NATIONAL NEWS

World's First Portable Hospital 'Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube'

· The World's first portable hospital, 'Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube' was unveiled in Gurugram.

· Designed indigenously under the Project 'BHISHM', the modular trauma management and aid system is made up of 72 detachable mini-cubes, each being a specialized station for emergency response and humanitarian efforts.

· It can handle bullet injuries, burns, head, spinal and chest injuries, minor surgeries, fractures and major bleeding.

· It can treat as many as 200 patients.

· These cubes are light and portable, and can be rapidly deployed anywhere, from airdrops to ground transportation.

· The mobile hospital is part of India’s message of health for all and assisting other nations during their times of crises.

Biodiversity Park to Foster Ecosystem Education and Green Practices

· A Delhi government school has established the first-of-its-kind biodiversity park to promote the ecosystem and provide students with hands-on learning experiences in agriculture, farming, nature, and greenery.

· The biodiversity park is located at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Defence Colony, Delhi.

· Open to the public, people can visit the park during the winter season.

· The park features a diverse range of plant life, including native Indian flowers, various rose varieties, an Amrapali mango tree, different types of curry leaves, lemon trees, and plants imported from Telangana and South Africa.

· The initiative to create the biodiversity park is a collaboration between the Delhi Department of Education (DoE) and the tourism department.

· This biodiversity park is the first-of-its-kind in Delhi schools, showcasing a novel approach to integrating environmental education and practical learning.

· The tourism department is responsible for executing the project, highlighting inter-departmental cooperation for educational and environmental initiatives.

· The park is set to have 113 different species of plants suitable for winter, summer, and all-season growth.

Meta and Karnataka to Collaborate For Online Safety Training

· Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has entered into a two-year partnership with the Karnataka government with an aim to focus on digital education and online user safety for students in Karnataka.

· The Karnataka government is working on launching a comprehensive blueprint to equip students with digital skills, enhancing their employability.

· Under the partnership, Meta will collaborate with the IT-BT Ministry to jointly develop a WhatsApp chatbot for delivering information services across various government departments.

· The primary objectives include streamlining citizen communication and creating a digital safety chatbot for citizen awareness.

· In July 2023, the state government deployed a chatbot for the first time to receive applications from citizens for its flagship Gruha Lakshmi scheme.

· As part of the collaboration, Meta will conduct awareness sessions in 100 colleges and universities across Karnataka.

· The awareness sessions and content curation will be aimed at the target audience between 18-24 years of age, focusing on digital awareness.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Unveils Ama Bank

· Odisha Chief Minister (CM) Shri Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated Ama Bank, a banking initiative aimed at providing services through Customer Service Points (CSP).

· Ama Bank is part of the financial inclusion program and aims to cover 4,373 unbanked gram panchayats in Odisha.

· The initiative will be implemented in phases, with 750 panchayats receiving banking services through CSP outlets in the first phase.

· The remaining panchayats are scheduled to be covered by March 2024.

· The CSP Plus banking outlets will play a crucial role in empowering people, especially in providing credit for small businesses.

· These outlets are expected to offer 15 banking services, and special provisions will be made to provide doorstep services to specific groups such as the elderly, differently-abled persons, and pregnant women.

· The Odisha government in collaboration with 6 public sector banks has come up with the “Ama Bank '' scheme for providing banking services to all unbanked gram panchayats.

· As part of the initiative, the government will provide rent-free banking space for 5 years, facilitating the establishment and sustainability of Ama Bank outlets.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

PM Launches Green Credit Initiative at COP28 Climate Conference

· Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Green Credit Initiative,' a program aimed at reshaping global environmental policies.

· He also launched the official portal of the Green credit initiative at COP28.

· The Prime Minister highlighted the limitations of the current carbon credit system, influenced by commercial interests and lacking a sense of social responsibility, paving the way for a new philosophy embodied in the 'Green Credit' concept.

· The 'Green Credit Initiative' has garnered international support, with leaders expressing enthusiasm and commitment to the cause.               

· Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden, praised the initiative, citing Sweden's success with the Climate Leap, reducing climate emissions by 3.3 million tonnes per year through collective action.

· The program's overarching objective is to leverage a competitive market-based approach, motivating a diverse array of stakeholders to actively engage in voluntary environmental actions.

 

BANKING

RBI and Bank of England

· The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank of England (BoE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation and information exchange regarding the Clearing Corporation of India Ltd. (CCIL).

· Objective of the MoU is to encourage the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to reconsider recognizing at least one of the Indian central counterparties (CCPs).

· The MoU establishes a framework for the BoE to rely on the regulatory and supervisory activities of the RBI, ensuring the stability of the UK financial system.

· The agreement highlights the significance of cross-border cooperation to facilitate international clearing activities and reflects the BoE's commitment to deference to other regulators' regimes.

SEBI Grants Approval to Jana Small Finance Bank for IPO

· Jana Small Finance Bank has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its initial public offering (IPO).

· The IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 575 crore with a face value of Rs 10 each.

· Additionally, there is an offer for sale of up to 4.05 million shares by existing shareholders and promoters.

· Jana Small Finance Bank, upon successful listing, will become the 7th small finance bank (SFB) to be listed on the stock exchange.

· These banks are among the 12 licensed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

· The net proceeds from the IPO will be utilised for augmenting Jana Small Finance Bank's tier–1 capital to meet its future capital requirements.

Tata AIG General Insurance Company Launches 'Health Supercharge'

· TATA AIG General Insurance Company Limited introduced “Health Supercharge" with the aim of offering a fivefold enhancement in health insurance coverage, addressing the dynamic nature of health-related uncertainties.

· The new plan caters to the healthcare needs of families residing in Tier I to Tier IV locations, ensuring inclusivity across various geographical segments.

· Tata AIG Health Supercharge offers a sum insured ranging from ₹5 lakhs to ₹20 lakhs.

· Customers can choose from two plan variants, namely the Value Plan and Geo Plan, based on their geographical location.

· Additional optional benefits are available to tailor coverage according to individual preferences.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh

· Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Veera Rana, from the 1988 batch, has been appointed the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh (MP) as an additional charge.

· Veera Rana's appointment marks the 2nd time a woman officer has taken on the role of Chief Secretary in Madhya Pradesh.

· She has held the portfolios of Chief Electoral Officer, Sports and Youth Welfare, Academy of Administration and Department of Cottage and Village Industries.

· She is currently the chairperson of the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE) and holds the additional charge of agriculture production commissioner.

· The first woman to hold this position was Nirmala Buch, a 1960 batch officer, during the BJP government in 1991.

First Woman Director General of ICFRE

· Kanchan Devi, a 1991 batch Indian Forest Service officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Forestry Research Education (ICFRE).

· Kanchan is the first woman officer to hold this post of ICFRE under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

· Kanchan Devi has over 30 years of experience working in various areas of forestry including forest management, forest administration, education, human resource development and research and extension in the State Government of Madhya Pradesh and Government of India.

· She has also served as a faculty member at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NASA Unveils Initiative to Send ISRO-Selected Indian Astronaut

· US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to train an Indian astronaut for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of 2024.

· Bill Nelson, the administrator of NASA, made this announcement during his visit to Delhi, India.

· A major collaboration between India and the United States is the NISAR satellite, set to be launched in the first quarter of 2024.

· India is planning its space station, named Bharatiya Antariksha Station, to be built and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

· Prime Minister Modi urged ISRO scientists to set up an Indian Space Station by 2035 and send an Indian to the moon by 2040.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

· International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2023 is observed every year on 03 December.

· The theme for 2023 is 'United in action to rescue and achieve the sustainable development goals for, with and by persons with disabilities'.

· In 1976, the UN General Assembly decided that from 1981 International Day of Persons with Disabilities will be celebrated globally.

· The UN announced 3rd December as the official date for celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

· In 1992 The International Day of People with Disability was proclaimed by the United Nations.