NATIONAL NEWS

Government Extended the PM Svanidhi Scheme

• The Government of India has extended the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme beyond March 2022.

• The extension of the lending period will be till December 2024.

• PM Svanidhi Yojana was launched on 01 June 2020.

• This scheme was started with the aim of providing financial support to small shopkeepers and hawkers.

• Under the PM Svanidhi Yojana, people who sell goods on the street tracks or do other small jobs can take a loan of up to ₹ 10,000 from the bank.
• After repaying the loan taken in the first instance, the beneficiary can get a loan of up to ₹ 20,000 in the second time and up to ₹ 50,000 in the third time.
• The tenure of the Svanidhi scheme was earlier till March 2022, but the government has extended the deadline of the Svanidhi scheme till December 2024.

Energy Conservation Day 2022

• Ministry of Power to celebrate “Energy Conservation Day 2022” on the occasion of the National Energy Conservation Day on 14 December 2022.

• The purpose is to showcase the achievements of the nation in energy efficiency and conservation.

• President of India will felicitate the winners of National Energy Conservation Awards, National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards, National Painting Competition Awards and also launch the EV Travel Portal on the occasion.

• The Mobile application titled ‘EV Yatra’ has been designed and developed to facilitate in-vehicle navigation to the nearest public EV charger.

Country’s Largest Business Jet Terminal

• At the Cochin International Airport, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan opened the country’s first chartered gateway and a business jet terminal.

• As a result, Cochin Airport has become the country’s fourth airport to operate a private jet terminal.

• Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) now has the country’s largest Business Jet Terminal in addition to two magnificent domestic and international passenger terminals.

• The newly launched business jet terminal was developed at a cost of 40 crore rupees by remodeling the former domestic terminal.
• The building will also function as a hub for the hospitality and aviation industries.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival

• The 20th Edition of the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival commenced in Kathmandu, Nepal.

• Hindi film Ayena, directed and produced by Siddhant Sirin, showcased at the 20th edition of Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival.

• 55 films in Nepali, Korean, Hindi, Spanish, Russian, French, Dioula, Italian and lLbanese language have been presented.

• The theme of the film fest is 'Sustainable Summits' and it showcased documentaries, fiction, shorts, experimental and animated films.

19th Handicraft Trade Fair and 17th Craft Competition

• The Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) organised 19th Handicraft Trade Fair and 17th Craft Competition in Kathmandu from 09 December to 13 December 2022.

• The objective of the trade fair is to promote the development and market of handicraft products.

• The basic objective of the event is to emphasise the need to preserve and protect the traditional arts, which are in danger of disappearing with the advent of modern technology.

BANKING

BHARAT Bond ETF

• Edelweiss Mutual Fund has launched the fourth tranche of BHARAT Bond ETF –India’s first corporate bond ETF (exchange-traded fund).

• Bharat Bond ETF is an initiative of the Government of India, from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management.

• It will provide retail investors with an option to explore the ‘safe’ debt mutual fund category which was earlier dominated by institutional investors.

• It will also help deepen India’s debt market penetration.

• Edelweiss proposes to raise an initial amount of 1,000 crores with a green shoe option of Rs. 4,000 crores.

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

Grievance Redressal Index

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has secured the first rank among all Group A Ministries, Departments and Autonomous Bodies for resolution of public grievances in the ranking report.

• The report was published by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) for November 2022.

• This is the fourth month in a row when UIDAI has topped the said rankings.

• UIDAI's new open-source CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is enhancing user experience and improving service delivery to residents.

• This system has the capability to support multiple channels like phone call, e-mail, chatbot, web portal, social media, letter and walk-in through which the grievances can be registered, tracked and resolved effectively.
• Through this new CRM system, UIDAI has moved towards a centralised complaint management system.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Ayushman Bharat Health Account ID

• Jammu & Kashmir won first place in the category for creating Ayushman Bharat Health Account IDs and second place in the category for conducting teleconsultations in honor of Universal Health Coverage Day in 2022.

• Every year, a day called Universal Health Coverage Day is observed to honor the importance of this program, which strives to bring affordable, high-quality healthcare to all people.

• The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) seeks to create the framework required to sustain the nation’s integrated digital health infrastructure.

• Through digital highways, it would close the distance between the various healthcare ecosystem stakeholders.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

CM of Gujarat

• BJP leader Bhupendra Patel took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second straight term in Gandhinagar in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

• Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath as the 18th Chief minister of the state.

• The BJP won 156 seats in the 182-member assembly.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Arab-Built Lunar Spacecraft

• A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried into space the first ever Arab-built lunar spacecraft.
• It was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
• Rashid Rover was built by Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is being delivered by the HAKUTO-R lander, engineered by Japanese lunar exploration company ispace.
• HAKUTO-R will also become the first commercial spacecraft ever to make a controlled landing on the moon.
• Rashid rover will provide 'novel and highly valued data, images, and insights,' as well as 'collect scientific data on matters relating to the origin of the solar system, our planet and life.'

OBITUTARY

Artist, Writer and Padma Shri Awardee Manohar Devadoss

• Renowned Indian artist, writer and Shriawardee ManoharDevadoss passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN). He was at the age of 86.

• He was well-known for his paintings of traditional buildings.

• He authored many books such as A poem to courage, Multiple facets of my Madurai, Mahe, and Mano: Challenges, Green Well Years, etc.

• He was awarded the Padma Shri (2020), India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his inspirational work in Art and Charity.

MISCELLANEOUS

IUCN Red List

• Three medicinal plant species found in the Himalayas have recently been placed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

• IUCN is an international organisation (NGO) working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

• These three species are namely Meizotropis pellita, Fritillaria cirrhosa and Dactylorhiza hatagirea.

• These species are found in the Himalayan region spread across Nepal, India, China, Sikkim, Afghanistan and Pakistan.