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CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
World Human Rights Day on 10 December 2020:
- Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December – the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- The UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights to which everyone is entitled as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
- Human Rights Day 2020 theme – Recover Better – Stand Up for Human Rights.
- Humans Rights Day was formally established on December 4, 1950.
About UDHR
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL
PM Modi to inaugurate PravasiBharatiya Divas Convention on 9th of Jan’21
- Prime Minister NarendraModi will inaugurate the PravasiBharatiya Divas Convention on 9th of Jan 2021 in virtual format.
- President Ram NathKovind will deliver the Valedictory address to the diaspora.
- The website for the 16th PravasiBharatiya Divas 2021 was inaugurated by the Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan.
- Theme – Contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- The PravasiBharatiyaSamman Awards will also be announced to honour eminent overseas Indians for their contributions to various fields both in India and abroad.
Government announces CO-WIN mobile app for COVID-19 vaccine delivery
- The central government has introduced a new digital platform called CO-WIN for COVID-19 vaccine delivery.
- There will be a new mobile app that will allow people to register for the vaccine.
- CO-WIN app is set to be available for smartphone users and will be publicly available as soon as possible.
- The platform will be used for recording vaccine data and will form a database of healthcare workers.
- The app will have separate modules for administrator, registration, vaccination, beneficiary acknowledgement and reports.
PM Modi to address International Bharati Festival 2020 On Dec 11
- Prime Minister NarendraModi will address the International Bharati Festival, 2020 on Dec 11 at 4:30 pm via video conferencing.
- This year the festival is being organised in virtual mode and will see participation of several national and international poets and artists.
- The festival is being organised by Vanavil Cultural Centre to celebrate the 138th birth anniversary of MahakaviSubramanyaBharati.
PM Modi to lay foundation stone of new Parliament House building On Dec 10
- Prime Minister NarendraModi will lay the foundation stone of the New Parliament Building at SansadMargin Parliament Complex.
- The new building is an intrinsic part of the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- It will be a landmark opportunity to build peoples’ Parliament for the first time after independence.
- The new Parliament building will match the needs and aspirations of New India in the 75th anniversary of independence in 2022.
- The new Building is being constructed at a cost of 971 crore rupees which will house more Committee Rooms and Political Parties offices than the existing Parliament House.
- The proposal for the New Parliament Building was made by RajyaSabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu and LokSabha Speaker Om Birla, during the proceedings of RajyaSabha and LokSabha, on 5th August last year.
Punjab agricultural scientist declines award
- Varinderpal Singh, an agricultural scientist with the Punjab agricultural University, refused to accept an award being presented to him by a Union Minister to express his solidarity with the farmers agitating against the Centre’s farm laws.
- Singh, a principal soil chemist on the PAU in Ludhiana, Punjab, was chosen for the ‘FAI Golden Jubilee Award for Excellence’ for finest work executed in plant vitamins.
New School Bag Policy 2020 Proposed By Union Education Ministry
- The Union Education Minister proposed a new School Bag Policy 2020 and recommends that weight of the school bag needs to be monitored on a regular basis as per NCERT recommendation.
- As per the new School Bag Policy 2020 proposed by the Education Ministry, the maximum weight of the school bags has been not more than 10% of the student’s weight.
- In addition to this, the new policy also proposed that students below Class 2 will not be given any homework as per the proposal of the new policy.
- The NEP 2020 proposes that the weight of the school bag should be in the ratio of 1:10 with the body weight and in accordance with this the New School Bag Policy caps the max weight to 10% of the student’s weight.
About NCERT
- NCERT – National Council of Educational Research and Training
- Director – HrushikeshSenapaty
- President – Ramesh Pokhriyal ( Minister of Education )
- Headquarters – New Delhi
CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES
Uttarakhand gets its first eco-bridge for small animals
- The Ramnagar Forest Division inNainital District, ofUttarakhandhas constructed the state’s first eco-bridge across KaladhungiNainital Highway.
- This is 90-feet-long and 5-feet-wide bridge is Uttarakhand’s first eco-bridge.
- Aim: To enhance wildlife connectivity that can be disrupted because of highways or logging.
- It is mainly for small animals and reptiles such as squirrels, snakes, monitor lizards
- The Forest officer Amit Kumar Gwaskoti has also informed that no iron or cement has been used in the construction of the bridge and it is made of eco-friendly items such as rope, bamboo, and grass.
UP govt launches scheme for Tharu tribe
- Uttar Pradesh government has recently launched a scheme to take the unique culture of the Tharu tribes across the world.
- The UP state government is planning to connect the villages of the Tharutribals located on the International border of Nepal.
- The state government is working to connect Tharu villages in the districts of Balrampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur and Pilibhit bordering Nepal, with the home stay scheme of the UP Forest Department.
- The idea is to offer tourists an experience of living in the natural Tharu habitat, in traditional huts made of grass collected mainly from the forests.
About Tharu Tribe
- The community belongs to the Terai lowlands, amid theShivaliks or lower Himalayas.
- The Tharus live in both India and Nepal. In the Indian terai, they live mostly in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
WEF 2021 to be held in Singapore instead of Switzerland
- The World Economic Forum will hold its 2021 annual meeting in Singapore instead of its traditional home of Switzerland, which is battling a rising number of coronavirus infections.
- The meeting is generally held in Davos, Switzerland, but amid covid, the meeting was first shifted to Lucerne-Burgenstock, Switzerland in October 2020. Now again the venue has been shifted to Singapore.
- The event is expected to return to Davos in 2022.
About WEF
- The WEF mission is stated as committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
- Headquarters – Cologny, Switzerland
- Founder – Klaus Schwab
- Founded – Jan 1971
CURRENT AFFAIRS:BANKING AND FINANCE
RBI cancels licence of KaradJanataSahakari Bank
- The Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the licence of The KaradJanataSahakari Bank Ltd, Karad, Maharashtra, as it does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.
- The RBI stated it cancelled the licence of the bank as it does not have adequate capital and earning prospects. As such, it does not comply with the relevant provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
- More than 99 per cent of the depositors of the bank will get full payment of their deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), the Reserve Bank stated.
- With the cancellation of licence and commencement of liquidation proceedings, the process of paying the depositors of The KaradJanataSahakari Bank will be set in motion.
- On liquidation, every depositor is entitled to repayment of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakh only from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) as per usual terms and conditions.
- Consequent to the cancellation of its licence from close of business on December 7, the bank has been prohibited from conducting the business of ‘banking’ which includes acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits with immediate effect.
- Earlier this year, the RBI had cancelled the licence of CKP Cooperative Bank, another Maharashtra-based cooperative bank stated the financial position of the bank is highly adverse and unsustainable.
About DICGC
- DICGC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India. DICGC insures all bank deposits, such as saving, fixed, current, recurring deposits for up to the limit of Rs. 500,000 of each deposit in a bank.
- Chairperson : Michael Patra
- Headquarters : Mumbai
- Founded : 1961
Nomura Expects India would be fastest growing Asian economy in 2021
- Nomura has turned positive on India’s cyclical outlook for 2021, and believes the country is on the cusp of a cyclical recovery.
- India could well be the fastest-growing Asian economy in calendar year 2021 (CY21) the research and brokerage house Nomura estimated.
- The foreign research and brokerage house expects the Indian economy as measured by gross domestic product GDP growth to average 9.9% in 2021 versus -7.1% in 2020.
About Nomura
- CEO : Koji Nagai
- Headquarters : Tokyo, Japan
- Founder : Tokushichi Nomura II
- Founded : 25 th Dec 1925
Fitch raises India’s GDP forecast to -9.4% in FY21
- Fitch Ratings has raised India’s GDP forecast to -9.4% in the current fiscal year to March 2021 (FY21) from a previously projected contraction of 10.5% after the economy staged a sharper rebound in the second quarter.
- In addition to that Fitch has also projected the FY22 GDP growth at 11% and 6.3% growth in FY23.
About Fitch Ratings
- Fitch ratings is a credit rating agency that rates the viability of investments relative to the likelihood of default.
- Headquarters – New York
- CEO – Paul Taylor
- Founder – John Knowles Fitch
BoB Launches Atmanirbhar Women Gold Scheme
- Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched theAtmanirbhar Women Scheme as part of its Baroda Gold Loan.
- Under the scheme, the bank is offering loans at 0.50% concession for women.
- The bank under the gold loan scheme is also offering agri-gold loan at 0.25% concession and for retail loan at 0.50% concession.
- The scheme was launched at BOB’s Ramamurthy Nagar branch in Bengaluru and simultaneously in 18 branches coming under 18 zones in the country, virtually by SanjivChadha, MD & CEO, Bank of Baroda.
- This Atmanirbhar scheme is exclusively meant for helping women to be self-reliant.
About BoB
- Headquarters – Vadodara, Gujarat
- Chairman – HasmukhAdhia
- MD & CEO – SanjivChadha
CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS
Kuwait emir reappoints Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid as prime minister
- Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has re-appointed Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah as prime minister.
- The move comes two days after Sheikh Sabah submitted his government’s resignation in a procedural step following parliamentary polls.
- The country’s ruler accepted the premier’s resignation before reassigning him to form the upcoming government.
- Sheikh Nawaf who took over the leadership of the Gulf state in September after the death of his brother, also asked Sheikh Sabah to nominate members of a new cabinet.
- The new cabinet would have to be approved by the Emir, according to a decree carried on state media.
About Kuwait
- Capital – Kuwait City
- Currency – Dinar
CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS
World Athletics Awards 2020: Mondo Duplantis and Yulimar Rojas named the best
- World record-breakers Mondo Duplantis of Sweden andYulimar Rojas of Venezuela have been named the male and female World Athletes of the Year respectively at the World Athletics Awards 2020
About Mondo Duplantis
- Duplantis broke the world record in the pole vault twice, topping 17M and 6.18M on back-to-back weekends in February.
- Duplantis, who celebrated his 21st birthday last month, is the youngest athlete ever to be named the World Athlete of the Year.
About Yulimar Rojas
- The 25-year-old Rojas, who broke the world indoor triple jump record with a leap of 43m, finished the 2020 season undefeated in four triple jump competitions indoors and outdoors.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU
SJVN signs MoU with IREDA for green energy projects
- State-run power producer SJVNL has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) for green energy projects.
- MoU to assist in developing an action plan to create and acquire Renewable Energy projects for the next 5 years.
- The MoU was signed by NandLal Sharma, CMD, SJVNL and Pradip Kumar Das, CMD, IREDA through virtual mode.
- SJVNL is developing 100 MW Dholera Solar Power Project & 100 MW Raghanseda Solar Power Project in Gujarat.
- IREDA will undertake techno-financial due diligence of renewable energy, energy efficiency & conservation projects for SJVN.
About IREDA
- Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) was established on 11th March, 1987, it promotes, develops and extends financial assistance for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency/Conservation Projects.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS
Parthiv Patel announces retirement from all forms of cricket
- Former India wicketkeeper-batsmanParthiv Patel announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after an 18-years-long cricket career.
- The 35-year-old left-hander, who made his international debut in 2002, played 25 Tests, 38 ODIS and two T20Is for India.
- While the Gujarat cricketer represented his state in 194 first-class matches.
- Parthiv, made his Test debut under SouravGanguly, at the age of 17 years and 153 days, played 65 international games for the country, which included 25 Tests, 38 ODIs and two T20 Internationals.
- Parthiv scored nearly 1700 runs (1696) across formats with 934 runs (6 half centuries) coming in the longest format.
- He last played for India in 2018 during a Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Daily CA on Dec 10th
- World Human Rights Day on 10 December 2020 and the theme of 2020 isRecover Better – Stand Up for Human Rights.
- The Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the licence of The KaradJanataSahakari Bank Ltd, Karad, Maharashtra, because it does not comply with the relevant provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
- Nomura Expects India to be the fastest growing Asian economy in 2021 gross domestic product GDP growth to average 9.9% in 2021 versus -7.1% in 2020.
- Fitch Ratings has raised India’s GDP forecast to -9.4% in FY21
- The World Economic Forum will hold its 2021 annual meeting in Singapore instead of its traditional home of Switzerland.
- Prime Minister NarendraModi will inaugurate the PravasiBharatiya Divas Convention on 9th of Jan 2021 in virtual format and the theme is Contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has re-appointed Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah as prime minister.
- Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after an 18-years-long cricket career.
- World record-breakers Mondo Duplantis of Sweden and Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela have been named the male and female World Athletes of the Year respectively at the World Athletics Awards 2020.
- The central government has introduced a new digital platform called CO-WIN for COVID-19 vaccine delivery.
- NarendraModi will address the International Bharati Festival, 2020 on Dec 11. Organised by Vanavil Cultural Centre to celebrate the 138th birth anniversary of MahakaviSubramanyaBharati.
- NarendraModiwill lay the foundation stone of the New Parliament Building at SansadMarg in Parliament Complex with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Varinderpal Singh, an agricultural scientist with the Punjab Agricultural University declines an awardpresented by a Union Minister to express his solidarity with the farmers agitating against the Centre’s farm laws.
- The Union Education Minister proposed a new School Bag Policy 2020 and recommends that weight of the school bag needs to be monitored on a regular basis as per NCERT recommendation.
- The Ramnagar Forest Division in Nainital District, of Uttarakhand has constructed the state’s first eco-bridge across KaladhungiNainital Highway.
- Uttar Pradesh government has recently launched a scheme to take the unique culture of the Tharu tribes across the world.
- Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched the Atmanirbhar Women Scheme as part of its Baroda Gold Loan. Under the scheme, the bank is offering loans at 0.50% concession for women.
- State-run power producer SJVNL has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) for greenenergyprojects.
Daily CA on Dec 9th
- Veteran Hindi writer MadhukarGangadhar passed away in National Capital Delhi. He Served in All India Radio (AIR) for 39 years and then he became an independent writer based in Delhi.
- Popular TV actress DivyaBhatnagar passed away on Dec 7 in Mumbai. She acted in hit serials like YehRishtaKyaKehlata and Udaan.
- International Anti-Corruption Day 2020 Observed On Dec 9 and the Theme is United Against Corruption
- International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime 2020 Observed on Dec 9
- Writer and chief editor of The Indian Express, Raj Kamal Jha, has won the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2020 for his book, The City and the Sea.
- ICICI Bank has launched a new version of mobile banking app, called iMobilepay, that offers payments and banking services to customers of any bank.
- On December 7, 2020 Kotak Mahindra Asset Management launched Kotak International REIT funds, which is India’s first diversified REIT mutual fund (MF).
- Sports Minister KirenRijiju has launched the second edition of Fit India Cyclothon via social media. The mega cycling event which started from 7 th Dec to till 31st December 2020 for 25 days.
- On December 7, 2020 Germanwatch has released the 16 th edition of CCPI. India ranked 10th in Climate Change Performance Index
- Mount Everest is 8,848.86 metres tall, says Nepal and China after remeasurement. The new height is 86 cms more than the previous measurement
- The historical fort cities of Gwalior and Orchha in Madhya Pradesh have been named in the list of World Heritage Cities by UNESCO
- The United Kingdom will become the first country to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine.
- The Manila Bades Multilateral lending agency ADB stated it has approved a USD 2.5 million (about Rs 18 crore) technical assistance to support advanced biofuel development in India.
- NTPC inks MoU with IIFM-Bhopal for Narmada Landscape Restoration Project. Narmada Landscape Restoration project is a 4 year Project.
- Prime Minister NarendraModi will deliver the inaugural address at the virtual India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2020. The title theme for IMC 2020 is Inclusive Innovation – Smart, Secure, Sustainable.