CURRENT AFFAIRS 25 & 26-12-2024

IMPORTANT DAYS

Good Governance Day 2024 observed on December 25.

• Good Governance Day (Sushasan Diwas) is observed on 25th December to Mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and to pay honour to him.

• This year marks the centenary of Vajpayee’s birth, born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior.

• The centenary celebrations began with the inauguration of the Atal Swasthya Mela in Lucknow.

• Atal Smriti Sabhas will be organized at various locations across the country.

• Schools and colleges will host poetry recitations and events highlighting Vajpayee’s works.

• Good Governance Day was initiated by the Indian government in 2014.

• Vajpayee served as Prime Minister three times, with terms in 1996, 1998-1999, and 1999-2004.

• He was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 2015.

• The observance of Good Governance Day underscores Vajpayee's contributions to Indian governance.

Veer Bal Diwas 2024 observed on December 26.

• Veer Bal Diwas is observed on 26 December to honor the supreme sacrifice of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his mother.

• The younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (9) and Sahibzada Fateh Singh (7), were martyred during the Mughal attack on Anandpur Sahib.

• They were captured by the Mughal army and forced to convert to Islam before being killed.

• Guru Gobind Singh’s mother, Mata Gujari, and his elder sons, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (18) and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh (14), were also martyred.

• Veer Bal Diwas honors the bravery of the "Sahibzadas" who made the ultimate sacrifice for their faith.

• Fatehgarh Sahib is the site where these martyrs were killed.

• The Government of India declared 26 December as Veer Bal Diwas in 2022 to remember their sacrifice.

• On this day, PM Modi launched the 'Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan' to improve nutritional outcomes in rural areas.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Aisake Valu Eke became the new Prime Minister of Tonga.

• ‘Aisake Valu Eke is the new Prime Minister of Tonga, serving until November 2025.

• Eke was elected through a secret ballot in the Tongan parliament.

• He first entered parliament in 2010 and served as finance minister from 2014 to 2017.

• Tonga's next general election will be held in November 2025.

• Siaosi Sovaleni resigned as prime minister ahead of a no-confidence vote led by Eke.

• The resignation came just hours before the vote in parliament.

• Tonga’s population is approximately 105,000 people.

• The country's constitution was revised following pro-democracy protests in 2006.

APPOINTMENTS

New governors appointed in 5 states by President Draupadi Murmu.

• President Droupadi Murmu appointed new governors for five states on December 24.

• Former Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as the Governor of Manipur.

• Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Governor of Mizoram, will now serve as Governor of Odisha.

• The reshuffle followed the resignation of Odisha's former Governor, Raghubar Das.

• General Vijay Kumar Singh, former Union Minister, is the new Governor of Mizoram.

• Bihar's Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, will now be the Governor of Kerala.

• Arif Mohammad Khan has been moved from Kerala to become Bihar's new Governor.

• The appointments were part of a broader gubernatorial reshuffle across multiple states.

• The constitutional basis for these appointments is under Article 155 of the Constitution of India.

STATE NEWS

The foundation stone of the Ken-Betwa River link project laid by PM Modi on December 25.

• PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project on December 25 in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

• This is the first project under the national river interlinking policy.

• The initiative will provide drinking water to 44 lakh people in Madhya Pradesh and 21 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh.

• The project is estimated to cost Rs 44,605 crore and will benefit 7.18 lakh farming families across 2,000 villages.

• It will generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.

• The Ken-Betwa project is a model of cooperation between the Central Government, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

• A 77-meter-high Daudhan Dam, spanning 2.13 kilometers, will be built on the Ken River in the Panna Tiger Reserve.

• The project includes a 221 km canal to transfer excess water from the Ken River to the Betwa River for irrigation and drinking water.

National Workshop on PESA Act to be held on 24 December 2024 in Ranchi, Jharkhand

• The Panchayati Raj Department of Jharkhand will host a National Workshop on the PESA Act in Ranchi on 24th December 2024.

• The primary goal is to raise awareness about the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act).

• The PESA Act is crucial for empowering tribal communities by promoting self-governance and resource management.

• It plays a vital role in protecting tribal communities from exploitation.

• The Act aims to safeguard the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of Scheduled Tribes.

• The workshop seeks to strengthen tribal communities' understanding of the PESA Act's provisions.

• A key objective is to foster better implementation of the PESA Act in tribal areas.

• The event will enhance cooperation and spread awareness about the Act's goals and impact.

BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE

Government to cut fiscal deficit to 4.5% in FY26.

• The government aims to reduce the fiscal deficit to 4.5% of GDP by FY26.

• Focus will be placed on improving the quality of spending and enhancing social security.

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the 2025-26 Budget on February 1.

• The government is committed to fiscal consolidation as per the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003.

• Gross Tax Revenue (GTR) is projected at ₹38.40 lakh crore, reflecting a tax-GDP ratio of 11.8%.

• Non-debt receipts for the Centre are estimated to be around ₹32.07 lakh crore.

• The fiscal deficit will be financed through Government Securities (G-secs), Treasury Bills (T-Bills), and other channels.

• The government continues its focus on fiscal discipline and sustainable financial practices.

Central government launched 10,000 new PACS.

• The Union Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah, launched 10,000 new Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS).

• The government aims to set up 2 lakh PACS within five years.

• The initiative will be implemented in two phases.

• NABARD will establish 32,750 multi-purpose PACS (M-PACS) in phase one.

• NDDB will set up 56,500 dairy cooperatives, while NFDB will create 6,000 fishery cooperatives in phase one.

• In phase two, NABARD will create 45,000 M-PACS.

• NDDB will establish an additional 46,000 dairy cooperatives, and NFDB will set up 5,500 fishery cooperatives in phase two.

• State governments will establish 25,000 new cooperatives as part of the initiative.

• Current regulations prevent the establishment of a second PACS in the same village.

AWARDS

27th SIES Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award presented to Jaishankar for leadership.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar received the 27th Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award for Public Leadership.

• The award is presented by the South Indian Education Society (SIES).

• It is named after Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, the 68th head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

• The award recognizes individuals for leadership in various fields, prioritizing spirituality.

• Categories include public leadership, community leadership, human endeavour, science & technology, and social leadership.

• The Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Award acknowledges significant contributions to society.

• It includes a Rs. 2.5 lakh cash prize, a citation, an ornamental lamp, and a scroll.

• The award highlights the recipient's outstanding leadership at a critical moment in history.

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