Kura Pokkhir Shunye Ura and Upon Entry Awarded Best Film at KIFF

Why In News

Kura Pokkhir Shunye Ura (The Golden Wings of Watercocks) of Bangladesh and Upon Entry of Spain won the Best Film Award at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival.

Key Points

Kura Pokkhir Shunye Ura (The Golden Wings of Watercocks) of Bangladesh and Upon Entry of Spain won the Best Film Award at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival.

Upon Entry is a film from Spain which is a story about the unexpected interrogation of a couple from Barcelona that has to go through after landing in New York with pre-approved immigration visas. Kura Pokkhir Shunye Ura is a Bangladeshi Film that revolves around the journey of a peasant who is affected by the fury of nature.

Kura Pokkhir Shunye Ura is directed by Muhammad Quayum who was present at the venue.

He dedicated the awards to the recognition of independent filmmakers of his country.

The directors of Upon Entry, Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastian Vasquez virtually thanked the audience and the jury.

The best film at the International Film Festival gets the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award and prize money of ₹51 lakh.

Virna Molina and Ernesto Ardito of Argentina won the Best Director Award for the film Hitler’s Witch.

Virna Molina, while receiving the award wore the jersey of her country’s World Cup-winning football team Lionel Messi.

The Hiralal Sen Memorial Award for Best Film in Indian Languages went to Muthayya                           .

Muthayya is a Telugu movie directed by Bhaskhar Maurya. This award is an honor to the regional cinema.

The Special Jury award in the Indian Language film category was conferred on Chhaad (the Terrace), the debut film of Indrani Chakraborty.

NSE Gets Sebi Nod to Set up Social Stock Exchange

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The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) received in-principle approval from the capital markets regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to set up a Social Stock Exchange (SSE).

Key Points

One of the leading stock exchanges in India – The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) received in-principle approval from the capital markets regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to set up a Social Stock Exchange (SSE) as a separate segment.

First floated by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech for the financial year 2019-20, SSE is a novel concept in India and the framework for this was notified in July this year based on the recommendations of a working group and technical group constituted by Sebi.

It is meant to serve the private and non-profit sectors by availing more capital to them. The union government issued a gazette notification declaring a new security ‘zero coupon zero principal‘ under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956.

An SSE allows the listing of non-profit or non-government organisations on stock exchanges, providing them with an alternative fund-raising structure.

Countries like the UK, Canada and Brazil have SSEs.

The fund-raising is proposed through several instruments such as zero-coupon-zero-principal bonds, social venture funds and mutual funds.

India’s Market Size:

India has over 31 lakh NPOs more than double the number of schools and 250 times the number of government hospitals which amount to one NPO for 400 Indians.

Eligibility criteria for SSE:

Under the new rules, SSE will be a separate segment of the existing stock exchanges. Social enterprises that are eligible to participate in the SSE will have to be NPOs and for-profit social enterprises having social intent.

The social enterprises aspiring for SSE will have to engage in a social activity out of 16 broad activities listed by Sebi. The eligible activities include promoting healthcare, education, employability, and livelihoods; eradicating hunger, poverty, malnutrition, and inequality and supporting incubators of social enterprise and gender equality empowerment of women and LGBTQIA+ communities.

The Constraints:

The entities not eligible under the present rules include corporate foundations, professional or trade associations, political and religious organisations, infrastructure and housing companies, except affordable housing.

As of now, Sebi permits the minimum issue size as Rs 1 crore and the minimum application size for subscription at Rs 2 lakh.

LG Manoj Sinha Launched 3 New Schemes for J&K

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Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha announced three New Schemes- Holistic Development of Agriculture & Allied Sectors, Aspirational Towns, and Aspirational Panchayat for J&K Union Territory.

Key Points

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha announced three New Schemes- Holistic Development of Agriculture & Allied Sectors, Aspirational Towns, and Aspirational Panchayat for J&K Union Territory. The projects which have now been approved by the administrative council, have an outlay of 5013 crore rupees.

Govt Aims:

Over the next five years, these projects would transform the agriculture economy of J&K putting it on a new trajectory of growth with doubling the output of the sectors and making them sustainable and commercially viable.  Lt. Governor said, this will herald a new phase of farmer prosperity and rural livelihood security in J&K.

The agricultural output which stands at Rs 37,600 crore shall increase by over Rs 28,142 crore to reach more than Rs 65,700 crore per year, with a resultant increment in sectoral growth rate to 11 per cent.

The interventions shall create employment opportunities for over 2.8 lakh youths and establish around 19,000 enterprises.

On the Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme, Jammu and Kashmir is going to select the most backward 285 panchayats — one panchayat in each block — for their holistic development.

New Approach Towards The Union Territory:

The Union territory administration constituted an apex committee for holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors and the committee came with a comprehensive plan in the form of 29 projects covering all the sectors in a record time of five months.

A total of 100 measurable indicators have been identified across nine sectors, which shall give insight of existing status and incremental progress over a period of time.

Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Development Index-2022 is a tool to assess the development of urban local bodies across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir against the normative development benchmarks.

Rajya Sabha’s productivity during the winter session recorded at 102%

Why In News

Rajya Sabha's productivity during winter session 102%: Final day of the winter session, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die, with a productivity score of 102%, said Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Key Points

Rajya Sabha’s productivity during winter session 102%: On Friday, the final day of the winter session, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die, with a productivity score of 102%. Jagdeep Dhankhar, the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, claims that in 13 sittings, functional time was 64 hours and 50 minutes as opposed to the entire allocated time of 63 hours and 26 minutes, and productivity was 102%.

1,920 unstarred questions were answered in the 13 sittings, while 82 starred questions were resolved.

After 28 hours of debate in which 160 members participated, nine bills were ultimately passed or returned during the session.

Although the term “House of Elders” is not listed in the official lexicon, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had noted in my opening address on December 7 that it adequately captured the significance of this institution.

The House of Elders, Rajya Sabha is expected by the nation to take a decisive, leading role in reinforcing and advancing the fundamental principles of the Republic

Rajya Sabha is also expected to be establishing the traditions of Parliamentary democracy that best represent the highest standards of deliberation and imitation, according to Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Beth Mead Awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022 Award

Why In News

Beth Mead has been awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2022 as she was the player of the tournament and top scorer at Euro 2022.

Key Points

Beth Mead has been awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2022 as she was the player of the tournament and top scorer at Euro 2022. Beth Mead defeated Germany in the finals at Wembley to win England’s first major women’s football trophy. The 27-year-old competed against Ben Stokes and Ronnie O’Sullivan for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2022 award.

Beth Mead defeated eight-time champion Germany with her six goals and five assists at the Wembley finals.

England secured their first major trophy for the first time since 1966.

They also won the team of the year and coach of the year for Sarina Wiegman.

England’s Cricketer Ben Stokes was second with winter Olympics curling champion Eve Muirhead Third.

Seven-time snooker world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, gymnast Jessica Gadirova, who won the floor title and 1,500 m athletics World Champion Jake Wightman were also shortlisted for the award.

Beth Mead won the player of the tournament and won the Golden boot with six goals and five assists.

She has been also named Arsenal’s player of the season.

Her international goal tally for the 2021-22 season was 20 in 19 matches, beating the record of 13 scored by Jimmy Greaves in 1960-61.

About Beth Mead

Bethany Jane Mead was born on 9th May 1995. She is an English Professional footballer who plays forward for the women’s super league club Arsenal and the England national team. At UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, she became the Golden Boot Winner, Player of the Tournament, and top assist provider, leading England to win a major tournament for the first time.