27th December, 2024

1. GSV and IN signed MoU to Enhance Logistics Education and Research
2. DoP and MEA signs agreement to establish 600 additional POPSKs
3. RBI Imposed Rs.47.30 Lakh penalty on IndusInd Bank and Manappuram Finance for Non-Compliance
4. RBI Lifts Business Restrictions on ECL Finance and Edelweiss ARC
5. HPCL Signed Agreement with NLDS to Integrate its API with ULIP
6. Tansen Samaroh 2024: Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri honoured Rashtriya Tansen Samman; Sanand Nyas with Mansingh Tomar Award
7. Former SC Judge Madan Lokur Appointed as Chairperson of UN JIC
8. Two Chinese Astronauts Set New World Record of Longest Spacewalk, Break USA Record
9. Riya Shrish Thatte clinches Gold medal in Women’s 25m Pistol at 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions
10. Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024: India won the trophy by defeating China
11. India to host World Athletics Continental Tour event in August 2025
12. UP & Manipur Sign MoU for ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ Program
13. President Confers PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024
14. Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Passes Away
15. Indore Airport Launches Waste Processing Unit In Green Initiative
16. Defence Ministry Launches Rashtraparv Website & App on Good Governance Day
17. Arunish Chawla Appointed as New Revenue Secretary in Finance Ministry
18. Tribute to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya on his birth anniversary
19. Rajnath Singh and Yogi Adityanath Unveil Atal Ji’s Statue
20. MT Vasudevan Nair Creator of Timeless Classics Passed Away
21. International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
22. Losar Festivities Illuminate Ladakh with Culture and Unity
23. Veer Bal Divas A Day of Valor And Righteousness
24. PM Modi Launches Ken-Betwa River-Linking Project

National News

1. Lok Sabha Speaker Pays Tribute to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya
   • What:
     • Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla paid floral tributes to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on their birth anniversary on the same day i.e., December 25.
   • Tell me more:
     • Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh launched the Rashtraparv Website and Mobile App on December 25, 2024.
     • It includes a Tableau Management Portal for states and ministries to manage tableau proposals for the Republic Day event.
     • The website can be accessed at https://rashtraparv.mod.gov.in, and the mobile app is available on the Government App Store (M-Seva).
     • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled an 11-foot statue of Vajpayee at Kudiya Ghat, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Source: pib PIB toi

State News

1. UP and Manipur Sign MoU for Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
   • What:
     • The governments of Uttar Pradesh and Manipur have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ program.
   • Why:
     • The program aims to enhance interaction and promote mutual understanding between people from different states and Union Territories.
   • Tell me more:
     • The MoU will be effective from the date of signing and will remain valid for three years, with a possibility of renewal for another three years.
     • The ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative was launched by the Government of India to foster national integration.
       Source: TP
2. Losar Festival in Tibet
   • Losar is a festival that celebrates the Tibetan New Year and is celebrated in India, Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim, and Bhutan.
     Source: GOV
3. PM Modi Launches Ken-Betwa River Linking Project
   • What:
     • PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ken-Betwa national river linking project.
   • Why:
     • This project aims to enhance irrigation in the Bundelkhand region, benefiting 10 districts in Madhya Pradesh.
   • Tell me more:
     • The Ken-Betwa canal will stretch 221 kilometers and irrigate 59,000 hectares of agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh.
     • The project is expected to bring 8.11 lakh hectares under irrigation in Madhya Pradesh.
       Source: TOI

International News

1. Chinese Astronauts Set New Spacewalk Record
   • What:
     • Two Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have completed a nine-hour spacewalk, setting a new world record for the longest single spacewalk.
   • Why:
     • The record-breaking spacewalk highlights advancements in China’s space exploration capabilities and the effectiveness of their new spacesuit technology.
   • Tell me more:
     • The astronauts, Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong, surpassed the previous record of eight hours and 56 minutes set by NASA astronauts in 2001.
     • The second-generation ‘Feitian’ spacesuits used during the spacewalk allowed for extended durations outside the spacecraft.
     • China’s first spacewalk was conducted by astronaut Zhai Zhigang in September 2008, lasting just under 20 minutes.
       Source: BS

Banking and Economy

1. RBI Lifts Restrictions on Edelweiss Group Entities
   • What:
     • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has removed business restrictions on ECL Finance Ltd and Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited.
   • Why:
     • The decision follows the companies’ implementation of remedial measures to address previous supervisory concerns raised by the RBI.
   • Tell me more:
     • The RBI had imposed restrictions on May 29, 2024, under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and the SARFAESI Act.
     • ECL Finance Ltd was directed to stop structured transactions related to its wholesale exposures.
     • Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company was restricted from acquiring financial assets and reorganizing existing security receipts.
     • After reviewing the companies’ submissions, the RBI expressed satisfaction with their efforts to comply with regulatory guidelines.
       Source: ET
2. HPCL Partners with NLDS to Enhance Logistics
   • What:
     • Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has signed an agreement with NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDS) to integrate its APIs with the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).
   • Why:
     • The partnership aims to improve transparency, operational efficiency, and innovation in India’s logistics sector.
   • Tell me more:
     • The agreement was signed in the presence of key officials from both organizations, including Shri Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO & MD of NICDC.
     • HPCL’s API will provide real-time visibility into fuel station locations and pricing, helping logistics providers optimize their operations.
     • This integration is expected to address issues like fluctuating fuel costs and unplanned stops during transportation.
     • The ongoing ULIP Hackathon 2.0 has seen over 10 participants utilizing HPCL’s API to create innovative solutions for logistics challenges.

Source: PIB

3. IndiGo Launches Zero Waste Airport Project
   • What:
     • IndiGoReach, IndiGo’s CSR initiative, has launched the Zero Waste Airport Project in partnership with the Airports Authority of India and AAS Foundation.
   • Tell me more:
     • The project uses the 4R strategy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover.
     • A Material Recovery Facility (MRF) was inaugurated to process daily waste from Indore Airport, significantly reducing landfill dependency.
     • The facility will process 750 kg of waste daily and includes a Wet Waste Processing Unit to convert organic waste into compost for landscaping.
       Source: Indigo

Awards

1. President Murmu Presents Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar
   • What:
     • President Droupadi Murmu awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to 17 children for their exceptional courage and achievements.
   • Why:
     • The award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in various fields, including art, culture, sports, and bravery.
   • Tell me more:
     • The honorees included seven boys and ten girls from 14 states and Union Territories.
     • Each awardee received a medal, certificate, and citation booklet.
     • Notable recipients included Keya Hatkar, a disability advocate and author, and Ayaan Sajad, a young Sufi singer from Kashmir.

Source: ET BS

Important Days

1. International Day of Epidemic Preparedness – December 27
   Source: UN

Sports

1. Riya Thatte Wins Gold at National Shooting Championships
   • Riya Shirish Thatte won the gold medal in the 25m women’s pistol event at the National Shooting Championships.
     Source: TN
2. India to Host World Athletics Continental Tour Event
   • What:
     • India will host its first World Athletics Continental Tour event on August 10, 2025, in Bhubaneswar.
   • Tell me more:
     • The event is categorized as a bronze-level Continental Tour athletics competition.
     • It is part of an annual series of track and field events that ranks below the elite Diamond League.
     • The Continental Tour was launched in 2020 and includes four levels: gold, silver, bronze, and challenger.
     • The World Athletics Championships will take place in Tokyo from September 13 to 21, 2025.

Source: OC

Appointments

1. Dr. Arunish Chawla Appointed as Revenue Secretary
   • Dr. Arunish Chawla has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance.
   • The Department of Revenue is responsible for managing government revenue, including tax collection and policy formulation.
     Source: PIB

Miscellaneous

1. Tributes Paid to Literary Legend M T Vasudevan Nair
   • What:
     • M T Vasudevan Nair, a renowned Malayalam author and filmmaker, passed away on December 25, 2024.
   • Tell me more:
     • He began his career as a teacher before becoming a prominent writer, with his first novel “Naalukettu” published in 1959.
     • Nair received numerous accolades, including the Jnanpith Award in 1995 and four National Film Awards for Best Screenplay.
     • His notable works include “Randamoozham,” which reinterprets the Mahabharata from Bhima’s perspective.
       Source: tw

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