Defence minister inaugurated advanced Hypersonic Wind Tunnel test facility in Hyderabad. The state-of-the-art facility is pressure vaccum driven enclosed free jet facility with nozzle exit of one-meter diameter. It will simulate Mach 5 to 12.
Mach represents the multiplication factor to the speed of sound.
Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda inaugurated Tribes India showrooms in Kolkata and Gwalior for preserving and promoting the art and culture of the tribal population who form roughly 8% of the population.
TRIFED established: 1987;
HQs: New Delhi.
UN General Assembly, on 22 Dec 2005, by resolution identified solidarity as one of the fundamental & universal values that should underlie relations b/w peoples in 21st century, and decided to proclaim 20 Dec of each year International Human Solidarity Day
United Nations Founded: 24 October 1945;
HQs: New York, US.
The review details irregularities & required corrections affecting data for 4 countries: China, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan. As per the 'Doing Business' 2020 report, India had jumped 14 places to the 63rd position on the ease of doing business ranking
The ranking of Azerbaijan has been improved to 28 from 34.
Singapore’s tradition of communal dining at hawker centres, open-air food courts popularised by celebrity chefs and hit films such as ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, has been recognised by UNESCO for its cultural significance. Hawker centres were set up in the 1970s
UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945;
HQs: Paris, France.
IIFL Finance subsidiary has tied up with ICICI Bank to provide affordable housing and MSME loans. Under the tie-up, IFL Home will originate and service customers through the entire loan life-cycle, and ICICI Bank will provide funding to these customers.
ICICI Bank CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi;
HQs: Mumbai;
Founded: June 1994
Madhya Pradesh government has decided to introduce a new brand named Raag-Bhopali to give a new international identity to Bhopal's handicrafts. The exhibition is being organized from 26 to 30 December in Gauhar Mahal, Bhopal.
Bhopal is popular for its zari, zardozi, and Jute work.
Assam's Industries & Commerce Dept had signed an MoU with SIDBI under which a Project Management Unit will be deployed by SIDBI with govt of Assam. Through this MoU, SIDBI in association with Industries & Commerce Dept aims to develop the MSME concept.
Assam Capital: Dispur;
Chief minister: Sarbananda Sonowal.
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has decided to quit international cricket alleging 'mental torture' from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Amir made his debut for Pakistan in a T20I match against England in June 2009
He won 2009 ICC WT20 & 2017 ICC Champions Trophy with the team.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed three indigenously developed DRDO systems to the armed forces.
Indian Maritime Situational Awareness System to Navy, Border Surveillance System to Army, and ASTRA Mk-I Missile to the Air force.
Chief of Defence Staff: General Bipin Rawat.
Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, virtually chaired the 22nd meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19. India’s COVID 19 Pandemic Growth has dropped to 2% and Case Fatality Rate is amongst lowest in world which is at 1.45%.
India’s Recovery Rate has peaked to 95.46%.
India can see 14% reduction in CO2 emissions in small commercial vehicle segment with higher electric vehicle penetration by 2030, as per study 'Roadmap for Electrification of Urban Freight in India' released by TERI & Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.
TERI Founder: Darbari S Seth;
Founded: 1974.
Italy-based global confectionery major Ferrero Group, the producer of many iconic brands including Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, Kinder and Raffaello, will acquire Eat Natural, the maker of high-quality cereal bars, toasted muesli and granola.
Italy Capital: Rome;
Currency: Euro.