Current affairs : December 15, 2016 for all competitive exams
Interim Nationwide Ban Imposed On Manja For Flying Kites By NGT
A ban was imposed by the National Green Tribunal on December 14, 2016 on the procurement, sale and use of glass powder coated ‘manja’ and other dangerous strings for flying kites.
- The order was passed by the NGT bench, headed by
Chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar who said that the sharp string poses a danger to humans,
animals and birds as well as causes harm to environment.
- The ban would apply on the use of nylon,
Chinese and cotton manja coated with glass until the next hearing on February 1, 2017.
RS passes Disabilities Bill with more benefits
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill 2014, which was introduced in
Rajya Sabha in 2014, was recently cleared with 119 amendments.
- The legislation, drafted to make Indian laws
compliant with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
will replace the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995.
- The number of disabilities listed rises from seven
in the 1995 Act through 19 in the 2014 bill to 21 after the amendments,
including acid attack and Parkinson’s disease.
India tops Asia in innovation
chart
India has topped Asia in
innovation and has emerged as the third biggest country worldwide in terms of
new innovation centres, according to research by consulting firm
Capgemini.
- Bengaluru, where 3 new innovation centres opened
between March and October, was ranked fifth among top innovation hubs
globally.
- This is partly due to government policies and other
initiatives, the report added.
Major Port Trust Authorities Bill, 2016
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Shipping to
replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 by the Major Port Authorities Bill,
2016.
- This will empower the Major Ports to perform with
greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision making and by
modernizing the Institutional structure of Major Ports.
MoU between India and Kyrgyzstan
for strengthening cooperation in the
field of Tourism
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing Memorandum of
Understanding between the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Cultural,
Information & Tourism of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for
strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism.
- This would enable both parties to enter into a
constructive dialogue for development and promotion of tourism in each
other’s country for the economic development of two nations.
MoU between Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and Food
and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) to improve the effectiveness of rural development programmes
in India and to facilitate knowledge sharing.
- The MoU will facilitate South-South cooperation
mechanisms around Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods
Mission (DAY-NRLM)’s experience through exchange visits and dialogues, and
establishment of a good-practice Learning Centre.
MoU between ICAI and CBFS, Oman
The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval of the MoUs signed
in 2008 and 2011 and the renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between
the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and College of Banking
and Financial Studies (CBFS), Oman.
- The MoU will facilitate working together for
strengthening the accounting, financial and audit knowledge base within
Oman.
NSG waiver has attendant risks, govt. tells Lok Sabha
The government recently informed the Lok Sabha that it is looking for full
membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as the current arrangement with
the elite club carries “attendant risks”.
- The government’s statement is significant as it is
the first time that it has declared the waiver in such terms.
Mahila Police Volunteer Initiative launched in Haryana
The Mahila Police Volunteer initiative was recently launched in Haryana. By
launching the initiative in Karnal and Mahendragarh districts, Haryana became the
first state to adopt this scheme.
- Haryana has inducted the first batch of 1000 Mahila
Police Volunteers. These volunteers have already been trained by the state
State Police Authorities on their role and responsibility.
Shahid, Sonam named PETA's
hottest vegetarians of 2016
Actors Shahid Kapoor and
Sonam Kapoor have been named the hottest vegetarians of 2016 by animal rights
organisation PETA India.
- The winners were decided via a poll wherein people
cast their votes on PETA India's website.
- Shahid and Sonam beat other celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Kangana Ranaut and Sunny Leone to emerge as the winners.
Mumbai firm's study on sex
trafficking wins European award
A study conducted by
Mumbai-based consultancy company Final Mile on the trafficking of sex workers
from West Bengal to Mumbai has won the ESOMAR excellence award for the best
paper.
- The study found that most of the girls are sent to the city by their fathers, who are misled into believing that their daughters will get employment or get married.
Mumbai teacher nominated for
Global Teacher Prize 2017 in UK
An Indian physics teacher Kavita sanghvi has made it to the list of top 50 contenders from around the world for The
Global Teacher Prize 2017 by Varkey Foundation for her experiential method of
teaching physics.
- The Principal of Mumbai's MET Rishikul Vidyalaya was shortlisted from over 20,000 nomination.
IIT Bombay's Techfest 2016 to
begin from December 16
The 20th edition of Asia's
largest science and technology festival, Techfest organised by IIT Bombay is
scheduled from December 16-18.
- Techfest will host personalities like Rakesh Sharma,
the first Indian in space, with exhibitions like mind-controlled drones
and bionic arms.
- All events at the Techfest will be free, including
performances by TVF and other international artists.
Paytm launches ‘Each one,
teach one’ to increase digital inclusion
Paytm has announced a
program to increase the digital inclusion in the country where in it is calling
upon consumers and merchants across India to teach others on how to use
Paytm to pay and accept money.
- The campaign is aimed at transforming user behaviour
and further accelerating the country’s ongoing shift from cash to digital
payments.
- As a part of the drive, Paytm has also announced an
incentive including Rs. 1 cr. grand prize along with additional prizes
like motorcycles, smartphones, laptops and other exciting
gifts.
- All users transacting between 1st December 2016 and
31st March 2017 are eligible to win these prizes.
PM Modi in top 10 of Forbes'
Most Powerful People list
PM Narendra Modi was ranked
9th on Forbes' list of World's Most Powerful People.
- Taking note of PM Modi's efforts to curb corruption
and his demonetisation move, Forbes wrote, "Modi has raised his
profile as a global leader in recent years."
- He has emerged as a key figure in the international
effort to tackle climate change, Forbes added.
- 1st Place- Vladimir Putin(Russia President), 2nd – Donald Trump. Barack Obama is at 48th spot.
Larry Page named world's most
powerful CEO
Google's parent company
Alphabet's CEO Larry Page has been named the world's most powerful CEO by
Forbes, with his company having a market capitalisation of over $550 billion.
- Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon's Jeff Bezos
have been ranked second and third respectively.
- Tesla's Elon Musk and Walmart's Doug McMillon have also featured on the list.
Mukesh Ambani featured among
World's Most Powerful People
Reliance Industries Chairman
Mukesh Ambani has been ranked 38 on the World's Most Powerful People list for
2016 by Forbes.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has topped the list for the fourth consecutive year.
Rahman's soundtrack for Pele
biopic in Oscars' 1st shortlist
Music composer AR Rahman's
soundtrack for footballer Pele's biopic 'Pele: Birth of a Legend' has been selected in the
first shortlist for 'Best Original Score' by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences for the Oscars 2017.
- Rahman's song 'Ginga' is also in the running for
Best Original Song. Earlier, Rahman won two Oscars in these categories in
2009.
Bewitched, Titanic actor
Bernard Fox dies at 89
Bernard Fox died of heart
failure at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, California on 14th
December.
- He is best known for his roles on the ABC series Bewitched and James Cameron's Oscar-winning picture Titanic. Fox also made appearances in several British films and TV shows.
PV Sindhu wins Most Improved
Player of the Year award
Olympic silver medallist PV
Sindhu was honoured with the Most Improved Player of the Year award by
Badminton World Federation on Monday.
- In 2016, Sindhu won her maiden Superseries title and
also qualified for the World Superseries Finals for the first time.
- Sindhu started 2016 as 12th ranked and achieved her career-best rank of 7 in December.
Indian named in first-ever ICC
Women's Team of the Year
Opener Smriti Mandhana is the lone Indian in
ICC's first-ever women's team of the year.
- Mandhana, who is the second Indian to play in
Australia's Women's Big Bash League, made 320 runs in eight ODIs and 286
in 17 T20Is this year.
- The team comprises three Kiwi players, two each from Australia, England and West Indies and one South African.
Saina named Integrity
Ambassador by Badminton World Fed
Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal
has been named an 'Integrity Ambassador' by the Badminton World Federation to
promote "clean, fair and honourable sport."
- BWF chose five players as ambassadors, who were announced before the Dubai World Superseries Finals.
