NATIONAL:
1. Coastal Security Conference (CoSC)
Why in news – CoSC under the aegis of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) inaugurated at Chennai.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Collaborative Efforts for Coastal Security”.
• Coast Guards from 4 member countries viz. India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Mauritius participated.
• Bangladesh, an observer of CSC, also participates in the Conference.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Abu Dhabi Space Debate
Why in news – Dr. Jitendra Singh led the official Indian delegation to “Abu Dhabi Space Debate”.
Key Points –
• It is the only global forum in which regulators, governments, agencies, private sectors and academics unite constructively.
• Nayif-1 – UAE’s first ever nanosatellite launched by ISRO onboard PSLV.
ECONOMY:
1. Indian Banks' Foreign Biz
Why in news – RBI has put in place a framework to allow overseas subsidiaries and branches of Indian banks and financial institutions.
Key Points –
• Aim - to undertake activities not specifically permitted in the Indian domestic market.
• It applies to International Financial Services Centres in India, including Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. STEM Superstars
Why in news – 3 Indian-origin women scientists selected as Australia's STEM superstars.
Key Points –
• They are Neelima Kadiyala, Ana Baburamani, and Indrani Mukherjee.
• STEM superstars - To smash society's gender assumptions about scientists and increase the public visibility of females.
2. UNESCO Heritage List
Why in news – Baguette (staple French bread) was inscribed into the UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage (ICH).
Key Points –
• UNESCO recognized the “Artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread” as a world cultural heritage.
• The baguette is a long and thin loaf made of flour, water, salt and yeast, and is consumed as a staple in France.
• In 2022, India nominated Garba (traditional dance) for inscription on UNESCO’s ICH list.
• India has 14 intangible cultural heritage elements on the prestigious UNESCO Representative List of ICH of Humanity. (Latest - Durga Puja in Kolkata).
3. New York Film Critics Circle Awards 2022
Why in news – Filmmaker SS Rajamouli won the Best Director Award for RRR at the New York Film Critics Circle.
Key Points –
• RRR emerged as one of the most successful films in India and earned more than Rs 1200 crore at the worldwide box office.
• However, it was not selected as India’s official entry for Oscars 2023.
4. Banker’s Bank of the Year Award
Why in news – Canara Bank won the ‘Banker’s Bank of the Year Award 2022’’ for India segment.
Key Points –
• It won the award at the Global Banking Summit held in London.
• Canara Bank has been adjudged as the Best Bank in India for 2022.
• Canara Bank (Bengaluru, 1906) is an Indian public sector bank under the control and ownership of Minister of Finance, Government of India.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. ‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ Conclave
Why in news – The conclave held in New Delhi on Dec 05, 2022.
Key Points –
• Chief Guest - Piyush Goyal.
• Organized by – M/o Commerce and Industry through Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
• Objective - promoting the export of millets.
• It is a pre-launch event of the ‘International Year of Millets – 2023’ (IYoM-2023).
India and Millets –
• India accounts for around 41% of global millet production (12.49 MMT).
• Top millet producing states - Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
• Share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production.
• Millet varieties - Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar and Buckwheat.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Global Aviation Safety Ranking
Why in news – The global aviation safety ranking by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was released.
Key Points –
• India’s rank - 48th (Score - 85.49%). (2018 - 102nd)
• Top 3 – Singapore (1st), UAE (2nd) and South Korea (3rd).
• China - 49th.
• DGCA chief - Arun Kumar.
2. Global Water Resources Report 2021
Why in news – World Meteorological Organization has released its first annual State of Global Water Resources Report.
Key Points –
• It focuses on three major areas –
A. Streamflow
B. Terrestrial water storage (TWS)
C. The cryosphere
• 3.6 billion people have inadequate access to water at least one month per year.
About WMO (23rd March 1950) –
• Intergovernmental organization (193 members).
• Specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
• HQ - Geneva, Switzerland.
3. Early Warning Project
Why in news – It identifies countries at the risk of mass violence.
Key Points –
• India’s rank - 8th. ( 2021-2022 report - 2nd).
• Top 3 - Pakistan (1st), Yemen (2nd) and Myanmar (3rd).
• The project is a joint initiative of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide and the Dickey Center for International Understanding.
BRAND AMBASSADORS:
1. Virat Kohli
Why in news – Indian tech brand "Noise" has appointed Virat Kohli as its new brand ambassador for its smartwatches.
POINTERS:
• Google CEO Sundar Pichai has been conferred with which Padma Award for 2022 in the category of Business and Industry by the Government of India - Padma Bhushan Award.
• To which country the World Bank has approved $250 million in environmental management assistance - Bangladesh.
• In which city was the Swar Dharohar Parv 2022 organized - New Delhi.
• In which city of the state of Uttar Pradesh, the first Structural Audit Policy has been implemented - Noida City.
• Which is the most expensive city in the world according to the list released by The Economist Intelligence Unit's "Global Cost of Living Survey" - New York.
• Who has conferred the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2021 and 2022 - President Droupadi Murmu.
• Who has received Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - Mohan Mansigani.
• Which Indian shooter won International Shooting Sport Federation President's Cup title in Cairo, Egypt - Rudrankksh Patil.
• Which country has launched its latest nuclear stealth bomber, the B-21 – USA.
• Who became the first Israeli President to visit Bahrain - Isaac Herzog.