current affairs december 2012

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www.BankersChoice.in To get notes on GK, English, Aptitude and Computers regularly, SMS BANK to 09212310077 Material is prepared by Ex SBI Officers for the benefit of BANK Exams Aspirants. TALENTSPRINT | © Copyright 2012 1 December 2012 Current Affairs 1 st December, 2012 To raise awareness about AIDS pandemic caused by spread of HIV infection, World AIDS Day is being observedToday. ||<><><>|| The Indian couple from Andhra Pradesh, has been arrested in Norway for reprimanding their seven-year-old son for wetting his pants. ||<><><>|| Indian-American physician Ami Bera has been officially declared elected for the US House of Representatives. ||<><><>|| 2 nd December, 2012 Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath claims, FEMA notification on FDI in retail needs nod of only one House. Cheque signature mismatch may lead to criminal proceedings, says Supreme Court. ||<><><>|| India will soon erect a 'floating fence', anchored by submerged metallic meshes, along the disputed Sir Creek border area with Pakistan. The 96-km strip in the Rann of Kutch marshes is notorious for illegal crossings and smuggling of narcotics and arms and is patrolled round-the-clock by BSF marine commandos. The 'gabion box' is a regular technology used for flood water control and prevention of rock breaking along coasts by the impact of the saline ocean water. The Sir Creek area is characteristic with shallow and slushy water and these boxes would be the best material to be sunk under water considering the difficulty of the terrain to execute such a difficult project. ||<><><>|| Nationwide Mobile Number Portability by FebruaryTelecom Minister Kapil Sibal on 13 December said nationwide Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is expected to be rolled out by February 2013. ||<><><>|| The government has initiated a special scheme for leadership development of women belonging to minority community in the country. It has also set up a target to provide

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    December 2012 Current Affairs

    1st December, 2012

    To raise awareness about AIDS pandemic caused by spread of HIV infection, World

    AIDS Day is being observedToday.

    ||||

    The Indian couple from Andhra Pradesh, has been arrested in Norway for

    reprimanding their seven-year-old son for wetting his pants.

    ||||

    Indian-American physician Ami Bera has been officially declared elected for the

    US House of Representatives.

    ||||

    2nd December, 2012

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath claims, FEMA notification on FDI

    in retail needs nod of only one House.

    Cheque signature mismatch may lead to criminal proceedings, says

    Supreme Court.

    ||||

    India will soon erect a 'floating fence', anchored by submerged metallic meshes,

    along the disputed Sir Creek border area with Pakistan. The 96-km strip in the Rann

    of Kutch marshes is notorious for illegal crossings and smuggling of narcotics and arms and

    is patrolled round-the-clock by BSF marine commandos. The 'gabion box' is a regular

    technology used for flood water control and prevention of rock breaking along coasts by the

    impact of the saline ocean water. The Sir Creek area is characteristic with shallow and

    slushy water and these boxes would be the best material to be sunk under water

    considering the difficulty of the terrain to execute such a difficult project.

    ||||

    Nationwide Mobile Number Portability by FebruaryTelecom Minister Kapil Sibal on 13

    December said nationwide Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is expected to be rolled out by

    February 2013.

    ||||

    The government has initiated a special scheme for leadership development of women

    belonging to minority community in the country. It has also set up a target to provide

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    training to forty thousand women during this year at a cost of 15 crore rupees under the

    scheme.

    ||||

    3rd December, 2012

    National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.

    Andhra Pradesh Assembly enacts historic law to implement sub-plans for

    Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

    Sensex loses 40 points in afternoon trade; Rupee declines 21 paise to 54.47

    against the dollar in late

    Li Keqiang, is going to succed Wen Jibao as Prime Minister of China. Xi Jinping,

    succeeded Hu Jintao as President.

    ||||

    The Central government has started a mega scheme named Ganga Action Plan to

    clean the river Ganga. One billion dollars have been approved from the World Bank to

    fund an eight-year project. The focus is on clearing large stretches of the river heavily

    polluted by industrial effluents and domestic waste.

    ||||

    Maldivian Government decided to terminate the 500 million US Dollar contract

    awarded to Indian infrastructure major GMR-led consortium for modernising Male

    international airport.

    Maldivian Airport Company Limited (MACL)

    ||||

    New CBI director Ranjit Sinha, said that upgradation of forensic laboratories and more

    manpower for the investigation agency will be his priorities.

    ||||

    Dovetailing the MGNREGA scheme with an initiative to improve adult literacy among

    the workers has proved to be a success story in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district.

    ||||

    India was ranked 94th out of 176 countries in Transparency Internationals 2012 Corruption

    Perception Index (CPI) released on 5 December 2012. In 2011, India was ranked 95 out of

    183 countries. Denmark, Switzerland and Finland topped the index with a score of 90

    followed by Sweden which scored 88 points. North Korea, Afghanistan and Somalia scored

    a lowly 8, ranking at the bottom of the index. India scored a low score of 36 on a scale

    from 0 to 100 where o implies most corrupt and 100 signifies least corrupt. Indias low

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    score was attributed to the scams and incidents of corruption in the public sector which

    involved government officials, private officials and private companies. The Corruption

    Perceptions Index (CPI) has been developed since 1995 by Transparency International as a

    composite indicator that measures perceptions of corruption in the public sector in different

    countries around the world. Transparency International is a non-profit, non-

    governmental organisation dedicated to fighting corruption. It is best known for its

    Corruption Perceptions Index. Its secretariat is located in Berlin, Germany. The

    organization is present in more than 100 countries. It came into existence in 1993.

    ||||

    4th December, 2012

    India lose 3-2 against Germany in the FIH Champions Trophy in Melbourne.

    ||||

    Indian National Defence University (INDU) at Binola in District Gurgaon,

    Haryana

    ||||

    Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)

    ||||

    The second phase of the Rajiv Awas Yojana will cover all cities in the country irrespective of

    population. Any town recommended by the State governments will be included in the

    project. Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Ajay Maken said this while

    answering supplementaries in the Lok Sabha.

    ||||

    Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan

    ||||

    CEO of GMR Male International Airport Andrew Harrison.

    ||||

    Following the Centres nod for Phase-IIA of Project Seabird on 7 december,

    Karwar in coastal Karnataka is set to become the countrys biggest Naval base by

    2025.

    ||||

    Rangaswamy Srinivasan-An Indian-American Rangaswamy Srinivasan, a

    renowned inventor at IBM, has been nominated by the US President Barack

    Obama for the prestigious National Medal of Technology for Innovation.

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    ||||

    Renowned film actress and Bharatanatyamexponent Hema Malini has been

    selected for the prestigious Bharat Muni Samman this year for outstanding

    contribution to the field of art and culture.

    ||||

    5th December, 2012

    Supreme Court allows Sahara Group to refund 24,000 crore rupees to

    investors in instalments in two months.

    Typhoon Bopha hit Philippines.

    ||||

    Two $3,000,000 special physics prizes have been awarded to Stephen Hawking

    and to seven scientists who led the effort to discover a Higgs-like particle at

    CERNs Large Hadron Collider. The Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation, backed

    by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner announced the awards on 11 December, saying

    that Hawking is honored for his discovery of Hawking radiation from black holes and his

    deep contributions to quantum gravity and quantum aspects of the early universe, and

    that the prize money for the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, is being

    shared among a scientist who administered the building of the $10 billion Large Hadron

    Collider and six physicists who directed two teams of 3,000 scientists each.

    ||||

    Law and Justice Minister Dr Ashwani Kumar.

    ||||

    Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal told the Lok Sabha today that calls on

    mobile phones will be made free in the next ten years. Replying to supplementaries

    during question hour, he said communication is a fundamental right and it should not be

    charged. He said that telecom companies are working on a plan to earn revenue from data

    instead of calls. The Minister admitted that the services of BSNL are not upto the mark in

    the North-East, Uttarakhand and some other places.

    ||||

    The government is planning to link the institutions of higher learning with

    industry to improve their quality of research. Human Resource Development

    Minister M. Pallam Raju gave this information during question time in the Lok Sabha.

    Agreeing with members about the shortage of faculty in universities, IITs and IIMs, he said

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    the 30 percent vacancy as of now will be filled up during the 12th Five Year Plan.

    ||||

    The Unit-1 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power plant in Tamilnadu is likely to be

    commissioned by this month end. The expenditure incurred on the project upto

    October 2012 is one lakh fifty one thousand and sixty one crore rupees.

    Minister of State in PMO V. Narayanasamy said fuel has been loaded in the Unit-1 and

    it is ready for operation.

    ||||

    The Expatriate Indians have emerged as the largest contributor to the foreign exchange

    remittances from Qatar to their home country. The latest reports published by Qatar

    Central Bank reveals that remittances by foreign workers from Qatar was around 13 billion

    dollar with India and Philippines receiving around 72 percent. US was at the third position.

    Experts say that the increase in the volume of foreign remittances from Qatar to India is an

    reflection of increasing Indias involvement in the development of Qatar. Around 5 lakh

    strong expatriate Indian community is living in Qatar and contributing to its growth.

    ||||

    6th December, 2012

    Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m. over Babri Masjid issue.

    ||||

    The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice today over the happenings in Ayodhya on this day in

    1992.

    ||||

    A grateful nation is paying tributes to Bodhisatva Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his

    57th death anniversary. The day is observed as Mahaparinirvan Diwas.

    ||||

    The government has said Indian atomic power reactors are the best and the safest in the

    world. Replying to supplementaries during the question hour in the Rajya Sabha, Minister

    of State in the PMO, V. Narayanasami said the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA

    has certified that all the 20 Atomic Power Reactors in the country are very safe. He said the

    certificate was given by IAEA after inspection by the officials of the Agency along with the

    officials of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL Jaitapur Nuclear power

    plant will be setup by French.

    ||||

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    ||||

    Government appointed tax expert Parthasarathy Shome as adviser to Finance Minister

    P. Chidambaram with the rank of Minister of State. Shome was appointed by Prime Minister

    Manmohan Singh as the Chairman of the Committee on General Anti-Avoidance Rules in

    July. He had earlier worked with the International Monetary Fund and also advised the

    World Bank and the United Nations in various projects.

    ||||

    7th December, 2012

    Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar back again, takes over as

    Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

    International Boxing Association suspends Indian Amateur Boxing

    Federation; Sports Ministry derecognises both Boxing Federation and

    Archrey Association of India.

    ||||

    Strong quake hits off Japan near Fukushima disaster zone

    ||||

    Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad.

    ||||

    8th December, 2012

    Foreign Direct Investment in retail will help farmers and consumers,

    assures Prime Minister; Calls for building supply chain in agriculturally

    advanced states.

    India lost to Host Australia in the semi-finals of the Men's Champions

    Trophy Hockey Tournament at Melbourne.

    The Prime Minister said, the 12th Plan has targeted for the country as a whole an

    average of 8.2 per cent growth in GDP and four per cent in agriculture.

    ||||

    Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot has said, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR,

    activities need to be project-based and time bound.

    ||||

    Over one thousand policemen and women from all over the country will display their skills

    and talents developed by the Indian Police over the years during the Spandan, the Police

    Evaluation Event to be held in Delhi. The event is being held to mark the 150th anniversary

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    of the Indian Police and showcase its capabilities and evaluation over years.

    ||||

    Delegates at the annual climate talks in Doha continue their discussions today to

    try to reach a deal to limit global warming. The two-week UN meeting was originally

    due to end yesterday. Disagreements were seen over the levels of emissions cuts

    acceptable to both developed and developing economies. Developing countries want to

    extend the Kyoto Protocol, which obliges developed nations to cut greenhouse gas

    emissions. The protocol is scheduled to expire by the end of this month. Poor countries also

    want firm commitments from rich nations to boost aid for them to 100 billion dollar

    annually by 2020 - a general pledge that was made three years ago. But rich nations are

    not willing to commit to specific targets now, citing world financial turmoil and pressure on

    their budgets.

    ||||

    Ranjit Sinha(59)-An IPS officer of 1974-batch Bihar cadre on 3 December 2012

    acquired the office as new CBI director.

    ||||

    The General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, declared N. Rajam, T.H. Vinayakram

    and Ratan Thiyam as the three eminent personalities in the field of Arts, as

    Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellows (Akademi Ratna)

    ||||

    Renowned Oriya novelist, Pratibha Ray on 27 December 2012 selected for the

    prestigious Jnanpith award for the year 2011 for her contribution to the field of Indian

    literature.

    ||||

    Emirati poet Shihab Ghanem became the first Emirati and Arab to win the Tagore

    Peace Prize.Tagore Peace Prize is instituted by the Indian government to

    commemorate the birth anniversary of Indias poet, philosopher and Nobel

    Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

    ||||

    Organisers of the Recording Academy announced on 13 December 2012

    that Pandit Ravi Shankar, the sitar maestro would be honoured with the Grammy

    Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously. Pandit Ravi Shankar would become

    first Indian to receive the prestigious award. The award would be presented at

    55th Grammy Awards ceremony on 10 February 2013 in Los Angeles.

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    ||||

    Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has received the BrandLaureate Legendary

    Award on 13 december, for his contribution to the Hindi film industry, and for

    being India's foremost brand ambassador in Malaysia.

    ||||

    9th December, 2012

    FDI to provide two crore job opportunities in next two years claims Union

    Minister V. Narayanasamy.

    Australia win Men's Champions Trophy Hockey tournament out playing the

    Netherlands, 2-1.

    ||||

    Mo Yan awarded 2012 Nobel Prize for literature Chinese writer Mo Yan was

    awarded 2012 Nobel Prize for literature at Stockholm Concert Hall 10

    December. The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony for 2012 started with the Swedish royal

    anthem "The King's Song."

    ||||

    Gujarat Parivartan Party founder President Keshubhai Patel.

    ||||

    Karnataka Chief Minister,Jagadish Shetter.

    ||||

    The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that he would discuss with his cabinet

    colleagues about extending 100 days employment under MNREGA to the industrial sector.

    ||||

    India's commercial capital, Mumbai, has been named among the world's 'dirtiest'

    cities, ranking last in the "cleanest streets" category, a global survey of 40 key tourist

    cities has found. According to TripAdvisor's Cities Survey, Tokyo grabbed the first place

    while Mumbai ranked last in cleanest streets".

    ||||

    Polling has begun in Romania, in the country's parliamentary elections. Opinion polls

    suggest a win for the governing centre-left coalition led by Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

    ||||

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    10th December, 2012

    Uproar over news paper reports on Walmart lobbying for entry into India

    forces adjournment of Rajya Sabha.

    India and Ukraine sign five agreements to enhance cooperation in the areas

    of Defence, Nuclear safety, Science and Technology, trade and commerce.

    Madras High Court grants anticipatory bail to Union Minister M K Alagiri's

    son Durai Dayanidhi in the alleged multi-crore illegal granite quarrying

    scam.

    Human Rights Day being observed across the globe today.

    ||||

    The Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi replied for a question in the Rajya

    Sabha on 6 Decemer that the Government has launched Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi

    Suraksha Yojana(MGPSY) on 1st May 2012 on a pilot basis. The objective of MGPSY is to

    encourage and enable overseas Indian workers having Emigration Check Required (ECR)

    passports going to ECR countries, to (a) save for their return and resettlement and (b) save

    for their pension.

    ||||

    India and Ukraine today signed five agreements to enhance cooperation including in areas

    of defence, Nuclear, Science and Technology and also to remove barriers in trade and

    commerce. The two countries also agreed to raise bilateral cooperation to Comprehensive

    partnership level. The agreements were signed after delegation level talks between visiting

    Ukraine President Victor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Manmohnan Singh at the

    Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The pacts also include a Memorandum of understanding

    between the Atomic Entry Regulatory Board of India and the Ukranian Nuclear regulator for

    cooperation in nuclear safety, construction design, operation and nuclear waste

    management.

    ||||

    "The scheme of Web Ratna awards has been designed to address motivational

    requirements. The awards acknowledge exemplary initiatives in different

    categories of e-governance like provision of citizens central services, citizens

    engagement in outstanding web content and innovation."

    ||||

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    ||||

    Human Rights Day is being observed across the globe today. This year, the objective is to

    highlight rights of all people including women, minorities, persons with disabilities and the

    marginalised people as well as to make their voices heard in decision making processes. On

    this day in 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the

    Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    ||||

    Rajya Sabha Chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari has said the Universal Declaration of

    Human Rights is a milestone document.

    ||||

    11th December, 2012

    ||||

    12th December, 2012

    Legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar passes away; The nation

    mourns his death.

    Government announces judicial inquiry into lobbying by Wal-Mart.

    India to clash with Iran in the Men's semifinal of World Cup Kabaddi

    tournament at Bathinda, Punjab.

    ||||

    "Sitare mestro Pandit Ravi Shankar was born on 7 April, 1920 in Varanasi to a Bengali

    Brahmin family as the youngest of seven brothers. He spent his youth

    touring Europe and India with the dance group of his brother Uday Shankar. He gave up

    dancing in 1938 to study sitar playing under court musician Allauddin Khan. After finishing

    his studies in 1944, RaviShankar worked as a composer, creating the music for the Apu

    Trilogy by Satyajit Ray.

    ||||

    The Global Terrorism Index (GTI)

    India's GTI rank was 4 out of the 159 countries surveyed. While Iraq stood at

    number 1, Pakistan at number 2, Afghanistan at number 3 and Yemen was

    number 5

    ||||

    The Minister for Human Resource Development Dr M M Pallam Raju has announced the

    Ministrys in-principle approval for setting up the Indira Gandhi Centre for

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    Sustainable Development at the Somerville College, University of Oxford.

    ||||

    Union Government exempted Service Tax for Janashree and Aam Aadmi Bima

    Yojana

    Union Government of India on 24 December granted service tax exemption on the services

    of life insurance business provided under the Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY) and

    Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY). Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY) was launched in August

    2007and it basically covers death and disability insurance for the benefit of rural landless

    households.

    ||||

    India and Japan on 4 December, signed a currency swap agreement for up to USD

    15 billion to address short-term liquidity problems. The bilateral swap arrangement

    (BSA) between the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Japan enables both

    countries to swap their local currencies either Japanese yen or Indian rupee against US

    dollar for an amount up to USD 15 billion.

    ||||

    External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

    ||||

    India today successfully test-fired nuclear capable surface-to-surface Agni-I missile from

    the Wheeler island off Odisha-coast in Bay of Bengal.

    Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) chief VK Saraswat.

    ||||

    Apparently neglecting U.S and UN warnings, North Korea has fired sucessfully its

    latest long-range rocket Unha-3 on 12 December

    ||||

    Gujarats first industrial park in private sector launched.

    ||||

    Pak to ban ads with Indian models.

    ||||

    Bangalore best Indian city to live: Survey

    Technology hub Bangalore has emerged as the best city to live in India, pipping other

    metro cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, in terms of overall quality of living,

    according to a latest worldwide survey of cities by global HR consultancy Mercer. Amongst

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    Indian cities, Bangalore (139) ranks higher than New Delhi (143), Mumbai (146), Chennai

    (150) and Kolkata (151) in overall quality of living, according to Mercer's 2012 Quality of

    Living Index. "Bangalore's rise in its quality of living ranking can be attributed to positive

    ratings for international schools which are suitable for expatriates," the report said. In

    terms of city infrastructure, however, Mumbai (134) was ranked highest among Indian

    cities followed by Kolkata (141), New Delhi (153), Chennai (168) and Bangalore (170).

    However, no Indian city could manage to find a place in the global list, which was topped

    by Vienna and was followed by Zurich and Auckland in second and third place, respectively.

    Other cities in the top 10 include Munich in fourth place, followed by Vancouver (5th).

    Dusseldorf dropped one spot to rank sixth followed by Frankfurt (7th), Geneva (8th),

    Copenhagen (9th), and Bern and Sydney tied in 10th place. Indian cities did not fare well

    compared to their global counterparts. Among Asia Pacific cities, Australian and New

    Zealand cities rank higher on the index with Sydney (11), Wellington (13), Melbourne (18)

    and Perth (21) following Auckland (3). Globally, the cities with the lowest quality of living

    are Khartoum, Sudan (217); N'Djamena, Chad (218); Port-au-Prince, Haiti (219); and

    Bangui, Central African Republic (220). Baghdad, Iraq (221) ranks last. Mercer's Quality of

    Living index list covers 221 cities, ranked against New York as the base city.

    ||||

    India on 12 December 2012 successfully test-fired its indigenously developed

    nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile with a strike range of 700 km from a test

    range off Odisha coast.

    ||||

    13th December, 2012

    Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar to be honoured with a Grammy Lifetime

    Achievement Award posthumously.

    ||||

    Parliamentarians led by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan

    Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today paid homage to the martyrs on the 11th

    anniversary of the attack on Parliament.

    ||||

    14th December, 2012

    President Pranab Mukherjee says education and skill development are

    among the key enabling factors to achieve 9 per cent growth rate.

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    Buddhist new year festival of Losar begins in Ladakh region of Jammu and

    Kashmir.

    ||||

    Textiles Minister Anand Sharma.

    ||||

    Communications and Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told the Rajya Sabha

    today that the government is to review Section 66A of the Information Technology Act,

    2000, to prevent the misuse of freedom of expression on the net.

    Answering supplimentaries in the Rajya Sabha, he said while the government is committed

    to uphold the citizen's freedom of speech as enshrined in Articles 19 and 21 of the

    Constitution, the misuse of this Right on the net cannot be permitted.

    ||||

    Parliament has approved the North Eastern Areas (Re-organisation) Amendment Bill 2012,

    with the Rajya Sabha unanimously adopting the same today. The bill, aimed at constituting

    separate cadres of Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service for Manipur and

    Tripura, was passed earlier by the Lok Sabha.

    In his brief reply to discussion in the Upper House, Minister of State for Home Affairs

    Mullapally Ramachandran said the Centre is aware of the insurgency problems in the North

    Eastern parts of the country and taking effective measures in this regard.

    ||||

    15th December, 2012

    All Central projects to be linked with Direct Cash Transfer Scheme on the

    basis of AADHAR card.

    UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launches the Dilli Annshri Yojna, the food

    security scheme of the Delhi government; Says Food Security Bill to be

    tabled in the Parliament soon.

    Under the Annshri Yojna, the senior most woman member of vulnerable households will

    receive 600 rupees per month which will be transferred directly into their bank accounts.

    Apart from completely eliminating the leakages in the current Public Distribution System,

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    the scheme will provide an option to spend the money as per the family's need. It will cover

    2 lakh families who are not covered under the Public Distribution System.

    ||||

    Norman Woodland(91)-The inventor of bar code, which revolutionalised retail in

    70s,died on 8 December 2012 at New Jersey.

    ||||

    Bhanu Athaiya(85)- the first Indian to win an Oscar for costume design in the

    movie Gandhi decided to return her award to the American Academy of Motion

    Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in December 2012. Bhanu Athaiya fears that she

    might lose her trophy as the government might not be able to protect it.

    ||||

    Incumbent President John Dramani Mahama on 10 december, was declared the

    winner of Ghanas presidential election

    ||||

    The authorities in Fiji have urged people in low lying areas to leave their homes ahead of

    the arrival of Cyclone Evan which is expected to reach the south pacific nation.

    Fiji's interim leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama

    ||||

    The grand finale of the 3rd World Cup Kabaddi Tournament between two traditional arch

    rivals India and Pakistan would be played at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, this evening.

    The Women's final which was postponed due to rain on Thursday at Jalandhar, would also

    be played at the same venue today. Indian men's team would fight with Pakistan to retain

    the title for the third year and women's kabaddi brigade would be up against Malaysia. In

    women section, team India would also try to defend its title for the second time.

    ||||

    NASA plans to send a new rover to Mars in 2020 as it prepares for a manned mission to the

    Red Planet.The announcement came on 4 deceme, a day after NASA released the results of

    the first soil tested by the Curiosity rover, which found traces of some of the compounds

    like water and oxygen that are necessary for life. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden

    said in a statement that the administration of President Barack Obama is committed to a

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    robust Mars exploration program.

    ||||

    T.Shanmugam(93)-Olympian T Shanmugam, one of India's most illustrious

    footballers, passed away.

    ||||

    16th December, 2012

    Defence minister AK Antony today said that the government will take up the issue of

    Captain Saurabh Kalia with Pakistan. He was talking to mediapersons after laying wreath at

    the Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi this morning. He said the nation respects the sentiments

    of the Captain Kalia's family and that of the soldiers.

    "Defence Ministry, government and the nation respect the sentiments of the

    family as well as the soldiers we are handling it in an appropriate manner.

    Mr. Antony said India Gate is the right place to build a national war memorial.

    "The Nation paid homage on Vijay Diwas today to its valiant heroes who made the

    supreme sacrifice in the 1971 war with Pakistan. The day marks Indias victory in

    the 13-day war with Pakistani forces, which resulted in the Liberation of

    Bangladesh, then known as East Pakistan.

    ||||

    The Supreme Court has given its go-ahead to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for holding

    the first-ever common entrance examination for admission to MBBS, BDS and post-

    graduate courses. But restrained it from declaring the results until further orders.

    ||||

    The government is taking all steps to speed up the completion of ten National

    Manufacturing Investment Zones being set up across the country.

    ||||

    Chief Justice of India, Justice Altamas Kabir has taken a serious note of increasing cases of

    crime against women and said that peoples

    ||||

    Italian defence minister Giam Paolo di Paolo said that they respect the Supreme Court of

    India and hope the case involving the two Italian naval guards would be resolved soon.

    Parliamentpasses banking Bill

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    Parliament on 20 December paved the way for corporate houses to enter the banking

    sector by approving the banking bill, a key reform legislation pending for long. Parliament

    also passed the amendments to the debt recovery laws or Sarfesi law after a reply by

    Finance Minister P Chidambaram on the combined discussion on the two bills in Rajya

    Sabha. These two Bills -- Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2012, and Enforcement of

    Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2012, -- he said, will

    strengthen the financial sector and help in establishing large-sized banks, besides

    promoting financial inclusion. We need 2-3 world-sized banks. China has three among the

    worlds top 20. We have none. We need more banks, he said. Banks have opened 6,489

    branches in 2011-12 alone, that is around 18-19 per day. We dont have the capacity to

    open more branch. We need banks, he said. The Lok Sabha had already passed these two

    Bills. Mr. Chidambaram said the amendment was not intended to give banking licences to

    big corporate houses alone, but also to allow eligible public sector entities to enter the

    sector. The Banking Bill was approved by the Lower House earlier this week after the

    government dropped the controversial clause concerning allowing banks to trade in

    commodity futures. Referring to todays strike by bank unions against reforms, Mr.

    Chidambaram said he could only request the bank employees to refrain from such

    activities.

    ||||

    17th December, 2012

    Parliament disrupted over reservation in promotions for SCs and STs in

    government jobs; Voting on the issue likely in Rajya Sabha.

    Government projects an overall GDP growth rate of 5.7 to 5.9 percent in the

    current financial year.

    Pakistan Interior minister Rehman

    ||||

    18th December, 2012

    ||||

    19th December, 2012

    Syed Modi Cup Mens International Badminton Championship.

    ||||

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    Park Geun-hye(60), whose father ruled South Korea for 18 years, became the

    country's first female president on 19 december, narrowly beating her opponent in one

    of the most divisive elections for years.

    ||||

    Scientists of NASA have discovered a huge mass of ice at Mercurys North Pole on

    29 November 2012.

    ||||

    Biggest Ever Black Hole Discovered in the Small Galaxy NGC 1277

    Astronomers claimed that they have discovered the biggest ever black hole in the small

    galaxy called NGC 1277 which is situated around 250 million light years away from our

    planet. This galaxy constitutes the mass equal to 17 billion suns. The biggest ever black

    hole sits in the NGC 1277 galaxy in Perseus constellation.

    Goa is celebrating the 51st anniversary of its liberation today.

    ||||

    Biggest Ever Black Hole Discovered in the Small Galaxy NGC 1277

    Astronomers claimed that they have discovered the biggest ever black hole in the small

    galaxy called NGC 1277 which is situated around 250 million light years away from our

    planet. This galaxy constitutes the mass equal to 17 billion suns.

    ||||

    Some Milestones in Schins cricket career:

    Sachin scored 18426 runs in 463 one-day matches at an average of 44.83

    Tendulkar made his ODI debut on his international tour against Pakistan in 1989 in

    Gujranwala, where he scored zero runs

    He scored his first half century in the 9th ODI

    He made 49 hundreds in the one-day format, including a double hundred which is

    the first in this form of cricket and 96 half centuries

    He scored his first century in the 79th ODI against Australia in 1994 at R Premadasa

    Stadium, Colombo in a day-night match-this was the third match of singer world

    series

    In the 2003 World Cup in South Africa he finished as the highest run-getter

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    He became the first cricketer to score a double century in the history of One Day

    international Cricket against South Africa in February 2010

    He played his last One Day International Match against Pakistan in Asia Cup Dhaka

    played at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur and scored a half century to help

    India win the match

    Tendulkar scored his 100th international century on 16 March 2012 against

    Bangladesh, where he scored 114 runs.

    ||||

    Justice PN Bhagwati- A copy of memoirs of former Chief Justice of India PN

    Bhagwati titled My Tryst with Justice was presented to the President, Pranab

    Mukherjee

    ||||

    Parthasarathy Shome- Government on 10 December, appointed tax expert

    Parthasarathy Shome as adviser to Finance Minister P Chidambaram with the rank

    of Minister of State.

    Shome was appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the Chairman of Committee

    on General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) in July

    ||||

    S.A. Ibrahim's Appointment as Director for Intelligence Bureau Approved .

    ||||

    Pakistan beat India in a closely fought final to win the Asian Champions Trophy

    hockey tournament in Doha 5-4 on 25 december.

    ||||

    Former England captain and renowned commentator Tony Graig died from lung

    cancer on 29 December.

    ||||

    Oldest Person of the World, Besse Cooper Died At 116

    Besse Cooper, the woman listed as the oldest person of the world died on 4

    December 2012 in Georgia nursing home at 116 years of age.

    ||||

    20th December, 2012

    India successfully test-fires nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile from Odisha

    coast.

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    Ireland's health watchdog to begin probe into the death of Indian dentist

    Savita Halappanavar.

    ||||

    Law and Justice Minister Ashwini Kumar today said the Electoral Photo Identity Cards

    (EPICs) will be recognised as one of the ID proof for individuals at all recognised banks.

    ||||

    21st December, 2012

    ||||

    Miss USA, Olivia Culpo has been crowned as Miss Universe 2012 at a gala event in

    Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada,U.S. Olivia Culpo defeated

    stunning divas from across 89 states to win the crown

    ||||

    The Prime Minister said, India and ASEAN have set a new paradigm in their relationship by

    elevating it to Strategic Partnership level. The successful finalising of the Free Trade

    agreement in Services and investment will prove to be as transformational as the ASEAN-

    INDIA FTA in goods, he said.

    ||||

    Time Capsule on Democracy Buried in Mexico An electoral court has buried a time

    capsule containing more than 80 documents and other items that will not be opened until

    2087 in an effort to give future citizens an understanding of today's democracy.

    ||||

    A report shows that women in India work over one-and-a-half hours more than the

    countrys men every day, making this difference in total work hours the maximum in nearly

    30 countries. According to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Developments

    report on gender and employment, there is a worldwide increase in womens participation

    in the labour force but considerable gaps remain in working hours, conditions of

    employment and earnings. An analysis of the most countries included in the report shows

    that women work more than men when the total time spent including paid and unpaid

    work.

    However, in some countries - Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and New

    Zealand - men spend slightly more time than women on total work per day.

    ||||

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    22nd December, 2012

    Human Resources Development Minister Pallam Raju

    ||||

    Union Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram has appealed to the banks to take the

    responsibility of making the revolutionary Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme a success. He

    said the scheme, beginning on 1st January, will cover all the villages by the end of next

    year. Inaugurating the 1000th branch of State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur today in Jaipur,

    the Finance Minister urged the people to start demanding banking services as their right.

    Banks should also give top priority to uplift the poor and improve their status. Speaking on

    the occasion the Minister of State for Finance Mr. Namonarayan Meena said that under

    Swabhiman scheme 45000 bank branches are being opened in the villages with a

    population between 1600 and 2000.

    ||||

    In a study entitled The Global Religious Landscape which was issued by Pew Forum

    on Religion and Public Life on 18 December 2012, it was found that people under the

    affiliation ofno religion accounted for 3rd largest global group only after Christians

    and Muslims. No Religion group stood just before the Hindus.The study is based on the

    data for 2010. It indicated that Hinduism and Islam are two religions that are likely to grow

    larger in future, while the weakest growth opportunities were that of Jews. The most

    consistently spreading religion was Christianity which is said to be present in almost all

    regions of world. Hinduism, on the other hand, has its concentration in one country, India

    with around 94 percent population following the religion.

    ||||

    The Obama administration has appointed yet another Indian-American to a key

    administrative post naming Smita Singh as the Member of the President's Global

    Development Council.

    ||||

    23rd December, 2012

    Sachin Tendulkar announces retirement from One Day International Cricket;

    BCCI announces Indian squad for the upcoming Cricket series against

    Pakistan.

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    ||||

    Italy's parliament has been dissolved by President Giorgio Napolitano following caretaker

    Prime Minister Mario Monti's resignation.

    ||||

    The authorities in Argentina and Chile have issued an alert over increased activity at the

    Copahue volcano, which has begun spewing smoke and gas.

    ||||

    24th December, 2012

    US President Barack Obama has nominated Senator John Kerry to succeed Hillary Clinton

    as his next secretary of state.

    ||||

    US President Barack Obama was named TIME's Person of the Year for 2012, because of his

    historic win over the re-election in November 2012 which is being considered as symbol of

    the nation's changing demographics amid the backdrop of high unemployment and other

    challenges

    ||||

    National Consumer Rights' Day is being observed today. It was on this day in 1986 the

    Consumer Protection Act was enacted by Parliament.

    ||||

    25th December, 2012

    Veteran Congress leader Virbhadra Singh sworn-in as Himachal Pradesh

    Chief Minister for the sixth time.

    ||||

    President Pranab Mukherjee has said that India is fast becoming a major economic power

    as it is the third largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity.

    ||||

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    26th December, 2012

    China opens world's longest high-speed rail route, linking the

    capital Beijing with Guangzhou.

    ||||

    Ireland is to legalise abortions when the mother's life is at risk, including when

    she is suicidal, following the death of a Indian woman who was refused the

    procedure while undergoing a miscarriage.

    ||||

    President of Nepal Dr. Ram Baran Yadav

    ||||

    In Japan, Mr Shinzo Abe has been voted in as the Prime Minister by Japan's MPs, after his

    party's crushing poll victory earlier this month.

    Delhi gang-rape victim admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital inSingapore in

    critical condition.

    And in Hockey, defending champions India take on arch-rivalsPakistan in

    the final of the Asian Champions Trophy Tournament inDoha.

    ||||

    Soldiers arrested Malis Prime Minister Cheikh Modibo Diarra, and ordered him to

    resign.

    ||||

    The President Mr Pranab Mukherjee has stressed the need for exploring the antiquity of all

    Indian Languages, especially Telugu Language. Inaugurating the fourth World Telugu

    Conference in Tirupati, he said, the study of languages will reveal its associated cultural

    heritage and history of the people to the rest of the world.

    ||||

    Sri Lankas first woman Chief Justice faced the threat of dismissal from office

    after a parliamentary panel on 8 december, found her guilty of three accusations

    of professional misconduct.The charges against Chief Justice Shirani

    Bandaranayake have raised international concerns that the government is trying to control

    the judiciary.The panel said it had found Ms. Bandaranayake guilty of three out of five

    charges of financial and professional misconduct brought by the ruling United Peoples

    Freedom Alliance.

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    ||||

    27th December, 2012

    ||||

    28th December, 2012

    Indian National Congress was founded on this day in 1885 by Englishman Allan Octavio

    Hume, a noted ornithologist and a civil servant in British India.

    ||||

    The United States has evacuated its embassy in the Central African Republic, reflecting

    growing fears that the capital, Bangui, may fall to rebel forces. The country's President

    Francois Bozize has sought French and American help against the insurgents, who have

    been making rapid territorial gains. France, however, has rejected any intervention. It says

    its small military contingent is there to protect French citizens, not the Government.

    ||||

    The defending champion and World No.1Novak Djokovich defeated World No.5 David

    Ferrer in Abu Dhabi ATP World Tennis Championship final.

    ||||

    The second Kolkata International Childrens Film Festival came to end this day.

    ||||

    Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata has retired today at the age of 75. He transformed the

    Tata group from a conventional corporate house into a 100 billion dollar global

    conglomerate with high-profile acquisitions abroad. He will hand over the reins of the group

    to 44-year old Cyrus Mistry, who was chosen his successor last year and formally appointed

    Chairman earlier. this month. Mr Ratan Tata is hanging up his boots after steering the

    group for 21 years as its Chairman.

    ||||

    Over 160 lakh tonnes of rice have been procured by the government agencies during the

    current Kharif marketing season. Data provided by the Ministry of Food and Public

    Distribution said, total rice procured so far is over three lakh tonnes more than its

    procurement in the corresponding period of the last season. The highest procurement has

    been made in Punjab followed by Haryana and Chattisgarh.

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    ||||

    Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalaithaa has urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh not to

    establish National Counter Terrorism Centre without consulting the Chief Ministers. In a

    letter written to the Prime Minister today she said that a nodal central agency should be set

    up which will interact with a nodal agency at State level for sharing of intelligence.

    ||||

    Smitha Singh- The Obama administration has appointed Smita Singh as member of

    the president's Global Development Council. The Council will inform and provide

    advice to the President and other senior US officials on American global development

    policies and practices, support new and existing public-private partnerships, and increase

    awareness and action in support of development by soliciting public input on current and

    emerging issues in the field of global development.

    ||||

    Justice Swatanter Kumar- has taken over as chairperson of the National Green

    Tribunal (NGT)

    ||||

    Park Geun-Hye Elected As the First Woman President of South Korea

    ||||

    Virbhadra Singh sworn in for sixth time as CM

    ||||

    29th December, 2012

    Former England Cricket Captain and Commentator Tony Greig passes away

    in Sydney.

    All India Football Federation imposes two year ban on Kolkata's Football

    Club, Mohun Bagan.

    ||||

    Century-old club Mohun Bagan was today slapped with a two-year suspension by the All

    India Football Federation for abandoning their violence marred I-League match against East

    Bengal on December the 9. The decision was taken today by the I-League Core Committee

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    which also declared all of club's matches in the I-League Competition 2012-2013, cancelled

    and considered null and void.

    ||||

    The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved a five-year extension of a law allowing the

    government to conduct wiretapping on foreign citizens without a warrant. The Foreign

    Intelligence Surveillance Act, passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year,

    cleared the Senate by a 73 to 23 margin with broad bipartisan support. The law, first

    passed after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, also allows intelligence gathering on

    Americans when they communicate abroad with foreigners, designated by security agencies

    as potential terrorist suspects.

    ||||

    The Minimum Support Price of Wheat was increased to 1350 Rupees per Quintal

    ||||

    Bihar became the Fastest Growing Indian State between 2006 and 2010

    ||||

    Indian girl Sherin Catherine in line for Oscar nomination

    ||||

    Sherin Catherine, 24, who wrote the lyrics of two songs for Rupesh Paul's 'Saint Dracula', is

    all smiles.

    Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino the 3rd recently signed the controversial

    Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012.

    ||||

    30th December, 2012

    ||||

    Indian mathematics genius Srinivasa Ramanujan's cryptic deathbed theory has finally been

    proven correct, almost after ninety-two years of his death. In 1920, while on his death-bed,

    Ramanujan wrote a letter to his mentor, English mathematician G H Hardy, outlining

    several new mathematical functions never heard of before, along with a hunch about how

    they worked.

    Quoting the Researchers report the Daily Mail newspaper reported that Mr. Ramanujan was

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    right and that the formula could explain the behaviour of black holes.

    ||||

    31st December, 2012

    Delhi Government launches helpline number 181 for women in distress in

    the national capital.

    ||||

    The direct cash transfer scheme is all set to be rolled out from tomorrow in 43 districts

    spread over 16 states. The scheme aims at providing benefits of several government

    welfare schemes directly to the beneficiaries Adhaar-enabled bank accounts to plug

    leakages and reduce delays in their transfer. Initially, 29 welfare schemes run by the

    Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment, Human Resources Development, Tribal

    Affairs, Minority Affairs, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Labour

    and Employment and Rural Development will be covered. Some of the programmes to be

    covered under the new system include scholarships, pension for the old and disabled and

    wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. From April 2013,

    18 states will be brought under its coverage and by the end of the year, the entire country

    is expected to be covered.

    ||||

    The Cabinet on 26 December, approved setting up of a Commission of Enquiry to

    look into the incident of rape and assault on a young woman on 16th December,

    2012 in Delhi and to suggest measures to improve the safety and security of

    women. The Commission of Enquiry will be set up under the Chairmanship of Ms.

    Justice Usha Mehra, retired Judge of the High Court, Delhi.

    ||||

    Shinzo Abe-led LDP wins Japan general elections.

    ||||

    UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

    ||||

    Cyrus Pallonji Mistry Appointed as Chairman of Tata Sons Cyrus Pallonji Mistry was

    appointed as the chairman of Tata Sons, the firm that holds more than 100 billion dollar

    Tata Group, on 18 December 2012.

    ||||

    Novak Djokovic on 29 December 2012 won World Tennis Championship final

    against Spanish tennis player Nicolas Almagro.

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    ||||

    For the third consecutive time, India won the mens final of the World Kabaddi

    Cup.

    ||||

    India on 20 December 2012 successfully test-fired its indigenously developed

    nuclear capable surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile with a strike range of 350

    kmfrom a test range at Chandipur near Balasore

    ||||

    The National Water Resource Council has adopted the National Water Policy

    (2012).

    ||||

    Famous soccer player,Lionel Messi, on 9 December 2012 set the record for most

    goals in a calendar year by scoring his 86th goal of 2012.

    ||||

    Australia clinched a record fifth straight Champions Trophy (2012)field hockey

    title with a 2-1 extra-time win over the Netherlands in the final in Melbourne on 9

    December.

    ||||

    Kobe Bryant Became Youngest Player in the History of NBA to Reach 30000 Career

    Points Kobe Bryant, 34, achieved the title of youngest ever player to reach the milestone of

    30000 career points in NBA (basketball)

    ||||

    Anna Ushenina of Ukraine won the Womens World Championship Crown of Chess.

    ||||

    Pandit Ravi Shankar(92)- Pandit Ravi Shankar had passed away on 11 December 2012

    after heart-valve replacement surgery in California. Ravi Shankar is said to be a pioneer for

    introducing Indian music to Western world. The most well-known Sitar player of not

    just India, but the world, he is also said to be ambassador of the international

    music.

    ||||

    China inaugurated Worlds Longest High-speed Rail Route linking Beijing with

    Guangzhou.

    ||||

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