NATIONAL:
1. Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023
Why in news - Parliament has passed the 'Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023'
Key Points -
• The Bill replaces the 'Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991 .
It provides for the appointment, salary, and removal of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).
• According to the provisions of the Bill, the CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee.
• The Selection Committee will consist of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and Leader of Opposition or leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha.
2. Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023
Why in news - Parliament passes 'Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023'
Key Points -
• It repeals the 'Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867'.
• The Bill seeks to simplify the online process of title verification and registration of periodicals by the Press Registrar General of Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI).
• The Bill has provisions related to the circulation and verification of newspapers.
• It also has a provision for prior approval of the Central Government for the publication of facsimile editions of foreign periodicals in India.
• The Bill has a provision for the Appellate Board, to be called the 'Press and Registration Appellate Board' consisting of the Chairperson, Press Council of India and two members to be nominated by the Press Council of India, from among its members.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. OPEC
Why in news - Africa’s second-biggest oil producer ‘Angola’ leaves OPEC
Key Points -
• Africa’s second-biggest oil producer, Angola has said, that it is leaving OPEC after disagreements over its production targets, in a blow to the oil cartel chaired by Saudi Arabia.
• Angola joined OPEC in 2007 but has clashed with Saudi Arabia at recent meetings over attempts to lower its production.
About OPEC:
• The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental organization.
• It was created at the Baghdad Conference in September 1960 by Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
• Now, OPEC has 12 members.
• Its headquarters are in Vienna, Austria.
• OPEC aims to smoothen the supply of oil to set up the oil price in the world market that would avoid fluctuations, that would affect the economics of both purchasing and producing countries.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. National Mathematics Day (22-DECEMBER)
Why in news - As a tribute to the great mathematician, Srinivas Ramanujan, India celebrates his birthday - 22nd December, as National Mathematics Day.
Key Points -
• Ramanujan passed away at the mere age of 32 (in 1920), it was years later that the Government of India decided to celebrate his birth anniversary in the form of National Mathematics Day.
• In 2012, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared December 22 as National Mathematics Day, and 2012 was also termed and celebrated as the National Mathematics Year.
• Interestingly, the 2012 India stamp also featured Srinivasa Ramanujan.
About Srinivas Ramanujan:
• Srinivasa Ramanujan Born in 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, Ramanujan had almost no formal training in pure mathematics.
• He is known for the work he did in the areas of continued fractions, Riemann series, elliptic integrals, hypergeometric series, and functional equations of the zeta function.
• In 1918, Ramanujan became the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
• The Man Who Knew Infinity is a 2015 British biographical drama film about the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, based on the 1991 book of the same name by Robert Kanigel.
SPORTS:
1. Chennai Grand Masters 2023
Why in news - Dommaraju Gukesh clinches title; Arjun Erigaisi secures second spot in Chess.
Key Points -
• Both Arjun and Gukesh finished the event at 4.5 points out of 7. Gukesh won the tournament on tie-breaks.
• The 2024 Candidates Tournament is an eight-player chess tournament, held to determine the challenger for the 2024 World Chess Championship.
• It is scheduled to be held from 2 to 25 April 2024 in Toronto, Canada.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Sanjay Singh
Why in news - Sanjay Singh elected as President of Wrestling Federation of India.
Key Points - Sanjay Singh has been elected as the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
• Sanjay Singh is the vice president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association and previously served on the WFI's executive council.
• He has also been the national federation's joint secretary since 2019.
About WFI:
• Wrestling Federation of India Founded: - 27 January 1967;
• The WFI is the governing body of wrestling in India. It is headquartered in New Delhi.
• It is recognized by the Government of India and the Indian Olympic Association.
• It organizes various national and international wrestling events, such as the Pro Wrestling League, the National Wrestling Championship, and the Asian Championships.
• The WFI also supports and trains Indian wrestlers who participate in the Olympic Games.
AWARD & HONOURS:
1. UNESCO-Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation
Why in news - UNESCO announces winners of 2023 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
Key Points -
• The Rambagh Gate and Ramparts project received the highest honor, the 'Award of Excellence,' for its inclusivity and access to the broader community.
• Three projects, including the Church of Epiphany and Bikaner House, received an 'Award of Merit.'
• The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation recognize the efforts of individuals and organizations in restoring and conserving structures of heritage value.
• Twelve projects from China, India, and Nepal were acknowledged by the awards jury this year.
About UNESCO:
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
• UNESCO’s Headquarters are in Paris.
• It has 194 Members and 12 Associate Members.
• The United States became the 194th Member State of UNESCO.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. RAMP Programme
Why in news - Recently, the Union minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Shri Narayan Rane launched three sub-schemes under the aegis of the RAMP programme.
Key Points -
• Sub schemes under RAMP
• MSME GIFT Scheme: : intends to help MSMEs adopt green technology with interest subvention and credit guarantee support.
• MSE SPICE Scheme: The MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy.
• MSE ODR Scheme: The MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments.
About RAMP:
• The Raising & Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme is assisted by the World Bank.
• It aims to improve the performance of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India.
• It was launched in 2022.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. National Policy on Child Labour
Why in news - Parliamentary Standing Committee Presented Report ‘National Policy on Child Labour - An Assessment’
Key Points -
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, headed by senior Biju Janata Dal (BJP) MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, tabled a detailed report on the implementation of the Centre’s policy on child labour in Parliament on December 20.
• Policy to eliminate child labour has to go a long way to achieve target stipulated in Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 (to end all forms of child labour by 2025).
• Presence of ambiguity in the definition of child in various legislations.
• Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 defines child as a person aged 6 to 14 years.
• Two major hotspots of child labour and child trafficking: -Immigrants area who had come from Bengal and Bangladesh, and tribal areas of Assam.
BIHAR:
1. FICCI Water Award 2023
Why in news - NTPC Kanti received the FICCI Water Award 2023 under the “Industrial Water US Efficiency” category.
About NTPC Kanti:
• NTPC Kanti is also known as the George Fernandes Thermal Power Plant Station.
• It is situated at Kanti, Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
• It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC, which means the corporation holds 100% stake in NTPC.
About FICCI:
• The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry is an India-based non-governmental trade association and campaigning group.
• Founder: Ghanshyam Das Birla
• Founded: 1927
• Headquarters: New Delhi
2. Sushant Mishra & Saqib Hussain
Why in news - In the IPL mini auction, Darbhanga’s Sushant Mishra was bought by Gujarat Titans for Rs 2.20 crore.
Key Points -
• Gopalganj’s Saqib Hussain was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for the base price of Rs 20 lakh.
POINTERS:
• Indian female wrestler, announced her retirement on 21 December 2023 - Sakshi Malik
• Who won the title of best female chess player at the 'Super Talented' European Championship- Bodhana Sivananda.
• First ‘World Basketball Day’ is celebrated on -21 December 2023
• Recently Which Country has announced to build an 'international city' on the Assam border- Bhutan
• Recently ISRO has been honoured with the Erickson Lunar Award for – Chandrayaan-3
• Recently Vir Chakra has been awarded the - late Vice - Admiral Benoy Roy Chowdhury
• Uttar Pradesh's first advanced paediatric centre will be set up in- Lucknow
• Recently the National Geoscience Data Repository Portal has been launched by -Pralhad Joshi
• Recently, the International Hockey Federation declared which Player as the Women's Player of the Year - Zayn de Ward.
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