Author: Shivali Varshney, Vidhyarthi Darpan

NATIONAL NEWS

Winners of Sahitya Akademi Awards 2021

Punjabi writer Khalid Hussain, Eminent author Namita Gokhale, and TMC MLA Bratya Basu are among the winners of the Sahitya Akademi Award 2021. Sahitya Akademi Award by Sahitya Akademi is a literary honour in India that is conferred on the writers of the most outstanding books.

Income Tax department detects irregularities in two Chinese mobile manufacturing firms 

The Income Tax Department on Friday claimed to have detected multiple irregularities on the part of two companies into manufacturing Chinese mobile phones, during the pan-India searches initiated on December 21.  In the case of certain foreign-controlled mobile communication and mobile phone manufacturing companies and their associated entities, the searches were carried out in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan, Delhi and its neighbouring cities.  “The search has revealed that two major companies have made remittance in the nature of royalty, to and on behalf of its group companies located abroad, which aggregates to more than ₹5,500 crore. The claim of such expenses does not seem to be appropriate in the light of the facts and evidence gathered…,” said the agency.  According to the agency, both the companies had not complied with the regulatory mandate under the Income Tax Act, for disclosure of transactions with associated enterprises. “Such a lapse makes them liable for penal action under the Income Tax Act, the quantum of which could be in the range of more than ₹1,000 crore,” it said.   

Chinese embassy writes to MPs against supporting Tibetan cause 

The Embassy of China has written to a group of parliamentarians asking them to “refrain” from supporting the cause of Tibetan independence. The move, which is being interpreted as a rare and undiplomatic interference, came after six MPs from the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet attended a meeting at a Delhi hotel.  “As is known to all, the so-called ‘Tibetan Government-in-Exile’ is an out-and-out separatist political group and an illegal organisation completely in violation of China’s Constitution and laws. It is not recognised by any country in the world,” wrote Zhou Yongsheng, Political Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in India.  The meeting was attended by Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh and Manish Tewari, BJD’s Sujeet kumar, BJP’s Maneka Gandhi and K.C. Ramamurthy and Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Electronics & Technology Rajeev Chandrashekhar.  

Delhi resident doctors strike called off, resume services 

Resident doctors in Delhi, who have been protesting over the delay in NEET-PG counselling for two weeks, on Friday called off their strike and resumed services after receiving assurances from the government that their demands would be looked into, their federation said.  The stir by the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) was called off at 12 noon, it said in a statement.  Doctors Association Members address the media to announce the withdrawl of their protest demonstration demanding to Expedite NEET 2021 – Counselling Process at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on December 31, 2021.   FORDA president Dr. Manish Nigam said the agitation was carried out by “overworked and exhausted” doctors, and after getting some assurances from the central government, the strike was called off and doctors resumed work at their respective hospitals.  

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

South Africa’s Quinton de Kock announces retirement

Quinton de Kock, the former South African captain has announced sudden retirement from Test cricket. The wicket-keeper batsman announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, citing his intentions to spend more time with his growing family.

Omicron crashes global New Year party but South Africa offers hope 

The year 2021 was slinking off with farewell celebrations mostly muffled by the pandemic. But good news from South Africa — the first country to pronounce itself past its Omicron wave — brought new hope for a joyous New Year.  As the New Year moved from East to West, with New Zealand already into 2022 without the official fireworks in Auckland, thousands of fireworks lit up the sky over Sydney’s Harbour Bridge and Opera House at midnight in a spectacular display. Fireworks were called off over Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, London’s Big Ben and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.  Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as New Year’s Eve celebrations begin in Sydney.   The golden ball was due to drop at New York’s Times Square, but the crowd shouting out the countdown of the year’s exit would be a quarter the usual size, masked up, socially distanced and with vaccine papers in hand.  South Africa, which first raised the alarm about the new fast-spreading coronavirus variant, gave the world one of the last big good surprises of the year, announcing that the Omicron wave had crested without a huge surge in deaths. It lifted a night time curfew, unexpectedly allowing celebrations to ring in 2022.  

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

FM Nirmala Sitharaman to chair 46th GST Council meeting today

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the 46th meeting of the GST Council in New Delhi on December 31, 2021. The meeting is important as it comes ahead of Union Budget, which will be presented on February 1, 2022. Union Ministers of State in Finance Ministry Pankaj Chaudhary and Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad will also attend the meeting.

Covaxin safe, immunogenic in 2-18 age group: Bharat Biotech

Bharat Biotech said on December 30, 2021, that its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin was found to be “safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic” in the age group of 2-18 years in phase II/III study. Bharat Biotech had conducted phase II/III clinical trials to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of COVAXIN in healthy children and adolescents. This comes as the vaccine has been approved for 15–18-year-olds. 

SBI authorized to issue electoral bonds 

The State Bank of India (SBI) has been authorized to issue Electoral Bonds through its select 29 branches during January 1-10, 2022. This was informed by the Finance Ministry on December 30, 2021. The Electoral Bonds shall be valid for 15 days from the date of issuance and no payment shall be made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The Electoral Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account shall be credited on the same day.

Post-COVID-19 infection immunity persists for 9 months: ICMR DG Dr. Balram Bhargava

The immunity after COVID-19 infection persists for at least 9 months, as per evidence-based studies from different countries informed Dr. Balram Bhargava, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on December 30, 2021. He stated that if you get the infection then for 9 months you are generally protected. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

South Africa’s Quinton de Kock announces sudden retirement from Tests

Former South Afican captain and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock announced sudden retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect on December 30, 2021. The announcement comes one day after the first test between India and South Africa in Centurion, where India won by 113 runs. Quinton de Kock said that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Biden-Putin phone call

US President Joe Biden in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Russia to de escalate the tensions with Ukraine. The US President in a 50-minute phone with Putin made clear that the US, its allies, and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine. During a phone call, President Biden also expressed his support for the diplomacy, starting from 2022 with the bilateral strategic stability dialogue, at NATO through the NATO-Russia Council, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. This is the second call in a month between the two leaders amid the escalating tension in Ukraine as the United States continues to pressure Russia to draw down its military presence near Ukraine’s borders.

South Korea to develop technology for artificial sun

South Korean Government has been planning to develop a technology for the country’s first artificial sun ‘KSTAR’. The technology will maintain 100 million degrees for 300 seconds by 2026. The 300 seconds is the minimum time which is required for the commercialization of nuclear fusion technology. Nuclear fusion is the basic principle that the artificial sun generates heat and light. In 2018, the Korean Research team had first successfully maintained KSTAR at 100 million degrees for 1.5 seconds. The team was also successful in maintaining 100 million degrees for 20 seconds in 2020 and 30 seconds in 2021. Following last year, South Korea has set the longest record of maintaining 100 million degrees in the world in 2021.

NATIONAL NEWS

Sourav Ganguly remains hemodynamically stable

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is hemodynamically stable after testing positive for COVID-19, informed Woodlands Hospital MD & CEO Dr. Rupali Basu. The MD further informed that the former cricketer’s oxygen saturation was maintained at 99 percent on room air. Ganguly had been admitted to the hospital late evening on December 26,2021 when he tested positive for COVID. 

PM Modi to release 10th installment under PM-KISAN scheme on January 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 10th installment of financial benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme on January 1, 2022. The Prime Minister will transfer an amount worth Rs 20,000 crore through video conferencing to more than 10 crore beneficiary farmer families. The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. 

Assam Rifles veteran who escorted 14th Dalai Lama on his arrival in India passes away

Chandra Das, the Assam Rifles veteran, who had received and escorted the 14th Dalai Lama on his arrival in India in 1959 passed away on December 28, 2021. He was 83. Dalai Lama had fled Tibet in 1959 at the age of 22 and crossed the border on March 30, 1959 with the help of the CIA’s Special Activities Division. He had arrived at Tezpur in Assam. He was escorted into India by a seven-member Assam Rifles team, which comprised 23-year-old Naren Chandra Das. 

PM Modi to lay foundation stone of 23 projects in Uttarakhand today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Haldwani in Uttarakhand today to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 23 projects that will worth almost Rs 17,500 crore. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of around 17 projects, which will be worth around Rs 14, 100 crore.

Congress to get new President in September 2022?

According to Congress Central Election Authority President Madhusudan Mistry, the Congress party will get its new national president by the end of September 2022. The Congress is currently being led by interim President Sonia Gandhi, who took over after Rahul Gandhi resigned from the post in July 2019 after the party’s massive defeat in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. 

Vaccines still effective against Omicron: WHO Chief Scientist According to WHO Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, vaccines are still proving to be effective against Omicron as even though the number of Covid cases are rising sharply across the globe, the severity of the disease has not risen. The WHO scientist said that the T cell immunity is holding up better against the Omicron Coviod variant. She urged all those who have not yet received their vaccine to get vaccinated at the earliest. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China and Japan agreed to launch military hotline

China and Japan have agreed to establish a military hotline in 2022. It will be done to put in place a system that can defuse the potential crisis over the disputed islands and Taiwan strait. The Defence Ministry of Japan informed that the two governments have agreed to set up the link by the end of 2022. On the other hand, the Defence Ministry of China stated that there has been a need for strengthening liaison and communication between the defence ministries of both Japan and China.

Pakistan approves ‘National Security Policy’

The top security panel of Pakistan has given its approval to its ‘National Security Policy’ for 2022-26. The policy places ‘economic security at the core’ to ensure a citizen-centric approach to security. This is also the first time that a National Security Policy has been approved in Pakistan. The NSP puts economic security at the core and a stronger economy will create additional resources to bolster human and economic security. The policy has been created through a whole-of-government effort over the last 7 years and also included extensive consultations among the federal government institutions. The National Security Policy in Pakistan will now be presented to the Cabinet before being officially adopted by the Government.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Rishabh Pant is the fastest Indian wicket keeper

Rishabh Pant has become the fastest wicket-keeper of India to reach 100 dismissals in the longest format of the match. He has also broken the former skipper MS Dhoni’s record of reaching 100 dismissals in the longest format of the game. Pant achieved the feat on the 3rd day of the ongoing first Test match against South Africa.

ICC World Test Championships Points Table 2021-2023

In ICC World Test Championship Points Table 2021-2023 Australia has been ranked at the top by thrashing England by an innings in the third Ashes Test. In the Points-table, Sri Lanka is ranked second with 24 points, while Pakistan is ranked third with 36 points. India has been ranked 4th on the ICC World Test Championship Points Table.

Alia Bhatt announced as PETA India Person of 2021

PETA India has named Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt as its 2021 Person of the Year. Bhatt has been celebrated for her work to support an animal-friendly fashion industry and for her advocacy for dogs and cats in need. She also has been actively involved in launching animal welfare activities.

PM Modi to launch projects in Uttarakhand

Prime Minister Modi will visit Uttarakhand to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 23 development projects that are worth over Rs. 17,500 crores. The projects in the state will cover the sectors that range from the road, irrigation, housing, industry, health infrastructure, sanitation to drinking water supply among others.

Corbevax vaccine gets approval for a booster dose

DGCI has given its approval to Hyderabad-based pharma company Biological E to conduct phase 3 trials of ‘Corbevax’, its COVID-19 vaccine, as a booster dose. Hyderabad-based Biological E has also become the second company after Bharat Biotech to conduct clinical trials for a booster dose.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Afghan women protests against Taliban

Several dozen Afghan women have been protesting against the new directives of the Taliban implemented in the country. The new directions put limitations on the movement of Afghan women. As per the new directive, Afghan women who have been traveling long distances by road must be accompanied by a male relative. The women must also wear a hijab to cover their heads and faces. The new directive has also banned playing music in vehicles. The women have been protesting as the Islamic Emirates are trying to keep them away from society by imposing limitations on them. The protestors have also been calling for their rights to Education, social freedom, and employment.

The United States to invite Taiwan for largest naval exercise

The United States will be inviting Taiwan to participate in the 2022 Rim of the Pacific Exercise amid the rising escalations with China. It is the world’s largest naval exercise. As per the NDAA signed by President Biden, the invitation will supplement US efforts of supporting the self-governed democratic island in the face of aggressive behavior by China. The Navy of the United States has not yet disclosed the other specific invitees to the naval exercise. It could take a variety of forms from ships to aircraft or a handful of observers.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Vikram Misri appointed as Deputy NSA

Vikram Misri was appointed as India’s deputy National Security Adviser on December 27, 2021. He formerly served as India’s envoy to China. He is a 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service officer. He was appointed as India’s Ambassador to China in 2019. The External Affairs Minister had recently appointed Pradeep Kumar Rawat as the next ambassador to China.

India to chair Counterterrorism Committee of UNSC in January 2022

India will chair the Counterterrorism Committee of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in January 2022. This Committee was formed in September 2001 soon after the tragic 9/11 terrorist attack. India had chaired this Committee in the Security Council in 2011-12. India had been asked to Chair three important Committees of the Security Council earlier this year including the Taliban Sanctions Committee, Counterterrorism Committee and the Libyan Sanctions Committee.

Haryana Cabinet Expansion to take place today

Haryana Cabinet is likely to be expanded today with new Ministers taking oath at Raj Bhawan. One MLA each from BJP and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) are likely to be inducted as ministers. The expansion may also see shuffling of portfolios. The Haryana Council of ministers has 12 members currently including Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. 

PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate completed section of Kanpur Metro Rail Project 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the completed section of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project today, December 28, 2021. The completed section of Kanpur Metro Rail Project stretches for 9 km long from IIT Kanpur to Moti Jheel. The Prime Minister will also inspect the Metro Rail Project and undertake a metro ride from the IIT metro station to Geeta Nagar.

Resident Doctors’ Body calls for complete withdrawal of healthcare services across country from December 29

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has called for complete withdrawal from all healthcare services across the country from 8 am on December 29. The call has been taken “in protest against brute force by Delhi Police against doctors.” FAIMA said that the resident doctors were protesting peacefully and alleged that female doctors were brutally thrashed and lathi charged by male police personnel during a demonstration in Delhi on December 27, 2021 over the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Singapore makes COVID vaccination mandatory from February 2022

Singapore has announced that COVID vaccination will be a mandatory condition for the approval of new applications for long-term passes, work passes, and permanent residence in the country from February 2022. The new rule will be implemented from February 1, 2022. The new order in Singapore, however, will not be applied to children below the age of 12 or those who are medically eligible to receive the vaccination. Those who are required to renew the work passes will have to be vaccinated. At the point of application, the employers will also have to make a declaration that their dependents are fully vaccinated upon arrival in Singapore. The new measures announced by Singapore are a part of the country’s adjustments to deal with the infectious Omicron variant.

Barbados to hold snap election on January 19 

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has called for snap general election on January 19, 2022. This comes just weeks after the country bid adieu to British Monarchy and chose to become a republic. Mia Mottley is the leader of the Barbados Labour Party and had become the first female prime minister of the country in May 2018 for a five-year term.

NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi to lay the foundation stone of hydropower projects in Mandi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Mandi in Himachal Pradesh on December 27, 2021 to lay the foundation stone of hydropower projects worth over Rs 11000 crore.  PM Modi will also inaugurate the Sawra Kuddu Hydro Power Project, a 111MW project that has been built at a cost of about Rs 2080 crore.

Delhi imposes night curfew from December 27

The Delhi government has imposed a night curfew from December 27, 2021. The curfew will be enforced from 11 pm to 5 am. The announcement comes as the national capital reported around 290 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest since June 10. It is for the second consecutive day that Delhi has recorded over 200 new Covid cases.  

Senior citizens require comorbidities certificate for precautionary dose

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority, Dr RS Sharma said that those above 60 years with comorbidities would require a medical certificate to take the precautionary dose. The medical certificate has to be signed by any registered medical practitioner that can be uploaded on the Cowin portal and also carried to the vaccination centre. 

Karnataka to establish separate directorate to raise farmers’ income

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai informed on December 26, 2021 that the state will establish a separate directorate to raise farmers’ income. He stated that agriculture will grow automatically if the economic condition of farmers improves.

Covaxin shows good immune response in children- NTAGI Chairman

The Chairman of Covid Taskforce working group (NTAGI), Dr. NK Arora said on December 26, 2021 that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has shown a very good immune response in children during clinical trials. Explaining the decision to roll out vaccination for children between 15-18 years from January 3rd, he said that children in that age group are very much like adults. 

Muzaffarpur boiler blast: Ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh announced for kin of deceased

Seven people were killed and seven others were injured in an unfortunate boiler blast in Muzaffarpur in Bihar on December 26, 2021. The blast reportedly took place in a noodle factory.  Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. Those injured will get Rs 50,000 each. 

PM Modi to inaugurate Kanpur Metro Rail project on December 28

Prime Minister Narendra will be inaugurated the completed section of the Kanpur Metro Rail project in Kanpur on December 26, 2021. During the program in Kanpur, PM will also inaugurate the Bina-Panki Multiproduct Pipeline Project, and before that he will attend the 54th convocation ceremony of IIT Kanpur. The completed section of the Metro project in Kanpur is 9-km long from IIT Kanpur to Moti Jheel. He will inspect the Kanpur Metro Rail Project and will also take a ride from the IIT metro station to Geeta Nagar. The entire length of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project is 32 km and it has been built at a cost of Rs. 11,000 crores.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, Indian-Origin Philanthropist, named South African of the year

Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, an Indian-origin philanthropist and a founder of the Disaster Relief Group ‘Gift of the Givers’, has won the prestigious South African of the Year Award. It is run by the Daily Maverick Newspaper. The South Africans across the board voted for Sooliman and put Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo in second place. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Sooliman called on Muslims worldwide to care for all the communities around the world in order to change the Islamophobic perceptions. ‘Gift of the Givers’ was started by Dr. Sooliman after his religious mentor in Turkey asked him to do so in 1994. Since then, the organization has undertaken relief work in more than 44 nations after natural disasters.

Switzerland government to allow Simple Legal Gender Transition

From January 1, 2022, the people in Switzerland will be able to legally change their gender by a visit to the Civil Registry Office. This has put the country at the forefront of Europe’s gender-identification movement. Switzerland has now joined Portugal, Belgium, Norway, and Ireland as one of the few countries in Europe that will allow the person to legally change gender without any medical diagnosis, hormone therapy. Under the new rules written into the country’s civil code, any individual aged 16 and above who is not under legal guardianship is eligible to adjust their gender and legal name by self-declaration. Earlier in September 2021, Switzerland had legalized civil marriage as well as the right to adopt children for same-sex couples.