Good Governance Day: Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary on December 25
- On former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary on December 25 India observed Good Governance Day.
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee (former PM) was a great statesman, poet and a compassionate leader.
- He was the first person to address UNGA in Hindi.
- Under his regime, India carried out 3 underground nuclear tests at Pokhran (Mission Shakti).
- He was the Prime Minister during Kargil war.
- A man known to have ‘no’ enemies.
- As the prime minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee served three terms:
- First for a term of 13 days in 1996
- For 13 months from 1998 to 1999
- For a full term from 1999 to 2004
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Jayanti celebrated
- Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya was an Indian scholar, educational reformer and politician notable for his role in the Indian independence movement.
- The four times president of Indian National Congress and the founder of Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha.
- He was respectfully addressed as Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and also addressed as Mahamana.
- He was Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from 1919–1938.
Social Work:
- To oppose the damming of Ganges Malviya founded Ganga Mahasabha.
- Sign an agreement with Ganga Mahasabha and other Hindu religious leaders.
- This agreement is known as Aviral Ganga Raksha Samjhuata 1916 also known as Agreement of 1916.
Innovation Challenge for Developing Portable Devices to test Drinking Water Quality launched
- The National Jal Jeevan Mission has launched an innovation challenge in partnership with Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
Objective:
- The main objective of the exercise is to bring an innovative, modular, and cost-effective solution to develop portable devices that can be used at the household level to test the drinking water quality instantly, easily and accurately.
- Another aim is to ensure that water sources are tested at various locations, at different levels; thereby, helping the policy framers to design programs which address the water contamination issues.
- It will address these issues in an innovative, modular and cost-effective manner.
About Jal Jeevan Mission:
- It was launched on 15 August 2019.
- The mission envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
- Jal Jeevan Mission is under implementation in partnership with the States to enable every rural home to have tap water connection by 2024.
PM released next instalment of financial benefit under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today released the next instalment of financial benefit under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
- Rs 18000 crore have been deposited directly in the bank account of more than 9 crore farmer families in the country at the click of a button.
About PM Kisan Samman Nidhi:
- PM Kisan is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India.
- It has become operational from 1.12.2018.
- Under the scheme an income support of 6,000/- per year in three equal installments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares.
- State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines.
- The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
UK, EU sign historic post-Brexit trade deal
- Britain and the European Union struck a provisional free-trade agreement that should avert New Year chaos for cross-border traders and bring a measure of certainty for businesses after years of Brexit turmoil.
- The deal ensures the two sides can continue to trade in goods without tariffs or quotas.
- The two sides reached a “zero tariff-zero quota deal” which will help smooth the trade of goods across the channel.
- It will bring relief to exporters on both sides that had been facing higher tariffs and costs.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- Good Governance Day is observed in India on which date?
- December 22
- December 23
- December 24
- December 25
ANSWER: D
- What amount has been as a second instalment under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi?
- Rs 26000crore
- Rs 10000crore
- Rs 18000crore
- Rs 48000crore
ANSWER: C
- Brexit is a term used for the exit of Britain from which international bloc?
- European Union
- United Nation
- OPEC
- ASEAN
ANSWER: A
- The National Jal Jeevan Mission has an aim to enable every rural home to have tap water connection by which year?
- 2022
- 2024
- 2025
- 2030
ANSWER: B