Yunqing Tang and Ruixiang Zhang Awarded SASTRA Ramanujan Award

• Dr. Yunqing Tang and Dr. Ruixiang Zhang from the University of Berkeley, California, were honored with the Sastra-Ramanujan Awards for 2022 and 2023.
• The awards were given at the Sastra campus in Kumbakonam which was carrying a cash prize of USD 10,000 each.
• The awards were presented by former secretary of the department of science and technology T Ramasami.
• The awards event was a three-day international conference on Srinivasa Ramanujan.
• The conference was inaugurated by professor Krishnaswami Alladi of the University of Florida.

Centre Releases Rs 72,960 Crore to States as Tax Devolution

• The Indian government had released Rs 72,960 crore to states as Tax Devolution.
• This funding is for diverse social welfare initiatives and infrastructure development projects.
• The Finance Ministry states that this installment is in addition to the tax devolution installment due to the states January 10, 2024.
• The previous disbursement of Rs 72,961.21 crore was made on December 11, 2023.

Ministry of Rural Development Signs MoU with Reliance Retail’s JioMart

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JioMart.
• The objective of this collaboration is to enhance the accessibility of products created by Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• This will bring SHGs under MoRD’s SARAS collection brand onto JioMart offering a range of handlooms and handicrafts products from traditional textiles to pantry, home décor and beauty products.
• Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are affiliated with the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

National Farmers Day 2023

• National Farmer's Day or Kisan Diwas is annually observed on December 23rd in India.
• This date commemorates the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, a former Prime Minister of India and a staunch advocate for the welfare of farmers.
• The day aims to spread awareness about the contribution of farmers to the socio-economic development of the nation.
• This day is mainly observed in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, where agriculture is a significant occupation.

India’s Coking Coal Imports At 5-year High

• India's coking coal imports have surged to a five-year peak, reaching 38.14 million tons in the April-November period of the current fiscal year.
• This signifies a slight year-on-year rise, compared to the nearly 38.12 million tons imported during the corresponding period last year.
• Russia has secured its position as India’s third-largest coal supplier.

Rambagh Gate, Ramparts Church of Epiphany and Delhi's Bikaner House Awarded by UNESCO

• UNESCO has recognized four Indian projects for their outstanding contributions to cultural heritage conservation in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Rambagh Gate and Ramparts in Amritsar, Punjab, received the highest honor, the Award of Excellence by UNESCO.
• The Church of Epiphany in Haryana and Bikaner House in Delhi were bestowed with the Award of Merit.