Current Affairs Today 18th December 2019 | Current Affairs News

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Daily Current Affairs PDF of 18th December 2019

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

International Migrants Day

• International Migrants Day is celebrated on 18 December to raise awareness about the protection for migrants and refugees.
• The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is calling an international community to come together and remember the migrants and refugees who have lost their lives or have disappeared while reaching a safe harbour.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Government promises broadband access in all villages by 2022; launches National Broadband Mission.

• The government promised broadband access in all villages by 2022, as it launched the ambitious National Broadband Mission entailing stakeholder investment of Rs 7 lakh crore in the coming years.
• The mission will facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services across the country, especially in rural and remote areas. It also involves laying of incremental 30 lakh route km of Optical Fiber Cable and increase in tower density from 0.42 to 1 tower per thousand of population by 2024.
• The mission unveiled by Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will also aim at significantly improving quality of services for mobile and internet.
• “By 2022, we will take broadband to all the villages of India.The number of towers in the country which is about 5.65 lakh will be increased to 10 lakh,” Prasad stated.
• The mission also envisages increasing fiberisation of towers to 70 per cent from 30 per cent at present

Yashwant Sinha-led group suggests restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

• The Concerned Citizens’ Group (CCG) headed by former finance minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday said the Union government should restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir by reuniting the two union territories to bring back normalcy in the Valley.Based on the groups’ two visits to Kashmir in September and November this year, the CCG said that the Centre should alleviate the fears of the Kashmiris about their future by starting a multi-level dialogue process with all those affected by the events following August 5 announcement.
• The CCG demanded the release of all Kashmiris who were taken into preventive detention under Public Safety Act (PSA) if they are not accused of any crime.
• The group also demanded restoration of internet and mobile phone connections.

Mysuru Winter Festival from Dec. 24.

• It will be a “December to remember’’ as the district administration is braving for the 10-day Mysuru Winter Festival from December 24 to January 2, 2020.
• Coinciding with the Christmas and year-end holiday season the festival is expected to increase tourist footfall to the city besides providing a slew of activities for the locals to revel and usher in the new year.
• The authorities are spending nearly ₹70 lakh towards the festival which will have winter flower show on the palace premises, music and dance performances, photo exhibition and fireworks to ring in the New Year.

GEM launches National Outreach Programme – GEM Samvaad.

• A national outreach Programme, GeM Samvaad, was launched by Anup Wadhawan, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Go1vernment of India and Chairman, GeM in New Delhi.
• The outreach programme will take place with stakeholders across the country and with local sellers in order to facilitate on-boarding of local sellers on the marketplace while catering to specific requirements and procurement needs of buyers.
• GeM has more than 15 lakh products and around 20,000 services
• State Departments and Organizations and Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) have been using GeM for their buying needs. Sellers from the State are also benefitting through the access to national Public Procurement market using the portal. Through GeM Samvaad the marketplace is looking forward to receiving feedback from users which shall be used for making improvements and advancements in the system.

About GEM:

• Government e Marketplace (GeM) is the national public procurement portal offering end to end solutions for all procurement needs of Central and State Government Departments, PSUs, autonomous institutions and local bodies.
• Since its commencement on 9th August 2016, GeM has transformed public procurement in the country by leveraging technology and making procurement contactless, paperless, and cashless.

Indian Railways starts selling drinking water made from air, costs just Rs. 5 per litre.

• The ‘atmospheric water generator’ is called ‘Meghdoot’
• ‘Meghdoot’ harvests water directly from air through a series of step
• In a first-of-its-kind initiative by Indian Railways, South Central Railway has installed an ‘atmospheric water generator’ kiosk at Secunderabad Railway Station. The ‘atmospheric water generator’ is called ‘Meghdoot’.
• This technology is developed under ‘Make in India’ by Maithri Aquatech. The kiosk produces around 1,000 litres per day.
• “Conserve Water, Conserve Life: Railways introduces ‘Meghdoot’ device to harvest water directly from air, which is then filtered & remineralised for drinking.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

World’s first liquid hydrogen carrier ship launches in Japan

• Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries debuted the world’s first marine carrier that transports liquefied hydrogen, using technology that will vastly expand cargo capacity of the green energy source
• .A crowd of 4,000 people gathered at Kawasaki’s shipyard in Kobe for the naming and launch ceremony of the Suiso Frontier — a name adopting the Japanese word for hydrogen. The vessel, measuring 116 meters long, will be fully completed next fall
• The carrier will transport to Japan hydrogen produced in Australia from cheap coal, with trial shipments due to begin before March 2021.
• Hydrogen, which produces no carbon dioxide when burned, is a promising fuel when it comes to reducing the carbon footprint. Middle East tensions are also driving demand for alternative energy sources.

CURRENT AFFAIRS :BANKING

ADB, India sign $250 million loan to expand energy efficiency investments in India.

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India on 16th December 2019 signed a $250 million loan to Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) to expand energy efficiency investments in India that will benefit agricultural, residential and institutional consumers. In addition, $46 million financing will be provided from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), to be administered by ADB.
• ADB previously approved a $200 million loan to EESL, a public sector energy service company, in 2016 for Demand Side Energy Efficiency Sector Project that focused on efficient lighting and appliances.
• EESL will also explore business models to generate greater public demand for e-vehicles to support India’s current push for electric vehicles.
• Promoting awareness of the benefits of using energy efficient technologies is another feature of the project. Awareness campaigns will engage local organisations in knowledge-sharing and training, with a focus on women electricity consumers. Capacity building for electricity distribution, regulatory agencies, and other government bodies will also be carried out.
• Accompanying the loan will be a technical assistance (TA) of $2 million to support EESL in implementing the project, including a gender action plan, mobilising private sector participation in energy efficiency services, identifying new business opportunities, and transferring knowledge about successful models.

Additional  points

• India and ADB sign 91 million dollar to improve water resources in Karnataka.
• The GoI signed a 190 million USD loan with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to upgrade road transport in the state of Rajasthan.
• India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed 200-million dollar loan agreement for upgrading rural roads in 34 districts of Maharashtra with the objective of improving road safety and better connecting rural areas with markets and services.

Additonal  points  ADB:

• The bank was established in 1966. The headquarters of the bank is located in Philippines. The bank was modeled close to World Bank. Every year ADB releases an annual report that summarizes its budget, operations and other materials for review by the public.
• ADB is a UN observer. Japan and US hold the largest shares of the bank as of 2016. China is the third largest shareholder followed by India and Australia.

Axis Bank, Indian Oil launch co-branded credit card for cashless payments.

• Axis Bank announced the launch of co-branded credit card in partnership with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL).
• The co-branded card is for customers who prefer cashless and hassle-free payments.
• This partnership is an effort from Axis Bank and IOCL to expand their presence in the fast-developing credit card ecosystem in India, with an aim to offer attractive rewards and benefits for its customers.
• Customers will be able to get benefits such as cashback up to Rs 250 on fuel purchases within first 30 days of card issuance, 20 times accelerated reward points on fuel spends at IOCL outlets as well as waiver of fuel surcharge.
• Additionally, customers can avail benefits like 5x accelerated reward points on online shopping, 10 per cent instant discount on movie ticket bookings via BookMyShow, while also earning edge points for every spend. The tie-up with Axis Bank for co-branded credit card will usher a relationship amongst the two commercial conglomerates, and enhance customer convenience in tier-II and III cities. This initiative will promote digital payments, working towards the government’s vision of a Digital India.

Additional points Axis bank

Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra

Chairman:Shri Rakesh Makhija

MD & CEO:Amitabh Chaudhry

Tag line:Badhti Ka naam Zindagi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

Five-day music festival ‘Tansen Samaroh’ begins in Gwalior

• Popular classical music festival ‘Tansen Samaroh’ is beginning in Gwalior.
• The five-day festival is celebrated every year in the memory of one of the most eminent singers of Indian history, ‘Mian Tansen’. Pandit Vidyadhar Vyas will be honoured with this year’s prestigious Tansen Samman.
• The music-driven platform is used by the musicians and instrumentalists from all over the world to showcase their talent.
• The prestigious musical event commenced with ‘Gamak’ (Purv Rang). The event will conclude on 21st December and will be graced by many prominent artists.

16th Orange Festival begins in Tamenglong

• The State-level Orange Festival began in Manipur.
• The 3-day festival was inaugurated by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh at district headquarters Tamenglong.
• The festival will have many programmes like competition for adventure sports, best orange recipes and orange peel products, orange eating competition, children’s fair, choir competition, traditional games, traditional fashion show, cultural dances, rock concert by various rock bands.
• In the festival, competition for the Orange growers was held and prizes were distributed to top position holders.
• 370 farmers with 5 lakh oranges participated in Orange Festival at Teminglong. Teminglong is the oldest district of Manipur dominated by Naga tribe. It produces the sweetest oranges of the state which are grown organically.

Additional points

• Tamenglong district is largest producer of orange fruit in Manipur.
• Tamenglong orange would received Geographical Indication Tagging Certificate very soon.

Rajasthan government sets up Rs 1,000 crore Farmers Welfare Fund

• The Rajasthan government has constituted Rs 1,000 crore Farmers Welfare Fund to provide them a reasonable price for agricultural produce and boost their income.
• On completion of one year of the present state government, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched the fund at ‘Kisan Sammelan’.
• Rajasthan Agro Processing, Agribusiness and Agri Export Promotion Policy-2019 was also released on this occasion.
• The objective of this policy is to encourage agro-processing and agricultural exports as well as increase farmers’ income in the state. Chief Minister Gehlot had announced this welfare fund in the budget presented in July.

Additional points Rajasthan

Capital: Jaipur

Governor: Kalraj Mishra

Chief minister: Ashok Gehlot.

National parks and wildlife sanctuary.

1 Mukundra Hills (Darrah) National Park

2 Desert National Park  (Sudasari, sudhasaree)

3 Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) National Park

4 Ranthambhore National Park (Sawai madhopur)

5 Sariska National Park

6 Bandh (Band Bund) Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary

7 Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION

Sridhar Patra appointed NALCO CMD

• Sridhar Patra was appointed as the chairman-cum-managing director of NALCO.
• Patra is at present Director (Finance) in the National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO).
• He has been appointed as the CMD of NALCO till the date of his superannuation, i.e. October 31, 2024.

Additional points

• National Aluminium Company Limited, abbreviated as NALCO, is a Navratna group ‘A’ CPSE having integrated and diversified operations in mining, metal and power under Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
• Founded in 1981 and Headquartered in Odisha.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

National Safety Awards presented by Vice President Naidu

• The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu asserted that Mining Industry must accord top priority to the safety, health and life of all the workers by developing the ‘culture of prevention’ across the industry.
• Provisions for occupational safety of persons employed in mines are contained in the Mines Act, 1952, and the Rules and Regula­tions framed thereunder.
• The concepts of ‘self-regulation’ and ‘participative management’ with a view to influence human behaviour at work so that a real breakthrough in accident prevention could be achieved.
• In total 19 winner prizes and 19 runner-up prizes are awarded for each contest year. The award for each mine is received jointly by one management representative and one workers’ representative.
• Accordingly, a total of 37 winner prizes and 36 runner-up prizes were conferred upon winners by the Vice-President, M Venkaiah Naidu at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Amitabha Bagchi wins 2019 DSC Prize

• The 8th edition of the IME Nepal Literature Festival, at Pokhara, concluded with the announcement of the winner of DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2019.
• The $25,000 award went to Amitabha Bagchi for his 2018 novel, Half the Night is Gone.
• The six shortlisted books included one translated work (Manoranjan Byapari’s There’s Gunpowder in the Air, translated from Bengali by Arunava Sinha), a novel by Pakistan-born author Jamil Jan Kochai and another by Sadia Abbas, who grew up in Pakistan and Singapore, besides fiction by Indian authors.

Additional points

• The DSC Prize, instituted in 2010, awards fiction from the South Asian region, which includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as from the diaspora.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU

CSIR and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France ink MoU for Promotion and Support of Scientific and Technological Research

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research(CSIR), India and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France to establish a framework for cooperation between the two towards promotion and support of scientific and technological research.
• CSIR and CNRS may explore strengthening their cooperation to foster joint innovation and transfer of technologies applicable to India or/and France and to other nations.
• This cooperation could include sharing good practices, promoting technology transfer and enhancing industry-academia cooperation.
• The broad research areas of mutual interest include biotechnology including plant and marine biotechnology; health research; environment and climate change studies; engineering science and technology;material science and technology;energy science and technology and water research.

Additional points

About CNRS

• CNRS is the largest fundamental research organization in Europe. CNRS is an interdisciplinary public research organisation under the administrative supervision of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
• Founded in 1939

About CSIR

• CSIR is the largest publically funded multi-disciplinary industrial R&D organization in India under the administrative supervision of Ministry of Science and Technology, GOI.
• Founded in 1942

 CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

IAF Phase of Indo – Russian Tri- Services Exercise Indra 2019 in Pune, Gwalior, Babina and Goa

• Exercise INDRA – 2019 is the second edition of Joint Tri Services Exercise between Indian and Russian Armed Forces which is being conducted from 10-20 December 2019s imultaneously at Pune and Gwalior for Air Force elements.
• IAF is undertaking service specific and joint missions during the exercise. Russian Federation Air Force (RFAF) element is participating in the exercise along with IAF counterparts.
• The broad theme for the exercise is to organise a Joint Task Force for undertaking planning and execution of air operations for eliminating terrorists at the request of the third country under UN mandate.
• Combined missions between IAF and RFAF would also be undertaken for enriching experience and maximising training value in terms of interoperability.
• Tri Services Ex INDRA-2019 will further strengthen mutual confidence, interoperability and enable sharing of best practices between the Armed Forces of both countries. The exercise show cases the long-standing bond of India and Russia friendship.
• This year IAF has fielded Su-30MKI, Jaguar, MI-17 helicopters, Airborne Warning & Control System aircraft and Garuds of IAF are participating in the exercise.

Additional points

• The INDRA exercises are being regularly held since 2003, initially being  a bilateral single service exercise between India and Russia.
• The first-ever Joint  Tri Services Exercise was held in the Eastern Military District of Russia in Oct 2017.

 Kargil to Kohima Ultra Marathon- ‘Glory Run’

• Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Chief of the Air Staff Indian Air Force felicitated a team of 25 Air Warriors at Air Force Station, New Delhi for a unique achievement – a running expedition from Kargil to Kohima- aptly named as K2K Ultra Marathon-Glory Run.
• The event commemorating the 20^th year of Kargil Victory was flagged off from the Kargil War Memorial at Drass on 21 Sep 19.
• The Air Warriors undertook the challenging task of carrying the ‘Glory Torch’ through 4500 kms, averaging 100 kms on the road per day for 45 days, passing through mountains and plains, traversing densely populated cities and wilderness enroute, culminating on 06 Nov 19 at Kohima, Nagaland.
• The expedition also saw the Air Warriors break the mental barriers of Age and Gender, and spread awareness on Pedestrian safety and Fit India Movement.
• The ceremonial Flagging In of the Glory Run Warriors at Air Force Station New Delhi by the CAS IAF on Vijay Diwas(Dec 16^th ) reinforces the commitment of the Men and women in Blue towards remembering our martyrs and lives up to the true tradition and motto of the IAF – Touch the Sky with Glory!

Brah Mos Missile Successfully Test-fired from Odisha’s Chandipur

• Supersonic cruise missile Brah Mos was successfully test-fired from a base in Odisha’s Chandipur.
• The land-attack version of the missile was test-fired from a mobile autonomous launcher at Launch Complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.
• The BrahMos missile is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from submarines, ships, fighter jets or land.

Additional points  Brahmos:

• Brahmos is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships, aircraft, or land. It is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile.
• It is produced by Brahmos aerospace which is a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPOM (NPO Mashinostroyeniya).
• The name Brahmos was coined from Brahmaputra river of India and Russia’s Moskva river.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

Smriti Mandhana in ICC women’s ODI and T20 teams of the year

• India opener Smriti Mandhana was named in both the International Cricket Council’s ODI and T20 teams of the year, capping off a memorable season.
• Mandhana has Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav and Shikha Pandey for company in the ODI team of the year and all-rounder Deepti Sharma in the T20 side.
• The 23-year-old Mandhana has played 51 ODIs and 66 T20Is for India, besides a couple of Test matches.
• She has a combined tally of 3476 runs in T20Is and ODIs.
• Australia’s Alyssa Healy was chosen as the T20 cricketer of the year following her record-breaking 148 against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
• The ODI cricketer of the year honour went to Australia’s Ellyse Perry, who scored 441 runs at an average of 73.50 and took 21 wickets at 13.52.
• Perry also pocketed the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint award for being the cricketer of the year across formats.
• Perry has had a stellar year across formats, with three hundreds including one in the women’s Ashes Test.
• She also became the first player to complete 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20I cricket.

ICC opens anti-corruption investigations into Qatar T10 League.

• The International Cricket Council is investigating the Qatar T10 league after intercepting “a number of known corruptors” in the event, which it sanctioned a year ago and featured some prominent retired players such as South Africa’s Hashim Amla.
• The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit was working with the organisers to monitor the league since its inception.
• “The ICC sanctioned this event 12 months ago based on the sound information provided by the organisers,” ICC’s Integrity Unit General Manager Alex Marshall stated.

Additional points ICC:

• Headquarters– Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Chairman– Shashank Manohar
• CEO– Manu Sawhney

England off-spinner Laura Marsh announces international retirement

• England off-spinner Laura Marsh has ended her international career in a 13-year span that included three World Cup wins, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) .
• The 33-year-old made her debut as a pace bowler in 2006 before switching to spin and signs off with 217 international wickets, making her the most successful women’s spinner in English cricket.

Additional points England:

• Capital- London
• Currency- Pound sterling

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A star & planet get Indian names: ‘Bibha’ after woman scientist & ‘Santamasa’ in Sanskrit.

• A white yellow star in Sextans constellation and its Jupiter like exo-planets, which were hitherto named HD 86081 and 86081b, will now have Indian names.
• The International Astronomical Union announced that the star will be called Bibhā, the planet will be called Santamasa.
• The star has been named in honour of a pioneering Indian woman scientist Dr Bibha Choudhury, who discovered the subatomic particle pi-meson. Bibha also means ‘a bright beam of light’ in Bengali.
• The planet has been named Santamasa to reflect the cloudy nature of its atmosphere. Santamasa is the Sanskrit term for ‘clouded.’

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHORS

A Dominant Character captures the thoughts of British-Indian scientist JBS Haldane.

• Samanth subramanian’s latest biography, A dominant character, captures the british-indian scientist’s thoughts on how science and politics play off each other.
• The British-Indian scientist best known for his work in physiology, genetics, evolutionary biology and statistics — he bent the rules and defied authority consistently. “He had a lack of tolerance for idiots,” agrees journalist and writer Samanth Subramanian, whose latest book, a biography of Haldane, titled A Dominant Character: The Radical Science and Restless Politics of JBS Haldane, is peppered with incidents.

Additional points

Current affairs one-liners – December 17

• Defence PSUs Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) organised a roadshow in the run up to the 11th edition of DefExpo scheduled to be held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• India donates solar-powered lamps to marginalised Palestinian children
• UNESCO removes ‘anti-Semitic’ Belgian carnival from heritage list
• Moody’s slashes FY20 growth forecast to 9% on weak household consumption
• India joins elite club to enable free 24×7 NEFT funds transfer facility
• FM Sitharama Fifth EAC meeting of 15th Finance Commission held in New Delhi.
• Centre releases Rs. 35,298 cr GST compensation to states and UTs.
• Ramco enters into agreement with China Aircraft Services.
• Arcerlormittal, Nippon steel complete acquisition of essar steel.
• Vistara CCO Sanjiv Kapoor resigns, Vinod Kannan to take over.
• 3 days“International Seminar on Climate Smart Farming Systems” for BIMSTEC countries held in New Delhi..
• The Confederation of Indian Industry organized “Steeling India 2019” conference, a drive to increase metal intensity in key sectors.
• MukeshAmbani’s RIL replaces Indian Oil at top of Fortune India 500 list.
• India is 112th in WEF rankings on gender gap, Bangladesh does better.
• Virat Kohli retains top spot in ICC Test rankings
• Veteran Bollywood actress Gita Siddharth passes away.
• Former Union Minister ID Swami passes away.
• Three-time Olympic champion and mile record holder Peter Snell passes away

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