- National:
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) notified the Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules, 2023 on December 19, 2023. These rules allow the central government to grant leases for offshore wind energy projects within the exclusive economic zone. The lease is valid for three years, extendable by two years, and can be further extended to thirty-five years for project construction and operation.
- The 8th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) was held in Bangkok, Thailand from December 19-22, 2023. The Indian delegation was led by Admiral R Hari Kumar. A seminar on ‘Blue Economy’ was conducted, and India took over as the co-Chair of IONS Working Groups on Maritime Security and HADR. The Republic of Korea Navy joined as an ‘Observer’, and India is set to become the Chair of IONS (2025-27).
- Banking:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 2 lakh on the Thane District Central Co-operative (TDCC) Bank for alleged violation of banking regulations by sanctioning a loan to one of the directors of the bank. This action was taken by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The RBI’s actions are aimed at ensuring compliance with banking regulations and maintaining the integrity of the banking system.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 5 crore on Bank of Baroda due to a shortage in soiled note remittances. A ‘soiled note’ is defined by the RBI as a note which has become dirty due to normal wear and tear. It also includes a two-piece note pasted together wherein both the pieces presented belong to the same note and form the entire note with no essential feature missing.
- Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) received orders worth Rs 2,673 crore from Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) on December 22, 2023. The orders are for supplying sensors for Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV). This is part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
- On December 21, 2023, the World Bank approved a $300 million loan for the Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Program. The program aims to provide better water and sewerage services to about 2 million people in 21 Urban Local Bodies in Tamil Nadu, India. The loan has a maturity of 32 years with a grace period of 7 years.
- Sports:
- Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, along with Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, launched the official logo, jersey, mascot, torch, and theme song for the 6th Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in Chennai on December 22, 2023. The upcoming edition of the KIYG will take place in four cities in Tamil Nadu - Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, and Coimbatore.
- Science & Technology:
- Researchers from Visva-Bharati University have indeed discovered a new species of bacteria and named it Pantoea Tagorei in honor of Rabindranath Tagore. This bacteria was found in the soil samples from the Jharia coal mines. The unique properties of Pantoea Tagorei make it beneficial for plant growth. It can solubilize potassium, replenish nitrogen, and solubilize phosphorus.
- Appointments:
- Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, a known football enthusiast, has been roped in as the brand ambassador for football on Sony Sports Network. During his partnership with Sony Sports Network, Aaryan will be seen promoting live football action on Sony Sports Network throughout the year.
- On 23rd December 2023, The Reserve Bank of India’s appointed director, Yogesh Dayal, completed his two-year term on RBL Bank’s board. His appointment in December 2021 followed rumors about the bank’s financial stability. However, the RBI had clarified that RBL Bank remained financially stable and well-capitalized despite such speculation. The bank’s financial health remains stable with a 46% year-on-year profit growth.
- Important Days:
- Christmas day is traditionally celebrated on the 25th of December every year. So, it was celebrated on 25th December 2023 as well. It’s a Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus Christ and is celebrated by millions of people around the world. It’s also widely observed by many non-Christians, and its secular aspects are enjoyed by people of various faiths.
- Awards & Honors:
- The National Sports Awards 2023 were announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023 was awarded to Shri Rankireddy Satwik Sai Raj and Shri Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty for Badminton. The Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games 2023 were given to several athletes including Ms Aditi Gopichand Swami for Archery, Shri Ojas Pravin Deotale for Archery, Shri Sreeshankar M for Athletics, Ms Parul Chaudhary for Athletics, and Shri Mohammed Shami for Cricket. The awards will be conferred by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9, 2024.
- Obituaries:
- Robert M. Solow, the celebrated economist and Nobel laureate, passed away at the age of 99. He was a recipient of the 1987 Nobel Economics Prize and was best known for his work on growth theory. Solow was a longtime professor at MIT and a mentor to many in his field.
Questions:
Q.1 Who approved the loan for the Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Program?a. The Government of India.
b. The Reserve Bank of India.
c. The World Bank.
d. The International Monetary Fund.
Q.2 Where was the 8th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) held?
a. Bangkok, Thailand
b. Seoul, South Korea
c. New Delhi, India
d. Sydney, Australia
