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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

JICA Commits Up to $1.5 Billion for ADB-Administered LEAP 2 Fund to Bolster Infrastructure in Asia and the Pacific   

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have agreed to launch a new fund aimed at boosting private infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific, where China is making inroads with its investments.
• The organisations stated that the new fund, named Leading Asia's Private Infrastructure Fund 2 (LEAP 2), would have capital of up to $1.5 billion provided by JICA, serving as the successor fund to LEAP.
• The launch, a symbol of ties between Japan and developing Asia, comes a week ahead of summit meetings between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• Japan and the United States are the largest shareholders in the ADB, which faces competition from Chinese investment vehicles, although China is also a member of the bank.
• The new fund will support projects focused on India, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, including reducing carbon emissions, healthcare, education and agriculture.
• LEAP committed over $1 billion for seven years in co-financing across 35 projects in 14 developing countries in the region.

About ADB : 

• Established : 1966
• Headquarters : Manila, Philippines
• President : Masatsugu Asakawa
• Membership : 68 members, including 49 regional members (countries in Asia and the Pacific) and 19 non-regional members (countries outside the region)

About Japan International Cooperation Agency :

• Headquarters : Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
• President : Akihiko Tanaka

HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and AU Small Finance Bank Embrace FICO Platform as Early Adopters                    

• Globally renowned data analytics company FICO has commenced operations in India, establishing collaborations with leading financial institutions, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and AU Small Finance Bank.

Key Highlights :

• HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and AU Small Finance Bank are utilizing the FICO platform to undergo digital transformations in various financial processes, such as those related to home loans, credit cards, and auto loans.
• FICO emphasizes the efficiency of its cloud-based platform, enabling swift loan approvals within seconds, reflecting the integration of advanced technology to streamline lending operations.
• Vishal Goyal, the Country Director for India at FICO, underscores that the FICO analytics platform has the potential to enhance approval rates for lenders.
• This is achieved by incorporating additional data and converting it into actionable insights, thereby facilitating informed credit decisions.
• FICO was named as a leader by The Forrester Wave: AI Decisioning Platforms, Q2 2023 and received the Banking Innovation of the Year Platinum Award in the Future Digital Awards for Fintech; Payments 2023, presented by Juniper Research.

ACKO Partners with PhonePe to Facilitate Insurance Accessibility for Millions                              

• ACKO General Insurance and PhonePe have collaborated to provide a range of inclusive car and bike insurance products directly to users through the PhonePe platform.
• This strategic partnership combines ACKO’s customer-centric approach with PhonePe’s extensive distribution network, ensuring convenient access to insurance as a readily available financial option for PhonePe users.
• In addition, this partnership will witness ACKO expanding its product range to encompass health insurance and various other lines in the coming years.
• The integration of ACKO with PhonePe is facilitated through the cutting-edge partnership API stack, crafted for modularity and smooth integration.
• This API stack is geared to facilitate quick and efficient collaborations with online distributors, ensuring that ACKO’s personalized pricing, innovative SKUs, and consistent user experience are seamlessly delivered to all partners, with PhonePe being the first in line.
• CEO of PhonePe Insurance : Vishal Gupta

About ACKO General Insurance :

• Founded : 2016
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, Indi
• CEO : Sanjeev Srinivasan

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

NMCG Launches Global River Cities Alliance at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai

• The Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) was launched at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, UAE.
• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) led the alliance under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
• The alliance includes countries such as Egypt, Netherlands, Denmark, Ghana, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Japan, and river-cities of The Hague (Den Haag) from the Netherlands, Adelaide from Australia, and Szolnok of Hungary.
• International funding agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and knowledge management institutions like KPMG have entered into a partnership to expand the reach of the existing River Cities Alliance (RCA), which was formed by NMCG in association with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in 2021.
• GRCA is a unique alliance covering 275+ global river cities in 11 countries, international funding agencies and knowledge management partners and is the first of its kind in the world.
• The launch of GRCA, signifies a momentous step in global efforts toward river conservation and sustainable water management.
• Following this, partner countries are poised to coordinate post-COP activities, shaping the architecture of GRCA for effective implementation.

India Joins Consortium to Advance Deployment Of Battery Energy Storage Systems

• India became a member of the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Consortium, an initiative led by The Global Leadership Council (GLC) of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP).
• As a part of this collaborative effort, India stands among the pioneering nations committed to securing 5 Gw of BESS commitments by the conclusion of 2024.
• In September, the government endorsed viability gap funding for BESS development.
• The scheme aims to facilitate establishing 4,000 Mwh of BESS projects by 2030-31, providing financial assistance of up to 40 per cent of the capital cost through budgetary support in the form of VGF.
• According the “Powering Progress: Batteries for Discoms - A Market Action Report on Accelerating Battery Energy Storage in India”, approximately 42 Gw (208 Gwh) of BESS would be required to integrate 392 Gw of VRE (100 Gw of wind and 292 Gw of solar) by 2030.
• It also found that integrating increasing amounts of VRE resources, mainly solar and wind, to be a major factor driving grid storage adoption.
• During the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), GEAPP announced the expansion of the BESS project in India, which aims to achieve the target of 1 Gw for discoms under BESS by 2026.
• IndiGrid, a power sector infrastructure investment trust, was awarded its first BESS project to design, supply, test, install, commission, operate, and maintain a 20 Mw/40 Mwh in Delhi.
• The GEAPP, an alliance of philanthropy, governments, technology, policy, and financing partners, aims to provide concessional debt financing for 70 per cent of the total capital investment and technical assistance for the project.
• The GEAPP will continue to work on a scale-up plan with discoms to achieve the target of 200 Mw by providing technical assistance and concessional funding.

517 UDAN Routes Operate Across 76 Airports; INR 1000 Cr Allocated for Further Development

• Under the government’s flagship regional connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), 517 RCS routes have so far commenced operations connecting 76 airports, including nine Heliports & two water aerodromes.
• The UDAN scheme aims at fostering regional air connectivity at affordable rates and has been designed to facilitate air operations on underserved and unserved routes.
• Airlines participating in the UDAN scheme are required to allocate a specified number of seats as RCS seats, varying based on the type and size of the aircraft deployed for RCS flights.
• Selected Airline Operators also receive financial support in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
• State Governments contribute a 20 per cent share towards VGF for RCS flights within their states, except for North-Eastern states and Union Territories, where the share is 10 per cent.
• Six operators, who were awarded routes through the government’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional air connectivity scheme, are yet to initiate operations.
• Currently, nine airlines are participating in the scheme, with tweaks being sought to enhance its viability. SpiceJet, a regular RCS route bidder, has not participated in the last three UDAN schemes.
• TrueJet, a 10-year-old airline, ceased operations some months ago, failing to provide services on committed routes like Belgaum-Hyderabad and Belgaum-Kadapa. Under UDAN 5.0, only three airlines — Star Air, Alliance Air, IndiGo — are operating flights.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman doubled the outlay for UDAN to Rs 1,244 crore for 2023-24, compared to the previous year’s budgetary estimates of Rs 601 crore.

India's emission intensity reduced by 33% between 2005 and 2019

• According to a government report India reduced its GDP emission intensity by 33 per cent between 2005 and 2019, achieving the target 11 years in advance,

India's GDP grew at a cumulative annual growth rate of 7 per cent but its emissions rose by only 4 per cent per year during this period, suggesting that the country has been successful in decoupling its economic growth from planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

• The report called 'The Third National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change' will be submitted to the UN climate change body during the ongoing climate talks in Dubai.
• Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, India reduced its GDP emission intensity by 33 per cent between 2005 and 2019, achieving the target 11 years in advance. India created an additional carbon sink of 1.97 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent during this period.
• However, the country's total emissions (including Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry sector) have increased by 4.56 per cent with respect to 2016.
• India is among the 26 developing countries which have submitted their national communication based on the GHG (Greenhouse gases) inventory of 2019 or later years.
• China has submitted its latest communication with GHG inventory of 2014; Brazil in 2016; South Africa in 2017 and Saudi Arabia in 2012.

IRCON International shares tank over 8% as govt launches OFS to sell up to 8% stake

• The Union government has proposed to sell 8% stake in IRCON International through an offer for sale (OFS).
• The government will offload about 3.76 crore shares, which represents a 4% stake through the OFS, and in the case of oversubscription, an additional 4% stake will be under sale.
• The offer for sale will take place on December 8 through a separate window on the stock exchanges.
• As of September-end, the government holds 73.18% stake in the company.
• Non-retail investors can place their bids on December 7, which is the T day, and retail investors can participate in the OFS on December 8 (T+1).
• Post issue (including green shoe option), the government’s holding will come down to around 65 per cent.

About IRCON

• IRCON International Limited is a Central public sector enterprise under the Railway Ministry.
• It was set up to utilise the Indian Railway’s experience in helping developing nations of the world to install or maintain their own railways and also to execute railway projects for the private sector.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Chosen as the Flagship Nation for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Green Voyage 2050 Project    

• India has been selected as the pioneer lead country for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Green Voyage2050 Project.

Key Highlights :

• The overall goal of the Project is to support effective implementation of the Initial IMO GHG Strategy.
• It provides support to developing countries in their efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions from ships.
• The Initial IMO Strategy sets out a clear vision and levels of ambition, one of which is to reduce the total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.
• It is envisaged that the project will strengthen MARPOL Annex VI compliance, facilitate the sharing of operational best practices, catalyse the uptake of energy-efficient technologies and explore opportunities for low- and zero-carbon fuels.

Components of the project :

• Component 1 – Developing global tools to support implementation of the Initial IMO GHG Strategy
• Component 2 – Capacity building, policy and NAP development
• Component 3 – Strategic partnership development
• Component 4 – Technology cooperation, innovation and pilot demonstrations
• The countries participating in the GreenVoyage2050 Project are: Azerbaijan, Belize, China, Cook Islands, Ecuador, Georgia, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka.
• These countries are participating as either a New Pilot Country (NPC) or a Pioneer Pilot Country (PPC).
• The GreenVoyage2050 Project, currently in its first phase, is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment for an initial period up to December 2023 (NOK 64.5 million).

UNICEF and India Jointly Launch "Green Rising" Initiative at COP28 to Mobilize Youth for Climate Action

• The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), originally known as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, and India will launch the "Green Rising" initiative at the COP28 Summit in Dubai.

Key Highlights :

• UNICEF's Generation Unlimited, in collaboration with India's Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change will launch this initiative.
• This initiative will be launched to mobilize youth to drive climate action.
• The "Green Rising India Alliance" and the global "Green Rising" programme are the result of a partnership between UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, and a wide range of youth, public, and business partners.
• The primary objective is to inspire millions of youth across the globe to actively engage in green activities that address and mitigate the devastating effects of climate change on their local communities.
• Inspired by the Mission Life movement, the goal of the YuWaah campaign in India is to mobilise young people to spearhead grassroots environmental initiatives.
• In the first seven days of the COP28, more than 83 billion dollars had been raised.
• In response to the climate problem, 726 million dollars were promised during COP 28 for help against Loss and Damage.
• The Green Climate Fund will get 3.5 billion dollars, the Adaptation Fund 133.6 million dollars, and the Least Developed Countries Fund 129.3 million dollars.
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the $30 billion ALTERRA catalytic fund with the goal of raising an additional $250 billion to demonstrate its strong commitment to global climate action.
• Multilateral Development Banks committed about 22.6 billion dollars, and the World Bank promised an annual increase of 9 billion dollars for 2024 and 2025.

About UNICEF :

• Headquarters : New York, United States
• Executive Director : Catherine Russell
• UNICEF is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Assam's Royal Burial Grounds Submitted As Nomination For UNESCO Tag               

• Assam's Charaideo Moidams, the royal burial mounds of the Ahom dynasty, is India's official nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for 2023-24.

Key Highlights :

• The burial mounds, characterized by pyramid-like structures called 'moidams,' were utilized by the Tai-Ahom dynasty. This dynasty ruled Assam for approximately 600 years, spanning from the 13th century to the 19th century.
• The government has confirmed India's nomination for consideration as a World Heritage site for the 2023-24 cycle.
• The selection of sites for nomination is based on a well-defined rationale.
• The Moidams house the remains of the Ahom dynasty's royalty.
• Initially, the Ahoms followed burial practices, but post the 18th century, they adopted Hindu cremation rituals.
• The bones and ashes were then enclosed in a "moidam," an earthen pyramid.
• These moidams are commonly known as the pyramids of Assam.
• Selection of sites or properties for World Heritage nomination depends upon its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), Authenticity and Integrity.

About Assam :

• Governor : Gulab Chand Kataria
• Chief Minister : Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Capital: Guwahati
• National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary: Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary

India's 1st Telecom Centre of Excellence to come up in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur                                   

• The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has announced plans to build India’s first Telecom Centre of Excellence in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee.
• According to the state government, the new centre will not just widen UP’s participation in technology and innovation but will also propel the telecommunications sector.
• The state government has announced to shell out as much as Rs 30 crore in establishing a research centre at IIT Roorkee in Saharanpur.

Key Highlights :

• The centre will focus on the intersection of 5G technology and artificial intelligence (AI) and will lay the groundwork for the launch of 6G technology.
• The research conducted at the centre will primarily focus on the applications of 5G in areas such as e-learning, education, agriculture, and satellite communication.
• Primary objective : To develop and promote cutting-edge technology in the telecom sector.
• Research within the centre will span fundamental aspects of advanced wireless communication, 5G and wireless standards, millimetre-wave transceiver module design, and the application of AI/ML in wireless communication.
• The Telecom Center of Excellence is poised to contribute significantly to the development of 5G and 6G technologies, reducing India’s dependence on foreign technology and enhancing competitiveness in the global market.
• It will serve as a platform for training and skill development in the telecom sector, offering practical experience and specialized skills to students, research scholars, and industry professionals.

About UP :

• Governor : Anandiben Patel
• Chief Minister : Yogi Adityanath
• Capital : Lucknow
• National Park : Dudhwa National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary, National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Bulls take BSE market cap to new high of $4.03 trillion

• The market capitalisation of all BSE-listed companies hitting a new high of $4.03 trillion, aided by positive signals from the global markets and a fall in crude oil prices.
• This makes India one of the few countries with a market cap in excess of its gross domestic product.
• The journey from $3 trillion to $4 trillion took two-and-a-half years.
• The bellwether Sensex gained 728 points to 66,902 points, with foreign portfolio investors pumping in ₹1,786 crore.
• The Nifty was up 207 points to 20,096 points as the buying spree by both domestic and foreign investors continued.

Key Highlights

• The market cap of BSE stocks hit $2 trillion in July 2017 and crossed $3 trillion in May 2021.
• The market capitalisation of all BSE-listed stocks surged above ₹333-lakh crore and helped India rank fifth behind the US, China, Japan, and Hong Kong, with the US leading the pack with an M-cap of $48 trillion.
• The BSE SENSEX is a free-float market-weighted stock market index of 30 well-established and financially sound companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
• Foundation: 1 January 1986.

India’s Retail Inflation 5.55 per cent in November 2023

• The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is releasing the All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Base 2012=100 and the corresponding Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) for Rural (R), Urban (U) and Combined (C).
• CPIs for Subgroups and Groups for both All India and all States/UTs are also being released.
• The price data are collected from selected 1114 urban Markets and 1181 villages covering all States/UTs through personal visits by field staff of the Field Operations Division of NSO, MoSPI on a weekly roster.
• During November 2023, NSO collected prices from 99.9% villages and 98.6% urban markets while the market-wise prices reported therein were 90.0% for rural and 92.2% for urban.

India's IIP Growth Rate Rises to 16-Month High of 11.7% in October 2023

• The Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) are released on the 12th of every month (or previous working day if 12th is a holiday) with a six weeks lag and compiled with data received from source agencies, which in turn receive the data from the producing factories/ establishments.
• For the month of October 2023, the Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 2011-12 stands at 144.7.
• The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for October 2023 stand at 127.4, 141.8 and 203.8
• These Quick Estimates will undergo revision in subsequent releases as per the revision policy of IIP.
• As per Use-based classification, the indices stand at 146.1 for Primary Goods, 106.9 for Capital Goods, 157.8 for Intermediate Goods and 173.9 for Infrastructure/ Construction Goods for the month of October 2023.
• Further, the indices for Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables stand at 123.0 and 141.5 respectively for the month of October 2023.
• Details of Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production for the month of October 2023 at Sectoral, 2-digit level of National Industrial Classification (NIC-2008) and by Use-based classification are given at Statements I, II and III respectively.
• Also, for users to appreciate the changes in the industrial sector, Statement IV provides month-wise indices for the last 12 months, by industry groups (as per 2-digit level of NIC-2008) and sectors.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Vishnu Deo Sai to be sworn in as Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh

• Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vishnu Deo Sai will take oath as the new Chhattisgarh chief minister on December 13, 2023 in Raipur.
• He will be the 4th Chief Minister of the state and the 1st tribal Chief Minister.
• Sai hails from the influential Sahu (Teli) community which has a sizable presence in Durg, Raipur and Bilaspur divisions.
• The BJP won 54 seats in the 90-member Assembly in the recently held polls, unseating the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. The Congress ended with 35 seats, down from 68 it won in 2018.

About Vishnu Deo Sai  :

• Vishnu Deo Sai served as State President of Bharatiya Janata Party for Chhattisgarh from 2020 until 2022.
• He was Union Minister of State for Steel in the First Modi ministry.
• He was a member of the 16th Lok Sabha representing the Kunkuri constituency of Chhattisgarh.

About Chhattisgarh :

• Governor : Biswabhusan Harichandan
• Capital : Nava Raipur
• National park : Indravati National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries : Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Google Introduces Gemini: An AI Model Engineered to Mimic Human Behavior        

• Google has embarked on its latest venture in artificial intelligence with the introduction of Project Gemini, an AI model designed to emulate human-like behaviour, sparking discussions about the technology's potential and challenges.
• Gemini is a new artificial intelligence model that outperforms other models in tasks like understanding, summarising, reasoning, coding, and planning.
• It comes in 3 versions: Pro, Ultra, and Nano.
• The Pro version is already available, and the Ultra version will be released early 2024.
• These versions will be immediately integrated into Google's AI-driven chatbot Bard and the Pixel 8 Pro smartphone.

Gemini Availability :

• Currently, Google has integrated the new Gemini Pro with its chatbot Bard which is a direct competitor of ChatGPT.
• You can have a text-based interaction with Gemini-powered Bard but Google has promised support for other modalities "soon".
• The new update is available in 170 countries and territories but it is limited to English.

What is Gemini?

• Gemini is a large language model (LLM) developed by Google’s DeepMind division.
• It’s designed to compete with other AI systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and possibly outperform them.

Key Features of Gemini :

• Multimodal Capabilities : Gemini is designed from the ground up to be multimodal, integrating text, images, and other data types.
• This could allow for more natural conversational abilities.
• Google showcased the abilities of the AI by conversing with it with the help of a direct video interaction, showing it different objects in real time.
• Use of Tools and APIs : Gemini is one of the “next-generation multimodal models” that will utilize Pathways, Google’s new AI infrastructure.
• This hints at Gemini potentially being the largest language model created to date.
• Different Sizes and Capabilities : Gemini is a “series of models” that will be made available in different sizes and capabilities.
• It may utilise memory, fact-checking against sources like Google Search, and improved reinforcement learning to enhance accuracy and reduce hazardous hallucinated content.
• Impact of Gemini : Gemini is expected to have a significant impact on the AI industry. It’s Google’s most powerful AI model yet and outperforms OpenAI’s GPT-4.
• It powers applications and devices like the Bard chatbot and Pixel 8 Pro. Google claims it is one of the first models that has been built as a multi-modal LLM from the ground up. That should make interaction more natural and "human-like".

About Google :

• Established : 1998
• Headquarters : California, United States of America (USA)
• CEO : Sundar Pichai

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

NHAI Inks Agreement to Develop Multi Modal Logistics Park at Nagpur at a cost of Rs. 673 crores

• NHAI has signed an agreement with M/s. DC Multi-Modal Park (Nagpur) Limited, a SPV of M/S. DeltaBulk Shipping India Pvt. Ltd., for the development of Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at
• The MMLP will be developed in an area of 150 acres under the Public Private Partnership model at an estimated cost of Rs.673 crore.
• This project is poised to be the first MMLP in Maharashtra under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, making it a significant milestone in the country's development.
• The MMLP will be developed in three phases.
• Phase I with an investment of Rs. 137 crore is expected to be completed in two years.

Key Highlights

• MMLP will cater to about 9.47 million metric tonnes (MMT) cargo in the horizon period of 45 years and will give a huge boost to the industrial zones in the catchment region such as Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur and Gondiya.
• It will create a lot of employment opportunities and bring in economic development in the region.
• The MMLP shall be developed at Sindi (near the railway station) in Wadha district of Maharashtra.
• The site is strategically located at a distance of around 3 km from Nagpur – Mumbai Maha-Samruddhi Mahamarg on one side and Howrah – Nagpur - Mumbai rail line on the other side.
• Rail siding of length 3.0 km from Sindi Railway station on Hawrah-Nagpur- Mumbai rail line is substantially completed.
• The MMLP is also being provided access from four lane Nagpur – Aurangabad, NH 361.
• The site is 48 km from Nagpur International Airport and 56 km from Nagpur railway station.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

Kolkata: Safest city in India for the third consecutive year

• The most recent report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that Kolkata has remained India’s safest city for the third consecutive year, with an incidence of recognized crime (IPC) of 86.5 in 2023.
• Kolkata has managed to hold its position as the safest city in India for three years running if reports are to be regarded.
• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released a report that contains vital information about this.
• The data indicates that, compared to other major Indian cities, Kolkata has the lowest number of cognizable offences per lakh people.
• With a population of more than 20 lakh, this study and ranking are the outcome of a comparison of 19 major Indian cities.
• The number of recognized crimes per lakh people in Kolkata decreased from 103.4 in 2021 to 86.5 this year, according to the NCRB data.
• The count in 2020 was 129.5.
• The number of cognizable offences per lakh population in Pune and Hyderabad in 2021 was 256.8 and 259.9, respectively.

About NCRB

• NCRB is an Indian government agency (headquartered in New Delhi) established in 1986 and is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.
• It was set up based on the recommendation of the National Police Commission, 1977 and a Task force, 1985.

Daily CA One- Liner: December 13

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have agreed to launch a new fund aimed at boosting private infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific, where China is making inroads with its investments.
• Globally renowned data analytics company FICO has commenced operations in India, establishing collaborations with leading financial institutions, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and AU Small Finance Bank.
• ACKO General Insurance and PhonePe have collaborated to provide a range of inclusive car and bike insurance products directly to users through the PhonePe platform.
• India has been selected as the pioneer lead country for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Green Voyage2050 Project.
• The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), originally known as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, and India will launch the "Green Rising" initiative at the COP28 Summit in Dubai.
• Assam's Charaideo Moidams, the royal burial mounds of the Ahom dynasty, is India's official nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for 2023-24.
• The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has announced plans to build India’s first Telecom Centre of Excellence in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee.
• Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vishnu Deo Sai will take oath as the new Chhattisgarh chief minister on December 13, 2023 in Raipur.
• Google has embarked on its latest venture in artificial intelligence with the introduction of Project Gemini, an AI model designed to emulate human-like behaviour, sparking discussions about the technology's potential and challenges.
• The Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) was launched at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, UAE
• India became a member of the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Consortium, an initiative led by the Global Leadership Council (GLC) of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
• Under the government’s flagship regional connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), 517 RCS routes have so far commenced operations connecting 76 airports, including nine Heliports & two water aerodromes.
• According to a government report India reduced its GDP emission intensity by 33 per cent between 2005 and 2019, achieving the target 11 years in advance, India's GDP grew at a cumulative annual growth rate of 7 per cent but its emissions rose by only 4 per cent per year.
• The Union government has proposed to sell an 8% stake in IRCON International through an offer for sale.
• The market capitalisation of all BSE-listed companies hitting a new high of $4.03 trillion, aided by positive signals from the global markets and a fall in crude oil prices.
• The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is releasing the All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Base 2012=100 and the corresponding Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) for Rural (R), Urban (U) and Combined (C).
• For the month of October 2023, the Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 2011-12 stands at 144.7.
• The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for October 2023 stand at 127.4, 141.8 and 203.8
• NHAI has signed an agreement with M/s. DC Multi-Modal Park (Nagpur) Limited, a SPV of M/S. DeltaBulk Shipping India Pvt. Ltd., for the development of Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Nagpur
• The most recent report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that Kolkata has remained India’s safest city for the third consecutive year, with an incidence of recognized crime (IPC) of 86.5 in 2023.