Current Affairs – December 2023

Let’s have a look at important current affairs for the month of December 2023.

Revanth Reddy made history as the inaugural Congress Chief Minister of Telangana and the second leader to hold the position after the state’s formation in 2014, subsequent to the division of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. The Congress secured a single majority by winning 64 out of the 119 assembly seats.

Lalduhoma, a seasoned politician and leader of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), took the oath as the Chief Minister of Mizoram at Raj Bhawan in Aizawl. Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath to Mr. Lalduhoma, who led his party to a decisive victory in the recent Assembly elections, securing 27 seats out of the 40-member House. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) was reduced to 10 seats, while the BJP secured 2 seats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the inaugural Indian Art, Architecture, and Design Biennale (IAADB) at the Red Fort in New Delhi. During the event, he unveiled seven research publications and inaugurated the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design. The IAADB aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision to establish a flagship global cultural initiative in the country.

India hosted the four-day 27th WAIPA World Investment Conference at the India International Convention & Expo Centre – Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. Organized under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, this conference is the largest World Investment Conference ever, with over 1000 attendees, 50 Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), and participation from various multilateral agencies.

In a ceremony at the Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal, senior BJP leader Mohan Yadav was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Governor Mangubhai Patel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Yadav, along with Deputy Chief Minister-designates Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda. Dr. Mohan Yadav, a three-time MLA from Ujjain Dakshin seat, assumes the role for the third time.

BJP legislature party leader Bhajan Lal Sharma took the oath as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan at Albert Hall in Jaipur. Governor Kalraj Mishra administered the oath to Mr. Sharma and his two deputies, Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa. Mr. Sharma secured his position as an MLA from the Sanganer Assembly constituency, while Vasudev Devnani has been appointed as the state assembly speaker.

At the annual pageant held in New Jersey, Rijul Maini was crowned Miss India USA 2023. Saloni Rammohan of Pennsylvania earned the title of Miss Teen India USA, and Sneha Nambiar of Massachusetts won the Mrs India USA crown. Greeshma Bhat of Virginia was declared the first runner-up, and Ishita Pai Raikar of North Carolina became the second runner-up. Ms. Maini, a model and medical student, emerged as the winner.

The National Elections Authority in Egypt announced President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s successful re-election for a third six-year term, with an overwhelming 89.6 percent of the vote. Over 39 million Egyptians supported the former army chief, who has governed the nation for over a decade. This term will be Sisi’s final one, as per the Egyptian constitution’s limit of three terms for a president.

IndiGo achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Indian airline to transport over 100 million passengers within a calendar year. This marked a 22 percent increase in passenger traffic compared to 2022 when the airline served over 78 million passengers. Operating over 2,000 flights daily, IndiGo covers 86 domestic and 32 international destinations, including the introduction of more than 20 international flights across Central and Southeast Asia, Africa, and West Asia this year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledged that India’s economic reforms have positioned the country as a star performer, contributing over 16% to global growth. India, supported by prudent macroeconomic policies, is on track to be one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world this year, rebounding strongly from the pandemic.

In the Quality of Living Index 2023, Hyderabad secured the 153rd spot for the sixth time, while Pune claimed the second-best ‘quality of living’ in India at 154th. The index considers factors like water potability, waste removal, sewage, air pollution, water availability, and traffic congestion. The top five cities in the Quality of Living Index 2023 are Vienna (Austria), Zurich (Switzerland), Auckland (New Zealand), Copenhagen (Denmark), and Geneva (Switzerland).

For the Financial Year 2023-24, Gross Direct Tax collections registered a growth of over 17 percent, reaching over 15 lakh 95 thousand crore rupees before adjusting refunds. This is compared to 13 lakh 63 thousand crore in the corresponding period of 2022-23. The Ministry of Finance reported the Direct Tax collections for this fiscal year up to 17th December.

Maharashtra has emerged as India’s largest economy, contributing 15.7% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is followed by Uttar Pradesh (UP) with a 9.2% share and Tamil Nadu (TN) with 9.1%. Other states in the top ranks include Gujarat (8.2%), West Bengal (7.5%), Karnataka (6.2%), Rajasthan (5.5%), Andhra Pradesh (4.9%), and Madhya Pradesh (4.6%).

The Reserve Bank of India increased the limit for automatic payments through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to Rs 1 lakh per transaction from the existing Rs 15,000 for certain categories, including subscription to mutual funds. Currently, there is a relaxation in Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) while processing e-mandates/standing instructions on cards, prepaid payment instruments, and UPI for subsequent recurring transactions with values up to Rs 15,000.

Anish Dayal Singh has been appointed as the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Mr. Singh, a 1988-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Manipur cadre, previously headed the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The CRPF is a reserve gendarmerie and internal combat force in India operating under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India.

Nina Singh has assumed the position of Chief of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Presently, Nina Singh, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, serves as the Special Director General of CISF. CISF operates as a federal police organization in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Simultaneously, Vivek Srivastava, a 1989-batch IPS officer from the Gujarat cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of Fire Service, Civil Defence, and Home Guards, holding the position until June 30, 2025.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval for the appointment of C S Rajan, an IAS officer of the 1978 batch, as its part-time chairman for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2024. Rajan’s appointment follows the retirement of the incumbent non-executive independent part-time chairman, Prakash Apte. Rajan, possessing over 40 years of leadership experience across significant government portfolios, assumes this role.

In anticipation of the Ram temple inauguration on January 22, the city’s railway station has been renamed Ayodhya Dham. During the ‘Pran Pratistha’ or consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol, expected to be attended by PM Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and over 6,000 people, PM Modi is scheduled to conduct a roadshow and address a public meeting after inaugurating an airport in Ayodhya on December 30.

The World Health Organization has given its approval for the malaria vaccine developed by the biotechnology company Serum Institute of India in December 2023. Collaboratively developed with Oxford University, the vaccine, named R 21/Matrix-M, has received a pre-qualification certificate from the World Health Organization.

Google has introduced Gemini as its most advanced and versatile model to date. The inaugural version, Gemini 1.0, is optimized for various sizes: Ultra, Pro, and Nano. These models mark the beginning of the Gemini era and the realization of the company’s vision since the formation of Google DeepMind earlier this year.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has issued a drug safety alert for the widely used painkiller mefenamic acid, known as Meftal. Prescribed for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhoea, mild to moderate pain, inflammation, fever, and dental pain, Meftal has raised safety concerns.

As per IQAir, Lahore’s air quality reached a hazardous level of 400 on the air quality index (AQI), making it the worst in the world. Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan, continues to grapple with a smog crisis affecting the health and livelihood of millions. The AQI considers five categories of pollution: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

In October, Bangladesh achieved the distinction of being the first country officially validated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for eliminating kala azar as a public health problem. While India is on track to achieve the elimination target for visceral leishmaniasis or kala azar this year, it needs to maintain this momentum for the next three years to receive WHO certification. Kala azar, transmitted by sandflies, causes fever, weight loss, and enlargement of the spleen and liver.

Courtney Walsh, a right-arm fast bowler from the West Indies, became the first bowler to achieve 500 wickets in Test cricket in 2001 against South Africa. Stuart Broad, an English fast bowler, joined the elite group of bowlers with 500 wickets in Test matches during the third and final Test against West Indies. Nathan Lyon, the Australian off-spinner, also reached the milestone by dismissing Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf at Perth Stadium on December 17, 2023.

Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, an Indian biotech company, has developed the nation’s first Omicron-specific mRNA COVID-19 vaccine named GEMCOVAC, intended as a booster dose. This approval strengthens India’s vaccine security amid emerging variants like XBB and JN.1.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes. India achieved the status of “Leprosy Eliminated” in 2005. The Plan & Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-27) aims to reinforce the campaign against leprosy, with Nikusth 2.0 serving as an integrated portal for leprosy case management under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP).

Vasudev Devnani, a former minister and five-term BJP MLA, has been unanimously elected as the new Speaker of the Rajasthan Assembly. Notably, Devnani is the first Sindhi to hold the position of speaker in the Rajasthan assembly, succeeding Kalicharan Saraf, who served as the Pro-tem Speaker.

In 2018, the Government of India launched the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy to reduce the prevalence of anaemia in women, children, and adolescents through a life cycle approach. The 6X6X6 strategy aims to diminish anaemia among six beneficiary age groups through the implementation of six interventions and six institutional mechanisms.

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