Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) during his recent visit to Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

UK-based researchers have found that stem cells harvested from pregnant womans amniotic fluid can be used to strengthen weak bones.

• 2016 Sahitya Akademi Award winners
• Japan approves biggest defence budget
• China launches TanSat satellite to monitor global carbon emissions

According to report submitted by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, there is alarming rise in forest fires across India.

The Sahitya Academy has announced the names of 24 poets and authors who will be conferred the prestigious 2016 Sahitya Akademi Award.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abes cabinet approved approved 5.13 trillion yen ($43.6 billion) in defence spending for the fiscal year starting in April 2017. It is Japans highest annual defence budget announced so far.

China successfully launched TanSat, a global carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring satellite to understand the effects of climate change.

The Union Ministry of Coal has launched Coal Mitra, a web portal for allowing flexibility in utilization of domestic Coal.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a complete ban on burning of waste in open places across the country and announced a fine of Rs. 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning.

Recently released Global Wage Report 2016-17 released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has found that India suffers from huge gender pay gap.

• December 22: National Mathematics Day
• Union Cabinet approves ordinance to pay salaries by cheques
• Kaisa Matomaki, Maksym Radziwill win 2016 SASTRA Ramanujan award

The Union Cabinet has approved a draft ordinance to empower states and allow industries to pay workers wages digitally, through a direct bank transfer to accounts or by cheque in a bid to encourage cashless transactions.