Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Clat Post (January 2023)
Clat Post (January 2023)
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S. No. Contents
1. Deep fakes 4
4. Wassenaar arrangement 9
6. E-scr project 13
18. National 48
19. International 62
25. Obitury 80
26. Ranking 83
27. Sports 85
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29. Banking And Economy 94
30. 106
32. Delhi High Court issues guidelines for medical termination of pregnancy in cases where 112
pregnancy of sexual assault victims exceeds 24 weeks
33. Delhi High Court notifies rules for live streaming and recording of court proceedings 113
34. [BREAKING] Cannot reject candidature of Saurabh Kirpal based on sexual orientation: 114
Supreme Court Collegium
35. Revised amendments to IT Rules, 2021: Central government proposes to crack down on 115
fake news fact-checdked by PIB
36. 116
37. 116
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February, 2022
DEEP FAKES
News
Deepfake technology — software that allows people to swap faces, voices and other characteristics to create digital
forgeries — has been used in recent years to make a synthetic substitute of Elon Musk that shilled a cryptocurrency
scam, to digitally “undress” more than 100,000 women on Telegram and to steal millions of dollars from companies
by mimicking their executives’ voices on the phone.
In most of the world, authorities can’t do much about it. Even as the software grows more sophisticated and
accessible, few laws exist to manage its spread.
China hopes to be the exception. This month, the country adopted expansive rules requiring that
manipulated material have the subject’s consent and bear digital signatures or watermarks, and that
deepfake service providers offer ways to “refute rumors.”
The policy requires deep synthesis service providers and users to ensure that any doctored content using
the technology is explicitly labelled and can be traced back to its source.
United States:
In order to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) combat deepfake technology, the United States
introduced the bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act.
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The law requires the DHS to conduct an annual assessment on deepfakes to evaluate the technology being used,
monitor how both domestic and foreign companies are using it, and develop countermeasures to deal with the
issue.
California and Texas have established legislation that penalise the publication and spreading of deepfake movies
that attempt to affect the outcome of an election. Distribution of nonconsensual deepfake pornography is illegal in
Virginia and is punishable by law.
India:
However, there are no laws prohibiting the use of deepfake technology in India.
However, certain legal issues, such as copyright violations, defamation, and cyber-crimes, can be handled when
technology is used improperly.
1. Deepfakes was created using which of the following (c) 2017 (d) 2018
company’s open-source, deep-learning technology?
(a) Amazon (b) Google 4. As per the revied code wrt false news and deepfakes
(c) Microsoft (d) OpenAI in EU, the social media companies can be fined as
high as how much percent of their annual global
2. Deepfakes was created in which of the following revenue if found in violation?
years? (a) 2% (b) 4%
(a) 2014 (b) 2017 (c) 6% (d) 10%
(c) 2019 (d) 2020
5. In order to help combat Deepfake technology, which
3. The Code of Practice on Disinformation in the of the following countries has established Deepfake
European Union was introduced in which of the Task Force Act?
following years? (a) USA (b) UK
(a) 2015 (b) 2016 (c) Canada (d) India
1. (b) When an anonymous Reddit user went by the 3. (d) The Code of Practice on Disinformation was
name "Deepfakes" in 2017, that is when the introduced in 2018 and brought together global
phrase "deepfake" first appeared. This person industry leaders for the first time to commit to
created and posted pornographic videos using battling disinformation
Google's open-source, deep-learning 4. (c) According to the revised Code, these businesses
technology. risk fines as high as 6% of their annual global
2. (b) When an anonymous Reddit user went by the revenue if found in violation.
name "Deepfakes" in 2017, that is when the 5. (a) In order to help the Department of Homeland
phrase "deepfake" first appeared. This person Security (DHS) combat deepfake technology,
created and posted pornographic videos using the United States introduced the bipartisan
Google's open-source, deep-learning Deepfake Task Force Act
technology.
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COMPREHENSIVE MIGRATION AND MOBILITY PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT (MMPA)
News
After mobility agreements with the UK, France, Germany and Finland, India on Monday signed a 'Comprehensive
Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement' (MMPA) with Austria for migration and mobility of Indian students
and professionals.
The two sides discussed economic cooperation, food security, energy security crisis owing to the Russia-Ukraine
war, Ukraine situation and nuclear safety, and India’s presidency of the G-20.
This is the first visit of an Indian foreign minister to Austria in 27 years.
6. India recently signed Mobility and Migration (a) 1955 (b) 1989
partnership Agreement with which of the following (c) 1997 (d) 2002
Countries?
(a) Australia (b) Austria 9. India’s external affairs minister has visited Austria
(c) Vienna (d) Hungary after how many years?
(a) 10 (b) 14
7. Diplomatic Relationship between India and Austria (c) 21 (d) 27
were established in which of the following years?
(a) 1947 (b) 1949 10. Who among the following is the External Affairs
(c) 1951 (d) 1955 Minister of India?
(a) S. Jaishankar (b) Piyush Goyal
8. Austria joined European Union in which of the (c) Smriti Irani (d) Mansukh L.
following years? Mandaviya
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ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
6. (b) After mobility agreements with the UK, France, India and Europe, particularly with the nations
Germany and Finland, India on Monday signed of Central and Eastern Europe.
a 'Comprehensive Migration and Mobility 9. (d) This is the first visit of an Indian foreign minister
Partnership Agreement' (MMPA) with Austria to Austria in 27 years.
for migration and mobility of Indian students 10. (a) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is an Indian
and professionals. diplomat and politician serving as the Minister
7. (b) They started off in 1949. Relations between India of External Affairs of the Government of India
and Austria have historically been cordial and since 30 May 2019. He is a member of the
friendly. Bharatiya Janata Party and a Member of
8. (a) Since joining the European Union in 1995, Parliament in the Rajya Sabha since 5 July 2019,
Austria has served as an essential link between representing Gujarat.
Verdict Explained
In its majority 4:1 judgment, it was held that the Centre’s notification dated November 8, 2016, was valid and satisfied
the test of proportionality. The Court held that “We find that the three purposes are proper purposes and there was a
reasonable nexus between the objects and the means to achieve the objects. Action cannot be struck down on the basis
of the doctrine of proportionality,” it said.
“The central government’s decision was after RBI board’s approval which shows in-built safeguard against centre’s
powers. It cannot be said that there is excessive delegation of power under the RBI Act to the Centre which is answerable
to the Parliament.” the court observed.
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“The Centre is required to take the action after the consultation with the Central Board and there is an inbuilt safeguard.
There has to be great restraint in matters of economic policy. The Court cannot supplant the wisdom of executive with
its wisdom. Decision-making process cannot be faulted merely because the proposal emanated from the centre,” the
judgment stated.
In her dissenting judgement, Justice B V Nagarathna said while the measure was “well-intentioned”, it was to be
declared “unlawful purely on legal grounds”. “The record demonstrates there was no independent application of
mind by the RBI. There was no time for the bank to such an independent application of mind,” she said in the court.
“As per Section 26(2), the proposal for demonetisation is to emanate from the central board of the RBI.
Demonetisation of all series of notes at the instance of Central Government is a far more serious issue than the
demonetisation of particular series by the bank. So, it has to be done through legislation than through executive
notification,” Justice Nagarathna said.
Test of Proportionality
In circumstances when two or more fundamental rights conflict, courts around the world—typically
constitutional courts—often use the test of proportionality to reach a decision.
In such circumstances, the court must weigh the satisfaction of certain rights against the harm that a ruling
may do to other rights because one right often wins at the expense of the other.
The administrative measure must not be more severe than necessary to achieve the targeted effect,
according to the proportionality principle.
11. Which of the following Justice gave dissenting 13. In which of the following years did India
opinion in the Demonetisation verdict? demonetised its currency for the first time?
(a) Justice Nagarathna (a) 1946 (b) 1952
(b) Justice SA Nazeer (c) 1976 (d) 1986
(c) Justice Sanjiv Khanna
(d) Justice Ajjikuttira Somaiah Bopanna 14. PM Modi declared all the Indian Bank Notes
demonetised in which of the following days?
12. Which of the following is the name of the (a) 8 November, 2016 (b) 12 November, 2016
Demonetization Verdict? (c) 16 November, 2016 (d) 21 November, 2016
(a) Young India Lawyers Association versus Union
of India 15. Reserve Bank of India was Nationalised in which of
(b) NALSA versus Union of India the following years?
(c) Narayan Sharma versus Union of India (a) 1949 (b) 1951
(d) Justice Puttaswamy versus Union of India (c) 1959 (d) 1961
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ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
11. (a) The dissenting, minority judgement of Supreme emanated from the RBI, but in this case, the
Court Justice Nagarathna, in the Writ Petition government had advised the central bank,
Vivek Narayan Sharma versus Union of following which it made the recommendation.
India—popularly known as the He said when earlier governments had
demonetisation case—has regurgitated the demonetised currency — in 1946 and 1978, they
vexed issue of whether the RBI is sufficiently had done so by way of a law made by Parliament.
autonomous and resilient in discharging its 14. (a) In a surprise announcement on the evening of
mandate. November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra
12. (c) The dissenting, minority judgement of Supreme Modi said in a televised address to the nation
Court Justice Nagarathna, in the Writ Petition that the two banknotes will be “just worthless
Vivek Narayan Sharma versus Union of piece of paper” with immediate effect, and went
India—popularly known as the on to introduce new notes of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500
demonetisation case—has regurgitated the for public circulation.
vexed issue of whether the RBI is sufficiently 15. (a) The Reserve Bank of India was nationalised with
autonomous and resilient in discharging its effect from 1st January, 1949 on the basis of the
mandate. Reserve Bank of India (Transfer to Public
13. (a) Chidambaram argued that as per the particular Ownership) Act, 1948.
section, the recommendation should have
WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT
News
India formally took over as chairman of the Wassenaar Arrangement on January 1, 2023, after Ireland relinquished the
position at the 26th annual plenary in Vienna.
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At the helm of the plenary, India’s chair-ship would go a long way in establishing the credibility of the country as a
responsible stakeholder in the global non-proliferation architecture.
16. (c) It has 42 member states comprising mostly after Ireland relinquished the position at the
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) 26th annual plenary in Vienna.
and EU states. 19. (b) Participating States are required to report their
17. (b) This is a grouping of 42 countries that seeks to arms transfers and transfers/denials of certain
advance security and stability in the sale dual-use goods and technologies to destinations
and transfer of materials and technologies outside the Arrangement on a six-monthly
that can be used to make nuclear and basis.
conventional weapons. India became a 20. (b) India formally took over as chairman of the
member of the Arrangement in 2017. Wassenaar Arrangement on January 1, 2023,
18. (a) India formally took over as chairman of the after Ireland relinquished the position at the
Wassenaar Arrangement on January 1, 2023, 26th annual plenary in Vienna.
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PARASNATH HILL AND SHETRUNJAY HILL
News
Members of the Jain community have been staging protests in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and
New Delhi for the past two weeks over demands related to two holy sites — Sammed Shikhar on Parasnath hill in
Jharkhand and Shetrunjay hill in Palitana of Gujarat.
In Jharkhand, the issue is about Parasnath hill being declared a tourist spot and an eco-sensitive zone, while in
Gujarat, the row is over the vandalising of a shrine and related security concerns.
Jainism
Jainism came to prominence in the 6th century B.C., when Lord Mahavira propagated the religion.
There were 24 great teachers, the last of whom was Lord Mahavira.
These twenty-four teachers were called Tirthankaras-people who had attained all knowledge (Moksha) while living
and preached it to the people.
The first Tirthankara was Rishabnatha.
The word ‘Jain’ is derived from jina or jaina which means the ‘Conqueror’.
It mainly aims at the attainment of liberation, for which no ritual is required. It can be attained through three
principles called Three Jewels or Triratna i.e. Right Faith (Samyakdarshana), Right Knowledge (Samyakjnana), Right
Action (Samyakcharita)
Doctrines of Jainism
Ahimsa: Non-injury to living being, Satya: Do not speak a lie, Asteya: Do not steal, Aparigraha: Do not acquire
property & Brahmacharya: Observe continence.
According to Jainism, the universe and all of its constituent parts or creatures are eternal. With regard to time, it
has no beginning or conclusion. The laws of the universe govern it on their own.
All chemicals continuously alter or change their shapes. In the universe, nothing can be created or destroyed.
No one is required to establish or oversee the universe's affairs.
Jainism rejects the idea that God created, preserved, and ultimately destroyed the cosmos.
Jainism does, however, hold a belief in God, although one who is flawless rather than a maker.
A person becomes a liberated soul once all of his karmas have been destroyed. He spends all of his time in Moksha
in an ideal state of joy.
The freed soul has infinite wisdom, infinite insight, infinite strength, and boundless joy. The god of the Jain religion
is this living thing.
Every living thing possesses the capacity to become God.
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As a result, Jains do not worship a single deity; rather, they worship an infinite number of deities, who grow in
number as more living things achieve liberation.
Jain Literature
Jain literature is classified into two major categories:
Agam Literature
Lord Mahavir's preaching was methodically compiled by his followers into many texts. These texts are collectively
known as Agams, the sacred books of the Jain religion. Agam literature is also divided into two groups:
Ang-agama: These writings contain Lord Mahavir's direct sermons. Ganadharas put them together.
The name Ganadhara was given to the closest followers of Lord Mahavir.
Every Ganadhara had full knowledge (keval-gyan).
They orally collected Lord Mahavir's direct sermons into twelve major texts (sutras). These writings are called Ang-
agams.
Non-agam Literature: This is a compilation of older monks, nuns, and academics' criticism and explanations on works
by Agam authors as well as other authors.
Numerous languages, including Prakrit, Sanskrit, Old Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannad, Tamil, German, and
English are used to write them.
Jain Council
First Jain Council
Held at Patliputra in 3rd Century B.C. and was presided by Sthulbhadra.
Vardhamana Mahavira
The 24th Tirthankara, Vardhamana Mahavira, was born in 540 B.C. at Kundagrama, a village close to Vaishali.
He was related to the Magadha royal dynasty and belonged to the Jnatrika tribe.
His mother Trishala was a sister of Chetaka, the ruler of Vaishali, while his father Siddharta was the leader of the
Jnathrika Kshatriya tribe.
He gave up his home and become an ascetic when he was thirty years old.
At the age of 42, after 12 years of ascetic practise, he acquired the greatest level of spiritual understanding known as
Kaivalya (i.e., he overcame suffering and happiness).
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At Pava, he preached for the first time.
Every Tirthankara had a symbol assigned to them, and Mahavira's was a lion.
He travelled for his missions to Koshala, Magadha, Mithila, Champa, etc.
At the Pavapuri in Bihar, he passed away at the age of 72.
21. Who among the following is considered as the first (c) 5 (d) 7
tirthankara of Jainism?
(a) Adinatha (b) Ajita 24. Which of the following Vow or teaching was added
(c) Sambhava (d) Rishabhanatha by Mahavira to the Jain philosophy?
(a) Ahimsa (non-violence)
22. In Which of the following years did the Government (b) Satya (not lying)
conferred minority status to Jain Community? (c) Asteya (not stealing)
(a) 2012 (b) 2014 (d) Brahmacharya (chastity)
(c) 2017 (d) 2019
25. Shvetambaras sect in Jainism was divided under
23. How many supreme vows does Jain community which of the following?
have? (a) Sthalabahu (b) Bhadrabahu
(a) 3 (b) 4 (c) Muni Suvrata (d) Parshavanath
21. (d) Rishabhanatha, (Sanskrit: “Lord Bull”) the first Satya (not lying), Asteya (not stealing),
of the 24 Tirthankaras (“Ford-Makers,” i.e., Brahmacharya (chastity), and Aparigraha (non-
saviours) of Jainism, a religion of India. His possession).
name comes from the series of 14 auspicious 24. (d) Among these 5 teachings, the Brahmacharya
dreams that his mother had, in which a bull (Celibacy/Chastity) was added by Mahavira.
(rishabha) appeared, before his birth. 25. (a) Sthulabhadra (297-198 BCE) was the founder of
22. (b) On 27 January 2014, the Government of India Svetambara Jain order during a 12-year famine in
explicitly awarded the status of a & minority Maurya empire in third or fourth-century BC.
religion; to the Jain community in India, as per He was a disciple of Bhadrabahu and
Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Sambhutavijaya. His father was Sakatala, a
Minorities (NCM) Act (NCM), 1992. minister in Nanda kingdom before the arrival of
23. (c) There are Five Great vows prescribed to Chandragupta Maurya.
followers of Jainism; Ahimsa (non-violence),
E-SCR PROJECT
News
In another step towards digitalization, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud Monday announced the launch of
the electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project to provide free access to its about 34,000 judgements to lawyers,
law students and the common public.
These verdicts will be available on the apex court website, its mobile app and on the judgment portal of the National
Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), the CJI said at the outset of judicial proceedings on the first working day of 2023.
The CJI, who was sharing the bench with Justice P S Narasimha, wished lawyers on the first working day of the year
and then gave the details of the e-SCR projects.
Features of the Project
Digital Repository of Judgments
The Supreme Court Reports (SCR) from 1950 to 2017 were painstakingly digitised, scanned, and preserved as PDFs
by the Judges' Library and Editorial Section to produce the digital archive of judgements.
Through this procedure, the Registry was able to compile reported decisions in soft form into a digital archive.
Search Engine and Its Features
With the assistance of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the Supreme Court has created a search engine that
utilises elastic search methods in the database of the e-SCR.
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The e-SCR search tool offers a variety of choices, including free text searching, searching inside searches, searching
by case type and year, judge searching, year and volume searching, and searching by bench strength.
26. E-SCR project is collection of how many Supreme (a) Delhi High Court
Court Judgements? (b) Kerala High Court
(a) 15000 (b) 20000 (c) Mumbai High Court
(c) 34000 (d) 45000 (d) Both a and b
27. The Supreme Court has created a search engine that 29. Who among the following is the Chairperson of the
utilises elastic search methods in the database of the Supreme Court’s E-Committee?
e-SCR with the help of which of the following? (a) Justice DY Chandrachud
(a) National Informatics Centre (b) Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul
(b) National Logistics Centre (c) Justice K.M. Joseph
(c) National Statistical Centre (d) Justice Mukeshkumar Rasikbhai Shah
(d) National Infographic Centre
30. The SCR is digitising the Judgements of which years?
28. Neutral citations are already used by the which of (a) 1950-2000 (b) 1950-2010
the following High Courts? (c) 1950-2015 (d) 1950-2017
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ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
26. (c) In another step towards digitalization, Chief appointed to a committee that will work on the
Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud Monday Supreme Court's introduction of neutral
announced the launch of the electronic citations.
Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project to 29. (a) Chairperson
provide free access to its about 34,000 Name Designation
judgements to lawyers, law students and the Dr Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Judge,
common public. Supreme Court of India Chairperson
27. (a) With the assistance of the National Informatics 30. (d) The Supreme Court Reports (SCR) from 1950 to
Centre (NIC), the Supreme Court has created a 2017 were painstakingly digitised, scanned, and
search engine that utilises elastic search preserved as PDFs by the Judges' Library and
methods in the database of the e-SCR. Editorial Section to produce the digital archive
28. (d) Neutral citations are already used by the Delhi of judgements.
and Kerala High Courts. Three judges have been
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Online gaming sector in India
India’s share of the global online gaming industry is currently just 1 per cent. In contrast, China has a 25 per cent
share and the US 23 per cent share in a market of about three billion users.
According to industry estimates, in 2020, the worth of India’s online gaming industry was around $1.8 billion. There
are about 400 million online gamers in India and their numbers are expected to grow to 450 million by 2024.
India’s advantage also lies in the fact that 86 per cent of online gaming is mobile gaming and this sector is growing
the fastest. According to the industry body, IAMAI, there are about 950 start-ups in the sector with 15,000
developers; three of these start-ups have acquired unicorn status.
The revenue of the Indian mobile gaming industry is expected to reach $5 billion in 2025. The industry grew at a
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38 per cent in India between 2017-2020, as opposed to 8 per cent in China
and 10 per cent in the US.
It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15 per cent to reach Rs 153 billion in revenue by 2024, as per a report by VC firm
Sequoia and management consulting company BCG.
31. (d) The proposed rules, aimed at safeguarding users 34. (a) India’s share of the global online gaming
against potential harm from skill-based games, industry is currently just 1 per cent. In contrast,
have been introduced as an amendment to the China has a 25 per cent share and the US 23 per
Information Technology (Intermediary cent share in a market of about three billion
Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) users.
Rules, 2021. 35. (b) Union Minister for Electronics & Information
32. (c) Online games will have to register with a self- Technology, Railways and Communications,
regulatory body, and only games cleared by the Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw will inaugurate the 3rd
body will be allowed to legally operate in India. edition of 'NIC Tech Conclave 2022', a two-day
Online gaming companies will not be allowed to event being organized by the National
engage in betting on the outcome of games, the Informatics Centre (NIC), at Vigyan Bhawan,
proposed rules say. New Delhi on 3rd& 4th March 2022.
33. (a) India’s share of the global online gaming
industry is currently just 1 per cent.
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BASIC STRUCTURE DOCTRINE
News
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar criticised the Supreme Court for using the Basic Structure Doctrine to strike down
constitutional amendments by Parliament, such as the NJAC Act.
Earlier on December 7, in his maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar had called the striking down of the NJAC
Act a “severe compromise” of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the “mandate of the people”.
Filing a writ petition in the Supreme Court, Kesavanandas Bharati argued, along with his lawyer Nani Palkhivala, that
this action violated his fundamental rights – in particular, his fundamental right to religion (Article 25), freedom of
religious denomination (Article 26), and right to property (Article 31).
The case, Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru and Ors vs State of Kerala and Anr, would go on for over three
years with a 13-judge bench hearing the matter. The hearings themselves went on for 68 working days. Alongside
Kesavananda Bharati, representatives of coal, sugar and other industries adversely affected by land reforms also
presented their sides.
The 13-judge bench concluded with a 7-6 majority that the Constitution’s ‘basic structure’ is inviolable and cannot
be altered by the Parliament. While the court itself did not define what this basic structure meant, it cited the following
to be included in this basic structure.
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The judgement read, “the above structure is built on the basic foundation, i.e., the dignity and freedom of the individual.
This is of supreme importance. This cannot by any form of amendment be destroyed.”
Proponents of the basic structure doctrine consider it to be a safety valve against majoritarian authoritarianism. Without
it, it is plausible that Indira Gandhi’s 1975 Emergency could have had far more deleterious effects on the health of Indian
democracy.
However, opponents claim that the doctrine amounts to judicial overreach over the legislature – something that itself
is undemocratic.
36. Which of the following Constitutional Amendment (b) Independence of Judiciary
Acts was NOT challenged in the Kesavananda Bharti (c) Separation of Power
Case? (d) Non Amenability of Fundamental Rights
(a) 24th (b) 25th
(c) 26th (d) 29th 39. Keshvananda Bharti died recently in which of the
following years?
37. How many Judge sat to hear the Kesavananda Bharti (a) 2018 (b) 2019
Case? (c) 2020 (d) 2021
(a) 07 (b) 09
(c) 11 (d) 13 40. Property of Religious Denominations is protected as
fundamental right under which of the following
38. Which of the following is NOT a Basic Structure of Articles?
Constitution? (a) Article 25 (b) Article 26
(a) Judicial Review (c) Article 27 (d) Article 28
36. (c) The petitioners challenged, in particular, three a Hindu monastery in Kasargod, Kerala. In 1961,
constitutional amendments – 24th Amendment, still only 21, he was appointed as the head of the
25th Amendment and 29th Amendment and Mutt, a position he held till his death in 2020.
their validity. 40. (b) Article 26 guarantees all religious
37. (d) The case was heard by the largest ever denominations and sects, subject to public
Constitution Bench of 13 Judges. The bench gave order, morality and health, to manage their own
eleven separate judgments, which agreed in affairs in matters of religion, set up institutions
some points and differed on others. of their own for charitable or religious purposes,
38. (d) Fundamental Rights can be amendment, only and own, acquire and manage a property in
basic structure cannot be changed. accordance with law.
39. (c) Born in 1940, Kesavananda Bharati took sanyas
at the age of 19 and headed to the Edneer Mutt,
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A 26-year-old Muslim man who had married a 16-and-a-half-year-old girl had moved the High Court seeking
custody of his spouse. The Punjab police had taken custody of the girl since she was a minor.
Justice Vikas Bahl examined the girl’s statement and noted in the judgment that “she had run from the house along
with the present petitioner out of her own will as the dentenue is fond of the petitioner and wished to marry him.”
The girl, referred to as the dentenue, also told the Panchkula magistrate in her statement under Section 164 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure that she “had run away from her house along with the present petitioner out of her
own will and has stated that her family members forcefully engaged her with her maternal uncle and she has
performed Nikah with the present petitioner on 27.07.2022 in a Mosque at Manimajra and she does not want to stay
with her family and in fact, is married to the petitioner and wishes to reside with him.”
Under these circumstances, the HC allowed the marriage of the girl as per her free, especially since under Muslim
law, a girl can be married after attaining puberty.
“All women from all faiths, under Hindu Marriage Act or the Muslim Personal Law, should get equal rights to marry,”
Irani had said while introducing the Bill.
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During the debate, E T Mohammed Basheer of the Indian Union Muslim League said the Bill was unconstitutional and
was violative of Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of conscience and free profession,
practice and propagation of religion.
41. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights 44. Prohibition of Child Marriage Act was passed in
was formed in which year? which of the following years?
(a) 2004 (b) 2005 (a) 2002 (b) 2005
(c) 2007 (d) 2009 (c) 2006 (d) 2009
42. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was 45. Which of the following is CORRECT?
passed in which of the following years? (a) Every Mahomedan of sound mind, who has
(a) 2010 (b) 2012 attained puberty, may enter into a contract of
(c) 2016 (d) 2019 marriage.
(b) Lunatics and minors who have not attained
43. Who among the following is the Union Minister for puberty may be validly contracted in marriage
Women and Child Development? by their respective guardians.
(a) Smriti Irani (c) A marriage of a Mahomedan who is of sound
(b) Maneka Gandhi mind and has attained puberty, is void, if it is
(c) Nirmala Sitharaman brought about without his consent.
(d) Dr. Harshavardhan (d) All of the above
41. (c) The National Commission for Protection of Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the Prohibition
Child Rights is an Indian statutory body of Child Marriage Act, 2006 to increase the
established by an Act of Parliament, the age of marriage for women, and ensure
Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, harmony in the age limit across religions.
2005. The Commission works under the aegis of 45. (d) The HC ruling quoted the Principles of
Ministry of Women and Child Development, Mohammedan Law by Sir Dinshah Fardunji
GoI. The Commission became operational on 5 Mulla, on the capacity for marriage. It states:
March 2007. Capacity for marriage:
42. (b) The NCPCR also argued that since the 1. Every Mahomedan of sound mind, who has
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences attained puberty, may enter into a contract
Act, 2012 does not recognise consent for sexual of marriage.
activity by minors, marriages on attaining 2. Lunatics and minors who have not attained
puberty cannot be allowed. puberty may be validly contracted in
43. (a) Union Minister for Women and Child marriage by their respective guardians.
Development Smriti Irani had introduced a 3. A marriage of a Mahomedan who is of sound
Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the Prohibition mind and has attained puberty, is void, if it is
of Child Marriage Act, 2006 to increase the brought about without his consent.
age of marriage for women, and ensure Explanation. Puberty is presumed, in the
harmony in the age limit across religions. absence of evidence, on completion of the age of
44. (c) Union Minister for Women and Child fifteen years.
Development Smriti Irani had introduced a
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REWARD PROJECT
News
Impressed with Karnataka’s performance in the implementation of the Rejuvenating Watershed for Agricultural
Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD) scheme, the World Bank has decided to get agricultural
officers from Sub-Saharan countries to visit the State to learn from its experience.
A World Bank team that visited the State from January 9 to 11 to review the implementation of REWARD
scheme informed this to the State officers, according to M. V. Venkatesh, Commissioner, Watershed Development
Department.
The World Bank team felt that Karnataka’s model could help Sub-Saharan countries that are reeling under food
crisis, he said.
Impressed with Karnataka’s performance in the implementation of the Rejuvenating Watershed for Agricultural
Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD) scheme, the World Bank has decided to get agricultural
officers from Sub-Saharan countries to visit the State to learn from its experience.
Karnataka, which has been identified as a “lighthouse partner” by the World Bank in developing science-based
watershed model, is the first State to develop a Land Resource Inventory portal that has details of 14 lakh
hectares of land coming under the project, he said.
The Land Resource Inventory will have details on the appropriate measures to be taken for different types of land
with respect to agriculture, groundwater, crop, and soil health, among other issues, he explained.
Karnataka has already set up a Centre for Excellence in Watershed Management to train officers from
different States on watershed-related aspects. The centre is located on the GKVK campus of the University of
Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru.
46. Who among the following is supporting the (a) 2025 (b) 2028
REWARDS Project in Karnataka? (c) 2030 (d) 2032
(a) World Bank (b) IMF
(c) ADB (d) European Bank 48. Which of the following has been identified as a
“lighthouse partner” by the World Bank in
47. The Government of India has committed to developing science-based watershed model?
restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by (a) Karnataka (b) Odisha
which of the following years? (c) Manipur (d) West Bengal
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49. The World Bank team felt that Karnataka’s model 50. The Government of India, the State Governments of
could help which of the following countries that are Karnataka and Odisha and the World Bank have
reeling under food crisis? signed a $115 million (INR 869 crore) Programme in
(a) Sub-Saharan (b) West African which years?
(c) South American (d) All of the above (a) 2020 (b) 2021
(c) 2022 (d) 2023
46. (a) Impressed with Karnataka’s performance in hectares of land coming under the project, he
the implementation of the Rejuvenating said.
Watershed for Agricultural Resilience 49. (d) The World Bank team felt that Karnataka’s
through Innovative Development model could help Sub-Saharan countries that
(REWARD) scheme, the World Bank has are reeling under food crisis.
decided to get agricultural officers from Sub- 50. (c) The Government of India, the State
Saharan countries to visit the State to learn from Governments of Karnataka and Odisha and the
its experience. World Bank have signed a $115 million (INR 869
47. (c) The Government of India has committed to crore) Programme(Rejuvenating Watersheds for
restoring 26 million hectares of degraded Agricultural Resilience through Innovative
land by 2030 and doubling farmers’ income Development Programme) in 2022 that will help
by 2023. national and state institutions adopt improved
48. (a) Karnataka, which has been identified as a watershed management practices to help
“lighthouse partner” by the World Bank in increase farmers’ resilience to climate change,
developing science-based watershed model, is promote higher productivity and better
the first State to develop a Land Resource incomes.
Inventory portal that has details of 14 lakh
ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES
News
Ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ) are intended to protect ‘protected areas’ – national parks and wildlife sanctuaries –
by transitioning from an area of lower protection to an area of higher protection. ESZs are effectively insulating layers
where humans and nature can be at peace with each other.
However, the creation of these zones has provoked protests in Kerala and some other areas, in a precursor to what
is likely to emerge in other parts of the country.
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Gram Sabhas are now the statutory authorities empowered to conserve, protect and manage forests,
wildlife and biodiversity lying within the traditional village boundaries over forest lands.
This is to be a new category of forests called ‘community forest resource’ (CFR). Gram sabhas have to integrate
their CFR conservation and management plan into the ‘working plan’ of the Forest Department, with the required
modifications.
Surrounding these protected areas is an area of more than 1,11,000 sq. km – or 3.4% percent of the country’s land
– which in effect falls under the ESZ regime.
Governments have notified 341 ESZs in 29 States and five Union territories, while another 85 ESZs are awaiting
notification. Together, protected areas and the ESZs cover 8.66% of India’s land area.
The ESZs span notified forests outside protected areas, most of which could also come under gram sabhas’
jurisdiction under the FRA.
The extent of ESZs from the boundary of a protected area ranges from 0 to as much as 45.82 km (in Pin Valley
National Park, Himachal Pradesh). Fifteen states have ESZs exceeding 10 km.
Significantly, parts of ESZs in ten States – Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana – fall within the Scheduled Area notified under
the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.
Such Scheduled Areas cover over 11% of the country’s land area and are mostly thickly forested and mountainous.
They are preponderantly populated by Scheduled Tribe groups and are notified by the President under Article 244
of the Provisions of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) 1996.
PESA recognises habitation-level Gram Sabhas to be competent to safeguard and preserve community resources
on forest and revenue lands in Scheduled Areas.
Effectively, PESA and FRA are two flagship laws of the Union government that, for the first time in independent
India, gave primacy to people’s democracy in governance.
However, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has shown no inclination to
amend the Indian Forest Act 1927, the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Environment (Protection) Act 1986
(under which ESZs are notified) to comply with PESA and FRA.
In fact, in the Forest Conservation Rules, compliance with FRA, recognition of forest rights and gram sabha’s
consent were preconditions for considering proposals to divert forest land for non-forestry purposes – until the
MoEFCC did away with them in 2022.
The ministry has also overlooked demands by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to restore the
erstwhile FRA compliance procedure.
About Eco-Sensitive Zones
The 2002 Wildlife Conservation Strategy envisaged lands within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries to be notified as ecologically fragile zones under Section 3(2)(v) of the Environment
Protection Act 1986 and its Rules 5(viii) and (x).
The MoEFCC was to take steps to protect the environment by regulating and (if required) prohibiting industries,
operations and processes.
Rule 5(1)(vi) provided for environmentally compatible land-use in areas around protected areas.
The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) also endorsed this view.
In 2005, the National Board for Wildlife decided to delineate site-specific ESZs to regulate specific activities
instead of prohibiting them.
So on May 27, 2005, the MoEFCC asked the States and UTs to propose ESZs.
On December 4, 2006, the Supreme Court directed the MoEFCC (W.P No.460/2004) to have the States’ and UTs’
proposals submitted within four weeks. But four years later, the MoEFCC still hadn’t issued the ESZ guidelines.
The Supreme Court pointed this out on December 3, 2010 (I.A No.2609/2009), prompting the MoEFCC to submit
the guidelines on February 9, 2011. Based on the forest rangers’ inventory of land-use and wildlife corridors within
10 km of each protected area, a committee consisting of the Wildlife Warden, an ecologist, and an official from the
local government was to determine the extent of each ESZ, the nature of environmental concerns to be addressed
and ways to address them.
The Chief Wildlife Warden was to then list the activities that were to be prohibited, to be restricted with safeguards
and to be permitted.
Finally, the state government would submit this, the geographical description of the area and the biodiversity
values, the rights and entitlements of local communities, and their economic potential and implications for their
livelihoods, as a proposal to the MoEFCC for notification.
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While the 10-km rule is implemented as a general principle, the extent of its application can vary. Areas beyond 10
km can also be notified by the Union government as ESZs, if they hold larger ecologically important “sensitive
corridors”.
Significance of ESZs:
Minimise the Impact of Development Activities:
The areas close to protected areas have been designated as Eco-Sensitive Zones in order to lessen the effects of
urbanisation and other developmental activities.
In-situ Conservation:
ESZs support in-situ conservation, which focuses on preserving a threatened species in its own environment, such
as the one-horned rhinoceros of Assam's Kaziranga National Park.
Minimise Forest Depletion and Man-Animal Conflict:
Eco-sensitive zones reduce man-animal conflict and the loss of forests.
The core and buffer style of management serves as the foundation for the protected areas, which also benefits and
protects the surrounding communities.
Minimise the Negative Impact on the Fragile Ecosystems:
Eco-sensitive zones are designated around protected areas in order to act as a "Shock Absorber" for the protected
region.
They serve as a crossing point between regions with high levels of protection and those with lower levels of
protection.
51. Land under how many kms of the National Parks 53. Eco Sensitive Zones are Covered under which of the
and Wildlife Sanctuary is declared as Eco-Sensitive following legislations?
Zone? (a) Environment Protection Act 1986
(a) 05 (b) 08 (b) Wildlife Conservation Strategy 2002
(c) 10 (d) 15 (c) National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016)
(d) Indian Forest Act 1927
52. Which of the following will replace [1] in the above
passage? 54. Which of the following Indian States has the most
(a) 18 (b) 20 Eco Sensitive Zones?
(c) 23 (d) 28 (a) Tamil Nadu (b) Karnataka
(c) Maharashtra (d) Uttar Pradesh
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55. As per latest findings, how much is the total forest (a) 21% (b) 25 %
and tree cover in India? (c) 28% (d) 31%
51. (c) The 2002 Wildlife Conservation Strategy the Environment Protection Act 1986. India has
envisaged lands within 10 km of the boundaries more than 600 Ecologically Sensitive Zones
of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to be declared across different states.
notified as ecologically fragile zones under 54. (c) Such areas are protected by regulating and
Section 3(2)(v) of the Environment Protection managing the activities. The state of
Act 1986 and its Rules 5(viii) and (x). Maharashtra has the maximum number of
52. (c) The MoEF had issued final or draft notifications Ecologically Sensitive Zones.
on the ESZ of 23 wildlife sanctuaries and 55. (b) In 2021, the total forest and tree cover in India is
national parks in the state from 2019 to 2021, 80.9 million hectares, which is 24.62% of the
based on which Kerala had submitted proposals geographical area of the country. Sharing the
seeking to remove human habitations. findings, the Minister informed that the total
53. (a) Ecologically Sensitive Zones are notified by the forest and tree cover of the country is 80.9
Central Government through the Ministry of million hectare which is 24.62 percent of the
Environment Forests and Climate Change under geographical area of the country
Gender Disparity:
Women still do not enjoy the same amount of respect or recognition on the professional front as their male colleagues,
especially in the sports industry, despite their attempts to lobby for their social rights.
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Lack of Access and Costlier:
Lack of physical education in schools and limited opportunities to play sports in both high school and college mean
girls have to look elsewhere for sports –which may not exist or may cost more money.
Often there is an additional lack of access to adequate playing facilities near their homes that makes it more difficult
for girls to engage in sports.
56. Between 2010 and 2020, the SAI (Sports Authority of 58. Who of the following is the President of the
India) received how complaints of sexual Wrestling Federation of India?
harassment? (a) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
(a) 25 (b) 31 (b) Shri Pushpdan Shambhudan
(c) 39 (d) 45 (c) Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot
(d) Shri Shankar Prasad Jaiswal
57. Which of the following countries polls in 2021 raised
the issue of sports violence? 59. Wrestling Federation of India established in which
(a) Germany (b) New Zealand year?
(c) Switzerland (d) USA (a) 1957 (b) 1961
(c) 1967 (d) 1971
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60. Sports Authority of India was formed in which of the (a) 1970 (b) 1984
following years? (c) 1990 (d) 1991
56. (d) Between 2010 and 2020, the SAI (Sports and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after she
Authority of India) received 45 complaints of received a number of phone calls from fearful
sexual harassment, 29 of which were against young women wrestlers.
coaches, according to RTI (Right to 59. (c) Established in the year 1967, Wrestling
Information) Data. Federation Of India in Ashoka Road, Delhi is a
57. (a) Germany's polls in 2021 raised the issue of sports top player in the category Associations Of Sports
violence. In May 2021, the Federal Parliament's in the Delhi.
Sports Committee held a public hearing on 60. (b) The Sports Authority of India (SAI) was
sexualized, physical, and emotional violence in established by the Govt. in 1984 as a Society
sports. under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, with
58. (a) Vinesh Phogat decided to go public with the twin objective of broad-basing of sports and
allegations of sexual harassment against to achieve excellence at the national and
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president international level.
In the first judges case, SP Gupta v Union of India - 1981, the judges suggested that the executive must have the
biggest say in judicial appointments.
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In the second judges case, Supreme Court Advocates-on Record Association v Union of India - 1993, a nine-
judge bench said that the CJI must be given priority in such appointments.
This was reiterated in the third judges case, in re Special Reference 1 of 1998. Since then, judges have been
appointed by the collegium system.
In September 2013, the Rajya Sabha passed The Constitution (120th Amendment) Bill, 2013 that amends
articles 124(2) and 217(1) of the Constitution of India, 1950 and establishes the National Judicial Appointments
Commission, on whose recommendation the President would appoint judges to the higher judiciary. However, the
amendment was quashed by the apex court for being unconstitutional in October 2015.
Judges of the higher judiciary are appointed only through the collegium system, and the government has a role only
after names have been decided by the collegium. Names recommended for appointment by a High Court collegium
reach the government only after approval by the CJI and the Supreme Court collegium.
The role of the government in this entire process is limited to getting an inquiry conducted by the Intelligence Bureau
(IB) if a lawyer is to be elevated as a judge in a High Court or the Supreme Court. The government can also raise
objections and seek clarifications regarding the collegium’s choices, but if the collegium reiterates the same names, the
government is bound to appoint them.
Sometimes the government delays making the appointments, especially in cases where the government is perceived to
be unhappy with one or more judges recommended for appointment by the collegium. Supreme Court judges have
sometimes expressed anguish over such delays.
The NJAC was to comprise the Chief Justice of India as the ex officio Chairperson, two senior-most Supreme
Court Judges as ex officio members, the Union Minister of Law and Justice as ex officio member, and two
eminent persons from civil society — one of whom would be nominated by a committee consisting of the CJI, Prime
Minster and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the other would be nominated from the
SC/ST/OBC/minority communities or women.
The laws were repealed in October 2015 after the Supreme Court struck them down.
The Constitution Bench declared the said Act as violative of the basic structure of the Constitution. The Act is full
of contradictions and strikes at the independence of the judiciary.
Under Article 141, the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts. If it is binding on all courts, it
is equally binding on all constitutional authorities. In a constitutional democracy, there is no scope of Parliamentary
Sovereignty. Parliament is neither sovereign nor supreme. Equally, the judiciary is also not supreme.
The Parliament can amend the Constitution but it cannot damage or destroy or change its basic structure. If the
constitutional amendment is violative of the basic structure, it is liable to be declared unconstitutional. The
Constitution is supreme. It is binding on all, including the Parliament.
61. Under which Article Law declared by the Supreme (a) Article 32 (b) Article 121
Court is binding on all the Courts? (c) Article 141 (d) Article 137
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62. National Judicial Appointment Commission was 64. Who is the current Law Minister of India?
brought via which of the following Amendments? (a) Ravishankar Prasad (b) Kiren Rijiju
(a) 97th Amendment (b) 98th Amendment (c) Piyush Goyal (d) Ashwini Vaishnav
(c) 99th Amendment (d) 100th Amendment
65. Supreme Court Collegium is how many members
63. First Judge Case was held in which of the following body?
years? (a) 3 (b) 4
(a) 1981 (b) 1993 (c) 5 (d) 6
(c) 1998 (d) 2015
61. (c) Under Article 141, the law declared by the have the biggest say in judicial appointments.
Supreme Court is binding on all courts. 64. (b) The Supreme Court of India’s Collegium system
62. (c) The Constitution (99th Amendment) Act, which has been dominating the headlines of late with
established the NJAC and the NJAC Act, was Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju criticising the
passed by decades-old system of appointment of judges
Parliament in 2014 to set up a commission for saying that & nowhere in the world, except in
appointing judges, replacing the Collegium India is there a practice where judges appoint
system. This their brother judges.
would essentially increase the government’s role 65. (c) The Supreme Court Collegium is a five-member
in the appointment of judges. body, which is headed by the incumbent CJI and
63. (a) In the first judges case, SP Gupta v Union of comprises the four other senior most judges of
India - 1981, the judges suggested that the the court at that time.
executive must
About TB
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a member of the Mycobacteriaceae family with roughly 200 species, is the bacterium
that causes tuberculosis (TB).
Some mycobacteria infect a variety of animals, while others cause diseases like leprosy and TB in humans.
TB most frequently impacts the lungs in people (pulmonary TB), however it can also impact other organs (extra-
pulmonary TB).
It has been proven that TB, a very old disease, was present in Egypt as early as 3000 BC.
The disease TB is curable and treatable.
Through the air, TB can transmit from one person to another. People who have lung TB cough, sneeze, or spit into
the air, spreading the TB bacteria.
Chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats are all common signs of active lung TB, as do coughs
that occasionally produce sputum and blood.
Global Impact of TB
The 30 countries with a high TB burden accounted for 87% of new TB infections in 2019.
Eight nations—India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and South Africa—accounted
for two thirds of the new TB cases.
Between January and December 2020, India reported 1.8 million TB cases, down from 2.4 million the year prior.
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MDR-TB continued to be a public health emergency and a threat to health security in 2019.
MDR-TB is a type of tuberculosis that is resistant to the two anti-TB medications that are typically used as first-line
therapy. Extensively A type of tuberculosis known as drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is brought on by germs
that are resistant to several of the most potent anti-TB medications.
BCG Vaccine
By altering a Mycobacterium bovis strain (that causes TB in cattle), two Frenchmen named Albert Calmette
and Camille Guerin created the BCG vaccine. In humans, it was first used in 1921.
BCG was first made available in India on a small scale in 1948, and it was included in the National TB Control
Program in 1962.
In addition to its principal application as a TB vaccine, it also offers defence against other mycobacterial diseases
like Leprosy and Buruli's ulcer as well as infant respiratory and bacterial infections.
Malignant melanoma and urinary bladder cancer are both treated with it as an immunotherapy agent.
It's an intriguing fact about BCG that it performs well in certain places and poorly in others. In general, a country's
efficiency increases with distance from the equator.
In nations near or on the equator, such India, Kenya, and Malawi, where the prevalence of TB is higher, it has little
to no efficacy. It has a high efficacy in the UK, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
World TB Day
On March 24, the world observes World Tuberculosis (TB) Day in an effort to raise awareness about the TB
epidemic's devastating effects on people's health, society, and the economy.
On this day in 1882, Dr. Robert Koch revealed the identification of the TB-causing Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, which paved the path for the treatment and diagnosis of the illness.
One of the worst infectious diseases in the world even now is tuberculosis. Over 4100 people die from TB every
day, and about 28,000 more contract the illness, according to the World Health Organization. For the first time
in almost a decade, tuberculosis deaths have increased in 2020.
The WHO estimates that approximately 1,500,000 persons died and approximately 9,900,000 contract TB in 2020.
66,000,000 lives have been spared since 2000 as a result of global efforts to eradicate TB.
Around 26% of all TB cases worldwide are located in India.
Consequently, World TB Day is commemorated to inform people about the illness TB and its impact.
66. When is the World Tuberculosis Day observed? (c) Kristalina Georgieva
(a) 24th March (b) 28th March (d) Indermit Gill
(c) 01st April (d) 30th April
69. India has set a target to eradicate TB by which of the
67. Dr. Robert Koch revealed the identification of the following years?
TB-causing Mycobacterium tuberculosis in (a) 2025 (b) 2028
which of the following years? (c) 2030 (d) 2040
(a) 1882 (b) 1889
(c) 1891 (d) 1898 70. BCG Vaccine was first used in Humans in which of
the following years?
68. Who is the Director General of WHO? (a) 1919 (b) 1920
(a) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (c) 1921 (d) 1922
(b) Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
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ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
66. (a) On March 24, the world observes World announced plans to establish a new TB Vaccine
Tuberculosis (TB) Day in an effort to raise Accelerator Council.
awareness about the TB epidemic's devastating 69. (a) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
effects on people's health, society, and the (MOHFW) has launched this project to hasten
economy. the nation's progress toward TB eradication by
67. (a) On this day in 1882, Dr. Robert Koch revealed 2025.
the identification of the TB-causing 70. (c) By altering a Mycobacterium bovis strain
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which paved (that causes TB in cattle), two Frenchmen
the path for the treatment and diagnosis of the named Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin
illness. created the BCG vaccine. In humans, it was first
68. (a) At a high-level panel on TB at the World used in 1921.
Economic Forum, Dr Tedros Adhanom BCG was first made available in India on a small
Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, scale in 1948, and it was included in the
National TB Control Program in 1962.
BLACKLISTING OF TERRORISTS
News
The ISIL and Al Qaida Sanctions Committee of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) has placed Abdul Rehman Makki, a
fundraiser and key planner of the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), on its sanctions list.
The move was made possible after China withdrew the “technical hold” that it had imposed last June, when the U.S.
and India - then a non-permanent member at the UNSC - tried unsuccessfully to get Mr. Makki on the global terror
blacklist.
Beijing has now argued that the blacklisting is in fact a “recognition” of Pakistan’s record of fighting terrorism.
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Background
During India’s two-year (2021-22) tenure at the UNSC, five names were designated under the ISIL and Al Qaeda
Sanctions Committee including Abdul Rehman Makki (LeT).
These names faced a “technical hold” from China, while the other 14 members (permanent + non-permanent) of
the UNSC supported the listing.
India and the US have listed Makki as a terrorist under their respective national laws.
In October 2022, Pakistan was removed from the grey list of FATF.
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About Financial Action Task Force
It is an intergovernmental organisation that was established in 1989 at the G7's request to create guidelines for
combating money laundering.
Its authority was widened to cover financing of terrorism in 2001.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris serve as its operational
hub.
Member Nations: It has 39 members, including India, as well as the EU and the GCC, two regional organisations
(Gulf cooperation council)
Sessions: Its plenary (the body that makes decisions) holds three annual meetings.
Lists under FATF:
o Grey List: It serves as a warning for the countries considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money
laundering.
o Black List: High-risk countries and Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put on the blacklist.
E.g., Iran, Myanmar and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
71. 1267 al-qaeda sanctions committee was established 73. FATF was established in which of the following
in which of the following years? years?
(a) 1992 (b) 1999 (a) 1972 (b) 1983
(c) 2001 (d) 2005 (c) 1989 (d) 1991
72. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about FATF? 74. The FATF plenary session is the decision-making
(a) It has a total of 29 members. body which meets how many times in a year?
(b) Its membership includes three regional (a) Once (b) Twice
organizations. (c) Thrice (d) Four time
(c) India is not a member in the FATF
(d) All of the above 75. Where is the headquarter of the FATF located?
(a) Geneva (b) Nairobi
(c) Paris (d) New York
71. (b) Resolution 1267 (1999) adopted on 15 October 73. (c) An inter-governmental body established in 1989
1999 established the 1267 Committee and during the G7 Summit in Paris.
imposed amongst other things, financial 74. (c) The FATF Plenary is the decision-making body
sanctions on the Taliban. of the FATF. It meets three times per year.
72. (d) The FATF currently has 39 members including 75. (c) An inter-governmental body established in 1989
two regional organisations - the European during the G7 Summit in Paris. Its Secretariat is
Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. located at the Organisation for Economic
India is a member of the FATF. Cooperation and Development (OECD)
headquarters in Paris.
Claiming a "victory" ahead of the assembly elections, CM Bommai announced the Centre's clearance for the DPR which
was submitted in November 2022
"Considering that the legislature session is being held in Belagavi, I am glad to announce that the Centre has recently
cleared the much disputed Kalasa-Banduri Nala project which has been a long standing demand of north Karnataka
taluks," said Bommai.
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The CM recalled that the project was first initiated by his father, and then CM, SR Bommai over river sharing with Goa
and using the water for drinking purposes. "However, successive governments failed to follow through and there were
several environmental, forest and inter-state water disputes Today, finally, we have realised the goal which was set upon
decades ago," said Bommai.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/centre-clears-kalasa-banduri-nala-project-dpr-karnataka-cm-
claims-victory/articleshow/96596890.cms
76. (a) It involves building across Kalasa and Banduri, 79. (b) The National Rural Drinking Water Programme
two tributaries of the Mahadayi river to divert (NRDWP) was launched in 2009. It aims to
water to the Malaprabha river (a tributary of provide safe and adequate water for drinking,
Krishna river). cooking and other domestic needs to every rural
77. (c) The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was set person on a sustainable basis.
up in 2010. Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra are 80. (c) In 2018, the interstate tribunal had granted
parties to the tribunal. Karnataka a total of 13.42 thousand million cubic
78. (c) Kalasa-Banduri project was planned in 1989; Goa feet of water against a total of their claim of
raised an objection to it. 36.558 thousand million cubic feet. Both Goa
and Karnataka had challenged the decision.
Passage 2.
Ever since its formation, the Modi government has committed itself to bring about a change in the rural economy,
double the income of farmers and make village economy vibrant. It has initiated several schemes to uplift the rural
economy as India's most of the population still resides in the villages. Now, to get fresh ideas and solutions that could
help the rural economy grow, the government has launched a sort of competition, called 'Prajjwala Challenge'. With
this initiative, the government is inviting ideas, solutions and actions from the common public which could play a role
as a catalyst in the transformation of the rural economy.
This is another Modi model of governance where inputs directly from the stakeholders are taken into consideration.
Under 'Prajjwala Challenge', people could now give their ideas and suggestions which would help transform the rural
economy. This is a platform where ideas are invited from the private sector, social enterprises, startups or even
individuals. Additionally, the ideas and suggestions are also being welcomed from community-based organisations,
incubation centres and investors as these are the entities that have potential to transform the rural economy to a great
extent. The idea of India has villages in its core, and this government knows it well; therefore the 'Prajjwala Challenge'.
https://www.oneindia.com/india/what-is-prajjwala-challenge-how-will-it-help-the-rural-economy-3506102.html
81. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna, which was
Livelihoods Mission was launched by the Ministry of launched in which of the following years?
Rural Development as a restructured version of (a) 2011 (b) 2015
(c) 2018 (d) 2020
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82. Who among the following is the Minister of Rural
Development? 84. The Mission so far has mobilised how many women
(a) Giriraj Singh in to the Self Hep Groups and their federation?
(b) Shailesh Kumar Singh (a) 57 Million (b) 67 Million
(c) Bhupendra Yadav (c) 77 Million (d) 87 Million
(d) Gajendra Shekhawat
85. Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) is a
83. Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna was renamed “movement” of self-employed women in rural and
Deendayal Antayodaya Yojana in which of the urban India. It was established in which year?
following years? (a) 1967 (b) 1972
(a) 2012 (b) 2014 (c) 1989 (d) 1994
(c) 2015 (d) 2018
81. (a) It was launched by the Ministry of Rural 83. (c) In November 2015, the program was renamed
Development (MoRD), Government of India in Deendayal Antayodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM).
June 2011 as a restructured version of Swarna 84. (d) The Mission so far has mobilised more than 87
Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY). Million women in to the Self Hep Groups and
82. (a) Shri Giriraj Singh has taken charge as the Union their federations.
Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati 85. (b) Established in 1972, the Self-Employed Women's
Raj. Informing about his assuming charge Association (SEWA) is a “movement” of self-
through a tweet, Shri Singh expressed his employed women in rural and urban India, and
heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Shri is the largest trade union of the country.
Narendra Modi for entrusting him with the new
responsibility and reposing confidence.
Passage 3.
More than two years after Ladakh became a Union Territory, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted a
high-powered committee headed by Minister of State [1] to “ensure protection of land and employment” for the people
of Ladakh.
The 17-member committee that includes Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R.K. Mathur will “discuss measures to protect
the region’s unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and its strategic
importance”, an order by MHA said.
The committee will also discuss measures for inclusive development and employment generation in the region and
issues related to empowerment of Ladakh Autonomous Hill District Coucils of Leh and Kargil.
On [2], the former State of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two UTs - J&K and Ladakh, the latter without a
Legislative Assembly.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mha-constitutes-high-powered-committee-to-ensure-protection-of-land-
and-employment-for-ladakh/article66331577.ece
86. Who among the following will replace [1] in the 88. Which of the following is one of the causes of the
above passage? demand to for inclusion of Ladakh in the sixth
(a) Nityanand Rai (b) Ajay Kumar Mishra schedule?
(c) Sanjay Jaiswal (d) Giriraj Singh (a) Inclusion in the sixth schedule will help in
democratic devolution of powers in the region.
87. Which of the following will replace [2] in the above (b) It will also will also enhance the transfer of funds
passage? for speedy development of the region.
(a) August 5, 2019 (b) September 5, 2019 (c) It is estimated that more than 90% of Ladakh’s
(c) July 5, 2019 (d) October 5, 2019 population is tribal.
(d) All of the above
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89. The sixth schedule of the Constitution of India 90. Which of the following State is not one of the States
comes under which of the following Articles? in the 6th Schedule?
(a) Article 241 (b) Article 244 (a) Assam (b) Tripura
(c) Article 248 (d) Article 251 (c) Meghalaya (d) Nagaland
86. (a) Nityanand Rai is an Indian politician and the Prior to the creation of the Union Territory of
current Minister of State for Home Affairs in the Ladakh, people in Ladakh region had certain
Government of India. He was elected in the 2014 agrarian rights including right on land which
and 2019 General Election from Ujiarpur as a restricted people from other parts of the country
candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party. to purchase or acquire land in Ladakh. Inclusion
87. (a) On August 5, 2019, the former State of Jammu in the sixth schedule will help in democratic
and Kashmir was bifurcated into two UTs - J&K devolution of powers in the region and will also
and Ladakh, the latter without a Legislative enhance the transfer of funds for speedy
Assembly. development of the region.
88. (a) It is estimated that more than 90% of Ladakh’s 89. (b) The Sixth Schedule under Article 244 provides
population is tribal. The primary Scheduled for the formation of autonomous administrative
Tribes (STs) in Ladakh are Balti Beda, Bot (or divisions — Autonomous District Councils
Boto), Brokpa (or Drokpa, Dard, Shin), (ADCs) — that have some legislative, judicial,
Changpa, Garra, Mon and Purigpa. The Ladakh and administrative autonomy within a state.
region has several distinct cultural heritages by 90. (d) As of now, 10 autonomous councils exist in
communities such as Drokpa, Balti and Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. This
Changpa, among others, which needs to be special provision is provided under Article
preserved and promoted. 244(2) and Article 275(1) of the Constitution.
Passage 4.
BJP's Sushil Modi, who spoke against same sex marriages in Parliament today, told NDTV that while same sex
relationships are acceptable, allowing such marriages will give rise to problems on multiple levels, including "divorce
and adoption". Speaking in Rajya Sabha earlier today, the MP had objected to it in the social and cultural context.
"Any law should also be attuned with traditions and cultures of the country," he said. "We should assess what is Indian
society and whether the people are ready to accept it".
"Same-sex relationships have been decriminalised... But shadi (marriage)is a pavitra sanstha (sacred institution). Same-
sex couples living together is one thing, but giving them legal status is a different thing," he added. The government, he
told NDTV, has opposed it in Supreme Court in an affidavit.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/same-sex-relationships-okay-but-not-same-sex-marriages-bjps-sushil-modi-
3620583
91. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was 93. The right to marriage is recognised as which right
decriminalised in which of the following Judgements under Indian Constitution.
of the Supreme Court of India? (a) Fundamental Right
(a) Navtej Singh Johar versus Union of India (b) Constitutional Right
(b) Young India Lawyers Assosiations versus State (c) Is not expressly recognized as either
of Kerala (d) Both a and b
(c) NALSA versus Union of India
(d) Anil Kumar Verma versus Union of India 94. Marriage is regulated through various statutory
enactments and developed through judicial
92. Which of the following became the First Asian decisions of India’s Supreme Court. Such declaration
Country to allow Same Sex Marriage? of law is binding on all courts throughout India
(a) Thailand (b) Taiwan under which Article of the Constitution.
(c) Malaysia (d) Japan (a) Article 121 (b) Article 141
(c) Article 35 (d) Article 47
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95. Which one of these countries Laws Criminalizing (a) Belgium (b) Iceland
Same-Sex Relations, by Sentence (c) Denmark (d) Papua New Guinea
91. (a) Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. v. Union of India thr. under the Indian Constitution. Though
Secretary Ministry of Law and Justice is a marriage is regulated through various statutory
landmark decision of the Supreme Court of enactments, its recognition as a fundamental
India that decriminalised all consensual sex right has only developed through judicial
among adults, including homosexual sex. decisions of India’s Supreme Court.
92. (b) Following a Constitutional Court ruling and a 94. (b) Such declaration of law is binding on all courts
subsequent legislative act, Taiwan became the throughout India under Article 141 of the
first country in Asia to legalize same-sex Constitution.
marriage nationwide on 24 May 2019. 95. (d) Except Papua New Guinea rest all countries have
93. (c) The right to marry is not expressly recognized legislation in favour of same-sex marriage.
either as a fundamental or constitutional right
Passage 5.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
regarding the Central Sector Scheme “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” (BIND). The BIND
scheme is aimed to bring modernisation to the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati i.e. All India Radio (AIR) and
Doordarshan (DD). The outlay of the scheme is Rs.2,539.61 crore and is for the time period upto 2025-26.
Prasar Bharati played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic in disseminating important public health messages
and awareness to the public. As a public broadcaster of the country, the organisation is a significant source for
communicating information in the public interest. Prasar Bharati not only provides information but also educates and
engages people. Undoubtedly, expenses are needed for expansion and upgradation of work. Hence, the BIND scheme
would provide for the necessary financial support to improve the infrastructure.
https://newsonair.com/2023/01/05/cabinet-approves-bind-scheme-to-further-modernise-public-service-broadcasting/
96. At Present, DD Operates how many TV Channels? 98. Prasar Bharti was founded in which of the following
(a) 25 (b) 36 years?
(c) 45 (d) 52 (a) 1997 (b) 1999
(c) 2002 (d) 2004
97. Which of the following is TRUE about the BIND
Scheme? 99. Who is the current CEO of Prasar Bharti?
(a) The Scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM (a) Shashi Shekhar Vempati
transmitters in the country to 66% by (b) Gaurav Dwivedi
geographical area (c) DPS Negi
(b) The Scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM (d) Ms. Neerja Sekha
transmitters in the country to 80% by
population. 100. Who among the following is the current minister for
(c) The Scheme also envisages free distribution of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting?
over 8 lakh DD Free Dish STBs to people living (a) Nirmala Sitharaman
in remote, tribal, LWE and border areas. (b) Ravi Shankar Prasad
(d) All of the above (c) Anurag Thakur
(d) Ashwini Vaishnav
96. (b) At present, DD operates 36 TV channels geographical area and 80% by population up
including 28 regional channels and AIR operates from 59% and 68% respectively. The Scheme
from more than 500 broadcasting centres. also envisages free distribution of over 8 lakh
97. (d) The Scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM DD Free Dish STBs to people living in remote,
transmitters in the country to 66% by tribal, LWE and border areas.
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98. (a) Prasar Bharati is a legally independent 100. (c) Sh Anurag Singh Thakur is the Union Minister
organisation. It is the nation’s public service of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs
broadcaster. In 1997, it was founded under the & Sports. He is a 4th term Member Parliament
Prasar Bharati Act. (Lok Sabha/Lower House) from Hamirpur,
99. (a) Shashi Shekhar Vempati is the currently the Himachal Pradesh. He previously served as the
CEO of the Prasar Bharti. Minister of State for Finance and Corporate
Affairs (31st May 2019 to 7th July 2021).
Passage 6.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the world’s longest river cruise, [1], on 13 January 2023 in Varanasi. "From
Kashi to Sarnath, from Majuli to Mayong, from Sunderbans to Kaziranga, this cruise packs an experience of a lifetime.
I believe that this wonderful initiative, under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi ji, is the beginning of a new era in
river cruise tourism in India and strengthening our government’s commitment to enable Act East, both through policy
and practice," [2], Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush said.
The luxury cruise will cover a distance of more than 3,200 kms in 5 states in India and Bangladesh. The maiden voyage
of MV [1] will witness 32 tourists from Switzerland relishing the Varanasi to Dibrugarh journey.
The 51 days cruise is planned with visits to 50 tourist spots including World Heritage Sites, National Parks, river Ghats,
and major cities like Patna in Bihar, Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata in West Bengal, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Guwahati
in Assam.
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/worlds-longest-river-cruise-ganga-vilas-to-cover-5-states-50-tourist-spots-in-
51-days-key-things-to-know-see-pics-11673321653622.html
101. Which of the following will replace [1] in the above (a) 19 (b) 22
passage? (c) 27 (d) 32
(a) Ganga Vilas (b) Ganga Darshan
(c) Ganga Amar Yatra (d) Ganga Yatri 104. How many total UNESCO World Heritage Sites are
there in India?
102. Who among the following will replace [2] in the (a) 32 (b) 36
above passage? (c) 40 (d) 42
(a) Sarbananda Sonowal
(b) Arjun Munda 105. India has entered the Super-40 club for World
(c) Virendra Kumar Heritage Site inscriptions. Which of the following
(d) Pashupati Kumar Paras Countries is not one of the Super-40 Members?
(a) Italy (b) France
103. The Cruise will Cover how many river systems in its (c) U.K. (d) China
total journey?
101. (a) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the 103. (c) Besides connecting National Waterway 1 (NW1)
world’s longest river cruise, Ganga Vilas, on 13 which includes Ganga and National Waterway 2
January 2023 in Varanasi. "From Kashi to (NW2) on Brahmaputra, the cruise will cross 27
Sarnath, from Majuli to Mayong, from river systems.
Sunderbans to Kaziranga, this cruise packs an 104. (c) There are 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in
experience of a lifetime. India. Dholavira and Ramappa Temple are the
102. (a) I believe that this wonderful initiative, under the latest addition to the list under the 'Cultural'
guidance of Prime Minister Modi ji, is the category. There are two more categories —
beginning of a new era in river cruise tourism in Natural and Mixed.
India and strengthening our government’s 105. (c) The list of countries with 40 or more World
commitment to enable Act East, both through Heritage sites include Italy, Spain, Germany,
policy and practice," Sarbananda Sonowal, China, France, and now India. Out of India’s 40
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways World Heritage properties, 32 are cultural, seven
and Ayush said. natural and one mixed property. In another
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tweet, Reddy said, “Today is a proud day for
India, especially for the people of Gujarat.
Passage 7.
The first session of every new Parliament in the United Kingdom requires the election of the Speaker to be completed
and members of both Houses to take oath. Neither House of Parliament can proceed with any public business in any
further session unless it is opened either by the King himself or by Lords Commissioners acting on his behalf. The King’s
speech is thus the formal beginning of each new session of Parliament and states the government’s policy and the
intended programme of business for the forthcoming session. The King’s speech is prepared by the incumbent
government and a copy of it is given to him by the Lord Chancellor.
As India adopted the Westminster model of parliamentary democracy, the Constituent Assembly decided, on May 18,
1949, to adopt this practice. Article 87 of the Indian Constitution requires the President to make a special address to
both Houses of Parliament assembled on the commencement of the first session of each year. The President has to
inform Parliament of the causes of its summons. Similarly, [1] requires the Governor to make a special address at the
first session of each year of every State Legislative Assembly and to both Houses wherever the State also has a Legislative
Council. The language of these provisions were borrowed from the rules of the House of Commons.
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/more-than-just-an-address/article66374147.ece
106. Which of the following will replace [1] in the above (a) Five Years (b) Pleasure of President
passage? (c) Six Years (d) Both a and b
(a) Article 161 (b) Article 168
(c) Article 172 (d) Article 176 109. The nomination of a governor by the Union and his
appointment by the President in India is based on
107. Which of the following articles of the Constitution the model of which of the following countries?
of India binds the Governor to the aid and advice of (a) Canada (b) USA
the Council of ministers of State? (c) Switzerland (d) New Zealand
(a) Article 161 (b) Article 162
(c) Article 163 (d) Article 164 110. Who among the following is the Governor of Tamil
Nadu?
108. A Governor is appoint for a term of which of the (a) RN Ravi (b) Anandibai Patel
following? (c) Mangubhai Patel (d) Lalji Tondon
106. (d) Similarly, Article 176 requires the Governor to 109. (a) The nomination of a governor by the Union and
make a special address at the first session of each his appointment by the President in India is
year of every State Legislative Assembly and to based on the Canadian model of government.
both Houses wherever the State also has a 110. (a) Ravindra Narayana Ravi is an Indian politician
Legislative Council. The language of these and former bureaucrat serving as the current
provisions were borrowed from the rules of the and 15th Governor of Tamil Nadu. Ravi served as
House of Commons. the 18th Governor of Nagaland from 1 August
107. (c) Likewise, the Constitution of India, under 2019 to 9 September 2021 and Governor of
Article 163, binds the governor to take action on Meghalaya from 18 December 2019 to 26 January
the aid and advice of the council of ministers. 2020.
108. (d) The Governor of a State is appointed by the
President for a term of five years and holds office
during his pleasure.
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Passage 8.
The signing and exchange of the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) letters between India and UK marks a new chapter
in the visa regime between the countries. India joins just a handful of countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand,
Japan, Taiwan, Iceland, San Marino, Monaco, South Korea and Hong Kong to have a scheme where 3,000 individuals
aged 18-30 can live and work in the UK for two years without the need for a sponsor or a job on hand. Apart from [1],
India is the only visa-requiring country that has this scheme.
In May 2021, Minister for External Affairs [2] and the then UK home secretary Priti Patel had signed the wider “Migration
and Mobility Partnership” in Delhi which had YPS as one of the key highlights. On Monday, High Commissioner of
India to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, and UK Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft signed and exchanged
YPS letters marking its imminent launch.
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/immigration/uk-india-young-professionals-scheme-no-sponsor-no-job-
necessary-for-two-year-stay-9869921.html
111. (c) Apart from Japan, India is the only visa- Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai on 9
requiring country that has this scheme. January 1915.
112. (a) In May 2021, Minister for External Affairs S. 114. (a) The Young Professionals Scheme was conceived
Jaishankar and the then UK home secretary Priti as part of an India-U.K. The Migration and
Patel had signed the wider “Migration and Mobility MoU signed in May 2021, was
Mobility Partnership” in Delhi which had YPS as announced in November at the G20 summit in
one of the key highlights. Bali.
113. (b) Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a celebratory day 115. (b) India is a key strategic partner for the UK in the
observed on 9 January by the Republic of India Indo-Pacific both in terms of market share and
to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian defence, as was underscored by the signing of
community towards the development of India. the Defence and International Security
The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Partnership between India and the UK in 2015.
Passage 9.
DRDO conducted two successful test flight of Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile on 27 Sep
2022 from a ground based portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range, [1], off the coast of Odisha. VSHORADS is a
Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat
(RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
VSHORADS missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and
integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests. The missile, meant for neutralizing low
altitude aerial threats at short ranges is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor. The design of the missile including
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launcher has been highly optimized to ensure easy portability. Both the flight tests have completely met the mission
objectives.
Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh complimented and appreciated the efforts of DRDO and industry partners
and said that this new missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed
Forces. Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO congratulated the entire VSHORADS team for this tremendous success.
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1862617#:~:text=VSHORADS%20is%20a%20Man%20Portable,laborat
ories%20and%20Indian%20Industry%20Partners.
116. Which of the following will replace [1] in the above (c) 12 Kilometres (d) 14 Kilometres
passage?
(a) Chandipur (b) Paradeep Beach 119. Which of the following is the Short-range surface-
(c) Aryapalli Beach (d) Puri Beach to-surface ballistic missile.
(a) Prithvi (b) Agni
117. DRDO was established in which of the following (c) Trishul (d) Nag
years?
(a) 1958 (b) 1959 120. Integrated Guided Missile Development Program
(c) 1960 (d) 1962 received Government approval in which of the
following years?
118. MANPADS have a maximum range of how many (a) 1974 (b) 1983
kilometres? (c) 1987 (d) 1991
(a) 08 Kilometres (b) 10 Kilometres
116. (a) DRDO conducted two successful test flight of 119. (a) The 5 missiles (P-A-T-N-A) developed under
Very Short Range Air Defence System this program are:
(VSHORADS) missile on 27 Sep 2022 from a a. Prithvi: Short-range surface-to-surface
ground based portable launcher at the ballistic missile.
Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast b. Agni: Ballistic missiles with different ranges,
of Odisha. i.e., Agni (1,2,3,4,5)
117. (a) DRDO was formed in 1958 from the c. Trishul: Short-range low-level surface to air
amalgamation of the then already functioning missile.
Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) d. Nag: 3rd generation anti-tank missile.
of the Indian Army and the Directorate of e. Akash: Medium-range surface-to-air missile.
Technical Development & Production (DTDP) 120. (b) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam came up with the idea to
with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). help India become self-sufficient in missile
118. (a) MANPADS have a maximum range of 8 technology.
kilometers and can engage targets at altitudes of
4.5 km.
Passage 10.
The Golden Globes will return with its 80th edition on January 10, (January 11 for India). In 2022, the awards were not
broadcast owing to protests against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which was criticised for the lack
of diversity among nominees. The event was boycotted by media companies, actors, and creatives. The award ceremony
was held in private and winners were announced in a press release.
This time, the prestigious awards function is even more special as [1] RRR has been nominated in two categories. The
film has earned two nominations for Best Original song for Naatu Naatu and Best Picture — Non-English language. The
Golden Globes are an important precursor to the Academy Awards, so these nominations matter all the more for RRR.
The Golden Globes will be held on January 10 8pm ET (January 11, 5:30 am IST). The red carpet appearances will begin
by 5:30 am and the actual ceremony will begin by 6:30 am.
https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/hollywood/golden-globes-2023-date-time-and-how-to-watch-in-
india-rrr-ss-rajamouli-8368250/
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121. Which of the following will replace [1] in the above
passage? 124. Which Movie won the best pictures award at the
(a) SS Rajamouli (b) Prashanth Neel 80th Golden Globes Awards?
(c) Sukumar (d) Devi Sri Prasad (a) The Fabelmans
(b) Avatar: The Way of Water
122. Who among the following organises the Golden (c) Top Gun: Maverick
Globes Awards? (d) Elvis
(a) Hollywood Foreign Press Association
(b) Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 125. Which of the following own the Best limited series,
(c) Hollywood Media Group anthology series, or TV movie at the 80th Golden
(d) Academy of International Films Awards Globes Awards?
(a) Black Bird
123. Golden Globes Awards were started in which of the (b) Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
following years? (c) Pam and Tommy
(a) 1944 (b) 1956 (d) The White Lotus: Sicily
(c) 1962 (d) 1978
121. (a) This time, the prestigious awards function is 123. (a) The 1st Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best
even more special as SS Rajamouli’s RRR has achievements in 1943 filmmaking, were held in
been nominated in two categories. January 1944, at the 20th Century-Fox studios
122. (a) The Golden Globes are organised by the 124. (a) 'The Fabelmans' sweeps the Best Picture -
Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Drama category award triumphing over Avatar:
Comedian and actor Jerrod Carmichael will host The Way of Water, and Top Gun: Maverick.
the ceremony, and Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee 125. (d) Best limited series, anthology series, or TV
Curtis, Tracy Morgan are presenters for the movie: The White Lotus: Sicily – WINNE
ceremony.
Passage 11.
The Indian Navy has signed an agreement with Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd for armed autonomous boat swarms
under ‘SPRINT’, an initiative to promote development of niche defence technologies by domestic companies.
This is the 50th contract under ‘SPRINT’, which aims at the development of [1] indigenous technologies by the industry
for the Navy, officials said. The contract was signed on Wednesday.
“We are keeping the pressure on to sign the 100th contract by January end. Our aim is to induct 75 new technologies by
August 15, 2023 as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,” a Navy official said.
Sagar Defence Engineering has the know-how to create the nation’s first armed autonomous unmanned boat with
swarming capabilities, the company said in a statement.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/navy-signs-contract-for-autonomous-armed-boat-swarms-under-
sprint/article66349788.ece
126. Which of the following will replace [1] in the above (c) Sunil Lamba
passage? (d) S N Kohli
(a) 30 (b) 45
(c) 55 (d) 75 128. Defence Ministry had launched the Naval
Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation in
127. Who among the following is the current Chief of which of the following years?
Naval Staff in India? (a) 2018 (b) 2019
(a) Admiral R Hari Kumar (c) 2020 (d) 2021
(b) Karambir Singh
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129. Navy Day in India is celebrated on which of the 130. INS Vikrant, which was brought from UK was
following days? decommissioned in which of the following years?
(a) 4th May (b) 4th July (a) 1992 (b) 1997
(c) 4th September (d) 4th December (c) 2002 (d) 2008
126. (d) This is the 50th contract under ‘SPRINT’, which 129. (d) Navy Day in India is celebrated on 4 December
aims at the development of 75 indigenous every year to recognize the achievements and
technologies by the industry for the Navy, role of the Indian Navy to the country. 4
officials said. The contract was signed on December was chosen as on that day in 1971,
Wednesday. during Operation Trident, the Indian Navy sank
127. (a) The current Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) and four Pakistani vessels including PNS Khaibar,
only full admiral in the Indian Armed Forces is killing hundreds of Pakistani Navy personnel.
Admiral R. Hari Kumar. 130. (b) The first INS Vikrant was a major symbol of
128. (c) Defence Ministry had launched the NIIO in national pride and played an important role in
August 2020, to encourage innovation and several military operations including the 1971
indigenisation for self-reliance in defence Indo-Pak War before being decommissioned in
sector. 1997.
Passage 12.
Integrated and immediate mitigation is more critical as we face some of the most difficult geoeconomic conditions in a
generation, where we see a shift to a low-investment, low-growth, low-cooperation era, that is in danger of eroding
resilience and accelerating the other risks we face.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum warns, “Climate and human development must be at the
core of concerns of global leaders, even as they battle current crises. Cooperation is the only way forward.”
Complementing Global Risks practice, the World Economic Forum hosts platforms dedicated to action on the world's
most pressing challenges - including mobilizing for the climate, managing and disseminating Fourth Industrial
Revolution technologies, shaping the energy transition and shaping the future of health and healthcare.
These platforms, and the leaders, networks and organizations they host, apply the findings of this report in their efforts
to tackle the world’s greatest challenges—managing risks, building resilience and using new opportunities.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/global-risks-report-2023-experts-davos2023/
131. Which of the following is incorrect about Global (d) Social cohesion erosion
Risk Report?
(a) Global Risk Report is an annual report published 133. Which of the following is correct about World
by the World Economic Forum. Economic Forum?
(b) It focuses on five risk factors: economic, (a) WEF is an international non-governmental not
environmental, geopolitical, sociological, and for profit organization based in Cologny,
technological. Switzerland.
(c) The 17th edition of the Global Risk Report was (b) Kristalina Georgieva is its Executive Chairman.
published in January, 2022. (c) The WEF is majorly for its annual meeting at the
(d) None of the above. end of January in Geneva, Switzerland.
(d) It was founded on 24 January 1991 by German
132. Which of the following emerged as the number one engineer and economist Klaus Schwab.
risk with potentially the most severe impact over the
next decade? 134. Which of the following is India’s correct rank in the
(a) Climate action failure Global Gender Gap Index, 2022?
(b) Extreme weather (a) 121 (b) 134
(c) Biodiversity loss (c) 135 (d) 136
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(b) Global Competitiveness Report.
135. Which of the following is NOT published by World (c) Global IT Report
Economic Forum? (d) Global Financial Development Report
(a) Energy Transition Index.
131. (d) is the right answer end of January in Davos, a mountain resort in
132. (a) ‘Failure to Mitigate Climate Change’ and ‘Failure the eastern Alps region of Switzerland.
of Climate Change Adaptation’ are the two most 134. (c) India ranks 135 among a total of 146 countries in
severe risks facing the world in the next decade, the Global Gender Gap Index 2022 and is the
followed by ‘natural disasters and extreme worst performer in the world in the “health and
weather events’ and ‘Biodiversity loss and survival” sub-index where it is ranked 146.
ecosystem collapse’. 135. (d) Global Financial Development Report is
133. (a) Klaus Schwab is WEF’s founder and Executive published by World Bank, while the rest of the
Chairman. It was founded on 24 January 1971. option are all published by WEF.
The WEF is majorly for its annual meeting at the
Passage 13.
Shanta hardly knew that liberty of expression or equality of status was her right. Once enlightened, the 63-year-old has
no doubt where to place the Preamble of the Constitution of India.
In her modest two-room house in rural Kulathupuzha, the preamble shares a wall with gods. A Bhagavatham reciter by
profession, she is one among thousands of neo-literates who have been educated on the Indian Constitution as part of
The Citizen, a Constitution literacy campaign jointly launched by the Kollam district panchayat, District Planning
Committee and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA).
“When I first read the preamble, I was overwhelmed as it sees everyone as equals just like the way gods do. I didn’t know
such a document existed and it guaranteed basic human rights like equality and freedom to all citizens. We have no
separate puja room and so I decided to keep it along the pictures of Lord Krishna and Shiva,” says Shanta, who could
not continue her studies beyond Class VIII.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kollam-is-indias-first-constitution-literate-
district/article66373733.ece
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ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
136. (d) The campaign aimed to provide constitutional Minister. He has held several portfolios ranging
literacy to 23 lakh citizens belonging to 7 lakh from energy to civil aviation.
families in the district. 138. (c) On January 13, 2016, at Thiruvananthapuram,
To achieve this goal, awareness classes were Hamid Ansari announced that Kerala has
organized for around 90% of the people in become first state of India which attained 100%
Kollam. primary education. State Government of Kerala
Around 16.3 lakh people above the age of 10 were has launched a mission called “Athulyam”. The
educated by 2,200 trainers called “senators,” achievement in 2016 is a major part of this
who visited schools, offices, auto stands, and mission.
tribal councils to create awareness. 139. (c) According to the report published by the
137. (a) Arif Mohammad Khan is an Indian politician National Survey of India, the Literacy Rate of
representing the BJP. He currently serving as the India in 2022 is 77.7 per cent.
Governor of Kerala & the Chancellor of all State 140. (c) As per the Indian Census, amongst the 28 states
Universities in Kerala. He is a former Union of India, Kerala has the highest literacy rank
whereas Bihar stands at the lowest.
Passage 14.
Kerala’s [1] has become the first district in the state to ensure its tribal population has all basic documents. The district
administration has provided six documents — Aadhaar card, ration card, bank statements, birth and death certificates,
voters ID card, and health insurance — to all tribal citizens through the Akshaya Big Campaign for Documents
Digitalisation (ABCD) campaign.
The ABCD campaign was launched in [1], the district with the highest tribal population in the state, in 2021. A pilot
project in Kerala, it is implemented by the district administration with the help of the SC development department and
local self-governments.
According to the Wayanad district administration, 26 camps were held across 23 panchayats and three municipalities
and it has 64,670 beneficiaries. It also digitised 22,888 documents through [2], an initiative under Digital India toward
paperless documentation.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/thiruvananthapuram/kerala-wayanad-basic-documents-tribal-population-
abcd-campaign-8400661/
141. Which of the following will replace [1] in the above 144. How many districts does the State of Kerala has?
passage? (a) 11 (b) 14
(a) Malabar (b) Kasaragod (c) 19 (d) 21
(c) Kannur (d) Wayanad
145. Which article of the Constitution of India provides
142. Which of the following will replace [2] in the above that “The State shall promote with special care the
passage? educational and economic interests of the weaker
(a) DigiLocker (b) DocuDigi sections of the people, and, in particular, of the
(c) DigitDoc (d) LockDigi Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and
shall protect them from social injustice and all forms
143. Which of the following is the largest tribe of Kerala? of exploitation."?
(a) Paniya (b) Cholanaikkans (a) Article 21 (b) Article 34
(c) Kurumbas (d) Kattunaikans (c) Article 46 (d) Article 51
141. (d) Kerala’s Wayanad has become the first district ration card, bank statements, birth and death
in the state to ensure its tribal population has all certificates, voters ID card, and health insurance
basic documents. The district administration — to all tribal citizens through the Akshaya Big
has provided six documents — Aadhaar card,
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Campaign for Documents Digitalisation (ABCD) Primitive Tribes. Cholanaikkans, Kurumbas,
campaign. Kattunaikans, Kadars and Koragas are the five
142. (a) According to the Wayanad district primitive tribal groups in Kerala.
administration, 26 camps were held across 23 144. (b) Kerala State has been divided into 14 districts, 78
panchayats and three municipalities and it has taluks, 152 community development blocks, 941
64,670 beneficiaries. It also digitised 22,888 Gram panchayats, 6 corporations and 87
documents through DigiLocker, an initiative municipalities.
under Digital India toward paperless 145. (c) Article 46 "The State shall promote with special
documentation. care the educational and economic interests of
143. (a) The Paniya (Paniyar) are the largest of the 35 the weaker sections of the people, and, in
major tribes. Tribal people groups who are food- particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the
gatherers, with diminishing population and very Sche- duled Tribes, and shall protect them from
low or little literacy rates can be called as social injustice and all forms of exploitation."
Passage 15.
After the Centre decided to provide free food grains to 81 crore beneficiaries in 2023 under the National Food Security
Act, many rightfully expressed concern over the permanent nature of such an expenditure. However, the basis of the
number of beneficiaries is not being questioned. After all, budget allocation falls if the number of beneficiaries falls.
“Until 1997, the Public Distribution System was universal in nature, however, the government introduced ‘Targeted
Public Distribution System’…to focus on the poor. The coverage was linked to poverty estimates under two categories,
namely, Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL). Later w.e.f. December 2000, government introduced
“Antyodaya Anna Yojana” (AAY) in order to make TPDS more focused and targeted to poor and the poorest of poor
(Antyodaya),” as per the 2020-21 annual report of The Department of Food and Public Distribution.
https://theprint.in/opinion/centre-must-review-nfsa-beneficiaries-for-budget-use-aadhar-database-not-2011-
census/1316379/
146. When was the National Food Security Act Passed? (b) About two thirds of the population therefore is
(a) 2010 (b) 2013 covered under the Act to receive highly
(c) 2014 (d) 2016 subsidized foodgrains.
(c) The eldest woman of the household of age 18
147. Which of the following is TRUE about the NFSA? years or above is mandated to be the head of the
(a) NFSA caters to 67% of the total population. household for the purpose of issuing of ration
(b) Households covered under existing Antyodaya cards under the Act.
Anna Yojana are eligible under the NFSA (d) All of the above
(c) 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the
urban population receives subsidized food 149. World Food Day is observed on which of the
grains under Targeted Public Distribution following days?
System (TPDS). (a) November 16 (b) October 16
(d) All of the above (c) August 16 (d) September 16
148. Which of the following is TRUE about the National 150. Food Security comes under which of the following
Food Security Act of India? Sustainable Development goals?
(a) The Act legally entitles upto 75% of the rural (a) SDG 1 (b) SDG 2
population and 50% of the urban population to (c) SDG 5 (d) SDG 9
receive subsidized foodgrains under Targeted
Public Distribution System.
151. (c) The National Food Security Act 2013 also Right billionpeople. It was signed into law on 12
to Food Act is an Indian Act of Parliament which September 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013.
aims to provide subsidized food grains to 152. (d) NFSA caters to 67% of the total population.
approximately two thirds of the country;s 1.2 Households covered under existing Antyodaya
Anna Yojana are eligible under the NFSA. 75% of
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the rural population and up to 50% of the urban 154. (b) World Food Day is an international day
population receives subsidized food grains celebrated every year worldwide on October 16
under Targeted Public Distribution System to commemorate the date of the founding of the
(TPDS). United Nations Food and Agriculture
153. (d) The Act legally entitles upto 75% of the rural Organization in 1945.
population and 50% of the urban population to 155. (b) The Sustainable Development Goal to “End
receive subsidized foodgrains under Targeted hunger, achieve food security and improved
Public Distribution System. About two thirds of nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”
the population therefore is covered under the (SDG2) recognizes the inter linkages among
Act to receive highly subsidized foodgrains. As a supporting sustainable agriculture, empowering
step towards women empowerment, the eldest small farmers, promoting gender equality,
woman of the household of age 18 years or above ending rural poverty, ensuring healthy lifestyles,
is mandated to be the head of the household for ...
the purpose of issuing of ration cards under the
Act.
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Piyush Goyal launches right to repair portal & new premise of National Consumer Helpline
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal launched a host of new initiatives, including the right to repair
portal and an NTH mobile app and opened new premises of National Consumer Helpline centre in the national
capital. A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Consumer Affairs Department and IIT
(BHU), Varanasi as well launched a capacity building programme of consumer commissions.
These initiatives were launched on the occasion of the National Consumer Day. The theme was “Effective disposal
of cases in consumer commission”. Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs Sadhvi Niranjan Jyothi was also
present at the event.
In July 2022 the Department of Consumer Affairs had set up a committee headed by the Additional Secretary Nidhi
Khare to develop a comprehensive framework on ‘Right to Repair’.
Anil Kumar Lahoti next Railway Board Chairman, CEO from January 1
Anil Kumar Lahoti has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Railway Board. The
former General Manager of Central Railway was appointed as Member (Infrastructure) of the board a week ago, and
will be taking over the chairmanship from Vinay Kumar Tripathi on January 1.
Lahoti belongs to the 1984 batch of Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE), and his appointment is a part of an
overhaul at the top management of the railway board. Over the past months, no full-time appointments for the
member positions were made in the railway board, as it was transitioning to a new integrated service.
President Murmu lays foundation stone for restoration works of Kameswaralaya Temple in Mulugu,
Telangana
Smt. Droupadi Murmu has laid the foundation stone of the project ‘Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at
Bhadrachalam Group of Temples’ at Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamivari Devasthanam, Bhadrachalam in Telangana.
The President of India laid the foundation stone for another project called ‘Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage
Infrastructure of UNESCO World Heritage Site at Rudreshwara Temple in Telangana. These projects have been
approved under the PRASAD Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
President Droupadi Murmu informed that the famous temples of Telangana are visited by lakhs of pilgrims, and
they form the major components of domestic and foreign tourists.
Tourism increases the livelihood opportunities and income of the people.
The President appreciated the Ministry of Tourism for boosting spiritual and cultural tourism by developing
pilgrimage sites under the ‘PRASHAD’ scheme.
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A 10-day International Beach Festival is happening in Kerala
The ‘Spice Coast’ in the far north of Kerala, better known as North Malabar, bask in myriad colours and the pomp
and splendour of the cultural extravaganza titled ‘Bekal International Beach Festival’. Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan has inaugurated the 10-day first international beach festival, that captures the wholeness and the essence
of the district’s cultural and artistic uniqueness and displays the rich cultural diversity and grandeur of the country,
at the majestic Bekal Beach Park.
It is organised by Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC) in association with the District Tourism
Promotion Council, Kudumbashree, Asmi Holidays, and the local self-government bodies in the district. In Kerala,
festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam calendar and the local traditions and customs.
President Murmu lays foundation stone for restoration works of Kameswaralaya Temple in Mulugu,
Telangana
Smt. Droupadi Murmu has laid the foundation stone of the project ‘Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at
Bhadrachalam Group of Temples’ at Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamivari Devasthanam, Bhadrachalam in Telangana.
The President of India laid the foundation stone for another project called ‘Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage
Infrastructure of UNESCO World Heritage Site at Rudreshwara Temple in Telangana. These projects have been
approved under the PRASAD Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
President Droupadi Murmu informed that the famous temples of Telangana are visited by lakhs of pilgrims, and
they form the major components of domestic and foreign tourists.
Tourism increases the livelihood opportunities and income of the people.
The President appreciated the Ministry of Tourism for boosting spiritual and cultural tourism by developing
pilgrimage sites under the ‘PRASHAD’ scheme.
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It is organised by Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC) in association with the District Tourism
Promotion Council, Kudumbashree, Asmi Holidays, and the local self-government bodies in the district. In Kerala,
festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam calendar and the local traditions and customs.
Home minister Amit shah launches 'Prahari" app for BSF Jawans
Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the security of the border can be ensured only when the border villages are
populated. He said, along with the deployment of Jawans on the borders, only the patriotic citizens living in the
village can provide permanent security. Mr Shah said this while launching the Mobile App ‘Prahari’ and Manual of
Border Security Force in New Delhi.
He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently started the Vibrant Village programme. He urged all the Border
Security Forces that through the Vibrant Village program, they should make efforts towards increasing tourism in
the village, making the village self-sufficient with complete facilities. The Minister said that the security of the
borders of the country cannot be ensured by pillars or fencing, but by the bravery, patriotism and alertness of the
soldiers standing on that border.
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the festival. Around 3,000 artistes of 130 cultural troupes from across the country is participating in the festival.
However, Kansa is the central attraction of the Dhanu Yatra.
Dhanu Yatra, the eleven day long annual extravaganza places Bargarh in the Cultural Map of India. It is at par with
the standard of Odishan Heritage and culture. It is an open-air theatre festival stretching more than 5 square K.M
and comprising a village and a town in between.
Madras High Court Bans Mobile Phones In Temples Across Tamil Nadu
The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has prohibited devotees from carrying mobile phones inside temples in
Tamil Nadu. The Division Bench of Justice R. Mahadevan and J Sathya Narayana Prasad held that the gadgets divert
the attention of the devotees from the purpose of visiting the temple.
The Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorization Act 1947, and the Rules empower the trustees or any authority in
charge of the temple to make regulations for the maintenance of order and decorum in the temple.
The court noted that mobile phone ban have been implemented in famed temples.
These temples include Sri Krishna Temple at Guruvayur, Kerala, Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple at Madurai,
Tamil Nadu, and Sri Venkateshwara Temple at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
Food processing industry invests Rs 4,900 crore under PLI scheme so far: Government
The government said that the food processing industry has invested Rs 4,900 crore so far under the production-
linked incentive (PLI) scheme. The PLI scheme for the food processing industry was approved in March 2021, with
a budget outlay of Rs 10,900 crore. It will be implemented for seven years, until 2026-27.
A total of 182 applications have been approved under the PLI scheme for the food processing industry. This includes
30 applications for millets-based products under the PLI scheme (8 large entities and 22 SMEs). Incentives
amounting to Rs 800 crore are likely to be disbursed in the current financial year. Sales-based incentive of Rs 107.3
crore has been disbursed so far.
PLI beneficiaries’ investments are likely to increase sales and exports of food products. The scheme requires that
the entire chain of manufacturing processes, including primary processing of food products, take place in India in
order to qualify for the incentive, which is expected to boost domestic industry. It was also stated that the scheme
will aid in the promotion of Indian brands abroad.
ISRO, Andhra University set up equipment to predict rip currents, prevent drowning at sea
Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO), National Centre for Earth Sciences (NCES), and the Andhra
University (AU) have researched and concluded that constant rip current zones at blue flag-certified Rushikonda
beach and RK Beach have become a danger to the beach visitors.
Between 2012 to 2022, over 200 people drowned in the sea at various beaches in and around Visakhapatnam and 60
percent of deaths occurred in RK Beach.
ISRO, NCES, and Andhra University have conducted research and set up equipment to identify Rip currents to warn
marines and local police.
Kolkata: India's first underwater metro worth over Rs 8000 crores to be operational by 2023
India’s first underwater metro service, The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) said that the East-West Metro
Corridor project, is expected to be completed by December 2023. With this, another feather is being added to the
crown of Kolkata Metro, the first metro railway in the country. Kolkata Metro, which started its journey in 1984, is
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being expanded to cover the whole city and its outskirts. The underwater metro, which will be running through the
Hoogly river will connect the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata.
Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation has taken up the difficult take of making the tunnel with the help of German
machines and the best experts. Work inside the tunnel is still in progress.
As far as the cost of construction of the underground metro is concerned, it costs about Rs 120 crore per kilometre
to build the tunnel but the manufacturing cost of the tunnel underwater, which is deep in the Hooghly river costs
increased to around 157 crores by per kilometre.
Chandrayaan-3 to Gaganyaan: 2023 is going to be about bigger, bolder, braver missions from India
In 2022, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) reached new heights as it experimented with new tests to
confirm its human spaceflight mission, built new facilities to train its astronauts, and created a new connection
with the private sector by putting India’s first privately made rocket to the test. The year 2023 won’t be any different.
Instead, since the roster is set, it might be a year of bigger, bolder, and braver expeditions from India to space.
The first test of the Gaganyaan mission, the nation’s first astronaut mission that sends Indians outside the planet
in an indigenously manufactured technology, is the most audacious venture the Indian space agency has ever
undertaken.
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The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is a federal police organisation in India under the authority of the Ministry
of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India. It is one among the Central Armed Police Forces. The CRPF’s
primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter-
insurgency.
Second Phase of Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India begins
The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”-Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India will begin from 3rd to
17th January 2023 at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi. The Sari Festival VIRAASAT is organized by the Ministry
of Textile. In the second stage phase, there are 90 participants from different parts of the country.
There are several Handcrafted varieties of Saris to be displayed in the festival including Tie and Dye, Chikan
embroidered Saris, Hand Block Saris, Kalamkari printed Saris, Ajrakh, Kantha, and Phulkari. There is an addition
to the exclusive handloom Saris of Jamdani, Ikat, Pochampally, Banaras Brocade, Tussar Silk (Champa), Baluchari,
Bhagalpuri Sik, Tangail, Chanderi, Lalitpur, Patola, Paithani, etc.
Prime Minister Virtually Inaugurates Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and
Sanitation in Kolkata
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and
Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS) at Joka in Kolkata via video conferencing. SPM-NIWAS has been set up with a budget of
Rs 100 crore, on 8.72 acres of land at Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata, West Bengal.
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) aims to bridge the knowledge and capacity-building
gap in the field of public health engineering, sanitation & hygiene, through short, medium, and long-term courses
which are not just related to engineering but also cover aspects of management, health, accounting, law, and public
policies.
The conference was chaired by the Union Minister for Kal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The Union Minister reiterated the Prime Minister’s vision of cooperative federalism and states that under Swachh
Bharat Mission, Namami Gange, and Jal Jeevan Mission, the combined efforts are being recognized around the
globe.
Capt Shiva Chouhan becomes first woman officer to be deployed at Siachen, world’s highest battlefield
Captain Shiva Chauhan from the Corps of Engineers has been posted at a frontline post in Siachen Glacier, in first
such operational deployment of an woman Army officer at the world’s highest battlefield. The officer was posted at
the Kumar post, located at an altitude of around 15,600 feet in Siachen, on Monday for a three-month stint after she
underwent rigorous training. The training included endurance training, ice wall climbing, avalanche and crevasse
rescue and survival drills.
Capt Shiva Chouhan, who hails from Rajasthan, is a Bengal Sapper Officer. Chouhan lost her father at the age of 11
and her mother, a housewife, took care of her studies. She did her schooling from Udaipur and graduated from NJR
Institute of Technology, Udaipur, in civil engineering. Covering a distance of 508 kms, Capt Chouhan successfully
led the Sura Soi Cycling Expedition from Siachen War Memorial to Kargil War Memorial conducted on the occasion
of Kargil Vijay Diwas in July 2022. She then took up the challenge of leading the men of Sura Soi Engineer Regiment
at Siachen and, based on her performance, was selected to undergo training at the Siachen Battle School.
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Himachal Pradesh: CM donates first salary to Chief Minister Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced to set up of Rs 101 crore CM’s Sukhashraya
Sahayata Kosh for the destitute in the state. Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh informed that 40 Congress MLAs
agreed to contribute Rs one lakh each from their first salary for the fund and also requested the MLAs from BJP and
other parties to contribute.
The collected fund will be spent on the higher education of destitute children to encourage them to pursue courses
such as engineering, medicine, management, and other streams from reputed institutions like IIT, IIM, AIIMS, and
NIT.
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that there are 6,000 destitute children in Himachal Pradesh.
The CM’s Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh with an expenditure of Rs 101 crore would provide the facility of higher
education to needy children.
Through the CM’s Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh other than bearing the educational expenses, the government would
also provide Rs 4000 monthly pocket money to the destitute children and women pursuing higher education.
Ghaziabad-Pt becomes longest fully ABS section of Indian Railways says Indian Railways
Ghaziabad-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay section (762 KM) becomes the longest fully automatic block signalling section
of Indian Railways. In order to increase line capacity to run more trains on existing High Density Routes of Indian
Railways, Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) is a cost effective solution. Indian Railways has been rolling out
Automatic Block signalling on a mission mode. ABS has been commissioned on 268 Rkm during 2022-23. As on
31.12.2022, ABS has been provided on 3706 Route km over IR. With implementation of Automatic Signalling,
increase in capacity will accrue resulting in more train services becoming possible.
Electronic Interlocking are being adopted on a large scale to derive benefits of digital technologies in train operation
and to enhance safety. Electronic Interlocking systems have been provided at 347 stations during 2022-23. So far
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2888 stations have been provided with Electronic Interlocking up to 31.12.2022 covering 45.5% of IR. Recently, with
the commissioning of Automatic signalling system in Sath Naraini- Rundhi- Faizullapur Station section of Prayagraj
Division, 762 KM long Ghaziabad-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay section has been fully automated and has also become
the longest automatic block signalling section of Indian Railways.
Centre constitutes High Powered Committee to discuss measures to protect Ladakh's unique culture,
language & employment
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India has established a High Powered Committee (HPC) to address issues
related to the protection of Ladakh’s culture, language, land, and employment opportunities. A 17-member
committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.
In addition to Rai, the committee will include the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, the
Member of Parliament for Ladakh, the Chairmen/Chief Executive Councilors of the LAHDCs of Leh and Kargil, and
several other officials from the MHA and the Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs.
The establishment of the HPC reflects the Indian government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the
people of Ladakh and ensuring that the region’s unique culture and way of life are preserved. With its strategic
location and importance, Ladakh plays a vital role in the security and stability of the region, and the HPC will work
to ensure that the needs of the people of Ladakh are met and that the region is able to contribute to the overall
development of the country.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh briefs media about ‘2023 Science Vision’ at New Delhi
In a media interaction on the first day of the New Year, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science &
Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances,
Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said, 2023 Science Vision will define India at 2047.
Dr Jitendra Singh added that the year 2023 also happens to be the first of the last 25 years or the last quarter of the
calendar before independent India turns 100 at 2047 and realizes its century dreams.
This is also the year, the Minister said, when India under PM Narendra Modi reiterates its stature in the
international fora as the host of G20 as well as the Nation on whose proposal the world is observing International
Year of Millets.
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala inaugurates 29 Mobile Veterinary Units & centralised call center in
Thiruvananthpuram
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala on Thursday inaugurated 29
Mobile Veterinary Units (MVU) and centralised call center in Thiruvananthpuram in a major step for the benefit of
the livestock farmers in Kerala.
The Minister highlighted that this intervention will boost the confidence of dairy farmers to rear high productive
dairy animals as most of the breeders are reluctant to take their livestock to Veterinary Hospital for treatment and
usually end calling quacks for doorstep delivery of services. Each MVU will be manned by a qualified Veterinarian
and a Paravet for providing specialized services to livestock farmers, he added.
The Minister underlined that the scheme is promising and will transform the dairy sector from a subsistence-based
farm livelihood to a commercially viable enterprise by giving gainful employment to the youth of the Kerala.
President Droupadi Murmu lays foundation stone for SJVN's 1,000 MW solar project in Rajasthan
President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone of state-owned energy firm SJVN’s 1,000 MV Bikaner Solar
Power Project. The event was done virtually by the President of India in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The project is being
implemented by SJVN Limited through its owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL).
The solar power project is being developed on 500 acres near the village of Banderwala, district Bikaner of Rajasthan.
It is one of the highest solar yield areas in India.
The development cost of the Bikaner Solar Power Project is ₹5492 crore and viability gap funding support of ₹44.72
lacks per megawatt.
After commissioning the project will generate 2454.55 million units in the first year and approximately 56838 MU
would be generated on a cumulative basis over 25 years.
Kerala declared first State to enable digital banking in all eligible accounts
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared Kerala as the first state in the country to go fully digital in its banking
service and said this recognition would boost the state economy. Vijayan said this achievement was possible due to
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social interventions through local self-government institutions along with infrastructure development and
technological advances in the banking sector.
It is a joint venture between the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL), Kerala State
Electricity Board (KSEB) and the state, in which the two companies hold 49% each and the state the remaining 2%.
A consortium led by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) is executing the project and will be responsible for the operation
and maintenance of the 35,000-km-long network for the next seven years. Funded by the Kerala Infrastructure
Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the project is estimated to cost Rs 1,028.20 crore, which includes capital
expenditure, administrative overheads and annual operational expenditure of Rs 104.4 crore.
President Droupadi Murmu lays foundation stone for SJVN's 1,000 MW solar project in Rajasthan
President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone of state-owned energy firm SJVN’s 1,000 MV Bikaner Solar
Power Project. The event was done virtually by the President of India in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The project is being
implemented by SJVN Limited through its owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL).
The solar power project is being developed on 500 acres near the village of Banderwala, district Bikaner of Rajasthan.
It is one of the highest solar yield areas in India.
The development cost of the Bikaner Solar Power Project is ₹5492 crore and viability gap funding support of ₹44.72
lacks per megawatt.
After commissioning the project will generate 2454.55 million units in the first year and approximately 56838 MU
would be generated on a cumulative basis over 25 years.
Kerala declared first State to enable digital banking in all eligible accounts
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared Kerala as the first state in the country to go fully digital in its banking
service and said this recognition would boost the state economy. Vijayan said this achievement was possible due to
social interventions through local self-government institutions along with infrastructure development and
technological advances in the banking sector.
It is a joint venture between the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL), Kerala State
Electricity Board (KSEB) and the state, in which the two companies hold 49% each and the state the remaining 2%.
A consortium led by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) is executing the project and will be responsible for the operation
and maintenance of the 35,000-km-long network for the next seven years. Funded by the Kerala Infrastructure
Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the project is estimated to cost Rs 1,028.20 crore, which includes capital
expenditure, administrative overheads and annual operational expenditure of Rs 104.4 crore.
India’s first-ever coal gasification based Talcher Fertiliser plant in Odisha will be ready by October 2024:
Mansukh Mandaviya
Union Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya announced that
India’s first-ever coal gasification-based Talcher Fertilizer Plant in Odisha will be ready to be dedicated to the nation
by October 2024. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited the site on the second day and noted that the work
in the plant in Talcher is in progress.
Along with Union Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya,
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was also present during the occasion.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, five out of four urea plants have become
functional.
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The urea plants at Talcher which uses Coal Gasification Technology to produce urea will be ready by the end of this
year.
Kerala establishes welfare board for workers under employment guarantee programmes
The Kerala Cabinet approved a scheme to ensure those employed under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme(MGNREGS) in the poll-bound state get benefits like pension and medical assistance. It has
recommended that governor Arif Mohammad Khan issue an ordinance in this regard.
The state government and local bodies will give an equal contribution and ₹50 will be deducted from a worker’s
salary every month for it.
Those who are between 18 and 55 can register for membership and they can submit their contribution every month
or on yearly basis. People aged up to 75 are eligible for employment under MGNREGS.
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This edition of the Mongeet festival will witness Montulika, a creative painting workshop, and Monmritikka, a
special workshop on the rich art and sculpture of Assam.
In the Mongeet festival, renowned Assamese Chef Atul Lahkar will host a masterclass, Aharor Aakholi (food and
traditional kitchen) to talk about food conservation, identification of ingredients, modern cooking methods about
indigenous techniques, and ways to promote regional cuisine.
West Bengal: ICG ship ‘Kamla Devi’, last vessel of FPV series, commissioned
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship ‘Kamla Devi’ the Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) which is designed, built, and delivered by
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd to Indian Coast Guard was commissioned in Kolkata, West
Bengal. Indian Coast Guard ship Kamla Devi is officially the fifth and last vessel of the series of FPVs designed and
built by GRSE as per the specifications of the Indian Coast Guard.
Indian Coast Guard ship (ICGS) Kamla Devi is 48.8 meters long and 7.5 meters wide with a displacement of 308
tonnes. There are three engines and water jets in ICGS Kamla Devi.
She is capable of a top speed of 34 knots and an endurance of over 1,500 nautical miles. She has an Integrated Bridge
System and is fitted with 40/60 guns as the main armament.
The ICGS Kamla Devi has advanced habitability features with fully air-conditioned accommodations for 35
personnel.
Vidisha becomes the 1st Indian district to implement cutting-edge 5G use cases proposed by startups
A joint initiative by the Vidisha District Administration and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT),
Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the direction of Additional Secretary (Telecom) & Administrator
USOF, made Vidisha, a district of Madhya Pradesh, the first district ever in India for on-ground implementation of
groundbreaking 5G use cases proposed by startups.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been fostering partnerships of Digital Communication Tech –
startups & SMEs to potential user communities, viz. State governments, Smart cities, Aspirational districts, vertical
industries, etc., through the Telecom Startups & MSMEs Mission (TSuM) & 5G Vertical Engagement Partnership
Program (VEPP). This is accomplished to accelerate Digital Transformation across socio-economic verticals.
To implement 5G/4G/IoT innovative approaches of Startups & SMEs at Vidisha (Aspirational district), Madhya
Pradesh with a primary focus on Health, Agriculture, Diary, Education & Skill Development, benefiting the Vidisha
community as a whole, the “5G use case promotional pilot” is being spearheaded by the Centre for Development of
Telematics (C-DOT), DoT, which is a trailblazer in emerging Digital communication Technologies.
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Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal hands over 9th to 10th century Nataraja idol to Archaeological
Department official in Chittorgarh Fort
Union Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal handed over the 9th to 10th century Nataraja Idol of the
Archeological Department official in Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal noted that
there are only 13 idols of ancient importance that could be brought to India by the year 2023 but after 2014, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi brought 229 idols to India.
The Nataraja Idols were stolen from the Shiva temple at Badoli in Chittorgarh in 1998. The idols were brought to
India in 2020 from a private museum in London after a long legal process. Union Minister has also ensured to build
a ropeway on Chittorgarh fort and connect Chittorgarh with Bharatmala Yojana.
Arjun Ram Meghwal is an Indian politician currently serving as the Minister of State for Parliament Affairs and
Culture. He is a member of the Bhartiya Janata Party. He has previously served as the Chief Whip and Minister of
State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
Jallikattu 2023: Celebrations begin in Madurai; Tamil Nadu govt issues new norms amid Covid scare
The renowned Jallikattu bull-taming competition got underway on Sunday in the Tamil Nadu village of
Avaniyapuram. Aneesh Sekhar, the district collector of Madurai, as saying that preparations had been made to
ensure a successful Jallikattu. ensuring the players’ and bulls’ safety. Bulls are protected in the play area by three
levels of barricading, as are spectators.
Several eager young men participated in the sport, which received a fawning round of applause.
During the Pongal harvest season, which starts in mid-January, jallikattu is a well-liked sport.The winner is
determined by how long the tamer stays on the bull’s hump.
It is customarily done as a part of Mattu Pongal, the third day of Tamil Nadu’s four-day harvest festival.
Old Pension Scheme benefits to be extended to CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP personnel; Delhi HC directs Centre
to issue orders
The Himachal Pradesh government restored the old pension scheme in its first cabinet meeting. The cabinet
decided to provide OPS to all government employees who are presently covered under the defined contributory
pension scheme, also referred to as NPS. This scheme will benefit about 1.36 lakh NPS employees in the state.
The State Cabinet in its first meeting presided over by the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu held in Shimla
passed a resolution thanking the people of Himachal Pradesh for reposing their confidence in the policies and
programs of congress.
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Congress government has fulfilled a key poll promise by providing the Old Pension scheme (OPS) to all government
employees.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has noted that Basti is the pious land of Maharishi Vashist which is made up of labor
and meditation, asceticism, and renunciation.
EY projects India to become a US$26 trillion economy by 2047 with a six-fold increase in per capita income
to US$15,000
Ernst & Young, released a report titled India@100: Realizing the potential of a US$26 trillion economy. According
to the estimates Indian economy will reach GDP size of US$26 trillion by 2047, the 100th year of the country’s
independence.
The per capita income is expected to increase to US$15,000, putting the country among the ranks of developed
economies.
Growth Enablers As Per Report
1. World’s Information Technology and Services Hub
2. Digitalization: A Force Multiplier
3. Filing the credit gap to fuel growth
4. Thriving entrepreneurship spurred by private capital
5. Reaping the demographic dividend
6. Making domestic manufacturing competitive
7. Building the infrastructure of the future
8. Transition to sustainable energy
National AIDS Control Organisation forms Largest Human Red Ribbon Chain in Kalinga Stadium of
Bhubaneswar, Odisha to create awareness on AIDS
Odisha State AIDS Control Society organised an awareness program on HIV AIDS in coordination with the
Department of Sports and Youth Services and Hockey India under the leadership of National AIDS Control
Organization (NACO), on 19th January 2023. The spectators in the gallery included 4,800 students from various
schools, Red Ribbon Club members from colleges, people from community, and participants from the Mission
Shakti Department.
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Odisha continues to have a low HIV prevalence in the state with an adult prevalence of 0.14% and an estimated
52,108 people living with HIV (PLHIV). However, only half of the people living with HIV in the state are on the Anti-
Retroviral Treatment (ART).
INTERNATIONAL
Former Maldives president Yameen to appeal 11-year jail term
The Maldives criminal court sentenced former president Abdulla Yameen to 11 years in prison and fined him $5
million after finding him guilty of corruption and money laundering charges related to receiving kickbacks from a
private company. Yameen has denied any wrongdoing.
He lost power in 2018 but has been declared presidential candidate for the Progressive Party of the Maldives for an
election due in 2023. Already in 2019 he was sentenced to five years in jail and fined $5 million in 2019 for embezzling
$1 million in state funds, which the prosecution said was acquired through the lease of resort development rights.
After his sentencing, Yameen was shifted to house arrest in 2020 and was freed months later.
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However, he was replaced by Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of luxury brand Louis Vuitton’s parent company
LVMH as the world’s richest man.
Elon Musk has applied a move-fast-and-break-things approach such as firing staff then asking them to come back
and applying content policies haphazardly to justify banning the accounts of some prominent journalists who cover
him.
Commenting on Croatia’s Schengen accession and the adoption of the euro, the President of the EU Commission,
Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her warm welcome for the citizens of Croatia in the borderless zone, pointing out
that border controls between Croatia and the rest of the Schengen Area will now become part of the past.
Croatia's big day: Balkan nation adopts euro and joins Schengen zone
Starting from this Sunday, January 1, 2023, Croatia will officially become a Schengen Area Member Country and will
also adopt the euro as its currency after years of intensive preparations and work.
In honour of Croatia meeting these two milestones, the European Union Commission has released a statement
congratulating the country and highlighting the importance of this date for both Croatia and Europe.
It further points out that with Croatia joining the Schengen Area, now the zone consists of 27 Member States, 23 of
which are also EU countries. The Eurozone, in the meantime, now consists of 19 EU Member States and 347 million
EU citizens that will share it as their common currency.
Dhaka Lit Fest to feature speakers from five continents
The 10th edition of Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF), the largest international literary festival in Bangladesh, which was
postponed three years in a row owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, is scheduled for January 5-8, 2023. The Bangla
Academy in Dhaka’s historic grounds will serve as the venue for the event.
In a press release on Friday, Sadaf Saaz, Ahsan Akbar, and Kazi Anis Ahmed—the festival’s three directors—
confirmed the information.
The Dhaka Lit Fest has long been a well-liked annual occasion on Bangladesh’s winter calendar. The eighth Dhaka
Lit Fest, which was most recently held in 2019, attracted almost 30,000 attendees.
Over the course of the four days, there will be a variety of discussions and dialogues as well as film screenings, art
displays, musical performances, and cultural performances.
Out of the more than 200 speakers scheduled to attend the 2023 edition, the DLF directors have released their initial
roster of 25 speakers.
Qin Gang is named China's new foreign minister
China has appointed Qin Gang, its ambassador to the United States and a trusted aide of President Xi Jinping, to
be its new foreign minister, as Beijing and Washington seek to stabilize rocky relations. This decision was made by
the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Qin, 56, replaces Wang Yi, who has been foreign
minister for the past decade. Wang, 69, was promoted to the politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and is
expected to play a bigger role in Chinese foreign policy.
Qin rose quickly through various positions in China’s foreign ministry, including two stints as ministry spokesman
between 2006 and 2014, and as chief protocol officer between 2014 and 2018, overseeing many of Xi’s interactions
with foreign leaders. As spokesman, he stood out among his peers for being one of the earliest Chinese diplomats
to make sharp comments in defence of China’s increasingly assertive foreign policy, what later became known as
“wolf warrior” diplomacy.
China becomes the first country in Asia and second in the world to launch Hydrogen powered Train
China’s CRRC Corporation Ltd. Launched a hydrogen urban train, and it is the first in Asia and the second such
train in the world. Germany introduced green trains a few months back. The hydrogen trains have a speed of 160
km per hour and the operational range without refueling is 600 km.
The trains launched by Germany have a record of 1175 km range set. The Indian Railway on the other hand is moving
fast to induct the ‘World’s Greenest Train’ soon.
India will get its first-ever Indigenous Hydrogen trains by December 2023. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav
informed that Indian Railways is working on new environment-friendly trains and the engineers are designing them.
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they had sent a team of geologists to Argentina to assess and find potential lithium deposits in the month of
November 2022. They have been able to identify a possible source of lithium and copper deposits in the south
American country.
Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (Kabil) will have ownership or leasing rights to the mines. A joint venture between the
National Aluminium Company (Nalco), Hindustan Copper (HCL), and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. It was
established in 2019 to ensure the market in India had access to strategic minerals.
Kevin McCarthy elected U.S. House Speaker in vote 15 after chaotic week
The United States Parliament has elected Kevin McCarthy of the Republican Party as the speaker of the House of
Representatives after 15 rounds of voting. He is the 55th speaker of the US House of Representatives. He was serving
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as the House Minority Leader in the House. He has replaced Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the Democratic Party in
the House of Representatives.
After the midterm elections held on November 8, the number of members of former President Donald Trump’s
Republican Party has increased to222 in the 435-member House of Representatives. With this, President Joe Biden’s
Democratic Party has come in the minority in the House of Representatives. Kevin McCarthy has become thethird
most senior US position after US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Kevin McCarthy is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected as the House Minority Leader from 2019 to
2023. He previously served as the House Majority Leader from 2014 to 2019 under Speakers John Boehner and Paul
Ryan. McCarthy has been elected as a member of the US Parliament 9 times. He was born in Bakersfield, California.
Gabon named its Vice-President and new Prime Minister of the country
Gabon’s President Ali Bongo appointed the country’s first female Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda
to the role of Vice-President and named a new PM to replace her.\Ossouka Raponda, 59, was appointed in July 2020
after her predecessor stepped down. She was Defence Minister before th
+at. Ossouka Raponda was named Budget Minister in 2012 before being elected mayor of the capital Libreville in
2014, becoming the first woman to hold that position since 1956. She had to navigate a delicate political scene as
Prime Minister after a coup attempt in 2019 while Bongo was on prolonged medical leave following a stroke.\Former
Minister Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze will replace Ossouka Raponda and form a new government, Bongo’s secretary
general Jean-Yves Teale said in a video statement posted on the presidency’s Twitter account.
Italy Man Sets World Record By 'Mirror Typing' Books In Ancient Languages
A 63-year-old Italian man, Michele Santelia has achieved a world record by typing copies of 81 books backwards, a
technique that he calls ‘mirror writing’, as per a report by the Guinness World Records (GWR). For the purpose of
this record, the books must be typed using ‘mirror writing’, such that the result is the mirror image of any given
language’s normal writing.
Michele’s latest book, Das Nibelungenlied Backwards, a medieval German heroic epic, was typed in 2022. Michele
dedicated it to “the disabled people of the whole world; to all those who suffer daily in a bigoted and clumsy society.”
Santaglia types books using four completely blank keyboards without looking backwards.
He types each book in its original language whether it be hieroglyphs, Old Hebrew, Traditional Chinese, Mayan,
Etruscan, Cuneiform or Voynich glyphs.
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nation in this year. The population dropped by roughly 850,000 to 1.41175 billion at the end of 2022. Long-term, UN
experts see China’s population shrinking by 109 million by 2050, more than triple the decline of their previous
forecast in 2019.
Last year’s birth rate was 6.77 births per 1000 people, down from a rate of 7.52 births in 2021 and marking the lowest
birth rate on record. The figures also logged the highest death rate since 1974, registering 7.37 deaths per 1000 people
compared with a rate of 7.18 deaths in 2021.
Sri Lanka Closer to IMF Bailout as India Said to Back Debt Plan
India will support Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring plan as the island nation looks to trim its huge public expenditure
to win approval for a crucial bailout from the International Monetary Fund. India formally notified that it would
support Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring plan. Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence from
Britain in 1948, and policymakers have been grappling with multiple challenges over the past year including a
shortage of dollars, runaway inflation and a steep recession.
Sri Lanka owes India around $1 billion that will come under the debt restructuring plan. New Delhi also separately
provided Sri Lanka with about $4 billion in rapid assistance between January and July last year, including credit
lines, a currency swap arrangement and deferred import payments.
New Delhi’s backing comes at a critical time for Sri Lanka as it has to put its massively indebted public finances in
order to unlock a $2.9 billion IMF loan that was agreed in September.
Pakistan's economy South Asia's weakest, World Bank report says amid crisis
World Bank forecast Pakistan’s economic growth to slow further to two percent during the current year. This will
mark a drop of two percentage points from its June 2022 estimates, according to the World Bank’s Global Economic
Prospects report. The report said that Pakistan’s economic output was not only declining itself but also bringing
down the regional growth rate as well. Forecasting Pakistan’s GDP growth rate to improve to 3.2 per cent in 2024,
the report said, “Policy uncertainty further complicates the economic outlook” of Pakistan.
This pace reflects still robust growth in India, Maldives, and Nepal, offsetting the effects of the floods in Pakistan
and the economic and political crises in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The deteriorating global environment, however,
will weigh on investment in the region,” the report said pointing to a “sharp, long-lasting slowdown” with the global
growth expected at 1.7 per cent this year.
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India-Bangladesh Friendship pipeline to start supplying diesel to Bangladesh from June
The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL) would begin supplying diesel to Bangladesh on an
experimental basis in June of this year, according to State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid.
Nasrul Hamid responded to a written inquiry before the national parliament, Jatiya Sangsad, in Dhaka, by stating
that a pipeline of 131.5 kilometres long has been built for importing fuel from India.
5 kilometres of the pipeline are in Bangladesh, and 5 kilometres are in India, pre-commissioning of diesel imports
through this pipeline is already in progress, according to UNB.
Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc announces his resignation following corruption scandals
The continuous anti-corruption campaign has prompted President Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam to announce his
resignation. In Vietnam, the anti-corruption campaign has resulted in the dismissal of several ministers. Two of
President Phuc’s deputy prime ministers had resigned earlier.
Former prime minister Phuc has been the country’s president since 2021.Between April 2021, when he was elected
president, and 2016, the 69-year-old was Vietnam’s prime minister.
The National Assembly must approve the president’s resignation; a special vote will be held today; however, it is
anticipated that this will only be a formality.
In a statement praising Phuc’s leadership, the Communist Party insisted that he was politically accountable for
infractions and the misbehaviour of many officials who worked for him.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
IIT Roorkee, AIIMS Delhi develop SwasthGarbh app providing real-time medical support to pregnant
women
To create the SwasthGarbh app, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi worked together. Pregnant women can access antenatal care and real-time
medical support through the smartphone app. The software may be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store.
SwasthGarbh app may be a crucial tool for women in rural areas and those who do not have easy access to doctors,
according to a statement made by IIT Roorkee.
The software was created by Sahil Sharma, Professor Deepak Sharma, Professor Vatsla Dadhwal, and Professor
Aparna Sharma from the AIIMS in Delhi, all of whom work in the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering
at IIT Roorkee.
The app helps expectant mothers by assuring punctual prenatal care appointments, documenting each clinical test,
and enhancing medication adherence.
The clinical evaluation of 150 patients showed how useful the app is for enhancing antenatal care quality and
minimising problems.
Anti-tank, air defence missile systems: Defence ministry approved capital procurement proposals worth
Rs. 4276 crore
Defence Acquisition Council(DAC) approved three proposals worth 4,276 crore rupees to strengthen the country’s
deterrence and combat readiness. Defence Ministry said, a meeting of Defence Acquisition Council held under the
chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The DAC has accorded approval for procurement of HELINA
Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, launchers and associated support equipment which will be integrated to the Advanced
Light Helicopter.
There were three proposals – two for the Army and third was for the Indian Navy. The defence ministry said the
DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for three capital acquisition proposals, amounting to ₹4,276 crore.
The DAC granted approval for procurement of Brahmos Launcher and Fire Control System (FCS) for the Shivalik
class of ships and next generation missile vessels (NGMVs) for the Indian Navy.
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Centre will launch National Urban Technology Mission for Municipal Services and ULBs
The Centre is about to launch a five-year National Urban Technology Mission which is able to infuse technological
improvements in municipal providers and infrastructure of 4,500 city native bodies within the nation. The mission,
to be spearheaded by the ministry of housing and urban affairs, can have three main sub-heads. A be aware ready
for the approval of the expenditure finance committee (EFC) pegs the mission outlay at ₹15,000 crore for 5 years.
The primary sub-head is online governance. The mission will establish six primary frequent citizen providers which
each city native physique should provide on-line. These would essentially embrace issuing beginning and loss of
life certificates, offering water and electrical energy connections, computation and assortment of property tax and
grievance redress.
APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS
RBI approves Baskar Babu’s re-appointment as Suryoday Bank’s Chief for 3 years
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of Baskar Babu Ramachandran as the MD & CEO of
Suryoday Small Finance bank for three years effective from 23rd January 2023. The founder of the bank, Baskar Babu
Ramachandran sold the bank’s 50 lakh shares on 16th December for ₹55.44 crores to close a loan for exercising
warrants to maintain the promoter’s stake at the minimum of 26 percent for the first 5 years.
Baskar Babu Ramachandran holds 63,01,911 shares amounting to 5.94 percent after the aforementioned same of
which 62.40 lakh shares are pledged.
Suryoday Small Finance Bank is a scheduled commercial bank. The bank has a widespread presence across 13 states
and UTs across India through its 565 banking outlets. The bank has reported a net profit of Rs 13 crore in Q2 FY22
as against a net loss of Rs 1.92 crore.
Lieutenant General Arvind Walia Has Been Appointed as the Next Engineer-in-Chief of the Army
Lieutenant General Arvind Walia has been appointed as the next Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army. He would
be succeeding Lt Gen Harpal Singh who is superannuating on December 31. An officer of the 1986 batch, Lt Gen
Walia is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and also received the prestigious Silver Medal
there.
Lt Gen Walia has previously commanded an independent squadron in the desert sector, a regiment in Jammu and
Kashmir and an Engineer Brigade along the western front. He has also commanded the MEG & Centre in Bengaluru.
Ajay Kumar Srivastava becomes new MD and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank
Ajay Kumar Srivastava has been elevated as Managing Director and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank with effect from
January 1, 2023 from his current posting as executive director. He started his banking career as a probationary officer
in 1991 with Allahabad Bank where he worked in various capacities in different parts of the country. He is an astute
and hardcore banker with Vast field-level experience and has the distinction of having successfully led the largest
and most critical areas of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Delhi while working at a senior level in Allahabad Bank.
After the successful completion of about 27 years in Allahabad Bank he was elevated as Executive Director of IOB
in October 2017.
He made strategies for each of the key areas and successfully implemented them at the ground level with the
support of the Board.
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International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 kick starts
The Government of India sponsored the proposal for International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which was accepted
by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The declaration has been instrumental for the Government of
India to be at the forefront in celebrating the IYM. PM Narendra Modi has also shared his vision to make IYM 2023
a ‘People’s Movement’ alongside positioning India as the ‘Global Hub for Millets’.
Recognising the enormous potential of Millets, which also aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), the Government of India (GoI) has prioritized Millets. In April 2018, Millets were rebranded as “Nutri
Cereals”, followed by the year 2018 being declared as the National Year of Millets, aiming at larger promotion and
demand generation. The global millets market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period
between 2021-2026.
Paytm Payments Bank receives RBI nod to appoint Surinder Chawla as Managing Director and CEO
Paytm Payments Bank has received banking regulator RBI’s nod to appoint Surinder Chawla as its Managing
Director and CEO. The RBI, however, continues to bar Paytm Payments Bank from on-boarding new customers.
Before joining PPBL, Chawla was working with RBL Bank, where he served as Head – Branch Banking and focused
on expanding the CASA base, fee revenue, and cross-selling across channels. The company in its regulatory filing
said that the latest appointment comes as part of PPBL’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its leadership team, enhance
its technology capabilities and drive financial inclusion in the country.
Chawla brings with him a career in retail banking spanning over 28 years across institutions such as HDFC Bank,
RBL Bank, ABN Amro Bank and Standard Chartered Bank. He joins PPBL from RBL Bank, where he served as head
of branch banking and focused on expanding the Current Account Savings Account (CASA) base, fee revenue, and
cross-selling across channels.
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Kingdom, including as the Chief Economist at the UK Treasury and the Joint Head of the UK Government Economic
Service over the past five years.
Captain Surbhi Jakhmola Became the First Woman Officer Posted On Foreign Assignment In The Border
Roads Organisation
Captain Surbhi Jakhmola of the Indian Army’s 117 Engineer Regiment will be the first woman officer to be posted
on a foreign assignment at the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The officer will be sent to Bhutan as part of
Project Dantak. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is an executive road construction force in India that supports
the Indian armed forces.
The BRO’s deployment comes just days after the Indian Air Force deployed woman fighter pilot squadron leader
Avani Chaturvedi to Japan for the exercise Veer Guardian 2023, which will take place from January 16 to 26 at the
Hyakuri Air Base and its surrounding airspace in Omitama, as well as the Iruma Air Base in Sayama in Japan.
Avani Chaturvedi, a Su-30MKI pilot and one of India’s first three women fighter pilots will depart for Japan shortly
to take part in the exercise. Chaturvedi was born, raised, and completed her education in Madhya Pradesh. She was
inducted into the IAF fighter squadron after six months of intensive training at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal,
Hyderabad.
Shooting World Cup 2023: HC appoints ex-SC Judge AK Sikri as administrator to see fund utilisation
Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri, a retired judge from the Supreme Court, has been appointed by the Delhi High Court as
Administrator to manage the use of funds for the next ISSF Shooting World Cup in 2023. The ISSF World Cup
(Rifle/Pistol) will take place in March in Bhopal.
Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad’s divisional bench noted that if there is any
obstacle to arranging the World Cup event, which would require funds from the Central Government, the prestige
of the nation will be harmed.
The administrator may also enlist the services of any athlete of his choosing who has competed at the national or
international level in shooting, according to the court. After the occurrence, the bench requested that a report be
sent in a sealed cover.
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AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Prabhu Chandra Mishra receives the Atal Samman Award
On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of the country Atal Bihari Vajpayee, many personalities who
played an important role in various fields were honored, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi during 9th Atal Samman
Samaroh. Prabhu Chandra Mishra has been awarded Atal Samman Award for his excellence in field of science &
research. His area of work is Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine in infertility especially when IVF also fails.
The diseases like premature ovarian failure, thin endometrium, Asherman syndrome Etc have shown satisfactory
results with body’s own cells. PRP & bone marrow-derived StemCells Research have shown promising hope for
these patients/ couples who are struggling for their own child’s.
Odisha Wins World Habitat Awards 2023 For Slum Upgradation Program
Odisha won the UN-Habitat’s World Habitat Awards 2023 for Jaga Mission, a 5T initiative of the state. The awards
recognise and highlight innovative, outstanding and revolutionary housing ideas, projects and programmes from
across the world. The Jaga mission is the land titling and slum upgrading program that aims at empowering the
lives of slum dwellers.
Jaga mission is the world’s largest land titling and slum upgrading program which aims at empowering the lives of
slum dwellers. Under the inspiring leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Government of Odisha has set
itself the ambitious target of becoming the first slum-free state in India and is leading the Jaga Mission programme
to upgrade all of the state’s 2,919 slums.
In the last 05 years of the initiative, 1,75,000 families have been granted land tenure security. 100% households in
2,724 slums have been provided with pipe water connections, 707 slums transformed fully into Liveable Habitats,
100% households in 666 slums have individual toilets, and 8 cities have become slum-free.
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awards will be conferred upon the recipients by President Droupadi Murmu during the 17th edition of the PBSA,
which is scheduled to be held from 8-10 January in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
CJI Chandrachud To Receive Harvard Law School’s ‘Award for Global Leadership’
The Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession (HLS CLP) has announced Chief Justice of India Dr. DY
Chandrachud as the 2022 recipient of its “Award for Global Leadership” in recognition of his lifetime service to the
legal profession in India and across the world. The award will be presented to him in a virtual event on 11th January
2023.
Professor David Wilkins of Harvard Law School will have a conversation with Chief Justice Dr. DY Chandrachud at
the event.
The “Award for Global Leadership” is the Centre’s highest Professional Honor.
The Centre brings together leading academics, legal practitioners, and thought leaders to honor and recognize
individuals whose achievements have been impactful to the legal profession.
CJI Chandrachud To Receive Harvard Law School’s ‘Award for Global Leadership’
The Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession (HLS CLP) has announced Chief Justice of India Dr. DY
Chandrachud as the 2022 recipient of its “Award for Global Leadership” in recognition of his lifetime service to the
legal profession in India and across the world. The award will be presented to him in a virtual event on 11th January
2023.
Professor David Wilkins of Harvard Law School will have a conversation with Chief Justice Dr. DY Chandrachud at
the event.
The “Award for Global Leadership” is the Centre’s highest Professional Honor.
The Centre brings together leading academics, legal practitioners, and thought leaders to honor and recognize
individuals whose achievements have been impactful to the legal profession.
Golden Globes 2023: SS Rajamouli’s RRR wins Best Original Song for ‘Naatu Naatu’
Composer MM Keeravani, along with singers Kaala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj, has won the Golden Globe for
Best Original Song, for the track “Naatu Naatu,” from epic drama “RRR“. “Naatu Naatu,” a dance number featuring
stars Jr NTR and Ram Charan, was competing against Taylor Swift’s “Carolina” from Where the Crawdads Sing,
“Ciao Papa” from Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, and “Lift
Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, performed by Rihanna.
The historical epic has also been nominated in the Best Non-English Language Film category at the 80th Golden
Globes. In the ‘best picture–non English segment’, “RRR” will face off with Korean romantic mystery film “Decision
To Leave”, German anti-war drama “All Quiet on the Western Front”, Argentine historical drama “Argentina, 1985”,
and French-Dutch coming-of-age drama “Close”.
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SII's Adar Poonawalla gets 1st Patangrao Kadam award for fight against Covid
Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, honours Adar Poonawalla with Patangrao Kadam
award for vaccine work. Devendra Fadnavis also praised Serum Institute of India and its CEO Adar Poonawalla on
Sunday for their work in the fight against COVID-19.
‘Patangrao Kadam was a leader who founded 190 institutes to deliver great education and generate quality human
resources.’
Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister of
Himachal Pradesh, both attended the ceremony.
As SII has produced 160 vaccinations, Adar Poonawalla is continuing his father Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla’s legacy,
according to Pawar. The chief minister of HP requested that Bharti Vidyapeeth and SII establish facilities in his
state.
Indian peacekeepers deployed with UNMISS honoured with UN medal for exemplary service
Over 1,000 Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been
honoured with the prestigious UN medals at an award ceremony where the parade was led for the first time by a
woman officer of the Indian Army.
At a special award ceremony in Upper Nile, 1,171 peacekeepers from India deployed with the UN mission in South
Sudan were honoured with UN medals for their exemplary service. for the first time, a female officer of the Indian
Army, Major Jasmine Chattha, led the parade of the large Indian contingent, comprising infantry, engineers and
medical officials, at the award ceremony in Upper Nile.
Last week, India deployed the largest platoon of women peacekeepers to the United Nations Interim Security Force,
Abyei (UNISFA), heralding New Delhi’s intent of increasing significantly the number of women in peacekeeping
contingents.
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Critics Choice Awards 2023: RRR Bags Two Wins
The 28th Critics Choice Awards were held, and once again, SS Rajamouli’s RRR has made India proud, as the film
scored two awards. RRR won Best Song award for Naatu Naatu, as well as Best Foreign Language film. RRR was also
nominated for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Visual Effects.
The American Canadian Critics Choice Association CCA show Who shows for the finest In cinematic achievement.
The Critics Choice Movie award Formerly known as the Broadcast Film Critics Association award was held. Critics
Choice Awards Winner 2023 shows were hosted by Chelsea Handler.
The 28th Critics Choice Awards were held, and once again, SS Rajamouli’s RRR has made India proud, as the film
scored two awards. RRR won Best Song award for Naatu Naatu, as well as Best Foreign Language film. RRR was also
nominated for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Visual Effects.
Best Animated Series: “Harley Quinn”
Best Foreign Language Series: “Pachinko”
Best Comedy Special: “Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special”
Best Talk Show: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
SeeHer Award: Janelle Monáe
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeff Bridges
Civil Aviation 2023: New Goa Manohar International Airport Wins 'Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport'
Award
The New Goa Manohar International Airport (MIA), built by the GMR Goa International Airport Ltd (GGIAL), a
subsidiary of GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited, won the prestigious “Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport” award
under Aviation Sustainability and Environment at ASSOCHAM 14th International Conference-cum-Awards for Civil
Aviation 2023 at New Delhi.
The award was presented for “excellent initiatives” taken by GGIAL in implementing sustainability as one of core
concepts. During the conference, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia presented the award to the
senior officials from GGIAL in the presence of industry dignitaries and participants.
The forum recognises the companies engaged in civil aviation initiatives that adopt best practices and technological
advancement in their daily operations, a GMR Goa International Airport release said.
The criteria of awards are contribution, innovativeness, applicability, relevance and impact potential in their
respective areas.
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Assam CM publishes ‘Chief Minister’s Dairy No 1’, former CJI Ranjan Gogoi releases book
Former Chief Justice of India and member of the Rajya Sabha Ranjan Gogoi has released a book titled ‘Chief
Minister’s Diary No.1’ containing the account of events of the first year in office of Assam chief minister Himanta
Biswa Sarma. The book featured accounts of daily activities he undertook as a chief minister.
Assam Chief Minister said that without bringing his personal life into the limelight, the book featured accounts of
daily activities he undertook as a Chief Minister. His diary essentially featured the growth initiatives that Assam
witnessed over the last 11 months.
Ranjan Gogoi is presently a member of the Rajya Sabha. He served as the 46th Chief Justice of India for 13 months
from 2018 to 2019.
PM Modi receives book titled " Braving A Viral Storm: India’s Covid-19 Vaccine Story"
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has officially launched the book titled “Braving A Viral
Storm: India’s Covid-19 Vaccine Story” in New Delhi. The book is co-authored by Aashish Chandorkar and Suraj
Sudhir. The book launch comes ahead of India’s second anniversary of starting its COVID-19 vaccination drive in
January 2021.
In this book, the inside story of India’s fight against Corona and the challenges of making a vaccine in difficult
circumstances is told. The whole story from India’s preparation to making it in the vaccine race has been told
through words in this book. India had established a Covid management model towards an exemplary vaccination
with public participation.
Book “Come! Let’s Run” Authored by Health Minister of Tamil Nadu Released
The English version of the book titled ‘Come! Let’s Run’ by Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ma.
Subramanian was released by Krishnamachari Srikkanth, former Captain of the Indian Cricket team. The Tamil
version of the same book titled ‘Odalam Vanga’ was released on March 8, 2021. The book was published by Emerald
Publishers and the English translation was done by Geeta Padmanaban (a teacher) along with J. Joicy and Sharon.
This book is a fascinating account of the physical, emotional, and historical journey taken by Thiru. Subramanian
during the course of running his marathons in Tamil Nadu, in India, and all over the world. He includes interesting
facts and details about each place he ran a marathon while talking about the challenges of running each race. Every
volunteer in the party has perseverance and is always ready to face challenges and win. This book is proof of that.
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Book ‘COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team’ by R. Kaushik, R. Sridhar
A book titled ‘COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team’ authored by R. Kaushik & R. Sridhar.
The book reflects primarily on R. Sridhar’s seven-year coaching tenure with the Indian cricket team as its fielding
coach. This book isn’t as technical as it is anecdotal. It throws light, for instance, on how Virat Kohli overcame a
dismal Test series in England in 2014 to smash four hundreds in as many matches in his next overseas outing, in
Australia.
It also traces Rishabh Pant’s journey towards becoming the ferocious ball-striker and outstanding gloveman he is
today while delving into the minds of players and the support staff to analyse India’s progression towards the
number 1 Test ranking. Revelations of behind-the-scenes parleys jostle with the then head coach Ravi Shastri’s
motivational skills in a riveting read that provides an insider’s account of the rise and rise of Indian cricket.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness 2022: 27th December
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on December 27 serves the purpose of creating awareness about
epidemics. This day encourages every individual, every institution, and every government to prepare its citizens in
an appropriate manner and in accordance with national contexts and priorities, through education and awareness-
raising activities, in order to highlight the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for, and partnership
against epidemics.
The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness reminds us what we went through during the two years of peak-
COVID infections. Hospitals were overwhelmed. Family members could not conduct the last rites of their loved
ones. Such grim situations could be avoided in the future if people remain alert and prepared.
In its 75th session and 36th plenary meeting on December 7, 2020, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
passed a resolution which declared December 27 as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.
356th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj being celebrated across the country
The 356th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj is being celebrated across the country today with
religious fervor and gaiety. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and recalled his
contribution towards serving humanity. In a tweet, Mr Modi said that his unparalleled courage will continue to
motivate people for years to come.
In Bihar, the main function of the birth anniversary known as Prakash Parv will be celebrated at midnight at the
gurdwara Takht Sri Harimandir Sahib at Patna Sahib, the birthplace of the Tenth Sikh Guru. A special Diwan has
been decorated at Takht Sri Harimandir Sahib Gurudwara. Shabad Kirtan has been organized and devotees have
been paying their Ardas (obeisance) since early morning. With the culmination of Akhand Path the main ritual of
Prakash Utsav will be performed.
DRDO celebrates its 65th Foundation Day; Floral tributes paid to former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
at DRDO Headquarters in New Delhi
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Headquarters in New Delhi has marked the 65th
Foundation Day of the Organisation, which is celebrated on 1st January every year. DRDO Chairman Dr S V Kamat
addressed the DRDO fraternity on the occasion. He reaffirmed DRDO’s commitment towards R&D excellence and
briefed about the development of cutting edge technologies for self-reliance in defence.
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On the occassion of the day, a DRDO monograph ‘Infrared Signatures, Sensors and Technologies’ authored by Dr
Kamal Nain Chopra, a former DRDO Scientist, was also released by the Chairman DRDO. DRDO calendar 2023 was
also released. In addition, Secretary DD R&D and Chairman DRDO felicitated all the employees who have
completed 25 years of their service in DRDO.
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It is working on several cutting-edge military technology areas, including aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles,
electronics, instrumentation, engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing,
simulation, cyber, hypersonic technology, quantum computing and communications.
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As a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, various startup related events are being organised in more than
75 places across the country to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation by involving the startup
community across length and breadth of the country.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to preside over 7th Armed Forces Veterans Day Celebrations at
Dehradun
The Armed Forces Veterans Day is celebrated on 14th January since 1953, the First Indian Commander in Chief (C-
in-C) of Indian Army- Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who led Indian Forces to Victory in the 1947 war, had formally
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retired from the Services. The Day is celebrated as Armed Forces Veterans Day and dedicated to our esteemed
Veterans. The First Armed Forces Veterans Day was celebrated on January, 14, 2016 and it was decided to
commemorate this day every year by hosting such interactive events in the honor of our Armed Forces Veterans
and their families.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh preside over 7th Armed Forces Veterans Day Celebrations by addressing an
Armed Forces Veterans Rally at Jaswant Ground in Dehradun Cantonment. He also launch the ‘Soul of Steel Alpine
Challenge’, a joint adventure sport initiative of the Indian Army and CLAW Global, by flagging off a car expedition
from Dehradun to Ghamshali located in the Niti Valley.
OBITURY
Pelé, Brazil World Cup winner and football legend, dies aged 82
Brazilian football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, famously called Pelé, has passed away aged 82. He is
considered by many as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He was instrumental in Brazil’s three World Cup
victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970. He is still the top scorer for Brazil national team with 77 goals in 92 games. He
retired from Santos in 1974 but a year later made a surprise comeback by signing a lucrative deal to join the New
York Cosmos in the then nascent North American Soccer League.
In a glorious 21-year career he scored between 1,281 and 1,283 goals, depending on how matches are counted. Pele,
though, transcended soccer, like no player before or since, and he became one of the first global icons of the 20th
century.
During his career, he became known as “The Black Pearl”.
Pele was named “Athlete of the Century” by the International Olympic Committee, co-“Football Player of the
Century” by world soccer body FIFA, and a “national treasure” by Brazil’s government.
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Former Pope Benedict XVI dies in Vatican monastery aged 95
Statement released by the Vatican, the former Pope Benedict XVI has passed away in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery
in the Vatican. He was 95 years old. The head of the Catholic Church, former Pope Benedict, was the first pope in
600 years to resign. He resigned in 2013 and was replaced by the present pope Francis. Pope Benedict was the first
German to become pope in 1000 years. He was the head of the Vatican City from 19 April 2005 until his resignation
on 28 February 2013. He was born as Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in the southern German village of
Marktl, close to Austria.
Pope is a title which is given to the Bishop of Rome who is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. He is also the
head of the sovereign country of Vatican City. Roman Catholics are the largest of the three major branches of
Christianity.
Keshari Nath Tripathi, former West Bengal Governor Bengal and senior BJP leader, passes away at 88
Senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former West Bengal governor, Keshari Nath Tripathi passed
away at 88. Born on November 10, 1934 in erstwhile Allahabad, Tripathi was also a senior advocate at the Allahabad
High Court. He joined RSS when he was just 12 and later switched to Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He was jailed in Naini
Central Jail in 1953 for participating in the ‘Kashmir Andolan’ and again in 1990 for taking part in the Ram
Janmabhoomi movement.
A senior advocate of Allahabad high court, Tripathi served as a member of the UP Legislative Assembly six times.
He represented the Jhunsi seat between 1977-1980) and Allahabad South seat for five consecutive terms between
1989-2007). He also served as the Speaker of the UP Legislative Assembly thrice between 1991 and 2004.
Keshari Nath Tripathi, former West Bengal Governor Bengal and senior BJP leader, passes away at 88
Senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former West Bengal governor, Keshari Nath Tripathi passed
away at 88. Born on November 10, 1934 in erstwhile Allahabad, Tripathi was also a senior advocate at the Allahabad
High Court. He joined RSS when he was just 12 and later switched to Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He was jailed in Naini
Central Jail in 1953 for participating in the ‘Kashmir Andolan’ and again in 1990 for taking part in the Ram
Janmabhoomi movement.
A senior advocate of Allahabad high court, Tripathi served as a member of the UP Legislative Assembly six times.
He represented the Jhunsi seat between 1977-1980) and Allahabad South seat for five consecutive terms between
1989-2007). He also served as the Speaker of the UP Legislative Assembly thrice between 1991 and 2004.
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He received the highest literary honour of the country — Jnanpith award — in 2007 for his collection ‘Siyah Rood
Jaeren Manz’ (In Black Drizzle).
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Durrushehvar, his mother, was the lone child of Abdul Majid, the final Caliph of Islam who was exiled by Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk when the Caliphate was abolished.
His father was Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan’s oldest son, Azam Jah, whose kingdom united with India on September
18, 1948.
RANKING
India Ranks 5th In World's Best Cuisines List; Gulati's Butter Chicken In Delhi Among Top Dishes
Cuisines of the World: India is ranked fifth on the global list of the best cuisines for 2022, according to Taste Atlas.
The ranking is based on audience votes for ingredients, dishes, and beverages. Italy’s food came in first place
followed by Greece and Spain. India received 4.54 points and the best rated foods of the country include “garam
masala, malai, ghee, butter garlic naan, keema”, the rating said. It has a total of 460 items in the list. Furthermore,
the best restaurants to try Indian cuisine are Shree Thaker Bhojanalay (Mumbai), Karavalli (Bengaluru), Bukhara
(New Delhi), Dum Pukht (New Delhi), Comorin (Gurugram) and 450 others, according to the list.
Japan, the United States of America, Turkiye, France and Peru were also among the top 10 countries with best
cuisines. Chinese cuisine, which is the world’s most popular, however, ranked 11th on the list.
Power Grid Corporation of India ranks first in services sector in PE survey 2021-22
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has been ranked 1st in Services Sectors across categories
Gross Block, Value Addition, Net Profit, Net Worth, Dividend Declaration, and Contribution to the Central
Exchequer and has also been ranked 3rd among the Top 10 profit-making Closes.
The results were published in the Public Enterprises Survey 2021-2022 by the Department of Public Enterprises
(DPE), Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
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The Public Enterprises Survey is a unique data repository to measure the progress and contribution of the CPSEs to
the Indian economy.
The total transmission assets of POWERGRID and its subsidiary as on 31st December 2022 include 1,73,791 circuit
km of transmission lines.
Shah Rukh Khan only Indian to beat Tom Cruise, Jackie Chan and others on world's richest actor's list
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan with his more than three decades of work in the film industry has garnered
millions of fans all over the world and an estimated net worth of ₹627 million ($770 million), making him the richest
actor in Asia and fourth richest actor all over the world. Beating fellow immensely famous and cult actors like Tom
Cruise, Jackie Chan, and George Clooney, Shah Rukh Khan took the fourth position in the list of eight richest actors
of the world released by World of Statistics.
The Shah Rukh Khan has made a great impact with his cameos in films like R Madhavan’s Rocketry: The Nambi
Effect and Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra Part 1: Shiva. Now, ahead of the release of his comeback film, Pathaan, the
actor has been featured in the list of the richest actors in the world.
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It also includes manpower, land forces, airpower, natural resources, naval forces, logistics and financials.
Under manpower, the factors considered are total population, paramilitary, reaching military age annually, active
reserves and active services.
The finance factors include external debt, defence budget, reserves of foreign exchange and gold and purchasing
power parity.
TCS, Infosys consolidate their positions among top three global IT brands
Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys grew their brand value to retain their positions as the second and third most
valuable IT services brands, according to the ‘IT Services 25’ list prepared by UK-based consultancy Brand Finance
for the year 2023.
Accenture retained the top slot for the fifth year straight, with a brand valued at $39.8 billion. It is the strongest IT
services brand in the ranking with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 87.8 out of 100 and a corresponding AAA
brand rating.
TCS’s brand value was up 2 per cent at $17.2 billion. TCS has delivered many tailored transformation programmes
as clients migrated to various hybrid working methods, said the Brand Finance report.
Infosys’s brand value rose 2 per cent to $13 billion as it consolidated its position amongst the top three most valuable
IT services brands globally. A rating of AAA helped Infosys to enter the top 150 most valuable brands in the world.
SPORTS
Anurag Thakur inaugurates Sports Science Centre in Udupi
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur inaugurated the Sports Science Centre here at M.G.
Stadium in Udupi, Karnataka. This Sports Science Centre will bring together sports scientists and athletes. The
sports science center has been set up by the government of Karnataka.
The state government has set up two sports science centers at Udupi and Bengaluru. These centers will conduct
research on medicines, nutritious food, treatment and rehabilitation measures for sportspersons, which would help
them to boost their abilities. The Minister said that many more such sports science centers will come up. In the
future. The government is making efforts to transform India into a sporting soft power. It has increased the sports
budget from 854 crores before 2014 to 3,100 crore rupees this year and spent 2700 crore rupees to enhance sporting
infrastructure as against 630 crore rupees earlier.
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best figures of 8/39 in his 12 overs. Delhi, who lost 7 wickets for just 10 runs, didn’t face ignominy of lowest first-
class score of 6 by a team called ‘The B’s’ against England in an official match held in 1810.
No one had managed a first-over hat-trick in the 89-year history of the premier domestic competition. The previous
record of the fastest Ranji hat-trick belonged to Karnataka pacer Vinay Kumar, who achieved the feat in the 2017-
18 quarter-final against Mumbai. Kumar’s effort was spread across the first and third overs of the match. Unadkat,
playing in his 98th first-class match was playing in his first Ranji game of the season, having recently made his Test
return in Bangladesh following a 12-year wait.
Belinda Clark becomes first women cricketer to have a statue cast, sculpture unveiled at Sydney Cricket
Ground
Australia’s Belinda Clark has become the first female cricketer to have a statue cast in her honour, a bronze sculpture
of the trailblazing former captain unveiled outside Sydney Cricket Ground. Clark played 15 tests and over 100 limited
overs matches between 1991-2005, and became the first cricketer to score a double-hundred in one-day
internationals when she made an unbeaten 229 against Denmark in 1997.
The 52-year-old’s statue stands alongside Richie Benaud, Fred Spofforth, Stan McCabe and Steve Waugh as
cricketers honoured with sculptures in the SCG precinct. at the ground. Her bronze cast now stands alongside
former captain Richard Benaud and Steve Waugh. The 52-year-old Clark who has held several roles in Australian
Cricket board was excited on this honour. Known for scoring the first double century in ODI cricket, Clark played
15 Tests and over 100 l imited-over matches between 1991-2005. His historic double hundred came against Denmark
in 1997 with an unbeaten knock of 229.
Chess: Tamil Nadu's Pranesh M becomes India's 79th Grandmaster after winning Rilton Cup
Pranesh M became India’s 79th Grandmaster, having completed his three norms prior to this event. IM Pranesh M
emerged as the winner of the Rilton Cup, the first tournament of the FIDE Circuit. The 16-year-old from India,
seeded 22nd, made a clean sweep of the field in Stockholm, winning eight games and finishing a full point ahead of
IM Kaan Kucuksari (Sweden) and GM Nikita Meshkovs (Latvia).
The 2022/2023 Rilton Cup, the strongest open tournament in Sweden, ran from December 27 to January 5 and
brought together 136 players representing 29 national federations. Pranesh M is now the early leader of the FIDE
Circuit with 6.8 circuit points that he gets for this victory. The one who accumulates the most points by the end of
the year qualifies for the 2024 FIDE Candidates.
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'Hindustan Ka Dil Dhadka Do'... Khelo India gets josh anthem & mascot
The anthem, mascot and a ‘smart torch’ for the fifth edition of the youth games were unveiled by chief minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union MoS sports Nisith Pramanik and state sports minister at a glittering event in Bhopal
on Saturday evening.
The 5th KIYG 2022 will be held from January 30 to February 11. There are 27 sporting disciplines on the schedule,
with over 6,000 athletes competing. ‘Hindustan Ka Dil Dhadka Do’ – this is the heartpounding anthem of the Khelo
India Youth Games 2022. And cheetah Asha, who was named by PM Narendra Modi, the Games mascot.
The importance of sports and fitness in one’s life is invaluable. Playing sports inculcates team spirit, develops
strategic & analytical thinking, leadership skills, goal setting and risk taking. A fit and healthy individual leads to
an equally healthy society and strong nation.
Suryakumar Yadav becomes fastest batter to notch up 1500 T20I runs in terms of balls taken
Suryakumar Yadav has become the fastest player to reach 1,500 runs in T20 International cricket in terms of balls
faced. The took only 843 balls to reach this landmark. In 45 matches and 43 innings, Suryakumar has scored 1,578
runs at an average of 46.41. He has three centuries and 13 half-centuries in the format, with the best individual score
of 117.
However, he is the third-fastest batter to reach the 1,500-run mark in terms of innings. The fastest batters to reach
this landmark are Indian batter Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Australian veteran Aaron Finch and Pakistan skipper Babar
Azam, who all took 39 innings to score 1,500 runs in T20 International cricket. Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter
Mohammed Rizwan reached the milestone in 42 innings and Suryakumar did so in 43 innings.
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France Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris Announces Retirement from International Football
France team captain Hugo Lloris has announced his decision to retire from international football at the age of 36.
Lloris represented France in four World Cups and three Euros and captained Les Blues to the World Cup trophy in
2018. The Tottenham Hotspur shotstopper led his team to the World Cup final in Qatar, where they were beaten
by Argentina on penalties.
The 36-year-old holds many records and is France’s most capped player with 145 appearances to his name. Lloris
made his debut for Les Blues back in November 2008. He was handed the armband two years after his international
debut and would go on to captain France in 121 matches.
Deschamps paid tribute to the 36-year-old and called him a great servant of the France national team. The France
coach went on to say that it was a honour and pleasure to be Lloris’ trainer and thanked him for his contributions
to the team.
Former Indian Captain MS Dhoni, Garuda Aerospace launched surveillance drone named Droni
Former India cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and drone market Garuda Aerospace have launched a a
surveillance drone named ‘Droni.’ Dhoni is an ambassador-cum-investor in the low-cost drone manufacturer.
Dhoni had unveiled the camera drone called Droni at The Global Drone Expo in Chennai last year. Droni is a
battery-operated quadcopter surveillance drone.
At the launch, MS Dhoni has said that he got interested about drones during the COVID-19 lockdown and learned
about the important role drones can play for farmers and agriculturalists. Garuda Aerospace recently became the
first-ever drone company in India to get dual DGCA approvals for both drone manufacturing type certificate and
RTPO. Recently, MS Dhoni and Garuda had also launched a short film ‘Kheton Ke Kaptan’, aimed at encouraging
youth and farmers to lead in their respective farms.
Brook and Gardner crowned ICC Players of the Month for December 2023
Harry Brook received the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award after a blistering run of scores that helped England
claim a historic World Test Championship (WTC) series victory in Pakistan. On the other hand, Australia’s Ashleigh
Gardner bagged the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for her contributions with bat and ball in the T20I
series against India.
The 23-year-old Brook scored 468 runs in three matches in the recently concluded Test series against Pakistan.
England won the series 3–0 in which Brook made his important contribution.
Gardner won the award after his impressive individual performance in the series against India in December 2022.
He received this award leaving behind Charlie Dean of England and Suzie Bates of New Zealand.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurates FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 in Cuttack
Men’s Hockey World Cup, 2023 has began with a spectacular opening ceremony at the picturesque Barabati Stadium
in Cuttack that was witnessed by thousands of hockey lovers in attendance from across the country and abroad.
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, International Hockey Federation
president Tayyab Ikram and Hockey India chairman Dilip Tirkey were present at the glittering ceremony. 16 teams
are participating in the global tournament.
The matches will be held at two venues, Birsa Mundra Hockey Stadium in Rourkela and Kalinga Stadium in
Bhubaneswar, from January 13 to January 29.
Virat Kohli beats Mahela Jayawardene to become 5th highest run scorer in ODI cricket
Star cricketer Virat Kohli became the fifth-highest run-scorer in history of ODI cricket, overtaking Sri Lankan legend
Mahela Jayawardene to enter into top-five. At the time of becoming the fifth-highest run-scorer, Virat had 12,652
runs in 268 ODIs at an average of 57.78, with 45 tons and 65 half-century. His best score in the format is 183.
As per records, the highest run-scorer in ODI history is Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored 18,426 runs
at an average of 44.83. He has 49 centuries and 96 fifties in this format, with the best of 200*. Followed by Sachin,
Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs in 404 matches), Australian great Ricky Ponting (13,704), Sri
Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430 in 445 matches) and Virat.
10 Kohli’s ODI hundreds against Sri Lanka. He’s the first player to hit ten ODI centuries against an opponent. Kohli
also has nine hundreds against West Indies, while Tendulkar also has nine against Australia.
96 ODI wins for India against Sri Lanka, the most by a team against an opponent in this format, surpassing
Australia’s 95 wins against New Zealand.
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Barcelona wins Spanish Super Cup after beating Real Madrid 3-1 in final hosted by Saudi Arabia
Barcelona have won the Spanish Super Cup for the first time since the competition was revamped and moved to
Saudi Arabia with a 3-1 victory over Real Madrid. Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and Pedri scored a goal each at King
Fahd Stadium in Riyadh to give Barcelona its first Super Cup trophy since 2018, and the first since the tournament’s
Final-Four format began in 2020 in a lucrative deal for the Spanish football federation. It was also Barcelona’s first
title since former player Xavi took over as the team’s coach in 2021, and since Lionel Messi left for Paris Saint-
Germain. Barcelona have now won the Super Cup a record 14 times. Madrid have 12 to their name.
The Super Cup used to be played between the Spanish league champion and the Copa del Rey winner. Now the
runners-up in both competitions also participate.
Badminton Malaysia Open 2023: Viktor Axelsen Yamaguchi Akane win titles in Kuala Lumpur
Akane Yamaguchi and Viktor Axelsen won the Malaysia Open Super 1000 women’s and men’s singles titles in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. Yamaguchi, the reigning world champion, registered a come-from-behind win over world no. 4
An Se Young to clinch the Super Series Premier title. Yamaguchi won her maiden Super Series Premier title at the
China Open in 2017.
The men’s singles final saw a repeat of last month’s World Tour Finals. Axelsen, the regaining Olympic and world
champion, won the Malaysia Open title in straight games, beating Japanese youngster Kodai Naraoka in 40 minutes.
This was Axelsen’s ninth Super Series Premier title and third Malaysia Open crown.
China’s Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan, the world no. 1 pairing in women’s doubles, blew away South Korea’s Baek Hana-
Lee Yulim 21-16, 21-10 in 52 minutes.
'Per match value of Rs 7 cr': Women's IPL media rights for 2023-27 bagged by Viacom for Rs 951 cr
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that Viacom 18 have grabbed the media rights for
the upcoming Women’s IPL for a whopping Rs 951 crore for five years, pipping other bidders, including Disney Star
and Sony, in the auction. The auction for the T20 League was conducted by the cricket board in Mumbai. The global
rights comprise three categories linear (TV), digital and combined (TV and digital). In the men’s IPL, separate rights
are sold across regions. The inaugural Women’s IPL is likely to begin in the first week of March. Five teams will
compete and all the matches will be held in Mumbai.
Viacom18 had won the IPL digital rights for Rs 23,758 crore while Disney Star had retained the TV rights for Rs
23,575 crore for a five-year period starting 2023 during a three-day auction held in June, 2022. There will be a total
of 134 matches in the five-team WIPL over five years, with 22 matches each in the first three years. The number
could touch 34 matches each in the final two years. BCCI is anticipating growth in WIPL over the next few years.
Hockey World Cup: Netherlands breaks record of most goals in a men’s HWC match, beats Chile 14-0
The three-time champion Netherlands defeated Chile’s debutants by a score of a record-breaking 14-0 to qualify as
the first team to the quarterfinals of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup. The Netherlands finished at the top of Pool
C with a maximum of nine points after racking up three victories in as many games.
The largest margin of victory in a World Cup game was recorded by the third-ranked Netherlands against the 23rd-
ranked Chile in the day’s second play.
World No. 1 Australia previously held the record for the largest margin of victory in a hockey World Cup match
after thrashing South Africa 12-0 in New Delhi.
The Netherlands, who have won the World Cup three times and placed second in the previous two tournaments,
earned 18 penalty corners in the match, of which they converted six, while Chile only received two.
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Rohit Sharma breaks MS Dhoni’s record of most ODI sixes at home in IND vs NZ 1st ODI
Indian captain Rohit Sharma has shattered a long-standing record held by MS Dhoni to become India’s most prolific
six-hitter in the history of ODI cricket. At the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad, Rohit achieved this remarkable
feat during the first ODI between India and New Zealand. The Indian captain’s knock included two maximums,
breaking MS Dhoni’s long-standing record.
Rohit is now India’s leading six-getter in the history of ODI cricket, with a total of 125 sixes to his name.
Tribal Affairs Ministry, Amazon Launch Computer Skills Training Programme For Teachers Of Tribal
Schools
In conjunction with the Learning Links Foundation, the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)
was setting up a two-day face-to-face capacity building program which was held on 28th and 29th of December
2022, for EMRS teachers to implement the Amazon Future Engineer Program (LLF).
The relationship between NESTS and amazon, according to Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda,
will empower educators and students in the area of digital education. He further stated that the programme will
aid in the beginning of digital contact with those living in remote places in the present decade. He claimed that the
Future Engineer Program will be extremely beneficial to EMRS students. Additionally, he said that the Future
Engineer Program would help the tribal students at EMRSs become more computer literate.
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The UN Security Council has expressed concern over unauthorized activities in the buffer zone separating the Greek
and Turkish communities in the northern and southern regions of the Mediterranean island since 1974.
India & Austria ink pact on migration and mobility
Last year witnessed “exploding number of Indians” who arrived at the borders of Austria as illegal immigrants, said
the Foreign Minister of Austria Alexander Schallenberg on January 2, 2023.
The Minister made the comment soon after the Indian and the Austrian teams signed a Comprehensive Migration
and Mobility Partnership Agreement that Mr Schallenberg described as “most important”. He called for dialogue to
resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and described India as a voice of “peace” and “reason”.
First G-20 meeting to take place in Puducherry on Jan 31, says LG Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan
Puducherry Lieutenant governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said that the first G-20 meeting will be held in
Puducherry on 31st January. The G20 logo for the meeting was released by Lieutenant Governor Dr. Tamilisai
Soundararajan at a function held at Beach Road Gandhi Tidal. Dr. Tamisai thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi
for giving all the states the opportunity to host the G-20 meetings. He released stickers, posters and badges and also
inaugurated a selfie booth in the presence of Chief Minister Rengasamy.
These programs will be organised in different parts of the country in different segments. Kolkata will host the first
meeting on the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion.
Since India is holding the presidency of the group, it is also setting an agenda for the wellbeing of the world at large.
Needless to say whilst G20 priorities are in the process of being firmed up and a lot of them would come up as the
talks go on, India is showing a path with focus on inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth.
Cabinet Committee approves over Rs 2,500-cr scheme for upgrading infra of DD, AIR
In a bid to upgrade Prasar Bharati’s broadcast infrastructure and network, the Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) approved a scheme worth more than Rs 2,500 crore for Doordarshan and All India Radio. Under the
scheme, eight lakh DD Free Dish DTH set top boxes (STBs) will also be distributed to people living in remote, tribal,
LWE, border areas and ‘aspirational’ districts.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur announced the Central Sector ‘Broadcasting Infrastructure
and Network Development (BIND)’ scheme with an outlay of Rs 2,539.61 crore up to 2025-26, which was approved
by the CCEA.
The BIND scheme is the vehicle for providing financial support to Prasar Bharati for expenses related to expansion
and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development and civil work related to the organization.
The BIND scheme will enable the public broadcaster to undertake a major upgradation of its facilities with better
infrastructure which will widen its reach, including in the LWE (Left Wing Extremism), border and strategic areas
and provide high quality content to the viewers.
JSW Group named as global partner for FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in India
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has signed a partnership with the JSW Group for the upcoming FIH
Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela, which will kick-off later this month. The group
supports and promotes Olympics in India and has created an Olympic Training Institute in the Inspire Institute of
Sport as well as has Olympic training centres across the country. The 15th edition of FIH’s flagship event for men
will be played from 13 January to 29 January in Odisha, India.
JSW Group is ranked among India’s leading business houses, active in various sectors including Steel, Energy,
Infrastructure, Cement, Paints, Venture Capital and Sports. JSW is committed to using sports as a means of nation-
building and has a long history of supporting and promoting Olympic sport in India.
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India to host Voice of Global South Summit next week, over 120 nations invited
India will host ‘The Voice of Global South’ Summit on January 12-13, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said. As many
as 120 countries will participate in the summit. The virtual summit is significant as India currently holds the
presidency of the G20 group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier indicated that priorities would be
shaped in consultation with developing countries.
The ‘Voice of Global South Summit’ under the theme ‘Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose’ envisages bringing together
countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform.
The MEA said that the summit envisages ten sessions, four sessions on January 12 and six sessions on January 13.
Each session is expected to witness the participation of leaders or ministers from 10-20 countries.
The inaugural and concluding sessions would be at the head of state or government level and hosted by the Prime
Minister. The theme of the Inaugural Leaders’ session is ‘Voice of Global South – for Human-Centric Development’
and that of the Concluding Leaders’ session is ‘Unity of Voice -Unity of Purpose’.
UAE names its oil company chief to lead U.N. climate talks
The United Arab Emirates has named a veteran technocrat who both leads Abu Dhabi’s state-run oil company and
oversees its renewable energy efforts to preside over the upcoming United Nations climate negotiations in Dubai.
Emirati authorities nominated Sultan al-Jaber, a confidant of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, who serves as CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.
The announcement prompted fierce criticism from environmental activists. Al-Jaber’s firm pumps some 4 million
barrels of crude a day and hopes to expand to 5 million daily, generating more of the heat-trapping carbon dioxide
the UN annual climate negotiations aim to limit. The Emirates’ state-run WAM news agency made the
announcement, noting al-Jaber’s years also serving as a climate envoy.
In its announcement about al-Jaber, more than $50bn in renewable energy projects across 70 countries, with plans
to invest a minimum of $50bn over the next decade.
Al-Jaber also led green initiatives including a $22bn “carbon-neutral” city on Abu Dhabi’s outskirts. The project was
halted after the global financial crisis that struck the Emirates hard beginning in 2008.
Think-20 meeting under G-20 to start from today at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention
Center, Bhopal
The two-day Think-20 meeting under the G-20 is starting from today at the Kushabhau Thackeray International
Convention Center in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh(MP). The first Think-20 meeting in MP will be inaugurated by Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. AIR correspondent reports, there will be a discussion held on, ‘Global Governance
with LiFE values and wellbeing.’
G-20 Chief Coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla informed in Bhopal that more than 300 ministers, intellectuals and
subject experts from India and abroad will brainstorm in plenary and parallel sessions, round table conferences and
cluster briefings. Of these, 94 international delegates, 115 from different states and about 100 local participants will
be involved in discussions.
In addition, representatives of international organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, ADB Institute,
African Union, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UN, UNDP and UNICEF will also attend the event. There will be
3 plenary and 10 parallel sessions will be held on the first day and after these sessions, the guest will visit the Tribal
Museum in Bhopal and participate in the cultural programs.
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B20 inception meeting in Gandhinagar from 22 to 24 January 2023
The first 15 meetings of the Business 20 (B20) India Inception Meeting will be held in Gandhinagar from January
22nd to 24th, 2023. The Gujarat Government to host a dinner for G20 delegates followed by a delegation visiting the
Dandi Kutir. India has been assumed as the G20 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The nation aspires to play an important role on the world stage by finding practical global solutions for the welfare
of all. The G20 chairman for India is a historic event as it comes while celebrating the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.The
18th G20 Summit will be held in September 2023.
Gujarat will be a part of this historic event and has prepared itself to complete facilities to conduct discussions,
consultations, and meetings.The first 15 meetings to be held in Gujarat in the B20 India Inception Meeting.
Taiwan’s Gogoro, India’s Belrise to invest $2.5bn in Maha for battery swapping infra
Taiwan-headquartered electric vehicle and infrastructure company Gogoro is advancing its plans to deploy battery
swapping network in India. The company along with Belrise Industries (formerly known as Badve Engineering) has
inked a strategic energy partnership with the Maharashtra government to establish a battery swapping
infrastructure. This follows up to Gogoro’s earlier announced partnership with Hero MotoCorp and Zypp Electric
among others.
As per the understanding, Gogoro and Belrise Industries are planning a 50-50 JV to invest around $2.5 billion (Rs
20,617 crore) over a course of eight years to build energy infrastructure across the state. The non-binding MoU
agreement was signed at the Maharashtra pavilion, World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The battery
swapping infrastructure expects to begin deploying across the State of Maharashtra in 2023 which will leverage
Gogoro’s smart energy ecosystem including smart battery stations, swapping technologies, network management
solutions.
Memorandum of Agreement signed between Indian Ports Association and RIS for setting up Centre for
Maritime Economy and Connectivity
The Indian Ports Association (IPA) and Research & Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) signed a
Memorandum of Agreement for setting up a Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity in the presence of the
Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal. During the function, various other
dignitaries were also present.
Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary (PSW) complimented the IPA and RIS teams for the effort put in for setting up the
center.
He informed that the proposed project of the Transhipment Port at Galathea bay at Greater Nicobar in Andaman
& Nicobar Islands will be the future which will be advantageous for the BIMSTEC Nations.
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The Inclusive Finance India Awards initiative aims to celebrate and encourage deserving institutions to continue to
enhance outreach to the poor by way of motivating management and staff through recognition of their painstaking
efforts and enhancing the credibility of the institution, thereby making it more attractive for funding.
Under SIDBI’s Mentorship, FIT Rank for MSMEs Launched by TransUnion CIBIL and Online PSB Loans
Limited (OPL)
With the intent of deepening credit flow to small businesses and also helping lenders avoid loan losses on such
bets, credit information company TransUnion Cibil launched a ranking system for MSME borrowers. The ‘FIT Rank’
launched by TransUnion Cibil in association with Online PSB Loans, will rate the over 6 crore micro, small and
medium enterprises (MSMEs) by drawing inputs from their current accounts, income tax returns and also Goods
and Service Tax (GST) returns to arrive at a score between 1-10 to rate a borrower after taking consent to draw the
relevant data.
The ranking will give lenders an idea about the capacity of an enterprise to pay, its creditworthiness and also
intention to pay from past experience.
The product will go into the cash flows of an entity while arriving at the rank, and hence broaden the universe of
entities who can borrow because at present, banks insist on collaterals.
The lenders will be able to get the probability of default in a particular case because the engines have sifted through
the data of many years while arriving at the rank.
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Bajaj Allianz Launches ‘Respect Senior Care Rider’ for Elderly
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, one of the leading private general insurers of India, announced the launch of its
unique health insurance rider ‘Respect Senior Care Rider’. This rider helps one fulfill their parental responsibility
smoothly. In order to accomplish this goal, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance has tied up with a wide network of
service providers to assist the insured with their worries.
This network can be accessed by them or their family members at any time, this product will protect the customers
from shelling out significant sums of cash and reduces worries and brings a plethora of services at their fingertips.
The intention of the rider is to minimize the worries of senior citizens and of their family members who might not
be living in the same city. Anyone who is aged 50 years & above and has the company’s base health insurance policy
can opt for this rider.
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance is India’s leading private general insurance company. Bajaj Allianz is a joint venture
between Bajaj Finserv Limited, India’s most diversified non-bank financial institution, and Allianz SE, the world’s
leading insurer and largest asset manager.
Ambani-Led Reliance Retail Acquires Metro AG’s India Business For Rs 2,850 Crore
Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd signed definitive agreements to
acquire 100 percent equity stake in Metro Cash and Carry India Pvt Ltd, which operates under the ‘Metro India’
brand, for a cash consideration of Rs 2,850 crore.
Through this acquisition, Reliance Retail gets access to a wide network of METRO India stores located in prime
locations across key cities, a large base of registered kiranas and other institutional customers, strong supplier
network and some of the global best practices implemented by METRO in India.
Metro India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mero AG, started operations in India in 2003 as the first company to
introduce cash-and-carry business format in the country and now runs 31 large format stores across 21 cities with
about 3,500 employees.
IRDAI WILL Introduce ‘Bima Vahaks’ to Expand Insurance Force a “BIMA VAHAK”
To enhance the insurance force in India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
will soon introduce “Bima Vahaks” in each gram panchayat. Each Gram Panchayat will have a ‘Bima Vahak’ who
would be tasked to sell and service simple parametric bundled insurance products, Bima Vistar, covering health,
property, life and personal accident.
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The insurance companies have adopted a state each and with the help of state governments are looking to develop
state-level insurance plans. Much like what has been done in the banks.
There’s arguably a case for having differentiated operations which cater to niche sectors, the same way we have
NBFCs and microfinance institutes in lending.
There is a big protection gap in the country, and it was an “urgent need” for insurance companies and caregivers to
collaborate and ensure wider coverage.
Indian PSU WAPCOS top amongst Consulting Services Firm category in ADB report
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in its report released on annual procurement, ranked Indian-PSU company
WAPCOS as top amongst consulting services firms in water and other infrastructure sectors, with the highest
sanctioned financed amount. In another report on its members’ Fact Sheet – 2022 released by the ADB, WAPCOS
figured amongst the Top 3 consultants from India involved in consulting services contracts under ADB loan, grant,
and technical assistance projects in energy, transport and water, and other urban infrastructure sectors.
WAPCOS is a leading technology-driven consultancy, engineering, and procurement and construction (EPC)
organization in the fields of water resources, power, and infrastructure development.
It was established by the government of India in 1969 under the aegis of the Ministry of Water Resources to utilize
India’s knowledge and expertise in the field of water resources by sharing and exporting technology to friendly
developing nations.
India, Australia Economic Cooperation & Trade Agreement comes into force from today
India, Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement comes into force from 29 December. India and
Australia signed the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) on the 2nd of April 2022. ECTA is the
first trade agreement of India with a developed country after more than a decade. The agreement encompasses
cooperation across the entire gamut of bilateral economic and commercial relations between the two friendly
countries.
Under this trade agreement, Indian exports will benefit from preferential zero-duty market access in Australia for
100 per cent of its tariff lines. It will benefit India’s labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery, textiles,
leather, furniture, food and agricultural products, engineering products, and medical devices.
India has provided preferential access to Australia on over 70 per cent of its tariff lines, which are primarily raw
materials and intermediaries. As a result of this agreement, 10 lakh jobs are estimated to be created in the country.
The total bilateral trade is expected to cross 45 to 50 billion dollar in five years from the existing 31 billion US dollar.
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Between April 2000 and March 2014, the share of the services sector and computer software & hardware in such
inflows were 37% and 5.9%, respectively, and that of manufacturing was as much as 35.4%.
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Gross GST collection in Dec up 15% to Rs 1.49L cr
According to a government announcement, India’s goods and services tax receipts increased 15% year over year in
December to Rs 1.49 lakh crore ($18.07 billion), suggesting robust economic activity throughout the holiday season.
In November, revenue from goods and services taxes totaled Rs. 1.46 lakh crore.
The total amount of GST revenue collected in December 2022 was Rs 1,49,507 crore, of which the CGST portion was
Rs 26,711 crore, the SGST portion was Rs 33,357 crore, the IGST portion was Rs 78,434 crore (including Rs 40,263
crore from the collection of GST on goods imported), and the Cess portion was Rs 11,005 crore (including Rs 850
crore collected on import of goods).
The government made a regular settlement of Rs 36,669 crore to CGST and Rs 31,094 crore to SGST from IGST.
After monthly payments in the month of December 2022, the combined income for the Centre and the States is Rs
63,380 crore for the CGST and Rs 64,451 crore for the SGST.
SBI Card collaborates with Punjab & Sind Bank to launch co-brand credit cards
Public sector bank Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) has partnered with SBI Card to launch co-brand credit cards for the
bank’s customers. PSB has also entered the credit card market as a new product segment in its portfolio as a result
of this collaboration. Three card variants—the PSB SBI Card ELITE, PSB SBI Card PRIME, and PSB SimplySAVE SBI
Card—have been launched by both partners. This collaboration also marks the entry of PSB into ‘credit cards’ as a
new product segment under the bank’s portfolio.
The joining price for the PSB SBI Card ELITE is Rs 4,999 plus taxes, the PSB SBI Card PRIME is Rs 2,999 plus taxes,
and the PSB SimplySAVE SBI Card is Rs 499 plus taxes. The PSB SBI Cards ELITE and PRIME will be offered on the
VISA platform, while the PSB SimplySAVE SBI Card will be offered on the RuPay network.
UPI Transactions Rise Over 7.82 Billion in December 2022. Here’s How UPI Has Grown Over The Years
India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed a record 7.82 billion transactions in December, worth a total of
INR 12.82tn ($174.6bn). This represents an increase of 7.12% in volume and 7.73% in value compared to November.
On a year-on-year basis, volume and value increased by 71% and 55% respectively.
In 2022, UPI processed over 74 billion transactions worth INR 125.94tn. In 2021, it processed 38 billion transactions
worth INR 71.54tn.
This represents a YoY increase of 90% in volume and 76% in value.
UPI reached 1 billion transactions in October 2019, 2 billion in October 2020, and 3 billion in January 2021.
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Similarly, export of Arabica fell 11.43 per cent to 44,542 tonne from 50,292 tonne. However, export of instant coffee
increased 16.73 per cent to 35,810 tonne in 2022 from 29,819 tonne in the previous year. About 99,513 tonne of coffee
was re-exported in 2022, higher than 92,235 tonne in the previous year.
Overseas financial assets of Indian residents declined by USD 43.9 bn during Jul-Sep 2022: RBI
India’s international financial assets declined by $56.5 billion during July-September 2022 with valuation losses
accounting for a major part. Reserve assets remained the dominant component (62.9% share) of India’s
international financial assets. The net claims of non-residents on India increased by $34.3 billion during Q2 of FY23
and stood at $389.6 billion in September.
The fall in India’s foreign liabilities during Q2 was attributed primarily to direct investment (net) outflows.
Portfolio and other investments also recorded marginal decline on a net basis, barring trade credit which increased
by $5.1 billion.
Variation in the exchange rate of rupee vis-a-vis other currencies also impacted the change in liabilities, when
valued in U.S. dollar terms.
Debt and non-debt liabilities continued to have equal share in total external liabilities. The ratio of international
assets to international liabilities moderated to 68.5% in September from 71.5% a quarter ago.
In the January 2023 round, RBI Survey for Price Movements, Inflation Assessment Launched
The Reserve Bank of India has launched the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH) which will provide
useful inputs for monetary policy. In the January 2023 round, the survey will be conducted across 19 cities. It aims
to capture subjective assessments of price movements and inflation, based on individual consumption baskets.
The survey will be conducted in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi,
Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi and
Thiruvananthapuram.
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The agency — Hansa Research Group, Mumbai — has been engaged to conduct the survey of this round on behalf
of the ventral bank.
The selected households will be approached by the agency and they will be requested to provide their response.
Other individuals, who are not approached by the agency, can also participate in this survey by providing their
responses using the linked survey schedule.
India aims for $17 bln cut in food, fertiliser subsidies in 2023/24
India aims to cut spending on food and fertiliser subsidies to 3.7 trillion rupees ($44.6 billion) in the fiscal year from
April, down 26% from this, to rein in a fiscal deficit that ballooned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spending on
fertiliser subsidies will likely fall to about Rs 1.4 lakh crore. That compares with nearly Rs 2.3 lakh crore this year.
Food and fertiliser subsidies alone account for about one-eighth of India’s total budgetary spending of ₹39.45 trillion
this fiscal year, but reducing these subsidies could be politically sensitive given the impending elections.
The government anticipates allocating roughly 2.3 trillion for food subsidies in the upcoming fiscal year as opposed
to 2.7 trillion for the year that has just ended on March 31.
The amount spent on fertiliser subsidies will probably decrease to roughly 1.4 trillion in contrasts to 2.3 trillion this
year.
Equitas Small Finance Bank surges 7% to hit 52-week high after RBI’s nod to stake acquisition
The Reserve Bank of India gave its approval to SBI Funds Management Ltd to acquire up to 9.99% stake in Equitas
Small Finance Bank through the schemes of SBI Mutual Fund, the bank said in an exchange filing. Franklin
Templeton Mutual Fund and DSP Mutual Fund have also received RBI’s approval to buy 9.99% stake each in the
bank.
Shares of Equitas Small Finance Bank witnessed a surge in buying activity, with the stock price rising as much as
7% to hit a fresh record high, in an otherwise weak broader market. The share price of the private lender got a boost
after the Reserve Bank India (RBI) gave nod to SBI Funds Management Limited (SBIFML) to acquire shares in the
bank.
The aforesaid approval by RBI is subject to compliance with the relevant provisions of Banking Regulation Act,1949,
Master Direction on Prior Approval for Acquisition of shares or voting rights in Private Sector Banks dated
November 19, 2015 and Master Direction on Ownership in Private sector Banks dated May 12, 2016, issued by RBI.
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Zerodha-backed fintech receives debt broker license from Sebi
Zerodha-backed GoldenPi Technologies has become the first online bond platform provider to receive a debt
brokerage license from market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). The Bengaluru-based
fintech firm expects this development to spur greater trust in online bonds and debentures investment space.
The regulator introduced regulations for online debt trading platforms which stated that no company or individual
shall act as an online bond platform provider without the certificate of registration as a stock broker under the SEBI
Regulations, 2021.
The awarding of the license by Sebi to GoldenPi is expected to work as a catalyst for greater investor trust in the
online bonds and debentures investment space, the company said in a release.
The awarding of the license by Sebi to GoldenPi is expected to work as a catalyst for greater investor trust in the
online bonds and debentures investment space, the company said in a release.
Axis Bank and fintech company, OPEN join hands to launch a digital current account for businesses
Axis Bank has partnered with OPEN to provide a fully native digital current account journey for its customers
including SMEs (small and medium enterprises), freelancers, homepreneurs, influencers and more. This has been
the bank’s first-ever partnership with a fintech player to launch a fully digital current account. Using this account,
customers can avail 250+ banking services and claim up to 50 per cent cashback through grab-deals. With this
partnership, all existing Axis bank account holders also get access to OPEN’s all-in-one digital banking platform
that is used by over 30 lakh businesses currently.
The partnership is aiming to offer access to Axis Bank’s holistic banking services coupled with OPEN’s end-to-end
financial automation tools for business management like payments, accounting, payroll, compliance, expense
management and several other services to a larger business community.
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ICICI Prudential Life Insurance ropes in Suryakumar Yadav for new campaign
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has announced the launch of its ‘360° Financial Protection with ICICI Prudential
Life Insurance’ digital-first campaign featuring cricketer Suryakumar Yadav. According to the company, Yadav has
emerged as a consistent and dependable batter in the white ball format since his international debut. The
campaign’s central message is how ICICI Prudential Life Insurance offers a comprehensive suite of protection
products providing all-around life cover that offers 360-degree financial protection in any critical situation.
Since his international debut, Suryakumar Yadav has quickly risen to emerge as one of the most consistent and
dependable batters in the white ball format. The multi-dimensional batter is popularly known as “Mr. 360 degree”
for his wide array of shots covering every inch of the field.
Axis Bank signs up with IISc to set up math and computing centre
Axis Bank has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, to establish a Centre for
Mathematics and Computing at the institute. The Axis Bank Centre for Mathematics and Computing is India’s first
comprehensive Academic Research Centre on Mathematics and Computing. It will play a vital role in building the
nation’s future as many contemporary and futuristic areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Data Science rely on
the foundations of mathematics and computing.
Spread over 1.6 lakh square feet of space, the Centre will have state-of-the-art labs and programmes that will benefit
faculty and students from more than twenty departments of IISc. The Centre will host the new IISc B.Tech
programme in Mathematics & Computing and the ongoing Interdisciplinary PhD programme in Mathematical
Sciences. It is expected that over 500 engineers and scientists will benefit from the Centre every year.
Mathematics and Computing are at the core of critical disciplines like Computational Fluid Dynamics,
Computational Biology, Quantum Computing, Precision Medicine, Digital Health, Climate Science, Materials
Genomics, Cybersecurity, AI, ML, and Data Science.
BharatPe receives in-principle nod from RBI for online payment aggregator
Fintech platform BharatPe said it has received in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to
operate as an online payment aggregator (PA). The company said that an in-principle nod was awarded to Resilient
Payments Private Ltd, a 100 percent subsidiary of Resilient Innovations Private Ltd (BharatPe).
RBI’s nod comes amid a slew of high profile exits the Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global-backed firm, which has been
battling controversies since last year. It is currently fighting a court battle with its former co-founder Ashneer
Grover alleging financial misappropriation. Grover was ousted last year in March.
Payment aggregators are entities that facilitate e-commerce sites and merchants to accept various payment
instruments from the customers. The merchants do not need to create a separate payment integration system of
their own.
The payment aggregator framework, introduced formally in March 2020, mandates that only firms approved by the
RBI can acquire and offer payment services to merchants. RBI has been strict in its evaluation of entities that have
applied for the payment aggregator licence.
RBI issues list of six raters to assess banks' Basel-III capital regulations
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the list of six credit rating agencies that banks can use for the purpose of
risk weighting banks’ claims for capital adequacy purposes. The six credit rating agencies are Acuite Ratings &
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Research Limited, Credit Analysis and Research Limited (CARE), CRISIL Ratings Limited, ICRA Limited, India
Ratings and Research Private Limited (India Ratings)\ and INFOMERICS Valuation and Rating Pvt Ltd. Banks have
to get ratings from these agencies to comply with Basel-III capital regulations.
The RBI said no fresh ratings shall be obtained from Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited. In October last year,
the Securities and Exchange Board of India has cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) granted to Brickwork
Ratings India Private Limited as a Credit Rating Agency (CRA) and directed it to wind down its operations within
a period of six months.
World Bank forecasts India's FY23 GDP at 6.9%; warns of global recession
India’s growth is expected to slow to 6.9 per cent in Financial Year 2023, a 0.6 percentage point decrease since June,
as the global economy and rising uncertainty weigh on export and investment growth, according to the World Bank.
The World Bank predicted that global growth in 2023 would slow to 1.7 per cent from the 3 per cent expected six
months ago, citing elevated inflation, higher interest rates, reduced investment and disruptions caused by Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine.
Growth in India is expected to slow from 8.7 per cent in FY 2021-22 to 6.9 per cent in FY2022-23, with the latter
revised 0.6 percentage points lower since June. The global economic slowdown and rising uncertainty will weigh
on export and investment growth.
Growth is expected to slow to 6.6 per cent in FY2023-24 before returning to its potential rate of just above 6 per
cent. India is predicted to have the fastest growing economy among the seven largest developing economies
(EMDEs).
20% ethanol-blended petrol to debut within days: Oil min Hardeep Singh Puri
The phased roll-out of E20 (20 per cent ethanol blending in gasoline) will begin on April 1, Petroleum Minister
Hardeep Singh Puri has said. The fuel will be available at select outlets and will not require changes to car engines.
The proposed roll-out will give further impetus to the government’s plans of achieving the level of 20 per cent
ethanol blending in the overall petrol supply in the country by ethanol supply year 2025-2026.
Being rolled out in 11 states/UTs of Delhi, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Daman Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, E20’s initial target was April 1, 2023, but
the government had advanced it. Under phase 1, 15 cities will be covered, the minister said.
India has increased the ethanol blending in petrol from 1.53 per cent in 2013-14 to 10.17 per cent in 2022. To achieve
20 per cent blending by 2025, the country needs 10.2-11 billion litres of ethanol.
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vegetables saw the biggest contraction at 15.08 per cent. Inflation rate for fuel and light, however, increased mildly
to 10.97 per cent against 10.62 per cent in November.
IDBI Strategic Stake Sale: SMBC Bank, Oaktree Capital Mangement Submit EoIs
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Group (SMBC Bank) of Japan and Oaktree Capital Management are among
those that have submitted expressions of interest (EoIs) for the strategic stake sale in IDBI Bank. Oaktree is a US
alternative assets firm founded by Howard Marks, one of the world’s most formidable distressed debt investors. The
stake being sold is held by the Centre and LIC. “Multiple expressions of interest received for the strategic
disinvestment of govt and stake in IDBI Bank,” Tuhin Kanta Pandey, secretary, Department of Investment and
Public Asset Management (DIPAM), had said. The transaction will now move to the second stage.
The government and LIC together are looking to sell 60.72% in IDBI Bank and had invited bids from potential
buyers last October. The government will offload 30.48 per cent of its stake in the bank and the LIC will sell 30.24
per cent.
States' finances are improving; gross fiscal deficit set to fall in 2022-23:RBI
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that the finances of Indian states are projected to improve in 2022-23 with the
consolidated gross fiscal deficit to gross domestic product ratio seen falling to 3.4 percent from 4.1 percent for the
previous year. The fiscal health of the states has improved from a sharp pandemic-induced deterioration in 2020-21
on the back of a broad-based economic recovery and resulting high revenue collections. During the pandemic years,
states’ finances were under pressure due to rising expenditures and limited revenue growth.
The debt of the States is expected to ease from 31.1 percent of GDP in 2020–21 to 29.5 percent in 2022–23, although
it is still more than the 20 percent suggested by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Review
Committee in 2018.
The central bank advised governments to set up a fund for longer-term expenditure when revenue collection is
strong.
It is worthwhile considering creating a capex buffer fund during good times to smoothen and maintain expenditure
quality and flows through the economic cycle, the central bank added.
Despite a significant increase in federal government capital expenditures, which has an impact on economic growth,
the report found that state capital spending expanded by just 0.9 percent from April to October of the previous
year.
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Amazon has reclaimed the top spot as the world's most valuable brand
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’s e-commerce company Amazon has become the most valued brand, overtaking Apple, last
year’s topper. Amazon has reclaimed the top spot as the world’s most valuable brand despite its brand value falling
15 per cent this year from $350.3 billion to $299.3 billion. According to brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance’s
report, “Global 500 2023”, while Amazon is back at No 1, its brand value has fallen by over $50 billion this year, with
its rating slipping from AAA+ to AAA. This is as consumers evaluate it more harshly in the post-pandemic world.
iPhone maker Apple slipped to the second slot to be ranked the world’s second most valuable brand (brand value
down 16% to $297.5 billion from $355.1 billion). This year’s fall in brand value relates to a fall in forecast revenue
with supply chain disruptions and a constrained labour market expected to limit the supply of its marquee hardware
products.
CSR: Collaboration to Improve Road Safety: SBI General Insurance and Partners Join Forces
SBI General Insurance, a leading general insurance company in India, has partnered with Doers NGO to support
the Himachal Pradesh police in reducing the number of road accidents. As part of its CSR program, SBI General has
provided a well-equipped ambulance for immediate medical care for road accident victims in the Mandi district
within the crucial “Golden Hour”.
The partnership between SBI General, Doers NGO, the Himachal Pradesh Police, and the Civil Hospital in
Sundarnagar aims to provide timely treatment and access to lifesaving medical resources for road accident victims.
In addition to this, SBI General has also collaborated with the Himachal Pradesh Police to provide road signages to
increase awareness and caution in accident-prone areas on the highway, with the goal of preventing road accidents.
According to a report by Ministry of Road Transports and Highways Transport Research Wing, road accidents in
India kills almost 1.5 lakh people annually. India accounts for almost 11% of the accident-related deaths in the World.
Canara Bank Sells its Stake in Russian JV to SBI for Rs 114 Crore
Canara Bank said it plans to sell its stake in Russian Joint Venture(JV) Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL) to the
other venture partner State Bank of India (SBI) for about Rs 114 crore. CIBL, incorporated in 2003, is a joint venture
in Russia between SBI (60 per cent) and Canara Bank (40 per cent).
Based on the share sale agreement and with the consent of the Central Bank of Russia, the entire shares held by
Canara Bank was transferred to SBI on November 30, 2022, said the Bengaluru-headquartered public sector in a
regulatory filing. However, consideration ($14.67 million equivalent) in USD as agreed by the parties is not yet
received, the Bank said. The transaction is expected to completed on or before March-end 2023.
Canara Bank is an Indian public sector bank under the control and ownership of Ministry of Finance, Government
of India. Established in 1906 at Mangalore by Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, the bank also has offices in London, Dubai
and New York.
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1. A division bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and body of sports along with Olympic Council of
Justice Amit Mahajan of the Delhi High Court Asia (OCA), Commonwealth Games etc.
granted an interim injunction in favour of Source:\https://www.thehindu.com/sport/gove
Hamdard Laboratories in its plea against Sadar rnment-gives-official-recognition-to-
Laboratories Private Limited for infringing its esports/article66311622.ece#:~:text=The%20Pre
registered trademark. The Court has restrained sident%20of%20India%2C%20Droupadi,of%20
the manufacturing and sale of sweet beverage multi%2Dsports%20events%22.
concentrate ‘Sharbat Dil Afza’ during the
pendency of a lawsuit for alleged trademark 3. The Union Government tabled the Jan Vishwas
infringement by Hamdard Dawakhana which (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022 in
sells ‘Rooh Afza’. The court said Rooh Afza Parliament. The objective is to “decriminalize”
served as the source identifier for Hamdard for 183 offences across 42 legislations and enhance
over a century and has acquired immense the ease of living and doing business in India.
goodwill and it was essential to ensure that the Some Acts that are amended by the Bill include:
competitors keep a safe distance from the mark. the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, the
It is not difficult to conceive that a person who Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Public
looks at the label of 'DIL AFZA' may recall the Liability Insurance Act, 1991, and the
label of ‘ROOH AFZA’ as the word ‘AFZA' is Information Technology Act, 2000. Under the
common and the meaning of the words 'ROOH' Bill, several offences with an imprisonment term
and 'DIL', when translated in English, are in certain Acts have been decriminalised by
commonly used in conjunction. Both the imposing only a monetary penalty. The Bill
products have the “same deep red colour and might undertake ‘quasi-decriminalisation’. In
texture” and “structure of the bottles is not this light, the number of offences deregulated
materially different" and thus opined that the under the Bill seems to be a mere drop in India’s
“commercial impression of the impugned regulatory framework. The regulatory offences
trademark is deceptively similar to the to be considered for ‘decriminalisation’ need to
appellants’ trademark”. be prioritised not only from the point of view of
Source: the ease of doing business but also from the
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/ points of view of the ills that plague our criminal
delhi-high-court-rooh-afza-trademark- justice system itself. The bill conforms to the
infringement-case-8338129/ understanding of the government that
decriminalization should be limited to
2. Recently, the President of India amended the regulatory domains.
regulations governing ESports and requested Source:
that the Sports Ministry and the Ministry of https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a-
Electronics and Information Technology failed-attempt-at-
include “ESports in multi-sport events.” The decriminalisation/article66315018.ece
President is empowered under Article 77 (3) of
the Constitution to make rules for the more 4. The border dispute between Maharashtra and
convenient transaction of the business of the Karnataka is intensifying, with both states
Government of India, and for the allocation passing a unanimous resolution to support a
among Ministers of the said business. According legal battle to resolve the dispute. The border
to a gazette notification, E-Sports will now be a dispute over Belagavi, Karwar and Nipani in
part of the “multisports event” category in India. North Karnataka is long-standing. When state
Esports (Electronic Sports) is a competitive boundaries were redrawn on linguistic lines as
sport where gamers use their physical and per the States Reorganisation Act of 1956,
mental abilities to compete in various games in Belagavi became part of the erstwhile Mysore
a virtual, electronic environment. It has received state. The Act was based on the findings of the
its sporting recognition from the International Justice Fazal Ali Commission which was
Olympic Committee (IOC), which is the apex appointed in 1953 and submitted its report two
years later. Maharashtra claims that parts of
Belagavi, where Marathi is the dominant
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language, should remain in Maharashtra. In lingayats-to-raise-their-obc-quota-share-
October 1966, the Centre set up the Mahajan 8351325/
Commission, led by former Chief Justice of India
Mehr Chand Mahajan, to resolve the border 6. Recently, the Supreme Court has passed a
dispute in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. verdict on the Demonetisation of currency notes
The Commission recommended that Belgaum of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in a majority 4-1 by a five-
and 247 villages remain with Karnataka. judge Constitution Bench. The majority held
Maharashtra rejected the report, and in 2004, that Centre’s notification dated November 8,
moved the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court 2016 is valid and satisfies the test of
in its original jurisdiction decides disputes proportionality. The RBI and the Centre had
between states. As per Article 131 of the been in consultation with each other for six
Constitution reads, the Supreme Court have months prior to the November 8 notification
original jurisdiction in any dispute between the issued under Section 26(2) of the RBI (Reserve
Government of India and one or more States or Bank Of India) Act, 1934. The statutory
between the Government of India and any State procedure under Section 26(2) of the RBI Act
or between two or more states. was not violated merely because the Centre had
Source: taken the initiative to “advice” the Central Board
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ho to consider recommending demonetisation. The
w-are-disputes-between-states-resolved- government was empowered under the
8349561/ provision to demonetise “all series” of
banknotes. The government could have issued a
5. Karnataka has categorized the two dominant notification under Section 26(2) of the RBI Act
communities, Vokkaligas and Lingayats, as only if the RBI had initiated the proposal to
“moderately backward” from the “backward” demonetise by way of a recommendation.
category in a move that could increase their Therefore, the government's notification issued
share in reservation for Other Backward Classes under Section 26(2) of the RBI Act was unlawful.
(OBC). Karnataka currently has 32% quota for Source:
OBC, and 17% and 7% quota for Scheduled https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-
Castes and Scheduled Tribes, respectively, upholds-demonetisation-says-there-was-
taking the total to 56%. The Panchamasali sub- consultation-between-centre-rbi-for-six-
sect of Veerashaiva Lingayats has demanded months-8356225/
inclusion in the 2A category which has 15%
quota from their current 3B category which has 7. Recently, the Supreme Court has ruled that a
5% quota. The Cabinet’s decision is based on the fundamental right under Article 19/21 can be
recommendations of the Karnataka State enforced even against persons other than the
Commission for Backward Classes. The State or its instrumentalities. The court took this
Vokkaliga community, which is currently in the view while ruling that the right of free speech
3A category, will be moved to a newly-created and expression guaranteed under the Article
2C category with 4% reservation. And the 19(1)(a) cannot be curbed by any additional
Lingayat community, which is in the 3B grounds other than those already laid down in
category, will now be in a new 2D category with Article 19(2). Enforcing Rights against Private
5% reservation. The Cabinet decision ensures Entities: This interpretation brings an obligation
that there is no sub-categorisation of the on the state to ensure that private entities also
Lingayat community. The Lingayats are a abide by Constitutional norms. It opens up a
dominant community who make up nearly 17% range of possibilities in Constitutional law,
of Karnataka’s six crore population- followed by potentially allowing for the enforcement of
Vokkaligas. The new categories will not affect privacy rights against a private doctor or the
the existing reservation provided to other right to free speech against a private social
communities. The reservation will be applicable media entity. The Court referenced the 2017
only in education and jobs, and “not political verdict in Puttaswamy, in which a nine-judge
reservation. bench unanimously upheld privacy as a
Source: fundamental right. The government had
https://indianexpress.com/article/political- argued that privacy is a right enforceable against
pulse/karnataka-reclassifies-vokkaligas- other citizens and, therefore, cannot be
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elevated to the status of a fundamental right Centre Debate. It has been seen as a major step
against the state. towards regaining the consciousness of Indian
Source: Constitution. There is no mention of the term
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/free- ‘Central government’ in the Constitution of
speech-protection-supreme-court-expands- India because the Constituent Assembly did not
article-19-ambit-not-just-state-even-pvt- use the term ‘Centre’ or ‘Central government’ in
citizens-can-face-challenge- all of its 395 Articles in 22 Parts and eight
8361937/#:~:text=By%20ruling%20that%20a%2 Schedules in the original Constitution. There are
0citizen,these%20rights%20against%20other% only references of the ‘Union’ and the ‘States’
20citizens. with the executive powers of the Union wielded
by the President acting on the aid and advice of
8. The Kerala High Court has reiterated that the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime
government employees who participate in Minister. Even though there is no reference to
general strikes, affecting the normal life of the the ‘Central government’ in the Constitution,
public and Public Exchequer, are not entitled to the General Clauses Act, 1897 gives a definition
be protected under Article 19(1)(c) of the for it. The ‘Central government’ for all practical
Constitution and are also a violation of the purposes is the President after the
provisions of the Kerala Government Servants’ commencement of the Constitution.
Conduct Rules, 1960. In India, unlike America, Source: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-
the right to strike is not expressly recognized by paper/2023-01-
the law. In India, the right to protest is a 11/th_chennai/articleG9MAO4I49-1751278.ece
fundamental right under Article 19of the
Constitution of India. But right to strike is not a 10. The Kerala High Court has said that personal
fundamental right but a legal right and with this choice to build a family is a fundamental right
right statutory restriction is attached in the and fixing an upper age limit for the same was a
Industrial Dispute Act, 1947. The trade union restriction which needs a relook. The court
Act, 1926 for the first time provided limited right passed the directive while disposing of a batch
to strike by legalizing certain activities of a of petitions challenging the age limit of 50 years
registered trade union in furtherance of a trade for women and 55 years for men prescribed
dispute which otherwise breach of common under the Assisted Reproductive Technology
economic law. Nowadays a right to strike is (ART) (Regulation) Act, 2021, for undergoing the
recognized only to a limited extent permissible assisted reproductive technology. According to
under the limits laid down by the law itself, as a the petitioners, prescription of the upper age
legitimate weapon of Trade Unions. The right to limit under Section 21 (G) of the ART Act is
strike in the Indian constitution set up is not an irrational, arbitrary, unreasonable and violative
absolute right but it flows from the fundamental of their right to reproduction, which is
right to form a union. As every other acknowledged as a fundamental right. They
fundamental right is subject to reasonable sought to declare it as unconstitutional. The
restrictions, the same is also the case to form High Court has directed the National Assisted
trade unions to give a call to the workers to go Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board
on strike and the state can impose reasonable to alert the Union government about the need
restrictions. Right to strike has also been for having a relook at the upper age limit
recognised by the conventions of the prescribed for using assisted reproductive
International Labour Organization (ILO). India technology. Apart from this, the petitioners
is a founder member of the ILO. have also challenged the provision wherein
Source: medical practitioners have been brought within
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/ the purview of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and
no-constitutional-protection-for-state-govt- offences have been made cognizable.
employees-participating-in-a-general-strike- Source:
rules-kerala-hc/article66342679.ece https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/thiruva
nanthapuram/upper-age-limit-assisted-
9. Since the Tamil Nadu government shunned the reproductive-technology-kerala-hc-
usage of the term ‘Central government’ in its 8360927/#:~:text=The%20court%20passed%20t
official communications by replacing it with he%20directive,undergoing%20the%20assisted
‘Union government’, it has erupted the Union Vs %20reproductive%20technology.
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Pradesh (AP) into two separate states, namely,
11. Andhra Pradesh has approached before the the Andhra Pradesh (residuary) and the
Supreme Court seeking “Just, Reasonable and Telangana. Now more than eight years after the
Equitable Apportionment” of assets and bifurcation of the erstwhile united Andhra
liabilities under the Andhra Pradesh Pradesh, division of assets and liabilities
Reorganisation Act 2014. On 2nd June, 2014 the between the two States remain elusive as the
north-western part of Andhra Pradesh was States make their own interpretation of the
separated and 29th state Telangana was created. provisions under the Andhra Pradesh
The States Reorganisation Act (1956) merged the Reorganisation Act 2014.
Telugu-speaking areas of Hyderabad state with Source:
the Andhra state to create the enlarged Andhra https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/and
Pradesh state. The Andhra Pradesh hra-pradesh/explained-the-stalemate-between-
Reorganisation Act (2014) bifurcated Andhra telangana-and-ap/article66362399.ece
A significant feature of the POCSO Act is its gender-neutral nature. Even though the National Crime Records Bureau
has not published data on male and female victims separately, in Chhattisgarh, male child victims accounted for about
eight in every 1,000 POCSO cases (0.8%). Though the reported number is not big, it still endorses society’s apprehension
that the sexual exploitation of male children is also a serious issue that has been largely unreported. Second, there is
sufficient general awareness now to report cases of sexual exploitation of children not only by individuals but also by
institutions as non-reporting has been made a specific offence under the POCSO Act. This has made it comparatively
difficult to hide offences against children.
The storage of child pornography material has been made a new offence. Further, the offence of ‘sexual assault’ has been
defined in explicit terms (with increased minimum punishment) unlike an abstract definition of ‘outraging modesty of
a woman’ in the Indian Penal Code.
No change in investigation
However, a large part of the investigation of offences under the Act is still guided by the Code of Criminal Procedure
(CrPC). The investigation of penetrative sexual assault cases generally involves recording the statement of the
prosecutrix, a medical and forensic science laboratory (FSL) examination, and determination of the child’s age. The
POCSO Act provides for recording the statement of the affected child by a woman sub-inspector at the child’s residence
or place of choice. But it is practically impossible to comply with this provision when the number of women in the police
force is just 10%, and many police stations hardly have women staff. In 2015, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
introduced a scheme to create an Investigation Unit on Crime Against Women (IUCAW) which was to be made up of
15 police officers (with at least one-third comprising women officers and headed by an additional superintendent of
police) in each district. Its aim was to ensure quality investigation of crimes against women on a 50:50 expenditure
sharing basis; the response by States to the scheme has been half-hearted. Similarly, despite funds being provided by
the Centre to strengthen mahila desks, many police stations still do not have even a single woman staff.
Similarly, though there is a provision to record statements using audio-video means, and a Supreme Court judgment,
Shafhi Mohammad vs The State of Himachal Pradesh (2018), on capturing and preserving the scene of crime of heinous
offences using audio-video means (followed by standardization of technical specifications by the Bureau of Police
Research and Development for uniformity), the pilot project has yet to be implemented across States. In the absence of
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proper infrastructure to ensure the integrity of electronic evidence, the admissibility of evidence recorded using any
audio-video means will always remain a challenge. Another provision mandates the recording of the statement of the
prosecutrix by a judicial magistrate. Though such statements are recorded in most cases, judicial magistrates are neither
called for cross-examination during trial nor are those who retract their statement punished. In such a scenario, such
statements get nullified.
Second, medical examination of the prosecutrix is conducted according to provisions of the CrPC. However, the medical
examination of a girl child is conducted by a female doctor (as specified in the POCSO Act). Even so, and as observed
by the Supreme Court of India, there are instances where the banned two-finger test is still in use. Further, there have
been no attempts to upgrade the FSLs in States to expedite the examination of exhibits. The fact is that many cases have
a charge sheet without an accompanying FSL report, which is then decided by courts.
Third, though age determination of a juvenile delinquent is guided by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Act, no such provision exists under the POCSO Act for juvenile victims. The Supreme Court in Jarnail Singh
vs State of Haryana (2013) held that the given statutory provision should also be the basis to help determine age even
for a child who is a victim of crime. However, in absence of any change in the law or even specific directions, the
investigating officers (IOs) continue to rely on the the date of birth recorded in school admission-withdrawal registers
— which, in most cases, parents (in the absence of hospital or any other authentic records) are not able to defend in
the court. Age estimation based on medical opinion is generally so wide in scope that in most cases minors are proved
to be major. Once a minor is proved to be a major, the probability of acquittal increases based on other factors such as
consent or no injury to private parts. Thus, the POCSO Act has made no difference in investigation when it comes to
proving juvenility.
Period of investigation
Further, the time mandated to complete investigation of rape (as in the CrPC, without a similar provision in the POCSO
Act) is two months. Though the aim is to expedite investigation, it has resulted in two significant changes on the field.
One, there is much pressure on the IOs to somehow submit a charge sheet in two months irrespective of what stage the
investigation is at. The IOs do not want to invite internal punishment as the Ministry of Home Affairs supervises POCSO
cases through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) and State police headquarters. Thus,
unfortunately, the focus is largely on completion of investigation in two months irrespective of quality. Second, if a
charge sheet was not put up in 90 days of the arrest of the accused, he/she was granted bail. Now, when a charge sheet
is put up in 60 days of the FIR (and not arrest), the accused may seek bail immediately after the filing of the charge
sheet. Thus, it is the accused, and not the victim, who gets the benefit of completing an investigation in a shorter time.
The POCSO Act provides that the court shall presume that the accused has committed the offence. No conditions
whatsoever are laid down in the POCSO Act in contrast to the Indian Evidence Act (Section 114(b)) which clearly
provides for the prosecution to prove recent intercourse, and the prosecutrix to state in court that she did not consent.
However, it has been observed that even after the minor age of the victim is proved, no such presumption (howsoever
small a relevance it may have) is taken up by the court during trial.
Under such circumstances, the expected increase in the conviction rate is unlikely to be achieved. Therefore, it is time
that there is a review of the way the POCSO Act is implemented to see how far it has helped victims of sexual exploitation
and what more needs to be done to ensure justice.
R.K. Vij is a former Special Director General of Police of Chhattisgarh. The views expressed are personal
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/judging-a-decade-of-the-pocso-act/article66410058.ece
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13.Needed, a new approach to data protection for minors
‘We should not put the onus of keeping our young safe only on parents, but instead it should make it a society-wide
obligation’
‘We should not put the onus of keeping our young safe only on parents, but instead it should make it a society-wide
obligation’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
How freely should Indian teenagers access the Internet? And what responsibilities do platforms have towards their
minor users? These are important questions to answer correctly to achieve India’s digital ambitions. The draft Digital
Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2022 currently provides for mandatory parental consent for all data processing
activities by children, defined as any person aged under 18 years. This approach however misses the mark on two fronts.
The gaps in the Bill
First, instead of incentivising online platforms to proactively build safer and better services for minors, the Bill relies on
parents to grant consent on behalf of the child in all cases. In a country with low digital literacy, where parents in fact
often rely on their children (who are digital natives) to help them navigate the Internet, this is an ineffective approach
to keep children safe online.
Second, it does not take into account the “best interests of the child”, a standard originating in the Convention on the
Rights of the Child, 1989, to which India is a signatory. India has upheld this standard in laws such as the Commissions
for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and the
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. However, it has not been applied to the issue of data protection.
The Bill does not factor in how teenagers use various Internet platforms for self-expression and personal development
and how central it is to the experience of adolescents these days. From taking music lessons to preparing for
examinations to forming communities with people of similar worldviews, the Internet is a window to the world. While
the Bill does allow the government to provide exemptions in the future from strict parental consent requirements,
profiling, tracking prohibitions, etc., this whitelisting process does not acknowledge the blurring lines between what a
platform can be used for. For example, Instagram is, strictly speaking, a social media platform, but is regularly used as
an educational and professional development tool by millions of artists around the world.
Use of personal data
Another issue in the current draft of the DPDP Bill is that each platform will have to obtain ‘verifiable parental consent’
in the case of minors. This provision, if enforced strictly, can change the nature of the Internet as we know it. Since it is
not possible to tell if the user is a minor without confirming their age, platforms will have to verify the age of every user.
The government will prescribe later whether verifiability will be based on ID-proof, or facial recognition, or reference-
based verification, or some other means.
Whatever form verifiability takes, all platforms will have to now manage significantly more personal data than before,
and citizens will be at greater risk of harms such as data breaches, identity thefts, etc.
Thus we need to shift our approach with respect to children’s data before this Bill is brought to Parliament. To avoid
the folly of treating unequals equally and blocking off access to the Internet for teenagers these steps are needed.
First, we should move from a blanket ban on tracking, monitoring, etc. and adopt a risk-based approach to platform
obligations. Platforms should be mandated to undertake a risk assessment for minors and not only perform age-
verification-related corresponding obligations but also design services with default settings and features that protect
children from harm. This approach will bring in an element of co-regulation, by creating incentives for platforms to
design better products for children.
Second, we need to relax the age of mandatory parental consent for all services to 13 years in line with many other
jurisdictions around the world. By relaxing consent requirements, we will minimise data collection, which is one of the
principles that the Bill is built on. This relaxation in age of consent in tandem with the risk mitigation approach
elucidated above will achieve protection for children online while allowing them access.
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Surveys needed
This solution draws on the experience and deliberations in the United Kingdom, and in the United States (California,
New York, etc.) where age appropriate design codes have been introduced. To tailor this solution to the Indian context,
the government should also conduct large-scale surveys of both children and parents to find out more about their online
habits, digital literacy, preferences and attitudes.
We must design a policy in India that balances the safety and the agency of children online. We should not put the onus
of keeping our young safe only on parents, but instead it should make it a society-wide obligation. We have to get this
part of the data protection framework right as India’s ‘techade’ cannot be realised without its young.
Aparajita Bharti is a Founding Partner at TQH, a public policy consulting firm in Delhi. Nikhil Iyer is a Senior Analyst
at TQH, a public policy consulting firm in Delhi
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/needed-a-new-approach-to-data-protection-for-
minors/article66424798.ece
The Delhi High Court has passed guidelines to be followed by the investigating officers in cases where the pregnancy of
a sexual assault victims exceeds 24 weeks [Minor R Thr Mother H v State of NCT of Delhi & Anr].
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that crucial time is lost in the process of passing orders for medical
examination of victims by a board which endangers her life.
In a detailed order, the court said that at the time of medical examination of a victim of sexual assault, it will be
mandatory to conduct a Urine Pregnancy Test.
Justice Sharma ordered that if the victim is found pregnant due to sexual assault, and in case the victim is major who
gives her consent and expresses her desire for conducting MTP, the concerned investigating officer will ensure that she
is produced before the medical board the same day.
“In case a minor victim of sexual assault is carrying pregnancy, upon the consent of her legal guardian and desire of such
legal guardian for termination of pregnancy, the victim will be produced before such Board,” the judge said.
She added,
“In case a minor victim is examined by such Board, appropriate report will be placed before concerned authorities, so that
if an order is being sought regarding termination of pregnancy from the Courts, the Court concerned does not lose any
more time and is in a position to pass an order on the same expeditiously.”
The bench noted that as per Sections 3(2C) and 3(2D) of MTP Act the State government or union territory must ensure
that medical boards are constituted in the hospitals.
It, therefore, ordered the government to ensure that the mandate of Sections 3(2C) and 3(2D) are complied with and
such boards are constituted in all government hospitals which have proper MTP Centres.
The Ministry of Health Affairs, Government of NCT of Delhi and Union Ministry for Health Affairs were directed to
comply with the directions within two months.
The guidelines were issued by the court as it allowed a 14-year-old girl to undergo MTP. The girl was 25 weeks pregnant.
It was informed that the victim’s family were construction workers and she was sexually assaulted while her mother had
gone out for work.
It was observed that though the statute does not provide for termination of pregnancies over the gestational age of 24
weeks (except in case of detection of substantial foetal abnormalities), constitutional courts can use their extraordinary
powers to allow termination of such pregnancies.
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The judge underscored that a female has the invariable right to make reproductive choices and in case of sexual assault,
denying a women right to MTP would amount to denying her human right to live with dignity.
"A woman has a right in relation to her body which includes saying 'Yes' or 'No' to being a mother..Termination
of pregnancy in cases, like present one, cannot be reduced merely to be defined as right of a woman sexually assaulted, but
also to be recognized as a human right, as it affects dignified existence of a victim if the same is not permitted,” the Court
said.
Considering the financial status of the victim and her family, the Court directed the local Station House Officer (SHO)
to ensure that the child is enrolled in a school. The bench asked the Secretary (DSLSA) to counsel the family about their
rights.
Justice Sharma also asked the Delhi State Legal Services Authority to make an outline of a programme for workers at
the construction sites in the city so that they are informed about their right to education.
“The students of law colleges and other colleges under their programme of Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW) can
arrange some programmes at construction sites, the students can volunteer for such purpose and can educate them about
their educational rights and may pass their own creativity skills as well as basic education to them,” the Court said.
The bench directed the registry to forward a copy of the order to DSLSA, Delhi Police Commissioner as well as Centre
and Delhi government for taking note of its contents and ensuring compliance.
Advocates Anwesh Madhukar, Prachi Nirwan and Yaseen Siddiqui appeared for the petitioner.
State was represented through Additional Standing Counsel (ASC) Sachin Mittal along with advocates Nishant Chauhan
and Abhishek Tyagi.
https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/delhi-high-court-issues-guidelines-medical-termination-pregnancy-
cases-pregnancy-sexual-assault-victims-exceeds-24-weeks
15.Delhi High Court notifies rules for live streaming and recording
of court proceedings
The rules prohibit recording of live-streaming of proceedings and any unauthorised use will be punishable under the
Copyright Act, IT Act and contempt of court.
The Delhi High Court has notified the ‘Live Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings Rules of the High Court of
Delhi, 2022’.
The rules were published in the official gazette on January 13 and shall apply to the High Court of Delhi and to the courts
and tribunals over which it has supervisory jurisdiction.
The rules define the live streaming as a live television link, webcast, audio-video transmissions via electronic means or
other arrangements whereby any person can view the proceedings as permitted under these rules.
The court has said that subject to the exclusions contained in the rules, all proceedings will be live-streamed by the
court.
As per the rules, in case the judge concerned on the bench is desirous of opting out of live streaming while dictating the
order/oral judgment, live streaming will be paused during that period.
“In such circumstances, the monitors will display a message: “Order-dictation in progress”. Likewise, when the bench rises
for recess or otherwise, the live streaming will be paused, and the monitor will display the message: “Court not in-session”.
Importantly, the rules mandate that no person, including those of print and electronic or social media platforms shall
record, share or disseminate live-streamed proceedings or archival data.
“This provision shall also apply to all messaging applications. Any person/entity acting contrary to this provision will be
prosecuted as per law. The court shall have the exclusive copyright in the recordings and archival Data. Any unauthorised
usage of the live stream will be punishable as an offence under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, Information Technology
Act, 2000, and other provisions of law, including the law of Contempt.”
The rules also say that any party or litigant-in-person accessing the live stream will be bound by the rules and the live
stream shall not be reproduced, transmitted, uploaded, posted, modified, published, or re published in any form without
the prior written authorisation of the Court.
“No person shall use a recording device for recording or for transcribing the proceedings, other than those authorised by
the Court.”
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During proceedings, all personnel should follow the instructions of the presiding judge, adhere to courtroom etiquettes
and discipline, and shall not record audio and/or video, take screenshots or use mobile communication tools to relay
the proceedings.
Additionally, the bench may also direct seizure of the communication device or recording device, the rules say.
The transcripts of the recording will be prepared only when directed by the court and may be translated in other
scheduled languages.
“Recordings that are uploaded will be made accessible for differently abled persons."
https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/delhi-high-court-notifies-rules-live-streaming-recording-court-
proceedings
The Supreme Court Collegium on Wednesday reiterated its November 2021 recommendation to appoint Senior
Advocate Saurabh Kirpal as a judge of the Delhi High Court, while stating that his being open about his sexual
orientation was a matter that goes to his credit.
A detailed reiteration by the Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud highlighted the decision
of a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court which held that every individual is entitled to maintain their own dignity
and individuality based on sexual orientation.
"The fact that Mr. Saurabh Kirpal has been open about his orientation is a matter which goes to his credit. As
a prospective candidate for judgeship, he has not been surreptitious about his orientation," the statement reads.
It was further emphasised that Kirpal's appointment will add value to the bench of the Delhi High Court and provide
inclusion and diversity.
"In view of the constitutionally recognized rights which the candidate espouses, it would be manifestly contrary to the
constitutional principles laid down by the Supreme Court to reject his candidature on that ground. Shri Saurabh Kirpal
possesses competence, integrity and intellect," the judicial appointments body said.
This explanation was provided in response to the Central government's rejection of the proposal to elevate Kirpal based
on two objections, one of them being Kirpal's openness about his sexual orientation.
According to the resolution, a letter from the Law Minister stated that though “homosexuality stands de-criminalised in
India, nonetheless same-sex marriage still remains bereft of recognition either in codified statutory law or uncodified
personal law in India”.
Additionally, Kirpal's “ardent involvement and passionate attachment to the cause of gay-rights” would not rule out the
possibility of bias and prejudice, the government had opined.
The other objection raised in letters sent by the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) was that Kirpal's partner is a Swiss
National.
In response to this, the Collegium's resolution noted that two communications of R&AW did not reflect any
apprehension in regard to the individual conduct or behaviour of Kirpal's partner as regards national security.
"There is no reason to pre-suppose that the partner of the candidate, who is a Swiss National, would be inimically disposed
to our country, since the country of his origin is a friendly nation."
It also underscored that many persons in high positions, including present and past holders of constitutional offices,
had spouses who are foreign nationals.
The resolution also takes into account that Kirpal speaking to the press regarding the recommendations being sent back
for reconsideration may not have been advisable.
Nonetheless, it was opined that this ought not to be considered a negative feature, since his name has remained pending
for over five years.
"The overwhelmingly positive aspects of the candidature of Shri Saurabh Kirpal must, therefore, weigh in the balance. In
this backdrop, the Collegium resolves to reiterate its recommendation dated 11 November, 2021 for appointment of Shri
Saurabh Kirpal as a Judge of the Delhi High Court which needs to be processed expeditiously," the resolution thus stated.
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Kirpal was unanimously recommended by the Delhi High Court Collegium on October 13, 2017 and the same was
approved by the Supreme Court Collegium on November 11, 2021.
The recommendation was referred back to the Supreme Court Collegium on November 25, 2022 for reconsideration.
https://www.barandbench.com/news/breaking-supreme-court-collegium-reiterates-recommendation-to-elevate-
saurabh-kirpal-as-delhi-high-court-judge
Earlier, the clause only covered deceiving or misleading the addressee about the origin of the message or knowingly and
intentionally communicating any misinformation or information which is patently false and untrue or misleading in
nature.
The Ministry also extended the last date for feedback on the draft amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 in relation to online
gaming for till January 25, 2023.
On January 3, the MEITY had introduced draft amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 in relation to online gaming and
feedback from the public was invited till January 17.
https://www.barandbench.com/news/central-government-proposes-revised-amendments-to-it-rules-2021-prohibits-
circulating-news-fact-checked-by-press-information-bureau-as-fake-2
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LEGAL CROSSWORD
COMPLETE THE CROSSWORD PUZZLE BELOW
Across Down
1. violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object or person 2. guilty
6. pardon 3. Having the same mother but different fathers
9. written amendment in a will 4. Not Guilty
10. agreeable 5. A partner in a crime
13. liability on a property 7. substituting new contract with old one
14. two are related by blood or adoption wholly through males 8. lying against oath
16. prevent one from receiving money or property after one’s death 9. To leave property in the custody of another
17. acceptable 11. Abrogation or cancellation of a contract
18. right over a neighbour’s land or waterway 12. Behaviour or language showing disrespect for religion or God
15. elsewhere
17. another name of a person
Bhopal 7676564400 | Indore 9109108422 | Jabalpur 9109108423 | Jodhpur 9109108419 | Raipur 9109108417 | Bilaspur 9109108416 | Ranchi 9109108418
Delhi 9891906520 | Gurugram 09717289708 | Kanpur 8576066660 | Prayagraj 6306330553 | w
6390573333
117
a
Bhopal 7676564400 | Indore 9109108422 | Jabalpur 9109108423 | Jodhpur 9109108419 | Raipur 9109108417 | Bilaspur 9109108416 | Ranchi 9109108418
Delhi 9891906520 | Gurugram 09717289708 | Kanpur 8576066660 | Prayagraj 6306330553 | w 6390573333