12-13 December 2020: Daily Current Affairs & GK Update

IMPORTANCE OF THE DATE

National Energy Conservation Day 2020: Observed on Dec 14

• December 14 is celebrated as National Energy Conservation Day every year
• The India Energy Conservation Act was first implemented by the Energy Efficiency Bureau (BEE) in 2001.
• Objective: The day focuses on making people aware of global warming and climate change and promotes efforts towards saving energy resources.
• Purpose of the day: To raise awareness among the general public about the importance of energy conversation and energy efficiency, as well as holistic development for overall effort towards climate change mitigation.

About BEE :

• Energy Efficiency Bureau (BEE) is a constitutional body which works under the Government of India and helps in the development of policies and strategies to reduce the use of energy.
• Headquarters: Delhi
• Founded: 1 March 2002
• Minister of Power: Raj Kumar Singh

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS:

BSE Launches e- agricultural spot market platform

• BSE (earlier known as Bombay Stock Exchange) has launched an electronic spot platform for agricultural commodities through its subsidiary BSE Investments Ltd.
• BSE E-Agricultural Markets Ltd (BEAM) will function as a national level, institutionalised, electronic, transparent commodity spot trading platform in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to create a single market, BSE stated.
• Importance of BEAM: With the help of BEAM, farmers in one state will be able to reach out to markets in other states and auction their produce.
• BEAM has leveraged on modern technology to offer customised solutions to farmers, traders, and stakeholders to facilitate risk-free and hassle-free purchase and sale of various Agri commodities.

About BSE :

• Located at: Mumbai, India
• Founded: 9 July 1875
• Chairman: Vikramajit Sen
• MD & CEO : Ashish Chauhan

Indian Railway Launches Hospital Management Information System

• Indian Railways has launched the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) to provide better health care facilities to its workforce with the help of information technology.
• The HMIS Trial Project has been launched over South Central Railway.
• The HMIS has been developed by Indian Railways in coordination with RailTel Corporation Limited. 
• Presently, three modules of HMIS – Registration, OPD doctor desk, and pharmacy – are being taken up implemented.
• Objective: The objective of the HMIS is to provide a single-window of clearance of hospital administration activity such as clinical, diagnostics, pharmacy, examinations, industrial health etc.

About Indian Railway :

• Indian Railway Minister – Piyush Goyal
• Ministry – Ministry of Railways
• Headquarters – New Delhi
• Founded – 16 April 1853

NITI Aayog releases a white paper Vision 2035 – Public Health Surveillance in India

• The white paper lays out India’s vision for public health surveillance through the integration of the three-tiered public health system into Ayushman Bharat.
• It also spells out the need for expanded referral networks and enhanced laboratory capacity.
• The white paper was released by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar, Member (Health) Dr Vinod K Paul and CEO Amitabh Kant.
• Vision: The vision of this white paper is to make India’s public health surveillance system more responsive and predictive to enhance preparedness for action at all levels.
• A citizen-friendly public health surveillance system will ensure individual privacy and confidentiality, enabled with a client feedback mechanism

About NITI Aayog

• Chairperson: Narendra Modi
• Headquarters- New Delhi

Formed – 1^st January 2015

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS: 

UNESCO to launch international prize in the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib

• The UNESCO has decided to launch an international prize in the field of ‘creative economy’ in the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
• Starting November 2021, the dollar 50 thousand awards will be given away once in two years for global economic initiatives of the youth.
• Purpose: According to UNESCO, the international award will create a knowledge-sharing mechanism by capturing, celebrating and communicating best practice in the development of creative entrepreneurship.
• UNESCO has declared 2021 as ‘International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development’.
• Currently, there are 23 UNESCO International Awards in the name of international celebrities and organisations.

Significance of international prize in name of Bangabandhu:

• The prize will create an opportunity to spread the ideology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the world and will inspire the cultural workers to develop the creative economy.

About UNESCO

• UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• Headquarters – Paris, France
• Head – Audrey Azoulay
• Founded – 16^th November 1945

SCHEMES

Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure scheme

• All the states except Tamil Nadu have availed benefits of the newly announced scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure.
• The scheme was announced by the Finance Minister on 12th October as a part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat package.
• Aim: The Scheme is aimed at boosting capital expenditure by the State Governments who are facing a difficult financial environment this year due to the shortfall in tax revenue arising from the COVID 19 pandemic.
• So far, capital expenditure proposals of over 9,879 crore rupees of 27 States have been approved by the Finance Ministry.

AWARDS

Ashraf Patel named Social Entrepreneur of the year

• Ashraf Patel won the Social Entrepreneur of the Year award instituted by the Schwab Foundation and Jubilant Bhartia Foundation.
• The award was presented by Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development and Textiles at a virtual ceremony.
• Ashraf Patel is the co-founder of Pravah and ComMutiny Youth Collective. In partnership with UNICEF ROSA, they developed an appreciative enquiry tool to assess the impact of COVID 19 on the lives of adolescents in 8 South Asian countries.

About SEOY Award :

• The SEOY award promotes social innovation in India and recognises entrepreneurs who implement innovative, sustainable and scalable solutions to solve India’s social problems.

MOU AND AGREEMENT

Joint Statement on India-Uzbekistan Virtual Summit:

• Prime Minister of the Republic of India Shri Narendra Modi and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan E. Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev co-chaired a Virtual Summit between India and Uzbekistan on 11 December 2020.
• India and Uzbekistan signed nine Agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs).

Nine Agreements are enlisted below :

1. Solar Energy
2. Digital Technologies
3. High Impact Community Development Projects (CDP)
4. Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation
5. Defence and Security
6. Civil Nuclear Energy
7. Connectivity
8. Culture, Education and People-to-People Contacts
9. Terrorism

• Government of India approved 448 million US dollar Line of Credit to be extended by India for four developmental projects in Uzbekistan in the fields of road construction, sewerage treatment and information technology.

India inks with Austria on tech cooperation in the road infrastructure sector

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has inked a pact with Austria for technical cooperation in road infrastructure space.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of the Republic of Austria on technology cooperation.
• Aim: To create an effective framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of road transportation, road/highways infrastructure development, management and administration, road safety and intelligent transport systems between both countries.
• And it also strengthens ties, promotes long-standing bilateral relations and enhances trade and regional integration between the two countries.

About Ministry of Road Transport and Highways :

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 1942, July
• Union Minister of Road Transport and highways Nitin Gadkari

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE

The 5th India- Myanmar Bilateral Meeting on Drug Control Cooperation held Virtually

• The 5th India-Myanmar Bilateral Meeting on Drug Control Cooperation was held virtually on December 10, 2020.
• The meet was between the Narcotics Control Bureau, India and the Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control, Myanmar.
• The Indian delegation was led by Shri Rakesh Asthana, Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau.
• The meeting between the two countries concluded with constructive and meaningful discussions as well as a commitment to cooperation in future.
• It was also decided that the 6th India-Myanmar Bilateral Meeting on Drug Control Cooperation will be held in India in 2021.

About Narcotics Control Bureau :

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Ministry: Ministry of Home affairs
• Founded: 1986

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Max Verstappen wins 2020 Abu Dhabi

• Max Verstappen won Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2020, held on 13 December 2020 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• The Red Bull driver led from start to finish in the race, ending Mercedes’ run of six consecutive wins at the Yas Marina Circuit circuit.
• The win was Verstappen’s second victory of the season and 10th in his career to date.
• The race was the 17th and final round of the 2020 Formula One World Championship.
• Valtteri Bottas(Mercedes-Finland) stood second, followed by world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) at third place.

Ankita Raina wins ITF doubles title in Dubai

• Top Indian tennis player Ankita Raina won her third doubles title of the pandemic-hit 2020 season, clinching the Al Habtoor challenge with Ekaterine Gorgodze.
• The unseeded Indo-Georgian pair won 6-4 3-6 10-6 against Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov from Spain and Slovakian Kaja Juvan in the final of the USD 100,000 hard court event.

 About Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge:

• The Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge is a tournament for professional female tennis players played on outdoor hard courts. The tournament and has been held annually in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, since 1998.

OBITUARY

Narendra Bhide passes away at 47

• Music composer Narendra Bhide, who composed the soundtrack for many award-winning films, television soaps as well as plays, died of a heart attack at the age of 47 in Pune.
• He was also known for composing the background score for dozens of commercial plays in Marathi.
• Bhide had composed music for “Harishchandrachi Factory”, “Mulshi Pattern” and several other films.
• Bhide, popularly known among friends as Baba.

He was a disciple of Ustad Mohammad Hussain Khan Saheb and Chhota Gandharva, among others

1982 World Cup star Paolo Rossi passes away

• Paolo Rossi, Italy’s goalscoring hero from their victorious 1982 World Cup campaign, has died at the age of 64.
• Rossi won two Serie A titles, a European Cup and a Coppa Italia with Juventus but will be most fondly remembered for lighting up the 1982 World Cup in Spain with six goals.

Achievements :

• Rossi then scored Italy’s first in a 3-1 victory that gave them their third World Cup title and their first since 1938.
• He won the Golden Boot as the top scorer and Golden Ball as the player of the tournament, a campaign regarded as one of the best individual World Cup performances of all-time.
• He was also awarded the 1982 Ballon d’Or as Europe’s top footballer.
• He also scored three goals at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. With a total of nine goals, he remains Italy’s joint-highest scorer at the World Cup with Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri.

Renowned Sanskrit scholar Govindacharya passes away

• Renowned Sanskrit scholar Vidyavachaspati Bannanje Govindacharya died at his residence at Ambalpady in Udupi. He was 85.
• He was well knowledged in Veda Bhashya, Upanishad Bhashya, Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas and had written commentaries on Veda Suktas, Upanishads, Shata Rudriya, Brahma Sutra Bhashya, and Gita Bhashya.

Achievements :

• A propagator of ‘Madhwa’ ideology and a great orator, Govindacharya had been conferred the Padma Shree in 2009.
• Govindacharya was the brand ambassador of India in World Conference on Religion and Peace held in Princeton, USA in 1979
• He had authored around 150 books and translated several texts from Sanskrit to Kannada.

Chuck Yeager, The First Man to Travel Faster Than Speed of Sound, Dies at 97

• Chuck Yeager, the first person to travel at a speed faster than the speed of sound, has passed away at the age of 97
• Yeager made history on October 14, 1947, when he became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound during his nine-year assignment as the nation’s leading test pilot.
• He also became the first man to fly more than twice the speed of sound in level flight, flying the Bell X-lA on December 12, 1953, the US Air Force stated.
• He has also been associated with World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and his three war active-duty flying career spanned more than 30 years.

Daily CA on Dec 12^th

• Global machine connectivity solutions company Skylotech India has partnered with BSNL to launch a satellite-based narrowband IoT network in India. This is the World’s first satellite-based NB-IoT network. 
• DRDO designed56×30 mm Protective Carbine has successfully undergone the final phase of User trials on 7th December 2020 meeting all the GSQR parameters.
• International Universal Health Coverage Day is a United Nations’ recognized international day celebrated every year on December 12. And 2020 Theme – Health For All: PROTECT EVERYONE
• International Day of Neutrality is a United Nations recognized day held on December 12.
• ADB launches $9 billion Covid-19 vaccine scheme to procure, deliver vaccines
• The Ministry of Agriculture has declared Lakshadweep as India’s first Union Territory to become 100% organic under the scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
• The 5th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) began on 10th December 2020 virtually. The five-day programme will conclude on 15 December 2020 and the theme is Arth Ganga – river conservation synchronised development.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the inaugural address at FICCI’s 93rd Annual General Meeting and Annual Convention via video conferencing and also inaugurate the virtual FICCI Annual Expo 2020.
• The Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill-2020.
• Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur virtually inaugurated the second edition of Ladakh Literature Festival, 2020, in Leh on Dec 10.
• Aurobindo Pharma has received final approval from the US health regulator for the generic of Precedex injection, used for sedation of patients.
• Aurobindo Pharma has received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride in9% sodium chloride injection
• The Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians 2020 has been awarded to Carolina Araujo, Mathematician from the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in a virtual ceremony on December 9, 2020.
• Wrestler Bajrang Punia has won the 2020 Male Sportsperson of the Year award.
• Shooter Elavenil Valarivan has bagged the 2020 FeMale Sportsperson of the Year award.
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, attended the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus organized online at Hanoi, Vietnam on 10 December 2020 that marked the 10th anniversary of ADMM Plus.
• Asian Development Bank expects the Indian economy to contract at a slower pace of 8%.

Daily CA on Dec 13th and 14th

• December 14 is celebrated as National Energy Conservation Day every year, The India Energy Conservation Act was first implemented by the Energy Efficiency Bureau (BEE) in 2001.
• BSE (earlier known as Bombay Stock Exchange) has launched an electronic spot platform for agricultural commodities through its subsidiary BSE Investments Ltd.
• Indian Railways has launched the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) to provide better health care facilities to its workforce with the help of information technology.
• The HMIS has been developed by Indian Railways in coordination with RailTel Corporation Limited.
• NITI Aayog releases a white paper Vision 2035 – Public Health Surveillance in India, The white paper was released by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar, Member (Health) Dr Vinod K Paul and CEO Amitabh Kant.
• The 5th India-Myanmar Bilateral Meeting on Drug Control Cooperation was held virtually on December 10, 2020. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Rakesh Asthana, Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev co-chaired a Virtual Summit between India and Uzbekistan on 11 December 2020.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has inked a pact with Austria for technical cooperation in road infrastructure space.
• Paolo Rossi, Italy’s goalscoring hero from their victorious 1982 World Cup campaign, has died at the age of 64.
• Renowned Sanskrit scholar Vidyavachaspati Bannanje Govindacharya died at his residence at Ambalpady in Udupi. Govindacharya was the brand ambassador of India in World Conference on Religion.
• Chuck Yeager, the first person to travel at a speed faster than the speed of sound, has passed away at the age of 97
• Max Verstappen won Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2020, held on 13 December 2020 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• Top Indian tennis player Ankita Raina won her third doubles title of the pandemic-hit 2020 season, clinching the Al Habtoor challenge with Ekaterine Gorgodze.
• Music composer Narendra Bhide, who composed many award-winning films, television soaps as well as plays, died of a heart attack at the age of 47 in Pune.
• The UNESCO has decided to launch an international prize in the field of ‘creative economy’ in the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
• Ashraf Patel won the Social Entrepreneur of the Year award instituted by the Schwab Foundation and Jubilant Bhartia Foundation.
• Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure scheme applicable for all states except Tamil Nadu.

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