National News

IndiGo's Historic Achievement: Carrying 100 Million Passengers

• IndiGo, India's premier carrier, has etched its name in history by becoming the first Indian airline to transport a staggering 100 million passengers in a single calendar year.
• This remarkable feat catapults IndiGo into an elite global club, solidifying its position among the world's top-10 airlines by passenger traffic.
• With a substantial backlog of nearly 1,000 planes set to be delivered over the next decade, IndiGo's aggressive fleet expansion approach positions it for sustained growth and increased market share in the fiercely competitive aviation industry.

International News

EU-India WTO Dispute: A Standoff Over ICT Import Duties

• The European Union (EU) has expressed disappointment as India rejects interim arbitration in the ongoing WTO dispute over import duties on specific Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products.
• India defends its stance, asserting that interim agreements undermine the right to appeal to a permanent standing body and emphasizes the need to restore the functioning of the WTO appellate body.
• This dispute, initiated by the EU's complaint in April 2019, alleges a breach of India's WTO commitments regarding import tariffs on various ICT products, including mobile phones, components, base stations, integrated circuits, and optical instruments.

Understanding JN.1 Variant: WHO's Warning and India's Vigilance

• The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning on Sunday, December 17, expressing concerns over the 1 COVID subvariant and the global surge in respiratory diseases.
• 1 exhibits distinct characteristics, spreading faster and demonstrating the ability to evade immunity, making it capable of infecting individuals with prior COVID infections and those who have been vaccinated.
• Detected in Kerala on December 8, India remains vigilant, urging necessary measures to contain the variant's spread.

Colorado Supreme Court Declares Trump Ineligible: Legal Battle Ensues

• In a landmark decision, the Colorado Supreme Court, consisting entirely of justices appointed by Democratic governors, declared former U.S. President Donald Trump ineligible for the presidency under the U.S. Constitution's insurrection clause.
• This 4-3 decision sets the stage for a legal battle, as Trump's attorneys vow to appeal the disqualification to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• The ruling is based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, barring individuals engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution from holding office, stemming from Trump's alleged role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Banking News

SBI's Market Capitalization Surges: Positive Investor Sentiment

• State Bank of India (SBI) has witnessed a substantial surge in market capitalization, reaching Rs 6 trillion with a remarkable 17% increase in the past month.
• This outpaced the market, with S&P BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 up by nearly 9%, and the Nifty PSU Bank index gaining 14% during the same period.
• The surge in SBI's stock price reflects positive investor sentiment, showcasing renewed interest in SBI's growth potential, long-term prospects, and expectations of strong earnings, dividend payouts, and future growth opportunities.

Unclaimed Deposits in Indian Banks: Alarming Rise to ₹42,270 Crore

• During the Winter Session, the Indian Parliament disclosed a concerning trend in unclaimed deposits within the country's banking sector.
• Unclaimed deposits witnessed a substantial 28% annual rise, reaching ₹42,270 crore by the end of the last financial year in March 2023, a significant jump from the previous year's figure of ₹32,934 crore.
• Public sector banks accounted for the majority, holding ₹36,185 crore, while private sector banks held ₹6,087 crore.
• Unclaimed deposits, defined by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), refer to balances left inactive for 10 or more years, to be transferred to the RBI's Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund.

Important Days News

International Human Solidarity Day 2023: Fostering Global Unity

• International Human Solidarity Day, observed annually on December 20th and recognized by the UN General Assembly, emphasizes the importance of solidarity in fostering global unity and diversity.
• The specific theme for 2023 is yet to be unveiled, and updates can be found on the dedicated International Human Solidarity Day 2023 Theme Page.
• This day serves as a platform for nations to reaffirm their commitment to various international agreements, addressing issues such as land mine usage, disaster relief, universal education, poverty eradication, and more.

Awards News

Israeli Film 'Children of Nobody': Golden Bengal Tiger Award Winner

• The 29th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) concluded with the Israeli film 'Children of Nobody' securing the prestigious Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Film.
• Inspired by a true story, this compassionate Israeli drama sheds light on overlooked individuals on the periphery of society.
• The film, written and directed by Erez-Tadmor from Tel-Aviv, tells the compelling journey of troubled boys uniting to save a shelter for at-risk youth.
• Earning critical acclaim and receiving the highest cash award given by any film festival globally—Rs 51 lakh along with the trophy—underscores the film's excellence and international recognition of Israeli cinema.

Agreements News

MediaTek and Nvidia Power AI in Cars: Shaping the Future of Driving

• Semiconductor powerhouses MediaTek and Nvidia have forged a strategic partnership to bring artificial intelligence (AI) to the forefront of the automotive industry.
• This collaboration aims to revolutionize in-car experiences, shape the evolution of autonomous driving systems, and establish a new standard for smart vehicles.
• With a primary focus on seamlessly integrating AI into autonomous driving systems, the partnership leverages Nvidia's deep learning and AI capabilities alongside MediaTek's advanced system-on-chip (SoC) solutions, creating a comprehensive platform capable of instantly handling and understanding complex data from cameras, sensors, and other sources.

Suzlon and REC Ltd Collaborate on Non-Fund Based Working Capital

• Suzlon Group, India's largest renewable energy solutions provider, has inked a definitive agreement with REC Limited, a state-run entity, for crucial working capital facilities.
• This strategic partnership aims to bolster Suzlon's capacity to meet its working capital needs, crucial for executing its extensive current order book and prospective future projects.
• REC Ltd, classified as a 'Maharatna' company under the Ministry of Power, specializes in providing long-term financial solutions to entities in the country's infrastructure sector.
• This renewed collaboration underscores REC Ltd's crucial role in aiding Suzlon's past endeavors, including debt refinancing, contributing to Suzlon achieving a debt-free status.

Appointments News

Maheshwar Dayal Assumes Role as Director General of Prisons: A Distinguished Journey

• Senior IPS officer Maheshwar Dayal officially assumed the role of Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services on Monday, December 18.
• With a distinguished career marked by leadership roles across various districts and specialized units, Dayal brings a wealth of experience to his new position.
• Starting as a Superintendent of Police (SP) in Virudhunagar, Dayal quickly demonstrated dedication and leadership skills. His journey included appointments as SP in The Nilgiris and Nagapattinam districts, showcasing adaptability to diverse operational environments.

Sports News

Amitabh Bachchan Joins Indian Street Premier League: Mumbai Team Owner

• Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan has revealed his ownership of the Mumbai team in the upcoming Indian Street Premier League (ISPL).
• Joining actors Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan, who own the Srinagar and Bengaluru teams respectively, Bachchan's involvement adds glamour and excitement to the league.
• The ISPL will feature 19 high-intensity matches during its inaugural edition, with teams representing cities such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Srinagar.
• This star-studded ownership promises a diverse and competitive mix of players from various regions.

Science & Technology News

Indian Government Warns Against Smishing Threats: Vigilance Urged

• The Indian government has issued a warning regarding a new and sophisticated scam known as "Smishing," exploiting text messages to deceive individuals into divulging confidential information.
• Fraudulent messages may impersonate banks, government agencies, or well-known brands, creating a false sense of urgency that compels recipients to take immediate action.
• In case of falling victim to a smishing attack, individuals can report online financial fraud by dialing 1930 or report any instances of cybercrime at cybercrime.gov.in, emphasizing the importance of timely reporting to mitigate the impact of such scams.

Google Maps Gets AI-Powered Upgrade in India: Address Descriptor Introduced

• Google Maps, a ubiquitous navigation tool, is set to undergo a transformative upgrade in India with new features leveraging artificial intelligence (AI).
• In a first-of-its-kind initiative for India, Google plans to introduce the Address Descriptor early next year, simplifying location searches by offering a more intuitive experience.
• The innovation automatically suggests five landmarks in the vicinity when users drop a pin to share their location, enhancing the visual mapping experience beyond traditional latitude and longitude coordinates.

Miscellaneous News

Tiger Attacks in India: 112 Deaths in 2022 Raise Urgent Concerns

• Tiger attacks on humans have been a concerning issue in India, with the Centre providing information on the extent of this problem.
• In 2022 alone, a total of 112 deaths occurred in the country due to tiger attacks. The Union Minister for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, Bhupinder Yadav, shared these statistics in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
• Maharashtra witnessed the highest number of deaths, with 85 reported cases in 2022, underscoring the urgent need for addressing the human-tiger conflict in the state.
• Uttar Pradesh also faced the brunt of tiger attacks, recording 11 deaths in the same period. The Minister disclosed that over the past five years, a total of 302 people lost their lives in incidents involving tiger attacks.