20 December 2024 current affairs in English

2023 National Tansen Award being awarded to renowned Tabla Maestro Pt. Swapan Choudhary

• Pt Swapan Choudhary was awarded the National Tansen Award 2023.
• Rs 5 lakh and a citation plaque was awarded to Pt.Chaudhuri
• The felicitation ceremony was part of the fourth-day of the five-day ‘Tansen Sangeet Samaroh 2024’. 
• It was organised by the culture department to mark the centenary year of legendary music maestro Tansen in Gwalior.
• Sanand Nyas Sanstha from Indore was awarded with the ‘Raja Mansingh Tomar Samman’ for the year 2023.

About National Tansen Award

• The award was instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government.
• It was done in the name of Tansen.
• It  is the highest national music award in the field of Indian classical music.

About Raja Mansingh Tomar Samman

• It is given by the Madhya Pradesh government to the organisation doing excellent work in the field of art and culture

About Swapan Choudhary

• He is a famous Tabla Player.
• In 1996, Swapan Chaudhuri received the Sangeet Natak Academy Award.
• In 2019, he received Padam Shri.

Bhutan’s royal honour conferred to Indian educationist Arun Kapoor

• Indian educationist Arun Kapur has been conferred the rare ‘Dasho’ title 
• He was also given the ‘Bura Marp’ (red scarf) and ‘Patang’ (ceremonial sword.
• The award was given by Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel at the 117th National Day celebrations. 
• The celebrations were held at the Changlimithang stadium in Thimphu, Kapur.

About the Dasho Title

• The title ‘Dasho’ is traditionally reserved for senior Bhutanese officials and is rarely given to non-residents.

About Arun Kapoor

• In 2019, Kapur was awarded the ‘Druk Thuksey’ for his significant role in establishing The Royal Academy school.
• He developed the Bhutan Baccalaureate educational system.
• Arun Kapur also served as the head of Delhi’s Vasant Valley School for 29 years.
• Kapur contributed significantly to Bhutan’s educational system

Masali Village became India’s first solar border village

• The Masali village in Gujarat has become the country's first 'solar village' on the border. 
• It is in Suigam taluka of Banaskantha
• The village is situated at a distance of 40 km from the Pakistan border.
• It has a total population of 800.
• The project worth Rs 1.16 crore was started with the cooperation of the UGVCL (Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited).
• The project has been implemented with a subsidy of Rs 59.81 lakh under the PM Suryaghar Yojana.
•  225.5 kilowatts of electricity is received in 119 houses.

Other solar villages in India

• Modhera:  India's first solar-powered village. Modhera is located in the Mehsana district of Gujarat and is known for its Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. 
• Sanchi: Sanchi is located in Madhya Pradesh. It has become India's first “solar city”.
• Telangana's Kondareddypalli has become a fully solar-powered village.
• Karnataka is one of the highest solar power producing state in India and is known as the solar state of India.
• Diu Smart City is the first city in India to operate entirely on green energy during the day.

Delhi Government announced a new health scheme for the elderly population

• The elderly citizens of Delhi over 60 years of age will receive treatment free of cost in both government and private hospitals under the new scheme called Sanjeevani Yojana. 
• There will be no upper limit on the cost of treatment.
• Whether treatment is sought in a government or private hospital, it will be entirely free of cost.
• It was launched after a clash with the central government scheme- Ayushman Bharat Yojna.
• The Delhi Government has stated many flaws in the central government scheme.

About Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

• PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance scheme fully financed by the government.
• Launched in 2018
• It offers a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh per family for secondary care and tertiary care.

News Headlines for today

• Delhi's Air Quality Deteriorates, AQI In 'Hazardous' Category
• India and China agree to resume Mansarovar Yatra, border trade after talks in Beijing
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake causes widespread damage in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu
• Ancelotti becomes the most successful Real Madrid manager after winning the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024
• Jasprit Bumrah creates history for India in Australia and overseas Tests; leaving Kapil Dev, and Ishant Sharma behind
• India is now the third-largest smartphone exporter in the world.
• In light of the ongoing crisis, the European Union promises Turkey €1 billion to aid Syrian refugees.
• In the second T-20 International, West Indies tied the series with a 9-wicket victory over India.