Important Days
International Anti-Corruption Day
International Anti-Corruption Day is observed annually on 9 December to raise public awareness for anti-corruption.
The day is observed since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on 31 October 2003. The theme of International Anti-Corruption Day 2020: ‘RECOVER with INTEGRITY.’
National Headlines
PM Modi virtually inaugurates Construction work of Agra Metro project
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the construction work of the Agra Metro project in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
The Agra Metro project comprises 2 corridors with a total length of 29.4 km. It would connect major tourist attractions like Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra with railway stations and bus stands.
The estimated cost of the project will be around Rs 8,379.62 crore. It will be completed in 5 years. The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) has set the target to complete the first phase of the Agra Metro Rail Project by December 2022.
Internationl Headlines
Mt Everest declared 86 cm taller by Nepal and China
The world’s highest mountain peak ‘Mount Everest’ has become taller by 86 cm, as per a survey conducted jointly by Nepal and China.
The Government of Nepal and China jointly conducted an exercise to measure the world’s highest peak.
The new height of Mt Everest has been calculated at 8,848.86 metres, which is 0.86m more than the previous measurement done by India in 1954. In feet, the new elevation is about 29,031 ft, or about 3 ft higher than Nepal’s previous claim.
Appointment News
Anil Soni appointed first CEO of The WHO Foundation
US-based Indian-origin health expert, Anil Soni has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the newly-created “The World Health Organization (WHO) Foundation”.
Before this, he was working with Viatris, a global healthcare company in the US, where he served as Head of Global Infectious Diseases. He will assume his role as CEO with effect from 1st January 2021.
The WHO Foundation was launched in May 2020 as an independent grant-making agency, based in Geneva, Switzerland, to work alongside the WHO and the global health community to address the most pressing global health challenges.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Headquarters of WHO: Geneva, Switzerland.
- Director-general of WHO: Tedros Adhanom.
Banking News
RBI cancels licence of Maharashtra-based Karad Janata Sahakari Bank
The Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the licence of Karad Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd in Maharashtra, as it does not have adequate capital and earning prospects. As such, it does not comply with the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
More than 99 per cent of the depositors of the bank will get full payment of their deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
Business News
ADB approves Rs 2.5 mn in technical assistance for biofuel development in India
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has confirmed a USD 2.5 million (about Rs 18 crore) technical assistance to help advanced biofuel development in India.
The grant will be funded from the Asia Clean Energy Fund, financed by the Government of Japan under the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility, and the Republic of Korea’s e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund.
The technical assistance (TA) will support the development of advanced bioethanol, bio-compressed natural gas, and biodiesel plants to demonstrate the best practices for suitable feedstock, efficient conversion technology, and sustainable biofuel value chain.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa; Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
Agreement News
NTPC inks MoU with IIFM-Bhopal for Narmada Landscape Restoration Project
National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), a PSU under Ministry of Power, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, for the implementation of Narmada Landscape Restoration Project (NLRP).
IIFM Bhopal is an Autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
The NLRP Project involves a grant in aid from NTPC Ltd and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in equal proportions.
IIFM-Bhopal will be jointly implementing this project with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) [Headquarter-Seoul, South Korea], an intergovernmental organization that promotes sustainable and inclusive economic growth in emerging economies.
IIFM Bhopal will participate in the project with the grant-in-aid from NTPC, Ltd and GGGI will participate with funding support from USAID.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- NTPC Founded: 1975.
- NTPC Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
- Director of IIFM: Pankaj Srivastava.
Economy News
Centre Launches QRMP scheme for GST payers
The Central Government has launched ‘Quarterly Return filing & Monthly Payment of Taxes (QRMP)’ scheme for small taxpayers under the GST system.
Taxpayers with an aggregate annual turnover of up to Rs 5 crore in the preceding financial year and have filed their October GSTR-3B (sales) return by November 30, 2020, are eligible for this scheme.
The notifications for the same were issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- CBIC Chairman: M. Ajit Kumar.
- CBIC Parent Ministry: Ministry of Finance.
Awards News
ICAR wins 2020 King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has won the prestigious International King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award for 2020.
The award was presented annually by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The award was conferred to the ICAR on the occasion of World Soil Day, on December 5. ICAR India will officially receive the award by Her Royal Highness, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, during an event in Bangkok in January 2021.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Food and Agriculture Organization Head: Qu Dongyu
- Food and Agriculture Organization Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
- Food and Agriculture Organization Established: 16 October 1945.
Raj Kamal Jha wins Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize
Journalist-author, Raj Kamal Jha has won the 3rd Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for his novel, “The City and The Sea”.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the winner of the $5,000 prize was announced online in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jha’s book, which is based on the December 2012 Nirbhaya rape and murder case, was chosen from ten shortlisted books including Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island, Nirmala Govindarajan’s Taboo and Ranjit Hoskote’s Jonahwhale.
The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for Social Achievement 2020 was conferred to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the late Sultan of Oman and The People of Oman.
Sports News
Jehan Daruvala becomes first Indian to win F2 race
Jehan Daruvala created history, as he became the first Indian to win a Formula 2 race at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, Bahrain.
This was the final race of the F2 season. The Formula 2 Championship is a second-tier single-seater racing championship.
The 22-year-old Jehan Daruvala is currently a member of the Red Bull Junior Team and competes for Carlin Motorsport.
Sri Lanka to host Asia Cup in 2021
Sri Lanka will host the Asia Cup in June 2021 while Pakistan has earned the rights to host the tournament in 2022.
As per the original schedule, the tournament was supposed to be hosted by Pakistan in 2020, however, it got postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now the event has been moved forward to June 2021, with Sri Lanka Cricket taking the hosting rights from PCB. As compensation, PCB has got the hosting rights for the 2022 edition.
Sergio Perez wins Sakhir Grand Prix 2020
Sergio Perez (Mexico-Racing Point-BWT Mercedes), won the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain.
Esteban Ocon (Renault-France) secured the second position, followed by and Lance Stroll (Racing Point-BWT Mercedes-Canada) at third place.
The race was the maiden edition of the Sakhir Grand Prix and sixteenth race of the 2020 Formula One World Championship.
Parthiv Patel announces retirement from all forms of cricket
India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 35-year-old left-hander, who made his international debut in 2002, played 25 Tests, 38 ODIS and two T20Is for India.
Kiren Rijiju launches 2nd edition of Fit India Cyclothon
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched the second edition of Fit India Cyclothon through a virtual platform. The mega cycling event will run for 25 days, beginning from 7th December till 31st December 2020.
The event has been organised across the country in each district. The citizens can participate by registering on Fit India website. The participants can cycle daily for a distance of their choice, and share their images and videos on social media.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Sports Authority of India Founder: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
- Sports Authority of India Founded: 1982.
- Sports Authority of India Headquarters: Delhi.
- Director-General of Sports Authority of India: Sandip Pradhan
- Daily Current Affairs in English 11 Sep 2022 – Useful for all Competitive Exams
- Hindu Editorial with Vocabulary: Sep Month – Day 10
- 11 Sep 2022 Daily Current Affairs in Hindi – सभी प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं के लिए महत्वपूर्ण
- 10 Sep 2022 Daily Current Affairs in Hindi – सभी प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं के लिए महत्वपूर्ण
- Hindu Editorial with Vocabulary: Sep Month – Day 9
- Daily Current Affairs in English 10 Sep 2022 – Useful for all Competitive Exams
