Current Affairs in English – December 3 2022

December 3, 2022

National Events:

J & K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha:

• J & K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated Amar Jawan Shourya Sthal at Pouni, Reasi on 1 December 2022.
• The Lt Governor also inaugurated Yagyashala and felicitated ex-servicemen and organisations for their selfless service towards the welfare of the families of the martyr soldiers.
• Students participating in various national integration competitions and rallies were also felicitated.

Iqbal S Bains:

• Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Secretary, Iqbal S Bains, has been granted an extension of six months. Bains, a 1985-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was supposed to retire on 30 November 2022.
• Bains will now remain chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh till May 31, 2023.

Shivalik and Kamorta:

• Indian Naval Ships, Shivalik and Kamorta have arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 2 December 2022. The ships would be undertaking numerous professional interactions with the Vietnam People’s Navy during the visit.
• The two ships are equipped with a versatile array of weapons and sensors, carry multi-role helicopters and symbolise India’s advanced warship building capabilities.

Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia:

• Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia has flagged off a direct international flight from Pune to Singapore by Vistara aviation on 2 December 2022.Singapore is a key market for business and leisure travel from various points in India.
• Singapore and Pune have historical and cultural heritage and are constantly growing to become a hub for innovation, education, and development.

AS Sanjay Kumar:

• AS Sanjay Kumar took charge as Secretary of the Department of School Education & Literacy on 01 December 2022.
• He is a 1990 – batch Bihar cadre IAS officer and was a former Secretary, of the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs, and Sports.

Roof Top Solar power plants:

• In Jammu and Kashmir, the Administrative Council headed by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the installation of Roof Top Solar power plants on Residential Buildings across the state.
• 20 Mega Watt Rooftop Solar Power Plants on Residential Buildings shall be installed by Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) under the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme.

DIVY KALA MELA-2022:

• Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar will inaugurate DIVY KALA MELA-2022 at Swami Vivekananda Road , Near Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Statue, India Gate in New Delhi on 2 Dec 22.
• Around 200 Divyang artisans / artists and entrepreneurs from about 22 states / UTs will be showcasing their products and skills.

Sangai Festival:

• The State of Manipur celebrates the Sangai Festival. It started in the year 2010. Its objective is to showcase Manipur as a world class tourism destination.
• The festival is named after the State animal, Sangai. It showcases Arts & Culture, Handloom, Handicrafts, Indigenous Sports, Cuisine and Music of the state etc.

NADA:

• National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to host Inclusion Conclave for athletes with disabilities on 02 December 2022. This is being held to sharpen the focus on anti-doping education and processes for athletes with disabilities.
• NADA is India’s national organization responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring the doping control program in sports in all its forms.

REC Limited:

• REC Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Power Finance Corporation as per the DPE Performance Evaluation System for FY 2022-23.
• REC Limited is an NBFC focusing on Power Sector Financing and Development across India. Established in 1969, REC Limited has completed over fifty years in the area of its operations.

Divya Kala Mela:

• The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar inaugurated the Divya Kala Mela at India Gate, New Delhi on 2 Dec 2022.
• The fair is being organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2 -7 Dec 2022.
• It aims to provide a platform for the products and craftsmanship of Divyang artisans.

Hansraj Gangaram Ahir:

• Hansraj Gangaram Ahir appointed as Chairperson of National Commission for Backward Classes on 2 December 2022. He belongs to Maharashtra and is an Agriculturist by profession.
• He belongs to District Chandrapur, State of Maharashtra. He had been Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India during the 16th Lok Sabha.

Vijender Sharma:

• Vijender Sharma has been elected as the new president of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India for the year 2022-23. Rakesh Bhalla was elected as the vice president for 2022-23.
• Sharma is a fellow member of ICAI and a law graduate and a leading practicing cost accountant since 1998 and an insolvency professional since January 2017.

“Swar Dharohar Festival”:

• Ministry of Culture in collaboration with “Swar Dharohar Foundation, inaugurated a three day “Swar Dharohar Festival” in New Delhi on 2 December 2022.
• Swar Dharohar Festival is a Music, Art & Literature Festival to showcase the iconic art and culture of India.
• Swar Dharohar festival was inaugurated today by Chief Guest Mehtab Ali (Sitar Player) and Pt Lalit Prasad (Classical Vocal).

Uttar Pradesh government:

• Uttar Pradesh government has decided to promote one sport in one district. Under the One District, One Sport scheme, players will get training in the specified sport for their district to play both at national and international events.
• The aim is to provide a platform for budding sportspersons so that they can participate in prestigious national and international championships and win medals.

Kirit Parekh:

• The Kirit Parekh panel set up by the government of India to review the gas pricing formula in India has submitted its report to the Government of India on 30 November.
• It has recommended to deregulate gas prices in India by Jan 1, 2026.In September 22, the government constituted the committee, led by former Planning Commission member Kirit Parikh, to review the gas pricing formula to ensure a fair price.

Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare:

• Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare launched a nationwide campaign for the promotion of Digital Life Certificate for Central Government pensioners in Dec 22.
• The objective of the campaign is to promote the use of Face Authentication technology and Digital Life Certificates to ensure transparency.
• As of Nov 2022, 2.82 lakh DLCs have been created through Face authentication.

International Events:

Sylhet-Silchar Festival:

• The first Sylhet-Silchar Festival to celebrate the cultural ties between India and Bangladesh began on Dec 2, 2022 in Assam’s Barak Valley. It is being organised by India Foundation under the aegis of Ministry of Culture.
• The event will commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence and 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s liberation from Pakistan.

Greece & Turkey:

• In June 2022, Turkey alleged that Greece has been building 3 military presence in violation of international treaties that guarantee the unarmed status of the Aegean islands.
• Greece asserts that Turkey has intentionally misinterpreted the treaties & it has legal justification to defend itself. Recently, the two NATO allies traded Oarbs about airspace violations over the Aegean Sea.

Wassenaar Arrangement:

• India will assume chairmanship of the plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement for a year on January 1, 2023.
• At the 26th annual plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement held in Vienna from November 30- December 1, Ireland’s ambassador Eoin O’Leary handed over the chairmanship to India’s ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar.
• India joined the Wassenaar Arrangement in Dec 2017 as its 42nd participating state.

Agni Warrior:

• The 12th Edition of Exercise Agni Warrior, a bilateral exercise between Singapore and Indian Army concluded at Field Firing Ranges, Devlali.
• The exercise included participation by both sides in a joint computer war game as part of the joint planning process.
• India was among the first countries to set up diplomatic relations after the independence of Singapore on 24 August 1965.

Pakistan:

• Pakistan has topped the list of countries at the highest risk of experiencing new mass killings, according to a new report by a US think-tank, Early Warning Project in December 2022.
• Pakistan has ranked at the highest risk among all 162 countries. Pakistan is followed by Yemen, Myanmar, Chad and Ethiopia. India was ranked eighth.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities: 3 December:

• The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed on December 3 every year to spread awareness about the rights and well-being of people with disabilities. International Day of Persons with Disabilities began in 1992 by United Nations.
• Theme: ” Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world”.

UNSC:

• India has assumed the Presidency of the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) for the month of December 2022.
• India will be the President of the UNSC for one month as the 2 year term of India as a non-permanent member of the UNSC ends on 31 December 2022.
• India became the non-permanent member of the UNSC on 1 January 2021. India has become the President of the UNSC for the second time.

Sports Events:

T20 World Cup Cricket Tournament for the Blind:

• The third T20 World Cup Cricket Tournament for the Blind will be held from December 5 to 17, 2022 in India.
• The participating nations for World Cup 2022 are Australia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and India.
• The tournament is being organized to mark the World Disability Day celebrations universally. Cricketer Yuvraj Singh is the brand ambassador of the tournament.