23rd December, 2022 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
Legendary athlete PT Usha nominated to Vice-chairman panel

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has nominated legendary former athlete PT Usha to the panel of vice-chairperson in the upper house of the Parliament. YSRCP member Vijai Sai Reddy has also been nominated along with her. PT Usha was also elected as the president of the Indian Olympic Association recently.
The 58-year-old 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 being held under the supervision of Supreme Court-appointed retired SC judge L Nageswara Rao.
The elevation of Usha to the top job will also mark the end of the long-drawn crisis in the faction-ridden IOA, which was warned of a possible suspension by the International Olympic Committee if elections, originally due in December last year, are not held this month.

Senior nuclear scientist Dinesh Kumar Shukla named as new head of AERB

According to an order issued from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Dinesh Kumar Shukla to the post of Chairperson of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). Shukla is the Former Executive Director of AERB.
New head of AERB, Dinesh Kumar Shukla a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Jabalpur University of Madhya Pradesh (MP).
He joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in the year 1981 after completing the 25th batch of BARC Training School.

Indore gets the Country’s First Infantry Museum

The country’s first Infantry Museum has been opened for the general public at Mhow, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. This museum is the first in the country and second in the world. Before this, such a museum has been built in America. The Army inaugurated to celebrate the Victory Day and the eve of the 75th year of the establishment of the Infantry School. The world-class museum has been set up with the intention of showcasing the Infantry. The project was conceived in July 2003 as a national-level training hall cum research centre.
The world’s first National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is located outside the ManeuverCenter of Excellence at Fort Benning in Columbus Georgia. The 190,000-square-foot museum opened in June 2009. The museum describes the history of the United States Army Infantry from the American Revolution to present operations. It displays artifacts from all eras of American history.

Indian Railways opens nation’s longest ‘escape tunnel’ in Kashmir

India’s longest escape tunnel, which is 12.89 km long constructed on the 111 km under-construction Banihal-Katra railway line in Jammu and Kashmir was completed by the Indian Railways. The longest tunnel is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) project. This is the fourth tunnel on the Banihal-Katra route following the 12.75 km tunnel T-49, the longest tunnel of the Indian Railways, which was completed in January this year.
Atal Road Tunnel, Himachal Pradesh – Longest High-Altitude Tunnel (Length: 8800 meters, or 5.5 miles, approximately.)
Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, Jammu and Kashmir (Length: 11,215 metres, or 11.22 km.)
Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Road Tunnel, Jammu and Kashmir (Length: 9280 metres, or 9.34 km.)
Trivandrum Port Railway Tunnel, Kerala (Length: 9020 metres, or 9.02 km.)
Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, Jammu and Kashmir (Length: 8500 meters, or roughly 8.5 km)
Sangaldan Railway Tunnel, Jammu and Kashmir (Length: 8000 meters, or approximately 8 km.)

>> Download Current Affairs PDFs Here

Download Sakshi Education Mobile APP

INTERNATIONAL
UNSC Adopts First-ever Resolution on Myanmar

The U.N. Security Council has adopted its first ever resolution on Myanmar in 74 years to demand an end to violence and urge the military junta to release all political prisoners, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ms. Kyi, 77, has been a prisoner since the army toppled her government almost two years ago and violently cracked down on dissent.
The 15-member council has long been split on how to deal with the Myanmar crisis with China and Russia arguing against strong action. They both abstained from the vote, along with India. The remaining 12 members voted in favor.
Myanmar’s military has dedicated considerable resources to avoiding the passage of a resolution in the UNSC, very often relying on China to exercise the veto that it enjoys as a permanent member of the body. In 2007, the UNSC failed to adopt a draft resolution on Myanmar due to Chinese and Russian vetoes. In late 2018, following the Myanmar military’s violent assaults on the Rohingya communities in the west of the country, the U.K. made another attempt to pass a resolution, but China and Russia refused to engage in the resolution, and it decided not to table the draft for a vote.

US to Provide its Key Patriot Missile Defence System to Ukraine

The United States is finalizing plans to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine. Ukraine has asked its Western partners for air defenses, including U.S.-made Patriot systems, to protect it from heavy Russian missile bombardment including against its energy infrastructure. The system is part of $1.85 billion in assistance unveiled in parallel with a visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned NATO against providing Ukraine with Patriot missile defenses, and it is likely Moscow will view the move as an escalation.
The Pentagon says Russia’s recent surge in missile strikes in Ukraine is partly designed to exhaust Kyiv’s supplies of air defenses so it can dominate the skies above the country. For that reason, the United States and its allies have been delivering more air defenses for Kyiv, providing everything from Soviet-era systems to more modern, Western ones.
For the United States, this has included NASAMS air defense systems that the Pentagon says have flawlessly intercepted Russian missiles in Ukraine.

ECONOMY
Sri Lanka and Russia in talks to use the rupee in foreign trade

In order to facilitate international trade, Sri Lanka has agreed to utilize the Indian Rupee (INR). It occurs shortly after the Indian government announced it was looking into ways to include nations who are particularly short on dollars in the Indian rupee trade settlement process.
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) clearance is required before the Indian rupee can be designated as Sri Lanka’s official foreign currency, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
According to reports, banks in Sri Lanka have set up special accounts for trading in INR dubbed Special Vostro rupee accounts, or SVRA.
Additionally, the SAARC region’s neighbouring island country has asked RBI to support and encourage trade as well as tourism.
Sri Lanka has been dealing with a severe economic crisis and a shortage of dollars for almost a year.
The island nation will receive much-needed liquidity support if the Indian rupee is recognised as legal tender.
People in Sri Lanka can now hold USD 10,000 (Rs 8,26,823) in real form thanks to the establishment of Vostro accounts.
Additionally, Sri Lankans and Indians can transact internationally without using US dollars by using Indian rupees instead.

ENVIRONMENT
Assam Grants Industry Status to Its Tourism Sector

As the growth in the tourism sector is vital for socio-economic development in a state, the Assam State Cabinet led by CM HimantaBiswaSarma approved the proposal for grant of industrial status to the tourism sector in the state.
It has been highlighted that with such industry status, fresh investments in tourism infrastructures permanent in nature will contribute towards rapid employment generation, public-private partnership and infrastructure development.
With the grant of industry status to the tourism sector, now, restaurants, cafeterias, health clubs, spas and wellness centres among others are eligible for incentives under the industrial policy. This move will further encourage and boost private investment in the above areas of the tourism sector.
The newly-implemented policy aims for sustainable and environmentally friendly investment besides capital formation and the creation of gainful employment. The ministry also said mentioned that the infrastructure can be developed through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, which will contribute to the overall development of the region.
Assam has now become a nationally and internationally acclaimed all-season tourist destination for its unique wildlife, bio-diversity and experience of an unexploited wonderland. Tourism is to be one of the main sources of income generation for the people over the years.

SPORTS
FIFA chosed Morocco to host Club World Cup in February 2023

Morocco was rewarded by FIFA with hosting rights for the next Club World Cup in February, with an expanded 32-team edition set to launch in 2025.
The most recent edition of the tournament was held in the UAE in February 2022 and was won by the English football club, Chelsea.
European champion Real Madrid, South American champion Flamengo and Seattle Sounders, the first CONCACAF Champions League winner from the United States, will play in the traditional seven-team tournament from Feb. 1-11.

Goa to Host First Ever World Table Tennis (WTT) Series Event in India

Goa will host India’s first ever World Table Tennis (WTT) series event from February 27 to March 5. The top tier WTT Star Contender Goa 2023 will take place at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor stadium, located at the Goa University Campus. Stupa Analytics, a homegrown sports analytics firm, will be the tournament host with active support from the Goa government.
World Table Tennis (WTT) was created by the International Table Tennis Federation in 2019 to create and manage professional men’s and women’s Table Tennis events around the world. The WTT organizes a series of events around the year and the highest ranked tournament being the four Grand Smashes.

AWARDS
Sahitya akademi awards 2022 announced

The Sahitya Akademi Award: The award has been given by the central government for the best literature of every year. Accordingly, the central government has announced the Sahitya Akademi Award for literature on December 22. Writer M. Rajendran from Tamil Nadu has received this award for his novel ‘Kala Pani’. The awardee will be presented with a cash prize of one lakh rupees and a copper Shield. This ‘Kala Pani’ novel is a historical novel based on the war of Kalayarkovil or Kalayarkool.
Sahitya Akademi, announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Awards in 23 languages:
1. 07 books of poetry,
2. 06 of novel,
3. 02 of short stories,
4. 03 Play/Dramas,
5. 02 Literary Criticism,
6. one each of Autobiographical Essays,
7. Collection of Articles and Literary History have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2022.
8. Award in Bengali language will be announced on a later date.
The Awards, recommended by distinguished Jury members in 23 Indian languages, were approved by the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar, President, Sahitya Akademi.

SethrichemSangtam awarded Rohini Nayyar prize for rural development

SethrichemSangtam, who helped triple the incomes of 1,200 marginalised farmers in Eastern Nagaland, was awarded the first Rohini Nayyar prize for outstanding contribution to rural development.
The prize awarded to an individual 40 years or under in age, was presented by the NitiAyog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery. The winner was selected by an eminent jury from civil society consisting of Dr. Ashok Khosla, founder, Development Alternatives; Dr. Rajesh Tandon, founder, PRIA; and Ms. Renana Jhabwala, national coordinator, SEWA.

OBITUARY
Gamaka exponent and Padma Shri awardee, H.R Keshava Murthy passes away

H.R. Keshava Murthy, a senior gamaka exponent, who was honoured with Padma Shri earlier this year, passed away. He was born in a family of gamaka artists. He had his initial training from his father Ramaswamy Shastry.
Under the guidance of Venkateshaiah he continued his studies. Over the decades he has presented hundreds of programmes and trained many students. Through his performances, he publicised noted Kannada epics. Hosahalli, his native place, is known for many music talents.

Published date : 23 Dec 2022 06:19PM