current affairs 18 December 2021

UNESCO recognises Kolkata's Durga Puja as an intangible cultural heritage.

UNESCO has added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its list of intangible cultural heritage for 2021, giving international recognition to the 331-year-old city and the largest religious festival in the state of West Bengal.
The UNESCO announcement was welcomed by Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is widely recognized as the biggest patron of the festival.
With the inclusion of Durga Puja, the number of elements in the list of intangible cultural heritage from India has increased to 14.
There are 36,946 community Durga Pujas organized in Bengal. Of these, around 2,500 are held in Kolkata.
In recent years, several organizations have urged UNESCO to recognize the festival.

PM Narendra Modi has been honored with Bhutan's highest civilian award, Nagdag Pel Ji Khorlo, on the occasion of the country's National Day.
Bhutan's Prime Minister Lotay Tshering has announced PM Modi's name for Bhutan's highest honour.
The honor comes as an appreciation of India's friendly approach towards Bhutan under PM Modi's rule.
During the pandemic, India had supported the neighboring country in the form of vaccines, medicines and other emergency services.
In 2019, Russia conferred on him its highest civilian honour Order of St. Andrew award.
The UAE also conferred its highest civilian honour Order of Zayed Award on Modi in 2019.

The world's most decorated gymnast, a four-time Olympic medalist, was honored to put her mental health first when she pulled out of four event finals at the Tokyo Olympics.
Despite the setbacks, the 24-year-old managed to win a team silver and bronze medals in balance beam at the Tokyo Games.
Biles along with hundreds of athletes accused the FBI, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee for failing to stop the abuse.
A month after the Tokyo Olympics, Biles gave an emotional testimony at a US senate hearing into former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal.

A total of 148 athletes, including 20 new players in seven Olympic disciplines and six Paralympic disciplines, have been identified for support under the Lakshya Olympic Podium Scheme in a meeting of the Mission Olympic Cell of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
TOP scheme which is an effort to provide support to the top athletes of India.
This scheme was launched in 2014.
The Mission Olympic Cell approved the lists in cycling, rowing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling as well as para sports (archery, athletics, badminton, shooting, swimming, table tennis).
Archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, horse riding, fencing, golf, gymnastics, judo, rowing and tennis will be taken up at the next meeting later this month.

Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur formally inaugurated the first ever national level Khelo India Women's Hockey League at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
The winner of Khelo India Women's Hockey League will get a cash prize of 30 lakhs.
In the first phase, a total of 14 teams will participate in the league and 42 matches will be played from December 15 to December 21.
The second and third phases will be held early next year.
Sports Authority of India and Hockey India are jointly organizing the national level Khelo India League for the first time.
This is the first major event to be held at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium after 2015.