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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

International Human Solidarity Day: 20th December

• International Human Solidarity Day 2022 is observed on the 20th of December 2022.
• People are welcome to participate in discussions regarding actions to foster solidarity on International Human Solidarity Day when nations demonstrate their adherence to various international agreements.
• On December 22, 2005, the UN General Assembly recognized solidarity as one of the fundamental and enduring values of the twenty-first century by passing Revolution 60/209.
• Through the creation of the World Solidarity Fund to end poverty and the declaration of International Human Solidarity Day, the idea of solidarity was propagated.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UAE to host next meeting of World Trade Organization

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the next major meeting of the World Trade Organization set to take place by March 2024.
• The UAE and Cameroon were both vying to host the event known as MC13 (Ministerial Conference 13), a high-level event scheduled every few years where trade ministers aim to fix new global trade rules.
• The two countries reached an “amicable agreement” for the UAE to host the next meeting, known as MC13, and for Cameroon to host the one after that, citing a letter from the head of the WTO’s General Council sent to Geneva-based ambassadors.

About WTO :

• Founded: 1 January 1995
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
• Membership: 164 members (160 UN member states, the European Union, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan)
• The WTO is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade.

About UAE :

• President: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
• Capital: Abu Dhabi
• Currency: UAE dirham

India hosts the 1st G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) meeting under the G20 India Presidency in Bengaluru, Karnataka

• The First Group Twenty (G20) Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting, under the Indian Presidency, was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from 23-25 February 2023 under the co-chairship of Secretary, Economic Affairs, Shri Ajay Seth and Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Dr. Michael Patra.
• The theme of India’s G20 Presidency, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or “One Earth, One Family, One Future, will guide the G20 Finance Track discussions. 

Aim :

• To seek the views of G20 members on India’s G20 Finance Track priorities for 2023 across various workstreams.
• The meeting saw an enthusiastic gathering of over 160 foreign delegates including Deputies from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and International Organisations.

Key Highlights :

• A side event on ‘Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to Address Shared Global Challenges of the 21st century was held on the sidelines of the Deputy's meeting.
• Another side event on ‘Role of Central Banks in Managing Climate Risk and Green Financing’ was also held.
• The discussions focused on issues relating to the global economy and risks, strengthening MDBs, managing global debt vulnerabilities, financing climate action and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities of tomorrow.
• Overall, the meeting saw broad support for the proposed priorities of India’s G20 Finance Track agenda for 2023.
• During the first session on the global economy and Framework Working Group priorities, G20 members discussed global economic challenges, including global inflation, food, and energy insecurity, and the macroeconomic implications of climate change.
• In the session on International Financial Architecture, delegates deliberated on various issues, including strengthening MDBs and exchanged views on work to be undertaken in 2023 on key topics including global debt distress, capital flows, and global financial safety net.
• In the infrastructure session, discussions took place on India's priorities for the Infrastructure Working Group 2023 including "Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable".

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Ladakh gets its first-ever GI Tag to its Raktsey Karpo Apricot

• The Union Government has granted the first-ever Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Raktsey Karpo apricot of Ladakh.
• The coveted GI tag certification for 20 years.
• Ladakh grows more than 30 types of Apricots, but the Raktsey Karpo variety is unique to the region.
• Apricot is the major fruit of Ladakh with large-scale cultivation in both Leh and Kargil Districts among the nine fruits grown in Ladakh.
• Apricot is also being promoted under One District One Product for Kargil.

Key Highlights :

• Raktsey Karpo apricots are known for their pure organic sweetness.
• According to the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Raktsey Karpo’s TSS (total soluble solids) at 9ºBrix is the highest reported in the world in fresh apricots to date.
• TSS is one way of calculating sweetness, which is commonly used as a quality index in many types of fruit.
• A higher ratio is indicative of higher and more acceptable fruit quality.
• “For Raktsey Karpo, the TSS to acid ratio was 33:1, which is significantly higher than the figures reported from other parts of the world.

About Geographical Indication Tag :

• A Geographical Indication is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
• The GI of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
• This GI tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed

Wayanad rice festival promotes climate-resilient crops

• The Kerala-based Organisation named Thanal in an experiment has planted 300 climate-resilient varieties of traditional rice on5 acres of land at its agroecology center in Panavally in the Wayanad district.

Aim : 

• To sensitize people to the significance of conserving traditional crops that can withstand harsh climatic conditions.
• Thanal has been organizing annual “rice field weeks” since 2012.
• Thanal also launched the Rice Diversity Block (RDB) at Panavally under the Save Our Rice campaign in 2009, with a collection of 30 varieties of rice.

Key Highlights :

• The Thondy variety, a traditional and popular rice among the people in Wayanad a few decades ago, could compete with any hybrid rice in terms of productivity.
• The festival also sets the stage for knowledge sharing and co-creation of knowledge between tribal farmers and experts.
• Most of the varieties were collected from Kerala, Karnataka, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
• Many varieties are drought-resistant and flood-tolerant, while others have aromatic and medicinal properties.
• Black rice varieties are rich in minerals like zinc, iron, and other nutrients.
• India had nearly 1.5 lakh varieties of rice, with about 3,000 varieties unique to Kerala.

Reliance Retail's unit launches FMCG brand 'Independence' in Gujarat

• Reliance Retail Ventures Limited's Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) unit Reliance Consumer Products launched its indigenous consumer packaged goods brand, 'Independence' in Gujarat.
• The new launch has been introduced to consumers and kirana partners on the occasion of the centenary celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj at Akshardham in
• As per the company, Independence offers a wide range of products under several categories including staples, processed foods, and other daily essentials.
• The company plans to develop Gujarat as a “go-to-market” state to create excellence in execution for its FMCG business, as it prepares for a national rollout for the brand.

About Gujarat :

• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• Chief minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel
• Capital: Gandhinagar
• National Park: Gir National Park,
• Wildlife Sanctuary: Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Nal Sarovar Birds Sanctuary, Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

RGICL launches ‘Reliance Health Infinity Policy’

• Reliance General Insurance Company Limited (RGICL) has launched the first-of-its-kind premium health insurance product – ‘Reliance Health Infinity Policy’ that offers limitless benefits.

About ‘Reliance Health Infinity Policy’ :

• The policy is available in individual and family floater, covering up to 8 members, and categories and offers sum-insured options starting from ₹5 lakh to ₹5 crores.
• It has features like MoreGlobal Cover, Maternity Cover, OPD Cover, unlimited restoration of the sum insured, and 15-plus useful add-on benefits.
• It also rewards customers for being fit both financially and physically by offering India’s first credit score-based discount and Body Mass Index (BMI)-based discount on the premium
• Children above 90 days of age and adults between the age of 18 to 65 years are covered in this policy.
• The basic plan of the Policy is well-rounded and provides coverage against critical expenses like Organ donors, Pre-&-Post hospitalization, Daycare procedures, emergency ambulance, and special treatments.
• The policy has also introduced smart discounts like Credit Score-based (first in the country), BMI- (Body Mass Index)-based, and Stay Healthy discounts to reward customers for staying fit both financially and physically.
• The Reliance Health Infinity policy can be bought for a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year policy tenure

About RGICL :

• Founded: 17 August 2000
• CEO: Rakesh Jain
• Reliance General Insurance Company Limited is an India-based private insurance company and is part of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, wholly owned through Reliance Capital.

Cashfree Payments enables eUPP to provide educational institutions with instant and secure payments for parents and students

• India's leading payments and API banking solutions company, Cashfree Payments, is enabling eUPP (eLite Unified Payment Platform), a fee payment management system for schools and colleges, to offer an instant and secure fee payments experience for end users
• Currently, through this partnership, more than 500 educational institutions across the country are leveraging Cashfree Payments’ payment collections suite for their payment needs.

About eUPP :

• eUPP is an online fee payment management system for schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. 
• It brings all educational expenses on a single platform and provides maximum benefits to families, students, and parents from their expenditures towards education-related activities.
• eUPP is owned by Connexrm Pte Ltd, a Singapore Headquartered company, and has a portfolio of products under its umbrella to help an institution cover the entire paradigm of their requirements.

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Inks Pact With Kotak Mahindra General Insurance        

• Private sector lender Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd. (TMB) has entered into a strategic alliance with Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Co. Ltd.,  for marketing the products of the insurance arm of Kotak Mahindra Bank. 
• To offer customer-centric choices in every product, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank executed the agreement for marketing the general insurance products under the tie-up with Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Ltd.
• In Nov 2022, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank tied up with Cholamandalam General Insurance and Max Life Insurance Company to offer their insurance products.

About TMB :

• TMB was founded in 1921 as the Nadar Bank but changed its name to Tamilnad Mercantile Bank in November 1962
• Headquarters: Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India
• MD & CEO:  S.Krishnan
• Tagline: Be a Step ahead of life

About Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Ltd :

• Founded: 2015
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO: Suresh Agarwal

SIDBI partners with M1xchange to provide liquidity to MSMEs

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the principal financial institution engaged in the promotion, financing, and development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has partnered with M1xchange as the financier.
• This move is expected to bring liquidity to MSMEs at competitive interest rates.
• This is a highly effective and efficient solution for addressing the issue of the delayed payment of MSMEs.

About M1xchange :

• MD & CEO: Mr. Sundeep Mohindru
• M1xchange offers early liquidity to MSMEs within 24 hours through its online bidding platform through the end-to-end digital process. 
• It is one of 3 Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platforms, the 2 others are RXIL & InvoiceMart.
• TReDS is regulated by the RBI which enables discounting of bills of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) resulting in an improvement of cash flow and liquidity and overall improvement in the functioning of MSMEs.
• M1xchange provides online invoice discounting and factoring solutions, purchase bill and trade receivables discounting system,
• To date, M1xchange facilitated bill discounting of more than Rs 37,000 crores to over 14,000 MSME suppliers spread across 1,400 towns across the country at a competitive rate of interest.
• The TReDS looks forward to increasing its footprints in digital factoring by 25% to 30% in the current fiscal year 2022-23.

About SIDBI : 

• Founded: 2 April 1990
• Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Chairman & MD : Sivasubramanian Ramann
• SIDBI is the apex regulatory body for the overall licensing and regulation of micro, small and medium enterprise finance companies in India.
• It is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, GoI.

IREDA signs Rs. 4,445 crore loan agreement with SJVN Green Energy Ltd. for a 1,000 MW Solar power project

• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) signed a loan agreement for 4,444.71 crores with SJVN Green Energy Ltd. (SGEL, a subsidiary of SJVN Ltd.), for a 1,000 MW Solar power project at Bikaner, Rajasthan.
• In the presence of Shri Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), IREDA and Shri Nand Lal Sharma, CMD, SJVN, Shri Pradipta Kumar Roy, DGM (IREDA) and Shri S. L. Sharma, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (SGEL) signed the loan agreement at the corporate office of IREDA.

Key Highlights :

• The IREDA-funded project will connect to the 400/220 KV substation Bikaner-II (near Bikaner).
• SJVN has bagged the project through the tender floated by IREDA under the CPSU Phase-II (Tranche III) Scheme for the development of Grid connected Solar PV Power Project through a competitive Bidding Process based on Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support.

About SJVN Green Energy Ltd :

• Founded: April 2022
• Headquarters: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
• CEO: S.L.Sharma

About the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) :

• Cabinet Minister: Raj Kumar Singh
• Minister of State: Bhagwanth Khuba

Only about 13% recovery in written-off loans during the last 5 years

• According to the Finance Ministry data presented in the Rajya Sabha, only about 13% of the loans written off by the scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) during the last 5 financial years have been recovered

Key Highlights :

• Total recovery of over ₹32 lakh crore from written-off loan accounts made during the last 5 financial years.
• In response to two separate questions on the issue, the Ministry presented data on write-off and recovery.
• As per inputs received from RBI, SCBs (scheduled commercial bank) wrote off an amount of over ₹09 lakh crore during the last 5 financial years (Fiscal Year 2017-18 to the Fiscal Year 2021-22).
• NPAs (non-performing assets), including those with full provisioning made on completion of 4 years, are removed from the balance sheet of the bank as a write-off.
• Banks write off NPAs to clean up their balance sheet, get a tax benefit and optimize capital, by RBI guidelines and policies approved by their boards.
• Further, as per RBI data on domestic operations, “stressed assets, including restructured standard assets, as a percentage of gross advances in SCBs, has declined from 8% as on March 31, 2014, to 7.8% as on March 31, 2022.

About scheduled commercial banks :

• The scheduled commercial banks are those banks that are included in the second schedule of the RBI Act 1934 and which carry out the normal business of banking such as accepting deposits, giving out loans, and other banking services.
• The scheduled banks are further classified into:
• SBI & Associates
• Nationalized Banks
• Other Public Sector Banks
• Private Banks
• Foreign Banks
• Regional Rural Banks

HDFC Securities launches investor education and market analysis platform ‘Roots’

• Leading Indian stock brokerage firm, HDFC Securities has launched Roots, a dedicated platform providing comprehensive investor education and market analysis.
• The site offers multiple forms of valuable information, including articles, bite-sized tips, podcasts by experts, video tutorials and explainers, and live social media feed on the Indian financial markets.
• The biggest USP of the platform is that it produces content that is being searched on Google by current or prospective investors and traders.
• The Blog section of Roots is updated with articles addressing all aspects of investing in the Indian financial markets, from intraday trading to ETFs, and more.
• The portal also includes a UGC section (User Generated Content) where investors and traders can suggest topics they want to learn more about.

About HDFC Securities Limited :

• Founded: 2000
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Dhiraj Relli
• HDFC Securities Limited is a financial services intermediary and a subsidiary of HDFC Bank.

AU Small Finance Bank and HDFC Life announce Bancassurance Tie-up

• AU Small Finance Bank, India's leading small finance bank, and HDFC Life, one of India’s leading life insurers, entered into a corporate agency arrangement for soliciting insurance plans of HDFC Life through the bancassurance business model.

Aim :

• To enrich the Bank’s life insurance offering by enabling its customers to access the digital platform and the touch points of HDFC Life for servicing.

About the Partnership :

• The partnership would enable diverse customers of AU Small Finance Bank to access the entire range of life insurance products offered by HDFC Life, thus fulfilling their need for financial protection.

About bancassurance :

• Bancassurance is an arrangement between a bank and an insurance company, through which the insurer can sell its products to the bank's customers.
• Both the bank and the Insurance companies benefit.

Aim :

• To offer insurance products or insurance benefits to the bank's customers.
• The bancassurance sector is regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

About AU Small Finance Bank :

• Headquarters: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
• MD & CEO: Sanjay Agarwal
• It was founded as vehicle finance company AU Financiers (India) Ltd in 1996 and converted to a small finance bank on 19 April 2017.

About HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd :

• Founded: 2000
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Vibha Padalkar

It is a joint venture between Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (HDFC), one of India's leading housing finance institutions, and Abrdn, a global investment company.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Sargam Koushal wins Mrs. World 2022 title after 21 years:

• Sargam Koushal created history as she finally won the Mrs. World 2022 title after 21 years while competing for India in the competition.
• The 32-year-old won the championship in Las Vegas after defeating opponents from 63 other nations.
• To win the championship, Sargam Koushal defeated Mrs. Polynesia.
• The Jammu and Kashmir-born beauty queen's ex-husband is an Indian Navy officer; she was formerly employed as a teacher in Vizag.
• World was lastly held by an Indian in 2001.
• At a gala held in Las Vegas, Sargam Koushal, an Indian competitor, took home the title of Mrs. World.
• Koushal defeated rivals from 63 different countries to bring the title back to India after a 21-year absence.
• Sargam Koushal of Mumbai, currently based there, and World 2021 Shaylyn Ford of the US, received the title.
• Sargam Koushal is originally from Jammu and Kashmir.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

India ranks 3rd internationally in the publication of scientific papers:

• According to a survey by America's National Science Foundation, India has risen from seventh to third in global scientific publications and academic output, according to Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh.
• India is third in the world in terms of the number of PhDs produced annually.
• In a similar rising trend, the number of patents awarded by the India Patents Office to Indian scientists has more than doubled in just the last four years.
• India's scholarly production climbed from 60,555 papers in 2010 to 1, 49,213 papers in 2020.
• China tops the world in the publication of the highest number of scientific articles followed by The United States of America.

Report on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) for 2022:

• The British weekly The Economist published the 2022 Global Food Security Index (GFSI) study.
• The 11th Global Food Security Index demonstrates that the global food environment has deteriorated for the third year in a row, jeopardizing food security.
• According to this report, South Africa has surpassed Tunisia to become Africa's most food-secure country.
• The global food ecosystem is worsening, exposing it to shocks.
• Significant progress was made in global food security from 2012 to 2015, with the aggregate GFSI score increasing by 6 percent.
• India is ranked 68th, like Algeria, with an overall score of 58.9. China is ranked 25th, with a score of 74.2.
• India was ranked at 71st position in the Global Food Security (GFS) Index 2021 among 113 countries with an overall score of 57.2 points on the GFS Index 2021.
• In 2022, Europe will have eight of the top ten performing countries, with Finland topping the list with a score of 83.7.
• Ireland (with a score of 81.7) and Norway are next (scoring 80.5).
• These countries achieved high scores on all four GFSI pillars.
• Japan and Canada are the only non-European countries in the top ten.
• Since 2019, the gap between top-performing countries and lower-ranking countries has widened, highlighting injustice in the global food system.
• Africa's Most Food-Secure Country: South Africa, ranked 59th, was named Africa's most food-secure country. It jumped from 70th to first place in 2021.
• This is despite the country's agriculture sector facing numerous worldwide issues such as climate change, the fertilizer shortage caused by the Ukraine war, inflation, and so on.
• This is the first time that a country in Sub-Saharan Africa has been named the continent's best performer.
• Tunisia is Africa's second-best performing country, ranking 62nd.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Mette Frederiksen re-elected as the PM of Denmark                          

• Head of the Socio Democratic Party Mette Frederiksen was re-elected as the Prime Minister (PM) of Denmark for a second term.
• Lokke Rasmussen will serve as the new foreign minister.
• After the elections, the new coalition parties have a combined 89 seats in the 179-seat parliament.
• It is the first time in the last 44 years that such a centrist government has been formed.
• The last time Denmark was governed by a centrist coalition was in 1978 when the Social Democrats teamed up with the Liberals
• The government will have 23 ministers & there are 8 women and 15 men.
• The three party leaders - Frederiksen, Jacob Elleman-Jensen of Venstre, and Lars Løkke Rasmussen of the Moderates are scheduled to host a news briefing to outline the broad political ideas behind the next government.

About Mette Frederiksen :

• Mette Frederiksen was first elected to the Folketing in the 2001 general election, representing Copenhagen County.
• She has been the Prime Minister of Denmark since June 2019.
• She is the second woman to hold this office, after Helle Thorning-Schmidt (2011-2015).
• In December 2021, she became the longest-serving incumbent female head of government in the European Union.

About Denmark :

• Monarch : Margrethe II
• Capital: Copenhagen
• Currency: Danish krone

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India will be the first country to hold a satellite spectrum auction

• The chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), PD Vaghela, announced that India will be the first country in the world to auction spectrum for satellite communications (SatCom) spectrum.

Key Highlights :

• TRAI is working on a model for the auction of space spectrum – to encourage and promote investment in the sector
• TRAI will soon make recommendations to make permissions required for satellite communication from various ministries Information and Broadcasting, Space, and Telecom, seamlessly to enhance the ease of doing business in the sector.
• It is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth.
• The GSAT (Geostationary Satellite) satellites are India’s indigenously developed communications satellites, used for digital audio, data, and video broadcasting.

About communications satellite :

• It creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on earth.
• The satellites are used for television, telephone, radio, internet, and military applications.
• There are currently 2,134 communications satellites in the earth’s orbit and these comprise both private and government organizations.
• Several are in geostationary orbit 22,236 miles (35,785 km) above the equator, so that the satellite appears stationary at the same point in the sky.
• TRAI is yet to come up with a consultation paper on the spectrum auction as per the standard process meant for satellite communication.

About TRAI :

• Founded: 20 February 1997
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairperson: PD Vaghela
• TRAI is a regulatory body set up by the Government of India under section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• It is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Neeraj Chopra becomes the most written-about athlete in 2022, according to World Athletics:

• According to World Athletics, India's Tokyo Olympics gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was the most written-about track and field athlete in 2022, edging out Jamaican legend Usain Bolt.
• The data compiled by media monitoring company Unicepta was mentioned by World Athletics, the global governing body for athletics.
• Neeraj Chopra, the men's javelin champion at the Tokyo Olympics, led the way with 812 articles, followed by the Jamaican women's sprint trio of Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah (751 articles), 100m world champion Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce (698 articles), and 200m world champion Shericka Jackson (679 articles).
• Usain Bolt, the world record holder in the 100m and 200m men's sprint, comes in fourth in the list with 574 references.
• For years, the Jamaican, who is now retired, led the annual list of most written-about athletes.

The Indian women's hockey team won the FIH Nations Cup 2022:

• The Indian women’s Hockey team led by Captain Savita Punia beat Spain 1-0 in the final to win the inaugural FIH Nations Cup staged at Valencia, Spain.
• Gurjit Kaur of India scored the game-winning goal.
• The first FIH Nations Cup was contested in Valencia, Spain, from December 11 to 17, 2022.
• India and Spain competed in the FIH women's hockey Pro League 2021-22 season as substitute teams after Australia and New Zealand withdrew due to COVID-19 concerns.
• The outcome also means that the Janneke Schopman-coached squad has been promoted to the FIH Pro League 2023-24.
• Hockey India has set a monetary award of Rs 2 lakh for each member of the squad and Rs 1 lakh for each support staff member.
• India finished the tournament undefeated, having won all five matches.
• The Indian squad defeated Chile (3-1), Japan (2-1), and South Africa (2-0) in the group round before defeating Ireland 2-1 in a penalty shootout in the semifinal.

Argentina defeats France in the tournament's final match on penalties:

• FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi's Argentina won the ultimate prize in men's football in the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, defeating France 4-2 on penalties (3-3 after extra time) to win their third World Cup championship from six final appearances in history.
• It had two victories under Diego Maradona in 1978 and 1986.
• Lionel Messi nearly won in 2014, but La Albiceleste fell to Germany in the championship game 0-1 instead.
• The sole connection to Messi's Qatari campaign in 2014 was his Golden Ball victory as Tournament Player of the Year.
• He became the first player to take home two Golden Balls at the World Cup.
• The 22nd World Cup just concluded, and it will be another 4 years before the next one.
• Additionally, the 2026 World Cup will be split among Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup

• The top 4 team rankings for the 2022 FIFA World Cup are Argentina (winner), France (second), Croatia (third), and Morocco (4th)
• Kylian Mbappe (France) received the Golden Boot Award (8 Goals)
• Lionel Messi of Argentina received the Golden Ball; (7 goals and registering 3 assists)
• Emiliano Martinez received a golden glove (Argentina)
• Enzo Fernandez received the FIFA Young Player Award.
• FIFA Award for Fair Play: England
• Lionel Messi won the Silver Boot Award.
• Olivier Giroud receives the bronze boot (France)
• Kylian Mbappe received the Silver Ball.
• Luka Modric receives the bronze ball (Croatia)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHORS

A book written by Michelle Obama called "The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times":

• Michelle Obama wrote a nonfiction book titled The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, which was released by Crown Publishing.
• The Light We Carry will encourage readers to reflect on their own lives, find their joys, and form meaningful connections in a chaotic world.
• The author "shares the contents of her 'personal toolbox' - the routines and techniques, attitudes and convictions, and even tangible items that she uses to fight her feelings of fear, powerlessness, and self-doubt."
• In general, book critics have given her biography, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, favorable reviews.
• In The Light We Carry, the former First Lady offers her sage advice and effective tactics for being optimistic and in tune in the world of today, which is rife with uncertainty.
• As a mother, daughter, wife, and friend, she also shares original stories, thoughtful comments on the change, and the acquired wisdom that aids in her ongoing "becoming."
• She also examines racial, gendered, and visibility-related concerns with her signature wit, candor, and compassion, inspiring readers to face their fears, find support in their neighbors, and live bravely.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

The last Hawaiian princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa Passes away

• Hawaiian royalty Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, known as the "last Hawaiian princess" or the "last American princess Passed away at the age of 96 in Honolulu, Hawai.

About Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa :

• Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa was born on April 23, 1926, in Honolulu, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii.
• She was a member of the House of Kawānanakoa.
• Kawānanakoa was a noted philanthropist, having amassed a fortune of $215 million mainly inheritance from her great-grandfather, James Campbell.
• She funded various Native Hawaiian causes and contributed to the maintenance of the Iolani Palace, America's only royal residence that is now a museum.

Daily CA on December 20:

• International Human Solidarity Day 2022 is observed on the 20th of December 2022.
• Sargam Koushal created history as she finally won the World 2022 title after 21 years while competing for India in the competition.
• According to a survey by America's National Science Foundation, India has risen from seventh to third in global scientific publications and academic output, according to Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh.
• The British weekly The Economist published the 2022 Global Food Security Index (GFSI) study.
• According to World Athletics, India's Tokyo Olympics gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was the most written-about track and field athlete in 2022, edging out Jamaican legend Usain Bolt.
• The Indian women’s Hockey team led by Captain Savita Punia beat Spain 1-0 in the final to win the inaugural FIH Nations Cup staged at Valencia, Spain.
• FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi's Argentina won the ultimate prize in men's football in the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, defeating France 4-2 on penalties (3-3 after extra time) to win their third World Cup championship from six final appearances in history.
• Michelle Obama wrote a nonfiction book titled The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, which was released by Crown Publishing.
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the next major meeting of the World Trade Organization set to take place by March 2024.
• The First Group Twenty (G20) Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting, under the Indian Presidency, was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from 23-25 February 2023 under the co-chairship of Secretary, Economic Affairs, Shri Ajay Seth and Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Dr. Michael Patra.
• The Union Government has granted the first-ever Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Raktsey Karpo apricot of Ladakh
• The Kerala-based Organisation named Thanal in an experiment has planted 300 climate-resilient varieties of traditional rice on5 acres of land at its agroecology center in Panavally in the Wayanad district.
• Reliance Retail Ventures Limited's Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) unit Reliance Consumer Products launched its indigenous consumer packaged goods brand, 'Independence' in
• Reliance General Insurance Company Limited (RGICL) has launched the first-of-its-kind premium health insurance product – ‘Reliance Health Infinity Policy’ that offers limitless benefits.
• India's leading payments and API banking solutions company, Cashfree Payments, is enabling eUPP (eLite Unified Payment Platform), a fee payment management system for schools and colleges, to offer an instant and secure fee payments experience for end users
• Private sector lender Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd. (TMB) has entered into a strategic alliance with Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Co. Ltd.,  for marketing the products of the insurance arm of Kotak Mahindra Bank.
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the principal financial institution engaged in the promotion, financing, and development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has partnered with M1xchange as the
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) signed a loan agreement for 4,444.71 crores with SJVN Green Energy Ltd. (SGEL, a subsidiary of SJVN Ltd.), for a 1,000 MW Solar power project at Bikaner, Rajasthan.
• According to the Finance Ministry data presented in the Rajya Sabha, only about 13% of the loans written off by the scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) during the last 5 financial years have been recovered
• Leading Indian stock brokerage firm, HDFC Securities has launched Roots, a dedicated platform providing comprehensive investor education and market analysis.
• AU Small Finance Bank, India's leading small finance bank, and HDFC Life, one of India’s leading life insurers, entered into a corporate agency arrangement for soliciting insurance plans of HDFC Life through the bancassurance business model.
• Head of the Socio Democratic Party Mette Frederiksen was re-elected as the Prime Minister (PM) of Denmark for a second term.
• The chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), PD Vaghela, announced that India will be the first country in the world to auction spectrum for satellite communications (SatCom) spectrum.
• Hawaiian royalty Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, known as the "last Hawaiian princess" or the "last American princess Passed away at the age of 96 in Honolulu, Hawai.