International Volunteer Day celebrated on 5 December 2021
International Volunteer Day (IVD), also called International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development is observed on 5 December every year. International Volunteer Day Theme 2021: “Volunteer now for our common future”. The purpose of the day to celebrate the efforts of volunteers and organizations and offer the opportunity to promote volunteerism, encourage governments to support volunteer efforts and recognize volunteer contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local, national and international levels.
History of the day:
The International volunteer day was first observed and mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1985. It was observed through Resolution A/RES/40/212 on 17 December 1985. This day offers a chance to individual volunteers, communities, and organizations in order to promote their contributions to the development at the local, national and international levels.
Former Andhra Pradesh CM Konijeti Rosaiah passes away
Former Governor of Tamil Nadu and former Chief Minister of the unified State of Andhra Pradesh, Konijeti Rosaiah (89-years) passed away. He had served as MLA, MLC, Lok Sabha members. He held several key portfolios including finance, transport, energy in the cabinets headed by Kotla Vijayabhaskhara Reddy, Channa Reddy, and YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
Nizamuddin Basti project wins two UNESCO heritage awards
Nizamuddin Revival Project, India’s project on the holistic urban revitalisation of the historic Nizamuddin Basti community, in New Delhi has won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2021. The project involves the meticulous restoration of over 20 historic monuments clustered around the 14th-century mausoleum of the revered Sufi saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.
Nizamuddin Revival Project won these awards under 2 categories:
- Award of Excellence
- Special Recognition for Sustainable Development.
About Nizamuddin Basti:
The settlement around the tomb of Noted Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, who settled in a Delhi village Ghiyaspur located on the tributary of River Yamuna, is known as the Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. The Nizamuddin area comprises the Humayun’s Tomb, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti and Sunder Nursery, Batashewala Tomb-Garden Complex, the tomb of courtier poet Khan I Khanan ‘Rahim’, and the Mughal-period caravanserai of Azimganj Serai.
Winners of UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2021:
The jury of Heritage experts honoured 9 projects from 6 countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand) with the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2021.
GDP Growth: S&P projected India’s GDP growth forecast at 9.5% in FY22
S&P Global Ratings has retained the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast of India unchanged at 9.5 percent for the financial year 2021-22 (FY22) and 7.8 per cent for the year ending FY23. GDP growth projection of India was revised for FY 24 to 6 per cent from 5.7 percent estimated earlier. Rising inflation is a pressure point, unlike elsewhere in emerging Asia, but external demand continues to support growth, S&P noted.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- S&P Global Ratings Headquarters: New York, New York, United States;
- S&P Global Ratings Founder: Henry Varnum Poor;
- S&P Global Ratings Founded: 1860;
- S&P Global Ratings President: John L. Berisford.
India and EU will set up Clean Energy and Climate Partnership
India and European Union (EU) have agreed to step up their Clean Energy and Climate Partnership. They jointly agreed on a detailed work program until 2023 to implement the 2016 India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership. The Panel agreed on increased technical cooperation in energy efficiency, renewable energy, green hydrogen, grid integration, storage, power market design, interconnection, cold chain, and sustainable financing.
The Panel also agreed to explore further avenues to strengthen India-EU cooperation within the context of the International Solar Alliance. EU expressed its support for the close cooperation between India and the International Energy Agency. India and EU also agreed to exchange closely on clean energy in the frame of G20.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- European Union Founded: 1 November 1993;
- European Union Headquarters: Brussels;
- European Union Member states: 27;
- European Union Official languages: 24;
- European Union President of the European Council: Charles Michel.
Jharkhand CM launched ‘Hamar Apan Budget’ Web Portal
Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren has launched a web portal named ‘Hamar Apan Budget’ and a mobile application prepared by the state finance Department from the Chief Minister’s residential office in Ranchi. Through this portal, the general public of the state can share their suggestions for the 2022-23 budget. The public can give suggestions through Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and e-mail and also through the app by downloading the ‘Hamar Budget’ from Google Playstore for Android phones.
How to give suggestions?
- The public could use the hyperlink https://finance.jharkhand.gov.in/budgetvichar to register oneself on ‘Hamar Apan Price range Portal’.
- The portal requires a Mobile number and e-mail (non-compulsory) to generate OTP.
- After profitable authentication of the OTP, the public can file the suggestion for the desired area in the budget.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Jharkhand: Hemant Soren; Governor: Ramesh Bais.
Cambridge Dictionary names ‘perseverance’ Word of the Year 2021
Perseverance, a word that captures the undaunted will of people across the world to never give up, despite the many challenges of the last 12 months, is Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2021. Perseverance has been looked up more than 243,000 times on the website in 2021, the first time it has made a noticeable appearance. NASA’s Perseverance Rover made its final descent to Mars on 18 February.
NHAI : Alka Upadhyaya appointed as chairperson of NHAI
Centre effects major bureaucratic reshuffle. The Centre has appointed Alka Upadhyaya as chairperson of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). A 1990-batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, Upadhyaya is currently Additional Secretary, Department of Rural Development.
Other appointments:
- Sanjay Bandopadhyay, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has been named chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India, a Personnel Ministry order said.
- Sundeep Kumar Nayak has been appointed as Director-General, National Productivity Council, Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade.
New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel 3rd Bowler to take 10 Wickets in an Innings
New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel became the third cricketer to scalp all 10 wickets in an innings. The left-arm spun a web around India’s batting order and bowled 47.5 overs, conceding 119 runs. New Zealand bundled out India for 325 on the second day of the second Test at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
History of 10 wickets haul in an innings:
In 1956, England bowler Jim Laker had taken 10 wickets in an innings against Australia and decades later, India’s Anil Kumble, too, achieved the incredible feat against Pakistan in 1999. At the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, Kumble had made a perfect 10 to bundle out Pakistan and clinch the game.
About Ajaz Patel
Exactly 21 years later, Mumbai-born Patel, whose parents immigrated to New Zealand in 1996, had a dream run on his ‘ homecoming’ as he clinched all the Indian wickets, to not only create an incredible personal milestone but also bring his side back into the game.
Veteran journalist Vinod Dua passes away
Veteran journalist Vinod Dua passed away recently. He was one of the pioneers in Hindi broadcast journalism, worked with Doordarshan to present the youth programme Yuva Manch in the mid-’70s and later with several other television news channels. He was an integral part of NDTV’s journey as well. His much-loved food show ‘Zaika India Ka’ saw him crisscrossing the whole country just for the best taste.
More recently, he was known for his political commentary in web shows for digital media platforms The Wire and HW News. Mr Dua was honoured with several awards for his contribution to journalism.
Awards:
- In 1996, he became the first electronic media journalist to win the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award.
- He was also awarded the Padma Shri for Journalism in 2008 by the Government of India.
- In June 2017, for his lifetime achievement in the field of journalism, Mumbai Press Club awarded him the RedInk Award, which was presented to him by Devendra Fadnavis, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Nation remembers BR Ambedkar on his 66th death anniversary
India observes December 6 as Mahaparinirvan Divas every year to mark the death anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, who fought for the economic and social empowerment of Dalits in the country. He was popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar passed away on December 6, 1956. The Union government has decided to celebrate Mahaparinirvan Divas as part of the major commemoration of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Life of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar:
- Bhimrao Ambedkar was born in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow, Ambedkar was the 14th and the last child of his parents. He was primarily an Economist and educationist.
- Babasaheb was also the flag bearer of India’s Dalit Activism, is called the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
- BR Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee for the constitution of independent India on August 29, 1947. He was also the law minister of India after independence.
- He had also started fortnightly and weekly papers named ‘Excluded India’, ‘Mook Nayak’, ‘Janta’ to raise voice against the atrocities on Dalits. His first wife was only 9 years old at the time of their marriage.
Some lesser-known facts about Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar:
- Ambedkar was posthumously conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
- Rajgirh, Babasaheb’s personal library was the world’s largest library with over 50 thousand books.
- He was the first lawyer belonging to a backward caste.
- His original surname was Ambawadekar, which was changed to Ambedkar by his teacher in school.
- He was the only Satyagrahi worldwide, who did Satyagraha for drinking water.
- Around the world all Buddha paintings and statues have Buddha’s eyes closed, Ambedkar was the first person to make a painting of him with open eyes.
- The chief architect of the Indian Constitution’s 20-page autobiography, Waiting for a Visa, is used as a textbook at Columbia University.
Former SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar becomes new strategic group advisor of OYO
IPO-bound hospitality unicorn Oyo Hotels and Homes (Oyo) has appointed Rajnish Kumar, former Chairman of State Bank of India (SBI) as Strategic Group Advisor. In his role, Kumar will advise Oyo’s management on short-term and long-term strategy, regulatory and stakeholder engagement, and enhancing the brand of the company globally. He is currently a part of the boards of HSBC Asia Pacific, L&T infotech, Hero Motocorp and BharatPe.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- OYO Rooms Founded: 2013;
- OYO Rooms CEO: Ritesh Agarwal.
Goldman Sachs : India’s GDP to grow 9.1% in 2022
Wall Street brokerage, Goldman Sachs has estimated India’s GDP growth at 9.1 per cent in 2022. After India’s economy contracted by a sharp 7 per cent in 2020, Goldman Sachs pegged the economy to grow at 8 per cent in 2021 and 9.1 per cent in 2022. It earlier estimated India’s economic growth to 11.1 per cent in the fiscal year to March 31, 2022.
Amitabh Kant launches Genesys International’s digital twin platform
Genesys International has launched its pan India program to make the Digital Twin of the entire Urban India. The launch programme was inaugurated by Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog. The creation of this very accurate 3D data will mean a host of applications would open up in high-definition mapping, which was hitherto not possible, for smart cars, e-commerce, logistics, gaming, utilities planning for next-generation networks in telecom, renewable energy and in disaster management and emergency response.
Moreover, with all the smart city components, the digital twin of cities will put India on the map with advanced cities that are now using this geospatial technology. Genesys has a constellation of advanced sensors in India, consisting of aerial mobile and terrestrial systems capable of imaging at very high speeds and resolution. Genesys has also filed for patents in unique Geocoding for addressing 3D data as well as automated capture of features from 3D Street map imagery.
IDFC FIRST Bank debuts India’s first standalone metal debit card
IDFC FIRST Bank announced the launch of FIRST Private Infinite, the country’s first-ever standalone metal debit card, in partnership with Visa. FIRST Private Infinite is a lifetime free card designed specifically for customers who are part of the Bank’s FIRST Private program, premium savings and wealth offering. The FIRST Private program offers an unrivalled banking and investment experience to customers and comes with a range of exceptional investment, banking, lifestyle and wellness benefits.
IDFC FIRST Bank offers a comprehensive digital savings account solution that includes a seamless online account opening process, video KYC and a new-age digital platform for mobile and net banking with an easy-to-navigate user interface. The Bank’s digital wealth management solutions are available to customers on the mobile app and net banking platform which offer unique features such as a ‘Consolidated Investment Dashboard’.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- IDFC FIRST Bank CEO: V. Vaidyanathan;
- IDFC FIRST Bank Headquarters: Mumbai;
- IDFC FIRST Bank Founded: October 2015.
