NATIONAL

SANT missile tested

• The indigenously designed and developed Helicopter launched Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile was tested in the Pokhran ranges by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF).
• The SANT missile was designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in coordination with other DRDO labs and participation from industries.
• The missile is equipped with a state-of-the-art Millimetre wave MMW seeker which provides high precision strike capability from a safe distance and can neutralize targets within the 10 km range.
• This is the third in the series of indigenous stand-off weapons to be tested in recent times after long range bomb and smart anti airfield weapon for strengthening the Indian Airforce.

7^th edition of India International Science festival held

• Union Minister of State Science & Technology, Minister of State, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space Jitendra Singh inaugurated the seventh edition of India International Science festival (IISF- 2021) at Panaji, Goa.
• The festival is a joint program of Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) a swadeshi movement of Bharat.
• It is a four day festival, and the theme for the function is given as ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ – "Celebrating Creativity, Science, Technology and Innovation for a prosperous India".
• The first program of IISF was held in year 2015, The main purpose of IISF is to celebrate science along with people in India and across the globe.

National Helpline Against Attrocities(NHAA) launched

• National Helpline Against Atrocities (NHAA) on SC’s and ST’s have been launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The helpline will be available 24*7 across the country in English and all regional languages of States and UT’s.
• The Helpline can be accessed by making a voice call /VOIP either from a mobile or land line number of any Telecom Operator across the country to the toll free number ‘14566’. It is also available as a web based self-service portal.
• The helpline was aimed to generate informed awareness about the various provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities (PoA) Act, 1989 and the Protection of Civil Right (PCR) Act, 1955 that are aimed at ending discrimination and provide protection to all.
• The helpline ensures every complaint is registered as FIRs, relief is provided, all registered complaints are investigated and all chargesheets filed are prosecuted in the Courts for decision - all within the given timelines in the Act.
• A Docket number is given for each complaint received from Victim/Complainant/NGOs regarding non-compliance of the POA Act, 1989 and the PCR Act, 1955. The status of the grievance can be tracked by complainant/NGOs online .

‘Swarnim Vijay Parv‘ festival inaugurated

• The Defence Minster Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the ‘Swarnim Vijay Parv’, to honour the courage and professionalism of the Armed Forces and their contribution in liberation of Bangladesh in the Indo-Pak war 1971.
• The Function will be celebrated at India Gate, New Delhi. It is celebrated to commemorate 50 Years of Victory in the War.
• Cultural events such as Kalaripayattu, Gatka and Khukri dance performances in addition to Light and Sound show, dog show, hot air ballooning have been planned over the span of the next two days.
• War movies and a grand battle exhibition depicting major operations on the Eastern and Western Front of 1971 war will also be displayed along with Four of the most spectacular operations which will be reconstructed as battle exhibitions displaying dioramas and models of PT -76 tanks mounted with cannons capturing Pakistani positions.
• The event will also mark the culmination of the year-long journey of the Victory Flame, the Swarnim Vijay Mashal which, having traversed the length and breadth of the country and collected soil samples from the villages of the gallant soldiers of the war.

INTERNATIONAL

India re-elected to IMO council

• The High Commission of India has informed that India has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation(IMO) council after the elections held at Assembly in London for the year 2022-23.
• India's election falls under the Category of 10 states with "the largest interest in international seaborne trade", alongside Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the UK and the US were elected to the Council under the Category of 10 States with the "largest interest in providing international shipping services".
• Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu-were elected to the Council under 2 categories  to ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world as having "special interests in maritime transport or navigation".

Additional Fact-

1. International Maritime Organisation is an intergovernmental Maritime consultative Organisation, and a specialized agency under United Nations to regulate shipping.
2. It was established on 17 March 1948, headquartered at London, currently having 174 member states and three associate members.

Saudi Arabia Bans Tablighi Jammat

• The Saudi Islamic Affairs Ministry has announced that the the country has banned Tablighi Jammat, which poses threat to the country.

Additional Fact- Tablighi Jammat is a Sunni Islamic missionary movement that focusses on forcing Muslims to practice the religion as per Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

BANKING, FINANCE AND ECONOMICS

Finance Ministries monthly review on GDP

• The Finance Ministry has revealed its Economic Review for the month of November which shows the real GDP in the second quarter of the financial year has grown at 8.4%.
• The recovery was driven by a revival in services, full recovery in manufacturing and sustained growth in agriculture sectors.
• The agriculture sector has been the foundation on which economic contraction in India was minimized in the last financial year and recovery sped up in the current financial year.

Reforms for Urban Co-operative banks

• The Reserve Bank of India has planned to do regulatory changes to reform troubled and failed Urban co-operative bank.
• The Government has also raised the insured limit for bank deposits from 1 lakh to 5 lakh with a 90 day time limit.
• The banking regulator has also warned people against depositing their savings in banks that offers high returns.

SPORTS AND AWARDS

India wins metals in Rowing

• Indian rower duo Arjun Lal Jat and Ravi have bagged gold medal in the men’s double at Asian Rowing Championships, held at Royal Thai navy Rowing centre, Rayong.
• The duo bagged gold defeating Chinese pair of Qing Li and Lutong Zhang and Uzbekistan’s Davrjon Davronov and Abdullo Mukhammadiev.
• Parminder Singh of India has won silver at the Men’s single sculls competition.

India lifts silver at Common wealth.

• Hazarika Popy of India have won Silver medal at Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in the women's 59-kilogram category.
• She lifted 84 kilograms in snatch and 105 kilograms in clean and jerk for a total of 189 kilograms to take the second spot on the podium.

Silver medal at Para World Taekwondo Championships

• Para-Athlete Chandeep Singh has won Silver medal in the Men's plus 80 kg event at the 9th Para World Taekwondo Championships held at Istanbul, Turkey.
• This is India's first-ever medal in the history of Para-Taekwondo World Championship.

Verstappen win in Abu Dhabhi

• Max Verstappen(red bull) of Belgium has won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Magnus wins World Chess Championship

• Magnus Carlsen of Norway have won the World Chess Championship for the 5^th time defeating Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi at Dubai.
• The Tournamnet is been organized by FIDE( International Chess Federation).
• Magnus ranks 1^st at the FIDE chess player rankings.

Indian women crowned Miss Universe 2021

• Harnaaz Sandhu, from Chandigarh has been crowned Miss Universe 2021 at the contest held at Eliat, Israel.
• She becomes the third Indian women after Shushmitha Sen and Lara Dutta to be crowned as Miss Universe.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Dec 12^th is observed as Universal Health Coverage Day.