Current Affairs PDF

Current Affairs 15 December 2021

AffairsCloud YouTube Channel - Click Here

AffairsCloud APP Click Here

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 15 December 2021, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Govt launches 2nd edition of Animal Husbandry Startup Grand ChallengeGovt launches 2nd edition of Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challengei.On December 13, 2021, the 2nd edition of ‘Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge’ or ‘Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge 2.0’ was launched by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), in partnership with Startup India.ii.It was launched by Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAHD) during an event celebrating ‘National Milk Day’ in Anand, Gujarat to commemorate the birth centenary of Dr. Varghese Kurien.
iii.This challenge will explore innovative and commercially viable solutions to address six problems faced by the animal husbandry and dairy sector.
About Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying:
Union Minister– Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala (Constituency- Gujarat)
Ministers of State (MoS)– Sanjeev Kumar Balyan (Constituency- Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh), Dr. Loganathan Murugan (Constituency- Madhya Pradesh)
>> Read Full News

Govt Lays Foundation for Maa Umiya Dham Development ProjectPM Modi addresses at foundation stone laying of MaaUmiya Dham Development ProjectUnion Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of Umiya Mata Dham temple and temple premises under Maa Umiya Dham Development Project at Umiya Campus in Sola in Ahmedabad, Gujarat along with several developmental projects including a railway bridge.

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually attended and addressed the foundation stone laying of the project on 13th December 2021. He stated the Project as an example of the notion of ‘SabkaPrayas’ (Efforts of everyone).
  • Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was also present on the occasion.

About Umiya Mata Temple:
i.Umiya Mata Temple is the Temple of Goddess Umiya, who is worshipped as the clan-deity or kuldevi of Kadava Patidars (the farming community from north Gujarat)
ii.It is located in the center of Unjha in the Mehsana district of Gujarat which celebrated its silver jubilee in November 2009.
Note – An Umiya Mata temple was also commissioned by the Kadva Patidar Samaj in Macon, Georgia, in 2013.
Key Highlights:
i.The Laying foundation stone of the Umiya Mata temple and other buildings were conducted as a 3-day ceremony starting from 11th December 2021.

  • They will be developed at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore on 74,000 square yards of land.

ii.A 13-storey complex adjacent to the temple will be constructed for providing training and a hostel facility to Patidar youths, preparing for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) exams.
Other Inaugurations:
i.Umiya Dham complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat is being built by the Kadava Patidar community. 
ii.Amit Shah also inaugurated a 4-lane railway overbridge and a water distribution station built by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in Sola, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
iii.He also laid the foundation stone for an affordable housing project of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority.
About Gujarat:
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
Wildlife Sanctuaries – Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Wild Ass Sanctuary, Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary
National Park – Gir National Park, Blackbuck National Park

Govt  Launches National Helpline To Report Atrocities Against SCs/STs
National Helpline Against Atrocities on SCs-STs LaunchedOn 13th December 2022, The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment  launched  a National Helpline Against Atrocities (NHAA) to prevent atrocities on members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). The NHAA will ensure proper execution of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, (POA) 1989.

  • The NHAA will be available 24×7 on toll-free number 14566 across the country.

Objective:
To  build an informed awareness about the provisions of the law that are aimed at ending discrimination and providing protection to members of the community.
Key points:
i.The helpline number for the members of SC & ST can be accessed by making a call/VOIP either from a landline number or mobile across the country and service  will be available in English, Hindi as well as other regional languages of States and UTs.

  • The mobile application of the National Helpline against Atrocities will also be available.

ii.A docket number will be given for each complaint that will be received from NGOs/Victims/Complainant regarding the non-compliance with the POA Act, 1989, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
Working & functioning:
i.The system of NHAA will ensure that every complaint is registered as an FIR (First Information Report).
ii.The relief is provided to the victim, all the registered complaints are investigated, and all the charge sheets filed are prosecuted in the court.
About Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment:
Union Minister- Virendra Kumar (Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State – Ramdas Athawale; Pratima Bhoumik & A. Narayanaswamy

Uttarakhand’s Askot Wildlife Sanctuary Declared as Eco-Sensitive ZoneAskot wildlife sanctuary declared eco-sensitive zoneAccording to the gazette of India dated 2nd December 2021 issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEF&CC), an area of 454.65 square kilometres around the boundary of Askot Wildlife Sanctuary in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand has been declared as the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-sensitive Zone(ESZ).

  • The notified area extends from 0 to 22 km around the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary.

Background:
The government of India notifies the ESZ, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clauses (v) and (xiv) of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 3 of the environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), read with sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
About Askot Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-Sensitive Zone(ESZ):
Boundaries:
North – International Boundary of Tibet
South – Boundary of Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
East – River Kali and boundary of Nepal and Tibet
West – River Gori and Chiplakedar
Note:
The 0 extent of the ESZ towards Southern, Western and Eastern sides of the Sanctuary is due to the international border and in other places, the 0 extent is due to the resolution taken with public consultation with the local community and primitive tribal groups (Van Raaji) habituating area.
Zonal Master Plan:
The Government of Uttarakhand will prepare the Zonal Master Plan within 2years.
Key Points:
i.There is no village falling inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Askot Wildlife Sanctuary.
ii.The activities prohibited within ESZ are, Commercial mining, stone quarrying and crushing units; Setting up industries causing pollution; Establishment of major hydroelectric projects; Use or production or processing of any hazardous substances; Discharge of untreated effluents in natural water bodies or land areas; Commercial use of firewood; Setting up of new sawmills; and Setting up of brick kilns.
About Askot Wildlife Sanctuary:
i.The Askot Wildlife Sanctuary was established to protect the endangered flagship species Musk Deer and its habitat
ii.The Askot Wildlife Sanctuary is also known as Musk Deer Park. 
iii.Askot Wildlife Sanctuary is located mostly in the watershed areas of the river Kali and its tributaries Dhauli and Gauri.
About Uttarakhand:
Chief Minister– Pushkar Singh Dhami
Airports– Jolly Grant airport; PantNagar airport
UNESCO site– Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks

IIT-Delhi signs MoU with IAF to Improve Indigenisation EffortsIIT Delhi signs MoU with IAF to accelerate indigenisation effortsOn 13th December 2021, IIT-Delhi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Air Force (IAF) to support requirements towards indigenous solutions in various weapon systems.The MoU was signed by Air Vice Marshal Samir V Borade, Deputy Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, Headquarters Maintenance Command, IAF, and M R Ravi, Head of Department for Mechanical Engineering at IIT-Delhi.
Key Points:
i.Under the MoU, The IAF has identified key focus areas involving development of technology and finding indigenous solutions towards sustenance of various weapon systems.
ii.IIT Delhi will provide consultancy and cooperation, appropriately supported by research, for feasibility studies and prototype development.
iii.The partnership between IIT Delhi and IAF will also boost the efforts by Base Repair Depots (BRDs) of Maintenance Command IAF.
Note – In 2017, IIT-Delhi established a Joint Advanced Technology Center, funded by (DRDO) Defence Research and Development Organisation.
About Indian Air Force (IAF):
Establishment – 8th October 1932
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Chief of the Air Staff– Vivek Ram Chaudhari
Motto– Touch the Sky with Glory

AIM NITI Aayog, & Embassy of Denmark Launched AIM-ICDK Water Innovation Challenge 2.0 to Address Global Water Distress

Atal Innovation Mission(AIM), NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) and the Royal Embassy of Denmark to India launched the 2nd edition of the water innovation challenges, AIM-ICDK Water Innovation Challenge 2.0to address the global water distress through innovations. This is a part of the Indo-Danish Bilateral Green Strategic partnership.

  • The 2nd edition of the water challenge (2022 AIM-ICDK Water Challenge) was launched under the partnership of AIM, NITI Aayog and Innovation Center Denmark (ICDK) under the aegis of the Denmark Embassy in India, and the Denmark Technical University (DTU).

Aim:
To identify innovative and next-generation solutions to solve the proposed challenges in collaboration with corporate and public partners.
Dignitaries: 
Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, Ambassador at the Royal Danish Embassy H. E. Freddy Svane, Dr Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, AIM, and others were present during the launch.
About the 2nd edition of Water Innovation Challenges: 
i.This initiative will engage the youths from various leading universities and innovation hubs across India to build their skills and utilise their technical disciplines and innovation capacities.
ii.The challenges will identify 2 young students and 2 startups from India working on innovative technologies that address the water challenges of India.
iii.The winners of the 2nd edition of the Water Innovation Challenges will represent India at the International Water Congress 2022.
iv.The Denmark Embassy in India and DTU will prepare the Indian participants for the Global Next Generation Water Action (NGWA) program which will be hosted by DTU.

  • NGWA: Next Generation Water Action(NGWA) is a university-powered initiative to boost international cross-sectorial innovation to inspire, empower and connect the next generation of young talents from across the globe.

BANKING & FINANCE

BoB Launches Wearable Payment Solution – bob World WaveBank of Baroda launches bob World Wave,Bank of Baroda (BOB) in partnership with National Payments Corporations of India (NPCI) launched bob World Wave, a wearable line of products for payments, integrated with a complete health ecosystem.

  • A bob World Wave wearable device will allow customers to monitor their Saturation of Peripheral Oxygen (SpO2), body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.

About bob World Wave:
i.The device will provide contactless payments of up to Rs. 5,000 in all Near-Field Communication (NFC) enabled Point of Sale (PoS) devices and also enable payments above Rs 5000 using the PIN.

  • It is anticipated that 10 percent of the small ticket payments will be made through wearable devices, in the next 2 years.

iii.The Bob wave world line of products will be priced between Rs. 100 and Rs. 5,000.
Benefits from BoB:
i.BOB will provide a 3-months free wellness package along with a personal health coach, doctor tele-consultation and interactive video coaching.
ii.BOB will also provide a dummy plastic card, with the same card number printed as that of the wearable device along with expiry date and Card Verification Value (CVV) to enable customers to do e-commerce transactions at ease.
About Bank of Baroda (BoB):
CEO & Managing Director (MD) – Sanjiv Chadha
Established – 1908
Headquarter – Vadodara, Gujarat
Tagline – ‘India’s International Bank’
In a first three-way amalgamation, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank were merged with Bank of Baroda from April 1, 2019
About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
In 2012, NPCI launched ‘RuPay’ – an Indian Multinational Payment System
CEO & Managing Director (MD) – Dilip Asbe
Established – 2008
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

LIC Introduced Individual Savings Life Insurance Plan – ‘Dhan Rekha’LIC launches Dhan Rekha planOn December 13, 2021, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has introduced a new Non -Linked, Non-Participating, Individual Savings Life Insurance Plan named ‘Dhan Rekha’.

  • The plan will offer special premium rates for female lives and it is also allowed for the third gender.
  • The minimum sum assured under this plan is Rs 2 lakh and there is no limit for the maximum sum assured.
  • The minimum age at entry ranges from 90 days to 8 years and the maximum age at entry ranges from 35 years to 65 years based on the chosen policy term.
  • A percentage of the basic sum under the plan will be assured as a survival benefit at regular intervals starting from the end of the premium paying term (only when the policy is in force).
  • The plan will also take care of liquidity needs through a loan facility. Optional riders are available under this plan on payment of additional premium (with certain conditions).

About Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC):
Chairperson – M R Kumar
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

SBI Cards launches Fitness-Focused Credit Card – ‘SBI Card PULSE’SBI Cards launches fitness-focused credit cardOn 14th December 2021, SBI Card, India’s largest pure-play credit card issuer, launched the first-of-its-kind fitness & wellness-focused credit card – ‘SBI Card PULSE’.

  • The Card is designed with unique features and benefits to complement cardholder’s with benefits towards health and wellness.

Highlights:
i.The SBI Cards provides an annual membership fee of Rs.1,499 that has been launched on Visa Signature platform.

  • The renewal fee waiver is applicable on achieving annual spending of Rs.2 lakh within the card membership year.

ii.SBI Card PULSE credit card provides Noise ColorFit Pulse Smartwatch worth Rs.4,999 as a welcome gift on payment of the joining fee.
Joining benefits:
i.The customers can avail unlimited online fitness sessions of workouts including Yoga, Dance, Cardio, Pilates and more.
ii.A Complimentary 1 year membership of Fitpass Pro, includes:

  • FITPASS Membership allows access to a network of more than 4,000 gyms and fitness centers across India.

About SBI Cards:
SBI Card was launched by State Bank of India (SBI) and GE Capital which is incorporated as SBI Cards and Payment Services Private Limited (SBICPSL)
Chairman – Dinesh Kumar Khara
Established – 1998
Headquarters – Gurgaon, Haryana

Axis Bank Tie up with Swift to Provide Digital Banking SolutionAxis, Swift tie up to digitise trade bankingAxis Bank is working with new digital services from provider Swift to provide a comprehensive digital solution to clients. The bank is integrating with different digitisation initiatives by government bodies and service providers to extend an end-to-end service to business clients.
Key Points:
i.Axis bank’s B2B (business-to-business) digitisation efforts are being supported by Swift, a cooperative of global banks that acts as an intermediary between banks and sets standards.
ii.Digitising Bank Guarantee: Swift has partnered with Stock Holding Corporation of India, which in turn has partnered with 22 states, for e-stamping of documents. Through this digital initiative, the bank guarantee process would be completed within a few minutes which at present, takes 2 to 3 weeks.
iii.Swift is also supporting the private lender to digitise application forms for payment through Asian Clearing Union and other legal forms, which are required under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.
iv.Swift is also working with the bank to test out the new environment for cross-border payments (ISO 20022).

  • The new environment will be an open standard to allow banks to automate the processes in cross-border transactions and provide them rich data in a structured form that can be paid directly into the bank’s systems.

About Axis Bank:
Establishment – 1993
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
MD & CEO – Amitabh Chaudhry
Tagline – Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi

Equitas SFB, Cholamandalam MS Partners to Launch Women-centric Health Insurance Policy – Chola Sarva Shakti
Equitas SFB, Cholamandalam MS for women-centric health insurance policyOn 13th December 2021 Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB) partnered with Cholamandalam MS General Insurance to launch Chola Sarva Shakti, a women-centric health insurance policy to secure women against health conditions.
Aim – To empower Indian women with good health and finances.
Key Highlights:
i.Women are more vulnerable to illness related to heart, gestation, reproduction, cancer and even hypertension and depression when compared to men. Citing a survey.

  • Only 39 percent of 1,009 women have health cover.

Benefits:
i.The policy includes insurance for personal accidents or any health crisis, health indemnity and maternity cover, support for child’s education.
ii.Equated Monthly Rate (EMI) benefits are provided for employees who are terminated or in temporary suspension due to health problems.
About Cholamandalam MS General Insurance
Managing Director (MD) – V Suryanarayanan
Established – 2001
Headquarters – chennai, Tamil Nadu
About Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB):
CEO & Managing Director – Vasudevan Pathangi Narasimhan
Established – 2016
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

ADB Trims Developing Asia’s Growth Forecasts over Omicron RisksADB trims developing Asia's growth forecasts over Omicron risksIn its Asian Development Outlook Supplement Report of December 2021, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has trimmed the growth forecasts for developing Asia for 2021-2022  to reflect the economic impact and uncertainty caused by the new Omicron COVID -19 variant.

  • ADB marks the 2021 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth projection of developing Asia to 7 percent, down from its earlier projection of 7.1 percent (September 2021), and 2022 growth to 5.3 percent, down from 5.4 percent.
  • India: The ADB trimmed its 2021 growth forecast for India to 9.7 percent from the 10 percent but left the 2022 growth forecast unchanged at 7.5 percent.

Inflation: The inflation forecast of developing Asia was revised to 2.1 percent for 2021 and unchanged at 2.7 percent for 2022.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
President – Masatsugu Asakawa
Established – 19th December 1966
Headquarters – Manila, Philippines
Member Countries – 68 members (49 from Asia and Pacific regions)
>> Read Full News

BPCL Collaborates with BARC to boost Green Hydrogen ProductionBharat Petroleum collaborates with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for Green Hydrogen productionBharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) collaborated with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to boost Alkaline Electrolyser technology for Green Hydrogen production.

  • This is a first of its kind initiative to support India’s commitment to achieve renewable energy targets and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Note- India has set a target towards zero-emission cars by 2040.
key points:
i.Currently, India is dependent on import of  Electrolyser Plants and uses the Steam Reforming process for refining Hydrogen from Natural gases, but this results in high Co2 emission.

  • The refiners are setting up large scale electrolysers to produce Green Hydrogen from water.
  • They use large quantities of Hydrogen for desulfurization to make petrol, diesel and other chemicals.

About  Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL):
Chairman & MD – Arun Kumar Singh
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
About Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC):
Director- Ajit Kumar Mohanty
Headquarters– Trombay, ‎Mumbai, Maharashtra

AGEL Signed an Agreement with SECI to Supply 4667 MW of Green PowerAdani Green signs 4667 Mw solar pact with SECIAdani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has signed a purchase agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) to supply 4667 Megawatt (MW) of green power.
This is the world’s largest green power purchase agreement(PPA).

  • This agreement is in line with India’s objective to accelerate India’s renewable energy footprint as well as to promote domestic manufacturing under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat programme.

Key Points:
i.This agreement between ANGEL and SECI to supply 4667MW is a part of the manufacturing-linked solar tender of 8,000 MW awarded to AGEL by SECI in June 2020, which was the world’s largest solar development tender ever awarded.
ii.Until now, AGEL has signed PPAs with SECI for a total generation capacity of around 6000 MW of the 8000 MW awarded in 2020.
The company expected to complete the balance of 2000 MW in the coming 2 to 3 months.
Background:
i.Following the proceedings of COP 26, it became clear that the world has to transition to a low carbon economy faster than previously anticipated.
ii.The Adani Group has committed USD 50-USD 70 billion of investment in the renewables space, which keeps the group on track to become the world’s largest renewables player by 2030.
About Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL):
AGEL is one of the largest renewable companies in India.
Managing Director & CEO– Vneet S. Jaain
Headquarters– Ahmedabad, Gujarat
About Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited(SECI)
SECI, under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), was established on 20th September 2011.
Chairman– Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi
Managing Director–  Suman Sharma
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS     

Elon Musk named Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’ 2021
Elon Musk named Time magazine's 'person of the year'The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla & SpaceX, Elon Musk named ‘Person of the Year 2021’ by Time magazine.  He took over the title from US President Joe Biden & Vice President Kamala Harris, who received the title in 2020.

  • In April 2021, NASA granted Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX an exclusive contract to put United States (US) astronauts on the moon for the first time since 1972.

About Elon Musk:
i.Elon Reeve Musk was born on 28 June 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa.
ii.He  is an entrepreneur and businessman. He is the founder, CEO and Chief Engineer at SpaceX, and CEO – Product Architect of Tesla.
iii.In 2021, Elon Musk became the world’s richest person with a total worth of  USD 300 billion. He succeeded Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, who previously held the position of World’s Richest Person.
Additional Info:
i.COVID-19 Vaccine scientists Kizzmekia Corbett, Barney Graham, Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman named ‘Heroes of the year 2021’ by Time Magazine. They were involved in developing the m-RNA for COVID-19 Vaccine.
ii.American singer Olivia Rodrigo has been named the TIME’s ‘Entertainer Of The Year 2021’.
iii.American artistic gymnast Simone Biles has been named the TIME’s ‘Athlete of the Year 2021’.
About Time Magazine:
‘Person of the Year’ recognition has been annually made by the Time Magazine since 1927.
Headquarters – New York, USA   

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS  

SMALLCAP World Fund Increased its Stake in IIFL Finance to 5.1863%SMALLCAP World Fund ups stake in IIFL FinanceSMALLCAP World Fund, Inc., has increased its stake in IIFL Finance Limited, a leading finance & investment services company in India from 4.2473% to 5.1863% through the open market.
The acquisition of about 35.61 lakh shares at Rs 300 apiece, translating into a deal value of Rs 106.85 crore was made on 9th December 2021.
Key Points:
i.In September 2021, SMALLCAP had a 1.61% stake in IIFL Finance, which had loan assets under management of Rs 44249 crore.
ii.In September 2021, the promoter and promoter group had a 24.93% stake in IIFL and the Public had a 75.07% stake in IIFL Finance.
Fairfax divested a 3.2% stake in IIFL Finance
Fairfax Group, backed by Prem Watsa, an Indian-Canadian billionaire, has divested a 3.2% stake in IIFL Finance for Rs 365 crore through an open market transaction.

  • Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel (HWIC) Asia Fund, an affiliate of Fairfax Financial Holding sold 12,165,000 shares of IIFL Finance, amounting to a 3.2% stake.
  • The shares were sold at Rs 300.04 apiece, valuing the transaction size at Rs 365 crore.

About IIFL Finance Limited: 
IIFL Finance Limited was formerly known as IIFL Holdings Limited.
Chairman– Nirmal Jain
Managing Director– Venkataraman Rajamani
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra    

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Dr Shashi Tharoor’s 23rd Book  ‘Pride, Prejudice and Punditry’ LaunchedPride, Prejudice and Punditry, a bookFormer union minister and Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Dr Shashi Tharoor‘s 23rd book titled ‘Pride, Prejudice and Punditry’ was launched in Hyderabad, Telangana. The book, published by Aleph Book Company, was earlier launched in Delhi.i.There are ten sections in this book, each devoted to a particular topic such as modern Indian history, Indian Politics etc.
About Shashi Tharoor:
i.He was born on  9 March 1956 in London, United Kingdom.
ii.He is serving as MP in Lok Sabha from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, since 2009.
iii.He served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Information Technology and All India Professionals Congress.
Award: ‘Sahitya Akademi Award’ for 2019 was awarded to his book – ‘An Era of Darkness’
Popular books by Shashi Tharoor:

  • An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India
  • Inglorious Empire
  • The Paradoxical Prime Minister
  • Why I Am a Hindu
  • The Great Indian Novel
  • Pax Indica

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Energy Conservation Day 2021 – December 14National Energy Conservation Day 2021National Energy Conservation Day is annually observed across India on 14th December to create awareness about the importance of energy conservation and the benefits of replacing non-renewable resources with renewable energy.

  • The day is annually organised by the Ministry of Power.
  • The first ever National Energy Conservation Day was celebrated on 14th December 1991. 

National energy conservation week – 8th to 14th December 2021
The Ministry of Power has celebrated the National Energy Conservation Week 2021 from 8th to 14th December 2021 as Iconic Week under “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
NECA 2021 and NEEIA 2021
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the guidance of the Ministry of Power, has organised the 31st National Energy Conservation Awards 2021 and 1st National Energy Efficiency Innovations Awards 2021 function.
Click here for the list of awardees NECA 2021 and NEEIA 2021
About Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):
BEE was established on 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the EC Act, 2001.
Director General– Abhay Bakre
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
>> Read Full News

Manipur Observed 82nd Nupi Lal Memorial Day 2021 on 12th December Manipur observed Nupi Lal Day - December 12 2021On 12th December 2021, the State of Manipur observed the 82nd Nupi Lal Day or Nupi Lal Memorial Day to commemorate the 2 Nupi Lals of 1904 and 1939, the 2 historic movements led by the women of Manipur against mass exploitation and the famine triggered by the British.
The day, also known as Nupee Lal Day or Nupi Lan day, pays homage to the sacrifices made by the brave mothers of Manipur.

  • Nupi Lan, which translates to ‘women’s war’ in English, is an important movement in the history of Manipur.

History of Nupi Lal:
i.The 1st Nupi Lal broke out in 1904 and Manipur women waged war against the British order to send Manipuri men to Kabow Valley to fetch timber for re-building the then Police Agent’s bungalow after it was ravaged by fire.

  • It was triggered by the action of Colonel Maxwell in July 1904 to reintroduce the abolished Lallup System, which meant free labour of the people to the King.

ii.In 1939 the 2nd Nupi Lal started as an agitation by Manipuri women against the oppressive economic and administrative policies ruled by the Manipur Maharaja Churanchand Singh and Christopher Gimson, Political Agent of the British Government (1933-45) in Manipur.
Nupi Lal Memorial Complex:
i.Nupi Lal Memorial Complex in Imphal, Manipur, is a tribute to the courageous Manipuri women, who sacrificed their lives fighting for justice against the British on 12th December 1939.
ii.The memorial complex houses sculptures portraying Manipuri women fighting against the British officials.

STATE NEWS

UP Cabinet approves Atma Nirbhar Krishak Development Scheme to boost Agri SectorUP Cabinet approves Atma Nirbhar Krishak development schemeThe Uttar Pradesh (UP) Cabinet has approved the implementation of Atma Nirbhar Krishak Integrated Development Scheme in the state from 2021-22 to 2031-32 to boost the agriculture sector.

  • The expected outlay for its implementation is Rs 1,220.92 crore for a period of 10 years.

About Atma Nirbhar Krishak Integrated Development Scheme:
Under this scheme, 1,475 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) will be formed in the next three years in each development block of UP. It will also aid in achieving the target of utilizing a budget of Rs 12,000 crore allotted to the state by the Centre under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
What is AIF?
Approved in 2020 by Union Cabinet, the scheme provide Rs 1 lakh crore medium to long-term debt financing facility through banks and financial institutions for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets

  • All loans under this will have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs 2 crore.
  • This subvention can be availed for a maximum period of seven years.
  • The beneficiaries under this fund are Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, Marketing Cooperative Societies, FPOs, Self Help Groups, farmers, joint liability groups, multipurpose cooperative societies, agri-entrepreneurs, startups, aggregation infrastructure providers and central/state agency or local body sponsored Public Private Partnership Project.

About Uttar Pradesh (UP):
Chief Minister (CM)– Yogi Adityanath
Bird Sanctuary– Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Sur Sarovar (Keetham) Bird Sanctuary
Tiger Reserve– Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

JICA & Tamil Nadu’s Health Department signs RoD to Strengthen Health Sector in stateJICA, TN sign pact to strengthen health sector

A Record of Discussions (RoD) has been inked between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Tamil Nadu’s (TN) Health and Family Welfare Department for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in TN project.

  • Under this project there will be strengthening of managerial and technical capabilities of health personnel with respect to NCD prevention and control.
  • The project will initiate in Q4FY21 and will be aligned with the Tamil Nadu Urban Health Care Project.

Key Points:
i.As per UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), the death rate related to NCDs accounts for 63% of all deaths.
ii.The probability of death from NCDs between the ages of 30 to 70 is 23%.
iii.For health personnel, there will be organization of training related to technique, skill development enhancement, and strengthening capacities on NCDs.
iv.JICA experts in partnership with the state government will also provide technical guidance, advice, and recommendations during the course of the project.
JICA support to TN:
i. JICA has been supporting ‘Tamil Nadu Urban Health Care Project’ by providing 25,537 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs 1,548 crore) ODA (Official Development Assistance) loan to improve the urban healthcare services by developing related facilities.

  • It was signed in March 2016.

ii.JICA is also supporting TN government’s ‘The project for Covid-19 prevention capacity improvement’ which focuses on technical cooperation around RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test provision in the State.
About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA):
President– Shinichi Kitaoka
Headquarters– Tokyo, Japan
Chief Representative of JICA India– Saito Mitsunori

Odisha, UNCDF agency join hands for Financial Empowerment of WomenOdisha, UN agency join hands for financial empowerment of womenAn agreement has been inked between the state government of Odisha and the United Nations Capital Development Fund’s (UNCDF), a Global Centre for Financial Health, to launch Mission Shakti Living Lab empowering women economically and drive gender equality.
Signatories:
It was virtually signed by Sujata Karthikeyan, Mission Shakti commissioner; and Preeti Sinha, UNCDF executive secretary.
What will Mission Shakti Living Lab do?
With the use of digital technologies and e-commerce, it will increase the income and financial well-being of women, self-help groups (SHGs) and households by helping them in the factors of plan, save, borrow or spend better. It will address the barriers related to autonomy and financial freedom of women.

  • The Living Lab will help 10,000 women-led micro-enterprises get better access to affordable market opportunities, capital for business promotion, and market solutions for better linkages.

About Mission Shakti:
Launched in 2001 to enhance the holistic development of women, there are 6.02 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) comprising 70 lakh members across rural and urban areas of Odisha under the initiative.

  • It is a self-help mission for empowering women through promotion of Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs)
  • This initiative led to an increase in income of SHG members from Rs 3,000 to 15,000 per month in Odisha.

 About United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF):
It is the capital investment agency of the United Nations (UN) for the LDCs (Least Developed Countries)
Headquarters– New York, USA

*******

Click Here View – AC Excluded News 2021

Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)

S.noCurrent Affairs 15 December 2021
1Govt launches 2nd edition of Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge
2Govt Lays Foundation for Maa Umiya Dham Development Project
3Govt  Launches National Helpline To Report Atrocities Against SCs/STs
4Uttarakhand’s Askot Wildlife Sanctuary Declared as Eco-Sensitive Zone
5IIT-Delhi signs MoU with IAF to Improve Indigenisation Efforts
6AIM NITI Aayog, & Embassy of Denmark Launched 2nd Edition of Water Innovation Challenges to Address Global Water Distress
7BoB Launches Wearable Payment Solution – bob World Wave
8LIC Introduced Individual Savings Life Insurance Plan – ‘Dhan Rekha
9SBI Cards launches Fitness-Focused Credit Card – ‘SBI Card PULSE’
10Axis Bank Tie up with Swift to Provide Digital Banking Solution
11Equitas SFB, Cholamandalam MS Partners to Launch Women-centric Health Insurance Policy – Chola Sarva Shakti
12ADB Trims Developing Asia’s Growth Forecasts over Omicron Risks
13BPCL Collaborates with BARC to boost Green Hydrogen Production
14AGEL Signed an Agreement with SECI to Supply 4667 MW of Green Power
15Elon Musk named Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’ 2021
16SMALLCAP World Fund Increased its Stake in IIFL Finance to 5.1863%
17Dr Shashi Tharoor’s 23rd Book  ‘Pride, Prejudice and Punditry’ Launched
18National Energy Conservation Day 2021 – December 14
19Manipur Observed 82nd Nupi Lal Memorial Day 2021 on 12th December
20UP Cabinet approves Atma Nirbhar Krishak Development Scheme to boost Agri Sector
21JICA & Tamil Nadu’s Health Department signs RoD to Strengthen Health Sector in state
22Odisha, UNCDF agency join hands for Financial Empowerment of Women