Current Affairs 13 December 2023

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 13 December 2023, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2023 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

Our Current Affairs December 2023 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2023 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.

Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course – Click Here to Download the APP

We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)

Click here for Current Affairs 12 December 2023

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

MoD Inks Rs 588.68 Cr Contract with TCIL for Digital Coast Guard projectOn 8th December 2023, Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract worth Rs. 588.68 crore with Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), Ministry of Communications (MoC), to acquire the Digital Coast Guard (DCG) project under the Buy (Indian) category.

• This contract in line with Government of India’s strategic vision for Digital Armed Forces will contribute to the efforts to achieve ‘Atmanirbharta’ in defence.

About DCG:
i.The Digital Coast Guard (DCG) project is a pivotal initiative of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
ii.The project includes the establishment of a Disaster Recovery Data Center; amplification of connectivity across ICG sites and the development of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
iii.The project also uses the secured MultiProtocol Label Switching (MPLS)/Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) connectivity.
iv.This marks the establishment of a Tier-III standard Data Centre with latest technological capabilities.

• This will enable the centralised monitoring and management of applications deployed by the ICG and ensures vigilant oversight of critical IT(Information technology) assets of the ICG.

About Ministry of Defence:
Union Minister – Raj Nath Singh (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ajay Bhatt (Constituency: Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand)
About Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL):
TCIL is a Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) under the administrative control of the Department of Telecommunications (DOT), Ministry of Communications.
Chairman & Managing Director – Sanjeev Kumar
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 1978

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurated 2nd Edition of IFSCA’s InFinity Forum On 9th December 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated and addressed the InFinity Forum  2.0, the 2nd Edition International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)’s flagship financial technology event, held at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Note:

• The first edition of InFinity Forum was organised in December 2021.
• The 2nd edition of InFinity Forum is organised as a precursor event to Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.

About InFinity Forum 2.0:
Organiser: IFSCA under the aegis of Government of India and GIFT City.

• International partner: Bloomberg
• Domestic Partners: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI); Invest India; Institute of Chartered Accountants of India(ICAI) and Institute of Company Secretaries of India(ICSI).
• Knowledge Partner: Boston Consulting Group.

Theme:‘GIFT-IFSC: Nerve Centre for New Age Global Financial Services’
Objective: To unite the world’s leading minds in policy, business, and technology to explore and advance the biggest ideas in finance and technology and to develop those ideas into global solutions and opportunities.
Key Highlights:
i.The InFinity Forum 2.0 was primarily focused on three tracks:

• Plenary Track: Making of a New Age International Financial Centre
• Green Track: Making a case for a “Green Stack”
• Silver Track: Longevity Finance Hub at GIFT IFSC

ii.During the event, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were exchanged by  IFSCA with Ahmedabad University of Gujarat and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology(MeitY), for mutual collaboration.
iii.The Forum also witnessed the launch of the Longevity Economy Cohort, which will focus on ‘Integrating Age-Tech’ with financial services and will be mentored by renowned experts from India and across the globe.
iv.As a precursor to the InFinity Forum 2.0, an Investors Meet was organized on December 8, 2023, to provide a platform for the collaboration of fintech entities with the investment ecosystem.

• The investor meeting witnessed the participation of 10 investors, of whom 14 FinTechs made their pitches.

About International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):
IFSCA is a statutory authority established by the Government of India on April 27, 2020, under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019
Chairperson–K Rajaraman
Headquarters– GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

UAE Hosted the 28th UNFCCC COP: Advancing Global Climate Action

The 28^th edition of Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Dubai, UAE (United Arabs of Emirates). The annual climate summit was held from November 30, 2023 to December12, 2023. The summit witnessed the participation of more than 70,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries.

• Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Changes served as President of COP28.
• UN Climate Change conferences (or COPs) take place every year, and are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.
• India is the 3^rd highest emitter of Carbon Dioxide from Fossil Fuels.
• Global Climate Report declared 2023 as Hottest Year on Record
• 7^th edition of Yearbook of Global Climate Action released at UNFCC COP28 in Dubai, UAE.

• CHD Group, Manguluru based global health organization will lead an international delegation at the COP28 meeting of UNFCCC in Dubai.
• UAE inaugurated the 2-GW (Gigawatt) Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project ,the world’s largest single-site solar power plant.

>> Read Full News

VINBAX-2023: 4th Joint Military Exercise between India & Veitnam held in HanoiVINBAX-2023, the 4th edition of Joint Military Exercise is being held between India and Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam from 11th to 21st December 2023.
Aim: To foster collaborative partnership, inter-operability and share best practices between the India and Vietnam under Chapter VII of United Nations (UN) Charter on Peace Keeping Operations.
About VINBAX:
i.VINBAX, is an annual training exercise instituted in 2018 and the first edition was conducted at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (MP)(India).
ii.The exercise is annnually conducted alternatively in India and Vietnam.

• The 3rd edition of VINBAX was conducted at Chandimandir Military Station, Panchkula District in Haryana in August 2022.

About VINBAX-2023:
Participants:
i.The Indian contingent is represented by 45 personnel including 39 personnel from the Engineer Regiment of the Bengal Engineer Group, and 6 personnel from the Army Medical Corps.
ii.The Vietnam People’s Army contingent is also represented by 45 personnel.
Key Points:
i.The exercise is conducted as Command Post Exercise and Field Training Exercise, emphasizing the deployment and use of an Engineer Company and a Medical Team.
ii.The exercise involve rehearsing tactics, techniques, and procedures for combat engineering and medical tasks.
iii.There will be exchange of ideas on modern methods to construct roads, culverts, helipads, ammunition shelter and observation posts in operational areas.
iv.The Exercise ends with a Validation showcasing both contingents’ standards through UN-akin technical military operations.

RITES signed Pact with Mozambique Ports and Railways for Supply of 10 Diesel Locomotives
RITES Limited (formerly known as Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited), a Navratna and Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Railways (MoR) has entered into an agreement with Mozambique Ports and Railways.
About the Agreement:
i.As per the agreement, RITES will supply 10 diesel locomotives along with incidental services to CFM, Mozambique.
ii.The contract is valued at USD 37.68 million (approximately Rs 314.1 crores)
About RITES Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)– Rahul Mithal
Headquarter– Gurugram, Haryana
Established in – 1974

BANKING & FINANCE

Bank of India Launches Exclusive SB Account “Nari Shakti Savings Account” for WomenBank of India (BOI), a leading public sector bank in India, has launched an exclusive Saving Bank (SB) Account named Nari Shakti Savings Account, specifically designed for women aged 18 and above who have an independent source of income.

• This account offers benefits and features designed to empower women financially and promote their well-being.

Key People:
The Nari Shakti Savings Account was unveiled by Rajneesh Karnatak, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of BOI at its Head Office in Mumbaim Maharashtra, in the presence of its Board of Directors.
Features:
i.It offers advanced benefits and features including discounted health insurance and wellness products, and complimentary facilities for Platinum SB account holders.
ii.Discounts on locker facilities for Gold and Diamond SB account holders and personal accident insurance cover up to Rs. 1 crore.
iii.It also offers free issuance of credit cards, a lower usage limit of up to Rs. 5 lakh for point-of-sale (POS) transactions, and preferential interest rates on personal loans.
iv.It also provides a lower rate of interest on Retail Loans and a remission of processing fees on Retail Loans.
v.This account comes with a comprehensive personal accident insurance cover of up to Rs. 100 lakhs, ensuring the safety and security of women account holders.
Note:

• For every new Nari Shakti account opened, the bank contributes Rs 10/- to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund, which will be used for the socio-economic development of underprivileged women and girls.
• All 5132 domestic branches as well as online platforms offer the Nari Shakti savings account.

About Bank of India (BOI):
MD and CEO– Rajneesh Karnatak
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded on– 7 September 1906
Tagline– Relationship Beyond Banking

Intellect Signs a Rs.80 Cr Deal with Indian Bank to Deploy CMS
Chennai(Tamil Nadu) based Intellect Design Arena Limited has signed a Rs 80 crore worth 5–year deal with Indian Bank to deploy its eMACH.ai powered Cash Management System(CMS) to bolster their Corporate Banking Modernisation.

• Under ‘INDLEAP’ Project, the Indian Bank has adopted the goal of digital transformation, by leveraging technology wherever possible with transaction banking and supply chain management as growth engines.

Through this partnership, Intellect will offer various services including

• Omni-channel access across Desktop, Mobility, Host to Host & Application Programming Interface(API).
• Treasury persona aligned dashboard to drive Contextual Banking eXperience
• Extensive coverage of Payments across electronic and physical channels
• Coverage of Multi-Modal Collections offerings for Indian Corporates
• Ready Open APIs across Portfolio, Payment, and Collections to curate Banking-as-a-Service from Indian Bank.

About Indian Bank:
MD & CEO–  Shanti Lal Jain
Headquarters– Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Established in 1907
Tagline– Your own bank

RBI Report State’s Finances Improved for 2nd Consecutive Year; Combined GFD Stood at 2.8% i.On 11th December 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its annual report titled “State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2023-24” under the theme “Revenue Dynamics and Fiscal Capacity of Indian States”.
ii.The report states that the improvement achieved in State finances in 2021-22 was sustained in 2022-23, with the combined States’ gross fiscal deficit (GFD) stood at 2.8% of gross domestic product (GDP).
iii.This was below the budget estimate of 3.2% and Central Government’s limit of 4% for the second consecutive year due to a reduction in the revenue deficit.
iv.The report has been prepared in the Division of State Finances (DSF) in the Department of Economic and Policy Research (DEPR), RBI under the supervision of Muneesh Kapur, Executive Director, RBI.
v.Fiscal outlook is positive for states in FY24 with adequate fiscal space for higher capital expenditure due to resilient domestic economic activity and consolidation efforts
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor – Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors – Swaminathan Janakiraman, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar
Establishment – 1st April 1935
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
>> Read Full News

ACKO Partnered With PhonePe to Sell Car and Bike Insurance
ACKO General Insurance and PhonePe have partnered to offer car and bike insurance products directly through the PhonePe platform which aims to deliver intuitive, affordable, and reliable insurance coverage to the users.
About the Partnership:
i.The partnership combines ACKO’s customer-first approach with PhonePe’s extensive distribution network.
ii.This collaboration  is facilitated through the cutting-edge partnership Application programming interface (API) stack for seamless integration.
About API Stack:
i.The API stack is specifically designed to enable  quick and efficient collaborations with online distributors.
ii.API stack ensures that ACKO’s personalized pricing, innovative Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), and consistent user experience are seamlessly extended to all partners.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

World’s first liquid oxygen-methane powered launch vehicle “Zhuque-2 Y-3” launched by China
On 9th December 2023, China-based private space technology firm, LandSpace Technology Corporation, successfully launched the Zhuque-2 Y-3, the world’s first liquid oxygen-methane powered launch vehicle, carrying 3 satellites, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Inner Mongolia region, China.

• With this, LandSpace became the World’s first company to launch satellites using a rocket fueled by Methane and liquid oxygen.

iSpace completes China’s First reusable Rocket test
China-based Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Technology Ltd., also known as iSpace, has launched “Hyperbola-2”, fuelled by methane–liquid oxygen, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China.

• With this, iSpace completed China’s first reusable launch vehicle test.

About China:
President– Xi Jinping
Capital– Beijing
Currency– Renminbi (Chinese Yuan)
>> Read Full News

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Former President Ram Nath Kovind Launches Book Titled “Naye Bharat ka Samveda” Authored by PM Narendra Modi
Former(14th) President of India Ram Nath Kovind launched a book titled “Naye Bharat ka Samveda” in an event held in Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts(IGNCA), New Delhi, Delhi.
About the book:
i.The book was authored by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi.
ii.The book is a compilation of speeches of Narendra Modi on the Indian Constitution.
iii.The book is published by Prabhat Prakashan Private Limited.
About the launch event:
i.The event was honoured by the presence of Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State(MoS) for Ministry of Culture and External Affairs, while chaired by Shri Rambahdur Rai, President of IGNCA.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Mountain Day 2023- December 11 The United Nations (UN) International Mountain Day is annually observed across the globe on 11 December to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life.
The theme of International Mountain Day 2023 is “Restoring Mountain Ecosystems”.

• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) is the coordinating agency for the preparation and animation of this celebration and it is mandated to lead observance globally.

Background:
i.International Mountain Day has its origins in 1992 when the adoption of Chapter 13 of Agenda 21, titled “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development,” at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

• It is often known as the Earth Summit, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to recognise the important role of mountains in sustainable development.

ii.The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to declare 2002 as the International Year of Mountains (IYM2002).

• UNGA also adopted the resolution A/RES/57/245 and declared 11 December as International Mountain Day, as of 11 December 2003.

iii.The first-ever International Mountain Day was observed on 11 December 2003.
>> Read Full News

International Day of Neutrality 2023- December 12 The United Nations (UN) International Day of Neutrality is annually observed across the globe on 12 December to raise public awareness of the importance of neutrality in intergovernmental relations.

• The Day also aims to develop peaceful, friendly, and mutually beneficial relations and encourages cooperation between different countries globally.

Note: Article 2 of the UN Charter compels member states to settle international disputes peacefully and avoid using force.
Background:
i.On 2 February 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/71/275, introduced by Turkmenistan, and declared the 12 December of every year the International Day of Neutrality.

• Turkmenistan has been recognised by the UN as a permanently neutral state since 12 December 1995.
• The resolution highlighted the link between the preservation of peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

ii.The 1st International Day of Neutrality was observed on 12 December 2017.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General– António Guterres
Headquarters– New York, United States of America (USA)
Founded in– 1945
>> Read Full News

Universal Health Coverage Day 2023- December 12 The United Nations (UN) Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) is annually observed across the globe on 12 December to raise awareness about the importance of strong and resilient health systems in achieving universal health coverage and to celebrate the progress towards health for all.
The 2023 UHC global campaign theme is, “Health For All: Time for Action.”
Background:
i.The Universal Health Coverage Day was first organised on 12 December 2014 by the Universal Health Coverage Coalition.
ii.On 12 December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/138 and proclaimed the 12 December of every year as International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day.
iii.The first-ever official UN-designated International UHC Day was observed on 12 December 2018.
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

Punjab Govt launches ‘Bhagwant Mann Sarkar, Tuhade Dwaar‘ SchemeOn December 10, 2023, the Government of Punjab launched “Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwaar”, a state government scheme to deliver 43 citizen-centric services at people’s doorstep.

• It was launched by the  Arvind Kejriwal,Chief Minister (CM) of Delhi and AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) national convenor; and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann during the event held in Ludhiana, Punjab.

Key Points:
i.The scheme will provide hassle-free and straight access to 43 critical Government to Citizen (G2C) services covering around 99% services offered by the Punjab  government.

• The 43 services includes certificates of birth, marriage, death, income, residence, caste, rural area, border area, backward area, pension, payment of electricity bills and land demarcation.

ii.The scheme will eliminate the role of middlemen and bringing in transparency, efficiency and citizen-centric governance.
iii.these services can be availed through the Sewa Kendras and through the dedicated helpline “1076” with effect from 10th December 2023.
iv.The doorstep service fee is Rs 120 per service (+Govt. fees + Facilitation Charges), and the appointment booking timing is 9AM to 5PM for 7 days a week.
About Punjab:
Chief Minister– Bhagwant Mann
Governor– Banwarilal Purohit
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Bir Aishwan Wildlife Sanctuary, Harike Wildlife Sanctuary
Airports– Sahnewal Airport (Ludhiana), Pathankot Airport (Pathankot)

*******

List of Less Important News – Click Here

Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)