Daily Current Affairs and GK | 7 December 2023

Topic: MoUs and Agreements

1. A USD 175 million loan agreement signed between the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

• On 5 December, the loan agreement was signed to improve the connectivity of roads in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
• The loan agreement was signed by Ms. Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the GoI, and Takeo Konishi, Country Director, ADB India Resident Mission, on behalf of ADB.
• This project will enhance connectivity in the state road network in 14 districts to enable balanced economic development in Madhya Pradesh.
• In Madhya Pradesh, the ADB has supported the road development program since 2002 by upgrading more than 9,000 kilometers of state highways and major district roads.
• The project will convert about 500 km of state highways and major district roads into standard two-lane roads.
• These roads will include climate and disaster-resilient designs, innovative road safety elements, and features that cater to the needs of the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities.
• ADB will build the capacity of Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation Limited (MPRDC) on climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster resilience, and road safety in road network planning and management.
• The project will help in formulating strategies and plans for using green technology in road construction and setting up charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Topic: Art and Culture

2. UNESCO has inscribed 'Garba of Gujarat' in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity.

• It is inscribed under the provisions of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• The decision was taken during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage taking place in Kasane, Botswana from 5 to 9 December 2023.
• Garba Dance of Gujarat is the 15th Indian Heritage (ICH) to be included in this list.
• This achievement underlines the important role of Garba as a unifying force promoting social and gender inclusivity.
• Garba as a dance form is deeply rooted in religious and devotional practices, involving people from all walks of life.
• Garba is growing into a vibrant tradition that brings communities together.
• This achievement highlights the commitment and efforts of the Ministry of Culture, GOI towards the protection, promotion, and preservation of intangible cultural heritage.
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List was established in 2008.
• The objective of listing under the UNESCO 2003 Convention is to enhance the recognition of intangible cultural heritage, promote awareness of its significance, and advance dialogue that respects cultural diversity.
• India was selected to be part of the 24-member Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) of the ICH 2003 Convention for a tenure of 4 years in 2022.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

3. Sweden and the United States signed defence cooperation agreement in Washington.

• This agreement will allow the US to access all the military bases in Sweden (a Scandinavian country).
• Sweden is about to join the trans-Atlantic security alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
• The agreement will create better conditions for Sweden to get support from the US in case of a war or crisis.
• The US signed a similar agreement with Norway (Sweden’s neighbour) in 2021.
• It is currently negotiating such an agreement with two other Nordic countries, Finland and Denmark.
• Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Sweden and Finland made the decision to renounce their long-standing non-alignment policy and to apply for NATO membership. Finland joined NATO in April 2023.

Topic: International News

4. Almost 20 percent of all tourists to Sri Lanka in November came from India.

• The number of tourists arriving in November exceeded 1.5 lakhs.
• Over the first 11 months of this year, 12.7 lakh tourists had arrived in Sri Lanka overall.
• Up till November, more than 2.58 lakh Indians have been to Sri Lanka.
• Being the main source of foreign income for Sri Lanka's economy, tourism is crucial.
• Last month, Sri Lanka eliminated the need for a visa for nationals of India and six other nations in an effort to promote tourism in the future.

Topic: Indian Polity

5. Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 have been passed in Lok Sabha.

• Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
• It has provisions regarding reservation in jobs and admission in professional institutions to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other socially and educationally backward classes.
• The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
• Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 amended the 2nd schedule of the 1950 Act to specify the total number of seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to be 83.
• Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 increases the total number of seats to 90.
• It reserves 7 seats for Scheduled Castes and 9 seats for Scheduled Tribes.
• As per the bill, the Lieutenant Governor may nominate up to two members from the Kashmiri migrant community to the Legislative Assembly.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

6. PM Modi will inaugurate Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023 on 8 December 2023.

• It is a two day summit that will be held at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.
• The theme of the summit is “Peace to Prosperity”. The two day summit will be held on 8th and 9th December, 2023.
• ‘Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023’ is a step towards establishing Uttarakhand as a new investment destination.
• Thousands of investors and delegates from across the world will attend the summit.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. Under Mission Shakti, the Government decided to implement a component of "Nari Adalat" in a phased manner.

• On 6 December, Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani told this in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
• Assam and Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir have been selected to implement it in the first phase.
• In Jammu and Kashmir, it is being implemented in two aspirational districts – Kupwara and Baramulla.
• In Assam, it is being implemented in seven districts Barpeta, Goalpara, South Salmara Mankachar, Udalguri, Darrang, Morigaon, and Kamrup.
• 100% of funds have been released to Jammu and Kashmir and Assam for “Nari Adalat” implementation during FY 2023-24 as per the prescribed cost under Mission Shakti guidelines.
• The Central Government is implementing Mission Shakti Yojana for the safety, security, and empowerment of women.
• The Government is committed to accelerating women-led development by addressing issues affecting women and making them equal partners in nation-building.
• Under Mission Shakti, approximately Rs 3 thousand 144 crore has been allocated in the financial year 2023-24.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

8. Armed Forces Flag Day 2023: 7 December

• Every year on 7 December, National Armed Forces Flag Day is celebrated.
• It is also known as the National flag day of India.
• This day is celebrated every year to honor the martyrs and the soldiers of the armed forces protecting the motherland.
• The day is celebrated to collect funds from the people for the welfare of the armed forces personnel.
• The money collected is used for the welfare of serving personnel and ex-servicemen.
• Indian Armed Forces Flag Day is being celebrated since 1949.
• Armed forces Flag Day Fund:
  • Kendriya Sainik Board, an apex body of the Government of India, manages the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
  • It was constituted by committee formed by then Defence Minister Baldev Singh in 1949.
  • In 1993, related welfare funds were consolidated into a single Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF).
  • It is managed by a Managing Committee. Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) is chairman of this committee.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International Appointment

9. The United Arab Emirates’s Mohammed Al Ramsi appointed as the Chairman of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) 2023.

• This appointment marks the fulfillment of the decision taken by the WRC during its last session in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in 2019.
• This conference started from 20th November and will continue till 15th December in Dubai, UAE.
• The International Telecommunication Union organizes the World Radiocommunication Conference every three to four years.
• The objective of organizing the conference is to review the global use of radio frequency spectrum, geostationary satellites, and non-geostationary satellites in orbit.
• This year, more than four thousand government officials and nine hundred international organizations from 193 countries are participating in the conference.

Topic: Important Days

10. International Civil Aviation Day 2023: 7 December

• International Civil Aviation Day is observed on December 7.
• The day aims to help create and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation for the social and economic development of countries.
• The theme of International Civil Aviation Day 2023 is "Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development."
• On 7 December 1944, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was established to promote global co-operation and uniformity in civil aviation matters.
• Also in 1944, both the International Air Transport Agreement and the International Service Transit Agreement were signed.
• In honor of its 50th anniversary, ICAO established International Civil Aviation Day in 1994.
• On 7 December 1996, International Civil Aviation Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.

Topic: Personality in News

11. The first female medical officer to be stationed in Siachen is Captain Geetika Koul.

• On social media, the Indian Army's Fire and Fury Corps declared this historic achievement.
• Captain Geetika Koul is from the Snow Leopard Brigade.
• The world's highest battlefield is Siachen. The northern Himalayas is where Siachen is situated.
• Siachen presents difficulties because of its strategic significance, severe weather, and difficult terrain.

Topic: Indian Polity

12. Union Government is studying the equivalence of posts in Central jobs for Other Backward Classes (OBC) recruitment.

• According to Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar, the Union government is considering a proposal to determine the equivalence of posts in State government PSUs vis-a-vis Central government posts for recruitment under the OBC reservation (non-creamy layer).
• The Minister said this while responding to a starred question from Congress MP Dean Kuriakose.
• The government was questioned by Congress MP Dean Kuriakose regarding its intentions to resolve problems encountered by OBC employees' wards in state government PSUs.
• Mr. Kumar said State Governments are already empowered to draw their own equivalence of posts between State PSUs and State Government posts.
• In 2017, the Union Government had brought out equivalence of posts in Central PSUs, Banking and Financial Institutions and posts in Central government.