Daily Current Affairs Capsule 31st December 2018 1. Sheikh Hasina's party wins Bangladesh election Awami League, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wins the Parliamentary elections. Hasina's ruling party Awami League won 287 of the 298 seats for which results have been declared for the 300-strong parliament. While the main opposition alliance dominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured just six seats. The main opposition led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party rejected the election and called for a fresh vote in the country of 165 million people. Points to Remember The Bangladesh Awami League, often simply called the Awami League or BAL, is one of the two major political parties of Bangladesh. It is the country's current governing party, after winning a majority in the 2014 election. 2. PM Inaugurates International Rice Research Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (IRRI SARC) in Varanasi. It is the sixth campus of IRRI SARC. The institute will complement the government’s effort to double farmer’s income by 2022. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is a dynamic and rapidly evolving organization which focuses on solving complex global problems through vibrant, rice-based agri-food systems. Points to Remember It will serve as a hub for rice research and training in South Asia and SAARC region. The IRRI SARC will aid in improving crop production, seed quality and the nutritional value of rice. It is headquartered in Los Baños, Laguna in the Philippines. 3. Madhya Pradesh Government to create an Adhyatmik Vibhag (Spiritual department) The Government of Madhya Pradesh has announced setting up of a new Adhyatmik Vibhag (spiritual department). The proposed new department will be set up by merging several existing departments. As per the tweet from the chief minister’s office of Madhya Pradesh Dharmik Nyas Evam Dharmasv Department (Religious Trust and Endowment Department), Anand Vibhag (Happiness Department) in addition to the Directorate of Religious Trust and Endowment, Madhya Pradesh Teerth Evam Mela Pradhikaran and Rajya Anand Sansthan would be merged to form the proposed Adhyatmik Vibhag (spiritual department). Points to Remember Madhya Pradesh had become the first state in the country to create Happiness Department. The government had also announced the setting up of the Happiness Institute. 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate 106th Indian Science Congress (ISC)-2019 World’s largest science meet ‘Indian Science Congress (ISC)-2019’is going to be held from 3rd to 7th January 2019, in Jalandhar, Punjab. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 106th edition of ISC-2019, based on the theme ‘Future India: Science and Technology’ on 3rd January. PM Modi will also address about 30,000 delegates including many Nobel Laureates, Union Cabinet Ministers of India, science policymakers, administrators, eminent scientists, young men-women researchers & school children from across India & abroad. Points to Remember Indian Science Congress Association is a premier scientific organisation of India with headquarters at Kolkata, West Bengal. The association started in the year 1914 in Kolkata and it meets annually in the first week of January. It has a membership of more than 30,000 scientists. 5. 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 hoisting by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Port Blair. The Prime Minister said, the Ross Island has been renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, the Neil Island would now be known as Shaheed Dweep and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep. Mr Modi also released a commemorative stamp, its first-day cover and a 75 rupees coin on this special day. He also announced setting up of a deemed university after Netaji Bose. Points to Remember Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945) was an Indian nationalist whose defiant patriotism made him a hero in India but whose attempt during World War II to rid India of British rule with the help of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan left an ambivalent legacy. 6. One District, One Product scheme of Uttar Pradesh The government of Uttar Pradesh has initiated One District, One Product scheme to encourage indigenous and specialized products and crafts of the state. The scheme aims to capitalize the rich heritage of the Uttar Pradesh by reviving them through modernization and publicisation to enhance the reach of these products. Points to Remember Uttar Pradesh is a vast state with vast diversity in all facets of life. The diversity of products and crafts in UP is breathtaking. The One District, One Product aims to revive these traditional heritages by reviving them through modernization and publicisation. 7. 3rd Edition of Women's national boxing championships begins Third edition of women's national boxing championships begins in Vijayanagara, Karnataka. Country's top boxers will be vying for top honours as the tournament will be held at the JSW Sports-owned Inspire Institute of Sport till 6th of the next month. World Championship silver and bronze medallists boxers, Sonia Chahal, Lovlina Borgohain, Pinky Jangra and Nikhat Zarin will be trying to upstage one another in the race to claim the top honours. Points to Remember Boxing Federation of India, BFI President Ajay Singh said, the nationals are extremely important not just because champion boxers are competing here but because they will prove to be great inspiration for the other participating boxers. 8. Noted film maker Mrinal Sen passed away Legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen passed away at the age of 95 in Kolkata. A Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke awardee, Sen paved the way for parallel cinema in the country with films like Ek Din Achanak, Padatik,Mrigaya, Akaler Sandhane, Chorus, Kharij, Khandahar, Bhuwan Shome, Akash Kusum and Calcutta 71. He made his directorial debut with Raat Bhore in 1955 and is known for making films that focussed on socio-political issues. A recipient of 12 international film awards, Mrinal Sen was also a member of the Indian People’s Theatre Association. Points to Remember Besides winning national awards for best feature film for movies like ‘Bhuvan Shoma’ in 1969, ‘Chorus’ in 1974, ‘Mrigaya’ in 1976 and ‘Akaler Sandhane’ in 1980, Sen also won the four national Awards for direction for ‘Bhuvan Shome’, ‘Ek Din Pratidin’, ‘Akaler Sandhane’ and ‘Khandhar’. During his career, he also won awards from the prestigious Venice Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival, Moscow International Film Festival and many others. .