1. President participated in Lakhpati Didi conference held in Jaisalmer
President Smt. Draupadi Murmu participated in the Lakhpati Didi Conference held in Jaisalmer , Rajasthan on December 23, 2023 . Speaking on the occasion, the President said that he is very happy to address this conference as Self Help Groups are making significant contribution in making the deprived and backward sections of the society, especially women, self-reliant. “Lakhpati Didi Sammelan” was organized at Shaheed Poonam Singh Stadium, Jaisalmer in the dignified presence of President Smt. Draupadi Murmu and Governor Shri Kalraj Mishra . Through this scheme, employment-oriented skill development training will be given to 2 crore mothers and sisters of the country associated with self-help groups. Under this scheme, a target has been set to benefit 11.24 lakh women of Rajasthan. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has pledged to create 2 crore Lakhpati Didis across the country. To realize this, Women Empowerment SHG Mission will be launched with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore.
2 PM congratulates the people of Bengaluru on Kempegowda and Terminal 2 winning the Interior 2023 World Special Award in the International Airports category
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the people of Bengaluru on Kempegowda International Airport , Terminal-2 winning the World Special Award for Interior 2023 in the Airports category . Sharing inauguration photos of the terminal building in a social media post, the Prime Minister said that Terminal-2 of the Kempegowda International Airport is not only the identity of the vibrant city of Bengaluru, but also showcases architectural brilliance. In the recent announcement of UNESCO’s Prix Versailles 2023, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Terminal 2 (T2) has won global accolades, being recognized as one of the ‘Most Beautiful Airports in the World’ .
3 Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurates Veda, Science and Culture Mahakumbh at Gurukul Kangri University in Haridwar
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the three-day Veda , Science and Culture Mahakumbh at Gurukul Kangri University in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand . During this, the Vice President stressed the importance of making Vedic knowledge accessible to more and more people and said that Vedas play a very important role in nation building and global stability. Shri Dhankhar mentioned the role of Mahakumbh in strengthening the synergy between Vedas and science.
4 Over 33 crore health records linked with Abha accounts
The Health Ministry has said that about 50 crore people have Ayushman Bharat Health Account – Abha number as a unique health identity card and more than 1.5 crore patients have used the Abha based OPD registration service . The ministry said in a release that more than 50 lakh people are using the Abha app to maintain their health records digitally. So far, more than 33 crore health records have been linked with Abha accounts.
5 A commercial vessel carrying crude oil in the Arabian Sea caught fire due to a suspected drone attack, all crew members including twenty Indians safe.
There has been news of a suspicious drone attack on a commercial vessel belonging to Israel in the Arabian Sea . Due to this attack the tanker caught fire. This fire was soon brought under control. There were no casualties in this incident. All the crew members including about twenty Indians are safe. This incident occurred two hundred kilometers south-west of Veraval, India. Till now no one has taken responsibility for this attack. Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance aircraft P-81 has established contact with the commercial vessel MV Chem Pluto . Yemen’s Iran -backed Houthi rebels continue to attack this important area in the Red Sea with drones and missiles. Attacks on ships have started since the war between Israel and Hamas started .
6 UN Security Council passes resolution taking concrete steps to increase life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip
The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution calling for concrete steps to be taken to increase life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, as well as to protect the UN staff delivering this aid. The resolution drafted by the UAE calls on the UN Secretary-General to appoint a senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator. This coordinator will verify that only humanitarian aid is being sent to the Gaza Strip. The proposal demands that all parties allow the use of all available routes throughout the Gaza Strip. The proposal also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
7 US President Joe Biden signs defense policy approving record $886 billion for annual military spending
US President Joe Biden has signed the US Defense Policy Bill . The bill authorizes a record $886 billion in annual military spending and policies such as aid for Ukraine and pushing back China in the Indo-Pacific region . The US Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act last week. Through this Act, the total national security budget of the country has been increased by approximately 3 percent to eight hundred and eighty-six billion dollars. In this, some Chinese battery manufacturing companies have also been declared ineligible for Defense Department procurement.
8 28th Sindhi Conference organized in Dubai
Dubai recently organized the 28th Sindhi Conference to showcase Sindhi culture and heritage . The objective of this event is to preserve and promote the Sindhi tradition at the international level . Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates and V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs of India were present on this occasion. Alliance of Global Sindhi Associations organized the 28th Sindhi Conference. India’s Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan called upon the Sindhi community to continue making meaningful contributions during Amritkaal. He highlighted the achievements of the Sindhi community and mentioned their successful trade in different countries which has contributed to strengthening economic ties and cultural exchange.
9 Plane carrying more than 300 Indians landed in France
Authorities in France have grounded a plane bound for Nicaragua at Vatri airport after receiving a tip that it was carrying victims of human trafficking . There are 303 passengers from India on this plane . This plane was going from United Arab Emirates to Nicaragua. In a social media post, Indian Embassy officials in France said they have reached out to the passengers and have received consular permission. They are investigating the situation and safety of passengers is being ensured. The plane was intercepted when it landed to refuel at Watry, a small airport east of Paris. This airport is mainly used for charter and cargo aircraft traffic.
10 Despite implementation of the third phase of Graded Response Action Plan-GRAP in Delhi and NCR, the average air quality index remains in the severe category.
Despite the implementation of the third phase of Graded Response Action Plan-GRAP in Delhi and NCR, the average air quality index in the National Capital remained in the severe category . According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality index was recorded at four hundred and fifty. The Air Quality Management Commission reimposed Phase 3 of GRAP to prevent further deterioration in air quality in the area. The decision was taken after there was a sudden deterioration in the overall air quality in Delhi. During this phase, there is a ban on construction related activities in Delhi and National Capital Region. Following the instructions of the Commission, the Delhi government has banned the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in the national capital.
11 Karnataka government decides to withdraw ban on hijab in educational institutions
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that his government will withdraw the ban on hijab in educational institutions in the state. He said that instructions have been given to the officials and a government order in this regard will be issued soon. The Chief Minister said that any person can wear clothes as per his choice. The hijab controversy had erupted in January last year when six students of Government Pre-University College in Udupi had accused the college administration of not allowing them to wear hijab on the campus. The Karnataka High Court had said that wearing hijab is not mandatory in Islam and upheld the order. Later the Supreme Court gave a divided verdict on this issue.
12 Central government approved to provide Rs 800 crore to public sector oil marketing companies for setting up 7,432 fast charging centers across the country.
This year, the government has provided a subsidy of Rs 5,228 crore as incentive to electric vehicles in the country. The government has also approved giving Rs 800 crore to public sector oil marketing companies for setting up 7,432 fast charging centers across the country . According to the Ministry of Heavy Enterprises, a total of 148 public electric vehicle charging centers are currently operational in the country.
13 NHRC gave instructions to investigate Salwa Judum victims
In response to a petition, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Union Home Ministry and six state governments to provide information about the victims affected by Salwa Judum . The rationale behind this is that in many states, displaced people living in forest areas have been denied access to basic welfare programmes, such as rights provided under the Forest Rights Act, tribal status, land rights and social welfare benefits. Salwa Judum is a group of tribal people organized for resistance against illegal armed Naxalites. The group was reportedly supported by the government machinery in Chhattisgarh. In 2011, the Supreme Court of India ruled against arming civilians in this manner and banned Salwa-Judum and also directed the Government of Chhattisgarh to disband any established auxiliary forces to combat Maoist guerrillas.
14 Millet Queen Raimati Ghuria preserved 30 varieties of millet
Raimati Ghuria, a tribal farmer living in Odisha ‘s Koraput district , has preserved 30 varieties of millet , and has also provided training to hundreds of women in the cultivation of the rare millet. He was invited to the G20 summit held to commemorate the ‘ International Year of Millets ‘. He has made significant contribution in the agriculture sector by conserving 72 traditional varieties of paddy and at least 30 varieties of millet including Kundra Bati Mandia, Jasra, Juana and Jamkoli . She was given the title of ‘ Millet Queen ‘ at the G20 summit . He has been considered a pioneer in the conservation of indigenous seeds. Millet is a drought resistant crop, it requires less amount of water to grow and can grow even in poor quality soil. Millet is a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. It is naturally gluten-free, making it suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
15 Pre-qualification of R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine by WHO
Marking an important development in the global prevention of malaria , the World Health Organization (WHO) recently added the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to its list of prequalified vaccines . Developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, this vaccine is promising in preventing malaria in children. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine becomes the second malaria vaccine to receive WHO pre-qualification, the first being RTS, S/AS01. Pre-qualification of the R21 vaccine by WHO serves as a strong assurance of the safety and efficacy of the said vaccine. Products that receive WHO pre-qualification gain credibility and are more easily accepted in international markets because WHO applies rigorous international standards to evaluate their safety, effectiveness and manufacturing compliance. .
16 ICICI Bank gets RBI nod for reappointment of Sandeep Batra as executive director
ICICI Bank has received Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approval for the reappointment of Sandeep Batra as Executive Director (ED) . The approval given through an official letter is effective from December 23, 2023 to December 22, 2025.
17 LIC gets 10 years relaxation on 25% stake limit
The government has allowed Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to achieve 25 percent minimum public shareholding (MPS) within 10 years . LIC has got 10 years time to bring public shareholding to 25 percent. LIC can now reduce public shareholding to 75 percent by 2032. At present the public share holding in LIC is only 2.55 percent.
Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh lead in 18 solar park planning capacities
Two major Indian states, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, have made significant progress in deploying high capacities under the “ Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Energy Projects ” scheme. The initiative, launched in December 2014 with an initial capacity of 20,000 MW , was later expanded to 40,000 MW in March 2017, with the aim of setting up at least 50 solar parks by 2023–24. The primary objective of the scheme is to facilitate renewable energy (RE) developers by providing ready-to-use land and transmission infrastructure. This includes obtaining all necessary statutory clearances and approvals as well as development of essential elements such as land, roads, power drainage system and water facilities. The scheme focuses on accelerating the development of utility-scale solar projects across the country.
19 IREDA’s Pradeep Kumar Das awarded ‘CMD of the Year’ award for the second consecutive year
Shri Pradeep Kumar Das, Chairman and Managing Director, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) has been awarded the prestigious “ CMD of the Year ” award under the Mini-Ratna category at the 13th PSE Excellence Awards . The event was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi, marking the second consecutive financial year in which Shri Pradeep Kumar Das has received this prestigious honour.
20 ICAI unveils new CA India logo
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, recognized as the world’s largest professional body of Chartered Accountants, has recently released a new logo that reflects its commitment towards an India-first approach and as a trusted partner in nation-building. Shows its role in. The unveiling took place at the Global Professional Accountants Convention (GLOPAC) in Gandhinagar , where Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal were present.
21 Poonam Khetrapal Singh awarded the “National Order of Merit” Gold Medal of Bhutan
In remarkable recognition of her outstanding contribution to public health services in Bhutan , Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh , World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia, has been awarded the National Order of Merit (NOM) Gold of Bhutan . Medal. The prestigious award was presented by Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck , the Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) of Bhutan during the celebration of Bhutan’s 116th National Day in Thimphu, Bhutan on December 17, 2023.
21 WHO recognizes noma as a neglected tropical disease
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially added noma, a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face , to its list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) . Also known as Cancrum oris, noma has a mortality rate of approximately 90%, and is associated with extreme poverty, malnutrition and poor sanitation.
22 world basketball day 2023
The first UN World Cup on 21 December 2023 to recognize the important role of sport (including sport for persons with disabilities), particularly basketball , in promoting human rights, peace, development, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Basketball Day was celebrated. Canadian physical education teacher Dr. James Naismith invented basketball on December 21, 1891, at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.
23 National Farmers Day 2023
National Farmers ‘ Day is celebrated across the country on 23 December to commemorate the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India . He brought farmer friendly policies and worked towards the welfare of farmers. He was the fifth Prime Minister of India and served the country as Prime Minister from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980. The theme of National Farmers Day 2023 has been decided as “Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience ”.
