Important Current Affairs 21st DECEMBER 2017

Important Current Affairs 21st DECEMBER 2017

Current Affairs 21st DECEMBER 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Photo exhibition at Buddhist Saint Bhante Kushok Bakula Rinpoche from December 20-31, 2017 at Indira Gandhi National Arts Center

Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the exhibition at the Indira National Center for Art (IGNCA), New Delhi, on December 20, 2017, in the presence of Mongolian ambassador Gonchig Ganbold, the visionary Buddhist saint Bhante Pujya Kushok Bakula Rinpoche.
●    This exhibition has been organized by the Indira Gandhi National Center's East Asia Program Unit to commemorate the birth centenary of the modern Ladakh producer Bhante Kushok Bakul.
●    For the general purpose, this exhibition will be open from December 20 to December 31, 2017.
●    Kiren Rijiju said at the inaugural function that Bhante Baku was the active monk of Rimpau, he worked for peace and spread the teachings of Lord Buddha in different parts of the world.
●    Bhante Rinpoche's World Peace has been associated with many national and international organizations working for environmental conservation and inter-opinion dialogue.
●    Kiren Rijiju said that Bhante Rinpoche played an important role in burning the light of religion among people of different countries deprived of intellectual freedom by totalitarian communist regimes.
●    Rijiju said that in many countries including Mongolia, Russia and China, his actions of reviving the Buddhist doctrine prove that Bhante Bakula was the great figure of Rinpoche.

Offshore surveillance ship (OPV) ICGS Sujay commissioned

Indian Coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh today commissioned Sixth Indian Coast Guard ship Sujay in a series of six 105 M Offshore Surveillance Ship (OPV) in Goa.
●    On this occasion CMD of Coast Guard, Goa Shipyard Limited and other senior dignitaries of the Central and State Government were present.
●    Sujay means 'great victory'
●    It expresses the will and determination of the Indian Coast Guard.
●    For the service and protection of the country's maritime interest, the commander is in the governing and administrative control of the Coast Guard area (north-east) in Paradip, Odisha.
●    The 105 meter offshore ship has been designed and manufactured by Indigenous Goa Shipyard Limited.
●    The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art shipping and communication equipment, sensors and machinery.
●    Its features include 30mm CRN 91 Naval Gun, Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS), Power Management System (PMS) and High Power Fire Fighting System.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy released concept paper on Solar PV Manufacturing Scheme

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has prepared a concept paper on Solar PV Manufacturing Scheme to increase manufacturing capacity of Solar PV module, cell, wafer / ingot and polysilicon in the country.
●    It has been proposed to assist the manufacturers of solar PV cell and module, so that the expansion and upgradation of existing facilities to be made competitive in comparison to the international solar products in the country, or the establishment of new manufacturing facilities.
●    The main objective behind this is to ensure the complete spectrum of manufacturing in this area, ie, from polysilicon to a wide range of manufacturing.
●    According to the ambitious target set by India to achieve 100 gigawatt of solar power capacity by 2022, the Government's desire is that in addition to this there should be a comprehensive solar construction capacity in the country.
●    The aim of the government is to reduce domestic dependence on foreign products by making domestic manufacturers competitive compared to international manufacturers.
●    It is intended to fulfill this objective through the production of quality solar PV equipment in the country.

Two-day regional conference on 'Reception of good governance and best practices' will start tomorrow in Guwahati

Regional conference on 'Good governance and replication of best practices' will be held in Guwahati tomorrow.
●    This two-day conference is being organized in collaboration with Assam Government by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Department (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India.
●    Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate this conference and address the delegates.
●    The objective of this conference is to create a common platform where the experiences related to citizen centered governance, better delivery of public services, good governance index, initiatives taken by the Prime Minister and the State Cooperation Initiative scheme of DARPG can be shared.
●    Six sessions will be organized during the conference. The topics of various sessions are: 'Responsible delivery of public services', 'Cooperative initiative of States in administrative reforms', '2017 initiatives made by the Prime Minister', on Governance initiatives taken by Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya Presentations from North-Eastern States 'and' Developing Good Governance Index for Ranking States '.'
●    Following this, 'Connectivity: The first requirement for e-Governance' panel discussion will be organized.

NHAI created National Highway Investment Promotion Cell (NHIPC)

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has created a National Highway Investment Promotion Cell (NHIPC) to attract domestic and foreign investment for highway projects.
●    This cell focuses on interaction with global institutional investors, construction companies, developers and fund managers to ensure investor participation in road infrastructure projects.
●    The government has set an ambitious target of constructing 35,000 km long national highways in the next five years with an investment of Rs 5,35,000 crore under 'Bharatmala project'.
●    Keeping in view the huge investment required for this, both domestic and foreign investment from the public and private sectors have special significance.
●    NHIPC will primarily focus on promoting foreign and domestic investment in road infrastructure or infrastructure related to the road.

Current Affairs 21st DECEMBER 2017: AWARDS

President Ramnath Kovind provided the National Service Scheme Awards 2016-17

President Shri Ramnath Kovind presented the National Service Scheme Awards in the year 2016-17 during a program organized in the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan, here today.
●    Youth Affairs and Sports Minister (Independent Charge) Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore and many other dignitaries were present on this occasion.
●    Prior to this, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister (Independent Charge) in Vigyan Bhawan, here today, provided the National Service - 2013-17-17, NSS Unit, Program Officers and NSS volunteers.
●    Secretary of Youth Affairs Dr. A. Dube, senior officials of NSS were also present on the occasion.
●    NSS is a central area plan.
●    This scheme was launched in the year 1969 and its main purpose is to develop personality and character of young students through voluntary community service.
●    The conceptual retention of the NSS is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's ideals.
●    The NSS motto is 'I am not you,'

Current Affairs 21st DECEMBER 2017: ECONOMY

Darpan project was launched for financial inclusion of rural population

Communications Minister Mr. Manoj Sinha launched the "Digital Advancement of Rural Post Office for a New India" project today to achieve the goal of financial inclusion in the quality of services, value addition to services and financial inclusion of the deprived rural population.
●    He said that with the allocation of Rs.1400 crores, IT modernization project aims to provide a lesser technological solution to each branch post master (BPM).
●    With this, approximately 1.29 lakh branches will be given post office services to improve the service of rural consumers of all states.
●    Sinha said that today 43,171 branch post offices have adopted the darpan project to achieve the goal of financial inclusion of rural population.
●    This goal is to be completed by March, 2018.
●    This project will increase the reach of the postal department by the rural population and all financial statements, savings accounts, rural postal life insurance and cash certificates will increase.
●    With the permission of automatic booking and delivery of accountable materials, the improvement of mail operations will improve, revenues from retail postage business will increase, third party applications will be available and distribution will be easy for social security schemes like NREGA.

Current Affairs 21st DECEMBER 2017: DAYS AND DATES

Judge Advocate General Department celebrated 34th Core Day

The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department celebrated its 34th Core Day on December 21, 2017.
●    Wreaths were paid to Amar Jawan Jyoti of India Gate on this occasion.
●    Lt Gen Ashwani Kumar, Colonel Commandant, Adjutant General and JAG Department presented wreath with Major General VC Chitwanshi and other officers, jawans and former officials.
●    The JAG department is the judicial and law branch of the army who looks at disciplinary matters and lawsuits.
●    The Department assists all ranks in the pursuit of human rights and rule of law.
●    The origin and development of the JAG Department is linked to military law development in England and its history begins with the British "Art of War-135".
●    In the year 1949, the bill was introduced to make military laws in Parliament.