Daily Current Affairs 13 December for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NOTE: To read complete Current Affairs, subscribe to our plan. All important news are not covered here.
NATIONAL NEWS
Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme launched to promote Sustainable Management of forests and agroforestry
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has launched the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme. This national forest certification scheme offers voluntary third-party certification designed to promote sustainable forest management and agroforestry in the country.
- The scheme includes forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and chain of custody certification.
- The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme can provide market incentives to various entities that adhere to responsible forest management and agroforestry practices in their operations. This includes state forest departments, individual farmers, or Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in agroforestry and farm forestry, as well as other wood-based industries in the value chain.
Lok Sabha gives nod for additional cash outgo of Rs 58,378 cr in current fiscal
The Lok Sabha cleared a net additional spending of Rs 58,378 crore in the current fiscal ending March 2024, with a large chunk going towards MGNREGA and subsidy on fertiliser. The gross additional spending sought by the government was over Rs 1.29 lakh crore, of which Rs 70,968 crore would be matched by savings and receipts.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that fiscal prudence is the top priority of the government without compromising on social welfare. She also said that the net additional spending by the government would be Rs 58,378.21 crore in the current fiscal.
Nine states record a higher rate of inflation in November, shows data
Odisha had the highest retail inflation among states in November, while Delhi and Chhattisgarh continued to witness low price pressures, data for retail inflation released has shown.
- At 7.7%, Odisha witnessed the highest retail inflation rate in November, followed by Rajasthan at nearly 7% and Haryana at 6.8%. Karnataka and Punjab recorded 6.5% each. At 3.1%, Delhi topped the charts for states with the lowest inflation rates, followed by Chhattisgarh at 3.6% and Jammu & Kashmir at 3.8%. West Bengal recorded 4.7%, while Kerala had 4.8%.
- Nine out of 22 states for which data is published had higher rates than the overall inflation rate for the country. Retail inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), rose to a three-month high of 5.6% in November, higher than the previous month’s 4.9%, led by a surge in vegetable and some food prices, posing fresh challenges for policymakers and dashing prospects of any interest rate cut for now.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Myanmar overtakes Afghanistan as world’s top opium producer: UN
Myanmar has become the world’s biggest producer of opium, overtaking Afghanistan after the ruling Taliban imposed a ban on poppy cultivation, according to a new United Nations report.
- The Southeast Asian nation produced an estimated 1,080 metric tons of opium in 2023, the highest since 2001, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in its report.
- The Taliban’s strict ban on poppy cultivation, introduced last April in Afghanistan, slashed opium production in the country by 95%
India joins UN’s ‘Race to Resilience’ initiative at COP28
India has joined the United Nations ‘Race to Resilience’, a global campaign to mainstream the idea of climate resilience in cities across India during the recently concluded COP28 event in Dubai.
- The Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) at the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), an autonomous institution under the ministry of housing and urban affairs, will spearhead this initiative.
- ‘Race to Resilience’ is a global platform to bring together non-state actors, investors, businesses, cities, regions, and civil society to increase the resilience of the most vulnerable to the climate crisis by 2030.
BANKING & FINANCE
Poonawalla Housing Finance rebrands as Grihum Housing Finance post TPG takeover
Post the acquisition of Poonawalla Housing Finance by TPG Capital Asia, the company takes on a new identity, Grihum Housing Finance.
- The global private equity firm TPG acquired a 99.02 per cent equity stake in the company, taking over from Poonawalla Fincorp earlier this year.
- According to the company, 62 per cent of the business is from the self-employed informal sector.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
RITES signs pact with CFM Mozambique for supply of 10 diesel locomotives
State-owned RITES Ltd announced it has signed a pact with CFM Mozambique for the supply of diesel locomotives and incidental services at a total cost of $37,680,080 (Rs 314.1 crore).
- The pact has been signed for the supply of ten diesel locomotives.
AWARDS
At COP28: Game-Changing Innovator award for plastic surgeon Dr Atul Shah
Dr. Atul Shah, a plastic surgeon, has been honored with the 2023 REACH Game Changing Innovator award for his groundbreaking contribution to leprosy care.
- Three decades ago, Dr. Shah devised a simple surgery technique, ‘One in Four Lasso,’ to address deformities in leprosy patients. His journey took a transformative turn when he observed the challenges of managing unhealed foot wounds.
Javed Akhtar to Receive Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award at Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival
Veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar will be felicitated with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival.The award ceremony will be held at Rukmini Auditorium on the MGM University campus of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on 3rd January 2024.
- The honor ceremony celebrates his noteworthy contributions to the Indian film industry including his timeless creations like ‘Deewar’, ‘Don’,’ Kala Patthar’, ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Sholay’ and ‘Mr. India’.
- Javed Akhtar who has already received Padma Shri in 1999 and Padma Bhushan later in 2007, two of the highest civilian honors of India is now going to add another one to the list.