National
Nehru and Tagore Literacy Awards for 2019 & 2020
⇒ The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu presented the prestigious Nehru and Tagore Literacy Awards in New Delhi on 19 December 2021.
Winners:
Prof. P. Adinarayana Reddy and Prof. M.C. Reddeppa Reddy were conferred with Nehru Literacy Awards for the year 2019 and 2020 respectively, whereas Prof. Anita Dighe and Smt Nishat Farooq received Tagore Literacy Awards respectively for preceding two years.
About award:
- The Indian Adult Education Association (IAEA) has been conferring the Nehru Literacy Award since 1966 and the Tagore Literacy Award since 1987.
- Indian Adult Education Association confers these Awards to individuals and institutions that have made noteworthy contributions to the field of education and national development.
Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area
⇒ Rear Admiral Atul Anand, VSM assumed duties of Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area (FOK) on 20 December 2021.
Rear Admiral Anand was commissioned on 01 Jan 1988 into the Executive branch of the Indian Navy.
The Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area is responsible to the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command for the operations and administration of all establishments and units at Karwar, including ships and submarines based at the Karwar Naval Base.
Command of the Eastern Fleet
⇒ Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla took over the Command of the Eastern Fleet, the Sword Arm of the Eastern Naval Command on 20 December 2021.
Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 January 1989.
India’s Biggest Drone Show
⇒ India’s biggest drone show was organised in Lucknow on the evening of 20 December 2021 as part of Amrit Mahotsav series of events on First War of Independence of 1857. More than 500 drones took part in this show.
The country’s largest drone show was organised under the joint aegis of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and the Department of Tourism and Culture, Uttar Pradesh.
International
Loan Agreement between Government of India and ADB
⇒ The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 17th December 2021 signed a $112 million loan to set up a skill university in Assam that will strengthen industry-aligned and flexible skills education and training system in the state.
Assam Skill University (ASU) Project is aligned with India’s National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship that envisages setting up skill universities to promote industry-aligned skills education and training programs that are integrated with higher education to create pathways for progression and mobility.
Loan Agreement between Government of India and ADB
⇒ The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank on 17th December 2021 signed a $350 million policy-based loan for sustainable urban services in India.
Policy-based loan aims to improve access to urban services in India by accelerating policy actions and reforms to enhance service delivery and promote performance-based central fiscal transfers to urban local bodies (ULBs).
The first subprogram of $350 million under Sustainable Urban Development and Service Delivery Program is aligned with the Government of India’s national flagship programs. It promotes cities as engines of economic growth by improving the quality of urban life through the creation of high-quality urban infrastructure, assured service provisions, and efficient governance.
Loan Agreement between Government of India and ADB
The Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 7th December 2021 signed a $150 million loan to provide access to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable housing for the urban poor in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Housing for Urban Poor Sector Project is aligned with the Government of India’s development priorities and policies on urban sector development, particularly the flagship program PMAY-Housing for All (Urban). It will address the housing shortage among poor urban dwellers in Tamil Nadu with provision of housing to eligible families.
Important Day
Vijay Diwas
⇒ December 16 is celebrated as ‘Vijay Diwas’ each year to mark the day of surrender and decisive victory of Indian Armed Forces over Pakistani Armed Forces.
The year-long celebrations of ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ culminated on 16 December 2021, which began in December 2020.
Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrated to mark 50 years of India’s victory in 1971 war. The aim was to spread the message of unity, nationalism and pride among people in general and Armed Forces in particular, in addition to showing respect to the veterans who participated in the war.
Commemorative Stamp:
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh unveiled an India Post special day cover and a commemorative stamp marking the golden jubilee of India’s victory during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, in New Delhi on December 16, 2021.
About Stamp:
- The stamp commemorates the iconic event in the history of Indian Subcontinent.
- As its centrepiece, it carries the ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ logo, designed by Lieutenant Commander Kushal Chandrashekhar of the Indian Navy.
- This stamp was selected in the All-India Competition held in October-November 2020.