- National:
- The Central Universities Amendment Bill 2023 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 4th December 2023. The bill aims to amend the Central Universities Act of 2009 to set up the Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University in Mulugu District, Telangana. This is under the provisions of the Thirteenth Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act, 2014. The bill was approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The India Internet Governance Forum 2023 (IIGF-2023) was held in New Delhi on December 5. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together representatives from various groups. The event aimed to delve deeper into issues such as building a secure, trusted, and resilient cyberspace for Bharat.
- Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto arrived in New Delhi on a three-day state visit to India from December 4-6. During his stay, President Ruto met with Indian President Droupadi Murmu and received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
- India Submits Third National Communication and Initial Adaptation Communication. The Indian Government has given the green light for the submission of the country's Third National Communication (TNC) and Initial Adaptation Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- International:
- The world’s first portable hospital, the ‘Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube’, was unveiled on December 2, 2023, in Gurugram. This innovative hospital was designed indigenously under Project ‘BHISHM’ (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri).
- South Korea's National Security Act (NSA) came into force in December 1948, some three months after the Republic of Korea was established. The law, enacted in response to “threats” from the North, was meant to “secure the security of the state, and the subsistence and freedom of nationals”.
- Sri Lanka has indeed reached an “agreement in principle” with India and the Paris Club group of creditors, which includes Japan, on a debt treatment plan. This agreement will help the crisis-hit island nation tap into the next tranche of the International Monetary Fund’s nearly $3 billion recovery package.
- Banking:
- State Bank of India’s (SBI) shareholding in Jio Payments Bank fell to 23% in FY23 from the 30% that it has maintained since its inception. This indicates its disinterest in the payments bank business model. The fall below 25% also means SBI will no longer be able to block special resolutions at its seven-year-old joint venture (JV).
- On December 4, 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 200 Million loan for the Uttarakhand Climate Resilient Power System Development Project to improve the quality, efficiency, and reliability of power supply, and aiding the state in achieving 24×7 power to its residents and transitioning to the use of clean energy.
- UPI transactions hit a new record of Rs 17.4 lakh crore in November 2023, setting a new record from the previous high of Rs 17.16 lakh crore in October. Compared to a year ago, UPI transactions increased by 54% in terms of the number of transactions and by 46% in terms of value.
- Economy:
- Lower demand forced the services sector to moderate in November as S&P Global's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) slipped to a year low at 56.9 in the said month as against 58.4 in October.
- According to a government report, India reduced its GDP emission intensity by 33% between 2005 and 2019. This achievement was made 11 years in advance of the target. The energy sector accounted for the maximum share of emissions (75.81%), followed by agriculture (13.44%), industrial process & product use (8.41%), and waste (2.34%).
- Mous:
- The representatives from KSUM and Business Finland exchanged the MoU among industry leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The event, held from November 30 to December 1 in Helsinki, The agreement aims to establish a framework for sustained collaboration, encouraging the exchange of information and knowledge concerning startup ecosystems in both nations.
- Science & technology:
- IN-SPACe to fund companies leveraging space tech for societal benefit. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has announced a seed fund scheme to offer start-ups focusing on urban development and disaster management a financial assistance of up to Rs 1 crore each.
- Reports:
- The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released its annual report on crime in India for the year 2022 on Sunday (December 3). The report is a compilation of data on reported crime from across the country and provides the big picture of broad trends in crime registration.
- Govt. Schemes:
- The Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Shri Banwarilal Purohit, inaugurated a Deeptech Startup Accelerator Program dedicated to catalyzing innovation in agriculture and water technology called SAMRIDHI (Strategic Acceleration for Market, Research, Innovation & Development: a Holistic Initiative for ICPS Startups) hosted by iHub AwaDH, a Technology and Innovation Hubs set up UNDER National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).
- Sports:
- BA Junior World Boxing Championship in Yerevan, Armenia. India won a total of nine medals in the event, which was held from November 23 to December 4, 2023.
- Indian tennis player Ramkumar Ramanathan won the ITF Kalaburagi Open 2023. He decisively defeated his Austrian contender David Pichler in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, in a little over an hour. This victory earned him the winner’s cheque of $3,200 and 25 precious ATP points.
- Military Exercise:
- On December 4, South Korea successfully conducted a test flight of a solid-fuel space rocket. This was the third test flight of the rocket. The rocket was launched from a barge floating in waters about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of Jeju Island.
- Important Days:
- International Volunteers Day, is observed every year on 5 December. This day is observed by the United Nations and other organizations to celebrate the efforts of volunteers who dedicate their time and skills to make a difference in their communities around the world. The theme for International Volunteer Day 2023 is "The power of collective action”.
- The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed every year on December 3rd. The theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2023 is "United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities".
- The International Day of Banks is observed annually on December 4. The theme for the International Day of Banks 2023 is "Achieve sustainable development goals and improve the global financial architecture".
- Appointments:
- The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has indeed appointed Jitesh John as the new Executive Director. Jitesh John is a 2001 batch Indian Economic Service Officer and previously served as an Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Power. He assumed charge of his new role at IBBI on December 1, 2023.
- Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has been appointed as the Youth Voter Awareness Ambassador for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of J&K, Pandurang K Pole, announced and presented a letter to Suresh Raina.
Questions:
Q.1 What is the main aim of the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF)?a. To discuss public policy issues related to the Internet
b. To promote the use of the Internet in India
c. To regulate the Internet in India
d. To monitor Internet usage in India
Q.2 Who has been appointed as the Youth Voter Awareness Ambassador for Jammu & Kashmir?
a. Virat Kohli
b. Suresh Raina
c. MS Dhoni
d. Sachin Tendulkar
