Current Affairs 31 December 2023
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
National Street Food Festival 2023 Concluded
- The three-day National Street Food Festival 2023 concluded on December 31, 2023 at JLN Stadium in New Delhi.
- The street food festival was organized by the National Association of Street Vendors of India NASVI.
- It is the first Zero Waste Street Food Festival in India. Stalls from 22 Indian states along with from Turkey, Afghanistan and Nepal participated in the festivals.
- The festival has been sucessful in its objective to bring in street foods of India vendors all over the country to National Capital Delhi.
Railways Minister Virtually Flaged off Balurghat- Sealdah Express
- Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually flagged off the Balurghat- Sealdah Express from Balurghat in West Bengal on December 31, 2023.
- According to Mr. Vaishnaw , railways will invest over ₹50000 crore for the rail development projects in the state.
- The Minister added that developmental works are underway to upgrade 98 stations in West Bengal.
- The Minister said that 1408 kilometers of rail projects are held up due to the lack of support from the state government.
ECONOMY AND BANKING
Centre Constitutes 16th Finance Commission
- Centre constitutes 16th Finance Commission with Dr Arvind Panagariya as its Chairman on December 31, 2023.
- Ministry of Finance in a statement said that IAS officer Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey will be the secretary of the Commission.
- The Commission may review the present arrangements on financing Disaster Management initiatives and make appropriate recommendations thereon.
- The Finance Commission has been requested to make its report available by October 31, 2025 covering a period of five years commencing on the April 1, 2026.
SPORTS PANORAMA
Scottish Junior Open Squash 2023 (Squash)
- Indian teenager Anahat Singh produced a dominant performance, bagging the girls’ under-19 title at the 2023 Scottish Junior Open squash held in Edinburgh on December 31, 2023.
- Anahat claimed a 11-6, 11-1, 11-5 victory over home favourite Robyn McAlpine in the final.
- It capped off a spectacular year for Delhi's Anahat, who recorded won the under-19 and senior National championship double.
- He won the mixed doubles bronze along with Abhay Singh both at the Asian Games and in the inaugural Asian Mixed Doubles Championships.