Daily Current Affairs Updates–20th December 2016:
Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.DAYS TO REMEMBER:
International Human Solidarity Day: 20th December
i) According to the U.N., 'Solidarity' refers to a union of interests, purposes or sympathies among members of a group. Solidarity, as a central pillar of international cooperation, acquires new meaning in the face of globalization and growing interdependence.
ii) In particular, a globalizing world offers new opportunities to forge innovative alliances that can unleash the potential for broader and faster economic and social development. Among the more important aspects of solidarity at the international level are assistance, development aid and cooperation.
iii) The United Nations' (UN) International Human Solidarity Day is annually held on December 20 to celebrate unity in diversity. It also aims to remind people on the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.
Telangana gets Rs 450 crore Central aid for backward districts
i) The Centre has released a special assistance of 450 crore rupees to Telangana this fiscal for development of backward areas in terms of provisions under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
ii) These additional resources from the Central Government would enable the State to devise and implement schemes best suited for mitigation of backwardness and alleviation of poverty.
iii) The developmental activities will improve the physical and social infrastructure bringing these districts at par with the more developed districts of the state. The Centre has so far provided 900 crore rupees to the State for this purpose.
PM launches major skill development projects in Kanpur
i) Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation of the first-ever Indian Institute of Skills of the country at Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh 19 December 2016. The institute is aimed at making youth more employable and self-reliant.
ii) The institute has been conceptualised by the Prime Minister during his visit to Singapore's Institute of Technical Education.
Govt revises North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy
i) The government has revised the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIP), 2007, stipulating that all the subsidies to industrial units will be disbursed through the DBT mechanism.
ii) Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion said in New Delhi yesterday that it has been decided that henceforth subsidies payable to all industrial units will be disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer(DBT) mechanism by Chief Controller of Accounts(Industry).
iii) For this purpose, the units need to get themselves registered on the e-payment portal by providing required bank details.
Renowned Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar’s statue unveiled in Haridwar
i) The 12-foot-tall stone statue of renowned Tamil poet and philosopher-saint Thiruvalluvar was inaugurated at MelaBhawan in Haridwar, Uttarakhand by Chief minister Harish Rawat.
ii) The process introducing Thiruvalluvar statue in Uttarakhand was initiated by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttarakhand Tarun Vijay.
iii) Initially the statue was planned for installation on the banks of Ganga River at HarkiPauri in Haridwar in June 2016 but it was delayed after it faced opposition from priests and saints.
Govt launches portal providing information on Haj pilgrimage
i) Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today launched a website relating to Haj Matters in New Delhi. The website www.haj.gov.in is in Hindi, Urdu and English languages.
ii) Mr Naqvi said, the website will give the information about Ministry of Minority Affairs, Haj Department, Haj Pilgrimage, rules and regulations on Haj, Haj Committee of India and private tour operators. He said the website also has Do’s and Don’ts during Haj and also a film informing about various aspects of the pilgrimage.
India, Kyrgyzstan sign six agreements in various fields
i) India and Kyrgyzstan have signed six Memoranda of Understanding in various fields including tourism, agriculture and food industry, youth development and broadcasting and exchange of audio-visual programmes.
ii) The Prime Minister said, the two countries have decided to build on the development cooperation including in capacity building and training. On economic ties, Mr Modi said, the two sides will encourage engagement in healthcare, tourism, IT, agriculture, mining and energy. He said, India regard Kyrgyz Republic as a valuable partner in common pursuit of making Central Asia a region of sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.
iii) A joint statement issued after the bilateral meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambayev said, both leaders reviewed the status of the agreements reached by the two countries following the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Kyrgyzstan last year.
INTERNATIONAL:
India-Nepal Folk Crafts Festival kicks off in Kathmandu
i) The five-day India-Nepal Folk Crafts Festival (INCF-2016) begins in Kathmandu, Nepal on December 19, 2016 to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.
ii) The Main aim of the festival to promote crafts based bilateral relations and enhance cultural exchanges between the artisans of India and Nepal.
Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in art gallery
i) The Russian ambassador to Turkey was killed when a gunman opened fire when he was about to deliver a speech on the opening of the exhibition “Russia in the eyes of Turks in Ankara today. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told journalists that Andrey Karlov, was injured in an attack later he had died of his wounds in the hospital.
ii) The Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been "neutralised" soon after the attack, which appeared to mark one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict in Turkey. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been fraught over the conflict, the two supporting opposing sides.
BUSINESS and ECONOMY NEWS:
RBI to issue new Rs 50 banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi series
i) The Reserve Bank of India on 19th December 2016 said that it will issue Rs 50 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005, with inset letter ‘L’, ‘R’ in both the number panels, bearing signature of Dr Urjit R.Patel, Governor, Reserve Bank of India, and the year of printing ‘2016’ printed on the reverse of the banknote.
ii) These banknotes would have the ascending size of numerals in the number panels and without intaglio printing; the banknotes are similar to Rs 50 banknotes issued earlier in Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005.
EPFO lowers interest rate on EPF to 8.65 percent for FY17
i) The Employees Provident Fund Organisation, EPFO has lowered the interest rate on provident fund deposits to 8 (point)65 per cent for the current fiscal, from 8 (point)8 per cent in 2015-16.
ii) After the 215th meeting of EPFO's apex decision making body, the Central Board of Trustees, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment BandaruDattatreya said that in spite of giving 8.65 per cent interest rate, they have surplus of 269 crore rupees.
iii) Roughly 17 crore subscribers’ accounts will be updated with this interest rate upon acceptance by the Government.
AWARDS AND HONORS:
Andy Murray wins record 3rd BBC Sports Personality of the Year
i) After claiming his second Wimbledon title and maiden ATP World Tour Finals crown, Britain's world number one Andy Murray won a record third BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Murray previously won the award in 2013 and 2015 after his London 2012 Olympic gold and maiden Wimbledon title in 2015.
Corporation Bank bags award
i) Corporation Bank has bagged the SKOCH silver award for attaining the position of number1 channel partner of LIC of India for the past three financial years, according to a press release by the bank here.
ii) It said that the bank was also awarded order of merit under other three categories. CK Gopal, General Manager of the bank, received the award in the presence of Nilesh Sathe, Member of IRDAI, and Sameer Kochhar, Chairman of SKOCH Foundation, in New Delhi recently.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
Scientists discover 163 new species in ecologically diverse Greater Mekong region
i) Scientists have discovered as many as 163 new species in the ecologically diverse Greater Mekong region of the Southeast Asia. It was revealed by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report.
ii) These species were discovered in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand. The 163 new species include 3 mammals, 9 amphibians, 11 fish, 14 reptiles and 143 plants.
SPORTS NEWS:
Atletico de Kolkata wins 2016 Hero Indian Super League beating Kerala Blasters 5-4
i) After a final that tasted like porridge, Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) regained the Indian Super League (ISL) title when Jewel Raja slotted home the last penalty in the tie-breaker.
ii) Goalie Debjit Majumder got a leg in in time to deny Kerala Blasters’ skipper Cedric Hengbart and that proved to be enough in the ISL final. ATK won 5-4 in what was easily the worst of the three finals but they surely weren’t complaining.
iii) Regulation time and extra-time ended 1-1 after Mohammed Rafi’s goal was cancelled by Henrique Sereno.
India beat England by innings and 75 runs; win Test series 4-0
i) India has won the five-match test series against England, 3-0-1. In the fifth and final test played at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, England wrapped up the second innings at 207 in 88 overs on 20 December 2016.
ii) Karun Nair’s triple century in the first innings of the fifth test match against England was the key factor in the enormous win of India. Virat Kohli is the man of the series for his 655 runs in the series.
PM congratulates Junior Hockey team for World Cup win
i) India has lifted the Men's Junior Hockey World Cup after a gap of 15 years. The hosts defeated Belgium 2-1 in the final at Lucknow. India had earlier won the trophy in 2001 in Hobart, Australia.
ii) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Men's Junior Hockey team for winning World Cup and said it augurs well for the future of Indian hockey adding that the victory will make the sport even more popular among youngsters.
iii) Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also hailed India's victory saying the team displayed superb play. In her message, she said there was splendid coordination among the players and impregnable defence.
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