Pradeep Kumar Rawat has been appointed India’s next Ambassador to China. Mr Rawat, currently India’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, will replace Vikram Misri, who completed his three-year term earlier this month and has left for Delhi. Mr Rawat, a Mandarin-speaking career diplomat, will take up the assignment shortly in Beijing.

Prasar Bharati and Indian Council for Cultural Relations, ICCR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for promoting Indian culture. The performances of the eminent artists associated with the ICCR will be telecast on the national and International Channels of Doordarshan.

The dance and music performances will be showcased on DD National, DD India, regional channels of Doordarshan and Prasar Bharati News Services (Digital Platform of Prasar Bharati) in the form of a weekly programme.

The MoU aims to bring forth the best of Indian Culture to the National and International audiences and provide TV and Digital platforms to the performing artists.

In collaboration with ICCR, Doordarshan will produce 52 half an hour episodes, based on cultural events, concerts, performances of music and dance organized by ICCR.

Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju will move the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Rajya Sabha today for consideration and passing. The Lok Sabha had yesterday passed the Bill.

The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 provides linking of Aadhar number with electoral rolls besides giving four opportunities to enroll in a calendar year as voter upon attaining 18 years of age. 

In Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will move the Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2021 today for consideration and passing. She will move the bill to further amend the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 and the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.

The Competition Commission of India has approved acquisition of shareholding in Air India Limited, Air India Express Limited and Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited by Talace Private Limited.

The proposed combination envisages acquisition of 100 per cent equity share capital of Air India Limited and Air India Express Limited, and 50 percent equity share capital of Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited by Talace Private Limited. Talace is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons.

In October this year, the Government approved Air India disinvestment. The government had announced that Talace Private Limited a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons had won the bid to acquire the debt-laden airline.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh today. He will participate in a one-of-its-kind programme around 1 PM, which will be attended by more than 2 lakh women. In a tweet, Prime Minister said he will transfer one thousand crore rupees in the bank accounts of various Self Help Groups at the programme.

Mr Modi said more than 16 lakh women associated with these groups will benefit from this initiative. Interacting with women self help groups in August this year, the Prime Minister had said that they are bringing revolution to the rural areas.

This transfer is being done under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), with 80,000 SHGs receiving Community Investment Fund (CIF) of 1.10 lakh per SHG and 60,000 SHGs receiving Revolving Fund of 15,000 rupees per SHG. Prime Minister expressed happiness over Centre and Uttar Pradesh Government’s constant efforts to strengthen Self Help Groups (SHGs). Mr Modi said, money will also be transferred to over one lakh beneficiaries of the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Sumangala Scheme, which provides assistance to the girl child during different stages of her life.

Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal today inaugurated the Packaged Drinking Water Test Facility at National Test House, Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing the Board of Directors, Mr Goyal lauded the National Test House for taking a leap of technology to usher in quality assessment and assurance. Stressing on Prime Minister’s principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas, Mr Goyal said, we should test the goods in such a way that they carry Zero Defect and testing shall be acceptable worldwide.

President and Vice President today paid homage to Martyrs and freedom fighters on Goa Liberation Day.  In a tweet, President Ram Nath Kovind said, on Goa Liberation Day, the nation pays homage to the martyrs and freedom fighters who fought to liberate Goa from colonial rule. He said, we also salute the exemplary courage and valour of our armed forces.

Mr Kovind said, he will forever cherish the memories of Goa@60 celebrations which he attended last year.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu greeted people on Goa Liberation Day. He said, today we remember and pay homage to the freedom fighters and martyrs who fought for the liberation of Goa from foreign rule.

Mr Naidu said, Goa has had a remarkable journey since its liberation. He wished the state an even brighter and prosperous future ahead.

Indian Navy conducted the maiden sea trials for Mormugao, the second indigenous stealth destroyer of the P15B class yesterday. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDSL), the ship has been named after the port town in Goa. The Mormugao was launched in September 2016 when the late Manohar Parrikar was the defence minister.

The Indian Navy plans to commission the stealth destroyer in mid-2022 when it will be known as INS Mormugao. Mormugao will add significantly to the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities. The sea trials come less than a month after the recent commissioning of INS Visakhapatnam, the first of the P15B contract. The fourth P75 submarine INS Vela was also commissioned in November and starting sea trials of Mormugao is testimony to the cutting-edge capabilities of MDSL.

Indian economy is all set for a strong rebound in the current fiscal posting a growth rate of 9-10 per cent, says a CEOs poll conducted among the members of the CII National Council. A large number of CEOs polled, however, appeared worried about the impact of the new COVID variant Omnicron on services and the manufacturing sector.

As regards growth, about 10 per cent of the CEOs polled believe that it could even exceed 10 per cent during 2021-22. CII President T V Narendran said government's strong emphasis on public works, timely interventions to boost liquidity and several reforms carried out in the recent months have buoyed the optimism on higher economic growth. The poll is based on the responses of about 100 CEOs.

On the impact of Omicron on business, 55 per cent of the CEOs polled expect that the services sector would get adversely impacted due to the spread of the new variant of coronavirus, while another 34 per cent of the CEOs indicated that it could adversely impact manufacturing activities. According to the CEOs poll, 56 per cent of the respondents indicated that the economy would grow in the range of 9 per cent to 10 per cent during 2021-22, while another 10 per cent polled expected the growth rate in excess of 10 per cent this fiscal year, CII said.

Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh will inaugurate Good Governance Week in New Delhi today as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. The theme of Good Governance Week is 'Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur'. A Nationwide campaign for Redressal of Public Grievances and Improving Service Delivery will be held in all Districts, States, and Union Territories.

During the week-long event, more than 700 Districts Collectors will visit Tehsil and Panchayat Samiti Headquarters to provide timely grievance redressal and improve service delivery. The Minister will also inaugurate the Exhibition on Good Governance Practices.