Current Affairs in English – December 31 2022

December 31, 2022

National Events:

Maharashtra government:

• The Maharashtra government has appointed Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran as the head of the new Economic Advisory Council of Maharashtra. This was announced by deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on 29 December 2022.
• It was set up to make Maharashtra a trillion-dollar economy. The Advisory Council will function as a private research organization with a focus on various issues.

‘E – Sushrut’:

• The Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak and Minister of State for Medical Education Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh inaugurated the ‘E – Sushrut’ Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) in 22 state medical colleges in December 2022.
• It was launched by the state medical education department in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC).

Ajit Kumar Saxena:

• Ajit Kumar Saxena has assumed the charge of Chairman-Cum-Managing Director of the public sector enterprise MOIL Limited on 30 December 2022. He previously held the position Director (Operations) at RINL-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
• He has 36 years of experience in the Steel Sector. He is a recipient of “Young Metallurgy of the year Award” for the year 2000 from Ministry of Steel.

Mega Dairy:

• Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Mega Dairy at Mandya in Karnataka on 30th December 2022. It will process 10 lakh litres of milk per day and will have the capacity to be scaled up to 14 lakh litres per day.
• The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Ministry of Cooperation will establish a primary dairy in every panchayat of the country in the next three years.

British Indian Army Memorial:

• New British Indian Army Memorial to be built in Scotland. A British Indian Army Memorial will be built in Glasgow after the local council approved the project.
• It will commemorate the sacrifice of millions of Indian soldiers who fought alongside the British during the two World Wars.
• The memorial initiative is being led by the Colourful Heritage multimedia project, which celebrates the history of Scotland’s South Asian community.

Vande Bharat Express:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30th December 2022 virtually flagged off Vande Bharat Express from Howrah Railway Station connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri. He also launched a stretch of Kolkata Metro Purple Line at the function.
• This is the first Vande Bharata Express to operate in West Bengal. Also, it is the seventh Vande Bharat train in the country operated by the Indian Railways.

Shriram Finance Ltd & Asian Development Bank:

• India’s largest Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) Shriram Finance Ltd secured a $100 million loan from Asian Development Bank on 30 December 2022.
• The loan amount will be used by Shriram Finance to provide loans to customers to buy new or used BS VI-compliant vehicles and electric vehicles besides providing financial support to women entrepreneurs and under-developed states.

Kamala Vardhana Rao:

• Kamala Vardhana Rao was appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on 29 December 2022. Kamala Vardhana Rao is a 1990 batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre.
• He was previously the managing director of the Indian Tourism Development Corporation. Rao was also the secretary of Kerala Tourism. FSSAI Headquarters: New Delhi.

Nijaat:

• Chhattisgarh police’s ‘Nijaat’ campaign gets IACP 2022 Award. The award was given by International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a US-based international organisation.
• ‘Nijaat’, a anti-drug & illicit liquor campaign of Chhattisgarh police has been selected for ‘Leadership in Crime Prevention’ in the institutional category. The campaign was launched under the leadership of the IPS Santosh Kumar Singh.

Prajjwala Challenge:

• Ministry of Rural Development launches Prajjwala Challenge. It was launched under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). The challenge aim to invite ideas, solutions and actions that can transform rural economy.
• Focus areas under challenge are Inclusive Growth, Value Chain Interventions, and Enhanced Women Entrepreneurship. The top 5 ideas will be rewarded with Rs. 2 Lakh each.

First waste-to-hydrogen project:

• India to setup its first waste-to-hydrogen project in Pune. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) along with The Green Billions will use waste and convert it into useable green hydrogen.
• Waste will comprise of biodegradable, non-biodegradable and domestic hazardous waste.
• It would be segregated in one place using optical sensor technology. Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) from waste would be utilised to generate hydrogen using plasma gasification technology.

Tribal Affairs Ministry & Amazon:

• Tribal Affairs Ministry, Amazon collaborate for future engineer program. The program will empower teachers and students in the field of digital education. This will also engage digital communication with people living in far-flung areas.
• The program is being launched in 6 states-Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana schools which have access to digital infrastructure including a computer lab and active internet connection.

SwasthGarbh app:

• SwasthGarbh app developed by IIT Roorkee and AIIMS for pregnant women. The mobile app provides antenatal care and real-time medical support to pregnant women. The app is accessible free of cost.
• It assists pregnant women by ensuring timely antenatal care visits, recording every clinical test and improving medication adherence. It can be a vital tool for women in rural areas and those who do not have easy access to doctors.

Sundararaman Ramamurthy:

• BSE appoints Sundararaman Ramamurthy as MD, CEO. Ramamurthy will join as the Managing Director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the exchange from January 4, 2023. He has been appointed for a tenure of five years.
• The position has been vacant since July 2022 when then MD and CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan resigned. Until recently he was the MD & Chief Operating Officer in Indian arm of Bank of America.

‘Jashn-e-Chillai-Kalan’:

• CRPF celebrated ‘Jashn-e-Chillai-Kalan’ with students in Srinagar. Chillai-Kalan (persian for major cold) is the harshest winter period in Kashmir for a period of 40-day starting from 21st December to 29th January every year.
• The cold waves will then carry forward with a 20 day stretch of “Chillai ‘Khurd’ (small cold) followed by 10 days long “Chillai-Bacha’ (baby cold). People celebrate this period with games and cultural activities in Kashmir valley.

Draft Solar Policy 2022:

• Delhi government approved its draft Solar Policy 2022. The 2022 policy revises the installed capacity proposed by the 2016 policy from 2,000 MW to 6,000 MW by 2025.
• It aims to increase the share of solar energy in Delhi’s electricity demand from the current 9 % to 25 % in 3 years-the highest in India.
• It also aims to create a unified single – window state portal to provide information about the benefits of solar PV systems.

Tamil Nadu Events:

Nilgiri Tahr:

• India’s first project to conserve Nilgiri Tahr takes shape. Tamil Nadu government will take up the project. The project will aim at conservation of Nilgiri Tahr, the expansion of its habitat and the spread of awareness among the public.
• A Shola grassland restoration pilot in Upper Bhavani is also proposed under the project. Nilgiri Tahr is the State animal of Tamil Nadu.

International Events:

India & Cyprus:

• India, Cyprus sign agreement on defence and military cooperation. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar signed a defence agreement with the Cyprus government on 29 December 2022.
• It was singed to increase defence and military cooperation between the two countries. A Letter of Intent was also signed on immigration and mobility to check illegal migrations.

Sports Events:

Koneru Humpy:

• Koneru Humpy has become the first Indian in history to win two medals at the World Blitz Chess Championships. She scored 12.5/17 to take home the Silver medal. She missed the gold medal by just half a point.
• She is best known for winning the FIDE Women’s rapid chess championship in 2019. In 2002, she became the youngest woman ever to achieve the title of Grandmaster at the age of 15 years.

Cristiano Ronaldo:

• Cristiano Ronaldo joins Saudi Club Al Nassr. Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
• Recently, he left Manchester United Club. Prior to Manchester United, he was with Real Madrid Club. In FIFA 2022 played in Qatar, he scored 1 goal and in total he has scored 15 goals in world cups. His home country is Portugal.