Current Affairs in English – December 9 2022

December 9, 2022

National Events:

Nifty Bharat Bond Index:

• Nifty Bharat Bond Index, April 2033, has been launched within the Nifty Bharat Bond Index series.
• The Bharat Bond Index series follows a target maturity date structure wherein each index in the series measures the performance of a portfolio of ‘AAA’ rated bonds issued by government owned entities maturing in a specific year.

IDFC Mutual Fund:

• The IDFC Mutual Fund (MF) is proposed to be renamed as Bandhan Mutual Fund in December 2022.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted “no objection” to IDFC Mutual Fund for its proposed change in ownership.
• IDFC Mutual fund has been acquired by a consortium comprising Bandhan Financial Holdings Limited (BFHL), GIC, and ChrysCapital. Bandhan Bank CEO: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh.

TRAI:

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed the introduction of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP). The feature would provide the called individual with information about the calling party.
• The idea is to ensure that telephone subscribers are able to make an informed choice about incoming calls and curb harassment by unknown or spam callers.

MOCA:

• MOCA (Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude) accorded ‘in-principal’ approval for the setting up of 21 greenfield airports of which 9 have been operationalised.
• Development of a Greenfield airport is governed under the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008. Airports will be established in Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim, Kerala & Arunachal Pradesh.

9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2022:

• 9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2022 inaugurated in Goa. It is being organized in Goa from 8 to 11 Dec 2022.
• It was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Tourism and Shipping, Ports and Waterways Shripad Naik, CM Pramod Sawant and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha.
• PM Narendra Modi will attend the valedictory function of WAC on 11 December. It aims to showcase the efficacy and strength of the AYUSH systems of medicine at the Global level.

Currency Swap Agreement:

• RBI has signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework.
• This agreement will enable the Maldives authority to make drawals in multiple tranches up to a maximum of 200 million dollars from the RBI.
• Agreement will provide swap support as a backstop line of funding for short-term foreign exchange liquidity requirements.

IFR:

• Indian Navy ships Kochi, Kavaratti and Sumedha arrived in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to participate in the maiden International Fleet Review (IFR) being conducted by the Bangladesh Navy (BN).
• The ships are taking part in a variety of activities in IFR-22 from 6-9 December 2022. All three ships are equipped with a versatile array of weapons and sensors and carry multi – role helicopters.

Four bills 2022:

• Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda introduced the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Amendment) Bills 2022. Two Bills are related to modifying the list of scheduled tribes in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
• Two Bills are related to inclusion of certain communities in the list of scheduled tribes in Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Forbes annual list:

• Forbes annual list of ‘The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2022’ has been released on 7 December 2022.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is ranked 36 while Roshni Nadar (rank: 53), SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch (rank: 54), and SAI Chairperson Soma Mondal (rank: 67).
• Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Nykaa founder Falguni Nayar is ranked 72 and 89 respectively.

PM SVANidhi:

• The Government of India has extended the PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme beyond March, 2022.
• ‘SVANidhi Se Samriddhi’ was launched in January 2021 to map the socio-economic profile of the PM SVANidhi beneficiaries and their families.
• 42 lakh street vendors are to be provided benefits under PM SVANidhi Scheme by December, 2024.

‘Resilient Karnataka Programme’:

• A delegation from the World Bank held discussions with the Karnataka government regarding the ‘Resilient Karnataka Programme’, in December 2022.
• It is aimed at making the state climate-resilient and also strengthen it to mitigate disaster risks, along with international expertise.
• Discussions have also taken place regarding World Bank-supported $ 367-million rural water supply project in Karnataka.

Al-powered portal:

• Karnataka has rolled out an Al-powered portal. It promises to provide end-to-end services to help aspirants find jobs.
• The revamped Karnataka Skill Connect Portal, which currently has 7,500 jobs, allows aspirants to undergo a psychometric assessment to help them land better jobs. It has additional features such as mentoring and earn-while-you-learn.

Universal Coverage Day:

• Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry is organizing a two days conclave commemorating Universal Coverage Day 2022 from 10 Dec 2022 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The conclave will be inaugurated by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel.
• Universal Health Coverage aims that all people have access to needed promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative access of health services.

Tamil Nadu Events:

ADB:

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 5 Dec 2022 approved financing of $ 780 million to build new lines for Chennai’s metro rail and improve the network’s connectivity with bus and feeder services.
• The project will construct 10.1 km of an elevated section between Sholinganallur to State Industries Promotion Corporation. ADB was founded in 1966. Headquarters: Manila (Philippines).

International Events:

International Anti-Corruption Day: 9 December:

• International Anti – Corruption Day is observed on 9 December every year to highlight how corruption affects health, education, justice, democracy, prosperity, and development.
• International Anti-Corruption Day 2022 Theme is “UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World against Corruption”. The UNGA designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day in 2005.

Global Water Resources Report:

• World Meteorological Organization released Global Water Resources Report to support the monitoring and management of global freshwater resources.
• Between 2001-2018, 74 % of all natural disasters were water related. 3.6 bn people have inadequate access to water for at least one month/year.
• Large areas of the globe recorded drier-than-normal conditions in 2021 that were influenced by climate change and a La Niña event.

$ 250 million policy-based loan:

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $ 250 million policy-based loan to support the centre’s reforms aimed at strengthening and modernizing logistics infrastructure, improving efficiency, and lowering costs.
• It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will finance the first subprogram of the Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem Program.

World’s strongest passport list:

• India has ranked 87 in the world’s strongest passport list released on 7 December 2022 by Arton Capital.
• The UAE ranked first, it is followed by Germany, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Spain, France.
• While Afghanistan stood last, Pakistan stood at 94. Emirati passport holders can enter 121 countries without a visa, and get a visa on arrival in a further 59 states.

 ‘Kheyti’:

• India’s Greenhouse-in-a-box, ‘Kheyti’ was among the five winners announced by the Prince of Wales, Prince William, in Boston, United States in December 2022.
• The aim of greenhouse-in-a-box is to reduce costs and increase yields which in turn would help protect the livelihoods of the farmers.
• This was the 2nd edition of the Earth shot prize which has also been dubbed as the ‘Eco Oscars’.

Oxfam India:

• Oxfam India released ‘India Inequality Report 2022: Digital Divide’ in December 2022. As per the report, 61 % of men and 31 % of women – owned mobile phones in 2021.
• In India, women account for only one-third of internet users. 15 % fewer women than men own a mobile phone, and 33 % fewer use mobile internet services.
• In the Asia Pacific region, India has the widest gender gap in using the internet.

World Meteorological Organization:

• World Meteorological Organization has released its first annual Global Water Resources Report 2021 in December 2022.Currently, 3.6 billion people face inadequate access to water and is expected to increase to more than 5 billion by 2050.
• The 1st edition of the report looks at the volume of water flowing through a river channel. WMO Secretary General: Petteri Taalas.