Current Affairs (15-31 December 2021)
National
On December 30, 2021, the central government declared the entire Nagaland as a “disturbed area” for six more months under the AFSPA Act.
Telangana state has become the first state in India to compete for 100% first dose of COVID-19 vaccination.
India approved two more COVID vaccines and one pill on December 28, 2021. Two vaccines, Corbevax and Kovovax, were approved by the drug regulator Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). The anti-viral drug molanupiravir was also approved. It can be used only in an emergency situation.
In January 2022, India will chair the UNSC Anti-Terrorism Committee, after 10 long years.
Ever since Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was elected to the post, an ‘India out’ campaign has started within the country. The campaign has mostly dominated social media over the past three years. It is led by critics of the government. Critics accused the Maldivian presidential government of “taking Indian shoes off the ground”.
On December 25, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that children in the age group of 15-18 years would get the COVID-19 vaccination from January 3, 2022.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur introduced the “Anti-Doping Bill” in the Lok Sabha on December 17, 2021.
On December 15, 2021, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to rise the age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years.
On December 14, 2021, the Supreme Court observed that fundamental rights are guaranteed to every citizen, regardless of profession, and directed the central government to initiate the process of issuing voter ID, Aadhaar and ration cards to sex workers.
On December 14, 2021, Ladakh received its first FM radio station in the capital Leh.
On December 14, 2021, India, Iran and Uzbekistan held talks on joint use of Chabahar port. He also underlined the important role played by the port in enhancing regional connectivity.
Defense / Security
The Indian Army recently set up a “Quantum Laboratory” in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, highlighting its steady and significant progress in the emerging technology domain.
On December 28, 2021, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated 24 bridges and three roads, which have been constructed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO).
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the BrahMos Aerospace cruise missile manufacturing unit in Lucknow on December 26, 2021.
On 25 December, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) reached the port of Maputo, Mozambique carrying 500 tonnes of food aid as part of the Kesari Sagar Mission, which has been dubbed as the “Security and Development for All in the Region” mission.
India’s first indigenously built missile corvette, INS Khukri (P49) was decommissioned after 32 years of service at Visakhapatnam on December 24, 2021.
Indian Army launched a contemporary messaging application named ASIGMA called “Army Secure Indigenous Messaging Application”. It will replace the AWAN (Army Wide Area Network) messaging application. AWAN has been in service for the past 15 years.
The first successful test flight of the short-range surface-to-surface Pralay missile was conducted on December 22, 2021. The Pralay ballistic missile was flight tested from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. The missile followed the desired quasi-ballistic trajectory and reached the specified target with a high degree of accuracy.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently launched Rashtriya Ekta Geet, composed by National Cadet Corps cadets.
On 19 December 2021, the Indian Navy conducted the first sea trials of Indian Navy’s indigenously built stealth destroyer Mormugao in the Arabian Sea.
Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) demonstrated Controlled Air Delivery System on December 19, 2021.
On December 18, 2021, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully test-fired a new generation nuclear capable ballistic missile ‘Agni P’.
Banking/Finance/Commerce
The Minister of Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the India Semiconductor Mission on December 29, 2021. Under this scheme, interested companies who want to tap the Rs 76,000 crore incentive set by the central government to develop semiconductors and showcase the manufacturing ecosystem in India will be able to start applying for it from January 1, 2022.
On December 30, 2021 Insurance regulator IRDAI has continued state-owned LIC, GIC, and New India Assurance Company Limited as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SII) for 2021-22.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Financial Stability Report on December 29, 2021.
Major telecom service providers are set to launch fifth generation or 5G telecom services in select cities in India in 2022.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued guidelines for flex-fuel vehicles and flex-fuel robust hybrid electric vehicles.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently extended the deadline for complying with the card information storage rules by another six months.
On December 23, 2021, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs proposed an ‘amendment to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)’ to expedite the rescue of distressed companies that end up in bankruptcy tribunals.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched India’s first “Intelligent Transport System” on Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Dasna, Ghaziabad.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to provide a loan of USD 350 million to improve access to urban services across India.
On December 16, 2021 the Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh launched the MIS (Management Information System) portal for ranking of States/UTs in land acquisition projects.
A rare variety of Assam tea named Manohari Gold Tea created a record as it was auctioned at a record price of Rs 99,999 per kg.
At the World Trade Organization (WTO), India has lost a dispute with the Disputes Settlement Panel on the subsidy of sugar exports.
Bank of Baroda (BOB) has launched a wearable payment solution named “Bob World Wave”.
Science and Technology
Recently, a team of astronomers used data from the Hubble Space Telescope to search for the signature of a magnetic field on an exoplanet. The findings were described in the journal Nature Astronomy.
NASA’s Psyche mission is going to launch in August 2022. This will be the first launch to detect a giant metallic asteroid named Psyche in the main asteroid belt.
Researchers at IIT Delhi’s Kusuma School of Biological Sciences have developed an RT-PCR-based test that can detect the omicron version of SARS-CoV-2 in 90 minutes.
MoU/ Summits/ Conferences
The Government of India and the Government of Saudi Arabia have finalized an air bubble agreement to allow all eligible passengers to travel between the two countries.
Sri Lanka is soon going to enter into a long-lasting agreement with India to jointly develop the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm.
On December 17, 2021, India and Vietnam signed a letter of intent to enhance cooperation in the postal sector. It was sung in line with the wider strategic and economic ties between the two countries.
On December 17, 2021, India and Vietnam signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of Information Technology (IT).
Government Initiatives
The central government approved the issuance of the 19th tranche of electoral bonds on December 31, 2021, ahead of the assembly elections in five states. The sale of electoral bonds will be open from January 1 to January 10, 2022.
The state of Tamil Nadu has released its “New Policy for Women 2021” on December 29, 2021. This policy will be in force for more than five years.
On December 29, 2021, the government released the “Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievement (ARIIA) 2021” award list.
Accepting the request of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia advised airlines in India to play Indian music on their flights and airports in India.
Under the flagship Gram Ujala program, state-owned CESL has achieved a milestone of distributing 50 lakh LED bulbs. This milestone has been achieved under Project Crore of the Gram Ujala program.
On December 28, 2021, the Maharashtra Legislative Council passed the “Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 (Third Amendment) Bill”. The act is being opposed to a provision to include members of the LGBTQIA community in university boards.
On December 25, 2021, the central government released the “Good Governance Index 2020-21”. This index has been prepared by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
On December 23, 2021, the “Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021” was passed in the Assembly. This bill is known as the Anti-Conversion Bill.
The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, has given its approval to set up a “State General Category Commission” for the unreserved categories.
Important Days
The 97th edition of the World Sangeet Tansen Mahotsav began on December 25, 2021 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
The International Day of Pandemic Preparedness is observed every year on 27 December to raise public awareness of pandemics at all levels and to prepare for future outbreaks.
National Consumer Day is celebrated every year in India on 24th December. On this day, the President has given his assent to the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
International Day of Human Unity was observed globally on 20 December to honor “Unity in Diversity”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Goa on 19 December to participate in the Goa Liberation Day celebrations.
Awards & Recognition
On December 30, 2021, Sahitya Akademi announced its prestigious “Sahitya Akademi Award, Yuva Puraskar as well as Children’s Sahitya Puraskar” for 2021 in various languages.
On December 19, 2021, shuttler Kidambi Srikanth became the first Indian man to win a silver medal at the BWF World Championships.
International Affairs
Recently, Chinese citizens flared up against Elon Musk’s space program after China complained that its space station had to take aggressive action to avoid a collision with satellites launched by Musk’s Starlink program.
On August 25, 2021, India’s trade minister, Muhammad Lutfi presented his case to the lower house of Indonesia’s legislature for ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement.
The world’s longest metro line was opened in the Shanghai province of China on December 31, 2021.
Iran has launched a rocket with a satellite carrier containing three instruments into space on December 30, 2021.
On 29 December 2021, the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) announced the addition of Egypt as its new member.
On December 28, 2021, Israeli food-tech firm SavorEat launched a plant-based burger system, which is personalized for each customer.
On December 27, 2021, a new Chinese earth observation satellite named “Zhiyuan-1 02E” was launched into space by China.
The Global Environment and Climate Action Citizen Award were presented in Dubai on 23 December 2021.
Researchers in China have developed a machine that can use artificial intelligence to accuse people of committing crimes. This is the world’s first development. AI prosecutors have the ability to file charges with over 97 percent accuracy.
Nobel Peace Prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu passed away at the age of 90 on December 27, 2021.
On December 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) began reviewing draft amendments to the “Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests”.
Hong Kong’s oldest university launched an overnight campaign on December 23, 2021 to destroy a statue in memory of those killed in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in the latest blow to academic freedom.
Russia issued a draft agreement proposed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on safeguards for both sides.
Malta has become the first country in the European Union to legalize cannabis for home and personal use.
