NATIONAL:
1. Criminal Code Bills
Why in news - Lok Sabha Passes Criminal Law Bills Seeking to Replace IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act.
Key Points -
• Three revised Criminal Code bills namely - the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023-were passed by the Lok Sabha.
• The new Bill allows registration of e-FIR for cognizable offenses where the accused is unknown.
• Introduce changes dealing with offences of terrorism and acts against the State.
• Factor in corruption in the election processes.
• Make electronic evidence a form of primary proof.
• Separately define crimes like mob lynching for the first time
• Include detailed provisions and enhanced punishment for crimes against women and children.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. India-Oman Relations
Why in news - Recently The Sultan of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, is visiting India on a state visit.
Key Points -
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik adopted a vision document to shore up bilateral cooperation in around 10 key areas.
• India and Oman have adopted the India Oman Joint Vision Partnership for the Future, setting the stage for bilateral cooperation and charting pathways for future collaboration between the two countries.
• The two sides announced the third tranche of Oman-India investment fund worth USD 300 million.
• Both countries have signed agreements to the establishment of a Hindi chair of the
• Indian Council of Cultural Relation (ICCR) in Oman.
2. Donald Trump
Why in news - Colorado's Supreme Court rules that Donald Trump cannot run for US President next year in state.
Key Points -
• In a landmark decision, the court ruled 4-3 that Mr Trump is not an eligible candidate.
• It is the first time that Section 3 of the US Constitution's 14th Amendment has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Winter Solstice (21-December)
Why in news - 21st December, is Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
About Winter Solstice -
• The term ‘solstice’ derives from the Latin word ‘solstitium’, meaning ‘Sun standing still’.
• The winter solstice happens every year when the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees
• It results in the least amount of daylight and the longest period of darkness.
• Winter Solstice, December 21, is the day when the North Pole is most tilted away from the Sun.
• The same day marks the Summer Solstice, the year's longest day, in the Southern Hemisphere.
2. Corps Day
Why in news - Judge Advocate General Department celebrates 40th Corps Day.
Key Points -
• The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department, the judicial and legal wing of the Army responsible for dispensation of justice to all ranks is celebrating its 40th Corps Day on 21st Dec 2023.
• It was on this day in 1949 wherein the Bill for the Army Act was introduced in the Parliament.
• It is origin in India goes back to 1841.
• Brig (Justice) DM Sen (Retd) was the first Indian JAG after independence.
SPORTS:
1. National Sports Awards-2023
Why in news - Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announces National Sports Awards 2023.
Key Points -
• Badminton players Chirag C Shetty and Satwik Sai Raj Rankireddy will be honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
• The Arjuna Award will be given to 26 Sports persons including India pacer Mohammed Shami and archery’s breakout star of 2023 Aditi Gopichand Swami.
• The ministry has also approved five coaches for the Dronacharya award in the regular category and three in the lifetime category. Additionally, the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement will be presented to three individuals.
• In the university category, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, secured the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2023.
About National Sports Award:
(a) Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
• Formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, it is the highest award bestowed to a sports person in India and was instituted in the year 1991-1992.
• It is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of the previous four years.
• It comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh.
(b) Arjuna Award
• It was instituted in 1961 by the Government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in national sports events.
• It is given for good performance over a period of previous four years.
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh, a bronze statue of Arjuna and a scroll of honour.
AWARD & HONOURS:
1. Sahitya Akademi Award 2023
Why in news - Sahitya Akademi has announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Award 2023 in 24 Languages.
Key Points -
• Nine books of poetry, six novels, five short story collections, three essays and one literary study have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards this year.
• Neelam Saran Gour will get the award for her English Novel Requiem in Raga Janki and Sanjeev will get Sahitya Akademi Award for his Hindi novel Mujhe Pahachaano.
• Prof. Dr. Basukinath Jha will get Sahitya Akademi Award for Maithili language his essay collection “Bodha Sanketan” while Sadiqua Nawab Saher will get Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu language for his novel “Rajdev Ki Amrai ”
• Tamil author Rajasekaran (Devibharathi), Telugu writer T. Patanjali Sastry and Malayalam litterateur E.V. Ramakrishnan were named for the Sahitya Akademi Awards for the year 2023.
About Sahitya Akademi Awards:
• The Sahitya Akademi was formally inaugurated by the Government of India on 12 March 1954.
• Sahitya Akademi is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture.
• The award, in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque, a shawl, and one lakh rupees.
• The awards relate to books first published during the five years immediately preceding the year of award, that is between January 2017 and 31st December, 2021.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
1. JN.1 Variant
Why in news - A new strain of Covid-19, named JN.1, has been detected in Kerala.
Key Points -
• It is a sub-variant of Sublineage BA.2.86 known as Pirola, is an off-shoot of the widely circulating Omicron variant.
• World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as a variant of interest.
• Initial symptoms of the JN.1 COVID variant include fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, and, in some cases, moderate gastrointestinal problems.
DEFENCE & SECURITY:
1. Samar Air-Defence System
Why in news - Indian Air Force successfully testfires 'SAMAR' air defense missile system at Exercise Astrashakti.
Key Points:
• The air defence system 'SAMAR' (surface-to-air missile for assured retaliation) has been developed by a unit under the IAF's Maintenance Command.
• Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation (SAMAR) is a short-range air-defence system.
• The system is credited with a maximum range of 10–12 km and is used against low-flying aerial targets.
• It can engage aerial threats with missiles operating at a speed range of 2 to 2.5 Mach.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Blue Dragons
Why in news - Recently Blue Dragons have been Spotted on Chennai’s Elliot’s Beach.
Key Points -
• The blue dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) is a type of mollusk known as a nudibranch.
• They also are known as blue sea slugs, blue angels, and sea swallows.
• It rarely grows larger than three centimeters long.
• They are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs.
BIHAR:
1. DR. BASUKINATH JHA
Why in news - Basukinath Jha received the Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 2023 for Maithili language.
Key Points -
• For Maithili language, Prof. Dr. Basukinath Jha has been announced for his essay collection “Bodh Sanketan”.
• Originally Prof. Jha is a resident of Patsa in Samastipur district.
• Jha has been honoured with the Grierson Award by the Government of Bihar, the Man of the Year Award of the American Biographical Institute, and the Mithila Vibhuti Award for his literary achievements.
POINTERS:
• Recently Which Country has won the recently held Under-19 Asia Cup title- Bangladesh
• Which England goalkeeper has been named the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year for 2023- Mary Earps
• A Green and Sustainable Growth Agenda for the global economy report released by NITI Aayog
• First World Odia Language Conference 2024 to be held in- Bhubaneswar
• Which Indian players have been elected 2023 FIH men’s Players of the Year - Hardik Singh
• The World Women's Handball Championship, 2023 title has been won by- France
• Indian Navy's Underground Submarine Bunker is being built in the name- 'INS 'Varsha.
• Who has been hosts outreach program as part of ongoing India International Science Festival in New Delhi - Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
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