Latest Current Affairs For Saturday 18th December, 2021

PM Modi inaugurates All India Mayors’ Conference in Varanasi

PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate and address All India Mayors’ Conference in Varanasi via video conferencing. 

It is being organized by Dept of Urban Development, UP. 

Theme: New Urban India.

Govt has launched multiple schemes and initiatives to address the issues of dilapidated urban infrastructure and lack of amenities. 

A 3-day exhibition is also being organized to showcase achievements of Centre and UP govt in the sphere of urban development. 

Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates first direct flight on Guwahati-Pune route

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M. Scindia flagged off the first direct flight of Indigo airlines on Guwahati (Assam) to Pune (Maharashtra) route. 

Guwahati is connected with 24 cities of the country with 885 aircraft movements.

Commencement of the flight operations on this route will assist people of Guwahati and its adjoining areas as well as passengers from Pune with seamless movement. 

People can travel between two cities in 3 hours 15 minutes.

MeitY organizes 25th CISO Deep Dive Training program

National e-Governance Division under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is conducting six-day deep dive training program for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and frontline IT officials. 

It is a part of a series of workshops under Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative.

It will help CISOs and other participants to equip themselves with better understanding of the emerging cyber threat landscape, understand best practices in cyber security. 

M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates Conference on Tuberculosis among Women

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has inaugurated National Parliamentary Conference on Tuberculosis among Women. 

Conference underlined that undernutrition along with its engendered pattern is an important and established risk factor for the progression of latent TB infection to active TB.

TB: It is one of the major public health challenges for India. Each year, over 24.8 lakh new TB cases emerge in India with more than 4 lakh people succumbing to the disease annually.

Railway starts to run 4 Rajdhani Express trains with Upgraded Tejas Rakes

Indian Railways has introduced new era of train travel experience with enhanced comfort with the conversion of Rajdhani Express coaches with new upgraded Tejas Trains. 

Introduction of modern Tejas Sleeper type train for long distance journey is another paradigm shift by Indian Railways for enhancing the travel experience for the passengers.

The upgraded coaches has Automatic Entrance Doors, PA/PIS, Fire and Smoke Detection Suppression system, CCTV, LED Lights, etc. 

Union Minister launches MIS portal for rankings in Land Acquisition

Union Minister Giriraj Singh has launched MIS (Management Information System) portal for rankings of States/UTs in Land Acquisition Projects under Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013. 

As per the ranking and performance, top 3 States and districts will be awarded. 

Portal is developed by  NIC team of Dept of Land Resources with zero cost. 

Link of the portal is larr.dolr.gov.in. 

PM addresses farmers at National Conclave on Natural Farming

PM Modi virtually addressed valedictory function of national conclave on agriculture and food processing held during 3-day pre-Vibrant Gujarat Summit at Anand. 

It will focus on natural farming and providing information to farmers on its benefits and issues of agriculture and food processing including Zero budget natural farming.

It will be attended by over 5000 farmers, apart from those farmers connected Live through ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and ATMA network. 

MEA to organize second Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lecture on 24th Dec

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will be organizing second Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lecture on 24th December 2021. 

The lecture will be delivered by Dr. Michael Fullilove, Executive Director of Lowy Institute of Australia.

The lecture will be based on ‘Australia, India and the Indo-Pacific: The need for strategic imagination’.

It is the second edition of this lecture series, which was instituted in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

S Jaishankar to host third India Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be hosting third meeting of India Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi from 18th to 20th December.

Participants: Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. 

Second meeting was organized by India in October 2021 via video conferencing. 

The dialogue discuss further strengthening of relations with particular focus on trade, connectivity, and development cooperation.

Rajnath Singh gives Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence 2021

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh gave away Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence 2021 on the 96th Raising Day of Directorate General Defence Estates in New Delhi.

Recipients were awarded for innovation and digital achievements in the fields of health, education, and sanitation along with public service and land management.

New categories of award: Swachh Chhawani Swasth Chhawani, Digital Accomplishments, Innovation in Public Services, Land and Record management, etc.

Union Minister addresses DST-CII Technology Summit 2021

Union Minister Jitendra Singh addresses the 27th edition of DST-CII Technology Summit 2021 in New Delhi. 

Partner countries: Brazil, Canada, Russia and the Netherland. 

Organized by: Dept of Science & Technology in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). 

It will be attended by global pool of technology experts, government leaders, eminent academicians, industry stalwarts, and startups to engage in high-level technology leadership dialogues. 

MM Naravane appointed as Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee

Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane has been appointed as the Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) by the government. 

He succeeded Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, who expired in a helicopter crash. 

Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee is the most senior and highest ranking officer of the Indian Armed Forces.

He is the principal military advisor to the president of the republic, the Minister of Defence and the prime minister.

PM Narendra Modi to be awarded prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award 2023

The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) would confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune on August 1, 2023.

Reason: This award recognizes PM Modi's supreme leadership under which India has climbed the ladder of progress

It is presented annually on the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak's death anniversary.

Other awardees: Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar, Cyrus Poonawalla, and Manmohan Singh. 

J&K Bank wins award for Best Performance in CASA

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been felicitated for the Best Performance in CASA-India (1st Runner up in Small Bank Category) at ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2022.

The event was participated by banks from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Myanmar.

The function was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Goa.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group headquartered in Calcutta.

India poised to become world’s 2nd-largest economy by 2075: Goldman Sachs

According to the Investment Bank Goldman Sachs, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2075.

As per the report, India would cross Japan, Germany, and the US With a population of 1.4 billion people.

India’s GDP is estimated to expand remarkably, reaching 52.5 trillion dollars surpassing the US GDP projection.

The labour force participation set to make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy. 

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.