Daily updates 14 December 2019

State News

1. Virtual Police Station inaugurated at Andhra University

• Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the Virtual Police Station at Andhra University. This is the first such facility in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
• The AU facility is seen as a pilot project and will later be replicated at other educational institutions. The initiative is expected to help bridge the gap between students and the police department
• The Virtual Police Station has been set up on the suggestion of Andhra University's Vice-Chancellor to make it easy for students to report their grievances.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• CM of Andhra Pradesh: YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
• Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.

Agreements

2. Maldives signs contract with JV of Indian companies for development of Addu

• Maldives government has signed a contract with a joint venture of Indian companies. The contract aims to prepare project report and the development of Addu, which is the second biggest city in the island nation.
• The contract was signed L & T engineering limited and Lea associates south asia for the Addu Road and Reclamation Project. The project includes land reclamation, construction of roads and storm water drainage system in Addu.
• This will upgrade existing infrastructure and mitigate the flood situation in Addu.
• Financing of the project will be done by EXIM bank of India through line of credit of USD 800 million.

Summit and Conferences

3. Defence Minister chairs Parliament's meeting of Consultative Committee

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament for the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi.
• The subject of the meeting was Border Roads Organisation (BRO). During the meeting, BRO was appreciated for the in building border infrastructure and contributing to the improvement of lives of people residing in the border areas.

4. National Symposium of Heads of Police Training Institutions held in New Delhi

• The 37th National Symposium of Heads of Police Training Institutions held in New Delhi. It Symposium was organized by Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D).
• The theme of the Symposium was ‘Optimal Utilization of Resources-Through Sharing and Networking’.
• A Directory of Indian Police Training Institutions (DIPTI) which has information on the resources of around 300 Police training institutions all over the country, was also released during the event.

Sports News

5. FIH unveils new world ranking system for 2020

• The International Hockey Federation unveiled a new world ranking system for 2020 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The new method will come into effect from the 1st January 2020.
• The new ranking will be match-based instead of tournament-based calculation.
• The new model is expected to remove the subjectivity surrounding continental weighing by creating a system which is fair to all. The outgoing world ranking system was in existence since 2003. It was originally devised to allocate teams into pools at tournaments.

6. Rohit Sharma becomes brand ambassador of La Liga in India

• The top tier of Spanish club football "La Liga" has announced cricketer Rohit Sharma as its brand ambassador in India.
• Rohit Sharma is the first non-footballer in the 90 year-old history of the league to have become a brand ambassador.
• The top tier of Spanish club football has been ramping up its fan base in India through a series of initiatives. These initiatives includes grassroot development programme like La Liga Football Schools and a digital broadcast deal with Facebook.

Obituaries

7. Veteran Telugu actor and writer Gollapudi Maruti Rao passes away

• Former Nandi Award winner and renowned Telugu actor and writer Gollapudi Maruti Rao passed away recently. He enthralled people with his writings and acting for several decades and also acted in around 250 films in about four decades.
• He was a multi-faceted personality as he was a journalist, playwright, writer, actor and television personality.
• Some of his memorable films as an actor include 'Intlo Ramayya, Veedhilo Krishnayya', 'Challenge', 'Samsaram oka Chadarangam', 'Aditya 369' and 'Leader'.

Miscellaneous

8. Amazon's Audible launches app "Audible Suno" in India

• Amazon’s audiobook company Audible has launched a new app "Audible Suno" in India. This app features original audio series which aims to expand Audible's reach in India's highly competitive digital entertainment and streaming space.
• The platform features hundreds of hours of Audible’s original audio series across a plethora of genres, steered by entertainers such as Amitabh Bachchan, Nawaazuddin Siddiqui, Anurag Kashyap, Tabu, Neena Gupta and Vir Das.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• CEO and Founder of Audible: Don Katz.

Daily updates 13 December 2019

National News

1. ISRO begins preparations for setting up 3rd rocket launchpad

• Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has begun preparatory works for setting up a 3rd rocket launchpad in the small coastal hamlet of Kulashekhrapattinam in the Thuthukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
• At present, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has two launch pads at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
• The demand for additional launch pads has arisen as a result of the increase in the number of satellite launches from India, both for domestic and international customers.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• ISRO Director: K.Sivan; Headquarters: Bengaluru; Established: 1969.

2. National Tribal Dance Festival to be held in Raipur

• A National Tribal Dance Festival will be held in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur from December 27 to 29. In the event, international folk artists from 23 states and six other countries are expected to take part and portray their respective tribal folk culture.
• Nearly 1,400 artists belonging to 151 art troupes from 23 states and guest artists from six countries including Sri Lanka, Belarus, Uganda and Bangladesh will participate in the three-day programme.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• CM of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel; Governor of Chhattisgarh: Anusuiya Uikey.

International News

3. US, Mexico, Canada sign USMCA trade deal

• The representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada inked a revamped version of their regional trade pact after months of negotiations.
• The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will now go to the countries' legislatures for final approval.
• The accord is meant to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a deal in place since 1994.

State News

4. Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves Disha Bill 2019

• The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves the A.P. Disha Bill, 2019 (A.P. Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2019) paving the way for awarding the death penalty for the offences of rape and gang-rape and expediting the verdict in trials of such cases to 21 days.
• The Cabinet also gave its nod for introduction of the A.P. Special Court for Specified Offences against Women and Children Bill, 2019, for dealing with offences against women and children, including rape and gang-rape, acid attacks, stalking, voyeurism, sexual harassment and cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• CM of Andhra Pradesh: YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
• Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.

Awards

5. Greta Thunberg named Time Person of the Year for 2019

• Sweden's Greta Thunberg has been named as Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2019.
• Greta Thunberg is the Swedish schoolgirl who inspired a global movement to fight climate change and became popular with the "#FridaysForFuture".
• She is the youngest person to be chosen by the magazine in a tradition that started in 1927.
• TIME is also expanding Person of the Year to reflect the full range of subjects that TIME covers.
• For the first time, TIME has chosen the most influential person in a range of fields

S.No.	Name	Profession	Category
1	Greta Thunberg	Climate activist	Person of the Year
2	Bob Iger	Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company	Businessperson of the Year
3	The Public Servants	Federal workers of the US	Guardians of the Year
4	United States women's national soccer team	Women’s Soccer	Athlete of the Year
5	Melissa Jefferson (Lizzo)	Singer	Entertainer of the Year

6. Rani Rampal, Saurabh Chaudhary Win Top Honours at FICCI India Sports Awards

• Indian women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal and ace pistol shooter Saurabh Chaudhary won the Sports Person of the Year awards at the FICCI India Sports Awards 2019.
• The FICCI India Sports Awards are an attempt by FICCI to acknowledge and recognise the contribution of sportspersons and various stakeholders who deliver excellent results throughout the year.
• Rani played a crucial role in India's qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, scoring the winning goal in the two-legged qualifier against the US in November.
• Saurabh, on the other hand, is touted as India's biggest hope for a medal in shooting in Tokyo. He won gold at the 2018 Asian Games and has since won a number of individual and team honours at shooting World Cups.

7. Gurgaon-based startup won ‘Space Oscar’ award

• The Gurugram-based startup blue Sky Analytics has created an application called ‘Zuri’ that won the Copernicus Masters Award also called Space Oscars, under the Social Entrepreneurship category.
• The award was given by the Earth observation program managed by the European Commission (EU) in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA).
• The application uses satellite data to provide improved monitoring, supply chain and pricing analysis as well as the allocation of crop waste to be used as raw materials in other industries.
• The application includes an AI (Artificial Intelligence)- based tool to measure and monitor farm fires and stubble burning across India, million tons of crops are being burnt in India on farms to clear the field for new crops every winter, as a result releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases which have led to increased level of pollution in New Delhi and other parts of the country.

8. FICCI India Sports Award 2019

• The FICCI India Sports Awards 2019 has been awarded to Railway Sports Promotion Board under the category of Best Company Promoting Sports.
• Railway Sports Promotion Board has been awarded for its immense contribution in the field of providing sports eco-system within the organization for the budding sports athletes to nurture and expose themselves to their optimum limits and bring laurels to the nation.
• The FICCI India Sports Awards 2019, an attempt by FICCI to acknowledge and recognize the contribution of sportspersons and various stakeholders who deliver excellent results during the year.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• FICCI stands for Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
• Headquarters of FICCI: New Delhi; FICCI established: 1927.

Agreements

9. Mongla and Chattogram declared as Ports of Call under the “Coastal Shipping Agreement'

• The Ministry of Shipping (MoS) announced that Mongla and Chattogram (Both in Bangladesh) have been declared as Ports of Call under “Coastal Shipping Agreement” between India & Bangladesh.
• The Port of Mongla is declared as Port of Call under PIWT&T (Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade ) and Chattogram port is not part of PIWT&T.
• An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), agreement and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the use of Chattogram Port & Mongla Ports for goods movement between India and Bangladesh has been signed between both the nations.
• The Ports of Call in India are Kolkata (West Bengal), Haldia (West Bengal), Pandu, Karimganj (Assam), Silghat (Assam), Dhubri (Assam).

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Shipping: Mansukh L. Mandaviya.

Ranks and Reports

10. Nirmala Sitharaman 34th among world's 100 most powerful women: Forbes

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been ranked 34th by Forbes in ‘The World's 100 Most Powerful Women’. HCL Corporation CEO and Executive Director Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw are two other Indians who also featured in the above list.
• The Forbes 2019 list of ‘The World's 100 Most Powerful Women’ has been topped by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, followed by President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde in the 2nd spot and Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, ranked 3rd. Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also featured on the list on the 29th position.

S.No.	Name	Country
1	Angela Merkel	Germany
2	Christine Lagarde	France
3	Nancy Pelosi	United States
4	Ursula von der Leyen	Belgium
5	Mary Barra	United States
6	Melinda Gates	United States
7	Abigail Johnson	United States
8	Ana Patricia Botín	Spain
9	Ginni Rometty	United States
10	Marillyn Hewson	United States
34	Nirmala Sitharaman	India
54	Roshni Nadar Malhotra	India
65	Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw	India
100	Greta Thunberg	Sweden

Schemes and Committees

11. Puducherry government unveils start-up policy

• The Puducherry government unveiled a start-up policy. The policy, launched by Minister for Industries M.O.H.F Shahjahan, aims to create a corpus fund of ₹10 crores to support the setting up of start-up incubators and to develop co-working spaces.
• The department plans to provide a grant of ₹3 lakh to projects recommended by incubators established by the government/private sector/academic institutions as a start-up grant.
• The committee of experts constituted by the government under the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Committee will approve of the projects and monitor their progress.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Lt. Governors Puducherry: Dr Kiran Bedi.

Summits and Conferences

12. International Seminar on Climate Smart Farming Systems begins in New Delhi

• The  ‘International Seminar on Climate Smart Farming Systems’ for BIMSTEC countries began in New Delhi.
• The objective of this International Seminar is to have experience sharing to enable improvement of tropical smallholder farming systems for greater productivity and resilience to climate change through ecological approaches.
• Some of the success stories shall be shared as case studies for the benefit of the BIMSTEC countries.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• The BIMSTEC member states ‘Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
• This sub-regional organisation came into being on June 6, 1997, through the Bangkok Declaration.

Daily updates 12 December 2019

National News

1. Department of Social Justice started a scheme

• Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has started the scheme of National award for outstanding service in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug abuse.
• The scheme is applicable to institutions and individuals working in the field of prevention of alcoholism and drug abuse.
• The national award will be presented to the awardees on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26th of June 2020.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment: Thaawar Chand Gehlot.

2. Workshop on Bamboo cultivation to be held in Jammu

• In Jammu and Kashmir, a first of its kind workshop on Bamboo cultivation will be held on 19th and 20 of this month in Jammu.
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the exhibition.
• The workshop will focus on the promotion of Bamboo cultivation in the potential Kandi areas of Jammu and its value addition as an economic activity and generate entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Lieutenant (Lt) Governors of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K): Girish Chandra Murmu.

International News

3. World's First commercial electric plane takes flight in Canada

• The world's first fully-electric commercial aircraft took its inaugural test flight, taking off from the Canadian city of Vancouver and flying for 15 minutes.
• A 62-year-old six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver seaplane re-fitted with a fully electric 750 horsepower motor was piloted by Greg McDougall, founder and chief executive of Harbour Air, a British Columbia-based charter airline that transport passengers between Vancouver.
• MagniX designed the motor and worked in partnership with Harbour Air which ferries thousands of people a year between Vancouver, Whistler ski resort and nearby islands.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Canada Capital: Ottawa; Currency: Canadian dollar.
• Prime Minister of Canada: Justin Trudeau.

Awards

4. Priyanka Chopra honoured at Marrakech Film Festival

• Indian actress Priyanka Chopra was honoured at the Marrakech Film Festival held at the famous Jemaa el Fna square.
• Priyanka Chopra was honoured for her 20 years of work and contribution in cinema.
• Hollywood actor Robert Redford, Moroccan actress Mouna Fettou and filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier were among other people who were honoured at the festival.

5. Odisha wins ‘World Habitat Award’ for OLHM- Jaga Mission

• Odisha won the bronze in ‘World Habitat Award’ for Jaga Mission also called Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission (OLHM), a slum land titling project executed for the benefit of millions of urban-poor people living in slums.
• The award was given by the World Habitat, a UK (United Kingdom) based organization which gives the award annually to recognize innovative housing projects around the world.
• The Jaga is a society under Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), Government of Odisha.
• The OLHM-JAGA aims at transforming the slums into livable habitats and under which 52,682 urban poor families living in the slums have been granted land rights certificate.
• The mission works under the Odisha Land Rights to Slum Dwellers Act passed in September 2017.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Capital of Odisha: Bhubaneswar; Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal.
• Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik.

Agreements

6. Dell Technologies, UNESCO tie up to boost quality of education

• Dell Technologies announced a new partnership with UNESCO MGIEP (Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace) to enable school teachers to adopt technology in classrooms by using ICT tools.
• The information and communication technology (ICT) tools have been developed by Dell Aarambh and FramerSpace platform.
• The partnership would enable achieving the UN Sustainable Goal 4.7 towards education for building peaceful and sustainable societies and also UNESCO MGIEP in its mission of building social and emotional learning, innovative digital pedagogies and empowering youth.
• The training would focus on teaching the teachers the use of ICT and frontier technologies with the objective of achieving quality education, as outlined under Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SGD 4) by the member-states of the United Nations.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• UNESCO formation: 4 November 1946.
• UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France.
• UNESCO Director-General: Audrey Azoulay.

Business

7. Xiaomi launches service "Mi Credit" in India for Android phones

• Xiaomi has formally launched its lending platform "Mi Credit" in India for Android phones.
• According to platform "Mi Credit" individuals can avail up to Rs 1 lakh loan.
• The company is planning to introduce more financial products in India.
• The company has been operating Mi Credit platform on a pilot basis.
• Xiaomi has roped in Aditya Birla Finance Ltd, Money View, EarlySalary, Zestmoney and CreditVidya as the current lending partners for Mi Credit service.
• Mi Credit app will come pre-loaded on all MIUI phones, and can be downloaded from Google Play Store.

Defence

8. International Seminar cum Exhibition on Naval weapon Systems : NAVARMS-19

• The 4th edition of International Seminar cum Exhibition on Naval Weapon Systems ‘NAVARMS-19’ begins in Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, Development Enclave, New Delhi.
• The theme of the Exhibition is “Make in India - Fight Category: Opportunities and Imperatives”.
• NAVARMS is the only international seminar and exhibition on Naval Weapon Systems conducted in the country.
• It invites all the stakeholders in the life cycle management of Naval Weapons and provides a common platform to share their views and concerns.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Chief of the Naval Staff: Karambir Singh.

Economy

9. ADB lowers India's GDP growth forecast to 5.1% in FY20

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered its forecast for India's economic growth in fiscal year 2019-20 to 5.1%.
• ADB has stated that the consumption was affected by slow job growth and rural distress was aggravated by poor harvest.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC Assistant Mains:

• Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Manila, Philippines; President: Takehiko Nakao.

Summit and Conferences

10. Switzerland to be the country partner of BioAsia 2020

• Switzerland will be the country partner at the 17th edition of BioAsia2020 scheduled to be held from February 17-19, 2020 with the theme “Today For Tomorrow” in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Switzerland is making innovations in the world of medical healthcare and that many pharmaceutical companies have emerged as the center of Switzerland.
• While the city of Hyderabad has become a hub in the field of health tech and will be introduced to the Switzerland Health Tech Ecosystem through the Bio Asia Summit.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Capital of Switzerland: Bern; Currency of Switzerland: Swiss franc.

Sports News

11. GS Lakshmi to become 1st Woman Match Referee to officiate men’s ODI match

• Indian match referee GS Lakshmi is set to become the first woman match referee to officiate a men’s ODI match.
• She will oversee the third series of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2.
• The opening match of the competition will take place between the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
• Earlier in May 2019, she also became the first woman to get appointed onto the ICC International Panel of Match Referees.
• Lakshmi has the experience of officiating in three women's ODI matches, 16 men's T20Is and seven women's T20Is.

Obituaries

12. Former US Federal Reserve chief Paul Volcker passes away

• The former US Federal Reserve chief Paul Volcker passed away. He was appointed as the chief of the US Federal Reserve in 1979.
• He was popularly known for fighting inflation by raising interest rates. He was a legendary figure in American finance.

Important Days

13. International Day of Neutrality: 12 December

• International Day of Neutrality is a United Nations observance held on December 12 each year.
• It was officially declared by a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in February 2017 and first observed on December 12 of the same year.
• In international law, a neutral country is a sovereign state that abstains from all participation in a war between other states and maintains an attitude of impartiality toward the belligerents.
• The belligerents, in their turn, recognize this abstention and impartiality.
• A permanently neutral power is bound to be neutral in all future wars.
• The rights and duties of a neutral country are defined in the Hague Convention of 1907.

14. International Universal Health Coverage Day: 12 December

• International Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) is celebrated globally on 12 December.
• International Universal Health Coverage Day aims to raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems and universal health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners.
• The theme for the 2019 UHC Day is "Keep the promise"
• In 2017 the United Nations proclaimed 12 December as International Universal Health Coverage Day by resolution 72/138.
• Each year on 12 December, UHC advocates raise their voices to share the stories of the millions of people still waiting for health, champion what we have achieved so far, call on leaders to make bigger and smarter investments in health, and encourage diverse groups to make commitments to help move the world closer to UHC by 2030.

Miscellaneous

15. ASI has identified 138 monuments as "Must See" monuments in country

• Archaeological Survey of India has identified 138 numbers of monuments as Must-See Monuments and information thereof is made available on “Must See” portal of Archaeological Survey of India.
• There are 38 World Heritage Sites in India, out of which 22 Cultural Sites including monuments/ buildings and caves are under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India.
• The ‘Must See’ list of ASI features first-class Indian monuments and archaeological sites including those that feature on UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)World Heritage List.
• Such monuments and sites showcase exceptionality in terms of art and architecture, planning and design.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Archaeological Survey of India founder: Alexander Cunningham.
• Archaeological Survey of IndiaFounded: 1871.
• Archaeological Survey of India Headquarters: New Delhi.

16. PUMA signs Sunil Chhetri as brand ambassador

• Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri has signed a 3-year deal with PUMA.
• The Bengaluru FC skipper is currently the second-highest goal-scorer in international football after Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
• He is the most-capped Indian player and is also the all-time top goal scorer for the Indian team.
• He has been named as the AIFF Player of the Year six times.
• He was also conferred with the Arjuna award in 2011 and Padma Shri in 2019.

17. Pepsico appoints Salman Khan as Pepsi’s new brand ambassador

• PepsiCo has appointed actor Salman Khan as the new brand ambassador of its flagship Pepsi brand of carbonated beverage in India.
• Brand Pepsi will base its summer 2020 campaign on Salman Khan’s upcoming movie "Dabangg-3".
• PepsiCo India will launch a 360 degree campaign to leverage the new association.
• Salman Khan has also represented the Pepsico's product "Thums Up" three years ago.

Daily updates 11 December 2019

National News

1. Delhi will host 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue and Delhi Dialogue XI

• The external affairs ministry is organising the 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue and Delhi Dialogue XI in New Delhi during December 13-14. For the first time, these two events will be held consecutively.
• The theme for the Indian Ocean Dialogue is “Indo-Pacific: Re-imagining the Indian Ocean through an Expanded Geography”, while the theme for the Delhi Dialogue is “Advancing Partnership in Indo-Pacific”.
• The themes are intended to build on the ‘growing recognition of the Indo-Pacific concept in strategic and academic circles within the region and beyond.

State News

2. Odisha to set up 45 new fast track courts

• 45 new fast track courts will be set up in Odisha. The 21 courts would be dedicated to cases of rape and sexual harassment of women.
• The remaining 24 fast track courts will specifically deal with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases.
• The State government's action comes after Centre's decision to formulate a scheme for setting up 1,023 fast track special courts for expeditious trial and disposal of rape cases.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Utkal Divas or Odisha Day falls every year on 01st April.
• Odisha CM: Naveen Patnaik; Governor: Ganeshi Lal.

Awards

3. Gulu Mirchandani bags CEAMA Lifetime Achievement Award

• Gulu Mirchandani has been conferred with "Lifetime Achievement Award" by the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association.
• Gulu Mirchandani is the founder chairman of Mirc Electronics Ltd. (Onida).
• He has been awarded for his extensive contribution to the consumer electronics industry.
• He has been associated with consumer electronics industry for more than 3 decades.
• Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) is an all-India organisation in the consumer electronics and durables sector. It has been in existence for over three decades.

4. Ethiopia's PM receives Nobel Peace Prize

• Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has received the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve international peace and co-operation.
• This year's Nobel Peace Prize was the 100th to be awarded. The Nobel Peace Prize consists of a diploma, a gold medal and a cheque for 9 million Swedish kronor (850,000 euros).
• The Nobel Committee announced in October it was honouring Abiy Ahmed for his efforts to resolve the long-running conflict with neighbouring foe Eritrea.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Ethiopia capital: Addis Ababa; Currency: Ethiopian birr.

Appointments

5. C. Sugandh Rajaram appointed as India's next envoy to the Republic of Ghana

• C. Sugandh Rajaram has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Ghana.
• He will replace Birender Singh Yadav as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Ghana.
• C. Sugandh Rajaram is presently the Consul General, Consulate General of India to Southern Germany.

Ranks and Reports

6. India among top 10 countries with higher climate performance

• India, for the first time, ranks among the top 10 in this year's Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) at the COP25 climate summit in the Spanish capital Madrid.
• The current levels of per capita emissions and energy use in India ranked 9th in the high category showing that emissions are still comparatively low.
• However, despite a high rating for its Climate Policy performance, experts point out that India has yet to develop a roadmap to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies and reduce the country's high dependence on coal.
• The authors of the report noted that while the country receives an overall medium rating in the renewable energy category, India's 2030 renewable energy target is rated very high for its well-below 2 degrees Celsius compatibility.
• They noted that as none of the countries assessed is already on a path compatible with the Paris climate targets, the first three places of the ranking remain unoccupied.
• While some EU countries such as Sweden (4th) and Denmark (5th), one of the best climbers, achieve overall high or very high ratings, the performance of EU countries varies largely.
• While only two G20 countries, the UK (7th) and India (9th), are ranked in the high category, eight G20 countries are remaining in the worst category of the index.
• Australia (56th out of 61), Saudi Arabia and above all the US perform particularly poor.
• The index is jointly presented by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network.
• China, the largest global emitter slightly improves its ranking in the index to 30th place.

7. India ranks 129th in Human Development Index 2019

• India has been ranked 129th among 189 countries in the Human Development Index 2019 released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• India was ranked 130th last year in the index. Norway, Switzerland, Ireland occupied the top three positions in the index.
• According to the report, South Asia was the fastest growing region in human development progress showing a 46% growth over 1990-2018, followed by East Asia and the Pacific at 43%.

Facts related to India:

• India's HDI value increased from 0.431 to 0.647, which places it above the average for countries in the medium human development group (0.634) and above the average for other South Asian countries (0.642).
• In the Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI), India was ranked 130th, losing nearly half the progress (0.647 to 0.477) made in the past 30 years.
• The IHDI indicates percentage loss in HDI due to inequalities. In the Gender Inequality Index (GII), India is at 122 out of 162 countries.
• The Human Development Index measures average achievement of the countries in 3 basic dimensions of human development i.e. life expectancy, education and per capita income.

Science and Technology

8. ISRO to launch earth observation satellite, RISAT-2BR1

• The ISRO(Indian Space Research Organisation) will launch its earth observation satellite, RISAT-2BR1 on PSLV-C48 from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• RISAT-2BR1, a Radar imaging earth observation satellite weighing about 628 kg, will be placed into an orbit of 576 km at an inclination of 37 degrees.
• PSLV-C48, which is the 50th mission of PSLV, will also carry 9 customer satellites of Israel, Italy, Japan and USA as co-passengers.
• These international customer satellites are being launched under a commercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• ISRO Director: Sivan, Headquarters: Bengaluru, Established: 1969.

Sports News

9. India's R. Praggnanandhaa wins London Chess Classic

• R. Praggnanandhaa from India has won the FIDE Open category of the London Chess Classic held in London.
• He won the tournament with a tally of 7.5 points out of nine rounds.
• The 14-year-old Indian chess player finished joint first with Anton Smirnov of Australia both scoring 7.5 points.

10. Wasim Jaffer becomes first Indian to play 150 Ranji matches

• Veteran opener Wasim Jaffer became the first player in Indian cricket to feature in 150 Ranji matches.
• The former India opener is now just 853 runs away from completing 20,000 runs in first-class cricket.
• Jaffer is followed by Madhya Pradesh batsman Devendra Bundela (145 matches) and Amol Muzumdar (136 matches), who have played for Mumbai and Assam.
• Jaffer has played 253 first-class games, scoring 19,147 runs at an average of 51.19.
• He has scored 57 hundred and 88 fifties with 314 being his highest score.
• He also has a double hundred to his name — the highest score of 212 against West Indies in 2006 at St John’s.

11. Suniel Shetty signed as anti-doping brand ambassador NADA

• Actor Suniel Shetty has been selected as the brand ambassador of National Anti-Doping Agency NADA.
• The country's anti-doping body is hoping that his celebrity status helps its efforts to clean up sports in the country from the menace.
• More than 150 athletes have failed dope tests this year though bodybuilders make up more than one-third of these offenders.
• This is not a welcome sign with less than eight months to go for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
• The suspension of National Anti-Doping Laboratory by the WADA earlier this year is another issue facing the country now that dope samples collected by the National Anti-Doping Agency from the athletes will have to be tested outside India.

12. 13th South Asian Games concluded in Nepal

• The 13th South Asian Games concluded in Nepal. India finished on top with 312 medals comprising 174 gold, 93 silver and 45 bronze.
• Host Nepal remained second and Sri Lanka got third place. During the 10 days long biggest sporting event of South Asia, over 2700 athletes from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives competed for 1119 medals.
• Sporting events in 26 games were held at Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakpur.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Nepal Prime Minister: K P Sharma Oli; Capital: Kathmandu.
• President of Nepal: Bidhya Devi Bhandari; Currency of Nepal: Nepalese rupee.

Obituaries

13. ICSSR Chairman Braj Bihari Kumar passes away

• Braj Bihari Kumar, the Chairman of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) passed away.
• He was appointed as the chairman of the ICSSR in May 2017.
• Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) was established in the year of 1969 by the Government of India to promote research in social sciences in the country.
• provide grants for projects, fellowships, international collaboration, capacity building, survey, publications etc. to promote research in social sciences in India.

14. George Laurer, inventor of the barcode passes away

• The inventor of Universal Product Code(UPC) or Barcode, George Joseph Laurer, passed away.
• His barcode invention at IBM (International Business Machines) corporation, transformed the retail industries as well as other industries across the world.
• He worked as an electrical engineer with IBM in North Carolina’s research triangle park in the early 1970s.
• Barcode is a ubiquitous marking, composed of unique black bars and a 12-digit number, that allows retailers to identify products by means of scanning the code.

Important Days

15. International Mountain Day: 11 December

• International Mountain Day is held every year on 11 December globally.
• This day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2003 to encourage sustainable development in mountains.
• The theme for 2019 IMD is "Mountains Matter for Youth".
• International Mountain Day is a chance to highlight that for rural youth, living in the mountains can be hard.
• Migration from the mountains leads to abandoned agriculture, land degradation and a loss of ancient cultural traditions. Education and training, market access, diverse employment opportunities and good public services can ensure a brighter future for young people in the mountains.
• This year, youth will take the lead and demand that mountains and mountain peoples become central in the national and international development agendas; receive more attention, investments and tailored research.

Miscellaneous

16. Multi Cell Box Type Load Class 70 bridge inaugurated in Rajouri

• Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu inaugurated the 72-metre long Multi Cell Box Type Load Class 70 bridge to the Nation in Rajouri.
• The bridge spans over Draj nallah and connects Draj Area to Tehsil Kotranka area under District Rajouri.
• The bridge has been built by Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
• The Draj bridge is an important bridge for military as well as for socio-economic development of the Rajouri District as a whole.
• This bridge will facilitate all weather and speedy movement of Army troops as well as locals.

Daily updates 10 December 2019

National News

1. Walmart to train 50,000 MSME entrepreneurs

• US retail major Walmart will train 50,000 entrepreneurs from the micro, small & medium enterprises (MSME) sector. The objective will be fulfilled by opening 25 institute hubs in India in next five years which would train the MSME entrepreneurs.
• The institutes will be opened under the 'Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Programe' across the nation.
• These institutes would be strategically located near the manufacturing clusters and will be the part of Walmart's "long-term commitment to India"
• For the development of these institutes, Walmart has partnered with a local NGO Swasti which would also have academic support from the local universities.

Banking and Economy News

2. Exim Bank provides USD 500 mn credit to Bangladesh for defence procurement

• India’s Exim Bank (Export-Import Bank of India) has provided $500 million (Rs 3561 crore) Line of Credit(LoC) to Bangladesh for defence-related procurement in the neighbouring country.
• The Exim bank entered into an agreement with Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division (AFD) in this regard on April 11, 2019. The agreement became effective from November 7, 2019, and the utilisation period of the loan is 10 years from the date of signing the agreement.
• Under the loan agreement, financing of export of eligible goods and services from India would be allowed subject to the Foreign Trade Policy(FTP).
• Out of total credit, 75% of the contract price will be applied by the seller and the remaining 25% will be procured by the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outside India, including Bangladesh. The contract price may be reduced from 75% to 65% based on the nature of procurement.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Exim bank Founded: 1 January 1982.
• Exim bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Exim bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO): David Rasquinha.

3. Loans worth over Rs10 lakh cr sanctioned under PMMY

• Union Government informed that loans worth over 10 lakh crore rupees have been sanctioned till 1st November this year under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, PMMY.
• As per the findings of the PMMY survey, around five crore persons were working in the establishments for which MUDRA loans were availed between April 2015 to March 2018.
• The survey reveals that these loans enabled beneficiaries to sustain the economic activities they were engaged in.

Business News

4. NSE launches interest rate options on 10-yr govt bonds

• National Stock Exchange launched interest rate options on ten-year Government bonds. The exchange recorded a turnover of 5,926 contracts on the first day of its launch.
• The exchange has added one more instrument to the fixed income derivatives asset class. interest rate options will provide institutional investors with the ability to manage risk through a non-linear product.
• These interest rate options are based on 10-year government bonds maturing in 2029 with a coupon rate of 7.26 per cent and 6.45 per cent.
• Presently, interest rate futures are available on seven government bonds for residual maturity ranging from 4 years to 15 years.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• NSE’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer: Vikram Limaye.

Agreements

5. MOU signed Between NSIC & ARAMCO Asia for development in Oil & Gas Sectors

• A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and Suadi Aramco (Asia) for the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Ecosystem in India in Oil & Gas Sector.
• The MoU will pave a way for accredited Indian MSMEs to carve out space as vendors in Global space.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• National Small Industries Corporation established in 1955.
• National Small Industries Corporation is the flagship Mini Ratna public sector undertaking (PSU).

Appointments

6. News Broadcasters Federation elects Arnab Goswami as governing board president

• The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), the country's largest association of over 78 news channels, has elected editor-in-chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami as the President of its governing board.
• The body of 78 news channels in 14 languages, representing broadcasters from 25 states. The new self-regulatory organization in order to bring in transparent self-regulation on content will be announced by the end of January 2020.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• News Broadcasters Federation formation: July 2009.

Awards

7. 4 eminent diplomats honoured with 2019 'Diwali - Power of One Award'

• The 4 prominent diplomats have been honoured with 'The Diwali - Power of One' award 2019 in recognition and celebration of their work, especially at the United Nations, for a secure and peaceful world.

The diplomats who were honoured are:

• Former foreign minister and Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to UN: Kairat Abdrakhmanov.
• Former Permanent Representative of Cyprus to UN: Nicholas Emiliou.
• Former Chef de Cabinet to President of 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and Permanent Representative of Slovakia to UN: Frantisek Ruzicka.
• Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN: Volodymyr Yelchenko.
• The awards which have now come to be known as ‘Oscars of Diplomacy’ were established by Diwali Foundation USA, Inc in 2017. The awards seek to promote a peaceful and consensus-based process to achieve societal good, as befitting high hopes and ideals of humanity enshrined in the UN Charter.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Diwali Foundation USA Chairman: Ranju Batra.

8. Abu Dhabi selected as world’s leading sports tourism destination

• Abu Dhabi (UAE) has been selected as the world’s leading Sports tourism Destination at the 26th edition of the World Travel Awards (WTA) being held in Muscat, Oman.
• This is the 7th time in a row that Abu Dhabi has been selected for this coveted award. The award is the latest in several prestigious accolades gained by Abu Dhabi this year, including being selected as the West Asia’s Leading Business Tourism Destination at the West Asia edition of WTA and Best City Break at the UK’s Selling Travel Agents’ Choice Awards.
• Abu Dhabi shined as a premium destination once again for sports tourism in 2019 after hosting so Abu Dhabi me of the world’s top sporting events, such as the FIFA Club World Cup 2017 and 2018, the first edition of the UAE Tour, the AFC Asian Cup 2019, the Special Olympics World Games 2019, the UFC 242 showdown and the Brazil vs South Korea international friendly match.
• Sports tourism has been labelled by the United Nations World Travel Organisation, UNWTO, as one of the fastest-growing sectors of tourism worldwide. World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is President of the UAE.
• Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE.
• The United Arab Emirates dirham is the currency of the UAE.

Ranks & Reports

9. Worldwide arms sales rise by nearly 5% in 2018

• Worldwide arms sales rose by nearly 5 per cent in 2018. According to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the market is dominated by the United States.
• The turnover of the 100 biggest arms manufacturers came to 420 billion dollars. US manufacturers alone accounted for 59 per cent of the market, or a turnover of 246 billion dollars, up 7.2 per cent on the previous year.
• Russia was second in the rankings for arms production, with 8.6 per cent of the market, just ahead of the United Kingdom on 8.4 per cent and France on 5.5 per cent.
• The study did not include China, for lack of sufficient data. The world's largest arms maker remains the US firm Lockheed Martin, as it has been since 2009. Its turnover last year was 47.3 billion dollars. Its sales alone account for 11 per cent of the world market.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Chairman, President & CEO of Lockheed Martin: Marillyn A. Hewson.

Defence News

10. Rafale jet tail numbers to feature former Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa’s

• The Indian Rafale fighter jets will fly with the tail sign 'BS' after the recently retired Air Force Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa. The Indian Air Force has decided to put tail numbers in 30 Rafale jets with ''BS'' initials.
• Six Rafale trainer aircraft will carry RB series tail numbers which stand for Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, the current Chief of Air Staff who played a key role as lead negotiator for the mega-deal.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Indian Airforce founded: 8 October 1932, India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.

11. UAE, US joint military exercise 'Iron Union 12'commences

• 'Iron Union 12', a joint military exercise between the ground forces of the UAE and the United States, commenced. 'Iron Union 12' will see the two sides take part in joint military cooperation to enhance combat and tactical capabilities.
• The joint military exercises of the UAE Armed Forces with fraternal and friendly countries takes place in a manner consistent with latest developments and reflects the UAE Armed Forces' determination to stand firmly against all threats and challenges facing the region.

Sports News

12. WADA bans Russia from international sporting events for 4 years

• The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), banned Russia for 4 years, from participation in global sporting events, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, after accusing Moscow of falsifying data from an anti-doping laboratory.
• The Russian flag and national anthem have also been banned in global events.
• Russia's anti-doping agency can appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days. The independent McLaren report released in 2016 revealed the significant extent of state-sponsored doping in Russia, notably between 2011 and 2015.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• President of WADA: Sir Craig Reedie; Headquarters: Montreal, Canada.
• Founded: 10 November 1999.

Important Days

13. Human Rights Day: 10 December

• Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December. This Day came into existence on December 10, 1948, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations.
• This day is observed every year across the world, as it empowers us all. The day also acknowledges the advocates and defenders of human rights around the world.
• This year it will be the 71st anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. With the theme “Youth Standing Up for Human Rights”, the aim is to celebrate the potential of youth as constructive agents of change, amplify their voices and engage a broad range of global audiences in the promotion and protection of rights.

Miscellaneous

14. KVIC distributes 500 Bee Boxes, 500 Pottery Wheels and 200 Leather Kits

• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) distributed 500 Bee Boxes, 500 Electric Pottery Wheels and 200 Leather Tool Kits in an event organised by KVIC in Boondi District, Rajasthan.
• Event was organised to support the weaker section of the society as well as to commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• KVIC has been running a mass campaign for the revival of bee keeping, pottery and leather industry under the Honey Mission, Kumhar Sashaktikaran Mission and Leather Mission respectively.

15. Nilgiri Mountain Railway conducts special service for foreign tourists

• The UNESCO-recognized Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) conducted a special service for foreign tourists. 71 tourists from several countries, including the USA, the UK and France travelled by a special steam engine service from Coonoor to Ooty.
• They were presented with special mementoes and gift hampers as well as served with the replica of the original Edmonton type cardboard ticket.
• The NMR is one of the few railways in the world that uses the unique rack and pinion system, with its special third rail to negotiate gradients en route from Mettupalayam in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu to Ooty, the Queen of Western Ghats.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.

Daily updates 9 December 2019

National News

1. President lays foundation stone for Paika Rebellion memorial in Odisha

• President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone to the memorial being built in memory of the Paika rebellion, a 200-year-old armed revolt in 1817 against the British East India Company in Odisha.
• The proposed project will come up at the foothills of Barunei hills in Khurda district, Odisha.
• The memorial is seen as an epitome of Odisha’s valour and will serve as an inspiration for the youth.
• A chair in the name of Buxi Jagabandhu who led this revolt has been established with a Rs 5 crore grant and memorial coin and stamp issued to mark the two hundred years of the event.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Odisha Governor: Ganeshi Lal; Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik.

2. Israeli student's made satellite "Duchifat-3" to be launched from Sriharikota

• The "Duchifat-3", Israeli student's made satellite will be launched from ISRO's Sriharikota launch site.
• "Duchifat-3" is a satellite jointly built by Herzliya Science Center and Sha’ar HaNegev High School students of Israel.
• It is a remote sensing satellite through which students from all schools across the country will be able to experiment and carry through Earth observation.
• "Duchifat-3" is the 3rd in the series of Israeli student-made satellites.
• Duchifat-3 weigheing 2.3 kg is a photo satellite to be used for ecological research of Earth from space.

International News

3. Finland elects Sanna Marin, the youngest-ever Prime Minister

• Finland's Social Democrats elected 34-year-old Sanna Marin to the post of the prime minister, making her the youngest head of government in the country's history.
• Her appointment is unlikely to lead to significant policy changes by the Social Democrat-led administration.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Finland Capital: Helsinki, Currency: Euro.

4. 8th edition of Embassy’s annual film festival inaugurated at Riyadh

• The 8th edition of the Embassy’s annual film festival titled “Ambassador’s Choice: Screening of Films” was inaugurated at the auditorium of Embassy of India, Riyadh.
• Embassy’s annual film festival titled “Ambassador’s Choice: Screening of Films” saw the popular Hindi film ‘Dangal’ screened at Riyadh, which drew a large number of audience.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh; Currency: Saudi riyal.

5. Bangabandhu BPL inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

• Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the special edition of Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL)  T20 cricket championship to mark Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary in 2020.
• A total of 7 teams are participating in the BBPL event. They will play 46 matches including the 4 playoff matches.
• The BBPL final will be held on January 17, 2020.
• This is the first time that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is organizing the Premier League matches without involving any franchise.

State News

6. Haryana CM inaugurates Integrated Command and Control Centre

• Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has inaugurated Gurgaon's ambitious Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).
• It has been developed as the nerve centre to provide multifaceted online smart services to people.
• The ICCC has been designed to serve as the nodal point for all online data related to the Smart City applications, including CCTV-based public safety and adaptive traffic management system, smart parking system, water supply management system, pollution monitoring, property tax management system and asset management system.
• The Integrated Command and Control Centre was built at the cost of 38 crore rupees.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Governor of Haryana: Satyadeo Narayan Arya.

7. Human Library event in Mysuru

• Human Library event, a concept which seeks to replace books with humans, will be held in the City of Palaces, Mysuru, Karnataka.
• The first event of the Human Library aims to break past long-standing prejudices and stereotypes by creating a safe framework for conservation by using a library analogy of lending people rather than books.
• It intends to generate greater human cohesion across various social, religious and ethnic diversities.
• The notion of Human Library was initially launched in the year 2000 and currently exists in more than 85 countries, known as The Human Library Organization.
• In India, Human Library is spread across various metropolitan cities including Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Copenhagen, Denmark-headquartered Human Library is a registered international non-profit organization.

Agreements

8. NTPC signs pact for Rs. 5,000 crores with SBI

• National Thermal Power Corporation Limited has signed a term loan agreement for Rs. 5,000 crore with State Bank of India.
• The loan facility has been extended at an interest rate linked to 3 Months MCLR of the bank and has a door to door tenure of 15 years.
• The loan will be utilised to part finance the capital expenditure of NTPC.

Important Takeaways for LIC Assistant and IBPS Clerk Mains:

• Gurdeep Singh is the Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC.
• Rajnish Kumar is Chairman of the State Bank of India.

Appointments

9. Girish Chandra Chaturvedi appointed as new chairman of NSE

• The National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) has appointed Girish Chandra Chaturvedi as its new chairman.
• The appointment was approved by Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).
• Girish Chandra Chaturvedi is a retired IAS officer and former Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• He is presently on the board of ICICI Bank and the member of the government appointed board of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS).

Awards

10. Miss South Africa crowned 2019 Miss Universe

• Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe 2019 in Atlanta, US. Ms Tunzi beat over 90 contestants from around the globe in the 68th instalment of Miss Universe.
• Miss Universe Puerto Rico Madison Anderson was the runner-up in this contest.
• The Philippines' Catriona Gray, who presented Ms Tunzi the crown, was the Miss Universe winner in 2018.

11. 8th National Photography Awards

• The Photo Division, under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, has invited entries for the 8th National Photography Awards.
• The Division confers these Awards every year, to promote various facets of the country such as art, culture, development, heritage, history, life, people, society, and tradition through the medium of photography, and to encourage professional and amateur photographers across the country.

The National Photography Awards are conferred under three categories:

• Lifetime Achievement Award,
• Award for Professional Photographers
• Award for Amateur Photographers.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award carries a Cash Prize of Rs. 3,00,000. This year's theme for Professional Photographers is 'Life and Water.'
• The awards under the Category for Professionals are one ‘Professional
• Photographer of the year’ award with a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000.
• This year's theme for the Amateur Photographers is 'Cultural Heritage of India.'
• The awards under the Category for Amateurs are one ‘Amateur Photographer of the year’ award with a cash prize of Rs.75,000.

Summits and Conference

12. 54th DGsP/IGsP Conference held in Pune

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the 54th DGsP/IGsP Conference held in Pune.
• The Prime Minister addressed the valedictory session of the Conference.
• President's police medals were also awarded to officers of the Intelligence Bureau for their distinguished services.

Important Days

13. International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime: 9 December

• The United Nations General Assembly established 9 December as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.
• The 9th of December is the anniversary of the adoption of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the “Genocide Convention”).
• This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Convention.
• 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 honour its victims.

14. International Anti-Corruption Day: 9 December

• The United Nations’ (UN) International Anti-Corruption Day has been observed annually, on 9 December.
• The day aims to raise public awareness of corruption and what people can do to fight it.
• This year International Anti-Corruption Day theme is "United Against Corruption".

Miscellaneous

15. FIA invites Anand Kumar for India’s Republic Day celebrations in New York

• The Federation of Indian Association (FIA) has invited Super 30 founder Anand Kumar to a function on the eve of India’s Republic Day celebrations in New York.
• The Federation of Indian Association is the oldest organisation of the non-resident Indians. Year "2020" also marks the 50th anniversary of FIA. Anand Kumar has been invited for his contribution in the field of education through his programme ‘Super 30’.
• ‘Super 30’ is a programme that prepares 30 students from underprivileged sections of society for the prestigious IIT entrance test every year, without any fees.