India slips to 112th rank on gender gap index in World Economic forum (WEF) ranking
* India ranks 112th in terms of gender gap among 153 countries surveyed in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Global Gender Gap Report 2020. While Iceland remains the world’s most gender-neutral country, India has moved down the ladder from its 108th position last year amid widening disparity in terms of women’s health and survival and economic participation.
* Iceland has topped the report and remains the world’s most gender-neutral country while Yemen was ranked the worst (153rd) in the report. As per report, the most improved countries were Albania, Ethiopia, Mali, Mexico and Spain. Among regions, Western Europe has made the most progress on gender parity (standing at 76.7%).

Lt. Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane to be next Army Chief staff of India
* Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane will be the next Chief of Army Staff of India. He is currently serving as Vice Chief of the Army. Lt Gen Naravane will succeed Gen Bipin Rawat, who will retire on the 31st December. Before taking charge as vice chief of the Army Staff in September, Lt Gen Naravane was heading the Eastern Command of the Army which takes care of India’s nearly 4,000-km border with China.

Nagaland Governor RN Ravi gets additional charge of Meghalaya
* Nagaland Governor RN Ravi was given additional charge of Meghalaya. *The President of India is pleased to appoint Ravi “to discharge the functions of the Governor of Meghalaya, in addition to his own duties, during the absence on leave” of Tathagata Roy, Governor of Meghalaya, stated a press communique from the President’s Secretariat.

Shri Sridhar Patra appointed NALCO CMD
* Government has appointed Shri Sridhar Patra as the chairman-cum-managing director of NALCO. Patra is at present Director (Finance) in the National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO). He has been appointed as the CMD of NALCO till the date of his superannuation, i.e. October 31, 2024.

Indian peacekeepers in South Sudan receive prestigious UN medal
* United Nations About 850 Indian peacekeepers serving in South Sudan have been awarded the prestigious UN medal for their service and contribution to building peace in the strife-torn nation and supporting the local communities.
* India is among the largest troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations. Currently, 2,342 Indian troops and 25 police personnel are deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).