- National:
- India has indeed made significant progress in its climate goals. As per the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), India has committed to two key targets: Reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030, from 2005 level. This is an increase from the previous target of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 level. Achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. This is an increase from the previous target of achieving about 40 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
- India’s first-ever winter science expedition to the Arctic region was launched by Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. This expedition is part of an effort to maintain a year-long presence at the Himadri research station in Svalbard, Norway.
- According to the data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Hyderabad has indeed ranked first in India for food adulteration cases. In 2022, a total of 291 cases of food adulteration were reported across 19 major cities in India. Surprisingly, out of these cases, a staggering 246 were reported solely in Hyderabad.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 402 km section of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) on December 18, 2023. This section, which runs from New Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction to New Bhaupur Junction, is a crucial part of the 1,877 km long DFC, which is being built for Rs 81,459 crore.
- IndiGo has indeed achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian airline to carry 100 million passengers in a year. This achievement solidifies IndiGo’s position in the aviation industry and underscores its significant contribution to air travel in the country.
- The National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) portal launched on December 19th, 2023, marking a significant step forward in India's approach to geoscience. The portal, spearheaded by the Ministry of Mines and developed in collaboration with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N), is a comprehensive online platform for accessing, sharing, and analyzing geospatial information across the nation.
- Banking:
- Infibeam Avenues has indeed acquired a 49% stake in Pirimid Fintech. The acquisition is part of Infibeam’s strategic foray into the capital markets and digital lending software market. The deal is worth Rs 25 crore.
- Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has indeed reduced its stake in Dixon Technologies. This move is part of LIC’s broader strategy of reducing its stake in publicly traded companies to a record low in the December quarter ahead of its upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO).
- Economy:
- The gross collection of Direct Taxes for the Financial Year 2023-24 has indeed registered a growth of over 17%. The provisional figures of Gross collection of Direct Taxes (before adjusting for refunds) for the FY 2023-24 stand at Rs. 15,95,639 crore, compared to Rs. 13,63,649 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding financial year.
- India is projected to contribute more than 16 per cent of the global growth. As per IMF’s annual Article IV consultation with India, IMF sees India’s economy grow at 6.3% in current fiscal year IMF report also says that India is on track to be one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world.
- The domestic rating agency ICRA has indeed revised its FY24 GDP growth forecast for India to 6.5% from the earlier 6.2%. However, it’s worth noting that this revised forecast is still lower than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) real GDP growth estimate of 7% for the ongoing fiscal. This revision by ICRA is a significant update in the economic projections for India.
- Mous:
- The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the government of Saudi Arabia was signed on December 15, 2023 in Riyadh. This MoU aims to protect the rights of skilled labourers from India.
- Science & Technology:
- The Rocket Lab’s Electron vehicle returned to flight with a successful mission for iQPS on December 15, 2023. This marked the first flight of the Electron rocket since a failure nearly three months ago. The mission, named “The Moon God Awakens,” launched from Pad B at Launch Complex in New Zealand. It deployed a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for iQPS called TSUKUYOMI-I.
- The 700 MW fourth unit of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) achieved criticality, which is the start of a controlled fission chain reaction, on 17 December 2023. This marks the completion of the project. The KAPP-4 is the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)’s largest indigenous reactor.
- Reports:
- India is poised to be the top recipient of remittances globally in 2023, with an anticipated surge of over 11 per cent, reaching $125 billion, according to the World Bank's latest Migration and Development Brief report..
- Sports:
- Bangladesh clinched their maiden Under-19 Asia Cup title with a dominant performance against UAE. Wicketkeeper-batter Ashiqur Rahman Shibli played a key role in the victory, scoring his second century in five matches. Bangladesh posted a total of 282/8, largely thanks to Shibli’s 129.
- Haryana defeated Rajasthan by 30 runs to clinch their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium in Rajkot. The final match took place on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
- Important Days:
- Goa Liberation Day is celebrated every year on 19th December. The theme for Goa Liberation Day 2023 is "Freedom and Self-Determination". It marks the day in 1961 when Indian armed forces ended Portuguese rule in Goa, making it a part of the Indian Union.
- UN Arabic Language Day was celebrated on December 18, 2023. The theme for the 2023 commemoration was "Arabic - the Language of Poetry and Arts". This year’s commemoration coincided with the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of Arabic as one of the six UN official languages.
- The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, held on December 17th, serves as a crucial moment to raise awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by sex workers worldwide. It's a day to advocate for their rights, safety, and dignity, and to stand against the discrimination, stigma, and violence they often encounter. The 2023 theme for the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, observed annually on December 17th, is "Solidarity for Safety and Dignity: Protect Sex Workers' Rights!".
Questions:
Q.1 What is the primary purpose of the NGDR portal?a. To sell geological data to private companies
b. To centralize and share geospatial information across India
c. To promote tourism in areas with geological significance
d. To create a digital archive of historical maps
Q.2 Who inaugurated the 402 km section of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) on December 18, 2023?
a. President Ram Nath Kovind
b. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
c. Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw
d. Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath
