CDS.

JOURNEY
CURRENT AFFAIRS BULLETIN

DECEMBER
2023
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 CONTENT
‹ Sports News
‹ Defence News
‹ National News
‹ International News
‹ Science & Technology
‹ Awards
‹ Books
‹ Important Days
‹ Important appointments
‹ Ranks & Reports
‹ Important government Schemes
‹ Miscellaneous

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 SPORTS
Indian badminton players Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
and Chirag Shetty, also known as the ‘Brothers of
Destruction’, have been nominated for the
prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna at the
National Sports Awards 2023.

Two-time World under-20 champion and senior Worlds

bronze medallist Antim Panghal (53kg) has been named
United World Wrestling (UWW) Rising Star of the Year
2023 in women’s section.

Olympic medallist and multiple Grand Slam

champion Leander Paes, along with two-
time Davis Cup finalist Vijay Amritraj, has
made it into the International Tennis Hall
of Fame.

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka

were honored by the International
Tennis Federation as the 2023 ITF
World Champions. The pair were the
only singles players who managed to
reach at least the semi-finals of all four
Grand Slam events this year.
The Khelo India Youth Games will commence its
2023 edition on January 19, 2024, in Tamil Nadu,
spanning Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, and
Coimbatore. ( Mascot - 'Veera Mangai').

India recorded their maiden victory against

Australia in a women's test match at Wankhede
Stadium in Mumbai.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 SPORTS
Ruturaj Gaikwad has become the fastest Indian to
accomplish 4,000 runs in men's T20 cricket.

Haryana emerged victorious in the 2023

Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Saurashtra
Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot,
securing their first-ever title with a 30-
run triumph over Rajasthan.

Mitchell Starc becomes most expensive player in IPL

history, goes to Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 24.75
crore.

Mallika Sagar is the first female auctioneer in the history

of IPL.

Australia’s T20 competition,

the Big Bash League (BBL),
has introduced the use of
“Electra Stumps”.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has

decided to retire the iconic No.7 jersey worn by
former captain MS Dhoni.

Bangladesh crushed UAE by 195 runs

to win the Under-19 Asia Cup in
Dubai.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 SPORTS
Indian chess ace R Vaishali joined younger sibling
R Praggnanandhaa to become the world’s first-
ever brother-sister Grandmasters duo and only the
third woman from the country to earn the GM
title, at the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain.

Indian para archer Sheetal Devi clinches the title

of Best Youth Athlete at the Asian Paralympic
Committee (APC) awards ceremony during the
fourth edition of the Asian Awards in Riyadh.

Indian men's hockey team midfielder Hardik Singh and women's side
captain Savita Punia won the FIH Player of the Year and Goalkeeper
of the Year (women) awards respectively.

World Championship silver and Para Asian

Games gold medallist Sheetal Devi has been
conferred with the Best Female Para Archer of
the Year accolade at the World Archery Awards
on Friday. The 16-year-old girl from Jammu
and Kashmir became the first Indian archer to
attain the feat.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 DEFENCE
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX),
the flagship initiative of the Department of
Defence Production, has reached a milestone
with the signing of its 300th contract. The
contract relates to the design and development
of advanced Gallium Nitride Semiconductors
which is essential for the next generation of
wireless transmitters in defence applications
ranging from radars to EW (Electronics
Warfare) jammers.

On 4th december, Shri Narendra Modi attended the

program marking ‘Navy Day 2023’ celebrations at
Sindhudurg. He also witnessed the ‘Operational
Demonstrations’ by Indian Navy’s ships, submarines,
aircraft and special forces from Tarkarli beach,
Sindhudurg.

Captain Geetika Koul from the Snow

Leopard Brigade becomes the first woman
medical officer of the Indian Army to be
deployed at the world’s highest battlefield,
Siachen, after successfully completing the
induction training at Siachen Battle
School.
Commander Prerna Deosthalee has
created history by becoming the first
woman officer to lead an Indian Navy
warship. Rear Admiral Praveen Nair,
Western Fleet commander, officially
appointed her to command the water
jet fast attack craft INS Trinkat
stationed on the western seaboard.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 DEFENCE
INS Kadmatt, on a Long Range Operational
Deployment to the North Pacific Ocean entered
Yokosuka, Japan for an Operational Turnaround
(OTR).

As part of Indian Navy’s Long Range Mission

Based Deployment, Indian Naval Ship Sumedha
undertook port call at Antsiranana, Madagascar.

Sandhayak (Yard 3025), the first of four Survey

Vessel (Large) ships, being built at Garden Reach
Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, was
delivered to the Indian Navy.

Indian Coast Guard Ship Sajag, an Offshore

Patrol Vessel, made port call at King Abdul
Aziz Port, AD Dammam, Saudi Arabia on a
three day visit.

As a part of on-going long-range deployment to

Africa, Indian Naval Ship Sumedha arrived at Port
Lamu, Kenya. The visit marks the maiden port call
by any Indian Naval Ship at the recently developed
Port in Kenya.
The Indian Navy, along with other defence state
and civil agencies completed a two-phased exercise
'Prasthan' in the Offshore Development Area, off
the Mumbai coast.

Indian Navy commissioned INS Tarmugli, a Fast

Attack Craft, at an impressive ceremony held at
Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam under the aegis of
the Eastern Naval Command.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 DEFENCE
As part of the ongoing Long Range Op Deployment,
INS Kadmatt arrived at Manila, Philippines. The visit
is aimed at bolstering maritime cooperation between
India and Philippines.
Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with
Telecommunications Consultants India Limited
(TCIL) at a total cost of Rs 588.68 crore, for the
acquisition of Digital Coast Guard (DCG) project,
under the Buy (Indian) category.
In commemoration of the historic military
victory in the Kargil War, Indian Army
conducted ‘Honour Run – Indian Army
Veteran’s Half Marathon’ in Delhi.

The Indian Armed Forces contingent

comprising 45 personnel reached Hanoi,
Vietnam to take part in the fourth edition of
Joint Military Exercise VINBAX-2023.

In a landmark initiative to promote gender

inclusivity and enhancing the capabilities of women
military personnel in peacekeeping operations, the
Indian Army conducted a Table-Top Exercise (TTX)
for the Women Officers of Association of South-East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Manekshaw Centre in
New Delhi.
As part of her Long Range Operational
Deployment to the North Pacific Ocean and
South China Sea, INS Kadmatt arrived at
Bangkok, Thailand. The aim of the visit is to
further bolster India - Thailand maritime
cooperation and enhance interoperability
between both the navies.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 DEFENCE
DRDO has successfully carried out a flight trial of
Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator,
an indigenous high-speed flying-wing Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from the Aeronautical Test
Range, Chitradurga in Karnataka.

All three Indian Armed Forces officers undergoing

the Command and Staff Course at Defence Services
Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Sri Lanka
have been awarded the ‘Golden Owl’ for their
outstanding performance.
The Indian Air Force celebrates the triumph of
the Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation
(SAMAR) air defense missile system, successfully
tested during Exercise AstraShakti-2023 at Air
Force Station Suryalanka in Andhra Pradesh.

India has achieved a global first by demonstrating

the capability of its indigenous Akash missile
system to engage four aerial targets simultaneously
at a range of 25 kilometers.

The DRDO highlighted India’s unique position as the first country

to possess such a capability within a single firing unit.

INS Shivaji, the premier Training establishment of the

Indian Navy received the original 'Vir Chakra' awarded
to Late Vice Admiral Benoy Roy Chowdhury, AVSM,
VrC (Retd.) at a solemn ceremony at Lonavala.

Ministry of Defence signs Rs 1,614.89 crore

contract with Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders
Ltd for procurement of six Next Generation
Offshore Patrol Vessels for Indian Coast Guard.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 DEFENCE
The 8th edition of Indian
Ocean Naval Symposium
(IONS) Conclave of Chiefs
(CoC) is being hosted by
Royal Thai Navy at Bangkok,
Thailand.
India would take over the Chair of IONS (2025-27) during the 9th
CoC planned to be conducted in India in end 2025.
Pakistan’s military wing Inter-Services Public
Relations (ISPR) claimed it had successfully
conducted the flight test of Fatah-II, a guided
multi-launch rocket system (MLRS). Equipped
with state-of-the-art avionics and a navigation
system, Fatah-II can engage targets with high
precision up to a range of 400 kilometers.
INS Imphal, a Project 15B stealth guided missile
destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy.
The event marks the formal induction of the third of
four indigenous ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers,
being designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship
Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.

Indian Navy unveiled a new design of the

epaulettes for the Admirals, inspired by the
“Rajmudra” (royal stamp) of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

The octagon-shaped Rajmudra (royal stamp) in red signifies eight-

cardinal directions to represent an all-round long term vision" and the
golden navy buttons "reiterates its resolve to do away with the mindset
of slavery".

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 NATIONAL
Geographical Indication (GI) tag awarded to
Meghalaya's Lakadong turmeric, along with
other traditional products such as
Garo Dakmanda (traditional dress)
Larnai pottery
Garo Chubitchi (alcoholic beverage).

India has unveiled ‘Barracuda,’ the nation’s

fastest solar electric boat, at the Navgathi
Yard in Panavally, Alappuzha. This cutting-
edge vessel, named ‘Saur Shakthi,’ is a
collaborative effort between Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Ltd and Navalt, an eco-marine
tech company.

With a view to strengthen security of women

passengers in trains, Central Railway (CR) has
introduced 'panic button' system to alert officials
in case of an emergency.

The Union Home Ministry has approved the deployment

of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in the
Parliament complex. The decision comes days after the
December 13 security breach in the Parliament. The
Delhi Police, however, will continue to provide security
outside the parliament building complex.

Veer Baal Diwas is observed on 26th December,

commemorating the martyrdom of Sahibzadas Baba
Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, as announced
by the Hon. Prime Minister on 9th January 2022.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 NATIONAL
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the 5th
edition of Global Ayurveda Festival in Thiruvananthapuram
in Kerala.

Gajraj System is an AI-based surveillance system to

prevent elephant deaths on Indian railway tracks.
This system can alert loco pilots about the presence
of elephants on tracks.

Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Indian

Art, Architecture & Design Biennale (IAADB) 2023
being held at Red Fort . He also inaugurated the
‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design’ at Red
Fort and the student Biennale- Samunnati. He also
launched a Commemorative Stamp.

Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Uttarakhand

Global Investors Summit 2023’ being held at Forest
Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He
also launched a book Sashakt Uttarakhand and the
brand House of Himalayas. The theme of the
Summit is ‘Peace to Prosperity’.

Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated

the Global Partnership on Artificial
Intelligence (GPAI) Summit at
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

GPAI is a multi-stakeholder initiative with 29 member countries,

which aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI
by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-
related priorities. India is the lead chair of GPAI in 2024.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 NATIONAL
Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Tamil
Sangamam 2023 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh . Shri
Modi flagged off the Kanyakumari – Varanasi Tamil
Sangamam train and launched multi language and
braille translations of Thirukkural, Manimekalai and
other classic Tamil literature on the occasion.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam aims to celebrate, reaffirm and rediscover the
age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi – two of the country’s
most important and ancient seats of learning.

Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Surat Diamond

Bourse in Surat, Gujarat. The Surat Diamond Bourse
stands as the world’s largest office complex.
Genrobotics, a Kerala-based startup acclaimed for
leveraging technology for social change, has been
adjudged among top three Artificial Intelligence
(AI) startups of India at the Global Partnership on
Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2023.
Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Swarved
Mahamandir, a magnificent seven-floor temple
located in Varanasi's Umaraha area. The temple
boasts a stunning design with 125-petal lotus
domes and an impressive 20,000-seating capacity,
making it one of the largest meditation centers
in the world.
IndiGo, India's preferred carrier has created
history by becoming the first Indian airline
to carry 100 million passengers in a single
calendar year. With this achievement, it has
joined a select club of global carriers to
operate on such scale.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 NATIONAL
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi looks forward to
welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron as Chief
Guest at 75th Republic Day.

Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly built

Ayodhya Airport. The airport has been named
Maharishi Valmiki International Airport.

Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped

Ayodhya railway station – known as Ayodhya
Dham junction railway station – and flagged off
new Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat trains.

The Gujarat government, in partnership with

Mazgaon Dock Limited, is set to pioneer India's
first-ever submarine tourism project at Dwarka,
exploring marine wonders around Bet Dwarka.
In a virtual launch ceremony, Dr. Mansukh
Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and
Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers,
introduced ‘MedTech Mitra,’ a strategic
initiative aimed at nurturing the talents of
young innovators in the country.

President Draupadi Murmu's approval paves the way

for three transformative criminal code bills—Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,
and Bharatiya Sakshya Act.

The Government of India has declared ‘Muslim League

Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction)’/MLJK-MA as an
'Unlawful Association' under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 INTERNATIONAL
COP28 is the 28th annual United
Nations (UN) climate meeting,
which took place in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates (UAE).

COPs are gatherings held within

the framework of the UNFCCC.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

Together with Prime Minister of Together with President

Sweden, co-launched the Phase- Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
II of the Leadership Group for Al Nahyan of UAE, co-hosted
Industry Transition (LeadIT 2.0) the High-level event on
for the period 2024-26 ‘Green Credits Programme’.

LeadIT 2.0 will focus on the following:

1. Inclusive & Just Industry Transition
2. Co-development & transfer of low-carbon technology
3. Financial support to emerging economies for Industry Transition

The Green Credit Initiative has been conceptualized as a mechanism

to incentivize voluntary pro-planet actions, as an effective response
to the challenge of climate change. It envisions the issue of Green
Credits for plantations on waste/degraded lands and river catchment
areas, to rejuvenate and revive natural eco-systems.

The Key Outcomes of COP 28

Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund- It aimed at compensating countries
grappling with climate change impacts.
Global Cooling Pledge- 66 national signatories committed to a 68%
reduction in cooling-related emissions by 2050

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 INTERNATIONAL
Climate Finance- UNCTAD estimates that wealthy nations owe
developing countries USD 500 billion in 2025 under the New
Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance.
Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) framework- Draft text introduced
to enhance climate change adaptation like Climate-Induced Water
Scarcity Reduction, Climate-resilient food and Agriculture
Production and Strengthening Resilience Against Climate-Related
Health Impacts.
Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy- The declaration launched at
COP28 aims to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
Coal Transition Accelerator- Introduced for knowledge-sharing and
financial support in transitioning from coal.
Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnership (CHAMP)- 65
national governments signed commitments for enhanced
cooperation with subnational governments in climate strategies.
Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels- COP28 calls for transitioning
away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly, and
equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, to
achieve net zero by 2050.
Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge- The Pledge
stipulates that signatories commit to work together to triple the
world’s installed renewable energy generation capacity to at least
11,000 GW by 2030. It also calls for collectively double the global
average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements from around
2% to over 4% every year until 2030.

India’s climate action initiatives during the

COP28 summit:
Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA): led by the National Mission for
Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, was launched
at COP28.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 INTERNATIONAL
LeadIT 2.0: launched at COP 28, focuses on co-development and
transfer of low-carbon technology and financial assistance to
emerging economies.
Green Credit Initiative: The Initiative aims to create a global trade
forum facilitating the exchange of innovative environmental
programmes and instruments.
Green Development Pact: it provides pathways for nations in their
journey towards achieving energy, climate, environment and disaster
resilience-related objectives.Green Development Pact includes key
ambitions such as tripling of global renewable capacity by 2030.

List of
COP
Summit

UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

announced a $30 billion fund dedicated to global
climate solutions, aiming to address financial
challenges related to climate issues by 2030.

India has joined the United Nations ‘Race to

Resilience’, a global campaign to mainstream
the idea of climate resilience in cities across
India during the recently concluded COP28
event in Dubai.

A high-level delegation from the Uttar Pradesh

government is set to participate in the World
Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos,
Switzerland scheduled from January 15 to 19.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 INTERNATIONAL
India-Korea Electronic Origin Data Exchange System
(EODES) for faster clearance of imported goods was
launched. EODES will facilitate implementation of
India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement (CEPA) by electronic exchange of origin
information between the two customs administrations
for goods traded under the CEPA.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the

gangrenous disease noma has been added to its official list of
neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Indonesia's Mount Marapi, located in West Sumatra, has

recently erupted.

Google launched its largest and ‘most capable’

AI model, Gemini.
Myanmar has surpassed Afghanistan to become
world’s largest source of opium in 2023 after a third
consecutive year of expanding cultivation fueled by
the country’s civil war, the United Nations said in a
new report.
India re-elected to International Maritime
Organization with highest vote tally. India
comes under the Category of 10 states with
"the largest interest in international seaborne
trade". The term of Council will be for the
biennium 2024-25.

Oxford University Press has unveiled "Rizz" as its

Word of the Year, reflecting the linguistic choices of
Generation Z.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 INTERNATIONAL
Italy has officially withdrawn from China’s ambitious
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marking a significant
departure from its previous stance as the only G7
nation to participate.
Terminal 2 (T2) of Kempegowda International
Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru has been recognised as
one of the world’s most beautiful airports and
awarded the world special prize for interiors at the
UNESCO’s 2023 Prix Versailles.

The United Nations has declared 2024 as the

International Year of Camelids to spotlight the diverse
contributions of camelids, such as alpacas, Bactrian
camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, and vicuñas.

Angola has announced that it is leaving the oil

producers’ organization Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) over a
dispute on output quotas.
Argentina's new President Javier Milei has decided to
withdraw plans for his country to join BRICS, the five-
nation bloc of emerging economies, in a turnaround
from the previous administration.

The President of the World Bank, Ajay

Banga, has outlined a strategic initiative
aimed at scaling up climate financing through
securitization. This innovative approach, led
by the Private Sector Investment Lab (PSIL),
focuses on creating a model of “originate-to-
distribute” to attract substantial investments
from deep-pocketed investors for climate-
related projects.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 SCIENCE &TECHNOLOGY
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has
announced that India is set to launch its first X-Ray
Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), aiming to investigate the
polarisation of intense X-Ray sources. XPoSat will be
launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.

JT-60SA, the world's largest and most

advanced nuclear fusion reactor started
its official operations in Japan's Ibaraki
Prefecture. It is a joint initiative between
the European Union and Japan.

Akshata Krishnamurthy is an Indian woman who created

history as she became the first person from the country to
operate the Mars rover with the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) in the United States.

IBM has unveiled its latest quantum computing

milestone with the introduction of Condor, a
quantum processor boasting an impressive
1,121 qubits.

China and Egypt collaborated to develop and jointly

assemble the MisrSat-2 Satellite, launching it from the
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China
with the Long March-2C carrier rocket.

China marks a physics milestone with the

operational Deep Underground and Ultra-low
Radiation Background Facility (DURF), the
world's deepest lab at 2,400 meters.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 AWARDS
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL),
a Maharatna CPSU under Ministry of Power, has
been conferred the prestigious SKOCH Gold Award
2023.

Renowned author and translator Arshia Sattar was

honored with the Knight of the Order of Arts and
Letters by the French government.

The Odisha Pavilion at India International Trade Fair 2023

(IITF) bagged the prestigious 1st prize (Gold) for Excellence
in Display at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

ISRO has been honoured with the Leif Erikson

Lunar Prize by the Husavik Museum in Reykjavik,
Iceland, acknowledging India's significant
contributions to lunar exploration, particularly
through the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission.
The "Outstanding Contribution to Brand India" award
at the 19th India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) was
presented to ISRO and Team Chandrayaan-3 for the
historic lunar landing achievement on August 23,
making India the first country to reach the Lunar South
Pole.
'Garba of Gujarat' is inscribed in UNESCO's
Representative List of Intangible Cultural
Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. This marks the
15th ICH element from India to achieve this
prestigious recognition.

Michelle Zárate Palomec from Mexico and

Sebastian Mwaura from Kenya are honored as
winners of the UN Global Climate Action Awards.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 AWARDS
Argentina's Lionel Messi, clinches Time magazine’s 2023
Athlete of the Year following his record eighth Ballon d’Or
win, reaffirming his place among the greatest footballers in
history.

Taylor Swift was named TIME’s 2023 Person of the

Year—making her the first woman to appear twice on a
Person of the Year cover since the franchise began in
1927.Swift was also named Person of the Year in 2017.

Amazon India announced its receipt of the prestigious

National Award for Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities, awarded by the Government of India.

Prashant Agrawal, President of Narayan Seva

Sansthan, was honored with the National
Award for 'Best Personality- Empowerment of
Differently-abled' by President Draupadi
Murmu in New Delhi.

Indian social activist Nikhil Dey has been honored as

an International Anti-Corruption Champion by the
US government for 2023.

Veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar will be

felicitated with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement
Award at the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival.

Kabir Bedi was awarded the “Order of Merit of

the Italian Republic” (Merito della Repubblica
Italiana), the country’s highest honour awarded
to civilians, at a private ceremony held in
Mumbai.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 AWARDS
The 33rd Vyas Samman will be conferred to notable
Hindi-Writer Pushpa Bharati this year. The award
was instituted by the KK Birla Foundation in 1991.
The Foundation said that Ms Bharati has been selected
for her memoirs- Yaadein, Yaadein aur Yaadein.

Dr. Hemachandran Ravikumar was honored with the

Karmaveer Chakra Medal and Rex Karmaveer Global
Fellowship by ICONGO in collaboration with the
United Nations in New Delhi, in recognition of his
exceptional contributions to R&D in Physical & Bio-
Science and Microbiological Studies.

In the United States, former United Nations

Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was honoured
with Lifetime Achievement Award at The Power
of One Award 2023 ceremony, organised by the
Diwali Foundation USA.
Music conductor Daniel Barenboim and
peace activist Ali Abu Awwad, who have
worked to promote amity among the Israeli
and Palestinian people, have been jointly
awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and Development for 2023.

Rijul Maini, a 24-year-old medical student from Michigan,

won the Miss India USA 2023 pageant held in New Jersey.

Dr. Srinivas Naik Dharavath, Chairman of Real

Vision Homes Pvt Ltd, is honored with the Global
Icon Award at the G20 Initiative Summit in
Colombo, Sri Lanka.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 AWARDS
Retired Punjab cadre IAS officer of 1975 batch and WHO
South-East Asia regional director Dr Poonam Khetrapal
Singh has been awarded Bhutan’s prestigious National
Order of Merit Gold Medal for her distinguished services
to the country.
The 29th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF)
concluded with a momentous highlight as the Israeli
film ‘Children of Nobody‘ secured the prestigious
Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Film.

Tamil author Rajasekaran (Devibharathi), Telugu

writer T. Patanjali Sastry and Malayalam litterateur
E.V. Ramakrishnan were among those named for the
Sahitya Akademi Awards for the year 2023.

Meira Chand, an eighty-one-year-old Indian-origin

writer, recently received Singapore's highest arts
award, the Cultural Medallion, alongside novelist
Suchen Christine Lim and Malay dance veteran
Osman Abdul Hamid.

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation

(ESIC) bagged the “ISSA Vision Zero 2023” Award
in the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health
at Work in Sydney, Australia.
SASTRA-Ramanujan Awards for 2022 and 2023
were bestowed upon mathematicians Yunqing
Tang and Ruixiang Zhang, both affiliated with
the University of California in Berkeley.
The renowned Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize
has named poet-critic Sukrita Paul Kumar as its sixth
recipient for her book, “Salt & Pepper: Selected
Poems”.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 AWARDS
Finland, awarded the International Gender Equality
Prize for 2023 to an NGO in Afghanistan (Afghan
Women Skills Development Center) that works to
promote and protect the rights of women in
Afghanistan.

UNESCO has awarded the resilient urban

revitalisation of Rambagh Gate and Ramparts
in Punjab, as well as the heritage conservation
projects related to Haryana's Church of
Epiphany and Delhi's Bikaner House.

The Rambagh Gate and Ramparts project received the highest honor,
the 'Award of Excellence,' for its inclusivity and access to the broader
community. Three projects, including the Church of Epiphany and
Bikaner House, received an 'Award of Merit.'

The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, a

prestigious annual recognition, has crowned
two exceptional narratives in its 2023 edition.
Against All Odds: The IT Story of India and
Winning Middle India: The Story of India’s
New-Age Entrepreneurs emerged as joint
winners, capturing the essence of India’s
dynamic business landscape.

Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd.

(CGCEL) received the 2023 National Energy
Conservation Award from President Droupadi
Murmu. Sachin Phartiyal, the company's
Business Head, accepted the award. The
Bureau of Energy Efficiency organized the
2023 National Energy Conservation Awards as
part of National Energy Conservation Day.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 IMPORTANT DAYS
World AIDS Day
December 1st Theme : “Let communities lead".

Indian Navy Day

December 4th Theme : “Operational Efficiency, Readiness, and
Mission Accomplishment in the Maritime Domain”.

World Soil Day

December 5th
Theme : "Soil and Water: A Source of Life".

International Civil Aviation Day

December 7th Theme : “Advancing Innovation for Global
Aviation Development”.

International Anti-Corruption Day

December 9th Theme : ‘UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World Against
Corruption.’

International Mountain Day

December 11th
Theme : "Restoring Mountain Ecosystems."

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day

December 12th
Theme : “Health For All: Time for Action".

International Migrants Day

December 18th
Theme : “Promoting Safe Migration”.

December 23rd National Farmer's Day, or Kisan Diwas

December 25th Good Governance Day

December 26th Veer Baal Diwas

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 APPOINTMENTS
Air Marshal Makarand Ranade assumed the appointment of
Director General (Inspection and Safety) [DG (I&S)] at Air
HQ New Delhi.

Kanchan Devi becomes first woman officer to be appointed

as the Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of
Forestry Research Education (ICFRE).

United Arab Emirates' Mohammed Al Ramsi has been

appointed Chairman of World Radiocommunication
Conference 2023 (WRC 23).

The Government of India has appointed Vice Admiral

Dinesh K Tripathi as the new Vice Chief of Naval Staff.

Donald Tusk appointed as Prime Minister of Poland.

Abdelfattah Elsisi won the Egyptian Presidential Elections.

Uma Sekhar, India’s first woman candidate, was elected in

the Governing Council of the International Institute for the
Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT).

Andry Rajoelina re-elected as the President of Madagascar.

Vita Dani became the first Indian to be appointed as a

governing board member of the International Table
Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Foundation.
The central government has appointed Nina Singh as
the first woman Director General of the Central
Industrial Security Force (CISF).

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 ranks and reports
India ranked 49th in the world digital
competitiveness ranking (WDCR), among
the 64 economies marking its significance
in cybersecurity knowledge, according to
the International Institute for Management
Development (IMD) report.

For the third year in a row, Kolkata has KOLKATA

been declared as the safest city in India
with least number of cognisable offences
per lakh population, according to the
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
2022 data.

India has been placed 7th in this year's

Climate Change Performance Index
(CCPI). The country improved one rank
from the previous one, and also remained
among the highest performers.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

For the sixth time, Hyderabad has raced ahead of all
its competitors to be crowned as the best Indian city
to live in, according to the Mercer's Quality of Living
(City Ranking) survey, 2023.

India Tops Global Remittance Inflows in 2023:

World Bank Report
In 2023, India witnessed the highest remittance
inflows globally, amounting to USD 125 billion.

BOOKS
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar presented the
first copy of his book 'Why Bharat Matters' to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.

Bollywood actor Huma Qureshi has ventured into

a new realm as an author, marking her debut with
the fantasy fiction novel titled ‘Zeba: An
Accidental Superhero.’

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami released the book in

Dehradun titled ‘RESILEINT INDIA’ to highlight the
PM Modi’s role in transforming disaster management.

Former President of India, Ram Nath

Kovind launched a book “ Naye Bharat
ka Samveda” in New Delhi. The book is
a compilation of speeches of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on the Indian
Constitution.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
The Bihar government launched 'Mission Daksh'
(Dynamic Approach for Knowledge and Skill),
aiding around 25 lakh students facing academic
challenges in Classes 3-8 in government-operated
schools.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched Geographic

Information System application “Gram Manchitra”
to encourage the Spatial Planning by the Gram
Panchayat.

Assam Government has initiated a noteworthy project

called the Amrit Brikshya Andolan.The primary
objective of this initiative is to plant one crore seedlings,
with the aim of enriching Assam’s greenery and
fostering a robust tree-centered economy.
India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
launched Amplifi 2.0 (Assessment and Monitoring
Platform for Liveable, Inclusive and Future-ready
urban India) portal, this endeavor aims to facilitate
data-driven policy-making, empower academics,
researchers, and engage stakeholders in the urban
development process.

Bihar Police introduces "Mission Investigation@75 Days," compelling

investigators to conclude cases within 75 days from FIR registration,
starting from January 1, 2024.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has brought to light the
ambitious Pradhan Mantri-Janjati Adivasi Nyaya
Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) Scheme. Aimed
at uplifting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
(PVTGs), this initiative carries the potential to
address their unique challenges and provide
essential infrastructure for a brighter future.
PM JANMAN is a government scheme that
aims to bring tribal communities into the
mainstream.
The scheme (comprising Central Sector and
Centrally Sponsored Schemes) will be
implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs,
in collaboration with the State governments
and the PVTG communities.
The Uttar Pradesh Police has taken a significant step
towards enhancing public outreach and transparency
by becoming one of the first in the country to launch
WhatsApp Channels for its headquarters and all district
units.

Context: The Indian Prime Minister announced

an initiative-“NAMO Drone Didi”, during
interaction with beneficiaries in the Viksit Bharat
Sankalp Yatra.

The NAMO Drone Didi Initiative is a groundbreaking effort to

revitalize farming practices and uplift rural women in India. By
providing drones to 15,000 womenled Self Help Groups (SHGs), the
initiative seeks to revolutionize agriculture and empower women as
key players in the rural economy.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 Obituaries
Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a
justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, passed away at
the age of 93 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Veteran Kannada actor Leelavathi passed away at a

private hospital at Nelamangala, near Bengaluru, after
a prolonged illness.

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber

al-Sabah has died at 86.

Dr. V Mohini Giri, a well-known advocate for

women’s rights, passed away at the age of 86 after
a brief illness. She made significant contributions
to empowering women and was recognized for
her efforts.

Vijayakant, actor and Desiya Murpokku

Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder who
was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai
for pneumonia, has passed away.

Jacques Delors, the former European Commission

chief and a key figure in the formation of the
European Union (EU), has died at the age of 98.

CDS.JOURNEY 9198151228 CDSJOURNEY

 Along with these ,Do watch and make
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