TITLE TITLE DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS CAPSULE 22ND DECEMBER 2020 - WIFISTUDY

Title
Daily Current Affairs Capsule
            Title 2020
     22nd December

National Mathematics Day: December 22

India observes the National Mathematics Day every year on 22 December since 2012 to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.

      The day was announced on 26 February 2012 by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to mark the
       125th anniversary of the birth of the Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan (22 Dec 1887- 26
       Apr 1920).
      2012 was also observed as National Mathematics Year.
      Ramanujan was one of the youngest members of Britain's Royal Society and the first Indian to be elected
       a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge University.

PM inaugurates India International Science Festival 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural address at the India International Science Festival (IISF)
2020 through video conferencing.

      To promote scientific temper in society, Ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in
       association with Vijnana Bharati conceptualized the IISF.
      Launched in 2015, IISF is a celebration to promote science and technology.
      The aim is to engage the public with science, celebrate the joy of science and show how Science,
       Technology, Engineering and Mathematics can provide solutions to improve lives.

   A long-term objective is to encourage students to study and work in scientific fields.

Leopard population increases by 60 per cent in the country

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar released the Status of Leopard in India 2018 report.

      India now has 12,852 leopards.
      More than 60 per cent increase has been recorded in the leopard population over the previous estimate
       which was conducted in 2014.
      The increase in Tiger, Lion and Leopards numbers over the last few years is a testimony to the
       conservation efforts and of the fledgling wildlife and biodiversity of the country.

Govt decides to constitute High Level Committee to commemorate 125th birth anniversary of Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose

Government has decided to constitute a High Level Committee to commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary of
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

      The Committee will decide on the activities for a one year long commemoration starting 23rd January,
       2021.
      The High Level Committee will be headed by Home Minister Amit Shah.
      The Commemoration is being held as a tribute and as a mark of gratitude to the colossal contribution
       Netaji made to India’s freedom struggle.
      The members of the Committee will include experts, historians, authors, family members of Netaji Subhas
       Chandra Bose, as well as eminent persons associated with Azad Hind Fauj-INA.

PM Modi to launch 'SEHAT', Health Insurance Scheme for UT of J&K

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 'SEHAT' - Health Insurance Scheme for the entire Union Territory of
Jammu and Kashmir.

      Scheme will cover the remaining One crore population which was not covered under Ayushman Bharat
       Scheme.
      Under Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), eligible beneficiaries were covered under
       Health Cover of Rs 5 Lakh.
      With the launch of 'SEHAT' Scheme by the Prime Minister on December 26, J&K will be among the
       first in the country to achieve Universal Health Coverage.

Central Bank of India launches ‘RuPay Select’ Contactless Debit Card

In association with the National Payments Corporation of India, Central Bank of India has launched a variant of
a contactless debit card – ‘RuPay Select’.

      The RuPay Debit Select Card will focus on customers’ lifestyle, fitness, rejuvenation, nutrition and
       personal care.
      Central Bank RuPay Select Debit cardholders will be able to avail complimentary membership and
       concessional access to golf courses, gyms, spas and restaurants.

   These cards also come with features such as facilitating offline transactions in both transits as well as retail
       purchases.

US President presents 'Legion of Merit' award to PM Modi

US President Donald Trump presented the prestigious Legion of Merit award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

      It was presented for his leadership in elevating strategic partnership of the two countries and emergence
       of India as a global power.
      India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, accepted the award on behalf of the prime minister.
      Mr Modi was presented with the highest degree Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit which is given
       only to the Head of State or Government.
      The US President also presented the Legion of Merit to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the
       former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Lewis Hamilton wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020 award

      Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020.
      This is the second time that the 35-year-old Hamilton has been crowned Sports Personality of the Year.
      Prior to this he won the award in 2014.

Activist Karima Baloch found dead in Canada

Karima Baloch, an activist, who had been vocal about Pakistan Army and government atrocities in Balochistan,
has been found dead in Toronto, Canada.

      Karima Baloch, a famous personality in Balochistan, is believed to be the pioneer of women activism
       there.
      She had also raised the issue of Balochistan in the United Nations sessions in Switzerland.
      She was named as one of the world’s 100 most “inspirational and influential” women in 2016.
      She had accused Pakistan of taking away the resources and eliminating the people of Balochistan.

Veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora passes away

Veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora passed away in New Delhi.

      Mr Vora was detected with COVID-19 in October but he recovered and got discharged.
      Motilal Vora was elected to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly six times and served twice as Chief Minister
       of the State.
      He was Member of Rajya Sabha four times and the Lok Sabha for one term.
      He also served as Governor of Uttar Pradesh and Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Civil
       Aviation.