Current Affairs

9^th December 2022

Top 17 Daily Current Affairs: National & International

International News

Here is the Daily Current Affairs of the 09th December 2022 covering the following news headlines: International Anti-Corruption Day,International Year of Millets 2023, Table Tennis Federation of India, US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

1. Veena Nair won Prime Minister’s prize in Australia 

Indian-origin teacher in Australia has received the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in secondary schools.

Melbourne-based Veena Nair, who is ViewBank College’s Head of Technology and STEAM project leader, has been awarded for demonstrating practical application of STEAM to students, and how they can use their skills to make a real impact in the world.

The winning project is then sent to the International Space Station. She also supports the Young Persons’ Plan for the Planet program, a STEM-based enterprise development program that gives students the opportunity to engage with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as changemakers at a global level.

2. U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, COP 15 Commences in Canada

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, also called as Conference of Parties (COP-15) commenced in Montreal, Canada on 7 December 2022.

The two-weeklong conference (7-19 December 2022) was originally scheduled to be held in Kunming, China in October but was shifted to Montreal, Canada due to covid situation in China. This is the second part of the COP15.

The first part was hosted by China on 18 August 2021 virtually and the second part was to be held in a face to face conference but it has been shifted from China to Canada. However the host of the COP15 in Montreal is still China.

3. Opening Ceremony of International Year of Millets 2023 Held in Rome

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, organized an opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023 (IYM2023) in Rome, Italy.

An Indian delegation led by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare were present at the opening ceremony. During the event, India’s ceremonial message by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was conveyed by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje.

Sushri Shobha Karandlaje conveyed PM Modi’s compliments to the United Nations for declaring the Year 2023 as the International Year of Millets. PM, through his message, thanked the global community for supporting India’s proposal to mark the International Year of Millets (IYM).

States News

4. Karthigai Deepam Chariot festival held in Tamil Nadu

The Karthigai Deepam Chariot festival was held at Thiruparankundram in Madurai, Tamil Nadu after a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of the most important festivals in Madurai which many devotees attend.

It is a very old festival and is also celebrated in the neighboring states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. This festival is very important among the Tamils. This festival is mentioned in the literature of Tamils known as Ahananuru, a collection of poems.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

Tamil Nadu Governor: R. N. Ravi;

Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai;

Tamil Nadu Population: 6.79 crores (2012);

Tamil Nadu Chief minister: M. K. Stalin;

Tamil Nadu Language: Tamil.

Appointments News

5. Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran appointed as the Chairman of B20

Chairman of Tata Sons, N Chandrasekaran has been appointed as the chair of B20 India which represents the entire G20 business community. He will lead the business agenda during India’s G20 Presidency.

The Government of India has appointed CII, who assumed charge as the B20 India Secretariat on December 1 and will lead the B20 India process.

B20 India has identified priorities for deliberations under the theme “R.A.I.S.E – Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable, and Equitable Businesses. About 100 business policy initiatives will be organised by CII under the B20 calendar across the country during the presidency year.

6. Meghna Ahlawat has been elected as first female president of TTFI

Meghna Ahlawat was elected president of the Table Tennis Federation of India. Meghna Ahlawat has been elected its first female President, eight-time national champion Kamlesh Mehta takes over as the new secretary general of the TTFI and Patel Nagender Reddy has been elected as the Treasurer.

Ahlawat, who is the wife of Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, contested against Gujarat home minister Harsh Sanghvi.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

Table Tennis Federation of India Founded: 1926;

Table Tennis Federation of India Headquarters location: New Delhi.

Banking News

7. Spice Money Partnered with Axis Bank for Financial Inclusion in Rural India

Fintech player Spice Money has partnered with Axis Bank to facilitate opening of instant, zero balance savings or current accounts for rural citizens through its Adhikari network.

Through this association, Spice Money aims to bridge the rural-urban divide and bring financial inclusivity by providing access to banking products to the last mile at their doorstep, thereby financially empowering thousands of rural citizens living in the hinterlands of India.

The Spice Money network, comprising more than 10 lakh Adhikaris, covers more than 18,000 pin codes, 700 districts and 5,000 blocks, serving over 10 crore households. Spice Money said the current market penetration of e-commerce, in terms of the overall economy, is at 8 per cent. With ONDC, it is expected to grow to 25 per cent in the next two years.

Defence News

8. Indian Navy to Participate in the First International Fleet Review of the Bangladesh Navy

The Bangladesh Navy is hosting the first-ever International Fleet Review at Inani of Cox’s Bazar between December 6 and 9. Naval commanders, ships from some 30 countries including the United States, China, India and the neighbouring Myanmar would participate in the international gathering. Indian Navy ships Kochi, Kavaratti and Sumedha will participate in this.

Naval representatives from the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, China, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Iran, Oman, Palestine and Saudia Arabia would be present in the gathering.

Awards News

9. Indian-American Krishna Vavilala receives US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

US President Joe Biden has recognised Indian-American and a longtime Houstonian, Krishna Vavilala, with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement (PLA) Award, the nation’s highest honour for his contributions to his community and the country at large.

The Presidential Lifetime Achievement (PLA) Awards, led by AmeriCorps, is an annual event held to honour citizens, who exhibit outstanding character, worth ethic, and dedication to their communities.

Krishna Vavilala is Originally from Andhra Pradesh, Vavilala is a retired Electrical Engineer, and currently, the founder and Chairman of the Foundation for India Studies (FIS), a 16-year-old non-profit organisation, whose signature project “the Indo-American Oral History Project” won the 2019 Mary Fay Barnes Award for Excellence.

10. Jamnalal Bajaj Award 2022 announced

The Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation has on 8 December 2022 announced the winners of the Jamnalal Bajaj award 2022. The Foundation gives 4 awards in different categories. Three are given to Indians and one award, for promoting Gandhian values outside is given to a foreigner.

Nilesh Desai of Madhya Pradesh has been chosen for the Jamnalal Bajaj award for Constructive Works.

Mansukhbhai Prajapati of Gujarat was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development.

Sophia Saik of Odisha was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj award for Development and Welfare of Women and Children.

Dr Ogirat Younan and Dr Walid Slyabi of Lebanon was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj award for Promoting Gandhian Values outside India.

Jamnalal Bajaj Awards are categorized into three National and one International Award. Each award carries a Citation, a Trophy and a Cash Prize of Rs. 10, 00,000.

Summits and Conferences News

11. Anurag Thakur Inaugurated India’s 1st Drone Training Conference

Towards empowering and mobilising farmers across the nation with the use of agri-drones, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated India’s first Drone Skilling and Training Virtual E-Learning Platform at the Chennai manufacturing facility of Garuda Aerospace, a drone-based startup of India.

The Minister, simultaneously flagged off Garuda Aerospace’s drone yatra, ‘Operation 777’ which will educate and demonstrate the efficacy of drones for different agricultural uses across 777 districts in India.

The I&B Minister also launched the first of 1000 planned Drone Centre of Excellence at the company’s Manufacturing unit in Chennai which is also the largest in India. To gain hands-on experience, and understand functionality and technology, he also flew a drone after a quick crash course.

12. Celebration of “Universal Health Coverage (UHAC) Day 2022” in Varanasi

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is organizing a two-day convention on the theme “ Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC) 2022” on December 10 and 11, 2022, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

The two-day event will be inaugurated by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Mrs. Anandiben Patel, in the presence of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

13. 3rd Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR)

The Third Global Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance concluded in Oman, with the issue of The Muscat Manifesto, which aims to accelerate One Health actions on antimicrobial resistance to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pravin Pawar had participated in the ‘Third Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance’.

The conference under the theme ‘The AMR Pandemic: From Policy to One Health Action’ will enhance international cooperation to tackle AMR and build on the success of the two previous high-level ministerial conferences held in the Netherlands in 2014 and 2019.

Science and Technology News

14. ISRO will develop “Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘Geo-Ladakh’ for Ladakh

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with incubator and accelerator Social Alpha, to launch the SpaceTech Innovation Network (SpIN), focused on innovation curation and venture development for the space domain.

The platform is the first of its kind in India, and is a unique public-private collaboration for startups and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the emerging space economy. The initiative provides further impetus to the commercialisation of space and is aligned with India’s recent space reform policies. SpIN will focus on three categories, geospatial technologies, mobility as well as aerospace components such as materials, sensors, and avionics.

SpIN is India’s first dedicated platform for innovation, curation and venture development for the burgeoning space entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Awards News

15. CoP27: Swayam Shikshan Prayog Has Been Awarded The Local Adaptation Champions Awards

Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), Maharashtra-based organisation has been awarded the Local Adaptation Champions Awards, organised by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) at the ongoing COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. 

It won the award in the ‘Capacity and Knowledge’ category for the work in supporting women farmers to adopt more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices in Marathwada, Maharashtra, where a focus on water-intensive cash crops currently leaves farmers exposed to climate shocks such as poor and uncertain monsoon seasons.

The Global Center on Adaptation, an international organization that raises awareness and resources on adaptive climate solutions through public and private sector collaborations, organized the award.

Important Days

16. International Anti-Corruption Day observed on 9th December

The world celebrate International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9. The main motive behind marking this day is to spread awareness about a corruption-free society. Everyone knows that corruption affects every area of society.

The purpose behind a day of this kind is to make people aware of the repercussions of indulging in corruption and motivate them to follow a righteous path.

This year, the theme for International Anti-Corruption Day is “Uniting the world against corruption.” The day seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Director-General: Ghada Fathi Waly;

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Headquarters: Vienna, Austria;

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Founded: 1997.

17. International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime 2022

International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime is commemorated on December 9 of every year around the world.

It is observed to raise awareness about the greatest crime perpetrated by man against man, the violation of human rights and how it can be prevented in the future. 2022 marks its 74th anniversary.

This day is commemorated to memorialize the victims of genocide. It is a reminder of all the innocent lives that have been lost as a result of genocide and to raise awareness about how the families of the victims can be supported and helped. Another aim of this day is to help remember not to repeat this heinous crime again