Current Affairs 15/12/12 to 21/12/12
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:13 am1.Boeing delivers first P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft to Indian Navy
American plane maker Boeing delivered the first of the eight P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft to the Navy as part of deal worth over $2.1 billion signed in 2009 for buying the long-range surveillance aircraft, which are equipped with anti-submarine weaponry.
About P-8I
A derivative of Boeing 737-800 long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
It may take the place of the Navy’s Russian Tupolev Tu-142M maritime surveillance turboprop.
It is Indian variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.
It will cater to India’s need to patrol the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.
2. Bhanu Athaiya returns Oscar trophy to Academy to preserve it
Bhanu Athaiya, the costume designer who won the first Oscar for India at the 55th Annual Academy Awards in 1983 for her work in Lord Richard Attenborough‘s ‘Gandhi’, has decided to return the statuette to the Academy Motion Pictures as she feels that it will be safe and preserved there.
3.Shahrukh Khan receives Brand Laureate Legendary Award
Malaysia-based Asia Pacific Brands Foundation honored Bollywood Actor Shah Rukh Khan with the BrandLaureate Legendary Award.
4.Norman Woodland, co-inventor of bar code, passed away.
Norman Woodland (91), co-inventor of the bar code, passed way.
5.ndia ranked 8th in the list of countries with highest black money outflows
As per a report released by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington-based research and advocacy organization, India ranked 8thon the list of countries with high black money outflows.
India suffered a black money outflow of $123 billion in 2001-2010. China heads the ranking with $US 2.74 trillion as illicit financial flows.
As per the report titled Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2001-2010, Top 10 countries with the highest measured cumulative illicit financial outflows between 2001 and 2010 were:
China: US$2.74 trillion
Mexico: US$476 billion
Malaysia: US$285 billon
Saudi Arabia: US$210 billion
Russia: US$152 billion
Philippines: US$138 billion
Nigeria: US$129 billion
India: US$123 billion
Indonesia: US$109 billion
United Arab Emirates: US$107 billion
6.SEBI increases BMC deposit for stock brokers
Market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has increased the Basic Minimum Capital (BMC) deposit for stock broker and trading members to up to Rs.50 lakh from the earlier maximum of Rs.10 lakh.
7.Lok Sabha approves Companies Bill, 2011
Lok Sabha cleared Companies Bill, 2011.
As per the new legislation:
It will be compulsory for companies with Rs. 5 crore or more profits in last three years to spend 2% of their average net profit towards Corporate Social Responsibility.
In case companies not comply with this, they would have to give explanation. If the companies are not able to do the same, they have to disclose reasons in their books. Otherwise, they would face action, including penalty.
Special courts to be established for speedy trials regarding investments.
Remuneration of a director of a company should not be more than 5 % of the net profit.
The number of companies an auditor can serve would be limited to 20
Annual ratification of appointment of auditors for five years
A new clause related to offence of falsely inducing banks for obtaining credit.
Companies which are winding up will have to make payment of two years’ salary to employees.
8.and Women’s category
India clinched World Cup Kabaddi Tournament 2012 in both Men’s and Women’s category. It was a 3rd consecutive victory of the title in the Men’s category and 2nd consecutive time in the Women’s category. Indian men thwarted arch rival Pakistan, while Indian women defeated Malaysia.
9.RIL plans to invest $10 billion on 4G network
After winning the licence to offer 4G network in 2010, Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) is now planning to invest $10 billion to start its 4G network across the country.
Reliance will soon launch LTE (Long Term Evolution) network which is the faster version of the mobile Internet to offer services similar to Skype video and voice calling services (VVoIP) to its subscribers.
Infotel Broadband, has developed VoLTE (Voice-over-LTE) which will enable voice call services on its wireless broadband network. But currently the quantity of mobile devices models supporting VoLTE is extremely small. LTE phones and tablets mainly support only data transmission over an LTE modem, while voice and video are going via 2G/3G network.
10.Coast Guard exhibits its potential at Clean Sea-IV
The Coast Guard which is the central coordinating agency for oil spill response in India, demonstrated its preparedness and capability to tackle marine oil spills at the national-level pollution response exercise, Clean Sea-IV, held off the Kochi coast.
The Coast Guard can contain spills of 10,000 tonnes, beyond which experts from outside [oil spill response organisations] are called in.
The exercise also exhibited the use of a Sevac heliskimmer to churn oil slick before recovery.
11.India formulates indigenous Japanese Encephalitis vaccine
India’s Bharat Biotech has developed world’s first vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) using an Indian strain of the virus.
It used JE virus collected from Kolar in Karnataka to develop the vaccine which will provide protection agains wider strains of the virus such as the Nakayama strain – the original strain from Japan, and the Biken strain that circulates in other Asian countries.
The vaccine has been found to have protection rate of over 90% and can be used on the 1-15 years age group.
India has just submitted the results from the final human trials to the drug controller general of India (DCGI) for marketing clearance.
Currently, India imports the vaccine (SA14) from China’s National Biotech Group.
12.Hambantota port not part of ‘string of pearls’: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has clarified that the Hambantota port is not part of a Chinese ‘string of pearls’ to surround India.
13.New urea investment policy gets Cabinet Committee’s clearance
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared new urea investment policy, which is likely to incentivize fertilizer companies to establish new plants and enhance existing capacity.
Around 30% of India’s urea requirement if fulfilled through imports and the policy aims at curtailing that. But the existing prices are unlikely to be affected.
14.Marks & Spencer incorporates anti-bribery clause in Indian contracts
As British retail giant “Marks & Spencer (M&S)” is considering its expansion plans in India, it has added strict anti-bribery clauses in India contracts. The move comes at a time when the government has began investigation into bribery allegations against US retail giant “Walmart”, after it revealed a spending of $25 million in lobbying in US over the past 4 years, including issues related to "enhanced market access for investment in India."
M&S is installing an in-house structure to protect against malpractices and this will be applicable across its activities in India.
15.RBI proposes to tighten provisioning norms NBFCs just as with banks
As per latest draft guidelines proposed by the RBI, Non-banking financial companies (NBFC) would need its approval before making changes in their ownership control.
As per the proposed guidelines which are based on the Usha Thorat Committee.
16.North Korea rocket launch violation of Security Council resolution: Ban Ki Moon
North Korea’s move which successfully placed a satellite into orbit after launching a long-range rocket again incited regional tensions and was condemned by neighbors as a provocative missile-test. It is for the second time in 2012 when the country attempted this under the rule of Kim Jong-un, who came to power following the death of his father Kim Jong-il. The first attempt was a failure.
17.Government approves amendments to Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill
The Union government approved amendments to the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill which had already been passed in the Lok Sabha and was pending in the Rajya Sabha.
Some changes have been made to make the bill fit to Article 14 (which seeks equality before law). The amended clause debars judges from making unwarranted comments against conduct of any “constitutional body and other persons.” The clause is part of restatement of values for judges.
The restatement of values for judges has been placed in a separate Schedule of the Bill-Schedule II.
18.Web Ratna Award – 2012- Golden Icon Award goes to DAVP.
Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) has been honored with the prestigious Web Ratna 2012, ‘Golden Icon Award for Innovative use of Technology’.
19.Union Cabinet approves the Land Acquisition Bill
Union Cabinet cleared the controversial Land Acquisition Bill which makes it mandatory to get the consent of 80% of people whose land is taken for private projects.
In the case of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, consent of 70 % of the people possessing the land will be required. The bill has a provision for return of the unutilized land. No such provision was there in Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
Government will introduce the official amendments to the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011 in the Lok Sabha in the winter session.
20.Naina Lal Kidwai becomes first woman president of FICCI
Head of HSBC India, Naina Lal Kidawai took charge as the first woman President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Kidwai is also a recipient of the country’s prestigious civilian award Padma Shri for her contribution to trade and industry.
21.Bharat Muni Samman to be given to Hema Malini
For her extraordinary contributions to the field of art and culture, renowned film actress and Bharatanatyam exponent Hema Malini has been selected for the prestigious Bharat Muni Samman 2012.
22. “National Investment Board” renamed as “Cabinet Committee on Investment”, also changes made in it’s powers
The Union Cabinet approved a renamed and modified version of the original proposal, creating a new Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) to fast-track decisions on infrastructure and manufacturing projects over Rs. 1,000 crore.
This was done primarily to address the Environment Ministry’s objections to a National Investment Board (NIB) which could assume some of its authority.
In the new version, CCI’s primary role will be to urge nodal ministries to fast-track clearances.
23.Tata Sons appoints Cyrus Mistry as it Chairman
Cyrus P Mistry will be the Chairman of Tata Sons from December 28 following retirement of Ratan N Tata.
Ratan Tata will be conferred with the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus.
Mistry has also been appointed as the Chairman of Tata Steel and Tata Chemicals.
24.New UN telecommunication treaty inked amid splits
89 member countries on UN signed the first new U.N. telecommunications treaty introduced by U.N.’s International Telecommunications Union or ITU since the Internet age amid disapproval from the U.S. and other Western nations which refused to join.
25.Moon crash site named after Sally Ride.
NASA has honored Sally Ride, the first woman in space who died earlier this year, by naming a crash site of a pair of spacecrafts Ebb and Flow. Both were deliberately crashed into a mountain near the moon’s north pole.
26.Rajya Sabha approves controversial Quota Bill by huge majority.
Rajya Sabha passed a Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012, providing for quota for SCs and STs in government job promotions with an overwhelming vote of 206 in the 245-member House.
The Bill was vociferously opposed by members of Samajwadi Party warning it can have very serious fall-out and may be challenged in court.
As this Bill was a Constitution amendment bill, it required two-third majority for its approval, which was easily surpassed as 206 voted in favour in the House, where 216 members were present.
The Bill provides for amendments to Article 16(4) of the Constitution that will allow states to reserve seats in promotion for SCs and STs without collecting data to show the backwardness of class and inadequacy of that class in public appointments.
27.Longest extraterrestrial River discovered on Saturn’s moon Titan
Images from NASA’s Cassini mission have revealed the existence of the longest extraterrestrial river system ever – on Saturn’s moon Titan – and it looks like a small version of Nile River on Earth.The river valley on Titan is more than 400 kilometres which flows into Kraken Mare, a sea that is, in terms of size, between the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea on Earth.Titan possesses vast seas and it is only other body in the solar system, apart from Earth, to possess a cycle of liquids on its surface. But it has a frigid atmosphere which doesn’t allow liquid water to flow. It is for this reason the liquids on Titan are composed of hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane.
28.Former first class cricketer BB Nimbalkar passed away.
Often described as "a man who nearly beat Bradman"
Former first class cricketer BB Nimbalkar (93), known for unbeaten 443- run innings he played for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in a Ranji Trophy match at Pune in 1948-49, passed away. That innings was second only to the Australian’s 452 not out is still 4thhighest in first class cricket. He was often described as "a man who nearly beat Bradman" for his innings. He played cricket for various teams like Baroda, Holkar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Railways.
29.he first CM of Uttarakhand Nityanand Swami passed away
The first chief minister of Uttarakhand, Nityanand Swami (85) passed away.
He was chief minister a BJP led government from November 2000 to October 2001.
30.ICICI Bank opens 101 gramin branches across six states
Recognizing the potential of rural India and importance of financial inclusion ICICI Bank opened 101 gramin branches across six states namely across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu which will provide basic banking services such as savings bank account, fixed and recurring deposit, remittances, credit cards and tractor loans. They will also service business correspondents.
31.Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar passed away
Sitar maestro and Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar (92) passed away.Pandit Ravi Shankar gets Grammy
Legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar has been conferred with Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award posthumously.
Two other artists who will receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously are : classical piano giant Glenn Gould, who died in 1982; and blues pioneer Lightnin’ Hopkins, who died the same year.
32.CAG Vinod Rai re-elected as chairman of UN external auditors panel
Vinod Rai who is current Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has been re-elected as the chairman of the panel of external auditors of the United Nations (UN).
33.Kyoto Protocol extended till 2020: Doha Climate Conference
Kyoto Protocol which was signed in 1997 to oblige industrialized nations to reduce emission of greenhouse gases to fight global warming has been extended till 2020. The protocol was due to expire at the end of 2012. It was decided in the 18th session of the CoP (Conference of the Parties) to the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate change (UNFCCC) and the 8th session of the CoP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol held in Doha, Qatar. Around 200 countries participated in the talks.
34.IABF, AAI de-recognized by Sports Ministry
The Sports Ministry de-recognized the Archery Association of India (AAI) with immediate effect for violation of Sports Code during its election of President. The move from government came after High Court in its Civil Writ Petition had directed that the government shall not grant recognition to the Archery Association of India unless they hold elections as per the Sports Code.
The ministry also decided to suspend recognition to Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) after the International Boxing Association provisionally suspended the Indian federation for "possible manipulation" in its recent elections.
35.Financial crisis forces Deccan Charters to put the entire fleet on sale.
Deccan Charters, the air travel company which has been offering charter services to pilgrims and businessmen since 1997, has put its entire fleet of aircraft on sale as it struggles with severe financial crisis.
The company is also cutting short its workforce and it has also not paid its employees for more than a year.
Captain GR Gopinath is the managing director of the company. He had also founded Air Deccan which was later bought and merged with Kingfisher Airlines.
36.Sudeep Sen, first Indian to address Nobel Laureate Week
Poet Sudeep Sen from Delhi has been invited as a special guest to address the Nobel Laureate Week being held in Saint Lucia, a sovereign island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea.
Mr. Sen is the first Indian to be given the honor.
Saint Lucia is home to Nobel Laureate and noted playwright Derek Walcott.
37.As per the election results declared by the Election Commission of India on 20 December 2012, Indian National Congress was declared winner in the Vidhan Sabha elections of Himachal Pradesh under the leadership of its veteran leader Virbhadra Singh. Congress was successful in securing 36 out of 68 seats in the state elections. BJP that won 41 seats in the 2007 Vidhan Sabha Elections dropped down and was able to win just 26 seats. Six independents including the rebels of BJP also won in the state elections in Himachal Pradesh.
The Congress Leader Virbhadra Singh won from Shimla (Rural) constituency and defeated the rival from BJP Ishwar Rohal by 19033 Votes. The BJP Leader, Prem Kumar Dhumal won from Hamirpur defeating his congress rival Narinder Thakur by 9500 votes.
38.The legendary hockey player Leslie Claudius, India’s triple Olympic Gold Medallist died after a prolonged illness on 20 December 2012. Cirrhosis of the liver became the region of his death and is now survived by a wife and three sons.
39.As per the election results declared by the Election Commission of India on 20 December 2012, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) under the leadership of Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 20 December 2012 won the Vidhan Sabha Elections in Gujarat leaving behind the opposition Congress and Gujarat Parivartan Party. BJP was successful in capturing 115 seats out of the 182 member assembly in the state, with this win BJP is back to power in the state for the fifth time and for the third time under the leadership of Narendra Modi.
American plane maker Boeing delivered the first of the eight P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft to the Navy as part of deal worth over $2.1 billion signed in 2009 for buying the long-range surveillance aircraft, which are equipped with anti-submarine weaponry.
About P-8I
A derivative of Boeing 737-800 long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
It may take the place of the Navy’s Russian Tupolev Tu-142M maritime surveillance turboprop.
It is Indian variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.
It will cater to India’s need to patrol the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.
2. Bhanu Athaiya returns Oscar trophy to Academy to preserve it
Bhanu Athaiya, the costume designer who won the first Oscar for India at the 55th Annual Academy Awards in 1983 for her work in Lord Richard Attenborough‘s ‘Gandhi’, has decided to return the statuette to the Academy Motion Pictures as she feels that it will be safe and preserved there.
3.Shahrukh Khan receives Brand Laureate Legendary Award
Malaysia-based Asia Pacific Brands Foundation honored Bollywood Actor Shah Rukh Khan with the BrandLaureate Legendary Award.
4.Norman Woodland, co-inventor of bar code, passed away.
Norman Woodland (91), co-inventor of the bar code, passed way.
5.ndia ranked 8th in the list of countries with highest black money outflows
As per a report released by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington-based research and advocacy organization, India ranked 8thon the list of countries with high black money outflows.
India suffered a black money outflow of $123 billion in 2001-2010. China heads the ranking with $US 2.74 trillion as illicit financial flows.
As per the report titled Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2001-2010, Top 10 countries with the highest measured cumulative illicit financial outflows between 2001 and 2010 were:
China: US$2.74 trillion
Mexico: US$476 billion
Malaysia: US$285 billon
Saudi Arabia: US$210 billion
Russia: US$152 billion
Philippines: US$138 billion
Nigeria: US$129 billion
India: US$123 billion
Indonesia: US$109 billion
United Arab Emirates: US$107 billion
6.SEBI increases BMC deposit for stock brokers
Market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has increased the Basic Minimum Capital (BMC) deposit for stock broker and trading members to up to Rs.50 lakh from the earlier maximum of Rs.10 lakh.
7.Lok Sabha approves Companies Bill, 2011
Lok Sabha cleared Companies Bill, 2011.
As per the new legislation:
It will be compulsory for companies with Rs. 5 crore or more profits in last three years to spend 2% of their average net profit towards Corporate Social Responsibility.
In case companies not comply with this, they would have to give explanation. If the companies are not able to do the same, they have to disclose reasons in their books. Otherwise, they would face action, including penalty.
Special courts to be established for speedy trials regarding investments.
Remuneration of a director of a company should not be more than 5 % of the net profit.
The number of companies an auditor can serve would be limited to 20
Annual ratification of appointment of auditors for five years
A new clause related to offence of falsely inducing banks for obtaining credit.
Companies which are winding up will have to make payment of two years’ salary to employees.
8.and Women’s category
India clinched World Cup Kabaddi Tournament 2012 in both Men’s and Women’s category. It was a 3rd consecutive victory of the title in the Men’s category and 2nd consecutive time in the Women’s category. Indian men thwarted arch rival Pakistan, while Indian women defeated Malaysia.
9.RIL plans to invest $10 billion on 4G network
After winning the licence to offer 4G network in 2010, Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) is now planning to invest $10 billion to start its 4G network across the country.
Reliance will soon launch LTE (Long Term Evolution) network which is the faster version of the mobile Internet to offer services similar to Skype video and voice calling services (VVoIP) to its subscribers.
Infotel Broadband, has developed VoLTE (Voice-over-LTE) which will enable voice call services on its wireless broadband network. But currently the quantity of mobile devices models supporting VoLTE is extremely small. LTE phones and tablets mainly support only data transmission over an LTE modem, while voice and video are going via 2G/3G network.
10.Coast Guard exhibits its potential at Clean Sea-IV
The Coast Guard which is the central coordinating agency for oil spill response in India, demonstrated its preparedness and capability to tackle marine oil spills at the national-level pollution response exercise, Clean Sea-IV, held off the Kochi coast.
The Coast Guard can contain spills of 10,000 tonnes, beyond which experts from outside [oil spill response organisations] are called in.
The exercise also exhibited the use of a Sevac heliskimmer to churn oil slick before recovery.
11.India formulates indigenous Japanese Encephalitis vaccine
India’s Bharat Biotech has developed world’s first vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) using an Indian strain of the virus.
It used JE virus collected from Kolar in Karnataka to develop the vaccine which will provide protection agains wider strains of the virus such as the Nakayama strain – the original strain from Japan, and the Biken strain that circulates in other Asian countries.
The vaccine has been found to have protection rate of over 90% and can be used on the 1-15 years age group.
India has just submitted the results from the final human trials to the drug controller general of India (DCGI) for marketing clearance.
Currently, India imports the vaccine (SA14) from China’s National Biotech Group.
12.Hambantota port not part of ‘string of pearls’: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has clarified that the Hambantota port is not part of a Chinese ‘string of pearls’ to surround India.
13.New urea investment policy gets Cabinet Committee’s clearance
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared new urea investment policy, which is likely to incentivize fertilizer companies to establish new plants and enhance existing capacity.
Around 30% of India’s urea requirement if fulfilled through imports and the policy aims at curtailing that. But the existing prices are unlikely to be affected.
14.Marks & Spencer incorporates anti-bribery clause in Indian contracts
As British retail giant “Marks & Spencer (M&S)” is considering its expansion plans in India, it has added strict anti-bribery clauses in India contracts. The move comes at a time when the government has began investigation into bribery allegations against US retail giant “Walmart”, after it revealed a spending of $25 million in lobbying in US over the past 4 years, including issues related to "enhanced market access for investment in India."
M&S is installing an in-house structure to protect against malpractices and this will be applicable across its activities in India.
15.RBI proposes to tighten provisioning norms NBFCs just as with banks
As per latest draft guidelines proposed by the RBI, Non-banking financial companies (NBFC) would need its approval before making changes in their ownership control.
As per the proposed guidelines which are based on the Usha Thorat Committee.
16.North Korea rocket launch violation of Security Council resolution: Ban Ki Moon
North Korea’s move which successfully placed a satellite into orbit after launching a long-range rocket again incited regional tensions and was condemned by neighbors as a provocative missile-test. It is for the second time in 2012 when the country attempted this under the rule of Kim Jong-un, who came to power following the death of his father Kim Jong-il. The first attempt was a failure.
17.Government approves amendments to Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill
The Union government approved amendments to the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill which had already been passed in the Lok Sabha and was pending in the Rajya Sabha.
Some changes have been made to make the bill fit to Article 14 (which seeks equality before law). The amended clause debars judges from making unwarranted comments against conduct of any “constitutional body and other persons.” The clause is part of restatement of values for judges.
The restatement of values for judges has been placed in a separate Schedule of the Bill-Schedule II.
18.Web Ratna Award – 2012- Golden Icon Award goes to DAVP.
Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) has been honored with the prestigious Web Ratna 2012, ‘Golden Icon Award for Innovative use of Technology’.
19.Union Cabinet approves the Land Acquisition Bill
Union Cabinet cleared the controversial Land Acquisition Bill which makes it mandatory to get the consent of 80% of people whose land is taken for private projects.
In the case of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, consent of 70 % of the people possessing the land will be required. The bill has a provision for return of the unutilized land. No such provision was there in Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
Government will introduce the official amendments to the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011 in the Lok Sabha in the winter session.
20.Naina Lal Kidwai becomes first woman president of FICCI
Head of HSBC India, Naina Lal Kidawai took charge as the first woman President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Kidwai is also a recipient of the country’s prestigious civilian award Padma Shri for her contribution to trade and industry.
21.Bharat Muni Samman to be given to Hema Malini
For her extraordinary contributions to the field of art and culture, renowned film actress and Bharatanatyam exponent Hema Malini has been selected for the prestigious Bharat Muni Samman 2012.
22. “National Investment Board” renamed as “Cabinet Committee on Investment”, also changes made in it’s powers
The Union Cabinet approved a renamed and modified version of the original proposal, creating a new Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) to fast-track decisions on infrastructure and manufacturing projects over Rs. 1,000 crore.
This was done primarily to address the Environment Ministry’s objections to a National Investment Board (NIB) which could assume some of its authority.
In the new version, CCI’s primary role will be to urge nodal ministries to fast-track clearances.
23.Tata Sons appoints Cyrus Mistry as it Chairman
Cyrus P Mistry will be the Chairman of Tata Sons from December 28 following retirement of Ratan N Tata.
Ratan Tata will be conferred with the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus.
Mistry has also been appointed as the Chairman of Tata Steel and Tata Chemicals.
24.New UN telecommunication treaty inked amid splits
89 member countries on UN signed the first new U.N. telecommunications treaty introduced by U.N.’s International Telecommunications Union or ITU since the Internet age amid disapproval from the U.S. and other Western nations which refused to join.
25.Moon crash site named after Sally Ride.
NASA has honored Sally Ride, the first woman in space who died earlier this year, by naming a crash site of a pair of spacecrafts Ebb and Flow. Both were deliberately crashed into a mountain near the moon’s north pole.
26.Rajya Sabha approves controversial Quota Bill by huge majority.
Rajya Sabha passed a Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012, providing for quota for SCs and STs in government job promotions with an overwhelming vote of 206 in the 245-member House.
The Bill was vociferously opposed by members of Samajwadi Party warning it can have very serious fall-out and may be challenged in court.
As this Bill was a Constitution amendment bill, it required two-third majority for its approval, which was easily surpassed as 206 voted in favour in the House, where 216 members were present.
The Bill provides for amendments to Article 16(4) of the Constitution that will allow states to reserve seats in promotion for SCs and STs without collecting data to show the backwardness of class and inadequacy of that class in public appointments.
27.Longest extraterrestrial River discovered on Saturn’s moon Titan
Images from NASA’s Cassini mission have revealed the existence of the longest extraterrestrial river system ever – on Saturn’s moon Titan – and it looks like a small version of Nile River on Earth.The river valley on Titan is more than 400 kilometres which flows into Kraken Mare, a sea that is, in terms of size, between the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea on Earth.Titan possesses vast seas and it is only other body in the solar system, apart from Earth, to possess a cycle of liquids on its surface. But it has a frigid atmosphere which doesn’t allow liquid water to flow. It is for this reason the liquids on Titan are composed of hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane.
28.Former first class cricketer BB Nimbalkar passed away.
Often described as "a man who nearly beat Bradman"
Former first class cricketer BB Nimbalkar (93), known for unbeaten 443- run innings he played for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in a Ranji Trophy match at Pune in 1948-49, passed away. That innings was second only to the Australian’s 452 not out is still 4thhighest in first class cricket. He was often described as "a man who nearly beat Bradman" for his innings. He played cricket for various teams like Baroda, Holkar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Railways.
29.he first CM of Uttarakhand Nityanand Swami passed away
The first chief minister of Uttarakhand, Nityanand Swami (85) passed away.
He was chief minister a BJP led government from November 2000 to October 2001.
30.ICICI Bank opens 101 gramin branches across six states
Recognizing the potential of rural India and importance of financial inclusion ICICI Bank opened 101 gramin branches across six states namely across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu which will provide basic banking services such as savings bank account, fixed and recurring deposit, remittances, credit cards and tractor loans. They will also service business correspondents.
31.Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar passed away
Sitar maestro and Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar (92) passed away.Pandit Ravi Shankar gets Grammy
Legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar has been conferred with Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award posthumously.
Two other artists who will receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously are : classical piano giant Glenn Gould, who died in 1982; and blues pioneer Lightnin’ Hopkins, who died the same year.
32.CAG Vinod Rai re-elected as chairman of UN external auditors panel
Vinod Rai who is current Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has been re-elected as the chairman of the panel of external auditors of the United Nations (UN).
33.Kyoto Protocol extended till 2020: Doha Climate Conference
Kyoto Protocol which was signed in 1997 to oblige industrialized nations to reduce emission of greenhouse gases to fight global warming has been extended till 2020. The protocol was due to expire at the end of 2012. It was decided in the 18th session of the CoP (Conference of the Parties) to the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate change (UNFCCC) and the 8th session of the CoP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol held in Doha, Qatar. Around 200 countries participated in the talks.
34.IABF, AAI de-recognized by Sports Ministry
The Sports Ministry de-recognized the Archery Association of India (AAI) with immediate effect for violation of Sports Code during its election of President. The move from government came after High Court in its Civil Writ Petition had directed that the government shall not grant recognition to the Archery Association of India unless they hold elections as per the Sports Code.
The ministry also decided to suspend recognition to Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) after the International Boxing Association provisionally suspended the Indian federation for "possible manipulation" in its recent elections.
35.Financial crisis forces Deccan Charters to put the entire fleet on sale.
Deccan Charters, the air travel company which has been offering charter services to pilgrims and businessmen since 1997, has put its entire fleet of aircraft on sale as it struggles with severe financial crisis.
The company is also cutting short its workforce and it has also not paid its employees for more than a year.
Captain GR Gopinath is the managing director of the company. He had also founded Air Deccan which was later bought and merged with Kingfisher Airlines.
36.Sudeep Sen, first Indian to address Nobel Laureate Week
Poet Sudeep Sen from Delhi has been invited as a special guest to address the Nobel Laureate Week being held in Saint Lucia, a sovereign island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea.
Mr. Sen is the first Indian to be given the honor.
Saint Lucia is home to Nobel Laureate and noted playwright Derek Walcott.
37.As per the election results declared by the Election Commission of India on 20 December 2012, Indian National Congress was declared winner in the Vidhan Sabha elections of Himachal Pradesh under the leadership of its veteran leader Virbhadra Singh. Congress was successful in securing 36 out of 68 seats in the state elections. BJP that won 41 seats in the 2007 Vidhan Sabha Elections dropped down and was able to win just 26 seats. Six independents including the rebels of BJP also won in the state elections in Himachal Pradesh.
The Congress Leader Virbhadra Singh won from Shimla (Rural) constituency and defeated the rival from BJP Ishwar Rohal by 19033 Votes. The BJP Leader, Prem Kumar Dhumal won from Hamirpur defeating his congress rival Narinder Thakur by 9500 votes.
38.The legendary hockey player Leslie Claudius, India’s triple Olympic Gold Medallist died after a prolonged illness on 20 December 2012. Cirrhosis of the liver became the region of his death and is now survived by a wife and three sons.
39.As per the election results declared by the Election Commission of India on 20 December 2012, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) under the leadership of Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 20 December 2012 won the Vidhan Sabha Elections in Gujarat leaving behind the opposition Congress and Gujarat Parivartan Party. BJP was successful in capturing 115 seats out of the 182 member assembly in the state, with this win BJP is back to power in the state for the fifth time and for the third time under the leadership of Narendra Modi.