NATIONAL NEWS

‘Gamocha’ Gets GI Tag

• ‘Gamocha’, a symbol of the culture and identity of Assam has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the central government.

• The GI tag has been registered in favour of the Directorate of Handloom & Textiles of the Assam government under the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

• The process was started in 2017 when an application for a GI tag was filed by the Institute of Handicraft Development of Golaghat district.

• 'Gamocha' literally means towel and is commonly used on a day-to-day basis in Assamese households.

32nd Meeting of Board of Directors of NHB

• The 32nd meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Horticulture Board (NHB) was held in New Delhi.

• It was conducted under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Chairman of the Board, Narendra Singh Tomar.

• It was decided in the meeting that the process of approval of horticulture projects would be simplified for the farmers.

• This process will make the system more transparent and efficient, promote ease of doing business for the benefit of the farming community and generate more hi-tech commercial projects for NHB funding.

• The meeting also discussed in detail the new initiative of NHB- Swachh Plant Programme.
• Under the programme the problem of availability of planting material to the farmers will be solved by spending Rs 2100 crore with the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Assam’s Unique Theatre Festival ‘Under the Sal Tree’

• The 12th edition of the ‘Under the Sal Tree’ theatre festival will start on 15 December 2022, for 3 days at BadungduppaKalakendra at Rampur in lower Assam’s Goalpara district.

• This unique theatre festival is held every year in the middle of the Sal tree plantation.

• It is organized completely in natural settings, with no artificial devices, not even a microphone to enhance the voice of the actors.

• In 2022, the festival got support from the Chief Minister of Assam, RabhaHasong Autonomous Council, Indian Oil Limited Corporation and Bongaigaon Refinery.
• The organizers use only bamboo and straw to build the stage and the sitting arrangements for the spectators.

NIIFL Signs Agreement with Tamil Nadu

• The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB).
• The MoU to help attract commercial capital into infrastructure opportunities in the state, under the public-private project (PPP) model.
• Work has been initiated on 7 projects across departments that have the potential to attract private investment of Rs 5000 to Rs 6000 crore.
• The NIIFL’s Strategic Initiatives and Policy Advisory (SIPA) team provide strategic advice to the Central and State Governments.
• This includes asset recycling and the development of greenfield and brownfield infrastructure projects.
• These projects include sectors such as renewable energy, roads, waste management and tourism.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Joint Training Exercise ‘SURYA KIRAN-XVI’

• The 16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise ‘SURYA KIRAN-XVI’ between India and Nepal will be conducted at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi, Nepal from 16 December to 29 December 2022.

• The two armies, through these contingents, shall be sharing the experiences gained during the conduct of various counter-insurgency operations over the years in their respective countries.

• The joint exercise will focus on tactical operational planning and disaster response mechanisms in counter-terrorist operations and the role of the armed forces in disaster management.

• The joint military exercise will boost defence cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries.

BANKING

Non-Participating ‘Guaranteed Fortune Plan’

• Canara HSBC Life Insurance launched a new ‘Guaranteed Fortune Plan’ a non-linked, non-participating individual savings scheme offering life cover and a lump sum amount on outliving the policy term.

• The product offers two plan options namely Guaranteed Savings Option and Guaranteed Cash Back Option.

• According to the Canara HSBC Life Insurance, the Guaranteed Savings Option provides a lump sum on outliving the policy term.

• The Guaranteed Cash Back Option offers customers guaranteed cash back at the end of every 5th policy year, with an opportunity to defer the amount till maturity or withdraw it earlier.

• In addition to cashback, the 2nd option also gives policyholders a lump sum payment at the end of the policy term.
• The plan also includes a unique feature called CARE (Claims Accelerated for Relief & Ease) Pay Benefit.

Trucknetic Partners with DBS Bank India

• India’s Uber for Trucks, Trucknetic has partnered with DBS Bank as a logistics partner on their Business Class platform.
• It is to offer comprehensive digital banking, logistics, value-added services and deals to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
• Trucknetic’s partnership with DBS Bank for its SME platform will help accelerate its mission to provide world-class, reliable and cost-effective logistical solutions to small businesses and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India.

SPORTS

FINA World Swimming Championships 2022

• In Swimming, Indian swimmer Chahat Arora set a national record in the women's 100-metre breaststroke at the FINA World Swimming Championships 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.

• Chahat Arora completed the 100-metre breaststroke race in 1 minute, 13.13 seconds.

• Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte, topped the overall heats in 1 minute, 3.81 seconds, which was 9.32 seconds quicker than Chahat Arora.

• Chahat will participate in the women's 50m breaststroke event on 17 December. Siva Sridhar will compete in the 100-metre individual medley on 15 December.

• The Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) is the world governing body for aquatic sports such as swimming, diving, waterpolo, synchronised and open water swimming.

National Shooting Championship 2022

• Divya T.S of Karnataka won her maiden women’s 10m air pistol national title in the 65th National Shooting Championship Competitions in Pistol events in Bhopal.

• In the gold medal match, she defeated Sanskriti Bana of Uttar Pradesh 16-14 and Rhythm Sangwan of Haryana took the bronze.

• Manu Bhaker, an Olympian won the junior women’s air pistol after defeating Esha Singh (Telangana).

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

'Namami Gange' Project Among World's Top 10 Initiatives

• According to a report released during the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), India's 'Namami Gange'- river Ganga rejuvenation project has been recognised as one among world's 10 most ‘ground-breaking’ initiatives for restoration of natural ecosystems.

• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has won the ‘Public Water Agency of the Year’ award at the Global Water Awards, 2019 by Global Water Intelligence.

• Namami Gange was selected from over 150 such initiatives from 70 countries across the globe.

• They were selected under the banner of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global movement coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Chief Scientist of WHO

• Wellcome Trust director Dr. Jeremy Farrar will become the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Chief Scientist in the second quarter of 2023.

• He will succeed Soumya Swaminathan.

• Dr. Farrar will oversee the Science Division, bringing together the best brains in science and innovation from around the world to develop and deliver high-quality health services to the people who need them most, no matter who they are and where they live.
• Farrar is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences UK, the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO), the National Academies USA and a Fellow of The Royal Society.