Today's Current Affairs 26th December 2023

NATIONAL

UPSC Essentials: Case Study — IAS officer fights against Naxal violence via development

• Take a look at a case study which celebrates governance that turned a district into a fine example. Here is a quotable story of inspiring leadership by IAS Rajat Bansal and Bastar District Administration for your UPSC CSE and life in general. Don't miss the Post Read Question.

Woman shares ‘Peak Bengaluru’ moment as Rapido driver tells her about his IT job

• If you have spent time in Bengaluru, you may be familiar with the daily challenges of booking online rides, whether it’s Ola, Uber, Namma Yatri, or Rapido.
• Navigating through normal autorickshaw fares and traffic management can often be a struggle, causing people to miss exams, meetings, flights, or trains due to pricing and congestion.
• In a ‘Peak Bengaluru‘ moment shared by X user Shruti, @Shruwa12, she recounted an intriguing encounter with her Rapido driver. Shruti said the driver told her he was a corporate manager at a major company.

Govt app to allow live tracking of cargo across land, rail, sea & air

• India will launch an app that will enable companies to track their live cargo across land, rail, sea, and air.
• The app has garnered interest from over 700 companies acros s courier, logistics, shipping, and manufacturing.
• These companies have signed up on the app which the government will launch soon.
• The National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) is reportedly developing this app.

 SPORTS

Andhra Pradesh CM Kicks Off State-Wide Sports Competition

• According to PTI, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday kicked off 'Aadudam Andhra', a multi-sport competition that will be held right from the grassroots to the state level in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Starting today, the 47-day competition is scheduled till February 10 at Nallapadu village in the district and will encourage and identify talent in cricket, volleyball, badminton and other sports.

 OBITURY

Martin Goetz, who received the first software patent, dies at 93

• Martin Goetz (image credit: Madhyamam), the man who secured the first U.S. software patent in 1968, has passed away at 93.
• In 1968, nearly a decade after he and several other partners started the company Applied Data Research, Goetz received his patent, for data-sorting software for mainframes.
• Goetz was known not only for earning the first U.S. software patent, but also for fighting against industry giants like IBM, helping to shape the modern software industry.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

RBI Grants Approval for 2-Year Extension of Sandeep Batra as Executive Director at

ICICI Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of Sandeep Batra as Executive Director of ICICI Bank, effective from December 23, 2023, to December 22, 2025.
• This renewed term of two years is within the five-year term previously approved by the shareholders.
• Batra is an ED on the Board of ICICI Bank and has been responsible for the Corporate Centre since July 2018.
• He is responsible for the credit, corporate communications, data science, finance, human resource, legal, operations and customer service, technology and secretarial groups.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

26 December: Veer Bal Diwas

• Veer Bal Diwas is observed on December 26 to pay homage to the courage and martyrdom of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the last Sikh Guru.

26 December: Boxing Day

• Boxing Day, the day after Christmas was when boxes filled with small gifts and money would be given to household servants and employees who had to work on Dec. 25.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

UNESCO award for Amritsar's Rambagh Gate & Ramparts, Gurdaspur’s Peepal

Haveli.

• UNESCO has awarded Rambagh Gate and Ramparts in Amritsar, Punjab.
• It has also awarded heritage conservation projects related to Haryana's Church of Epiphany and Delhi's Bikaner House.
• The Rambagh Gate and Ramparts project received the highest honour, the 'Award of Excellence'.
• It received the award for its inclusivity and access to the broader community.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Unclaimed Bank Deposits Surge by 28% to Reach Rs 42,270 Crore, Refunds

Amounting to Rs 1.4 Billion.

• Unclaimed deposits with banks have seen a notable 28% year on-year increase, soaring to Rs 42,270 crore by March 2023, up from Rs 32,934 crore in the fiscal year 2022.
• Among the unclaimed deposits, public sector banks hold a significant share, amounting to Rs 36,185 crore, while private sector banks account for Rs 6,087 crore as of March 2023.

Aditya Birla Sun Life and IDFC First Bank Forge Partnership for Joint Financial

Solutions.

• Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance and IDFC First Bank have entered into a bancassurance partnership to offer insurance solutions to the bank’s customers.
• Under this collaboration, the insurer will leverage the extensive distribution network of IDFC First Bank.
• Aditya Birla Sun Life will offer products and services, including those that focus on retirement planning, ensuring a steady source of second income and tax-free returns tailored to their life stages.