09th December, 2022

1. Garuda Aerospace launched India’s first e-learning platform for Drone Skilling and Learning in Chennai to provide skilling and training to one lakh youth over the next two years.
2. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will launch India’s first-ever surety bonds insurance product to boost liquidity in the infrastructure sector.
3. Sweden and Nepal are conducting research on Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
4. Uttarakhand has hired McKinsey, a global management consultancy, to achieve the target of doubling its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in the next five years.
5. Kerala has announced to become a 100% renewable energy-based state by 2040 and net carbon neutral by 2050.
6. Assam Cabinet approved a bill to create a Safai Karamchari Commission.
7. ISRO’s Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (In-Space) has signed an MOU with Vyom Space Exploration and Services Pvt Ltd (based in Gurugram) for its “human and cargo transportation capsule program”.
8. ISRO has signed an MOU with Social Alpha, a multistage innovation curation and venture development platform for science and technology start-ups, to launch SpaceTech Innovation Network (SpIN).
9. SIDBI has signed an MOU with the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of Saudi Arabia (Monsha’at) for exploring and collaborating on matters of common interest in the development and boosting MSMEs in their respective countries.
10. World Trade Organization’s Goods Trade Barometer has forecasted a slowdown in trade growth in the last quarter of 2022 and in 2023 due to Russia-Ukraine war.
11. “Tuberculosis Research Funding Trends, 2005–2021” report has been published by the Treatment Action Group (TAG) and the Stop TB Partnership.
12. Union Government has infused about ₹5,000 crore in SWAMIH Investment Fund I, taking the total corpus of the fund to ₹15,530 crore.
13. Walmart and Flipkart partnered with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) to accelerate capacity building for MSMEs across India.
14. Ageas Federal Life Insurance (AFLI) has launched its new healthcare plan named Ageas Federal Life Insurance Criti Care Plan, which covers the treatment of 30 critical illnesses and major disorders.
15. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $3 million project readiness financing (PRF) facility to support preparatory activities for designing a project to improve municipal infrastructure in priority areas of Agartala city, Tripura.
16. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and IIFL Home Finance Ltd., India’s fastest growing digital-first home finance company, organised ‘Kutumb’ event in Delhi.
17. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and GMR Airports Limited (GAL) will invest in three of GMR airports, including the Greenfield ones at Mopa, Goa, and Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh.
18. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $780 million multi-tranche financing facility to build new lines and improve the connectivity of the metro rail system in Chennai with the city’s existing bus and feeder services.
19. Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $300 million loan to upgrade more than 300 km of state highways and major district roads in Assam, including six road sections in the state’s western, central, and southern regions.
20. IDFC FIRST Bank and NASSCOM Centre of Excellence (COE) have partnered to grow the innovation ecosystem through an exclusive range of banking solutions.
21. RBI has decided to introduce the functionality of a single-block-and-multiple-debit in UPI.
22. “Toolkit on Enabling Gender Responsive Urban Mobility and Public Spaces in India” was launched at a session organized by the World Bank and the Chennai Urban Metropolitan Transport Authority.
23. The RBI has signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) to enable MMA to make withdrawals in multiple tranches up to a maximum of $200 million from the RBI.
24. Uttarakhand government has named Prasoon Joshi, the CEO and CCO of McCann Worldgroup India, the state’s brand ambassador.
25. Dina Boluarte has been elected as the first female President of Peru.
26. November 28 – Red Planets Day (NASA launched the Mariner 4 space probe on Mars in 1964)
27. December 7 – Armed Forces Flag Day
28. December 7 – International Civil Aviation Day; Theme – Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development
29. December 8 – SAARC Charter Day (38th edition)
30. South Korea’s Mina Sue Choi was crowned Miss Earth 2022.
31. World Athlete of the Year 2022 (Female) – Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (American)
32. Priyanka Chopra Jonas has featured on the BBC 100 Women 2022.
33. Three Indian-origin women – Neelima Kadiyala, Dr Ana Baburamani and Dr Indrani Mukherjee – have been recognized as Superstars of STEM by Australia, along with other 57 scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians.
34. Quaide Milleth Educational and Social Trust will present the Quaide Milleth Award for Probity in Political / Public Life 2022 to Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani and The Wire (India) Media.
35. Indian shuttler Anish Thoppani clinched a silver medal in the under-15 category at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
36. “Sultan: A Memoir” is the autobiography of Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram, written in collaboration with Gideon Haigh.

National News

1. Garuda Aerospace launched India’s first e-learning platform for Drone Skilling and Learning in Chennai to provide skilling and training to one lakh youth over the next two years.
   • The virtual platform is called the Garuda Virtual Drone and Skilling University.
   • “Operation 777” – Garuda Aerospace’s Drone Yatra, which has the aim to “educate and demonstrate the efficacy of drones for different agricultural uses across 777 districts of India”, was flagged off.
   • Garuda Aerospace Founder and CEO – Agnishwar Jayaprakash
2. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will launch India’s first-ever surety bonds insurance product to boost liquidity in the infrastructure sector.
   • Surety bonds refer to the performance or delivery obligation to complete the insured project.
3. Sweden and Nepal are conducting research on Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

State News

1. Uttarakhand has hired McKinsey, a global management consultancy, to achieve the target of doubling its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in the next five years.
   • The government has signed a two-year agreement with the company under Shashakt (empowered) Uttarakhand mission.
   • The company will work in areas like agriculture, horticulture, Urban (Brownfield and greenfield cities), service sector, infra projects (core as well as social sectors) to accelerate the income of the people and of the State.
   • The State has the target of doubling GSDP from ₹2.73 lakh crore to ₹5.5 lakh crore by achieving a CAGR of 15% in the next five years.
2. Kerala has announced to become a 100% renewable energy-based state by 2040 and net carbon neutral by
   • India Climate and Development Partners’ Meet was hosted by the Kerala government and the World Bank.
   • The Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change 2023-2030 was released during the meet.
3. Assam Cabinet approved a bill to create a Safai Karamchari Commission.

Memorandum of Understanding

1. ISRO’s Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (In-Space) has signed an MOU with Vyom Space Exploration and Services Pvt Ltd (based in Gurugram) for its “human and cargo transportation capsule program”.
2. ISRO has signed an MOU with Social Alpha, a multistage innovation curation and venture development platform for science and technology start-ups, to launch SpaceTech Innovation Network (SpIN).
   • SpIN is India’s first dedicated platform for innovation, curation, and venture development for the space startups.
   • SpIN will primarily focus on three categories: Geospatial Technologies and Downstream Applications; Enabling Technologies for Space & Mobility; and Aerospace Materials, Sensors, and Avionics.
   • SpIN has also launched its first innovation challenge. The selected start-ups and innovators will be able to access both Social Alpha’s and ISRO’s infrastructure and resources.
     • Early-stage start-ups for developing solutions in areas of maritime and land transportation, urbanisation, mapping, and surveying, disaster management, food security, sustainable agriculture, environmental monitoring, and natural resources management, among others are encouraged to apply.
3. SIDBI has signed an MOU with the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of Saudi Arabia (Monsha’at) for exploring and collaborating on matters of common interest in the development and boosting MSMEs in their respective countries.
   • SIDBI will offer its expertise and experience to the newly launched SME Bank in Saudi Arabia.

International News

1. World Trade Organization’s Goods Trade Barometer has forecasted a slowdown in trade growth in the last quarter of 2022 and in 2023 due to Russia-Ukraine war.
   • The current value of the index is 96.2.

Reports and Indices

1. “Tuberculosis Research Funding Trends, 2005–2021” report has been published by the Treatment Action Group (TAG) and the Stop TB Partnership.
   • In 2021, the funding for TB research and development reached the $1 billion threshold for the first time in history.
   • The United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB in 2018 set the target of $2 billion per annum for R&D.

Banking and Economy

1. Union Government has infused about ₹5,000 crore in SWAMIH Investment Fund I, taking the total corpus of the fund to ₹15,530 crore.
   • The Special Window for Completion of Construction of Affordable and Mid-Income Housing Projects (SWAMIH I) was set up to provide priority debt financing to complete stressed, brownfield and RERA-registered residential projects.
   • The fund is sponsored by the finance ministry and managed by SBICAP Ventures, a unit of State Bank of India.
   • SWAMIH is a category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).

2. Walmart and Flipkart partnered with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) to accelerate capacity building for MSMEs across India.
   • The partnership will help MSMEs unlock export potential and become part of retail supply chains locally and globally.
   • The partnership has been established under the Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Programme. This program includes training, seminars and mentoring sessions conducted regularly for MSMEs.
3. Ageas Federal Life Insurance (AFLI) has launched its new healthcare plan named Ageas Federal Life Insurance Criti Care Plan, which covers the treatment of 30 critical illnesses and major disorders.
   • The policy provides coverage up to the age of 70 years.
4. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $3 million project readiness financing (PRF) facility to support preparatory activities for designing a project to improve municipal infrastructure in priority areas of Agartala city, Tripura.
   • ADB financing will support the Tripura government in holistic planning and development of priority municipal infrastructure and help in the preparation of future investment-ready projects.
5. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and IIFL Home Finance Ltd., India’s fastest growing digital-first home finance company, organised ‘Kutumb’ event in Delhi.
   • Purpose – to discuss the scope around green affordable housing in India.
   • They launched ‘Kutumb’ with an event titled ‘Green Affordable Housing Ecosystem’ in Delhi.
   • In February 2022, IIFL HFL signed a $68 million loan with ADB to improve financial access to affordable green housing for the economically weaker sections and lower-income groups in India.
6. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and GMR Airports Limited (GAL) will invest in three of GMR airports, including the Greenfield ones at Mopa, Goa, and Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh.
   • The amount of investment and the name of the third airport have not been unveiled.
   • The investment is expected to be around Rs 631 crore.

7. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $780 million multi-tranche financing facility to build new lines and improve the connectivity of the metro rail system in Chennai with the city’s existing bus and feeder services.
8. Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $300 million loan to upgrade more than 300 km of state highways and major district roads in Assam, including six road sections in the state’s western, central, and southern regions.
   • The project will strengthen the capacity of the Assam Public Works (Roads) Department in managing road assets, integrating climate and disaster resilience in road projects, and ensuring safeguards—such as environment, resettlement, and indigenous peoples concerns—are considered.
9. IDFC FIRST Bank and NASSCOM Centre of Excellence (COE) have partnered to grow the innovation ecosystem through an exclusive range of banking solutions.
   • IDFC First Bank and NASSCOM COE have also signed an MOU to appoint IDFC First Bank as the banking partner for startups.
10. RBI has decided to introduce the functionality of a single-block-and-multiple-debit in UPI.
    • It will ease the process of recurring payments.
    • The single block multiple debit feature of the UPI will enable users to separate and block funds in their accounts for specific purposes.
11. “Toolkit on Enabling Gender Responsive Urban Mobility and Public Spaces in India” was launched at a session organized by the World Bank and the Chennai Urban Metropolitan Transport Authority.
    • The aim of the World Bank’s toolkit is to make urban mobility and design gender inclusive.
12. The RBI has signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) to enable MMA to make withdrawals in multiple tranches up to a maximum of $200 million from the RBI.
    • This agreement has been signed under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework.
    • The RBI will continue to offer a swap arrangement within the overall corpus of USD 2 billion.
    • The swap withdrawals can be made in US dollar, euro or Indian rupee. The framework provides certain concessions for swap withdrawals in Indian rupee.

Appointments

1. Uttarakhand government has named Prasoon Joshi, the CEO and CCO of McCann Worldgroup India, the state’s brand ambassador.
   • Joshi was awarded the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman to honour him for his contributions to art, literature, culture and advertising.
   • The Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman, apart from the Uttarakhand Ratna, is one of the state’s two highest civilian awards given for achievements in various fields.
2. Dina Boluarte has been elected as the first female President of Peru.

Important Days

1. November 28 – Red Planets Day (NASA launched the Mariner 4 space probe on Mars in 1964)
2. December 7 – Armed Forces Flag Day

3. December 7 – International Civil Aviation Day; Theme – Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development
4. December 8 – SAARC Charter Day (38th edition)

Awards

1. South Korea’s Mina Sue Choi was crowned Miss Earth 2022.
   • Miss Fire 2022 is Andrea Aguilera of Columbia, Miss Water 2022 is Nadeen Ayoub of Palestine, and Miss Air 2022 is Sheridan Mortlock of Australia.
2. World Athlete of the Year 2022 (Female) – Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (American)
   • World Athlete of the Year 2022 (Male) – Armand Duplantis (American-Swedish)
   • The awards are given by World Athletics (based in Stockholm).
3. Priyanka Chopra Jonas has featured on the BBC 100 Women 2022.
   • Sirisha Bandla (Aeronautical engineer), Sneha Jawale (Social worker), and Geetanjali Shree (author) are other Indian women on this list.
4. Three Indian-origin women – Neelima Kadiyala, Dr Ana Baburamani and Dr Indrani Mukherjee – have been recognized as Superstars of STEM by Australia, along with other 57 scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians.
   • Australia’s Superstars of STEM is an initiative that aims to smash society’s gender assumptions about scientists and increase the public visibility of females and non-binary people.
   • These three women are working in Australia.
5. Quaide Milleth Educational and Social Trust will present the Quaide Milleth Award for Probity in Political / Public Life 2022 to Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani and The Wire (India) Media.
   • The award, named after Quaide Milleth Mohamed Ismail Sahib, is given annually to veterans in political and public life with a deep commitment to constitutional values, secularism, pluralism, inclusivism and concern for marginalised people.

Sports

1. Indian shuttler Anish Thoppani clinched a silver medal in the under-15 category at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Miscellaneous

1. “Sultan: A Memoir” is the autobiography of Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram, written in collaboration with Gideon Haigh.

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