Daily Current affairs - December 21st, 2017 for all competitive exams
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Ministry of Railways’ transformative initiative to set up the first ever National Rail and Transport University (NRTU) in Vadodara to skill its human resources and build capability.
- The University will be set up as a Deemed to Be University under de novo category as per the UGC [Institutions Deemed to be Universities] Regulations, 2016.
- Government is working towards completing all approvals by April 2018 and to launch the first academic program in July 2018.
A not-for-profit Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 will be created by the Ministry of Railways which shall be the Managing Company of the proposed university.
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Cabinet approves new Consumer Protection Bill
The Cabinet approved a new Consumer Protection Bill that seeks to establish an authority to safeguard consumers’ rights.
- According to sources, the Cabinet has approved the introduction of the Consumer Protection Bill, 2017, which will result in withdrawal of a bill brought in 2015.
- The consumer affairs ministry has brought this bill as there were many amendments to the bill introduced in 2015.
Govt. okays Rs 1300 cr for skill development in the textile sector
The Union Cabinet approves a new skill development scheme having an outlay of Rs 1,300 crore with an aim to create jobs in the organised textile and related sectors.
- The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The scheme will cover the entire value chain of textiles, excluding spinning and weaving in the organised sector.
- The scheme will have National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant training courses with funding norms as per the Common Norms notified by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
The scheme will be implemented for the benefit of all sections of the society across the country including rural, remote, LWE affected, North East, J&K by imparting skills in the identified job roles. Preference will be given to various social groups, SC, ST, differently abled, minorities and other vulnerable groups.
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Loksabha passed Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill
Lok Sabha has passed the Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill. The Bill amends the regulations governing compensation payable for acquisition of immovable property by the Centre for defence and security purposes.
- The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill 2017 amends the original 1952 Act to allow the Centre to reissue the acquisition notice in case the property’s owner wants to be given a hearing.
- As per the amendment, the compensation rates that will be payable will be fixed at the date of publication of the first notice in addition to an interest.
The amended bill provides that the government need not pay compensation at the current market rate as is applicable on the date of issuing the fresh notice.
The amended bill is aimed at addressing cases where the property owner is able, after prolonged litigation, to get the acquisition notice quashed in the court so as to be given a hearing.
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DARPAN Project Launched For Financial Inclusion of Rural Population
The Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha launched DARPAN- “Digital Advancement of Rural Post Office for A New India” Project to improve the quality of service, add value to services and achieve 'financial inclusion' of the unbanked rural population.
- The goal of the IT modernization project with an outlay of Rs. 1400 Crore is to provide a low power technology solution to each Branch Postmaster (BPM) which will enable each of approximately 1.29 Lakhs Branch Post Offices (BOs) to improve the level of services being offered to rural customers across all the states.
IGNOU to launch world’s first sand art certificate course in March, 2018
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) launching world’s first online certificate course in sand art in March, 2018.
- Shrikant Mohapatra, senior regional director of IGNOU Bhubaneshwar centre stated that, “It has to be fine-tuned as per MOOC’S (massive open online courses) norms.”
- Pattnaik stated that he wanted India to become the first country across the globe to offer such training to sand artists, who, he noted, “were growing in number”.
Gravitational wave detector to be built in India by 2025
A new LIGO gravitational wave detector to measure ripples in the fabric of space and time is set to be built in India by 2025, in collaboration with universities from across the globe.
- The new Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detector will add to the two already operational in the US.
- The LIGO detectors discovered the first gravitational waves produced by two giant merging blackholes last year.
- The research won a Nobel Prize in Physics this year.
- The LIGO India partnership is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) through its Newton-Bhabha project on LIGO.
LIGO is the world's largest gravitational wave observatory and a cutting edge physics experiment. Comprised of two enormous laser interferometers located thousands of kilometers apart, LIGO exploits the physical properties of light and of space itself to detect and understand the origins of gravitational waves.
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Tripura to upgrade Dambur power plant
The Tripura government has prepared an estimated Rs. 100-crore project to upgrade the State’s lone hydroelectric project at Dambur in south Tripura.
- The proposal has been sent to the Centre for approval and release of funds, an official of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL)
- The plan to revive the power plant, commissioned in 1975 by streamlining water flows of the Raima and the Sarma rivers, was prepared on the basis of recommendations of experts from the Central government agency, NHPC.
Punjab Chief Minister launches app to check illegal construction
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh launched a mobile app to check unauthorised construction, and also unveiled a new web portal of the housing department for online issuance of change of land use.
- The android-based App, known as PUDA-UCIC (Unauthorised constructions and illegal colonies), opened for public use in Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) region.
- With this app, the field staff and public would be able to click pictures of any unauthorised construction from the spot and upload them for further action.
- The satellite and geo tagging based app will provide the unique details of the location, enabling the officials to take quick action to stop the ongoing illegal construction and illegal colonies on the land.
Naseem-Al-Bahr
Naseem-Al-Bahr is a bilateral exercise between Indian Navy and Oman Navy. The exercise is also called as “Sea Breeze”.
- The 11th edition of this exercise was held in Muscat.
- The first exercise Indian Navy with Royal Navy of Oman was conducted in 1993 and this year marks 24 years of Indian Navy -Royal Navy of Oman bilateral exercises.
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Muscat
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Monarch
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Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said
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Government of India and the World Bank signed for Strive Project
A Financing Agreement for IDA Credit of USD 125 million (equivalent) for the “Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement Operation (STRIVE) Project” was recently signed by the Government of India with the World Bank.
- The Objective of the operation is to improve access to quality and market-driven vocational training provided in it is and apprenticeships.
- STRIVE is an outcome focused scheme marking shift in government’s implementation strategy in vocational education and training from inputs to results. STRIVE will focus to improve on the quality and the market relevance of vocational training provided in ITIs and strengthen the apprenticeship programme through industry-cluster approach.
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to countries of the world for capital programs. It comprises two institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the International Development Association (IDA).
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India, Myanmar signs MoU for development of Rakhine
India and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at developing Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
- The MoU comes in the backdrop of massive migration of Rohingya refugees from violence-wracked Rakhine to Bangladesh.
- Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar signed the MoU on India’s behalf in the presence Myanmar’s Minister for Social Welfare Win Myat Aye.
- According to Misri, the MoU is a government-to-government (G2G) agreement on long-term socio-economic development of Rakhine.
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Naypyidaw
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Htin Kyaw
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India to be part of a summit on North Korea’s nuclear crisis
India will be a part of an international meeting hosted by the US and Canada next month to discuss North Korea’s nuclear threat.
- US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland made the announcement during their meeting in Ottawa.
- The meeting co-hosted by the US and Canada will take place on January 16 in Vancouver.
IMF approves $2 billion loan instalment for Egypt
The International Monetary Fund has approved the third instalment of a USD 12 billion, three- year loan for Egypt, bringing the total released to date to just over USD 6 billion.
- The IMF board approved the latest USD 2 billion disbursement under the deal signed in November 2016, after a fund team last month praised Cairo’s progress on “bold” economic reforms.
- In order to obtain IMF approval for the loan, the country has implemented a set of drastic reforms, adopting a value- added tax, cutting energy subsidies and floating its pound.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., of "189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world
CEO – Christine Lagarde
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Sri Lanka is keen to introduce an Aadhaar-like initiative
Sri Lanka will explore launching an application similar to the Unified Mobile Application for New age Governance (UMANG) in India, and it is in talks with New Delhi at the highest levels.
- Sri Lanka is also keen on adopting a mass digital initiative like the Aadhaar in India. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad will undertake a two-day visit to the island next month for discussions on bilateral cooperation and possible Indian investment in the sector.
- In a separate initiative, the government has also been pushing for digitising the national identity cards of Sri Lankans with biometrics, a move that has made privacy advocates in the country concerned.
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Maitripala Sirisena
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Turkey bans New Year celebrations at Istanbul’s iconic Taksim Square
Turkish authorities will not allow New Year celebrations at Istanbul’s iconic Taksim Squarefor security reasons.
- Turkey has suffered a series of terror attacks attributed to Kurdish militants and the Islamic State group, including a shooting at popular Istanbul nightclub Reina during a New Year 2016-17 party.
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Recep Tayyip Erodgan
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U.S. lifts ban on funds to develop lethal viruses
U.S. officials have ended a moratorium imposed three years ago on funding research that alters germs to make them more lethal.
- Some scientists are eager to pursue these studies because they may show, for example, how bird flu could mutate to more easily infect humans, or could yield clues to making a better vaccine.
- Now, a government panel will require that researchers show that their studies in this area are scientifically sound and that they will be done in a high-security lab.
- The pathogen to be modified must pose a serious health threat, and the work must produce knowledge — such as a vaccine — that would benefit humans. Finally, there must be no safer way to do the research.
- In October 2014, all U.S. federal funding was halted on efforts to make three viruses more dangerous: the flu virus, and those causing Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
- But the new regulations apply to any pathogen that could potentially cause a pandemic. For example, they would apply to a request to create an Ebola virus transmissible through the air
Kimberley Plenary session held in Australia
The KP Plenary Session is being held at Brisbane, Australia. In one of the landmark decisions favoring India’s leading position in Diamonds globally, India was appointed as the Kimberly Process (KP) Vice Chair for 2018 & Chair for 2019 in the last plenary held in Dubai in November, 2016. The EU will be KP Chair for 2018.
- The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme that regulates trade in rough diamonds. It aims to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds, while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) outlines the rules that govern the trade in rough diamonds. The KPCS has developed a set of minimum requirements that each participant must meet.
The Kimberley Process (KP) is open to all countries that are willing and able to implement its requirements. The KP has 54 participants, representing 81 countries, with the European Union and its Member States counting as a single participant. KP members account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds.
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2017 may be among top 3 hottest years
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), The year 2017 will likely be among the three warmest years on global record.
- The first 11 months of 2017 were the third warmest on record, behind 2016 and 2015, with much-warmer-than-average conditions engulfing much of the world’s land and ocean surfaces, researchers said.
- Arctic and Antarctic sea ice coverage remain at near record lows.
- 2017 may also be the warmest year without an El Nino — a climate phenomenon that causes global temperatures to shoot up.
Chinese jets carry out multiple drills around Taiwan
Chinese jets conducted drills near Taiwan’s airspace for the sixth time this month, as relations between the two rivals worsen.
- China poses the biggest military risk to self-governed Taiwan, as Beijing sees it as part of its territory to be reunified at some point.
- The two sides split after a civil war in 1949. Although Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy, it has never declared independence.
People can pay for Xiaomi devices through Google Tez
Xiaomi announced that it has integrated a new payment option powered by Google Tez on its e-commerce platform Mi.com and Mi Store app.
- Xiaomi has added a new payment option powered by Google Tez digital payment service.
- Users can now make cashless transactions on both Mi.com and the Mi Store app as Google Tez payments service operates atop the Unified Payments Interface.
Aircel to shut operations in six circles from January 30, 2018
Telecom operator Aircel will shut operations in six circles, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, from January 30.
- It is shut downing following the sectoral regulator TRAI’s direction to the company to help its subscribers port out to other service networks.
- TRAI directed all telecom operators to accept the request of Aircel subscribers to join their network until March 10, 2018.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India.
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Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) hikes FPI investment limit
Capital market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), raised the investment limit for foreign portfolio investors in central government securities to over 1.91 lakh crore from next month.
- Currently, investment limit for foreign portfolio investors is 1.89 lakh crore rupees.
- The move is part of an effort by SEBI to push inflow from overseas investors in the country’s capital markets.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India was established on April 12, 1992 in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
Headquarters: Mumbai
Chairman: Ajay Tyagi
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Mamang Dai, Ramesh Kuntal win Sahitya Akademi award
Sahitya Akademi announced its annual awards for 2017 in 24 languages.
Mamang Dai will get the award in English language for his novel The Black Hill.
- Ramesh Kuntal Megh has won the award in Hindi for his literary criticism work Vishw Mithak Sarit Sagar.
- Gaali Rangu(Poetry) has won award in Telugu to her work “Devipriya”
- Venna vallabha Rao has won Translation award for Viramaamerugani Payanam (Actual Book name: Khanabadosh(Autobography; Punjabi Ajeet Kour)
The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India, which the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages (24 languages, including the 22 listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, along with English and Rajasthani) recognised by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, Established in 1954
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Kerala govt. suspends DGP Jacob Thomas
The State government suspended Director General of Police Jacob Thomas pending disciplinary action on the charge that he had conducted himself in a manner that was “prejudicial to the security of the State.”
- The “one-off” action against the senior-most IPS officer in Kerala is the culmination of a fortnight-long government inquiry into the comments he made at an anti-corruption awareness programme at the Press Club here on December 9.
Uber appoints Barney Harford as the chief operating officer
Uber Technologies Inc said that the ride-hailing firm has appointed Barney Harford as the chief operating officer.
- Harford, a former chief executive officer of online travel website Orbitz, will join Uber on January 2.
- New CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, who replaced co-founder Travis Kalanick in August, has been critical of past practices and vowed a new era of compliance.
UK tops Forbes’ list of best countries for business in 2018
The United Kingdom has topped Forbes’ rankings of best countries in the world for business in 2018 for the first time, up from fifth last year.
- The list ranks 153 countries on 15 factors including property rights, innovation, taxes and red tape.
- They determined the Best Countries for Business by rating 153 nations on 15 different factors including property rights, innovation, taxes, technology, corruption, freedom (personal, trade and monetary), red tape and investor protection. Each category was equally weighted.
- The UK is followed by New Zealand and the Netherlands, while India was ranked 62nd on the list.
Yuzvendra Chahal becomes highest T20I wicket-taker in 2017
Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who took four wickets against Sri Lanka, has become the highest T20I wicket-taker in 2017.
- Chahal took 19 T20I wickets this year, surpassing Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Windies’ Kesrick Williams, who have 17 wickets each.
- Chahal’s 6/25 against England in February are T20Is’ best bowling figures this year and the best-ever by an Indian.
Chandika Hathurusingha takes charge as Sri Lanka coach
Chandika Hathurusingha took charge as Sri Lanka cricket coach looking to replicate the success he found with Bangladesh.
- Sri Lanka has been without a coach since Graham Ford resigned six months ago. Fielding coach Nick Pothas had been the interim coach since then.
- Hathurusingha, who was contracted with Bangladesh until the 2019 World Cup, resigned to take up the job in his native country.
India’s Prasad, Shaikh to officiate in 2018 Hockey World Cup
India’s Raghu Prasad and Javed Shaikh were named in the panel of umpires for next year’s Hockey World Cup to be held in Bhubaneswar.
- The International Hockey Federation (FIH) today announced that 25 officials representing 19 countries from all five continents will officiate at this prestigious event taking place at the Kalinga Stadium from November 28 to December 16.
Mithali Raj, Bisht, Harmanpreet selected in ICC teams of the year
India captain Mithali Raj was named in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year.
Harmanpreet Kaur has found out a place in the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year.
- The ICC announced the women’s ODI and T20I teams of the year with England’s Heather Knight named as captain of the 50-over side and Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies appointed skipper of the 20-over side.
- The teams were selected taking into consideration player performances from September 21, 2016 to date.
- Bisht is the only cricketer to feature in both the ODI and T20I teams of the year.
