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By admin: Dec. 24, 2022

Railways plans to modernise 1,000 small stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Tags: National Economy/Finance Government Schemes

“Amrit Bharat Station Scheme”

The Indian Railway will launch the “Amrit Bharat Station Scheme” under which 1000 small but important stations will be modernized. This scheme is different from the ongoing plan to revamp 200 railway stations. 

According to the Indian Railways the stations will be selected not only on the passenger traffic but also on the cites they cater to. These stations will be redeveloped under what is called the ''Khurda model of redevelopment''.

Khurda station in Odisha was modernized for Rs 4 crore with all contemporary amenities for passengers. The main structure was renovated, the facade was redone and the number of railway tracks was also increased.

Under the “Amrit Bharat Station Scheme” the Divisional Railway Managers will be responsible for the redevelopment of the railway station. The DRMs have been instructed to review existing buildings in the station premises and release space for passengers near the entrances and enable relocation of rail offices to other places. 

Modernisation of these stations would include improved station approaches to ensure smooth access by widening roads, removal of unwanted structures, properly designed signages, dedicated pedestrian pathways, well-planned parking areas, and improved lighting among others.

The station should also have a second entry station building and high-level platforms with a length of 600m.

Union Railway Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw


Government to waive off Registration/Diagnostics/Treatment fee at National Institutes for Divyangjan having UDID cards from 1st January, 2023

Tags: National

Divyangjan having UDID cards from 1st January, 2023

In a significant move that will benefit lakhs of Divyangjan, the government has waived the  Registration, Diagnostics and Treatment fees at National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres from 1st of January2023. The fee will be waived for those who have Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities- UDID cards and those who have disability certificate and are enrolled on UDID portal.

In addition, full course fee will also be waived off in various courses at such institutes and centres. This will be effective for 2022-23 batch students onwards. Further, the central government has also instructed each National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres to have a dedicated counter to help Persons with Disabilities in filing UDID applications and to provide treatment facilities to all persons on Saturday and Sunday also.

Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar 

PM Modi to participate in the historic programme marking ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ in Delhi on 26 December

Tags: place in news National Person in news Important Days

‘Veer Bal Diwas’ in Delhi on 26 December

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a historic programme marking the first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi on 26th December 2022. 

On the  Prakash Purab()birth anniversary) of the 10th Sikh Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh on 9th January 2022 the Prime Minister had announced that 26th December will be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas to mark the martyrdom of Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh.

They were brutally murdered by Wazir Khan the Mughal Governor of Sirhind on this day in 1705. .

During the programme, the Prime Minister will attend a ‘Shabad Kirtan’ performed by Baal Kirtanis. On this occasion, Mr Modi will also flag off a march-past by about three thousand children in Delhi.


Union Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goel launches right to repair portal for consumers

Tags: National

National Consumer Rights day

On the National Consumer Rights day the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal launched a host of new initiatives including the Right to Repair portal in New Delhi on 24 December 2022. 

The Right to Repair portal 

On the 'right to repair' portal, manufacturers will share the manual of product details with customers so that they can either repair by self, by third parties, rather than depend on original manufacturers. Initially, mobile phones, electronic, consumer durables, automobile and farming equipment will be covered.

In July 2022 the Department of Consumer Affairs had set up a committee headed by the Additional Secretary Nidhi Khare to develop a comprehensive framework on ‘Right to Repair’.

National Consumer Helpline 

On the occasion the minister opened the new premises of the National Consumer Helpline centre in the national capital.  On this day National Consumer Helpline launched its service in 7 new regional languages. The helpline is now offering its service in 12 regional languages.

"Effective disposal of cases in consumer commission" 

Speaking on the theme of the "Effective disposal of cases in consumer commission" on the National consumer Rights day the minister praised  the consumer commissions for disposing of a higher number of pending cases in the last six months.

Under the Consumer Protection law, a complaint is required to be disposed of within 90 days of its filing and within 150 days wherever expert evidence is required to be taken. There are 673 consumer commissions in the country.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Consumer Affairs Department and IIT (BHU), Varanasi


Air Suvidha forms must for passengers coming from 5 countries; Mansukh Mandaviya

Tags: National

Air Suvidha forms must for passengers coming from 5 countries

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on 24 December 2022 that the Air Suvidha portal will be implemented for passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand in view of rising cases of COVID in China

Air Suvidha forms are self-declarations of the health of passengers travelling to India from the identified international destinations. These forms have been reintroduced to keep a check on the passengers arriving from the countries most affected by the virus.

The Minister also said that the RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test will be mandatory for them. And they will be quarantined if they test positive. 

India has already started random testing 2 percent of international passengers arriving at its airports for COVID-19 as the country steps up surveillance for new virus variants.

The steps come amid a series of high-level meetings following a spike in cases seen in other parts of the world, although experts and officials have reportedly said India has little to worry because of its high baseline immunity.


PAN not linked with Aadhaar by end of March 2023 to be rendered inoperative: Income Tax Department

Tags: Economy/Finance

PAN not linked with Aadhaar by end of March 2023 to be rendered inoperative: Income Tax Department

The Income Tax department on 24 December 2022 issued an advisory that those permanent account numbers (PAN) which are not linked with Aadhaar by the end of March next year will be rendered "inoperative".

According to the Income Tax department "As per Income-tax Act, 1961, it is mandatory for all PAN holders, who do not fall under the exempt category, to link their PAN with Aadhaar before 31 March 2023. From 1 April 2023, the unlinked PAN shall become inoperative,”

Exempt category 

According to a notification issued by the Union Finance Ministry in May 2017, following persons are exempt from linking their PAN with Aadhaar;

  • Individuals residing in the states of Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Meghalaya; 
  • a non-resident as per the Income-tax Act, 1961; 
  • Person of the age of 80 years or more at any time during the previous year and a
  •  Person not a citizen of India.

Consequence of a PAN becoming inoperative 

A circular issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on 30 March 2022 said once a PAN becomes inoperative, an individual shall be liable to all the consequences under the I-T Act and will have to suffer a number of implications.

  • The person shall not be able to file I-T return using the inoperative PAN;
  •  pending tax returns will not be processed; 
  • pending tax refunds cannot be issued to inoperative PANs; 
  • Pending proceedings as in the case of defective returns cannot be completed once the PAN is inoperative and tax will be required to be deducted at a higher rate.
  • The taxpayer might face difficulty at various other fora like banks and other financial portals as PAN is one of the important KYC (know your customer) criteria for all kinds of financial transactions.

While the 12 digit Aadhaar is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India to a resident of India, PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric number allotted by the Income Tax department to a person, firm or entity.


National Consumer Day

Tags: Important Days

National Consumer DayEvery Year 24th December is observed as National Consumer Day in India.

Important facts

  • Its objective is to make the consumers aware of their rights and prevent them from the prevalent malpractices.
  • A large population of India is uneducated, who is not aware of their rights and duties, but in the matter of consumer rights, even educated people seem indifferent to their rights.

Background of the day

  • The day was established in 1986 as part of the Consumer Protection Act.
  • The day was established to promote and protect the rights of consumers.
  • The main objective of the Consumer Protection Act is to provide protection to the consumers against various forms of exploitation such as defective goods, unsatisfactory services and unfair trade practices.
  • This day was celebrated for the first time in the year 2000.
  • It is noteworthy that World Consumer Rights Day is organized globally on 15 March every year.


Arunachal Pradesh’s Geto Sora wins Top Arena junior international badminton championship title

Tags: Sports Person in news

Arunachal Pradesh’s Geto Sora wins Top Arena junior international badminton championship titleArunachal Pradesh's 7 year old Geto Sora has won the Top Arena Junior International Badminton Championship title in the below 9 years category. He won the Championship title after beating Malaysian Jaryl Teh in the final played at Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on 23 December 2022.

The Top Arena Junior International Badminton Championship was held in Kuala Lumpur from 19-23 December 2022.

This is Sora’s second international badminton title in two months.

In November, the 7-year-old Sora had won the U-9 boys singles titles in the BTY-Yonex-Singha Championship, which was held at the Banthongyord Badminton School in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sora has also won gold in the PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship which was held in Guwahati, Assam in 2020.


81 crore people to get free foodgrains for one year under NFSA

Tags: Government Schemes National News

81 crore people to get free foodgrains for one year under NFSA

The government on 23 December decided to provide free foodgrains to 81.35 crore people for one year under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) at an estimated cost of Rs 2 lakh crore. It will be implemented from 1 January 2023.

Important facts

  • As per the cabinet decision, beneficiaries under NFSA will get free food grains for one year till December 2023.
  • The decision comes a few days before the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) expires on December 31, 2022.
  • The beneficiaries will not have to pay a single rupee to get foodgrains.

About PMGKAY

  • It is a food security welfare scheme announced by the Central Government in March 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • It is a part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor in the fight against COVID-19.
  • The program is run by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
  • Under the programme more than 80 crore beneficiaries are provided 5 kg free wheat/rice per person per month.
  • It is the largest food security program in the world.

Objective of the scheme

  • To provide food security to all priority households (ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme), to provide food grains to India's poorest citizens through the Public Distribution System.

National Food Security (NFS) Act, 2013

  • It aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.
  • This includes Re 3 per kg of rice, Re 2 per kg of wheat and Re 1 per kg of coarse grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
  • It converts the existing food security programs of the Government of India into a legal mandate.
  • The existing food security programs include the mid-day meal scheme, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS).


PV Sindhu among top 25 highest-paid female athletes in Forbes annual list

Tags: Sports Popular Sports News

India's badminton starPV Sindhu is the only Indian sportsperson to feature in the top 25 of Forbes' annual list of the world's highest-paid female athletes.

India's badminton star PV Sindhu is the only Indian sportsperson to feature in the top 25 of Forbes' annual list of the world's highest-paid female athletes.

Important facts

  • Sindhu, the 2016 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, is ranked 12th in the list, which is topped by Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka.
  • The 27-year-old Sindhu, who won the singles gold and doubles silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham earlier this year, earned $7 million out of her total earnings of $7.1 million.
  • For the third year in a row, Osaka topped Forbes' annual list of the world's highest-paid female athletes. The list is once again dominated by tennis players.
  • Naomi Osaka, the world number 42, topped the list with a total annual earning of $51.1 million, while Serena Williams is a distant second with $41.3 million and Eileen Gu, the freestyle skier, third with a total coffer of $20.1 million.

List of 15 highest paid female athletes of the year

  • Naomi Osaka (Japan) – Tennis – $51.1 million
  • Serena Williams (USA) – Tennis – $41.3 million
  • Elieen Gu (China) – Skiing – $20.1 million
  • Emma Raducanu (UK) – Tennis – $18.7 million
  • Iga Swiatek (Poland) – Tennis – $14.9 million
  • Venus Williams (USA) – Tennis – $12.1 million
  • Coco Gauff (USA) – Tennis – $11.1 million
  • Simone Biles (USA) – Gymnastics – $10 million
  • Jessica Pegula (USA) – Tennis – $7.6 million
  • Minjee Lee (Australia) – Golf – $7.3 million
  • Candace Parker (USA) - Basketball - $7.2 million
  • P.V. Sindhu (India) - Badminton - $7.1 million
  • Leylah Fernandez (Canada) - Tennis -$7 million
  • Lydia Ko (New Zealand) - Golf - $6.9 million
  • Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) - Tennis - $6.5 million


International Financial Corporation provides $400 million loan to HDFC to promote green housing

Tags: Economy/Finance

International Financial Corporation provides $400 million loan to HDFC to promote green housing

World Bank Group member International Financial Corporation (IFC) will provide a $400 million loan to India’s largest housing finance company, Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC).

HDFC will use around 75% of the loan amount ($300 million) to provide loans to the affordable green housing sectors in India.

Green Houses are built with sustainable, environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient, and recyclable resources. These houses are constructed in such a way that water, air, solar, and geothermal energy are optimally utilized, thus reducing energy waste. Affordable houses means that it will target Middle income groups.

According to the IFC “around 275 million people in India, which is 22 percent of the population, do not have access to adequate housing and rural housing shortage is twice that of urban areas.” The loan will support the government effort to provide Housing for All.

 Mumbai based HDFC is the first specialized housing finance company in India. Incorporated in 1997, it provides finance to individuals and developers for the purchase, construction, development and repair of houses and commercial properties.

Current chairman: Deepak Parekh

International Finance Corporation 

It is a part of the World Bank Group and was set up in 1956.

It does not provide loans to the government but invests in the private sector companies of the member countries. It invests in the shares and the debt instruments of private companies.

Headquarters: Washington DC, United States of America.

Director General: Makhtar Diop

Member Countries: 186


10th Edition of North East Festival begins at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi

Tags: Festivals

 10th Edition of the North East Festival began at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on December 23

The 10th Edition of the North East Festival began at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on December 23.

Important facts

  • Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Narayan Rane inaugurated the four-day Festival at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Delhi.
  • The objective of the festival is to promote the diverse life, culture, traditions and tourism of the North East region.
  • The 2022 edition will host colorful dance dramas, musical performances, fashion shows, open-mic sessions, interactive sessions, art and photography exhibitions.
  • An exhibition showcasing 'Made in North East' products will have an MSME zone, wherein over 100 MSME entrepreneurs from North East India will display agro-horticulture products, handlooms, handicrafts, processed food products etc.
  • A booklet titled ‘Know Your North East’ will be released by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal.
  • The first seven editions were held at IGNCA, Janpath, New Delhi from 2013 to 2019 respectively.
  • The last two editions were held in Guwahati in a hybrid model due to rising Covid in the national capital.
  • Since its inception in 2013, this festival has contributed a lot in promoting tourism in the North Eastern states.


Indian scientist Prof. Thalappil Pradeep receives VinFuture special prize 2022

Tags: Awards

‘Special Prize dedicated to Innovators from Developing Countries’

Renowned researcher and Madras IIT Professor Pradeep Thalappil has bagged the VinFuture Prize 2022 instituted by the VinFuture Prize Council to honour breakthrough research projects on 22 December.

Important facts

  • Thalappil has been awarded the ‘Special Prize dedicated to Innovators from Developing Countries’ for his development of a low-cost filtration system to remove arsenic and other heavy metals from groundwater.
  • The award was presented by Prize Council Chairman Richard Friend at a ceremony in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi.
  • Earlier, Thalappil was awarded the Padma Shri for developing affordable and safe drinking water solutions using nanomaterials.
  • Prof. Pradeep has been able to identify the most suitable and advanced materials to remove specific contaminants from water in the most economical and sustainable manner.
  • American professor Pamela C. Ronald, 61, was awarded the Special Prize for Women Innovators for basic research on rice varieties that are flood-tolerant and can bring high yields.

About VinFuture Prize

  • The Winfuture Prize is awarded every year by the Winfuture Fund to recognize breakthrough scientific and technological inventions that have the potential to make a meaningful difference to people's lives.
  • The fund was launched on 20 December 2020 as an independent and non-profit organization, founded by billionaire Pham Nhat.
  • Its objective is to creating positive changes in the everyday lives of millions of people around the world.
  • After 2 seasons, 16 scientists have been honored by the Prize.


Sitiveni Rabuka becomes the new Prime Minister of Fiji

Tags: Person in news International News

Sitiveni Rabuka became Fiji's prime minister on 24 December 2022

Sitiveni Rabuka became Fiji's prime minister on 24 December 2022 after a coalition of parties voted narrowly to install him as leader of the country. It also signals the end of the former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama's 16 years in power. In the 55 member Parliament of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka secured 28 votes against Bainimarama's 27 votes. 

Rabuka now heads a three-party coalition government consisting of his People's Alliance, the National Federation Party led by Biman Prasad and the Sodelpa Party, led by Viliame Gavoka.

Fiji will have three deputy prime ministers in Biman Prasad (finance), Viliame Gavoka (tourism), and Manoa Kamikamica (external trade) under the coalition arrangement.

Republic of Fiji 

It is an archipelago of 300 islands and 500 islets in the South Pacific Ocean near New Zealand.

It gained Independence from Great Britain in 1970.

About two-fifths of the Fijian populations are Indins who were brought as indentured labourer by the British from North India to work in the sugar fields of Fiji.

English, Fijian, and Fijian Hindi are the official languages of the country. 

The Parliament of Fiji is unicameral and consists of 55 members. The term of the Fijian parliament is of four years.

Capital of Fiji: Suva 

Currency: Fijian Dollar 

President: Jioji Konrote


PM Modi addressed the 75th 'Amrut Mahotsav' of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Sansthan

Tags: Festivals National News

75th Amrut Mahotsav of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan75th Amrut Mahotsav of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 75th Amrut Mahotsav of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan via video-conferencing on December 24.

Important facts

  • The five-day Amrit Mahotsav celebrations were inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at Sahajanand nagar in Rajkot on 22 December.
  • Spiritual leaders, saints and devotees from across the world are participating in large numbers in the grand Amrit Mahotsav celebrations to be held at Sahajanand Nagar in Rajkot.
  • Mega blood donation camps, free medical check-up camps are being organized during Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, where renowned doctors are providing free medical services and free medicines to the people.

About Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan

  • It was established at Rajkot in 1948 by seer Shri Dharmajivandasji Swami.
  • It has expanded significantly and currently has more than 40 branches across the world, providing school, undergraduate and postgraduate education to more than 25,000 students.


US President nominates Indian American Richard Verma to top diplomatic position in State Department

Tags: Person in news

US President Joe Biden on 23 December nominated Indian American Richard R Verma to a top diplomatic position in the US Department of State.

US President Joe Biden on 23 December nominated Indian American Richard R Verma to a top diplomatic position in the US Department of State.

Important facts

  • Biden announced his intention to nominate Verma as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
  • Verma is the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at Mastercard.
  • He was the United States Ambassador to India and Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs during the Obama Administration.
  • Prior to that he was National Security Advisor to United States Senator Harry Reid (D-NV).
  • He has also been Democratic Whip, Minority Leader, and then Majority Leader of the United States Senate.
  • He has served as Vice Chairman of The Asia Group, Partner and Senior Counselor at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, and Senior Counselor at the Albright Stonebridge Group.
  • He received numerous awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal from the State Department, the International Affairs Fellowship from the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Meritorious Service Medal from the United States Air Force.


Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the National Level Kabaddi Championship at Udupi Karnataka

Tags: Sports Sports News

Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the National Level Kabaddi Championship at Udupi KarnatakaUnion Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the National level Kabaddi championship in Udupi in Karnataka on December 24.

Important fact

  • National level Kabaddi tournament will be held at MGM ground in flood light, in which 12 teams from different states will participate.
  • The winner will get the Atal Trophy and prize money of Rs one lakh.
  • The runner-up will be awarded Rs 75,000, the third prize winner Rs 50,000 and the fourth prize winner Rs 25,000.
  • The winners will be presented with the Atal trophy.
  • The Atal Utsav and Booth Sangam will be inaugurated on December 25 by former chief minister B S Yediyurappa along with selected presiding officers of six vote booths.
  • Atal Trophy was started in 1999 by Zilla Yuva Morcha through volleyball tournament and this time kabaddi tournament is also being organized.


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