Current Affairs

13^th December 2022

Top 14 Daily Current Affairs: National & International News:

Here is the Daily Current Affairs of the 13th December 2022 covering the following news headlines: 6th Vande Bharat train, Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, Arab-Built Lunar Spacecraft, India, China troops clash.

National News

1.PM Modi flagged off 6th Vande Bharat train on Nagpur-Bilaspur route

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off India’s sixth Vande Bharat Express between Bilaspur (Chattisgarh)-Nagpur (Maharashtra) route.

This is the second Vande Bharat express in the state after the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat express.

He inaugurated the ‘Nagpur Metro Phase I’, and laid the foundation stone of ‘Nagpur Metro phase- II’ at Khapri Metro Station. The Phase I has been developed at a cost of Rs 8650 crore while the Phase II will be developed at a cost of more than Rs 6700 crore.

He inaugurated the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg connecting Nagpur and Shirdi. Built at a cost of ₹55,000 crore, it is one of the longest expressways in the country that passes through 10 Maharashtra districts, including Amravati, Aurangabad and Nashik.

International News

2.20th Edition Of Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival

The 20th Edition of the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival kicked off in Kathmandu, Nepal. This year, the festival was scheduled to be held from December 8 to 12, 2022.

The festival is resuming its physical screening after two years, because of the pandemic and is ready to showcase numerous films from across the world.

The theme of the Film Fest is ‘Sustainable Summits’ and is going to feature documentaries, fiction, shorts as well as experimental and animated films.

The key focus of the film fest is on the mountain communities and cultures to Nepali audiences.

3. UAE Successfully Launches First Ever Arab-Built Lunar Spacecraft

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried into space the first ever Arab-built lunar spacecraft. It was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The Rashid Rover was built by Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and is being delivered by the HAKUTO-R lander, engineered by Japanese lunar exploration company ispace.

The mission is due to arrive at Moon around April 2023.

4. India, China troops clash along LAC in Tawang region, Arunachal Pradesh

Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 and the face-off resulted in “minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides”, the Indian Army said.

The clash near Yangtse along the LAC in the sensitive sector took place amid the over 30-month border standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh.

It is the first major clash between the Indian and Chinese armies since August 2020 near Rinchen La in eastern Ladakh. Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a brief face-off near Yangtse in October last year as well and it was resolved following talks between local commanders of the two sides as per established protocols.

5. Japan’s ispace Launches World’s First Commercial Moon Lander

Japan is elated and proud of its space startup that successfully launched a spacecraft to the moon recently, marking a significant step towards what would be a historic first, both for the nation and a private company.

This has not been an easy task and got successful after multiple delays. Additionally, what makes it unique is the fact that it is the first successful venture to the moon by a private company.

It took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Additionally, two inspections of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket led to two postponements, however, the mission crossed all hurdles efficiently.

HAKUTO is a term used for a white rabbit that resides on the moon, as per Japanese folklore. The ispace craft intends to deploy a tiny NASA satellite into the orbit of the moon to look for water deposits prior to its touch in the Atlas Crater.

States News

6.Uttarakhand Plans Genetic Enhancement of Its Indigenous Badri Cow

Uttarakhand Government is planning for genetic enhancement of Badri Cow through sex-sorted semen and embryo transfer technology with the aim to increase its productivity.

The Badri breed derived its name from the holy shrine of Char Dham at Badrinath. It is found only in the hill districts of Uttarakhand and was earlier known as the ‘pahadi’ cow.

The milk also has rich medicinal content and high organic value as it grazes only on herbs and shrubs available in the mountains.

It is also comparatively more resistant to diseases, mostly due to its eating habits.

This strong and disease resistant breed is found in the hilly areas of Almora and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand.

7.BJP’s Bhupendra Patel sworn-in as Gujarat CM for 2nd consecutive term

Bhupendra Patel took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second straight term in Gandhinagar. He was administered oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Gujarat by Governor Acharya Devvrat.

Patel was sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat on September 13, 2021.

Breaking his own record, Patel won the 2022 election once again from Ghatlodia constituency with a huge margin of 1,91,000 votes.Prime minister Narendra Modi, several Union Ministers including Amit Shah, Smriti Irani, and Mansukh Mandaviya, and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled States including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Madhya

Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the ceremony.

8.Mopa International Airport Goa named after former CM Manohar Parrikar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Mopa International Airport in Goa, which has been named after former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The new airport, which is about 35 km from capital city Panaji, can handle 44 lakh passengers annually. Its capacity can be raised to over 3 crore passengers per year after expansion plans in the future.

In November 2016, the PM laid Mopa airport’s foundation stone. It will be the second airport in the state, the first airport in Goa is at Dabolim.

Appointments News

9.Justice Dipankar Dutta takes oath as judge of Supreme Court

Justice Dipankar Dutta has took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud administered the oath to Justice Dutta in the swearing-in ceremony in the Supreme Court in the presence of all judges.

With the appointment of Justice Dutta, the Supreme Court will have 28 judges out of the strength of 34 judges. Justice Dutta will have a term till February 8, 2030

57-year-old Justice Datta will have a nearly eight-year tenure in the Supreme court until his retirement in February 2030 at the age of 65.

His name was recommended by a Supreme Court Collegium led by Justice U.U. Lalit on September 26.

10.Legendary PT Usha elected as first woman president of Indian Olympic Association

Legendary athlete Pilavullakandi Thekkeraparambil Usha or PT Usha was elected as the first woman president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The 58-year-old Ms. Usha, a multiple Asian Games gold medallist and fourth-place finisher in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics 400m hurdles final, was declared elected unopposed for the top post in the polls.

The elections were held under the supervision of Supreme Court-appointed retired SC judge L Nageswara Rao. Usha emerged as the lone candidate for the top post, as nobody was willing to fight against Usha, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in July.

Apart from Usha, Ajay Patel of National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has been elected unopposed as senior vice-president.

Olympic medalist shooter Gagan Narang and Rowing Federation of India president Rajlaxmi Singh Deo have been elected unopposed as vice presidents. Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) president Sahdev Yadav has been elected the treasurer. All India Football Federation (AIFF) president and former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey has been elected unopposed as the joint secretary (male).

Defence News

11. Indian Army’s Airawat Division conducted Ex Sanchaar Bodh

Indian Army’s Airawat Division conducted Ex Sanchaar Bodh in extensive obstacle ridden terrain of Punjab. The exercise validated tactical communication capabilities. The formation reaffirmed its determination to win at any cost under adverse conditions..

The Indian 1 Armoured Division, under II Corps, is headquartered at Patiala. The 1 Armoured Division, nicknamed the “Black Elephant” or “Airawat” Division, is considered to be the pride of the Indian Army.

Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Pande;

Indian Army Headquarters: New Delhi;

Indian Army Founded: 1 April 1895, India.

Banking News

12. RBI Shortlists 7 Global Consultancy Firms to Use AI, ML to Improve Regulatory Supervision

In its bid to extensively use advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse database and improve regulatory supervision over banks and NBFCs, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is mulling over to hire external experts.

The central bank has shortlisted seven global consultancy firms, including Pricewaterhouse Coopers, McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group (India), to use artificial intelligence and machine learning for supervisory functions.

With the objective of assessing financial soundness, solvency, asset quality, governance framework, liquidity, and operational viability to protect depositors’ interests and financial stability.

Summits And Conferences

13.1st G20 Central Bank Deputies Meet in Bengaluru Under India’s Presidency

The first G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) meeting is scheduled to be held during 13-15 December 2022 in Bengaluru. This meeting, which will mark the start of discussions on the Finance Track agenda under the Indian G20 Presidency, will be hosted jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India.

The upcoming meeting of G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies will be co-chaired by Mr Ajay Seth, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Dr Michael D. Patra, Deputy Governor of RBI.

The G20 Finance Track discusses key issues of relevance for the global economy, encompassing the global economic outlook, the international financial architecture, infrastructure development and financing, sustainable finance, global health, international taxation and financial sector issues, including financial inclusion.

Sports News

14. Jos Buttler & Sidra Ameen named as ICC Player of the Month award for November 2022

England’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Jos Buttler was named ICC men’s Player of the Month for the first time following his stupendous show in November.

Pakistan’s Sidra Ameen became the second successive winner of the women’s Player of the Month award from the country, thanks to her brilliant performance in the ODI series win over Ireland.

Buttler, who is one of the destructive batters in white-ball cricket in the world, beat Adil Rashid and Shaheen Shah Afridi to win the ICC Player of the Month award for his brilliant performance in the crunch semi-final match against India and leading England to their first T20 World Cup title since 2010.

Sidra Ameen beat Ireland’s Gaby Lewis and Thailand’s Natthakan Chantam to win the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for her outstanding performance against Ireland in the ODI series.