Daily GK Update: 20th December, 2016 For All The Upcoming Exams

International Human Solidarity Day 20 December

i. The United Nations' (UN) International Human Solidarity Day is annually held on December 20 to celebrate unity in diversity.

ii. It also aims to remind people on the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.

iii. On International Human Solidarity Day, governments are reminded of their commitments to international agreements on the need for human solidarity as an initiative to fight against poverty.

India beat England by innings and 75 runs, win series 4-0
i.India has won the five-match test series against England, 3-0-1.
ii.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.

iii. Virat Kohli is the man of the series for his 655 runs in the series.

Govt mulls merging cyber tribunal with TDSAT

i. As part of plans to merge some of the tribunals into larger entities to avoid identical functions, the government is looking to converge the Cyber Appellate Tribunal (CyAT) and Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).
ii. According to Sources of the government CyAT is proposed to be merged with the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and a Cabinet note to this effect will be moved shortly.

iii. CyAT adjudicates matter related to Information Technology and is seen carrying much significance at a time when the government is pushing for digital payments.

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.

ii.The institute is aimed at making youth more employable and self-reliant. The institute has been conceptualised by the Prime Minister during his visit to Singapore's Institute of Technical Education.

EPFO lowers interest rate on EPF to 8.65 percent for FY17

i. Employee's Provident Fund Organization EPFO decided to lower the interest on EPF deposits for the current fiscal to 8.65%, from 8.8% provided in 2015-16, for its over four crore subscribers.

ii.The Employees Provident Fund Organisation's apex decision-making body, the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), has taken a decision to lower the interest rate to 8.65 percent for the current fiscal 2016-2017 from 8.8 in 2015-16.

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.

Justice J S Khehar appointed as Chief Justice of India

i. Justice J S Khehar has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of India after President Pranab Mukherjee’s approval.

ii. Khehar, who led the five-judge constitution bench in the Supreme Court which had struck down the controversial NJAC Act for the appointment of judges, will replace Justice TS Thakur as the top judge. Thakur will be demitting office on January 3, 2017.

iii.Justice Khehar, 64, will be the first Chief Justice from the Sikh community. He will be sworn in on January 4 and will hold the tenure for over seven months till August 27, 2017.

Single tribunal to decide all inter-state water disputes

i.The Centre has decided to set up a single, permanent Tribunal to adjudicate all inter-state river water disputes subsuming existing tribunals, a step which is aimed at resolving grievances of states in a speedy manner.

ii. Besides the Tribunal, the government has also proposed to float some benches by amending the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 to look into disputes as and when required.iii. Unlike the Tribunal, the benches will cease to exist once the disputes are resolved.

World's oldest water sample found to be 2 billion years old

i.University of Toronto scientists have discovered the oldest water sample dating back to about two billion years, more than 500 million years more ancient than the previous oldest samples.
ii.The water pool was found at a depth of nearly 3 kilometres in a Canadian mine. The discovery could give clues about life forms beneath the surface of other planets.

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 by beating Kerala Blasters.

ii. ATK won by 5-4 against kerala blaster. It has finally ended and Atletico de Kolkata are the ones that have come out on top against all odds.

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.

ii. Murray previously won the award in 2013 and 2015 after his London 2012 Olympic gold and maiden Wimbledon title in 2015.

Priyanka Chopra becomes Assam tourism brand ambassador

i.BJP led Assam government has roped in Bollywood actress, Priyanka Chopra as the brand ambassador of state tourism.

ii.She will promote brand entity of "Awesome Assam". Chopra will visit Assam on December 24 and address international tour operators meet.

Harvard researchers create world’s smallest radio reciever

i.Harvard researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have built the world’s smallest radio receiver, made out of atomic scale defects in pink diamonds.

ii.The tiny radio is robust and biocompatible, which means it can be used in all sorts of extreme applications, from a space probe headed to Venus to a pacemaker embedded in a human body.

World's first cloned goat with Cashmere wool born in China

i.The world's first cloned goat bearing superfine Cashmere wool was born in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

ii.The goat will be raised in a base for animal husbandry research conducted by experts from agricultural universities and academies in Inner Mongolia and southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Karun Nair scores triple century in test, 2nd Indian to do so.

i.Karun Nair became the second Indian to score a triple ton in Test cricket as the smashed unbeaten 303 runs off just 381 balls and powered India to their highest ever team total in Tests.

ii.Eight years back, Virender Sehwag demoralised a star-studded South Africa unit as he made his way to second triple century in Test cricket. That was in Chennai where the opener smashed 319 runs for India, still the highest individual score for India.

Micromax, Uber join hands to offer integrated experience

i.Mobile phone brand Micromax Informatics, and taxi-hailing service Uber announced a partnership that will help Micromax customers book an Uber ride on their phones without having to download application.

ii.Through the partnership, Micromax aims to push nearly 100 million devices that offer an integrated experience with Uber over the next three years.

Creator of Heimlich maneuver, Dr Henry Heimlich, died at 96.