Today's Current Affairs 25th December 2023

NATIONAL 

J&K Police file murder case over death of three civilians in Army custody

• The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday registered a murder case against unidentified persons after three men picked up by the Army for questioning were found dead with multiple injuries on December 22. Eight men were detained following the ambush on an Army convoy on December 21 in Poonch-Rajouri area where four soldiers were killed and three others were injured. The terrorists involved in the ambush are yet to be identified or arrested.

Domestic Coal Based Power Generation increases by 8.38 % during April-Nov 2023

• India has witnessed a remarkable 7.71 percent surge in power generation and 11.19 percent in Coal-based power generation from April to November this year, as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The Ministry said that India is ranked the third-largest consumer of energy in the world, with an annual electricity demand increase of about 4.7 percent.

Indian Air Force successfully testfires ‘SAMAR’ air defense missile system at Exercise Astrashakti

• In a major success for its in-house design and development efforts, the Indian Air Force has successfully testfired its SAMAR air defense missile system. The IAF has developed the Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation (SAMAR) air defense missile system by using its old Russian-origin air-to-air missile systems.

 SPORTS

Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 kicks off on Sunday as Odisha Juggernauts take on Rajasthan Warriors

• The second season of Ultimate Kho Kho will begin with defending champions Odisha Juggernauts engage in spirited competition against Rajasthan Warriors at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday.
• A total of 145 athletes, inclusive of 33 promising youths aged between 16 and 18, hailing from diverse corners of the nation, shall engage in the competition for 21 days.

 OBITURY

Considered last word in India’s miniature painting, art historian B N Goswamy dies at 90

• FOR ART historian and critic B N Goswamy a miniature painting was intended to ideally be read like a book, and not mounted on the wall.
• “It is meant to be held in the hand and read closely. The eye must linger over the surface, take in the luminous colours, absorb the subtlety and the details,” Goswamy had said in an interview to The Indian Express in 2016.

 APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

SEBI approves Pramod Agrawal’s appointment as BSE Chairman

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the appointment of Pramod Agrawal as the new Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). 

• Agrawal’s tenure will start on January 17, 2024, as per a regulatory filing by the stock exchange. Agrawal, a former IAS officer, previously held the position of Chairman at Coal India till June 2023.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

25 December - Christmas Day

• Christmas Day is celebrated on 25 December worldwide annually to commemorate the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

25 December - Good Governance Day (India)

• Good Governance Day in India is observed on 25 December to commemorate the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, His Samadhi namely 'Sadiav Atal' was dedicated to the nation and reflects his personality as a poet, humanist, statesman, and a great leader.

 AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Recently Crompton has been honored with the National Energy Conservation Award.

• Crompton is the country's leading electrical equipment manufacturer.
• Recently this company has been honored with the Energy Conservation Award for the year 2023.
• Crompton was presented the award by President Draupadi Murmu.
• The company achieved this feat in the category of Most Energy Efficient Appliance of the Year 2023 for its storage water heater.
• Crompton's latest recognition with a National Energy Conservation Award further strengthens its commitment to energy-efficient innovations.
• The award is testament to Crompton's consistent excellence, having achieved this prestigious honor in various categories including fans and lights in previous editions.
• The National Energy Conservation Awards is a premier annual event that highlights exceptional contributions to energy conservation.
• This award was started in the year 1991.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

MOCI Minister Piyush Goyal releases 5th LEADS Survey Report:

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) released the 5th LEADS ( Logistics Ease Across Different States) 2023 Survey Report in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are categorized as achievers among the Coastal states in the 5th LEADS 2023 Survey Report.

Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane Launched 3 Sub-schemes under RAMP Programme:

• The 3 sub schemes are:
• MSME Green Investment and Financing for Transformation Scheme (MSME GIFT Scheme).
• MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy (MSE SPICE Scheme).
• MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments (MSE ODR scheme).