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SERIAL SECTION/TOPIC PAGE NO

NO.
1)
AWARDS/MEDALS/HONORS/PRIZE 3
2)
REPORTS /INDEX/COMMITTEE/SURVEY/STUDY 5
3)
GOVT. SCHEMES/PORTAL /APPS/INITIATIVES 7
4)
ECONOMY/BANKING 9
5)
DEFENCE NEWS / MILITARY EXERCISE 10
6)
ENVIRONMENT 13
7)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 14
8)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 17
9)
SPORTS 20
10)
IMPORTANTS DATES & EVENTS 22
11)
PERSONS IN NEWS 23
12)
PLACES IN NEWS – SUMMITS/CONFERENCE 25
13)
STATES IN NEWS 26
14)
BOOKS 27
15)
MISCELLANEOUS 28

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AWARDS/MEDALS/HONORS/PRIZE
 Maharashtra chief minister (CM) Eknath Shinde’s initiative ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ or ‘Government at
Your Doorstep’ has won the prestigious SKOCH Award for excellence in governance. The recognition
highlights Maharashtra’s commitment to delivering efficient public services and sets a new standard for
citizen-focused governance models in India. ‘Shashan Aaplya Dari’, which envisaged taking government
schemes to the people, was launched in Satara in May last year.

 The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has bagged four awards at the regional social
security forum for Asia and Pacific (RSSF Asia-Pacific) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. RSSF Asia-Pacific,
an annual gathering organised by ISSA (International Social Security Association), aims to enhance
cooperation and exchange expertise between social security organisations in the region. The ESIC has
been awarded one certificate of merit with special mention from the jury for its mobile application (Ask
An Appointment - AAA+) and three certificates for its efforts towards addressing occupational accident
and disease, sustainable investment and system resilience.

 India's The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has been honored with the
International Social Security Association (ISSA) Good Practice Award for Asia and Pacific 2024,
presented by Dr. Mohammed Azman, President of ISSA, at the Regional Social Security Forum in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia.

 Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet awarded the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament, and Development in 2024 for her advocacy for gender equality and the rights of
vulnerable populations. Michelle Bachelet is a founding member of UN Women and served as the UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights. She later returned to Chile and became the country’s first female
president, serving from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2014 to 2018.

 Turner Prize 2024: Glasgow-born artist of Indian heritage Jasleen Kaur, whose works are inspired by
her life growing up in Scotland’s Sikh community, has won Britain’s prestigious Turner Prize 2024 for
her considered weaving together of the “personal, political and spiritual”. Kaur collected the GBP 25,000
( ₹26.84 lakh approximately) prize at a ceremony at the Tate Britain in London for her solo exhibition
‘Alter Altar’.

 The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) named six environmental leaders as the 2024
Champions of the Earth.
1. Madhav Gadgil, an esteemed ecologist from India, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. His
work focuses on protecting biodiversity, particularly in the Western Ghats.
2. Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, was awarded in the Policy Leadership
category.
3. Amy Bowers Cordalis received the Inspiration and Action award. She is known for her work on the
Klamath River restoration.
4. Gabriel Paun, a Romanian activist, also won in the Inspiration and Action category. He founded
Agent Green to combat deforestation in the Carpathian Mountains.
5. Lu Qi, a Chinese scientist, was honoured in the Science and Innovation category. He has worked
against desertification for over 30 years.
6. SEKEM, an Egyptian initiative, received the Entrepreneurial Vision award.

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 Hollywood star Tom Cruise has been felicitated with the US Navy's top civilian honour, the
Distinguished Public Service Award for “outstanding contributions to the Navy and the Marine
Corps” with “Top Gun” and other films. He works in the UK. “Top Gun,” the smash hit 1986 movie
about Cold War flying aces, made Cruise a star and drove a spike in military enlistment. The Navy even
set up recruitment tables in theaters.

 Renowned Indian educationist Arun Kapur, who set up schools in India, Bhutan and Oman, has been
conferred the ‘Bura Marp’ (red scarf) and ‘Patang’ (ceremonial sword) by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar
Namgyel at the 117th Bhutanese National Day celebrations in Thimphu’s Changlimathang stadium. The
honour is rarely given to non-Bhutanese residents and comes with the honorific ‘Dasho’ title, otherwise
used for senior officials. In 2019, Mr. Kapur was awarded the ‘Druk Thuksey’ for his work in setting up
The Royal Academy school, and in developing the Bhutan Baccalaureate educational system.

 Sahitya Akademi Award 2024: Naga Poet and Writer Easterine Kire has been awarded the Sahitya
Akademi Award 2024 in the English language category for the best novel in English for her book
“Spirit Nights”, published by Simon and Schuster India.
1. Hindi Language category- Gagan Gill for Main Jab Tak Aai Bahar (Poetry).
2. Marathi Language category- Sudhir Rasal for Vindanche Gadyarop (Criticism).
3. Sanskrit Language category- Dipak Kumar Sharma for Bhaskaracaritam (Poetry)

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Kuwait's highest honour ‘The Order of Mubarak Al
Kabeer’. It is the 20th international award bestowed upon him by a country. ‘The Order of Mubarak Al
Kabeer’ is a knighthood order of Kuwait. It is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns and
members of foreign royal families in sign of friendship. It has been previously awarded to foreign leaders
like Bill Clinton, Prince Charles and George Bush.

 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was awarded the Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National
Eminence Award for Public Leadership by the South Indian Education Society (SIES).

 The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024, Doha, Qatar.

1. The Best FIFA Men’s Player - Vinicius Jr.
2. The Best FIFA Women’s Player - Aitana Bonmati.
3. The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper - Emiliano Martinez.
4. The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper - Alyssa Naeher.
5. The Best FIFA Men’s Coach - Carlo Ancelot.
6. The Best FIFA Women’s Coach - Emma Hayes.

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 CURRENT TIT-BITS Initiative by OneClass.in
REPORTS /INDEX/COMMITTEE/SURVEY/STUDY
 World Bank's "International Debt Report 2024" highlights a worsening debt crisis for developing
nations, with 2023 marking the highest debt servicing levels in two decades, driven by rising interest rates
and economic challenges.

 SHe-Box portal: The Ministry of Women and Child Development recently launched the SHe-Box
portal, an online system designed to help in better implementation of various provisions of ‘The Sexual
Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013’ (SH Act).
This Act mandates the appropriate Government to monitor its implementation and maintain data on the
number of cases filed and disposed of. Time prescribed under the Act for inquiry is 90 days.

 “More than 77% of Earth’s land experienced a drier climate during the three decades leading up to
2020, compared to the previous 30-year period,” according to a report released by the U.N. Convention
to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

 Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh have emerged as the top three states with the highest
number of rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana scheme. The PM
Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15, 2024, aims
to provide rooftop solar power to one crore households by March 2027. Under the scheme, installations
are expected to cross 10 lakh by March 2025, double to 20 lakh by October 2025, and reach 40 lakh by
March 2026. Touted as the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar programme, the initiative seeks to
supply free electricity to households through rooftop solar panel installations. The PM Surya Ghar
scheme offers households a subsidy of up to 40 per cent to make renewable energy more affordable. It
also provides access to collateral-free, low-interest loans at around 7 per cent interest for the
installation of residential rooftop solar (RTS) systems up to 3 kW capacity. The scheme aims to add 30
GW of solar capacity through residential rooftop installations, playing a key role in advancing India’s
renewable energy goals.

 India ranks 39th among 119 countries in the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024,
released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). In the previous index published in 2021, India was
ranked 54th. However, due to a revision in the WEF's methodology, India's 2021 rank was adjusted to
38th place.

 State of Forest Report 2023: Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender
Yadav released the ‘India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023) at Forest Research Institute,
Dehradun. The ISFR is brought out by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) on a biennial basis since 1987. As
per the present assessment, the total Forest and Tree cover is 8,27,357sq km, which is 25.17 percent of
the geographical area of the country. The Forest Cover has an area of about 7,15,343sq km (21.76%)
whereas the Tree Cover has an area of 1,12,014 sq km (3.41%).
1. Top four states showing maximum increase in forest and tree cover are Chhattisgarh (684 sq km)
followed by Uttar Pradesh (559 sq km), Odisha (559 sq km) and Rajasthan (394 sq km).
2. Top three states showing maximum increase in forest cover are Mizoram (242 sq km) followed by
Gujarat (180 sq km) and Odisha (152 sq km).
3. Area wise top three states having largest forest and tree cover are Madhya Pradesh (85,724 sq km)
followed by Arunachal Pradesh (67,083 sq km) and Maharashtra (65,383 sq km).

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4. Area wise top three states having largest forest cover are Madhya Pradesh (77,073 sq km) followed by
Arunachal Pradesh (65,882 sq km) and Chhattisgarh (55,812 sq km).
5. In terms of percentage of forest cover with respect to total geographical area, Lakshadweep (91.33
percent) has the highest forest cover followed by Mizoram (85.34 percent) and Andaman & Nicobar Island
(81.62 percent).
6. The present assessment also reveals that 19 states/UTs have above 33 percent of the geographical area
under forest cover. Out of these, eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island,
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75 percent.
7. The total mangrove cover is 4,992 sq km in the country.
8. The extent of bamboo bearing area for the country has been estimated as 1,54,670sq km. As compared
to the last assessment done in 2021 there is an increase of 5,227 sq km in bamboo area.
9. In the present assessment total carbon stock in country’s forest is estimated to be 7,285.5 million tonnes.
There is an increase of 81.5 million tonnes in the carbon stock of country as compared to the last
assessment.
10. Regarding status on achievement of target under NDC related to carbon sequestration, the current
assessment shows that India’s carbon stock has reached 30.43 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent; which
indicates that as compared to the base year of 2005, India has already reached 2.29 billion tonnes of
additional carbon sink as against the target of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes by 2030.

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GOVT. SCHEMES/PORTAL /APPS/INITIATIVES
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has
approved investment of Rs. 1750 crore for construction of Tato-I Hydro Electric Project (HEP) in Shi
Yomi District of Arunachal Pradesh. It will be developed through a joint venture between the North
Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO) and the Arunachal Pradesh government.

 Union Minister of State for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Sh. Kirti Vardhan Singh launched
'Nano Bubble Technology' for cleaning and purifying water of National Zoological Park, Delhi to
promote the health of aquatic animals. This technology can clean dirty pond water by removing algae and
similar growths.

 SheSTEM 2024: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under the NITI Aayog and the Office of Science &
Innovation, at the Embassy of Sweden, in partnership with Nordic collaborators - Innovation Norway,
Innovation Centre Denmark, and Business Finland, are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of
SheSTEM 2024. This annual initiative celebrates the contributions of women in STEM and serves as
a catalyst to inspire the next generation of innovators by encouraging young minds to explore careers in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The SheSTEM 2024 challenge invited
students from grades 6–12 across India to submit innovative ideas focused on Battery Technology and
Energy Storage (BEST) systems.

 Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) was launched by the Government
of India to promote digital literacy in rural India. The aim was to reach 6 crore rural households (one
person per household) nationwide. The scheme has ended, as against 6 crore, 6.39 crore individuals were
trained across the country as on March 31, 2024.

 Shri Pralhad Joshi launches 'Anna Chakra', the Public Distribution System Supply chain optimisation
tool and SCAN (Subsidy Claim Application for NFSA) portal.

 The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy,
Shri Pralhad Joshi launched ‘Anna Chakra’, the Public Distribution System (PDS) Supply chain
optimisation tool and SCAN (Subsidy Claim Application for NFSA) portal a significant step towards
modernizing the Public Distribution System and subsidy claim mechanisms of the States.
“Anna Chakra” PDS Supply Chain optimization, spearheaded by Department of Food Public
Distribution, is a landmark initiative to enhance the efficiency of the PDS logistics network across the
country. Developed in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and Foundation for
Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT-Delhi, the project leverages advanced algorithms to
identify optimal routes and ensure seamless movement of food grains across supply chain nodes.
SCAN (Subsidy Claim Application for NFSA) portal will provide for a single window submission of
subsidy claims by states, claim scrutiny and approval by DFPD facilitating expeditious settlement process.
The portal will ensure end-to-end workflow automation of all the processes for release and settlement of
food subsidy using rule-based processing.

 Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan launched PM e-VIDYA Channel 31, a DTH
channel dedicated to sign language. “A historic chapter has been added to the welfare of Divyangs in
the form of a new Act which enlarges the scope of the legal framework. The National Education Policy
2020 has stressed the education of children with special needs.

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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Bima Sakhi Yojana, an initiative of the state-owned Life
Insurance Corporation (LIC) that aims to enrol 100,000 Bima Sakhi in 12 months to financially
empower women. The scheme is designed to benefit women in the age group of 18-70 years, who are
Class-10 pass.

 The Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, inaugurated the state-of-the-art Geological Survey
of India (GSI) Geoscience Museum at the Victoria Market Building in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
The Gwalior Geoscience Museum serves as a gateway to the wonders of Earth’s story—a sanctuary of
knowledge where science and art converge to inspire curiosity.

 Kisan Kavach: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled Kisan Kavach, Bharat's first anti-pesticide
bodysuit, designed to protect farmers from the harmful effects of pesticide exposure.

 The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the “Udaan Yatri Cafe” at Kolkata airport, which aims
to provide affordable food and beverages to air travellers.

 Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated a 1km stretch of Asia's first
highway with a bio-bitumen blended surface. The trial patch begins near the ‘Kamptee 22Km'
milestone on National Highway stretch on NH-44 in Mansar, Nagpur, Maharashtra, utilizes lignin-
based bio-bitumen technology, developed through collaborative efforts involving Praj Industries, CSIR-
CRRI, NHAI, and Oriental. The project will help cut pollution from stubble burning as the source of bio-
bitumen comes from easily available crop stubble, which farmers can sell instead of torching the residue.
Bio-bitumen is a sustainable alternative to traditional bitumen. It is derived from lignin, a natural polymer
found in plant cell walls.

 The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in collaboration with the National Quantum
Mission (NQM) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched an India's First
Undergraduate (UG) minor programme in ‘Quantum Technologies ‘under National Quantum
Mission aiming to prepare India’s workforce for the quantum revolution and positioning the nation as a
global leader in cutting-edge quantum innovation.

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ECONOMY/BANKING
 The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $50 million loan aimed
at enhancing water security by constructing water-harvesting systems to improve access to water and
reducing community vulnerability against climate change impacts in Meghalaya.

 India has achieved a remarkable milestone in its economic journey, with gross foreign direct investment
(FDI) inflows reaching an impressive $1 trillion since April 2000. This landmark achievement was
bolstered by a nearly 26% rise in FDI to $42.1 billion during the first half of the current fiscal year.

 Suchi Semicon, a Gujarat-based semiconductor company, has officially inaugurated Gujarat's first
Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing (OSAT) plant in Surat, a significant step towards
enhancing India's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.

 India has become the 3rd largest exporter of smartphones in the world, which was on the 23rd rank in
2019.

 The BMW Group and UNICEF announced their partnership in India, aiming to transform the
educational landscape for 100,000 children in four states with a focus on foundational learning and STEM
(science, technology, engineering and maths) skills from early years through adolescence. The
partnership will provide access to quality STEM education to adolescent girls from Kasturba Gandhi
Balika Vidyalayas and Tribal Ashramshalas, belonging to the most marginalized groups in hard-to-
reach rural areas in states of Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

 The OECD has upgraded India’s GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 6.8%, citing strong public
infrastructure spending, private consumption, and agricultural recovery. This growth momentum is
expected to continue through FY25 and FY26, driven by investment and rural income growth. Despite
global uncertainties and geopolitical risks, India’s economic resilience points to a promising future.

 The Indian government announced that it has abolished the windfall tax on aviation turbine fuel
(ATF), crude oil, petrol, and diesel, effective immediately. This move marks the end of a levy introduced
in July 2022 and aims to provide relief to oil producers and refiners. The decision is expected to benefit
major oil players like Reliance Industries and ONGC by boosting their gross refining margins—a
measure of profitability in refining crude oil. Additionally, the government has removed the Road and
Infrastructure Cess (RIC) on petrol and diesel exports, further alleviating financial pressure on the oil
sector.A windfall tax is an additional levy imposed on extraordinary or unexpected profits made by
companies or industries. India introduced the windfall tax on domestic crude oil production in July 2022,
following a sharp rise in global crude oil prices. The tax aimed to capture excess revenue generated from
these unexpected gains.

 Foreign direct investment in India rose by 45 per cent year-on-year to USD 29.79 billion in April-
September 2024, driven by strong inflows in services, computer, telecom, and pharma sectors. Major
contributing countries include Mauritius, Singapore, and the US. Maharashtra received the highest
share of investments.

 India has surpassed $1 trillion in FDI inflows from April 2000 to September 2024, reaching $1,033.4
billion.
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DEFENCE NEWS / MILITARY EXERCISE
 The Indian Navy successfully conducted a test firing of the 3,500 km-range K-4 ballistic missile from
its newly inducted nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arighaat. The test, conducted in the Bay of Bengal,
marks a significant milestone in India’s defence capabilities, particularly in enhancing its nuclear
deterrence and validating the country’s second-strike capability. The K-4 ballistic missile, designed to be
launched from underwater platforms, is a key asset in India's arsenal. The Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) had previously conducted extensive trials to prepare the missile for
its full-range test, ensuring that it meets the stringent operational standards required for such strategic
weapons. The INS Arighaat is fitted with K-4 missiles capable of striking targets at distances over 3,500
kilometers, far surpassing the range of the K-15 missiles on INS Arihant, which has a strike range of
around 750 km. This upgrade makes INS Arighaat a formidable addition to India’s nuclear-powered
submarine fleet, providing the country with greater flexibility and strength in its strategic defense posture.

 Eklavya: General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), launched an online learning
platform for the Indian Army nicknamed as “Eklavya”. This initiative aligns with the Indian Army
propelling itself into the “Decade of Transformation” as envisioned by the COAS and also with Indian
Army’s theme for 2024 as the “Year of Technology Absorption.” The Eklavya software platform has
been developed under the aegis of Headquarters Army Training Command with Army War College
as the sponsor agency. The platform has been developed at zero cost through “Bhaskaracharya National
Institute of Space Applications and Geoinformatics” (BISAG-N), Gandhinagar, along with support
from Directorate General of Information Systems. This platform has been hosted on the Army Data
Network and features a scalable architecture.

 India International Science Festival (IISF) is going to be celebrated at Indian Institute of Technology
Guwahati during 30 Nov. to 3 Dec. 2024. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
is the nodal department for this year IISF and a constituent laboratory of CSIR namely National Institute
for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram) is coordinating
the whole festival. IISF is a unique festival of science society engagement which was initiated in the year
2015 and the very first IISF was organised at IIT Delhi. Vijnana Bharati, a science movement of India
conceptualized this science festival. North East India will witness this festival for the first time. To date,
India International Science Festival has been the largest science event in the country with a participation
of thousands of people who come together annually to foster scientific collaboration, inspire young minds
and propel economic growth through scientific approaches. The theme of this 10th edition of IISF is
"Transforming India into an S&T driven Global Manufacturing Hub".

 CINBAX 2024: The 1st edition of Joint Table Top Exercise, CINBAX, between the Indian Army and
the Cambodian Army commenced at Foreign Training Node, Pune. The Cambodian Army contingent
will comprise 20 personnel and the Indian Army contingent is also comprising 20 personnel from an
Infantry Brigade. Exercise CINBAX is a planning exercise aimed to wargame conduct of joint Counter
Terrorism (CT) operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

 HARIMAU SHAKTI Exercise: The 4th edition of India- Malaysia Joint Military Exercise
HARIMAU SHAKTI commenced, at Bentong camp, Pahang district, Malaysia. Indian contingent
comprising of 78 personnel is being represented by a Battalion of MAHAR Regiment. Joint Exercise
HARIMAU SHAKTI is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Malaysia. Last
edition was conducted in Nov 2023 at Umroi Cantonment in Meghalaya, India.

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 A two-day Commanders' Conference of Western Air Command (WAC) of the Indian Air Force was
held on 06 & 07 December 2024 at New Delhi, with Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff
(CAS) as the chief guest.

 INS Tushil: The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate,
INS Tushil, at Kaliningrad, Russia, on 09 Dec 24. The ceremony will be presided over by the Hon’ble
Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh, as the Chief Guest, with many high ranking Russian and Indian
government and defence officials present. INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigates of the
Project 1135.6 of which, six are already in service – three Talwar class ships, built at Baltiysky shipyard,
St. Petersburg, and three follow-on Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad. INS Tushil,
the seventh in the series, is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships the contract for which
was signed in Oct 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, Indian Navy and the Govt. of India. Upon
commissioning, INS Tushil will join the ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet, under the
Western Naval Command and will rank amongst the most technologically advanced frigates in the world.

 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the
procurement of 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets. The contract is worth ₹13,500 crore, which includes all duties
and taxes. The aircraft would have an indigenous content of 62.6%, enhanced due to indiginisation of
many components to be manufactured by Indian defence industry. These aircraft would be manufactured
at Nasik division of HAL.

 SAMPARK 4.0: The fourth edition of ‘SAMPARK’, an ECHS (Navy) outreach initiative, part of the
Indian Navy's unwavering commitment to provide quality healthcare services to the Naval Veterans/
Veer Naris and their families, is being launched from 16 Dec 24, covering various locations in
Maharashtra.

 Desert Knight Exercise: India, France, and the UAE began a major air combat exercise, “Desert
Knight,” over the Arabian Sea. The operation aims to enhance trilateral defence cooperation and foster
better interoperability among their air forces during complex combat scenarios. The Indian Air Force
(IAF) participated with aircraft such as Sukhoi-30MKIs and Jaguars, along with IL-78 mid-air
refuellers and AEW&C (airborne early-warning and control) systems, operating from Jamnagar on
India’s west coast. French Rafale jets and UAE's F-16 fighters were deployed from the Al Dhafra
airbase in the UAE. The exercise is described as a “large force engagement,” featured intensive combat
manoeuvres approximately 350-400 km southwest of Karachi over the Arabian Sea.

 INS Nirdeshak, the second ship of Survey Vessel (Large) project, was commissioned into the Indian
Navy, in a ceremony presided over by Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Sanjay Seth on 18 December 2024 at
Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-
Chief, Eastern Naval Command hosted the commissioning ceremony marking the formal induction of
the second of the four ships of Survey Vessel (Large) project under construction at M/s Garden Reach
Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata. The ship is designed to conduct hydrographic surveys, aid
in navigation, and support maritime operations. The construction of ship was a collaborative endeavour of
Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, GRSE, L&T, SAIL, IRS and a significant number of MSMEs
exemplifying India’s commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing and maritime capabilities.

 SLINEX 24: The bilateral Naval exercise between India and Sri Lanka, SLINEX 24 (Sri Lanka - India
Exercise 2024) was conducted from 17 - 20 Dec 24 at Visakhapatnam under the aegis of the Eastern
Naval Command in two phases. The harbour phase was held from 17 - 18 Dec 24 and the sea phase from
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 CURRENT TIT-BITS Initiative by OneClass.in
19 - 20 Dec 24. INS Sumitra of the Eastern Fleet, along with Special Forces team participated from Indian
side, whereas, SLNS Sayura, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, along with Special Forces team participated from
the Sri Lanka Navy. SLINEX series of bilateral exercises were initiated in 2005 and since then regular
exercises have been conducted.

 Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi inaugurated the Artificial Intelligence Incubation Centre
(IAAIIC) in Bengaluru. Developed in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the centre
will foster innovation. BEL is providing the infrastructure and IT support, while the facility will be manned
by Army personnel. Equipped with a 1-petaflop supercomputer from CDAC, it is well-prepared for
advanced AI modelling and training.

 The Vietnam Coast Guard ship CSB 8005 and the Indian Coast Guard conducted a joint exercise near
Kochi. The exercise, Sahayog Hop Tac, focused on maritime security. Crews practiced pollution
response, search and rescue, and counter-drug operations.

 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved another milestone with the successful
launch of the PSLV-C60 rocket, carrying the pioneering Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX). The
rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The mission deployed two
spacecraft—SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target)—which will execute a series of complex maneuvers
over the coming days, culminating in their docking. This success positions India alongside global space
leaders like the US, Russia, and China in mastering autonomous docking technology, crucial for future
human spaceflights, lunar missions, and the construction of India’s proposed space station, Bharatiya
Antariksh Station.

 INS Sarvekshak docked at Port Louis, Mauritius, marks a collaboration between India and Mauritius
in the field of hydrography. The primary aim of the survey is to enhance Mauritius’s maritime
infrastructure. INS Sarvekshak is based at Southern Naval Command at Kochi. It is an Indian Navy
hydrographic survey ship. The ship is the second ship of the Darshak class of ships.

 Exercise SURYA KIRAN: The Indian Army contingent comprising 334 personnel departed for Nepal
to participate in 18th edition of Battalion Level Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN. The exercise will
be conducted in Saljhandi, Nepal from 31st December 2024 to 13th January 2025. It is an annual
training event conducted alternatively in the two countries. The Indian Army contingent is being led by
a Battalion from the 11th Gorkha Rifles. The Nepal Army contingent will be represented by Srijung
Battalion.

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ENVIRONMENT
 India got its 57th tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, after receiving
in-principle approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change through the National
Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). It is the 8th tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh. Situated in the
Vindhya hills, the sanctuary includes the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
alongside other historical and religious landmarks. This development comes after the state’s Madhav
National Park received approval to be declared a tiger reserve on December 1. Following official
notification, it will become India’s 58th tiger reserve.

 At the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the
European Commission's Joint Research Centre launched the World Drought Atlas – a comprehensive
global publication on drought risks and solutions. It projects that by 2050, 75% of the world's population
(nearly 3 in 4 people) will be affected by drought conditions if current trends continue.

 The National Green Tribunal has issued notice to the Centre and others over the critically endangered
status of the feral horses in the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Assam. Feral horses reportedly
descend from the stock of domesticated horses but are untamed and roam freely. The green body had taken
cognisance of a news report indicating the animal's "dwindling" numbers owing to smuggling, habitat
loss, shrinkage of grazing fields, floods and neglect by the conservation authorities. the bench said these
horses were not covered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and in the absence of a census, it was
difficult to ascertain their conservation status.

 The first ever Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was tagged in Assam, in what is being
deemed as a historic milestone for Project Dolphin, the movement aimed towards conserving India’s
National Aquatic Animal. This initiative, conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), was implemented by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in
collaboration with the Assam Forest Department and Aaranyak, with funding from the National
CAMPA Authority. This is the first tagging, not only in India, but also for the species.

 Just a month ahead of assumption of office by President-elect Donald Trump, the United States has
announced its emission reduction target for 2035, promising to reduce its emissions to 61-66 per cent
below 2005 levels by that time in the updated Nationally Determined Contribution, or NDC. This builds
on the current US target for 2030 which aims to attain 50-52 per cent reductions over 2005 levels.

 A team of researchers have discovered Koima, a new genus of freshwater fish endemic to the Western
Ghats encompassing two known species that were previously assigned under the genus Nemacheilus.

 A new frog species named Raorchestes asakgrensis was recently discovered from Meghalaya. It was
named after the Eman Asakgre Community Reserve in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, where it was
discovered, to honour the local community’s support in conservation efforts.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
 Cotton Route: India and Italy are introducing the 'Cotton Route' initiative to enhance trade relations.
Italy aims to become India's third-largest trade partner in the EU. Both countries are eyeing
collaboration in defence, space technology, and other emerging sectors.

 'Satan 2’: Russia is set to deploy the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, known as 'Satan
2', to replace older missiles. It is a liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile named after the
Sarmatian people of the fourth and fifth century BC. It has also been referred to in the West as the "Satan
II". It is a three-stage, liquid-fueled missile with a range of 18,000 km.

 Namibia has elected its first female President, with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah declared the winner of
last week's disputed elections.

 China banning exports to the United States of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech
materials with potential military applications, as a general principle, lashing back at U.S. limits on
semiconductor-related exports.

 India and Kuwait decided to set up a joint commission for cooperation (JCC) at the foreign ministers'
level, which will act as an umbrella mechanism to comprehensively review and monitor the entire gamut
of bilateral ties.

 A study conducted by researchers in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) has offered
insights into the reasons behind human-Cape buffalo conflict that occurs across sub-Saharan Africa. The
African or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a formidable and aggressive species. It is present in most sub-
Saharan African countries. It is categorised as Near Threatened on the International Union for
Conservation of Nature Red List, with a declining population.

 A young shortfin mako shark, a critically endangered shark species, has been tagged for the first time in
the Mediterranean Sea by researchers from Virginia Tech in the United States.

 India has joined 157 other nations in supporting a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution
demanding an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent” ceasefire in the war-torn Gaza Strip. The
UNGA overwhelmingly approved two resolutions, one calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the other
backing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA), which Israel has sought to ban.

 The United States has developed a new anti-missile system called Dark Eagle and is nearing operational
readiness after a successful test flight recently. Dark Eagle Anti-Missile System is a long-range
hypersonic anti-missile system developed by the United States, which is capable of intercepting enemy
missiles in mid-air. It is capable of stopping ballistic, cruise, hypersonic missiles and warheads. It has an
operational range estimated at over 2,775 kilometers. The system’s ballistic missile features two stages,
one of which includes a hypersonic glide warhead (C-HGB) capable of reaching extreme speeds of Mach
17, making interception particularly difficult.

 Switzerland has recently decided to suspend the "Most Favored Nation" (MFN) status for India under
their Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), meaning Indian companies operating in
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Switzerland will no longer receive the same favorable tax treatment as other countries due to a recent
Indian Supreme Court ruling regarding the interpretation of the MFN clause, primarily impacting
dividend taxation and potentially affecting foreign investment flows between the two nations; this change
is effective from January 1, 2025. The Swiss government cited an Indian Supreme Court ruling in a Nestle
case that clarified that the MFN clause cannot be automatically applied without proper notification from
the Indian government under the Income Tax Act, leading to a perceived lack of reciprocity. As a result
of the MFN suspension, the withholding tax on dividends paid from Swiss entities to Indian investors will
likely increase from 5% to 10%. This move could potentially impact Indian companies operating in
Switzerland, deter future investments, and may cause friction with other trade partners regarding the
interpretation of MFN clauses.

 The Italian government has granted Argentine President Javier Milei citizenship in recognition of his
Italian heritage, sparking outrage across Argentina. Javier Milei, whose grandparents migrated from Italy
to Argentina, was granted Italian citizenship based on his ancestral ties.

 Britain officially became first European country and the 12th member of a Comprehensive and
Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) which includes Japan, Australia and
Canada as it seeks to deepen ties in the region and build its global trade links after leaving the European
Union. CPTPP is a Free Trade Agreement across the Pacific signed originally by the 11 countries in March
2018 in Santiago, Chile and entered into force on December 30, 2018, after the US withdrew from the
original Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in 2017. It comprises 12 member nations, including the UK,
with other members being Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru,
Singapore, and Vietnam.

 Moldova has joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by signing the ISA Framework Agreement.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement (FA) came into force in 2017. Following
its amendment in 2020, all United Nations member states became eligible to join the ISA. The headquarters
of the ISA is located in Gurugram, India. The ISA was conceptualised on the sidelines of COP21 in
Paris in 2015 as a collaborative initiative between India and France. Currently, the ISA has 104 member
countries and 16 signatory countries.

 The Gadhimai Mahotsav, held every five years in Nepal, attracts millions despite ongoing protests from
animal rights activists. The mass animal sacrifice at the Gadhimai festival in Nepal kept India’s border
guarding force, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and local administration across several districts in Bihar and
Uttar Pradesh on their toes.

 Israel's government has approved a plan to encourage the expansion of settlements in the occupied Golan
Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move was necessary because a "new front" had
opened up on Israel's border with Syria after the fall of the Assad regime to an Islamist-led rebel alliance.
Israeli forces moved into a buffer zone separating the Golan Heights from Syria in the days following
Assad's departure, saying the change of control in Damascus meant ceasefire arrangements had
"collapsed". There are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, which are home to an
estimated 20,000 people. They are considered illegal under international law, which Israel disputes. The
settlers live alongside some 20,000 Syrians, most of them Druze Arabs who did not flee when the area
came under Israeli control.

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 The bald eagle, a long-standing symbol of strength and freedom, has been officially recognized as the
national bird of the US after President Joe Biden signed a law.

 The United Arab Emirates has emerged as Africa's leading investor, committing $110 billion to new
business projects between 2019 and 2023, with $72 billion allocated to renewable energy initiatives.

 China announced that it is building the world's largest dam in Tibet located in the lower reaches of
Yarlung Zangbo (Tsangpo) or Brahmaputra river. - even larger than the Three Gorges Dam, which
according to NASA, has slowed the Earth's rotation by 0.06 seconds. Besides the impact on the
environment, the region is geologically fragile too as it falls in a high seismic zone and hence is prone to
earthquakes of a relatively higher magnitude.

 China has launched its first next-generation amphibious assault ship, adding a powerful cutting-edge
warship to the country’s fast-expanding navy as it races to rival the military power of the United States.
The Type 076 amphibious assault ship entered the water at a launch ceremony at a shipyard in
Shanghai.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
 Scientists at the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) observatory in Namibia have found the
most energetic cosmic rays ever detected, reaching up to 40 teraelectronvolts. It observes gamma rays,
the most energetic form of light, in the very high energy range (>100 GeV), which are produced by some
of the most violent processes in the universe.

 PSLV-C59 vehicle carried Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit as a Dedicated commercial
mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) on December 05. Proba-3 is an In-Orbit Demonstration
(IOD) mission of the European Space Agency. The mission goal is to demonstrate precise formation
flying.

 Handigodu disease: Health and family welfare minister Dinesh Gundu Rao directed the health
department officials to undertake a scientific study of Handigodu disease and present a detailed report on
its control measures. Handigodu disease, a rare genetic condition affecting the nervous system, leads to
muscle weakness, joint deformities, and skeletal abnormalities. The condition was initially discovered in
1978 in Handigodu village, Sagar taluk, Shivamogga district. Statistical data indicates that between 1978
and 1985, approximately 205 cases were documented, with nearly 100 fatalities reported. This disease
currently has no cure.

 The Sentinel-1C satellite was successfully launched on December 5, 2024, by the European Space
Agency (ESA) using a Vega-C rocket from the European Spaceport in French Guiana, marking a
milestone for Earth observation capabilities with its advanced radar imaging technology; this launch
allows for continued monitoring of environmental changes like floods, sea ice, and land movements across
the globe.

 IIT Madras has become the First Research Organization in the world to release the most detailed 3D
High-Resolution images of the fetal brain. Dubbed 'DHARANI', the dataset is available to all
researchers and can help in the development of treatments for brain-related health conditions.

 India plans to establish its own space station, Bharat Antariksha Station, by 2035 and land an
astronaut on the Moon by 2040. First Indian astronaut expected to travel to space by late 2024 or early
2026 under Gaganyaan mission. Simultaneously, India plans to send a human to the seabed, exploring
depths of up to 6,000 meters as part of its Deep Sea Mission. Union Minister of State for Science &
Technology and Space, Jitendra Singh highlighted India's advancements in space, biotechnology, and
marine exploration underline its commitment to becoming a global leader in science and technology by
2047.

 OpenAI has finally launched Sora Turbo, a cutting-edge AI video generation tool, designed to
transform text prompts into highly realistic videos.

 EnVision mission: The European Space Agency (ESA) has officially approved the EnVision mission,
which promises to provide unprecedented insights into Venus, our closest planetary neighbour. Slated for
a 2031 launch aboard an Ariane 6 rocket, EnVision will embark on a comprehensive study of Venus,
from its fiery inner core to the dynamic outer atmosphere. This ambitious mission aims to shed light on
the planet's complex history, geological phenomena, and extreme climate conditions. The mission will be

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the first to directly measure the planet's subsurface features with a radar sounder, providing clues
about its geological activity.

 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully carried out the sea level hot test of
its CE20 cryogenic engine featuring a nozzle area ratio of 100 at ISRO Propulsion Complex,
Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. One of the significant highlights of this test was the successful
demonstration of the multi-element igniter, a crucial component that ensures the engine’s restart
capability. Additionally, the test incorporated an innovative Nozzle Protection System to address the
challenges of flow separation, a common issue during sea-level testing that could lead to severe vibrations
and potential damage to the nozzle. The CE20 cryogenic engine, developed indigenously by ISRO's
Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, is a key component of the upper stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle.

 NASA announced that NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), the advanced earth
observation satellite developed by India and the US, is set to launch in March 2025. With dual-
frequency radar, NISAR will monitor planetary changes with precision, aiding in climate change
understanding and disaster response. It will be the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequencies. The
satellite will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

 Japan and India have recently announced a collaboration between their respective space startups, Orbital
Lasers (Japan) and InspeCity (India), to jointly study and develop laser-equipped satellites aimed at
removing space debris from orbit, addressing the growing issue of orbital congestion; this partnership
signifies a combined effort to tackle the problem of space debris through innovative technology.

 Analog Space Mission: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced the launch of its
first analog space mission, to study the challenges of extraterrestrial conditions that will help in future
space missions. The mission, which includes a compact, inflatable habitat named Hab-1 will simulate life
in an interplanetary habitat. It is being held in Leh, in Ladakh. Hab-1 is equipped with essentials like a
hydroponics farm, kitchen, and sanitation facilities. It provides a self-sustaining environment, offering
valuable data as India is planning long-duration space missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The
mission is a collaborative effort by the Human Spaceflight Centre, ISRO, AAKA Space Studio,
University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and is supported by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development
Council. Ladakh was chosen as the place for the mission due to its unique geological characteristics that
closely resemble Martian and lunar landscapes. Its cold, arid conditions and high altitude will provide an
ideal environment for testing technologies and strategies necessary for long-duration space missions.

 XPoSat: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the X-ray Polarimeter
Satellite (XPoSat) to study celestial objects. The satellite was launched by ISRO’s PSLV-C58 Mission,
which is the 60th mission of PSLV. “PSLV-C58 vehicle placed the satellite precisely into the intended
orbit of 650 km with 6-degree inclination. To understand this, let’s look at the two payloads that were
carried by the satellite namely POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray
Spectroscopy and Timing). POLIX will measure the degree and angle of polarisation in the medium X-
ray energy range of 8-30 kilo electron volt (keV) photons originating from astronomical sources. On the
other hand, XSPECT will offer fast timing and excellent spectroscopic resolution in soft X-rays in the
range of 0.8-15 keV. It can distinguish between two wavelengths emitted by objects. This instrument,
according to ISRO, is designed to observe a variety of sources. These include X-ray pulsars, black hole
binaries, low-magnetic field neutron stars, active galactic nuclei (a small region at the centre of some
galaxies), and magnetars (young and highly magnetized neutron stars).

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 Dinga Dinga: A mysterious illness locally called 'Dinga Dinga', meaning 'shaking like dancing', has
affected around 300 people, mostly women and girls, in Uganda's Bundibugyo district. The condition is
marked by fever and uncontrollable body shaking, severely impairing mobility. In severe cases, people are
also experiencing paralysis. Treatment currently involves antibiotics administered by community health
teams.

 In a first, Indian Oceanographers have captured image of an active Hydrothermal Vent. This discovery
is outcome of Hydrothermal Exploration Programme carried out by National Centre for Polar and
Ocean Research (NCPOR) and National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). Discovered
hydrothermal vent is located 4,500 metres below the surface of the Indian Ocean. This site holds
potential for mineral exploration as part of the Deep Ocean Mission.

 WHO and Rwandan government declare Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak over in Rwanda
after no new cases, highlighting continued vigilance. MVD, previously known as Marburg
haemorrhagic fever, is a severe and often fatal illness in humans, with an average case fatality rate of
around 50 per cent. The virus is initially transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct
contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, as well as contaminated surfaces and materials. The
disease is named for Marburg, the German city where scientists became ill with the disease’s first
known cases in 1967, while handling monkeys imported from Uganda. While there are no approved
vaccines or antiviral treatments for MVD yet, several vaccines and drug therapies are currently under
development.

 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently marked milestone with its LVM3 rocket,
which allows the rocket to place satellites in various orbits during a single mission. The development of a
“multi-element ignitor” for the CE-20 Cryogenic engine was crucial for this capability. ISRO’s new
ignitor enables the CE-20 engine to restart in space. It allows the deployment of multiple satellites into
different orbits without needing additional launches.

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SPORTS
 The Indian junior men's hockey team defeated Pakistan 5-3 in the final of the Men's Junior Asia Cup
2024 in Muscat, Oman, to win its fifth title. Indian women's hockey team beat China in the final of the
Women's Junior Asia Cup in Muscat, Oman to successfully defend its title.

 Gukesh Dommaraju, an 18-year-old from India, became the youngest chess world champion in history
on December 12, 2024. He defeated Ding Liren of China in the final match of a 14-game series in
Singapore.

 The Uttarakhand government is preparing to host the 38th National Games, with Indian Oil
Corporation (IOC) as a bronze sponsor. The third largest shooting range in India is being set up at
Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun for the event after Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in
Delhi and MP Shooting Range in Bhopal. The IOC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department
will soon decide on the sponsorship size.

 The 2025 Para Athletics World Championships, the world's largest single para sport event, will be held
at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi from September 26 to October 5. New Delhi 2025 will
mark the 12th edition of the championships and the fourth time it is hosted in Asia, following Doha 2015,
Dubai 2019 and Kobe 2024.

 The World Boxing Cup Finals and the World Boxing Congress in 2025 will be held in New Delhi,
India in November 2025.

 India will host the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup 2025 in New
Delhi from September 24 to October 2. It will feature rifle, pistol and shotgun shooting events.

 Bihar will host the Women's Kabaddi World Cup, in the indoor hall of the Rajgir Sports Academy in
March 2025.

 Koneru Humpy of India and the Russian Volodar Murzin respectively won the women's and Open
titles at the 2024 FIDE World Rapid Championships.

 India's Lakshya Sen finished third in the King Cup International Badminton Open 2024 after beating
French shuttler Alex Lanier at Shenzhen, the People’s Republic of China.

 Mumbai defeated Madhya Pradesh by five wickets in the final to win its second Syed Mushtaq Ali
Trophy title 2024.

 Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi became the second Indian after legendary Viswanathan Anand and 16th
worldwide to reach the gold-standard ELO rating of 2800, while also occupying the fourth spot in the
latest rankings.

 Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier off-spinner, has announced his retirement from international
cricket shortly after India drew the 3rd Gabba Test against Australia in Brisbane, bowing out of the game
as the country's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. With 537 wickets, Ravichandran Ashwin is next
only to the legendary Anil Kumble's tally of 619. He played 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is for India,
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taking 765 wickets across all formats. Ashwin goes out as the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Tests and
is currently the highest-taking bowler among off-spinners in Tests. Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011
against the West Indies.

 Sachin Tendulkar became the honorary member of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Club (MCG..

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IMPORTANTS DATES & EVENTS

 World AIDS Day: December 1. Theme: “Take the rights path: My health, my right!”.

 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: December 2

 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD): December 03. Theme is “Amplifying the
leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future”.

 Indian Navy Day: December 4. Theme - Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation.

 World Soil Day: December 05. Theme- Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage.

 International Anti-Corruption Day: December 09. Theme- “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption:
Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.

 Human Rights Day: December 10. Theme- Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now

 International Mountain Day: December 11.

 National Energy Conservation Day: December 14

 Minorities Rights Day: December 18.

 International Migrants Day: December 18. Theme- Honouring the contributions of migrants and
respecting their rights

 International Human Solidarity Day: December 20.

 World Meditation Day: December 21

 National Mathematics Day: December 22

 National Farmers’ Day: December 23.

 National Consumer Day: December 24. Theme- Virtual Hearings & Digital Access to Consumer Justice.

 Good Governance Day: December 25

 International Day of Epidemic Preparedness: December 27.

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PERSONS IN NEWS/ APPOINTMENTS
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors has unanimously elected Masato Kanda as
ADB's 11th President. Kanda is currently a Special Advisor to Japan's Prime Minister and Minister of
Finance. He succeeds Masatsugu Asakawa, who has served as President prior to Kanda.

 The President of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore has appointed Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo
as the new Prime Minister of the country.

 Mohammad Al-Bashir, an engineering graduate turned rebel leader, steps into the spotlight as caretaker
Prime Minister.

 Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili elected President of Georgia amid opposition protests and
concerns over ties with Russia.

 Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain died at a hospital in San Francisco. Hussain died due to complications
arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Hussain has received four Grammy Awards in his career,
including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year. The percussionist, one of India's most
celebrated classical musicians, received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the
Padma Vibhushan in 2023. Born on March 9, 1951, he was the son of legendary tabla master Ustad Alla
Rakha.

 Celebrated filmmaker Shyam Benegal, renowned for his significant contributions to Indian cinema,
passed away at the age of 90. His oeuvre encompassed documentaries, films and epic television shows,
including "Bharat Ek Khoj", an adaptation of Jawaharlal Nehru's "Discovery of India", and
"Samvidhaan", a 10-part show on the making of the Constitution. His films include "Bhumika", "Junoon",
"Mandi", "Suraj Ka Satvaan Ghoda", "Mammo", "Sardari Begum" and "Zubeidaa", most counted as
classics in Hindi cinema. His biopics include "The Making of the Mahatma" and "Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero". The director's most recent work was the 2023 biographical "Mujib:
The Making of a Nation". Benegal was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in
1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991. He also received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest
honour in Indian cinema, in 2005. Shyam Benegal, born on December 14, 1934, in Hyderabad, hailed
from a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in
Economics from Osmania University, Hyderabad, where he also founded the Hyderabad Film Society,
marking the beginning of his illustrious journey in cinema.

 President Murmu appoints retired Supreme Court judge V. Ramasubramanian as National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman after high-power committee meeting led by PM Modi for a
tenure of three years until December 2027.

 Maia Sandu was sworn in for her second term as President of the Republic of Moldova in a formal joint
session of the parliament and Constitutional Court.

 Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh (26 September 1932 – 26 December 2024), who was the
architect of the country’s landmark economic reforms of 1991, passed away in New Delhi at 92. Known
for wearing his trademark blue turban, Singh was India’s first prime minister from the Sikh minority.
He was the fourth longest-serving prime minister. He was also the first prime minister since Nehru to
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be re-elected after completing a full five-year term. Born in Gah in what is today Pakistan, Singh's family
migrated to India during its partition in 1947. After obtaining his doctorate in economics from the
University of Oxford, Singh worked for the United Nations during 1966–1969. He subsequently began
his bureaucratic career when Lalit Narayan Mishra hired him as an advisor in the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry. During the 1970s and 1980s, Singh held several key posts in the Government
of India, such as Chief Economic Advisor (1972–1976), governor of the Reserve Bank (1982–1985) and
head of the Planning Commission (1985–1987). In March 1991, he became chairman of the University
Grants Commission. In 1991, as India faced a severe economic crisis, the newly elected prime minister,
P. V. Narasimha Rao, inducted the apolitical Singh into his cabinet as finance minister. Over the next
few years, despite strong opposition, he carried out several structural reforms that liberalised India's
economy. Singh was leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Parliament of
India) during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government of 1998–2004.

 Brigadier Amitabh Jha, who was serving as the Deputy Force Commander (DFC) of the United
Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, has died due to medical
reasons. Jha was also serving as the acting Force Commander of UNDOF after the fall of the Assad
government.

 Osamu Suzuki, the former chairman of Suzuki Motor Corp. and an icon in the global auto industry has
passed away at the age of 94. The former chairman of the Japanese brand who led the organisation for
over four decades has reportedly died of lymphoma.

 Former US President Jimmy Carter, who had been in hospice care since early 2023 died at the age of
100 at his Georgia home. Carter served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981,
earning widespread admiration for his integrity and humanitarian efforts. In 2002, he was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize for his work promoting democracy and human rights worldwide.

 Centre has assigned senior IPS officer Vitul Kumar to officiate as Director General of CRPF following
the retirement of Anish Dayal Singh on Dec 31.

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PLACES IN NEWS – SUMMITS/CONFERENCE
 The 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users' Conference (AOMSUC-14) is being held from
December 4-6, 2024, in New Delhi, India. The conference is hosted by the India Meteorological
Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences, and will feature high-quality oral and poster
presentations, panel discussions, and a training workshop focused on applying current satellite data for
meteorological and climatological applications.

 9th International Conference on Waste to Worth Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) brought together global leaders, policy makers and experts to discuss waste management, recycling
and circular economy.

 Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) is organising its 63rd annual conference at Institute of
Aerospace Medicine (IAM), Bengaluru. The Institute deals with military and civil aerospace medicine
including the human aspects of space flight programme of the country. Established in the year 1952, it is
the only registered society dedicated to promote the knowledge and practice of aerospace medicine in
India. The current conference is themed 'Collaborate for Research' which highlights a forward-thinking
approach to foster partnerships and innovations within the fields of aviation and space medicine.

 The 16th GRIHA Summit, the annual flagship event organized by GRIHA Council, commenced today
in New Delhi, with a focus on the theme “Accelerating Climate Action in the Built Environment.”

 Rubbercon 2024 will take place from December 5 to 7 in Kochi, hosted by the Indian Rubber Institute
(IRI) and the International Rubber Conference Organization (IRCO), which marks the first time the
conference is held in Kerala. The theme is “Sustainable Development in the Rubber Industry – Challenges
and Opportunities.”

 General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, recently attended the 2nd Land
Forces Summit (LFS) 2024, which took place with participation from Army Chiefs and senior generals
from Japan, the US, Australia, and the Philippines. The summit brought into light India’s strategic role
in the Indian Ocean Region and emphasised the importance of multinational defence cooperation.

 India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) for the first time in February
at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

 Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs represented India at the 24th
BIMSTEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) hosted by Thailand.

 The 1st India Maritime Heritage Conclave (IMHC 2024), a landmark event organized by the Ministry
of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) was held on December 11-12, 2024. The conclave was
themed as "Towards Understanding India's Position in Global Maritime History."
The Ministry is also developing the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat,
under the Sagarmala Programme to highlight India’s maritime heritage and create the world’s largest
maritime heritage complex.

 The World Maritime Technology conference (WMTC), a triennial global event under the auspices of
the World Maritime Technology Congress, will be held in Chennai.

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 CURRENT TIT-BITS Initiative by OneClass.in
STATES IN NEWS
 Mission Arun Himveer: Giving a boost to market linkages for agri-horti producers of Arunachal
Pradesh, the state government launched 'Mission Arun Himveer' with the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU), Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) and the Indo Tibetan
Border Police (ITBP), North East Frontier, in presence of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema
Khandu.

 The Uttar Pradesh government declared the Maha Kumbh area a new district ahead of the 2025 Maha
Kumbh Mela. The new district will be known as Maha Kumbh Mela district. The U.P. government’s
decision aims to facilitate better organisation and governance during the significant religious event.

 Kerala’s agriculture department is set to launch Ashraya Centres, a pioneering initiative aimed at
delivering digital agricultural services to farmers across the state. Modelled after the successful Akshaya
Centres, which provide essential digital services to the general public, these Ashraya Centres will cater
exclusively to the agricultural community. The state government has officially issued an order to
implement the project.

 UNESCO has declared the West Bengal as a top destination for heritage tourism, asserting that the
sector generated employment for lakhs of youths.

 Nagaland, often called the "Land of Festivals," is home to 17 major tribes, each with its own unique
festivals and traditions. The Hornbill Festival, running from December 1 to 10, brings these communities
together, offering a glimpse into their cultural richness under one roof. The Hornbill festival is to be held
at the picturesque Heritage Village of Kisama.

 In a pioneering move, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced the
establishment of drone stations across the state to revolutionise disaster management.

 Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in India to fully integrate the Government e-Marketplace
(GeM) platform, enhancing transparency and efficiency in public procurement.

 Gorakhpur is set to establish India's first Integrated Waste Management City-cum-Learning Centre
by September 2025, aiming to create a garbage-free environment.

 Nupi Lal Numit 2024: Manipur commemorated Nupi Lal Numit by offering profound tributes to
women freedom fighters who participated in 'Nupi Lal' (women's war) against British actions in 1904
and 1939.

 The Karnataka government revealed the plan to develop a SWIFT (Startups, Workspaces,
Innovation, Finance and Technology) city near Bengaluru’s Sarjapur, a similar city to the recently
announced KWIN city. In September, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, launched Knowledge,
Wellbeing, and Innovation (KWIN) City near Bengaluru.

 The Uttarakhand government has launched its first wine production facility in Kotdwar and it has
already produced 1,000 cases of wine.

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 CURRENT TIT-BITS Initiative by OneClass.in
 Madhya Pradesh has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the “Go-To Global
Destinations for 2025”.

 Punjab becomes fifth state to achieve 100% piped water supply to rural households.

BOOKS

Sr. Book Author/Writer
No.
1. Hindu Rashtra Hai Kya Sitaram Yechury
2. The Fight For The Republic Sitaram Yechury
3. Reflections on Culture, Media, and Science Sitaram Yechury
4. BRING IT ON: The Incredible Story of My Life Dr. Deepa Malik
5. Beyond The Higgs Boson : The W Boson and Dr Ashutosh Dr. Ashutosh Kotwal
Kotwal’s Quest for the Unknown
6. 'Loh Purush Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ka Jeevanvrit', Rakesh Kumar Sharma
7. Tipu Sultan- The Saga of the Mysore Interregnum Vikram Sampath
8. New Bharat – Modi’s Vision and Development 2019 2024 Ravi Prashar

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 CURRENT TIT-BITS Initiative by OneClass.in
MISCELLANEOUS

 The Me·Gong Festival 2024, themed “Echoes of Tradition”, celebrated the rich heritage and customs
of the Garo people. The two-day event was inaugurated by Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh
at Baljek Airport, Jengjal, West Garo Hills.

 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi attended the 59th All India Conference of Director Generals/
Inspector Generals of Police at Bhubaneswar. In the valedictory session, PM distributed President's
Police Medals for Distinguished Service to officers of the Intelligence Bureau.

 BIPEX-2024, a national postal exhibition, held in Patna's Gyan Bhawan Auditorium to highlights
Bihar's rich postal history, featuring around 20,000 postal stamps from 153 collectors. A major attraction
is the world's first postal stamp, released 250 years ago in Patna, in the form of copper coins.

 The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) organised a two-day global India
Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme in association with World Bank on 28th and
29th Nov. 2024, in New Delhi.

 The Geographical Indication (GI) tag has been granted to Gujarat's Gharchola, a traditional sari
worn during weddings, by the Government of India.

 The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently decided to treat the packaged
drinking and mineral water segment as a “High Risk Food Category” and subject it to mandatory
inspection and third-party audit norms.

 Uber has introduced its first water transport service in India, allowing users to book a shikara ride at
Dal Lake, Srinagar, via its app. This service aims to boost tourism and provide a seamless experience for
travelers. Initially, seven shikaras have been onboarded, with plans to expand the fleet based on demand.

 The 2024 edition of World Maritime Technology Conference (WMTC) will be hosted in Chennai,
India, from December 4-6, by the Institute of Marine Engineers (India) Chennai.

 Oxford University Press announced 'brain rot' as the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024.

 The International Gita Mahotsav 2024 was held from November 28 to December 15, 2024 in
Kurukshetra, Haryana. The partner state for the 2024 festival was Odisha. The partner country for
the 2024 festival was Tanzania.

 Google partners with Telangana government to establish India's first Google Safety Engineering
Centre (GSEC) in Hyderabad.

 India has been chosen to chair the 68th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) for
the first time. Ambassador Shambhu S Kumaran, India's Permanent Representative to the United
Nations in Vienna, formally assumed the chairmanship of the CND. The CND is the principal policy-
making body of the United Nations on drug-related matters. It is mandated to monitor global drug
trends, support Member States in formulating balanced policies, and oversee the implementation of the
major international drug conventions. The CND is one of the functional commissions of the United
Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and a Governing Body of the United Nations Office
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 CURRENT TIT-BITS Initiative by OneClass.in
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which is headquartered in Vienna. This is the first time that India has been
named to Chair this important UN body.

 As part of Sushasan Saptah 2024, “Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore” – Nationwide campaign for Redressal of
Public Grievances and Improving Service Delivery being held in 700 districts across India from December
19-24, 2024. The “Prashasan Gaon ki Ore Campaign 2024” will be India’s largest campaign for door
step delivery of services and redressal of public grievances.

 IIT Madras has unveiled India's first Hyperloop test track, measuring 410 meters. This track serves as
a prototype to validate Hyperloop’s feasibility in Indian conditions. Mumbai-Pune route has been
selected for India's first full-scale Hyperloop system.

 The Maha Kumbh 2025 in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj is going to be a historic congregation as the
Uttar Pradesh government gears up to conduct the world's largest AI-powered headcount.

 Two Indian heritage conservation projects—the Abathsahayeswarar Temple Conservation Project in

Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu, and the BJPCI Conservation Project of Mumbai, Maharashtra—have won
UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2024.

 Google's DeepMind team recently launched GenCast, a new AI model that excels in weather prediction
and has surpassed the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). GenCast
provides faster and more accurate forecasts, extending up to 15 days ahead.

 India becomes the first country to define 'green steel' standards with emissions limits and a star-
rating system for sustainability. Green Steel is a Steel with CO2 equivalent emission intensity of less
than 2.2 tonnes of CO2e per tonne of finished steel. Steel with emission intensity higher than 2.2 t-
CO2e/tfs shall not be eligible for green rating. National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology
(NISST) will be nodal agency for measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and issuance of
greenness certificates (issued annually) and star ratings. The certificate shall be issued on yearly basis
(financial year). In case the steel plants opt for MRV more frequently, then the certificate may be issued
more than once in a year as per the requirement. The threshold limit for defining the star rating of Green
Steel shall be reviewed every three years.

 The Gympie-Gympie, scientifically known as Dendrocnide moroides, is notorious as the most toxic plant
in the world, primarily found in rainforests of Australia, Indonesia, and the Moluccas. Contact with the
plant causes excruciating pain described as being “burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same
time,” with effects that can persist for weeks or even months.

 Aimed at facilitating advanced research on diabetes, the variations of the Indian type and other related
disorders, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with the Madras Diabetes
Research Foundation (MDRF) has set up the country’s first diabetes biobank.

 The 10th International Forest Fair, held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, commenced on December 17,
2024, and will run until December 23. The theme was “Women Empowerment through Minor Forest
Produce” as 50% of women manage minor forest produce in Madhya Pradesh.

 MIT scientists have released a powerful, open-source AI model, called Boltz-1, that could significantly
accelerate biomedical research and drug development.

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 CURRENT TIT-BITS Initiative by OneClass.in
 The Ram temple project in Ayodhya has earned the prestigious 'Sword of Honour' from the British
Safety Council, marking a significant milestone in safety management practices. Projects that have a
five-star rating in safety assessments are then eligible to compete for the ‘Sword of Honour’ award. The
award recognises the Ram temple project’s commitment to maintaining stringent safety protocols during
its construction, led by M/s Larsen & Toubro. The firm had earlier received the ‘Golden Trophy’ from
the National Safety Council for its exemplary safety measures at the temple site. The Ram temple, a stone
structure, is being constructed using approximately 15 lakh cubic feet of Bansi Paharpur stone sourced
from Rajasthan.

 Under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, Masali village in Banaskantha has become India's
first "border solar village." It is located 40 kilometres from Pakistan. Masali is not just the first border
solar village but also the second solar village in Gujarat after Modhera.

 Bharti Airtel has become the first private telecom operator to launch mobile services in around seven
border villages of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipore districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

 India and France sign MoU to develop a new National Museum in New Delhi, named Yuga Yugeen
Bharat Museum, largest in the world, at historic North and South Blocks.

 In yet another achievement for Indore, the country's cleanest city in Madhya Pradesh, the Devi Ahilyabai
Holkar Airport in the city officially became the first zero-waste airport in the country.

 India is celebrating its 76th Republic Day, January 26, 2025. This year's Republic Day tableaux are based
on the theme "Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas".

 Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) launched the BD475-2 Dozer, India’s largest and most
advanced crawler dozer, showcasing the country's engineering excellence and self-reliance. Powered by
a 950 HP engine, it was developed entirely in-house at BEML’s Kolar Gold Fields facility. The BD475-
2 Dozer enhances fuel efficiency and performance, supporting mining operations.

 The Denmark Strait cataract holds the title of the largest waterfall on Earth, with a vertical drop of
11,500 feet—over three times the height of Angel Falls, the tallest land-based waterfall. This colossal
phenomenon spans 300 miles (480 kilometers) in width and operates underwater, hidden beneath the
Arctic waters between Greenland and Iceland.

 IIT Bombay has developed needle-free shock syringes for painless, safe drug delivery, offering hope for
a future without injection-related trauma.

 Maharashtra's first made-in-India surgical robot, SSI Mantra, was installed at Noble Hospitals and
Research Centre in Pune. The robot was inaugurated by Marathi actor Prasad Oak.

 China's CR450 bullet train prototype broke the world record for the fastest high-speed train, reaching
a test speed of 450 kilometers per hour (280 miles per hour).

 The traditional Bosnian love song Sevdalinka, also known as the Balkan Blues, was included in
UNESCO’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Sevdalinka is a melancholic urban
love song originating in the 16th century, blending South Slavic oral poetry with Ottoman music.

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