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Daily Current Affairs PDF of 21st December 2019

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

IIT Hyderabad CfHE Fellow launches India’s first ‘Vaccination Clinic’ in Pune in collaboration with Gates Foundation.

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad’s Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship (CfHE) Fellow Mr. Jignesh Patel has launched in Pune a Vaccination on Wheels Clinic, a first-of-its-kind service in India. This is being done in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which provided a grant to Mr. Jignesh Patel under its Grand Challenges Explorations.
Called ‘com’ as they have adopted VOW (Vaccination On Wheels) concept, this clinic will go to schools, colleges and corporates to conduct vaccination camps at their doorsteps. It will offer only vaccination services. It was launched on 15th December 2019 in Pune city’s PCMC area. This unique, unconventional, creative, low-cost and high on convenience model has been designed with the idea of ‘reaching the bottom of the pyramid.’
Jignesh Patel founded Jivika Healthcare to provide this vaccination service

Skill Development Ministry to set up 500 skill hubs and labs in govt schools

Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry has finalized a plan for setting up 500 skill hubs and labs in government schools. It has taken several initiatives to impart skill training to the youth of the country.
The Ministry aims to Skill on a large scale with high Standards in order to achieve its vision of a Skilled India.

About skill development ministry:

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is a Ministry of Government of India set up on 9 November 2014 to coordinate all skill development efforts across the country.
Union minister: MahendraNathPandey

Govt proposes to invest 50 lakh crore rupees for modernisation of Railways

Railway Minister PiyushGoyal has stated that Railways is looking at a 50 lakh crore rupees investment over the next 12 years.
It is coming out of joint ventures so that it can modernize the railways, bring down the logistics cost and improve the share of freight in railway network and make the journey world-class.

PM Modi addresses ASSOCHAM Annual Conference

Prime Minister NarendraModi addressed the annual general meeting of Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India in New Delhi.
The theme of the event was ‘New India Aspiring for a USD 5 trillion economy’. The event was organised on the completion of 100 years of ASSOCHAM.

About ASSOCHAM:

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India is one of the apex trade associations of India. The organisation represents the interests of trade and commerce in India, and acts as an interface between issues and initiatives.
Headquarters location: New Delhi
Founded: 1921
Number of locations: 3 (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata)
President: BalkrishanGoenka;)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

Ethiopia launches its first satellite

Ethiopia launched its first satellite , a landmark achievement for the country’s space program that caps a banner year for the African space industry.
The launch of the Ethiopian Remote Sensing Satellite (ETRSS) took place at a space station in China.
The launch makes Ethiopia the eleventh African country to put a satellite into space. Egypt was the first in 1998.
Data provided by Ethiopia’s satellite is expected to paint a fuller picture of the country’s agriculture, forestry and mining resources and improve responses to flooding and other disasters.

About Ethiopia

Capital: Addis Ababa
Currency: Ethiopian birr
Prime minister: Abiy Ahmed

India, Afghanistan, Iran meet to monitor implementation of Chabahar pact

The second meeting between officials of India, Afghanistan and Iran took place to monitor implementation of the 2016 agreement regarding development and management of the Chabahar port in Iran.
The Chabahar port — being jointly developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan — is considered a gateway to opportunities for trade by the three countries with central Asian nations. It is located on the Indian Ocean in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

Wipro and Nasscom to upskill 10,000 engineering students in India

Bengaluru-based Wipro Ltd has partnered with the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) to train 10,000 students from over 20 engineering colleges in India as part of the ‘Future Skills’ platform
The programme has now been extended to students directly through Future Skills, which is a Nasscom initiative to bridge the industry-academia skill gap and help students keep pace with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, cyber security, and internet of things (IoT).

About NASSCOM:

The National Association of Software and Services Companies is a trade association of Indian Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing industry. Established in 1988, NASSCOM is a non-profit organisation.
Chairperson: RishadPremji
Headquarters: New Delhi

About Wipro:

CEO: AbidaliNeemuchwala
Founder: M.H. HashamPremji
Founded: 29 December 1945, India
Headquarters: Bengaluru

Fitch cuts India’s GDP growth forecast to 4.6% in FY20

Fitch Ratings cut India’s GDP growth forecast for 2019-20 fiscal year to 6 per cent on deterioration in business and consumer confidence.
It affirmed India’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BBB-‘ with a Stable Outlook
It attributed the downgrade to a shortage of credit availability from non-banking financial companies, and weakening business and consumer confidence.
Fitch, however, estimated the economic growth to recover to 6% in 2020-21 and 6.5% in 2021-2022 with support from easing monetary and fiscal policy and structural measures.

Recent news related to GDP:


Organizations	FY20 (2019-2020)	FY21 (2020-2021)
Global Economic Prospects Report 2019 byWorld Bank titled “Darkening Skies”	7.5%	7.5%
United Nations’ World Economic Situation and Prospects (UNESP) 2019	7.1%	–
FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) Economic Outlook Survey	7.1%	7.2%
Goldman Sachs	7.2%	–
Asian Development Outlook by ADB (Asian Development Bank)	6.5%	7.2%

Debt-ridden Air India receives Rs 500-crore guarantee from Centre

The debt-ridden Air India received a guarantee worth Rs 500 crore from the government to secure fresh funds for operational requirements.
Faced with an acute financial crunch, the national carrier had sought Rs 2,400-crore guarantee from the government to raise fresh funds to mainly meet its operational requirements.
The government is likely to invite preliminary bids for the stake sale in Air India.

AIIB announces USD 210 million loan for irrigation & solar energy projects in India

The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced a total loan of USD 210 million for irrigation and solar energy projects in India.
The multilateral institution will lend USD 145 million to improve irrigation services and strengthen flood risk management in West Bengal, while USD 65 million has been earmarked for a 250-megawatt (MW) solar project in Rajasthan promoted by Hero Future Energies.
India is the second-largest shareholder of the bank and the largest recipient of its loan and equity commitments.
The total commitments to the country stand at USD 3 billion, which is about a third of total of USD 10 billion.

About AIIB

Formation :16 January 2016
Headquarters:Beijing, China
President :Jin Liqun

RBI to buy, sell govt bonds worth Rs 10,000 crore

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will simultaneously purchase and sell government securities worth 10,000 crore rupees under a special Open Market Operation (OMO).
Such exercises are done by the central bank when the proceeds from the sale of short-term securities are used to buy long-term government securities or bonds in a bid to bring down interest rates on long-term securities.
RBI stated that the eligible participants should submit their bids and offers in electronic format on the RBI’s Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system between 10.30 a.m. and 12.00 noon on 23rd of this month.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Retired HC judge CV Ramulu named TelanganaLokayukta

Retired high court judge CV Ramulu will be TelanganaLokayukta and V NiranjanRao will be the Upa-Lokayukta. Retired HC judge G Chandraiah will be the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) chairman.
The selection committees of the Lokayukta and SHRC met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The selection committees headed by the CM held a brief meeting and finalised the names. Governor TamilisaiSoundararajan gave her assent to the appointments.
Selection committee members, including Telangana State Legislative Council chairman GuttaSukhender Reddy, Legislative Assembly Speaker PocharamSrinivas Reddy, and Opposition leaders in the Assembly and Council Pasha Quadri and Jaffrey attended the meeting.

About Telangana:

Capital- Hyderabad.
Governor- TamilisaiSoundararajan.
Chief minister- KalvakuntlaChandrashekarRao.

OYO appoints Ankit Gupta as Chief Operating Officer

OYO Hotels & Homes stated that it has appointed Ankit Gupta as chief operating officer and senior vice president for its coliving, rental homes and self-operated hotel businesses in Indian and South Asia.
Gupta has been appointed as COO & SVP – Frontier Businesses, OYO India & South Asia.
Frontier businesses comprise OYO’s self-operated hotels (OYO Townhouse, Collection O, SilverKey), student housing and co-living and OYO Home businesses.
Ankit Gupta, an alumnus of IIT Bombay, joined OYO India & South Asia from McKinsey & Co where, as a tenured Partner, he was the global leader of their real estate transformation practice

Anand Mahindra to step down as Mahindra Group executive chairman from April 2020

Anand Mahindra will step down as Executive Chairman from April 1, 2020.
With effect from April 1, 2020, Mahindra will transition to the role of Non-Executive Chairman of the board of Mahindra & Mahindra. This is in accordance with the Sebi guidelines
PawanGoenka will be re-designated as Managing Director and Chief Executive from April 1.
As Non-Executive Chairman, Mahindra will serve as a mentor and sounding board for the Managing Director, especially in the areas of strategic planning, risk mitigation and external interface.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Indian-American scientist Dr. SethuramanPanchanathan to lead National Science Foundation in US

S. President Donald Trump has picked Indian-American computer scientist SethuramanPanchanathan to lead the prestigious National Science Foundation.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a U.S. government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Panchanathan is currently the Executive Vice President and the Chief Research and Innovation Officer at the Arizona State University (ASU). He is also the Founding Director of the Centre for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at the ASU.
Panchanathanwould succeedfrancecordova. He is currently the executive vice president and the chief research and innovation officer at the arizons state university.

Belgium crowned FIFA Team of the Year, Qatar biggest climber

Belgium have been crowned FIFA ‘Team of the Year’ for the second successive time after a record-breaking year for the global ladder.
World champions France remains in the second place ahead of Brazil in third, the positions they held in December 2018, but the make-up of the year-end top five has changed, said FIFA in a statement.
England climbed one place in 2019 to end the year in fourth, and Uruguay moved up to fifth on the back of a two-spot rise.
Besides accumulating the biggest points haul,Qatar has also jumped a year-high 38 places , followed closely by fellow climbers Algeria (up 32 ranks) and Japan (up 22 places) .

About Belgium :

Capital: Brussels
Currency: Euro
Prime Minister: Sophie Wilmès

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING

India in 7th position on World Anti-Doping Agency list for violations

The World Anti-Doping Agency consisting of dope infractions recorded in 2017 across the world has revealed that indiawas fifth-highest when it came to total number of positive dope tests in Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF), while it was seventh-highest in the list of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRV) .
The report stated that the French Anti-Doping Agency had the highest number with 164 AAF followed by USA with 136. Only China (84) and Italy (75) had more cases of doping in 2017 than India with 71. Out of this, 57 were registered as ADRVs. This number might rise as it is understood that there are still pending cases.
In the same list for 2016, released last year, India had occupied the same spot with 73 positive tests from 2831 samples collected.

About WADA:

Head quarters: montreal, quebec Canada
President: Sir Craig Reedie
Purpose:anti doping in sports

ViratKohli, Akshay, Salman Khan top Forbes India’s 2019 Celebrity 100 list.

Bollywood superstars Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan are among the top paid celebrities of India, Forbes India has announced.
The magazine has published its list of Celebrity 100 for the year 2019 which has been topped by Indian cricket captain ViratKohli with the earning of Rs 252.72 crore.
The rankings are based on estimates of earnings through professions and endorsements of celebrities and estimates of their fame for the October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019.
Akshay is highest earning star from the country with Rs 293.25 crore, registering a rise of 58.51 percent from the previous year, but is placed at the 2nd spot, followed by Salman with the earning of Rs 229.25 crore.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan and Indian cricketer MS Dhoni are listed at 4th and 5th spots, with earnings of Rs 239.25 crore and Rs 135.93 crore, respectively.
They are followed closely by Shah Rukh Khan, who makes a comeback to the list, and Ranveer Singh, with the respective hauls of Rs 124.38 crores and Rs. 118.2 crores.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

Indian Air Force planning ‘swift trials’ in ₹1.5 lakh crore 114 fighter jet deal

In the over ₹5 lakh crore deal for manufacturing 114 multirole fighter aircraft, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to compress the time taken for carrying out trials of all the participants to less than a year to ensure that the force gets its new combat aircraft at a faster rate.
Last time, when the IAF carried out trials of multiple fighter aircraft for the scrapped deal of 126 multirole fighter aircraft, the service had taken 18 months to complete the process in the contract which lingered on for several years before getting cancelled due to complications.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

World’s oldest fossil trees uncovered in New York

Fossilized trees dating back 386 million years have been discovered at an abandoned quarry in New York.
Scientists believe they’ve found a forest so gigantic that it once stretched beyond Pennsylvania from the quarry in Cairo, New York ,nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains.
The finding could increase the understanding of the evolution of trees and how they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Experts from several British and American universities have spent more than 10 years mapping over 3,000 square meters of the forest, coming to the conclusion that it was home to at least two types of trees: Cladoxylopsidsand Archaeopteris.

Infosys launched 3 blockchain-powered distributed applications

The launch of three blockchain-powered distributed applications for government services, insurance, and supplychain management domains.
These comprehensive applications designed as ready-to-subscribe business networks ensure quick deployment, interoperability across disparate systems of value chain stakeholders and a wide variety of use cases involving other digital technologies like IoT, Analytics as well.
They are equipped with predictive return on investment (ROI) analytics for business investments that can be tailored to meet numerous industry-specific needs.
The company stated that enterprises can capitalise on blockchain’s benefits of trust, immutability, and transparency.

About Infosys:

Founded– 7 July 1981.
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)-SalilParek

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

ICC extends partnership with UNICEF for 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced it has extended its partnership with UNICEF through to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 with the focus on empowering women and girls through cricket.
The extension of the partnership will once again see the ICC provide UNICEF with a platform for fundraising to help bring positive change to women and girls and drive awareness for the work that UNICEF does as a global champion for children’s rights in cricket playing nations.
During the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, UNICEF raised USD 180,000 as part of One Day 4 Children and this money will go directly to fund a girls’ cricket project in
The ICC and UNICEF partnership commenced in 2015, as part of the ICC’s global community outreach programme‘Cricket 4 Good’. The partnership and public donations continue to bring positive change to children through the programmes in cricket playing nations focused on empowering women and girls in cricket.

About UNICEF:

Aim: To promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political,social and economic development of their communities.
Headquarters-NewYork, UnitedStates.
Chairman- Henrietta H Fore

About ICC:

CEO- Manu Sawhney
Chairman– ShashankManohar
Headquarters– Dubai,United Arab Emirates

MirabaiChanu bags Gold in 6th Qatar International Cup in Doha

Former world champion, weightlifterSaikhomMirabaiChanu won the women’s 49kg category gold medal to open India’s account at the 6th Qatar International Cup in Doha.
Chanu bagged gold with an effort of 194kg in the Olympic qualifying event, with the points which will come in handy when the final rankings for Tokyo 2020 cut are done.
The 24-year-old Manipuri lifted 83kg in snatch and 111kg in clean and jerk to finish on top of the podium.

AbhinavLohan wins Bengaluru Open Golf Championship

AbhinavLohan lifted PGTI title securing a narrow one-shot triumph at the Bengaluru Open golf championship
It was Lohan’s first title on the TATA Steel PGTI and second win of the year as he had also emerged victorious at the PGTI Feeder Tour event in

Pat Cummins becomes most expensive overseas IPL player

Pat Cummins (Australian cricketer), with a base price of two crore rupees, became the most expensive overseasbuy as he was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a whopping 50 crore rupees.
Glenn Maxwell was sold to Kings XI Punjab for 10.75 crore rupees while Aaron Finch was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for 4.4 crore rupees in the Indian Premier League auction at Kolkata.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY

Former Kerala Minister Thomas Chandy passes away

Nationalist Congress Party’s Kerala State President and former Minister Thomas Chandy passed away in Kochi
The Kuttanad MLA was undergoing treatment for cancer past few years. He was

Former SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar passes away at 78

Former president of ShiromaniGurdwaraParbandhak Committee (SGPC) Avtar Singh Makkar died at a private hospital in Gurugram . The 78-year oldMakkar was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.
He was one of the longest-serving presidents of the SGPC, an apex religious body of the Sikhs.
He was also the Vice President of the ShiromaniAkali Dal.

Bengaluru: Kannada writer, lexicographer Prof LS SheshagiriRao dies at 94

Kannada writer, critic and lexicographer L S SheshagiriRao breathed his last at his residence in the city.
He was 94 and was suffering from age related complications.
An English professor at Bangalore University, most of his literary output was in Kannada.
His English – Kannada dictionary has been very popular.
He won the central SahityaAkademi award for his work ‘English SahityaCharitre’ and presided over the 74th All India Kannada SahityaSammelana in 2007 held at Udupi.
He also worked with RashtrothanaParishath.

DAILY CA- 20 DEC

International Human Solidarity Day- 20 december
President of India chairs the second meeting of the National Committee for Commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Mission on urban renewal extended by 2 yrs to 2022
Dr. Harsh Vardhan dedicates the CGHS Wellness Centre, Vikaspuri, New Delhi to the CGHS beneficiaries
Centre okaysRs 66,000 crKerala semi-high speed rail project
Parliament passes bill to merge UTs Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Govt plans host of measures to control population growth
RBI plans local version of ‘Operation Twist’ to lower long-term yields
Cuba to name first prime minister in 40 years
ADB, IndiaSign $ 490 Million Loan for PPP to Upgrade Madhya Pradesh Roads
Eight-year-old becomes highest-paid YouTuber, earns 26 million dollars in year
Afghanistan first country to recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia
J-K inksMoUwith UNDP to strengthen immunization supply chain system
Concept of 3 capitals to be considered in Andhra Pradesh
DeveshSrivastava elevated to CMD’s position of GIC Re
TAFE Chairman MallikaSrinivasan appointed to US India Business Council board
NCLAT restores Cyrus Mistry as chairman of Tata Sons
Second national conference on ‘Uniformed Women in Prison Administration’ in bhopal,

madhyapradesh

Indian Navy conducts anti-hijacking exercise Apharanat Kochi coast
DRDO successfully flight-tests Pinaka Missile System off Odisha coast
ZeenaKhitta wins women’s national 10m Air Rifle
FIFA rankings: India static at 108
International Astronomical Union names new star ‘Sharjah’

DAILY CA-21

IIT HyderabadCfHE Fellow launches India’s first ‘Vaccination Clinic’ in Pune in collaboration with Gates Foundation
Skill Development Ministry to set up 500 skill hubs and labs in govt schools
Govt proposes to invest 50 lakh crore rupees for modernisation of Railways
PM Modi addresses ASSOCHAM Annual Conference
Ethiopia launches its first satellite
India, Afghanistan, Iran meet to monitor implementation of Chabahar pact
Wipro and Nasscomto upskill10,000 engineering students in India
Fitch cuts India’s GDP growth forecast to 6% in FY20
Debt-ridden Air India receives Rs 500-crore guarantee from Centre
AIIB announces USD 210 million loan for irrigation & solar energy projects in India
RBI to buy, sell govt bonds worth Rs 10,000 crore

Retired HC judge CV Ramulu named TelanganaLokayukta
OYO appoints Ankit Gupta as Chief Operating Officer
Anand Mahindra to step down as Mahindra Group executive chairman from April 2020
Indian-American scientist SethuramanPanchanathan to lead National Science Foundation in US
Belgium crowned FIFA Team of the Year, Qatar biggest climber
India in 7th position on World Anti-Doping Agency list for violations
ViratKohli, Akshay, Salman Khan top Forbes India’s 2019 Celebrity 100 list
Indian Air Force planning ‘swift trials’ in ₹5 lakh crore 114 fighter jet deal
World’s oldest fossil trees uncovered in New York
Infosys launched 3 blockchain-powered distributed applications
ICC extends partnership with UNICEF for 2020Women’s T20 World Cup
MirabaiChanu bags Gold in 6th Qatar International Cup in Doha
AbhinavLohan wins Bengaluru Open Golf Championship
Pat Cummins becomes most expensive overseas IPL player
Former Kerala Minister Thomas Chandy passes away
Former SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar passes away at 78
Bengaluru: Kannada writer, lexicographer Prof LS SheshagiriRao dies at 94

Current Affairs Today 21st December 2019 | Current Affairs News