Current Affairs December 20, 2017
Current Affairs December 20, 2017
NATIONAL
India to Host WTO Meeting on Food Security
India will host a meeting of WTO member countries, in support of food security and other issues, announced by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi.
The proposed meeting would be in the backdrop of developed nations forming groupings to prepare ground for pushing investment facilitation, preparing rules for e-commerce, promoting gender equality and reducing subsidy on fisheries.
11th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC11) took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
WTO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
President: Roberto Azevedo
Assam ties up with Isha Foundation for river rejuvenation
Assam government and the Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev-led Isha Foundation inked an MOU for rejuvenation and conservation of rivers. Assam government’s Environment and Forest Department signed the MOU.
Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s launched nationwide ‘Rally for Rivers’ campaign is an initiative for revitalising India’s rivers and Assam became the sixth state to sign the MoU with Isha Foundation.
The central government has already constituted a cabinet sub-committee to study the problem of flood and erosion in the state and Rs 100 crore has been allotted by the centre for conducting a study of River Brahmaputra. The state government has also organised Namami Brahmaputra and Namami Barak festivals, to revitalise these rivers and explore their potential to become major water navigation routes.
Assam
Capital: Dispur
Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
Make in Odisha Road Shows in five cities
In a bid to make the second edition of ‘Make in Odisha’ conclave-2018 a roaring success, the State Government decided to organise road shows at major metropolis of the country ahead of the event to reach-out to investors.
The objectives of the conclave are to showcase manufacturing ecosystem in Odisha, highlight investment opportunities and elicit investment intentions from corporate houses.
It has been decided that road shows will be organised in Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune to attract investors to Odisha.
Odisha
Capital: Bhubaneswar
Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
Governor: S.C. Jamir
Indian Railways plans to make all stations 100% LED lit by March 2018
In an eco-friendly measure to reduce power consumption, Indian Railways has planned to make all stations 100% LED lit by March 2018. Under the scheme, they would provide 100 percent LED lighting for energy needs in railway staff colonies, stations and platforms.
This is a huge initiative to provide energy efficient lighting which will eventually greatly help in the conservation of environment as well. This initiative will reduce consumption by about 10 percent of the total energy being utilised for its non-traction uses, conserving about 240 million units of electricity and will save the Railways about 180 crore rupees annually.
Railway Ministry
Union Minister: Piyush Goyal
Constituency: Maharashtra
42 Mega Food Parks in the country to be created for modern infrastructure in food processing: Harsimrat Kaur Badal
The government has approved setting up of a total 42 Mega Food Parks in the country to create modern infrastructure for food processing.
Out of these, 9 Mega Food Parks have become functional and Ministry has targeted to make 6 more Mega Food Parks functional in this financial year and 12 more by the next financial year.
The Scheme of Mega Food Park aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers’ income and creating employment opportunities particularly in rural sector.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Minister: Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Constituency: Bathinda, Punjab
INTERNATIONAL
India Ranked 60th in Global Innovation Index
India currently ranks 60th out of 127 countries on the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2017. The list was topped by Switzerland. In 2016 GII, India was in 66th rank.
The index which is co-authored by Cornell University, INSEAD and World Intellectual Property Organisation show India’s rise as an emerging innovation centre in Asia, although the country ranks far behind China which is at 22nd position.
The Global Innovation Index provides detailed metrics about the innovation performance of 127 countries and economies around the world.
The Top 3 Countries on Global Innovation Index 2017 are
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
BUSINESS
Ola Acquires FoodPanda India Business, to invest another $200 million
Ola operated by ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd has acquired food delivery start-up Foodpanda India Pvt. Ltd from its German parent Delivery Hero. Under the agreement, Ola will also commit to invest $200 million in foodpanda India.
According to analysts, Ola has acquired the third largest player in the food delivery business in India and is focussed on broadening its range of services, including the food delivery segment,
Ola
CEO: Bhavish Aggarwal
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Iraq Overtakes Saudi Arabia as Top Oil Supplier to India
Iraq has overtaken Saudi Arabia for the first time to become India’s top crude oil supplier in the current fiscal, according to the Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
India is 80 per cent dependent on imports to meet its oil needs. Easing of western sanctions in 2015 has led to the Indian refiners raising their purchase from Iran.
Saudi Arabia traditionally has been India’s top oil source but in the April-October period of 2017-18, Iraq uncrowned it, supplying 25.8 million tonnes (MT) of oil.
Iraq
Capital: Baghdad
Currency: Iraqi dinar
President: Fuad Masum
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Tata Steel Joda Mine receives Golden Peacock Innovation Award
Joda East Iron Mine (JEIM) of Tata Steel has been honored with the prestigious Golden Peacock Innovation Management Award for the year 2017 for driving innovation in mines.
It was received by Debashis Jena, Chief Joda, Tata Steel at Institute of Directors India’s 2nd Global Convention held at Singapore.
Joda East Iron Mine of Tata Steel is one of the fully mechanised captive iron mines of Tata Steel. It is rated five star category mines by the Government for doing sustainable mining.
Rekha Receives First Smita Patil Memorial Award
Rekha receives first Smita Patil Memorial Award for her contribution to Film Industry.
National award-winning actor Smita Patil passed away in 1986.
Smita Patil Memorial Award: Smita Patil Memorial Award is held once in every two years. It is held in honour of late actress Smita Patil, an Indian actress of film, television and theatre.
APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
Apple appoints Michel Coulomb to lead India sales operations
Apple has appointed veteran company executive Michel Coulomb as new Head of Sales for India.Michel Coulomb was the managing director for South Asia operations at Apple. Coulomb will replace current Country Head Sanjay Kaul.
Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services.
Apple
CEO: Tim Cook
Headquarters: California, USA
NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar Retires
National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar retired from the post after completing his five-year tenure.
The NGT was established on October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.The tribunal’s principal bench is located in New Delhi.
The first chairperson of the tribunal was Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta.
SPORTS
Aakarshi Kashyap Wins U-17 & U-19 Singles Titles at Badminton Junior Nationals
India’s top-ranked junior shuttler Aakarshi Kashyap won U-17 and U-19 singles titles at 42nd Badminton junior Nationals in Guwahati, Assam.
Assam
Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
India clinched 10 medals at Junior Boxing Championship in Germany
The Indian junior boxing contingent clinched six gold, four silvers and one bronze medal at the 5th International Sven Lange Memorial Tournament in Germany.
Bhavesh Kattamani (52kg) clinched the best boxer trophy along with his gold and India was named the tournament’s best team.
In the three-day tournament, the other gold-medallists for India were Vijaydeep (63kg), Akshay (60kg), Ish Pannu (70kg), Lakshay Chahar (80kg) and Vinit (75kg).
Germany
Capital: Berlin
Currency: Euro
Chancellor: Angela Merkel
READ MORE:
