1. Govt blocked Pakistan-based OTT app for showing anti-India content
Tags: National News
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has blocked Pakistan-based OTT Platform Vidly TV and four social media accounts for displaying anti-India content on 12 December.
Important facts
Utilising emergency powers under IT Rules 2021, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry issued directions to block the website, two mobile applications, four social media accounts, and one smart TV app of Pakistan-based OTT platform Vidly TV.
Vidly TV recently released a web series - 'Sevak: The Confessions'.
The web series was found to be "prejudicial to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, India's friendly relations with foreign states and public order".
Three episodes of the web series have been released.
Its first episode was aired on 26 November, the anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and the content shows a "distorted version of sensitive historical events relating to India".
The web series portrayed anti-India narrative on sensitive topics like Operation Bluestar, demolition of Babri Masjid, murder of Christian missionary Graham Staines, Malegaon blast, Samjhauta Express blast, and inter-state river water dispute.
In September, the broadcasting ministry directed YouTube to remove 45 videos from 10 of its channels.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister - Anurag Singh Thakur
2. India, Poland hold 10th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Warsaw
Tags: International Relations International News
India and Poland held the 10th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Warsaw on December 12.
Important facts
During the meeting, the two sides discussed regional and international issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, India's neighbourhood, the Ukraine conflict, cooperation in multilateral fora including the United Nations, and United Nations Security Council reforms.
During the meeting, India and Poland identified agriculture, food processing, information technology and green transformation as areas of interest to further enhance bilateral ties.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the discussions at the sixth round of the India-Poland Joint Commission Meeting on Economic Cooperation to be held in October 2022.
The Indian side in the meeting was led by Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs.
Both countries agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations on mutually convenient dates in New Delhi.
Bilateral Trade
The two nations noted the potential of bilateral trade and investment ties.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the bilateral trade between India and Poland has witnessed steady growth in recent years and it stood at USD 4.3 billion in 2021.
Indian companies have invested over USD 3 billion in Poland while Polish investments in India stand at USD 700 million.
About Poland
Prime Minister - Mateusz Morawiecki
President - Andrzej Duda
Capital - Warsaw
Currency - Polish zloty
3. India, Poland hold 10th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Warsaw
Tags: International Relations International News
India and Poland held the 10th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Warsaw on December 12.
Important facts
During the meeting, the two sides discussed regional and international issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, India's neighbourhood, the Ukraine conflict, cooperation in multilateral fora including the United Nations, and United Nations Security Council reforms.
During the meeting, India and Poland identified agriculture, food processing, information technology and green transformation as areas of interest to further enhance bilateral ties.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the discussions at the sixth round of the India-Poland Joint Commission Meeting on Economic Cooperation to be held in October 2022.
The Indian side in the meeting was led by Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs.
Both countries agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations on mutually convenient dates in New Delhi.
Bilateral Trade
The two nations noted the potential of bilateral trade and investment ties.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the bilateral trade between India and Poland has witnessed steady growth in recent years and it stood at USD 4.3 billion in 2021.
Indian companies have invested over USD 3 billion in Poland while Polish investments in India stand at USD 700 million.
About Poland
Prime Minister - Mateusz Morawiecki
President - Andrzej Duda
Capital - Warsaw
Currency - Polish zloty
4. Culture Ministry set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres to conserve, develop art, culture & crafts across country
Tags: National News
For the preservation and development of arts, culture and crafts across the country, the Union Ministry of Culture has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centers (ZCCs) at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur.
Important facts
These centres aim to conserve and develop art, culture and crafts across the country.
The government provides regular annual grant-in-aid for conducting various activities and programmes to ZCCs.
However, no State and Union Territory wise funds are released by the Ministry for the purpose.
This information was given by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G. Kishan Reddy while replying to a question in the Lok Sabha.
ZCCs organize a minimum 42 Regional Festivals for promotion of art and culture every year as per their programme calendar.
These centers also implement a number of schemes for preservation and promotion of various folk arts and culture of the country.
Union Minister of Culture - G. Kishan Reddy
5. Parliament passes Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022
Tags: National News
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Parliament passed the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 with the approval of Rajya Sabha on 12 December. The Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill.
Highlight of the bill
This bill has been brought to amend the Energy Conservation Act of 2001.
It promotes energy efficiency and conservation.
The Bill empowers the Center to specify a carbon credit trading scheme.
The legislation also stipulates that designated consumers may be required to meet a proportion of their energy needs from non-fossil sources.
The Energy Conservation Code for Buildings will be applicable to office and residential buildings with a connected load of 100 kW or more.
It provides for increasing the membership in the Governing Council of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
Empowers the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to frame rules for the smooth discharge of their functions.
Enacts enabling provisions to mandate the use of clean energy, including green hydrogen, and to establish a carbon market.
The Bill seeks to mandate the use of non-fossil sources for energy and feedstock, including green hydrogen, green ammonia, biomass and ethanol.
Why was this bill introduced?
During the COP-26 summit in 2021, India made relevant commitments for energy efficiency efforts.
In this backdrop, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August 2022.
6. UAE successfully launches first ever Arab-Built lunar spacecraft
Tags: Science and Technology International News
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 11 December carried into space the first ever Arab-built lunar spacecraft. It was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Important facts
Named as Rashid Rover was built by Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and is being delivered by the HAKUTO-R lander, engineered by Japanese lunar exploration company ispace.
If the landing is successful, HAKUTO-R will also become the first commercial spacecraft ever to make a controlled landing on the moon.
Rashid rover will provide 'novel and highly valued data, images, and insights,' as well as 'collect scientific data on matters relating to the origin of the solar system, our planet and life.'
Its rover weighs just 22 pounds (10 kg) and will work on the surface for about 10 days.
7. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) acquires OZiva and Wellbeing Nutrition
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
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Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) major Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) announced the acquisition of two D2C brands - OZiva and Wellbeing Nutrition. With the acquisition, the company will foray into the health and well-being category.
Important facts
HUL will acquire 51% equity interest in OZiva for Rs 264 crore in the first tranche, while the remaining 49% will be received at the end of a three-year period based on a pre-agreed valuation.
In addition, HUL will buy a 19.8% stake in Wellbeing Nutrition for approximately Rs 70 crore.
These strategic investments allow HUL to enter the fast-growing health and wellbeing category.
The deal also marks the beginning of the brand's consolidation in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) market.
Last year, Tata Consumer acquired a 100% stake in Kottaram Agro Foods – manufacturer of the Soulfull brand of millet-based breakfast cereals and snacks.
The vegetarian food category is an emerging segment in India and is worth around 2,000 crores as over 250 startups have entered this space in the last few years.
The health and wellness segment in India has a total potential market size of Rs 30,000 crore as per Euromonitor data.
8. Nepal organises 19th Handicraft Trade Fair and 17th Craft Competition in Kathmandu
Tags: International News
The Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) organised 19th Handicraft Trade Fair and 17th Craft Competition in Kathmandu from December 9 to 13.
Important facts
The objective of this trade fair is to promote the development and market of handicraft products.
The basic objective of the event is to emphasise the need to preserve and protect the traditional arts, which are in danger of disappearing with the advent of modern technology.
Businessmen and sculptors from 17 districts, including the Kathmandu Valley, participated in the fair, in which about 150 stalls were set up.
This trade fair is attracting local people as well as foreign tourists.
9. PM Modi inaugurates three National Ayush Institute of eminence in Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani
Tags: place in news National Summits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated virtually three National Institutes of eminence in Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani on 11 December 2022. The PM inaugurated the All India Institute of Ayurveda in Goa, National Institute of Unani Medicine in Ghaziabad, and National Institute of Homoeopathy at Delhi from Goa. All the three institutes will be under the Union Ministry of Ayush.
PM Modi was in Panaji, Goa to participate in the Valedictory ceremony of the 9th World Ayurveda Congress. The 9th World Ayurveda Congress was organised by the Union Ministry of Ayush in Panaji from 8-11 December 2022.
The theme of the 9th World Ayurveda Congress was: Ayurveda for All
According to the Ministry of Ayush, these satellite institutes will further strengthen the research, international collaborations and facilitate affordable Ayush services for a larger community. These institutes will help to provide affordable healthcare to every citizen and every region of the country.
National Institute for Ayurveda
All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) is an apex institute for Ayurveda which is being set up in New Delhi. It has been set up to make Ayurveda an evidence based treatment and standardize the Ayurveda drugs.
National Institute for Ayurveda Goa is the branch of the AIIA, New Delhi.
National Institute of Unani Medicine
The National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) was set up in Bengaluru in 2004 as an autonomous institute under the Ministry of AYUSH,
The National Institute of Unani Medicine, Ghaziabad will be the satellite center of the NIUM Bengaluru. It will be the first such institute in Northern India and cater to patients around Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and other states of India.
National Institute of Homoeopathy at Delhi
National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH), Delhi is the first of its kind to be established in Northern India for developing the Homeopathic system of medicine and to provide health care facilities.
It will be the satellite center of the National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata. The National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata was set up in 1975 as a premier research and academic institution for Homoeopathy.
AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy)
- The Ministry of AYUSH was set up on the 9th of November 2014 to revive the knowledge of traditional Indian systems of medicine.
- It focuses on education and research in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
- Minister of AYUSH: Sarbananda Sonowal
10. Prime Minister Modi flags off 6th Vande Bharat train in Maharashtra
Tags: National State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on a two day (11-12 December 2022) visit to Maharashtra , Goa and Gujarat inaugurated a number of projects in Maharashtra including the 6th Vande Bharat Express train on 11 December 2022.
Important Highlights of PM Modi’s Maharashtra Visit
- He inaugurated the 6th Vande Bharat Express which will run on Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)-Nagpur (Maharashtra) route. This is the second Vande Bharat express in the state after the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat express. Vande Bharat is an indigenous semi-high speed train developed by Indian Railways. Government proposes to run 75 Vande Bharat express trains in the country by 15 August 2023.
- He inaugurated the ‘Nagpur Metro Phase I’, and laid the foundation stone of ‘Nagpur Metro phase- II’ at Khapri Metro Station. The Phase I has been developed at a cost of Rs 8650 crore while the Phase II will be developed at a cost of more than Rs 6700 crore.
- He inaugurated the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg connecting Nagpur and Shirdi. Built at a cost of ₹55,000 crore, it is one of the longest expressways in the country that passes through 10 Maharashtra districts, including Amravati, Aurangabad and Nashik.
- He also inaugurated Rail projects worth ₹15,000 crore, AIIMS Nagpur, Nagpur and Nag river pollution abatement project, Centre for Research, Management and Control of Hemoglobinopathies, Chandrapur, Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), Chandrapur,
Governor of Maharashtra: Bhagat Singh Koshiyari
Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Eknath Shinde
