NATIONAL NEWS

Mobile app of forthcoming DefExpo 2020 launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the mobile app of the forthcoming DefExpo 2020 to be held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

• The app provides detailed information about the day-to-day events, participating exhibitors, guest speakers of seminars, maps and directions of the venues.

• Mr Singh also reviewed the preparations of DefExpo. During the meeting, senior officials informed that a record number of over 880 exhibiters, including foreign companies, have registered so far. Dozens of MoUs are also expected to be inked during the Expo.

• The 11th biennial edition of DefExpo India- 2020 is scheduled to be held for the first time in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow.

• The theme of the expo is ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’.

Delhi : "National Symposium of Poets 2020" organized by All India Radio

• National Symposium of Poets – 2020 was organized by All India Radio.

• This poet symposium was attended by select poets of all 22 languages recognized in the constitution. It is being held continuously every year since 1956.

• Poets from all corners of the country gave their presentations and captivated the hearts of the people.

• Such National symposium is organized every year and broadcast on the eve of Republic Day and at all the centers of AIR at 10:00 PM.

BANKING AND ECONOMICS

RBI directs large co-op banks to report exposures above Rs 5 cr

• The Reserve Bank has directed large cooperative banks to report all exposures of Rs 5 crore and more to the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC), a move aimed at early recognition of financial distress.

• The Reserve Bank has created a CRILC of commercial banks, all India financial institutions and certain non-banking financial companies with multiple objectives, which, among others, include strengthening offsite supervision and early recognition of financial distress.

• Earlier in its bi-monthly monetary policy review this month, the RBI had announced that to bring UCBs with assets of Rs 500 crore and above under the CRILC reporting framework.

SPORTS

Weightlifter Seema banned for four years for doping

• Commonwealth Championship silver medallist weightlifter Seema has been banned for doping

• She had been given a four-year suspension by NADA’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel

• Seema won a silver medal in the 2017 Commonwealth Championships and finished sixth in the women’s 75kg competition at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.

• About NADA:

• Formation: November 24, 2005

• Headquarters: New Delhi, India

• Chairman: Minister of Sports (India)

Former Chennai Super Kings Spinner Shadab Jakati Retires From All Forms of Cricket

• Goa spinner Shadab Jakati announced retirement from all forms of cricket after playing for 23 years.

• Shadab Jakati had sclaped 275 wickets from 92 first-class matches Jakati debuted in first-class cricket in 1998/99 and played his last first-class match against Punjab in October 2017.

• He also played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Gujarat Lions in the Indian Premier League.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

China launches heaviest satellite to test key technologies

• China launched its heaviest and most advanced communications satellite on its largest new carrier rocket Long March 5.

• Shijian-20, a new technology test and verification satellite, successfully entered its orbit, state media reported.

• Launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in south China’s Hainan Province, Shijian-20, weighing more than eight tonnes, is the country’s heaviest and most advanced communications satellite in geosynchronous orbit, according to its maker, the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

• The Long March-5, China’s most powerful rocket and a critical ingredient in the nation’s ambitious space programme, can carry a maximum payload of 25 tonnes into low Earth orbit and 14 tonnes into geosynchronous orbit.

Russia Deploys First Hypersonic Avangard ICBM Missile

• Russia has deployed the first hypersonic missile Avangard. Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu has informed President Vladimir Putin about the deployment of Avangard. This information was released in the official statement.

• According to the media reports, the direction of this missile can be changed even in the air. It caught the speed of Mach 27, which is equivalent to about 33,000 kilometers per hour, during the test. This is the first of its kind missile in the world. This missile can’t be caught by any radar.

• What is Hypersonic Missile?Hypersonic missiles are actually hypersonic glided missiles. It includes features of both cruise and ballistic missiles. It goes out of the Earth’s atmosphere into a parabolic path and enters the Earth’s atmosphere again. It flies low in the atmosphere and almost unable to intercept. At present, Russia, USA and China have the capacity of hypersonic missiles.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

S Gurumurthy releases A book titled “Politics of Opportunism”

• Noted Economist and Political Analyst S Gurumurthy released a book titled “Politics of Opportunism: Regional Parties, Coalitions, Centre-State Relations In India”.

• The book is authored by R N P Singh.

• The book throws light on the subject related to rise of regional parties and Centre-States relation.

• RNP Singh is a former officer of the Intelligence Bureau, Government of India.

• He has also earned the coveted Presidents Police Medal, Indian Police Medal, the Sukriti and Kautilya awards for his distinguished services.

OBITUARY

Veteran Political cartoonist Vikas Sabnis passes away at 69.

• Veteran Political cartoonist Vikas Sabnis passed away in Mumbai due to cardiac arrest. He was 69. He was unwell and undergoing treatment since last few days.

• He had completed 50 years of illustrious career in 2018. Inspired by Bal Thackeray and RK Laxman, he had started his career in 1968. Since then, for over 50 years, Sabnis has worked as a staff cartoonist at various newspapers, including the Times of India and the Mid-day.

• He made caricatures and political cartoons on various subjects and issues. These ranges from local to international levels.

Former DG of Doordarshan Shiv Sharma passes away at 85.

• Former Director-General of Doordarshan Shiv Sharma passed away in Gurugram in Haryana.

• He was 85. Mr. Sharma was associated with coverage of Asian games in 1982.

• He has also supervised coverage of various national and international events. Earlier, He has also served in All India Radio.

DAYS

Important Days and Dates in December 2019

Date                Name of Important Days

1 December     World AIDS Day

2 December     National Pollution Control Day

2 December     International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

3 December     World Day of the Handicapped

4 December     Indian Navy Day

5 December     International Volunteer Day

5 December     World Soil Day

7 December     Armed Forces Flag Day

7 December     International Civil Aviation Day

9 December     International Anti-Corruption Day

10 December   Human Rights Day

11 December   International Mountain Day

14 December   National Energy Conservation Day

15 December   International Tea Day

16 December   Vijay Diwas

18 December   Minorities Rights Day in India

18 December   International Migrants Day

19 December   Goa's Liberation Day

20 December   International Human Solidarity Day

22 December   National Mathematics Day

23 December   Kisan Diwas

24 December   National Consumer Rights Day

25 December   Christmas Day

25 December   Good Governance Day (India)

31 December   New Year's Eve

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