Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for December 24, 2021

– Education Ministry issues advisory on using services of online education companies for school education

– DRDO conducts flight-test of indigenous aerial target ‘Abhyas’

– Indian Army launches messaging application ASIGMA (Army Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application) for its personnel

– Madhya Pradesh Assembly passes Bill that seeks to recover property damages from protesters

– Maharashtra Assembly passes Shakti Criminal Laws Bill that recommends capital punishment in rape cases

– Drinking age lowered from 25 to 21 in Haryana

– PM Modi inaugurates 27 developmental projects worth Rs 2,095 cr in Varanasi

– Fifth Siddha Day celebrated on Dec 23; is an Indian ancient medicine system

– Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 82-kms Delhi-Meerut Expressway

– India conducts second flight-test of surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay’; has a range of 150-500 kms

– Scientists trace first clue to understand transient high energy pulses from magnetars

– RBI extends card tokenisation deadline by six months to June 30, 2022 after which merchants will not be able to store card information of users

– Projects under PPP (public-private partnerships) at major ports can now determine tariffs in accordance with market dynamics

– PM launches portal and logo for Conformity Assessment Scheme of milk products in Varanasi; developed by BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) with NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) support

– Govt. signs agreements with German Development Bank – KFW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau) for energy reform programme in MP

– Government of India & European Investment Bank sign finance contract for first tranche loan of Euro 250 million for Agra Metro Rail project

– HSBC AMC acquires L&T Finance’s mutual fund unit for Rs 3,200 cr

– Medplus Health Services shares jump 41% in debut trade

– Pfizer pill ‘Paxlovid’ becomes first US-authorized home COVID treatment

– South Korea becomes 10th country outside of Europe to join Europol law enforcement cooperation agency

– UN passes resolution over easing financial restrictions on Afghanistan

– NDTL (National Dope Testing Laboratory) regains WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) accreditation