Inside the Pages….

Appointment 3

Awards 4

Banking & Economy 8

Bills & Acts 10

Books & Authors 12

Conference & Summits 12

Defence 17

Environment 20

Important Days 21

International 25

India & International 27

National 30

Persons & Places in News 39

Reports & Indices 41

Schemes & Policies 43

Science & Technology 44

Sports 46

States 48

Tamil Nadu 56

APPOINTMENTS

1. Soma Roy Burman becomes 24th Controller General of Accounts.

2. Girish Chandra Chaturvedi appointed as the new chairman of NSE.

3. Actor Suniel Shetty is appointed as the brand ambassador for NADA.

4. Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane to be the next Chief of Army Staff.

5. Nagaland Governor R N Ravi to take additional charge of the State of

Meghalaya.

6. Hari Mohan takes over as Chairman, Ordnance Factory Board

7. Lt Gen P S Rajeshwar takes over as C-n-C of Andaman & Nicobar

Command

Lt Gen Podali Shankar Rajeshwar took over as the 14th

Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command

(CINCAN). He has actively taken part in Operation Meghdoot and

Operation Rakshak.

8. Ravneet Singh took charge as the Chief of Personnel of the Indian

Navy

9. Ripu Daman Bevli is appointed as the Plogging Ambassador of

India

The appointment was announced by the Union Minister of State (I/C)

for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Kiren Rijiju on the Fit India Plogging

Run. The minister also launched the nation-wide Plogging

Ambassador Mission under which, Indians who have been running

and cleaning their cities, towns or districts, will be nominated as

Plogging Ambassadors of their region.

10. K Vijay Kumar is appointed as a Senior Security Advisor in the

Home Ministry

K Vijay Kumar is appointed as a Senior Security Advisor in

the Union Home Ministry. He will be advising the Home Ministry

headed by Amit Shah on security-related matters of Union Territory of

JK and Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

He was the chief of the Tamil Nadu police special task force that killed

forest brigand Veerappan in 2004.

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11. Nagaland Governor R N Ravi has been given additional charge of

the State Meghalaya.

Article 153 of Constitution: The Article says that there shall be

Governor for each state. The seventh Constitutional Amendment Act,

1956 has facilitated the appointment of the same person as a governor

for two or more states.

12. Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane has been appointed as

the next Chief of Army Staff (CAS).

13. Foreign Secretary

Narendra Modi government approved the appointment of Indian

ambassador to the United States Harsh Vardhan Shringla as the next

foreign secretary. He replaced Vijay Gokhale.

14. Jharkhand Chief Minister- Hemant Soren

Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu will take the oath of office to

chief minister-designate Hemant Soren.

AWARDS

1. Awards for VATAVARAN 2019

The Awards for the first-ever VATAVARAN-2019 Short Film

Competition and Festival on Environment was presented in New

Delhi. It was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and

Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Centre for Media Studies (CMS).

The award was presented in three categories namely:

School students

Amateur and College students

Professionals

2. Tony Joseph wins 2019 Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize

English author Tony Joseph has won the 12th ‘Shakti Bhatt First

Book Prize’.He was awarded for his 2018 book, “Early Indians: The

Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From“. The award was

instituted in 2008 and it carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh along with a

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trophy.The book tells the tale of the people of South Asia through

research in six disciplines, including path-breaking new DNA

evidence.

3. President Kovind presented the National Florence Nightingale

Awards

The President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind presented the National

Florence Nightingale Awards to nursing personnel in New Delhi on

5 December 2019.

The nurses play a vital role in delivering quality and cost-effective

healthcare, addressing multiple health challenges and responding to

the health needs of individuals, families, and communities.

World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced 2020 as the Year

of the Nurse and Midwife.

4. President's Colours award

Gujarat police was honoured with the President's Colours award.

Gujarat became the seventh state police force in India to be bestowed

with the honour of the President’s Colours.

5. South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi was crowned as the Miss Universe 2019.

6. Jamaica's Toni-Ann Singh was crowned Miss World. India's Suman

Rao became the second runners-up. She was crowned as Miss World

Asia.

7. Abu Dhabi selected as the worlds leading sports tourism destination.

8. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali received the Nobel Peace

Prize. Abiy Ahmed was awarded for his extraordinary efforts to end the

decades-long conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.

9. Four people won the Right Livelihood Award for the year 2019

The awardees are Greta Thunberg, Aminatou Haidar, Guo Juanmei

and Davi Kopenawa Yanomami.

10. Austrian author and playwright Peter Handke received the Nobel

Literature Prize

He was recognized for his influential work that with linguistic

ingenuity has explored the periphery and the specificity of human

experience.

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11. Railway Sports Promotion Board won the 2019 FICCI India Sports

Awards

12. Odisha received the 2019 World Habitat Award

Odisha State government was honoured with the 2019 World Habitat

Award. The award recognized the State's ambitious project Jaga

Mission.

13. Blue Sky Analytics won the Space Oscars awards at Copernicus

Masters competition

Blue Sky Analytics became the has become the first Indian Startup to

win the Space Oscars award presented by the European Space

Agency.

14. Gujarat police was honoured with the President's Colours award

Gujarat became the seventh state police force in India to be bestowed

with the honour of the President’s Colours.

The President's Colour is the highest honour bestowed upon a police

force in India. The honour recognizes the invaluable contribution of

the police force to society.

15. World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced 4 winners for the

26th Crystal Award

The chosen winners are Deepika Padukone, Jin Xing, Theaster Gates,

and Lynette Wallworth.

16. Indian troops received the United Nations Medal

Around 850 Indian troops who serve in South Sudan have received the

United Nations Medal. The award recognized the strong contribution of

the Indian peacekeepers to build peace in conflict-affected South

Sudan and to go above and beyond their duties to support local

communities. The award recognized the dedication and sacrifice

offered to protect civilians in South Sudan.

17. South Asian Literature 2019 award

Amitabha Bagchi's novel Half The Night Is Gone won the South Asian

Literature 2019 award.

18. Women's Best cricketer and ODI player of 2019

a. Ellyse Perry was named as women's Best cricketer and ODI player

of 2019.

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b. Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy was named the Best T20I

Player.

c. Meg Lanning, the Australian team captain, was named skipper of

the ICC's 50-overs and T20 teams of the year 2019.

19. National award in the best performing category

Jammu and Kashmir has been selected by the Union Ministry of Rural

Development for the national award in the best performing category

for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

20. India Cyber Cop of the Year 2019 award

CBI officer BP Raju has won the India Cyber Cop of the Year 2019

award by the National Association of Software and Services

Companies (NASSCOM)-Data Security Council of India (DSCI).

21. Junior Freestyle Wrestler of the Year

Indian Wrestler Deepak Punia has been named the Junior Freestyle

Wrestler of the Year by the United World Wrestling (UWW). He was

transitted from junior to the senior circuit. Punia became the first

Indian wrestler to win a junior world title in 18 years. He won a silver

medal on his debut at the Senior World Wrestling Championships

2019.

22. Renowned archaeologist R. Nagaswamy was honoured at the Silver

Jubilee International Conference of Art held in Dhaka by Bangladesh.

23. Army Design Bureau Excellence Award

Major Anoop Mishra developed bullet-proof jacket Sarvatra to develop

his bulletproof jacket the day hit by a stray bullet during an operation.

24. United Nations International Children’s and Education Fund

(Unicef)-2019 Award

Kamareddy district of Telangana secured the United Nations

International Children’s and Education Fund (Unicef)-2019 Award.

The district won the award for the effective implementation of Swachh

Bharat Mission in water sanitation.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Campaign Slogan- One step towards

cleanliness

25. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Awards

Krish Srikkanth, Anjum Chopra to get CK Nayudu Lifetime

Achievement Awards given by the BCCI.

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26. Dadasaheb Phalke Award

The 50th Dadasaheb Phalke Awards honored legendary actor Amitabh

Bachchan with India's highest film honor for his stupendous

contribution to Indian cinema, in New Delhi.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

1. IEPFA signed MoU with Bank of Baroda for Investor awareness

Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) signs

MOU with Bank of Baroda for information dissemination and

reaching out to investors and stakeholders. The exercise aims to help

various investors who often fall prey to tempting offers for investments

and Ponzi schemes. It will form a strategic partnership to help

people to refrain from falling prey to fraudulent schemes.

2. 15th Finance Commission submitted the report for 2020-21 FY

It was submitted by Chairman Shri N.K. Singh, members S/Shri

Ajay Narayan Jha, Ashok Lahiri, Ramesh Chand, Anoop Singh and

Secretary Shri Arvind Mehta of the commission. The final report for

the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2026 will be submitted by 30

October 2020. The Commission was constituted by the President of

India under Article 280 of the Constitution on 27 November 2017.

3. Rates remained unchanged in RBIs 5th Monetary Policy

The policy was prepared by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)-led

by Governor Shaktikanta Das.

The repo rate remains the same as 5.15%. It was not changed due to

inflation pressure. RBI lowered its real GDP growth forecast for 2019-

20 from 6.1% in the October policy to 5%.

4. RBI allows 24X7 NEFT transactions from 16 December

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that the online money transfer

allowed online money transfer through National Electronic Funds

Transfer (NEFT) will be available 24x7 from 16 December 2019. The

move by RBI aims to promote digital transactions in the Country.

The new NEFT transfer system will be available on all days of the

year, including holidays.

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5. Cabinet approved the creation of Bharat Bond Exchange Traded

Fund

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime

Minister Narendra Modi approved for the creation of the Bharat Bond

Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).

Cabinet approved the launch of Bharat Bond Exchange Traded Fund

(BBETF) in order to allow the investors to buy government debts. The

fund will allow easy and low-cost access with the smallest amount of

Rs 1000.

6. RBI released Guidelines for on tap Licensing of SFBs

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released Guidelines for 'on tap'

Licensing of Small Finance Banks (SFBs) in the Private Sector after

making few changes.

Major changes from the earlier Guidelines on Small Finance Banks

are:

The new guidelines stated that the minimum paid-up voting equity

capital or net worth requirement should be Rs.200 crore.

As per the new guidelines, licensing window will be open on-tap

For Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs), which want to

transit into Small Finance Banks (SFBs), the initial requirement shall

be Rs.100 crore. It should be increased to Rs.200 crore within five

years from the date of commencement of business.

Upon the commencement of operations, the SFBs will be given

scheduled bank status immediately and will have general permission

to open banking outlets.

Payments Banks can be transit into SFB after five years of operations

if they are otherwise eligible as per these guidelines.

7. 38th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council fixed a uniform tax rate of

28% on both state and private lottery. The GST Council rationalized

the tax rate on woven and non-woven bags to 18%.

8. Common e-auction platform for assets attached by banks

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched eBkray, an online

platform to increase the transparency in auctioning of assets attached

by banks.

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BILLS AND ACTS

1. Rajya Sabha passed the Prohibition of E Cigarettes Bill

Rajya Sabha passed the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill,

2019. The bill seeks to prohibit the production, trade, transport,

storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes in the country. The

bill was passed in Lok Sabha in November 2019. The bill will replace

the ordinance issued to ban e-cigarettes in September.

It makes the production, manufacturing, transport, sale,

import, export, distribution, storage or advertisements of such

alternative smoking devices a cognizable offence.

The offence will attract a jail term and a fine

The violators will get a penalty of jail term up to 3 years and

fine up to Rs.5 lakh for violations.

The violators will have to penalty of jail term up to one year and

a fine up to Rs.1 lakh for the first time.

For repeat offenders, jail term might extend up to three years

and a fine up to Rs.5 lakh.

Any individual who stores e-cigarettes will also be punished

with jail up to 6 months or fine up to Rs.50,000 or each

2. Lok Sabha passed the 2019 Recycling of Ships Bill

Lok Sabha passed the Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 on 3 December

2019. The Bill prohibits the use of hazardous materials of recycled

ships. Use hazardous materials in a ship will be punishable with

imprisonment of up to three months or a fine of up to Rs.5 lakh or

both. It seeks the restriction of the use of hazardous material on ships

and regulates the recycling of ships by establishing a National

Authority.

3. Rajya Sabha passed a bill to merge Dadra and Nagar Haveli,

Daman and Diu

Rajya Sabha passed the Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

(Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019 on 3 December 2019. The

Bill aims to merge two Union territories Daman & Diu, and Dadra &

Nagar Haveli into one unit. The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha on 27

November 2019.

The Bill aims to strengthen the administrative efficiency and the

development of the two union territories.

The merger will reduce the administrative cost of the two Union

Territories.

The merged Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman &

Diu will be named as Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

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4. Cabinet approves 2019 Personal Data Protection Bill

The draft of the Bill was prepared by a high-level expert group

chaired by former Supreme Court judge B.N. Srikrishna in 2018.

The Bill will lay down a framework including the processing

of personal and private data by public and private entities.

It will provide broad guidelines on the collection, storage, and

processing of personal data.

5. Rajya Sabha passed the SPG Bill

Rajya Sabha passed the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill,

2019. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 27 November 2019.

With this amendment, the SPG will provide cover officially only for the

Prime Minister.

The amendment to the act focuses on the core mandate, as the

security of the prime minister is of paramount importance for the

government, governance and national security.

The Director of SPG is Arun Kumar Sinha.

6. Winter session of the Parliament concluded on 13 December

The winter session of the Parliament in the year 2019 began on 18

November and concluded on 13 December.

It was the 250th session of the Rajya Sabha. The year 2019 was also

the 70th Constitution Day. A total of 18 bills were introduced in the

session. 15 bills were passed by both the houses. Lok Sabha marked

the productivity of 116%, Rajya Sabha was 100% productive in a

fitting tribute to its 250th session.

Few important bills that were passed during the current session

are:

1.Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019

2. The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union

Territories) Bill, 2019

3. The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019

4. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture,

Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and

Advertisement) Bill, 2019

5. The Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019

6. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019

7. The Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019.

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BOOKS & AUTHORS

1. Book - Mind Master

India's first Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand released his

autobiography titled Mind Master. It was co-written by Susan Ninan.

He became the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in

1991, the country's highest sporting honour. In 2007, he was awarded

Padma Vibhushan and he became the first sportsperson to receive the

award.

2. Book - Politics of Opportunism

Political Analyst S Gurumurthy released a book titled Politics of

Opportunism at a function in New Delhi. The book written by R P N

Singh throws light on the subject related to the rise of regional parties

and Centre -States relation.

CONFERENCE AND SUMMITS

1. Defence Minister addresses Armed Forces Flag Day-CSR Conclave

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave was a unique

initiative of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of

Defence to create awareness about the challenges faced by the Ex-

Servicemen and how the corporate sector can play an important part

in their resettlement and rehabilitation.

2. Narendra Modi to participate in 2020 India EU Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit Brussels in 2020 for

the India-EU Summit 2020. He was invited to participate in the 2020

EU-Summit by the European Commission President Ursula von der

Leyen.

3. 2nd edition of the Startup India Global Venture Capital Summit

to be held in Goa

The summit aims to support the Fund Managers and Limited Partners

of Top Global Venture Capital Firms.

The Summit is organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry

and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry in

partnership with the government of Goa.

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4. The 3rd edition of National Public Procurement Conclave is held

in New Delhi

The two-day conclave is organized by Government e-Marketplace

(GeM) in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry

(CII).

The two-day deliberations an actionable agenda will emerge that will

facilitate work contracts in the form of tenders to be made available on

the GeM portal in the future.

The conclave was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Commerce &

Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal along with Minister of State of

Commerce and Industry, Som Parkash.

5. Fourth India Water Impact Summit was held in New Delhi

The 2019 Summit focused on integrated water resources

management in urban and rural areas.

It focused to achieve the Centre's goal to provide water to every

household in the next 5 years.

The theme of the 2019 summit is Valuing Water | Transforming

Ganga. The theme focuses on the Financing of High Impact Projects in

the water sector.

The Summit was organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the

Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) led

by IIT Kanpur.

6. MoD to organise series of webinars in run up to Def Expo 2020

Ministry of Defence (MoD) organizing a series of web seminars

(webinars) from December 10, 2019 .The 11th edition of the biennial

flagship event will be held in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow between

February 05-08, 2019.

The theme is India – The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub

and Digital Transformation of Defence.

The event focuses on bringing to the forefront of digital advances in

the industry and provide a platform for drivers of such transformation

to come together.

7. Switzerland is to partner for 2020 Bio Asia

Switzerland is to serve as a partner for BioAsia 2020 has scheduled

to be held between 17-19 February 2019 in Hyderabad,

Telangana. The event is being organized by the Federation of Asian

Biotech Association and the Government of Telangana.

The theme of the BioAsia 2020 is Today For Tomorrow.

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8. AYUSH organized a Symposium on Scope of Science of Ayurveda

in Global Health

Government organized a Symposium on Scope of Science of

Ayurveda in Global Health on 11 December at New Delhi. It was

organized by the Ministry of AYUSH in coordination with

the Ministry of External Affairs. It is in line with the Ministry of

AYUSH's commitment to promote Ayurveda and Traditional systems of

Medicine globally.

9. India organizes an International Seminar on Climate Smart

Farming Systems

The International Seminar on Climate Smart Farming Systems for

BIMSTEC countries began on 11 December 2019. It will be held from

11-13 December in New Delhi. The seminar was inaugurated by Dr.

Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary DARE.

It is organized by the Department of Agricultural Research &

Education.

The seminar aims to emphasize the farmers' income despite climate

change.

The seminar urged the farmers to adopt modern technologies in

farming and agriculture in accordance with the changing climate

scenario in the world.

10. 37th National Symposium of Heads of Police Training Institutions

was held in New Delhi

37th National Symposium of Heads of Police Training

Institutions is being held at BPR&D Headquarters, New Delhi.

The symposium is organized by the Bureau of Police Research and

Development (BPR&D), Ministry of Home Affairs.

The theme of the two-day Symposium is Optimal Utilization of

Resources – Through Sharing and Networking.

11. CPWD organized a National level Business meet in New Delhi

Central Public Works Department (CPWD) organized a Business

Meet with the Clients and stakeholders on 11 December 2019. It aimed

to share and familiarize the important activities and achievements of

the Department. The national-level meeting was held to get the views

from the Clients and stakeholders about the Services provided by

CPWD.

12. India to host the 36th IGC in New Delhi

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India is to host the 36th International Geological Congress (IGC) in

New Delhi during the first week of March 2020. It is popularly

described as the Olympics of Geosciences.

The theme of the event is Geosciences: The Basic Science for a

Sustainable Development. The IGCs are global geoscientific events

held once in four years.

13. India and US to a defence technology sharing pact at 2 plus 2

dialogue

India and the US are planning to sing a defence technology-sharing

pact. The two countries will sign a deal at the 2+2 dialogue on 19

December in Washington, the US. The Indian side will be led by defence

minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister S Jaishankar to

the dialogue.

The dialogue will be focusing on the renewed efforts to take

forward the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) to include

light-weight arms, drone warfare, and virtual augmented reality.

14. Annual summit between Modi and Shinzo Abe to be held on 15-17

December

The annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and

his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe is to take place between 15-17

December 2019. The announcement was made by the External Affairs

Ministry. The summit is expected to take place in Guwahati, Assam.

15. India-Myanmar Foreign Office Consultations was held in New

Delhi

The 18th India-Myanmar Foreign Office Consultations was held in

New Delhi on 6 December 2019. The Indian delegation was led by

Foreign Secretary, Shri Vijay Gokhale, and the Myanmar delegation

was led by Permanent Secretary, U Soe Han. They discussed the status

of India's ongoing projects in Myanmar, capacity building initiatives,

bilateral trade relations, border cooperation.

16. India co-hosted the Improving peacekeeping performance A year

since 2436 UNSCR at UN

India along with Portugal, Senegal, Uruguay, and Vietnam co-hosted

the high-level event Improving peacekeeping performance: A year

since UNSCR 2436. The event highlighted the sacrifice made by

the UN peacekeepers who operate in highly dangerous environments.

It adopted 10 steps to strengthen the partnership for collective

action to improve peacekeeping performance.

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17. India has reduced the emissions intensity of its GDP by 21

percent

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash

Javadekar said that India has reduced the emissions intensity of its

GDP, that is emissions per unit of GDP, by 21% at the 25th session of

Conference of Parties (COP-25) under the UN Framework Convention of

Climate Change.

The country is aiming to achieve the goal of 35% emissions reduction

as promised in the Paris summit in 2015. It was mentioned that the

Indian government has provided 80 million LPG gas connections,

effectively replacing conventional firewood cooking stoves.

18. MEA hosts 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue, Delhi Dialogue XI

Union Ministry of External Affairs will be hosting 6th Indian Ocean

Dialogue (IOD) and Delhi Dialogue XI at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in

New Delhi on 13 December 2019.

Theme for 2019 Indian Ocean Dialogue is- ‘Indo-Pacific: Re-

imagining the Indian Ocean through an Expanded Geography’.

Theme for 2019 Delhi Dialogue is- ‘Advancing Partnership in Indo-

Pacific’.

19. PM led the first meeting of the National Ganga Council was held

in Kanpur

The first meeting of the Council was aimed to reinforce the importance

of a Ganga-centric approach in all departments of the concerned

states and relevant Central Ministries.

The Council is given overall responsibility for superintendence of

pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including

Ganga and its tributaries.

20. Fifth annual India-ATP conference in New Delhi

The aim of ATP is to promote and develop testing and assessment best

practices globally. It aims to facilitate an environment that would

benefit test-takers, educational organizations, businesses, and society

in general.

The theme of the conference is Global Standards for Assessments in

a Digital-First World: A Future Perspective.

21. 2nd Indo-US ministerial 2+2 dialogue

The 2nd Indo-US ministerial 2+2 dialogue was held in Washington

DC. The Indian side was represented by Minister of external affairs S

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Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh and the American

side was Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark

Esper.

DEFENCE

1. Indian Navy successfully test fired Brahmos supersonic cruise

missile

Indian Navy successfully test-fired the 290 km strike range Brahmos

supersonic cruise missile. The supersonic cruise missile was test-fired

in the Arabian Sea.

A. BrahMos is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile

B. It can be launched from ships, aircraft, or land.

2. India-Sri Lanka joint exercise “MITRA SHAKTI”

The 7th edition of India-Sri Lanka joint exercise “MITRA

SHAKTI” begins at Aundh Military Station, Pune.

It aims to build and promote positive relations between armies of both

the countries focusing sub unit level training on counter-insurgency

and counter-terrorism operations in urban and rural environment.

3. Joint Military Exercise 'Surya Kiran’

The 'Surya Kiran' military exercise between India and Nepal has

started was conducted at Salijhandi, Rupendehi district of Nepal on

December 03. It will conclude on 16 December 2019.

The armies of both countries will share counter-insurgency strategies

with each other. In addition, both armies will also work together on

humanitarian aid missions.

4. Exercise HAND-IN-HAND 2019 to commence from 7 December

Exercise HAND-IN-HAND 2019 is to be conducted at Umroi,

Meghalaya. The 8th India-China joint training is held under the

United Nations mandate. The exercise will be held from 7-20

December 2019.

Theme: The aim of the Exercise HAND-IN-HAND 2019 is to practice

joint planning and conduct of counter-terrorist operations in semi-

urban terrain. The theme of the 14-day long training exercise is

Counter-terrorism.

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5. ISRO to launch RISAT 2BR1 on 11 December

ISRO has planned to launch sharp-eyed surveillance

satellite RISAT-2BR1 (Radar Imaging Satellite-2) with synthetic

aperture radar (SAR) on 11 December 2019.

RISAT-2BR1 is a radar imaging satellite.

It is dubbed as a spy satellite.

The satellites will help 24/7 border surveillance along with checking

infiltration.

It will keep an eye on terror or anti-national activities across the

borders.

ISRO plans to launch radar imaging satellite 2BR2 with synthetic

aperture radar after the launch.

6. India successfully test fired Prithvi II missile

India successfully conducted a night test-trial of the indigenously

developed nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile off

complex-3 of Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha coast. The

test of the short-range ballistic missile was conducted by

the Strategic Forces Command.

Prithvi-II missile:

The surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile has strike range of 350 km.

It is capable of carrying 500 to 1,000 kg of warheads. It is powered by

liquid propulsion twin engines. The missile was inducted into the

Indian defence forces in 2003.

The missile was developed by Defence Research and Development

Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile

Development Programme (IGMDP) of the Ministry of Defence.

7. Exercise INDRA 2019 to be conducted from 10 December

Exercise INDRA 2019 is a joint, tri-services exercise held

between India and Russia. The exercise will be conducted in India

from 10-19 December 2019. It will hold simultaneously at Babina,

Pune, and Goa.

Exercise INDRA series began in 2003. The First Joint Tri-Services

Exercise was conducted in 2017. It will boost cooperation and

interoperability between the Indian and Russian navies.

8. CG can now Visit, Board, Search and Seize suspicious vessels

Ministry of Defence has empowered Indian Coast Guard (CG) has to

board, search any vessel and arrest people for offences within the

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maritime zone of the country. The powers were vested on CG under

the Coast Guard Act, 1978. The move aims to empower the Indian

Coast Guard and enhancing coastal security.

9. Exercise Mitra Shakti-VII 2019

The seventh edition of Exercise Mitra Shakti-VII 2019 concluded on

14 December 2019 at Aundh Military Station, Pune. The exercise was

held between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army.

10. Vijay Diwas – 16th December

Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 16 December every year. The day aims to

commemorate the victory of India over Pakistan in 1971. On 16

December 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General AA Khan

Niazi, along with 93 thousand troops, surrendered to the allied forces

consisting of the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini. The war culminated

with the subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh.

11. Indian Air Force Bids farewell to MiG 27

MiG-27, an ace attacker during the 1999 Kargil War through the skies

for one last time after serving the Indian Air Force for over three

decades.

12. Rajnath Singh launches mobile app for Def Expo 2020

Current Affairs: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the mobile

app of the forthcoming DefExpo 2020. The theme of the expo is 'India:

The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub'.

13. First Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Indian Army General Bipin Rawat named as the country’s first Chief

of Defence Staff (CDS). Chief of Defence Staff will be a 4-star General,

the principal military advisor to the defence minister, and will head

the new Department of Military Affairs.

General Rawat is the first officer to hold the post of the Chief of

Defence Staff. Defence Ministry amended the army, air force, and navy

rules by bringing in a new clause that allows the CDS to serve up to a

maximum age of 65 years.

14. Operation Dolphin's Nose

The Indian Navy issued directions to ban the use of all smartphones

and social networking platforms on board ships and naval bases. The

operation named Dolphin's Nose in association with the central

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intelligence agencies and Naval Intelligence. The chats between these

sailors who were being used by Pakistanis were sexually explicit.

15. The Indian Navy plans to build 24 submarines including six nuclear

attack submarines.

ENVIRONMENT

1. UN Climate Change Conference, COP-25, begins in Spain

This conference will be held from 2 December to 13 December in

Madrid. The venue was changed in view of the growing protests in

Chile.

2. Poland was left out of European Union's 2050 climate

neutrality agreement

The agreement is part of a plan to make Europe the first climate-

neutral continent. Poland was left out as it demanded more funds

for economic transition and support for nuclear power.

3. IREDA plans to set up Green Window

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is

planning to set up a dedicated Green Window with an aim to serve

the unserved segments of renewable energy. These are the public

entities that are created to work with the private sector to increase

investment in green energy.

IREDA Green Window aims to provide a significant boost to the

renewable energy market. The Green Window will

support underserved clean energy markets .

4. Ganga has become one of 10 cleanest rivers in the world

Minister of Jalshakti said that Ganga has become one of 10

cleanest rivers in the world among the major rivers category. The

announcement was made by the Jalshakti Minister Gajendra Singh

Shekhawat at the 4th India Water Impact Summit, 2019 in New

Delhi.

5. Rajnath Singh flagged off massive campaign against single-use

plastic

The campaign was conducted to spread awareness against the ill-

effect of plastic on the environment, bring about behavioural

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change with respect to sanitation. The massive plogging

programme was organized at more than 400 locations throughout

the country by MoD. The slogan for the event was Plastic Se

Raksha–Swachhata Hi Suraksha.

6. India Forest Report, 2019

The forest and tree cover in India risen by 5,188 square kilometers

in the last two years. Karnataka is growing the maximum

protection of 1,025 sq km. There is an increase of 3,976 sq. Km

(0.56 percent) of forest cover and 1,212 sq. Km (1.29 percent) of

tree cover compared to the 2017 report.

The total forest cover of India is 7,12,249 sq. Km is 21.67 percent

of the geographical area of the country. The tree cover of the

country is estimated at 95,027 sq. Km, which is 2.89 percent of the

geographic area. India on track to achieve its climate goal of

creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes under the

Paris Agreement.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. World AIDS Day is observed on 1 December

World AIDS Day is observed on 1 December every year. The theme of

the 2019 World AIDS Day is Communities Makes The difference.

2. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: 2 December

The United Nations observes International Day for the Abolition of

Slavery on 2nd of December every year.

The day focuses on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such

as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child

labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use

in armed conflict.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) more

than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery.

3. International Day of Persons with Disabilities

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is being observed on

the 3rd of December every year.

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The theme this year is – Promoting the Participation of Persons

with Disabilities and their leadership: Taking Action on the 2030

Development Agenda.

4. Labour Ministry celebrated Pension Week

Ministry of Labour and Employment has designated to celebrate 30

November 2019 - 6 December 2019 as the Pension Week. The week

focuses on enrolments under Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan

(PM-SYM) and National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-

Employed Persons (NPS-Traders).

5. BSF Celebrated its Raising Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to Border

Security Force (BSF) personnel on the organization’s 55th raising

day (01st December 2019).

The BSF was raised in 1965 with the specific purpose of manning

Indian borders as the ‘First Line of Defence’ against infiltration,

smuggling, and military assault.

6. Indian Navy Day is observed on 4 December

Indian Navy Day is observed every year on 4 December. The day

commemorates the Operation Trident. The Day celebrates the

achievements and role of the Indian naval force in the country.

The theme for the 2019 Navy day is Indian Navy-Salient, Strong and

Swift. The theme celebrates the courageous Navy personnel for their

valuable service and sacrifice that made the nation stronger and safer.

Operation Trident:

Operation Trident was held on 4-5 December 1971. The first offensive

operation was launched against Pakistan's port city of Karachi during

the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 by the Indian Navy.

7. International Volunteer Day is observed on 5 December

The day is observed to increase the awareness of the important

contribution of volunteer service. It aims to combat poverty, hunger,

disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination

against women.

8. World Soil Day is observed on 5 December

World Soil Day is observed on 5 December 2019. It is observed every

year. It highlights the problem due to population expansion. It raises

the profile of healthy soil. The day encourages governments,

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organizations, communities, and individuals to work towards

improving soil health and its conservation. The theme for the 2019

World Soil day is Stop Soil Erosion, Save our Future.

9. Civil Defence Day is observed on 6 December

The day aims to make aware of the citizens and highlight the

importance of Civil Defence. Civil Defence being a voluntary

Organisation. It acts as a protector to the civilian population during

the crisis.

Civil Defence and Home Guards are the twin Voluntary

bankingorganizations for the cause of defence to the nation.

10. Armed Forces Flag Day was observed on 7 December

On this day, the three branches of the Armed Forces of India, the

Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Navy, organized a

variety of programmes to showcase their efforts towards national

security.

The day is observed to honor the martyrs and the men of the Armed

Forces who valiantly fought on the borders to safeguard India's honor.

11. International Civil Aviation Day is observed on 7 December

The International Civil Aviation Day was celebrated on 7 December

1994 for the first time as a part of the 50th anniversary of the signing

of the Convention on International Civil Aviation by ICAO.

The Day aims to create awareness about the importance of

international civil aviation to the social and economic development of

States.

12. International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims

of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime

observed on 9 December

The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the Genocide

Convention and its role in combating and preventing the crime of

genocide as defined in the Convention and to commemorate and

honor its victims.

13. International Universal Health Coverage Day

Every year 12 December is celebrated as International Universal

Health Coverage Day across the world. The day is promoted by World

Health Organization (WHO).

Theme for UHC Day 2019 campaign: ‘Keep the promise.’

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14. International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on 9 December

The day aims to raise awareness about corruption and the measures

that can be taken to combat corruption.

The theme for the year 2019 is United Against Corruption.

15. Human Rights Day is observed on 10 December

The day aims to recognize and empower human rights. The day

includes social, economic, cultural rights and international

commitments on civil and political rights.

The theme of the 2019 Human Rights Day is Youth Standing Up for

Human Rights.

16. International Mountain Day is observed on 11 December

The day aims to raise awareness about conserving the mountains.

The theme of the 2019 International Mountain Day is Mountains

Matter for Youth.

17. International Day of Neutrality is observed on 12 December

The observance of the day shows that Neutrality is very important for

the United Nations to gain the confidence and cooperation of all the

member countries to operate independently and effectively.

18. World Energy Conservation Day is observed on 14 December

The day aims to highlight the importance of energy consumption.

The day is organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under

the Ministry of Power.

19. Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 16 December

The day aims to commemorate the victory of India over Pakistan in

1971. On 16 December 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General

AA Khan Niazi, along with 93 thousand troops, surrendered to the

allied forces consisting of the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini.

The day also a remembrance of the brave soldiers of India and Mukti

Joddhas who sacrificed their lives for a noble cause.

20. World Arabic Language Day is observed on 18 December

The theme of the 2019 World Arabic Language Day is Arabic

Language and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The date coincides with

the day in 1973 when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

adopted Arabic as the 6th official language of the Organization.

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21. International Migrants Day is observed on 18 December

The day aims to educate people that treating every migrant with

dignity is one of the fundamental requirements.

22. Minorities Rights Day is observed on 18 December in India

Government has set up the NCM under the National Commission for

Minorities Act, 1992. Six religious communities of India namely

Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains have been notified

as minority communities in India. Indian Constitution has used the

word Minorities considering religion and language of a person.

23. International Human Solidarity Day is observed on 20 December

The day celebrates unity in diversity. The day reminds the

governments to respect their commitments to international

agreements. It also encourages new initiatives for poverty eradication.

24. National Mathematics Day is observed on 22 December

The 125th birth anniversary of the great mathematician Srinivasa

Iyengar Ramanujan declared as National Mathematics Day.

25. National Farmers Day or Kisan Diwas observed every year in India

on the 23rd of December

The birth anniversary of the fifth Prime Minister of India, Choudhary

Charan Singh. He played a pivotal role in the Agricultural Sector of

India by drafting and enacting various bills for farmer’s reforms.

INTERNATIONAL

1. Thailand elected as a member of the World Heritage Committee

Thailand has been elected as a member of the World Heritage

Committee. It was selected during the 22nd session of the General

Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention in

Paris. The representatives from 193 countries cast their votes to fill

nine vacant seats on the 21-member World Heritage Committee.

2. Particles drama won the Golden Peacock Award at the 50th IFFI

The French-Swiss co-produced drama film Particles directed by Blaise

Harrison and produced by Estelle Fialon won the Golden Peacock

Award at the 50th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). It is an

ambitious yet modest film about the mysteries of being a teenager.

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3. Saudi Arabia takes over G20 Presidency from Japan

The G20 Presidency has been taken over by Saudi Arabia from

Japan. Saudi Arabia has become the 1st Arab nation to assume the

G20 presidency.

The G20 presidency, which Saudi Arabia has taken over from Japan,

will host world leaders for a global summit in its capital Riyadh in

2020.

4. UNEP gas emissions reports say achieving 1.5 deg C is almost

impossible

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released the 2019 Emissions

Gap Report. The reported stated that even if the current climate

commitments are met, the world is on course to exceed 3°C in global

temperature rise. The report assesses the emissions gap. The report

focuses on energy transition. The report was released in the UN

Climate Change Conference (COP-25).

5. Global Migration Film Festival organised in Dhaka

The Global Migration Film Festival (GMFF) was organised

in Dhaka, Bangladesh.The festival screened 15 films on the theme

of “migration and its various aspects”.

The festival was organised by the International Organisation of

Migrants (IOM) and Dhaka University Film Society with the

support of the European Union.

6. Putin and Xi launched first ever Russia-China gas pipeline

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping

launched the Siberia pipeline project. The pipeline will transport

natural gas from Siberia to northeast China. The move aims to boost

the economic and political ties between Russia and China.

7. OPEC countries to cut oil production

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

group of oil-producing countries and their allies including Russia is to

cut oil production by 500,000 barrels per day.

The countries agreed to reduce production to stem pressure on prices

from abundant reserves and weak global economic growth. It will be

effective from 1 January 2020.

8. Climate emergency has been named as the 2019 Word of the Year

Oxford Dictionaries has named climate emergency as the 2019 Word

of the Year.

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9. 49th Victory Day Parade

Bangladesh celebrated its 49th Victory Day on 16 December 2019.

The event marks the day when Bangladesh attained liberation from

Pakistan and became an independent nation in 1971. It became a

nation under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman.

INDIA & INTERNATIONAL

1. India announced Rs.4,900 crore to support Bhutan’s 5 year plan

The 2nd Annual India-Bhutan Development Cooperation

Talks have held New Delhi. The talks aimed at renewing India's

commitment to supporting projects under Bhutan's ongoing twelfth

five-year plan, that is from 2018-23.

2. India signed MoU with Qatar to set up University campus

Maharashtra's Savitribai Phule Pune University (STPU) and Qatar's

Milestone International Education signed a memorandum of

understanding (MoU) to enable the University to set up its campus in

Doha.

3. India’s Pavilion inaugurated at International Book Fair in Mexico

Minister of State for Human Resource Development Sanjay Dhotre

inaugurated the India Pavilion at International Book Fair in

Guadaljara, Mexico.

India is the ‘Guest of Honour Country’ in book fair and becomes the

first Asian country to participate as ‘Guest of Honour’ in the Fair. This

fair is the biggest book fair in the Spanish-speaking world.

4. India-Sweden High-Level Dialogue on Innovation Policy was held

An India-Sweden High-Level Dialogue on Innovation Policy was held in

New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by PM Modi, King Carl XVI

Gustaf It aims to provide overall strategic direction for joint innovation

policy.

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Aim: The High-Level Dialogue aims to create a platform with key

stakeholders in a triple helix format from the government, private

sector, and academia.

5. ADB and India signed MoU to provide infrastructure in India

Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed

a $206 million loan on 2 December. The aim of the MoU is to develop

water supply and sewerage infrastructure in 5 cities of Tamil Nadu. It

will strengthen the capacities of urban local bodies (ULBs) for

improved service delivery.

The project aims to improve the lives of the urban people in the

identified cities of Tamil Nadu. It will provide universal access to water

supply and sanitation, improve sewage treatment and drainage

systems.

The projects will help the state to develop the requisite ecosystem for

economic growth.The project will benefit residents, workers, and

industries of Tamil Nadu.

The economic corridors will build industrial competitiveness and

generate job opportunities.

The project targets four cities namely Tiruchirappalli, Ambur,

Tiruppur, and Vellore to develop sewage collection and treatment and

drainage systems. It also aims to improve water supply systems in the

cities of Madurai and Tiruppur.

6. Cabinet approved ECIs proposal to sign MoU with the Election

Commission of Maldives

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra

Modi approved the proposal of the Election Commission to enter

into the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Election

Commission of Maldives on cooperation in the area of electoral

management and administration.

7. Cabinet approved JDI signed between India and Germany to

strengthen Indian railways

The Union Cabinet assessed and approved the Joint Declaration of

Intent (JDI) between India and Germany. The JDI was aimed at

strengthening the cooperation on strategic projects in the field of

Railways. The Joint Declaration of Intent was signed in the month of

November 2019.

8. India, Sweden signed MoU for Healthcare Innovation Centre

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India and Sweden have signed a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) for India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre in New Delhi.

The MoU aims to deepen the collaboration in the field of

innovation through the strategic innovation partnership.

9. ICAI MoU KAAA signed MoU to offer technical training programs

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kuwait Accountants

and Auditors Association (KAAA).

Under the MoU, the ICAI will offer technical training programs in

collaboration with the KAAA to employees of the Kuwait government,

Kuwait nationals and members of the KAAA.

10. IFC to invest USE 200 million to support MSME

International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of World Bank

Group, has anchored an investment round of $200 million in

Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services. Among the investment, IFC

has invested $75 million from its own account and is mobilizing

another $125 million as parallel loans.

The investment aims to create a dedicated pool of financing for the

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in low-

income states.

11. Mongla and Chattogram port declared as Ports of Call

Centre has declared Port of Mongla and Chattogram as Ports of

Call under Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade

(PIWT&T) between India and Bangladesh.

Port of Call: Port of call is an intermediate stop for a ship on its

scheduled journey for cargo operation.

12. Energy-efficient housing programme

State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a loan agreement with KfW, the

German development bank, worth $277 million. The aim of the

agreement was to establish an energy-efficient housing programme in

India. The programme will be a part of Indo-German Development

Cooperation which is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development.

13. Indo-Pacific policy

India announced that it has increased the area covered by its Indo-

Pacific policy to include the western Indian Ocean and the Arabian

Sea. This move by the country will include the Gulf states and Africa

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along with ASEAN. The decision was made at the end of the joint

Indian Ocean Dialogue held in New Delhi.

14. 2nd Project Review Monitoring Committee (PRMC)

The 2nd Project Review Monitoring Committee (PRMC) meeting for the

India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline project was held successfully

between the two countries on 19 December 2019 in New Delhi. The

aim is to create a concrete step in cross border connectivity corridor.

The 130-kilometre India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Project is

being undertaken under the grant assistance from India to

Bangladesh.

15. ADB 490 million dollars loan to upgrade Indian state roads

Asian Development Bank and the Government of India signed a 490

million dollar loan for public-private partnerships. Around thousand

six hundred kilometers of state highways and major district roads

from single-lane to two-lane widths in Madhya Pradesh.

NATIONAL

1. Hallmarking to be mandatory for gold jewellery and artefacts

The decision will make it compulsory for all the jewellers to register

with the Bureau of Indian Standards and sell only hallmarked gold

jewellery and artefacts. Gold hallmarking is a purity certification of

the precious metal. It is voluntary in nature at present. The BIS is

already running a hallmarking scheme for gold jewellery since April

2000.

2. India becomes 1st country to make entire Haj process digital

India has become the 1st country to make the entire process for

pilgrims going on Haj completely digital.

An online application, e-visa, Haj mobile app, ‘e-MASIHA’ health

facility, “e-luggage pre-tagging” providing all information in India

itself regarding accommodation and transportation in Mecca and

Madina will be provided to 2 lakh Indian Muslims going for Haj in

2020.

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3. India’s first maritime museum to be set up at Lothal

The museum will be constructed at the historical site Lothal in

Gujarat. It will have an autonomous research center for underwater

archeology.

Portuguese Maritime Heritage Museum will help Indian authorities to

construct this museum.

4. Govt. launched Independent Directors Databank portal

The government has introduced the Independent Director's

Databank. It was launched by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It

has commanded that all the existing independent directors

should register themselves in the databank within three months

from 1 December 2019.

The databank portal was developed and maintained by the Indian

Institute for Corporate Affairs (IICA).

The portal aimed to provide a platform for the registration of existing

independent directors and the individuals aspiring to become

independent directors.

5. Law Ministry launched a drive on fundamental duties

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a programme to

create awareness of their fundamental duties among the citizens.

The year-long drive is a part of the celebrations of the 70th

anniversary of Constitution Day that was celebrated on 26

November.

The department will conduct activities such as online quizzes, essay

competitions, and preamble pledge signing contest. It will be organized

to educate them about their constitutional responsibilities.

6. ECI to implement Political Parties Registration Tracking

Management System

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched the Political

Parties Registration Tracking Management System (PPRTMS). ECI

has reviewed the system and process of registration of political

parties. The new guidelines will be effective from 1 January 2020. The

guidelines are available on the ECI's website https://eci.gov.in.

PPRTMS will be implemented through an online portal.

The portal will track the status of application by applicants. The

applicant who applies for the party registration from 1 January 2020

onwards will be able to track the progress of the application.

The candidate will get status update through SMS and email.

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7. President Kovind paid homage to Dr. Prasad on his Jayanti

President Ram Nath Kovind paid homage to Dr. Rajendra Prasad on

his birth anniversary, 3 December, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also paid tributes to the first

President of India on his Jayanti.

8. MSME sector has contributed over 29 percent of GDP

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises reported that Micro,

Small and Medium Enterprises sector has contributed over 29% of

Gross domestic product (GDP) and over 49% of Indian exports. The

report was submitted by the Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari.

9. Railways Operating ratio worst in last 10 years

The Comptroller and Auditor General’s report stated that the railways

recorded an operating ratio of 98.44% in 2017-18.The above operating

ratio was the worst in the last 10 years. Operating ratio is a measure

of expenditure against the revenue.

It shows the operating efficiency of the railway and the health of its

finances.An operating ratio of 98.44% shows that the Railways spent

Rs 98.44 to earn Rs 100.

10. AICTE approves IRS to rank higher educational institutions

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Executive

Committee approved the India Rankings Society (IRS) to develop and

evolve methodologies and systems to rank higher educational

institutions. The decision was made at the 127th meeting of the AICTE

Executive Committee. The announcement was made by the HRD

Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishaank'.

11. Government launched the 4th phase of Regional Connectivity

Scheme

The government launched the fourth phase of the Regional

Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to stimulate air connectivity in an

affordable way. Ministry of Civil Aviation has invited bids for the 4th

round of Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN. The scheme was

launched by the Ministry of civil aviation (MoCA). The scheme is a

part of the government's vision to operationalize over 100 airports in

smaller towns and cities over the next five years.

12. Government launched the Operation Clean Art

Government launched the Operation Clean Art across India. The

operation aimed to crackdown illegal trade in the mongoose hair. This

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is the first time such an operation is happening in India. It was

initiated by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).

13. CSIR signed MoU with BHEL to push Make in India initiative

The MoU was aimed to cooperate, collaborate and pursue industrial

application-oriented research programmes and its commercialization on

a large scale.

The indigenously developed technologies by CSIR will be

commercialized and implemented jointly by BHEL and CSIR in the

country.

The MoU will be in line with the Make in India initiative of the

government.

14. Centre has banned more than 14,500 NGOs in the last 5 years

Ministry of Home Affairs reported that more than 14,500 Non-

Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have been banned in the last five

years.

The FCRA and rules provide that all FCRA NGOs and associations

should file annual returns on time. The non-compliant NGOs are

issued notices and reminders through the online mechanism.

15. Centre sanctions Rs.100 crores to set up Women Help Desks in

Police Stations

The central government has sanctioned a sum Rs.100

crores from Nirbhaya Fund to set up and strengthen Women Help

Desks in Police Stations.

Women Help Desks will focus on making the Police Stations more

women-friendly and approachable.The government has considered that

it would be the first and single point of contact for any woman walking

into a police station. Lady police officers will be deployed at these help

desks.

16. CCEA approved Rs.150 crore for 39 Government Medical Colleges

and Institutions

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the

proposal for the up-gradation of the 39 Government Medical Colleges

and Institutions (GMCIs) in the third phase of PMSSY on 7th

November 2013. It also approved a cost of Rs.150 crore each, Rs.120

crore for the Central Contribution and Rs.30 crore for the State Share.

Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) was started

in March 2006. The scheme aims to correct the imbalances in the

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availability of affordable healthcare facilities in the different parts of the

country.

17. Government to introduce AI as a subject in the next academic

year

Centre is has introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a subject

in class IX from the session 2019-20 in the schools affiliated with

the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Centre has also

launched a twelve hours Inspire module in which schools can take up

with the students of class VIII.

The move aims to enhance the multidisciplinary approach in teaching-

learning and to sensitize the new generation.

18. SC ruled that no pension will be given for govt staff who resign

The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that an employee will become

ineligible for a pension when he resigns because he forfeits his past

service. It was passed under the Central Civil Services Pension Rules

(CCS Pension Rules). The Court said that the CCS Pension Rules will

apply to the government servants including civilian government

servants in the Defence Services appointed before 31 December 2003.

19. ISRO to set up space technology cells in Indian premier

engineering and science colleges

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the setting

up of five Space Technology Cells (STCs) at India's premier

engineering and science colleges. The Indian Space Agency aims to

build new applications, conduct space research, and high-end

technology.

ISRO has established STCs at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)

campuses in, Bombay, Kanpur, Madras and Kharagpur, Bengaluru's

Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and at the Joint Research Programme

with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).

20. Ministry of Tourism identified 17 sites in 12 clusters in the

country for development as Iconic Tourist Sites

The union government identified some world-class iconic tourist

stations in India to attract foreign and domestic tourists.

The iconic sites are Taj Mahal & Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh), Ajanta

& Ellora (Maharashtra), Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort ; Qutub Minar

(Delhi), Colva (Goa), Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Somnath ; Dholavira

(Gujarat), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), Hampi (Karnataka),

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Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Kaziranga (Assam), Kumarakom (Kerala)

and Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar).

21. Govt. mandates FASTag from 15 December

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had announced

that FASTags will become mandatory for all vehicles, private and

commercial from 15 December. Earlier the deadline was set to 1

December 2019.

If the vehicle owners do not have a FASTag, they should pay twice the

regular amount if you pass a toll booth and your vehicle.

22. Government invoked DPCO, 2013 for the first time

Government invoked Drug Price Control Order, 2013 on 13

December 2019 for the first-time. It aimed to increase the prices of 21

medicines to ensure their availability.

23. Government to implement Vocationalisation of School Education

scheme

Ministry of Human Resource Development is to implement the Scheme

of Vocationalisation of School Education under Samagra Shiksha. It

is an integrated scheme for school education.

A vocational subject is offered for Classes IX to XII along with the

general education to provide necessary employability and vocational

skills for a variety of occupations under the scheme.

24. India Design Council launched two initiatives

The India Design Council (IDC) launched the Design Education

Quality Mark (DEQM) and Chartered Designs of India (CDI) in New

Delhi.

DEQM will act as a benchmark design education programmes on

predetermined standards. It will grant Design Education Quality Mark

to institutions that meet the provisions of the published standard.

CDI will establish and uphold the professional standards of design

practice in India. It aims to identify the Professional Designers by a

design qualification and or experience.

25. Ministry of Coal to establish Sustainable Development Cell

Ministry of Coal announced that it is to establish a Sustainable

Development Cell in the country. The cell will gain significance as

the new private entities will form a significant part of the future. It

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also plans to set guidelines for proper rehabilitation of mines in tune

with the global best practices.

The Sustainable Development cell (SDC) will plan, advise, mentor,

and monitor the mitigation measures that are taken by the coal

companies to maximize the utilization of available resources in a

sustainable way.

It minimizes the adverse impact of mining and mitigating it for

further ecosystem services.

26. I-T Department mandates linking of PAN with Aadhaar

The Income Tax Department announced that it is mandatory to link

the PAN with Aadhaar by the end of 2019 on 15 December. It

announced that the deadline for the linking of the Permanent Account

Number (PAN) with Aadhaar was extended till 31 December by

the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) through an order issued in

September 2019. Earlier, the deadline for the linkage of PAN-

Aadhaar was 30 September.

27. Centre to deploy drones to destroy marijuana

Centre has decided to deploy drones with an aim to destroy marijuana

plantations before the crop is harvested and finds its way into the

hands of the drug cartels.

The decision was taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs with states

and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on board to investigate illegal

operations.

In India, 414 tons of plants being seized in more than 24,000 cases in

2018 alone. It is expected that then number will increase in 2019 once

the NCB data is collated.

28. TCS introduces new insurance benefits that include the LGBT

employees

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced changes in its

health insurance policy in order to provide benefits to employees

involved in LGBT employees, a same-sex relationship. TCS became the

first Tata Group companies to bring the change.

29. Indian Culture web portal

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Ministry of Culture launched the Indian Culture web portal in New

Delhi. It was launched by the State for Culture and Tourism (IC), Shri

Prahlad Singh Patel.

The portal is a part of the Prime Minister's Digital India initiative

It will showcase information about the rich cultural heritage of India.

This portal will host images, documents, audio-video files and other

data from archives, museums, academies and libraries across India.

30. GEM Samvaad

Government e-Marketplace (GeM) launched GEM Samvaad, the

National Outreach Programme in New Delhi. The outreach programme

will take place with stakeholders across the country and with local

sellers in order to facilitate the on-boarding of local sellers on the

marketplace while catering to specific requirements and procurement

needs of buyers.

31. National Broadband Mission

The government has launched the National Broadband Mission on 17

December. It was launched by the Union Minister for Communications

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad. The mission aims to provide broadband

access to all villages by 2022.

32. Sale of Khadi Rumal

Government launched the sale of 'Khadi Rumal. It was launched by

the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)

Nitin Gadkari. He announced 50% increase in the remuneration of

women workers to Rs.3 per piece from Rs.2 per piece presently.

33. 11th Regional Quality Conclave (RQC)

The 11th Regional Quality Conclave (RQC) was held on 20th

December 2019 at, Rudrapur, District Udham Singh Nagar,

Uttarakhand. The theme of the Rudrapur RQC is "Advance

Manufacturing with Quality, Innovation & Technology

Interventions."

34. National Workshop on Accessible Elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) organized a National

Workshop on Accessible Elections. The Workshop aimed to review the

steps taken by ECI to make Elections Public Works Department (PwD)

and Senior Citizens friendly.

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35. NITI Aayog to draft roadmap to achieve the population

stabilization

NITI Aayog, the policy think tank of the Indian Government, organized

a national consultation titled "Realising the vision of population

stabilization: leaving no one behind" on 20 December 2019 at NITI

Bhavan, New Delhi. It plans to draft a roadmap to achieve population

stabilization.

The consultative meeting is organized by NITI Aayog in partnership

with Population Foundation of India (PFI).

36. Govt approved projects worth Rs 7000 cr under Nirbhaya fund

The NIRBHAYA Fund projects of Rs 7,000 crore, including setting up

of 1,023 fast-track courts approved by the Modi government, Women

and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani.

The 23-year-old Delhi gangrape victim, then Congress-led government

had announced setting up Nirbhaya Fund of Rs 1,000 crore for safety

and empowerment of women in the Budget presented in February

2013.

37. State-of-the-Art DNA Analysis Centre

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai inaugurated a

State-of-the-Art DNA Analysis Centre at CFSL, Chandigarh. This new

Advanced Forensic DNA Analysis Lab set up under the Nirbhaya Fund

scheme with an allocation of Rs.99.76 crores. The State-of-the-art

facility for

a. Sexual Assault and Homicide Unit

b. Paternity Unit

c. Human Identification Unit and

d. Mitochondrial DNA Unit.

38. India first Transgender University to come up in Uttar Pradesh

India’s first university for the transgender community will be opened

in the Fazilnagar block of the Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh.

The university is being built by Akhil Bhartiya Kinnar Siksha Seva

Trust (All-India transgender education service trust).

39. Digital Radio

Centre government planning to revamp All India Radio officially

known as Akashvani by introducing Digital Radio in India by 2024. It

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is officially known since 1956 as Akashvani, is the national public

radio broadcaster of India and is a division of Prasar Bharati. It was

founded on 1936.

40. 100-GW renewable energy capacity

India set to cross the 100-GW renewable energy capacity mark in

2020 and will gain 175 GW clean energy target by 2022 provided the

government.

41. Second Private Train – Tejas

The second privately operated IRCTC’s premium Tejas train, which

will run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The first Tejas, which runs

on the Delhi-Lucknow route, Indian Railways, compensate passengers

if the train gets delayed.

42. National Symposium of Poets 2020

National Symposium of Poets 2020 organized by All India Radio. This

poet symposium attended by select poets of all 22 languages

recognized in the constitution. It is held continuously every year since

1956. The country gave their presentations and captivated the hearts

of the people.

PERSONS & PLACES IN NEWS

1. Mukesh Ambani ranked as the 9th richest person in the world

Reliance Industries (RIL) chief Mukesh Ambani ranked as the 9th

richest person globally in the Real-Time Billionaires List of Forbes. His

net worth was $60 billion. The list was topped by Amazon Founder.

2. Shivangi becomes First Woman Pilot of Indian Navy

Shivangi Swaroop has become the first woman pilot to fly Indian Navy

fixed-wing Dornier surveillance planes. She has joined the Indian

Navy as the first female pilot on December 2, 2019. She will be

involved in Operation Duty in Kochi.

3. Prithviraj Singh becomes President of Mauritius

The members of Mauritius Parliament have selected Prithviraj Singh

Rupan as the President of Mauritius.

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4. Ursula took charge as the President of European Commission

Ursula von der Leyen is the first woman to become the President of

the European Commission.

5. Sundar Pichai has become CEO of Alphabet

Pichai Sundararajan has been appointed as the CEO of Alphabet. He

will replace company co-founder Larry Page as CEO of parent

Alphabet Inc. Larry Page stepped down as head of Alphabet, Google's

parent company.

6. Masatsugu Asakawa elected as the President of ADB

Mr. Asakawa is currently serving as the Special Advisor to Japan's

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. He will be assuming the office

on 17 January 2020. He will be the 10th President of ADB.

7. GS Lakshmi has become the first woman match referee to oversee

a mens ODI

Former India cricketer GS Lakshmi has become the first woman

match referee to oversee a men's One Day International (ODI). She

officiated the opening match of the third series of the World Cup

League 2 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

8. Salman Khan appointed as brand ambassador of PepsiCo India.

9. Former PM Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been elected as the President

of Algeria.

10. Greta Thunberg was named as the 2019 Person of the Year by TIME

magazine

11. Angela Merkel named as the worlds most powerful woman by

Forbes. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ranked 34th in

the world's 100 Most Powerful Women.

12. Wisden cricketers of the decade list

Indian captain Virat Kohli named in the Cricketers of the decade list

along side four others by the Wisden Cricketers Almanac. South

African duo of Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers, Australia’s Steve Smith

and women’s all-rounder Ellyse Perry added in the list.

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REPORTS /INDICES

1. India ranked 73rd in the 2019 E-commerce Index

India ranked 73rd in the United Nations Conference on Trade and

Development's (UNCTAD) Business-to-Consumer (B2C) E-commerce

Index 2019. The Netherlands topped the index for the second

consecutive year.

2. India stands as fifth worst country in terms of biometric use

The Britain-based tech research firm Comparitech reported that India

is the fifth worst country in terms of extensive and invasive use of

biometric data.

Before India stands China, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the US. India

shared the fifth position along with Taiwan, Indonesia, and the

Philippines.

3. In 2018 India recorded the highest estimated number of cervical

cancer deaths

A report by Lancet Global Health said India recorded the highest

estimated number of cervical cancer deaths in 2018.

India contributed with 97,000 cases and 60,000 deaths

and China recorded over 106,000 cases and 48,000 deaths.

4. Employability of graduates increased by nearly 50 percent in

2019 in India

India Skills Report said that nearly half of the professional degree

holders are employable now. The report was released by Wheebox,

People Strong, CII.

Maharashtra topped with the highest employability rate. It is followed

by Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

5. India climbs one spot to 129th Human Development Index

According to a report by the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) India climbed one spot to 129 among 189 countries in the

2019 human development index. In India, 27.1 crore people lifted out

of poverty from 2005-06 to 2015-16.

India ranked 130 last year.

South Asia is the fastest-growing region witnessing 46 percent growth

during 1990-2018, followed by East Asia and the Pacific at 43 percent.

Norway, Switzerland, Ireland are the top three nations on the index.

6. World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report 2019

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India ranked 112th on the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap

Report 2019. The report listed 153 nations in terms of the gap

between genders. India secured 108th rank in 2018.

7. The US National Science Foundation (NSF) reported that India has

become the world's third-largest publisher of science and engineering

articles. It has published over 1.35 lakh scientific papers. China

topped the report as the world's largest publisher.

8. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index – NITI Aayog

The SDG India Index and Dashboard 2019 tracks the progress of and

ranks all States and UTs on 100 indicators drawn from MoSPI’s

National Indicator Framework, comprising 306 indicators. The States

and UTs currently are on SDG implementation and charts the

distance to be traveled to reach the SDG targets. The Index covers 16

out of 17 SDGs and a qualitative assessment on Goal 17. This marks

an improvement over the 2018 Index, which included only 13 goals.

9. Good Governance Index

a. In Big States- Tamil Nadu topped the Good Governance Index.

b. The poor performers are Odisha, Bihar, Goa, and Uttar Pradesh

with Jharkhand finishing last in the group.

c. North-East and Hill States- Himachal Pradesh topped the index,

followed by Uttarakhand, Tripura, Mizoram, and Sikkim.

d. The poor performers in this group are Jammu and Kashmir,

Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, with Arunachal Pradesh

e. Union Territories - Puducherry topped the index followed by

Chandigarh and Delhi. Lakshwadeep is the worst UT.

10. Knight Frank released its latest report Global House Price Index

India ranks 47th in the world in terms of appreciation in housing

prices as rates grew by only 0.6 percent during the July-September

quarter over the year-ago period on slow demand, global property

consultant Knight Frank.

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SCHEMES AND POLICY

1. Govt launches drive to enroll 1 cr beneficiaries under two pension

schemes

The government has launched a drive to enroll one crore beneficiaries

under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) and the

National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self Employed Persons

(NPS-Traders) by March next year.

Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar launched

the drive to mark the celebrations of Pension week.

2. Mission Indradhanush 2.0 launched

The objective of this flagship scheme of the government is to immunize

children below 2 years of age and protect pregnant women from

preventable diseases.

Vaccines for diphtheria, cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles,

meningitis and hepatitis B have been included in this campaign.

The mission will be held from 02 December 2019 to 02 March 2020. It

will cover 272 districts of 27 states across India.

3. National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform

Government said that over 1,65,000 lakh farmers across India have

been registered on the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform.

The announcement was made by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. The government promotes the inter-

state trade and inter mandi trade through e-NAM platform.

4. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

The Centre has decided to extend the mission period of the flagship

initiative Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

(AMRUT) by two more years. The government was unable to meet the

set targets for urban renewal in 500 cities.

AMRUT was launched on 25 June 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra

Modi. The initiative will complete its mission period in March 2020.

5. Public distribution system

Niti Aayog Plans to include eggs, fish, chicken, and meat, possibly

through its public distribution system. The aim of the proposal is to

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improve India's low nutrition ranking at the global level. This is

expected to be part of Niti Aayog's 15-year Vision Document. The

document will be in place by early 2020 with effect from 1 April 2020.

The Vision Document will aim to create awareness among protein-rich

food.

6. Phase III of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Centre to begin Phase III of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

(PMGSY). It was launched by the Union Minister of Rural

Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Panchayati Raj,

Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.

The Phase-III of PMGSY is aimed to consolidate 1,25,000 Kms through

routes and major Rural links that connect habitations to Gramin

Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and

Hospitals.

7. Atal Jal

Atal Bhujal Yojana will be known by its shorthand Atal Jal, which

Modi announced, is a centrally sponsored project to improve

groundwater levels in seven critically water-depleted states. These are

Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,

Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The Atal Jal Yojana is an important

step in the direction of fulfilling the Jal Jeevan mission of water for all

by 2024. The government has identified 1,592 blocks in 256 districts

that face a menacing water shortage.

The Atal Bhujal Yojana approved by the Cabinet on the outlay of

6,000 crores to be implemented over a period of five years (2020-21 to

2024-25). The total outlay, 50% in the form of a World Bank loan by

the Centre. The remaining 50% shall be through Central Assistance

from budgetary support. The World Bank’s loan component and

Central Assistance shall be passed on to States as Grants.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1. Site Nightingale

NASA has finally selected a sample collection site on asteroid Bennu

after the arrival of OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in December 2018. The

OSIRIS-Rex mission team has selected the site designated Nightingale,

which is located in a crater high in Bennu's northern hemisphere. The

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team has also selected site Osprey of Bennu as a backup sample

collection site.

Site Nightingale is located in a northern crater 460 feet wide of the

asteroid. As per the observation, Nightingale's regolith or rocky

surface material is dark, and images show that the crater is relatively

smooth.

2. Ethiopia launches its first satellite

Ethiopia launched its first satellite. It is a landmark achievement for

the country's space program that caps a banner year for the African

space industry. The Ethiopian Remote Sensing Satellite (ETRSS) took

place at a space station in China.

3. Ring of fire - the solar eclipse or Surya Grahan

The ring of fire - the solar eclipse or Surya Grahan initially be visible

as a partial eclipse and can be viewed first from Riyadh in Saudi

Arabia. The annular solar eclipse the last one for the decade began at

7:59 this morning. It is referred to as the ring of fire - the solar eclipse

or Surya Grahan initially be visible as a partial eclipse and can be

viewed first from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. India's partial eclipse will be

visible from parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra,

and Delhi.

A solar eclipse occurs the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun for

a viewer on Earth.

4. Avangard Hypersonic glide vehicle

Russia’s first missile unit equipped with Avangard Hypersonic glide

vehicle. Russia’s defence ministry new hypersonic weapon with the

latest strategic missiles of the intercontinental-range became

operational. The nuclear-capable missiles can travel more than 20

times the speed of sound.

5. Production of Geranium under Aroma Mission

CSIR Institute created new technology to boost the production of

Geranium under Aroma Mission. Geranium plant has substantial

medicinal value, and their essential oil works as an anti-inflammatory

and anti-septic agent.

6. Largest carrier rocket

China successfully launched the largest carrier rocket of the country,

Long March-5 from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's

Hainan Province.

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7. Longest single spaceflight

NASA astronaut Christina Koch set a new record for the longest single

spaceflight by a woman, eclipsing the record of 288 days set by former

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson in 2016-17. Koch has six weeks to go

before returning to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS).

The Expedition 61 Flight Engineer has spent more than 300 days in

space.

SPORTS

1. Lewis Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton has won the Abu Dhabi Grand

Prix held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

He has claimed his 84th career victory and 11th in 21 races of this

year.

2. 13th South Asian Games Kicked Off in Nepal

The 13th edition of South Asian Games has officially kicked off after

the opening ceremony at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The President of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari declared the Games

open at the three-hour programme, which showcases the rich culture

and diversity of Nepal at the newly reconstructed stadium.

3. Syed Modi International Badminton Championships 2019

Wang Tzu Wei of Taiwan has won the Syed Modi International

Badminton Tournament. In the men's finals, he defeated India's

Saurabh Verma by 21-15, 21-17.

4. Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik clinch gold in Senior Wrestling

National Championships

Star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik registered convincing

wins in the finals to claim gold medals at the Senior Wrestling

National Championships in Jalandhar, Punjab.

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While Phogat beat 20-year-old Haryana’s Anju 7-3 in the 55kg

category, Olympic bronze medallist Malik defeated Radhika of

Haryana 4-2 in the 62kg category.

5. Third edition of Khelo India Youth Games logo was launched

Guwahati is to host the third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games.

It is expected to be held from 10 January 2020. The announcement

was made by Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren

Rijiju at the launched ceremony. The third edition of Khelo India

Youth Games 2020 Logo was launched by the Assam Chief Minister

Sarbanada Sonowal.

In the third edition, Cycling and Lawn Bowling events were added.

6. Lionel Messi was conferred the Ballon d'Or award

Lionel Messi was named the best player and was awarded the 2019

Ballon d'Or award in Paris. He created a world record by receiving the

award for the sixth time. He broke the record set by Cristiano

Ronaldo by winning the trophy five times.

7. New Delhi to host 2020 National Sikh Games

National Capital is to host the National Sikh Games (NSG) 2020. NSG

aims to bring sports to the heart of the Sikh community and tap in a

unique sporting talents of Sikh Youths.

The game will be held from 9-11 January 2020 across various venues

in New Delhi. NSG is dedicated to the 550th birth anniversary of Guru

Nanak Dev.

8. New Zealand cricket team was awarded 2019 MCC CMJ Spirit of

Cricket Award

New Zealand cricket team was awarded with the Marylebone

Cricket Club's (MCC) Christopher Martin-Jenkins (CMJ) Spirit of

Cricket Award for 2019. The New Zealand team defeated the World

Cup final against England to win the cup. The team displayed a level

of sportsmanship in the event.

9. 2024 Paris Olympics

The Polynesian island of Tahiti will host the surfing events at the 2024

Paris Olympics. The events will take place at Teahupoo. It was chosen

over beaches in southwest France and in Brittany. Tahiti is located in

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the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. It lies 15,000 kilometres from

Paris.

10. 6th Qatar International Cup

Former world champion weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won

women’s 49kg category gold medal at the 6th Qatar International Cup.

11. Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship

India’s Koneru Humpy defeated China’s Lei Tingjie battle to win the

Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship in Moscow.

12. Third Khelo India Youth Games

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the torch relay

of the Third Khelo India Youth Games. The games will be held in

Guwahati from 10th to 22nd of next month.

STATES

1. Nagaland celebrates Statehood Day

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi

greeted the people of Nagaland on its 57th Statehood Day on 01st

December 2019.

Nagaland, a mountainous state in northeast India bordering

Myanmar, became the 16th state of the country on 01st December

1963.

2. Japan to invest Rs.13,000 crore to North Eastern state project of

India

Japan is to collaborate on some of the Indian Projects

including Northeast Road Network Connectivity Improvement

Project spread over Assam and Meghalaya, Sustainable Forest

Management Project in Tripura, Guwahati Water Supply

Project and Guwahati Sewage Project in Assam, Bio-diversity

Conservation and Forest Management Project in Sikkim, Bamboo-

related collaboration, Technical Cooperation Project for Sustainable

Agriculture & Irrigation in Mizoram, Forest Management Project in

Nagaland, etc.

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3. Nagaland CM inaugurates Multi Media Exhibition

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is organising a “Multi Media

Exhibition” at World War II museum, Kisama in Nagaland.

It has been organised to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of

Mahatma Gandhi.

During the event, late Natwar Thakkar was also remembered. Lt.

Thakkar, is popularly known as Nagaland’s Gandhi, and has invoked

on Gandhiji’s values and principles during his lifetime.

4. Indigenous Faith Day was celebrated in Tezu

The Indigenous Faith Day (IFD) 2019 was celebrated on 1 December

in Tezu, Arunachal Pradesh. The Day aims to preserve the rich culture

and identity of the State.

5. Maharashtra to monitor schemes introduced for the welfare of

farmers

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray approved Rs.606

crores to monitor all schemes related to farmers on a regular basis.

The new government aims to introduce new approaches to resolve

issues related to cultivators, who have suffered crop losses in

unseasonal rains in October. The government said that it will provide

any negligible assistance and satisfactory provision for farmers.

6. Hornbill Festival is being celebrated in Nagaland

The 20th edition of the Hornbill festival was inaugurated by the State

Governor R.N. Ravi. The 10-day-long Hornbill

Festival of Nagaland began at Kisama, Nagaland on 1 December

2019.

The festival aims to pay rich tribute to the Naga leaders, who under

extremely challenging circumstances, secured for the people, the

Nagaland State with special status.

7. Kerala mandates helmets for pillion riders

Kerala State government implemented the High Court directives of

making helmets mandatory for pillion riders. Transport

Commissioner of the State has directed strict checking of vehicles.

8. Himachal Pradesh approved to sell Yamuna water

The Himachal Pradesh State Cabinet approved to sign the

memorandum of understanding (MoU) to sell the water of River

Yamuna from Maharashtra's share at Tajewala corridor. The Cabinet

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meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. With this

decision, the State would earn Rs.21 crore per annum.

9. Karnataka govt. and NDMA conducts workshop on 2020 Heat

wave

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration

with the Government of Karnataka, organized a two-day national

workshop titled on Preparedness, Mitigation, and Management of

Heat Wave in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The workshop is conducted to

emphasize the importance of Climate Change that has led to the rise

of average summer temperature by 0.5 deg C in the past five years.

10. Punjab partnered with WEF to promote electric mobility

Punjab State government partnered with the World Economic Forum

(WEF) to design a Public-Private pilot on shared, clean and electric

mobility. The move aims to combat the growing problem of

environmental pollution in the state.

11. Cipla Foundation introduced MSL to provide quality education

Cipla Foundation has introduced a mobile science lab (MSL) under

its corporate social responsibility (CSR) with its Agastya International

Foundation. It implemented the Agastya International Foundation. It

aims to provide quality education to the students in Sikkim. The

initiative also aimed to create awareness of science among children and

teachers.

12. UP approved Noida-Greater Noida Metro construction project

Uttar Pradesh State government approved the construction of an

extension line of the Noida-Greater Noida Metro.

The extension metro link will be of length 14.95 km.

The project will be funded by the Central government, the Uttar

Pradesh government and the authorities of Noida and Greater Noida.

The State also allocated a sum of Rs.2,682 crore for the project. The

decision was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister

Yogi Adityanath. The announcement was made by Noida Metro Rail

Corporation (NMRC).

13. Odisha to merge Kalia scheme with PM Kisan scheme

Odisha government is to merge the State's Krushak Assistance for

Livelihood and Income Augmentation (Kalia) scheme with the

Centre's Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan)

yojana due to financial constraint.

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Under the PM-Kisan scheme, the central government is providing

annually Rs.6,000 in three equal installments to about 14 crore

farmers.

14. Mysore University to set up separate Department of Disabilities

and Rehabilitation Studies

University of Mysore (UoM) is to set up a separate Department of

Disabilities and Rehabilitation Studies (DDRS) on its campus at

Manasagangotri.

UoM became the first varsity in the state to introduce the course, as

per the directives of the Union Ministry of Human Resource

Development (MHRD) and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

15. 2nd Nagaland Honey Bee Day was celebrated on 5 December

It aims to give more effort to continue on mission for more production

of honey and to make Nagaland a Honey destination.

Theme: The theme of the Honey Bee Day is Save Bee Save Life.

The program was organized by Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey

Mission (NBHM) with support from North East Council (NEC).

16. Mumbai Central railway station certified as Indias first Eat Right

Station

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

(FSSAI) certified Mumbai Central railway station as India's first Eat

Right Station. It rated the station with four stars rating. The move

comes under the Eat Right India initiative started by FSSAI in 2018.

17. Sarai 14MLD Sewage Treatment Plant was inaugurated

Sarai 14 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant is the first STP that was

completed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) based Public-

Private Partnership Model. It is a 100% eco-friendly project.

It was inaugurated by their Majesties, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen

Silvia of Sweden, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Trivendra Singh

Rawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

18. CM YS Reddy launched the YSR Law Nestham scheme

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched

the YSR Law Nestham scheme at Tadepalli, Andhra Pradesh.

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Under the YSR Law Nestham scheme, a stipend of Rs.5,000 has been

credited in the accounts of beneficiary junior lawyers.

Earlier, the State government allocated Rs.100 crore to Lawyers'

Welfare Fund.

19. Assam launched anti Depredation Squads of Forest Department

15 Anti Depredation Squads of Forest Department was launched in

Assam. The department will deal with human-elephant conflict. It was

launched by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at a ceremony.

20. Kerala Bank was launched by CM Vijayan

The Kerala Bank, the biggest in the State, was launched by Chief

Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 6 December 2019. Under this, 13 district

co-operative banks (DCBs) of Kerala were amalgamated with Kerala

State Co-operative Bank to form the Kerala Bank.

21. Harsimrat inaugurated Central Indias first Mega Food Park

The Union Minister for food processing Harsimrat Kaur

Badal inaugurated Avantee mega Food Park in Dewas, Madhya

Pradesh. This is the first food park in Central India.

The Food park aims to establish a direct linkage from farm to

processing and then to consumer markets. It will be connected through

a network of collection centres and primary processing centres.

22. First Pashu Kisan credit cards were launched in Haryana

The First Pashu Kisan credit cards in India were distributed to 101

animal farmers in Bhiwani, Haryana on 6 December at the Animal

Farmers Credit Card Scheme launching ceremony. The State

government has set a target to issue 10 lakh Pashu Kisan Credit cards

by March 2021.

Using the cards, one can buy cow-buffalo and other animals.

23. Mahuamilan railway station became the 5,500th station to get

the free WiFi facility

Jharkhand's Mahuamilan railway station has become the 5,500th

station to get the facility free WiFi provided by the Railways has

provided across the country. Midnapore Railway station of South

Eastern Railway zone was the 5000th station in the country to have

public Wi-Fi.

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24. Haryana Police adopted Trakea to make forensic reports tamper-

proof

Haryana Police has adopted Trakea, a unique barcoding software to

make forensic reports tamper-proof. The technique will ensure the

thousands of forensic reports that form the backbone of the criminal

investigation system and subsequent trials in the courts of law, are not

tampered with.

25. Delhi govt launched booklet for student on Ambedkars teachings

Delhi government launched a booklet on the life and teachings of Dr.

BR Ambedkar for students of class 6-8 in government schools. The

booklet was launched on Ambedkar's 63rd death anniversary.

It is a three-part booklet. It explores the life and education of

Ambedkar, his social reforms initiatives, contribution to women

empowerment.

26. Odisha to set up 45 fast-track special courts

It aims to ensure speedy trial of cases involving crime against women

and children.

The state also stated that of the total 45 courts, 21 courts will deal

with cases that are related to rape and sexual assault.

The 24 other courts will exclusively deal with cases that were

registered under the protection of children from sexual offences

(POCSO) Act.

27. Andhra Pradesh is to set up a virtual police station

Andhra Pradesh is to set up a virtual police station (VPS) in

the Andhra University (AU). It will be the first of its kind. It will help

the students to report violence or any other crime online.

Once a complaint is filed, the concerned police station will take up the

issue and initiate a probe.

It is one of the measures taken by the State/city police to protect

women and children in distress.

The police team will reach the spot no later than five minutes after a

distress call was received through the Dial 100 service.

28. Odisha included the Department of Agriculture under Mo Sarkar

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Mo Sarkar aimed at making governance people-centric.Under this, the

Chief Minister would personally call up the farmers and take their

feedback on the services that are provided by the department.

Action will be taken on the employees of the department if the

Government receives negative feedback from the farmers.

29. Karnataka conducted a Human Library event in Mysuru

The aim of the Human Library event is to break long-standing

prejudices and stereotypes of the past and create a safe framework for

conservation by using a library analogy of lending people rather than

books. The event aims to generate greater human cohesion across

various social, religious and ethnic diversities.

30. Union Territory Puducherry unveiled a startup policy of the

Industries Department

The policy lays emphasis to provide financial grants, monthly stipend,

fiscal incentives to interested entrepreneurs and bring new business

ventures to the Union Territory.

31. Separate Commissions for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled

Tribes (STs)

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed two Bills, namely

Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Schedule Tribes Bill and

Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Castes Bill on 16

December 2019. The two bills were passed by voice note.

32. Vijayamritham and Sahachari scheme

The Kerala state government launched two social welfare schemes to

honour differently-abled people and NSS, NCC and Student Police

Cadet (SPC) units working for their care and welfare.

Vijayamritham scheme:

The Vijayamritham scheme was introduced to provide financial

assistance for differently-abled people who fought the odds and scored

high marks in degree, PG and professional courses.

Sahachari Scheme:

The scheme aims to honour groups that assist people, with over 40%

disability, in their studies and other tasks.

33. Orange Festival

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The State-level Orange Festival began in Manipur. The Orange Festival

is conducted under the sponsorship of the North Eastern Council.

34. Tansen Samaroh

The Music festival Tansen Samaroh began in Gwalior, Madhya

Pradesh. The festival is organized by Ustad Alauddin Khan Kala Evam

Sangeet Academy that functions under the Madhya Pradesh culture

department.

35. Janta clinic

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the first Janta

clinic at Valmiki Basti in Malviya Nagar, Jaipur. The chief minister

had announced Janta clinics during the state budget.

36. Jalsathi programme

Odisha state government unveiled the "Jalsathi" programme. It was

launched by the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He also

distributed water quality testing kits and point of sale (POS) machines

to the women volunteers "Jalasathis".

37. Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargode Semi High-Speed Rail Corridor

(SHSR)

Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargode Semi High-Speed Rail Corridor

(SHSR) a high-speed rail corridor in India connects

Thiruvananthapuram with Kasaragod in Kerala expected to be

completed by 2024. The central government in-principle approval to

the Rs.56,000 crore Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod SHSR corridor

project.

38. An Oxygen Parlour

An Oxygen Parlour opened at Nashik railway station to combat air

pollution.

39. YSR Netanna Nestham Scheme by Andhra Government

The YSR Netanna Nestham (weaver’s friend) scheme provides an

annual incentive of Rs 24,000 for handloom weavers in the state.

40. National Tribal Dance Festival

National Tribal Dance Festival begun in Raipur, the capital of

Chhattisgarh, The inaugural function presided over by Chief Minister

Bhupesh Baghel.

41. Abhinandan scheme

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Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the state

government's Abhinandan scheme during a programme held at

Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.

This scheme emphasis on one-time subsidy against education loans

availed by the students for an amount of Rs 50,000 each to 1,546

students. Abhinandan scheme extend cooperation to students in

pursuing higher education and to fulfil the dreams.

42. Mandu Festival begins at Mandu Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh, the 5-day Mandu festival, started in Mandu, a

world-famous picturesque tourist destination located in Dhar district

of the state. The Mandu festival will redefine the essence of the city &

bring about the joy of establishing a new tourism hub in the state.

43. Annual pension of Rs. 6,000 per year to Muslim women

Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh announced to give an

annual pension of Rs 6,000 per year to Muslim women who have been

given triple talaq by their husbands. The state government should

look more into the education of children and their problem of housing,

which will be better than giving Rs 500 as pension to triple talaq

victims.

TAMILNADU

1. Centre Approves Rs 453 Crore Loan To Tamil Nadu For Building

Fishing Harbours

The central government approved a Rs 453-crore loan at a subsidized

interest rate of five percent to the Tamil Nadu government for setting

up three fishing harbors. The Tamil Nadu government submitted a

proposal a loan of Rs 836.80 crore form this fund.

2. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) commissioned the first

lignite-based 500 MW thermal unit

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) commissioned the first lignite-

based 500 MW thermal unit of the 2x500 MW Neyveli New Thermal

Power Project in Tamil Nadu. The country’s first lignite-fired 500 MW

power plant, but also its highest-rated pulverized lignite-fired thermal

unit commissioned.