- National:
- The “Janavani- Kalushya Nivarani” mobile app was launched by the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) on December 18, 2023. This app was developed for registering various types of complaints related to environmental pollution. It was released by the Minister for Environment and Forests, Konda Surekha.
- The announcement for the “International City” project was made by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on December 17, 2023. A massive “international city” in an area of over 1,000 sq. km. on its border with Assam. This project, known as the ‘Gelephu Smartcity Project’, is being touted as an "economic corridor connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia via India’s northeastern States".
- The Indian government has issued an advisory to states following the detection of the JN.1 variant of COVID-19. As of December 21, 2023, 21 cases of JN.1 have been confirmed in India. The cases are distributed across three states: Goa (19), Kerala (1), and Maharashtra (1). No clustering of cases has been observed, and all reported cases have been mild with no complications.
- National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is a bill that was passed by the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. This bill seeks to extend the validity of a central act addressing unauthorised colonies and slum relocation. The bill further amends the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011.
- International:
- The 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage took place at the Cresta Mowana Resort in Kasane, Republic of Botswana from Monday, December 4 to Saturday, December 9, 2023. The session was chaired by H.E. Mr Mustaq Moorad, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Botswana to UNESCO.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized Noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease. Noma, also known as cancrum oris or gangrenous stomatitis, is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face. It primarily affects malnourished young children (between the ages of 2 and 6) in regions of extreme poverty.
- Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has indeed won his third term as Egypt’s president, securing 89.6% of the votes. This election saw him face no serious challengers. His new term will last for six years. He has vowed to address the country’s ailing economy. The election was held amidst the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on Egypt’s eastern border.
- The US has indeed announced the formation of a new multinational task force to counter the Houthi threat in the Red Sea on Sunday, December 17, 2023. This initiative, named “Operation Prosperity Guardian”, was announced by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The task force aims to protect commercial ships from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
- A volcanic eruption has indeed occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, just north of the fishing town of Grindavik. The eruption started on Monday night, turning the sky orange and prompting the civil defense to be on high alert. The nearly 4,000 inhabitants of Grindavik had been evacuated due to fears of a significant event.
- Banking:
- Bandhan Bank secured the mandate to collect revenue on the e-GRAS portal from the Assam government on December 20, 2023. his authorization allows the bank, which has a presence in all 35 districts of Assam, to facilitate payments to 70 departments via the Assam e-GRAS portal. This is a significant development for both the bank and the government of Assam.
- Mous:
- The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Navy and IIT Kanpur was signed on December 15, 2023 at the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi. This strategic alignment aims to strengthen the collaborative relationship between academia and the armed forces, fostering an environment conducive to innovation and knowledge exchange.
- Sports:
- Australian pacer Mitchell Starc was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a record-breaking Rs.24.75 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. This marks Starc’s return to the IPL after an eight-year hiatus.
- Awards & Honors:
- Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia, has been awarded Bhutan’s prestigious National Order of Merit Gold Medal. The King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, honored Dr. Singh for her distinguished services to the country during Bhutan’s 116th National Day celebration.
- The books ‘Against All Odds: The IT Story of India’ and ‘Winning Middle India: The Story of India’s New-Age Entrepreneurs’ have been announced as joint winners of the ‘Gaja Capital Business Book Prize’ 2023. ‘Against All Odds’, written by S ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan, N Dayasindhu, and Krishnan Narayanan, ‘Winning Middle India’, written by TN Hari and Bala Srinivasa.
Questions:
Q.1 Which two books won the ‘Gaja Capital Business Book Prize’ 2023?a. ‘Winning Middle India: The Story of India’s New-Age Entrepreneurs’ and ‘Capture the Dream’
b. ‘Against All Odds: The IT Story of India’ and ‘Winning Middle India: The Story of India’s New-Age Entrepreneurs’
c. ‘Capture the Dream’ and ‘Essentially Mira’
d. ‘Essentially Mira’ and ‘Against All Odds: The IT Story of India’
Q.2 Who launched the “Janavani- Kalushya Nivarani” mobile app?
a. Haryana State Pollution Control Board
b. Telangana State Pollution Control Board
c. Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
d. Kerala State Pollution Control Board
