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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Visited Chhattisgarh From December 13 to 15, 2024
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, embarked on a 3-day visit to Chhattisgarh from December 13 to 15, 2024 to chair a security review meeting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in Raipur (Chhattisgarh), with likely focus on fine-tuning strategies to achieve the target of eliminating the menace by March 31 2026.
- During his visit, he presented the prestigious ‘President’s Colour‘ to the Chhattisgarh Police for 25 years of dedicated service.
- The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister (DYCM) Vijay Sharma.
- The initiatives launched during this visit aim to improve public safety, foster economic growth and contribute to the overall development of Chhattisgarh, aligning with the broader vision of a prosperous India by 2047.
i.Two landmark agreements were signed in order to boost the minor forest produce and dairy sectors in Chhattisgarh.Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced two significant agreements.
- The first agreement is between the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (Trading and Development) Cooperative Federation Limited (CGMFPFED) and National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL), aims to certify forest produce for better market prices.
- The second agreement is between the Chhattisgarh Government, Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Dairy Federation, and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), focuses on expanding dairy cooperatives in every village of the state.
ii.Amit Shah attended the closing ceremony of the ‘Bastar Olympics’ in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh where he praised the local athletes and the people for their spirit of unity and sportsmanship.
About Chhattisgarh:
Capital- Raipur
Chief Minister (CM)– Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor- Ramen Deka
Dams-Dudhawa Dam, Gangrel Dam & Sondur Dam
>> Read Full News
Moldovan Deputy PM Mihail Popsoi visited India from December 15-17, 2024
Mihail Popsoi, Deputy Prime Minister(PM) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, visited India for the first time for an official visit from 15th December to 16th December 2024 at the invitation of External Affairs Minister(EAM) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
- The visit aimed to deepen India-Moldova bilateral ties and foster a stronger partnership between the two countries.
Key Highlights:
i.Moldova has joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by signing the ISA Framework Agreement in an effort to promote clean energy and sustainability through the ISA platform.
ii.India and Moldova signed a Declaration of Intent to establish a Migration and Mobility Partnership between the two countries.
iii.India and Moldova signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an aim to boost cooperation and facilitate the exchange of information on training programmes for diplomats.
About Republic of Moldova:
President – Maia Sandu
Capital– Chișinău
Currency – Moldovan Leu(MDL)
>> Read Full News
IEPFA and ACCA sign an MoU to boost financial literacy in India
In December 2024, the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in New Delhi(Delhi) to enhance financial education across the nation in urban and rural areas.
- The four-year partnership aims to educate young people about fundamental financial concepts and foster a financially robust society.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Anita Shah Akella, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IEPFA and Joint Secretary at MCA, and Helen Brand OBE, Chief Executive of ACCA.
Educational Initiatives established through the MoU:
i.Focus on the ACCA’s Financial Literacy Programme:The program also known as ‘Financial Education for You(FEFY)”, is a four-year course targeting school children in grades 6 through 9 aiming to foster financial decision-making among young minds.
- Through this collaboration, IEPFA will support the implementation of FEFY in selected schools across both urban and rural regions.
ii.Offering of digital content:ACCA will offer the program’s digital content at free of cost, making financial literacy accessible to a wide range of educational institutions.
- Additionally, ACCA members will provide professional training to school educators enabling them to effectively deliver the essential curriculum to students.
iii. Organizing educational outreach programs: The partnership will organize seminars, workshops, and roundtables on financial education, investor protection, and capital market growth.
About Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF):
i.IEPF has been established under Section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 by way of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1999.
ii.The Amendment Act also states that no claims can be made against the Fund or the Company for amounts that have remained unclaimed and unpaid for seven years from the due date, and no payment will be made for such claims.
iii.The following amounts, which remained unpaid and unclaimed for 7 years from the due date, are transferred to the Fund.
- Amounts in the unpaid dividend accounts of the companies
- The application money received by companies for allotment of any securities and due for refund
- Matured deposits with companies
- Matured debentures with companies
- The interest accrued on the amounts referred to in clauses (i) to (iv)
- Grants and donations are given to the fund by the Central Government, State Governments, companies, or any other institutions for the Fund.
- And, the interest or other income received out of the investments made from the fund
About Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA):
The IEPFA is a statutory organization responsible for managing the IEPF in India. It was created under the Companies Act of 2013, with its establishment on September 7, 2016.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Anita Shah Akella
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
IIT Guwahati in Collaboration with IIT Mandi and CSTEP Bengaluru Released District-level Climate Risk Assessment Report for India
On December 13 2024, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)Guwahati (Assam) in partnership with IIT Mandi (Himachal Pradesh, HP) and Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Centre for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), developed and released the report titled “District-Level Climate Risk Assessment for India: Mapping Flood and Drought Risks Using IPCC Framework” at IIT Delhi in New Delhi (Delhi).
- The report provides comprehensive in-depth analysis of flood and drought risks across 698 districts in India.
i.The report provides district-level flood and drought hazard, exposure, and vulnerability maps, which helped in creating comprehensive flood and drought risk maps for India.
ii.The report has placed 51 districts into the ‘Very High’ flood risk category, and 118 districts into the ‘High’ flood risk category.
- The report has further classified 91 Indian districts in the ‘Very High’ drought risk category and 188 districts in the ‘High’ drought risk category.
- Among these districts, about 85% are in Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), West Bengal (WB), Gujarat, Odisha, and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Bloomberg World’s Richest Families 2024: Waltons top with USD 432.4 bn, Ambani’s ranked 8th
According to the Bloomberg’s Richest Family 2024 Index, the Walton family of Walmart (United States of America) have secured the top spot as the world’s wealthiest family with a net worth of USD 432.4 billion.
- The Al Nahayan Family (United Arab Emirates) (USD 323.9 billion) secured the 2nd spot followed by the Al-Thani Family (Qatar) (USD 172.9 billion) gained the 3rd spot on the list.
- Amongst the Indian families, the Ambani family (USD 99.6 billion) and Mistrys of Shapoorji Pallonji (USD 41.4 billion) family have secured spots in this global ranking at 8th and 23rd respectively.
Note
The report showed that the world’s billionaires gained a collective USD 406.5 billion in wealth.
Key Highlights:
i.The net worth of the Walmart family has surpassed the individual net worth of Elon Musk and the combined wealth of royal families in the Middle East.
ii.The Hermes Family (France) has secured the 4th spot with a net worth of USD 170.6 billion while the Koch Family (US) has secured the 5th spot with a net worth of USD 148.5 billion.
iii.Overall, however, India’s richest saw their net worths increase as the top 20 have added USD 67.3 billion since January 2024 — with the biggest gainers being Shiv Nadar (USD 10.8 billion) and Savitri Jindal (USD 10.1 billion).
iv.Gautam Adani was omitted as first-generation wealth and single-heir fortunes were excluded from this ranking.
About Bloomberg:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Vlad Kliatchko
Headquarters -New York, United States
Founded– 1981
>> Read Full News
3 Indian Women on Forbes’ 2024 World’s 100 Most Powerful Women List; Topped by Ursula von der Leyen
In December 2024, Forbes, an American global media company released the 21st annual ranking of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women(MPW) list. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance, MoF and Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA)(ranked at 28th spot) has topped among the 3 Indian women featured on the list.
- She is followed by Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Technologies; and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Founder and Executive Chairperson of Biocon India Private Limited ranked at 81st and 82nd spot on the list respectively.
i.Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission(EC) has topped the list for the 3rd consecutive year, followed by Christine Lagarde, President of European Central Bank (ECB); Georgia Meloni, President of Italy ranked at 2nd and 3rd position respectively.
ii.This latest edition of the rankings has represented women on the list into 6 main categories: business, technology, finance, media & entertainment, politics & policy, and philanthropy.
iii.Caitlin Clark (22 year old), an American Basketball player who ranked at 100th spot has become the youngest person to be featured on Forbes’ 2024 MPW list.
About Forbes:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Mike Federle
Headquarters- New Jersey, the United States of America (USA)
Established- 1917
>> Read Full News
BANKING & FINANCE
GoI Signed Rs.3044 Crore Loan Agreement with KFW Germany for Bengaluru Metro Rail Phase 2 
In December 2024, the Government of India (GoI) signed a Rs. 3044.54 Crore loan agreement with the Germany-based investment and development bank KFW (formerly Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau) marking the 100% financial closure for Phase 2 of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project.
- The agreement was signed by Additional Secretary Manisha Sinha, Department of Economic Affairs(DEA) in the Ministry of Finance(MoF) representing the GoI and Director of South Asia at KFW Carolin Gassner, representing KFW Germany in New Delhi, Delhi.
- Additionally, a separate project agreement was also signed between the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and KfW Germany.
Financial Structure:
i.Phase 2, covering 75.06 kilometers (km), has an approved senior debt of Rs 12,141.14 crore, of which the GoI has already secured Rs 9,096.60 crore from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and European Investment Bank (EIB).
ii.The estimated cost of Phase 2 has risen from Rs 26,405 crore in 2014 to Rs 30,695 crore in 2022 and to Rs 40,614.27 crore in 2024, due to construction delays, increased land requirements, and other factors.
- Only 34.65 km (48%) of the 72 km network was completed, despite the initial plan to finish by March 2021.
About the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project:
i.The Bengaluru Metro Rail Project, also known as ‘Namma Metro’, will support the GoI in expanding the metro railway network in Bengaluru.
ii.The project is being developed in phases, with Phase 1 inaugurated in 2011, making it the first underground metro system in South India.
iii.With an operational length of 76.95 km, it stands as the second-longest metro network in India, surpassed only by the Delhi Metro.
About Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL):
BMRCL, a collaboration between the GoI and the Karnataka State Government, is responsible for constructing, managing, and expanding the Namma Metro network.
Managing Director (MD) – Maheshwar Rao
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established – 1994
AU SFB Partners with BALIC for Bancassurance Solutions
In November 2024, Jaipur(Rajasthan)-based AU Small Finance Bank Limited(AU SFB) , announced its bancassurance partnership with Mumbai(Maharashtra)-based Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Limited (BALIC), a subsidiary of Bharti Life Ventures Private Limited (BLVPL) to offer AU SFB’s customers with a wide range of life insurance products and financial security solutions.
i.The partnership aligns with the shared vision of “Viksit Bharat” and “Insurance to All” by enhancing insurance penetration, offering customized insurance products to meet diverse customer needs and expanding distribution channels through bancassurance and digital platforms.
ii.AU SFB’s customers will now have access to Bharti AXA Life Insurance’s comprehensive product portfolio, which includes Life Insurance Plans, Term Insurance Policies, Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIP), Savings Plans, Child Education Plans and Retirement Solutions.
iii.AU SFB is strategically strengthening its bancassurance portfolio following its application for a universal banking license with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
RBI Cancels Registration of Zavron Finance Due to Non-Compliance
In December 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in exercise of powers conferred by Section 45-IA (6) of the RBI Act, 1934, has cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of Zavron Finance Private Limited, a non-banking financial institution (NBFI) based in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
- This action was taken due to its irregular lending practices and serious breaches of RBI guidelines on digital lending.
i.Zavron Finance Limited outsourced key operations like credit appraisal, loan disbursal, interest rate determination, and Know Your Customer (KYC) verification to third-party Lending Service Providers (LSPs), violating RBI’s outsourcing code of conduct.
ii.The company neglected proper due diligence on its LSPs, failing to assess their ownership, security protocols, and internal controls. Additionally, the company did not monitor their operations regularly, putting customer data at risk.
iii.The company did not provide loan agreements and sanction letters in regional languages, preventing borrowers from accessing and understanding key loan details, thereby violating transparency norms.
RBL Bank and Bajaj Finance End Their Co-Branded Credit Card Partnership
In November 2024, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based RBL Bank(formerly known as Ratnakar Bank Limited) and Pune(Maharashtra) based Bajaj Finance Limited (BFL) have decided to end their eight-year partnership for co-branded credit cards, due to changes in synergies.
- This partnership was established in 2016 to issue co-branded credit cards for a period of five years and the partnership was renewed in 2021.
i.In the 2nd quarter (Q2) of the Financial Year 2024-25(FY25), RBL Bank experienced higher slippages in its credit card segment due to the transition of collection services in-house from Bajaj Finance.
ii.While the co-branded cards issued (around 3.4 million) will still be serviced by RBL Bank, customers will continue enjoying the same benefits and offers as before. However, when these cards are renewed, they will be reissued as RBL Bank-branded cards.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Amazon & DPIIT signs MoU to Boost India’s Global Manufacturing & Exports
In December 2024, United States of America (USA) based E-commerce multinational technology company Amazon’s Smbhav Venture Fund signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry during its 5th annual “Smbhav Summit” held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi (Delhi).
- The aim of this MoU to enhance the government’s efforts in establishing India as a global manufacturing hub
- Smbhav Venture Fund will invest USD 120 million in startups that digitize consumer goods manufacturing in India and cater to both domestic and global demand.
About Smbhav Venture Fund:
Smbhav Venture Fund, launched in 2021, is a USD 250 Million India dedicated venture fund for early stage startups and high quality entrepreneurs. The aim is to empower the next generation of world changing companies.
- The investment also expands the fund to USD 350 million, driving innovation and manufacturing in the country.
Key Focus Areas:
i.Manufacturing and Exports:The company aims to enable USD 80 billion in cumulative exports from India by 2030, a 4-fold increase from its previous target.
- The initiative supports India’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), manufacturers and D2C (direct -to-consumer) startups through Amazon’s Global Selling program.
ii.Job Creation:The initiative is expected to create thousands of jobs, contributing to the government’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat.’
- Amazon is already on track to meet its 2025 pledges, which include digitizing 10 million small businesses and generating USD 20 billion in exports.
iii.Logistics Services:Amazon introduces “Amazon Freight and Amazon Shipping”, providing cost effective logistics for intra-city, inter-city and last-mile transportation services across India.
- These services enhance the company’s extensive logistics network.
About Amazon.com, Inc:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Andy Jassy
Headquarters- Seattle,Washington,United States of America (USA)
Established- 1994
LTF Partners with Amazon Finance India to Enhance Credit Solutions for Customers and Merchants
In November 2024, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based L&T Finance Limited (LTF), formerly known as L&T Finance Holdings Ltd., a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) collaborated with Bengaluru(Karnataka)-based Amazon Finance India Private Limited to create innovative credit solutions to improve affordability for Amazon’s eligible customers and merchants by offering loan products through Amazon’s application (app) and website.
- The partnership was unveiled at ‘RAISE 2024,’ India’s leading Artificial Intelligence (AI)-focused event in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector, hosted by LTF in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
i.This collaboration is part of LTF’s shift from a product-focused to a customer-centric approach, aiming to develop solutions that meet evolving consumer needs while leveraging Amazon’s technology to provide faster, seamless credit access.
ii.The collaboration will enhance L&T Finance’s product diversification strategy and increase credit availability for consumers. L&T Finance provides a range of products, including personal loans, Small and Medium Enterprise(SME) loans, two-wheeler loans, housing finance, and more.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Oxford University Press Names ‘Brain rot’ as Word of the Year 2024
In December 2024, Oxford University Press (OUP) selected ‘Brain rot,’ a noun (n), which refers to the deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, often attributed to the overconsumption of content that is seen as trivial or intellectually unchallenging as the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024.
- Other shortlisted words include Demure, Dynamic Pricing, Lore, Romantasy, and slop.
i.The term highlights growing concerns about the impact of consuming excessive, trivial online content, particularly on social media, and its effect on mental health.
ii.The term ‘brain rot’ was first recorded in 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden. Thoreau used it to describe the mental stagnation he observed in those who were disconnected from nature.
Note: The Oxford Word of the Year 2023 was ‘Rizz‘, a colloquial noun defined as style, charm, or attractiveness.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Rupam Roy Elected as General Secretary of AISBOF
Bengaluru(Karnataka) based All India State Bank Officers’ Federation (AISBOF) elected Rupam Roy as its new General Secretary (GS) during its 6th Executive Committee Meeting, held in Chandigarh, Punjab. He assumed office on December 1, 2024.
- He succeeded Deepak Kumar Sharma, who retired on November 30, 2024.
i.Prior to this, Rupam Roy had served as the President of AISBOF. He is well-known for his excellent negotiating skills and his dedication to the welfare of bank officers.
ii.Arun Kumar Bishoyi, GS of the State Bank of India Officers’ Association (SBIOA) Bhubaneswar Circle, was also elected as the new President of AISBOF.
Note: The AISBOF was established on August 30, 1965. It comprises 15 affiliates, including 14 Circle Associations and the Associate Banks Officers’ Association (ABOA), which represents the six Associate Banks of the SBI. Together, it has a total membership of over 80,000 officers.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
China Launches 4 PIESAT-2 Remote-Sensing Satellites to enhance Earth Observation Capabilities
On December 17, 2024, China successfully launched 4 Earth-observation radar satellites named ‘PIESAT-2’ aboard a Long March-2D rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province, China.
- This launch marked China’s 65th space launch of 2024 and 553rd launch of the Long March rocket series.
- The goal of the PIESAT-2 mission is to enhance China’s satellite network for efficient Earth monitoring.
About PIESAT-2 satellites:
i.PIESAT-2 satellites were developed by GalaxySpace (China’s unicorn company in the commercial aerospace sector) and were equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology for high resolution, all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation.
- These features make the satellites vital for various applications, including natural disaster detection, land resource management, and geological surveys.
ii.These satellites will provide essential services for monitoring land resources, natural disasters and geological mapping.
- Their advanced radar capabilities allow continuous Earth observation regardless of weather or time of day, making them crucial for areas like earthquake monitoring, forestry and disaster management.
iii.It also aims to improve the nation’s ability to offer global satellite services, supporting sectors like environmental protection, infrastructure monitoring and emergency response.
About Long March 2D rocket:
i.The Long March 2D rocket was designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology powered by liquid propellants.
ii.It can carry a payload of up to 1.3 tons into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers (kms).
iii.The Long March-2D rocket demonstrated high efficiency in deploying multiple satellites in a single mission.
About China:
President– Xi Jinping
Capital- Beijing
Currency- Renminbi or Chinese Yuan (CNY)
SPORTS
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024: Mumbai beat Madhya Pradesh to win 2nd title
Mumbai defeated Madhya Pradesh (MP) by 5 wickets to win the 17th edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024. The Cricket tournament was held from 23rd November to 15th December 2024 and the final was held at the Mangalam Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- This was Mumbai’s 2nd title at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Its first title came in 2022 when they defeated Himachal Pradesh by 3 wickets in the final.
- The team of Mumbai was captained by Shreyas Iyer while the team of MP was captained by Rajat Patidar.
Note
The winning team Mumbai has been awarded with Rs 5 crore as prize money while the runners up team Madhya Pradesh has received Rs 2.5 crore as prize money.
Key Highlights:
i.Mumbai is now the 4th team to win SMAT title twice before Baroda, Guajarat and Karnataka. Tamil Nadu has won the tournament thrice.
ii.This was Mumbai’s 2nd final in SMAT, and it has won both the games while MP lost its second final after reaching the decider after 14 years.
iii.Shreyas Iyer has become the first captain in history to win both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) trophies in captain and in the same year.
About Mumbai Cricket Team:
i.Mumbai is the most successful team in the history of Ranji Trophy, winning over 42 titles. It also has won 14 Irani Cups.
Awards
| Title | Player |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match (Final) | Suryansh Shedge (Mumbai) |
| Player of the Tournament | Ajinkya Rahane (Mumbai) |
| Most runs | Ajinkya Rahane (Mumbai) (469) |
| Most wickets | Jagjit Singh (Chandigarh) (18) |
About Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024
i.The 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is an annual Twenty20 cricket tournament in India featuring all 38 teams from the Ranji Trophy.
ii.The tournament was a part of the 2024–25 Indian domestic cricket season, as announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2024.
OBITUARY
Renowned Indian tabla player & Padma Awardee Zakir Hussain passed away
In December 2024, Renowned Indian tabla player & Padma Awardee Zakir Hussain Allaraka Qureshi passed away at the age of 73 in California, the United States of America (USA). He was born on March 9, 1951 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Zakir Hussain, a 4 time Grammy award winner, has received the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri.
About Zakir Hussain:
i.Zakir Hussain was an iconic tabla virtuoso, composer, percussionist and music producer who was celebrated for bringing classical Indian music to a global audience.
- Hussain’s remarkable career spanned across Indian classical music, film music, jazz and world music. He was also a film actor and received widespread acclaim for his pioneering work in world music fusion.
ii.His collaborations with Western musicians like Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, on the album ‘Planet Drum’, became landmark moments in the world of fusion music.
- Planet Drum went on to win the 1st-ever Grammy for ‘Best World Music Album’ in 1992, setting the stage for Zakir Hussain’s global recognition.
iii.In February 2024, he became the 1st Indian musician to receive 3 Grammys at the “66th Annual Grammy Awards” for ‘Best Global Music Album’, ‘Best Global Music Performance’ and ‘Best Contemporary Instrumental Album’.
Awards and Honors:
i.Padma Awards:
- Padma Shri (1988) – Received India’s 4th highest civilian award for his exceptional contributions to Indian music.
- Padma Bhushan (2002) – Received India’s 3rd highest civilian award for his distinguished service in the field of art and culture.
- Padma Vibhushan (2023) – Received India’s 2nd highest civilian award in recognizing his immense contribution to music.
ii.Grammy Awards: He won 4 Grammy Awards throughout his career, including 3 in 2024 alone. His wins were for his collaborative works, including ‘Pashto, As We Speak, and This Moment’ with the pioneering world fusion band Shakti.
iii.International Recognitions:
- National Heritage Fellowship (1999) – Received the USA’s highest award for traditional artists.
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1990) – An honor to him from India’s National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama.
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2018) – An esteemed honor in recognition of his outstanding contributions.
iv.National Recognitions: Kalidas Samman (2006) – An award from the Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) for his exceptional achievement in arts.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Migrants Day 2024 – December 18
The United Nations (UN)’s International Migrants Day is annually observed across the globe on 18th December focusing on the significant contributions migrants make to societies worldwide. It highlights the challenges they face in achieving their full potential and emphasizes the importance of ensuring their rights are respected.
- 18th December 2024 marks the observance of 24th International Migrants Day.
- The theme of International Migrants Day 2024 is “Honouring the Contributions of Migrants and Respecting Their Rights”.
Background:
i.On 4 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/55/9 and proclaimed 18 December as International Migrants Day, recognizing the growing global migration trend driven by aspirations for dignity, safety, and peace.
- The first ever International Migrants Day was observed on 18th December 2000.
ii.On this date (18th December) in 1990, UNGA also adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
About International Organization for Migration (IOM):
Director General(DG)– Amy Pope (the United States of America, USA)
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
Established- 1951
>> Read Full News
UN Arabic Language Day 2024 – December 18
The United Nations (UN) observes Arabic Language Day on December 18th each year, celebrating the adoption of Arabic as one of the six official languages of the UN in 1973. This observance celebrates multilingualism and promotes equitable use of all six official languages of the United Nations.
- The 2024 celebration marks the 51st anniversary of Arabic’s official recognition at the UN.
- Theme of 2024 – “Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Advancing Innovation while Preserving Cultural Heritage.”
Background:
i.On 18 December 1973, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution 3190 (XXVIII) introducing Arabic as the 6th official language of the UN.
ii.Commemorating this decision, in 2010 the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (190 EX/48) established the World Arabic Language Day to be celebrated on 18 December each year and observed annually on December 18th since 2012 UNESCO.
- The 1st Arabic Language Day was observed on December 18, 2012.
National Minority Rights Day 2024 – December 18
National Minority Rights Day, also known as Minorities Day, is annually observed across India on 18th December to create awareness about the constitutionally assured rights of religious minorities. The day aims to highlight the importance of freedom and equal opportunities for minorities in India while raising awareness about their rights.
- The theme for Minorities Rights Day 2024 is “Promoting Diversity and Protecting Rights”.
- 18th December 2024 marks the observance of the 12th Minority Rights Day.
Background:
- Minorities Rights Day, observed annually on 18th December, commemorates the 1992 UNGA adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of National, Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities through resolution A/RES/47/135.
- National Minorities Rights Day in India was first observed on 18th December 2013.
Events 2024
Minister of State for Ministry of Minority Affairs, Shri George Kurian initiated the event of Minority Day 2024 with the presence of Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities and senior officials of NCM.
- Book Release: Released a book on ‘Sikhism’, authored by Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura.
- Newsletter Launch: Launched the third edition of the Newsletter of the National Commission of Minorities.
About Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA)
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) is a government ministry in India established in 2006 to address the concerns and needs of minority communities.
Union Minister – Shri Kiren Rijiju (Constituency: Arunachal West, Arunachal Pradesh)
Minister of States(MoS) – George Kurian(Rajya Sabha -Madhya Pradesh, MP)
>> Read Full News
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