1. 57th Raising Day of BSF held at Jaisalmer
Tags: National News
- Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah addressed the 57th Raising Day celebrations of the Border Security Force in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
- On this occasion, the Union Home Minister said that for the first time after the establishment of the BSF in 1965, the Modi government has decided to celebrate the Foundation Day of the BSF in a border district.
- It was decided to create the BSF after the 1965 war and today it is the largest border guarding force in the world.
2. India -Maldives military exercise
Tags: National News
11th Edition of Exercise EKUVERIN between India & Maldives will be conducted at Kadhdhoo Island, Maldives from 06 to 19 December 2021.
- The exercise will enhance synergy & inter-operability between Armed Forces of both the Nations in terms of understanding transnational terrorism both on land & at sea, conducting Counter Terrorism & Counter Insurgency Operations and sharing best military practices and experiences.
3. India’s first privately build Cryogenic Engine
Tags: National News
Hyderabad based Skyroot Aerospace successfully tested Dhawan1, thus making it country’s first privately developed, fully cryogenic rocket engine.
The Cryogenic engine has been named after Satish Dhawan, who was the third chairman of ISRO. He pioneered the development of advanced space launch capabilities of India.
It runs on two high performance rocket propellants — liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LoX).
The company has been founded by ex-IITians Naga Bharath D. and C. Pawan Kumar.
The company will use the engine as the upper stage of its Vikram-2 launch vehicle that can carry payloads up to 720 kg to low earth orbit.
The engine has been completely 3D printed and made in India. The company used a superalloy for 3D printing the engine, which reduced the manufacturing time by 95%.
Cryogenic engines are one of most complex technologies to develop and so far only six countries have these launch vehicles including the US, China, Russia, France, Japan, and India. India used its first GSLV in 2001.
In India the Cryogenic Engine is being developed by ISRO(Indian Space Research Organisation).
At least two private space companies – American Blue Origin and European Arianespace – have developed cryogenic engines as well.
Cryogenic Engine Cryogenics is the branch of Physics that deals with the production, effects and uses of a wide variety of materials at very low temperatures. The cryogenic temperature range has been defined as from −150 °C (−238 °F) to absolute zero (−273 °C or −460 °F), A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages. Specific impulse (a measure of the efficiency) achievable with cryogenic propellants (liquid Hydrogen and liquid Oxygen) is much higher compared to earth storable liquid and solid propellants, giving it a substantial payload advantage. Oxygen liquifies at -183 degree C and Hydrogen at -253 degree C. |
Superalloy Superalloys are high-strength, often complex alloys that are resistant to high temperatures and severe mechanical stress and that exhibit high surface stability. They are commonly classified into three major categories: nickel-based, cobalt-based, and iron-based. Nickel-based superalloys predominate in the turbine section of jet engines where temperatures reach 1200–1400 °C. Although they have little inherent resistance to oxidation at high temperatures, they gain desirable properties through the addition of cobalt, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, aluminum, and niobium. |
3D Printing 3D printing or additive manufacturing uses computer-aided designing to make prototypes or working models of objects by laying down successive layers of materials such as plastic, resin, thermoplastic, metal, fibre or ceramic.It is basically a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. This is opposite of “Subtractive Manufacturing” which works on removal of material to create a desired object. It is similar to a man who cuts a stone to create a sculpture. The first working 3-D printer was created in 1984 by Charles W. Hull of 3-D Systems Corp. One of the key applications for such products is in the medical and allied sector. The USA remains the global leader in 3D printing, with more than 35% market share |
4. International News
Tags: International News
1. Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir to form the new government in Iceland
- Katrin Jakobsdottir has been chosen by the coalition parties in Iceland to be their leader and the Prime Minister of Iceland.
- She became the Prime minister of Iceland in 2017for the first time.
- Capital of Iceland: Reykjavík
2. Barbados becomes a Republic
The Caribbean island nation of Barbados declared itself a republic on 30 November, a move that coincides with the 55th anniversary of its independence from Britain.
Barbados capital Bridgetown
Currency: Barbados Dollar
Prime Minister: Mia Mottley
3. EU announces BRI alternative
- European Union (EU) plans 300 Billion Euro Infrastructure Fund to Counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by 2027.
- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission calls it “The Global Gateway Plan” and describes it as “roadmap for major investment in infrastructure development around the world”
4. Sri Lanka Finance Minister Visit to India
India has agreed to help Sri Lanka to deal with its food and energy crisis .
This was agreed by the visiting Sri Lankan Finance Minister Mr. Basil Rajapaksa and the Finance Minister Mrs. Nirmala Sithraman and External Affairs minister Mr. S. Jaishanker.
5. Russia warns US to stop NATO’s Eastward Expansion
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Moscow needed “long-term security guarantees” that would halt NATO’s eastward expansion.
Mr. Lavrov and Mr. Blinken was in Stockholm for a meeting of the ministerial level meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
5. National News
Tags: National News
1. Panels are formed to look into EPFO functioning.
For ad-hoc board-level committees to oversee the functioning of various aspects of the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) approved by the Union Labor and Employment cabinet Minister Bhupendra Yadav.
- The committee headed by Labour Secretary “Sunil Barthwal”:
- Committee on ‘pension reforms’ and
- Committee on ‘IT and Communications’
- The committee headed by Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli:
- Committee on ‘EPFO’s internal human resources and establishment matters’ and
- Committee on ‘finding ways to enhance EPFO’s coverage and reducing related litigation’.
2. National Health Accounts(NHA) report for 2007-18 released
- There has been an increase in the share of government health expenditure from 1.15% in 2013-14 to 1.35% of the GDP in 2017-18.
- The share of Government Health Expenditure in total health expenditure has also increased from 28.6%in 2013-14 to 40.8% in 2017-18.
- The government’s health expenditure as a share of total Government expenditure has increased from 3.78% to 5.12% between 2013-14 and 2017-18.
- In per capita terms, the government health expenditure has increased from Rs 1042 to Rs.1753 between 2013-14 to 2017-18.
- The share of primary healthcare in current government health expenditure has increased from 51.1% in 2013-14 to 54.7% in 2017-18.
- The out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) as a share of total health expenditure has come down to 48.8% in 2017-18 from 64.2% in 2013-14. The fall in out-of-pocket expenditure is a good sign as it indicates that government expenditure on health is increasing.
3. Admiral R. Hari Kumar takes charge as the new Chief of Naval Staff
Admiral R Hari Kumar became the 25th Chief of Naval Staff succeeding Admiral Karambir Singh.
4. Accidental Death and Sucide Report 2020
The National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) released its report on ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’ (ASDI) for 2020.
Highlights of the report
- The number of deaths by suicides rose by 10% from 2019, taking the total figure to an all-time high of 1,53,052.
- Accidental deaths fell by 11% from 2019 to 2020 to 374, 397, the lowest figure since 2009.
- Daily wage earners made up the largest proportion of people who died by suicide in the country in 2020 at 24.6%.
- Tamil Nadu was the state with the highest number of deaths by suicides among daily wage earners with 6,495, followed by Madhya Pradesh (4,945), Maharashtra (4,176), Telangana (3,831) and Gujarat (2,745).
5. Supreme Court to allow setting up of medical board for Jayalalitha Death inquiry
The Supreme Court said it will pass orders to allow the setting up of a medical board of AIIMS doctors to help Justice A. Arumugasamy Commission of Inquiry to gather the facts on the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at Apollo Hospital in Chennai in 2016.
6. Center appoints committee to review EWS criteria
The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has appointed a three-member committee to review the criteria for 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in educational institutions and government jobs in terms of the provisions of the Explanation to Article 15 of the Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act 2019.
- The Central government gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court on a petition regarding EWS reservation in NEET(National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) to explain the reason behind fixing the criteria for EWS.
- The panel members are
- Ajay Bhushan Pandey, former Finance Secretary
- V.K. Malhotra; Member Secretary, Indian Council of Social Science Research, and
- Sanjeev Sanyal Principal Economic Adviser to the Government of India.
7. Elephants Death
A whopping 1,160 elephants were killed in the country due to reasons other than natural causes in the past 10 years up to December 31, 2020, according to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
8. UAPA Trials cannot be held indefinitely - Supreme Court
Hearing a petition of an undertrial arrested under UAPA(Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), the Supreme Court gave a landmark judgment on the right of the undertrials.
- The Supreme Court said that putting a person accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act behind bars for an unduly long time with no progress in the trial or appeal process is a violation of his or her fundamental right and a threat to public confidence in the administration of justice,
- The Court held that timely delivery of justice is part of human rights.
9. Paika Rebellion to be added as case study in NCERT book
Union Culture Minister, Mr. Kishen Reddy said in the Rajya Sabha that the 1817 Paika Revolution of Odisha will be included in the NCERT textbook as one of the beginnings of the popular uprising against the British.
- The Paika Rebellion, also called the Paika Bidroha, was an armed rebellion against Company rule in India in 1817.
10. Government seeks 62000 Crore for Air India
- The Government has sought Parliament’s nod to infuse ₹62,000 crore as a supplementary grant to Air India Assets Holding Limited (created for disinvestment of Air India and its subsidiaries), for debt and other liabilities of Air India.
11. Government seeks Rs 25,000 crore for MGNREGS from Parliament
Central Government has put before the parliament a supplementary demand of grant in the amount of Rs 25000 Crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme
- Initial budgetary allocation for MGNREGA in the financial year 2021-22 was Rs 73000 Crore
12. "6 Lakh Indians renounced citizenship in last 5 years"
- More than Six lakh Indians renounced citizenship in the past five years, as per the data shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs to Lok Sabha.
- About 40% of the citizenship renunciation requests come from the United States, followed by Australia and Canada, which amount to a chunk of around 30% of such requests.
13. Indian Government brings bills to extend the tenure of ED and CBI
The Government of India has introduced two bills, the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021 and Delhi Special Establishment (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Lok Sabha which seek to replace theThe Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 and The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 promulgated on 14 November 2021.
- The bill was introduced by the Minister of State for Personnel and Training Dr. Jitendra Singh.
6. Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates centennial year celebration of the PAC
Tags: National News
- President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday inaugurated the centennial year celebration of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Central Hall of Parliament on Saturday. The PAC is one of the most powerful financial committees of Parliament.
- Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee of Parliament of India, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, along with Union Ministers, MPs and presiding officers of the State legislative bodies, were present in the House.
Public Accounts Committee
Function of the Committee
Note Normally an opposition party member is chosen as the chairman of the PAC. Currently Congress Party leader Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary is the chairman. |
7. Indian Government brings bills to extend the tenure of ED and CBI
Tags: National News
The Government of India has introduced two bills, the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021 and Delhi Special Establishment (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Lok Sabha which seek to replace theThe Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 and The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 promulgated on 14 November 2021.
- The bill was introduced by the Minister of State for Personnel and Training Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021
- It amends the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003.
- The 2003 Act provides for the constitution of a Central Vigilance Commission to conduct inquiries into offences committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
- Under the 2003 Act, the Director of Enforcement is appointed by the Central government, on the recommendation of a committee.
- This Committee is chaired by the Central Vigilance Commissioner, and includes the Secretaries from the Ministries of Home affairs, and Personnel, and the Revenue Department.
- The Director of Enforcement has a tenure of minimum two years.
- The bill provides that the tenure of the Director may be extended by up to one year at a time, till the completion of five years from the initial appointment. Such extensions may be granted in public interest, on the recommendation of the Committee.
Delhi Special Establishment (Amendment) Bill 2021
- It amends the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was set up under this act .
- The Act provides for the appointment of the Director of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Central Bureau of Investigation).
- The Director is appointed by the Central government on recommendation of a Committee consisting of the: (i) Prime Minister (Chairperson), (ii) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and (iii) Chief Justice of India (CJI) or a judge of the Supreme Court nominated by the CJI
- Under the Act, the Director has a tenure of minimum two years.
- The bill permits extension of the tenure by up to one year at a time, till the completion of five years from the initial date of appointment.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) The CBI (the premier investigating agency of the Central Government) was set up in 1963 by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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Enforcement Directorate
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8. 6 Lakh Indians renounced citizenship in last 5 years
Tags: National News
- More than Six lakh Indians renounced citizenship in the past five years, as per the data shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs to Lok Sabha.
- About 40% of the citizenship renunciation requests come from the United States, followed by Australia and Canada, which amount to a chunk of around 30% of such requests.
- According to information available with the Ministry of External Affairs, a total of 1,33,83,718 Indian nationals are living in foreign countries as on date.
- Regarding granting Indian citizenship, MHA replied that a total of 10,645 people had applied for Indian citizenship in the same period out of which 4177 was granted.
- Of this, the maximum are from Pakistan (7,782), followed by Afghanistan (795), the US (227), Sri Lanka (205), Bangladesh (184), Nepal (167) and Kenya (185).
9. Government seeks Rs 25,000 crore for MGNREGS from Parliament
Tags: National News
Central Government has put before the parliament a supplementary demand of grant in the amount of Rs 25000 Crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme
The demand-driven rural jobs scheme ran out of funds midway through the current fiscal year, leading to pending payments for wages and materials.
Initial budgetary allocation for MGNREGA in the financial year 2021-22 was Rs 73000 Crore
Continuing economic distress in rural India due to the effects of Covid, has led to increased demand for jobs under the scheme
Last year, with the COVID19 pandemic forcing lockdowns and widespread unemployment, MGNREGA, with a revised budget of Rs1.1 lakh crore, acted as a lifeline for India’s rural population.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme
Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister: Giriraj Singh. |
10. Government seeks 62000 Crore for Air India
Tags: National News
- The Government has sought Parliament’s nod to infuse ₹62,000 crore as supplementary grant to Air India Assets Holding Limited (created for disinvestment of Air India and its subsidiaries), for debt and other liabilities of Air India.
- Air India Assets Holding Limited is a Government Owned special purpose vehicle (SPV). This company holds Air India’s debt, liabilities and some non-core assets such as land and buildings (worth 14718 Crore). This company was set up to clean the airline’s balance sheet ahead of its privatisation.
- Out of this 62000 Crore, 28844 Crore is the net liability on government after privatisation whereas the rest 33105 Crore includes interest liabilities toward working capital and aircraft loans, lease rentals, owings to oil companies and to the Airports Authority of India. This is what the Government has provided for in the supplementary demand for grants
Air India Disinvestment
On 25 October 2021 ,Government of India signed an agreement with Tata Group for selling off its entire 100% share in Air India to Talace Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Pvt.Tata Group .
The deal was of Rs 18,000 crore of which Tata will pay Rs 2,700 crore to the government and Tata will take over the Rs 15,300 crore of the Air India debt .
The Government of India was to clear the rest of the debt of Air India.
To meet these requirements the government of India is seeking Rs 63,000 from Lok Sabha .
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
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Supplementary Grant
Appropriation Act -
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