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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

Minorities Rights Day in India: 18th December

• Minorities Rights Day 2022 is observed on the 18th of December 2022.
• December 18 commemorates declarations on the rights of persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities.
• Minorities Rights Day was first observed on December 18th, 1992 by the United Nations.
• The UN adopted the statement on the individual Rights belonging to religious or Linguistic National or Ethnic Minorities.
• In India, it is the responsibility of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to carry out the events on this day.
• The NCM was established by the Union Government under the National Commission for Minorities Act, in 1992.

Goa’s Liberation Day: 19th December

• Goa’s Liberation Day 2022 is observed on the 19th of December 2022.
• Goa was still in disrepair after 450 years of Portuguese rule on August 15, 1947, when India attained freedom.
• One of the first nations to colonize sections of India was Portugal, which continued to cling onto Goa and other Indian regions even after India gained her freedom.
• The former Indian prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, believed that military intervention was their only choice after numerous fruitless conversations and diplomatic attempts with the Portuguese.
• Action Vijay, which translates to "Operation Victory," was a 36-hour military operation that began on December 18, 1961, by the combined forces of the Indian navy, air force, and army.
• 451 years of Portuguese rule in the region officially came to an end and the territory was taken back by India on December 19, 1961.

International Migrants Day: 18th December

• International Migrants Day 2022 is observed on the 18th of December 2022.
• Although the day was established in 2000, it has been observed since 1997 that several Asian migrant organizations designated December 18 as the day to advocate for the respect, rights, and protection of migrants.
• On account of the ever-increasing number of migrants around the world, on December 4, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly declared December 18 as the day for International Migrants
• Goals connected to migration are included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations.
• Among them is education access, which will result in improved prospects and a higher standard of living.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

PMKKK Scheme has been renamed the Promotion of Prime Minister's Heritage (PM Vikas) Scheme:

• The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme has replaced the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK), according to Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Minority Affairs, in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.
• Five former Ministry of Finance programs—Seekho aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni, and Nai Manzil—have been combined into one integrated program.
• The Cabinet has given the plan its blessing for the duration of the 15th Finance Commission.
• PM VIKAS uses the elements of skill development, education, women's leadership, and entrepreneurship to enhance the livelihoods of minorities, especially the artisan groups.
• The scheme's ultimate goal is to boost recipients' incomes and give support through facilitating credit and market linkages.
• These components work in harmony to achieve this goal.

About PM VIKAS:

• Minority Affairs Ministry, Nodal Ministry
• Scheme for the Central Sector
• Using the elements of skill development, education, women's leadership, and entrepreneurship, the goal is to improve the minority' quality of life, especially in the artisan communities.
• The plan merges five (5) current Ministry of Minority Affairs initiatives into one: Seekho aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni, and Nai Manzil.
• Four things make up the scheme: 1) Skill-building and training, 2) Leadership and entrepreneurship, 3) Education, and 4) Infrastructure Development.

Nation Honors Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the Anniversary of His Death:

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 72nd death anniversary was marked by tributes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union Ministers.
• Recalling Sardar Patel on his Punya Tithi, Prime Minister Modi declared that the nation would be eternally grateful to Patel.
• The "Iron Man of India," Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was born on October 31, 1875, in the village of Nadiad in modern-day Gujarat.
• India will always be grateful to him for his exemplary service, his managerial prowess, and the tireless efforts he made to bring our country together.
• Indian nationalist Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was known as Sardar.
• He served as India's first deputy prime minister from 1947 until 1950.
• He was a prominent member of the Indian National Congress and a barrister who oversaw the country's unification into a single, sovereign nation.
• He belonged to the conservative faction of the Indian National Congress.

The fifth edition of Youth Co: Lab is released by Atal Innovation Mission and UNDP India:

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and UNDP India together launched the fifth edition of Young Co: Lab, making it the largest youth innovation movement in the Asia Pacific region.
• The applications for this edition were introduced by Mr. Dennis Curry, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP India, and Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director AIM, NITI Aayog.
• Through the fifth edition of Youth Co: Lab India, Atal Innovation Mission, and UNDP India are leading this movement and supporting young social entrepreneurs who have the potential to be great forces in driving social change and advancing the implementation of SDG target actions.
• The fifth edition of Youth Co: Lab India will concentrate on locating and assisting youth-led early-stage social enterprises or innovations operating in the following areas: 1) Digital and Financial Literacy for Youth, 2) Gender Equality and Women's Economic Empowerment, 3) Creating FinTech Solutions Focused on Biodiversity Conservation, 4) Promoting Biodiversity-friendly Lifestyles through Technological Solutions in Finance, 5) Accelerating Circular Economy through Upcycling Innovations ( Lifestyle For Environment).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Iran removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women

• The 54-member United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted a resolution to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for the remainder of its four-year term from 2022 to 2026.
• The development comes in the wake of the country’s brutal crackdown on protests calling for justice for Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman who died in police custody in September 2022.

Key Highlights :

• The United States introduced the resolution, which received 29 votes in favour and 8 against, with 16 countries abstaining.
• The document expressed serious concern over the Iranian Government’s actions since September 2022 “to continuously undermine and increasingly suppress the human rights of women and girls”, and “often with the use of excessive force”.
• US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called the CSW the premiere UN body for promoting gender equality and empowering women.

About the UN Commission on the Status of Women :

• Established: 21 June 1946
• Headquarters: New York, United States of America (USA)
• UNCSW is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• CSW has been described as the UN organ promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
• Its 45 members are elected by ECOSOC, based on equitable geographical distribution, and serve for four years.

G-7 approves 15.5 billion US dollar energy deal with Vietnam to help cut climate-damaging pollution

• A group of 9 rich industrialized nations has approved a deal to provide Vietnam with 15.5 billion US dollars to help the Southeast Asian nation move faster from coal power to renewable energy, cutting its climate-damaging pollution.
• The $15.5 billion of funding will come from public and private sources over the coming 3 to 5 years.

Key Highlights :

• The Group of Seven major economies, along with Norway and Denmark, stated that the aim is to help Vietnam reduce its emissions to net zero by 2050.
• It is a goal that experts say needs to be met globally to cap global warming at 5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
• The Just Energy Transition Partnership with Vietnam is among a series of agreements that developing and rich nations are negotiating.
• The first such deal was signed with South Africa in
• A similar agreement was reached with Indonesia in November 2022.

About G7 :

• G7 is an international intergovernmental economic organization of the world’s seven advanced economies.
• Members- Canada, Japan, Italy, France, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
• G7 countries meet annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance, international security, and energy policy.
• The G7 does not have a fixed headquarters.
• The UK currently chairs the G7 and has invited India along with Australia, the Republic of Korea, and South Africa as guest countries for the G7 summit.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Assam govt launches 'Orunodoi 2.0', DBT scheme to benefit over 1 mn people

• Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Orunodoi 2.0 scheme virtually from Assam House in New Delhi.
• The total financial outlay for Orunodoi is 4,142 crore per annum.

Aim : 

• To provide financial security to financially disadvantaged families.

About Orunodoi 2.0 scheme :

• Orunodoi, the poverty alleviation scheme, launched on December 1, 2020, entails a monthly grant of Rs. 1,250 to each beneficiary. 
• It is one of 18 flagship schemes of the Government of Assam currently in operation
• To date, around 17 lakh women have been receiving an amount of Rs 1,250 each on the 10th of every month through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method under the first phase of this social sector scheme.
• 54 lakh, the additional number of people will benefit from the Assam government’s second edition of ‘Orunodoi’.
• With this, the total number of beneficiaries will come to 27 lakh.
• From April 2023 onwards, all the existing beneficiaries of the Deen Dayal Divyangan Pension Yojana and Indira Miri Widow Pension Scheme would be subsumed under Orunodoi 2.0.

About Assam :

• Governor : Jagdish Mukhi
• Chief minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Capital: Dispur
• National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Raimona National Park, Nameri National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amsang Wildlife Sanctuary, Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary, Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary

Tramjatra event - 150 years of the Kolkata tram to be celebrated by users

• Kolkata will witness the Tramjatra event that will celebrate 150 years of its iconic tram and renew hope that this non-polluting mode of transport does not become entirely extinct in February 2023.

Objective :

• To educate people, particularly the younger generation, about climate change, air pollution, and sustainable development objectives with a focus on green mobility and Kolkata’s tram legacy
• The theme of the 2023 Tramjatra will be Heritage, Clean Air, and Green Mobility

What is Tramjatra?

• Tramjatra (tram’s journey) is a moving tram carnival that was started back in 1996 jointly by enthusiasts from Melbourne and Kolkata.
• It is essentially an international collaboration of tammies, artists, environmentalists, and tram-loving communities.
• At that time, Kolkata, the only Indian city where the tram still runs, was home to about two dozen routes.
• Currently, the number of routes that remain operational has shrunk to just two.
• It will also call upon the West Bengal government to preserve the historic mode of transport.

Kerala registers Beypore Uru (boat) for GI tag

• The District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode has applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the famous Beypore Uru (boat).
• The Beypore Urus is a symbol of Kerala’s trade relations and friendship with the Gulf countries.

About Beypore Uru (boat) :

• It is a wooden dhow (ship/sailing boat/sailing vessel) handcrafted by skilled artisans and carpenters in Beypore, Kerala.
• It is mainly made of Malabar teak, probably the biggest handicraft in the world.
• Beypore urus is purely made of wood, without using any modern techniques, and traditional methods are used to launch this ship into the water.
• The carpenters manually join each piece of wood to build the large boat.
• Uru making in Beypore is a centuries-old tradition that was established when India began its maritime trade with Mesopotamia.
• Beypore is a town located on the banks of the Chaliyar River.
• According to records, Uru ships have been in high demand for around 2,000 years.

List of some items recently given Geographical Indication (GI) tag :

• Gamosa from Assam
• Tandoor Redgram from Telangana
• Raktse Carpo Apricot from Ladakh
• Alibaug White Onion from Maharashtra
• With this, the total number of GI tags in India has gone up to 432.

Top 5 states with maximum GI tags 

1. Karnataka
2. Tamil Nadu
3. Kerala
4. Uttar Pradesh
5. Maharashtra

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

SEBI gives nod to AIFs to raise money from FPIs

• Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a framework for the Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) in India will now be able to raise money from Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). 
• At the time of onboarding investors, the manager of an AIF will have to ensure that FPIs are residents of a country, the securities market regulator of which is a signatory to the International Organisation of Securities Commission’s (IOSCO) Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding, or a signatory to a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding with SEBI.

Key Highlights :

• Investors contributing 25% or more in the corpus should not be a person mentioned in the Sanctions List notified by the United Nations Security Council, and should not be a resident in a country identified in the public statement of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• The investor should also not be from a country that has not made sufficient progress in addressing the deficiencies or has not committed to an action plan developed with FATF to address such deficiencies.

About Alternative Investment Funds: 

• It refers to any privately pooled investment fund, (whether from Indian or foreign sources), in the form of a trust or a company or a body corporate, or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).

About SEBI :

• Established: on 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman: Madhabi Puri Buch
• It is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance within the Government of India (GoI).

Paytm board approves Rs 850-crore share buyback via open market

• The board of One97 Communications Ltd, the listed entity that runs Paytm, approved a share buyback program worth ₹850 crores via an open market route through the stock exchanges method.
• The company will undertake a buyback of up to ₹850 crores (excluding buyback taxes and other transaction costs) at a maximum price of ₹810 per share.

Key Highlights :

• Assuming a full buyback of ₹850 crore and applicable buyback taxes, the total outlay will be more than approximately ₹1,048 crores.
• When a publicly listed company buys its shares from existing shareholders, it’s known as a share buyback.
• The maximum limit of buy-back is 25 % or less of the aggregate paid-up capital and free reserves of a company.

About Paytm :

• Founded: August 2010
• Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
• CEO: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
• Paytm is an Indian digital payment and financial services company.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

HDFC Bank to acquire 7.75% stake in Mintoak for Rs 31 cr

• India's largest private bank HDFC Bank has acquired a 7.75% stake in fintech start-up Mintoak Innovations (Mintoak) for a total cash consideration of Rs 31.14 crore.
• The acquisition is likely to be completed by 31 January 2023, subject to conditions precedent.

Key Highlights :

• HDFC has executed agreements to subscribe 21,471 fully paid-up compulsory convertible preference shares (CCPS) of the face value of Rs 20 each at a premium of Rs 9,711 for an aggregate consideration of Rs 9,731 per CCPS to be issued by Mintoak.
• The bank will purchase 10,538 fully paid-up equity shares of the face value of Rs 10 each at a premium of Rs 9,721 taking the total consideration to Rs 9,731 per equity share from certain existing shareholders of Mintoak
• Mintoak is a fintech start-up that provides a payments-led platform offering value-added services to merchants for engaging with their customers and for acquirers to enhance their engagement with merchants through digital engagement and value-added solutions.
• It had a turnover of Rs 11.28 crore and a net profit of Rs 1.47 crore in

About HDFC Bank :

• Founded: August 1994
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• CEO : Sashidhar Jagdishan

Life Insurance Corporation Raises Stake In HDFC To Over 5%

• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the country's largest insurer, has increased its stake in Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Ltd to over 5% following the acquisition of shares from the open market.
• Once the deal is effective, HDFC Bank will be 100% owned by public shareholders, and existing shareholders of HDFC will own 41% of the bank.
• In a notice to the stock exchanges, LIC stated that its stake increased from 4.991% to 5.003%, after it acquired 2.14 lakh shares.

About HDFC Ltd :

• Founded: 1977
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• CEO: Keki Mistry
• HDFC Ltd is an Indian private development finance institution.

About LIC :

• Founded: 1 September 1956
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairperson: M R Kumar
• Managing Director: B C Patnaik, Smt. Ipe Mini, Siddharth Mohanty, Rajkumar

The LIC is an Indian central public sector undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

List of best universities and tuition costs, most expensive cities (New York, Singapore):

• The most costly cities in the world are New York and Singapore, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Worldwide Cost of Living Index for this year.
• Some Indian students want to pursue higher education in these cities.
• Here is a list of some of the prestigious colleges and universities in these expensive cities.
• Higher education in New York has long been a goal for many students.
• While attending school in the Big Apple, students will be exposed to its rich culture and way of life, which will increase their job possibilities.
• Cornell University and Columbia University, two Ivy League schools, are located in New York.
• The top four universities in New York, according to the QS World University Rankings 2023:

Cornell University

• This is one of the eight elite IVY League private universities in the USA. Founded in 1865, Cornell University is based in Ithaca, New York. It has been ranked 20 by the QS World University Rankings 2023. Some of the most popular courses at Cornell University are Computer and Information Sciences, Management, Business, Marketing, Engineering, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and many others.
• For an undergraduate student, the tuition fee is $62,457 per year. For professional degrees, the fees for international students are between $20,000 to $37,000 per year.

Columbia University

• This is the oldest university in New York City and the fifth oldest in the USA.
• This Ivy League university was established in 1754 as King’s College. Columbia University has been ranked 22 by the QS World University Rankings 2023.
• Some popular courses at Columbia University are Medicine, Nursing, Business, Engineering, Brand Management, Marketing, and many others.

New York University

• NYU is a prestigious private university that was founded in 1831.
• It is located in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. NYU has been ranked 39 by QS World University Rankings 2023. Some popular courses at New York University include Visual and Performing Arts, Business Management, Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences, Psychology, and many more.

Yeshiva University

• Founded in 1886, Yeshiva University is a Jewish private university in New York City. Yeshiva University is divided into three undergraduate colleges: Yeshiva College, the Stern College for Women, and the Sy Syms School of Business.
• The university has been ranked 246 by QS World University Rankings 2022.
• Some popular courses at the university are business administration, Psychology, Political Science and Government, English Language and Literature, Jewish/Judaic Studies, Economics, and many others.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi appointed as  CMD of NHPC Limited

• Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi has assumed the additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
• Before his appointment, Yamuna Kumar Chaubey NHPC's Director (Technical) was holding the additional charge of the CMD of the company.
• Currently, he is also the CMD of Rishikesh-based Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited (THDCIL).

About NHPC Limited : 

• Founded: 1975
• Headquarters: Faridabad, Haryana, India
• The NHPC Limited is an Indian government hydropower board under the ownership of the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

About THDCIL :

• Founded: 12 July 1988
• Headquarters: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
• Chairman & MD: Sh. R. K. Vishnoi
• THDC India Limited is under the ownership of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, Ministry of Power, Government of India.

MCA Secretary Manoj Govil nominated as SEBI Board Member

• The Centre has nominated Manoj Govil, Secretary of, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), to the Board of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• The SEBI Board comprises 9 members, including the Chairperson Madhabhi Puri Buch.
• There are 2 Government nominees (DEA Secretary Ajay Seth and now MCA Secretary Manoj Govil); 1 RBI nominee (Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao); and 4 Wholetime Members (S K Mohanty, Ananta Barua, Ashwani Bhatia, and Ananth Narayan G) & there is also a public interest member, V Ravi Anshuman, a Professor from IIM-Bangalore.

About  Manoj Govil :

• Govil, a 1991 batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre.
• He will serve as a Member of the SEBI Board in the place of erstwhile MCA Secretary Rajesh Verma, who was appointed as a part-time Member of the Board on March 8, 2022.
• Govil was appointed as MCA Secretary in October 2022

About Rajesh Verma :

• Rajesh Verma, a 1987 batch IAS officer of Orissa Cadre.
• He was appointed as MCA Secretary in April 2020. 
• He was appointed as the Secretary to the President of India Droupadi Murmu in August 2022.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise - SURYA KIRAN-XVI begins 

• The 14-day long, 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 - 29 December 2022.

About SURYA KIRAN :

• Exercise “SURYA KIRAN” is conducted annually between India and Nepal.
• It occurs alternatively between India and

Aim : 

• To enhance inter-operability in jungle warfare and counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) under UN mandate.
• Nepal Army soldiers of the Shree Bhawani Baksh Battalion and Indian Army soldiers from the 5 GR will be participating in the exercise.
• The 15th edition of Indo–Nepal Joint Military Training Exercise Surya Kiran commenced on September 20, 2021, at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.
• The 14th edition of the exercise took place in Saljhandi, Nepal, in 2019.

Key Highlights : 

• The joint exercise would focus on the evolution of combined drills for planning and conduct of tactical operations at the unit level in counter-terrorism operations and disaster response mechanisms in general and the role of armed forces in the management of disasters.
• During the exercise, participants will be training together to develop inter-operability and share their experience including Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations and also on Humanitarian Relief operations.
• It will enhance the level of defence cooperation which will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.

About Ministry of Defence :

• Union Minister: Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary: Giridhar Aramane

About Nepal :

• President : Bidhya Devi Bhandari
• Prime Minister : Sher Bahadur Deuba
• Capital: Kathmandu
• Currency: Nepalese rupee

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India successfully carries out night trials of the Agni-V nuclear-capable ballistic missile

• India has successfully carried out night trials of the Agni V nuclear-capable ballistic missile from Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha.
• This comes days after Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Aim : 

• To boost India's nuclear deterrence against China, which is known to have missiles like Dongfeng-41 having ranges between 12,000-15,000 km.
• This is the 9th flight of the Agni V - a missile first tested in 2012 - and was a routine test.
• The successful test of Agni-5 is in line with India’s stated policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to 'No First Use'.

About Agni V :

• Agni-V is a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.
• It is a surface-to-surface Nuclear Capable Ballistic missile.
• It is a 17-meter-long missile with a 2-meter diameter.
• The missile is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy
• It can carry both nuclear and traditional weapons.
• It is the most advanced missile in the Agni series featuring many new technologies, including the very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro-based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINS) which improves the accuracy of the missile.
• With the Agni-V, India joins an elite club of countries like the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China, which boast Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capabilities.

ISRO Successfully Tests 160-meter trisonic wind tunnel 

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the first blowdown test of the newly released 160m Trisonic Wind Tunnel at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• The tunnel can be used for testing various space vehicles in 3 flight regimes - below the speed of sound, at the speed of sound, and above the speed of sound: hence the name Trisonic Wind Tunnel.

About Trisonic Wind Tunnel :

• The aerodynamic design of rockets and re-entry spacecraft by characterizing a scaled model by evaluating forces, moments, load distribution, unsteady pressures, acoustic levels, etc. 
• The tunnel has an overall length of about 160m and a maximum cross-section of 5.4m.
• The tunnel can simulate flight conditions from 0.2 times the speed of sound (68 m/s) to 4 times the speed of sound (1360 m/s). 
• A large tube with air flowing through it can be used to replicate the interaction between the air and an object flying through the air, such is the working principle of a wind tunnel.
• The Indian space agency is working on a manned spaceflight program, on a test vehicle (RLV-TD) that can be launched like a rocket and land like a plane, and also various heavy-lift rockets for future use.

About ISRO :

• Founded: 15 August 1969
• Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
• Chairman: Sreedhara Somanath
• The ISRO is the national space agency of India & it operates under the Department of Space (DOS).

NASA astronauts successfully install a new roll-out solar array on ISS

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronauts Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio have successfully installed Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) on the starboard truss structure of the International Space Station (ISS).
• In addition to installing an iROSA, the spacewalkers will disconnect a cable to allow the 1B power channel to be reactivated after it was shut down due to a power trip in its electrical system.
• Cassada will serve as extravehicular crew member 1 (EV 1) and will wear a suit with red stripes. 
• Rubio will serve as extravehicular crew member 2 (EV 2) and will wear the unmarked suit. 
• The spacewalk will be the 2nd for both Cassada and Rubio.

About NASA :

• Founded: July 29, 1958
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C, United States of America
• Administrator: Bill Nelson

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Rehan Ahmed makes his Test Cricket debut, becoming the youngest player for England:

• Rehan Ahmed makes his Test debut for England in the final match between Pakistan and England.
• When the match begins, Rehan Ahmed will be 18 years and 126 days old.
• Brian Close, who was 18 years and 149 days old at the time, was the youngest player in England during the 1949 New Zealand vs. England match.
• Ben Stokes confirmed Rehan Ahmed's debut in the final match between England and Pakistan.
• Rehan Ahmed surpasses Brian Close as the youngest England Test cricketer to make his debut.
• Stokes also confirmed two changes from the second test, which England won by 26 runs in Multan.
• Rehan Ahmed will take over for spinner Will Jacks, while wicketkeeper Ben Foakes will replace James Anderson.
• England is visiting Pakistan for the first time since 2005.
• Rehan Ahmed has played three first-class games and is a wrist spinner who is a high point for England, according to Ben Stokes.

Tata Steel has been an official partner of the FIH Men's World Cup 2023:

• Tata Steel Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hockey India to become an Official Partner of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar - Rourkela.
• The FIH Men's World Cup is the highest level of men's hockey competition.
• The 15th edition of the prestigious event will take place from January 13 to January 29, 2023, in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
• Tata Steel has aided in the development of India's national sport by providing top-tier high-performance residential hockey training facilities, foreign coaches, nutritionists, and mental and physical trainers.
• This adventure began with the Naval Tata Hockey Academy, which was established in 2017 as a cutting-edge institution to help burgeoning field hockey talent at the grassroots level in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
• Currently, there are 65+ grassroots program centres with 3000+ cadets administered by Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives in the interiors of three Jharkhand districts.
• In addition, the Tata Steel Foundation operates 9 centres in the interiors of other districts in the state, with 300+ cadets.

Daily CA on December 18 & 19:

• Minorities Rights Day 2022 is observed on the 18th of December 2022.
• Goa’s Liberation Day 2022 is observed on the 19th of December 2022.
• International Migrants Day 2022 is observed on the 18th of December 2022.
• The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme has replaced the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK), according to Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Minority Affairs, in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 72nd death anniversary was marked by tributes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union Ministers.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and UNDP India together launched the fifth edition of Young Co: Lab, making it the largest youth innovation movement in the Asia Pacific region.
• The most costly cities in the world are New York and Singapore, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Worldwide Cost of Living Index for this year.
• Rehan Ahmed makes his Test debut for England in the final match between Pakistan and England.
• Tata Steel Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hockey India to become an Official Partner of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar - Rourkela.
• The 54-member United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted a resolution to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for the remainder of its four-year term from 2022 to 2026.
• A group of 9 rich industrialized nations has approved a deal to provide Vietnam with 15.5 billion US dollars to help the Southeast Asian nation move faster from coal power to renewable energy, cutting its climate-damaging pollution.
• Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Orunodoi 2.0 scheme virtually from Assam House in New Delhi.
• Kolkata will witness the Tramjatra event that will celebrate 150 years of its iconic tram and renew hope that this non-polluting mode of transport does not become entirely extinct in February 2023.
• The District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode has applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the famous Beypore Uru (boat).
• Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a framework for the Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) in India will now be able to raise money from Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). 
• The board of One97 Communications Ltd, the listed entity that runs Paytm, approved a share buyback program worth ₹850 crores via an open market route through the stock exchanges method.
• India's largest private bank HDFC Bank has acquired a 7.75% stake in fintech start-up Mintoak Innovations (Mintoak) for a total cash consideration of Rs 31.14 crore.
• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the country's largest insurer, has increased its stake in Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Ltd to over 5% following the acquisition of shares from the open market.
• Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi has assumed the additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
• The Centre has nominated Manoj Govil, Secretary of, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), to the Board of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• The 14-day long, 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 - 29 December 2022.
• India has successfully carried out night trials of the Agni V nuclear-capable ballistic missile from Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the first blowdown test of the newly released 160m Trisonic Wind Tunnel at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronauts Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio have successfully installed Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) on the starboard truss structure of the International Space Station (ISS).