NATIONAL NEWS

National Conference on Soil Health Management for Sustainable Farming

• On the occasion of the World Soil Day, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the National Conference on Soil Health Management for Sustainable Farming on 05 December 2022 in New Delhi.

• The Conference was organized by the NITI Aayog in collaboration with GIZ affiliated to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany.

• The Central government has launched the National Mission on Natural Farming as a separate scheme with an expenditure of Rs 1,584 crore.

• To promote soil management the government has issued more than 22 crore Soil Health Cards to the farmers.

India's First Gold ATM

• Hyderabad-based Goldsikka Pvt Ltd has set up a gold ATM, which is claimed to be the country’s first real-time gold dispensing machine.
• Gold ATMs allow customers easier access so that everyone can use their debit card for credit card for making transactions.
• Through these Gold ATMs, buyers can instantaneously purchase actual gold using any credit or debit card.
•  The Gold ATM that dispenses Gold. The update in the price of gold is based on the live prices.
• This Gold ATM supplies in denominations ranging from 0.5 gms to 100 gms.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Migration and Mobility Agreement

• India and Germany signed a Migration and Mobility Agreement on 05 December 2022.
• It will facilitate easier access for people to study, research and work in both countries.
• The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the Indian External Affairs minister S.Jaishankar.
• During the meeting, both leaders reviewed bilateral relations and shared their views on a number of important regional and global issues.

BANKING

ESIC Can Invest Surplus Funds in Equity Through ETFs

• The Government of India has allowed Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) to invest up to 15 per cent of its surplus funds into equity through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

• The decision was taken at an ESIC meeting chaired by the Union Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi on 04 December 2022.

• The initial investment shall start at 5% and increase up to 15% gradually, after review of two quarters. It will be managed by Fund Managers of AMCs.

• The Employees State Insurance (ESI) Scheme is one of the largest social security schemes in the world which comes under the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under the Union Labour and Employment Ministry.

• The ESIC was set up in 1952 under the ESI act 1948.
• It provides medical benefits to the insured employees and their dependents under the scheme. There is no limit on the medical expense.

Personal Banking Loan Advances

• State Bank of India (SBI) on 05 December 2022 announced that its personal banking advances excluding high value home loans have crossed the Rs 5 lakh-crore mark as on 30 November 2022.

• SBI is the only bank in India which has crossed the milestone.

• The Personal Banking advances mainly comprise personal loans, pension loans, auto loans, education loans, gold loans and other Personal loan products.
• SBI is the largest home loan provider in India.

ICICI Bank Launches STACK

• ICICI Bank has launched a STACK for companies in the real estate sector to offer solutions to their banking requirements on one platform.
• ICICI Bank is the first bank in the industry to offer real estate-specific STACK to provide unparalleled convenience to players in this sector.
• The STACK, which is a combination of digital and physical solutions, enables participants of the real estate sector namely builders, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs) to undertake banking transactions efficiently.
• The STACK is a one-stop shop for mortgage loans to prospective home buyers.
• The Bank extends customized home loan solutions to retail buyers at the project premises.

Nifty Bharat Bond Index

• NSE Indices, a division of the National Stock Exchange announced the introduction of a new index in the Nifty Bharat Bond Index series.

• Each index in the Bharat Bond Index series evaluates the performance of a portfolio of “AAA” rated bonds issued by government–owned businesses and maturing in a certain year. The series has a target maturity date structure.

• The sixth installment of the Bharat Bond ETF series will follow the recently created Nifty BHARAT Bond Index, which has a 2033 maturity date.

• In December 2019, the first Bharat Bond ETFs were introduced, mirroring the Nifty Bharat Bond indices.

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

Global Aviation Safety Ranking

• Global aviation safety ranking was released by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
• India has jumped to the 48th position in the global aviation safety ranking.
• India and Georgia also shared the 48th position in the ranking
• In the ranking, Singapore is at the top, followed by the UAE and South Koreaat the second and third positions, respectively.
• ICAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations.
• It coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation.

World Bank Report

• According to a World Bank report released, air pollution is the second largest cause of death and disability in Bangladesh and costs about 3.9 to 4.00 percent of the country’s GDP.

• Bangladesh was ranked as the most polluted country in the world, and Dhaka as the second most polluted city each year between 2018 and 2021.

• The report found that major construction sites and traffic in Dhaka have the highest levels of pollution.

• Exposure to high levels of air pollution increases the risk of difficulties in breathing, cough, respiratory tract infections, depression and other health conditions.
• The World Bank report announced that children under five, the elderly and people with diabetes, heart or respiratory disease are most vulnerable.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Chairman of the Digital Entertainment Committee

• The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has appointed Rohit Jain, as the new chairman of their digital entertainment committee for the period of 2 years from 2022 to 2024.
• Rohit Jain has succeeded Amit Goenka, head of ZEE5 Global
• Amit Doshi, head of IVM Podcasts has also been appointed co-chairman.
• Jain will play a key role in working with various stakeholders of the digital entertainment ecosystem, such as OTT players, regulatory bodies and other industry associations to focus on creating a rewarding vision and guiding the digital ecosystem to a more evolved space.

OBITUTARY

City of Joy' Author Dominique Lapierre

• The Author of the bestselling books on India like "Freedom at Midnight" and "City of Joy" Dominique Lapierre passed away. He was at the age of 91.

• The French author Dominique Lapierre in partnership with the American writer Larry Collins wrote six books which have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.

• City of joy was about the hardships of a rickshaw puller in Kolkata.

• The book Freedom at Midnight was on the Independence movement in India.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Soil Day

• World Soil Day is observed every year on 05 December.
• It is to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems by addressing the challenges posed by soil management.
• The day aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being.
• The theme for the year 2022 is 'Soils: Where food begins'.
• International Soil Day was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002.