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Thursday, December 31, 2020

Quote of the Day December 31, 2020

 

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”
Dalai Lama
“हम बाहरी दुनिया में तब तक शांति नहीं पा सकते हैं जब तक कि हम अन्दर से शांत न हों।”
दलाई लामा

Current Affairs – December 31, 2020

 

Cabinet Approvals

  • Industrial Corridor nodes at Krishnapatnam. It was proposed by DPIIT.
  • Tumakuru Industrial Area in Karnataka
  • Multi-modal Logistics Hub and Multi-modal transport hub at Greater Noida
  • Export of Akash missile system
  • Interest subvention for ethanol distilleries
  • India mission in Estonia, Paraguay and Dominican Republic in 2021
  • India-Bhutan MoU in peaceful use of outer space

India

Global Pravasi Rishita portal launched

On December 30, 2020, the External Affairs Minister launched the Global Pravasi Portal and application to connect with Indian diaspora across the world.

Indian Navy and DRDO conduct SAHAYAK-NG

The Indian Navy and Defence Research Development Organization conducted the maiden test trail SAHAYAK-NG. SAHAYAK-NG is the first indigenously designed and developed air dropped container from IL 38SD aircraft of Indian Navy. The main objective is to provide critical engineering stores to ships that are deployed more than 2,000 kilometres from the coast.

PRAGATI: PM reviews several projects

On December 30, 2020, PM Modi chaired the 34th PRAGATI interaction. PRAGATI is Pro-Active Governance and Timely implementation involving central and state governments.

Deputy Chairperson of Karnataka Legislative Council found dead

On December 29, 2020, the deputy chairperson of the Legislative council S L Dharme Gowda was found dead on railway track at Chikmagalur. He was a Janata Dal legislator.

Lok Sabha MP Manasukh Vasava withdraws resignation from BJP

The Lok Sabha member of Bharuch in Gujarat, Mansukh Vasava resigned from BJP on December 30, 2020. He is to submit his resignation during the coming budget session of the parliament.

Nagaland declared disturbed area under AFSPA

On December 30, 2020, the entire Nagaland was declared as disturbed area for six more months by the central government. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been in force in Nagaland for several decades.

Economy and Corporate

Filing of IT returns extended

The Government of India recently extended the last date of Income Tax returns till January 10, 2021.

Indian Army inducts indigenously made short span bridges

Indian Army has inducted three sets of ten-metre short span bridges in close coordination with private industries and DRDO. This will help in providing mobility of own forces.

World

UK: COVID-19 vaccine by Oxford-AstraZeneca approved

The UK Government has approved the emergency supply of AstraZeneca and Oxford University vaccines. The Serum Institute of India has tied up with AstraZeneca to supply the vaccines in UK.



The Nagaland deadlock

 

With the threat of China looming over, peace talks with NSCN-IM must not be allowed to lose momentum.


The peace talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah) (NSCN-IM) have hit a dead end, prompting NSCN leader Muivah to dash off a letter to the Prime Minister, asking for talks to be resumed “at the highest, that is Prime Minister’s level, without preconditions, in a third country”. In the past, former Prime Ministers P V Narasimha Rao, H D Deve Gowda and Atal Bihari Vajpayee have had direct talks with NSCN leaders abroad.

The recent overture by Niki Sumi faction of the NSCN (Khaplang) to rejoin peace talks with the government followed by the surrender of 53 insurgents of the Yung Aung faction of NSCN (Khaplang) on December 25 augurs well for the possibility of accelerating peace talks. NSCN (K) had earlier abrogated the ceasefire in 2015 when it found itself being sidelined by the government.

In his speech delivered on the eve of Nagaland’s 58th statehood day on November 30, Governor R N Ravi, who also happens to be the interlocutor for talks with NSCN (IM) leaders, in very unambiguous terms said that the demand for a separate Constitution and flag will not be accepted.

The NSCN (IM) has refused to accept Ravi as an interlocutor. In the past, he has described NSCN (IM) as “armed gangs” and asked the Nagaland CM to contain them, besides ordering all state government employees to declare if they had any relatives in the militant outfits. The recent government directive to Assam Rifles to intensify operations against the Naga groups also seems to have hit a raw nerve.

The Naga insurgency is one of the oldest in the country. After the 1975 Shillong Accord, a faction of the erstwhile Naga National Council led by Isaac Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah chose to part ways. The rank and file of the hitherto outlawed Naga Army surrendered and were inducted into the newly raised battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF). The faction opposed to the Shillong Accord went on to form the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980, with its base in the dense forests of northern Myanmar in the eastern Naga Hills. While Isaac Swu was appointed the chairman of the newly-formed outfit, Shangwang Shangyung Khaplang and Thuingaleng Muivah took on the mantle of vice-chairman and general secretary, respectively

Despite the security forces going on the offensive against the NSCN cadres, the latter went on a massive recruitment drive enhancing the strength from a modest 150 to 3,000. Pitted against their own erstwhile colleagues who had joined the BSF, the NSCN suffered heavy casualties. Nevertheless, the NSCN spread across Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

A failed assassination attempt on Isaac Swu and Muivah by Khaplang’s loyalists in April 1988 led to a split in NSCN into NSCN (Isaac-Muivah) and NSCN (Khaplang) groups. A lurking suspicion that the Isaac-Muivah were holding secret parleys with the government led to the failed attack.

The proliferation of other insurgent groups in the Northeastern region lent ideological support to the NSCN (IM). Militant outfits like the Hmar People’s Convention (HPC), the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and several others looked up to NSCN (IM) not just for basic logistics support but also for weapons and training.

Khaplang formed the United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFWSEA) – a conglomerate of 11 militant outfits. After Khaplang’s death in June 2017, Khango Konyak was the natural choice to don the mantle of chairman of UNLFWSEA. He was impeached and replaced by Yung Aung as leader of NSCN(K) while Paresh Barua, the leader of United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) (ULFA-I), assumed leadership of the UNLFWSEA.

After incessant efforts made by then PM Deve Gowda, NSCN (IM) leaders agreed to come to the negotiating table. Ceasefire was declared in August 1997 and since then the negotiations have been on, initially with Swaraj Kaushal as the interlocutor and then with K Padmanabaiah and RS Pandey. The NSCN (K), too, declared ceasefire in April 2001 but abrogated it in 2015.The Centre banned the outfit for five years which was extended by another five years on September 28 last.

With the NSCN(I) leader Isaac Swu admitted in a New Delhi Hospital in August 2015, the government hurriedly came up with a one-page Framework Agreement (FA) signed by T Muivah and N Ravi in the presence of PM Modi, which was termed as a historic end to the 60-year-old insurgency that kept the Northeast on boil. For reasons unknown, the FA was kept under wraps. Swu died on June 28, 2016.

In August this year, the NSCN (IM) divulged the contents of the original FA, while accusing Ravi of amending the document by deleting the word “new” in one sentence, thereby altering the meaning to the advantage of the government. This was not taken kindly by the NSCN (IM) leaders, who rejected Ravi as an interlocutor.

After the arrival of T Muivah in New Delhi for the talks and refusal to enter into any kind of negotiations with Ravi, the Prime Minister’s Office directed two top officials of the Intelligence Bureau to carry the talks further. With the government sticking to its stand that Nagaland will not be allowed to have its own flag and constitution, further negotiations hit a dead end.

Having abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and thus having divested the state of its flag and constitution, the Centre is in a quandary. Resumption of insurgency could prove too costly a gamble for the country. Our relationship with China is at its lowest ebb. The role of the Chinese in whipping up insurgency in the Northeast is too well-known to ignore. A permanent solution to the Naga issue will ease the tension in the Northeast, forcing the Chinese PLA to turn its back on the insurgent groups operating there.

Written by M.P. Nathanael 

(The writer retired as inspector general of police, CRPF)

Source: Indian Express, 30-12-20

Women must be centre-stage in water and sanitation

 

In 2018 the rallying call of the Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM) campaign of “Satyagraha se Swachhagrah” - rode on the back of the big change in sanitation habits in India .

In May 2014, India was shaken by the rapes of two adolescent girls in rural northwest India, when they were out in the evening to defecate in an open field. In a recent study in the Indian Journal of Gender Studies on Women’s Experiences of Defecating in the Open, one respondent said: Some men would hide and watch us defecating and then talk about it. This often put my husband to shame and even led to quarrels, with my husband scolding me for not remaining hidden.

Fortunately, sanitation continues to be central to the government’s agenda. With the Covid-19 pandemic, it is recognised that by addressing sanitation and water issues, we improve hygiene, health, gender, and livelihoods. The Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 (SBM) aims, among other things, to find solutions for sustained behaviour change, addressing women and their personal hygiene needs.
There is a growing consensus now that whereas the statutory framework relating to sanitation is gender neutral in its approach, the policy framework does recognise gender-related issues. However, when it comes to implementation, it is evident that sanitation-related needs and vulnerabilities of women need to be better addressed. Examples such as women not being consulted in decisions taken on sanitation-related matters such as the building and use of toilets and failing to take into account the prevalent socio-cultural norms, which for generations have defined the status of women as one that needs to be protected from all forms of exposure, while, at the same time, forcing them to defecate in the open even if this is in groups, substantiate this contention.

Nor should communication only focus on women, as if men could do whatever they liked; 100% open defecation free, cannot be achieved without men also being engaged.

The famous promotional videos of SBM casting its celebrity ambassador, Vidya Balan portrayed a scene, where the protagonist asked a man on his wedding day whether he had a toilet at home, to which the answer was negative. This prompted the person to ask the bride to remove her veil explicitly giving a message that a man who lets his wife defecate in the open has no right to let his wife observe purdah. In other words, the man has to build a toilet to be able to enforce the purdah system. Later, the video was amended to “clean” the message — all communication needs to be re-checked through a gender lens.

Several research studies have indicated that girls drop out of schools due to inadequate sanitary facilities being provided especially during their menstruation periods. Facilities need to be provided — and their awkwardness needs to be addressed too.

Much work has been done to alter some of these norms and beliefs, with women clearly coming to the forefront to take charge of addressing their own needs, supported by various government schemes and non-governmental organisations.

In Odisha, women and transgender Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been engaged in the operation and maintenance of treatment facilities in eight cities; in Jharkhand, trained women masons built over 15 lakh toilets in one year, and the state was declared open defecation free (rural) much ahead of the national cut-off date of October 2, 2019.

These examples are rapidly increasing throughout the country, with women being able to push through reforms that better their overall wellbeing either through the help of support groups or through community-led efforts. Water management, sanitary complexes that answer their needs, and a host of other requirements to help them in their daily lives are now being driven by them.

The livelihood creation opportunities are immense whether from building the infrastructure, maintaining and operating the facilities or the communication programmes in communities — and women can play a part in all of these .

The India Sanitation Coalition is committed to looking at these reforms through a gender lens to ensure unintended biases do not creep in. Policies on water and sanitation need to keep the needs of women centre-stage — indeed enable them to be agents of change.

Naina Lal Kidwai is chair, India Sanitation Coalition and FICCI Water Mission

Source: 31-12-20

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Quote of the Day December 29, 2020

 

“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.”
Dalai Lama
“यदि आप दूसरों की मदद कर सकते हैं, तो अवश्य करें; यदि वह नहीं कर सकते तो कम से कम उन्हें नुकसान नहीं पहुंचाएं।”
दलाई लामा

Current Affairs – December 29, 2020

 

India

Pneumosil: First Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine of India

On December 28, 2020, the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched the first Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine of India called Pneumosil. The vaccine was developed by Serum Institute of India.

100th Kisan Rail of India

On December 28, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the hundredth Kisan Rail of India. The train carried vegetables and fruits from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal.

First Driverless Metro Train in Delhi

On December 28, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first driverless train in New Delhi.

Arya Rajendran of Kerala becomes the youngest Mayor of India

The 21-year old Arya Rajendran was sworn in as the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram city corporation. She is from Communist Party of India-Marxist. She is now the youngest mayor in India.

38th District of Tamil Nadu inaugurates

On December 28, 2020, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami inaugurated the 38th district of the state, Mayiladuthurai. The district has been carved out from the Nagapattinam district.

Sonu Sood released his Autobiography

Actor Sonu Sood released his autobiography, “I am no Messaih”. It is co-written by Meena Iyer.

Economy and Corporate

“My FASTag” Application new feature

The National Highway Authority of India has added a new feature to the “My FASTag” application. The application is used to check balance status by entering vehicle number.

Ban on Onion Exports lifted

On December 28, 2020, the Government of India lifted the ban on onion exports.

RBI: “Maintaining Inflation Target at 4% is appropriate”

The Reserve Bank of India recently released a paper “Measuring Trend Inflation in India”. The paper says that inflation target at 4% is appropriate. In 2016, RBI introduced Inflation Target of 4% with an upper tolerance limit of 6% and lower limit of 2%.

World

S Jaishankar calls on Qatar’s Amir in Doha

On December 28, 2020, the External Affairs Minister S Jai Shankar called on Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamin and discussed strengthening the economic and security cooperation between the countries.

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness: December 27

The United Nations observed the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on December 27, 2020. The day was observed to highlight the importance of prevention of preparedness for partnerships against epidemics such as COVID-19.

US-European Space Orbiter crosses Venus

The joint US-European orbiter recently completed the first of its gravity assist flyby of Venus.

Chinese journalist sentenced for exposing COVID-19 outbreak

On December 28, 2020, a Chinese court sentenced a citizen journalist who documented early days of COVID-19 outbreak. Zhang Zhan travelled from her home in Shanghai to Wuhan to see the toll from the virus in the city.

Sports

Ronaldo wins “Player of the Century” award

Cristiano Ronaldo recently won the “Player of the century” award at the Globe Soccer Awards. Bayern Munich won the Club of the Year award.

ICC Awards: Virat Kohli named the Male Cricketer of the Year

The former Indian Captain MS Dhoni was named as the Captain of ODI and also the Captain of T20I. The ICC T20I Team of the Decade also includes Rohit Sharma, Aaron Finch, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Rashid Khan, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah, AB de Villiers. The ICC ODI Team of the Decade includes Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shakib Al Hasan, AB de Villiers, Ben Stokes, Trent Boult, Lasith Malinga, Imran Tahir, David Warner. Virat Kohli was announced the Skipper of ICC Test team of the Decade. In Women T20I Australia Meg Lanning was announced the Captain of the decade.

Arun Jaitley Statue unveiled

On December 28, 2020, the Delhi and District Cricket Association unveiled the statue of its former President Arun Jaitley

Economic & Political Weekly: Table of Contents

 

Vol. 55, Issue No. 51, 26 Dec, 2020

Editorials

From the Editor's Desk

From 50 Years Ago

Commentary

Book Reviews

Perspectives

Review of Urban Affairs

Current Statistics

Postscript

Letters

Appointments/Programmes/Announcements

Engage Articles

Govt proposes to set up University of Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Sciences

 

The proposed university will have eight departments viz. disability studies; rehabilitation sciences; audiology and speech language pathology; special education; psychology; nursing; orthotics and prosthetics and assistive technology; and inclusive and universal design.


The government has proposed to set up a “first of its kind” university covering the entire gamut of disability studies and rehabilitation sciences in an accessible environment.

In a public notice issued on December 24, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has invited comments from stakeholders on a draft bill to set up the university.

In this regard, the DEPwD said, a draft bill namely the University of Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Sciences Bill, 2021 for establishing the proposed university has been prepared.

The DEPwD said it intends to set up a University of Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Sciences, Kamrup district, Assam through a separate act of Parliament.

“The proposed university, the first of its kind, will be a unique multidisciplinary academic institution conducting research, programmes and courses from bachelor’s level onwards to cater to various disciplines covering the entire gamut of disability studies and rehabilitation sciences in an accessible environment,” the DEPwD said.

The proposed university will have eight departments viz. disability studies; rehabilitation sciences; audiology and speech language pathology; special education; psychology; nursing; orthotics and prosthetics and assistive technology; and inclusive and universal design.

“The proposed university’s programmes will adopt a credit and grading system. The proposed university will offer affiliation to other institutions in disabilities and rehabilitation sciences in the country,” it said.The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities hereby invites comments from the public on the draft University of Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Sciences Bill, 2021 by January 3, 2021.

Prominent disabled rights body National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled, however, called it another “ill-conceived idea”, which denied adequate time or space for stakeholders to respond.

“In this case, a mere nine days have been given to elicit a response to a 131-page document,” NPRD said in a statement.“All the more unacceptable is the fact that this university would be ‘self-sustaining’, in tune with the thrust of the New Education Policy 2020. With finances being generated from tuition fees, affiliation fees etc. students from the marginalised sections will stand deprived,” it said.

“Rather than wasting huge amounts of money on self-sustaining segregated centres of learning, it would do auger well if the government adheres to the guiding principles of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of equality and non-discrimination and adopts and promotes an inclusive, multidisciplinary approach,” the NPRD said.

Source: Indian Express, 27/12/20

We must realise global health requires a coordinated effort

 

To reap the benefits of globalisation, to ensure an equal world, global health must be central to international collaboration. It determines social and economic development for all. And peace is the logical result.

The ongoing pandemic, with over 79 million people infected and 1.7 million lives lost, has become the most destructive infectious disease outbreak in recent human history with unprecedented human, social and economic costs. Countries are struggling to respond to new infections and virus mutations through a mix of containment measures- periodic lockdowns, domestic and international border-sealing and available, limited medical solutions.
International trade and domestic economies were the first to take a hit. By the end of the second quarter, international trade was almost one-fifth less compared to second quarter of 2019. As 2020 closes out and vaccines are getting emergency use approvals, the Covid-19 shock is expected to cause a seven to nine per cent fall in global trade.
Countries that were growing economically pre-pandemic, are now witnessing worrying trends. For instance, pre-Covid, unemployment in the United States (US) was at a half-century low but by the second quarter of 2020, its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plunged by nearly 31.4% - a record held previously only by the Great Depression. In the United Kingdom (UK), unemployment hit a three-year high and over 800,000 people lost their jobs. Emerging and fledgling economies like India and South Africa are also experiencing historic contractions.
But the impact of Covid-19 isn’t limited to economics and trade. It has magnified fault-lines, exacerbated inequities and inequalities and resulted in shadow pandemics such as mental health crises, violence against women, and disruptions in critical health services, possibly reversing recent improvements. It has forced hundreds of thousands of skilled and unskilled workers out of jobs and is expected to push an estimated 88-115 million into extreme poverty. Countries, rich and poor, have been affected by an economic emergency. Several low- and middle-income countries, battling existing political instability and conflict, coupled with weak health systems infrastructure have borne the worst of this impact. The pandemic has underscored that the world needs to rethink policies and programmes to bring back some semblance of equality and stability in societies. It needs to view global health as a security issue.
For too long, the concept of security has assumed an anthropomorphised ‘other’ - an ‘us’ seeking existential security from another state or organisation. Here, state security is threatened in physical or cyber battle by potentially rational or irrational actors, who driven by distrust or ambition or power dynamics, launch threats to a state’s security. While these can be checked with negotiation, mediation and arbitration, or destruction, i.e. war; in case of disease, such an understanding is limited. Disease, and resulting hunger and poverty can cause destabilisation, political unrest, civil disorder, and international conflict– all of which threaten international peace and security. Covid-19 has also shattered the illusion of international collaboration. In the last two decades, these have emphasised good health and well-being, especially through the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. But in the wake of Covid-19, countries that could launch a coordinated effort to check the impact of the pandemic have resorted to inward-looking policies. Ending the pandemic must be a global goal and a critical determinant of foreign policy, trade, and economic co-operation.

Protectionism, isolationism, as seen through vaccine nationalism has reversed the efforts of international bodies and platforms to place health at the centre of the global development agenda. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and the World Health Organization are working with governments and vaccine manufacturers to expedite vaccine research and ensure that the vaccine, when available, is accessible to all. But to ensure success wealthier countries must join hands and lend their support so that all countries can roll-out the vaccine, almost in parallel.

As we see the light at the end of the tunnel, as vaccines get rolled out across the world, we need to collectively recognise that global health determines economic trajectories and requires a coordinated, concerted effort. To reap the benefits of globalisation, to ensure an equal world, global health must be central to international collaboration. It determines social and economic development for all. And peace is the logical result.

Anjali Nayyar is executive vice-president, Global Health Strategies

Source: Hindustan Times, 29/12/20

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Quote of the Day December 24, 2020

 

“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”
Rabindranath Tagore
“सिर्फ खड़े होकर पानी को ताक कर आप समुद्र नहीं पार कर सकते।”
रबिन्द्रनाथ टैगोर

Current Affairs – December 24, 2020

 

India

MRSAM Test successful

The Medium Range Surface to Air Missile for the Indian Army was successfully tested on December 23, 2020. It is jointly developed by DRDO and the Israel Aircraft Industries.

International Science Literature Festival

The CSIR, Ministry of Earth Science and Vijnana Bharati jointly organised the inaugural session of Vigyanika International Science Literature festival. The festival was launched to mark the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan on December 22, 2020.

ISRO to set up Regional Academic Centre for Space in IIT Varanasi

The ISRO will establish a regional academic centre for space at IIT Varanasi to facilitate short- and long-term projects in the institute.

National Farmers Day celebrated on December 23

The National Farmers Day was celebrated on December 23 all over the country. The day is celebrated to honour the fifth Prime Minister of India Choudhary Charan Singh.

All Film Media Units are to be merged

The Government of India recently approved to merge all the Film Media unites operating under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Contest to strengthen Digital Network Platform for Vaccine

On December 23, 2020, the Government of India launched a technology contest to invite solutions from IT companies and startups to strengthen digital platform CoWIN. The GoI is also enhancing eVIN, Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network.

Sugathakumari, Malayalam poet-activist died

The Malayalam poet, women activist, Sugathakumari died of COVID-19 on December 24, 2020.

Changes to Post Matric Scholarship announced

The Government of India has announced transformatory changes to post matric scholarship for students from Scheduled Castes. The share pattern between the centre and state is to be 60:40. Under the scheme, the GoI provides financial assistance to students from Scheduled Caste and also to students from households whole annual income is less than Rs 2.5 lakhs.

Economy and Corporate

100% FDI in DTH service approved

On December 23, 2020, the Union Cabinet approved 100% FDI in direct-to-home service. The license fee was reduced and extended from ten years to twenty years.

RBI cautions against unauthorised Digital lending applications

On December 23, 2020, the Reserve Bank of India has issued note of caution to the public against the use of unauthorised lending applications. The apex bank has cited recent media reports on unethical collection practices and arbitrary interest rates that are charged by some of these applications.

President Trump confers Legion of Merit to PM Modi

On December 21, 2020, President Trump conferred the Legion of Merit to PM Modi for his role in bringing India as a global power.

S Jaishankar holds virtual meeting with his Spanish counterpart

On December 23, 2020, the external affairs minister S Jaishankar held virtual meeting with his Spanish counter part. The leaders exchanged notes about the pandemic situation.

“Republic Bharat” fined by UK regulator

The Hindi News Channel “Republic Bharat”, an arm of the Republic TV was fined by the UK Communications regulator Office of Communications for broadcasting content that involved hate speech. The fine was levied with reference to the daily current affairs discussion programme Poochta Hai Bharat presented by Arnab Goswami.

Israel to hold snap polls

Knesset, the Israel Parliament, was dissolved after two main parties failed to meet a deadline in passing the budget.

Sports

8 Khelo India Centres of Excellence inaugurated across India

On December 22, 2020, the Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated eight Khelo India Centres of Excellence across India. The centres are located in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Telangana, Kerala, Nagaland, Odisha and Karnataka.