, in the capacity of the holding company of Indiabulls Pharmacare.
Note: Yaari Digital is engaged in the business of promoting digital financial and other solutions and has
proprietary rights to the digital platform ‘Yaari’.
click here to know more

About the Competition Commission of India(CCI)

CCI, the competition regulator in India, is responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002
Chairperson – Ravneet Kaur
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established– 2003
IMPORTANT DAYS
National Mathematics Day 2023- December 22
National Mathematics Day (NMD) is annually celebrated across India on 22 December to commemorate
the birth anniversary of the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, who was born on 22 December
1887 in Erode, Madras Presidency, British India (now Tamil Nadu, India)
• This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of mathematics for the growth of
humanity and to recognise the contributions made by Ramanujan, to mathematics.
22 December 2023 marks the 136th birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan.
Background:
i.In December 2011, the Government of India declared that 22nd December, birth anniversay of Srinivasa
Ramanujan, of every year as “National Mathematics Day” and the year 2012 as “National Mathematics Year” as
a tribute to Srinivasa Ramanujan.
• This was announced by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during the event organised in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
ii.The first-ever NMD was observed on 22 December 2012, the 125th birth anniversary of Srinivasa
Ramanujan.
About Srinivasa Ramanujan:
i.Srinivasa Ramanujan started developing his theories in mathematics and published his first paper in 1911.
ii.He was mentored at Cambridge University, London, the United Kingdom by Godfrey Harold Hardy(GH
Hardy), a well-known British mathematician.
iii.In 1918, Ramanujan became the 2nd Indian to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, UK after
Ardaseer Cursetjee, a naval engineer, in 1841.
iv.He was the 1st Indian to be elected as a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge (UK).
v.His contribution extends to mathematical fields such as complex analysis, number theory, infinite series, and
continued fractions.
vi.He passed away on 26 April 1920 at the age of 32 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.
Biography:
Robert Kanigel, an American Biographer, authored the biography of Ramanujan titled “Man Who Knew Infinity:
A Life of the Genius Ramanujan” in 1991.
• “Man Who Knew Infinity”, a british biopic film, based on the book of the same title was released in
2015 starring Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons.

Ramanujan’s Major Contributions to Mathematics:

i.Infinite series for pi: In 1914, he found a formula for infinite series for pi, which forms the basis of many
algorithms used today.
ii.Ramanujan Number: 1729 is known as the Ramanujan number which is the sum of the cubes of two
numbers 10 and 9.
iii.Mock Theta Function: He elaborated on the mock theta function, a concept in the field of modular forms of
mathematics.
iv.Theta Function: Ramanujan’s theta function is used to determine the critical dimensions in Bosonic string
theory, superstring theory, and M-theory.
• He discovered his theorems and independently compiled nearly 3900 results (mostly identities and
equations).
SASTRA-Ramanujan Award for 2023:
i.The SASTRA Ramanujan Prize for 2023 was awarded to Ruixiang Zhang, Assistant Professor, University of
California, Berkeley, United States of America (USA).
ii.The Award was instituted by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) in
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu in 2005.
iii.The award includes a cash prize of USD 10,000 and it is presented annually to individuals aged 32 and
below, who made an outstanding contribution to the field of mathematics.
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Categories Achievers Fast Movers Aspirers

Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,

Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya,

Andaman & Nicobar, Daman & Diu/ Dadra &

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About Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI);

The 3 sub schemes are:

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• Promote research, capacity development, and innovative practices and technologies.

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BANKING & FINANCE

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Policy Matrix Pillars:

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About Axis Bank Limited:

Kotak Life Has Introduced a New Insurance Product ‘T.U.L.I.P’

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

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Winners of 2023 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation:

Rambagh Gates and Ramparts Punjab, India

Fanling Golf Course Hong Kong SAR, China

Dongguan Garden Residences Yangzhou, China

Karnikara Mandapam, Kunnamangalam

Yan Nan Yuan in Peking University Beijing, China

Pan Family Residence Suzhou, China

Church of Epiphany Haryana, India

David Sassoon Library and Reading Room Mumbai(Maharashtra), India

Bikaner House New Delhi(Delhi), India

Special Recognition for Sustainable Development

Pipal Haveli Punjab, India

Sikami Chhen Kathmandu, Nepal

Karnikara Mandapam, Kunnamangalam

Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts

Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital Luoyang, China

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2023 winners from India:

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APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

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Executive Committee (EC) members: M Loganathan

Govt Reconstitutes National Startup Advisory Council, MoCI Nominates 31 Non-Official

About National Startup Advisory Council(NSAC):

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About the Reconstituted NSAC:

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

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About the Competition Commission of India(CCI)

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Ramanujan’s Major Contributions to Mathematics:

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