15 Dec 2016 – 31 Dec 2016)
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WEEKLY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR WEEK 50/52, 51/52 AND 52/52 (15 DEC 2016 – 31 DEC 2016) WEEKLY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR WEEK 50/52, 51/52 AND 52/52 (15 DECEMBER – 31 DECEMBER 2016) 1. NPCIL to set up 6600 MW Nuclear Power Project in Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh (a) In the third week of December 2016, the Government of Andhra Pradesh allocated land to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for the construction of Nuclear Power Plant in Kovvada, Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh. (b) The 6600 MW Project will be executed at an estimated cost of Rs. 60,000 crore with the help of Russia. (c) As of now, there are 21 Operational Nuclear Reactors functioning in India with an installation capacity of 6780 MW. 2. R Ashwin won Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year 2016 (a) On 22 Dec 2016, Ravichandran Ashwin won the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and adjudged as the 2016 ICC Test Cricketer of the Year. (b) With the award, he became the Second Player in India after Rahul Dravid. (c) Australian Cricketer Steven Smith was the winner of Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in 2015. 3. Stephanie Del Valle won the Miss World 2016 Title (a) On 18 Dec 2016, Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico crowned as 66th Miss World Title in the event held at Maryland in the USA among 117 contestants from across the globe. (b) Yaritza Reyes of Dominican Republic adjudged as first runners up and Indonesia’s Natasha Mannuela as second runners up. (c) Miss India Priyadarshini Chatterjee had only managed to place in the Top 20 List. 4. Union Government announced Rs. 207 crore for Development of Majuli Island in Assam (a) On 20 Dec 2016, Union Government announced Rs. 207 crore funds to carry out developmental works in Majuli Island in Assam. (b) The sanctioned fund will be spent for safeguarding the land loss due to erosion. (c) It is to note that, in June 2016, the Assam Government has declared Majuli Island as India’s first Island District. (d) Majuli will now become India’s first ever carbon Neutral District by 2020. (e) Majuli Island is situated on the Brahmaputra River and named as World’s largest River Island including India’s first Island District. 5. Shankha Ghosh conferred with the 52nd Jnanpith Award (a) On 23 Dec 2016, Eminent Bengali Poet Shankha Ghosh conferred with the 52nd Jnanpith Literature Award. (b) Noted Gujarati Writer Raghuveer Chaudhari was the winner of 51st Jnanpith Award in 2015. (c) Jnanpith Award was instituted by the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust in 1961, is one of the prestigious awards in the field of Literature, given to any Indian Citizens in any of the 22 languages mentioned in 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. 6. National Consumer Day observed on 24 December with the theme “Alternate Consumer Disputes Redressal” (a) On 24 Dec 2016, National Consumer Day was observed across India with the theme “Alternate Consumer Disputes Redressal”. The day provides an opportunity for individuals to highlight the importance to the Consumer’s basic rights and Responsibilities. (b) The day is celebrated annually on 24 December each year to mark the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 on 24 December 1986. (c) World Consumer Rights Day is observed on 15 March each year. 7. PM Narendra Modi laid Foundation Stone of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial at Mumbai (a) On 24 Dec 2016, PM Narendra Modi laid the Foundation Stones of Mega Memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai Coast. (b) Approximate cost of the memorial is around Rs. 3600 crore. Leading Institute for Banking, Railway & SSC B – 61 A & B, Saheed Nagar & 1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar 1 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected] WEEKLY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR WEEK 50/52, 51/52 AND 52/52 (15 DEC 2016 – 31 DEC 2016) 8. Sasmita Malik selected for the 2016 AIFF Woman Player of the Year Award (a) Odisha’s Sasmita Malik chosen as AIFF’s Women Footballer of the year for 2016. (b) Jeje Lalpekhlua of Mizoram adjudged the 2016 Player of the Year by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). 9. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated National Institute of Securities Markets Campus at Patalganga (a) On 24 Dec 2016, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated a new campus of National Institute of Securities Market (NISM) at Patalganga, Navi Mumbai. (b) NISM is an educational initiatives of SEBI established in 2006. 10. MS Dhoni – The Untold Story and Sarabjit nominated for Oscars (a) Indian Biopics “MS Dhoni – The Untold Story” and “Sarabjit” have been nominated for the Oscars. (b) MS Dhoni – The Untold Story is directed by Neeraj Pandey and Omung Kumar is the Director of Sarabjit. 11. India received maximum FDI Inflows from Singapore in 2015-16 (a) As per the report released by Industry Chambers, India has received maximum FDI inflows from Singapore in 2015-16 followed by Mauritius, the US, the Netherlands and Japan. (b) India has attracted maximum of $ 13.69 bn FDI from Singapore in the Financial Year. 12. India’s first Cashless Bazar launched in Chhattisgarh (a) On 20 Dec 2016, Raman Singh, the CM of Chhattisgarh launched India’s first Cashless Bazaar in Raipur. (b) Over 900 Shops of the “Smart Bazaar” in Raipur provides Customers the facilities of Cashless Payments using POS, UPI and other Digital Systems. (c) According to Government Sources, Chhattisgarh has trained around 5 lakh people in Cashless Payments during a 10 days training programme. 13. Union Ministry launched “GARV-II” Mobile App to monitor Rural Electrification Data (a) On 20 Dec 2016, Union Minister of Power Piyush Goyal launched “GARV-II” Mobile Application with an aim to provide Village-wise and Habitation-wise Base Line Data on Household Electrification for all States. (b) It is an upgraded version of GARV Mobile App, which was launched in October 2015 for the efficient monitoring of Village Electrification Programme. (c) Digital Data of about 6 lakh villages and its status sanctioned under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana can be mapped with the Application to monitor the Progress. 14. China topped the Index of Global Wind Power Installed Capacity, India ranked 4th (a) On 19 Dec 2016, Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) released “Global Wind Report – Annual Market Updates” and ranked India as the 4th in the Global Wind Power Installed capacity Index with the total wind power generation capacity stands at 25,088 MW. (b) The Index has been topped by China with total wind power generation Capacity of 1,45,362 MW followed by USA and Germany in the second and third rank respectively. 15. Himachal Pradesh announced to attain 100 % Aadhaar Saturation (a) On 17 Dec 2016, Himachal Pradesh announced to achieve 100 % Aadhaar Saturation based on Population Data collected till 2015. (b) With this, Himachal Pradesh became the 6th State after Delhi, Telengana, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh to achieve saturation. (c) Chandigarh also became the first Union Territory for attending Aadhaar Saturation. 16. India’s first “Indian Institute of Skills” to be set up in Kanpur (a) On 19 Dec 2016, PM Narendra Modi unveiled first ever Indian Institute of Skills at Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. (b) The main objectives of the Institute is to empower India’s youth to be more employable and self- sustainable. (c) It is to note that, in March 2015, the Union Cabinet approved Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana to impart Skill Development Training to Youth at an estimated cost of Rs. 1500 crore. Leading Institute for Banking, Railway & SSC B – 61 A & B, Saheed Nagar & 1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar 2 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected] WEEKLY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR WEEK 50/52, 51/52 AND 52/52 (15 DEC 2016 – 31 DEC 2016) 17. VK Sharma appointed as new Chairman of LIC (a) Union Government appointed VK Sharma as the new Chairman of the LIC for a period of five years. (b) Prior to his new appointment, he was serving as Acting Chairman of the LIC since 16 September 2016 following the resignation of SK Roy, the former Chairman of LIC. 18. India and Kyrgyzstan signed Six Agreements to Boost Bilateral Cooperation (a) On 20 Dec 2016, India and Kyrgyzstan signed six agreements to boost bilateral cooperation among two countries including in the field of Tourism, Agriculture, Food Industries, Youth Development and Foreign Services etc. (b) These agreements were signed at New Delhi during the visit of Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambaye’s state visit to India. 19. SBI and BSNL jointly launched “State bank MobiCash” Mobile Wallet (a) On 18 Dec 2016, State Bank of India in association with BSNL launched “MobiCash” Mobile Application and Digital Wallet available in both Smart Phones and Feature Phones. (b) Maximum Balance limit per wallet for “NIL KYC” has been fixed at Rs. 10,000 and Monthly Transaction limit has been capped at Rs. 20,000. Similarly, daily and per transaction has been kept at Rs. 5,000 for Nil KYC Wallets. (c) On the other hand, MobiCash with KYC Complied Wallets, Maximum Balance limit per wallet has been fixed at Rs. 50,000 and Monthly Transaction for Fund Transfer limit has been capped at Rs. 25,000. Similarly, daily Transaction limit has been fixed Rs. 25,000 with per transaction has been kept at Rs. 5,000 for KYC Wallets. 20. Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat nominated as new Army Chief and Air Marshal BS Dhanoa as the new Chief of Indian Air Force (a) The Union Government appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat as the new chief of Army Staff replacing General Dalbir Singh Suhag effecting from 31 December 2016.