Current affairs : December 3, 2016 for all competitive exams
International Day of Persons
with Disabilities being observed on 03rd December 2016
International Day of Persons
with Disabilities being observed on 03rd December 2016.
- Disability Day is a day that has been promoted by
the United Nations since 1992.
- The theme of World Disability Day for 2016 is: Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want, which draws attention to the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals and how these goals can create a more inclusive and
equitable world for persons with disabilities.
Centre takes steps to drain excess cash
The Centre has decided to increase the limit of bonds that can be issued
under a market stabilisation scheme to mop up
excess liquidity from the banking system arising out of its demonetisation
move.
- In this regard, the government has decided to revise
the ceiling for issue of securities under the Market Stabilisation Scheme
(MSS) to Rs. 6,000 billion (6 lakh crore).
- The move is aimed to facilitate liquidity management
operations by the central bank and the liquidity in the banking system was
expected to rise further for sometime.
Funds tracking system will trim Centre’s costs
The Centre is planning to speed up the process of implementation of Public
Financial Management System in the country.
- The new system, when implemented, will save a
significant amount on interest costs.
- The system allows the government to monitor and
access the more than Rs.1 lakh crore of idle funds lying with it under
various heads.
New Delhi nod for Karmapa’s Arunachal visit
The government has allowed Urgyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, to address a public gathering at Mon
in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The move comes six months after the Cabinet
Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
allowed the Karmapa to travel abroad.
- The Gyalwang Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu
school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He escaped from
Tibet in 2000.
New way to produce nuclear fuel using electricity
Scientists in Russia have developed a unique, low-cost method for producing
high-quality nuclear fuel using electricity.
- The researchers have proposed an alternative mode of
production, which forms the basis of powder metallurgy: electric pulse
sintering under pressure.
- The key idea in this method is heating by an
electric current passing through the mold with the powder placed in. Under
these circumstances, the uranium oxide fuel is simultaneously influenced
by the powerful pulse discharge and mechanical pressure.
SC okays Centre’s action plan to tackle air pollution in
Delhi-NCR
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to put in place a pollution coding
mechanism with a graded response system to tackle New Delhi’s growing foul air.
- The grading system will ensure that certain steps
can be automatically introduced. When air quality dips, the odd-even car
rationing formula will kick in, along with closure of schools, a four-fold
hike in parking fee, ban on entry of trucks, and halt in construction
activities.
Kolkata gets best cities award
for tackling climate change
Kolkata, along with 10 other
cities from across the globe, has been honoured with the best cities of 2016
award in recognition of its programme on solid waste management.
- Kolkata, the only Indian city to win the honour, received the award during the C40 Mayors Summit held in Mexico. Other cities which won the award include Copenhagen, Sydney, and Paris.
UAE-based Indian wins
International Children's Peace Prize
A 16-year-old Indian girl
based in the UAE has won this year's International Children's Peace Prizevfor
her fight for climate justice and combating environmental degradation.
- Kehkashan Basu was presented the award by Nobel
peace laureate Muhammad Yunus at The Hague.
- At the age of 12, Kehkashan founded her organisation Green Hope, which now has operations in over 10 countries.
Chairman of Auroville Foundation
Dr Karan Singh, an eminent scholar and Rajya Sabha Member has been
re-nominated as the Chairperson of the Governing Board of Auroville Foundation.
Dr Singh has been re-nominated for a term of four years.
- The Government of India notified the constitution of Auroville Foundation as a Statutory Body on 29th January, 1991 as per the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988.
Chitra Ramkrishna Quits NSE, J
Ravichandran Interim Chief
Ramkrishna unexpectedly quit
as chief executive officer of National Stock Exchange (NSE) , ending her
24-year career at the country’s largest bourse that she helped found.
- Ramkrishna, who took over as head of the
exchange in 2013, quit due to personal reasons, J Ravichandran, group
president, will be in charge till the board appoints a new CEO.
Asthana
is interim CBI chief
The government handing over
additional charge of the post of director to a Gujarat cadre IPS officer,
Rakesh Asthana, currently its additional director, following the superannuation
of Anil Kumar Sinha.
- After almost a decade, the country’s premier investigative agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), will not have a full-time director.
Nico Rosberg announces shock F1 retirement after
maiden world title
Nico Rosberg has stunned
Formula One by announced his retirement.
- Recently, the 31-year-old became the
sport’s world champion.
LeBron named Sports
Ilustrated's Sportsperson of the Year
Basketball player LeBron
James has been chosen as the Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year,
becoming the second athlete ever to win the award twice.
- James edged out Usain Bolt, Phelps, Premier League champions Leicester City, among others. James had led his team Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA title and was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Usain Bolt wins a record sixth
'Athlete of the Year' award
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt
won the International Association of Athletics Federations' award for male
athlete of the year for a record sixth time.
- He last won the award in 2013, while his first win came in 2008. Bolt, who is undefeated this season in all distances, completed his 'triple-triple' of 100-metres, 200-metres and 4x100-metres Olympic golds in August.
