VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 16^th, 2018

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 16^th, 2018

1.     The 18th meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) was recently held in New Delhi.

a.      Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with Russian Defence Minister  General Sergei Shoigu jointly co-chaired the meeting. 

b.      Both leaders discussed a wide range of issues regarding defence equipment, industry and technological cooperation between India and Russia.

c.      Issues related to after sales support and upgradation of military equipment of Russian origin were also discussed.

2.      (16th December 2018) is Vijay Diwas (Victory Day).   

a.      We observe this day to remember the martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation during 1971 India-Pakistan war.

3.     is the 49th anniversary of the 1971 India–Pakistan war.

a.      This is the 1st war after World War-II that the Indian Army won conclusively.

b.      This is the only war that the independent Indian Army planned, executed and carried out with precision and captured 93,000 prisoners.

4.     marks the 6th anniversary of brutal ‎Nirbhaya gang rape case.

a.      6 years have passed since a young student in New Delhi died after she was gang raped on a moving bus by 6 men, including a minor.

b.      Note : The juvenile convict of this case walked free on 20th December 2015 and currently working in a Dhaba in South India.

5.     Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched several development projects worth overRs. 1000 crore rupees at Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

a.      He also flagged off the 900th coach and a rake of Humsafar train manufactured at Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli. 

6.     The Andhra Pradesh government is going to install a 197-foot-tall statue of former Chief Minister of the state N T Rama Rao (NTR) in Amravati. 

a.      Estimated cost of the project is around Rs. 406 cror.

7.     The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that it will install four new statues in the state, including a 25-foot-tall statue of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow.

a.      A statue of Swami Vivekananda will be installed at Raj Bhawan, while 12.5-foot-tall statues of Mahant Avaidyanath and Mahant Digvijayanath will be installed in Gorakhpur.

8.     The foundation stone for Institute of High-Altitude Medicinal Plants (IHAMP) was laid by Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and Shripad Yesso Naik (Ayush Ministry) at Bhaderwah, Doda district, Jammu & Kashmir.

a.      It will provide research in medicinal plants and promote cultivation of medicinal plants. 

b.      The institute will also provide employment and promote medicinal plant in foreign market.

9.     Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has dedicated National Rail and Transportation Institution (NRTI) to the Nation in Vadodara. 

a.      It is India’s 1st Railway university and the 3rd in the world after Russia and China.

10.Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution for seeking 30% reservation for women in Parliament and State legislative assembly. 

a.      The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, urging the Centre to enact it. 

11.Jammu and Kashmir has passed law to ban sexual extortion of woman in offices.

a.      With this, Jammu & Kashmir has became the 1st state in India to amend law on Sextortion.  

12.Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov, the world’s first Floating Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP)has become operational.  

a.      It was constructed by Russian state nuclear power firm Rosatom. 

b.      It has length of 144 metres and width of 30 metres.

c.      It has displacement of 21,500 tonnes and crew of 69 people. 

13.Indian-American Shree Saini has won Miss India Worldwide 2018 title at a pageant held in the Fords City of New Jersey. 

a.      Sakshi Sinha from Australia and Anusha Sareen from the United Kingdom were declared first and second runner-ups in the competition respectively.

14.India Post has started internet facility of the customers of Post office savings bank account. 

a.      The facility was launched by Union Minister for Communication (independent charge) Manoj Sinha at National Media Centre, New Delhi. 

b.      Revamped version of Indian Post website and e-commerce portal for rural artisans were also launched at event.

15.Bhupesh Baghel today named as the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. 

a.      This is the 3rd time Baghel has won from the Patan seat in Chhattisgarh, winning twice when the constituency was part of undivided Madhya Pradesh.  

b.      He is going to swea-in as the new CM tomorrow.

16.Ranil Wickremsinghe sworn-in as Sri Lankan Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena 

a.      He was removed as Prime minister on October 26 and was replaced by Mahinda Rajapaksa who resigned yesterday after failing to garner majority in Parliament.

b.      Note : This is the 5th time Mr. Wickremsinghe has been sworn in as Prime minister which is a record in Sri Lanka.

17.Bharat Bhushan Vyas has been appointed as a member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). 

a.      UPSC Chairman Arvind Saxena administered him the oath of office and secrecy. 

b.      With this, Vyas has become the 1st IAS officer from J&K cadre to join any constitutional body.  

18.PV Sindhu defeated world number five Nozomi Okuhara of Japan to record her 300th career match victory across categories and clinch the BWF World Tour Finals women's singles title.  

a.      With this, Sindhu becomes 1st Indian to lift Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals title.

19.Former England cricket team spinner Ashley Giles will succeed former captain Andrew Strauss as the Managing Director of England's Men's cricket in January 2019.