GCC Inks Free Trade Deal with South Korea

• The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed a free trade agreement with South Korea.
• This agreement aims at achieving Gulf economic integration and towards strengthening economic and trade relations between the two sides.

ISRO To Launch India’s First X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for the launch of India's first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat).
• The scheduled to be launched on 1^st January, 2024, with the satellite embarking at 9:10 am utilizing a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
• The XpoSat is India's first dedicated polarimetry mission to study the 50 brightest known astrononomical sources in extreme conditions.

First-ever Amrit Bharat Express inauguration in Ayodhya

• On 30^th December 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the first two Amrit Bharat Express trains from the sacred place 'Ayodhya.'
• Railway authorities have highlighted that these trains are furnished with cutting-edge technology, ensuring a smooth and jerk-free travel experience for passengers throughout the entire journey.
• The Amrit Bharat Express features a unique semi-permanent coupler designed to eliminate any discomfort caused by sudden movements.

Nitish Kumar Takes Over as JD(U) Chief

• At the national executive meeting in New Delhi, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, the national president of Janata Dal (United), has expressed his unwillingness to hold the position.
• Therefore, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to assume leadership in the broader interest of both the party and the nation.

J&K Panchayati Raj Act Amended

• Chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Administrative Council (AC) has recently sanctioned significant revisions to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.
• These modifications primarily center on introducing a clear definition of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) within the Act, aiming to enable their reservation in grassroots democratic institutions.