Current Affairs December 17th 2022| Current Affairs News

Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Read Current Affairs Today here and stay updated with current news. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this and try the Current Affairs Quiz to test your knowledge level.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

India will be the first country to auction off satellite spectrum:

• According to telecom regulator Trai chairman PD Vaghela, India will be the first country to auction spectrum for satellite communication, and it should be tailored to promote investments in the field.
• Vaghela stated at a Broadband India Forum summit on SatCom that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) will soon make recommendations to make permissions required for satellite communication from various ministries — Information and Broadcasting, Space, and Telecom — seamlessly to improve the ease of doing business in the sector.
• He also stated that Trai has received a referral from the Department of Telecommunications for the auction of spectrum and related components of satellite-based communication.
• The regulator has yet to issue a consultation document on the spectrum auction by the customary protocol for satellite communication.
• Satellite communication is any communication link that uses an artificial satellite as part of its transmission path.
• Satellite communications are essential in everyday life.

About TRAI:

• Founded: 20 February 1997
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Agency executive: Ram Sewak Sharma (Chairperson)

Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Jal Shakti, will inaugurate the 7th India IWIS:

• Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Jal Shakti Minister, launched the 7^th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS 2022) in the presence of Shri Bishweshwar Tudu, Minister of State for Jal Shakti.
• This year’s summit theme is “Restoration and Conservation of Small Rivers in a Large Basin,” with a focus on the “Mapping and Convergence of 5Ps” – People, Policy, Plan, Programme, and Project.
• The summit will be held from December 15th to 17th, 2022 at the Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Center for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga).
• The three-day summit will try to provide insight into probable reasons for divergence and develop a strategy for achieving convergence.
• Science and Policy, Finance and Economics, Technology and Innovation, and International and Implementation Challenges are the summit’s five broad themes.
• The Previous Edition: The major focus of the 5th edition of the India Water Impact Summit was held in 2020 understanding the concept and subtleties of Arth Ganga.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India and Finland sign joint declaration of Intent on migration and mobility

• India and Finland have signed a joint declaration of Intent on migration and mobility to arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangement on migration and mobility between the two countries.
• The declaration was signed by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan and Minister of Employment of Finland Ms. Tuula Haatainen.
• India and Finland established diplomatic relations in 1949 after New Delhi became independent in 1947.
• The year 2022 marks 73 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Key Highlights :

• The declaration underlines the resolve of both countries to work jointly towards developing a common framework of arrangement and cooperation to facilitate the mobility of students, academics, researchers, businesspeople, and professionals and to combat irregular migration.
• In May 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his Finnish counterpart Ms. Sanna Marin held a meeting on the margins of the 2^nd India-Nordic Summit in Copenhagen and discussed ways to further cement this partnership in trade, investment, technology, and other such sectors.

About Finland :

• President : Sauli Niinistö
• Prime Minister: Sanna Marin
• Capital: Helsinki
• Currency: Euro (€) (EUR)
• Finland Ambassador to India : Ritva Koukku-Ronde

EU agrees to grant Bosnia & Herzegovina membership candidate status

• European Union (EU) countries have agreed to offer Bosnia-Herzegovina candidate status to join the 27-member bloc, during the ongoing meeting in Brussels, Belgium.
• The step is to be formally approved by EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on December 15, 2022.
• Bosnia will join 7 other nations with candidate status: Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
• The move came as Kosovo became the latest country to formally apply to apply for membership in the bloc.

Key Highlights :

• Bosnia first voiced its aspiration to join the EU in 2003.
• Bosnia now becomes the third country after conflict-ravaged Ukraine and Moldova to be granted candidate status in the past six months.

Note :

• European Council president: Charles Michel

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Assamese Gamocha gets Geographical Indication Tag

• ‘Gamocha’, a symbol of the culture and identity of Assam, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the central government, 5 years after the first application was made in 2017.
• The GI tag has been registered in favour of the Directorate of Handloom & Textiles of the Assam government under the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• As per the application by the directorate, the certificate has been awarded for ‘Gamocha’ as of October 16, 2017
• The process was started in 2017 when an application for a GI tag was filed by the Institute of Handicraft Development of Golaghat district.

About Assamese Gamocha : 

• The ‘gamocha’, is a handwoven rectangular cotton piece of cloth with red borders and different designs and motifs.
• A ‘gamocha’ literally means a towel and is commonly used in Assamese households for day-to-day affairs.
• A ‘gamocha’ meant for exchange during the ‘Bihu’ festival is known as ‘Bihuwan’.
• This unique scarf, which is found only in Assam, is also used as a signifier of reverence while decorating altars or covering religious books.

About GI : 

• A GI is tagged to primarily agricultural, natural, or manufactured products, handicrafts, and industrial goods originating from a definite geographical territory.

 About Assam :

• Governor : Jagdish Mukhi
• Chief minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Capital: Dispur
• National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Raimona National Park, Nameri National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amsang Wildlife Sanctuary, Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary, Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates the 5th edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale

• Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the 5th edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), at Fort Kochi Parade ground, Kochi, Kerala.
• It is the largest contemporary art exhibition in India held in Kochi, Kerala.
• The 5th edition was originally scheduled for 2020 and postponed twice due to the Covid pandemic.
• After a gap of 4 years, the exhibition has been organized & the 4th edition was held in 2018.

Key Highlights :

• The Biennale will centre on the theme “In Our Views Flow Ink and Fire”.
• It is a 4-month-long celebration of art that attracts tourists worldwide.
• In the Biennale 200 main artworks of 90 artists from about 40 different countries, across the 14 venues will be showcased till 10 April 2023.

About KMB :

• Kochi-Muziris Biennale is India’s first-ever biennial of international contemporary art.
• The first edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale was held in 2012, and the year 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the biennial event.
• The event is the combined effort of the Kochi Biennale Foundation and the government of India. 

Aim :

• To bring artists from around the globe and promote contemporary art.
• Kerala Muziris Biennale foundation president: Bose Krishnamachari

About Kochi Biennale Foundation :

• It is a non-profit charitable trust founded in 2010 for promoting art and cultural educational activities in India.

About Kerala : 

• Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
• Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
• Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
• National Park: Eravikulam National Park, Silent Valley National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

Tamil Nadu becomes the first state to launch its own Climate Change Mission

• Tamil Nadu (TN) has become the first state in India to launch its own Climate Change Mission. 

Aim :

• To make Tamil Nadu a “climate-smart state”.
• The TN government has launched this mission to protect the natural resources in TN.
• TN has aimed to achieve carbon neutrality much ahead of the 2070 target set by the central government.

Key highlights of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission :

• The Tamil Nadu government had announced the launch of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission with an outlay of Rs 500 crore in the budget to undertake climate change management and mitigation activities.
• The TN government established Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company, a special purpose vehicle to implement 3 major nature conservation projects namely

1. Green Tamil Nadu Mission
2. Tamil Nadu Wetlands
3. Tamil Nadu Climate Change.

• The Tamil Nadu government has appointed former director of the United Nations Environment Programme Erik Solheim as its advisor for the climate change mission.
• The government has allocated Rs 77.35 crore for carrying out basic research for the restoration of coastal habitats, the creation of mangrove forests, etc.
• On this occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Resources Institute, Anna University, and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management was signed.
• It will help the government to establish 10 smart villages, 25 green schools, and achieve blue flag beaches.
• Earlier in Madurai, TN the Chief Minister inaugurated the sanitation workers’ development scheme to protect the welfare of conservancy workers in TN.

About Tamil Nadu :

• Governor: R. N. Ravi
• Chief minister: M. K. Stalin
• Capital: Chennai
• Dance : Bharatnatyam, Karakattam
• National Park: Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Guindy National Park, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Kalakad Wildlife sanctuary, Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
• Tiger Reserve: Anamalai Tiger Reserve
• Biosphere Reserve: Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

Uttarakhand Plans Genetic Enhancement of Its Indigenous Badri Cow

• The government of Uttarakhand is planning for genetic enhancement of the Badri Cow through sex-sorted semen and embryo transfer technology to increase its productivity.
• Uttarakhand aims to achieve its target in the next 10 years.

Key Highlights :

• The state government asked to adopt embryo transfer technology for the production of elite Badri bulls for semen production.
• For this purpose, the state established a nucleus breeding bull mother farm of Badri cattle at the Nariyal village in the Champawat district

About Badri cow :

• The Badri breed derived its name from the holy shrine of Char Dham at Badrinath.
• It is found only in the hill districts of Uttarakhand and was earlier known as the ‘pahadi’ cow.
• Badri cow is the first registered cattle breed of Uttarakhand certified by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).

Characteristics:

• The cattle breed is small in size with long legs and varied body colors-black, brown, red, white, or grey.
• The uniqueness of Badri cow’s produce is indigenousness and environment (in the Himalayas), as it eats medicinal herbs and is far away from toxic pollution, polythene, and other harmful things that cows in the plains are subject to.
• Badri cow’s milk production capacity is low.
• The Badri breed is more resistant to diseases, mostly due to its eating habits.
• Badri cow only eats medicinal herbs which is why its milk has rich medicinal content and high organic value. 
• Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) proposed for the project to generate employment and entrepreneurship will cost ₹50 crores.
• Hetha Organics sells Badri cow products online and Uttarakhand Cooperative Dairy Federation sells Badri Ghee under their brand name ‘Anchal’.

List of New methods to be implemented:

• Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET): a conventional embryo flush which is the most common procedure used in advanced cattle breeding.
• Ovum pickup in vitro fertilization (IVF): It will be used to increase the yield per animal.
• Introducing Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART).

About Uttarakhand :

• Governor: Gurmit Singh
• Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami
• Capital: Gairsain (summer), Dehradun (winter)
• National Park: Corbett National Park, Nanda Devi National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary: Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary

Note :

• Corbett National Park (the first national park of India) at Ramnagar in Nainital District, and Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park in Chamoli District, which together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

CBDT Exempts NRIs Without PAN From E-filing Form 10F Upto March 2023

• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has exempted non-resident Indians (NRIs) without permanent account numbers (PANs) from e-filing Form 10F up to March 2023.
• This will apply to those NR taxpayers who are not having a PAN and are not required to have a PAN as per relevant provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 are exempted from mandatory electronic filing of Form 10 F till 31 March 2023,
• The CBDT in July 2022 mandated electronic filing of the form but this created a hurdle for non-resident taxpayers as in certain cases, a non-resident payee is not required to obtain a PAN under the Act.

About Form No. 10F : 

• Form No. 10F is an important document to claim the benefit of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA or Tax Treaty).
• To claim the benefit of any DTAA in respect of any income earned in India, a non-resident payee is required to furnish certain details in Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) along with Form No. 10F, as per Section 90(5) of the Act read with Rule 21AB to the Indian payer at the time of withholding of taxes.

 About CBDT :

• It is a statutory body established as per the Central Board of Revenue Act, of 1963.
• It is administered by the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.

RBI Shortlists 7 Global Consultancy Firms to Use AI, ML to Improve Regulatory Supervision

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has shortlisted 7 global consultancy firms, to use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for supervisory functions.
• 7 applicants have been shortlisted for taking part in the request for proposal (RFP) process for the selection of consultant(s).

List of 7 firms shortlisted by RBI :

1. Accenture Solutions Private Limited
2. Boston Consulting Group (India) Pvt Ltd
3. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP
4. Ernst and Young LLP
5. KPMG Assurance and Consulting Services LLP
6. McKinsey and Company,
7. PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt Ltd.

• In September 2022, the RBI invited expressions of interest (EoI) for engaging consultants for use of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for generating supervisory inputs.
• RBI’s supervisory jurisdiction extends over banks, urban cooperative banks, NBFCs, payment banks, small finance banks, local area banks, and credit information companies, and selects all Indian financial institutions.
• It undertakes supervision of these entities to assess their financial soundness, solvency, asset quality, governance framework, liquidity, and operational viability to protect depositors’ interests and financial stability.

About RBI :

• Established: 1 April 1935
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Governor : Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy governors: Mahesh Kumar Jain, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael Patra, and T. Rabi Shankar

SBI donates ₹4.26 cr to rejuvenate lakes in the Kolar district of Karnataka

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has sanctioned a donation of ₹4.26 crore to rejuvenate 7 major lakes in the Kolar district of Karnataka.

Key Highlights :

• SBI will undertake the rejuvenation of 7 major lakes as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) – Manjalanagara Amnikere and S Vadigepallikere in Srinivaspura Taluk, Peddapallikerein KGF, Tambihallikere and Channegowdanakere in Kolar Taluk, C Hosurkere in Mulabagal Taluk and Rajalukere (WS) in Bangarpet Taluk of Kolar District.
• The rejuvenation would include bund development and channel development for the 7 lakes.
• Earlier in 2022, the Finance Minister, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman chose Kolar district as the district for implementing the rejuvenation of lakes under the Amruth Sarovar Yojana.
• As a part of this, 75 tanks or lakes would undergo rejuvenation work (desilting, bund strengthening, channel work, etc.), using resources from MGNREGA, the FM’s MPLADS funds, and also a component of CSR.

About SBI :

• Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara is its chairperson.
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Tagline: The Banker to Every Indian.
•  It is a nationalized public sector bank.

HDFC Bank partners with LEAF to provide financial aid to marginalized farmers

• Ooty, Tamil Nadu (TN) headquartered Lawrencedale Agro Processing (LEAF) has entered into a strategic partnership with private sector lender HDFC Bank to offer customized financial products and services to marginalized farmers.

Objective :

• To expand the financial accessibility and inclusivity of farmers and the scope of the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) ecosystem

Key Highlights :

• The bank would extend its specialized services and facilities to farmers, agri-producers, and other rural communities.
• With this deal, 4 lakh farmers across the 3 states stand to benefit.
• Following the MoU, HDFC Bank would work with LEAF Farmers Network in the operational areas under LEAF in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

About HDFC Bank :

• Founded: August 1994
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• CEO : Sashidhar Jagdishan

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

IIT Ropar and the Army Training Command have signed an agreement to establish a Center of Excellence:

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and the Indian Army’s Army Training Command (ARTRAC) has struck an agreement to establish a center of excellence for academics and applied research in defense and security at the premier institute.
• The MoU was signed by Rajeev Ahuja, director of IIT Ropar, and Lt Gen SS Mahal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the ARTRAC.
• IIT Ropar will also curate training programs as the exchange of information on educational programs for security practitioners of the armed forces, Central Armed Police Forces, intelligence agencies, and state police forces run by it as part of its on-campus and off-campus programs on research and innovation.
• The Centre of Excellence will be known as the ‘Centre of Excellence for Studies and Applied Research in Defence and Security.’
• The CoE will concentrate on emerging areas of research and technology, such as information warfare or security (quadcopters and drones, medium and light weaponry, missile technologies, body armor, force survivability, hypersonic applications, energy-directed weapons), wireless communication, and many other fields within the larger domain of defence and security.
• The CoE will be established to leverage IIT Ropar’s technical expertise and ARTRAC’s operational expertise in advanced materials and manufacturing, deep learning algorithm design and development, multipath and wireless networks, data transmission tools, remote sensing and forecasting, cyber security, and other areas.

Airbnb and the Goa government have signed an agreement to promote inclusive tourism:

• Airbnb inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, to jointly market Goa as one of the most sought-after high-potential tourism destinations in India and around the world.
• This collaboration aims to promote visitation to lesser-known distinctive sites while also enabling economically regenerative community-led tourism in the state.
• On the official launch of ‘Rediscover Goa,’ a week-long celebration of Goa’s vast cultural diversity beyond its beaches and dazzling nightlife, Airbnb and the Goa Tourism Department have joined forces to scale homestay capacity across the state and support Goa homestay Hosts in providing quality tourism experiences to domestic and international guests.
• The declaration underscores both parties’ commitment to supporting the development of a sustainable tourist ecosystem in Goa, while also emphasizing the state’s current and forthcoming tourism hotspots.
• The Department of Tourism, the Government of Goa, and Airbnb will collaborate to promote Goa as a high-quality tourism destination by expanding the state’s homestay culture and highlighting unique sites for hinterland tourism and homestay tourism that visitors can explore.
• This will be accomplished through carefully planned domestic and international destination promotion activities.
• Airbnb will support the Department of Tourism’s vision by holding workshops and seminars to educate homestay hosts and B&B owners about the importance of responsible tourism, build host capacity, amplify and create awareness about local laws, and encourage host registration, all while working to onboard more Hosts and properties on the platform.

The AIIA signed agreement with international institutions to promote Ayurveda:

• The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Medical Sciences in Cuba and has renewed its partnership with the Rosenberg European Academy of Ayurveda (REAA) in Germany for another five years to advance joint programs.
• The agreements were reached during the 9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo.
• The Memorandum of Understanding with the Havana-based University of Medical Sciences was signed by Cuban Ambassador to India Alejandro Simancas Marin and AIIA Director Dr. Tanuja M Nesari.
• AIIA, a Delhi-based independent organization within the Ministry of AYUSH, now has 15 international partners and 35 national partners as part of its collaborative operations.
• These collaborations come at a time when Ayurveda and other traditional wellness systems are gaining popularity around the world.
• The primary goal is to encourage advanced scientific research, evidence-based studies and clinical trials, exchange programs, and patient care.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND INDEX

The UN ranks the ‘Namami Gange’ Project as one of the top ten initiatives in the world:

• The Namami Gange program to revitalize India’s sacred River Ganga has been named one of the top ten World Restoration Flagships to revitalize the natural world by the United Nations.
• G Ashok Kumar, Director General of Namami Gange, accepted the prize at the 15th Conference of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada.
• Namami Gange was chosen from among over 150 similar programs from 70 countries around the world.
• They were chosen as part of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global initiative coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• The significance of this is that it is intended to prevent and reverse the destruction of natural spaces around the world.
• The recognized initiatives, including Namami Gange, will now be eligible for UN assistance, financing, or technical assistance.

About Namami Gange:

• The Central Government designated Namami Gange as a “Flagship Program” in June 2014.
• It was established to achieve two goals: effective pollution abatement and protection and revitalization of the national river Ganga.
• It is administered by the Ministries of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and Jal Shakti.
• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its State Initiative Management Groups are in charge of carrying out the program (SPMGs).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Justice Dipankar Datta takes oath as Supreme Court judge

• Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Justice Dipankar Datta took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court.
• Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud administered the oath to Justice Dutta
• Justice Dutta’s term will end on February 8, 2030.
• With his appointment, the Supreme Court will have 28 judges out of the strength of 34 judges.

About Justice Dipankar Datta :

• Justice Datta was elevated to the bench of the Calcutta High Court as a permanent judge on June 22, 2006. 
• He was made the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court on April 28, 2020.

Key Highlights :

• Presently, the Supreme Court’s maximum strength is 34 judges.
• This includes 1 chief justice and 33 other judges.
• The President appoints the judges of the Supreme Court.
• A person appointed as Supreme Court judge takes the oath before the President or some other person appointed by him for this purpose.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

India-Kazakhstan joint military exercise “KAZIND – 2022” to be held at Umroi Meghalaya

• The 6th edition of the India-Kazakhstan joint military training exercise, “KAZIND-22” is scheduled to be conducted from December 15 to 28, 2022 at Umroi, Meghalaya.

Objective :

• To build positive military-to-military relationships, imbibe each other’s best practices, and enhance the ability to work together while conducting counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban/jungle scenarios.
• The 5^th edition of India-Kazakhstan Joint Training Exercise KAZIND-21 was conducted from August 30 to September 11, 2021, in Kazakhstan.

About the KAZIND-22 :

• Kazakhstan Army soldiers composed of troops from the Regional Command, and South and Indian Army soldiers from the 11 Gorkha Rifles will be participating in the exercise.
• This joint exercise will enable both armies to train, plan, and execute a series of joint tactical exercises to neutralize potential threats to UN peacekeeping operations.
• The exercise comprises a Command Post Exercise (CPX) at the Battalion level and a Company level Field Training Exercise (FTX) on sub-conventional operations.
• During the training exercise, soldiers from both armies will engage in various missions ranging from joint planning, joint tactical exercises, special weapon skills, HADR, and assault on hostile targets.

About KAZIND :

• The joint annual training exercise with the Kazakhstan Army was started as “Exercise Prabal Dostyk” in 2016.
• The exercise was later upgraded to a company-level exercise and renamed “Exercise KAZIND” in the year 2018.
• The “Exercise KAZIND” will raise the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and Kazakhstan Army which will further boost bilateral relations between the two countries.

About MoD :

• Union Minister: Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary: Giridhar Aramane

About Kazakhstan :

• President: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
• Prime Minister : Älihan Smaiylov
• Capital: Astana
• Currency: Tenge

IAF to conduct annual air exercise in the eastern sector 

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry out a two-day exercise in the Eastern Sector of the country on December 15 and 16, 2022.
• The exercise is involving almost all its frontline fighter jets and other assets deployed in the region
• Fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will participate in the exercise.

Aim : 

• To check the IAF’s overall combat capability and military preparedness in the region.

Key Highlights :

• Air bases in Assam’s Tezpur, Chhabua, Jorhat, and West Bengal’s Hashimara are likely to be activated in the exercise.
• Hasimara air base is home to the Rafale fighter jets.
• All frontline air bases and some key Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the Northeast are set to be involved in the exercise
• IAF’s frontline fighter jets including Sukhoi-30MKIs and Rafale jets will be part of the exercise.
• Notably, on December 9, 2022, 6 Indian Army soldiers were injured in a clash with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Arunachal Pradesh.
• This is the first reported clash between Indian and Chinese troops since skirmishes in Eastern Ladakh.
• The IAF inducted the Rafale aircraft into its 101 Squadron of the Eastern Air Command at the Hasimara in July 2021.

About IAF :

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): General Anil Chauhan
• Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Chahat Arora Breaks National Record in 100m Breaststroke at FINA World Swimming Championships 2022:

• In Swimming, Indian swimmer Chahat Arora achieved a national record in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the FINA World Swimming Championships 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.
• The 16th edition of the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2022 will finish on December 18.
• FINA stands for the International Swimming Federation.
• Chahat Arora finished the 100-meter breaststroke competition in 1 minute,13 seconds.
• Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania won the overall heats in 1 minute, 3.81 seconds, 9.32 seconds faster than Chahat Arora.
• Lara Van Niekerk, 19, of South Africa, finished second in 1 minute 3.93 seconds.
• Lilly King of the United States finished third in 1 minute and 3.94 seconds.
• Chahat will compete in the women’s 50m breaststroke.
• Siva Sridhar will take part in the 100m individual medley.

About FINA:

• FINA is the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee for administering international competitions in water sports.
• It is one of several international federations which administer a given sport or discipline for both the IOC and the international community.
• Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
• Founded: 19 July 1908, London, United Kingdom
• President: Husain Al-Musallam

Daily CA on December 17:

• According to telecom regulator Trai chairman PD Vaghela, India will be the first country to auction spectrum for satellite communication, and it should be tailored to promote investments in the field.
• Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Jal Shakti Minister, launched the 7th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS 2022) in the presence of Shri Bishweshwar Tudu, Minister of State for Jal Shakti.
• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and the Indian Army’s Army Training Command (ARTRAC) has struck an agreement to establish a centre of excellence for academics and applied research in defence and security at the premier institute.
• Airbnb inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, to jointly market Goa as one of the most sought-after high-potential tourism destinations in India and around the world.
• The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Medical Sciences in Cuba and has renewed its partnership with the Rosenberg European Academy of Ayurveda (REAA) in Germany for another five years to advance joint programs.
• The Namami Gange program to revitalize India’s sacred River Ganga has been named one of the top ten World Restoration Flagships to revitalize the natural world by the United Nations.
• In Swimming, Indian swimmer Chahat Arora achieved a national record in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the FINA World Swimming Championships 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.

• India and Finland have signed a joint declaration of Intent on migration and mobility to arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangement on migration and mobility between the two countries.
• European Union (EU) countries have agreed to offer Bosnia-Herzegovina candidate status to join the 27-member bloc, during the ongoing meeting in Brussels, Belgium.
• ‘Gamocha’, a symbol of the culture and identity of Assam, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the central government, 5 years after the first application was made in 2017.
• Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the 5th edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), at Fort Kochi Parade ground, Kochi, Kerala.
• Tamil Nadu (TN) has become the first state in India to launch its own Climate Change Mission. 
• The government of Uttarakhand is planning for genetic enhancement of the Badri Cow through sex-sorted semen and embryo transfer technology to increase its productivity.
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has exempted non-resident Indians (NRIs) without permanent account numbers (PANs) from e-filing Form 10F up to March 2023.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has shortlisted 7 global consultancy firms, to use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for supervisory functions.
• The State Bank of India (SBI) has sanctioned a donation of ₹4.26 crore to rejuvenate 7 major lakes in the Kolar district of Karnataka.
• Ooty, Tamil Nadu (TN) headquartered Lawrencedale Agro Processing (LEAF) has entered into a strategic partnership with private sector lender HDFC Bank to offer customized financial products and services to marginalized farmers.
• Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Justice Dipankar Datta took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court.
• The 6th edition of the India-Kazakhstan joint military training exercise, “KAZIND-22” is scheduled to be conducted from December 15 to 28, 2022 at Umroi, Meghalaya.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry out a two-day exercise in the Eastern Sector of the country on December 15 and 16, 2022.cu