Important Current Affairs 28th DECEMBER 2017

Current Affairs 28th DECEMBER 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Telangana government gives Rs 1 crore to Mithali Raj

The Telangana government has gifted one crore rupees to Indian women cricket team captain Mithali Raj and 600 square feet to build the house.
●    According to a release issued by the Telangana government on Thursday, state sports minister T. Padmarao honored Mitali in Hyderabad and presented the amount as a gift.
●    State Sports Minister T. Padmarav also presented a cash prize of 25 lakh rupees to the captain of Indian women's cricket team and veteran batsman Mitali Raj's coach RSR Murthy.
●    Regarding the promotion of the game, the government has taken this step following the instructions of Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao.
●    In the captaincy of Mithali Raj, the Indian team reached the finals of the women's cricket World Cup played in July but they had to face a near loss of 9 runs to England in the title match.
●    Mithali scored a total of 409 runs in 9 innings of this tournament and he became the highest run Indian.

Reliance will buy RCom's wireless assets

Reliance Jio Infocomm of Mukesh Ambani has made a deal to buy Reliance Mobile Communications (RCom) spectrum, mobile tower and other mobile business associations including optical fiber network.
●    This deal is being seen as a big relief for Mukesh Ambani's younger brother Anil Ambani's company RCom.
●    RCom is suppressed with a heavy burden of about 45 thousand crore and has been engaged in efforts to repay it for a long time.
●    Reliance Jio has informed about this deal in a statement.
●    The company has said that he has made a certain agreement about this.
●    According to Jio's statement, Geo or its designated entities will purchase four categories - tower, optical fiber cable network, spectrum and media convergence nodes (ACN) Assets from RCom and its affiliated units under this deal.

Government to introduce methanol in petrol to reduce the country's oil imports

On the import of oil, the government has to spend a large part of foreign capital every year. The government is working on a policy that will reduce the oil import bill by $ 20 billion ($ 6.4 billion) by 2030.
●    According to this policy, methanol will be added to cooking gas and petrol and diesel.
●    This information was given by Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in a statement made in the Lok Sabha. He told that 15 percent of the methanol will be mixed in petrol.
●    He said that the government will soon introduce a scheme under which 15% methanol will be added to the petrol, which will reduce the cost of fuel by 10%.
●    Gadkari said that the country currently needs about 2,900 million liters of petrol and 9,000 million liters of diesel and now we are the sixth largest consumer of the world.
●    By 2030 we will become the third largest consumer of oil and our import bill relies on crude oil and it is about 6 lakh crores.

Country's first bitcoin trading app Pluto Exchange Launched

The country's first bitcoin trading app has been launched. Mobile based application, Pluto Exchange, launches on Thursday.
●    Now the bitcoin-like crypto (virtual currency) transaction can be done through the app.
●    It will execute all the transactions only through the use of mobile number.
●    By using a 4-digit PIN, users will be able to purchase, sell, store and spend their bitcoins using the mobile number.
●    Bharat Verma, Chief Executive Officer of Pluto Exchange, said, "The slogan of the Pluto Exchange is Unbank the Banked Bank" that means liberate people from the complexity of the bank's work.
●    All other apps already in use in the market use bittoine addresses for the transaction of bitcoin.

Three percent additional dearness allowances announced for employees of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur announced the announcement of three percent additional dearness allowance for the employees of the state government.
●    This dearness allowance will be payable on July 1, 2017.
●    Addressing the state secretariat employees, the Chief Minister said that the additional dearness allowance will be paid in cash with the salary of January.
●    This will also give dearness relief to pensioners.
●    He said that this will add additional burden of Rs 180 crore annually to the state.
●    On this occasion, he appealed to the employees to work with dedication.
●    He said that the government would try to create new employment opportunities, although it also said that its possibilities are very low.
●    He asked the staff to serve people while appealing to work extra from scheduled time.

Current Affairs 28th DECEMBER 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

US embassy ends visa crisis with Turkey

The Turkish Embassy in Turkey announced Thursday that it will resume normal visa service for Turkish citizens.
●    After the incident in October that a Turkish citizen posted in the US Consulate in Istanbul, the United States had stopped visa services for Turkish citizens.
●    In return, Turkey had stopped the visa service for American citizens coming here.
●    After meeting and following the Turkish officials' assurances, the US announced the launch of a general visa service.

Israel will give exploration license to ONGC-led group

Under the leadership of ONGC Foreign in Israel, a consortium of Indian government companies is getting an exploration license.
●    The decision to issue licenses has been done before the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India in mid-January.
●    This is another step towards strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
●    Israel had auctioned offshore gas fields, but it did not show much interest in global companies.
●    In the Israeli offshore licensing round that ended last month, only Indian consortium and a company in Greece had bid.
●    24 blocks were offered in this auction. It is estimated to be 6.6 billion barrels of oil and 213.7 billion cubic meter natural gas reserves.
●    Bidders will now have to give signature bonuses, license fees and other guarantees to complete the licensing process.

Current Affairs 28th DECEMBER 2017: ECONOMY

Milk production increased by 16.37 million tonnes in last year: Lion

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today that the country's milk production was 1.7-22 million tonnes in the year 1960, it has increased to 163.7 million tonnes in the previous year.
●    He was addressing the meeting of the Advisory Committee on Dairy Development here.
●    He said that India has been the largest milk producing country of V in the last 15 years.
●    It is credited to the campaigns of the government, under which various schemes focused on enhancing the productivity of milch animals have been adopted.
●    He said that similarly, per capita milk availability has increased by 14.3 per cent compared to 307 grams in 2013-14, to 351 grams in 2016-17.
●    Dairy farmers' income has also increased 23.77 percent in 2014-17 compared to 2011-14.
●    Singh said that during the last three years, India's annual milk production of 5.53 per cent has been much ahead of the global growth rate of 2.09 per cent.
 

Important Current Affairs 27th DECEMBER 2017

Current Affairs 27th DECEMBER 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Instructions for giving details of property to IAS officers

The Central Government has instructed all the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers to complete the details of their total assets till January 31, 2018.
●    If the officials do not do this, they may face difficulties in promotion and foreign posting in the coming days.
●    The Central Personnel and Training Department (DOPT) has written a letter to all the departments, states and Union Territories of the central government and asked them to deposit real estate returns (IPR) by 31 January 2018 by the IAS officers.
●    According to DOPT 4 April 2011, the IAS officers who have not submitted the returns of immovable property within the stipulated deadline will not get necessary vigilance clearance for promotions and deployment in foreign countries.
●    According to these 2011 instructions, whatever officers do not provide relevant details, they will not get Vigilance clearance.
●    His name will not be considered in future for his promotion and appointment to senior level post in the Government of India.

Agreement for skill development between Uttar Pradesh and South Korea

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the Cabinet of South Korea recently to promote tourism and trade.
●    In addition, there was agreement in the field of culture, agriculture and skill development.
●    According to this memorandum, a monument of Korea's princess Suriratna will be made in Ayodhya which will be culturally better between the two countries.
●    Korea is a country which has close ties to Ram Nagar Ayodhya.
●    People from Kim, from Korea, come to Ayodhya every year because people here consider Ayodhya as their ninja.
●    The queen's mother of Korea was right here. Because of this, the people of Korea also have a special attachment to Ayodhya.
●    Principal Secretary Agriculture Amit Mohan Prasad, Secretary Business Education Bhuvnesh Kumar, Principal Secretary Tourism Avnish Kumar Awasthi and Culture Secretary Anita C. Meshram signed MoUs with Korean Delegates.

Famous actor Parth Mukhopadhyay passes away

Famous actor of Bengali films Parth Mukhopadhyay died on December 25, 2017, due to a heart attack in a private hospital. He was 70 years old. They were walking ill for some time now.
●    Parth Mukhopadhyay's contribution to Bengali cinema is priceless. His departure has caused unprecedented damage to Bengali cinema.
●    Children liked their films too. The death of Parth Mukhopadhyay is a shock to the people of the film industry once more.
●    As an actor, Parth Mukhopadhyay was also a great singer.
●    Parth Mukhopadhyay was born on June 21, 1947.
●    Parth Mukhopadhyay started in films as a child artist and later earned a reputation as a character actor.
●    Not just the audience, but the people who reviewed the film were convinced of Parth Mukhopadhyay's acting.

Government to borrow additional Rs 50 thousand crore in January-March

After the GST came into force, the revenues falling constantly became the cause of concern for the government.
●    The fiscal deficit target could cross the target in 2017-18.
●    Given this, the government will borrow Rs 50 thousand crore in the current financial year 2017-18.
●    This additional loan will be borrowed from January to March, which will further increase the country's fiscal deficit.
●    On Wednesday, the government said in an official statement that between January and March, additional loans of Rs 50 thousand crore would be borrowed from Government Securities.
●    No changes will be made in the next financial year's borrowings and that will be according to budget 2017-18.
●    After reviewing the lending program with the Reserve Bank, it has been decided that the government will borrow extra in the financial year 2017-18 which will be taken from Dated Government Securities.

Amarinder Singh approves setting up of Punjab Startup Center

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today approved the Punjab Startup Hub Hub.
●    Under this, it is proposed to set up a state-of-the-art incubation center for entrepreneurs in Mohali.
●    According to an official release, the Chief Minister has also approved the formation of a high-level committee for this.
●    The committee will prepare a draft for the rehabilitation and rehabilitation of those affected in the process of setting up such centers in the state.
●    The committee will include Financial Commissioner Revenue, Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat and Principal Secretary.
●    Chief Minister Amarinder Singh chaired the first meeting of the Punjab Industrial and Business Development Board and issued these guidelines.
●    The board has been set up to ensure effective and easy implementation of the state's new industrial policy.

Current Affairs 27th DECEMBER 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

5% VAT in 2017 to Saudi Arabia and UAE

Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE), which give employment to a large number of foreign workers and rely on tax-free lifestyle, are now in the process of taxing.
●    These countries can hire 5 percent tax on goods and services next year.
●    After the massive decline in crude oil prices three years ago, the revenues of the Gulf countries had decreased considerably, in order to fulfill Saudi Arabia and UAE tax importer.
●    In addition to new tax or VAT food, clothing, electronics and gasoline, phones, water, hotels and electricity bills will also be found.
●    The impact of tax will also ease the pockets of tourists who travel around the citizens living in these countries.

Afghanistan also joins China-Pak Economic Corridor

Visit to China on December 26, 2017 by Afghanistan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani.
●    During this time, he announced that Afghanistan would also join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPC).
●    Afghanistan is ready to actively participate in Belt and Road Project and to extend cooperation with China.
●    Rabbani met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif.
●    Beijing has already offered other countries to partner in this project.
●    India is being opposed by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) because it proposes to construct a large portion of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
●    India did not even attend the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in May this year due to its sovereignty concerns about the CPEC of about $ 60 billion.
●    China and Pakistan have long wanted to include Afghanistan in the project.

Current Affairs 27th DECEMBER 2017: SCHEMES

Uttar Pradesh Government launches 'Prakash Hai Hai Vikas Hai' scheme

The Uttar Pradesh Government launched a new scheme to give free electricity connections to the poor families of the state on December 25, 2017.
●    This scheme was started on the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
●    On behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government, the state's power minister Shrikant Sharma started the 'Prakash Hai Hai Vikas Hai' scheme from two villages of Mathura, Lohaban and Gausana.
●    On behalf of the state government, 100 percent electrification of these two villages was electrified.
●    The Central Government has set a target to provide electricity to 1.6 crore people by the end of 2018.
●    Under the good luck scheme by the Central Government, it is aimed to provide electricity to 40 million people. Out of this 25 lakh families have been provided electricity.
●    It is being aimed at keeping the focus of the state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's goal light and development.

Important Current Affairs 26th DECEMBER 2017

Current Affairs 26th DECEMBER 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Center launches Ganga Gram Project

The Central Government launched the Ganga Gram Project in Ganga Gram Sanitation Conference in New Delhi on December 23, 2017.
●    This project is a part of Clean Ganga Mission Namami Ganges. 
●    Under this, development of villages along the Ganges river will be ensured with the help of villagers.
●    Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Uma Bharti and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari were present on the occasion.
●    In August 2017, the central government declared all 4,470 villages free of defecation in open open on the banks of Ganga in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
●    Under the project, 24 of these villages will be developed as Ganga Village.
●    Under the project, work of solid and liquid waste management, renewal of ponds and water resources, water conservation, organic farming, horticulture and medicinal plants will be done.
●    The Ganga village project is to take an integrated approach to the overall development of the villages on the Gangetic coast with active participation of the villagers.

Vijay Rupani becomes Chief Minister of Gujarat for second time

Vijay Rupani sworn in as chief minister of Gujarat on December 26, 2017 at Gandhinagar.
●    Vijay Rupani is the Governor O.P. Kohli administered oath of office and secrecy. Vijay Rupani became the Chief Minister of Gujarat for the second time.
●    Meanwhile, other 19 members of the additional Cabinet Minister Nitin Patel were also sworn in.
●    In the Cabinet of the Rupani Government, about 20 ministers have been given space, including nine cabinet ministers.
●    In the Gujarat cabinet, Saurabh Patel, Dilip Thakore, Kaushik Patel, Ishwar Parmar, Bhupendra Singh Chudasama took oath as cabinet minister.
●    At the same time Pradeep Singh Jadeja, Bachu Bhai Khabar, Parabat Patel, Purushottam Solanki, as Minister of State took oath of office and secrecy.

Jayaram Thakur new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh

Jairam Thakur will be the 14th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
●    They will swear on December 27, 2017. 
●    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah will also be in the oath ceremony. 
●    He was elected unanimously in the BJP legislative party meeting at Shimla.
●    Jayaram Thakur is the first leader of the politically significant Mandi area in Himachal Pradesh, who is going to be the Chief Minister.
●    Due to having more seats in the mandi, it is considered as important.
●    Most of the Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh were from Shimla, Kangra and Sirmaur areas. There are 10 assembly seats in Mandi while Kangra has 15 assembly seats.
●    In this assembly election the BJP had captured 9 out of 10 Mandi seats.
●    BJP has won 44 out of 68 seats and has put the Congress out of power. He has left behind the Union Minister, J.P. Nadda in the Chief Minister's race.

India's first local air-conditioned train starts in Mumbai

Indian Railways have flagged the country's first air-conditioned suburban local train for the passengers of Mumbai on December 25, 2017.
●    This first air-conditioned local train launched on Christmas Eve was run between Borivali and Churchgate of Western Railway.
●    The full operation of this train will start from January 1, 2018, where it will take 12 rounds daily.
●    The services of this train (12 returns, total 12) will be operated in the suburban area in regular intervals on all working days.
●    It will not be circulated only for the purpose of maintenance at week-end.
●    Seats are reserved for the services of AC locals like Divyaang, Senior Citizens and Women passengers like normal local. To maintain normal system in all coaches, RPF jawans will be deployed.
●    The rent for this local train will be 1.2 times the normal first class basic fares for the first six months of the beginning and will be 1.3 times after that.
●    In addition to the normal ticket, only Weekly, Weekly and Monthly Season tickets will be available.
●    The ticket will also be added to MUTP surcharge and 5 percent GST charge.
 

Sumita Mishra will be the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, Joint Secretary

Government has transferred middle-level executives today Under this, senior bureaucrat Sumita Mishra was appointed Joint Secretary at Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council PMEAC.
●    According to the orders of the Ministry of Personnel, the IAS officer of the 1990 batch of Haryana cadre, Sumita has been appointed for this term for five years.
●    Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council was formed in September.
●    Apart from this, 10 officers including five IAS officers have been made joint secretaries in different central departments.
●    Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS officer of the 1993 batch of Nagaland cadre, has been appointed as Director in the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, which is under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
●    He is currently the joint secretary in the ministry.
●    IAS officer Mukkamat Singh Bhatia will be the joint secretary in the 15th Va Commission under the Department of Economic Affairs.
●    His tenure will be for five years.
●    Amit Mehta, the 1987 batch officer of the Indian Ordnance Factory Service, will be the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

Launch of Saubhagya Plan in Madhya Pradesh

In order to provide electricity to the 45 lakh families deprived of power in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister, Sahitya Laxmi has started every household scheme in Lucknow State.
●    Public sector Rural Electrification Corp. REC said this.
●    According to REC statement, Power and Innovative and Renewable Energy Minister RK Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan started the Saubhagya Plan on December 22.
●    There are 45 lakh families deprived of power in the state. These families are proposed to be brought under the purview of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and Sadbhavana Yojana.
●    With the introduction of this scheme, 5000 new electrical connections have been released in Rewa district.
●    Saubhagya plan was started in September last year.
●    Under this scheme costing Rs 16,320 crore, there are about 40 million families deprived of power in the country. 
●    It includes budgetary support of Rs 12,320 crore.

Current Affairs 26th DECEMBER 2017: SPORTS

Yoga recieved sports status in Saudi Arabia

The Trade and Industry Ministry of Saudi Arabia has given official recognition to teach as a sports activist.
●    Yoga can be taught now in Saudi Arabia with license now.
●    A woman named Nof Marwai has also got the status of Saudi Arabia's first yoga instructor.
●    Knof is also credited with giving yoga recognition as a sport in Saudi.
●    Knopf had campaigned for this for a long time.
●    Founder Knopf of the Arab Yoga Foundation believes that there is no conflict between yoga and religion.
●    Yoga was universally accepted on September 27, 2014 in the United Nations General Assembly and on June 21 every year, Yoga Day is celebrated worldwide.

Indian men's hockey team sixth, women's team ranks 10th

Indian men and women's hockey teams are ranked sixth and 10th in the latest rankings of the International Hockey Federation (IHF) respectively.
●    From the beginning of this year, the Indian team is in sixth place and throughout the year the team has been able to retain this ranking.
●    India recently finished third in the men's hockey World League Finals held in Bhubaneswar, reducing the gap between Germany and the ones they have reached at fifth position.
●    India has 1566 while Germany has 1680 points.
●    Australia defeated Argentina 2-1 in the Hockey World League Final and again regained the top spot.
●    Australia overtook Argentina in the rankings.
Belgian and Netherlands are third and fourth respectively.

Important Current Affairs 25th DECEMBER 2017

Hotels and restaurants can sell bottled water at a higher price than MRP: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has given the order on December 13, 2017 that the hotel and restaurant are not obliged to sell the packed products at the maximum retail price (MRP).
●    The Supreme Court said that the Legal Metrology Act will not be applicable on bottled water sold in hotels and restaurants.
●    Therefore, if they sell these products at a higher price than MRP, then no action can be taken against them.
●    Justice R.F. The bench chaired by Nariman gave this decision, saying that hotels and restaurants are a combination of sales and service, there is a pleasant and comfortable environment in which customers are invested very much.
●    This is not a simple sale issue. No person is going to take only bottles of water in the hotel.
●    The Supreme Court has given this decision in the Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and the Central Government.
●    FHRAI filed a special leave petition in this regard.

Current Affairs 25th DECEMBER 2017: AWARDS

Swami Chidanand Saraswati honored with 'Global Peace Award'

All India Council of Human Rights Liberties and Social Justice (AHILS) has conferred the 'Global Peace Award' to Lord Shivanand Saraswati, Paramarth Niketan, Rishikesh.
●    He got this honor to spread the message of peace in the world.
●    Along with the above, Parmarth is associated with Niketan Ashram and Swami Chindanand's disciple Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati has been honored with 'Peace Ambassador Award'.
●    The All India Council of Human Rights Liberties and Social Justice (AHILS) organized a function in Delhi on December 10, 2017 to honor.
●    On this occasion Swamy Chidanand Saraswati Maharaj said that the basic purpose of human life is to serve the needy and establish peace with love and goodwill in society.
●    During this time, he also resolved to establish peace with the guests present at the ceremony.
●    In the program, Dr. Lokesh Muni, founder of Vishva Bharati, and Dr. Omar Ahmed Ilyasi, Head of All India Imam Organization were also present.

Current Affairs 25th DECEMBER 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

35 years after the ban on cinema was lifted in Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Culture and Information Ministry of Saudi Arabia announced on December 11, 2017 that the restriction imposed on cinema in the country for the past 35 years will be lifted.
●    According to available information, cinemas can be opened in Saudi Arabia by March 2018.
●    In Saudi Arabia, the ban was imposed from the beginning of the 1980s, since that time the demand for the ban was being sought.
●    This decision was taken under Program 2030 to improve social and economic status initiated by Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
●    In Saudi Arabia, used to be the first cinema, but it has been a conservative Muslim country, so it has been facing various challenges in this area.
●    After this, citing religion in the 1980s, the authorities here decided to close cinemas.
●    Recently, the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia was lifted.
●    Opening cinemas will encourage economic development and diversity in the society.

Feminism is the most popular word for the year 2017

According to the world's famous online dictionary Merriam-Webster, feminism is the most searched term in the year 2017.
●    According to the dictionary, after the women's parade held in Washington on the demand for women's rights and other serious issues, the graph of this word search on the internet has increased rapidly.
●    Words like Dotard, Gafé and Complaisit are also included in this list.
●    The special thing is that most of the words were used in the context of US President Trump's rule or themselves.
●    In December 2017, women were organized in such places for women's rights in many places of the world.
●    After this, it became a matter of discussion that what definition is feminism.

American scientists claims Ram Setu to be man-made

American scientists recently claimed that about the Ram Sethu,in the sea between India and Sri Lanka is a man-made composition.
●    Scientists believe that 83 kilometer long and deep water is made of limestone rocks made by humans.
●    In this, American geologists have said that this series of long stones made from humans from Pamban Island near Rameswaram in Mannar Island in Sri Lanka is man-made.
●    The geo-scientists have described the picture taken from NASA as natural.
●    Scientists found in their analysis that the 30-mile long series is man-made.
●    While analyzing, the geologists found that these stones were brought from a distant place.

Sikh American Gurbir Grewal was nominated for the post of New Jersey Attorney General

Sikh American Gurbir Grewal was nominated for New Jersey's Attorney General on December 12, 2017.
●    He is the first Sikh person to be nominated for this post. Grewal was nominated by the Democrat Governor Phil Murphy for the post.
●    If Grewal's nomination is approved by the State Senate, then he would be the first Sikh American to be in the post.
●    They will be the second Indian after Kamala Harris who has got a position in California after the election in the US Senate.
●    Gravel is the Prosecutor of Bergen County, which is an important district of New York. He was appointed by current Republican governor Chris Christie.
●    Formerly Grewal has been an Assistant Federal Prosecutor in New York and New Jersey.
●    Prior to Bergen County's highest law enforcement officer, he was named the former federal prosecutor Paul Fisherman under the U.S. Worked as the head of the Economic Offenses Unit in the Attorney's office.
●    He also served as president of the South Asian Bar Association in New York and he was also a member of the New Jersey Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association.

Current Affairs 25th DECEMBER 2017: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Scientists have developed technology to remove water pollution from plastic waste

Indian scientists have developed the technology to remove water pollution from plastic waste.
●    Under this, the researchers of the Indian Toxicology Research Institute in Lucknow have prepared magnetic-sensitive absorbent material from plastic waste, which can be used to remove the pollution from the biopsy called seaflaxin with water.
●    Scientists have developed effective strategies for transforming polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into such useful material, which can be helpful in controlling the increasing levels of biological resistant elements in water.
●    With this technique plastic waste will be disposed of as well as water pollution will be removed.
●    Dr Premanjali Roy, who was involved in the study, told that in the controlled conditions, he has been converted into magnetic-sensitive carbon nano-material through carbonization and magnetic transformation by collecting PET refuscions from the surrounding areas.
●    This new low-cost magnetic nano-material, developed by scientists, has the potential to absorb seaflaxin with polluted water.

Current Affairs 25th DECEMBER 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

India-Morocco signed Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in healthcare

India and Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding on December 14, 2017 in New Delhi to increase cooperation in healthcare.
●    On behalf of India, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri J. P. Nadda and Health Minister of Morocco, Dr. Abdul Kadir Amara signed the memorandum.
●    On this occasion, a high level delegation of Morocco, including top officials of the Central Health Ministry, was present.
●    Simultaneously, a second memorandum was signed between the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) and Marrakech Mohamed Vishwa Vidyalaya Hospital.
●    Ministers of both countries were present on this occasion. Institutions of both countries agreed on cooperation in the field of telemedicine.
●    On this occasion, Mr. J. P. Dinda said that there are strong and rich traditional relations between the two countries.
●    He mentioned India's best generic medicines and said that India is exporting these medicines to more than 200 countries and we have a strong public health system here.

Important Current Affairs 24th DECEMBER 2017

Current Affairs 24th DECEMBER 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Haryana Government will provide free sanitary napkins to poor women

Haryana Government will distribute free sanitary napkins to all women in the category of BPL (below poverty line) across the state.
●    Earlier on December 1, the Haryana government had announced that it is planning to distribute free sanitary napkins for girls in schools across the state.
●    The government also said that state will be free from malnutrition in the coming 3 years.
●    In order to achieve the goal of malnourished Haryana, according to the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) guidelines, the state government will set up a nutrition mission in Haryana.
●    Along with this, the government is implementing various programs to create awareness about malnutrition.
●    To make the state free from malnutrition in the coming 3 years, a separate cell will be set up at the state level for monitoring.
●    The government has also targeted to make Haryana anemic free in three years. Miss World Manishi Chillar has been appointed brand ambassador of this special campaign.
●    The Haryana Government praised the efforts of the state government and the people's support, due to which the monthly average of gender ratio has reached 937, which was 840 before the launch of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' scheme.

Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 presented in the Lok Sabha

The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 18, 2017. 
●    In order to provide cutting and bending to the bamboo grown in non-forest areas, it has been proposed to remove the word 'bamboo' from the definition of tree in the law. 
●    Through this Bill, the Forest Act has been amended which is related to the issues of inter-state transport of Basu.
●    It has been proposed in this bill that now the state government's permit will not be required to take the bamboo from one state to another.
●    There are proposals in this bill which are unfavorable to farmers' interests. This will affect the states like Northeast and Odisha.
●    This bill is in the interest of farmers and is not anti-people in any form.
●    Under this, the Indian Forest Act of 1927 has been further amended. In this Act, section 7 of section 2 has defined the tree, which includes palm, bamboo, stub, chandelier and cane.
●    Although bamboo is grass in terms of classification and has been considered tree for the purpose of the said act. Many states have given exemption to the harvesting and emission of different species of bamboo within the states.
●    In the inter-state transport of buses, permission is required for carrying other states.

Niti Aayog to set up methanol economy fund

Niti Aayog of the government has planned to set up a methanol economy fund with a corpus of 4000-5000 crores.
●    Its goal is to promote the production and use of clean fuel through this fund.
●    The objective of the Niti Aayog is to produce high fuel coal by methanol, to produce fuel and to set up such a plant in collaboration with Coal India.
●    According to the Niti Aayog, it will soon announce a cabinet note on methanol economy and also it will set up the production plants very soon.
●    By the end of December, the Niti Aayog is also planning to propose a road map for achieving the goal of increasing methanol as an alternative fuel for petroleum and diesel.
●    Methanol economy fund will be used to promote the use of methanol fuel, which is safe, cheap and pollution free.

Lok Sabha passed the Real Estate (Amendment) Bill

The Lok Sabha cleared the real estate amendment bill on December 20, 2017. 
●    The Central Government will be able to issue notice again to the property owner about the acquisition of real estate for security purposes so that he can get a chance to keep his point.
●    This bill was presented by the Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in the lower house which was accepted by voice vote.
●    Responding to the debate on the bill, the Union Minister said that the compensation given to the acquired land is the responsibility of the government and they are committed to giving proper compensation.
●    In the land acquisition, the poor will not be allowed to suffer. This provision has been done for this reason so that the owner of the land can be heard.
●    There are 11 amendments already made in this bill. This 12 amendment has been brought about in terms of limited and special purpose.

Current Affairs 24th DECEMBER 2017: AWARDS

Madhya Pradesh water sports Academy Receives Best Selling Club Award

For the outstanding work being done by the Madhya Pradesh Water Sports Academy on December 19, 2017, the Academy got the 'Best Selling Club' award.
●    For the spectacular performance of the players, Sailing Academy's player Harshita Tomar was conferred the award of 'Best Seller of the Year' and Ram Milan Yadav with 'Best Offcoming Cellar' award.
●    'Best Selling Club' award was received by Sports Director and Youth Welfare Upendra Jain. 
●    On this occasion, Sailing's Chief Coach GL Yadav was also present.
●    The country's first selling school was established in 2006 at the big lake in Bhopal. 
●    Water sports academy has achieved a further increase in the three award given to Madhya Pradesh in the field of selling sports.
●    At the Water Sports Academy, operated by the Sports and Youth Welfare Department, the players are being provided international training at the international level.
●    At the Sailing Academy, Olympic-level 29 votes and 49-vote boats have been made available for optimum radials.

Current Affairs 24th DECEMBER 2017: SPORTS

Rohit Sharma fifth in ICC rankings

India opener Rohit Sharma reached the fifth place with a two-figure improvement in the ICC ODI batsmen rankings on the third double century of the series in a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka recently.
●    This is for the first time when Rohit Sharma has crossed 800 points in the rankings. In the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, India took the series 2-1 to their name. After the series, Rohit Sharma has 816 points.
●    Rohit Sharma reached the third position in February 2016 in the ranking.
●    In the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Mohali, after an unbeaten 208 not out in the second innings, he had scored 825, which is his highest rating points.
●    Shikhar Dhawan, who was the man of the series to start the innings with Rohit Sharma, also reached number 14 in the rankings with a place improvement.
●    He made a total of 168 runs in the series with an unbeaten 100 in the last ODI in Visakhapatnam. He also shared a 68-run partnership with Rohit Sharma in the second match with a 115-run partnership.
●    Indian team captain Virat Kohli has been ranked first in the rankings with 876 points.
●    South Africa's AB De Villiers is in second position with 872 points.

Current Affairs 24th DECEMBER 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

United Nations General Assembly rejected the proposal to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital

The United Nations General Assembly's member states rejected the US resolution on 21 December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
●    The members who do this include 128 countries including India.
●    The UN General Assembly passed a resolution asking the US to withdraw the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
●    The proposal, proposed by Turkey and Yemen, supports 128 countries, including India.
●    Only nine countries, including the United States and Israel, voted against the proposal.
●    35 countries did not participate in voting on the proposal. Only 9 countries supported the US proposal.
●    Earlier, US President Donald Trump had said that the United States will deduct financial assistance from any country which will vote on its issue on the Jerusalem issue.
●    Countries that voted in opposition to the proposal and supporting US support include Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Togo and America.

For the first time in Saudi Arabia, a female singer gave a public presentation

For the first time in Saudi Arabia, a woman was allowed to present publicly on stage programs.
●    Recently, female singer Heiba Tawaji received this honor.
●    Heiba Tawaji is a Lebanese singer.
●    He recently performed at the concert at King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh.
●    According to information published in the media, this program was organized only for women.
●    Thousands of viewers at the All Woman Program have enjoyed.
●    Welcoming to the singer's stage, the announcer said it was a proud moment for Saudi.
●    Women in Saudi Arabia were not allowed to perform publicly, but recently the Saudi government allowed the live music to the composer.
●    Along with this, Heba became the first woman to be internationally who concerted in Saudi Arabia. Now in Saudi Arabia, now there are positive decisions regarding women.
 

Important Current Affairs 23rd DECEMBER 2017

Current Affairs 23rd DECEMBER 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Indian Scientist Mrs. Saini won Miss India-USA 2017 title

Ms. Saini of Indian origin won the Miss India-USA title of 2017.
●    Ms. Saini said that he wants to end human trafficking and wants to work in this direction while promoting emotional compatibility in society.
●    Ms. Saini basically belongs to Punjab
●    His parents settled in Punjab from Punjab.
●    Ms. Saini has been running a campaign against racial discrimination and misbehavior in the United States for a long time.
●    Shri Saini has been a victim of racial abuse during high school studies. At that time, he was threatened and thrusted.
●    He had a passion for dance but at the age of 12 he had to put pacemaker and then the doctors told him that he would never be able to dance anymore.

Lok Sabha passed the Real Estate (Amendment) Bill

The Lok Sabha cleared the real estate amendment bill on December 20, 2017. 
●    The Central Government will be able to issue notice again to the property owner about the acquisition of real estate for security purposes so that he can get a chance to keep his point.
●    This bill was presented by the Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in the lower house which was accepted by voice vote.
●    Responding to the debate on the bill, the Union Minister said that the compensation given to the acquired land is the responsibility of the government and they are committed to giving proper compensation.
●    In the land acquisition, the poor will not be allowed to suffer. This provision has been done for this reason so that the owner of the land can be heard.
●    There are 11 amendments already made in this bill. This 12 amendment has been brought about in terms of limited and special purpose.
●    The amendment made through this bill is to decide when the compensation for acquired land for defense and national security should be given from when.

Cabinet Approves Consumer Protection Bill

Union Cabinet approved the new Consumer Protection Bill on December 20, 2017.
●    Under the provisions of this bill, if companies are misleading or adulterated, they may be fined and jailed.
●    In this bill, people who make misleading advertisements have been penalized and provision has been made for three years. 
●    The bill is likely to be introduced in the current session of the Parliament.
●    This bill provides for the first time a fine on a celebrity who has made a deceptive advertisement for a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh and a one-year restriction.
●    For the second time a penalty of up to Rs 50 lakhs and a provision of up to three years has been made in the offense.
●    The penalty for a penalty of Rs 10 lakh and a two-year jail has been made in the first offense on the product manufacturer and the companies.

Parliament passed the Indian Institute of Management Bill 2017

The Rajya Sabha passed the speech of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bill 2017 after December 19, 2017, passed voiceless.
●    This bill has already been passed from the Lok Sabha. With the passage of the Indian Institute of Management Bill, 2017, the way to declare institutions of national importance to the IIM institutions has become clear.
●    With this, all the 20 Indian Institute of Management (IIM) of the country has now become free from the interference of the government.
●    After becoming the law of this Bill, IIM will get status of national importance.
●    Apart from this, these institutions will also be able to get autonomy so that the students can be given degrees instead of the diploma.
●    Under this bill, now the directors can provide degree of degree and PhD in addition to the appointment of faculty members.
●    By adopting a transparent process, you can also appoint all 20 IIM Board of Governors.
●    IIM will not need the permission of HRD Ministry to appoint a director. Now the board of the institute will be able to appoint chairpersons and directors.

Ministry of External Affairs launches 'Sameep' program

Ministry of External Affairs has launched a new program 'Near', so that Indian students can understand the place of India and its global ambitions in the world and simultaneously prepare diplomacy as a career option.
●    This is an "outreach" mission to explain the foreign policy of India and its global workforce for the students of the country by the Ministry of External Affairs.
●    Under this new program 'Near', the Ministry of External Affairs has asked all its officers, under secretary and above officers to go to their hometown and their former schools, colleges while on leave.
●    There they will interact with students in schools and colleges and will tell how the Ministry of External Affairs works, how India's foreign policy is, how they do diplomacy, etc. so that students think of this area as a career option.
●    Close is a voluntary program and it gives foreign officers the option to go to any school or college in their hometown or their alma mater.
 

Current Affairs 23rd DECEMBER 2017: AWARDS

Announcement of awards by Sahitya Academy for the year 2017

Sahitya Akademi selected a prize for 24 languages including Hindi on December 21, 2017.
●    During this period, the Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 2017 was selected for seven novels, five poetry collections, five literary criticisms and five short stories and one play. 
●    This award will be distributed on February 12, 2018.
●    Selected works for 24 works of masterpieces, including Ramesh Kuntal Megh work, Vithiyasagar and Dukha of Urdu feelings, in Hindi.
●    Secretary of the Sahitya Akademi, Dr. K Srinivas Rao announced the Sahitya Akademi and Annual Translation Awards in 24 languages in a press conference.
●    Seven novels, five poems, five short stories, five literary criticisms and a play and essay have been rewarded.
●    This award was given in the English language to The Black Hill by the legendary Mamang Dai.

Current Affairs 23rd DECEMBER 2017: SPORTS

Alice Perry selected ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year

Australian woman cricketer Alice Perry was selected by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the Women's Cricketer of the Year.
●    He won the "Rachel Healy Flint Award" on this occasion. This announcement was made by the ICC on December 21, 2017.
●    This award has been commenced by the ICC from this year in memory of England's legendary woman cricketer Heyhoe Flint.
●    Flint was England's World Cup winning team member and former ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. He died in January 2017 at 77 years of age.
●    Thirty-seven-year-old all-rounder Alice Perry scored an unbeaten 203 in the only Ashes Test against England and took three wickets in Sydney.
●    In addition, he scored 905 runs in 19 ODIs and took 22 wickets.
●    Alice scored 28 runs in four Twenty20 matches and also got four wickets.
●    In addition to Perry, New Zealand's Citrehrweight won the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award.

Birmingham will host Commonwealth Games in 2022

The City of England will host Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. 
●    Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) confirmed this. The British Commonwealth nations participate in these games that take place every four years.
●    Prior to this, the Games hosted the South African city of Durban in 2015, but financial reasons were stripped of the hosting of games from Durban.
●    The last time in Britain was held in Glasgow in 2014. Commonwealth Games 2018 will be held in Australia's Gold Coast.
●    The Commonwealth Games will be held in England for the first time since the hosting of Manchester in 2002.
●    Birmingham had to wait about three months to confirm its name even though the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) was the only city to set the deadline for the end of September.
●    The Commonwealth Games - 2022 will cost $ 900 million in Birmingham 75 percent of this will be paid by the national government and the rest will be raised by City Hall of Birmingham.

Important Current Affairs 22nd DECEMBER 2017

Current Affairs 22nd DECEMBER 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Ganga Gram Project will be inaugurated tomorrow at the Sanitation Conference

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is organizing a program in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on December 23, in which Ganga Gram Project will be formally launched for the Namami Ganges program.
●    All relations parties will participate in this program. Its purpose is to bring complete cleanliness in the village situated on the banks of river Ganges.
●    With the active cooperation of 5 Ganga states (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal) in August 2017, the Ministry declared all the 4470 Ganga villages free of open defecation.
●    Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is working as a nodal agency for Clean India Mission.
●    After the launch of the mission in October 2014, the Ministry has constructed 5.2 million toilets in 2.95 lakh villages located in 260 districts of 6 states and 2 union territories and declared these villages free of open defecation.
●    After declaring the villages on the banks of Ganga as open to defecation, the Ministry and the State Governments have identified 24 such villages, which will be converted into Ganga Village.

Lt Gen BS Saurav took over the charge of NCC Director General

Lt Gen BS Saurav took over the charge of DG of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
●    The General Officer is a third generation army officer.
●    He is a student of National Defense Academy Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
●    He was commissioned in December 13th, 13th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment (Rezang La).
●    Lieutenant General B.S. Sarawat has all the professional courses including the prestigious NDC course.
●    The post graduate in the management studies from Lieutenant General BS Saurav Osmania University, Hyderabad and he has completed M. from Madras University.
●    Lt Gen BS Sandhu has recently completed PhD work on 'Human Capital Management in Army'.
●    He has served in various staff and command appointments in different parts of the country and abroad.
●    This includes military supervisor work in Iraq and Kuwait for one year.
●    Lieutenant General B.S. Sarawat was awarded the Sena Medal during the flood in Kosi river in Bihar in 2008.

M. Venkaiah Naidu unveils plaques of the International Exhibition-cum-Conference Center (IECC) and Integrated Transit Corridor Development Plan

Vice-President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today unveiled the Plaques of the International Exhibition-cum-Conference Center and the Integrated Transit Corridor Development Plan.
●    On this occasion the Vice President said that the IECC at Pragati Maidan will be an excellent world class campus.
●    He said that the need for such premises was very long, which is located in a main place in the capital.
●    He said that the ICC Project will strengthen the roots of business within India.
●    Vice President said that this kind of conference and exhibition sites are needed in other cities as well.
●    Referring to the initiative of reform, performance and change of the Prime Minister's vision of this initiative, he said that it is related to development and good governance.
●    Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry, emphasized on such projects, that the development of India would give them a new direction.
●    He said that this conference center in New Delhi will be an example in itself. Shri Prabhu said that the spirit of modern India will be revealed through the ICC.
 

Plantation program for protection and protection of Ganga

Afforestation activities are an integral part of the grand program of Ganga protection (Namami Ganges) launched by the National Clean Ganga Mission.
●    A detailed project report regarding forest plantation activities for the Ganga was prepared by Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.
●    Five states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal on the banks of River Ganga, 83,946 km in all basins. Including the area of the river drain area has been aligned.
●    The project has to be implemented in two phases, the first phase is to be implemented in the period of five years from the year 2016 to 2020.
●    The total targeted financial outlay for the five years is Rs. 2293.73 crores.
●    After successful completion of the first phase DPR will be prepared for scaling up and cloning in additional locations for the second phase and will be implemented from 2021 to 2027.
●    This information was given by the Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Conservation and Human Resource Development, Dr. Satyapal Singh in a written reply to a written question in the Rajya Sabha.

Current Affairs 22nd DECEMBER 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

Australia discovered missing submarine 103 years after World War I

Australia has solved the biggest knife in its naval history.
●    Australia has discovered its missing submarine in the sea during the first world war 103 years later.
●    This was the 13th mission of submarine inventions, in which Australia was successful.
●    The HMAS AE submarine, patrolling the sea for the German warship, was suddenly disappeared between the New Britain Islands and New Ireland in north-eastern Papua New Guinea on September 14, 1914.
●    At the time the submarine was aboard the 35 Australian Navy members.
●    The submarine was then thoroughly researched but it did not know anything.
●    Now the survey ship Fugro Equator has discovered it in 300 meters of deep water in the 'Duke of York Iceland' near Papua New Guinea coast.
●    Australia's defense minister Marise Payne said on Thursday that the submarine was discovered, "This was the first damage to the Royal Australian Navy.
●    It was the first Allied submarine, which was missing in the First World War. '
●    He told that Fugro Equator also participated in the international search campaign of Malaysian aircraft lost in the Indian Ocean in 2014.

Second Indo-Myanmar-Thailand Motor Rally

The Second Indo-Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Motor Rally (IMT-2) successfully completed its first phase of Guwahati to Bangkok on December 3, 2017.
●    The rally began on November 25, 2017 from Guwahati.
●    A total of 50 participants, including 5 women, participated in 20 SUV trains in this rally.
●    The night stand was in Kohima and Imphal.
●    After this, Thailand's Minister (Commerce) Mr. Tharadol Thongruong showed a green flag to rally in the border town Moreah.
●    After this rally in Myanmar with Kala, Bagan, Mandalay, Yangon and Moulamein reached Bangkok on May 2 and Mayau Sot Border on December 2 and finally reached Bangkok on December 3.
●    The IMT2 motor rally was organized by Kalinga Motor Sports Club in collaboration with Mahindra Adventure.
●    Myanmar and Thailand embassies in India and Indian embassies located in Myanmar and Thailand have supported the rally.
●    Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs and Land Customs Departments also supported the rally.

Current Affairs 22nd DECEMBER 2017: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

TCS-Nielsen India's Biggest IT Outsourcing Deal

An Indian IT company has made the biggest deal till now on the scale of outsourcing.
●    Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has a deal with the Television Rating Management Agency at $ 2.25 billion (144.1 billion).
●    This deal can be considered as the first milestone of TCS's new chief Rajesh Gopinathan tenure.
●    Rajesh Gopinathan took the place of N Chandrasekaran in February only.
●    Under this deal, TCS will complete all the work related to Nielsen's outsourcing for the next three years i.e. by 2020.
●    Through this deal, TCS will make Nielsen a three-year (2017-2020) $ 320 million business turnover.
●    From 2021 to 2024, the potential annual revenue of the company is being seen at $ 186 million and in 2025 at $ 139.5 million.
●    This deal, which took place in October this year, was a renewal of TCS and Nielsen Partnership.
●    The deal between these companies was $ 1.2 billion (Rs 76.8 billion) in 10 years in 2008, which was increased to three years in 2013 and almost doubled to $ 2.5 billion ($ 160.1 billion) in 2013.

Current Affairs 22nd DECEMBER 2017:DEFENSE

Minister of State for Defense, Shri Subhash Bhamre inaugurated the 49th Annual Conference of Nuclear Drugs Association

The Minister of State for Defense, Shri Subhash Bhamre today inaugurated the 49th Annual Conference of Indian Nuclear Medicine Association.
●    In his address on this occasion, Shri Bhamre said that progress in medical science has led to significant improvement in the standard of living.
●    Due to this progress, the increase in life expectancy, the incapable of being irrelevant, has helped increase the ability to treat diseases and understand the human body.
●    He said that in the last few years, the role of Nuclear Medicine has taken a major step.
●    Bhamre said that DRDO's Research Laboratory, Nuclear Medicine and Allied Science Institute (INMAS) is playing a vital role in the research of nuclear medicine and is increasing the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
●    Inamas has always played an effective role in the field of radiation and imaging science through academic development.
●    The contribution of INmas is a great example of cooperation by the Ministry of Defense to research activities for the benefit of society.
 

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.

Important Current Affairs 20th DECEMBER 2017

Current Affairs 20th DECEMBER 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

The Cabinet approved the 'Capacity Building Scheme in Textile Sector' for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20

Prime Minister of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired the work involved except the spinning and weaving in the organized sector, the entire value chain of the textile sector approved a new skill development plan.
●    It has been named 'Capacity Building Scheme (SCBTS)' in Textile Sector.
●    This scheme has been accepted for the period of 2017-18 to 2019-20 with the cost-expenditure of 1300 crores.
●    In this scheme, there will be training courses in line with the National Skills Qualification Framework based on common standards of skill development and entrepreneurship ministry.
●    This plan includes the country will be implemented for the benefit of all sections of society, including rural, far-flung areas, Left Wing Extremism affected area, North East and Jammu and Kashmir.
●    Under the scheme, the SC, ST, Diwyangon preference to minorities and other disadvantaged groups.
●    More than 70 percent of these women were women. 
●    Under this scheme, the garment industry is a major area, which is believed to be about 70 percent of the women employed in it.

The Cabinet approved the Central Group 'A' service and cadre to the Executive Officers of the Armed Forces

Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has approved the Central Group 'A' service and cadre to the Executive Officers of the Armed Forces Force.
●    This includes reviewing Group 'A' class officers, from the Assistant Commandant to the creation of 19 posts of the IG level, to increase the operational and administrative capabilities of the Armed Forces force.
●    The Armed Forces force was formed in 1963 to promote the security of the border areas, to promote national sentiment and to increase security in the area.
●    In the year 2001, the force was transferred to the Central Home Ministry.
●    Since then, the force is deployed in the security of Indo-Nepal and Bhutan borders.
●    The force is given intelligence and security responsibilities in Left-wing affected areas and in Jammu and Kashmir and Assam.
●    At present, 96,093 personnel are working in force, 73 battalions are in force.
●    These include two National Disaster Redemption Battalions.
●    Prior to this, the action to upgrade and chalk up the force was done in 2005, 2010 and 2011.

Cabinet approves setting up of India's first National Rail and Transport University in Vadodara

Indian Railways is on the path of modernization through extensive technical and infrastructure upgradation.
●    It will Contribut e in 'Make in India' and 'Skil India' and subsidies in large-scale employment creation.
●    It will Promot e of innovative enterprises and support for the Start Up India initiative.
●    The latest methods of teaching and use of technology will be applied: With the use of latest methods, higher education and training can be made available.
●    India will emerge as a global leader with the latest technology and skilled manpower.
●    Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the country's first National Rail and Transportation University (NRTU) in Vadodara for skill and capacity building in human resources.
●    The inspiring innovative thoughts presented by the Prime Minister to the University establishment of the University will be the forerunner of the change in rail and transport sector towards the new India.
●    This University will be established as a recognized University under UGG's Novo Division (Honored University Institute) Regulation, 2016.
●    The Government is working to give all the approvals till April 2018 and start the first academic session in July, 2012.

Indian railway project

Ministry of Railways has decided to launch a Gold Project with the objective of providing better facilities to the passengers.
●    Interior decoration of the coaches, toilet, cleanliness of the coaches, staff behavior, food arrangements, blankets and sheets, time restrictions, safety, recreational facilities during travel, quick information facilities such as passenger amenities, 9 dimensions of this gold The project is included in the project.
●    These facilities will be provided in 14 capital and 15 century trains.
●    In order to upgrade the coaches on the basis of gold standard, Indian Railways has approved to spend 50 lakhs per rack.
●    Golden project has been launched with the aim of improving the capital and Shatabdi trains.
●    Some coaches in Bhopal Workshop are being developed as model racks for the Harman Railways.
●    At present, there are three such trains running: Varanasi from New Delhi, Khajuraho from Bhopal and Varanasi from Vadodara.

Current Affairs 20th DECEMBER 2017: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

ISRO and NASA collaboration

ISRO and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) / NASA jointly engaged in the development of Dual Frequency (L & S Band) synthetic aperture radar imaging satellite named NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR).
●    The L & B band microwave data obtained from this satellite will be useful for a variety of applications, including natural resource mapping and monitoring, estimation of agricultural biomass in the entire period of crop rotation, assessment of soil moisture, monitoring of flood and oil lubrication, coastal Corrosion, coastal changes in coastal waters and variation of winds, assessment of mangroves, surface deformation studies, falling of ice layer.
●    The data obtained from the NISAR Mission is not for the rebound of the climate.
●    However, the data obtained from this mission will be useful in developing some applications, including (i) detecting cracks in the glacier hidden from fresh ice in places where humans are known to exist (ii) estimate avalanches (Iii) Study of glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) hazards, and (iv) submerged with flood due to flood / cyclones. Sector detection is included.
●    These applications can be helpful in taking measures that can minimize the loss of human life.
 

Current Affairs 20th DECEMBER 2017: ECONOMY 

Meeting of the third meeting of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council

The third meeting of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (EAC-PM) was held today.
●    This meeting was organized under the chairmanship of EAC-PM President and Member of the Policy Commission Dr Bibek Debroy.
●    Two presentations were given while continuing the discussion on employment and development.
●    Dr. Ramesh Chand, Member of the Policy Commission, gave a presentation on 'Strategic Options for Promotion of Agricultural Productivity, Income and Employment-friendly Development in Agriculture and Allied Sectors'.
●    Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Amarjeet Sinha gave a presentation on 'Mission Antyodhya for poverty free panchayats'.
●    In EAC-PM, OSD Shri Kishore Desai made a presentation on issues related to trade before the Council.
●    Part-time members of the Council, Dr. Rathin Roy and Dr. Surjit Bhalla presented updates on the monitored monitors.
●    EAC-PM discussed these issues during his meeting.

India signed a funding agreement with the World Bank for US $ 125 million for 'Striवे Project for Industrial Value Promotion Operations'

Government of India has signed a funding agreement with the World Bank in the National Capital yesterday for IDA loan of 125 million US dollars (equivalent) for 'Skill Stabilization Project for Industrial Value Promotion Operations'.
●    On behalf of the Government of India on behalf of the Finance Department, Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and signed by Mr. Hisham Abdo, Acting Country Director of World Bank (India) on behalf of the World Bank.
●    The objective of this operation is to ensure better access to professional training in line with quality and market demand.
●    The result of this project includes better performance of industrial training institutes, better training of state governments, excellent education and knowledge and better and detailed trainee (apprenticeship) training to assist in training of industrial training institutes and apprenticeship training.
●    The closing date for this project is November 30, 2022.

Current Affairs 20th DECEMBER 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The Cabinet approved the MoU for cooperation between India and Cuba in the field of Health and Medicine.

Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet approved the MoU for cooperation between India and Cuba in the field of health and medicine with prior approval.
●    The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on December 6, 2017 in New Delhi.
●    The consent memorandum will be supported in the following areas-
●    Exchanges and training of doctors, officers, other health professionals and experts
●    Help in the establishment of Human Resources and Health Services Development and Health Facilitation Centers
●    Shortage training of human resources in health
●    Rules for drug, medical equipment and information exchange
●    Promotion of trade development opportunities in drug and other identified areas by the sides
●    Help regarding availability of generic and urgent medicines and drug supply
●    Availability of health equipment and medicinal products
●    Other areas of cooperation according to mutual decision
●    A joint working group will be established to take stock of the implementation of this memorandum and for other details as per the agreement.

Important Current Affairs 19th DECEMBER 2017

Current Affairs 19th DECEMBER 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Skill Development Ministry signed an agreement with Maruti Suzuki

In the presence of Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Mr. Anant Kumar Hegde, Director General Training (DGT) and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India Today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in order to provide the youth with higher employment prospects related to the automobile and manufacturing industry, under Skill India Mission.
●    The Flexi MOU was signed by Shri Vijay Kumar Dev, Director General, DGT (MSD) and Mr. Mukesh Kumar Gupta, Vice President (Maruti Suzuki India Limited).
●    On this occasion, Honorable Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Anant Kumar Hegde said, "I am very pleased to come here and learn new things from you.
●    This is an extremely important initiative and I am very happy to be part of it.
●    Maruti has been providing basic training for the last two years and during our previous dialogue, the company expressed its intention to increase its reach.
●    I would like to suggest that along with basic training, Maruti should also provide advance level training to those students who are keen to increase their knowledge in this direction.
●    At the moment, this training caters to the needs of students passing the 10th and 12th grade. "
●    There are various companies employed in the subsidiary industries associated with Automation and Automobile Sector, which are being operated by entrepreneurs.
●    These entrepreneurs are in dire need of initial training to run their business successfully.

Revival of sick fertilizer units and introduction of new fertilizer units

In the reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State for Planning and Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh said that Government is restarting 5 closed units of Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited and Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited (HFCL). 
●    This unit is - Trailchar, Ramagundam, Gorakhpur and Sindri and Baroni.
●    Using new technology, 12.7 lakh MT of Ammonia-Urea will be produced every year in each unit.
●    In addition to the above, the Cabinet has approved the setting up of new ammonia-urea complex in Namhame on 21.05.2015 at the Brahmaputra Fertilizer Corporation Limited campus.
●    Its productive capacity will be 8.646 lakh metric tons per annum.
●    In addition to the introduction of the above new plants, the production of urea in the country will increase to 72.16 lakh metric tonnes per annum, resulting in a significant reduction in imports of urea.
●    Shri Singh informed that the implementation of the above proposals will reduce the gap between demand and supply of urea and improve the fertilizer sector.

Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017 passed in Lok Sabha

The Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017 has been passed in the Lok Sabha today.
●    The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Central Road Fund (CRF) Act, 2000, through which the high speed petrol and diesel collected and cess collected will be made available to the rural roads, national highways, railways, roads in the states and roads in the border areas Is distributed for development.
●    In the current bill, it has been mentioned that allocation of 2.5 percent of CRF generated for accelerating the development and maintenance of national waterways has been mentioned.
●    Under this, a two-percent reduction in the allocated portion for National Highways will be deducted.
●    This will generate an estimated revenue of about Rs 2300 crore for national waterways.
National waterways provide affordable, logistic, efficient, and environmentally friendly means of transportation, due to which being developed as a supplemental mode will lead to highly crowded roads and traffic from the railway to the waterways.
●    With the formation of the National Waterway Act, 2016, the total number of national waterways has gone up to 111 now.
●    This has paved the way for better regulation and development of national waterways in the country.

Under the Namami Ganges program, 32 projects have been laid out in Uttarakhand, two projects were inaugurated

In the presence of Central Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Conservation Minister Dr. Satyapal Singh and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Trivandrum Singh Rawat, the foundation stones of 32 projects costing 905 crore rupees in Uttarakhand were laid on Tuesday.
●    On this occasion, M.J. Shri Pratip Pant, Minister of Drinking Water, Uttarakhand, Shri Satpal Maharaj, Irrigation Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr. Ramesh Pokhriyal (Haridwar), Member of Parliament, Mr. Madan Kaushik and MLA Mr. Surendra Singh Negi, Mr. Mandal Chauhan and Mr. Mahendra Bhatt were also present.
●    The program was inaugurated in two sewer refinements projects at a cost of Rs 12.83 crore (sewer scheme in Gandhidham and STP and 0.26 MLD capacity STP in Badrinath).
●    On this occasion Dr. Satyapal Singh said, "We have to make the Ganga Sanitation Mission a mass movement.
●    People need a change in mindset.
●    People should be told that they do not pollute the river in any way. '
●    He underlined the importance of people's involvement in Namami Ganges program.
●    'We conducted two successful roadshows in London and Mumbai, wherein representatives of the industry expressed their desire to become involved in the Ganga Sanitation Mission'.

Kiran Rijiju inaugurated the trainers' training program for the Sendai profiling

Union Minister of State for Home, Shri Kiren Rijiju today inaugurated the first nation level program for training of trainers to sensitize various Central Ministries and Departments on the use of Sendi Monitoring System for developing the work plan for disaster risk reduction in New Delhi
●    Describing the trainers' training program as highly vetted initiatives, Rijiju said that participants from this workshop will be sensitive and will be able to create capacity in the use of Sendi Monitoring System in developing the work plan for the reduction in disaster risk.
●    He said that similar training programs for the officers of the state government will be held later.
●    The three-day program was organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Office (UNIDR-GETI) for the disaster risk reduction-global education and training institute.
●    On this occasion, Ms. Loretta Hibbert Ziraat of UNI-SDRD said that SFDRRR gives special emphasis on the development of national and local strategies.
●    This training workshop is important.
●    They strengthened India for developing the first national plan in line with SFDRR.
●    India's National Disaster Management Plan was released in June 2016 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Current Affairs 19th DECEMBER 2017: AWARDS

Presentation ceremony of 22nd Apparel Export Promotion Council Award 2016-17

The Union Minister of Textiles and Information & Broadcasting, Smt. Zubin Irani said that the Textile Ministry has knowledge management system for the exchange of knowledge related to the productivity of natural fiber and the diversification of its sub-products by the education sector, the farming community and the industry is implementing.
●    Textile India 2017 is a large textile business event.
●    The government has taken this decision in order to further its successes.
●    During the presentation of the 22nd Garment Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Export Awards 2016-17 held in New Delhi on 18th December, 2017, the Minister said that during the presentation ceremony.
●    The Textile Minister said that special attention is being given to increase the reach of the Indian exporters market and the government is looking for solutions in all parts of the region.
●    Mrs. Irani said that special attention is being given to skill development of the people of the textile sector.
●    He further said that the Ministry is in the process of formulating a policy which will strengthen the silk and jute sectors.
●    The Minister congratulated the award winners.
●    The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhu said that the Ministry is taking several measures to make use of its capacity by the textile industry.
●    He highlighted the importance of global trade, the role of market research in identifying new areas, and the importance of presentation of new products to increase development.

Current Affairs 19th DECEMBER 2017: DEFENSE

Annual Conference of Chief Engineers of Border Roads Organization 2017

Border Roads Organization (BRO) is organizing the Annual Conference 2017 of its Chief Engineers and Equipment Management at GREF Center in Pune.
●    The conference will be held from 18 to 20 December 2017.
●    The three-day conference will be attended by Director General of Border Roads and 18 Chief Engineers associated with various projects.
●    This conference provides a forum for discussions on several important issues, including the evaluation of future workings and current performance of BRO.
●    Minister of State for Defense Subhash Bhamre will address the conference on December 19, 2017.
●    The BRO plays an important role in meeting the essential needs of the Army's strategic and operational framework.
●    This organization also contributes to socio-economic development in areas adjacent to the border.
●    BRO has constructed about 52000 kilometers of roads.
●    Apart from this, 598 important permanent bridges have been constructed, whose length is 49200 meters.

Current Affairs 19th DECEMBER 2017: ECONOMY

Indian Railways will install 100% LED lights on all the stations by the end of the current financial year

The Ministry of Railways is actively working on arranging 100% LED lights for most of its non-traction power requirements like railway staff colonies, railway stations, railway platforms etc.
●    Under this 100% LED initiative, the Ministry of Railways has decided to illuminate all the railway stations with 100% LED lights at the end of the current financial year ie 31 March 2018.
●    This is a major initiative to provide less power consumption lighting system, which will further help in environmental protection further.
●    100% LED lights have been installed on nearly 3500 railway stations by November, 2017 and 100% LED lights will be completed in the remaining part of the railway stations and various railway buildings.
●    Under this program, about 20 lakh LED lights have been installed at various Zonal railway stations till date.
●    ESCO mode is also being adopted in this area to implement the provision of setting up of LED lights at all stations.
●    In this context, a policy document has been prepared and released by the Ministry of Railways.