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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Overview of PM Modi’s visit to Rajasthan on December 17, 2024
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Rajasthan on December 17, 2024.
- He participated in the ‘Ek Varsh-Parinaam Utkarsh’ organised to mark the completion of one year of State Government of Rajasthan.
- During his visit, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 24 projects related to Energy, Road, Railways and Water worth over Rs 46,300 crores at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister (CM) – Bhajan Lal Sharma
Governor- Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde
National Parks (NPs)- Ranthambore National Park, Keoladeo National Park
>> Read Full News
Union Cabinet Approved “One Nation, One Election” Bill
In December 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved two key bills regarding One Nation, One Election (ONOE), which aimed to conduct simultaneous Lok Sabha elections with state legislative assemblies and local bodies across the country in a phased manner.
i.The 1st bill named the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 will enable the terms of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to be synchronized.
ii.The Second bill named The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to align elections in the Union Territories (UTs) of Puducherry, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) with Lok Sabha elections.
iii.Both these bills are based on the key recommendations of the High-level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, which was constituted under the chairmanship of former President of India Ram Nath Kovind in September 2023.
>> Read Full News
SLINEX 2024 : India, Sri Lanka joint naval exercise held in Visakhapatnam, AP
The 11th Edition of annual bilateral maritime Exercise Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise(SLINEX-24) held between the Indian Navy(IN) and the Sri Lankan Navy under the Eastern Naval Command of the IN from December 17-20, 2024 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh(AP).
- The primary aim of SLINEX 2024 is to enhance the operational interoperability between the Indian and Sri Lankan navies.
i.It was initiated in 2005 and evolved into a significant series of exercises designed to improve interoperability, foster mutual understanding and promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.
ii.The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted in Colombo, Sri Lanka in April 2023.
About Sri Lanka:
President- Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Prime Minister (PM)-Harini Amarasuriya
Capital- Colombo
Currency- Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
>> Read Full News
Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankar Attended 50th Foundation Day Celebration of IP&TAFS in New Delhi
In December 2024, the Vice President (VP) of India Jagdeep Dhankar attended the 50th Foundation Day celebration of the Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS) as the Chief Guest, in New Delhi (Delhi).
- The event was organised to celebrate the remarkable contributions made by IP&TAFS over the last 50 years in shaping India’s telecommunications and postal sectors.
Note: The IP&TAFS is now known as the Indian Communication Finance Service(ICFS).
Key People: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Ministry of Communications (MoC) and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER); Manish Sinha, Member (Finance), Digital Communications Commission; Vandita Kaul, Secretary, Department of Posts (DoP), MoC and other senior officials of the MoC were also present at the event.
Key Points:
i.While addressing the event, the VP of India, Jagdeep Dhankar highlighted the importance of cross-departmental collaboration in an interconnected world, emphasized on the need to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered audit systems while maintaining human insight oversight for important decisions.
ii.During the event, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined the 3 pillars: bringing stability to the telecom sector; empowerment of pensioners and the capabilities of the cadre in keeping up with tech developments, are the key drivers for the success of the officers.
- He further appreciated them for their contribution in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) led System for Accounting and Management of Pension (SAMPANN) pension model and for the consolidation of Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN).
About IP&TAFS:
i.It is a Group ‘A’ Central Civil Services of Government of India (GoI), instituted in 1974.
ii.It has been playing an important role in managing spectrum auctions and monitoring the financial health of more than 3,500 telecom and internet companies.
iii.A major portion of the revenue generated by IP&TAFS is used in supporting the GoI’s led Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) through DBN, aimed to enhance digital inclusion across urban and rural regions of the country.
iv.It manages the pension of the DoT, which includes monitoring the seamless disbursement of pensions through the SAMPANN portal.
- SAMPANN portal is a cloud-based platform, which guarantees efficient, transparent and dignified pension delivery.
v.The officers of IP&TAFS also manage the financial operations of the DoP through 23 Postal Accounts Offices (PAOs).
About Ministry of Communications (MoC):
Union Minister- Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (Constituency- Guna, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS)- Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Constituency- Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, AP)
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Unveils ‘Jalvahak’ Scheme to Boost Cargo Movement on Inland Waterways
In December 2024, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), launched the ‘Jalvahak‘ scheme to induce the cargo movement via inland waterways.
- He also flagged off Cargo ships “MV Aai, MV Homi Bhaba along with MV Trishul with 2 dumb barges Ajay and Dikhu” from the GR Jetty in Kolkata,West Bengal (WB). This marks the commencement of a fixed scheduled service of cargo vessel ships from Haldia,WB for national waterways 1 and 2 (NW-1 and NW-2).
i.This scheme is jointly implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL), a subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCIL).
ii.The scheme offers up to 35% reimbursement of operating expenses for transporting cargo over 300 kilometers (kms) on NW1, NW2, and NW16.
Note: India has set a target of 200 million Metric Ton(MT) of cargo movement via waterways by 2030.
>> Read Full News
CSC e-Governance and IFFCO Sign MoU to Support 10,000 FPOs with Agricultural Inputs
In December 2024, New Delhi (Delhi)- based Common Services Centres (CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited, operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) based in New Delhi, to provide critical agricultural inputs to Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
- The signing ceremony was attended by Sanjay Rakesh, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of CSC e-Governance Services and Yogendra Kumar, Marketing Director of IFFCO.
i.This partnership will provide FPOs with essential agricultural resources from IFFCO, including Nano Urea Plus, Nano Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP), fertilizers, seeds, and agrochemicals, to boost productivity and promote sustainable farming.
ii.The Government of India (GoI) launched the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) in 2020 to form 10,000 FPOs, aiming to strengthen farmers, reduce costs, and boost incomes through Common Services Centres (CSCs).
- As of 30th June 2024, 8,875 FPOs have been registered in India.
India participated in the 2nd meeting of the SCC
In December 2024, India, a key member of the 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), participated as vice-chair in the 2nd meeting of the Supply Chain Council (SCC) which was held virtually.
- India was represented by Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce (DoC), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I).
i.The SCC, chaired by the United States of America (USA), reviewed progress across key sectors such as semiconductors, critical minerals, chemicals, and healthcare.
- Updates were shared on the Critical Minerals, Semiconductors, and Pharma/Healthcare Action Plan Teams (APTs) focused on collaboration and addressing supply chain challenges in these sectors.
ii.The first SCC meeting in Washington in September 2024 led to the formation of Action Plan Teams (APT) focusing on key sectors, including Pharma/Healthcare (led by India), Semiconductors (led by USA), Critical Minerals (led by Australia) and Chemicals (led by USA).
iii. India, now 3rd in pharmaceutical production by volume and 14th by value, was elected as the Chair for the Pharma/Healthcare APT. India put forward a proposal to host the next in-person SCC meeting next year.
Note: India had signed the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement (Pillar-II) in November 2023, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening regional and global supply chain resilience.
Centre for Joint Warfare Studies and NDMA signed an MoU to strengthen disaster management
In December 2024, the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), the only tri-services think tank under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS),Ministry of Defence has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to bolster India’s disaster management capabilities.
- The MoU was signed by Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member, NDMA and Major General (Dr) Ashok Kumar (Retd), Director General of CENJOWS.
- With the signing ceremony, a strategic agreement was established to address critical challenges in readiness, response, and disaster mitigation in order to create a “whole of the nation” approach.
Key Areas of Collaboration
The MoU outlines a framework for joint initiatives, including:
i.Collaborative Research: Conducting research on disaster management, HADR operations, and disaster diplomacy in order to contribute to the Indian government on policy.
ii.Capacity Building: Organizing workshops, seminars and training programs for stakeholders, including armed forces personnel, NDMA officials, and other important agencies.
iii.Awareness Campaigns: Raising awareness across the country to encourage risk reduction and disaster preparedness through nationwide initiatives.
iv.International Engagements: Promoting international cooperation in disaster management aligns with India’s foreign policy aim.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
UK Becomes the 1st European Country to Join CPTPP
In December 2024, the United Kingdom (UK) has officially became the 1st European country to join the Comprehensive & Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), an important trade bloc in the Indo-Pacific region.
- With this, the UK has become the 12th member of the CPTPP as well as the 1st non-founding member to join this trade bloc.
- This marks a significant milestone in the country’s effort to bolster its global trading after its withdrawal from the European Union (EU) in 2020.
Background:
i.In February 2021, the UK formally requested accession to the CPTPP.
ii.In March 2023, the Accession Working Group (AWG) of the CPTPP agreed on the accession of the UK as its 12th member.
iii.In July 2023, the government of UK officially signed the agreement to accede to the CPTPP during the CPTPP Ministerial-level Commission meeting held in Auckland, New Zealand.
Key Points:
i.With the joining of the UK as CPTPP member, the members of CPTPP together account 15% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide trade access to a market of over 500 million people.
ii.As per the agreement, the UK will be able to trade with 8 member countries of CPTPP from December 15, 2024.
- The agreement for the UK to trade with Australia will come into force on December 24, 2024, and for trade with Canada and Mexico will come into force 60 days after they ratify the agreement.
About CPTPP:
i.It has succeeded the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), a trade agreement between 12 Pacific Rim countries, after the United States of America (USA) formally withdrew from the TPPA in 2017.
ii.It is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed by the 11 countries including: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam, on March 8, 2018.
iii.Initially, the pact came into force on December 30, 2018 only for 6 member countries i.e. Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Singapore.
- Later, it came into force for the remaining countries such as: Vietnam (2019), Peru (2021), Malaysia (2022), Chile (2023) and Brunei Darussalam (2023).
About the United Kingdom (UK):
Prime Minister (PM) – Keir Starmer
Capital- London
Currency- Pound Sterling (GBP)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
CareEdge Ratings Revised down India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.5% for FY25
In December 2024, CareEdge Ratings, a subsidiary of Care Ratings Limited, has revised down its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) projection for India to 6.5% for Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), from its previous estimate of 6.8%. It has also projected that India’s GDP will grow at 6.7% in FY26.
- This downward projection is based on various factors such as: slower GDP growth in 2nd Quarter (Q2: July-September) of FY25, a deeper contraction in corporate profitability during the same period, decrease in public capital expenditure (capex) in 1st Half (H1: April to September) of FY25, among others
Key Points:
i.It has estimated that the Indian economy will rebound in the 2nd Half (H2: October to March) of FY25, mainly driven by a recovery in consumption and an uptick in government capital expenditure.
ii.It has projected the nominal GDP will be lower at 9.9% against the budgeted estimate of 10.5% for FY25.
Inflation:
i.It has estimated that Inflation will be moderate, with Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation projected at 4.8% and 4.5% for FY25 and FY26, respectively.
- It has mentioned that food inflation is expected to ease in the coming quarters, mainly due to strong kharif harvest and favourable rabi sowing conditions.
ii.It has projected that Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation will be at average of 2.5% in FY25 and 3% in FY26.
Fiscal Growth:
i.The credit rating agency has projected that the fiscal deficit of the central government will be 4.8% of GDP for FY25, marginally lower than the budgeted estimate of 4.9%.
ii.It has projected that the capex of the central government will fall short of its target by Rs 1.5 trillion, which could certainly impact long-term infrastructure growth.
iii.India’s merchandise export is expected to grow by 2.5% in FY25 amid global uncertainties. Services exports are projected to grow by 13%.
iv.It has estimated that Current Account Deficit (CAD) will remain manageable at 0.9% of GDP for FY25, demonstrating resilience in the external sector.
About CareEdge Ratings:
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Mehul Pandya
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- 1993
India’s Foreign Direct Investment inflows hit USD 1 Trillion
As per data released by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in December 2024 ,India reached a significant economic milestone with gross Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows totaling USD 1 trillion since April 2000.
- In the first half of the current Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), FDI increased by about 26% to USD 42.1 billion.
- FDI inflows totaled USD 709.84 billion over the last ten years (April 2014 to September 2024), which represents 68.69% of all FDI inflows over the past 24 years.
- The government’s flagship initiative, “Make in India,” along with liberalized sectoral policies and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has strengthened investments in India.
- In 2024, the Income Tax Act, 1961 was amended to abolish angel tax and reduce the income tax rate for foreign companies
Top FDI Investors in India
i.Mauritius topped FDI inflows at 25%, followed by Singapore in second place with 24%. The US ranked third at 10%, while the Netherlands (7%), Japan (6%), and the UK (5%) also made significant contributions.
ii.Smaller investors like the UAE, Cayman Islands, Germany, and Cyprus contributed 2%-3% each.
Other Facts
i,India’s GDP in 2024 is approximately USD3.89 trillion, a remarkable rise from USD 2 trillion in 2014.
- Himachal Pradesh’s GSDP of Rs 1.91 lakh crore for FY24 surpasses the Maldives’ GDP of Rs 1.336 lakh crore.
ii.The services sector, such as financial services, IT, and consultancy, led FDI inflows, while manufacturing saw a 69% increase over the last ten years.
iii.India has prohibited FDI in certain sectors, including lotteries, gambling, real estate, and tobacco manufacturing.
India’s Global Rankings and Achievements
- India rose to 39th in the World Competitive Index 2024, improving from 43rd in 2021.
- In the Global Innovation Index 2024, India ranked 39th out of 132 economies.
India was the 3rd largest recipient of greenfield projects, with 1,008 announcements, according to the World Investment Report 2023.
Pb Fintech Board Approves Incorporation Of A Healthcare Subsidiary
In December 2024, the Board of Directors of PB Fintech, the parent company of Policybazaar, approved the incorporation of a healthcare subsidiary that would provide healthcare and allied services. The entity will obtain the necessary approvals when needed.
- On December 3, 2024, a circular resolution was passed proposing the formation of a wholly owned subsidiary (“WOS”) to be named ‘PB Healthcare Private Limited,’ or ‘PB Healthcare Services Private Limited,‘ or any other name approved by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India (GoI).
- Chairman and Group CEO of PB Fintech is Yashish Dahiya.
i.The subsidiary will focus on healthcare and allied services, with an authorized share capital of Rs 5 lakh. The new entity will become a linked party upon formation.
ii.In the July–September quarter of FY25, the company claimed a net profit of Rs 51 crore, while in the same period last year, it reported a net loss of Rs 21.11 crore.
iii.The new health and life insurance business grew by 69% year over year (Y-o-Y) during the quarter, contributing to the company’s total insurance premium of Rs 5450 crore.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw awarded the 2024 Jamsetji Tata Award 
In December 2024, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson of Biocon Group, was conferred the 2024 Jamsetji Tata award by the Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) at ISQ Annual Conference 2024 held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- This award was presented to her for being a pioneer in the bioscience movement in India since 1978, a first-generation entrepreneur to establish Biocon Limited and associated companies to serve customers in India and across the world.
- She received the award from Janak Kumar Mehta, President of ISQ and Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), TQM International.
Key People: The event was graced by B Muthuraman, former Vice Chairman of Tata Steel and Dr KN Subramanya, Principal of R V College of Engineering and President of ISQ’s Bengaluru chapter.
About Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw:
i.Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a pioneering biotech entrepreneur and founder of Biocon, a global biopharmaceuticals enterprise.
ii.She has been awarded with two of India’s highest civilian honours, the Padma Shri (Trade & Industry) in 1989 and the Padma Bhushan (Science & Engineering) in 2005.
iii.In 2020, she has been conferred with the Order of Australia, Australia’s highest civilian honour in 2020 and named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year.
iv.She was honoured with the Othmer Gold Medal by the U.S.-based Chemical Heritage Foundation in 2014.
About Jamsetji Tata Award:
i.The Jamsetji Tata Award was instituted in 2004 by ISQ. It honors business leaders who made significant contributions to Indian society.
ii.This award is named after Jamsetji Tata, who is known as the ‘Father of Modern Indian Industry’.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Former football player Mikheil Kavelashvili appointed as 6th President of Georgia
Former Manchester City footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili was appointed as the 6th President of Georgia. He will assume office on December 29 2024 and will replace incumbent President Salome Zourabichvili.
- Mikheil Kavelashvili was nominated by the Georgian Dream party and won the presidential election with 224 votes out of 300 votes.
Note: The president of Georgia was elected indirectly for the first time by a 300-member electoral college consisting of members of parliament and local government representatives.
About Mikheil Kavelashvili:
i.Mikheil Kavelashvili is a Georgian politician and former professional footballer, known for his career as a striker.
ii.He played in the English Premier League for Manchester City and in the Swiss Super League for several clubs, including Dinamo Tbilisi and Spartak Vladikavkaz.
ii.He earned 46 caps for the Georgian national football team, scoring 9 goals and helping Georgia to win the 1998 Malta International Football Tournament.
iii.He entered politics in 2016, being elected to the Parliament of Georgia for the ruling Georgian Dream party. He was re-elected in 2020.
iv.In 2022, he co-founded the People’s Power party, a satellite faction of Georgian Dream Party.
v.In the 2024 parliamentary election, he was elected for the 3rd time, representing the party list of Georgian Dream Party, with which People’s Power had aligned.
- He was the only candidate on the ballot and easily won the vote given the Georgian Dream party’s control of a 300-seat electoral college that replaced direct presidential elections in 2017.
About Georgia:
President- Salome Zourabichvil
Prime Minister (PM)- Irakli Kobakhidze
Capital- Tbilisi
Currency- Georgian Lari (GEL)
Rama Mohan Rao Amara appointed as the MD of SBI
The Government of India (GoI) appointed Rama Mohan Rao Amara, Deputy Managing Director (DMD) and Chief Risk Officer (CRO) of the State Bank of India (SBI) as the new Managing Director (MD) of SBI for the three years with effect from 18 December 2024.
- The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi, followed by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) recommendation.
- He succeeds Challa Sreeivasulu Setty, who has been appointed as the chairman of SBI in October 2024.
Points to Note:
i.Rama Mohan will serve as the 4th MD of SBI, alongside Ashwini Kumar Tewari, Vinay M Tonse, and Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh.
ii.Kshitij Mohan, Deputy Managing Director(Stressed Assets Resolution Group,SARG), has been given the additional responsibility of DMD & Group CRO of SBI.
About Rama Mohan Rao Amara:
i.He started his banking career with SBI in 1991 as a Probationary Officer(PO) and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB).
ii.He served as the Chief General Manager(GM) of the SBI, Bhopal Circle, overseeing operations in the states of Madhya Pradesh(MP) and Chhattisgarh.
iii.In January 2021, he was appointed as the MD & CEO of SBI Card, and held this position until August 2023.
iv.He was appointed as SBI’s CRO in October 2023. During his tenure, he significantly improved the company’s financial and risk profile.
v.He gained international experience by managing key assignments for SBI in markets such as Singapore and the United States.
vi.He also served as the CEO of SBI’s Chicago branch, and the President and CEO of SBI California.
About State Bank of India (SBI):
As of September 2024, the Government of India holds a 57.51% stake in SBI.
Chairman – Challa Sreeivasulu Setty
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 1955
R Subramaniakumar reappointed as MD & CEO of RBL Bank
RBL Bank Limited’s board of directors has reappointed R Subramaniakumar, the current Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank for a period of three years from 23rd June 2025 to 22nd June 2028.
- Initially he was appointed as MD and CEO of RBL Bank for a period of three years in June 2022. His current term was to end on 22nd June 2025.
- However, the reappointment is subject to approval by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Under Section 35B of the Banking Regulation Act, 1935, the bank will apply to the RBI for the approval of reappointing Subramaniakumar as MD and CEO for an additional three years.
About R Subramaniakumar:
i.R Subramaniakumar is a veteran in the banking industry with over 40 years of experience.
ii.He began his career with Punjab National Bank (PNB) in 1980.
iii.Prior to joining RBL Bank, he served as the administrator of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL), the first non-banking finance company to be referred to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for resolution.
iv.He was appointed as the MD and CEO of RBL Bank when the RBI added an additional director to the bank’s board and sent former MD and CEO Vishwavir Ahuja on leave due to concerns about the bank’s financial stability.
v.He has held various leadership roles through the course of his career at PNB, including being the Director of DRUKPNB, Bhutan.
About RBL Bank Limited:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- R Subramaniakumar
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established– 1943
Tagline– apno ka bank
RBI Approves Manish Jain as Executive Director of YES Bank
In December 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Manish Jain as Executive Director (ED) of Yes Bank for a period of three years, effective from December 11, 2024, to December 10, 2027.
- RBI granted its approval under Section 35B of The Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
- Prashant Kumar is the current Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of YES BANK.
i.In 2023, he joined Yes Bank as the Country Head of Wholesale Banking Group. He has been significant in increasing the corporate segment’s profitability, operational effectiveness, and relationships with consumers.
ii.Prior to YES BANK, he held leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank, including Managing Director & Co-Head of Corporate Commercial & Institutional Banking for India.
SPORTS
Union MoS Raksha Khadse Unveils Mascot, Logo, Anthem, Jersey, Torch & Tagline for 38th National Games in Uttarakhand
In December 2024, Union Minister of State(MoS) Raksha Khadse, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports(MYAS), unveiled the Mascot, Logo, Anthem, Jersey, Torch and Tagline for the 38th National Games at an event held at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun(Uttarakhand). It aims to promote sports culture, enhance infrastructure and motivate young athletes.
- The 38th National Games is scheduled to take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Dehradun, Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14, 2025 with over 10,000 athletes competing in 38 sports.
- Uttarakhand Chief Minister(CM) Pushkar Singh Dhami and Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha were present at the event.
About Uttarakhand:
Chief Minister (CM)– Pushkar Singh Dhami
Governor- Gurmit Singh
Capital- Dehradun
Dams- Tehri Dam, Tumaria Dam, Maneri Dam
>> Read Full News
Manika Batra’s Team Asia Wins the Waldner Cup 2024
On December 16 2024, Team Asia comprising India’s Manika Batra, led by Ma Long won the 1st-ever inaugural edition of the ‘Waldner Cup 2024’ by defeating Team World 14-10 in Oslo, Norway.
- The tournament was held from December 13 to 15, 2024 and was organized by Jan Ove Waldner, the famous Swedish table tennis player and 1992 Olympic gold medallist.
Team Asia Players:
Team Asia comprised China’s Ma Long, a 6 time Olympic Gold medallist, Chen Meng(China), the Paris 2024 women’s singles champion, South Korea’s Shin Yubin (2 time Olympic bronze medallist), Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko and India’s Manika Batra.
Key Points:
i.Team World led Sweden’s Paris 2024 men’s singles silver medallist Truls Moregardh and 6 time Olympic medallist Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany led 10-8 on the 2nd day, but Team Asia made a strong comeback, winning the last 3 matches to take the match 14-10.
ii.Ma Long won the final match against Truls Moregardh, securing the victory for Team Asia.
About Manika Batra:
i.Manika Batra who ranked 25th in women’s singles, played two matches in the tournament.
ii.At Tokyo 2020, Manika Batra became the first women’s table tennis player from India to make it to the round of 32 in singles at an Olympics.
iii.She is the first Indian woman to have won a bronze at the Asian Cup.
iv.In 2020, She was honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour.
About Waldner Cup :
The Waldner Cup was a two-day event. Each team had male and female players compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches.
- As per the scoring system, one point was awarded per win on the first day and two points on the second day.
Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir announce retirement from international cricket
Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from international cricket on 14th December 2024 while Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim announced his retirement from international cricket on 13th December 2024.
- Amir and Imad Wasim both last represented Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024, held in the United States of America (USA) and the West Indies.
- Imad and Amir had previously announced retirement in 2023 and 2021 respectively but reversed their decision due to their requirement in the team for the T20 World Cup in June 2024.
About Mohammad Amir:
i.Mohammad Amir had represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 One-Day Internationals (ODI), and 62 Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) in his cricket career.
- He has also secured 271 international wickets and scored 1,179 runs across the three formats.
ii.Amir made his first-class debut in 2008, and his first ODIs and Test appearances in July 2009 in Sri Lanka at the age of 17.
iii. Amir was part of the Pakistan team which won the 2009 T20 World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy.
iv.Amir was involved in a spot-fixing controversy in 2010 and was banned from cricket for five years between 2010 and 2015.
About Imad Wasim:
i.Imad Wasim had played 55ODIs, taking 44 wickets, while in 75 T20Is, he took a total of 73
- He also scored 986 in ODI and 554 runs in T20I.
ii.He played a key role in the Pakistan team in winning the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and became No.1 T20I bowler in 2017.
iii. He made his T20I debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in Lahore in 2015 and ODI debut for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 2015.
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