Current Affairs Today 25th December 2019 | Current Affairs News

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Daily Current Affairs PDF of 25th December 2019

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

Good Governance Day (India)

• Good Governance Day in India is observed on 25 December to commemorate the birth anniversary of AtalBihari Vajpayee.
• His Samadhi namely ‘SadiavAtal’ was dedicated to the nation and reflects his personality as a poet, humanist, statesman, and a great leader.
• He died at the age of 93 on 16 August, 2018. The Good Governance Day was established in 2014 to pay tribute to the former PM AtalBihari Vajpayee to raise awareness about the accountability in governance among the people of India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurates 65th National School Games of SGFI in New Delhi

• Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated Lawn Tennis Event (Under 19, Boys & Girls) of 65th National School Gamesorganised by School Games Federation of India (SGFI) at K. Khanna Stadium in New Delhi .
• A total number of 232 qualified Tennis Players have gathered in Delhi selected from 23 states for the National Level competition here. These players will compete in different categories for the next four days till 28th December.

ShriDharmendraPradhan unveils India’s First CNG Bus which can run 1000 Kms in one fill

• Delhi has witnessed a revolution in shift towards cleaner gas based fuels
• In a major step towards making India a gas-based economy and making CNG as the eco-friendly option for long distance transport in the country, ShriDharmendraPradhan, Minister of Petroleum& Natural Gas and Steel, unveiled India’s first long distance CNG bus fitted with composite CNG cylinders, which can travel around 1000 kms in a single fill. The project has been executed by Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) and has been achieved through pioneering design of Type IV Composite Cylinders in buses, replacing traditional very heavy Type-I Carbon Steel cylinders.
• These CNG buses are being run on pilot basis, but soon they will be scaled on commercial basis. Delhi has witnessed revolution in shift towards cleaner, gas based fuels. Over 500 CNG stationsare operating in Delhi NCR and about 12 lakh piped natural gas connections have been provided.
• Over 1,000 PNG connections are being provided daily in the NCR. Long haul CNG buses originating from Delhi to other locations will further drive this shift towards cleaner gas based fuels. This will improve overall ease of living of people by mitigating the problem of air pollution, ensuring a cleaner environment and reducing waiting time at CNG stations.

CABINET APPROVALS:

Cabinet approves ex-post facto agreement on Security Cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi has given ex-post facto approval on an Agreement on Security Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that was signed on 29th October, 2019 during the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia.
• The Agreement aims to improve the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention and suppression of crimes including crime relating to terrorism and its financing and organized crime and to establish a framework for enhancing cooperation between the officials of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies of the two countries, in line with national and international obligations.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Bangladesh on cooperation in Youth matters

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister NarendraModi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Bangladesh on cooperation in Youth matters. The MoU was signed on 5th October, 2019 at New Delhi.
• Exchange programmes in the field of Youth Affairs between India and Bangladesh will help in promoting exchange of ideas, values and culture amongst Youth and in consolidating friendly relations. It will help in developing international perspective among the Youth and expanding their knowledge and expertise in the areas ofyouth affairs.

Cabinet approves ex-post facto the agreement between India and Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the field of Combating Transnational Organized Crime and International Terrorism

• The agreement aims to improve the effectiveness of both countries in prevention and suppression of crimes including crime relating to terrorism and its financing, organized crime and to establish a framework for enhancing cooperation between the officials of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies of the two countries, in line with domestic laws and international obligations.

Cabinet grants ex-post facto approval to Agreement between India and Sweden on Recognition of Seafarer Certificates

• The Agreement will pave the way for recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, training and documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates for seafarers issued by the Government of both the countries, in accordance with the provision of regulation 1/10 of the STCW Convention, and cooperation between the two countries in the training certification and management of seafarers.
• The Agreement will be beneficial to both the countries as Sweden is a ship owning nation while India is a net seafarers supplying nation.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Saudi Arabia for cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Government of India and the Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy.

Cabinet approves Signing of MoU between India and Brazil on Bioenergy Cooperation

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi, has given its approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of India and the Federative Republic of Brazil on Bioenergy Cooperation.
• India and Brazil are major consumers of energy in the world and Brazil is one of the most important trading partners of India in the entire LAC (Latin America and Caribbean) region. Brazil is currently the world’s second largest producer and consumer of biofuels and bioelectricity accounted for 18% of Brazil’s energy mix. India also has a strong focus in the area of bio-fuels and has set a target to achieve 20% blending of ethanol in petrol and 5% blending of biodiesel in diesel by 2030 with the announcement of new policy on Biofuels in 2018.
• The MoU provides a framework to cooperate and promote investment in biofuel, bioelectricity and biogas supply-chains, including feedstock, industrial conversion, distribution and end use sectors.

Digital Radio to be launched in 2024: PrakashJavadekar

• Information and Broadcasting Minister PrakashJavadekar has stated that NDA government is bringing Digital Radio in 2024. Addressing the annual Akashvani awards function in New Delhi ,MrJavadekar stated that the audio of digital radio will be more clear and its reach will be higher.

PM Modi to unveil statue of AtalBihari Vajpayee in Lucknow

• Prime Minister NarendraModi will unveil a statue of former Prime Minister AtalBihari Vajpayee in Lucknow.MrModi will unveil the 25-feet bronze statue at LokBhawan, the secretariat of Uttar Pradesh government. Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of AtalBihari Medical University.
• Apart from the unveiling of statue by MrModi, many other functions have also been organised to mark the birth anniversary of Vajpayee. These include blood donation camps, fruit distribution and cleanliness drive all over the state. Sushashan Day will also be observed on this occasion in many districts. In Lucknow, a KaviSammelan has also been organised.

PM Modi to launch AtalBhujalYojana.

• Prime Minister NarendraModi will launch AtalBhujalYojana in New Delhi . The Central Government scheme will promote Panchayat led ground water management and behavioural changes with primary focus on demand side management. Union Cabinet approved the 6,000 crore rupees scheme at a meeting. Information and Broadcasting Minister PrakashJavadekar stated that, the scheme will be implemented over a period of 5 years in identified areas in Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• That ground water contributes to nearly 65 per cent of total irrigated area of the country and nearly 85 per cent of the rural drinking water supply.
• The limited ground water resources in the country are under threat due to the increasing demands of growing population, urbanization and industrialization.
• AtalBhujalYojana has two major components. One is strengthening institutional arrangements for sustainable ground water management in the States including improving monitoring networks, capacity building and strengthening of Water User Associations. Second is incentivising the States for achievements in improved groundwater management practices. The scheme will result in efficient use of available ground water resources with emphasis on demand side measures like micro-irrigation, crop diversification and electricity feeder separation. It will also contribute towards the goal of doubling the farmers’ income.

CURRENT AFFAIRS :INTERNATIONAL

China, Japan, South Korea meet on North Korea, free trade

• Leaders from China, Japan and South Korea reiterated their commitment to ending North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs at a trilateral summit that comes against the backdrop of increasing demands by Pyongyang for sanctions relief.
• Free trade and economic cooperation were also at the forefront of the meetings between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu
• The North has threatened to take unspecified action if that relief is not forthcoming by the end of the year.
• Speculation has centered on the possibility of conducting a new missile test, possibly of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.
• Although China is Pyongyang’s most important source of investment, diplomatic support and economic aid, it has shown little success in convincing Kim Jong Un’s government to abandon its nuclear arsenal.
• The U.S. has demanded steps toward complete denuclearization before any sanctions can be lifted, while Beijing favors a multi-stage approach.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

RBI caps lending on P2P platforms at Rs 50 lakh

• To protect consumers interest, the Reserve Bank on December 23 stated that on a peer-to-peer lending (P2P) platform the permissible exposure of a lender to all borrowers should not exceed Rs 50 lakh at any given point of time. “On a review, it has been decided that the aggregate exposure of a lender to all borrowers at any point of time, across all P2P platforms, shall be subject to a cap of Rs 50,00,000 provided that such investments of the lenders on P2P platforms are consistent with their net-worth.
• The lender investing more than Rs 10 lakh across P2P platforms will produce a certificate to P2P platforms from a practising Chartered Accountant certifying minimum net-worth of Rs 50 lakh.
• Further, all the lenders shall submit declaration to P2P platforms that they have understood all the risks associated with lending transactions and that P2P platform does not assure return of principal/payment of interest the RBI stated in a notification.
• On fund transfer mechanism, it said: “Escrow accounts to be operated by bank promoted trustee for transfer of funds need not be mandatorily maintained with the bank which has promoted the trustee”.
• The transfer of funds under P2P lending happens through an escrow account mechanism, which is operated by a bank promoted trustee.
• It requires at least two escrow accounts, one for funds received from lenders and pending disbursal, and the other for collections from borrowers, be maintained.
• It also mandates that all the transactions through bank accounts, and cash transaction are strictly prohibited.

Amazon to open first farm collection centre in Pune

• Amazon Retail India Pvt Ltd, the retail arm of e-commerce giant Amazon, will soon open its first farm collection center in Pune, sources privy to the development said. Under its farm-to-fork initiative, Amazon will directly purchase vegetables from farmers, who would be paid within 24 hours.
• This is pursuant to Amazon’s focus on using technology to enable farmers to directly offer the products to customers and unlock greater value.
• A full-fledged operational launch of the center is expected soon. Amazon’s foray into fresh food retail business in India follows a $500 million investment the company made into food and grocery segments after getting government approval in 2017.
• The online marketplace’s rival Flipkart has already signed up local farmers and strengthened its fresh food offerings with the help of Walmart’s best-price wholesale stores.
• “Amazon Retail’s vision is to offer the largest selection of fresh fruits and vegetables to our customers in two hours.
• Currently, the grocery and fresh food sales make up for 40 per cent of the total purchases made through e-commerce, but the market was largely dominated by hyperlocal players like BigBasket and Grofers until Flipkart scaled up its offerings.

NPAs dip, banks’ profitability up in H1 of FY20: RBI

• The banking sector has shown good signs with improvement in the gross nonperforming assets (GNPA), however, a fall in interest income adversely affected urban co-operative banks’ profitability among rural co-operatives.
• The financial health of state co-operative banks and district central cooperative banks weakened with a rise in the non-performing assets (NPAs) and slowdown in profitability, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The banking sector showed improvement with the GNPA ratio of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) declining from 2 per cent in March 2018 to 9.1 per cent in March 2019 and a return to profitability in H1 of 2019- 20.
• The government has been infusing capital in some PSBs, which has been just enough to meet the regulatory minimum including capital conservation buffer (CCB). The deferment of the implementation of the last tranche of the CCB till March 31, 2020 has offered some breathing space to these banks.

SEBI inks pact with Kazakhstan-based AFSA for mutual, technical cooperation

• Markets regulator SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kazakhstan-based Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) for mutual co-operation and technical assistance.
• The MoU was signed by SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi and the acting chief executive officer (CEO) of AFSA MukhtarBubeyev.
• The objective of pact is to strengthen cross border co-operation in area of securities regulation. Besides facilitating mutual assistance, this co-operation will further contribute towards efficient performance of supervisory functions, as well as enable effective enforcement of laws and regulations governing the securities markets.
• SEBI has signed bilateral MoUs with securities regulators of a number of jurisdictions. It is also a signatory to multilateral MoU of International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), an association of national securities regulatory commissions that regulate world’s securities and futures markets.

About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

• It is responsible for regulating Securities market in India. It was first established in 1988 as a non-statutory body for regulating securities market and was given Statutory Powers on 30 January 1992 through Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Act, 1992.

About Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA):

• Founded– 2018
• Headquarters– Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
• Governor– KairatKelimbetov

CURRENT AFFAIRS :MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

BhartiInfratel, Indus Towers extend deadline for merger to February 24

• BhartiInfratel stated it has extended the deadline for a merger with mobile tower company Indus Towers by two more months to February 24, as it has not received the necessary government approvals so far.
• The Board of Directors has further extended the long stop date till February 24, 2020, subject to agreement on closing adjustments and other conditions precedent for closing, with each party retaining the right to terminate and withdraw the scheme BhartiInfratel.
• It also cautioned that “there can be no assurance that the merger can be completed within the extended time-frame” and added that the completion of the merger is contingent upon receipt of requisite regulatory approvals and fulfilment of other conditions precedent.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU

TN Govt, Dept of Fisheries, NABARD ink agreement under Aquaculture Development Fund (FIDF)

• The first tripartite Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Department of Fisheries under the Government of India, NARBARD, and the Government of Tamil Nadu for the implementation of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Fund (FIDF).
• A dedicated fund has been created, viz the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), with a total of 7,522.48 crore to address the infrastructure requirement for fisheries sector.
• FIDF provides concessional finance to eligible entities, cooperatives, individuals, and entrepreneurs for development of identified fisheries infrastructure. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NARBARD), National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) and all scheduled banks are Nodal Loaning entities (NLEs) to provide concessional finance under the FIDF.
• The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under the FIDF, provides interest subvention up to 3% per annum for providing the concessional finance by the NLEs at interest rates not lower than 5% per annum.
• The Government of Tamil Nadu has signed the first Tripartite MoA for availing the initial concessional finance of Rs 420 crore from NARBARD for development of three fishing harbours in the State: Tharangampadi in NagapattinamDitrict,  ThiruvottriyurKuppam in Tiruvallur District, and Mudhunagar in Cuddalore District.
• These will create safe landing and berthing facilities for a large number of fishing vessels plying in the area, augment fish production in the regions, facilitate hygienic post-harvest handling of fish, and stimulate growth of fisheries related economic activites and employment opportunities.
• NABARD as one of the Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) provides concessional finance for development of fisheries infrastructure facilities through State Governments and entities under the FIDF, after execution of the tripartite MoA.
• Proposals to the tune of 1,715.04 crore received from various State Governments and other eligible entities have been recommended to date by the Central Approval and Monitoring Committee constituted in the Department for consideration under FIDF.
• The project proposals of Government of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh for development of fishing harbours in their respective States form the major part of these recommended projects.

About Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Union Minister: ShriGiriraj Singh.

Constituency: Rajasthan
Minister of State(MoS): ShriPratap Chandra Sarangi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

Rohtang tunnel named after Vajpayee

• On the eve of the birth anniversary(25^TH Dec) of former Prime Minister late AtalBihari Vajpayee, the Central government announced to name the Rohtang tunnel, a road link between Kullu and landlocked Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh, after Vajpayee.
• The Union Cabinet approved two schemes in his honour: one to improve groundwater management in villages and the other to rename the tunnel being built under the Rohtang Pass after him.
• The tunnel, being constructed from Manalito Leh, would be renamed as the ‘Atal Tunnel’.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION

 ESAF Small Finance Bank appoints PR Ravi Mohan as its new chairman

• P R Ravi Mohan has been appointed as the new chairman of Kerala-based ESAF Small Finance Bank.
• He replaced R Prabha, who completed his tenure as the chairman.
• Mohan worked as chief general manager with the Department of Banking Operations and Development of Reserve Bank of India, where he was involved in regulation of the commercial banking system.

About ESAF SFB

• ESAF Small Finance Bank is an Indian small finance bank providing banking services and small loans to the underbanked. ESAF started its operations as an NGO in 1992 as Evangelical Social Action Forum.
• Headquarters: Thrissur
• Founded: 2017

NiranjanHiranandani Takes Over As New Assocham President

• NiranjanHiranandani, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the respected and well-diversified Hiranandani Group has taken over as the new President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), the country’s apex organisation of industry and trade.
• ASSSOCHAM will be always at the forefront when it comes to serving the nation as a podium to voice their opinions and play their part in ushering new dawn of Rising India.

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: New Delhi
• Founded: 1921

HemantSoren set to be sworn in Jharkhand CM

• HemantSoren is an Indian politician from Jharkhand, who is the current11^th Chief Minister designate of Jharkhand. He had also served as the 5th Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
• He is elected as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand second time. He is also the president of the Jharkhand MuktiMorcha, a political party in Jharkhand.

About Jharkhand

• Capital: Ranchi
• Governor: DraupadiMurmu

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Army officer awarded for developing bulletproof jacket

• In 2014, Anoop Mishra was hit by a bullet while serving in Kashmir valley. Luckily, the bullet hit his armour plate but he went through deep trauma following which he decided to work on developing an armour that can withstand hits from all kinds of ammunition.
• He was felicitated by Army chief Gen. BipinRawat with the Army Design Bureau (ADB) excellence award for indigenously developing Sarvatra bulletproof jacket that can provide protection against various ammunition including that of sniper rifles.
• Mishra is presently posted as Instructor at the College of Military Engineering, Pune. He was among the four awardees felicitated by Gen. Rawat.

UNICEF award to Kamareddy dist. for Swachh Bharat implementation

• Kamareddy district in Telangana secured the United Nations International Children’s and Education Fund (Unicef)-2019 Award for effective implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission in water sanitation and hygiene sectors.
• The district stood in the forefront in the country in construction of individual sanitary lavatories, swachhdarpan wall paintings, swachhsurvekshan, swachhsundarshouchalay and other activities.
• Collector N. Satyanarayana, who got a commendation letter for his regular persuasion in implementation of the mission.

About UNICEF

• The United Nations Children’s Fund is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children around the world.
• Headquarters: New York, United States.
• Founded: 1946

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

India successfully test-fires Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile system

• India successfully test-fired its Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) system, likely to be inducted into the armed forces by 2021, from a base off Odisha coast.
• The missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.
• The QRSAM was flight-tested with full configuration in deployment mode intercepting the target mid-air.
• The QRSAM weapon system, which operates on the move, comprises fully automated command and control, active array battery surveillance radar, active array battery multifunction radar and launcher.
• Both the radars are four-walled having 360-degree coverage with search on move and track on move capability.
• Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems), MSR Prasad was present during the trial.

Additional Points

• The indigenously-developed Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) was successfully tested by the Defence Research Development Organization in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool.
• Pinaka Missile System, developed by Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), was recently successfully tested in Chandipur, Odisha.
• Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) successfully test fired the Astra, air to air missile with a range of over 70 kms. The missile was test fired from a Su-30MKI combat aircraft that took off from an air base in West Bengal.

About DRDO

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation is an agency of the Government of India, charged with the military’s research and development, headquartered in New Delhi, India.
• Founded in
• Chairman of DRDO: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy
• Headquarters:New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING

Tamil Nadu tops in coverage under micro-irrigation

• Tamil Nadu has emerged as the topper in coverage of area under micro-irrigation (MI) this year.
• Of about 3.64 lakh hectares brought under MI, Tamil Nadu accounts for around 1.39 lakh hectares, accounting for 38% of the total coverage in the country, according to the website of the PradhanMantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana (https://pmksy.gov.in), a scheme aimed at improving on-farm water use efficiency through a number of measures such as MI.
• Gujarat comes next to Tamil Nadu with a coverage of 77,858 hectares and Andhra Pradesh, 52,027 hectares. Maharashtra comes fourth with around 36,831 hectares and Uttar Pradesh with 25,680 hectares.
• The Central government sanctioned the installation of 17,500 solar agricultural pumpsets in the State. This has been done under the PradhanMantriKisanUrjaSurakshaevemUtthanMahabhiyan (PM-Kusum) scheme.
• The pumpsets will be of the capacity of 5 horse power (HP) and 7 HP. The officials are planning to have the solar pump sets set up in the next 15 and odd months.

About Tamil Nadu

• Capital: Chennai
• Governor: BanwarilalPurohit
• Chief Minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami

CURRENT AFFAIRS :SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Scientists develop new ink formulation for security printing   

• Researchers from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) have developed an ink that may help in combating the problem of counterfeiting of currency notes, fake printing of passports and pharmaceuticals. The ink is based on a single excitable dual emissive luminescent pigment. This new security feature of the ink is suitable for printing of valuable products for protection against duplicity.
• The formulation is based on unexplored combinatory concept of the fluorescence and phosphorescence phenomenon.
• Both fluorescence and phosphorescence are spontaneous emissions of electromagnetic radiation.
• The glow of fluorescence stops right after the source of excitatory radiation is switched off, but in the case phosphorescence afterglow continues for duration ranging from fraction of a second to hours.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

ICC Test rankings: Kohli finishes 2019 as top ranked batsman; Rahane slips to seventh

• ViratKohli will end the year as the top ranked batsman in the latest ICC Test rankings issued . With 928 points, Kohli is 17 points ahead of Australia’s Steve Smith who occupies the second spot.
• New Zealand skipper Kane Willamson ends the year at number three with 864 points. CheteshwarPujararetained his fourth place but Rahane slipped to seventh. He was replaced by Pakistan’s Babar Azam. India’s MayankAgarwal occupies the 12th position while limited overs Vice Captain Rohit Sharma occupies the 15th spot.
• Among the bowlers, JaspritBumrah, retains his sixth spot in the list headed by Australia’s Pat Cummins. Among Test all-rounders, India’s RavindraJadeja remains at number 2.
• In the ICC World Test Championship, India stand on top with 360 points. Australia with 216 points occupies 2nd spot. Pakistan is in third spot with 80 points.

Manu Bhaker, AnishBhanwala clinch five gold medals at National C’ships

• Commonwealth Games champions Manu Bhaker and AnishBhanwala clinched gold medals at the 63rd National Shooting Championships in Bhopal. The 17-year-old Bhaker, representing Haryana, clinched four gold medals (individual and team events in senior and junior) in the women’s 10 meter air pistol. She shot 243 to emerge triumphant in the eight-woman final. She then shot 588 to top qualifications and equal the record set by Annu Raj Singh in the South Asian Games.
• Her state-mate Anish, also 17, won individual gold medal in the senior men’s 25 meter rapid fire pistol event to stamp his dominance. Bhanwala shot 28 in the rapid fire final to leave behind BhaveshShekhawat of Rajasthan who ended with 26 while Chandigarh’s VijayveerSidhu came third with 22 hits.
• DevanshiDhama bagged the silver in the senior women’s 10 meter air pistol event while Yashaswini Singh Deshwal won the bronze medal in the same event. Manu Bhaker and Yashaswini have already secured quotas for the 2020

DAILY CA-24TH DEC

• KisanDiwas- 23 December
• National Consumer Rights Day-24 thdecember
• Indian Railways to modernize its Signalling system
• Urban India declared Open defecation free
• Govt notifies rules for fixation of microdots identifiers on vehicles
• Harshest winter phase ‘Chillai-Kalan’ begins in Kashmir
• Arunachal to mark schools as ‘hard’ and ‘soft’
• Number of active GST taxpayers crosses 1 crore
• IMF retains India’s FY20 GDP growth rate forecast at 1%
• Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan lays foundation stone for Rs 15,000 crore steel plant
• Sangita Reddy takes over as FICCI President
• Govt extends tenure of NABARD chiefHarsh Kumar Bhanwala by six months
• Ghani Set To Win Second Term As Afghan President
• Senior diplomat Harsh VardhanShringla appointed new foreign secretary
• Vice President Venkaiah Naiduhonours winners at 66th National Film Awards
• Actor SharadPonkshe gets Janakavi P Sawlaram Memorial Award
• Army Tech Seminar ‘ARTECH 2019’ for ‘Make in India’Defence industry begins in Delhi
• WE Hub Partners with Startup India DPIIT To Launch WING Program for Women Entrepreneurs in Telangana
• Trump officially launches US Space Force
• President Kovind releases mobile app of  Red Cross Society of India in Hyderabad
• Indian weightlifter Rakhicreates two new national records
• Ahmedabad Gets Provisional Clearance to Host FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020 Games
• Vernon Philander announces international retirementTokyo Olympics.

DAILY CA-25^TH DECEMBER

• Good Governance Day (India)- 25 December
• Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurates 65th National School Games of SGFI in New Delhi
• ShriDharmendraPradhan unveils India’s First CNG Bus which can run 1000 Kms in one fill

CABINET APPROVALS:

• Cabinet approves ex-post facto agreement on Security Cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia
• Cabinet approves MoU between India and Bangladesh on cooperation in Youth matters
• Cabinet approves ex-post facto the agreement between India and Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the field of Combating Transnational Organized Crime and International Terrorism
• Cabinet grants ex-post facto approval to Agreement between India and Sweden on Recognition of Seafarer Certificates
• Cabinet approves MoU between India and Saudi Arabia for cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy
• Cabinet approves Signing of MoU between India and Brazil on Bioenergy Cooperation
• Digital Radio to be launched in 2024: PrakashJavadekar
• PM Modi to unveil statue of AtalBihari Vajpayee in Lucknow
• PM Modi to launch AtalBhujalYojana
• China, Japan, South Korea meet on North Korea, free trade
• RBI caps lending on P2P platforms at Rs50 lakh
• Amazon to open first farm collectioncentre in Pune
• NPAs dip, banks’ profitability up in H1 of FY20: RBI
• SEBI inks pact with Kazakhstan-based AFSA for mutual, technical cooperation
• BhartiInfratel, Indus Towers extend deadline for merger to February 24
• TN Govt, Dept of Fisheries, NABARD ink agreement under Aquaculture Development Fund (FIDF)
• Rohtangtunnel named after Vajpayee
• ESAF Small Finance Bank appoints PR Ravi Mohan as its new chairman
• NiranjanHiranandani Takes Over As New Assocham President
• HemantSoren set to be sworn in Jharkhand CM
• Army officer awarded for developing bulletproof jacket
• UNICEF award to Kamareddy for Swachh Bharat implementation
• India successfully test-fires Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile system
• Tamil Nadu tops in coverage under micro-irrigation
• Scientists develop new ink formulation for security printing
• ICC Test rankings: Kohli finishes 2019 as top ranked batsman; Rahaneslips to seventh
• Manu Bhaker, AnishBhanwala clinch five gold medals at National C’ships