NATIONAL:
1. 75th Republic Day
Why in news - French President Emmanuel Macron to be Chief Guest for 75th Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.
Key Points -
• This year, both countries are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership.
• Notably, this is the 6th time a French leader will be the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations in the national capital.
• Prime Minister Modi was the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade held on 14 July 2023 in Paris.
About Republic Day -
• Republic Day is celebrated every year on 26th January to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution, which came into effect on this day in 1950.
• Republic: Preamble indicates that India has an elected head called the President. He is elected indirectly for a fixed period of five years.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Japan Miltary Budget
Why in news - Japan’s defence spending to increase more than 16 % next year under record military budget.
Key Points -
• Japan’s defence spending will increase more than 16 percent next year under a record military budget.
• The 7.95 trillion-yen ($56 billion) defence budget for the 2024 fiscal year that begins in March marks the second year of a five-year military build-up program.
• The budget adopted by the Cabinet will further fortify the military with F-35 stealth combat jets and other American weapons as Japanese troops increasingly work with allies and take on more offensive roles.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Nationl Farmers Day
Why in news - National Farmer's Day or Kisan Diwas is celebrated on December 23.
Key Points -
• The day Commemorates the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India who was also a well-known Kisan leader.
About Chaudhary Charan Singh:
• He was born in 1902 at Noorpur in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh.
• He was the Prime Minister of India from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980.
• He was instrumental in bringing about the Land Holding Act, 1960 which was aimed at lowering the ceiling on land holdings to make it uniform throughout the State.
CULTURE:
1. Ministry of Culture
Why in news - Ministry of Culture released Year End Review 2023
Key Points -
• Meri Maati Mera Desh-Maati Ko Naman Veeron ka Vandan” a Nationwide Campaign organized to honour the 'Veers' who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
• Prime Minister Laid foundation stone for Amrit Vatika and Amrit Mahotsav Memorial developed from soil collected from every part of country under Meri Maati Mera Desh Campaign.
• G20 Culture Working Group and Culture Ministers Meeting held under India’s Presidency; Outcome Document titled ‘Kashi Culture Pathway’ agreed upon by all G20 Countries.
• Ministry of Culture hosts First Global Buddhist Summit in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation.
• PM inaugurated first Indian Art, Architecture & Design Biennale at Red Fort.
• Santiniketan and Hoysala temples Included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
• ‘Garba of Gujarat’ Declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
1. Paat-Mitro’ App
Why in news - The Ministry of Textiles recently launched the “Paat-Mitro” mobile application.
About Paat Mitro:
• It is a mobile application developed by the Jute Corporation of India Limited (JCI).
• Purpose: To provide important information about Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and agronomy to jute farmers.
About JCI:
• Jute Corporation of India Limited was set up in 1971 as an official agency by the Government of India with the aim to provide minimum support price (MSP) to jute cultivators.
• It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles.
• It has been provided with an authorized and paid-up capital of Rs. 5 crores.
DEFENCE & SECURITY:
1. Parliament Security
Why in news - CISF To Take Over Parliament Security
Key Points -
• The Home Ministry has decided to hand over the responsibility of security of the Parliament House complex to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
• A home ministry official said the CISF would replace Delhi police as the agency in charge and would take over all responsibilities, including frisking entrants.
• Earlier, frisking of visitors to the Parliament complex was the responsibility of Delhi police.
About CISF:
• The Central Industrial Security Force is a central armed force.
• It was formed under the Central Industrial Security Force Act in 1968.
• It was established on March 10, 1969.
• It was established after the recommendation of the Justice Mukherjee Commission.
• Headquarters – New Delhi
2. Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave
Why in news - The 8th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) is being hosted by Royal Thai Navy at Bangkok, Thailand from 19 – 22 Dec.
Key Points -
• Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, is leading a three-member Indian Naval delegation for the Conclave.
• IONS was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008 as a forum which seeks to enhance maritime co-operation among Navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
• The inaugural edition of IONS was held in Feb 2008 at New Delhi, with Indian Navy as the Chair for two years (2008 - 2010).
• The 8th Conclave is being attended by Chiefs of Navies/ Heads of Maritime Agencies of IONS countries and would witness transfer of IONS Chairmanship from France to Thailand.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. GRAP
Why in news - Govt re-invoked GRAP stage-III curbs in Delhi and NCR.
Key Points -
• The Government has re-invoked the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage-III curbs in Delhi and NCR to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region.
• The decision was taken in the wake of a sudden dip in the overall air quality of Delhi touching the average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 409 as per the daily AQI Bulletin.
• Under Stage III, construction and demolition activities have been banned in Delhi and NCR.
About GRAP:
• The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of emergency action plan implemented in four stages depending on the severity of the air pollution.
Stages of GRAP:
2. Black Tigers
Why in news - Ten Black Tigers found In Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha.
Key Points -
• At present, a total of ten Melanistic Tigers (black tigers) have been found in the country. All of them are found exclusively in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) of Odisha.
• As per the 2022 cycle of All India Tiger Estimation, the presence of 16 tigers was recorded in STR, of which 10 were melanistic tigers.
About Similipal Tiger Reserve -
• The STR for the Tiger Reserve was selected in 1956. It was brought under Project Tiger in the year 1973.
• In June 1994, the Government of India declared the STR a biosphere reserve.
• This biosphere reserve has been part of UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009.
About Black Tiger -
• Black Tigers are a rare colour variant of the Bengal tiger and are not a distinct species or geographic sub-species.
• The coat colouration and patterning that make the wild cats appear dark boil down to a single mutation in the Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep) gene.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Dairy and Cattle Expo 2023
Why in news - CM Nitish Kumar Inaugurated 3-day Dairy and cattle expo-2023 and also launched new products of COMFED.
Key Points -
• The Chief Minister launched COMFED, five Patna dairy plants at a cost of Rs 172.76 crore, as well as other Patna equipment and the College of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Kishanganj.
• The Chief Minister introduced five new COMFED, Patna products: sweets, namkeen, biscuits, bread, and drinking water (Sudha Salil).
• The Bihar Animal Science University, Patna, Animal Nutrition App was also released by the Chief Minister.
• Improved milch cattle and bulls from several states were brought to the state's inaugural dairy and cattle fair, which was held at the Bihar Animal Sciences University's (BASU) playground.
About COMFED:
• The Bihar State Milk Co-Operative Federation Ltd. (COMFED) was established in 1983.
• It was established as the implementing agency for the Operation Flood (OF) dairy development effort in Bihar based on the Anand template.
• COMFED took over the old Bihar State Dairy Corporation's operations.
POINTERS:
• Recently $1 million relief assistance announced by India for the volcanic eruption at Mount Ulawun affected people of which country - Papua New Guinea
• Which Indian Airport was honored at UNESCO's 2023 Prix Versailles- Kempe Gowda International Airport, Bengaluru
• Which Organization launched Project PRAYAS - International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF) was launched in which country- Malaysia
• Which African country announced to construct its first utility-scale geo-thermal energy Independent Power Producer (IPP)- Zimbabwe
• Second Thomas Shoal, that was in news recently, is located in which sea- South China Sea
• Who has released a ‘Draft Omnibus Framework for Recognizing Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) - Reserve Bank of India
• Recently, a Namdapha flying squirrel has resurfaced in which state after going missing for 42 years- Arunachal Pradesh
• Which organisation has introduced a Card-on-File (CoF) tokenisation facility through banks - Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the International Gita Seminar and Geeta Mahotsav at which place- Kurukshetra, Haryana
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