Monthly Current Affairs

Capsule December 2018

independence from Soviet Union on April 9, 1991.

Asia Pacific Summit-2018 begins in Kathmandu

The Asia Pacific Summit-2018 has started in UNESCO adds Jamaican reggae, Georgian Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The theme of two wrestling and Japanese rituals in coveted list of day Summit is "Addressing the Critical Challenges intangible heritage of Our Time: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity, and Universal Values". UN cultural agency UNESCO has  Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli said added six new to attain the goal of universal peace and elements viz. harmony, active partnership between Jamaican reggae, governments, private sector and diverse Georgian wrestling social groups is necessary. and Japanese ritual into its coveted list of “intangible  Former Prime Minister of , H.D. Deve heritage”. Gowda said that terrorism and climate change are the biggest challenges of today's  They were added at UNESCO’s world. He said terrorism makes no distinction Intergovernmental Committee for the between the borders, genders or religions and Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural magnitude of the threat multiplies when Heritage meeting held in Mauritius’ terrorism is state sponsored.  This coveted list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help International Day of Persons with Disabilities demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance. The annual observance of the International Day of  The list was established in 2008 when Persons with Disabilities Day was proclaimed in Convention for Safeguarding of the 1992, by a United Nations General Assembly Intangible Cultural Heritage came into effect. resolution. It includes important intangible cultural heritages worldwide.  International Day of Persons with Disabilities  It has two parts viz. Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and aims to promote the rights and well-being of List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need persons with disabilities in all spheres of of urgent Safeguarding. society and development and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, Salom Zurichishvili elected as first female economic and cultural life. President of Georgia  The theme for this year is Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring Salom Zurichishvili was elected as the first female inclusiveness and equality. President of Georgia. She will take charge on  The United Nations will launch the first-ever December 16, 2018. flagship report on disability and development "UN Flagship Report on Disability and  In recently concluded presidential election, Development 2018 - Realizing the SDGs by, Salom Jurabishvili defeated her rival for and with persons with disabilities". candidate Grigol Washadze. She received 59.5% of the votes, while Grigol Washadze 80th Session of the Policy Commission of the received 40.5% of the votes. World Customs Organization (WCO) to  It is a country located in Eurasia, its area is commence in 69,700 square kilometers. Its capital is located in Tbilissi. It had announced its The 80th Session of the Policy Commission of the World Bank has unveiled US $200 billion in climate World Customs Organization (WCO) will action investment for 2021 to 2025 to fight impact of commence in Mumbai. The Session is being climate change. The move coincides with organized by the WCO and hosted by the Central Conference of Parties-24 (COP24) United Nations Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), India. Climate Summit in Katowice, Poland.

 The Indian delegation will be headed by  The breakdown of US $200 billion will Chairman, CBIC, S Ramesh, along with comprise approximately 100 billion in direct Member PK Das and their team of senior finance from World Bank. officers.  Around one-third of remaining funding will  Some of the important topics to be discussed come from two World Bank Group agencies during the meeting include trade facilitation, and rest will be private capital mobilized by controlling illicit financial flow, performance the World Bank Group. measurement, challenges of small island  World Bank is an international financial economies, etc. institution that provides loans to countries of the world for capital projects. Its official goal Qatar to leave OPEC from January 2019 is reduction of poverty by providing loans to developing countries for capital programmes. Qatar has announced its decision to leave the  It is one of five institutions created at Breton Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Woods Conference in 1944. Its headquarters (OPEC) from January next year and focus more on is situated at Washington DC, US. the production of natural gas. EAM Swaraj co-chair India-UAE JCM for  Qatar has plans to increase its annual exports Economic and Technical Cooperation of liquified natural gas, LPG from 77 million tons of gas per year to 110 million tons.  Qatar is the world's largest exporter of LPG. Al-Kaabi said, Qatar also wants to raise its oil production from 4.8 million barrels of oil equivalent a day to 6.5 million barrels.

International conference on bears starts in Agra

More than 80 delegates from 11 countries are participating in an international conference on bears being organized in the Taj city for the first time. External Affairs Minister and  Hosted by Wildlife SOS, a conservation non- Foreign Minister of UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed profit, the conference from December 3-6 is Al Nahyan co-chaired 12th India-UAE Joint focused on bear care, wildlife conservation Commission Meeting for Economic and Technical and human wildlife conflict mitigation and is Cooperation. in collaboration with Bear Care Group from the US and Canada.  Sushma Swaraj also co-inaugurated the  The conference aims to share knowledge on Gandhi- Zayed digital museum along with principles of welfare of bears and other wild the Foreign Minister of UAE Sheikh animals in zoos, sanctuaries and rescue Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. centers.  India and the UAE enjoy strong bonds of friendship. With nearly 50 billion US Dollar World Bank unveils US $200 billion in climate bilateral trade, the two countries are one of action investment for 2021-25 the largest trade partners for each other and have made robust investments bilaterally.  UAE is the sixth-largest source of India's oil women's political empowerment in the imports and hosts a 33 lakh strong Indian country. community. Nepal PM greets member states of SAARC on the India and the Republic of Peru sign Co-operation occasion of 34th SAARC Charter Day and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters Prime Minister of Nepal K.P.Sharma Oli has greeted An Agreement between the Government of the member states of South Asian Association for Republic of India and the Government of the Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and people of South Republic of Peru on Co-operation and Mutual Asia on the occasion of 34th SAARC Charter Day. Assistance in Customs Matters was signed in Mumbai, on the side-lines of the 80th Session of the  SAARC was established with the signing of Policy Commission Meeting of the World Customs the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December Organizations (WCO). 1985. SAARC comprises of eight Member States- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, ,  The three day 80th Session of the Policy India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Commission Meeting of the WCO is being Lanka. organized by the Central Board of Customs  The objectives of the Association as outlined and Indirect Taxes (CBIC), Government of in the SAARC Charter are: to promote the India in Mumbai, India, from 3rd to 5th welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to December 2018. improve their quality of life; to accelerate  The Agreement was signed by Mr. S. economic growth, social progress and Ramesh, Chairman, CBIC on behalf of the cultural development in the region etc. Government of India and Mr. Rafael Garcia, as the National Superintendent of Customs 1st International Conference on Sustainable on behalf of the Government of the Republic Water Management at Mohali of Peru.

Women's representation in UAE's Federal National Council to be doubled

In a landmark decision, UAE has increased the representation of Emirati women in the Federal National Council to 50 per cent from the coming Parliamentary term. The first International Conference under the aegis of National Hydrology Project, Union Ministry of  A decree passed by the UAE President has Water Resources, River Development and Ganga directed the doubling of the current Rejuvenation is being organised by Bhakra Beas percentage of women's representation in the Management Board (BBMB) during 10-11 Federal National Council from 22.5 per cent December, 2018 at Indian School of Business (ISB), to 50 per cent in the coming parliamentary Mohali on the theme ‘Sustainable Water term. Management’.  The Federal National Council (FNC) is the consultative council, the parliamentary body  The theme of the Conference deals with of the UAE. It has 40 members. The current promoting integrated and sustainable FNC is the result of the latest elections in development and management of Water 2015. Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi is the Chairperson Resources. and the Speaker of the Federal National  The aim of the Conference is to foster the Council. participation of and dialogue between various  Dr. Al Qubaisi was also the first woman stakeholders, including governments, the elected to the FNC in 2006. Her journey in scientific and academic communities, so as to the FNC represents a historical moment for promote sustainable policies for water management, to create awareness of water-  Of the 58 member states, 48 voted in favor of related problems, motivate commitment at the resolution, while eight abstained and two the highest level for their solution and thus failed to vote. promote better management of water  In 1946, the UN Economic and Social resources at local, regional, national and Council established a Commission on Human international levels. Rights, under which a nine-member drafting committee, led by Eleanor Roosevelt, was EAM Sushma Swaraj holds talks with Iceland given the task of creating the charter on foreign minister human rights.  The drafting committee deliberated on the The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on day content of the charter in two sessions between held talks with visiting Iceland Foreign Minister in 1947 and 1948, finally completing it in May New . 1948.

 The leaders discussed enhancing cooperation European Union opens India’s first Jean Monnet in trade & investment, renewable energy, Centre of Excellence in especially geothermal energy, blue economy with a focus on fisheries, tourism and culture at the delegation-level talks.  Sushma Swaraj said that Iceland is a world leader in geothermal energy and cooperation in this sector could benefit our transition to greener energy mix and help in achieving our ambitious renewable energy targets.

International Anti-Corruption Day: December 9 European Union (EU) has established India’s first International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) is Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence (CoE) at observed every year across world on December 9 to Department of European Studies (DES) at Manipal raise public awareness of corruption and what people Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in New can do to fight it. Delhi.

 Observance of this day aims to promote and  Jean Monnet Center of Excellence in India- strengthen measures to prevent and combat EU Interdisciplinary Studies aims to corruption more efficiently and effectively. It strengthen and enhance the educational also highlights role of United Nations connect between India and EU. Convention against Corruption in combating  Jean Monnet was French political economist and preventing it. and diplomat. He was influential supporter of  International Anti-Corruption Day was European unity and is considered as one of instituted by UN General Assembly (UNGA) founding fathers of European Union. by passing resolution 58/4 of October 31, 2003. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to notify the Korean Won (WON) and International Human Rights Day: 10 December Turkish Lira (TRY) in the List of Currencies for Exchange Rate International Human Rights Day is observed on 10 December every year. On this day in 1948, the Under Section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962, the United Nations General Assembly — then Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) headquartered in Paris — ratified the Universal notifies the Rate of Exchange for the purpose of Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). conversion of foreign exchange to Indian Rupees (INR) and vice versa for assessment of imports & together providing up to 70 MW of electricity exports. and 300 MW of heat.  It is named after Russian Academician  Currently, CBIC notifies exchange rates for Mikhail Lomonosov. 20 currencies for the purpose of valuation of imported and exported goods and it has been Australia Recognizes West Jerusalem as Capital now decided to include 2 more currencies of Israel namely Korean Won (WON) & Turkish Lira (TRY) in the list of such currencies.  Bilateral Trade between India-South Korea grew to $16.36 Billion during 2017-18 from $12.59 Billion in 2016-17 and South Korea is ranked 8th amongst India’s trade partners in terms of imports during 2017-18.  Bilateral trade between India & Turkey also stood at US $ 7.2 Billion during 2017-18.

Global debt hits all-time high of USD 184 trillion: IMF On 15th December 2018, Australia recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. With this, Australia The International Monetary Fund said that global has become one of the few countries that officially debt has reached an all-time high of 184 trillion US recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and as dollars with the , and Japan the seat of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament). accounting for more than half of it.  This move is supposed to irk and  According to the IMF report, the amount in other countries. However, Australia has made nominal terms, is the equivalent of 225 per it clear that it will not move its embassy from cent of the world GDP in 2017. Tel Aviv until a peace settlement is reached  On average, the world's debt now exceeds between Israel and Palestine. 86,000 dollars per person, which is more  Yet, Australia will establish a defense and than two and half times the average income trade office in Jerusalem and start looking for per-capita. IMF said it is striking that the an embassy site. most indebted economies in the world are  West Jerusalem is that part of Jerusalem also the richer ones. which remained under Israeli control after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. A number of Akademik Lomonosov: World’s First Floating western countries such as the UK Nuclear Power Plant becomes operational acknowledge de facto Israeli authority, but withhold de jure recognition. Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov, the world’s first  Israel’s claim of sovereignty over West floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) has become Jerusalem is more widely accepted than its operational. The Russian atomic energy corporation claim over city of East Jerusalem. Rosatom announced that the plant has been brought to 10% of its capacity. : Ranil Wickremesinghe Sworn-in as Prime Minister  Akademik Lomonosov was constructed by Russian state nuclear power firm Rosatom. It Ending a 51-day political crisis in Sri Lanka, Ranil has length of 144 metres and width of 30 Wickremesinghe sworn in as the new Prime Minister metres. It has displacement of 21,500 tonnes of the island nation, following the resignation of and crew of 69 people. Mahinda Rajapaksa after he fails to garner majority  For power generation, it has been fitted with in the Parliament. two modified KLT-40 naval propulsion nuclear reactors (each of 3 5 MW capacity)  India welcomes the resolution of the political  Every year Merriam-Webster, the American situation in Sri Lanka. This is the fifth time dictionary-publishing company, publishes Wickremsinghe has been sworn in as Prime the list of Words of the Year. The ‘List of minister which is a record in Sri Lanka. Words of the Year’ contains the ten English  Ranil Wickremesinghe is a Sri Lankan language words of the year. The company politician and the incumbent Prime Minister started publishing the list in 2003 and have of Sri Lanka. He belongs to United National been publishing at the end of every year since Party and has served as its leader since 1994. then.  Merriam-Webster is a US company famous High Level Meeting Between Indian and for its dictionaries and also known for Indonesia Coast Guard reference books that it publishes.

Iceland ranked number one in WEF’s Global Gender Gap Index Report

Iceland has been ranked as number 1 in the WEF’s Gender Gap Index for the 10th consecutive year.

 It has been able to close about 85.8 percent of its overall gender gap. Norway (83.5 percent) Director General Indian Coast Guard (DG ICG) Shri came at the second spot, Sweden (82.2 G Rajendra Singh is hosting a seven-member percent) at the third, and Finland (82.1 delegation of the Indonesia Coast Guard percent) claimed the 4th spot in the rankings. (BAKAMLA) led by Chief of BAKAMLA Vice Admiral ATaufiqoerrochman in India from Point to Remember December 16 to 19 2018.  India has come at 108th position in the recently released Gender Gap Index 2018 by  India and Indonesia have established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and World Economic Forum. India was ranked at there is considerable emphasis from both the same position in 2017 rankings as well. sides to enhance bilateral defense  As per WEF report, India needs to get more cooperation including maritime security women into senior and professional roles to cooperation. make more improvement in the rankings.  During the 6thIndia-Indonesia Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting, International Migrants Day, 2018: 18th held in New Delhi on August 09, 2018 both December sides had agreed that Chief of BAKAMLA will visit India for a High Level Meeting The International Migrants Day 2018 observed on (HLM). 18th December 2018 across the world.  Consequently, a HLM between the Indian Coast Guard and BAKAMLA was held in  In accordance with the Resolution 55/93 of Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi the United Nations General Assembly December 17, 2018. (UNGA), the International Migrants Day is observed every year on 18 December. Merriam-Webster selects ‘Justice’ as its 2018 Word of the Year Points to Remember

Merriam-Webster has declared ‘Justice’ as the 2018  The theme of International Migrants Day Word of the Year. As per Merriam-Webster says, 2018 is “Migration with Dignity”. The reason the word ‘Justice’ is used in many phrases like racial for choosing this theme is that around 3,400 justice, social justice and obstruction of justice. migrants and refuge died worldwide in 2018. The United Nations have given a call for migration that is safe, regular and dignified United States has started to withdraw its troops from for everyone. Syria. President Donald Trump said they have defeated Islamic State group in Syria. 7th round of India – South Korea CEPA negotiations held  US troops have largely been stationed in the Kurdish region in northern Syria. A The 7th round of India – South Korea partnership with an alliance of Syrian Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Kurdish and Arab fighters, known as the (CEPA) negotiations were held in South Korea Syrian Democratic Forces, is credited with between11-13 December, 2018. playing a major role in the virtual elimination of the Islamic State terror group.  During this period a delegation from the  The group overran large swathes of Syria Indian sugar industry also visited South four years ago, imposing brutal rule on Korea. almost eight million people in the country  The Indian sugar industry delegation had and neighbouring Iraq. However, the terror detailed discussions with top representatives group has not disappeared entirely. of all the three sugar refineries of South  United States has about 2,000 troops on the Korea. ground in Syria.  The meetings were arranged by the Indian Embassy in Seoul. Three astronauts return from International Space Station Points to Remember Three astronauts have returned to Earth after more  South Korea imports around 15 lac tons of than six months aboard the International Space raw sugar annually and the Indian sugar Station. industry is making efforts to export raw sugar from India during 2018-19 sugar season.  A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying Serena Aunon-Chancellor of NASA, Sergey USA pulls out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Prokopyev from Russia and German Forces (INF) Treaty astronaut Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency landed on the snow-covered United States of America has decided to cancel the steppes in Kazakhstan. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty  The crew radioed that they were feeling fine. signed between Russian and the USA in 1987. Russian rescue teams in helicopters and all- terrain vehicles rushed to the landing site to  The treaty aimed to end arms race between extract the astronauts from the capsule USA and USSR during cold war and to charred by a fiery ride through the ensure some strategic stability in Europe. atmosphere.  The INF treaty banned the development,  The trio has spent 197 days in space. It was testing and possession of short and medium- the first mission for Aunon-Chancellor and range ground-launched nuclear missiles Prokopyev, while Gerst flew his second to a having ranged 'between' 500-5,000 km. total of 362 days in orbit, setting the ESA's flight duration record. Points to Remember “International Workshop on Integrated  The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 between Protection of Civilians (IPOC) in UN US President Ronald Reagan and USSR Peacekeeping Operations” in New Delhi President Mikhail Gorbachev. A Joint workshop between ICRC and CUNPK on US starts withdrawing troops from Syria “Integrated Protection on Civilians (IPOC)” in UN peacekeeping operations was conducted at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi from 17 – 21 Dec 2018. The seminar focused on Protection of Civilians (PoC), Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) and Child Protection (CP) issues on vulnerable populations and UN strategies to address the ongoing challenges.

 A total of 25 participants from 23 different countries and 10 Indian Officers attended the seminar to derive benefit from it and be available to the United Nations for deployment in field areas. The seminar was China has launched its first communication satellite conducted by some of the most experienced on 22nd December 2018 to offer broadband internet and seasoned speakers from across the globe services to users worldwide. including those from CUNPK and ICRC.  The communication satellite was launched US govt shutdown begins after no deal in using a Long March 11 carrier rocket which Congress over border wall took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in north-western China. It is CASIC’s The US government began a Christmas shutdown (China Aerospace Science and Industry after Congress adjourned without passing a federal Corporation) first satellite launch under spending bill or addressing President Donald China’s Hongyun project. Trump's demand for money to build a border wall.  The satellite aims to rival and other companies which have similar plans for  Operations for several key agencies ceased, providing Internet services worldwide. despite last-ditch talks that continued on Capitol Hill between White House officials Points to Remember and congressional leaders in both parties.  Trump has dug in on his demand for 5 billion  China started the Hongyun project in dollars for construction of a wall on the US September 2016. Under this project, China border with . plans to give broadband internet connectivity  The shutdown is the third this year and it to users all over the world by building a remained unclear how long it would last. space-based communications network. Trump expressed hope late Friday night that  It is to be noted that CASIC is the main it "will not last long," . contractor for Chinese space programs and a  About three-quarters of the government, state-owned company. including the military and the Department of Health and Human Services, is fully funded Gitega: New capital of Burundi until the end of September 2019.  While most critical security functions will be operational, the effects of the budget wrangling and uncertainty have cast an air of chaos over the capital, which is also reeling from the resignation announcement by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis.

China launched its First Satellite for Space-based Broadband Services

The government of Burundi has declared Gitega as the country’s new political capital on 22nd December 2018. Bujumbura, the previous capital of Burundi will serve as the economic capital of the ‘Hand-in-Hand’ counter-terrorism military country. exercises concluded in China

 The government has decided to hold future India and China concluded the ‘Hand-in-Hand’ Cabinet meetings in Gitega and to establish military exercise on 22nd December 2018 in China’s five ministries in Gitega from the start of Chengdu city. This was the 7th edition of the ‘Hand- 2019. Gitega’s population is around 30 000 in-Hand' military exercise. as compared to Bujumbura’s 1.2 million.  The previous edition of ‘Hand-in-Hand’ that Points to Remember was held in 2016 in Pune had focused on counter-terrorism drills in non-urban areas.  Burundi is a resource-poor, underdeveloped  This year’s exercise, which began on 11th landlocked African country which shares its December, focused on urban terrorism in borders with Rwanda in the north, which Indian and Chinese armies conducted in the east and south and the Democratic the drills while living and dining together to Republic of the Congo in the west. build up a sense of camaraderie.  Burundi was ranked as the world’s least happy nation in the World Happiness Report Points to Remember 2018.  The ‘Hand-in-Hand’ military exercise did not 50-day Countdown begins for Unani Day 2019 take place last year due to prevailing tensions between both sides after 73-day military The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine standoff at . (CCRUM), has launched a 50-day countdown for  The Indian contingent headed by Col Puneet Unani Day 2019. During the next 50 days, the Tomar took part in the exercises to foster CCRUM and its regional institutes / centres would closer ties between the two militaries which organize a host of activities and events as a run up to guard the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control Unani Day which is celebrated on 11th February (LAC). every year. 1st meeting of Follow-up Committee for  Unani Day is a great occasion for the Unani implementation of Trilateral Chabahar fraternity which is celebrated in a great way Agreement held throughout the country.  Unani Medicine has been playing an The first meeting of the Follow-up Committee for important role in public health especially in implementation of the Trilateral Chabahar combating NCDs, lifestyle disorders and Agreement between India, Afghanistan and Iran was various chronic diseases by providing cost held in the port city of Chabahar in Iran. effective Unani treatment and quality products for patient healthcare.  India Ports Global Limited company opened its office and took over operations at the at Points to Remember Chabahar on this occasion. External Affairs Ministry said in a release that Positive and  11th February, the birthday of Hakim Ajmal constructive discussions were held on full Khan, was adopted as Unani Day by the operationalization of the Trilateral Transit Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India in Agreement. 2016 in recognition of his contribution as an  They agreed on the routes for the trade and eminent Indian Unani physician. transit corridors between the three countries.  The Central Council for Research in Unani It was agreed to finalise at the earliest the Medicine (CCRUM) celebrated first Unani Protocol to harmonize transit, roads, Day in and second in New Delhi customs, and consular matters. in 2017 and 2018 respectively. President Donald Trump named Patrick came to power after the 2014 revolt against a Shanahan as Acting Defense Secretary pro-Russian leader, and outbreak of war in eastern Ukraine.  A total of 567 individuals and 75 Ukranian companies now face Russian economic sanctions, which put a freeze on any assets they have in Russia.

Points to Remember

 Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe known for its Orthodox churches, Black Sea

coastline and forested mountains. Its capital, President Donald Trump has announced that Kiev, features the gold-domed St. Sophia's Defence Secretary James Mattis will depart the Cathedral, with 11th-century mosaics and Pentagon by January 1. James Mattis’s Deputy, frescoes. Patrick Shanahan is appointed as the Acting Defence Secretary. Palestine to apply for full UN membership in January: Foreign Minister  Shanahan is a former Boeing executive. He became the Deputy Secretary of Defence in Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki declared 2017. Shanahan is a native of Washington that Palestine would apply for full state membership State like Mattis and he will be responsible at the United Nations in January. for managing the Pentagon’s colossal $700 billion defence budget.  Mr Al-Malki told the official radio station  As Deputy Secretary of Defence, Shanahan Voice of Palestine that he would file the focused on reforming the internal processes application to upgrade Palestine's status from of the Pentagon. an observer state to a full member state to the UN Security Council. Points to Remember  To secure full state membership, the Palestinians need support from at least nine  The Pentagon, is the headquarters of the out of the UNSC's 15 member states. United States Department of Defense. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase The Points to Remember Pentagon is often used as a metonym for the Department of Defense and its leadership.  Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a de jure sovereign state in Western Asia. Russia expanded economic sanctions on Ukraine  The State of Palestine is recognized by 136 UN members and since 2012 has a status of a Russia has expanded its economic sanctions on non-member observer state in the United Ukraine, adding more than 250 people and Nations – which implies recognition of businesses to a blacklist first announced at the start statehood. It is a member of the Arab League, of November. Organization of Islamic Cooperation, G77, and the International Olympic Committee  According to a decree by Prime Minister and other international bodies. Dmitri Medvedev in Moscow, 245 individuals and seven companies, mostly in World Bank AID for Rehabilitation of DAMS the energy and defence sectors, were sanctioned by Moscow.  Relations between Moscow and Kiev have deteriorated since a pro-Western government China’s navigation satellite system BeiDou starts providing global service

China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has started offering global service. It is touted as a rival to America’s Global Positioning System (GPS). Pakistan has become the first foreign nation to use the BeiDou system ending its reliance on GPS.

 China has named its navigation satellite Central Water Commission (CWC) maintains system after the Chinese term which means National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) as per ‘Big Dipper’. BeiDou-1 consisted of three information provided by State Govts/ Dam owners. satellites and was offering navigation As per NRLD, 209 dams are 100 years or more old. services mainly in China and neighbouring regions. It was decommissioned in 2012.  Government of India has started  The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite implementation of Dam Rehabilitation and System (IRNSS) named NAVIC is a regional Improvement Project (DRIP) with financial satellite navigation system that provides assistance from World Bank to rehabilitate accurate real-time positioning and timing 198 dam projects in 7 States viz. Kerala (28 services covering India and a region dam Projects), Madhya Pradesh (25 dam extending 1,500 km around it. Projects), Odisha (26 dam Projects), Karnataka (22 dam Projects), Uttarakhand India submits its Sixth National Report to the (Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited) (5 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) dam Projects), Jharkhand (Damodar Valley Corporation) (3 dam Projects) and Tamil The report was submitted online to the CBD Nadu (89 dam Projects). Secretariat by the Environment Minister, Dr Harsh  The original budget outlay was Rs.2100 Vardhan, during the inaugural session of the 13th Crore and was a six year Scheme with National Meeting of the State Biodiversity Boards scheduled closure in June 2018. The Project (SBBs) in New Delhi. has been extended for two more years with revised closure in June 2020. Also, the  Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Harsh Government of India has approved Revised Vardhan, said India is among the first five Cost of the Project for Rs. 3466 Crore in countries in the world, the first in Asia and October 2018. the first among the biodiversity-rich megadiverse countries to have submitted the Points to Remember report.  He said, India is on track to achieve the  The World Bank Group consists of five biodiversity targets at the national level and organizations: is also contributing significantly towards the  The International Bank for Reconstruction achievement of the global biodiversity and Development targets.  The International Development Association  An official release said India has been  The International Finance Corporation investing a huge amount on biodiversity  The Multilateral Investment Guarantee through several development schemes to the Agency tune of 70 thousand crore rupees per annum  The International Centre for Settlement of as against the estimated annual requirement Investment Disputes of over one lakh crores rupees. The country  The International Centre for Settlement of has nearly two-thirds of the population of Investment Disputes wild tigers in the world.  The population of the lion has risen from 177 in 1968 to over 520 in 2015 and elephants from 12 thousand in the 1970s to 30 thousand  It was organised by Gandhi Smriti and in 2015. Darshan Samiti, UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sheikh Hasina's party wins Bangladesh election Sustainable Development (MGIEP) and STEP (Standing Together to Enable Peace).  It was inaugurated by Krishna G Kulkarni, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.  It provided platform for young people of South Asia to further peace agenda in the region.

Cope India 2019: India, US air exercise to be held in

Awami League, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Indian Air Force (IAF) and US Air Force (USAF) Hasina wins the Parliamentary elections. will participate in bilateral exercise ‘COPE INDIA 2019’ – scheduled to be held between December 3  Hasina's ruling party Awami League won and 14, 2019 in West Bengal. 287 of the 298 seats for which results have been declared for the 300-strong parliament.  The bilateral flying training programme will While the main opposition alliance be held at two important airbases in West dominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Bengal – Air Force Station Arjan Singh at Party (BNP) secured just six seats. Panagarh.  The main opposition led by the Bangladesh  Cope India is series of international Air Force Nationalist Party rejected the election and exercises between Indian Air Force (IAF) called for a fresh vote in the country of 165 and United States Air Force (USAF) million people. conducted on and over Indian soil.  The exercise was repeated in 2005, 2006, Points to Remember 2009 and was last held in 2010.

 The Bangladesh Awami League, often eDrishti software launched to help Railways simply called the Awami League or BAL, is Minister keep track of punctuality of trains one of the two major political parties of Bangladesh. It is the country's current Indian Railways unveiled ‘eDrishti’ software that governing party, after winning a majority in will help Union Railway Minister to keep track of the 2014 election. punctuality of trains as well as freight and passenger earnings and much more from anywhere in the country.

 The software has been developed by Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) to help Minister keep track of all information South Asia Youth Peace Conference held in New related to Indian Railways, one of the world’s Delhi largest rail networks.  Using this software, Railway Minister can The three day South Asia Regional Youth Peace track any information with just a click of Conference was held in New Delhi as part 150th mouse — whether from his office or while on birth anniversary celebrations of father of nation the move. Mahatma Gandhi. Index of Eight Core Industries (Base: 2011- 12=100) October, 2018 The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the weight of items included in the Index of inaugurated the 13th edition of CII Agro Tech India- Industrial Production (IIP). 2018 (December 1, 2018) in Chandigarh.

 The combined Index of Eight Core Industries  The President said that through human stood at 134.8 in October, 2018, which was history, agriculture has moved ahead with 4.8 per cent higher as compared to the index cross-fertilisation. It is the ideal stage for of October, 2017. partnerships, and for mutual learning and  Its cumulative growth during April to sharing. Partnerships can be formed across October, 2018-19 was 5.4 per cent. sectors and across geographies.  Coal production : increased by 10.6 per cent  Pointing to the issue of pollution due to in October, 2018 over October, 2017. stubble burning, the President said that the  Crude Oil production : declined by 5.0 per farmers of Punjab and are a matter cent in October, 2018 over October, 2017. of pride for our country. They have never  The Natural Gas production : declined by 0.9 shied away from a challenge and a per cent in October, 2018 over October, responsibility to larger society. Today we are 2017. facing a problem related to disposal of crop  Petroleum Refinery production : increased by residue and of safe and clean removal of husk 1.3 per cent in October, 2018 over October, or stubble. 2017.  Fertilizers production : declined by 11.5 per FSSAI launches Heart Attack Rewind Campaign cent in October, 2018 over October, 2017. for elimination of industrially produced trans-fat  Steel production : increased by 2.2 per cent in October, 2018 over October, 2017.  Cement production : increased by 18.4 per cent in October, 2018 over October, 2017.  Electricity generation : increased by 11.4 per cent in October, 2018 over October, 2017.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to be chief guest at Republic Day celebrations 2019 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the (FSSAI) launched media campaign “Heart Attack Chief Guest at the 2019 Republic Day celebrations Rewind”, calling for elimination of industrially in New Delhi. produced trans-fat in the food supply.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, at a time  It will support FSSAI’s global target of when India is celebrating the 150th birth eliminating trans-fat in India by 2022, a year anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, it is our ahead of global target by World Health honour to welcome President Ramaphosa as Organization (WHO). It is in line with the Chief Guest for 2019 Republic day FSSAI’s objective to get Freedom from celebrations. ‘Trans Fat: India@75′.  Mr Modi said, Mahatma Gandhi's close links  Globally, trans-fat intake leads to more than with is well known. Mr Modi 500,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease also said that Mr Ramaphosa's visit will every year. Trans-fat are made by adding further cement business and people to people hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make ties between India and South Africa. them more solid and to increase shelf life of foods. President of India Inaugurates 13th Edition Of CII Agro Tech India – 2018 Government puts imports of gold dore in restricted category Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under The 24th meeting of Conference of Parties (COP-24) Ministry of Commerce and Industry has put imports to the United Nations Framework Convention on of gold dore in restricted category. This means, now, Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held at importer needs a license to import this commodity. Katowice, Poland from 2nd December 2018 to 14th December 2018. COP-24 is very significant as it is  It is semi-pure alloy of gold and silver which expected to finalise guidelines for implementation of is refined for further purification. Proportions the Paris Agreement adopted in 2016. of silver and gold can vary widely.  It usually created at site of a mine and then  India strongly supports the objective of the transported to refinery for further Paris Agreement to strengthen the global purification. Refined gold bars are response to the threat of climate change by manufactured from gold dore bar. India keeping the global temperature rise this imports about 900 tonnes of gold year century well below 2 degrees Celsius above making it world’s second-biggest gold pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to consumer after China. limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Union Home Minister inaugurates Hornbill  India made a voluntary pledge in 2009 to Festival in Kohima reduce the emission intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 20-25 per cent The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh from 2005 levels by 2020. inaugurated the hugely popular Hornbill Festival 2018 in Kohima, coinciding with the Formation Day India's first locomotive-less train 'Train 18' of Nagaland. crosses 180 kmph speed limit

 Hornbill Festival is a spectacular event India's first locomotive-less less train, known as showcasing the rich ancient culture and Train 18, breached the 180 kmph speed limit during civilization of the people of Nagaland. a test run.  It powerfully demonstrates the cultural diversity and civilizational unity of the  Train 18 is capable of touching 200 kmph people. provided the rest of Indian Railways' system  Government of India has established the such as tracks and signals permit. When this North Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre at indigenously designed train is made Dimapur, Nagaland. operational, it will become country's fastest  Nearly 50% of Nagaland population is below train. 25 years. It is they who will shape the future  With 16 coaches, the train will have the same of India including the future of passenger carrying capacity as that of the Nagaland. We have to create conditions Shatabdi Express. where their creative and entrepreneurial potential is unleashed to the optimum. Chennai: Vice President inaugurates Rainbow Children's Hospital Union Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to Lead The Indian Delegation At COP-24 Vice President, M has said that the private sector must ensure that the treatment provided by them is not only accessible but also affordable.

 After inaugurating Rainbow Children's Hospital, in Chennai, Vice President hoped that the Hospital would provide specialized but affordable care to children and contribute to the larger national mission of ensuring all infants survive, thrive and grow up into healthy active citizens of the New India.  Vice President called on the private sector to partner with the government in making healthcare affordable as well as accessible to the common man, particularly in the rural and remote parts of the country.

India to host G20 summit in 2022, 75th year of Independence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India The Centre and Asian Development Bank (ADB) will host the G20 summit in 2022, the year the have signed an 85 million dollar loan to improve skill country would celebrate the 75th anniversary of its development eco-system in Odisha. Independence.  An advanced skill training center, the World  The G20 is a grouping of the world’s 20 Skill Center (WSC) will also be established major economies. Modi made the in Bhubaneswar with the help of a loan. announcement at the closing ceremony of the  The Odisha Skill Development Project two-day summit held here in Argentina’s agreement was signed by Additional capital. Secretary in the Finance Ministry Sameer  Italy was to host the international forum in Kumar Khare and Country Director of 2022. Thanking Italy for allowing India to ADB’s India Resident Mission Kenichi play the host, Modi invited G20 leaders to Yokoyama in New Delhi. India in 2022, which also marks the 75th  The project will help over 1.5 lakh people anniversary of India’s Independence. learn skills in priority sectors, including  The G20 economies account for nearly 90% manufacturing, construction and services for of the gross world product, 80% of world formal employment. The Skill Centre will trade, two-thirds of the world population, and deliver eight training courses for 13 thousand approximately half of the world land area. students and provide training to five thousand teachers. PM Modi meets FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Buenos Aires Navy Day : 04 December

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met FIFA President The day is celebrated in honor of the maritime force's Gianni Infantino, who gifted him a football jersey role during the war with Pakistan in 1971 when with his name on its back. Indian warships attacked Karachi port and successfully hurt Pakistani operations in the western  During ''Yoga for Peace' event, Prime coast. Minister Modi had elaborated how football connected the two countries.  The Day is also celebrated to highlight the  He said, If Argentina is interested in India's role the Navy plays in securing the country's philosophy, art, music and dance, then there marine borders during peacetime and are millions of fans of the Argentine soccer carrying out humanitarian missions. stars in India.  Operation Trident, the codename for the  Maradona has now become a household naval attack on Karachi, is considered one of name and also used in many vernacular the most successful operations in the post- phrases. World War II era.

ADB, Centre sign 85 mn dollar loan to support Government forms Rajiv Kumar Committee to Odisha skill development project look at selling of OIL, ONGC fields to private companies Union Government has constituted six-member Ganga (NMCG) and the Centre for Ganga River committee to look at selling as many as 149 small Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) from 5-7 and marginal oil and gas fields of state-owned Oil December 2018 in New Delhi. and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL) to private and foreign companies to boost  The India Water Impact Summit is an annual domestic output. event where stakeholders get together to discuss, debate and develop model solutions  The committee will be headed by NITI for some of the biggest water related Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar and problems in the country. includes Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, Oil  Nearly 200 domestic and international Secretary M M Kutty, Economic Affairs participants from nearly 15 countries and Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, NITI more than 50 Central, State and Municipal Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and ONGC Government representatives are likely to Chairman and Managing Director Shashi participate in the summit. Shanker as members.  Constitution of this committee is follow up of Ministry of Railways Signs a MoU with Madame October 2018meeting called by Prime Tussauds Wax Museum to foster tourism in Delhi Minister Narendra Modi to review domestic NCR production profile of oil and gas and the roadmap for cutting import dependence by Ministry of Railways’ National Rail Museum 10% by 2022. (NRM) and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum join hands together to provide an amazing combo offer to Exercise SHINYUU Maitri-2018 with JASDF Delhi NCR tourists. Commences  As a part of the collaboration, a special The Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) is in discount of 35% on ticket prices will be India for a bilateral air exercise SHINYUU Maitri- offered to NRM visitors when they visit 18 with Indian Air Force from 03-07 Dec 18 at A F Madame Tussauds Museum. Station Agra.  Similarly, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum visitors will be getting an attractive discount  The theme of the exercise is joint of 30% on combo packages of NRM. Mobility/Humanitarian Assistance &  It is envisaged that this innovative, first time Disaster Relief (HADR) on Transport ever, public-private museum collaboration, aircraft. shall attract more tourists to both National  IAF is participating with An-32 and C-17 Rail Museum and Madame Tussauds Wax aircraft with aircrew & observers. The focus Museum. of the exercise is set for the IAF and JASDF crews to undertake Joint Mobility/ HADR India's heaviest satellite GSAT-11 successfully operations. launched by Ariane-5 rocket to provide better broadband services India Water Impact Summit-2018 to be held from 5th December

Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate India Water Impact Summit 2018, being jointly organized by the National Mission for Clean The ISRO launched GSAT-11 satellite and put it followed by Indonesian President Joko successfully in earth orbit from Kourou Launch Widodo with 12.2 million followers. Zone, French Guiana in South America. ISRO used  With 10 million followers, US President the Ariane-5 VA246 heavyweight rocket of Donald Trump is at the third position on Arianespace for this mission. photo-sharing platform.  The picture of newly married Indian cricket  It will operate from 74 degree east. The captain and his wife, actress GSAT-11 weighing 5,854 kg is the heaviest Anushka Sharma meeting the prime minister satellite built by ISRO. has become the most liked picture posted by  The GSAT-11 is the next generation high any world leader. throughput communication satellite that will play a vital role in providing broadband Nation pays homage to Dr B R Ambedkar on his services across the country. 63rd Maharparinirvan Diwas  It will also provide a platform to demonstrate new generation applications such as in flights Nation pays homage to Bharat Ratna Dr BR internet connectivity. The satellite is Ambedkar on his 63rd Mahaparinirvan Diwas. expected to have a lifespan of 15 years.  The Father of the Indian Constitution Dr DIPAM uses the Swachhta Pakhwada from 16th Ambedkar was a jurist, economist, politician to 30th November, 2018 to mobilize its Staff for and a social reformer who campaigned Voluntary Work against social discrimination of Dalits, women and labourers. The Department of Investment and Public Asset  He died on this day in 1956 and the day is Management (DIPAM), Ministry of Finance observed as Mahaparinirvan Diwas every observed Swachhta Pakhwada from 16th to 30th year. A number of functions are being November, 2018. organised all over the country to mark the occasion.  The Department started the Pakhwada with all the Officers/staff of the Department taking World Soil Day: 05 Decemeber Swachhta Pledge.  The Pledge was administered by the The day is observed annually on 5th December to Secretary, DIPAM, Shri Atanu Chakraborty. focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and  All the employees and officers of the advocating for the sustainable management of soil Department led by the Secretary, Shri Atanu resources. Chakraborty, cleaned a nearby Park in the CGO Complex as part of the cleanliness  The theme for this year's World Soil Day is - drive. 'Be the Solution to Soil Pollution'.  The Pakhwada concluded on 30th November,  According to the Food and Agriculture 2018 with a Swachhta Awareness March Organization of the United Nations, Soil undertaken by the officers/staff of the holds three times as much carbon as the Department. atmosphere and can help meet the challenges of a changing climate. PM Modi most followed world leader on  It said, 815 million people are food insecure Instagram and 2 billion people are nutritionally insecure, but it can be mitigated through soil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the 95 per cent of food comes from soil and 33 most popular global leader on social media platform per cent of the global soils are already Instagram with 14.8 million followers. degraded.

 According to a list published by online SpaceX successfully launches 64 small satellites platform twiplomacy, Mr Modi is closely using reusable Falcon 9 rocket. year 2018 will be conducted from 10 to 23 December 2018 at Chengdu, China.

 The aim of the exercise is to build and promote close relations between armies of both the countries and to enhance ability of joint exercise commander to take military contingents of both nations under command.  Exercise Hand-in-Hand 2018 will go a long

way to further cement relationship between Elon Musk-led SpaceX has successfully launched 64 both the nations and will act as a catalyst in small satellites into low Earth orbit onboard of its bringing bonhomie at grassroots levels reusable and preflown Falcon 9 rocket from between the armies of both countries. Vandenberg Air Force Base in . This has set new record in United States of launching satellites Annual Startup India Venture Capital Summit in single go. 2018 to be held in Goa

 Space X It is private US space agency. It was The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion founded by Elon Musk on May 6, 2002 who (DIPP) in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is its current CEO of Space X. and the Government of Goa, is hosting the annual  Its main purpose for its establishment was to Startup India Venture Capital Summit in Goa on reduce cost of space transport and establish December 07, 2018. human habitation on Mars house. Space X has developed series of Falcon Rockets.  The theme of the Summit is ‘Mobilizing Global Capital for Innovation in India.’ The Cabinet approves MoU between India and event will showcase the Indian startup Tajkistan on Cooperation on Peaceful uses of opportunity for funds from around the world. Space Technology for Development The summit aims to attract more global capital into the country. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri  Government of Goa is focused on building a Narendra Modi has been apprised of Memorandum vibrant startup ecosystem in the state. It aims of Understanding (MoU) between India andTajkistan to make the state, one of the most preferred on Cooperation on Peaceful uses of Space start-up destinations in India, and ensure that Technology for Development. Goa features in the top 25 start-up destinations in Asia by 2025.  The MoU was signed on 8th October 2018 at Dushanbe, Tajkistan. Cabinet approves implementation of  The MoU would lead to development of joint Shahpurkandi Dam (National Project) on river activity in the field of application of space Ravi in Punjab technologies for the benefit of humanity. It will lead to setting up of a Joint Working The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Group, which will further work out the plan Narendra Modi has approved implementation of of action including the time-frame and the Shahpurkandi Dam Project, Punjab on river means of implementing the provisions of this Ravi. For this, Central Assistance of Rs. 485.38 cr Agreement. (for irrigation component) would be provided over five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23. Sino-India Joint Exercise Hand-in-Hand 2018  Implementation of this project would help Exercise Hand-in-Hand is conducted annually as part minimising some of the water of the River of military diplomacy and interaction between Ravi which at present is going waste through armies of India and China. The joint exercise for the the MadhopurHeadworks downstream to Pakistan.  On completion of the project an Irrigation  The 10th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY Potential of 5,000 ha in Punjab State and will be conducted at/off Visakhapatnam from 32,173 ha in J&K State would be created. 09 to 16 December 2018. The primary aim of  The project would be implemented by Govt. the exercise is to increase inter-operability of Punjab with Central Assistance of Rs. amongst the two navies, develop common 485.38 crore The project would be completed understanding and procedures for maritime by June 2022. security operations.  Initiated in 2003, INDRA NAVY exercise World Bank assisted project SMART launched in has matured over the years with increase in Maharashtra scope, complexity and level of participation.

Maharashtra Government has launched World Bank Regional Conference on ‘Good Governance- assisted State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Focus on Aspirational Districts’ to begin in Rural Transformation (SMART) Project to transform Thiruvananthapuram rural Maharashtra. This project aims to revamp agricultural value chains, with special focus on The Department of Administrative Reforms and marginal farmers across 1,000 villages. Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of  This initiative is in line with Union India in association with Government of Kerala is Government’s step towards doubling organizing a Regional Conference on December 10- farmers’ income by 2022. The launch of 11, 2018 at Thiruvananthapuram on ‘Good project which was followed by signing of 50 Governance - Focus on Aspirational Districts’. memorandum of understandings (MoUs) between big corporates and farmer's producer  The Governor of Kerala Shri Justice (Retd.) groups. P. Sathasivam will inaugurate the 2-day  The project will be implemented in 10,000 event. The Chief Secretary, Government of villages comprising 10,000 gram panchayats Kerala, Shri Tom Jose and Shri K V Eapen, which were shortlisted by state government Secretary, D/o Administrative Reforms & based on multiple parameters of socio- Public Grievances, Government of India will economic backwardness in terms of address the Inaugural Session and development and growth. Valedictory Session.

Russian Federation Navy Ships arrive Food and Agriculture organisation (FAO) Visakhapatnam to participate in INDRA NAVY Council approves India’s proposal to observe an 2018 International Year of Millets in 2023

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri has said that the 160th session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Council, currently underway in Rome, approved India’s proposal to observe an International Year of Millets in 2023. ]

 On behalf of all countrymen the minister Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) Ships conveyed his gratitude to the countries who Varyag, Admiral Panteleyev and Boris Butoma voiced their support. arrived Visakhapatnam to participate in INDRA  He added that this will enhance global NAVY, the bilateral maritime exercise between awareness to bring back these nutri-cereals to Indian Navy and Russian Federation Navy exercise the plate, for food and nutrition security and on 09 Dec 18. hence increase production for resilience to challenges posed globally by climate change.  In addition, the FAO Council also approved India’s membership to the Executive Board of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) for 2020 and 2021 for which the Minister expressed his deepest gratitude to other member countries for their support.

Ex Aviaindra 2018 Commences on 10 Dec 2018

Ex AVIAINDRA, a service specific exercise between Indian Air Force and Russian Federation It is a Regional Level Marine Oil Pollution Response Aerospace Force (RFSAF), is planned at Air Force Exercise conducted by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Station Jodhpur from 10-21 Dec 2018. recently at sea off Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar (A&B) Islands.  The inaugural IAF-RFSAF Ex AVIAINDRA was conducted in 2014. AVIAINDRA-2018  The objective of exercise was to ascertain is the second in the series of bilateral joint preparedness of IGC, resource agencies and exercise between IAF-RFSAF. The exercise other stakeholders in responding to major oil is planned in two phases. The exercise is spill in line with provisions of National Oil unique wherein the foreign participant does Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP). not bring its air assets.  Indian Coast Guard (ICG) under Ministry of  In Russia, the IAF pilots flew alongside their Defense is responsible for marine Russian counterparts in RFSAF aircraft at environment protection in maritime zones of Lipetsk from 17 Sep 18 to 28 Sep 18. In India, India and is coordinating authority for the RFSAF pilots will fly alongside their response to oil spills in Indian waters. Indian counterparts in the IAF aircraft, which  It has drawn up National Oil Spill Disaster are common to both Air Forces. Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP) and has established three pollution response centres Kerala becomes first state to have 4 international at Mumbai, Chennai and Port Blair. airports resigns from Union Council Kerala has become first state in the country to have of ministers four international airports with the inauguration of Kannur airport. Upendra Kushwaha, leader of the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), announced his resignation  The first commercial flight from this airport from the Union Council of ministers and his party’s Air India Express flight IX 715 with 180 exit from the NDA. He was Minister of State for passengers on board to Abu Dhabi was Human Resource Development. flagged off recently.  The other three international airports are  The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) Trivandrum International Airport, Cochin chief is likely to quit the BJP-led NDA International Airport and Calicut alliance as he is not happy with the BJP over International Airport. its seat sharing formula in for the 2019  Kannur international airport is built on a elections. public-private partnership (PPP) model. It is  Kushwaha has been critical of the BJP since spread across 2,000 acres of area It will help it announced that the saffron party and the non-resident Keralites (NRKs). Janata Dal-United (JD-U) would contest 17 seats each in Bihar. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted Clean Sea-  Since the seat sharing announcement, 2018 exercise Kushwaha has been critical of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. CCEA approves strategic sale of Rural Electrification Corporation

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its in principle approval for strategic sale of Central Government’s existing 52.63% of total paid up equity shareholding in Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) to Power Finance Corporation (PFC) along with transfer of management control.

Both REC and PFC are Central Public Sector Enterprises under the Ministry of Power. The indigenously built Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Agni-5 has been test-fired successfully from  Power Finance Corporation is public Abdul Kalam island under Chandipur Interim Test Infrastructure finance company in India’s Range. power sector. It finances and promotes rural electrification projects across India.  This is the fourth successful test of this  It provides loans to Central/ State Sector missile. Previously the test of Agni 4 was Power Utilities, State Electricity Boards, unsuccessful. Having 17 meters length and 2 Rural Electric Cooperatives, NGOs and meters diameter the missile can hit the target Private Power Developers. from a distance of 5 thousand kilometres.  It was founded in July 1969 and is  It can carry both nuclear and traditional headquartered in New Delhi. weapons. The first test was conducted in 2012 from ITR Chandipur in Balasore Major Ports register positive growth of 4.83% district.

The major ports in India have recorded a growth of RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigns 4.83% and together handled 461.21Million Tonnes of cargo during the period April to November, 2018 Reserve Bank Governor Urjit Patel stepped down as against 439.96 Million Tonnes handled during the from his post citing personal reasons. corresponding period of previous year.  Dr. Patel succeeded Raghuram Rajan as the  For the period from April- November 2018, 24th Governor of RBI in September 2016. He Nine Ports (incl. Haldia), Paradip, had been appointed for a three-year term. Visakhapatnam, Kamarajar, Chennai,  He said it has been his privilege and honour Cochin, New Mangalore, JNPT and to serve in the Reserve Bank of India in Deendayal have registered positive growth in various capacities over the years. traffic.  The highest growth was registered by Shi Yomi becomes 23rd district of Arunachal Kamarajar Port (20.15%), followed by Pradesh Cochin (11.73%), Paradip (9.73%), Kolkata [inc. Haldia] (8.52%) and Deendayal( Shi Yomi formally became 23rd district of 7.37%). after it was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pema Khandu in presence of Union India successfully test-fires Inter-Continental Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju. Ballistic Missile Agni-5  It was created by bifurcating West Siang district with its headquarters at Tato. It will have four administrative units namely Mechuka, Tato, Pidi and Manigong.  Two more districts Pakke-Kesang and Lepa To connect with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Rada will be formally inaugurated in the state an online portal “ENSURE” has been launched within taking the total to 25.  In August 2018, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative assembly has passed Arunachal Pradesh Re-Organisation of Districts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for creation of three new districts, Pakke-Kesang, Lepa Rada and Shi Yomi in the state.

Global Nutrition Report, 2018

India has the highest number of ‘stunted’ children in the world and nearly a third of all stunted children Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare worldwide are to be found in India as per the recently Shri Radha Mohan Singh launched a portal released WHO’s Global Nutrition Report, 2018. ENSURE- National Livestock Mission-EDEG developed by NABARD and operated under the  Stunting among children aged under five has Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & fallen from 32.6 per cent in 2000 to 22.2 per Fisheries. cent in 2017.  The Global Nutrition Report is the world’s  Under the Mission’s component called leading report on the state of global nutrition. Entrepreneurship Development and The report is delivered by an Independent Employment Generation (EDEG), subsidy Expert Group and guided at a strategic level payment for activities related to poultry, by a Stakeholder Group, whose members also small ruminants, pigs etc. through Direct review the Report. Benefit Transfer (DBT) goes directly to the beneficiary’s account. 39th GCC summit and Riyadh declaration  In order to make it better, simpler and transparent, the NABARD has developed an The 39th session of the GCC summit was held online portal “ENSURE” so that the recently in Riyadh. At the end of the summit, the information related to beneficiary and council issued the ‘Riyadh Declaration’, which processing of application can be made readily included 72 items covering matters related to the available. Gulf countries, the region and the world. PM Modi to inaugurate Partners’ Forum 2018  The 40th session of the GCC summit will be held in the UAE. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will  The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a inaugurate the fourth Partners’ Forum on 12th political and economic alliance of six December at New Delhi. countries in the Arabian Peninsula: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the  The Government of India, in association with United Arab Emirates. the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and  Established in 1981, the GCC promotes Child Health (PMNCH), is hosting a two-day economic, security, cultural and social international conference on 12th and 13th cooperation between the six states and holds December 2018, bringing together about a summit every year to discuss cooperation 1500 participants from across 85 countries to and regional affairs. improve the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents.

 This is the fourth in a series of global high- level multi-country, multi-stakeholder events

aimed at sustaining global momentum for body, constituted with the prime and sole aim issues related to health of women, children to analyse all critical issues, economic or and adolescents. otherwise, referred to it by the prime minister and advising him thereon. The Government of India and ADB sign a $31  It is mandate to give advice to prime minister Million Loan Agreement to develop Tourism and on economic matters such as inflation, GDP boost Jobs in Tamil Nadu changes, export-import changes, creating supporting environment for increased trade and commerce.

Home Ministry launchesTwitter account to spread awareness about cybercrimes

With an objective of spreading awareness about cybercrimes and precautions to be taken, the Ministry of Home Affairs has launched @CyberDost. The Twitter handles - @CyberDost - is aimed at enhancing people's basic knowledge about cybercrimes and precautions to be taken for prevention. The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a Loan Agreement  The Twitter handle is educating people about for $31 million to build-up the State Tourism various channels through which complaints Industry and boost visitor arrivals. about cybercrimes can be filed and makes people aware of their duties regarding misuse  The Project will support the conservation and of cyber space by some people in the country. restoration of eight heritage monuments, one  The handle is also to mitigate possibilities of museum, three temples, and a pond. It will disruption in normal business activities or build various facilities at the sites, including losses due to cybercrimes. information centers, rest centers, and toilet blocks, with facilities served by solar- FAME-India Scheme powered lighting and energy efficient lighting. In order to promote manufacturing of electric and  The total cost of the Project is $44.04 million, hybrid vehicle technology and to ensure sustainable of which the Government will provide $13.04 growth of the same, Department of Heavy Industry million. The estimated completion date is is implementing FAME-India Scheme- Phase-I June 2020. [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India] from 1st April 2015. Economist Surjit Bhalla resigns from EAC-PM  The scheme, which was initially up to 31st Economist Surjit S Bhalla has resigned from his April 2017, has been extended upto 31st position as the part-time Member of the Economic March, 2019 or till Notification of FAME-II, Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. whichever is earlier.  The Phase-II of the Faster Adoption and  The Council is headed by NITI Aayog Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric member Bibek Debroy. Other part-time Vehicles (FAME-India) Scheme proposes to members on the Council include economists give a push to electric vehicles (EVs) in Rathin Roy, Ashima Goyal and former public transport and seeks to encourage bureaucrat Ratan Watal. adoption of EVs by way of market creation  PMEAC is a non-constitutional and non- and demand aggregation. statutory, non-permanent and independent  Total outlay of Phase-I of the FAME-India him of her upcoming mountaineering Scheme has been enhanced from Rs. 795 expedition to Antarctica. Crore to Rs. 895 Crore.  had earlier conquered the highest peaks in five continents, becoming Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle' inducted into the first female Divyang to achieve the feat. Navy Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has approved registration of record 15 new breeds of livestock and poultry this year

ICAR has approved registration of record 15 new breeds of livestock and poultry this year alone taking the total to 40 during 2014-18.

 Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh at a ceremony for awarding breed registration The Indian Navy inducted the 'Deep Submergence certificates to the stakeholders said that the Rescue Vehicle' into service at the Western Naval 15 newly registered breeds include two cattle Command in Mumbai. breeds - Ladakhi (J&K) and Konkan Kapila (Maharashtra & Goa); three buffalo breeds -  Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba Luit ( & Manipur), Bargur (Tamil inducted the vehicle into the Navy. Nadu), Chhattisgarhi (Chhattisgarh); one  The DSRV has the capability to rescue sheep breed – Panchali (Gujarat); six goat personnel from a distressed submarine up to breeds – Kahmi (Gujarat), Rohilkhandi (UP), a depth of 650 metre and it is the latest in Assam Hill (Assam & Meghalaya), Bidri terms of technology and capabilities. (Karnataka), Nandidurga (Karnataka),  The vehicle can rescue as many as 14 people Bhakarwali (J&K); one pig breed – Ghurrah in one dive. (UP); one donkey breed – Halari (Gujarat) and one chicken breed – Uttara PM hands over tricolour to Arunima Sinha on her (Uttarakhand). expedition to Mount Vinson, Antarctica  India have about 15% of total cattle, 57% of total buffalo, 17% of goat, 7% of sheep and 4.5% of chicken of the world.

The 18th meeting of the India-Russia Inter- Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC)

The 18thmeeting of the India-Russia Inter- Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) was held in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Smt Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of Defense of the tricolour flag to Arunima Sinha, marking the Russian Federation General Sergei Shoigu. beginning of her expedition to Mount Vinson, Antarctica.  With a view to enhancing military-to- military engagement and rationalizing the  Arunima Sinha is the first female Divyang to functioning of the Commission, a revised climb Mount Everest. She called on the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Prime Minister at New Delhi, and apprised restructuring the existing IRIGC-MTC to the IRIGC on Military and Military Technical Cooperation was also signed by the two 3rd Edition of Women Transforming India Ministers. Awards to be Organized by NITI Aayog  The inaugural meeting of the IRIGC-MTC is proposed to be held in Russia in 2019 on mutually convenient dates.

President Kovind dedicates ACARE project to people of Myanmar

President Ram Nath Kovind dedicates - India assisted project 'Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research & Education' - to the people of Myanmar; project focuses on Genetics, Post-Harvest Third edition of Women Transforming India Awards Technology, Participatory Knowledge Management to be organized by Government think- tank NITI and capacity building for farmers in Myanmar. Aayog on 16th December.

 President is on a state visit to Myanmar.  On this occasion NITI Aayog will also launch  It was established as per an MOU between the upgraded portal of Women both the countries for research and capacity Entrepreneurship Platform. Vice President M building of Myanmar students and scientists. Venkaiah Naidu will present the awards to The programme is run by IARI. the women.  The President also dedicated the Rice Bio-  The theme for this year awards is – ‘Women Park to the people of Myanmar. and Entrepreneurship’ and 15 winners have been selected. Revised Guidelines for Ground Water  The awards were launched in 2016 to Extraction Notified, to be Effective From 1st recognize the exceptional women who are June 2019 working hard and making difference in lives of others. In order to comply with various directions of the  It invites the stories of women entrepreneurs Honorable NGT and to address various from the country, who are doing innovative shortcomings in the existing guidelines of ground work to address the key development water extraction, the Central Ground Water challenges and impacting the communities. Authority, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation on 12th Jammu and Kashmir passes the law on Sexual December 2018 notified revised guidelines for Exploitation ground water extraction which will be effective from 1st June 2019. The revised guidelines aim to The state assembly of Jammu and Kashmir has ensure a more robust ground water regulatory passed law to ban sexual extortion of woman in mechanism in the country. offices and became the first state in the country to amend law on Sextortion.  One of the important features of the revised guidelines is the introduction of the concept  The State Administrative Council headed by of Water Conservation Fee (WCF). Governor Satya Pal Malik has given approval  The higher WCF will discourage setting up for Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) of new industries in over-exploited and Bill, 2018. critical areas as well as act as a deterrent to  The new law amended section 154, 161 and large scale ground water extraction by schedule of Criminal Procedure Code and industries, especially in over-exploited and Section 53 of Evidence Act to bring the critical areas. Sextortion as a similar offence prescribed under RPC.  New Section E has been added to Section 354 National Medical Devices Promotion Council to of Ranbir Penal Code that makes sexual be set up under DIPP harassment a criminal offence with three years of imprisonment.  Indian Penal code is not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir and in place of IPC, a similar criminal law Ranbir Penal Code applies in the state. The code was introduced by Ranbir Singh during the Dogra Dynasty and it came in effect from 1932. The provision of code was prepared by Thomas Babington Macaulay.

Internet Facility for Post Office Savings Bank Customers Launched To give a fillip to the medical device sector, which is India Post has started internet facility of the a sunrise sector, Union Minister of Commerce and customers of Post office savings bank account. The Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, facility was launched by Union Minister for announced setting up of a National Medical Devices Communication (independent charge) Manoj Sinha Promotion Council under the Department of at National Media Centre, New Delhi. Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Commerce  Revamped version of Indian Post website and Minister was spoke on the occasion of 4th WHO e-commerce portal for rural artisans was also Global Forum on Medical Devices, at Andhra launched at event. Pradesh Medtech Zone, in Vishakhapatnam.  India Post a central postal system of was founded on 1st April 1854. It works under the  The Medical Devices Industry (MDI) plays a Ministry of Communication of the critical role in the healthcare ecosystem and Government of India. is indispensable to achieve the goal of health  The post al system of India is one of the for all citizens of the country. widely distributed networks in the world.  The manufacturing and trade in MDI is India is divided into 23 postal circles headed growing steadily which includes a wide range by Chief Postmaster. of products. Although the industry has been growing in double digits but is predominantly Shripad Yesso Naik and Dr. Jitendra Singh lay import-driven with imports accounting for foundation stone of Institute of High Altitude over 65% of the domestic market. Medicinal Plants (IHAMP) at Bhaderwah in J&K. India’s first Railway University in Vadodara dedicated to Nation The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik and Union On 15 December 2018, Union Railways Minister Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Piyush Goyal has dedicated India’s first railway Dr. Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone of university to the Nation in Vadodara. The Railway Institute of High Altitude Medicinal Plants (IHAMP) University will be first of its kind institution in the at Bhaderwah in District Doda in J&K. nation and the third in the world after Russia and China.  The estimated cost of this prestigious project is Rs. 100 crore that is to be established in the  The Railways Ministry has sanctioned Rs lush green valleys of charming region of 421 crore for the NRTI and its curriculum Bhaderwah development for the next five years. A greenfield campus is also under development for the university.  Indian Railways has identified a 110-acre development taking place in other parts of the plot of land for the NRTI campus at Pipaliya country. village in Waghodiya Taluka, District  Youth and children hit by militancy and from Vadodara. weaker sections of the society have been identified for the purpose. Punjab Assembly passed resolution to seek 33%  It is organized by the Department of J&K reservation for women in Parliament Affairs, MHA in association with J&K State Rehabilitation Council, Social Welfare Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a Department. resolution for seeking 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State legislative assembly. 47th Anniversary of Vijay Diwas

 The resolution was moved by Chief Minister India Captain Amarinder Singh, urging the Centre celebrated to enact it. The bill would ensure the Vijay Diwas representation of men and women equally in on 16th national electoral process. December  The women Reservation Bill will ensure the 2018 marking balanced representation of women in the 47th electoral and decision-making process. The anniversary of bill would reserve 180 seats out of 543 seats its victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. in and 1370 seats out of 4109 seats in State Assembly.  On this occasion, the Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with the heads of Cyclonic Storm Phethai the three armed forces paid tributes to the martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate Cyclonic Storm Phethai is the sixth named cyclone in New Delhi. of 2018 North Indian Ocean Cyclone season. The  Vijay Diwas is celebrated on every 16th previous five named cyclones are Sagar, Mekunu, December in India. It marks the victory of Luban, Titli and Gaza. Indian armed forces over Pakistan in the war of Independence of Bangladesh from  Cyclone Pethai has emerged as a deep Pakistan in 1971. depression in the Bay of Bengal around 900  At the end of the 1971 war, the Pakistani kms off Chennai on 15 December 2018. Army unilaterally and unconditionally  It was expected to bring heavy rainfalls in the surrendered resulting in the independence of coastal areas of north Tamil Nadu, Andhra East Pakistan, which was called as Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Bangladesh.  On Vijay Diwas, every year, Citizens, senior Union Home Minister meets J&K school children officials, students & war veterans pay their under Youth Exchange Programme ‘Watan ko homage and remember the sacrifices of the Jano’ soldiers.

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh met a PM Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated 175 Km of group of school children from Jammu and Kashmir sewerage network in Prayagraj under the Youth Exchange Programme “Watan ko Jano”. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) furthered its effort to reduce pollution in river Ganga  The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has before Kumbha when Prime Minister Shri Narendra been organising programme “Watan ko Jano” Modi inaugurated projects in Prayagraj including to give exposure to the youth and children of 175 KM of sewerage network. J&K about the cultural and socioeconomic  The projects will now carry 7.8 Cr litres having parental income up to Rs.1.5 lakh per sewage water per day to existing STPs annum, with the objective to arrest their (Sewage Treatment Plants) at Salori, Kodra dropping out in class VIII and encourage & Ponghat for treatment which earlier ended them to continue education at secondary and up in Ganga. higher secondary stage up to class XII. 1,  Shri Narendra Modi also laid the foundation 00,000 fresh scholarships are provided per stone for two projects in the trans annum. The rate of scholarship is Rs.12, Ganga/Yamuna area under One City-One 000/- per annum. Operator scheme with sanctioned cost of Rs.  (ii) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for 767.59 Cr. College and University Students: Under the  The project is based on Hybrid Annuity based scheme, financial assistance is provided to PPP mode that includes Operations and those eligible meritorious students who are Maintenance of all the sewerage above 80th percentile of successful infrastructure for 15 years. candidates in the relevant stream from a particular Board of Examination, in class XII Hubble Space Telescope discovers planet and having family income of less than Rs. 8 vanishing at record speed Lakhs per annum. 82000 fresh scholarships are provided per year (41000 for boys and Astronomers 41000 for girls) and have been divided using the amongst the State Education Boards based on Hubble Space the State’s population in the age group of 18- Telescope 25 years. The rate of scholarship is Rs. have 10,000/- per annum for the first three years discovered a and Rs. 20,000/- per annum for the fourth and planet GJ fifth year. 3470b roughly  (iii) Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu the size of Neptune, evaporating at a rate 100 times and Kashmir: The scheme aims to encourage faster than a previously identified exoplanet of the youth from Jammu & Kashmir to take similar size. advantage of the educational institutions outside the state, which would provide them  The planet is 96 light-years away and circles an opportunity, to interact with their a red dwarf star in the general direction of the counterpart from the rest of the country, constellation Cancer. thereby be part of the mainstream. 5000 fresh  The speed and distance at which planets orbit scholarships are provided per annum. their respective blazing stars can determine Scholarship is provided towards Tuition fee the rate of evaporation of a planet. The and Maintenance allowance. The rate of researchers said GJ 3470b's lower density scholarship towards tuition fee for General makes it unable to gravitationally hang on to Degree course is Rs.30,000 per annum, for the heated atmosphere. Engineering course is Rs.1.25 Lakhs per  Hubble found that exoplanet GJ 3470b had annum and for Medical studies is Rs.3.0 lost significantly more mass. Lakhs per annum.

Various Scholarship Schemes of HRD Ministry India’s first military flight using Blended Bio-Jet for Students Fuel Flown by IAF

The Ministry of Human Resource Development is On 17 December 2018, Experimental Test Pilots and implementing the following important scholarship Test Engineer from IAF’s premier testing schemes: establishment ASTE, flew India’s first military flight using blended bio-jet fuel on the An-32 transport  National Means-Cum Merit Scholarship aircraft.The project is a combined effort of IAF, Scheme: Under the scheme, scholarship is DRDO, Directorate General Aeronautical Quality awarded to the eligible meritorious students, Assurance (DGAQA) and CSIR-Indian Institute of Union Cabinet approves free LPG connections to Petroleum. all poor families

 On 27 July 2018, Air Chief Marshal BS Union Cabinet clears expanding Pradhan Mantri Dhanoa, Chief of Air Staff had announced Ujjwala Yojana to provide free LPG connections to IAF’s intention to promote bio jet fuels. all poor families. Addressing the CII-SIDM seminar on promoting indigenized technologies, the  The government extended Ujjwala Yojana of CAS had stated that IAF intended to fly the providing free cooking gas (LPG) An-32 with 10% bio jet fuel on 26 Jan 2019 connections to all poor households. Republic Day fly-past.  The scheme, launched in 2016, originally  Indian Air Force carried out extensive engine targeted giving LPG connections to women tests on the ground. This is now followed by members of below the poverty line (BPL) flight trials using 10% bio jet blended ATF. households. This fuel is made from Jatropha oil sourced  The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs from Chhattisgarh Biodiesel Development (CCEA) approved expanding the scope of Authority (CBDA) and then processed at Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to cover CSIR-IIP, Dehradun. IAF intends to fly the poor families not having LPG connections An-32 transport aircraft using biojet fuel on and not covered under the existing 26 January 2019, in the Republic Day fly- beneficiary categories. past. Issue of commemorative Postage Stamp on 10 monuments adopted under the ‘Adopt A Rajkumar Shukla Heritage’ project Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for The ‘Adopt A Communications and Minister of State for Railways Heritage: Apni Shri Manoj Sinha released a Commemorative Dharohar, Apni Postage Stamp on Rajkumar Shukla at New Delhi in Pehchaan’, the presence of Dr. , MP (West scheme Champaran) and Sh. Satish Chandra Dubey, launched on MP(Valmikinagar). 27th September, 2017 is a  In drawing the attention of Mahatma Gandhi collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry to the plight of peasants suffering under an of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), oppressive system established by European State/UTs Governments and envisages development indigo planters in Champaran, Bihar, and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage sites Rajkumar Shukla made a seminal and making them tourist friendly, to enhance tourism contribution culminating in the launch of the potential and cultural importance in a planned and Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 by Mahatma phased manner. Gandhi ji.

 The project primarily focuses on providing Points to Remember basic amenities that include cleanliness, public conveniences, safe drinking water, and  Department of Posts has been paying a tribute ease of access for tourists, signages, to eminent personalities who have made a illumination, Wi-fi etc. significant contribution to public life  No fund is given by Ministry of Tourism. The especially freedom fighters. With this stamp, Project envisages involvement of the Department has released 43 issues in the Private/Public Companies / Organizations current calendar year. and Individuals to adopt Monuments, Natural Heritage Sites and other Tourist Sites in the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) Project country, primarily under CSR. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and upadhyaya grameen kaushalya yojana (Ddu- Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Gky) Rejuvenation, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal gave details on the status of implementation of National e-Vidhan Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana Application (NeVA) Project. (DDU-GKY) is the flagship placement linked skill- training programme under the Ministry of Rural  Paperless Assembly or e-Assembly is a Development (MoRD). concept involving of electronic means to facilitate the work of Assembly. It enables  Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) automation of entire law making process, signed MOU with Maruti Suzuki India Ltd tracking of decisions and documents, sharing for training rural youth for skill development. of information. NeVA aims to bring all the  This partnership between the government and legislatures of the country together, in one the leading industry from the automotive platform thereby creating a massive data sector will provide training to at least 5000 depository without having the complexity of candidates in two years with assured multiple applications. placement to the rural youth of our country.

Points to Remember Points to Remember

 The State Government will appoint a  Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Secretary level officer to be designated as the Yojana or DDU-GKY is a Government of nodal officer/representative for e-Vidhan India youth employment scheme. implementation in the State Legislature(s).  It was launched on 25 September 2014 by State Government will bear the funds Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Venkaiah required for running of e-Vidhan MMP after Naidu on the occasion of 98th birth 3 years. anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. The Vision of DDU-GKY is to "Transform National Cancer Institute (NCI) opened in rural poor youth into an economically Jhajjar, Haryana independent and globally relevant workforce". India’s largest Cancer Institute, National Cancer  It aims to target youth, in the age group of Institute (NCI), has been opened in Jhajjar, Haryana 15–35 years. DDU-GKY is a part of the for public services. The National Cancer Institute National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). will be formally inaugurated in January 2019. Govt to open Eklavya School in areas having  The National Cancer Institute (NCI) will help significant tribal population to take off some patient load from AIIMS which presently receives about 1000 patients Tribal Affairs every day. Minister Jual Oram informed Points to Remember that every block with more than  The National Cancer Institute (NCI) will act 50 per cent as the nodal institution for all cancer-related Schedule Tribe, activities in India. NCI will assist other ST population and at least 20 thousand tribal persons, regional cancer centers in research activities. will have an Eklavya Model Residential School by  The NCI is built at a cost of Rs 2,035 crore. the year 2022.

Ministry of Rural Development Signs MoU with  Eklavya schools will be on par with Maruti Suzuki India Ltd for Training Rural Navodaya Vidyalayas and will have special Youth for Skill Development under Deendayal facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill  Gujarat, with 100 percentile, has performed development. better than all other states in all the seven  As per census 2011, there are 564 sub- areas including start up policy, incubation districts having more than 50 per cent ST support, seeding innovation and scaling population and at least 20 thousand tribal innovation.Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha and persons. Rajasthan, with a score of more than 85 percentile, have been adjudged the top Points to Remember performers.  Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya  Ekalavya Model Residential School (EMRS) Pradesh and have been recognised is a Government of India scheme for model as Leaders. 27 states and 3 union territories residential school for Indian tribal participated in the ranking process. (Scheduled Tribes, ST) across India. It was established by the Tribal Ministry, Assam govt approves release of Chah Bahgicha Government of India. Dhan Puraskar Mela  The government gives one time ₹30 lakh grant for establishing the school, thereafter The Assam government has approved the release of up to ₹30 lakh per school annually. second instalment of the Chah Bagicha Dhan Additional cost is borne by state Puraskar Mela. Assam Finance minister Himanta governments. Biswa Sarma said that all the beneficiaries will get 2,500 rs in their bank accounts by 15th of the next ‘Shiksha Setu’ Mobile App launched by Haryana month. Government  Government will bear 200 crore rupees Haryana Government has launched a mobile app towards this. Our Correspondent reports that named as ‘Shiksha Setu’ with an aim to help the previously 2,500 rupees was transferred to students of the state. the each of over 7 lakh account holders in tea garden areas at 26 districts.  The ‘Shikhsa Setu’ App will help in bringing  It may be recalled that the Assam government transparency in the Education Department had announced that 5000 rupees will be and in the administration of colleges in the provided to tea garden workers who had state. opened bank accounts after demonetization.  Also, the connectivity between students' parents, teachers and administration will be Zero defect, Zero Effect - Mantra of Textiles improved through this mobile application. Ministry

Points to Remember Textiles industry in India is one of the largest in the world with a huge raw material base and  As per the 2011 Census, Haryana has 76.64% manufacturing strength across all value chains. literacy rate, having Male literacy rate of 85.4% and the literacy rate of females stands  The strength of India’s textiles industry lies at 66.8%. both in the hand woven sector as well as mill sector. Traditional sectors like handloom, Gujarat emerges as best performing state in start- handicrafts and small scale power loom are up ranking 2018 the biggest source of employment for millions of people in rural and semi-urban Gujarat has emerged as the best performing state in areas. the Startup Ranking 2018. The National Report on  This industry contributes to 7% of industrial States' Startup Ranking was unveiled by Department output in value terms, 2% of India’s GDP and of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of 15% of the country’s export earnings. Commerce and Industry in New Delhi. Three day India-China Film Festival to Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth commence on 22nd December Sciences, Environment and Forests & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan will inaugurate the In order to strengthen people-to-people connect and newly constructed International Training Centre for deepen cultural understanding between the two Operational Oceanography (ITCOocean) Complex countries, an India-China Film Festival is going to be in the INCOIS campus at Hyderabad on 22nd organized during the 1st India-China High Level December, 2018.Union Minister will dedicate Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People ITCOocean to the Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Exchanges from 22nd to 24th December, 2018. The Bihari Vajpayee who had contributed significantly to three day Festival will be organized at Siri Fort the growth of science and technology in the country. Auditorium II, New Delhi by the Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting,  On the occasion, Dr. Vardhan will also name Government of India. the academic building as Atal Bhavan and the Guest House as Atal Atithi Griha.  A total of seven films including four Chinese and three Indian Films will be screened Gujarat, the best-performing state in Startup during the Festival. The opening film of the Ranking 2018 Festival will be ‘CZ12’ also known as ‘Chinese Zodiac’. The list of Indian films to The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion be screened includes ‘Dangal’ (), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry ‘Maacher Jhol’ (Bengali) and ‘Ventilator’ released the first ever States’ Startup Ranking 2018 (Marathi). on 20th December 2018 in New Delhi. As per Startup Ranking 2018, the state of Gujarat is the best- Government Launches Asiatic Lion performing state in the country for the Conservation Project Startups. Total 27 States and 3 UTs took part in this exercise. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has launched the  Gujarat was ranked as the Best Performer “Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” with an aim to Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, and Rajasthan protect and conserve the world’s last ranging free were judged as Top Performers. population of Asiatic Lion and its associated  Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, ecosystem. Madhya Pradesh and Telangana were ranked as Leaders.  “The Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” will  The primary objective of this ranking is to strengthen the ongoing measures for encourage States and UTS to work towards conservation and recovery of Asiatic Lion strengthening of Startup ecosystems in their with the help of state-of-the –art techniques/ region. instruments, regular scientific research studies, disease management, Modern National Consumer Day With the theme “Timely surveillance/ patrolling techniques.The total Disposal of Consumer Complaints budget of the project for 3 years that amounts to nearly Rs. 9784 lakh will be funded from Every Year 24th December is observed as National the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Consumer Day with a specific theme in India. This Development of Wildlife Habitat (CSS- year the National Consumer Day is celebrated with DWH) with the contributing ratio being the theme “Timely Disposal of Consumer 60:40 of Central and State share. Complaints”. On this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 had received the assent of the president. A UNESCO Category 2, International Training The enactment of this Act is considered as a historic Centre for Operational Oceanography, to be milestone in the consumer movement in the country. inaugurated at INCOIS, Hyderabad  The Consumer Protection Act aims to provide consumers with effective safeguards against different types of exploitation such as efficient environment across the logistics value defective goods, deficiency in services and chain. unfair trade practices. This day provides an opportunity for individuals to highlight the  Economic Advisory Council to the Prime importance of the consumer movement and Minister (EAC-PM) constituted a Logistics the need to make every consumer more aware Development Committee under the of their rights and responsibilities. Chairmanship of Dr. BibekDebroy, Chairman EAC-PM. The committee was Committee constituted to decide parameters and tasked to assess key challenges in logistics operational modalities for pilot study on development and associated commerce Conditional Cash Transfer in lieu of THR andsuggest policy reforms for ease of doing trade in India. Other members of the Ministry of committee includedSecretaries and heads of Women and Child the concerned departments/ministries such as Development has Revenue, Commerce, Logistics, DIPP, Civil decided that a Pilot Aviation, Shipping, Road Transport & on Conditional Highways, Railways, Central Board of Cash Transfer is to Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) etc. The be carried out in Committee also included Dr. Jayanta Roy, a few blocks of two well-known trade policy expert specializing districts each in in Trade and Logistics Facilitation. Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The decision has been taken based on the direction of National Council on NITI Aayog releases Sustainable Development India’s Nutrition Challenges. Goals Index

 The National Council during the 3rd Meeting NITI Aayog has released a first-of-its-kind held on 14th November, 2018 under the Sustainable Development Goals index released on Chairmanship of Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice 21st December 2018. According to the SDG Index, Chairman, NITI Aayog decided to do the Himachal Pradesh Kerala, and Tamil Nadu have pilot for Conditional Cash Transfer in lieu of been ranked on top 3 positions and are on track to Take Home Ration. achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals  A Committee has been constituted under the (SDG). Chairmanship of Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member, Health & Nutrition, NITI Aayog for  The recently released Sustainable deciding the parameters and operational Development Goals Index aims to promote modalities for Conditional Cash Transfer. healthy competition among States by The members of the Committee are from evaluating their progress in social, economic Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and environmental terms that will help India Department of Financial Services, in achieving the UN Sustainable Department of Food and Public Distribution, Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. NITI Aayog, State of Rajasthan, State of  Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are at the Uttar Pradesh, UNICEF, BMGF, DIMAGI bottom of the rankings in the NITI Aayog’s etc. Sustainable Development Goals Index.

Logistics Development Committee constituted US Defence Secretary James Mattis resigns from under the Chairmanship of Dr. Bibek Debroy his post

Boosting trade and making India a simple and easy The United States Defence Secretary James Mattis place for doing business are integral part of the has resigned from his post on 21st December 2018. broader economic priorities of the Government. His resignation came after his disagreement with the Therefore, the Government is determined to US President Donald Trump over the withdrawal of implement more reforms to create a smooth and an US troops from Syria. James Mattis, however, will be occupying the position till February 28 so as to  Apart from representation by officials from allow sufficient time for his successor to be the MoD, MEA, MHA, Ministry of Shipping nominated. and the NSCS, Ambassadors and Resident Defence Attaches of partner countries also  The US President Donald Trump had a few participated in the event. days ago announced that he will be  The Indian Ocean Region is vital to world withdrawing all 2,000 U.S. troops out of trade and economic prosperity of many Syria, after making a declaration that the nations as more than 75% of the world’s Islamic State group has been destroyed. This maritime trade and 50% of global oil decision is being by opposed by the Pentagon consumption passes through the IOR. and other people in the US administration. However, maritime terrorism, piracy, human The U.S announcement for withdrawal has and contraband trafficking, illegal and come at a critical moment in northern Syria, unregulated fishing, arms running and where Turkey has been threatening to launch poaching pose myriad challenges to maritime a new offensive against the Kurds. safety and security in the region.

President of India Inaugurates Centre of National Mathematics Day celebrated on 22nd Excellence for Genetic Blood Disorders at December Prathima Institute in Karimnagar India celebrated 22nd December 2018 as the The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, National Mathematics Day honouring the 131st birth inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell anniversary of famous Indian Mathematician Anaemia, Thalassemia and Other Genetic Blood Srinivasa Ramanujan. Disorders at the Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences in Karimnagar, Telangana.  Since 2011, 22nd December is celebrated as National Mathematics Day every year. The  Speaking on the occasion, the President said Indian government had also declared 2012 as that our country has made significant strides the National Mathematics Year. The National in the field of healthcare. However, we still Mathematics Day is celebrated to honour his have a long way to go in evolving a holistic contribution to the field of Mathematics and healthcare system, one which is uniformly also to keep his legacy alive to inspire the affordable and accessible. Strengthening future Mathematicians. public hospitals, municipal hospitals,  Ramanujan was born in the year 1887 and charitable hospitals and primary health and lived during the British rule in India. His life wellness clinics must receive priority. This was totally devoted to Mathematics. At a apart, we need to spread awareness on young age of 11, Ramanujan started showing healthcare issues especially in rural areas and signs of a genius. He had attained expertise in among disadvantaged sections. trigonometry and developed many theorems by himself. He got his papers published in the Raksha Mantri Inaugurates Information Fusion Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society in Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) the year 1911.  The number 1729 is famously known as the Mrs. Nirmala Hardy-Ramanujan number. Sitharaman, the Honourable Tamil Nadu: India’s first music museum to be set Raksha Mantri, up in Thiruvaiyaru launched the Information The country’s first music museum will be set up with Fusion Centre – assistance from the Central government in Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) today, 22 Dec 18, Thiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, and the birth place of Saint at Information Management and Analysis Centre Tyagaraja, one of the Trinities of Carnatic music. (IMAC) Gurugram.  The Tyagaraja Aaradhana Music Festival PM Modi released commemorative coin in honor which is held annually in January in of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Thiruvaiyaru attracts musical talents from all over the world. PM Modi released a new 100-rupee coin Points to Remember commemorating former Prime Minister  Tyagaraja (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), Atal Bihari Vajpayee also known as Tyāgayya in Telugu, was a renowned composer of Carnatic music, a  The coin weighing 35 grams, has the portrait form of Indian classical music. He was of Atal Bihari Vajpayee with his name prolific and highly influential in the inscribed in the Devanagari script as well as development of the classical music tradition. English on one side. Tyagaraja and his contemporaries, Shyama  Furthermore, the bottom of the image on the Shastri and Muthuswami Dikshitar, were coin has the birth and death year - 1924-2018 regarded as the Trinity of Carnatic music. inscribed on it. Tyagaraja composed thousands of devotional compositions, most in Telugu and in praise of Points to Remember Lord Rama, many of which remain popular today.  It is made up of silver (50 per cent), copper  Tyagaraja saw the reigns of four kings of (40 per cent), nickel (5 per cent) and zinc (5 Maratha dynasty — Tulaja II (1763-1787), per cent) Amarasimha (1787-1798), Serfoji II (1798-  It shall bear the Ashoka Pillar Lion Capital in 1832) and Sivaji II (1832-1855), although he the centre with ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed served none of them. below in the Devanagari.  Left periphery will have ‘Bharat’ inscribed in India's Vedangi Kulkarni becomes fastest Asian Devanagari while the right side will have to cycle the globe ‘India’ inscribed in .

Indian woman Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Vedangi Kulkarni Distribution celebrates National Consumer Day has become the 2018 with the theme “Timely Disposal of fastest Asian to Consumer Complaints” cycle the globe. Hailing from a The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of suburb of Pune, 20-year old Vedangi cycled into Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Kolkata in the wee hours, completing the 29,000 celebrated the National Consumer Day 2018 with the kilometers' distance required to qualify as bicycling theme “Timely Disposal of Consumer Complaints” across the globe. at Kothari Auditorium, DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi.  Vedangi is a student of the University of Bournemouth in the  This year the National Consumer Day is pursuing a degree in sports management. being observed at a crucial time when the Government is preparing to repeal the Points to Remember Consumer Protection Act 1986 and bring in a new Act with substantial changes that will  Thirty-eight year old British adventurer holistically cover all aspects of consumer Jenny Graham is the fastest woman to have grievance redressal, streamline functioning cycled the globe in 124 days this year. of Consumer fora to meet future challenges  She started off from Perth in July and will for more effective consumer protection. The now be flying back to the Australian city to new bill has been passed by Lok Sabha on complete the record. 20th December, 2018 and is now pending  The Bogibeel bridge, constructed at an approval from Rajya Sabha. estimated cost of around 5,900 crore rupees,  The day is celebrated annually on 24 has a serviceable period of around 120 years. December to mark the enactment of the  Bogibeel bridge, will become Asia's second Consumer Protection Act, 1986, that was longest rail-cum-road bridge. enacted on December 24, 1986.  The bridge will enhance the national security  Observance of this day provides an of the eastern region by facilitating swift opportunity for individuals to highlight the movement of defence forces and their importance of the consumer movement and equipment. It will also boost connectivity for promote the basic rights and responsibilities around 50 lakh people residing in Upper of all consumers. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.  The day also reminds the producers and  The foundation stone of the project was laid distributors of goods and services about their by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gouda responsibility towards the protection of on January, 1997, while work commenced on consumer rights. 21st of April, 2002 under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government. Shri Kiren Rijiju attends 55th Anniversary Parade of SSB Birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee being celebrated as Good Governance Day The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) celebrated its 55th Anniversary Parade at its 25th Battalion, Ghitorni, Bharat Ratna and here today. The Minister of State for Home Affairs former Prime Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju took the salute of the parade and Atal Bihari Vajpayee's inspected the impressive parade with Director birthday is being General, SSB Shri S S Deswal. After the parade, the celebrated as Good Shri Kiren Rijiju awarded President’s Police Medal Governance Day across for distinguished service and Police Medal for the country on 25 December. meritorious service in acknowledgment of their service to the Nation.  The Samadhi of Bharat Ratna and Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee -  SSB has served the Nation with the motto of Sadaiv Atal was dedicated to the Nation by “Seva, Suraksha and Bandutva”, wherever it Prime Minister. has been deployed since its inception in the  Emphasizing Unity in Diversity, stones from year 1963.SSB has become the second largest various parts of country have been used in the Border Guarding Force of the country. construction of Samadhi near Rajghat in New  SSB is the first Border Guarding Force of the Delhi. The central Samadhi platform Nation to induct women in the year 2007 for comprises of nine square blocks, capped with border guarding duties. a Diya in the center. The number nine holds significance and represents the navarasas, PM to inaugurate country's longest rail-cum- navaratras and navagrahas. road Bogibeel Bridge  The Samadhi has been completed by CPWD at a cost of over ten crore rupees and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate entire cost of construction has been borne by India's longest rail-cum-road bridge - Bogibeel the Atal Smriti Nyas Society. Bridge on the Brahmaputra in Assam. Indian Navy commissions Naval hospital INHS  The 4.9 kilometre long bridge has a two-line Sandhani railway track on the lower deck and a three- lane road on the top deck. The Bridge is The Indian Navy has been commissioned a naval situated 17 km downstream of Dibrugarh city hospital ship, the INHS Sandhani at Naval station in Assam. Karanja in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. INHS Sandhani was flagged by Flag Officer Commanding- in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Western Naval  The scheme will benefit 23 lakh households Command Vice Admiral Girish Luthra and the and cover 1,350 critical diseases. Launching commissioning plaque of the hospital was unveiled the Yojna in Dehradun, Chief Minister by the Preeti Luthra, President of NWWA (Navy Trivendra Singh Rawat distributed scheme- Wives Welfare Association), Western Region. related golden cards to beneficiaries.  He also signed Memoranda of Understanding  INHS Sandhani is the tenth one with private hospitals and announced that commissioned by the Indian Navy. The Navy soon free of cost OPD facilities will be had earlier commissioned its ninth hospital available for children and elderly people in ‘INHS Navjivani’ at the Indian Naval the state. Academy in Kerala’s Ezhimala.  Mr Rawat said, all the households have been included under the scheme as the government India Celebrates National Farmers Day wants that everyone should be able to afford medical treatment. India celebrates National Farmers Day on 23rd December to commemorate the birth anniversary of Points to Remember the 5th Prime Minister of India, Choudhary Charan Singh.  Uttarakhand, formerly known as Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is  He was a farmer’s leader and he had often referred to as the Devabhumi (literally introduced many policies to improve the lives "Land of the Gods") due to a large number of of the Indian farmers. Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found  Choudhary Charan Singh served as the Prime throughout the state. Minister of India between 28 July 1979 and  Uttarakhand is known for the natural 14 January 1980. He is often referred to as environment of the , the Bhabhar the ‘champion of India;s peasants’. and the Terai. On 9 November 2000,  Choudhary Charan Singh was born on 23 Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the December 1902 in a rural peasant Jat family. Republic of India, being created from the He entered into politics during the Himalayan districts of Uttar Pradesh. Independence Movement motivated by Gandhiji and he served as a member of Patna Zoo closed after deaths of peacocks due to Legislative Assembly of the United H5N1 Virus Provinces elected in 1937. In the post- independence period, he was one of three Patna Zoo has been principal leaders of Congress from Uttar closed for an Pradesh. He defected from the Congress in indefinite period 1967 and became the first non-Congress following the chief minister of UP. He became Prime confirmation of Minister in the year 1979. He died in 1987. H5NI virus killing His memorial in New Delhi is named as six peacocks in the zoo. Kisan Ghat.  According to Patna Zoo Deputy Director R K Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana launched in Sinha, the zoo had been closed following Uttarakhand deaths of six peacocks between December 16 and 24. 'Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana' has been  He said the bodies of peacocks were sent to launched in the hill state, Uttarakhand. Under the National Institute of High-Security Animal scheme, each household in the state will be able to Diseases in Bhopal where it was confirmed avail medical treatment of up to 5 lakh rupees that birds died after being infected with annually. H5N1 virus.  Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Modi said, the process of immunisation and disinfection is on and the zoo would only be Haryana Chief Minister on re-opened when it is established that it has 25th December 2018 has announced the renaming of been freed from the virus following Child Care Institutes being run in the state as laboratory test. Jagannath Ashrams. The announcement was made by the chief minister at the during a dance Points to Remember competition organised by women wing of All India Vaish Federation.  Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan (also known as Sanjay Gandhi Botanical and Zoological  Announcing his decision the Chief Minister Garden or Patna Zoo) is located off Bailey said that since all the Child Care Institutions Road in Patna, Bihar. The Park was opened have a similar goal of all-round development to the public as a zoo in 1973. of the children it would be appropriate to give  The park was first established as a botanical a single name to all. The announcement was garden in 1969. made with the consent of representatives of the institutions and children present there. Andhra Pradesh gets new HC; to start functioning from Jan 1 Air Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva Takes Over as DCIDS (Operations) The separate High Court for Andhra Pradesh will start functioning from January 1.Ministry of Law and Air Marshal Justice on Wednesday notified the constitution of the Rajeev Sachdeva High Court in Amaravati. took over as Deputy Chief of  President Ram Nath Kovind signed a Integrated notification in this regard. Andhra Pradesh Defence Staff High Court will be the 25th High Court in the (Operations) country. (DCIDS) recently, the Defence Ministry said  The Hyderabad High Court has been Wednesday. functioning as common high court till now after bifurcation of undivided Andhra  Commissioned as an Air Force pilot in Pradesh. Telangana was carved out of the December 1981, Sachdeva has logged over state in 2014, with Hyderabad as its capital. 7,200 hours of transport and instructional  The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act flying experience. 2014 provided for a separate high court for  Being the Category 'A' qualified flying the state after division. instructor, he has held some of the prestigious appointments in the Air Force, joint services Points to Remember and National Technical Research Organization (NTRO).  By Indian High Courts Act 1861, the  Sachdeva was an Air Force examiner and Supreme & Sadar Diwani Adalat were also commanded a frontline Transport amalgamated. The ‘Indian High Court Act’ Squadron, a Transport Base and the College of 1861, vested in Queen of to issue of Defence Management. letters patent to erect and establish High Courts of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. The Points to Remember High Courts of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay were established by Indian High NITI Aayog to Release Second Delta Ranking Courts Act 1861. under the Aspirational Districts Programme

Child Care Institutes being run in Haryana NITI Aayog will release the Second Delta Ranking renamed as ‘Jagannath Ashrams’ of the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) on December 27, 2018. Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO NITI Aayog will release the Second Delta Ranking under  7th National Photography Awards 2019 ADP and brief the media on this occasion. objective is to promote Nation's, Art, Culture, Development, Heritage, History, Life,  The ranking will measure the incremental People, Society, Traditions, etc with art and progress made by districts between June 1, technique of photography and to encourage 2018 and October 31, 2018. professional and amateur photographers from  The districts have been ranked in a all corners of the country. transparent basis on parameters across Health  6th National Photography Awards were & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water organized in 2017. Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure EC bans all kinds of tobacco in polling booths through key performance indicators. during 2019 Lok Sabha elections

Points to Remember The Election Commission has banned all kinds of tobacco in polling booths during next year's general  The Aspirational District Programme was elections, in a bid to effectively implement tobacco launched by the Prime Minister on January 5, control laws in the country. 2018. It aims to rapidly transform the districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in  The Commission has asked all states and key social areas and have emerged as pockets Union Territories to issue instructions to of under-development, thereby posing a district electoral officers-cum-district challenge to ensure balanced regional magistrates to ensure prohibition of not just development. smoking, but also the use of chewable  The first Delta ranking for the Aspirational tobacco in all polling booths. Districts was released in June 2018.  The Commission's guidelines said all the polling booths in country to be declared Photo Division to organize 7th National tobacco free and not just smoke free and Photography Awards in Feb 2019 hence use of bidi, cigarette, gutkha, and chewable tobacco are prohibited in all polling The photo division of booth. As per the guidelines, each polling Ministry of Information booth will have a banner put up, saying the & Broadcasting is same. organizing the 7th  The presiding officer of each polling booth National Photography will be nominated as nodal officer for Awards. Entries for all ensuring tobacco-free status at their booths. the awards have been invited from across the All district tobacco control cells will country. supervise and monitor this campaign to sencstise people on ill effects of tobacco.  The photographers will be awarded in mainly three categories - life time achievement Points to Remember award, awards for professional photographers and the awards for the amateur For the conduct of free and fair elections an photographers. independent Election Commission has been provided  The award for professional photographer has for in Article 324. two categories- professional photographer of the year award with cash prize of one lakh  India has a three member election rupees and special mention awards with cash commission. These all are appointed by the prize of 50 thousand rupees. President for a term which is fixed by the  The Life Time Achievement award carries a President. However, conditions of service cash prize of three lakh rupees. and tenure of office of the chief election commissioner and other election Points to Remember commissioner are determined by an act of and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion, parliament. Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure.  The chief election commissioner or an  The most improved districts are; 1. election commissioner shall hold office for a Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu) 2. term of 6 years or age of 65 years, whichever Nuapada(Odisha) 3. Siddharthnagar (Uttar is earlier. Pradesh) 4. Aurangabad (Bihar) 5. Koraput (Odisha) Operational National Waterways in the Country  The most improved districts are; 1. Kiphire (Nagaland) 2. Giridih (Jharkhand) 3. Chatra Out of the 111 National Waterways (NWs) declared (Jharkhand) 4. Hailakandi (Assam) 5. under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 13 NWs PakurJharkhand are operational for shipping and navigation and cargo/passenger vessels are moving on them. The Points to Remember details of operational NWs are as follows:  Launched by the Prime Minister in January Points to Remember this year, the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ programme aims to quickly and  The Inland Waterways Authority of India effectively transform some of the most (IWAI) came into existence on 27th October underdeveloped districts of the country. 1986 for development and regulation of  The Government is committed to raising the inland waterways for shipping and living standards of its citizens and ensuring navigation. inclusive growth for all – SabkaSaath,  The head office of the Authority is at Noida. SabkaVikas. The Authority also has its regional offices at Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati and Kochi and sub- Lok Sabha passes Triple Talaq bill offices at Allahabad, Varanasi, Bhaglapur, Farakka, Hemnagar, Dibrugarh (Assam), The Lok Sabha has passed the Muslim Women Kollam, Bhubaneswar (Odisa) and (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill by negating Vijayawada(A.P.). the amendments moved by some opposition  India has about 14,500 km of navigable members. Two hundred forty-five members voted in waterways which comprise of rivers, canals, favour of the bill while 11 voted against it yesterday. backwaters, creeks, etc.  The Bill makes all declarations of instant NITI Aayog Releases Second Delta Ranking of the triple talaq void and illegal. It seeks to make Aspirational Districts the practice a punishable offence with imprisonment of up to three years. Aspirational  The Bill will replace the Muslim Women Districts were (Protection of Rights on Marriage) ranked on Ordinance-2018. Replying to a debate on the improved Bill, Minister for Law and Justice Ravi performance over Shankar Prasad said, it has not been brought the months of to target any religion but to give justice to June – October women. 2018. Ranking includes, for the first time, validated  The National Commission for Women has data from Household Surveys. welcomed the passage of the Bill.

 The NITI Aayog released the Second Delta Points to remember ranking for the Aspirational Districts which measures the incremental progress made by  Declaration of Triple Talaq would be a them between June 1, 2018 and October 31, cognizable offence, attracting up to three 2018, across six developmental areas of years’ imprisonment with a fine. The bill Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture states that the offence will be cognizable only if information relating to the offence is given Points to Remember by the married woman (against whom talaq has been declared), or any person related to Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is her by blood or marriage. smallest and most abundant of all sea turtle found in world. Foundation stone of 11 projects for Yamuna rejuvenation laid  It is found in warm waters of Pacific and Indian oceans. They are found along both- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation eastern and western coasts of India. stone for nine projects for rejuvenating river Yamuna  It is included in vulnerable category by the in the national capital on 27 December. IUCN Red list. In India, it is protected under Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act,  A total of 11 projects have been taken up by 1972. National Mission for Clean Ganga to conserve River Yamuna in Delhi. Most of the Islands of Andaman to be renamed after Netaji projects are for sewerage infrastructure. Bose  The current sewage generation for Delhi city is about 327 crore liters per day against the The Union Government has decided to rename Ross, existing treatment capacity of 276 crore liters Neil and Havelock islands of Andaman. The Ross, per day. Neil and Havelock Islands are to be named as Netaji  Since 1993 action plan has been made to Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Shaheed Dweep, and clean Yamuna but not much improvement Swaraj Dweep, respectively. has been seen since then.  The central government has taken up 11  The announcement about renaming is projects under Namami Gange Programme expected to be made by PM Narendra Modi by National Mission for Clean Ganga to on 30 December during his visit to the conserve river Yamuna in Delhi so that Islands. 30th December marks the 75th ecosystem is preserved in the Yamuna. anniversary of the Netaji’s visit to the Andaman Islands. Bahuda Rookery: Another Olive Ridley Nesting Site in Odisha Points to remember

Gahirmatha marine  Netaji, accompanied by Sarvashri Anand sanctuary and Mohan Sahay, Captain Rawat-ADC and Rushikulya Colonel DS Raju, the personal physician of rookery coast in Netaji, landed at the Port Blair aerodrome in Ganjam district are Andaman on 29th December 1943. Netaji main Olive Ridley was accorded a warm welcome. Netaji had Nesting sites in appointed Indian National Army General AD Odisha. Of these sites, Gahirmatha marine sanctuary Loganathan as the governor of the islands. is largest rookery (mass nesting site) of Olive Ridley  After the Japanese captured the Andaman turtles. Island during the time of the Second World War, Netaji had hoisted the flag at Port Blair  Odisha is home to 50% of the total world’s on December 30, 1943. This was because he population of Olive Ridley and about 90% of believed that Port Blair was the first territory Indian population of sea turtles. Recently, to be freed from British rule. Netaji had even Odisha forest department added another olive suggested way back that the Andaman and ridley mass nesting site Bahuda Rookery at Nicobar Islands be renamed as Shahid and beach on Bahuda river mouth in Ganjam Swaraj Dweep. district.  It is located around 20 km to south of President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind Rushikulya rookery coast. inaugurated the 12th Global Healthcare Summit The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, event, planned during the competition are inaugurated the 12th Global Healthcare Summit Surveillance Challenge with four sub- organized by the American Association of categories which willdeterminethe Physicians of Indian Origin in Mumbai. surveillance capability of the UAVs.

 Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Cabinet approves Indian Human Spaceflight JanaushadhiPariyojana, more than four programme thousand six hundred medical stores have been set up across the country to provide Union Cabinet has approved the Gaganyaan quality generic medicines at affordable prices Programme with a demonstration of Indian Human to all, particularly the poor and Spaceflight capability to low earth orbit for a mission disadvantaged. Further, the cost of medical duration ranging from one orbital period to a implants and several life saving drugs has maximum of seven days. also been reduced.  The President addressed The Yoga Institute,  A human-rated GSLV Mk-lll will be used to Mumbai, which is celebrating its centenary. carry the orbital module which will have  The President said that Yoga belongs to necessary provisions for sustaining a 3- entire humanity and should not be associated member crew for the duration of the mission. with a specific community. Yoga is a means  The total fund requirement for the to living a healthy life. The President said that Gaganyaan Programme is within 10,000 due to the initiatives taken by India, the crore rupees and includes the cost of global community is showing enhanced technology development, flight hardware interest in Yoga. He said that Yoga is an realization and essential infrastructure extremely important example of India’s soft elements. power.  Two unmanned flights and one manned flight will be undertaken as part of Gaganyaan Raksha Mantri Launches Web Page on ‘Drone Programme. Olympics’event at Aero India – 2019

Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Dwijing Festival begins at Chirang district of Sitharaman Assam launched a newly designed In Assam, the third Dwijing Festival has begun on web page for the bank of Aye river at Chirang district. Assam PHE ‘Drone minister Rihon Daimary inaugurated the festival in Olympics’ presence of several dignitaries.

(https://aeroindia.gov.in/Drone), scheduled to be  Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal will held at Aero India – 2019 at Air Force Station, attend the event. Adventure sports, food mart, Yelahanka, Bengaluru. The web page is open for cultural events, traditional games are being registration of UAV players interested in taking part organized in the 12-day long event. in the maiden event of the Aero India.  River “Mother” originates from the Himalayan and flows  It will not only encourage the UAV through the Chirang and Bongaigaon districts manufacturing in the country but also provide of Assam before joining the river an opportunity to the Armed Forces to assess Brahamputra. the capabilities that exist in the world. The UAV market is one of the fastest growing National Children’s Science Congress fields in the world. Inaugurated at  ‘Drone Olympics’ is open to both Indian and Odisha international players. Three categories of the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated  The ED told the court that Michel was the National Children’s Science Congress to be held misusing the liberty of legal assistance during between 27-31 December at SOA (Deemed to be his interrogation by passing chits to his university) in Bhubaneswar, Odhisa. This is the 26th lawyers asking how to tackle questions on edition of the National Science Congress. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.  The ED said that his custodial interrogation  The focal theme of the 26th National was necessary to unearth the larger Children’s Science Congress is “Science, conspiracy in the case. Technology and Innovation for a Clean,  Michel was extradited from Dubai recently Green and Healthy Nation.” The National and was arrested by the Enforcement Children’s Science Congress is being held at Directorate on December 22. Odisha.  He was sent to seven days custody of the  National Children’s Science Congress is a agency over money laundering charges in the nationwide Science Communication scam.Earlier, he was lodged in Tihar Jail in programme started in the year 1993. It is the the related CBI case. programme of the National Council for Science and Technology Communication Exhibition ‘Dandi Yatra’ as part of 150th birth (NCSTC), Department of Science and anniversary celebrations of the Mahatma Gandhi Technology, Government of India. inaugurated in the New Delhi

Government bans Khalistan Liberation Force Exhibition ‘Dandi The government has banned Khalistan Liberation Yatra” Force (KLF) under the Unlawful Activities organized by (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its involvement in the National several killing bombings and other terror activities Gallery of during its violent campaign for the secession of Modern Art, Punjab. New Delhi, Ministry of Culture, Government of India was inaugurated, 29th December 2018, in the  KLF will be the 40th organisation to be National Capital by Dr. Y.P Anand, a Senior proscribed under the UAPA Law. Gandhian and former Director, National Gandhi  The Khalistan Liberation Force came into Museum. existence in 1986 with the objective of establishing an independent Khalistan by the  This exhibition is part of the celebrations of secession of Punjab from India. the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma  Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act Gandhi, Father of the Nation, to propagate his (UAPA) aims at effective prevention of message of peace. This exhibition showcases unlawful activities associations in India, the unseen drawings of artist Chhaganlal provides unrestricted powers to law Jadav and also the master works of NGMA’s enforcement agencies for dealing with collection of contemporaneous artists to activities directed against the integrity and Gandhi ji like Nandlal Bose, Upendra sovereignty of India. Maharathi and Ram kinkar Baij, etc, who also gave their impressions on this great event. Delhi court extends Enforcement Directorate's custody of Christian Michel Union Cabinet approves budget for Gaganyaan project A special court in Delhi has extended by seven days the Enforcement Directorate's custody of alleged The Union Cabinet has approved a budget of Rs middleman Christian Michel, arrested in the Agusta 10,000 crore for India’s Gaganyaan project. The Westland VVIP chopper case. allocation of the budget comes after the announcement of Prime Minister that, an Indian would travel to space in an Indian spacecraft by 2022 Points to Remember in his 2018 Independence Day speech.  It will serve as a hub for rice research and  India will launch two unmanned missions training in South Asia and SAARC region. before the final mission. The first unmanned  The IRRI SARC will aid in improving crop test-flight will be launched in December production, seed quality and the nutritional 2020. The second unmanned test will be value of rice. It is headquartered in Los conducted in July 2021 and the human space Baños, Laguna in the . flight will be launched in December 2021. Madhya Pradesh Government to create an Postal Stamp dedicated to Nabin Chandra Das, Adhyatmik Vibhag (Spiritual department) inventor of Rosogolla launched in West Bengal The Government of Madhya Pradesh has announced A postal stamp dedicated to Nabin Chandra Das, setting up of a new Adhyatmik Vibhag (spiritual inventor of Rosogolla was launched on the inaugural department). day of the three-day festival, Bagbazar-O-Rosogolla Utsob marking the 150th year of its invention.  The proposed new department will be set up by merging several existing departments. As  Bagbazar O Rosogolla Utsob, a three-day per the tweet from the chief minister’s office Rosogolla Utsav is being held at Bagbazar, of Madhya Pradesh Dharmik Nyas Evam Kolkata as a tribute to Nabin Chandra Das, Dharmasv Department (Religious Trust and inventor of Rosogolla. The statue of Nabin Endowment Department), Anand Vibhag Chandra Das was also unveiled during the (Happiness Department) in addition to the inaugural programme. Directorate of Religious Trust and  The battle over the ownership of Rosogolla Endowment, Madhya Pradesh Teerth Evam started in 2015 when the government of West Mela Pradhikaran and Rajya Anand Sansthan Bengal applied for the GI tag for the sweet. would be merged to form the proposed Odisha contested the West Bengal claim by Adhyatmik Vibhag (spiritual department). narrating Rosogolla has a 600-year-old history in Odhisa. Points to Remember

PM Inaugurates International Rice Research  Madhya Pradesh had become the first state in Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre the country to create Happiness Department. The government had also announced the Prime Minister setting up of the Happiness Institute. Narendra Modi inaugurated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate International Rice 106th Indian Science Congress (ISC)-2019 Research Institute South Asia World’s largest science meet ‘Indian Science Regional Centre Congress (ISC)-2019’is going to be held from 3rd to (IRRI SARC) in 7th January 2019, in Jalandhar, Punjab. Varanasi. It is the sixth campus of IRRI SARC. The institute will complement the government’s effort to  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will double farmer’s income by 2022. inaugurate the 106th edition of ISC-2019, based on the theme ‘Future India: Science  The International Rice Research Institute and Technology’ on 3rd January. (IRRI) is a dynamic and rapidly evolving  PM Modi will also address about 30,000 organization which focuses on solving delegates including many Nobel Laureates, complex global problems through vibrant, Union Cabinet Ministers of India, science rice-based agri-food systems. policymakers, administrators, eminent scientists, young men-women researchers & them through modernization and school children from across India & abroad. publicisation to enhance the reach of these products. Points to Remember Points to Remember  Indian Science Congress Association is a premier scientific organisation of India with  Uttar Pradesh is a vast state with vast headquarters at Kolkata, West Bengal. The diversity in all facets of life. The diversity of association started in the year 1914 in products and crafts in UP is breathtaking. Kolkata and it meets annually in the first  The One District, One Product aims to revive week of January. It has a membership of these traditional heritages by reviving them more than 30,000 scientists. through modernization and publicisation.

PM Modi renames Ross, Neil & Havelock Islands in Andaman and Nicobar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the renaming of three islands of Andaman and Nicobar on the occasion of 75th anniversary of Tricolour RBI keeps all key policy rates unchanged hoisting by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Port Blair. The Prime Minister said, the Ross Island has The Reserve been renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Bank of India Dweep, the Neil Island would now be known as maintained status Shaheed Dweep and the Havelock Island as Swaraj quo on all key Dweep. policy rates in the fifth bi-monthly  Mr Modi also released a commemorative monetary policy stamp, its first-day cover and a 75 rupees coin review. on this special day. He also announced Subsequently, the repo rate remains unchanged at 6.5 setting up of a deemed university after Netaji percent and the reverse repo rate at 6.25 percent. Bose.  Repo rate is the rate at which RBI lends to Points to Remember banks generally against government securities. The reverse repo is the rate at  Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (23 January which RBI borrows money from banks. 1897 – 18 August 1945) was an Indian  The RBI informed the marginal standing nationalist whose defiant patriotism made facility rate and the Bank Rate too remain at him a hero in India but whose attempt during 6.75 percent. World War II to rid India of British rule with  The six-member monetary policy committee the help of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel left an ambivalent legacy. unanimously voted to maintain the status quo on policy rates. One District, One Product scheme of Uttar  In the last policy announced in October, RBI Pradesh had kept all the policy rates unchanged.

The government of Uttar Pradesh has initiated One Exim Bank extends USD 500 mn loan to Tanzania District, One Product scheme to encourage for water supply projects indigenous and specialized products and crafts of the state. Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has extended a credit facility of USD 500 million to  The scheme aims to capitalize the rich Tanzania for water supply projects in the country. heritage of the Uttar Pradesh by reviving  Exim Bank signed an agreement on May 10,  The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is 2018, with the Tanzania government for a business association in India. CII is a non- making available a Government of India- government, not-for-profit, industry-led and supported line of credit of USD 500 million industry-managed organization. for the purpose of financing water supply  CII works with the Government on policy schemes. issues. CII has been a catalyst of change in  The RBI said in a release that under this India’s economic policy reforms. CII played agreement, of the total credit by Exim Bank, a very important role during economic goods and services of value of at least 75 per liberalization in 1991 which knocked down cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the high walls of protection between Indian the seller from India. The remaining 25 per industry and the rest of the world. It was cent of goods and services may be procured founded in 1895. by the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outside India. GST reduced on 23 items and services; revised rates effective from 1st of January The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) sign a $60 Million The GST Council has Loan Agreement to reduce floods and the reduced tax rates on 23 riverbank erosion in Assam goods and services, including movie The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the tickets, TV and Government of India signed a $60 Million Loan monitor screens and Agreement in New Delhi to continue financing power banks. With this, only 28 goods are left in the riverbank protection works, renovation of flood highest 28 per cent tax bracket. Monitors and TV embankments, and community-based flood risk screens up to 32-inches and power banks will attract management activities in critically flood-prone 18 per cent GST, as against 28 per cent earlier. areas along the Brahmaputra River in Assam.  GST on movie tickets costing up to 100  The Tranche 2 loan is part of the $120 rupees was cut to 12 per cent from 18 per million multi-tranche financing facility cent, while tickets over 100 rupees will (MFF) for the Assam Integrated Flood and attract 18 per cent tax, against 28 per cent Riverbank Erosion Risk Management earlier. Investment Program approved by the ADB Board in October 2010. Points to Remember

15th Global SME Business Summit  The services supplied by the banks to Jan- Dhan account holders will be exempted from Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is organizing GST. Now 28 percent slab rate is applicable the 15th edition of the CII Global SME Business on cement and auto parts and luxury items Summit on 19-20 December 2018 at Hotel Hyatt like Air Conditioner and dishwasher. Regency in New Delhi, India.  The new GST rates will be effective from the 1st of next month.  The theme of the Summit is ‘Building  The Council also approved a proposal to form Partnerships through Global Value Chains'. a seven Member Group of Ministers to study  The Summit will attempt to create a powerful the revenue trend, including analyzing the agenda and bring together renowned speakers reasons for structural patterns affecting the with unbounded experience and expertise, a revenue collection in some of the states. global audience, and various national and international SME stakeholders to integrate Bimal Jalan Panel on Economic Capital Indian MSMEs into the GVCs. Framework

Points to Remember The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up an expert  The ship has been indigenously designed and committee, headed by its former governor Bimal built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Jalan, to suggest how the central bank should handle Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. its reserves and whether it can transfer its surplus to the government. The committee will submit its report Points to Remember within 90 days of its first meeting.  LCU Mk-IV ship is an amphibious ship with  The expert committee headed by Bimal Jalan its primary role being transportation and will have former RBI deputy governor deployment of Main Battle Tanks, Armored Rakesh Mohan as its vice chairman. The Vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to members of the committee are RBI central shore. These ships based at the Andaman and board directors Bharat Doshi and Sudhir Nicobar Command, can be deployed for Mankad, deputy governor N.S. multirole activities like beaching operations, Vishwanathan, and economic affairs search and rescue, disaster relief operations, secretary Subhash Chandra Garg. supply and replenishment and evacuation from distant islands.  The ship is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced systems like Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). GSLV-F11 successfully launches GSAT-7A

Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV- F11) successfully launched the communication satellite GSAT-7A from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey takes over as Revenue Secretary  GSAT-7A is the heaviest satellite being launched by GSLV with an indigenously Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey (IAS: MH 1984) took over developed cryogenic stage. as the Union Revenue Secretary upon  GSLV is ISRO’s fourth generation launch superannuation of Dr Hasmukh Adhia. vehicle with three stages.  A Maharashtra cadre officer, Dr. Pandey will Points to Remember continue to head the Unique Identification authority of India (UIDAI) as its CEO and  GSAT-7A is the 39th Indian communication will also hold his position as the Chairman of satellite of ISRO to provide services to the GSTN. users in Ku-band over the Indian region.  An Indian Administrative Service officer Most of the functional requirements of the with over 34 years of experience in State and communication payloads and the other Central Governments, he had a remarkable systems have been derived from ISRO’s stint of more than 8 years in UIDAI where he earlier geostationary INSAT/GSAT played a key role in establishing and steering satellites. Aadhaar across the country and drafting the historic Aadhaar legislation for providing Fifth Ship of Landing Craft Utility Mk-IV ‘IN statutory basis to Aadhaar. LCU L55’ Commissioned At Port Blair appointed working Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, Vice Chief of Naval president of Telangana Congress Staff, commissioned 'IN LCU L55' into the Indian Navy at Port Blair. AICC has  Mr Singh also holds the post of the Joint appointed former Secretary General of the National Rifle MP and Cricketer Association of India (NRAI). Mohd Azharuddin  Mr Singh got elected onto the seven as wo rking members' Judges Committee for which 22 president of the candidates from all over the world were in the Telangana fray. Members of the administrative council Pradesh Congress Committee. of ISSF voted to select the committee during the elections held at Munich. The ISSF  Congress General Secretary Ashok Gehlot elections take place every four years. announced this in a release in Delhi.  A few days back Raninder Singh, President  He informed that Party President Rahul of NRAI had become the first Indian to be Gandhi also approved 14 more appointments elected Vice President of ISSF. for the Telangana PCC office bearers.  Two vice presidents, 8 General Secretaries Shri A. N. Jha appointed as Finance Secretary and 4 secretaries have been included to the office bearers of the Telangana PCC. The appointments Committee of the Cabinet has  It may be recalled that the Mohd Azharuddin approved designating Shri A. N. Jha, IAS, Secretary, is a start campaigner of the Congress party in Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance as the poll-bound Telangana state. Finance Secretary.

Shri Sunil Arora takes over as new Chief Election  The senior most secretary in the Finance Commissioner of India Ministry is normally designated as the Finance Secretary. Shri Sunil Arora assumed charge as the 23rd Chief  Mr. Jha had been succeeded Mr. Ashok Election Commissioner (CEC) of India succeeding Lavasa as the Expenditure Secretary in Shri O.P.Rawat. Shri Rawat who demitted the office November, 2017. on 1st December, 2018 after completing his tenure.  Before that, he had served as Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate  Born on 13th April, 1956, Shri Arora, a Change. former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Rajasthan cadre 1980 batch, Former Indian diplomat elected to UN's Socio- superannuated on 30th April, 2016 as Economic Cultural panel Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and Government of India. A former senior Indian diplomat, Preeti Saran, has  During the 36 years of his service, he held been elected unopposed to an Asia Pacific seat on the various crucial positions in the State UN's Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Government of Rajasthan and in the Central Rights (CESCR). Government.  Prior to assuming charge as Chief Election  Saran was elected to the CESCR for a four- Commissioner, Shri Arora had been serving year term beginning on the 1st of January as Election Commissioner in Election next year. Commission of India since 1st September  All States are obliged to submit regular 2017. reports to the committee on how the rights are being implemented. Pawan Singh first Indian to be elected in ISSF's  The committee examines each report and judges committee addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of concluding Pawan Singh has become the first Indian to be observations. The panel meets in Geneva and elected one of seven member's of the Judges holds two sessions per year. Committee of the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF). Former Finance Secretary Shaktikanta Das  In this meeting CAG of UK was also appointed new RBI Governor appointed as Chair of Panel for another term (2019). A day after Urjit  The meeting discussed various issues Patel resigned from concerning audit of United Nations and the his post as the agencies under the United Nations System. Governor of  The next meeting will be held in in Bonn, Reserve Bank of Germany in November-December 2019. India with  United Nations Panel of Auditors It was immediate effect established by UN General Assembly citing personal reasons, Former Finance Secretary Resolution 1438 (XIV) in 1959. Shaktikanta Das has been appointed as the new  Its main objectives are to further co- Governor of the apex bank. ordination of audits for which its members are responsible and to exchange information  Mr. Das will have a tenure of three years. The on audit methods and findings. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his name. Mr Das is currently the BP Singh to be the new President of FTII Society Member of the Finance Commission. and Chairman of Governing Council  Das, a 1980-batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, retired as Economic Affairs Secretary Government of India has nominated Shri Brijendra in May 2017. After his retirement, he was Pal Singh as President of the FTII Society and named India’s G-20 sherpa and also Chairman of FTII Governing Council, in pursuance appointed as a member of the 15th Finance of Rule 3 and Rule 22 of the Rules of the Film and Commission. Television Institute of India (FTII). Shri B.P. Singh’s tenure will be for the remaining period of Zoramthanga to be sworn in as Mizoram CM block of 3 years starting from 04.03.2017 as per the provisions of Rule 6(1) of the Rules of FTII. In Mizoram, the new government of Mizo National Front (MNF), headed by Mr Zoramthanga will be  Shri BP Singh is an FTII alumnus (1970-73) sworn in. It was decided at a meeting between who specialized in film cinematography and Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan and a has earned repute as Producer- Director of delegation of the MNF party led by Zoramthanga at popular TV serial CID which recently Raj Bhavan in Aizawl. completed a record 21 years unbroken run on SONY TV. In 2004 he made it to the  MNF Chief, 74-yr old Zoramthanga will be Limca Book of Records for taking a single sworn-in as the next Chief Minister of continuous shot of 111 minutes to mark the Mizoram for the third term. completion of six years of CID.  He was the state chief minister for two terms earlier from 1998 to 2008. Shri Bharat Bhushan Vyas takes Oath of Office  In the 40-seated Assembly, MNF has secured and Secrecy as Member, UPSC a landslide victory bagging 26 seats. Shri Bharat Bhushan Vyas, IAS (J&K 1986) CAG Rajiv Mehrishi appointed as Vice-Chair of (Retired.) took the Oath of Office and Secrecy as UN Panel of Auditors Member, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Oath was administered by Shri Arvind Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Rajiv Saxena, Chairman, UPSC. Mehrishi was elected as Vice-Chair of United Nations (UN) Panel of Auditors at its annual meeting  He was born on 15/11/1957. He has done held in New York. B.Sc. (Botany). He joined Indian Administrative Service in 1986. He served in State & Centre in various capacities and retired as Chief Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir. Before assuming charge as has been appointed as the Member, UPSC, he was serving as Adviser Ambassador of India to the United States of to the Governor, Jammu & Kashmir. America.

Bhupesh Baghel to be new Chhattisgarh CM  Shringla is an officer of 1984 batch. He is presently High Chhattisgarh Commissioner to Bangladesh. Pradesh  , 1986 batch IFS, who is Congress presently Director General, Indian Council Committee for Cultural Relations will take over as the president High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh. Bhupesh Baghel will be WV Raman appointed as the new coach of the new chief Women’s Cricket Team of India minister of the state. BCCI has appointed W V Raman as Indian women’s  AICC observer Mallikarjun Kharge formally cricket team coach on 20th December 2017. He was announced the name of Baghel as the leader preferred over South African cricketer Gary Kirsten of the Congress legislature party (CLP) at a for this position. Gary Kirsten, who is associated meeting of the newly elected legislators at the with IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, did state party headquarters in Raipur. not agree to give up his job with RCB which made  Baghel will be sworn as the chief minister by the selectors choose WV Raman as the coach of the Governor Anandiben Patel at a function to be Indian women cricket team. held at science college grounds in state capital Raipur.  W V Raman Raman has played 11 Tests and 27 ODIs for India and is one of the most Madhavi Divan appointed as the new Additional qualified coaches in the nation. He has Solicitor General coached Ranji Trophy sides like Tamil Nadu and Bengal and the Indian Under -19 cricket The Union government has appointed advocate team as well. He was the first Indian to hit a Madhavi Goradia Divan as the Additional Solicitor century in South Africa during the 1992-93. General (ASG) in the government of India.  , Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy were the members of the  She will hold office of ASG till 30 June, 2020 selection committee of the coach for Indian and will appear in the Supreme Court on women cricket team. behalf of the government of India. P. V. Bharathi appointed as MD and CEO of Points to Remember Corporation Bank

 The Additional Solicitor General of India, P.V Bharathi has also known as the ASG, is the third-ranked been appointed as law-officer in the Indian government. The managing director post of ASG is not constitutional as the and chief executive constitution does not have any provisions officer of the regarding this. Corporation Bank.  The seat of the Additional Solicitor-General P.V. Bharathi is of India may be at New Delhi or Mumbai or currently working as the Executive Director in the Chennai or Allahabad as the Government of Canara Bank. She will take charge on or after 1st India specifies. February 2019, and remain in the post till March 31, 2020. Harsh Vardhan Shringla appointed new Indian Ambassador to US  The ministry has also released another order recently in New Delhi. The award was received by as per which, Birupaksha Mishra and Secretary, Ministry of New Renewable Energy Shri Balakrishna Alse S have been appointed as Anand Kumar. executive director in the Corporation Bank and the Oriental Bank of Commerce,  The award has been conferred on the respectively. Ministry considering its purpose and critical  Also, K Ramachandran has been appointed as role played in installing about 73 GW executive director of the Allahabad Bank. renewable energy capacity in the country.  Today, India ranks 4 in the world in wind Points to Remember energy capacity and 5th in solar & total renewable energy capacity installed in the  Corporation Bank is a public-sector banking world. India has played a critical role in company headquartered in Mangalore, India. setting up of international solar alliance. The bank has a pan-Indian presence. Further, India moved a resolution during the  It was founded on 12 March, 1906. first meeting for making it a global initiative.

Prominent Kashmiri short-story writer and eminent broadcaster Mushtaq Ahmad Tantray bags Sahitya Academy Award

Prominent Kashmiri short-story writer and eminent Croatia’s Luka Modric wins Men’s Ballon d’Or broadcaster Mushtaq Ahmad Tantray bagged this award 2018. year’s Sahitya Academy Award for his collection of short stories “AAKH’’. Croatia’s midfielder Luca  Mr Tantray is presently posted as Head of the Modrich (33) has Regional News Unit at Radio Kashmir won prestigious Srinagar. honor of football,  The annual awards by the National Academy Ballon d’Or. He of Literature for twenty-four Indian was rewarded for languages were announced at a press his key role in Croatia’s historic run to FIFA World conference in New Delhi. Cup final (defeated by ) and his club Real  “AAKH” is a collection of eighteen short- Madrid’s third straight Champions League trophy. stories. It was chosen amongst thirteen books that had reached the final stage for the  With this, he ended the tenure of Lionel Kashmiri language. The book published in Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for almost the year 2012 has been widely appreciated by decade. Messi and Ronaldo have won this the literary circles of Kashmiri language. award since 2008.  Cristiano Ronaldo remained second in run of Mexico's Vanessa Poncede Leon wins ballon d’or race this year. 2018 crown at grand event held in China's  FIFA Ballon d’Or Award is annual football association award given by FIFA to the male Mexico's de Leon won the coveted player who has performed the best in crown at a grand event held in the previous calendar year. Chinese city, Sanya. 's Nicolene Pichapa Limsnukan was declared the runner-up. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy conferred Skoch Award for National Significance  Former Miss World Manushi Chillar presented the crown to the new winner during Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the pageant in which 118 contestants Government of India has been conferred the Skoch participated. Award for National Significance at an event held  India's failed to make a mark UN Climate Change Conference in at the pageant as she could not even make it Katowice. to the top 30.  The startup collects the floral waste daily from the temples. These flowers are then Indian Railway employee conferred with recycled to produce charcoal free incense, prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel organic vermicomposting and biodegradable “Marom” in Santhali language packaging material through Flower cycling technology. Shri Shyam Sundar Besra, Chief Inspector of Ticket working in Asansol Division of Eastern Railway has Renowned English writer Amitav Ghosh selected been conferred the coveted Sahitya Akademi Award. for Jnanpith Award, 2018

 He has been awarded for his novel “Marom” Renowned English in Santhali language which is primarily based fiction writer Amitav upon natural, social, economic and political Ghosh has been conditions of Santhal Pargana. selected for Jnanpith  The novel highlights the situation emerged award, 2018. This has after the two main industrial development of been announced by the Santhal area after Independence. Jnanpith Selection Board on 14 honoured with Meethoileima title Decemeber, 2018.

Manipur government honored MC Mary Kom by  Amitav Ghosh was born in Calcutta in 1956. conferring ‘Meethoileima’ (Outstanding Queen) title He is an alumnus of Doon School, Dehradun, at a felicitation function held in Imphal’s Khuman St. Stephen’s College, and Lampak Sports Complex. Delhi School of Economics.  He was awarded Padma Shri in 2007 and was  The state government conferred the title elected as Fellow of the Royal Society of ‘Meethoileima’ in recognition of her Literature in 2009. He was also named Ford unprecedented feat of winning the sixth gold Foundation Art of Change Fellow in 2015. medal in the recently concluded World  Jnanpith award was instituted in 1961. Via Boxing Championship and her illustrious this award, the Bhartiya Jnanpith recognises career in the field. Indian litterateurs who write in one of the 22  State chief minister N Biren Singh also Indian languages listed in the Schedule Eight handed a cheque of Rs 10, 00,000 to Mary of the Indian Constitution. Kom.  The chief minister also named a road in Shree Saini wins Miss India Worldwide, 2018 Imphal as ‘MC Mary Kom Road.’  MC Mary Kom is the first woman boxer to Indian-American win the World Boxing Champion title six Shree Saini has times. won Miss India Worldwide 2018 Uttar Pradesh’s Startup HelpUsGreen honored title at a pageant by UN held in the Fords City of New Jersey. Uttar Pradesh based startup HelpUsGreen has been honored by UN for its works to clean River Ganga  Sakshi Sinha from Australia and Anusha by recycling tones of floral waste. Sareen from the United Kingdom were respectively declared first and second runner-  UN presented the award to the 14 other ups in the competition. countries along with India at the Nations  The Miss India Worldwide pageant is Climate Action award ceremony during the organised by the New York-based India Festival Committee (IFC) which is headed by  The Skoch Group is a think tank since 1997 Dharmatma Saran in , USA. that deals with socio-economic issues in the  It is said to be the oldest and largest event for country while focusing on inclusive growth. the Indian Diaspora community. It draws Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu contestants from India and from among was also awarded by the Skoch Group with members of the Indian Diaspora residing in ‘SKOCH Sprinter of the Year’ different countries. Award. Commerce and Industry and civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu won wins 2018 Title the ‘Steady Reformer’ Award.

Catriona Elisa Gray from the Philippines was Rafi Award conferred to late music composer crowned as the , beating 93 Laxmikant and singer Usha Timothy contestants from other countries. She was crowned by Demi Leigh Nel-Peters from South Africa, the The title winner. Mohammed Rafi Award  India was represented by Nehal Chudasama has been in the . Nehal Chudasama bestowed upon failed to enter the final 20 of the Miss late music Universe 2018 competition. After composer had won the crown in 2000, no Indian Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar and playback singer contestant has been able to win the Miss Usha Timothy. The award was instituted by an NGO Universe title in all these 18 years. headed by Mumbai BJP Chief Ashish Shelar.

 This was the 67th edition of the Miss  Kudalkar, of the Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo, Universe pageant. Miss Universe 2018 was was given the Mohammed Rafi Lifetime held at in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand on Achievement Award consisting of 1 lakh 17th December 2018. For the first time, the rupees and a trophy. The award was received competition was judged by an all-women by his daughter. jury.  Kudalkar formed a successful and long partnership with Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma Mamata Banerjee awarded the Skoch CM of the and as music composers they belted out hit Year Award tracks like 'Bindiya Chamkegi', 'Main Shayar Toh Nahin' and 'Hansta Hua Noorani Chehra' The Chief Minister of West Bengal has been awarded among others. the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year Award for the  Timothy has sung 1,000 songs in multiple year 2017. The award was given to Mamta Banerjee Indian languages such as Hindi, Malayalam, recognizing her contribution in the overall Punjabi, Bhojpuri and Marathi, among development of West Bengal as West Bengal others. emerged as the best-performing state in the field of Governance. Points to Remember

 West Bengal has also won the top Skoch  Mohammed Rafi received six Filmfare Award for creating the maximum number of Awards and one National Film Award. In man-days and for the maximum amount 1967, he was honoured with the Padma Shri spent in paying people for their labour under award by the Government of India. the 100 days’ work scheme. The state of West  In 2001, Rafi was honoured with the "Best Bengal has also won the IPPAI Award for Singer of the Millennium" title by Hero rural electrification in the state. The state has Honda and Stardust magazine. also been conferred with five consecutive Krishi Karman awards in the field of Agriculture. Aadi Sai Vijaykaran Wins 'Top Debater In The  Among Indian runners this year also Karan World' Title Singh of Bombay Engineering Group stood first in Men’s category. In women’s Full Aadi Sai Vijaykaran marathon Urvi Tambe stood first amongst created history by Indian participants. winning the Junior Debate Championship Maheshwari Chauhan retains women's skeet title at the World Scholar’s Cup held at Yale Rajasthan's Maheshwari Chauhan retained her University, the USA. women's skeet title at the 62nd National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) for shotgun  The theme for events in Jaipur. the cup was ‘An Entangled World: diplomacy, human relationships, the science  Maheshwari overcame Ganemat 52-51 in the of memory, and literature, art'. It is the first final to clinch the gold. time an individual from India has won the  The bronze medal was won by Punjab's coveted title. Simran Preet Kaur Johal, who later picked up three gold in other events.

Gautam Gambhir announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Former India Carlsen retains World Chess Championship title opening batsman World number one Norwegian Magnus Carlsen has has announced retained his World Chess Championship title, his retirement beating US opponent Fabiano Caruana in a tie- from all forms of breaker event. Cricket, saying his time to continue with the game is over.  The Norwegian is ranked number one worldwide for fast-paced games, whereas  Gambhir played in 58 Tests between 2004 Caruana is ranked at number 18. and 2016, scoring 4,154 runs at an average of 41.95, with the help of nine hundreds and 22 Atlawim Debebe of Ethiopia wins Pune fifties. International Marathon  He also played in 147 ODIs between 2003 and 2013, besides featuring in 37 T20 Atlawim Debebe of Ethiopia won the Full Marathon Internationals. with the timing of 2 hours 17 minutes 17 seconds. Ranji Trophy: Ajay Rohera creates world record  Teshome Getachew claimed second and for highest first-class debut score Bekele Asefa third position. Both of them are also from Ethiopia. Madhya Pradesh opener Ajay Rohera etched his name in the record books by slamming the highest  In women’s Full Marathon Pascalia first-class score on debut. Chepkogei from stood first with the timing of 2 hour 50 minutes 27 seconds.  He remained unbeaten on 267 against Belew Mekonnen and Fekede Tilahun of Hyderabad in their Ranji Trophy Elite Ethiopia claimed second and third position. Group-B Cricket in Indore. 21-year-old  Dekebe Tafa and Degefa Gezmu both from Rohera's 267 not out is a world record. Ethiopia are winners of the men’s and women’s half marathon.  The record was earlier held by former Indian skipper Virat Kohli has became the second Mumbai stalwart Amol Mazumdar, who had fastest to score 25 Test centuries, only behind Sir hit 260 versus Haryana at Faridabad in 1994. Don Bradman.  Madhya Pradesh declared their first-innings at a mammoth 562 for four in response to  He achieved the feat when he scored 123 on Hyderabad's first innings score of 124. the third day of the Perth Test against Australia. Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Pune from  It was also India's first Test ton in Perth since January 9 ’s famous knock in 1992. Kohli also equalled Tendulkar's record of After the resounding success of the first edition of the most Test tons by an Indian - that is six - in Khelo India School Games last year, the grassroot Australia. level hunt for sportspersons from across the country, is back in a bigger, better form. 37th Senior National Rowing Championship begins in Pune  In its second edition, the games which is an initiative of the Central Government, has The 37th Senior National Rowing Championship expanded in its scope, and will allow will start in the Army Rowing Node in Pune from 17 participants to compete in two categories, December. Around 500 rowers and coaches from (Under 17) and (Under 21), this year. In its various rowing associations' across the country will new form, the games, which will be known as take part in the Championship which will run up to the Khelo India Youth Games, also allows 22nd of this month. students from colleges and Universities to compete.  The Rowers for the World Championships-  The other highlight of this year's games is 2019 will be selected from this event. World that the national-level competition is moving Championship -2019 is the first qualifying out of the Capital and will be held in Championship for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Maharashtra, which bid for the games, along with Assam and Jharkhand. This time, the Belgium wins Hockey World Cup 2018 Title games will be held in Pune, known as the city of students, from January 9 - January 20, Belgium Hockey team won their first ever Word cup 2019. title on 16th December 2018 after they defeated The Netherlands in sudden death. Belgium, which also PV Sindhu becomes first Indian to lift Badminton won a silver medal in Rio Olympics 2016, made World Federation World Tour Finals title history by beating the opponents by 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out after finals ended without any goal. Rio Olympics Silver medallist PV Sindhu became the first Indian to lift the Badminton World  The Hockey World Cup 2018 was held at Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals title at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha Guangzhou, China. from 28 November to 16 December 2018. It was the 14th edition of the cup.  In the summit clash, Sindhu defeated  Belgium finished first while India came at Japanese Nozomi Okuhara, in straight games, sixth place in the Hockey World Cup 2018. 21-19, 21-17 to claim the top honours of the season-ending event and her first title of the Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore flags off year. special marathon 'Soldierathon' in New Delhi  With the win, Sindhu also equalled her head- to-head record with Okuhara to 6-6. On the occasion of Vijay Diwas, Sports Minister Col Rajyavardhan Rathore flagged off a special Virat Kohli hits 25th Test ton; Second fastest to marathon 'Soldierathon' at JLN Stadium in New achieve feat after Sir Don Bradman Delhi.  The marathon was organised in the honour of Points to Remember Martyrs and wounded Soldiers. Wrestler and former cricketer  Anup Kumar is an Indian professional Gautam Gambhir were also present on the Kabaddi player. He was member of the India occasion. With over 12 thousand participants, national kabaddi team that won Asian gold the marathon was held in five categories. medals in 2010 and 2014. He is captain of  The proceeds from the event will be donated Indian National Kabaddi Team and Jaipur to Indian Army’s Artificial Limb Centre for Pink Panthers which plays in Pro Kabaddi wounded soldiers to help them acquire state- League. of-the-art prosthesis at the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre. 4th season of Premier Badminton League (PBL)

Joshna Chinappa wins National Squash Women’s The fourth season of Premier Badminton League Singles Title, 2018 (PBL) got underway in Mumbai this evening. In the first match, Hyderabad's Mark Caljouw defeated Joshna Chinappa won the National Squash Women’s Lakshya Sen of Pune. Lakshya is ranked 109 in the Singles title after she defeated Urwashi Joshi in the world while Caljouw is 35th. final match of the competition by 9-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-5. It was her 16th National title and with this win,  Pune’s Chirag Shetty and Mathias Boe lost to she has equalled the record of Bhuvaneshwari Kim Sa Rang and Bodin Issara of Hyderabad Kumari of winning 16 titles. in the first doubles match of the tournament.  An array of top stars, including Rio Olympics  Joshna Chinappa is the first Indian squash silver medalist P.V. Sindhu and Olympic player to win the British Squash World Champion Carolina Marin of Spain Championship in 2003. She won this title in will take part in the nine-team tournament. the under 19 category.She is also the Other top international stars, who will be youngest Indian women’s national Squash seen in action include , H.S. champion. Pranoy, Dane Viktor Axelsen and Lee Yong  Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Dae of South Korea. This edition of the Karthik won the squash women’s doubles badminton league will feature an impressive gold medal in 20. total of 90 players from 17 nations.

Kabaddi Player Anup Kumar announced his Belgium No. 1 in FIFA global rankings retirement Belgium Football team came at number one position Renowned Kabaddi in the end-of-the-year FIFA global rankings. Player, Anup Kumar announced  Belgium managed to stay at the top with one his retirement from point more than the current World Kabaddi ending a Champions France. Belgium has 1727 points 15-year iconic in the rankings whereas France which came career. at second rank has 1726 points. France had beaten Belgium in the semi-finals of the  The 35-year-old had led India to a memorable FIFA World Cup 2018 to reach the finals. Kabaddi World Cup title triumph in 2016. A  FIFA or International Federation of sports veteran, Arjuna awardee Anup began Association Football conducts football’s his international career in 2006 at the South major international tournaments including Asian Games in Sri Lanka. FIFA the World Cup. FIFA was founded in  He led India to gold medal at the Asian 1904 and has its Headquarters in Zurich. It is Games and was also part of the team which to be noted that the rules of football are set by repeated the feat in the 2014 edition. the International Football Association Board and not FIFA. CA Kuttappa takes over as India's chief boxing  The 44-year-old Ponting retired from coach international cricket in 2012 after scoring 13,378 runs in 168 Tests. He scored 41 Dronacharya awardee C A Kuttappa has taken over centuries, 13,704 runs in 375 ODIs with 30 as India's chief boxing coach at the ongoing national centuries and 401 runs in 17 T20s with two camp. half-centuries.  Ponting was named the ICC Player of the  Star pugilist Vikas Krishan (75kg) was left Year in 2006 and 2007 while also being out from the post following his professional named the ICC Test Player of the Year in plunge. 2006.  The 39-year-old Kuttappa is credited with shaping some of the country's most Points to remember successful boxers such as , M Suranjoy Singh and Shiva Thapa, among  The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame was launched others. on 2 January 2009 in association with the  He took over from veteran coach SR Singh at Federation of International Cricketers the beginning of the camp which started Associations (FICA), as part of the ICC's December 10. Singh has since retired. centenary year celebrations. The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of Points to Remember the legends of the game from cricket's long and illustrious history.  Indian Boxing Federation is the Indian national governing body for Olympic boxing Shooting: R R Lakshya Cup 2018 on Dec 31 and is the India's member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association. It The 10th R R Lakshya Cup, an international shooting is headquartered in New Delhi. This is competition, will be held at Karnala in neighbouring currently suspended by the International Panvel on where top shooters from across the nation Amateur Boxing Association. will take part in the mixed event.

Former Australia captain Ponting inducted into  The tournament is organised by Lakshya ICC Hall of Fame Shooting Club, founded by former ace shooter Suma Shirur. There are two Former Australia categories of seniors and juniors in the event. captain Ricky Some of the participants are Ravi Kumar, Ponting was Deepak Kumar, who clinched a silver medal formally in the 2018 Asian Games, Shahu Mane, a inducted into the silver medallist at the Youth Olympics 2018, ICC Cricket Hall Akhil Sheron and Aishwarya Pratap Singh. of Fame on 26  Last year's RR Cup winner Deepak Kumar December. went on to win the silver medal at this year's Asian Games. Likewise, Shahu Mane, who  Ponting was named in the ICC Cricket Hall won the junior edition of the Cup last year, of Fame along with former India captain went on to bag a silver medal at the Youth and England woman Olympics held earlier this year. wicketkeeper-batter Claire Taylor during the ICC Annual Conference in Dublin in July. 3rd Edition of Women's national boxing Ponting could not attend the ICC conference. championships begins  Ponting is a three-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner including two times as captain. Third edition of women's national boxing He is the 25th Australia cricketer to be championships begins in Vijayanagara, Karnataka. formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall Country's top boxers will be vying for top honours as of Fame. the tournament will be held at the JSW Sports-owned  Qasmi won the Kishanganj seat in 2009 Inspire Institute of Sport till 6th of the next month. general elections by contesting on an Indian National Congress ticket after five  World Championship silver and bronze consecutive failures. medallists boxers, Sonia Chahal, Lovlina  He retained his constituency in the 2014 Borgohain, Pinky Jangra and Nikhat Zarin general elections by defeating BJP’s Dilip will be trying to upstage one another in the Kumar Jaiswal. race to claim the top honours.  He was a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and also a founder Points to Remember member of the All India Milli Council.

 Boxing Federation of India, BFI President PM Modi’s PRO Jagdish Thakkar dies Ajay Singh said, the nationals are extremely important not just because champion boxers Jagdish Thakkar, a public relations officer in the are competing here but because they will Prime Minister’s Office, died. prove to be great inspiration for the other participating boxers.  Thakkar worked with Prime Minister Narendra Modi since his days as the chief minister of Gujarat and later joined him in the PMO. He also served nearly a dozen other chief ministers in Gujarat for over three decades.  Thakkar began his career as a journalist at a Former US President George H .W. Bush passed local daily in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar. away  He later joined the information office of the Gujarat government in the late 1970s and was Former US President George HW Bush has died at posted in the chief minister’s office under the age of 94 at home in Houston, Texas. Congress’ Amarsinh Chaudhari in 1985.

 Bush served as the 41st US president between Famous classical singer Pandit Arun Bhaduri 1989 and 1993, his term defined by the end passed away of the Cold War and the first Iraq war against Saddam Hussein. Famous classical singer Pandit Arun Bhaduri passed  Bush entered politics in 1964 after starting a away on 17th December 2018 at the age of 75, after Texan oil business and becoming a a prolonged illness. millionaire by the age of 40.  Pandit Arun Bhaduri was born on 7th Congress MP Maulana Asrar-ul-Haque Qasmi October 1943 in Murshidabad, West Bengal. passes away at 76 He was a Hindustani Classical Music and Semi-Classical Music Vocalist, initially Maulana Asrar-ul- tutored by Mohammed A. Daud Khan. Haque Qasmi, noted Islamic scholar and Points to Remember Congress Lok Sabha MP from Bihar’s  Pandit Arun Bhaduri was an exponent on Kishanganj Kirana and Rampur Gharana. constituency, passed  In 2014, he was awarded Banga Bibhushan away recently. He was 76. Samman. He also won many other awards.

 The state government has announced his Padma Shri Sulagitti Narasamma passed away funeral will take place with state honour. Prime Minister recipient of 12 international film awards, Narendra Modi has Mrinal Sen was also a member of the Indian expressed grief over People’s Theatre Association. the demise of renowned social Points to Remember worker and Padma Shri Sulagitti  Besides winning national awards for best Narasamma. feature film for movies like ‘Bhuvan Shoma’ in 1969, ‘Chorus’ in 1974, ‘Mrigaya’ in 1976  PM Modi said, Sulagitti Narasamma's efforts and ‘Akaler Sandhane’ in 1980, Sen also won of providing midwifery services in Karnataka the four national Awards for direction for will always be remembered. ‘Bhuvan Shome’, ‘Ek Din Pratidin’, ‘Akaler  The Prime Minister said, the social worker's Sandhane’ and ‘Khandhar’. kindness endeared her to the poorer sections  During his career, he also won awards from of society. the prestigious Venice Film Festival, Cannes  Sulagitti Narasamma passed away in Film Festival, Berlin International Film Bengaluru. She was 98. Known as the Festival, Montreal World Film Festival, midwife of Krishnapura, a remote village in Moscow International Film Festival and Pavagada taluk in Karnataka, the many others. nonagenarian was honoured with Padma Shri in March this year for her role in delivering babies safely in remote villages. She is said to have helped deliver more than 15,000 babies.

Points to Remember Book Release - ‘Blue Waters Ahoy!’ Chronicling the Indian Navy’s History from 2001-10  Sulagitti Narasamma was an Indian midwife from Krishnapura, Pavagada taluk, Tumkur district, Karnataka. She received multiple honours for performing more than 15,000 traditional deliveries free of charge over a 70- year period of service in deprived regions of Karnataka with no medical facilities.

Noted film maker Mrinal Sen passed away

Legendary Admiral Sunil Lanba, released a book titled ‘Blue filmmaker Mrinal Waters Ahoy!’ – chronicling the Indian Navy’s Sen passed away at History from 2001-10. The unveiling was a part of the age of 95 in an At Home function held at the Navy House in the Kolkata. A Padma presence of His Excellency, Sh. Ramnath Kovind, Bhushan and Dada the President of India and the Supreme Commander Saheb Phalke awardee, Sen paved the way for of the Armed Forces. parallel cinema in the country with films like Ek Din Achanak, Padatik,Mrigaya, Akaler Sandhane,  The Indian Navy celebrates Navy Day every Chorus, Kharij, Khandahar, Bhuwan Shome, Akash year on 04 December 2018 to commemorate Kusum and Calcutta 71. its offensive actions during the 1971 war.  The book has been authored by Vice Admiral  He made his directorial debut with Raat Anup Singh, who retired as the Flag Officer Bhore in 1955 and is known for making films Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval that focussed on socio-political issues. A Command in 2011. Hyderabad Mumbai

Which of the following has been appointed as Which of the following state has been conferred as Secretary of Revenue, recently? Best State award in India International Trade Festival, 2018? Hasmukh Adhia Bihar Ajay Bhushan Pandey Uttarakhand Amitabh Ghosh Madhya Pradesh Arvind Kumar Kerala Sunil Gupta Goa What is the weightage of the Eight Core Industries in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP)? Cope India-19 is a bilateral Airforce exercise between India and which country? 45.12 UK 40.27 USA 57.36 Japan 61.28 Sri Lanka 39.25 Which of the following has been appointed as working president of the Telangana Pradesh Salom Zurichishvili has been elected as first female Congress Committee? president of which country? Saurav Ganguly Paraguay V V S Laxman Argentina Mohammad Azharuddin Georgia Laxman Sivaramakrishnan Iraq V. B. Chandrasekhar Tanzania

Which country has become first Nation to appoint a South Asia Regional Youth Peace Conference was female chief of Armed Forces? held in which city, recently? Belgium Bangalore Slovenia Jaipur Mexico New Delhi Iran Bhopal Afghanistan Which of the following has launched 'Heart Attack Rewind Campaign' for elimination of industrially National Skill Development Corporation was founded in which year? produced trans-fat? 2005 Niti Ayog 2008 AIIMS Delhi FSSAI 2010 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 2015 Ministry of Women and Child Development 2014

Iravatham Mahadevan, the famous epigraphist Recently Directorate General of Foreign Trade passed away, recently. He belonged to which state? (DGFT) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry Kerala has put imports of which in restricted category? Tamilnadu Crude Oil Telangana Petroleum Products Andhra Pradesh Gold dore Goa Fertilizers Engineering Products Which of the following will be the chief guest at the 2019 Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi? The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh Vladimir Putin inaugurated the hugely popular Hornbill Festival Donald Trump 2018 in which city? Cyril Ramaphosa Shillong Michel Temer Kohima

Maithripala Sirisena Imphal

Itanagar The President of India inaugurated the 13th edition of CII Agro Tech India-2018 in which city? Aizawl New Delhi

Chandigarh Jaipur The 24th meeting of Conference of Parties (COP- Bangalore 24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Pune which country? Lucknow Germany Mumbai Poland New Delhi Spain Ajmer Argentina

Brazil Who has become the first Indian to won the ISSF’s highest shooting honor ‘Blue Cross’?

Which country is hosting the Asia Pacific Summit- Abhinav Bindra 2018? Bhutan Nepal Apurvi Chandela Sri Lanka Ronjan Sodhi India International Day of Persons with Disabilities is Japan observed on which date? 30 November

01 December Magnus Carlsen, a chess Grandmaster is from 02 December which country? 03 December Britain 04 December

Denmark Chief Election Commissioner of India can be Germany removed by which of the following? Norway President of India Chief Justice of India Italy Parliament by Simple Majority

Parliament by Special majority India’s first owl festival was held in which of the Prime Minister following city?

The 80th Session of the Policy Commission of the Which of the following has announced to become World Customs Organization (WCO) was recently the world's first climate neutral economy by 2050? commenced in which city? USA New Delhi China Mumbai Japan Bangalore European Union Kolkata Canada Bhopal

2nd International Ambedkar Conclave was recently Recently Atlawim Debebe has won Pune held in which city? International Marathon. He belonged to which Indore country? Lucknow Egypt Satara Ethiopia New Delhi Kenya Bangalore Indonesia

Mexico Which country is the partner country at the

International CII Agro Tech, 2018? India to host G20 summit in which of the following Japan year? UK 2022 USA 2021 Germany 2020 France 2019

2025 Which of the following North East state of India has

signed pact with Estonian academy on e- Who is the current President of FIFA? governance? Sepp Blatter Assam Issa Hayatou Nagaland Gianni Infantino Manipur Ban Ki-moon Meghalaya Amina J. Mohammed Tripura

Recently which country has announced its decision to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Which of the following has become first Indian to Exporting Countries (OPEC) from January, 2019? be elected in International Shooting Sports Iran Federation (ISSF) judges committee? Qatar Abhinav Bindra Saudi Arabia Gagan Narang Indonesia Pawan Singh Nigeria Raninder Singh Apoorvi Chandela International conference on bears has been recently started in which city? Maheshwari Chauhan is related to which sports? Surat Wrestling Agra Boxing Bhopal Shooting Jodhpur Badminton Dispur Billiards

Indian Navy Day is celebrated on which date? Recently Centre Government has signed 85 MN 01 December dollar loan to support Odisha skill development project with which Institute? 02 December ADB 03 December NDB 04 December IMF 05 December World Bank

EBRD Recently Union Government has constituted a Committee to look at selling of OIL, ONGC fields to private companies. Who will head this The 2nd Russia-India-China ‘RIC’ Trilateral committee? Summit was recently held in which of the following Amitabh Kant cities? Rajiv Kumar Shanghai P K Sinha Beijing Subhash Chandra Garg New Delhi M M Kutty Buenos Aires Moscow Aruna Sundararajan

Which of the following country is/are related to Recently India has launched its heaviest satellite NAFTA? GSAT-11 to provide better broadband services by USA which rocket? Canada Atlas V Mexico Proton M Only 1 and 2 Arianne 5 1, 2 and 3 PSLV C45 Delta IV Operation Trident was an offensive operation launched by the Indian Navy against which Recently Admiral Sunil Lamba has released a book country? - ‘Blue Waters Ahoy!’ Chronicling the Indian Pakistan Navy’s History from 2001-10. Who is the author of this book? Myanmar Anup Singh Sri Lanka Nirmal Kumar Verma Maldives Robin K Dhowan Afghanistan Devendra Kumar Joshi

Suresh Mehta Recently which Indian cricketer has announced its retirement from all forms of cricket? Gautam Gambhir Which of the following Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Madame Tussauds Wax Museum to foster tourism in Delhi MS Dhoni NCR? Suresh Raina Ministry of Human Resource Development Dinesh Karthik Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of External Affairs Recently which of the following has been appointed Ministry of Railways as Finance Secretary in Ministry of Finance? Ministry of Tourism Hasmukh Adhia

A N Jha India Water Impact Summit-2018 is being held in Ajay Bhushan Pandey which city? Subhash Chandra Garg New Delhi Mumbai Mexico Bhubaneswar Venezuela Varanasi Spain Kolkata South Africa Zimbabwe In which of the following city the 12th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting for Economic and 'DIPAM' department comes under which ministry? Technical Cooperation was held? Ministry of Human Resource Development New Delhi Ministry of Home Affairs Mumbai Ministry of Finance Abu Dhabi Ministry of External Affairs Dubai Ministry of Defense Sharjah

Which of the following has emerged as the most Which Institution has recently unveiled US $200 popular global leader on social media platform billion in climate action investment for 2021 to Instagram with 14.8 million followers? 2025 to fight impact of climate change? Rahul Gandhi IMF Narendra Modi World Bank Donald Trump ADB Xi Jinping NDB Vladimir Putin EBRD

On which date the World Soil Day is celebrated? The "rakhi with khaki" initiative of which police station of Chhattisgarh holds the Guinness World 03 December records? 04 December Bilaspur Police 05 December Dantewada Police 06 December Bijapur Police 02 December Korba Police

Durg Police Who is the founder of SpaceX Aerospace Company? Elon Musk Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been sworn in as President of which country? Bill Gates Tim Cook Republic of Peru Jeff Bezos Colombia Mark Zuckerberg Which state government has launched a new initiative 'PEETHA' to deliver its government Which of the following has been honored with the schemes to citizens? Men’s Ballon d’Or award 2018? Telangana Luka Modrić Odisha Cristiano Ronaldo Kerala Neymar Rajasthan Paul Pogba Goa Mesut Özil

Which is the first North-Eastern state in India to The rate at which the central bank (RBI) borrows launch Pan-India single emergency number-112? money from bank is called? Meghalaya Repo Rate Reverse Repo Rate Nagaland Bank Rate Arunachal Pradesh Marginal Standing Facility Rate Assam Liquidity Adjustment Facility Rate

Recently Cabinet has approved Memorandum of Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha was founded by which Understanding between India and which country on freedom fighter? Cooperation on Peaceful uses of Space Technology Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for Development? Madan Mohan Malaviya Sri Lanka Periyar E. V. Ramasamy Tajikistan Jyotirao Phule Uzbekistan Ram Mohan Roy Germany Recently India has signed an agreement for Co- Spain operation and Mutual Assistance in Customs

Matters with which country? Recently Exim Bank has extended USD 500 mn Venezuela loan to which country for water supply projects? Chile Tanzania Bolivia Nigeria Djibouti Navtej Sarna Maldives Mohammad Hamid Ansari Myanmar Which of the following ministry has been conferred Skoch Award for National Significance? Hand-in-Hand 2018 is a military exercise between India and which country Ministry of Finance Japan Ministry of Home Affairs China Ministry of Human Resources Development USA Ministry of New and Renewable Energy France Ministry of Defense UK Kandhamal Haldi, which was recently in news for its GI tag, is produce in which of the following Annual Startup India Venture Capital Summit 2018 states? to be held in which state? Odisha Madhya Pradesh West Bengal Goa Assam Uttar Pradesh Tripura Assam Telangana Nagaland

YONO is an integrated digital banking platform Shahpurkandi dam project is located on which offered by which of the following Bank? River? PNB Beas SBI Narmada BOI Ravi OBC Sutlej HDFC Chenab

India’s longest rail-road bridge ‘Bogibeel Bridge’ Which of the following has been elected to UN's has built over which of the following river? Socio-Economic Cultural panel, recently? Yamuna Preeti Saran Ganga Vikas Swarup Godavari Talmiz Ahmad Brahmaputra Zayed bin Sultan Kaveri Khalifa bin Zayed Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi Which of the following organization has assisted Zayed Al Qubaisi the State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Rural

Transformation (SMART) Project to transform rural Maharashtra? Who has won the Miss World 2018 crown? NABARD ADB Vanessa Ponce de Leon World Bank AIIB María Julia Mantilla IMF

Who has bagged this year’s Sahitya Academy How many member countries are there in SAARC? Award for his collection of short stories “AAKH’’? 10 Mushtaq Ahmad Tantray 12 Adil Jussawalla 6 Jerry Pinto 8 Cyrus Mistry 7 Ramachandra Guha

Opener Ajay Rohera etched his name in the record Recently which country has increased the books by slamming the highest first-class score on representation of women in the Federal National debut. He belongs to which of the following state? Council to 50 per cent from the coming Parliamentary term? Gujarat Russia Andhra Pradesh Germany Madhya Pradesh UAE Kerala Qatar Maharashtra Iraq Where is the headquarters of World Bank? Who is the Chairperson of the Federal National Paris Council? Bern Mohammed bin Rashid Washington D C Rome Geneva Khelo India Youth Games to be held in which of the following city?

Pune Where is the capital of UAE? Jaipur Abu Dhabi Chennai Kabul Kanpur Brussels Mumbai Ottawa

Bogota Regional Conference on ‘Good Governance- Focus

on Aspirational Districts’ held in which of the Who is the Prime Minister of Nepal? following city? Bidhya Devi Bhandari Jodhpur K.P.Sharma Oli Raipur Tigran Sargsian Mumbai Sheikh Hasina New Delhi Thomas Boni Thiruvananthapuram

INDRA NAVY 2018 exercise has been conducted Food and Agriculture organisation (FAO) Council at which of the following place? approves India’s proposal to observe an International Year of Millets in.... Visakhapatnam 2020 Pithoragarh 2023 Chennai 2021 Malabar 2022 Konkan 2025

1st International Conference on Sustainable Water Management held at which of the following place? Exercise Aviaindra 2018 will be held at which of the following place? Mumbai Jodhpur Shimla Chennai Kanpur Hyderabad Mohali Shimla Surat Bhopal Where is the capital of Iceland? Budapest Where is the capital of Russia? Reykjavik Paris Dublin Moscow Kingston Bern Riga Berlin Jakarta Which state has become first state in the country to have four international airports?

Maharashtra Who is the Governor of Kerala? Kerala ESL Narasimhan Andhra Pradesh BD Mishra Gujarat Jagdish Mukhi Goa P. Sathasivam

Lalji Tandon Indian Coast Guard (ICG) comes under which of

the following ministry? Where is the headquarters of Food and Agriculture Ministry of Home organisation? Ministry of External Affairs Bern Ministry of HRD Geneva Ministry of Defense Berlin Ministry of Finance Rome

Jakarta Kannur airport is located in which of the following

state? Who is the Union Minister of Agriculture and Andhra Pradesh Farmers’ Welfare? Tamil Nadu Suresh Prabhu Kerala D.V. Sadananda Gowda Gujarat Uma Bharati Karnataka Radha Mohan Singh

Ravi Shankar Prasad Where is the headquarters of Indian Coast Guard ?

Mumbai Which state government has launched ‘Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana’ for senior Chennai citizens? Hyderabad Jharkhand New Delhi Madhya Pradesh Pune Delhi

Goa Upendra Kushwaha resigned from Union Council of Himachal Pradesh ministers.He was minister of which ministry?

Minister of State for Human Resource Development Which Ministry has launched PRASAD Scheme, recently? Minister of State for Power Ministry of Corporate Affairs Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Home Affairs Minister of State for Home Affairs Ministry of Human Resource Development Minister of State for Finance Ministry of AYUSH

Ministry of Tourism Recently Jagdish Thakkar passed away. Who was he? Director International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated on which date? Football Player 07 December Public Relation Officer at PMO 08 December A Novelist 09 December Politician 10 December

11 December Where is the headquarters of Rural Electrification Corporation? Noida Recently RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigned. Urjit Patel served as--- Governor of RBI? New Delhi 23rd Dehradun 24th 25th Ghaziabad 22nd

26th

Recently Shi Yomi has become the 23rd district of which state? Military Literature Festival, 2018 (MLF) will be Assam held in which city? Nagaland Agra Arunachal Pradesh Chandigarh Mizoram New Delhi Manipur Dehradun Jaipur Which country has the highest number of ‘stunted’ children in the world according to WHO’s Global Who has won the trophy of Mister Supranational Nutrition Report, 2018? 2018, recently? China Rohit Khandelwal India Yash Pandit Pakistan Prathamesh Maulingkar Bangladesh Jitesh Singh Deo Morocco Shaheer Sheikh

Recently Indian Railway employee Shyam Sundar Glinka World Soil Prize is given by which Institute? Besra was conferred with prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel “Marom” in which United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions language? Network Maithili United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Santhali United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Punjabi Change Oriya World Meteorological Organization Hindi World Trade Organization

The 39th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit Who has become the youngest Indian Golfer to win was recently held in which city? Asian Tour Order of Merit? Riyadh Anirban Lahiri Muscat Shubhankar Sharma Abu Dhabi Gaganjeet Bhullar Dubai Shiv Kapur Mecca Aditi Ashok Rajasthan Gujarat International Human Rights Day is observed on which date? Which of the following has been appointed as new 08 December Governor of RBI after Urjit Patel's resign? 09 December Surjit S Bhalla 10 December Bibek Debroy 11 December Shaktikanta Das 12 December Ratan Watal Ashima Goyal Which of the following ministry has launched an online portal “ENSURE” to connect with Direct Recently which state government has honored Mary Benefit Transfer (DBT)? Kom with Meethoileima award? Ministry of Commerce and Industry Meghalaya Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare Manipur Ministry of Finance Nagaland Ministry of Home Affairs Assam Ministry of Human Resource Development Mizoram

Recently Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Recently which Ministry has launched Twitter fourth Partners’ Forum, 2018 in which city? account namely @CyberDost to spread awareness Lucknow about cybercrimes? New Delhi Home Ministry Bangalore Ministry of Defense Jaipur Ministry of Finance Hyderabad Ministry of Science and Technology Ministry of Law and Justice Recently the Government of India has signed a $31 Million Loan Agreement with ADB to develop The Central Government contribution in National Tourism and boost Jobs in which state? Pension Scheme (NPS) has been raised to how Tamil Nadu much percentage from the existing 10%? Uttar Pradesh 12% Kerala 15% 18% Euro and South Korean Won 14% South Korean Won and Turkish Lira 20% Israeli New Shekel and Mexican Peso Saudi Riyal and Bangladeshi Taka Which of the following district Courts will become the first in India to accept e-payments? Which ministry is implementing the FAME-India Ajmer Scheme? Mumbai Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Hyderabad Ministry of Finance Pune Ministry of Home Patna Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Defense Recently which of the following has resigned from Economic Advisory Council-Prime Minister? Bibek Debroy Recently Indian Navy inducted the 'Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle' into service in which Ratan Watal city? Rathin Roy Mumbai Surjit S Bhalla Kochi Rajeev Kumar Visakhapatnam

Chennai

Mangalore Recently European Union established India’s first

Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in which city? Mount Vinson Massif is located in which of the Bangalore following? New Delhi Australia Mangalore USA Dehradun Antarctica Kanpur Russia

Africa Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs

(CBIC) has notified which two currencies in the List of Currencies for Exchange Rate, recently? Who is the president of Indian Council of Agricultural Research? Russian Ruble and Pound Sterling Satya Pal Singh Smriti Irani Nitin Jairam Gadkari Kanimozhi Raj Nath Singh Roopa Ganguly Ramvilas Paswan Nirmala Sitharaman Radha Mohan Singh Ambika Soni

The number of seats in Legislative Assembly of Recently Bharat Bhushan Vyas has been appointed Mizoram, is as- 60 Member of UPSC 40 Chairman of FTII 30 Chairman of UPPSC 56 Managing Director of HDFC 82 Chairman of UPSC

Which of the following has been appointed as Vice- The 18th meeting of the India-Russia Inter- Chair of UN Panel of Auditors, recently? Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) was recently held in V. N. Kaul which city? Shashi Kant Sharma Moscow Vinod Rai Saint Petersburg Rajiv Mehrishi Sochi Mukul Rohatgi New Delhi

Jaipur Jamal Khashoggi, who has been named for Time magazine’s 2018 “Person of the Year”, belonged to which country? Recently the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $60 Million Afghanistan Loan Agreement to reduce floods and the riverbank Iraq erosion in which state? Iran West Bengal Saudi Arabia Assam Oman Manipur Bihar Who has been selected for the Best Woman Uttar Pradesh Parliamentarian (Rajya Sabha) for 2018?

Recently President Ram Nath Kovind dedicated - India assisted project 'Advanced Centre for Who has become the first Indian Athlete to won the Agricultural Research & Education' to the people of ITTF Breakthrough Star Award? which country? Manika Batra Bangladesh Hima Das Myanmar P V Sindhu Sri Lanka Abhinav Bindra Vietnam Gagan Narang Afghanistan

The Pratibha Parv is being organized in all primary Recently a startup HelpUsGreen has been honored and secondary school in which state? by UN for its works to clean River Ganga by recycling tones of floral waste. This startup is based Uttar Pradesh in which state? Madhya Pradesh Bihar Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Gujarat Uttarakhand Haryana West Bengal

Jharkhand Which country has become a full member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), recently? Who has been appointed the new President of FTII Saudi Arabia Society and Chairman of Governing Council? Israel Shivaji Satam Kenya Brijendra Pal Singh Iran Aditya Srivastava Morocco Dayanand Shetty

Ashutosh Gowariker Recently which country has recognized West What is the rank of India in Climate Change Jerusalem as Capital of Israel? Performance Index, 2019? China 07th France 09th Australia 11th Germany 13th South Korea 16th

India’s first Railway University has been Which of the following has become first Indian to established in which city? lift Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals title? Surat P V Sindhu Gandhinagar Saina Nehwal Vadodara Parupalli Kashyap Ahmedabad Mumbai Sameer Verma

Which state assembly has recently passed resolution to seek 33% reservation for women in Parliament? Bhupesh Baghel to be Chief Minister of which state? Haryana Rajasthan Punjab Telangana Madhya Pradesh Mizoram Kerala Chhattisgarh Goa Madhya Pradesh

Phethai was recently in the news. It is Which of the following has become second fastest A submarine batsman to complete 25 test centuries feat after Sir A volcano Don Bradman? A cyclonic storm M S Dhoni A missile Virat Kohli A type of technology Rohit Sharma Shikhar Dhawan Which of the following has won the Miss India Dinesh Kartik Worldwide, 2018?

Sakshi Sinha B. Sai Praneeth is related to which sports? Anusha Sareen Badminton Shree Saini Cricket Kritika Kamra Chess Mahhi Vij Football

Hockey

Thoothukudi Sterlite Plant is located in which state? Which of the following city is the venue for 37th Senior National Rowing Championship? Telangana Mumbai Karnataka New Delhi Tamil Nadu Pune Kerala Bhopal Andhra Pradesh Kochi

Recently Hubble Space Telescope discovered a planet vanishing at record speed. What is the name In which of the following cities the Prime Minister of the Planet? of India inaugurated 175 Km of sewerage network? GJ 7430N Varanasi GJ7340M Prayagraj GJ1740b Patna GJ3470b Varanasi GJ1473Z Ayodhya

Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore flagged off On which date the Vijay Diwas is commemorated in special marathon 'Soldierathon' in which city, India? recently? 12 December Udaipur 14 December Hyderabad 16 December New Delhi 18 December Kolkata 20 December Mumbai

Which of the following ministry is running Youth Which of the following country's team has won Exchange Programme ‘Watan ko Jano’? Hockey World Cup 2018 Title held in India? Ministry of Human Resource Development Germany Ministry of Home Affairs Belgium Ministry of External Affairs Spain Ministry of Defense France Ministry of Tourism Argentina

Ranil Wickremesinghe Sworn-in as Prime Minister Which of the following ministry is implementing of which country? the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir? Maldives Ministry of Human Resource Development Indonesia Ministry of Home Affairs Sri Lanka Ministry of External Affairs Afghanistan Ministry of Defense Singapore Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and

Pensions Which Indian Armed Force has launched Operation

Oliva to safeguard turtles in Odisha? Catriona Gray won Miss Universe 2018 Title. She Indian Army belonged to which country? Indian Air force South Africa Indian Navy Germany Indian Coast Guard Argentina None of the above Philippines

Indonesia Who is the head of the newly constituted Group of

Ministers (GoM) on stressed power assets? Narendra Modi Which of the following has become the first Indian Squash player to win Women’s Singles Title, 2018 Ananth Kumar Arun Jaitley Joshna Chinappa Nitin Gadkari Janet Vidhi Anaka Alankamony

Bhuvneshwari Kumari High Level Meeting between Indian and Indonesia Coast Guard was recently held in which city? Mumbai Which of the following word has been selected as 'Word of the Year of 2018' by Merriam-Webster? New Delhi Yoga Jakarta Meditation Bandung Justice Malang Aadhaar

Modi

Which of the following monuments has not been India's first private Unmanned Aerial Vehicle adopted under the ‘Adopt A Heritage’ project? factory will come up in which city? Red Fort Hyderabad Qutub Minar Bangalore Ajanta Caves Ajmer Hampi Bhopal None of the above Chennai

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched in Global Gender Gap Index Report is released by which year? which Institute? 2014 World Bank 2015 International Monetary Fund 2016 World Economic Forum 2018 Transparency International 2017 United Nations Environment Programme

Which of the following sewage project is India’s 1st What is the rank of India in Global Gender Gap Integrated Sewage Infrastructure project based on Index Report, 2018? One City – One-Operator concept? 97 Mathura sewage 120 Varanasi sewage 108 Kanpur sewage 86 New Delhi sewage 100 Prayagraj sewage

International Migrants Day is observed on which Which state has received "Krishi Karman" award in date? rice category? 14 December Madhya Pradesh 15 December Jharkhand 16 December Kerala 18 December West Bengal 19 December Uttar Pradesh

Recently Union Government has issued National Crime Records Bureau comes under which commemorative Postage Stamp on Rajkumar ministry? Shukla. Rajkumar Shukla was born in which state? Ministry of Human Resource Development Uttar Pradesh Ministry of Home Affairs Bihar Ministry of Defense Jharkhand Ministry of Information and Broadcasting West Bengal Ministry of Law and Justice Chhattisgarh

What is the theme of the 2018 International Recently India’s largest Cancer Institute named Migrants Day (IMD)? National Cancer Institute (NCI), has been opened in Migration with Dignity which city? Life of Migrants Jhunjhunu Fundamental Rights of Migrants Rewari Safe Migration in a World on the Move Jhajjar Migrant's contribution Gurgaon

Noida Which of the following countries has recently

declared 2019 as ‘Year of Tolerance’? Famous classical singer Pandit Arun Bhaduri passed Israel away, recently. He belonged to which state? UAE West Bengal Japan Haryana China Gujarat USA Uttar Pradesh

Bihar Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty

was signed between which two countries? Recently, Madhavi Divan has been appointed as- Japan and America Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Japan and Russia Additional Solicitor General of India America and China Solicitor General of India America and Russia Attorney General of India Britain and America Justice of Supreme Court

Recently which country has announced to pull out Uttar Pradesh itself from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Odisha (INF) Treaty? Gujarat China

Japan Anup Kumar is related to which sports? North Korea Football America Billiards South Korea Kabaddi

Hockey Ministry of Rural Development has signed Memorandum of Understanding with which to Cricket trained Rural Youth for Skill Development under Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana? 15th Global SME Business Summit was recently Hero MotoCorp held in which city? Bajaj Auto New Delhi Maruti Suzuki India Ltd Jaipur Tata Motors Indore Hyundai Motor Company Chandigarh Raipur Which of the following ministry is implementing Gurgaon the Eklavya Model Residential School, scheme that aims to establish quality residential schools for the promotion of education in all areas and habitations Fifth Ship of Landing Craft Utility Mk-IV ‘IN LCU in the country? L55’ has been Commissioned in which of the following, recently? Ministry of Human Resource Development Mumbai Ministry of Home Affairs Vishakhapatnam Ministry of Tribal Affairs Port Blair Ministry of Culture Chennai Ministry of Tourism Kolkata

Recently which state government has launched ‘Shiksha Setu’ app with an aim to help the students Which of the following vehicle launched the of its state? communication satellite GSAT-7A, recently? Kerala GSLV-F11 Haryana GSLV-D3 GSLV-F06 Andhra Pradesh GSLV-Mk-III Kerala GSLV-F01 Tamil Nadu

Recently which of the following State celebrated its Which of the following has been appointed as the 57th Liberation Day? new coach of Women’s Cricket Team of India? Goa Gary Kirsten Manipur W V Raman Assam Rahul Dravid Punjab Sikkim Kapil Dev

“International Workshop on Integrated Protection of Consumer Protection Act was implemented in Civilians (IPOC) in UN Peacekeeping Operations” which year? was recently held in which city? 1980 Bangalore 1983 Pune 1986 New Delhi 1990 Hyderabad 1975 Mumbai

Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Which of the following has been awarded the Skoch (EAC-PM) constituted a Logistics Development CM of the Year Award, 2017? Committee under the Chairmanship of which of the following? Vijay Rupani Dr. Bibek Debroy Manohar Lal Khattar Rajeev Kumar Devendra Fadanvis Arvind Pangaria Mamta Banerjee Sunil Mittal Shivraj Singh Chouhan Arvind Saxena

Which of the following state is the best-performing state in Startup Ranking, 2018? Recently which f the following has released Sustainable Development Goals Index? Gujarat Ministry of Home Affairs Haryana Ministry of Corporate Affairs President of India has recently inaugurated Centre of Excellence for Genetic Blood Disorders in which Ministry of Human Resource Development state? NITI Ayog Andhra Pradesh Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Telangana

Madhya Pradesh The 2018 All India annual conference of State Bihar DGPs & IGs has started in which of the following states? Uttar Pradesh Gujarat Goa Recently Defense Minister has inaugurated Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region Haryana (IFC-IOR) in which state? Andhra Pradesh Haryana Uttar Pradesh Punjab

Kerala Which of the following cities is the venue of the Goa National Balrang-2018? Andhra Pradesh Ajmer

Bhopal National Mathematics Day is celebrated on which Lucknow date? Chennai 19 December Hyderabad 20 December Dehradun 21 December

22 December On which date, the International Human Solidarity 23 December Day (IHSD) was observed recently?

19 December Which of the following number is famously known 20 December as the Hardy-Ramanujan number? 21 December 2329 22 December 1729 18 December 1264

1624 1728

Recently in which country shut down has arise due What is the capital of Syria? to not passing a federal spending bill in the Beirut Parliament? Damascus Russia Tripoli Belgium Cairo USA Amman Mexico

France Silao Khaja, which recently got GI tag, is the

traditional delicacy of which state? 4th season of Premier Badminton League (PBL) has Rajasthan been started in which city? Bihar Pune Punjab Mumbai Kerala New Delhi Jharkhand Hyderabad

Kolkata Recently which country has launched its first

communication satellite to offer broadband internet Which of the following country has got number 1 services to users worldwide? rank in FIFA global rankings, 2018? USA Spain China France Japan England France Belgium North Korea China

Recently which country has announced 'Gitega' as James Mattis has resigned from his designation. its Political Capital? Who was he ? Kenya Defense Secretary of USA Burundi Finance Secretary of USA Malta Home Secretary of USA Indonesia Director of NASA Tanzania Vice President of USA

The Central Council for Research in Unani Good Governance Day is observed in India Medicine is located in which city? annually to commemorate the birth anniversary of which of the following? Nainital Atal Bihari Vajpayee Dehradun Lal Bahadur Shastri New Delhi Syama Prasad Mukherjee Jabalpur Deendayal Upadhyaya Hyderabad Nanaji Deshmukh

Hand-in-Hand is a military exercise between India and which country? In which of the following city the 6th edition of Yuva Natya Samaroh 2018 was held? Russia Lucknow China Chandigarh Japan New Delhi France Jaipur Mongolia Kanpur

India’s first music museum to be set up in which of the following state? How many items are left in 28% GST Tax slab rate after GST rate cut recently? Telangana 20 Tamil Nadu 05 Bihar 28 Kerala 36 Goa 42

India's Vedangi Kulkarni becomes fastest Asian to cycle the globe. She hailed from which state? How many historical monuments have been adopted under the ‘Adopt A Heritage’ project? Maharashtra 20 Gujarat 16 Madhya Pradesh 10 Chhattisgarh 25 Assam 36

1st meeting of Follow-up Committee for implementation of Trilateral Chabahar Agreement Birth anniversary of which of the following is was recently held in which city? celebrated as Good Governance Day in India? New Delhi Jawahar Lal Nehru Mumbai Lal Bahadur Shastri Chabahar Atal Bihari Vajpayee Kandahar B R Ambedkar Kabul J B Kriplani

National Consumer Day 2018 was recently Indian Navy has recently commissioned a Naval celebrated on which date across the country? hospital Ship. What is it’s name? 20 December INHS Sandhani 21 December INHS Satluj 22 December INHS Kamini 23 December INHS Poorva 24 December INHS Dhartee

“Seva, Suraksha and Bandutva” is the motto of Which of the following Indian Prime Minister is which of the following? called as champion of India’s peasants? CISF Lal Bahadur Shastri CRPF Choudhary Charan Singh SSB Jawahar Lal Nehru ITBP Morarji Desai BSF Indira Gandhi

PM to inaugurate country's longest rail-cum-road Which of the following is the first Border Guarding Bogibeel Bridge. This bridge is located on which Force of the Nation to induct women? River? CISF Yamuna ITBP Ganga BSF Brahamputra CRPF Narmada SSB Kosi

Gwadar Port is located in which country? Recently Uttarakhand government has launched 'Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana'. Under this Iran scheme each household in the state will be able to Pakistan avail medical treatment of up to how many rupees annually? Iraq 1 Lakh Sri Lanka 2 Lakh China 3 Lakh

5 Lakh The National Farmers Day is celebrated on which date? 4 Lakh 21 December 22 December Recently a Renowned social worker and midwifery services expert Padma Shri Sulagitti Narasamma 23 December passed away. She belonged to which state? 24 December Kerala 25 December Karnataka Telangana Which of the following has been named as Acting Andhra Pradesh Defense Secretary of USA by President Donald Trump? Goa James McNerney James A. Bell Recently which of the following Botanical Garden has been closed after deaths of peacocks due to Dennis Muilenburg H5N1 Virus? Patrick Shanahan Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore Dave Calhoun Tropical Botanic Garden, Trivandrum Assam State Botanical Garden, Guwahati Recently Russia has expanded its economic Reddy Botanical Garden, Hyderabad sanctions on which country? Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden, Patna Lithuania

Ukraine Which of the following has been conferred with the Kazakhstan Mohammed RafiLifetime Achievement Award, Ukraine recently? Latvia Udit Narayan Kunal Ganjawala Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar Usha Timothy Sikkim Both C and D Which of the following state has got a new High Court, recently? P. V. Bharathi has been appointed as MD and CEO of which Bank? Andhra Pradesh HDFC Goa Corporation Bank Nagaland Dena Bank Arunachal Pradesh Allahabad Bank Punjab ICICI In which of the following state Child Care Institutes are being running in the name of ‘Jagannath Where is the headquarters of Corporation Bank? Ashrams’? Chennai Kerala Mangalore Rajasthan New Delhi Gujarat Bhopal Sikkim Mumbai Haryana

Who has been elected as the president of the Divya Patidar Joshi, who has been crowned Mrs Archery Association of India (AAI)? India 2018, is from which state? Rupak Debroy Rajasthan BVP Rao Madhya Pradesh Vijay Kumar Malhotra Bihar DK Vidyarthi Gujarat Rajendra Singh Tomar Punjab

Recently inaugurated 'Bogibeel Bridge' is located in The first Delta ranking for the Aspirational Districts which state? was released by which of the following? Arunachal Pradesh NITI Ayog Assam Prime Minister's Office Nagaland Ministry of Finance Tripura Lok Sabha Secretariat Rajya Sabha Secretariat Japan Italy Which of the following ministry will organize 7th Germany National Photography Awards in Feb 2019?

Ministry of Home Affairs Which state government has launched the ‘Bharat Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Ratna Atal Bihar Vajpayee International Schools’ for students in rural areas? Ministry of Human Resource Development Punjab Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Maharashtra Ministry of Electronics and Information Kerala Technology Madhya Pradesh

Bihar The conditions of service and tenure of office of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioner are determined by which of the Who has been conferred with the ‘Tansen Samman’ following? for 2018 by the Madhya Pradesh government? President Manju Mehta Prime Minister Anjolie Ela Menon Parliamentary Act Dalchan Sharma Vice President Natrang Pratishthan Lok Sabha Ulhaas Kashalkar

Which of the following has been appointed as Which of the following state have maximum India's chief boxing coach, recently? number of Dams which are 100 years or more old, according to recent NRLD Report? Vikas Krishan Yadav Gujarat Akhil Kumar Bihar CA Kuttappa Madhya Pradesh Paramjeet Samota Karnataka Rajendra Prasad Maharashtra

Mount Etna, which is in news, is located in which country? Which of the following is not the part of World Bank Group? Spain IBRD USA MIGA Steve Smith ICSID David Warner EBRD Glenn Maxwell IDA Aaron Finch Ricky Ponting How many of the total waterways in India are presently operational for shipping and navigation? The National Ganga River Basin Authority 10 (NGRBA) was constituted in which year? 13 2005 26 2002 32 2009 07 2011 2014 Where is the headquarters of Inland Waterways Authority of India? Rushikulya and Bahuda Rookery are located in New Delhi which state? Dehradun Andhra Pradesh Noida Odisha Gurgaon Goa Hyderabad Tamil Nadu Kerala Which of the following district has emerged as the most improved district in the Second Delta Ranking Which country has recently decided to withdraw of Aspirational District Programme report released from the International Whaling Commission by NITI Aayog? (IWC)? Japan Virudhunagar Giridih Singapore Pakur Russia Hailakandi Canada Chatra

Which tribal community of Tamil Nadu is Recently which Australian cricketer has been celebrating their 2018 Heddaiyamman festival? inducted unto ICC Hall of Fame? Toda Baduga Maanavyaan Kadar Mangalyaan Malasar Humanyaan Irula Antarikshyaan

BeiDou is a Navigation Satellite System of which Dwijing Festival is being celebrated n which state? country? Nagaland Japan Manipur China Assam North Korea Sikkim South Korea West Bengal Russia

In which of the following state National Children’s Recently, President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind Science Congress is being organized? inaugurated the 12th Global Healthcare Summit in Maharashtra which city? Odisha New Delhi Gujarat Mumbai Goa Noida Kerala Jaipur

Varanasi The Khalistan Liberation Force came into existence

in which year? The Aero India – 2019 event will be organized in 1982 which city? 1993 Hyderabad 1986 Bangalore 1975 New Delhi 1998 Jodhpur

Kolkata In UAPA Act ‘P’ stands for what?

Prevention What is the name of India’s Human Spaceflight programme? Prohibition Gaganyaan Protection Profit France Proverb Russia

The Khalistan Liberation Force was an active Exhibition ‘Dandi Yatra’ as part of 150th birth violent organization in which state? anniversary celebrations of the Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated in which city? Assam Bangalore Punjab New Delhi West Bengal Ahmedabad Nagaland Gandhinagar Manipur Surat

Who is Aadi Sai Vijaykaran? The Union Cabinet has approved a budget of how A Badminton Player many crore for India’s Gaganyaan project? A Hollybood Comedian 100 Crore A Novelist 1000 Crore The winner of the 'Top Debater InThe World' 10000 Crore Title 500 Crore None of these 5000 Crore

Convention on Biological Diversity was signed on which date? Recently a Postal Stamp has been dedicated to Nabin Chandra Das. He hails from which state? 05 June 1972 West Bengal 05 June 1992 Odisha 16 September 1987 Gujarat 05 February 2002 Haryana 01 May 1995 Goa

Christian Michel who has been arrested in the Agusta Westland VVIP chopper case. Agusta Recently RBI has constituted a Panel on Economic Westland is the company of which country? Capital Framework under the chairmanship of which of the following? Germany Raghuram Rajan Italy Urjit Patel UK Bimal Jalan Pune Arvind Singh Dehradun Pankaj Saran Kolkata

R R Lakshya Cup 2018, an international Indian Railways has developed which AI-powered competition is going to be held in which city? robot to check for faults in trains? Gurgaon Madad Mumbai Milap Karnal Cris Kanpur Ustaad Rewari Railwell

Which sportsperson has won the 2018 Balkan Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Athlete of the year? International Rice Research Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre in which of the following cities? Luka Modric Lucknow Novak Djokovic Varanasi Simona Halep Chennai Cristiano Ronaldo Coimbatore Rojer Federer Dehradun

POCSO Act, 2012 is related to which of the Which state government has announced setting up following? of a new Adhyatmik Vibhag (spiritual department), SC/ST Atrocities recently? Sexual Harassment of Women at workplace Kerala Child Sexual Harassment Rajasthan SC/ST Reservation Madhya Pradesh Sex Determination of Unborn Child Sikkim Assam Which city was awarded Best Capital City in the Solid Waste Management in the Swachh Where is the headquarters of International Rice Survekshan 2018 rankings? Research Institute? New Delhi Indonesia Hyderabad Singapore Philippines Telangana Vietnam Andhra Pradesh Myanmar Kerala

Which of the following city is the venue of the The government of which state has initiated One ‘Indian Science Congress (ISC)-2019’? District, One Product scheme to encourage indigenous and specialized products and crafts of Mumbai the state? Hyderabad Bihar Jalandhar Uttar Pradesh New Delhi Odisha Bangalore Goa

Haryana Which of the following Island has been renamed as

Subhash Chandra Bose Island, recently? Indian Science Congress Association is Ross Island headquartered at which city? Neil Island Patna Havelock Island Kolkata Viper Island New Delhi Interview Island Jaipur

Pune In which of the following cities the 3rd Edition of

Women's national boxing championships is being held? National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) is an autonomous body Vijayanagar under which Ministry? Visakhapatnam Ministry of Home Affairs Kochi Ministry of Human Resource Development Bhubaneswar Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Raipur Ministry of Women and Child Development

Ministry of AYUSH Recently, Noted film maker Mrinal Sen passed away. He belonged to which state?

Odisha

West Bengal