NATIONAL:
1. Gaganyaan Mission
Why in news – India's maiden human-space flight "H1-Gaganyaan" would take off in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Key Points –
• G1 mission - First uncrewed flight of the Gaganyaan programme to validate the performance of human-rated launch vehicle.
About Gaganyaan Mission –
• To send 3 astronauts to space for a minimum of seven days.
• To be launched by GSLV Mk III.
• It would circle Earth at a low-earth-orbit at an altitude of 300-400 km from the earth.
• Vyom Mitra – A humanoid in unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft ahead of human spaceflight.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Patriot Missile Systems
Why in news – US has agreed to send a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine.
Key Points –
• It is a surface-to-air guided missile system that was first deployed in the 1980s.
• It can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles.
• Raytheon company manufactures the Patriot system.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Perseverance Rover
Why in news – NASA’s Perseverance has deposited the first cache of rock samples in the backup depot on the red sands of Mars.
Key Points –
• The rover is looking for “ancient microbial life” in an ancient river delta on Mars.
• It involves the rover depositing ten titanium tubes deposited at a particular location, nicknamed “Three Forks.”
• Three Forks is the first sample depot on a different planet than ours.
• The timeline for the delivery is set for some time in the 2030s.
• NASA’s Perseverance rover is exploring the Jezero Crater on Mars and attempting to collect its first rock samples.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Urban-20 (U20) Event
Why in news – Ahmedabad would host the Urban 20 City Sherpas cycle of the G20 programs from February 9-10, 2023.
Key Points –
• It is being organized by M/o Housing and Urban Affairs from Dec 01, 2022 to Nov 30, 2023.
• It is a platform for cities from G20 countries to facilitate discussions on climate change, sustainable mobility, affordable housing etc.
• Ahmedabad is a UNESCO World heritage city.
• Two other world heritage sites in Gujarat - Dholavira and Lothal.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)
Why in news – EU member states and parliamentarians announced an agreement called ETS to reform to the bloc's carbon market.
Key Points –
• ETS - It allows electricity producers and industries with high energy demands to purchase "free allowances" to cover their carbon emissions under a "polluter pays" principle.
• Emissions are to be cut by 62% by 2030 based on 2005 levels, up from a previous goal of 43%.
• It also seeks to phase out the free allowances, with 48.5% phased out by 2030 and a complete removal by 2034.
• "Social Climate Fund" - To help vulnerable households and businesses weather the energy price crisis.
• Carbon Border Tax - An import duty based on the quantity of carbon emissions produced during the production of the product.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. Coal 2022: Analysis and forecast to 2025
Why in news – The annual report of the International Energy Agency (IEA) was released recently.
Key Points –
• India, along with China, is the world’s largest coal producer, consumer and importer.
• India’s own coal production would surpass a billion tonnes by 2025.
• India’s coal consumption has doubled since 2007 at an annual growth rate of 6%.
• “Fuel switching” - European Union turned to coal to generate power due to Ukraine war.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. 50 Best Films of 2022
Why in news – British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound magazine has named RRR among the 50 best films of 2022.
Key Points –
• SS Rajamouli’s historical fiction is at the ninth position in the list.
• Recently, MM Keeravani, the music composer of RRR, won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association award for the best music score.
• The film has also bagged the Best International Film Awards at Saturn Awards.
• First place in the list - After Sun.
2. 95th Academy Awards 2023
Why in news – Four Indian films in different categories have been shortlisted for the Oscars 2023 awards.
Key Points –
• Naatu Naatu (RRR) - Best Original Song category.
• Chhello Show (The Last Show) - International Feature Film.
• All That Breathes - Documentary Feature Film category.
• The Elephant Whisperers - Documentary Short Film category.
• Naatu Naatu has become the the first Indian song to be shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. National Farmers’ Day
Why in news – National Farmers’ Day or Kisan Diwas is celebrated across the country on December 23.
Key Points –
• It marks the birth anniversary of the nation’s 5th prime minister (July 28, 1979 to Jan 14, 1980), Choudhary Charan Singh.
• He was behind several major farmer-forward Bills, including the Land Utilisation Bill of 1939 and the Debt Redemption Bill of 1939.
• On Dec 23, 1978, he founded the Kisan Trust to educate India’s rural masses against injustice and fostering solidarity among them.
• Kisan Ghat – Memorial of Charan Singh.
BRAND AMBASSADOR:
1. Anushka Sharma
Why in news – Puma has roped in Bollywood actor and entrepreneur Anushka Sharma as its brand ambassador.
SPORTS:
1. IPL Valuation
Why in news – Indian Premiere League (IPL) which has turned into a decacorn with a valuation of $10.9 billion.
Key Points –
• The report “Beyond 22 Yards" – IPL Valuation Report 2022 was released by D and P Advisory.
• Started in 2008, IPL is the world's most popular and richest cricket league.
• Decacorn - Privately-held firms that exceed the valuation of $10 billion.
STATES/UTs:
1. Orunodoi 2.0
Why in news – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the second version of 'Orunodoi'.
Key Points –
• It is aimed at providing financial security to financially disadvantaged families.
BIHAR:
1. Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya
Why in news – Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama visited the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple on Dec 22, 2022.
Key Points –
• His last visit was in January 2020.
• On Dec 27, he is scheduled to visit Wat Pa temple, Thailand’s Buddhist temple in Bodhgaya.
• In June 2002, the Mahabodhi Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Sahitya Akademi Award
Why in news – The Sahitya Akademi Award has been announced in Maithili for 2022.
Key Points –
• In Maitholi, Ajit Azad has been awarded for his book “Pendrive me Prithvi” (Poetry Collection).
• Azad hails from Madhubani district.
• Sahitya Akademi Award for Hindi would be given to the famous poet Badri Narayan for his poetry collection “Tumdi”.
• Veena Thakur has once again been made the convener of the Maithili Sahitya Akademi.
POINTERS:
• Who has been conferred with the Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati National Eminence Award in December 2022 - Venkaiah Naidu.
• M/o Defence signed an MoU with which bank to onboard as service centers under the System for Pension Administration Defense (SPARSH) initiative - Bandhan Bank.
• Karim Benzema announced his retirement on. He is related to which sport – Football.
• Who launched a program to create Impact Leaders in the areas of Environment-Social-Governance (ESG) – M/o Corporate Affairs.
• Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa passed away in December 2022. She was princess of which island - Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Who launched India's first Surety Bond insurance product from Bajaj Allianz on December 19, 2022 - Nitin Gadkari.
• Who has become the youngest male cricketer to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut - Rehan Ahmed.
• Which state government has recently set up a development board for nomadic communities – Karnataka.
• Who has topped the publication of scientific papers recently – China.
• Where has the 63rd session of the Indian Historical Records Committee held recently – Lucknow.