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Current Affairs Today – 18th December 2019
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
International Migrants Day observed on 18 December
- The International Migrants Day is organized across the world on 18th December to protect the rights of migrant workers and members of their families.
- In Dec 2000, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 18 Dec as International Migrants Day after considering the large and increasing number of migrants in the world.
Extra Shots:
United Nations: It is an International Organization. Its Objective of UN is to not only maintain International Peace and Security but also to develop Friendly relations among nations.
- Founded – 24th October, 1945
- Headquarter- New York,United States
- Secretary General- Antonio Guterres (9th SG OF UN)
- He is from PORTUGAL
- Portugal (Capital/Currency) – Lisbon/ Euro
- United States (Capital/Currency) – Washington, D.C/ US Dollar
World Arabic Language Day is observed on 18 December
- World Arabic Language Day is observed on 18 December every year.
- The day aims to celebrate the multilingualism and cultural diversity of the United Nations.
- The celebration of the day is held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
- The theme of the 2019 World Arabic Language Day is Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- The theme focuses on the development of instantaneous translation tools, through AI, which could facilitate dialogue between peoples and cultures.
- AI can promote the development of the Arabic language as it facilitates the learning of several languages.
Extra Shots:
UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Paris, France.
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Head: Audrey Azoulay
- Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom
- Formation: 4 November 1946; 73 years ago
- Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council
BANKING CURRENT AFFAIRS
SBI inks $277 million pact with Germany based KfW bank
- State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a loan agreement worth of $277 million (about Rs 1,958 crore) with Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) German development bank for establishing an energy-efficient housing programme in India.
- The programme shall be part of the Indo-German Development Co-operation, guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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State Bank of India: Founded on: As 2 June 1806 (Bank of Calcutta), 15 April 1840 (Bank of Bombay), 1 July 1843 (Bank of Madras), 27 January 1921 (Imperial Bank of India), 1 July 1955 (State Bank of India)
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Chairman: Rajnish Kumar
- SBI is the largest commercial bank and the largest mortgage lender across the country.
- SBI has 22,010 branches and 58,000 ATM/CDM across India.
RBI waives NEFT, RTGS transfer charges for savings account holders
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has waived NEFT, RTGS transfer charges for savings account holders.
- In an order, RBI instructed banks to make all online payments done through RTGS and NEFT free of cost for savings account holders.
- The new rule will be effective from January 1, 2020.
Extra Shots:
RBI: The Reserve Bank of India is India’s central banking institution, which controls the issuance and supply of the Indian rupee.
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- Deputy Governors: B P Kanungo, M K Jain, N S Vishwanathan
FINANCE AND ECONOMY
GoI signs $250 Mn loan with ADB to expand energy efficiency investments
- The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $250 million loan for Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).
- The loan aims to expand energy efficiency investments in India that will benefit agricultural, residential and institutional consumers.
- Additionally, $46 million financing will be provided from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), to be administered by ADB.
- The project is expected to contribute to the mission of Government of India to promote energy efficiency and meet Government’s commitments to reduce energy intensity of the economy.
Extra Shots:
ADB: The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, which is headquartered in the Ortigas Center located in the city of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. The company also maintains 31 field offices around the world to promote social and economic development in Asia.
- Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
- President: Currently Vacant
- Founded: 19 December 1966
- Membership: 68 countries
- Purpose: Economic development
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Union government launches National Broadband Mission
- The Union government has launched National Broadband Mission to provide Broadband access to all villages by 2022.
- The mission aims to connect 600,000 villages across India with an investment of Rs 7 lakh crore in the next 4 years from both government and private sector.
- The mission is a part of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018.
- The mission will secure universal broadband access for implementation of broadband initiatives and aims to offer Internet speed upto 50 Mbps in a phased manner.
Government launched the sale of Khadi Rumal
- Government launched the sale of ‘Khadi Rumal’ on 17 December 2019.
- It was launched by the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Nitin Gadkari.
- He announced 50% increase in the remuneration of women workers to Rs.3 per piece from Rs.2 per piece presently.
- Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has signed an agreement with Paytm to increase the outreach and availability of these Rumals through a digital platform.
Khadi Rumal:
♦ KVIC has set the target to sell 5 Crore pieces of Khadi Rumal initially.
♦ In order to create 5 Crore pieces of Khadi Rumal, nearly 15 lakh Kgs of cotton will be consumed.
♦ It is an opportunity for every Indian citizen to be a part of the Nation Building.
NITI Aayog to include eggs, fish, chicken, and meat in PDS
- Niti Aayog Plans to include eggs, fish, chicken, and meat, possibly through its public distribution system.
- The aim of the proposal is to improve India’s low nutrition ranking at the global level.
- This is expected to be part of Niti Aayog’s 15-year Vision Document.
- The document will be in place by early 2020 with effect from 1 April 2020.
- NITI Aayog aims to widen the list of food items under the public distribution system and include at least one or more food items.
Extra Shots:
NITI Aayog: The NITI Aayog is a policy think tank of the Government of India, established with the aim to achieve sustainable development goals with cooperative federalism by fostering the involvement of State Governments of India in the economic policy-making process using a bottom-up approach.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Chairperson: Narendra Modi
- Formed: 1 January 2015
Centre to extend 2 years for AMRUT scheme
- The Centre has decided to extend the mission period of the flagship initiative Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) by two more years.
- The government was unable to meet the set targets for urban renewal in 500 cities.
- AMRUT was launched on 25 June 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The initiative will complete its mission period in March 2020.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Music festival ‘Tansen Samaroh’ begins in Gwalior
- In Madhya Pradesh, popular classical music festival ‘Tansen Samaroh’ began with traditional style in Gwalior with the recitations of Harikatha and Milad.
- The 5-day festival is celebrated every year in the memory of one of the most eminent singers of Indian history, ‘Mian Tansen’.
- Tansen Samaroh, the oldest and esteemed classical music festival in India is organised by Ustad Alauddin Khan Kala Evam Sangeet Academy.
- It is the 95th year of the festival.
- Artistes from Greece, USA, Iran and Belgium will perform in different sessions of Tansen festival.
JK to receive national award for implementing PMGSY
- Jammu and Kashmir has been selected by the Union Ministry of Rural Development for the national award in the best performing category for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
- The award will be presented in a ceremony on 19 December 2019 at the National Agricultural Science Complex, Pusa, New Delhi.
Extra Shots:
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched on 25 December 2000 by the Government of India. The scheme aims to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations as part of a poverty reduction strategy.
Jammu & Kashmir:
- Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
- Lt Governor- Girish Chandra Murmu
- National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS, Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
UNESCO removes Racist, a Belgian carnival, from the heritage list
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) removed ‘Racist’ the Belgian carnival from the heritage list.
- It was removed over the recurring repetition of racist and antisemitic representations as the carnival mocks Jews.
- The carnival is celebrated in the Belgian city of Aalst every year.
- It was initially added to UNESCO’s list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2010.
Extra Shots:
UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Paris, France.
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Head: Audrey Azoulay
- Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom
- Formation: 4 November 1946
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
Geneva to host the first-ever Global Refugee Forum
- Geneva is to hold the first-ever Global Refugee Forum from 16-18 December 2019.
- It was announced by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Global Refugee Forum:
♦ The forum will be Convened at the ministerial level.
♦ It will be the first high-level gathering to follow up on the practical implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees, which was affirmed by the United Nations (UN) in New York in December 2018.
♦ The forum aims to give impetus to efforts to achieve the objectives and translate international solidarity into concrete action.
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UNHRC: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is a United Nations agency with the mandate to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people, and assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Head: Filippo Grandi
- Abbreviation: UNHCR, HCR
- Formation: 14 December 1950; 68 years ago
- Founder: United Nations
- High commissioner: Filippo Grandi
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
CSIR and CNRS signed MoU to promote Scientific and Technological Research
- Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France on 17 December 2019.
- The aim of the MoU is to establish a framework for cooperation between India and France towards promotion and support of scientific and technological research.
- CSIR and CNRS plan to strengthen their cooperation to foster joint innovation and transfer of technologies applicable to India or/and France and to other nations.
Extra Shots:
CSIR: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research abbreviated as CSIR was established by the Government of India in September of 1942 as an autonomous body that has emerged as the largest research and development organisation in India.
CNRS: The French National Center for Scientific Research is the French state research organisation and is the largest fundamental science agency in Europe. In 2016, it employed 31,637 staff, including 11,137 tenured researchers, 13,415 engineers and technical staff, and 7,085 contractual workers.
APPOINTMENT
England Cricketer Laura Marsh announces retirement
- The Laura Alexandra Marsh, England cricketer announced her retirement.
- Laura has won three World Cups in her 13-year career, she made her debut in 2006 as a seamer, later on, she switched to spin.
- She has represented England in 103 ODI’s (One Day International), 67 T20’s and 9 Tests and has taken 217 wickets in her career.
- She is also England’s 3rd highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket.
- Laura Marsh was awarded a full central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in February 2019.
- She played in her 100th women’s One Day International (WODI) match against West Indies in June 2019.
British PM Boris Jhonson re-elected as Prime Minister of UK
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won the historic UK General Election as his Conservative Party crossed the magic number of 326 required for a majority in the Parliament. He is re-elected as a Prime Minister of UK.
- Johnson won the historic election as his Conservative Party crossed the 326-mark required for a majority in Parliament.
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
UWW named Deepak Punia as the Jr Freestyle Wrestler of the Year
- Indian Wrestler Deepak Punia has been named the Junior Freestyle Wrestler of the Year by the United World Wrestling (UWW).
- He was transitted from junior to the senior circuit. Punia became the first Indian wrestler to win a junior world title in 18 years.
- He won a silver medal on his debut at the Senior World Wrestling Championships 2019.
Extra Shots:
United World Wrestling (UWW): UWW is an international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling. It oversees wrestling at the Olympics. UWW hosts the event Wrestling World Championships.
- Formed on: 1912
- Headquarters: Switzerland
- Membership: Representatives from 176 national federations
Ellyse Perry named 2019 Best cricketer and ODI player
- Ellyse Perry was named as women’s Best cricketer and ODI player of 2019.
- The announcement was made by the world governing body International Cricket Council (ICC).
- Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy was named the Best T20I Player.
- The top T20 cricketer won the title for a second straight year.
- Meg Lanning, the Australian team captain, was named skipper of the ICC’s 50-overs and T20 teams of the year 2019.
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
GRSE delivered an LCU to the Indian Navy
- Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) delivered a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) to the Indian Navy.
- It will add to the country’s maritime security prowess.
- The LCU is 62.8 metres long, 11 metres wide.
- It has a displacement of 830 tonnes, with a low draught of 1.7 metres.
AWARDS
Ben Stokes awarded with Sports Personality of the Year 2019 award
- England cricketer Ben Stokes has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019.
- He has become the first cricketer since Andrew Flintoff in 2005 to win the prize.
- Ben Stokes was Man of the Match as England won the 2019 World Cup for the first time with a dramatic super over victory against New Zealand at Lord’s.
- He was presented with his award by the Princess Royal and former Manchester United and Scotland footballer Denis Law.
CBI officer BP Raju won the 2019 India Cyber Cop of the Year
- CBI officer BP Raju has won the India Cyber Cop of the Year 2019 award by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)-Data Security Council of India (DSCI).
- The award was presented by Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ajay Prakash Sawhney at an Information Security Summit held at Gurgaon, Haryana.
Extra Shots:
DSCI: Data Security Council of India is a premier industry body on data protection in India, setup by NASSCOM®, committed to making cyberspace safe, secure and trusted by establishing best practices, standards and initiatives in cyber security and privacy.
- Former CEO(s): Kamlesh Bajaj, Nandkumar Saravade
- CEO: Rama Vedashree
- Headquarters: Noida
- Founder: NASSCOM
- Founded: August 2008
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
A start to be named after Indian Woman Scientist
- The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has accepted to name a white-yellow star in Sextans constellation and its Jupiter-like exoplanets. Until now, the stars were called HD 86081 and 86081b.
- The star will be named Bibha and the orbiting exoplanet will be named Santamasa, a Sanskrit term for clouded.
- The move by IAU is aimed to bring the attention of the global countries to exoplanet research.
- Bibha: Bibha Chowdhuri is a 20th-century Indian woman physicist.
Extra Shots:
International Astronomical Union (IAU):
- Formed on: 28 July 1919
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Membership: 82 national members and 13,701 individual members
- President: Ewine van Dishoeck
- General Secretary: Maria Teresa Lago
OBITUARIES
Veteran actor Shriram Lagoo passes away
- Veteran actor Shriram Lagoo passed away.
- He played important role in the growth of theatre movement in Maharashtra in the post-Independence era.
- His roles in Marathi plays such as “Natsamrat” and “Himalayachi Saoli”, and films such as “Pinjra” made him popular.
Bollywood actress Gita Siddharth Kak passes away
- Bollywood actress Gita Siddharth Kak passed away.
- Her most well-known movies include Garm Hava (1973), Parichay (1972), Gaman (1978) among others.
- Her Garam Hava won the Best Feature Film at the 21st National Film Awards.
- The film was also critically acclaimed.
Former Union Minister ID Swami passes away
- Former Union Minister ID Swami passed away. He served as the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs in 1999 in former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government.
- He was also two times Lok Sabha member from Karnal in Haryana.
