21st DEC, 2022

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SMART CITIES MISSION (SCM), MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS WON
PLATINUM ICON IN DIGITAL INDIA AWARDS (DIA) 2022

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DIA honours innovative digital solutions by government entities in realising Digital India vision.

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These are conducted by National Informatics Centre under Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
Award was given for DataSmart Cities: Empowering Cities through Data initiative of SCM.
DataSmart Cities (DSC) initiative, launched under National Urban Digital Mission, aims to harnesses power of data for better
governance in India’s 100 Smart Cities.
It uses a three-pronged approach – People, Process, Platforms – to imbibe a culture of data awareness and data usage in city

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functioning.
Benefits of DSC
Will help City administrators in making better policies leading to greater efficiency in service delivery and resource allocation.
Solving complex problems such as congestion, sanitation etc. through Citizen Empowerment.

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Promotion of Multidisciplinary Research on Civic issues.
Enhanced transparency and accountability by making reliable data available through data platforms.

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Initiatives taken to promote DSC
Smart Cities on Open Data Portal for sharing cities’ data on common platform.
India Urban Data Exchange platform for exchange of data.
Assessment & Monitoring Platform for Liveable, Inclusive & Future-ready urban India (AMPLIFI).

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CENTRE SOUNDS COVID ALERT, ASKS STATES TO TRACK POSITIVE SAMPLES
Union Health Ministry has directed all states and UTs to ramp up
genome sequencing as sudden surge in COVID cases in countries like
Japan, USA, China etc. pose a threat of another wave of COVID pandemic.
Genome sequencing means deciphering the exact order of base
pairs in an individual.
A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA. It includes all
chromosomes, which houses DNA, and genes (specific sections of
DNA).
Genome sequencing to track variants will be done through Indian
SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network.
It is a consortium of National Laboratories to monitor the genomic
variations in SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19) aiding
understanding of how virus spreads and evolves, provides
information to aid public health response etc.
It is jointly initiated by Union Health Ministry of Health, and
Department of Biotechnology with Council for Scientific & Industrial
Research and Indian Council of Medical Research.

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THREE MORE SITES FROM INDIA ADDED TO UNESCO’S TENTATIVE LIST OF WORLD
HERITAGE SITES
Gujarat’s Vadnagar town, iconic Sun Temple at Modhera, and rock cut sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura have been added to the list.
UNESCO tentative list is an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination.
India now has 52 sites on tentative list.
About three Sites

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Sites About
Vadnagar is a municipality under Mehsana district of Gujarat.
It is a multi-layered and multi-cultural mercantile settlement with its history stretching back to
nearly 8th Century BCE.

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It is an L-shaped town with Sharmishtha Lake located on its north-eastern edge.
At Vadnagar, two major ancient trade routes crossed each other.

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One of them joined central India with Sindh and further northwest regions while another
Vadnagar town connected port towns on Gujarat coast to northern India.
(Gujarat)
It has hinterland port, centre for industries of shells and beads, religious centre/temple town etc.
It is the hometown of PM Narendra Modi.
Located on left bank of the river Pushpavati, a tributary of river Rupan in Mehsana district of Gujarat.

Sun Temple at Modhera
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Built in Maru-gurjara architectural style of 11th century (under patronage of Solanki dynasty).
It consists of main temple shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an outer hall or assembly
hall (Sabhamandapa or rangamandapa) and a sacred pool (Kunda), which is now called Ramakunda.
Built with bright yellow sandstone.

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and its adjoining Sculptures features include life-sized figures belonging to three groups of deities: Adityas,
monuments (Gujarat) Lokapalas, and Devis.

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It is located in north- eastern region of Tripura. ‘Unakoti’ literally translates as “one less than a crore”.
It provides evidence of ancient Saiva worship in Tripura from 8th-9th centuries CE.
Famous for its colossal rock cut panels depicting Hindu deities.
Images found at Unakoti can be classified into rock-cut images and loose sculptures.

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Rock cut sculptures and Famous figures and sculptures include Unkotiswara Kala Bhairav, Gangadhara, depictions of
Reliefs of Unakoti, Boddhisattavas, chaturmukhalinga and one Eka-mukalinga etc.

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Unakoti Range Streamlet at Unakoti forms three kundas, a big part of the annual Ashokashtomi Mela.

FIFTH SCORPÈNE-CLASS SUBMARINE VAGIR DELIVERED TO NAVY

Six Scorpene submarines are being built indigenously under Project-75 by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) under

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technology transfer from Naval Group of France.
Other 5 are: Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagsheer.
These submarines have capability of operating in a wide range of Naval combat including anti-warship and anti-submarine
operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance and naval mine laying.
Classification of major submarines

Submersible Ship Ballistic

Nuclear-Power attack Submarines (SSNs) Diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs)
Nuclear (SSBNs)

Serve as an undetectable It is a nuclear-powered attack submarine They have diesel engines.

launch platform for
intercontinental missiles.
Designed specifically for
stealth and precise delivery
of nuclear warheads.
INS Arihant is India’s SSBN.
armed with non-nuclear weapons. Battery capacity constrain amount of time
Designed to engage in mine warfare, seek a diesel sub can stay underwater, leading
out and destroy enemy ships, and support to frequent resurfacing.
battle group operations. India’s SSKs include Shishumar Class
Only six countries currently have (from Germany); Kilo Class or
nuclear-powered submarines- UK, US, Sindhughosh Class (from Russia); Kalvari
China, Russia, India and France. Class Scorpene submarines.

In related development, ‘Arnala', first of the eight indigenously-built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) was
launched recently.

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DEFENCE, SPACE AGENCIES RELEASE 99% OF EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ)

PROHIBITED AREAS FOR OIL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION (E&P)
Prohibited for security reasons, decision came as
part of prioritising energy security of India.
It will reduce the ‘no go’ areas of around 2.37
million sq km of India’s EEZ from 42% to just
1%.

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Under United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS), EEZ is the area beyond
and adjacent to the territorial sea, generally
extending 200 nautical miles from shore.
Within this area coastal nations claim and

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exercise sovereign rights to explore and
exploit, and the responsibility to conserve and

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manage, both living and non-living resources.
With a 7,516 km long coastline, India has the
12th largest EEZ in the world.
Significance of opening of EEZ for E&P
Out of 3.4 million sq km of sedimentary basins of India, 51% is offshore, of which 40% lies in prohibited areas.

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It limits survey and exploration activities in EEZ, leading to lower discoveries and production.
With India being one of the largest energy consumers, it will help in increasing oil and gas production, reduced import
dependence etc.

ALSO IN NEWS

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P.T. Usha became first nominated member in history of Rajya Sabha to be included in panel of

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Vice-Chairman of the House.
Panel members preside over the House, in the absence both Chairman and Deputy
Chairman.
President nominates 12 members to Rajya Sabha from people who have special knowledge or

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Nominated members in practical experience in art, literature, science and social service.
Rajya Sabha Rationale behind this principle of nomination is to provide eminent persons a place in the Rajya

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Sabha without going through process of election.

Under Suspension of Rules, Rule 267 allows any Member, with the consent of the Chairman, to
issue notice to take up a discussion on urgent issues of public importance setting aside Rajya
Sabha’s listed business of the day.

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If it is carried, the rule in question shall be suspended for the time-being.
Rule 267

Indo-Pacific Economic
Framework for Prosperity
(IPEF)
India will host next special negotiation round for Pillars II-IV of IPEF.
IPEF is a U.S.-led economic grouping that seeks to strengthen economic partnership amongst 14
participating countries to create a stronger, fairer, and more resilient economy for families,
workers, and businesses in Indo-Pacific region.
IPEF broadly rests on four pillars: trade, supply chain resilience, clean energy and
decarbonisation, and taxes and anti-corruption measures.
Countries are free to join (or not join) initiatives under any of the stipulated pillars (India hasn’t
joined trade pillar).

SPI, by Institute for Competitiveness and Social Progress Imperative, was released by Economic
Advisory Council- Prime Minister.
SPI assesses states and districts based on 12 components across three critical dimensions of
social progress: Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity.
Key highlights of SPI
Best-performing States/UTs are Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Goa.
Social Progress Index (SPI) Top three performing districts are Shimla, Solan in Himachal Pradesh, and Aizawl in Mizoram.
Globally, India is ranked 110th on SPI in 2022.

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According to a recent study by RBI staff, India's digital economy grew nearly two-and-a-half
times faster than the overall economy between 2014 and 2019.
Digital economy is the economic activity that results from billions of everyday online
connections among people, businesses, devices, data, and processes.
Sub-sectors of digital economy include computer, electronics, and optical products;
Digital Economy
telecommunications; computer and information and communications technology services.
Under the G20 presidency of India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is organizing U20
event.

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U20 provides a platform for cities from G20 countries to facilitate discussions on various
important issues of urban development including climate change, social inclusion etc. and
propose collective solutions.
Urban-20 (U20) It facilitates a productive dialogue between the national and local governments and helps

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promote the importance of urban development issues in the G20 agenda.

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Report on the action taken on committee’s recommendations was tabled in the Parliament recently.
Key recommendations
Make content portrayal and visual depiction gender inclusive.
Textbooks should instill commitment to values enshrined in Constitution and should further
promote national integration and unity.
Committee on Reforms in

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More child-friendly textbooks through enhanced use of pictures, graphics, QR codes, and other
Content and Design of
audio-visual materials.
School Text Books
Textbooks should spread awareness against internet addiction, drug addiction etc.
Located in Tripura, it is a woodland with an artificial lake and natural botanical and zoological
gardens.

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It is famous for its clouded leopard.

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Major Flora: Deciduous to semi evergreen forests. Artocarpus chaplasa, Albizzia procera etc.
Sepahijala Wildlife Major Fauna: Primates (including spectacle langur, capped langur, pig-tailed macaque, slow loris),
Sanctuary Barking deer, Wild boar.
With increased winter, dense fog enveloped North-western India.

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Fog is a form of condensation, i.e. the transformation of water vapour into liquid, which forms like
clouds.

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Fog is formed when air at or near the earth's surface becomes saturated by any of the three
processes - cooling, addition of moisture, or mixing with another air parcel.
Fog
Intensity of fog depends on factors like humidity, wind, temperature, and Pollution.

A recent study stated that Kepler-1658b is spiralling closer to an ageing star and is on the verge

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of death.
Kepler-1658b is a gas giant (also called Hot Jupiter) exoplanet (any planet beyond our solar system)
that orbits the star Kepler-1658.
Kepler-1658b It is only 0.0544 Astronomical Unit (roughly the distance from Earth to the Sun) away from its star.

India-Indonesia joint task force reviewed challenges in forging connectivity between Andaman
and Nicobar Islands (A&N) and Aceh province.
Envisioned in 2018 under “Shared
Vision of Maritime Cooperation in the
Indo-Pacific”, Andaman-Aceh Link
connects the Sabang city of Aceh
Province, Indonesia with A&N-
Islands.
Around 90 nautical miles from A&N,
the Great Channel (or the Six
Andaman-Aceh Link
Degree Channel) separates
Nicobar from Aceh Province.
Sabang overlooks the Andaman Sea
and Strait of Malacca, making it
strategically important for India with other benefits like boosting tourism in A&N.

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