Important Current Affairs December 2018 Capsule New D337f9ca

Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I 1st December
to 31st December 2018
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Table of Contents
Awards &Honours .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Days & Events ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
National Affairs ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
India & World ....................................................................................................................................................... 15
Personalities in News ........................................................................................................................................... 17
Government Policies & Schemes ......................................................................................................................... 19
Science & Technology ........................................................................................................................................... 25
Books & Authors ................................................................................................................................................... 26
Environment ......................................................................................................................................................... 27
Committees & Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 27
Business & Economy............................................................................................................................................. 28
Sports .................................................................................................................................................................... 32
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Defence................................................................................................................................................................. 35
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Awards &Honours  This was organised to reward innovative solutions by DIPP

recognized Start-ups in the country.
National Nritya Shiromani Award for Anindita  Four areas of sanitation, waste management, water and
 US-based Kathak exponent Anindita Neogy Anaam will be wastewater management, and air management were
honoured with the 'National Nritya Shiromani' award for selected for the grand challenge.
2019 on 2 January 2019.
 She will be given the award for promoting the Kathak
Dance across the world.
 The award would be conferred on her in Cuttack on the
opening day of the 10th 'Cuttack Mahotsav: International
Dance and Music Festival'.
Documentary wins award at a film festival
 'Finding Beauty in Garbage' received the Best Short
documentary film award in 'Asia South East International
Short Film Festival' in Cambodia on 28 December 2018.
 The Film which is based on the garbage of Dibrugarh town
in upper Assam. Sitarist Manju Mehta gets 'Tansen Samman'
 The seven-minute film was produced, directed, and
scripted by Satyamam Dutta who is an Indian Revenue  Sitar player Manju Mehta was conferred with the 'Tansen
Service (IRS) Officer presently posted in Dibrugarh. Samman' for 2018 by the Madhya Pradesh government
 The award was given for her contribution in the field of
Chamba SP conferred 'Champion of Change' award music.
 Chamba's Superintendent of Police Monika Bhutunguru  She was given a cash award of Rs 2 lakh and a memento.
was conferred with the 'Champion of Change' award by  She was presented with the award at the inaugural
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on 27 December 2018. ceremony of the Tansen Music Festival on 25 December
 She was awarded for her immense contribution, 2018.
exemplary work and bringing a significant change in the 'Rafi Award' conferred to Laxmikant & Usha
Chamba district.
 The award selection jury was led by former Chief Justice of  The 'Mohammed Rafi Award 2018' was given to late music
India K G Balakrishna. composer Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar and playback
singer Usha Timothy.
Govt institutes 'Aapda Prabandhan Puraskaar'  Laxmikant was given the Mohammed Rafi Lifetime
 The government of India has instituted the 'Subhash Achievement Award consisting of 1 lakh rupees and a
Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskaar'. trophy.
 The award will be given to recognise the excellent work  Usha Timothy was honoured with the award and 51,000
done by individuals and institutions in the field of disaster rupees.
management.  The awards were instituted by the NGO Spandan Arts.
 If the awardee is an institution, it will be given a cash prize Railways bags Energy Conservation Awards
of Rs 51 lakh.
 If the awardee is an individual, the person will receive a  The Railways has bagged 17 awards at the ‘National
cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. Energy Conservation awards 2018' on 14 December 2018.
 It participated in three categories: Railway stations,
Champions of Change award given to Manipur CM hospitals, and institutions.
 Manipur's Chief Minister N Biren Singh was conferred with  Under ‘transport’ category, railways obtained 10 awards
the 'Champions of Change' award by Vice President M for the sub-sector railway station.
Venkaiah Naidu on 26 December 2018.  Under ‘building’ category, it bagged three awards for sub-
 He was awarded for his exemplary leadership in bringing sector Railway hospitals.
about transformation in governance in the northeastern Suresh Prabhu conferred with Skoch Award 2018
state.
 The award selection jury was led by former Chief Justice of  Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu was
India K G Balakrishna and former Supreme Court judge conferred the 'Skoch Golden Jubilee Challenger Award
Sudha Mishra. 2018' on 22 December 2018.
 He was awarded for his contribution to reforms,
Swachch Bharat Grand Challenge Award announced particularly in the power sector reforms.
 As part of the Swachhta Pakhwada held from 1 to 15  The Skoch Challenger Awards are the highest
November 2018, Department of Industrial Policy and independently instituted civilian honours.
Promotion (DIPP) organised a 'Swachch Bharat Grand 40 workers selected for PM Shram Awards 2017
Challenge'.
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 On 20 December 2018, the Government of India has Amitav Ghosh honoured with 'Jnanpith Award'
decided to confer the Prime Minister’s Shram Awards for
 Noted English writer Amitav Ghosh has been honoured
the year 2017 to be awarded to 40 workers.
with the 'Jnanpith Award' 2018 for outstanding
 They are employed in the Departmental Undertakings &
contribution towards literature.
Public Sector Undertakings of the Central and State
 The decision was taken in a meeting of Jnanpith Selection
Governments and Private Sector Units.
Board chaired by eminent novelist, scholar and Jnanpith
 The awards are in recognition of their distinguished
laureate Pratibha Ray.
performances in the field of productivity.
 He is known for a series of novels such as 'The Shadow
Handicrafts Export Awards announced Lines', 'The Glass Palace', and 'The Hungry Tide'.
 Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Irani, presented awards Tata Steel won the Prime Minister's Trophy
to handicrafts exporters for their outstanding performance
 Private steel major Tata Steel Limited won the Prime
in exports for the year 2015-16 & 2016-17 on 19
Minister's Trophy for the 'Best Performing Integrated Steel
December 2018.
Plant' in the country for 2016-17.
 The awards for outstanding performance of handicrafts
 It also won the award for 2014-15 and 2015-16.
exports were given under different categories to 136
 It was the fourth consecutive year when the company was
exporters.
honoured with this award.
 70 awards were given for the year 2015-16 and 66 awards
 The award has been instituted to recognize the
were distributed for the year 2016-17.
outstanding performance of integrated steel plants in the
'Period. End of Sentence' in Oscars country.
 'Period. End of Sentence' has made it to the Oscar shortlist 'Doordarshan Mahila Kisan' Awards launched
in the Documentary Short Subject category.
 Prasar Bharati Chairman Dr A Surya Prakash launched
 The film is about women in India fighting against the
'Doordarshan Mahila Kisan' Awards programme on DD
deeply rooted stigma of menstruation and delving upon
Kisan Channel in New Delhi on 14 December 2018.
the work of real-life ‘Pad Man’ Arunachalam
 The award is an effort to bring the stories of struggle and
Muruganantham.
success of women farmers in front of the country.
 India’s entry for the Foreign Language Film Category,
 The women farmers have been selected by the Indian
'Village Rockstars' is out of the Oscar list.
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Jeff Bridges will be awarded 'Cecil B deMille'
8 parliamentarians awarded by M Venkaiah Naidu
 Veteran actor Jeff Bridges will receive the 'Cecil B DeMille'
 Eight parliamentarians were honoured by Vice-President
award 2018 at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards.
M Venkaiah Naidu for their contribution in strengthening
 The 'Cecil B DeMille' award is given annually to a talented
parliamentary democracy on 13 December 2018.
individual who has made a lasting impact on the world of
 Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Pawar and veteran leader Murli
entertainment.
Manohar Joshi got the 'Lifetime Achievement' award.
 Bridges' first Golden Globe nomination came in 1984 for
 Ghulam Nabi Azad and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey were
best actor in 'Starman'.
selected for the 'Best Parliamentarians' award 2018.
French govt. honours producer Ashok Amritraj
Iranian Film 'Dark Room' won an award at IFFK
 Film producer Ashok Amritraj was honoured with the
 Iranian movie 'Dark Room' bagged the 'Suvarna Chakoram'
'French Knight of the National Order of Merit' on 14
(The Golden Crow Pheasant) award in the 23rd edition of
December 2018.
the International Film Festival of Kerala (IIFK) on 13
 Mr Amritraj has been the producer of Hollywood films
December 2018.
such as Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance with Nicholas
 The movie revolves around the efforts of the parents of a
Cage and 99 Homes starring Andrew Garfield.
boy to identify the abusers of their child.
 He was awarded for his contribution to the world of
 'The Dark Room' will get a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh, which
cinema and Indo-French film industry.
will be shared with the producer.
Women Transforming India Awards 2018
Jharkhand gets 'Krishi Karman' award
 Government think-tank NITI Aayog will organise the 3rd
 Jharkhand has been selected for the 'Krishi Karman' award
edition of the 'Women Transforming India Awards' 2018
in the rice category from the Union Ministry of Agriculture
on 16 December 2018.
 It will also launch the upgraded portal of the Women
 The award to be given away in February 2019 carries a
Entrepreneurship Platform.
cash prize of Rs 2 crore and a citation.
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will present the awards
 Each farmer would be given a cash award of Rs 2 lakh
and launch the portal.
along with citation.
 The awards were instituted to recognise and celebrate
stories of exemplary women from across India. UN honoured Indian startup 'HelpUsGreen'

 Uttar Pradesh-based 'HelpUsGreen' named startup has Rattan Lal won 'Glinka World Soil Prize 2018'
been honoured by the UN.
 Rattan Lal has won the 'Glinka World Soil Prize 2018' in a
 The startup works to clean up the mighty river Ganga by
ceremony held at the UN's Food and Agriculture
recycling thousands of tonnes of floral waste from
Organisation (FAO) headquarters in Rome on 6 December
temples.
2018.
 'HelpUsGreen' has come up with the world's first
 He was awarded for his outstanding contribution to
profitable solution to the monumental temple waste
sustainable soil management and the protection of soil
problem: 'flowercycling'.
resources.
Mary Kom honoured with highest civilian title  The 'Glinka World Soil Prize' is considered the highest
honour in the soil science profession.
 Manipur Government honoured MC Mary Kom with the
title 'Meethoileima' (par excellent queen) in Imphal on 11 MNRE conferred 'Skoch Award 2018'
December 2018.
 Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been
 She was honoured with the title 'Meethoileima' for
conferred the 'Skoch Award for National Significance 2018'
winning the sixth gold medal in the World Boxing
in New Delhi on 7 December 2018.
Championship 2018.
 The award has been conferred on the Ministry considering
 On the occasion, state's Chief Minister N. Biren Singh
its purpose and critical role played in installing about 73
handed over a cheque of ten lakh rupees to her.
GW renewable energy capacity in the country.
Shyam Sundar won the Sahitya Akademi Award  The award was received by Ministry of New Renewable
Energy Secretary Anand Kumar.
 Shyam Sundar Besra has been conferred the 'Sahitya
Akademi Award 2018' on 5 December 2018. S. Ramakrishnan won Sahitya Akademi Award
 He has been awarded for his novel 'Marom' in Santhali  Tamil writer S. Ramakrishnan has won the 'Sahitya
language. Akademi Award 2018' on 5 December 2018.
 The novel highlights the situation emerged after the two  He has been awarded for his novel 'Sancharam'.
main industrial development of the Santhal area after
 The novel deals with the lives of nadhaswaram artistes.
Independence.
 The Sahitya Akademi award is among the most prestigious
 He is the Chief Inspector of Ticket working in Asansol
literary honours bestowed on writers for their works
Division of Eastern Railway.
across genres and languages.
Best Woman Parliamentarian Award for Kanimozhi
G. Venkatasubbaiah got Bhasha Samman for South
 DMK MP Kanimozhi has been selected for the 'Best
 G. Venkatasubbaiah has been chosen for the Sahitya
Woman Parliamentarian Award' (Rajya Sabha) set up by
Akademi’s 'Bhasha Samman' for South (2017) on 5
Lokmat newspaper for 2018.
December 2018.
 A jury of eminent personalities headed by Murali Manohar
 The award has been given in recognition of his
Joshi selected her for the award.
contribution to the field of classical and medieval
 The award will be presented to her by Vice-President M. literature.
Venkaiah Naidu on 13 December 2018.
 The other winners of 'Bhasha Samman': Yogendra Nath
Imran won the Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award Sharma was awarded for the North zone, Gagendra Nath
Das for the East zone, and Shailaja Bapat for the
 Conservationist Imran Siddiqui has been honoured with
West zone.
'Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award 2018' on 8 December
2018. Delhi Minister Imran Hussain awarded by PETA
 He is the Assistant Director for Conservation Science at  Delhi environment minister Imran Hussain received 'Hero
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India that monitors to Animals Award' by the People for the Ethical Treatment
tigers. of Animals (PETA)-India on 2 December 2018.
 The Sanctuary Wildlife Awards are organised annually by  He received the award for banning the Chinese manjha, or
the Sanctuary Nature Foundation. the glass-coated kite strings, across Delhi.
IIT-Mandi professor won Biotechnologist Award  Mr Hussain in July 2018 had called for a complete ban on
the sale, production, storage and import of the Chinese
 Rajanish Giri has been awarded the 'Innovative Young
manjha.
Biotechnologist Award (IYBA) 2018'.
 He was selected for his proposed innovative idea on Zika Abhinav Bindra won ISSF's 'Blue Cross' award
virus Capsid Folding and inhibitor discovery.  On 30 November 2018, shooter Abhinav Bindra was
 He is the assistant professor from the Indian Institute of conferred with the 'Blue Cross' by the International
Technology-Mandi (IIT-Mandi). Shooting Sports Federation's (ISSF).
 The 'Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award' (IYBA) was  It is the ISSF's highest award.
instituted by the Department of Biotechnology in 2005.

 He was awarded for his outstanding services as the  The National Mathematics Day is observed every year in
Chairman of the International Shooting Sports Federation's India on 22 December.
Athletes Committee.  The day commemorates the birth anniversary of
 He won the gold medal in 10m air rifle event at the Beijing Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
Olympics in 2008.  He was the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity
College, Cambridge University.
 He made significant contributions to mathematical
Days & Events analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued
Indian Social Science Congress inaugurated fractions.
 The 42nd Indian Social Science Congress was inaugurated International Human Solidarity Day: 20 Dec
by Manipur Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla in Bhubaneswar  International Human Solidarity Day is observed every year
on 27 December 2018. on 20 December.
 The theme of the congress is ‘Human Future in Digital Era’.  The aim of the day is to remind people about the
 Indian Social Science Congress is the annual meet of social importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating
scientists organized by Indian Social Science Academy poverty, hunger, and disease.
(ISSA).  The day also aims to remind governments to respect their
Childres's Science Congress inaugurated commitments to international agreements.
 The 26th National Childres's Science Congress was International Migrants Day: 18 December
inaugurated by the Odisha's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik  International Migration Day is observed every year on 18
in Bhubaneswar on 27 December 2018. December.
 The event will provide a platform for children to showcase  The aim of the day is to recognize the efforts,
their creativity and ability in science innovation. contributions, and rights of migrants worldwide.
 The event is supported by the National Council for Science  The theme for 2018 is 'Migration with Dignity'.
and Technology Communication (NCSTC).
 On this day, in 1990, the Assembly adopted the
Indian Science Congress to be held on 3 Jan 19 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of
All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
 The 106th Indian Science Congress will be held on 3
January 2019 at Lovely Professional University in Punjab. Vijay Diwas celebrated on 16 December
 The theme of the four-day event is 'Future India: Science  Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year in India on 16
and Technology'. December.
 The aim of the event is to bring together science fraternity  The day marks the Indian military's victory over Pakistan in
from across the world to discuss innovations and 1971 during the war for the independence of Bangladesh
researches. from Pakistan.
 It is organised by the Indian Science Congress Association.  On this day, 93,000 members of Pakistani troops
Good Governance Day: 25 December surrendered to the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini, calling
an end to the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
 Good Governance Day is observed annually on 25th
December, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister 1st Workshop on Explosives Detection held
Atal Bihari Vajpayee.  The first National Workshop on Explosives Detection was
 Good Governance Day was established by the government inaugurated at High Energy Materials Research Laboratory
of India in 2014. (HEMRL) in Pune on 14 December 2018.
 The aim of the day is to make people aware of the  A trace explosive detection device, 'OPX-Revelator',
government's commitment to providing a transparent and developed by HEMRL was also unveiled during the
accountable administration in the country. workshop.
National Consumer Day: 24 December  The OPX Revelator is a portable, miniaturised, an
electronic detector capable of detecting almost all the
 National Consumer Day is observed in India every year on explosives.
24 December.
 The theme for 2018 National Consumer Day is 'Timely National Energy Conservation Day: 14 December
Disposal of Consumer Complaints'.  National energy conservation day is celebrated every year
 On this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 had in India on 14 December.
received the assent of the President.  The aim of the day is to raise awareness about the
 The Consumer Protection Act aims to provide consumers importance of energy efficiency and conservation.
with effective safeguards against different types of  The day was established by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency
exploitation. (BEE) in 2001 when they executed the Energy
National Mathematics Day: 22 December Conservation Act of India.

Universal Health Coverage Day: 12 December  'India Day' was inaugurated in New Delhi on 10 December
2018.
 International Universal Health Coverage Day is observed
 It is the official side event organised jointly by the Ministry
on 12 December.
of Health and Family Welfare and the development
 The aim of the day is to raise awareness about the need
partners ahead of 'Partners’ Forum 2018'.
for strong and resilient health systems and universal
 The aim of the event is to highlight the government's
health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners.
Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent
 The theme for 2018 is 'Unite for Universal Health
Health (RMNCH+A) programme.
Coverage: Now is the Time for Collective Action'.
Human Rights Day: 10 December
International Day of Neutrality: 12 December
 Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December.
 International Day of Neutrality is observed every year on
 On this day, the United Nations General Assembly adopted
12 December.
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
 The aim of the day is to raise public awareness of the value
 This year, Human Rights Day marks the 70th anniversary of
of neutrality in international relations.
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 It was officially declared by a UN General Assembly
 The theme for 2018 is 'Stand up for the human rights'.
resolution adopted in February 2017 and first observed on
12 December 2017. 1st Conference on Sustainable Water Management
 The first International Conference on 'Sustainable Water
Management' is being organised in Mohali from 10 to 11
December 2018.
 The conference is being organised by the Bhakra Beas
Management Board (BBMB).
 The aim of the Conference is to promote sustainable
policies for water management and to create awareness of
water-related problems.
International Anti-Corruption Day: 9 Dec
 International Anti-Corruption Day is observed every year
on 9 December.
 The aim of the day is to raise awareness about the adverse
effects of corruption.
 A joint global campaign-'United Against Corruption'-has
been developed for the year 2018.
 The campaign focuses on how corruption affects
education, health, justice, democracy, prosperity and
development.
Aero India and aviation expo to be merged
 For the first time, the country’s civil aviation exhibition will
be merged with the 'Aero India 2019'.
 The Aero India 2019 and the aviation exhibition will be
held at Bengaluru from 20 to 24 February 2019.
 So far, 'Aero India' has been defence-oriented while a
separate civil aviation exhibition is held in Hyderabad.
International Mountain Day: 11 December  The tagline of Aero India 2019 is 'Runway for a billion
opportunities'.
 International Mountain Day (IMD) is observed every year
on 11 December. Armed Forces Flag Day: 7 December
 The aim of the day is to raise awareness about the  Armed Forces Flag Day is observed throughout India on 7
importance of mountains. December.
 The theme for 2018 is '#MountainsMatter'.  The aim of the day is to honour the martyrs as well as men
 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is the and women in uniform, who valiantly fight on borders to
coordinating agency for celebrating International safeguard India.
Mountain Day and is mandated to lead observance of it at  The ‘Armed forces Flag Day Fund’ (AFFDF) has been
the global level. constituted by the Government of India for the welfare
'India Day' inaugurated in New Delhi and rehabilitation of the Ex-Servicemen (ESM) community.

International Civil Aviation Day: 7 December  Indian Navy Day is celebrated every year on 4 December.
 The day is celebrated in honour of the Indian Navy's role
 International Civil Aviation Day is observed every year on 7
during the war with Pakistan in 1971 when Indian warships
December.
attacked Karachi port.
 The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the
 The day is also celebrated to highlight the role the Navy
importance of international civil aviation to the social and
plays in securing the country's marine borders during
economic development of States.
peacetime and carrying out humanitarian missions.
 For 2018, the theme of the day is 'Working Together to
Ensure No Country is Left Behind'. WCO policy commission commenced on 3 Dec
Startup India summit to be organised  The 80th session of the three-day Policy Commission of
the World Customs Organisation (WCO) began in Mumbai
 The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the
from 3 December 2018.
Government of Goa will organise the annual 'Startup India
 The meeting will conclude on 5 December 2018.
Venture Capital Summit' in Goa on 7 December 2018.
 Issues like trade facilitation and controlling illicit financial
 The theme of the Summit is ‘Mobilizing Global Capital for
flow will be discussed at the meeting.
Innovation in India'.
 The meeting is being organised by the WCO and hosted by
 The event will showcase the Indian startup opportunity for
the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
funds from around the world.
 India has the world’s third largest startup base. Day of Persons with Disabilities: 3 December
International Volunteer Day: 5 December  The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is
observed every year on 3 December.
 International Volunteer Day (IVD) is observed every year
 The aim of the day is to increase awareness of the
on 5 December.
situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of
 It is an international observance mandated by the UN
political, social, economic, and cultural life.
General Assembly in 1985.
 The theme for 2018 is 'Empowering persons with
 The theme for IVD 2018 is 'Volunteers build Resilient
disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality'.
Communities'.
 IVD is a chance for individual volunteers, communities and International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
organisations to promote their contributions to
 The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is
development at the local, national and international
observed every year on 2 December.
levels.
 The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms
World Soil Day observed on 5 December of slavery.
 Slavery includes trafficking of persons, sexual exploitation,
 World Soil Day is observed every year on 5 December.
the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage and the
 The aim of the day is to focus attention on the importance
forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.
of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable
 The day was first celebrated in 1986.
management of soil resources.
 The theme for World Soil Day 2018 is 'Be the Solution to 'CII Agro Tech 2018' inaugurated in Chandigarh
Soil Pollution'.
 President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the 'International
'Water Impact Summit' to be held from 5 Dec CII Agro Tech 2018' in Chandigarh on 1 December 2018.
 It is organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
 'India Water Impact Summit 2018' will be held in New
Delhi from 5 December 2018 to 7 December 2018.  The theme for 'International CII Agro Tech 2018' is
'Technology in Agriculture: Increasing Farmer's Income'.
 The summit will be organised by the National Mission for
Clean Ganga and the Centre for Ganga River Basin  The partner country is Great Britain while focus countries
Management and Studies. are Canada and China.
 It is an annual event where stakeholders get together to World AIDS Day: 1 December
discuss, debate and develop model solutions for some of
 World AIDS Day is observed on 1st December each year.
the biggest water related problems in the country.
 The aim of the day is to spread awareness about the
Conference on bears began in Agra HIV/AIDS epidemic.
 International conference on bears is being organised in  The theme for 2018 is 'Know Your Status'.
Agra from 3 December 2018 to 6 December 2018.  The 2018 theme focusses on the importance of HIV testing
 The conference is hosted by Wildlife SOS, a conservation as a gateway to HIV prevention and treatment.
non-profit.  The day was first initiated by the World Health
 The conference aims to share knowledge on principles of Organisation in 1988.
welfare of bears and other wild animals in zoos,
sanctuaries and rescue centres. International Affairs
Indian Navy Day celebrated on 4 December PM Sheikh Hasina wins the election

 Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured her Italy's Mount Etna erupts
third consecutive term on 29 December 2018.
 Italy's Mount Etna erupted on 24 December 2018, causing
 Her ruling party Awami League and its allies have won 288
a magnitude 3.3 earthquake and the closure of Sicily's
of the 300 parliamentary seats contested, surpassing its
Catania Airport.
previous election wins.
 The Mount Etna observatory said lava had spewed from a
 Bangladesh's parliament has 350 seats in total, 50 of which
new fracture near its south-eastern crater.
are reserved for women and allotted proportional to the
 Mount Etna is Europe's highest and most active volcano.
overall vote.
 In June 2013, it was added to the list of UNESCO World
UN issues Chinese edition of its Basic facts Heritage Sites.
 The United Nations issued the Chinese version of the latest Japan announces withdrawal from IWC
edition of the 'Basic Facts about the United Nations'.
 Japan has announced its withdrawal from the
 The Basic facts serve as the definitive introduction to the
International Whaling Commission (IWC)in 2019.
UN and its family of related institutions and agencies.
 It will resume commercial hunting of whales in its
 With this, the UN publication has been issued in all the six
territorial waters and exclusive economic zone from July
official languages-- Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
2019.
Russian, and Spanish.
 Japan will not be able to continue hunting of whale for the
Single-use plastic free flight introduced scientific research in the Antarctic.
 Japan joins Iceland and Norway which defies the IWC's ban
 Portuguese airline 'Hi Fly' introduced single-use plastic free
on commercial whale hunting.
flight on 29 December 2018.
 The flight took off from Lisbon to Natale, Brazil, without a Thailand approves medical use of marijuana
single piece of single-use plastic on board.
 On 25 December 2018, Thailand approved the licensed use
 There were no plastic cups, plastic silverware, plastic
of marijuana for medical use and research.
cocktail stirrer, and plastic food containers.
 The changes will legalize the production, import, export,
Pakistan to issue 'Panda bonds' possession, and use of marijuana products for medical
purposes.
 Pakistan's cabinet has approved the issuance of first-ever
 Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to
renminbi-denominated 'Panda Bonds'.
allow the use of medical marijuana.
 It will issue the bonds to raise loans from China's capital
 Recreational use of the drugs remains still illegal in
markets.
Thailand.
 It expects to raise $500 million to $1 billion in different
tranches. SpaceX launches new GPS satellite
 The interest rate may be over 5.5% but the final price will
 SpaceX successfully launched the US Air Force’s first Global
be determined at the time of launching the bond.
Positioning System (GPS) III satellite, nicknamed 'Vespucci',
Russia successfully tests hypersonic missile on 23 December 2018.
 The new GPS satellites, built by Lockheed Martin, will
 Russia's Defence Ministry successfully conducted the final
provide three-times better accuracy than the current
tests of the 'Avangard' hypersonic missile system on 26
system of GPS and will be eight times better at anti-
December 2018.
jamming.
 The intercontinental 'Avangard' system would be ready for
 The GPS is owned by the U.S. military and operated by the
use from 2019.
U.S. Air Force.
 It can fly at 20 times the speed of sound and can be
maneuvered up and down. Turkmenistan launches first messaging app
 It is designed using new composite materials to withstand
 Turkmenistan launched its first messaging app on 24
temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Celsius.
December 2018.
Nepal caps expenditure of its citizens  The name of the messaging app is 'BizBarde'.
 The app will allow the exchange of messages, files, photos,
 On 25 December 2018, Nepal imposed a monthly limit on
and videos.
the amount of Indian currency its citizen can spend in
 The application is available via the Google Android
India.
platform as well as Apple's iOS and Microsoft Windows.
 Nepali citizen would not be able to spend more than Rs. 1
lakh every month while paying for goods and services in Tsunami strucked Indonesia's Sunda Strait
India.
 Tsunami strucked coastal towns of Indonesia's Sunda Strait
 The policy is applicable to prepaid, credit, and debit cards
of Nepali banks.
 It is thought undersea landslides from the Anak Krakatau
 The decision was taken to deal with the current account
volcano caused them.
deficit of Nepal.

 The Sunda Strait, between the islands of Java and Sumatra,  EU countries and the European Parliament agreed to ban
connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean. on single-use plastics, including plates, cutlery, and
 Indonesia is prone to tsunamis because it lies on the Ring drinking straws, in a bid to cut marine pollution.
of Fire, the line of frequent earthquakes and volcanic  The new rules target the top 10 items most frequently
eruptions. found littering around European beaches.
 Plastic cotton bud sticks and expanded polystyrene food
Patrick to be acting Defence Secretary
containers have also been barred.
 US President Donald Trump appointed Patrick Shanahan as
European Union to reduce new car emissions
acting Defence Secretary on 23 December 2018.
 He will take the post from 1 January 2019.  The European Union (EU) will reduce the carbon dioxide
 He will replace Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. emissions from new cars and vans by 2030.
 At present, he is the Deputy Defence Secretary.  According to the EU, new cars sold in 2030 will emit 37.5%
 He was a former executive at the aerospace giant Boeing. less carbon dioxide on average as compared to 2021
levels.
Burundi names Gitega as new capital
 Emissions from new vans will have to be 31% lower.
 Burundi government declared the small central city of  The new plan will help the EU to meet its commitments
Gitega as the country's new political capital on 22 under the Paris climate accord.
December 2018.
UAE declared 2019 as ‘Year of Tolerance’
 Burundi's previous capital Bujumbura will function as the
country's economic centre.  On 17 December 2018, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa
 Cabinet meetings will henceforth be held in Gitega, where Nahyan declared 2019 as the 'Year of Tolerance'.
five ministries will also be established from the start of  2019 would highlight the UAE as a global capital for
2019. tolerance and instilling the values of co-existence and
 Pierre Nkurunziza is the President of Burundi. peace in local, regional and international communities.
 The 'Year of Tolerance' will focus on five main pillars.
US Federal Reserve raises key interest rate
France to introduce tax on internet firms
 The U.S. Federal Reserve System raised interest rates on
19 December 2018.  France will introduce its own tax on large internet and
 The rate hike lifted the target range for the Fed’s technology companies from 1 January 2019.
benchmark overnight lending rate by a quarter of a  The name of the tax is 'GAFA tax' which was named after
percentage point to a range of 2.25% to 2.50%. Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon.
 It will mean higher borrowing costs for many consumers  The aim of imposing the tax is to ensure that the global
and businesses. giants pay a fair share of taxes on their massive business
 Jerome Powell is the Chairman of U.S. Federal Reserve operations in Europe.
System. Indonesia's Soputan volcano erupts
Nevada: 1st US State to have female majority
 Mount Soputan in central Indonesia has erupted, ejecting
 Nevada became the first state in the US with an overall columns of thick ash as high as 7,500 metres into the sky
female majority in its legislature on 18 December 2018. on 16 December 2018.
 The appointments of the Democrats Rochelle Thuy Nguyen  It is located on the northern part of Sulawesi island.
and Beatrice Angela Duran to two Las Vegas-area  Soputan is one among Indonesia's more than 120 active
legislative seats give women 51% of the 63 seats in the volcanoes.
legislature.  Indonesia is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
 No state has previously had a female-majority or even a due to its location on the 'Pacific Ring of Fire'.
50%-female legislature.
Wickremesinghe reappointed as PM of Sri lanka
International migration pact adopted by UN
 Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was
 The UN General Assembly officially adopted the 'Global reinstated by President Maithripala Sirisena on 16
Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration' on 19 December 2018.
December 2018.  President Sirisena administered the oath that restored
 The compact was adopted by the General Assembly in Wickremesinghe to the office of Prime Minister.
Marrakesh, Morocco on 10 December 2018.  In October 2018, President Sirisena dismissed the cabinet
 It is the first-ever negotiated global framework on a and replaced Wickremesinghe with former President
common approach to international migration. Mahinda Rajapaksa.
 It is non-legally binding compact. Indian currency banned by Nepal government
EU agrees to ban single-use plastics
 The Nepal government banned the use of Indian currency
notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations.

 The Indian currency is extensively used by Nepalese  On 7 December 2018, UN Secretary-General Antonio
people and businesses for their savings and transactions. Guterres has launched a new framework to combat
 India is Nepal's largest trade partner and supplies the international terrorism.
majority of its consumer goods.  The name of the framework is 'UN Global Counter-
Terrorism Coordination Compact'.
Global debt reached at $184 trillion
 It will replace the 'Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task
 According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Force'.
global debt has reached an all-time high of $184 trillion.  It is an agreement between the UN Chief, 36
 The amount, in nominal terms, is the equivalent of 225% organisational entities, INTERPOL and the World Customs
of the world GDP in 2017. Organisation.
 The top three borrowers in the world are the United
Luxembourg to make all public transport free
States, China, and Japan.
 In early 2018, the IMF had calculated the global debt to be  Luxembourg is set to become the first country in the world
around $182 trillion. to make all its public transport free.
 It will remove fares on trains, trams, and buses in 2019.
Israel becomes a member of FATF
 In 2018, the Luxembourg government made public
 Israel became a full member of the Financial Action Task transport free for every person under the age of 20.
Force (FATF) on 10 December 2018.  Luxembourg City is the capital of Luxembourg and its
 Membership of the FATF will present Israel as a safe and currency is Euro.
attractive place for investments.  Xavier Bettel is the Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
 The FATF is an intergovernmental organisation founded in
WB unveils $200 Billion in climate action
1989 to combat money laundering and terrorism
financing.  The World Bank unveiled $200 billion in climate action
 The headquarters of FATF is in Paris, France. investment for 2021-25 on 3 December 2018.
 President of FATF is Marshall Billingslea.  World Bank said it has doubled funding of its current five-
year plan.
Migration pact adopted by United Nations
 This move represents a significantly ramped up ambition
 The United Nations adopted the 'Global Compact for Safe, to tackle climate change.
Orderly and Regular Migration' in Morocco on 10  The World Bank said the breakdown of the $200 billion
December 2018. would comprise 'approximately $100 billion in direct
 It is the non-binding global pact. finance from the World Bank.
 The pact is aimed at coordinating action on migration
Qatar to quit OPEC in January 2019
around the world.
 The global pact lays out 23 objectives to open up legal  Qatar will withdraw from the Organisation of the
migration and discourage illegal border crossings. Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in January 2019.
 Qatar is the first Gulf country to leave the bloc of oil-
Japan govt enacts new law for foreign workers
producing countries.
 On 7 December 2018, the Japanese government enacted a  Qatar is the world's biggest supplier of Liquefied Natural
new law to bring more blue-collar foreign workers into the Gas (LNG).
country to address chronic labour shortages.  The OPEC is an intergovernmental organisation of 15
 Under the new law, Japan plans to bring in 3.45 lakhs nations, founded in 1960 in Baghdad and headquartered in
foreign workers in construction, food services, nursing and Vienna, Austria.
other sectors.
'Nomophobia' declared 'People's Word of Year'
 The law allows foreign nationals with skills in sectors facing
severe shortages to obtain five-year visas.  Cambridge Dictionary has named 'nomophobia' as
'People's Word of 2018'.
Ebola outbreak spreads to a Congo city
 'Nomophobia' means the fear or worry at the idea of being
 The Ebola outbreak has spread to a major city in eastern without your mobile phone or unable to use it.
Congo.  Nomophobia is a blend, which means it is made up of
 Butembo in Congo, with more than one million residents, syllables from two or more words, in this case, it was made
is now reporting cases of the deadly hemorrhagic fever. from 'no mobile phone phobia'.
 The Ebola virus is spread via bodily fluids of those infected,
Asia Pacific Summit 2018 began in Kathmandu
including the dead.
 The current Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of  The 'Asia Pacific Summit-2018' was held in Kathmandu on
Congo is the second largest and second deadliest in 1 December 2018.
history.  The theme of the Summit is 'Addressing the Critical
Challenges of Our Time: Interdependence, Mutual
UN launches new framework to combat terrorism
Prosperity, and Universal Values'.

 It was organised by the South Korea-based 'Universal  USMCA will govern more than $1 trillion worth of trade
Peace Federation' and supported by the Government of between the countries.
Nepal.
'TIPS' system launched by ECB
Andres Manuel sworn in as Mexico President
 The European Central Bank (ECB) launched the first pan-
 Leftist leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sworn in as eurozone instant payment system called 'TARGET Instant
the new Mexican President on 1 December 2018. Payment Settlement' (TIPS) system on 30 November 2018.
 He won the Presidential election on 1 July 2018.  The 'TIPS' system will let people and companies in Europe
 Prior to becoming President, he was the Mayor of Mexico transfer money to each other within seconds.
City.  It will settle transactions only in euros.
 The capital of Mexico is Mexico City and its currency  It is restricted to European Union banks only.
is Mexican Peso.
EU sets goal to be 'climate neutral' by 2050
India to host G20 summit in 2022
 The European Union has unveiled a strategy to become
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will the first major economy to go 'climate neutral' by 2050.
host the G-20 summit in 2022.  The strategy includes investing in technological solutions
 Argentina hosted the G20 summit in 2018. to help lower carbon emissions.
 The G-20 is a group of the world's 20 major economies :  This move will cut premature air pollution deaths by 40%.
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European  Climate neutrality is achieved when carbon emissions are
Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, at zero.
Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea,
Turkey, the UK, and the US.
Conference on climate change began in Poland
 The 24th meeting of Conference of Parties (COP-24) to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) began in Poland on 3 December 2018.
 The Conference will conclude on 14 December 2018.
 COP-24 is very significant as it is expected to finalise
guidelines for implementation of the 'Paris Agreement'
adopted in 2016.
Reggae gets into heritage list
 UNESCO added 'Reggae' music to its collection of
'intangible cultural heritage' deemed worthy of protection
and promotion on 29 November 2018.
 'Reggae' music originated in Jamaica.
 Intangible Cultural Heritage is defined as intangible
heritage as the practices, representations, expressions,
knowledge, and skills that communities and individuals
recognise as part of their cultural heritage.
Orphanage trafficking to be treated as slavery
 'Modern Slavery Bill' was passed by Australian Parliament
on 29 November 2018.
 Under the new law, 'orphanage trafficking' will be treated
as a slavery and trafficking offence.
 Australia has become the first country in the world to
recognise 'orphanage trafficking' as a form of slavery.
National Affairs
 Orphanage trafficking is where children are actively Annual bird census to begin from Jan 4
recruited into orphanages for profit purposes.
 Annual bird census in Chilika lake is slated to be carried
US, Canada, & Mexico have signed 'USMCA' out on 4 January 2019.
 Chilika lake is the biggest brackish water lake in the
 The United States, Canada, and Mexico have signed a new
country.
trade agreement which will replace the North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on 30 November 2018.  Experts from organisations like Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS), Wild Odisha, National Board of Wildlife,
 The new trade agreement has been renamed as the
Regional Museum and Natural History, Chilika
'United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement' (USMCA).
Development Authority (CDA) will take part in the census.

Telangana govt hospital enters Guinness Book  The High Court for Andhra Pradesh will function from
Amravati.
 Telangana government's MNJ Institute of Oncology and
Regional Cancer Centre entered the Guinness Book of Photography Awards to be held in Feb 2019
World Records.
 The photo division of the Ministry of Information &
 It organised the largest men's Health Awareness
Broadcasting will organise the 7th National Photography
programme on prostate cancer on a single day.
Awards in February 2019.
 Besides the Guinness World Record, the hospital also
 The photographers will be awarded in mainly three
received recognition from 'High Range Book of World
categories - lifetime achievement award, awards for
Records
professional photographers, and the awards for the
Exhibition 'Dandi Yatra' organised by NGMA amateur photographers.
 The Life Time Achievement award carries a cash prize of
 An exhibition titled 'Dandi Yatra' was inaugurated in New
three lakh rupees.
Delhi on 29 December 2018.
 It was organised by the National Gallery of Modern Art Maha launches Vajpayee international schools
(NGMA).
 Maharashtra government launched Atal Bihari Vajpayee
 The exhibition is part of the celebration of the 150th birth
International Schools in Mumbai on 25 December 2018.
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
 The schools are affiliated to the newly formed
 The exhibition showcases the unseen drawings of artist
Maharashtra International Education Board (MIEB).
Chhaganlal Jadav and also the masterworks of NGMA's
 The State aims to introduce international curriculum in
collection of contemporaneous artists.
100 schools run by civic bodies, the tribal development
Delhi Police digitised all malkhanas department, the social justice department, and the
education department.
 The Delhi Police became the first police force in the
country to digitise all malkhanas. Rs 100 coin in memory of Vajpayee launched
 Malkhanas are rooms for keeping seized arms and
 A commemorative coin worth Rs 100 in honour of former
ammunition, across every police station in the state.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was launched on 24
 The digitisation of case properties would give a boost to December 2018.
the prosecution and the judicial system by making it easier
 The coin features the Emblem of India on the front side.
to maintain, locate, and retrieve case properties.
 The reverse side of the coin features a portrait of Atal
NHRC launches toll-free helpline Bihari Vajpayee.
 The years 1924 and 2018 are inscribed below Vajpayee's
 The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) launched
portrait to mark the year of his birth and death
a toll-free number and also a facility to file complaints
respectively.
through Common Service Centre (CSC).
 The toll-free number is '14433'. Stamp to commemorate Paika rebellion released
 These steps had been taken by the NHRC to expand its
 On 24 December 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
outreach.
released a stamp and a coin to commemorate the Paika
 Justice (retd) H L Dattu is the Chairperson of the National rebellion of 1817 in Odisha.
Human Rights Commission.
 The Paika Rebellion was the first war of Independence
Foundation stone of 11 projects for laid against the British.
 In the early 1800s, the farming community of Odisha had
 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone of
risen in rebellion against British's revenue model.
11 projects for Yamuna Rejuvenation under Namami
 The rebellion of 1817 came to be known as Paika Bidroh.
Gange Programme in New Delhi.
 The projects have been taken up under 'Namami Gange PM announces Sardar Patel Award
Programme' by 'National Mission for Clean Ganga' to
 Prime Minister, Narendra Modi announced annual 'Sardar
conserve river Yamuna in Delhi.
Patel Award for National Integration' on 22 December
 Most of the projects are for the sewerage infrastructure
2018.
and are at various stages of implementation.
 The award was announced by him while addressing the
Telangana & AP to get separate High Courts conference of DGPs/IGPs in Gujarat's Kevadia.
 The award will be given every year for 'outstanding efforts'
 President Ramnath Kovind issued orders constituting a
in the field of furthering national integration.
separate High Court for Andhra Pradesh with effect from
January 1, 2019. NGT bans mining close to Sariska reserve
 The High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad will now
 On 22 December 2018, the National Green Tribunal (NGT)
become the High Court for Telangana.
banned all mining activities within 10 km radius of the
 With the creation of the new High Court for Andhra
Sariska Tiger Reserve.
Pradesh, the country now has 25 High Courts.

 It also said that any further mining activity is subject to the  Oxytocin was widely misused by farmers and the dairy
clearance of leases by the National Board of Wildlife. industry.
 The Supreme Court had in 2006, prohibited any mining  Oxytocin is a hormonal drug which is administered to
activity within 1 km of national parks and sanctuaries. induce labour pain, control bleeding after childbirth, or
help new mothers lactate.
NABCB Accreditation secured Recognition
Bihar's Silao Khaja gets GI tag
 The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies
(NABCB) signed the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement  Geographical Indications Registry at Chennai has granted
(MLA) of the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) on 19 Geographical Indication(GI) tag to Silao Khaja on 11
December 2018. December 2018.
 Any industry carrying ISO 45001 certificate with NABCB  Silao Khaja is the traditional delicacy of Nalanda district of
logo will be recognised in the Asia Pacific region. Bihar.
 NABCB is a constituent Board of the Quality Council of  Silao is located close to Buddhist sites.
India.  The application was filed by Silao Khaja Audyogik
Swavalambi Sahakari Samiti Limited.
PM Modi to lay foundation of PHPL
Cyclonic storm Phethai struck Andhra Pradesh
 The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will lay the foundation
of 'Paradip Hyderabad Pipeline Product' Project (PHPL) on  The severe cyclonic storm 'Phethai' struck Andhra coast
24 December 2018. near Kakinada on 17 December 2018 with a wind speed of
 He will also lay the foundation of Bokaro-Angul section of 70-90 km per hour.
'Jagdishpur-Haldia & Bokaro-Dhamra' Gas Pipeline Project  East and West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Krishna,
(PM Urja Ganga) and is being built by the Gas Authority of Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts of Andhra Pradesh
India Limited. and Yanam district of Puducherry are likely to experience
 PHPL is being built by Indian Oil Corporation Limited. very heavy rainfall.
 MET officials have warned of heavy rain in coastal Andhra
India’s largest cancer institute launched
Pradesh.
 India’s largest cancer hospital, National Cancer Institute
15 new breeds of livestocks registered
(NCI) in Jhajjar District started the trial run of its
Outpatient Department on 18 December 2018.  ICAR has approved registration of record 15 new breeds of
 NCI is a project under Delhi AIIMS. livestock and poultry this year.
 It will be headed by Dr. GK Rath who is also the chief of  These include 2 cattle breeds - Ladakhi and Konkan Kapila
Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital at AIIMS. (Maharashtra & Goa); 3 buffalo breeds - Luit (Assam &
 It will be the nodal institution for all activities related to Manipur), Bargur (TN), Chhattisgarhi etc.
cancer in the country.  The process of identification of animal breeds and their
documentation plays a special role in preserving the
India retains highest aviation safety ranking
biodiversity of the country.
 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has retained the
‘AYUSHCHARYA’: a two day Conference held
highest aviation safety ranking for India.
 India's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA)  All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi organised a
rating remained at 'Category 1'. National conference ‘AYUSHCHARYA’ on Dinacharya (Daily
 FAA carried out an audit in July 2018 to confirm India's Regimen) and Ritucharya (Seasonal Regimen).
adherence to the standards laid down by the International  The aim was to promote public health.
Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).  It was held on 10th and 11th of December, 2018.
 The Minister of State for AYUSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik
NPCIL's Kaiga Unit-1 created world record
released the Dinacharya booklet and AYUSHCHARYA
 A 220-MW unit of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Calendar-2019.
Limited's (NPCIL) Kaiga Atomic Power Station has created a
PM inaugurated the 'Partners’ Forum, 2018'
world record for continuous operation for 941 days.
 The previous world record of 940 days held by 'Heysham 2'  PM Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 'Partners’ Forum,
Unit-8 of the United Kingdom. 2018' in Delhi.
 Earlier in October 2018, the unit surpassed the world  He also released the coffee table book ‘Proven Paths’, a
record of 894 days for continuous operation among all compendium of 36 best practices in maternal, child and
pressurized heavy water reactor. adolescent health.
 Partners’ Forum is a global health partnership launched in
Delhi HC quashed Centre's ban on Oxytocin
September 2005 to accelerate efforts to reduce child and
 The Delhi High Court, on 14 December 2018, quashed the maternal mortality, improve adolescent, child, newborn
Central government’s decision to prohibit the sale, and maternal health.
distribution, manufacturing and import of Oxytocin by
First container mainline vessel flagged off
private companies in India.

 Shri Nitin Gadkari flagged off India's first container  NITI Aayog partnered with 'Perlin', a Singapore-based AI
mainline vessel from VoC Port (Tuticorin Port). (Artificial Intelligence) startup, to launch this Hackathon.
 By this EXIM trade will benefit and there will be a saving of  The objective of this Hackathon is to promote awareness
approximately 50 USD per container as the handling of the and subsequently develop solutions that deliver the twin
container at Colombo will not be required. benefit of efficient computing to address the
 This service will give benefit to the importers and infrastructure challenges.
exporters in terms of saving transhipment cost and transit
Kolkata-Patna : 2nd inland cargo sector
time.
 After Varanasi, Patna will become the second city in India
to receive container cargo via waterways.
 According to the shipping ministry, Gaighat terminal at
Patna, on Ganga river, will receive cargo consignment from
PepsiCo and Emami Agrotech after 10 December 2018.
 India's first multi-modal terminal in Varanasi under Jal
Marg Vikas Project was inaugurated in November 2018.
Pune court is first to get e-payment facility
 The Pune district and sessions court have become first
courts in India to launch the e-payment system.
 This will help in reducing corruption and bring in
transparency.
 The practising lawyers and litigants in various cases will be
able to make payments online. .
 The e-payment facility will be available on
'https://pay.ecourts. gov.in/epay'.
Govt approves 'SCord' to tackle smuggling
 The Central government has approved 'Anti-Smuggling
National Coordination Centre' (SCord) under the
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
 'SCord' will help the government of India to formulate a
'National Anti-Smuggling' policy.
 All the border agencies like BSF, ITBP, Assam Rifles, SSB,
and Coast Guards will be the members of 'SCord'.
2nd 'Tejas' train to run b/w Chennai & Madurai
Home Ministry launches Twitter account  The second 'Tejas' superfast express train will be operated
 The Ministry of Home Affairs has launched a Twitter between Chennai and Madurai.
handle '@CyberDost' on 11 December 2018.  The train coaches are equipped with modern
 The aim of the twitter account is to enhance people's basic entertainment system, modular toilets, smart windows,
knowledge about cybercrimes and precautions to be taken and GPS-based passenger information system.
for prevention.  The coaches have been manufactured at the Integral
 The twitter handle will also mitigate possibilities of Coach Factory in Chennai.
disruption in normal business activities or losses due to  The first 'Tejas' train was launched in 2017 between
cyber crimes. Mumbai and Goa.
Govt to declare ESZs around 21 National Parks

India & World
 The Supreme Court directed the Union Environment
Ministry to declare 10 km area around 21 national parks India to provide Bhutan Rs 400 Cr
and wildlife sanctuaries as 'Eco-Sensitive Zones' (ESZs) on  India will provide Bhutan a transitional trade support
11 December 2018. facility of Rs 400 crore over a period of five years.
 The 21 national parks & wildlife sanctuaries are in Assam,  The amount will help in strengthening the bilateral trade &
J&K, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, economic linkages between India and Bhutan.
Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, & West Bengal.
 India and Bhutan reiterated their commitment to jointly
 ESZs are notified by Union Environment Ministry. develop 10,000 MWs of hydropower generating capacity
Global Hackathon On AI launched by NITI Aayog in Bhutan and in this regard discussed the 'Sankosh
Hydropower' Project.
 NITI Aayog launched 'AI 4 All Global Hackathon' on 7
December 2018. India announced financial assistance to Bhutan

 India announced Rs. 4,500 crore financial assistance to Denmark's Foreign Affairs Minister arrives
Bhutan for its 12th five-year plan.
 Foreign Affairs Minister of Denmark Anders Samuelsen
 The announcement was made after the Indian Prime
arrived in New Delhi on a two-day official visit to India on
Minister Narendra Modi met Lotay Tshering, Prime
17 December 2018.
Minister of Bhutan.
 Mr Samuelsen will meet External Affairs Minister Sushma
 The new five-year plan of Bhutan began this year and will
Swaraj.
continue till 2022.
 They will hold discussions on various aspects of bilateral
 PM Tshering arrived in New Delhi on his first foreign visit
ties as well as important regional and multilateral issues.
 The capital of Denmark is Copenhagen and its currency is
1st meeting of the Follow-up Committee held Danish krone.
 The first meeting of the Follow-up Committee for India extends $1.4 billion to Maldives
implementation of the Trilateral Chabahar Agreement
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced $1.4 billion
between India, Afghanistan, and Iran was held in Chabahar
financial assistance to the Maldives on 17 December 2018.
in Iran on 24 December 2018.
 The two countries also inked four pacts, including one on
 They agreed on the routes for the trade and transit
visa facilitation.
corridors between the three countries.
 Both countries vowed to deepen security cooperation in
 'India Ports Global Limited' company opened its office and
the Indian Ocean region.
took over operations of Chabahar port on this occasion.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held extensive talks
Japan to support various development projects with Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
 India will receive a loan of Rs 66.68 billion from Japan for Myanmar announces Visa-On-Arrival Facility
various development projects.
 Myanmar decided to start a visa-on-arrival facility for
 The loan will be used to develop the phase two of the
Indian tourists, reports the Deccan Herald.
Chennai metro project, a dairy development project, and a
 The visit is part of India’s ‘Act East’ and ‘Neighbourhood
programme for Japan-India cooperative actions towards
First’ policies.
Sustainable Development Goals in India.
 Mr Kovind also visited a temple of goddess Kali which is
 India is the largest recipient country of Japanese Official
managed by a trust represented by people who came to
Development Assistance (ODA) in 2018.
Myanmar from different regions of India.
India-China Film Festival to begin from 22 Dec
Kovind Dedicated ACARE project to Myanmar
 The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is organising
 President Ram Nath Kovind dedicated India assisted
an 'India-China Film festival' from 22 to 24 December
project ‘Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research &
2018.
Education’ (ACARE) to the people of Myanmar.
 It will be organised during the first 'India-China High-Level
 The project focuses on Genetics, Post Harvest Technology,
Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges'.
Participatory Knowledge Management and capacity
 The list of Indian films that will be screened includes
building for farmers in Myanmar.
'Dangal'(Hindi), 'Maacher Jhol' (Bengali), and
 Earlier he dedicated the Advanced Centre for Agricultural
'Ventilator' (Marathi).
Research and Education to the people of Myanmar.
India & China held 'People-to-People' meeting
Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence inaugurated
 India and China held the first ever meeting of the 'India-
 India's first 'Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence' established
China High Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-
by the European Union, was inaugurated at Manipal
People Exchanges'.
Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in Karnataka.
 The meeting was held in Delhi on 21 December 2018.
 The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in India aims to
 The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister
strengthen and enhance the educational connect between
Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
India and EU.
 The meeting aims to strengthen bilateral cultural ties.
 Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to India and
9th India-ROK Joint Commission meeting held Bhutan, Mr Tomasz Kozlowski inaugurated the Centre at
MAHE.
 The '9th India-ROK Joint Commission' meeting was held in
New Delhi on 19 December 2018. India signed ascension pact to 'T-RMN'
 India and South Korea reviewed the progress of their
 India signed an ascension pact to the 30-member 'Trans-
special strategic partnership.
Regional Maritime Network' (T-RMN) on 10 December
 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign 2018.
Affairs Minister of South Korea Kang Kyung-wha co-chaired
 The pact will give India an access to the information on
the meeting.
ships passing through the Indian Ocean Region.
 The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and
global issues of common interest.

 This will greatly help the security forces of India in keeping  'Sadaiv Atal', the memorial of former Prime Minister Atal
a tab on any suspicious activity. Bihari Vajpayee, was inaugurated in Delhi on 25 December
2018.
2023 is international year of millets: FAO
 He passed away on 16 August 2018 after a prolonged
 The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) approved illness.
India's proposal to observe 2023 as the 'International Year  The memorial project was funded by the Atal Smriti Nyas
of Millets'. Society.
 Millets consist of Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and minor millets,  'Sadaiv Atal' memorial will be managed by a trust headed
together termed as nutri-cereals. by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
 FAO also approved India’s membership to the Executive
Vedangi: Fastest Asian to cycle the globe
Board of the 'World Food Program' for 2020 and 2021.
 This decision was taken at the 160th session of FAO  Indian woman Vedangi Kulkarni has become the fastest
Council in Rome. Asian to cycle the globe.
 She completed the 29,000 kilometers' distance required to
Defence Min on a 5-day official visit to US
qualify as bicycling across the globe.
 Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is on an official visit  She spent 159 days peddling up to 300 kilometers a day in
to the United States of America from December 02-07, 14 countries.
2018.  British adventurer Jenny Graham is the fastest woman to
 During the meeting, discussions were held on the growing have cycled the globe in 124 days in 2018.
partnership between India and US in the defence sphere.
Anup Kumar announces his retirement
 She also paid respect at the 'Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier' by laying a wreath at the Arlington National  Kabaddi player Anup Kumar announced his retirement on
Cemetery Memorial. 19 December 2018.
'Gandhi-Zayed Digital Museum' inaugurated  He began his international career in 2006 at the South
Asian Games in Sri Lanka.
 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sheikh  He led India to victory at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.
Abdullah, Foreign Minister of the UAE jointly inaugurated  It was during his tenure that the Indian team won 2 gold
the 'Gandhi-Zayed Digital Museum' in Abu Dhabi on 4 medals at Asian Games in 2014.
December 2018.  In season 2 of the Pro Kabaddi League, Anup captained U
 The inauguration is to commemorate the 150th birth Mumba and led the team to victory.
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and
centenary celebrations of the birth of Shaikh Zayed. Sonam named PETA India's 'person of the year'
 Sheikh Zayed is the founding father of the modern UAE.  Sonam Kapoor was named PETA India's 'Person of the
Sushma Swaraj began her UAE visit year' for 2018 for her animal advocacy efforts.
 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an
 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited the United animal rights organisation based in Virginia, USA.
Arab Emirates (UAE) on 3 December 2018.  Past recipients of PETA India's Person of the Year Award
 She will co-chair the 12th India-UAE Joint Commission include Anushka Sharma, Dr Shashi Tharoor, Hema Malini,
Meeting for Economic and Technical Cooperation with and others.
UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah in Abu Dhabi.
 She will also inaugurate a 'Gandhi-Zayed Digital Museum' Shree Saini crowned 'Miss India Worldwide'
in Abu Dhabi.  Indian-American Shree Saini won the 'Miss India
 The capital of UAE is Abu Dhabi and its currency is Dirham. Worldwide 2018' title at the 27th annual global pageant
competition held in New Jersey on 15 December 2018.
 Sakshi Sinha from Australia and Anusha Sareen from
Personalities in News United Kingdom were respectively declared first and
Colin completed Solo trek across Antarctica second runner-ups.
 The competition was organised by the New York-based
 Colin O’Brady, an American adventurer, has become the
India Festival Committee.
first person to complete a solo trek across Antarctica
without the assistance of any kind. Catriona won the 'Miss Universe 2018' title
 He took 54 days to complete the nearly 1,000-mile (1,600-
 The Philippines’ Catriona Gray was named 'Miss Universe
km) crossing Antartica.
2018' in the pageant competition concluding in Bangkok
 He arrived at the finish point on the Ross Ice Shelf on the on 17 December 2018.
Pacific Ocean.
 She is the fourth person from the Philippines who has won
 In 1996-97, a Norwegian explorer, Borge Ousland, made the international beauty pageant.
the first solo crossing of Antarctica.
 The first runner-up was Tamaryn Green of South Africa
Atal Bihari Vajpayee's memorial inaugurated and the second runner-up was Sthefany Gutierrez of
Venezuela.

Chiefs of IB and RAW gets six months extension  Mexico's Vanessa Ponce de Leon won the coveted 'Miss
World 2018' crown on 8 December 2018.
 The Chiefs of Intelligence Bureau and Research and
 She is a volunteer for 'Migrantes en el Camino' and is on
Analysis Wing Rajiv Jain and Anil K Dhasmana respectively
the board of directors of a rehab centre for girls.
got extensions of six months each on 14 December 2018.
 Thailand's Nicolene Pichapa Limsnukan was declared the
 The decision to extend the tenure of the two intelligence
runner-up.
chiefs by six months was taken due to the forthcoming
general elections.  Miss Belarus Maria Vasilevich, Miss Jamaica Kadijah
Robinson, and Miss Uganda Quiin Abenakyo were also
 Rajiv Jain, 1980-batch IPS officer from Jharkhand, was
among the final five.
appointed IB Director on December 30, 2016.
Swapna Barman appointed as Brand Ambassador
Shri Bharat Bhushan became member of UPSC
 State Bank of India (SBI) has appointed Swapna Barman as
 Shri Bharat Bhushan Vyas, IAS (J&K 1986) (Retd.) took the
Brand Ambassador for its digital app 'YONO' on 3
Oath of Office and Secrecy as Member, Union Public
December 2018.
Service Commission (UPSC).
 YONO, the bank's digital platform that makes both lifestyle
 The Oath was administered by Shri Arvind Saxena,
and banking available through a single app, was launched
Chairman, UPSC. He was born on 15/11/1957.
in 2017.
 He has done B.Sc. (Botany).
 Swapna Barman won the gold medal in Heptathlon in
 He joined Indian Administrative Service in 1986.
Jakarta Asian Games 2018.
Arunima Sinha to climb Mt. Vinson, Antarctica
Prez Kovind to be on 5-day visit to Myanmar
 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi handed over the
 President Ram Nath Kovind will be on a 5-day visit to
tricolour flag to Arunima Sinha, marking the beginning of
Myanmar from 10 December 2018.
her expedition to Mount Vinson, Antarctica.
 A Joint Statement will be adopted during the President's
 Ms. Arunima Sinha is the first female Divyang to climb
visit, along with the signing of several agreements.
Mount Everest.
 The capital of Myanmar is Naypyidaw and is currency is
 Arunima Sinha had earlier conquered the highest peaks in
Burmese kyat.
five continents, becoming the first female Divyang to
 U Win Myint is the President of Myanmar and Aung San
achieve the feat.
Suu Kyi is the State Counsellor.
Time magazine's 'Person of the Year' announced
Pawan Singh elected in ISSF's judges committee
 Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been named Time
 Pawan Singh has become the first Indian to be elected one
magazine's 'Person of the Year' on 11 December 2018.
of seven member's of the Judges Committee of the
 This is the first time that a 'Person of the Year' is a
International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF).
deceased person.
 He also holds the post of the Joint Secretary General of the
 Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in October 2018.
National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
 The magazine has also honoured Philippine journalist
 ISSF is the governing body of the Olympic Shooting events
Maria Ressa and Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe
in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun disciplines.
Oo who are currently imprisoned in Myanmar.
President Ramaphosa will be the Chief guest
Indian Air Force Chief on a visit to Japan
 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the chief
 Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chief of the Air
guest at India's Republic Day celebrations on 26 January
Staff is on a visit to Japan from 10-14 December 2018.
2019.
 The visit is intended to further strengthen the existing
 The celebrations are held every year before the President
defence cooperation between the Air Forces of the two
of India.
countries.
 In 2018, the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations were
 The main focus would be to share ideas, enhance bilateral
the 10 heads of state from ASEAN countries.
defence cooperation and mutual ties.
 The Chief guest at India's first Republic Day on 26 January
Prathamesh won 'Mister Supranational 2018' 1950 was the President of Indonesia.
 Goa's Prathamesh Maulingkar has become the first Andres Manuel sworn in as Mexico President
Asian/Indian to win 'Mister Supranational 2018' title on 9
 Leftist leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sworn in as
December 2018.
the new Mexican President on 1 December 2018.
 Mister Supranational Poland was adjudged first runner-up
 He won the Presidential election on 1 July 2018.
and Mister Supranational Brazil was adjudged the second
runner-up.  Prior to becoming President, he was the Mayor of Mexico
City.
 The third edition of 'Mister Supranational 2018' pageant
took place in Poland.  The capital of Mexico is Mexico City and its currency
is Mexican Peso.
Vanessa Leon won 'Miss World 2018' crown

Suu Kyi stripped Of 'Freedom Of Paris' Award  During July 2018, the incentives were introduced at the
rate of 5%.
 Paris city stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary
 The export incentive programme allows farmers to get a
'Freedom of Paris' award over her failure to speak out
credit from the government, which can be used to pay
against a crackdown on Rohingya minority.
various taxes.
 Aung San Suu Kyi is the first person to lose the 'Freedom of
Paris', a symbolic award.
 She has already been stripped of her honorary Canadian
citizenship and her Amnesty International's 'Ambassador
of Conscience Award'.
Government Policies & Schemes

MP govt decides to form new Spiritual Dept
 Madhya Pradesh government decided to form a new
Spiritual Department.
 The Religious Trust and Endowments and Happiness
Department will be merged in the new department.
 The objective of the formation of the Spiritual Department
is to strengthen inter-communal harmony and
Sarvadharma Sambhav in the state covering all religions,
sects, and faiths.
'Ujjwala Sanitary Napkin' launched in Odisha
 Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan
launched 'Ujjwala Sanitary Napkins' in Odisha on 30
December 2018.
 Under the initiative, Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) will
set up 100 manufacturing units at the Common Service
Centres in Odisha.
 The aim of the initiative is to educate women on female
hygiene and health, and improve accessibility to low cost
eco-friendly sanitary pads.
Web Page on ‘Drone Olympics’event launched
 Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a
newly designed web page for ‘Drone Olympics’
(https://aeroindia.gov.in/Drone) on 28 December 2018.
 The event is scheduled to be held at ‘Aero India – 2019’
from 20-24 February 2019 at Air Force Station, Yelahanka,
Bengaluru.
 The web page is open for registration of UAV players
interested in taking part in the maiden event of Aero India.
Cabinet approves a hike in MSP for Copra
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its
approval for an increase in the Minimum Support Price
(MSP) for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of ‘Milling Copra’ by
Rs 2000.
 It has been increased to Rs.9521/- per quintal for 2019
season from Rs. 7511/-per quintal in 2018.
 The approval is based on recommendations of Commission
for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
Export incentives for onion farmers doubled
 The government of India has doubled the export
incentives for onion farmers from the existing 5% to 10%.
 The export incentive for fresh Onions was zero before
July,2018.

Booklet on cyber safety released  A total of 99 government and 66 private hospitals have
been selected under the scheme.
 Home Ministry has brought out a booklet on cyber safety
for school children to inform them about different aspects MSMEs Ministry to establish governing council
of cyber safety.
 The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
 The title of the booklet is 'A Handbook for Students on
(MSMEs) has proposed to establish a governing council to
cyber Safety'.
ensure the efficient delivery of all export-related
 It also deals with the problems of cyberbullying, cyber
interventions.
grooming, and email fraud.
 The step is a part of its action plan to boost shipments
 It advises teenagers against accepting friend requests from
from micro, small and medium enterprises.
unknown people on social media.
 The governing council shall be chaired by Secretary, MSME
Cabinet approves 10,000 cr Gaganyaan project and co-chaired by Development Commissioner in MSME
Ministry.
 The Union Cabinet approved the Gaganyaan project under
which a three-member crew will be sent to space for at MSAMB appoints officers to facilitate trade
least seven days.
 Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to
 The project will cost Rs 10,000 crore.
appoint out-of-state trade representatives.
 India has already inked agreements with Russia and France
 The Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board
for assistance in the ambitious project.
(MSAMB) appointed six trade representatives to promote
 Gaganyaan will help India become the fourth nation to trade in semi-perishable commodities.
send humans to space.
 They will also collect relevant market information.
 The mission will be undertaken by 2022.
 They have been posted in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi,
Handbook of Ministry of I&B released Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.
 The 'Administrative Handbook' of Ministry of Information UP approves setting up of 2 development boards
& Broadcasting was launched on 27 December 2018.
 The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet gave its approval for setting up
 The handbook is a mix of a telephone directory and a diary of development boards for Bundelkhand and Purvanchal.
and displays contact details of all officers of the Ministry
 It will be chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
and Media Units.
 Both boards will be formed for 3 years.
 Col.Rajyavardhan Rathore (Retd.) is the Minister of State
 The Chairperson of the board will select two Vice-
(Independent Charge) for Information & Broadcasting.
Chairmen, 11 non-government members and two experts
Haryana to rename CCIs as 'Jagannath Ashrams' for each board.
 Haryana's Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced Government to make all meters smart prepaid
to name all the Child Care Institutes (CCIs) being run in the
 Ministry of Power, Government of India has decided to
state as 'Jagannath Ashrams.'
make all meters smart prepaid in 3 years from 1st April
 The Chief Minister made the announcement during an
2019.
event in Karnal.
 Advantages of this step: Reduction of AT&C losses, better
 A child care institution as defined under the JJ Act,2015, is
health of Discoms, energy conservation, ease of bill
a facility recognized under the Act for providing care and
payments, and doing away with the paper bills.
protection to children, who are in need of such services.
 Consumers need not to pay the whole month's bill in one
485 schemes launched under 'Digital Haryana' go instead they can pay as per their requirements.
 Haryana government launched 485 schemes under the CDSCO issues guidelines for 'Isotretinoin'
'Digital Haryana' initiative on 25 December 2018.
 The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
 Haryana became the first state in India, where 4000 'Atal
issued safety guidelines for 'Isotretinoin'.
Seva Kendras' in rural areas, 22 at district headquarters, 51
 It is an oral drug, which is used in the treatment of severe
at the sub-divisional level, & 20 'Antyodya Saral Kendras'
acne.
at Tehsil level, has been launched simultaneously.
 It may be sold by retailers only against a dermatologist’s
 A toll-free Antyodaya Helpline number was also
prescription.
inaugurated.
 Isotretinoin capsules of 10 mg/20 mg were approved by
'Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana' launched CDSCO in 2002 for the treatment of cystic and conglobate
acne.
 'Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana' was launched in
Uttarakhand on 25 December 2018. Queue management system & Social CRM launched
 Under the scheme, each household in the state will be
 The Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas,
able to avail medical treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh annually.
Dharmendra Pradhan launched various digital customer
 The scheme will benefit 23 lakh households and cover
initiatives for Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) on 21
1,350 critical diseases.
December 2018.

 The initiatives are CNG Queue Management System (QMS)  The Assam government has approved the release of the
and Social CRM. second installment of the 'Chah Bagicha (tea estate) Dhan
 CNG Queue Management System through 'OORJA' mobile Puraskar Mela'.
application would provide information regarding the  Rs 2500 will be deposit in each bank accounts of tea
average waiting time at the CNG station. garden workers that were opened just after the
demonetisation in 2016.
Odisha government announces 'KALIA' scheme
 This amount is the second installment of the Rs 5,000
 On 21 December 2018, Odisha government announced a incentive announced in the budget for 2017-18.
Rs 10,000-crore scheme for the overall development of
Govt to set up panel to look into tax issues
farmers in the state.
 The name of the scheme is 'Krushak Assistance for  The government of India will set up an expert committee
Livelihood and Income Augmentation' (KALIA) scheme. to look into all the taxation issues being faced by start-ups
 An amount of Rs 10,000 per family at the rate of Rs 5,000 and angel investors.
each for Kharif and Rabi seasons shall be provided as  The committee of experts from IITs and IIMs will make
financial assistance for taking up cultivation. recommendations on individual cases of recognised
startups.
Jharkhand announces Rs 2,250-Crore scheme
 The notification for the formation of the committee will be
 Jharkhand government announced an Rs 2,250-crore issued by the Department of Industrial Policy and
scheme to help 22.76 lakh medium and marginal farmers Promotion (DIPP) shortly.
of the state.
Govt online training programme launched
 The name of the scheme is Mukhya Mantri Krishi Yojana.
 Under the scheme, 22.76 lakh medium and marginal  'iGOT' (Integrated Government Online Training
farmers will get Rs 5,000 per acre from 2019. Programme) was launched on 20 December 2018.
 The scheme will help farmers procure seeds, fertilizers,  It was developed by Department of Personnel and
and other requirements for agriculture purposes. Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances &
Pensions.
Haryana to set up Herbal Corporation
 It will augment the existing training mechanism, provided
 On 20 December 2018, Haryana's Chief Minister Manohar to government servants, with online module-based
Lal Khattar announced the setting up of the 'Haryana training coupled with certification.
Herbal Corporation'.
Conservation project for lions launched
 The aim of the corporation is to promote Ayurveda and
herbal medicines in the state.  The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
 It will also act as a catalyst for developing Morni area of launched the 'Asiatic Lion Conservation Project' on 20
the district as an organic cluster and setting up of a world- December 2018.
class nursery for the herbal plant.  The aim of the project is to protect and conserve the
world's last ranging free population of Asiatic Lion and its
Tembhu irrigation scheme approved by Maha Govt
associated ecosystem.
 The Maharashtra government approved a sum of Rs 4,089  The project will be funded from the Centrally Sponsored
crore for the 'Tembhu lift irrigation' scheme in Satara Scheme- 'Development of Wildlife Habitat' (CSS-DWH).
district.
All computers now under govt. watch
 The irrigation project will benefit the drought-prone areas
of Satara, Solapur and Sangli districts.  The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order
 The scheme is about constructing barrages on the river authorising 10 Central agencies to intercept, monitor, and
Krishna near Tembhu village and lifting 22 billion cubic feet decrypt 'any information generated, transmitted, received
water to irrigate 80,000-hectare areas. or stored in any computer'.
 The MHA gave the authorisation under 69 (1) of the
Meghalaya launches health insurance
Information Technology Act, 2000.
 Meghalaya's Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the  The agencies are the Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control
'Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme' (MHIS-IV) on 20 Bureau, Enforcement Directorate etc.
December 2018.
MSME Ministry to set up 20 technology centers
 MHIS-IV is merged with the government of India's
Ayushman Bharat scheme.  The government of India will set up 20 additional
 The MHIS-IV targets to cover more than 8 lakh households technology centres to help Micro, Small and Medium
offering over 2300 medical and surgical packages and up Enterprises (MSMEs).
to Rs 5 lakh per family.  These centres support MSMEs by giving them access to
 The new scheme will be functional from 1 February 2019. advanced manufacturing technologies, skilling manpower
and providing technical and business advisory support.
Rs 2500 to be deposited in tea workers account
 Currently, 10 such centres are operational in different
states of the country.

Mobile app for global aviation summit launched  As per the Tourism Ministry, fifteen destinations have
been identified for development under the Ramayana
 The Civil Aviation Ministry along with the Airports
Circuit.
Authority of India (AAI) launched the app named 'GAS
 Ramayana Circuit is one of the fifteen thematic circuits
2019' on 19 December 2018.
identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan
 The app is for the 'Global Aviation Summit' will be held in
scheme of the ministry.
Mumbai on January 2019.
 Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringverpur, & Chitrakoot in Uttar
 The app enables users to interact with the co-delegates
Pradesh is among the destinations identified for
and speakers besides providing a platform for networking
development under the Ramayana Circuit.
through personal and group chats.
CCEA approves setting up of tribal schools
Assam govt announced 3 schemes for farmers
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave
 Assam government has announced 3 schemes for the
its in-principle approval for setting up of Eklavya Model
welfare of farmers on 19 December 2018.
Residential Schools for tribals.
 The 3 schemes are the Assam Farmers’ Credit Subsidy
 The schools will be set up in every block with more than
Scheme (AFCSS), Assam Farmers’ Interest Relief Scheme
50% Scheduled Tribes population and at least 20,000 tribal
(AFIRS), and Assam Farmers’ Incentive Scheme (AFIS).
persons.
 Under AFCSS, farmers who took loans from banks and
 It has also approved the constitution of an autonomous
whatever amount they repaid, 25% of the money will be
society under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to run the
reimbursed by the state government.
schools.
Strategy Document for New India released
CCEA approves extending Ujjwala LPG scheme
 NITI Aayog unveiled its comprehensive national strategy
 On 17 December 2018, the Cabinet Committee on
for New India, which defines clear objectives for 2022-23.
Economic Affairs approved the expansion of beneficiaries
 The Strategy Document advocates empowering and
list under 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana'.
encouraging women to participate in all sectors of the
 The scheme, launched in 2016, originally targeted giving
economy, to build a strong and inclusive New India.
LPG connections to mostly rural women members of
 It vouches for the transformation of the rural economy.
below the poverty line (BPL) households.
Govt. approves new tourist routes in Ladakh  The list was later expanded to include all SC/ST households
and forest dwellers among others.
 The Home Ministry approved new tourist and trekking
routes in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. Govt. notifies rules for mobile phone services
 The aim is to promote adventure tourism and enhance
 On 16 December 2018, the government of India notified
economic activities in Ladakh.
rules for providing in-flight & maritime mobile phone
 The proposed routes include the Merak-Lema Bend and
services.
the Chusul-Kartsangla-Mahe.
 Indian and foreign airlines and shipping companies
 The Phyang-Dokla-HunderDok-Hunde is one of the
operating in the country can provide in-flight and maritime
proposed trekking routes.
voice and data services with a valid Indian telecom licence
'Shiksha Setu' app launched by Haryana govt. holder.
 The connectivity can be provided using telecom networks
 The Haryana government launched the 'Shiksha Setu' app
on the ground as well as using satellite.
 The app will provide students information on attendance, Railways offers 25% discount
fee, online admission, and scholarships of all government
 The railways will give a discount of 25% on the extant
colleges of the state.
haulage rate per Twenty Feet Equivalent Unit (TEU) on the
 The app will provide instant updates of important notices, transport of empty containers as well as empty flat
circulars and other programmes to students and teachers. container wagons.
 The students will also get information on assignments.  It is expected to enhance the efficient handling of traffic at
Cabinet approves establishment of 2 new AIIMS ports and attract a larger share of container traffic to rail.
 It will help to load more commodity at an economical rate.
 The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of two
new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Delhi Police launches 'Prahari' scheme
Madurai, Tamil Nadu and Bibinagar, Telangana.
 Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik launched the
 The AIIMS will be set up under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya 'Prahari' scheme in the southwest district of Delhi on 14
Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). December 2018.
 Establishment of new AIIMS involves creation of Hospital,  The aim of the scheme is to prevent crime and maintain
Teaching Block for medical & nursing courses, residential law and order.
complex and allied facilities/services.
 Under the scheme, civic personnel such as chowkidars and
Ramayana Circuit: 15 Destinations identified security guards, deployed in commercial and VIP areas, will

act as the eyes and ears of the police for prevention of  Under the operation, an employer who does not pay
crime. minimum wages may be fined or can face three years of
jail.
'ECO Niwas Samhita 2018' launched
 The Delhi government fixed the minimum wage for the
 The Ministry of Power launched 'ECO Niwas Samhita 2018' unskilled labourers at Rs 14,000 per month while that for
on 14 December 2018. semi-skilled at Rs 15,400 per month, and for the skilled, it
 It is an Energy Conservation Building Code for Residential at Rs 16,962 per month.
Buildings (ECBC-R).
Online portal 'Ensure' launched
 The objective is to benefit the occupants and environment
by promoting energy efficiency in the design and  The Agriculture Ministry launched the online portal
construction of homes, apartments and townships. 'Ensure' to connect with direct benefit transfer and
 The Code is expected to assist a large number of architects provide a simple, useful and transparent system to the
and builders. beneficiary on 12 December 2018.
 The portal has been developed by NABARD.
 It is operated under the Department of Animal Husbandry,
Dairying & Fisheries.
 Through this portal, the flow of information/funds will be
quicker.
Indian Ports Association launched ‘PCS 1x’
 Indian Ports Association under the guidance of the
Ministry of Shipping launched the Port Community System
'PCS1x' on 11 December 2018.
 This system will enable trade to have an improved
communication with the customs.
Govt of India to set up NMDPC under DIPP  It is a cloud-based technology with a user-friendly
interface.
 The government of India announced setting up of a  The platform offers services such as notification engine,
'National Medical Devices Promotion Council' (NMDPC) workflow, mobile application, track and trace.
under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
(DIPP) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Government contribution to NPS raised to 14%
 The Council will be headed by Secretary of DIPP.  The government of India announced a slew of changes to
 It will act as a promotion and developmental body for the the National Pension Scheme (NPS) on 10 December 2018.
Indian Medical Devices Industry (MDI).  Central Government contribution has been raised to 14%
Kovind launched app for farmers in Myanmar from 10% in NPS.
 The tax exemption limit for lump sum withdrawal on exit
 President Ram Nath Kovind launched a mobile app from NPS has been enhanced to 60%.
developed for farmers in Myanmar and dedicated a centre  The NPS was introduced for central government
and a bio park to promote agriculture research and employees who joined service on or after 1 January 2004.
education to the people.
 App provides crop and livestock knowledge and Government notifies medical devices as drugs
information apart from cropping guidelines based on  The government of India notified commonly used medical
location. devices like nebulizers, blood pressure monitors, digital
 The app links farmers with more than 2,000 experts. thermometers, and glucometers as 'drugs' under the
Govt formulates 'Crisis Management Plan' Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
 It will enable the government to ensure their quality and
 The government of India has formulated a 'Crisis performance.
Management Plan' to counter cyber attacks and cyber  The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) will regulate
terrorism. the import, manufacture and sale of these devices from
 It will be implemented by all Ministries and Departments January 2020.
of the Centre and the state governments in critical sectors.
 The Government of India has empanelled 76 security audit Tourism Ministry formulates guideline for OTAs
organisations to ensure information security.  The Ministry of Tourism has formulated the guidelines for
'Operation Minimum wage' launched in Delhi approval and reapproval of Online Travel Aggregators
(OTAs) on 7 December 2018.
 Delhi Government launched 'Operation Minimum Wages'  This is a voluntary scheme open to bonafide online travel
on 10 December 2018. aggregators to bring them on a common platform in the
organised sector.
 The guidelines will come out by 31 December 2019.

 OTA is an intermediary or an agent, selling travel products Agribusiness and Rural Transformation' (SMART) on 5
and services. December 2018.
 The aim of the 'SMART' initiative is to revamp agricultural
National challenge for Youth launched
value chains, with a special focus on marginal farmers
 A National Challenge for Youths named 'Ideate for India - across 1,000 villages.
Creative Solutions using Technology' was launched on 6  The initiative is assisted by the World Bank.
December 2018.
Free pilgrimage scheme launched by Delhi CM
 The aim of this challenge is to give school students across
the country a platform and opportunity to become  Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the
solution creators for the problems. 'Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana' on 5 December 2018.
 The Challenge has been designed and launched by the  Under the scheme, a city resident above 60 years will be
National e-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics & eligible to take free pilgrimage along with his or her
IT. spouse.
 The Delhi government will bear the expenses of pilgrims
Govt. approves freight village in Varanasi
every year.
 The Ministry of Shipping approved a freight village in  It has also signed a MoU with the railways to cater to the
Varanasi on 6 December 2018. pilgrims availing the scheme.
 It will boost the professional logistics industry in Varanasi.
Government of India notifies dual-fuel usage
 It will be developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of
India (IWAI).  Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified
 A freight village is a designated area where facilities for dual-fuel usage for agricultural and construction
various modes of transportation, distribution of goods and equipment vehicles.
other logistics are available on a large scale.  These include tractors, power tillers, construction
equipment vehicles and combine harvesters which have
Union Cabinet approves NM-ICPS
originally been manufactured as dual- fuel with diesel as
 The Union Cabinet approved the 'National Mission on the primary fuel
Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems' (NM-ICPS) on 6  This move will help in reducing both cost and pollution.
December 2018.
Gangotri, Yamunotri included under 'PRASAD'
 The Mission addresses the various requirements of Cyber-
Physical Systems (CPS) and associated technologies.  The government of India has included Gangotri and
 The mission will be implemented by the Department of Yamunotri in Uttrarakhand, Amarkantak in Madhya
Science and Technology. Pradesh and Parasnath in Jharkhand under the 'Pilgrimage
 A CPS is a mechanism that is controlled or monitored by Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive'
computer-based algorithms. (PRASAD) scheme.
 'PRASAD' is a central scheme to develop pilgrimage and
Cabinet approves 'Shahpurkandi Dam project'
heritage destinations in the country.
 The Union Cabinet has approved the implementation of  PRASAD scheme was launched by the Ministry of Tourism.
'Shahpurkandi Dam Project' in Punjab on Ravi river.
Swadesh Darshan proj. inaugurated in Nagaland
 Implementation of this project would help in minimising
the wastage of water of the Ravi river.  Project 'Development of Tribal Circuit: Peren-Kohima-
 On completion of the project, an additional Irrigation Wokha Project' was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of
Potential of 5000 hectares in Punjab and 32173 hectares in Nagaland, Shri Neiphiu Rio.
J&K would be created.  This is the first project to be implemented in the state
 The project would be completed by June 2022. under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism,
Government of India.
Cabinet approves agri export policy
 Under the project the ministry has developed facilities like
 The Union Cabinet approved the Agriculture Export Policy tribal tourist village, open-air theatre, cafeteria, helipad
on 6 December 2018. etc.
 The new policy aims to double India's farm exports to $60 AB-PMJAY scheme launched in Jammu & Kashmir
billion by 2022
 It is aimed at boosting exports of agriculture commodities  Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik launched
such as tea, coffee and rice and increase the country's the 'Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana'
share in global agri-trade. (AB-PMJAY) scheme on 1 December 2018.
 The policy is also expected to provide an institutional  The scheme will benefit over 31 lakh residents in the state.
mechanism to tackle market barriers.  The AB-PMJAY is the world’s largest healthcare scheme
which aims at providing coverage of Rs 5 lakh per entitled
Maharashtra CM launched 'SMART' initiative
family annually.
 Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has 'PEETHA' programme launched in Odisha
launched a unique initiative called 'State of Maharashtra’s

 Odisha's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the  It is located 21 light years away from earth.
'Peoples Empowerment Enabling Transparency and  It has a mass of almost five times that of Earth, which is
Accountability' (PEETHA) programme on 3 December considered a so-called 'super-Earth'.
2018.  It is rich in calcium and aluminum alongside magnesium
 The aim of the programme is to create transparency and and silicon.
awareness of various government schemes.
World's smallest tic-tac-toe game board made
 'PEETHA' is a sub-scheme of the Odisha government's
flagship 'Ama Gaon Ama Bikas Yojana'.  Researchers from the California Institute of Technology
have developed the world's smallest tic-tac-toe game
'Digital Sky Platform' launched
board by using dynamic DNA origami tiles.
 The Civil Aviation Ministry launched the 'Digital Sky  DNA origami tiles are microscopic organic structures that
Platform' for the registration of drones and their operators can be programmed to transform into predesigned
on 1 December 2018. patterns.
 To get permissions to fly drones, operators or remote  Earlier, scientists had developed the world's smallest
pilots will have to file a flight plan. version of the iconic Mona Lisa using the same technique.
 Payments for Unmanned Aerial Operator's Permit and
Satellite for space-based broadband launched
Unique Identification Numbers (UIN) will be accepted
through the Bharat Kosh (bharatkosh.gov.in) portal.  On 22 December 2018, China launched its first
communication satellite to provide broadband internet
ERSS launched in Nagaland
services worldwide.
 Pan-India single emergency number '112' under  The satellite is the first in the 'Hongyun project' planned by
'Emergency Response Support System' (ERSS) was China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC).
launched in Nagaland on 1 December 2018.  The 'Hongyun project' started in September 2016, aims to
 It will connect to Police, Fire, Health and other helplines. build a space-based communications network to provide
 Nagaland is the first amongst the North-Eastern States and broadband internet connectivity.
the second State in India to launch the emergency number
ISRO's GSAT 7A launched into the orbit
'112'.
 Himachal Pradesh is the first state to launch the  ISRO's 'GSAT 7A' satellite was launched into the orbit from
emergency number ‘112’. Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on 19 December 2018.
 GSAT 7A was launched on 'GSLV F-11' rocket.
Defence Ministry approved military procurement
 GSAT 7A is a geostationary communication satellite
 The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC), chaired by weighing 2250 kilograms and will provide communication
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accorded approval services in Ku Band over the Indian region.
for the acquisition of defence equipment worth 3000  This satellite will provide vital data for hi-tech
crores on 1 December 2018. communication in strategic fields.
 The DAC granted approval for procurement of indigenous
Most-distant object ever discovered
Brahmos Missiles for two Indian Navy Ships to be built in
Russia.  Scientists have discovered the most-distant body ever
 The DAC also approved the procurement of Armoured observed in our solar system.
Recovery Vehicles for the Indian Army.  The new object was given the provisional designation of
'2018 VG18' and nicknamed 'Farout'.
 It is located over 100 times farther than Earth is from the
Science & Technology Sun.
 '2018 VG18' is located about 120 astronomical units (AU)
SpaceX launches new GPS satellite from earth.
 SpaceX successfully launched the US Air Force’s first Global  1 AU is defined as the distance between the Earth and the
Positioning System (GPS) III satellite, nicknamed 'Vespucci', Sun.
on 23 December 2018. Hubble discovers a vanishing planet
 The new GPS satellites, built by Lockheed Martin, will
provide three-times better accuracy than the current  Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have
system of GPS and will be eight times better at anti- discovered a planet roughly the size of Neptune,
jamming. evaporating at a rate 100 times faster than a previously
 The GPS is owned by the U.S. military and operated by the identified exoplanet of similar size.
U.S. Air Force.  The name of the planet is 'GJ 3470b'.
 GJ 3470b is 96 light-years away from earth and circles a
'Super-Earth’ in 'Cassiopeia' discovered red dwarf star in the general direction of the constellation
 Researchers have discovered a new exotic planet outside Cancer.
the solar system in the constellation 'Cassiopeia'. Manned mission to space
 The planet has been named 'HD219134 b'.

 It is proposed to undertake a manned mission to space 'GSAT-11' launched from French Guiana
before the 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence.
 ISRO's heaviest and most-advanced high throughput
 The manned mission will be accomplished using ISRO’s
communication satellite 'GSAT-11' was launched from
launch vehicle GSLV MkIII.
French Guiana.
 The manned mission will launch Indian astronauts from
 It is also known as 'Big Bird'.
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota into an
 The launch vehicle 'Ariane 5 VA-246' carried India’s 'GSAT-
approximately 400 Km Low Earth Orbit.
11' along with South Korea’s 'GEO-KOMPSAT-2A' satellite.
 The maximum mission planned is of 7 days duration.
 The 5,854-kg 'GSAT-11' will provide high data rate
ISRO to launch GSAT-7A Communication Satellite connectivity through 32 user beams in Ku-band and 8 hub
beams in Ka-band.
 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch
communication satellite 'GSAT-7A' from Sriharikota on 19 Four new gravitational waves detected
December 2018.
 Scientists have made four new detections of gravitational
 GSAT-7A is the 35th Indian Communication satellite built
waves emanating from separate black hole mergers.
by the ISRO.
 The gravitational waves were detected by the US-based
 The satellite will enable the Indian Air Force to interlink
LIGO and Europe-based VIRGO gravitational-wave
different ground radar stations, ground airbase and
detectors.
airborne early warning and control aircraft.
 The new waves are known as 'GW170729', 'GW170809',
'Journalism AI' Project announced by Google 'GW170818', and 'GW170823', in reference to the dates
they were detected.
 Google has announced a partnership with Polis, the
international journalism think-tank at London School of Three astronauts set to launch to ISS
Economics and Political Science, to create 'Journalism
 According to NASA, 3 space travellers are scheduled to
Artificial Intelligence (AI)' project.
launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on 3
 The 'Journalism AI' project will focus on research and
December 2018 for a six-and-a-half month mission.
training for newsrooms on the intersection of AI and
 They will officially become the part of 'Expedition 58' crew.
journalism.
 Anne McClain of NASA, David Saint-Jacques of the
 The project is the part of Google News Initiative (GNI).
Canadian Space Agency and Oleg Kononenko of Russian
Voyager 2 probe reached interstellar space space agency are preparing to launch aboard the Soyuz
MS-11 spacecraft.
 NASA's 'Voyager 2' probe has become the second human-
made object to enter interstellar space or space between
stars. Books & Authors
 It carries a working instrument that will provide first-of-its-
kind observations of the nature of interstellar space. Book on Maharaja Jagatjit Singh launched
 It is now slightly more than 18 billion kilometres from  Punjab's Chief Minister Amarinder Singh released a book
Earth. on former ruler Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala on
 'Voyager 1' was the first one to enter the interstellar space 24 December 2018.
in 2012.  The title of the book is 'Prince, Patron, and Patriarch -
China mission launched to far side of Moon Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala'.
 It is co-authored by Brigadier (Retd) Sukhjit Singh and
 China launched the first mission to land a robotic craft on Cynthia Meera Frederick.
the far side of the Moon on 7 December 2018.
PM releases the book 'Timeless Laxman'
 The name of the mission is 'Chang'e-4'.
 The mission, which consists of a stationary lander and a  The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, released the coffee
rover, will explore the 'Von Kármán' crater which is located table book 'Timeless Laxman' on 18 December 2018.
on the far side of the Moon.  The book is based on the famous cartoonist RK Laxman.
 The payload was carried by Long March 3B rocket.  RK Laxman was an Indian cartoonist, illustrator, and
NASA’s 'OSIRIS-REx' reached asteroid Bennu humorist.
 He was best known for his creation 'The Common Man'
 NASA’s 'Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource and for his daily cartoon strip, 'You Said It' in The Times of
Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer' (OSIRIS-REx) India.
spacecraft arrived at the asteroid named 'Bennu' on 3
December 2018. Book authored by former CEA launched
 'OSIRIS-REx' was launched in September 2016.  The book titled 'Of Counsel: The Challenges of the Modi-
 The spacecraft’s mission involves a close-up survey of the Jaitley Economy' was launched in Mumbai on 7 December
asteroid Bennu. 2018.
 It is the part of NASA’s New Frontiers Programme.  The author of the book is Arvind Subramanian.

 Arvind Subramanian is an Indian economist and the former Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India. (UNFCCC).
 The book talks about the journey of Arvind Subramanian  As per the report, India emitted around 2.607 billion
as the CEA from 2014 to 2018. tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent of Green House Gases
in 2014.
 India had submitted its first BUR in 2016.
 The scope of BUR is to provide an update to India's 1st
BUR to UNFCCC.
Conference on climate change began in Poland
 The 24th meeting of Conference of Parties (COP-24) to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) began in Poland on 3 December 2018.
 The Conference will conclude on 14 December 2018.
 COP-24 is very significant as it is expected to finalise
guidelines for implementation of the 'Paris Agreement'
adopted in 2016.
Committees & Recommendations

'Economic capital framework' committee formed
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in consultation with the
government of India, has set up a six-member committee
to review the 'Economic Capital Framework' of the central
bank.
 Former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan will be the committee’s
Chairman.
 The other members are Economic Affairs Secretary Subash
Chandra Garg, RBI Deputy Governor N.S. Vishwanathan
and two board members of the RBI.
Logistics Development Committee constituted
Books on President's speeches to be launched
 The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-
 The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting will launch the PM) constituted a Logistics Development Committee.
books on selected speeches of President Ram Nath Kovind  The committee will be headed by Dr. Bibek Debroy,
on 8 December 2018. Chairman EAC-PM.
 The titles of the books are 'The Republican Ethic' and  The committee will assess key challenges in logistics
'Loktantra Ke Swar'. development and associated commerce, and suggest
 The book is a collection of 95 selected speeches out of a policy reforms for ease of doing trade in India.
total of 243 speeches made by President Ram Nath Kovind
in the first year of his office. Govt forms panel to select Managing Directors
‘Blue Waters Ahoy!’ book released  The government of India constituted a seven-member
panel to select Managing Directors of public sector
 Admiral Sunil Lanba, chief of the Naval Staff, released a insurance companies.
book titled ‘Blue Waters Ahoy!’.  The panel would be headed by Banks Board Bureau (BBB)
 It tells Indian Navy’s History from 2001-10. Chairman BP Sharma.
 It was unveiled on the occasion of the Indian Navy Day,  The other members of the panel are Financial Services
celebrated every year on 04 December 2018. Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises Secretary and
 The book is authored by Vice Admiral Anup Singh, who Chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development
retired as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Authority of India.
Naval Command in 2011.
Govt sets up GoM on stressed power assets
Environment  The government has constituted a Group of Ministers

(GoM) to examine the recommendations made by a high-
Cabinet approves submission of BUR to UNFCCC. level panel on stressed power projects.
 The Union Cabinet approved the submission of India’s  The GoM will be headed by Arun Jaitley.
second Biennial Update Report (BUR) to the United

 The high-level panel on stressed power projects headed by  ESAF Small Finance Bank Ltd has received the RBI’s
Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha had submitted its report in approval for inclusion in the second schedule of the RBI
November 2019. Act, 1934.
 Now the bank can seek funds from trusts, associations,
GoM to form sub-panel on harassment
religious institutions, and mutual funds.
 The Group of Ministers (GoM), formed to look into the  It will also enable the bank to avail higher refinance
sexual harassment cases at the workplace, decided to facility.
constitute a sub-committee on 10 December 2018.  R Prabha is the Chairman of ESAF Small Finance Bank.
 The sub-committee will suggest changes to the law on the  The headquarters of the bank is in Thrissur, Kerala.
prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace as well
as ways to strengthen the National Commission for PSBs approve loans worth over Rs 37,400 cr
Women.  Public Sector Banks (PSBs) approved more than 1.12 lakh
 The GoM is headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. loan applications of MSMEs worth of 37,412 crore rupees
Panel to look at selling OIL, ONGC fields under the '59 minutes' loan scheme.
 The scheme was launched by the government of India in
 The government of India has constituted a six-member November 2018.
panel to look at selling small and marginal oil and gas fields  GST-registered Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
of state-owned ONGC and Oil India. (MSMEs) can take the loan up to one crore in just 59
 The panel is headed by NITI Aayog's Vice Chairman Rajiv minutes through 'psbloansin59minutes.com' portal.
Kumar and includes Cabinet Secretary P. K. Sinha and Oil
Secretary M. M. Kutty. RBI enhances single borrower limit facility
 The smaller fields of ONGC and Oil India accounted for just  The Reserve Bank of India extended the enhanced single
5% of the domestic crude oil production. borrower limit facility for Non-Banking Finance Company
NGT appointed former HC judge U C Dhyani (NBFC) sector by 3 months.
 It has now been extended up to March 31, 2019
 On 30 November 2018, the National Green Tribunal  This will provide much-needed liquidity support to NBFCs.
(NGT) appointed former Uttarakhand High Court judge,  In October 2018, RBI increased the single borrower limit
Justice U C Dhyani, as head of the three-member for NBFCs from 10% to 15% of capital funds.
committee to oversee rejuvenation work of the Ganga
river. Cabinet approves listing of 7 unlisted CPSEs
 Other Members of the committee will be from the Central  6 Central Public Sector Enterprises will be listed on the
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IIT Roorkee. stock exchange.
 The committee was set up by NGT on 6 August 2018.  Telecommunication Consultants Ltd, RailTel Corporation
India Ltd, National Seed Corporation India Ltd, Tehri Hydro
Development Corporation Ltd, Water & Power
Business & Economy
Consultancy Services Ltd, & Aravali Gypsum and Minerals
Banks recover ₹40,400 crore from defaulters Ltd will be listed on the exchange.
 The government will dilute the stake in Kudremukh Iron
 According to RBI, in the fiscal ended March 2018, banks
Ore Company.
recovered ₹40,400 crore worth of bad loans as against
₹38,500 crore recovered in FY17. RBI relaxes withdrawal limit for depositors
 The various channels through which lenders recovered
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) relaxed the restrictions
their bad loans include the Insolvency and Bankruptcy
placed on the City Co-operative Bank Ltd., by allowing the
Code (IBC), SARFAESI Act, Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs)
depositors to withdraw ₹5,000.
and Lok Adalats.
 In April 2018, the RBI barred the bank from extending
 The amount recovered through SARFAESI was ₹26,500
fresh loans or making a new investment without prior
crore in FY18.
approval and depositors were allowed to withdraw ₹1,000.
Govt extends import restrictions on peas  City Co-operative Bank Ltd. is based in Mumbai and its
Chairman is Anandrao Adsul
 The commerce ministry extended the import restrictions
on peas for another three months till 31 March 2019. HDFC group surpasses Tatas in m-cap
 Such measures help in curbing cheaper imports and boost
 HDFC group has become the most valuable business house
local prices.
in the country.
 The restrictions were imposed by the Directorate General
 It has surpassed the Tatas in terms of Market
of Foreign Trade (DGFT.
capitalisation.
 India is the largest producer of pulses in the world.
 The cumulative market valuation of HDFC group surged to
ESAF is now ‘scheduled bank’ Rs 10.40 trillion on 27 December 2018.

 HDFC group has five listed firms - HDFC Ltd, HDFC Bank,  It also said that an e-commerce marketplace will not force
HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company, Gruh Finance Ltd any seller to sell any product exclusively on its platform.
and HDFC Asset Management Company.  The norms will come into effect from February 1, 2019.
7th tranche of electoral bonds sale from 1 Jan PNB launches special card for Kumbh Mela
 The seventh tranche of electoral bonds sale will take place  Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched a special card for
from 1 to 10 January 2019. Kumbh Mela 2019.
 The State Bank of India has been authorised to issue and  The bank has partnered with the Uttar Pradesh
encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 Authorised government to create a model for digitization at Kumbh
Branches. Mela 2019.
 A person can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly,  For convenient and hassle-free transactions at these
with other individuals. shops, the bank has created the 'PNB Rupay' card which
 An electoral bond will be valid for 15 days from the date of works even without the internet.
issue.
RBI shortlists Wipro, TCS, 4 others for PCR
Seven PSBs to receive Rs. 28,615 crore
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shortlisted six major IT
 The government will infuse Rs. 28,615 crore into seven companies to set up a digital Public Credit Registry (PCR)
public sector banks (PSBs) through recapitalisation bonds  The IT companies are TCS, Wipro, IBM India, Capgemini
by the end of December 2018. Technology Services India, Dun & Bradstreet Information
 The amount infused will help the banks meet regulatory Services India, and Mindtree Ltd.
capital requirement.  PCR will be capturing details of all borrowers and wilful
 Out of these seven PSBs, Bank of India is likely to get the defaulters.
highest amount of Rs. 10,086 crore, followed by Oriental  It will strengthen the credit culture in the economy.
Bank of Commerce which might get Rs. 5,500 crore.
GST Council cuts rates on 17 items, 6 services
Fiscal deficit touches 115% of target
 The Goods and Services Tax Council has cut rates on 17
 India’s fiscal deficit touched 114.8% of the full-year target items and six types of services during its 31st meeting on
of Rs. 6.24 lakh crore at the end of November 2018 on 22 December 2018.
account of lower revenue collection.  The GST rate on cinema tickets above ₹100 was cut from
 The fiscal deficit stood at Rs. 7.16 lakh crore during April- 28% to 18% and on tickets up to ₹100 from 18% to 12%.
November of the current financial year.  The Council decided that 5% GST would be levied on
 The government has budgeted to cut the fiscal deficit to renewable energy devices and parts for their manufacture.
3.3% of GDP in 2018-19, from 3.53% in 2017-18.
Govt. to infuse Rs 83,000 crore in PSBs
Investment through P-notes rises in November
 The government of India will infuse Rs 83,000 crore in
 Investments in the Indian capital market through Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in the next few months in the
Participatory notes (P-notes) increased to Rs 79,247 crore current fiscal.
in November 2018.  The government of India moved the proposal in
 P-notes are issued by registered foreign portfolio investors Parliament for enhanced bank recapitalisation
to overseas investors who wish to be part of the Indian  The recapitalisation will enhance the lending capacity of
stock market without registering themselves directly. PSBs and help them come out of the RBI's Prompt
 The funds' inflow through P-notes in October 2018 was Corrective Action (PCA) framework.
69,445 crore rupees.
RBI caps outstanding ECBs at 6.5% of GDP
Survey launched to capture the payment habits
 On 20 December 2018, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
 The Reserve Bank of India launched a 'Survey on Retail announced a cap for outstanding stock of External
Payment Habits of Individuals (SRPHi)' on 26 December Commercial Borrowings (ECB) at 6.5% of GDP of the
2018. country.
 The survey will cover a sample of 6,000 individuals from  The outstanding stock of ECB as on 30 September 2018
various socio-economic backgrounds. was $126.29 billion.
 The survey will be conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,  ECBs refer to commercial loans in the form of bank loans,
Chennai, Bengaluru, and Guwahati. securitised instruments buyers’ credit, suppliers’ credit
 The purpose of the survey is to capture the payment availed of from non-resident lenders.
habits of individuals.
Four banks may come out of PCA
Centre tightens rules for selling online
 Four public sector banks that are under the Prompt
 The government of India said that e-commerce companies Corrective Action (PCA) framework of RBI, may come out
would be barred from selling products sourced from firms of the PCA restrictions following an improved
in which they have the stake in or control over. performance.

 Four public sector banks are Bank of Maharashtra,  Inflation based on wholesale prices fell to a three-month
Corporation Bank, Allahabad Bank, and Bank of India. low of 4.64% in November 2018, as prices of food articles,
 This follows a review of the performance of all 11 banks especially vegetables reduced.
that are under the PCA framework.  The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation stood was
5.28% in October 2018 and 4.02% in November 2017.
Merger of IDFC Bank & Capital First completed
 Vegetables, too, became cheaper with deflation at 26.98%
 IDFC Bank completed the merger process with Non- in November 2018 as compared to 18.65% in October
Banking Financial Company 'Capital First' on 18 December 2018.
2018.
SEBI eased norms for FPIs and startups
 After the merger, 'Capital First' has been renamed as 'IDFC
First Bank'.  The SEBI eased norms for startup listings and allowed
 V. Vaidyanathan is the Managing Director and Chief mutual funds to segregate distressed assets to safeguard
Executive Officer of the merged entity. investment returns.
 Rajiv Lall, who was the MD & CEO of IDFC Bank, will now  It also approved a proposal to expand the offer-for-sale
become part-time non-executive Chairman of the merged mechanism for reduction of the stake in listed companies.
entity.  It also cleared a proposal to allow custodial services in the
commodity derivatives market to enable institutional
RBI scales up liquidity infusion
participation.
 The RBI will increase the amount of liquidity infusion by
Single cover for multiple vehicles allowed
Rs.10,000 crore to Rs. 50,000 crore in December 2018.
 It earlier announced that it will infuse liquidity amounting  The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of
to Rs. 40,000 crore through Open Market Operations India (IRDAI) allowed customers to buy one single
(OMO) in December 2018. Compulsory Personal Accident (CPA) cover for multiple
 OMO refers to the buying and selling of government vehicles.
securities in the open market in order to expand or  The cover will extend to all the vehicles driven by the
contract the amount of money in the system. policyholder and have a validity of one year.
 Currently, a vehicle buyer has to buy a CPA for every
OBOPAY partners with Federal Bank & Mastercard
vehicle he or she purchases.
 Global financial technology company, OBOPAY, announced
CBIC to notify Korean Won and Turkish Lira
the launch of a new generation pre-payment instrument in
partnership with Federal Bank and Mastercard.  The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
 The OBOPAY card can be availed by all the business will include 'Korean Won' and 'Turkish Lira' in the list of
entities including corporate, distributor – retailer currencies for exchange rates for the purpose of valuing
ecosystem, colleges, factories etc. imports and exports.
 The card includes 'Split transaction' feature which provides  CBIC notifies the Rate of Exchange for the purpose of
payment flexibility to users. conversion of foreign exchange to Indian rupees for
assessment of imports and exports.
India Post introduces internet banking service
 CBIC notifies the conversion under Customs Act, 1962.
 India Post launched internet banking services for all the
Route mobile collaborates with Oracle
Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) account holders on 14
December 2018.  Route Mobile Ltd, a cloud-communication platform service
 India Post has introduced the net banking facility to push provider and a member of Oracle Partner
the digital payments. Network announced the collaboration with Oracle
 Under India Post internet banking facility, customers will Marketing Cloud.
be eligible to transfer funds from one post office savings  This will empower them to take a smarter approach to
bank account to another POSB account. customer experience management & business
transformation initiatives.
SEBI eases norms for cyber security operations
 This enables companies to leverage Route Mobile’s quality
 Market regulator SEBI relaxed guidelines pertaining to connections for mobile customer engagement over SMS
setting up cyber security operations centre for small
FDI inflows to South West Asia down: UN report
market intermediaries as they lack knowledge in cyber
security.  As per the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia
 Under the new framework, small intermediaries can utilise and the Pacific (ESCAP) report, FDI inflows to South and
services of market security operations center (SOC). South-West Asia decreased by 6 percent in 2017.
 The SOCs is proposed to be set up by Market  It is due to a drop in foreign funding flow to countries like
Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs). India and Turkey.
 The foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow to South and
WPI inflation falls to 4.64% in November
South-West Asia stood at USD 63 billion in the last
calendar year.

RBI imposes ₹1 cr fine on Indian Bank Loans to be linked to external benchmarks

 The Reserve Bank of India imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore on  The RBI proposed that floating interest rates on loans will
Indian Bank for violating cybersecurity norms on 11 be linked to external benchmarks like repo rate or treasury
December 2018. yields.
 This penalty has been imposed in the exercise of powers  The new guidelines will be applicable from 1 April 2019.
vested in RBI under the provisions of the Banking  Currently, banks follow a system of internal benchmarks
Regulation Act, 1949. including the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate
 RBI said that this action is based on deficiencies in (MCLR), Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR), and Prime
regulatory compliance. Lending Rate (PLR).
Current account deficit widens to 2.9% in Q2
 According to the Reserve Bank of India, the Current
Account Deficit (CAD) widened to 2.9% of GDP for the July-
September quarter.
 The deficit for the second quarter was $19.1 billion.
 The CAD for the April-June quarter was 2.4% of GDP or
$15.9 billion.
 The widening of CAD on a year-on-year basis was primarily
on account of a higher trade deficit at $50 billion.
SEBI to relax listing norms for start-ups
 SEBI has proposed few relaxations for new-age ventures in
sectors like e-commerce, data analytics and biotechnology.
 The proposed relaxation will help startups to raise funds
and get their shares traded on stock exchanges.
 The proposed changes also include renaming the
'Institutional Trading Platform' that the regulator had
created for such listings as 'Innovators Growth Platform'.
Sale of REC to PFC approved by cabinet
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has
approved the strategic sale of 52.63% stake in Rural
Electrification Corporation (REC) to Power Finance
Corporation (PFC).
 This deal is expected to fetch the exchequer around
₹15,000 crore.
 This transaction will help the government meet its
₹80,000-crore disinvestment target for 2018-19. New norms on loan system for large borrowers
 The transaction will be through the acquisition route.  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came out with guidelines
SBI to cease to be EPFO fund manager for enhancing credit discipline among large borrowers.
 Borrowers having aggregate fund based working capital
 State Bank of India (SBI) will cease to be a fund manager of limit of Rs 150 crore and above, a minimum level of 'loan
retirement fund body EPFO by the end of March 2019. component' of 40% will be applicable.
 According to RBI rules, a bank cannot function as an asset  The 40% loan component will be revised to 60% with
management company. effect from 1 July 2019.
 Currently, SBI, ICICI Securities Primary Dealership, Reliance  The guidelines will be effective from 1 April 2019.
Capital, HSBC AMC and UTI AMC are fund managers of the
EPFO. RBI to cut SLR gradually to 18% by mid-2019
RBI to implement an Ombudsman scheme  The RBI will reduce the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) by
0.25% every quarter beginning January 2019.
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will implement an  The reduction in SLR will continue till it reaches 18%.
'Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions' covering
 The current SLR is 19.5%.
services provided by entities falling under Reserve Banks
 The move is likely to release funds locked in government
regulatory jurisdiction.
securities.
 The aim of the scheme is to provide a cost-free mechanism
 SLR is the portion of funds which banks are required to
to redress grievances of customers related to digital
maintain in the form of gold reserves and the government
transactions.
approved securities.
 The scheme will be notified by the end of January 2019.

RBI to inject Rs 10,000 cr through OMO  The size of the GDP in the second quarter is estimated at
Rs 33.98 lakh crore.
 The Reserve Bank of India will inject Rs 10,000 crore into
 India’s GDP growth rate for the first quarter (April-June) of
the banking system through purchase of government
the financial year 2018-2019 came in at 8.2%.
securities on 6 December 2018 to increase liquidity.
 The purchase will be made through Open Market
Operations (OMOs). Sports
 The RBI also announced auction of 'Cash Management
Bill'. Smriti won the ICC 'Women's Cricketer' award
 Cash Management Bill is short term instrument to meet  India women's cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana won
the temporary cash flow mismatches of the Government. the 'Women's Cricketer of the Year' and the 'Women's ODI
RBI left key interest rate unchanged Player of the Year' by the International Cricket Council
(ICC).
 The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee  She won the 'Women's Cricketer of the Year' for scoring
(MPC) kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5% on 5 669 runs in 12 ODIs along with 622 runs in T20
December 2018. Internationals in 2018.
 The reverse repo rate was also kept unchanged at 6.5%.  She became only the second India woman player to win an
 Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends to other banks. ICC award after Jhulan Goswami.
 This means that home loan and car loan rates will not
ICC name Women's ODI and T20I team of the year
change.
 The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is  International Cricket Council (ICC) announced women's
headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel. ODI and T20I teams of the year 2018.
HUL board approves merger with GlaxoSmithKline  New Zealand’s Suzie Bates was named as captain of the
50-over side and Harmanpreet Kaur of India appointed
 Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) approved the merger captain of the T20 team.
with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH India)  The teams have been selected by Voting Academy
through an-all equity deal on 3 December 2018. comprising of members from media and broadcast.
 GSKCH India sells consumer healthcare products, including
Modric won ‘Balkan Athlete of the Year’ award
the popular drink brand 'Horlicks'.
 The merger includes all the operations of GSKCH India and  Croatia football captain Luka Modric was named ‘Balkan
including a consignment selling contract to distribute Athlete of the Year’ on 27 December 2018.
GSKCH India.  He is the second football player to win the prize.
'eATM' launched by ICICI Securities and BSE  He also won the ‘Ballon d’Or’ award 2018.
 Bulgaria’s Hristo Stoichkov was the first football player to
 ICICI Securities and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has win the ‘Balkan Athlete of the Year award in 1994.
launched 'eATM' facility on 3 December 2018.
 Through 'eATM' facility, clients of the domestic brokerage Women Boxing Championship to begin from 31 Dec
entity will be able to receive the pay-out within 30 minutes  The National Women's Boxing Championships will be held
of selling the shares. in Karnataka from 31 December 2018 to 6 January 2019.
 The new service would have a cap of ₹50,000 per client a  The tournament will be held at the JSW Sports' Inspire
day and would be applicable on about 600 stocks listed on Institute of Sports.
the BSE.  This will be the first time that the Boxing Federation of
Infra growth slows down to 4.8% in Oct 2018 India (BFI) will be hosting the national championship at the
privately-run institute.
 The growth rate of eight infrastructure sectors slowed
down to 4.8% in October 2018 due to contraction in the Ricky Ponting inducted into ICC Hall of Fame
production of crude oil, natural gas, and fertiliser.  Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was formally
 During April-October 2018-19, the eight sectors recorded a inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on 26 December
growth rate of 5.4%. 2018.
 Eight infrastructure sectors comprise coal, crude oil,  He was named in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame along with
natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, former India captain Rahul Dravid in July 2018.
and electricity.  He is the 25th Australia cricketer to be formally inducted
India's economy grew at 7.1% 2nd quarter into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
 He is a three-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner including
 According to the data released by Central Statistics Office two times as captain.
(CSO), India’s GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate
for the second quarter (July-September) for the financial Weightlifters banned after 2012 Olympic tests
year 2018-2019 was 7.1%.  The International Weightlifting Federation announced that
five weightlifters have been provisionally suspended after

reanalysis of their urine samples provided during the 2012  The 75th CCI Western India Squash Championship was
London Olympics. held in Mumbai.
 They include two Olympic champions, Ukrainian Oleksiy
Real Madrid won the 'Club World Cup 2018'
Torokhtiy, and Uzbekistan's' Ruslan Nurudinov.
 The other weightlifters are from Azerbaijan, Armenia, and  Real Madrid won the 'FIFA Club World Cup 2018' in United
Belarus. Arab Emirates (UAE) on 23 December 2018.
 They defeated Al Ain in the final match.
Youngest woman to have 50 World Cup wins
 With this win, Real Madrid becomes the first ever to claim
 America's Mikaela Shiffrin became the youngest woman to three straight Club World Cup or Intercontinental Cup.
win 50 World Cup ski races with victory in the slalom in the  They also became the first to win four Club World Cup
French Alps on 22 December 2018. titles.
 Slovakia's Petra Vlhova got the second position while  It won the world cup in 2014,2016 and 2017.
Sweden's Frida Hansdotter was in third place in
Bala Rafique won the 'Maharashtra Kesari'
slalom championship.
 Slalom is an alpine skiing and alpine snowboarding  Wrestler Bala Rafique Shaikh won the 'Maharashtra Kesari'
discipline, involving skiing between poles or gates. title on 23 December 2018.
Kuttappa new chief coach for men's boxing  He defeated Abhijeet Katke of Pune in the final round.
 He was honoured with a silver mace and cash prize of Rs 1
 CA Kuttappa has taken over as India's Chief boxing coach lakh.
on 26 December 2018.  Maharashtra Kesari is an Indian-style prestigious wrestling
 He took over from veteran coach SR Singh, who has now championship, established in 1961.
retired.
Premier Badminton League begins in Mumbai
 His first major assignment would be the second edition of
the India Open scheduled in January 2019 in Guwahati.  Premier Badminton League 2018 (PBL) began in Mumbai
 He is credited with shaping some of the country's most on 22 December 2018.
successful boxers such as Vijender Singh, M Suranjoy  It will conclude in Bengaluru on 13 January 2019.
Singh, among others.  Olympian and World Champion Carolina Marin of Spain
Hamilton awarded Drivers' Driver of the Year and India's Rio Olympics silver medalist PV Sindhu are
taking part in it.
 On 22 December 2018, Lewis Hamilton won the 'Drivers'  The Premier Badminton League 2017 title was won by the
Driver of the Year' award. Chennai Smashers.
 For the first time, voting was done to determine the
winner of the award. WV Raman appointed as India women's team coach
 He won the award after he claimed the 5th World Drivers'  Former India opener, W. V. Raman was appointed as the
Championship. new coach of the Indian women's cricket team.
 Lewis Hamilton is the third man in history to secure the  Raman was among three recommendations made by the
5th world title. ad-hoc committee of Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad, and
 Max Verstappen was placed in the 2nd position and Shantha Rangaswamy.
Fernando Alonso got the 3rd place.  He has represented India in 11 Tests and 27 One-Day
Belgium tops FIFA rankings Internationals.
 He is currently a batting consultant at the National Cricket
 Belgium ended the year at the top of the FIFA rankings for Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
December released on 20 December 2018.
Novak & Simona named 2018 ITF world champions
 They are one point ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
champions France.  Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep were named as the
 Belgium has 1,727 points by FIFA's calculations and France '2018 ITF World Champions' by the governing body of
has 1,726 points. global tennis.
 France was ranked second.  Djokovic received the honour from the International
 France is followed by Brazil, Croatia, and England. Tennis Federation (ITF) for the sixth time.
 It is the first time that Romania’s top-ranked Halep has
Mahesh & Yash clinch squash tournament titles
been named for '2018 ITF World Champions'.
 Squash players Mahesh Mangaonkar of Maharashtra and
Virat: 2nd fastest to score 25th Test century
Yash Fadte of Goa clinched the men's and under 19 boys
titles respectively in the 'CCI Western India Squash  Virat Kohli became the second fastest batsman to score 25
Championship' on 23 December 2018. Test centuries.
 Yash defeated Veer Chotrani of Maharashtra in the under  He reached the milestone in 127 innings on Day 3 of the
19 boys final. Perth Test, between India and Australia on 16 December
 Mahesh defeated Vikram Malhotra in the Men's final. 2018.

 Sachin Tendulkar is at the third position, as he achieved  According to the WTA, the award is given to the coach
the mile stone in 130 innings. with not only success on the court, but also one who
 Don Bradman took mere 68 innings to score 25 Test serves as an ambassador of the sport.
hundreds.
SAIL Hockey Academy won 'Aga Khan Gold Cup'
Belgium won the 'Hockey World Cup 2018'
 Steel Authority of India's Hockey Academy won the 115th
 Belgium won the 'Hockey World Cup 2018' in 'All India Aga Khan Gold Cup' hockey tournament 2018 in
Bhubaneswar on 16 December 2018. Delhi on 10 December 2018.
 They defeated the Netherlands in a shoot-out in the final  They defeated the Army XI Danapur in the final match.
of the Men's Hockey World Cup.  SAIL's Hockey Academy is run SAIL's Rourkela Steel Plant.
 The 'Hockey World Cup 2018' was held in Bhubaneswar,  Aga Khan Gold Cup is one of the oldest hockey
India from 28 November 2018 to 16 December 2018 tournaments in the country.
 The 2014 Hockey World Cup was won by Australia.
Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Pune
Senior National Rowing Championship begins
 The 2nd edition of 'Khelo India Youth Games' will be held
 The 37th Senior National Rowing Championship began in in Pune in January 2019.
the Army Rowing Node in Pune on 17 December 2018.  Students from colleges and Universities will also be
 Around 500 rowers and coaches from various rowing allowed to compete in the games.
associations across the country will take part in the  Tennis and table tennis will also be the part of 2019
Championship. edition of games.
 The Rowers for the World Championships - 2019 will be  The 1st edition of Khelo India games was held in Delhi in
selected from this event. January 2018.
 World Championship - 2019 is the first qualifying  The Khelo India games is organised by the Ministry of
Championship for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Youth Affairs & Sports.
PV Sindhu won the BWF World Tour Finals Shubhankar won the 'Asian Tour Order of Merit'
 PV Sindhu won the season-ending Badminton World  Golf player Shubhankar Sharma became the youngest
Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals tournament on 16 Indian to win the 'Asian Tour Order of Merit' on 8
December 2018. December 2018.
 She is the first Indian to win the gold medal in BWF World  He is the fifth Indian to win the 'Asian Tour Order of Merit'.
Tour Finals tournament.  Before him, Jyoti Randhawa (2002), Arjun Atwal (2003),
 She defeated the Nozomi Okuhara in the final match. Jeev Milkha Singh (2006 and 2008), and Anirban Lahiri
(2015) won the 'Asian Tour Order of Merit'.
ICC ropes in Royal Stag as official sponsor
 Jeev is the only golf player to win the Merit honours twice.
 The International Cricket Council (ICC) has roped in Royal
Italy won 'Admiral's Cup' Sailing Regatta 2018
Stag as the official sponsor for the next five years.
 The partnership, which runs through 2023, will cover  The ninth edition of 'Admiral's Cup' Sailing Regatta
international events, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, 2018 concluded on 6 December 2018 in Kerala.
ICC T20 World Cup and ICC World Test Championship.  Team Italy won the 'Admiral's Cup' Sailing Regatta 2018.
 ICC currently also has Nissan, Oppo, MRF Tyres and  Team Singapore came second and Team USA came third.
Emirates as global partners.  'Admiral’s Cup' Regatta is a prestigious international
Manika won 'Breakthrough Star award' military sailing event hosted annually by Indian Naval
Academy (INA), Ezhimala.
 India's Manika Batra became the first Indian Table Tennis
Kylian Mbappe won best young player trophy
player to be decorated with the 'Breakthrough Table
Tennis Star' award.  French footballer Kylian Mbappe was named the winner of
 She was honoured at the prestigious 'International Table the 'Kopa Trophy' at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on
Tennis Federation Star Awards' in Incheon. 3 December 2018.
 Manika started the year on a high at the 2018  The trophy is given to the best young football player under
Commonwealth Games, guiding India to it's first-ever gold 21 years of age.
medal in the Women's Team category.  He is the first-ever winner of the trophy.
Sascha Bajin named WTA 'Coach of the Year'  The new award was named after the former Ballon d'Or
winner Raymond Kopa.
 Tennis coach Sascha Bajin was chosen as the first winner
of the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) 'Coach of the Delhi Daredevils renamed as 'Delhi Capitals'
Year' award on 10 December 2018.  Delhi Daredevils was renamed as 'Delhi Capitals' on 4
 Sascha Bajin is the coach of tennis player Naomi Osaka. December 2018.
 Parth Jindal, representing JSW Sport, and Kiran Kumar
Grandhi of GMR are the Co-owners of 'Delhi Capitals'.

 Shreyas Iyer will be the captain of 'Delhi Capitals'. Competition' (NSCC) for shotgun events in Jaipur on 3
 Australian great Ricky Ponting is the coach the 'Delhi December 2018.
Capitals'.  She defeated Ganemat Sekhon in the final match.
 The bronze medal was won by Punjab's Simran Preet Kaur
Budapest to host 2023 Athletics Championships
Johal.
 The International Association of Athletics Federations  Simran won the women's team, junior women's and junior
(IAAF) announced that Budapest will host the 'World women's team gold medal.
Athletics Championship' in 2023.
Vinesh won the national title in wrestling
 Budapest has twice hosted the IAAF world indoor
championships and the European athletics championships.  In Wrestling, Vinesh Phogat won the 57-kilogram national
 The 2019 'World Athletics Championship' will be held in title at the 'Tata Motors Senior National Championship
Doha and the 2021 edition in Eugene, Oregon. 2018' in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh on 1 December 2018.
 Budapest is the capital of Hungary.  She had earlier won five national titles in a row from 2012
to 2016.
 Sakshi Malik also won the national title at the 'Tata Motors
Senior National Championship 2018' in the 62-kilogram
category.
Atlawim won the 'Pune International Marathon'
 Atlawim Debebe of Ethiopia won the 'Pune International
Marathon' with the timing of 2 hours 17 minutes 17
seconds on 2 December 2018.
 Teshome Getachew claimed second and Bekele Asefa third
position in the marathon.
 In women’s Full Marathon Pascalia Chepkogei from Kenya
stood first with the timing of 2 hour 50 minutes 27
Kipchoge and Ibarguen won IAAF awards
seconds.
 Marathon world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya  This was the 33rd year of Pune International Marathon.
and Colombian long jumper Caterine Ibarguen won the
Esha Singh won 3 gold medals in shooting
'IAAF Athletes of the Year' awards on 4 December 2018.
 Kipchoge had set a new marathon world record in Berlin in  Shooter Esha Singh won three gold medals at the '62nd
September 2018. National Shooting Championship' at Thiruvananthapuram
 Ibarguen had won the long and triple jumps at the Central on 29 November 2018.
American and Caribbean Games, the IAAF Continental Cup,  Esha won the Women’s, Youth Women’s and Junior
and at the IAAF Diamond League finals in 2018. Women’s 10m Air Pistol competitions.
Ullas won first Int’l medal in ultra running  She defeated Manu Bhaker in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol
event.
 Ullas Narayan became the first ever Indian individual  Shweta, representing ONGC, won the bronze medal in the
medal winner in the '2018 International Association of Women’s 10m Air Pistol event.
Ultra Running (IAU) 24 Hour Asia & Oceania Championship'
on 2 December 2018.
 He won the bronze medal in the event. Defence
 Japan won the team event Gold at the event. Lt Gen Manoj takes charge of Gajraj Corps
 Ultra races involved running over extremely long distances
which are far longer than the traditional races.  Lt Gen Manoj Pande took the command of the Indian
Army's Gajraj Corps on 30 December 2018.
Luka Modric won 'Ballon d’Or 2018'  He replaced Lt Gen Gurpal Singh Sangha.
 Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric won  Prior to this, he was the Chief of Staff in Headquarters
'Ballon d’Or 2018' in Paris on 3 December 2018. Southern Command.
 He was awarded the FIFA’s World Cup 2018 Most Valuable  The Gajraj Corps (IV Corps) is a military field formation of
Player Award, UEFA’s Player of the Year 2018, and Best the Indian Army, created in 1961.
FIFA Footballer of the 2018. India successfully test-fires Agni-IV missile
 Norwegian forward Ada Hegerberg won the 'Ballon d’Or
2018' for women’s players.  India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable long-range
'Agni-IV' on 23 December 2018.
Maheshwari Chauhan won women's skeet title  It has a strike range of 4,000 km.
 Rajasthan's Maheshwari Chauhan won the women's skeet  The strategic surface-to-surface missile was flight tested
title at the '62nd National Shooting Championship from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Dr. Abdul Kalam
Island off Odisha coast.

 Agni-IV missile is equipped with advanced Avionics, 5th DSRVs inducted by the Indian Navy
generation On Board Computer and distributed
 The Indian Navy inducted its first Deep Submergence
architecture.
Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) system at the naval dockyard in
IFC-IOR inaugurated in Gurugram Mumbai on 11 December 2018.
 DSRV is used to rescue crew members stranded in
 India inaugurated an Information Fusion Centre - Indian
submarines that get disabled.
Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) on 22 December 2018.
 The Indian Navy joined a select group of naval forces in the
 The IFC has been established at the Navy’s Information
world that boasts of DSRVs.
Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) at Gurugram.
 The DSRV can be operated at a depth of 650 meters and
 It will work closely with countries in the India ocean region
can hold around 15 people.
and will be manned by the Indian Navy.
 It will track and monitor 75,000 to 1.5 lakh shipping traffic Agni V Missile successfully launched
in the IOR in real time.
 Agni V was successfully launched from a canister on a
IAF tested flight using blended Bio-Jet fuel road-mobile launcher at the Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the
coast of Odisha on 10 December 2018.
 In a first, experimental test pilot and test engineer of the
 Agni V is a long-range surface-to-surface Nuclear Capable
Indian Air Force (IAF) flew an 'An-32' military transport
Ballistic missile.
aircraft using blended bio-jet fuel on 17 December 2018.
 The launch operations were carried out and monitored by
 The project is a combined effort of IAF, DRDO, Directorate
the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and Scientists from
General Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA), and
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum.
 The bio-jet fuel is made from Jatropha oil. Exercise 'Cross Bow 18' conducted by IAF
Navy to inaugurate 'Information Fusion Centre'  The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted the exercise code-
named 'Cross Bow 18' at the Air Force Station at
 The Navy will inaugurate the Information Fusion Centre
Suryalanka in Andhra Pradesh on 8 December 2018.
(IFC) for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
 In the exercise, the Indian Air Force successfully tested
 Through this Centre, information on 'white shipping', or
the firing of four different classes of missiles like Akash,
commercial shipping, will be exchanged with countries in
Spyder, OSA-AK-M, and IGLA.
the region to improve maritime domain awareness in the
 The aim of the exercise is to improve the combat skills of
Indian Ocean.
the missile squadron crew.
 The IFC has been established at the Navy’s Information
Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) in Gurugram, Ex 'Indra Navy 2018' commenced
Haryana.
 Indian Navy and Russian Federation Navy will hold the
India's first private UAV factory inaugurated maritime exercise 'Indra Navy 2018' from 9 to 16
December 2018.
 India' first private sector unit for manufacturing unmanned
 The exercise will be conducted at Visakhapatnam.
aerial vehicles (UAVs) opened at Adani Aerospace Park in
 The aim of the exercise is to increase interoperability
Hyderabad.
amongst the two navies and develop common
 The Adani Aerospace Park facility has been built by the
understanding and procedures for maritime security
Adani Group and Israel-based Elbit Systems.
operations.
 The facility will develop 'Hermes 900' medium altitude
 The first 'Indra Navy' exercise was held in 2003.
long-endurance UAVs for the Indian and global markets.
Ex 'Aviaindra 2018' commenced on 10 Dec 2018
Coast Guard launches 'Operation Oliva'
 Indian Air Force and Russian Federation Aerospace Force
 The Indian Coast Guard launched the 'Operation Oliva'
(RFSAF) will hold exercise 'Aviaindra 2018' at Air Force
exercise at the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Odisha.
Station Jodhpur from 10 to 21 December 2018.
 The aim of the exercise is to protect the endangered Olive
 The first exercise 'Aviaindra' was held in 2014.
Ridley sea turtles during their breeding season.
 The aim of the exercise is focused on anti-terrorist
 A state-of-the-art Coast Guard ship is maintaining round-
operations.
the-clock vigil along the coastal shoreline.
 The exercise is unique wherein the RFSAF will not bring its
HAL’s Helicopter clears 6-km flight test air assets.
 The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) multi-purpose Indian Navy celebrating Submarine Day on 8 Dec
Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) that is under development
 The Indian Navy is celebrating Submarine Day on 8
achieved an important milestone of flying at 6 km altitude
December.
 The day commemorates the induction of the first
 The LUH has a maximum permitted height limit of 6.5 km.
submarine, the erstwhile INS Kalvari, into the Navy on this
 The LUH will replace the aged Cheetah and Chetak
day in 1967.
helicopters of the Armed Forces.

 The Foxtrot class submarine was decommissioned on 31  'Vajra Kayaa' was based on the narrative of an imaginary
May 1996, after 29 years of service. country going into a civil war due to a weak democratic
structure.
ICG conducted exercise ‘Clean Sea 2018’
 'Vajra Prahar 2018' is being held between India and the
 The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the Regional Level US.
Marine Oil Pollution Response Exercise titled ‘Clean Sea
2018’ at Port Blair on 6 December 2018.
 Coast Guard ships Viswasth, Vijith, Rajveer, Rajshri, and Polity
Chetak helicopters participated in the exercise. Cabinet approves amendments to POCSO Act
 The ICG is the designated authority for oil spill response in
Indian waters.  On 28 December 2018, the Union Cabinet approved
 ICG comes under the Ministry of Defence. amendments to strengthen the Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Indian Navy to conduct 'TROPEX' from Jan 2019  The new amendment includes the death penalty for sexual
 The Indian Navy will be conducting its flagship 'Theatre assault on children.
Level Operational Readiness Exercise' (TROPEX) from  It provides for punishments for other crimes against those
January 2019. below 18 years of age.
 The aim of the exercise is to test the combat capability of  The Act defines a child as any person below the age of 18
the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Coast years.
Guard  It is gender-neutral legislation.
 As part of TROPEX, the Indian Navy will also be conducting Union Cabinet approved the Medicine Bill, 2018
a large-scale coastal defence exercise 'Exercise Sea Vigil'.
 On 28 December 2018, the Union Cabinet approved the
Indian Navy Day celebrated on 4 December draft National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine
 Indian Navy Day is celebrated every year on 4 December. (NCIM) Bill, 2018.
 The day is celebrated in honour of the Indian Navy's role  The bill seeks to replace the existing regulator Central
during the war with Pakistan in 1971 when Indian warships Council for Indian Medicine (CCIM) with a new body to
attacked Karachi port. ensure transparency.
 The day is also celebrated to highlight the role the Navy  The draft bill provides for the constitution of the Board of
plays in securing the country's marine borders during Ayurveda and Board of Unani, Siddha, and Sowarigpa.
peacetime and carrying out humanitarian missions. Cabinet nod for easing CRZ norms
Air exercise 'SHINYUU Maitri-18' began  The Union Cabinet approved the Coastal Regulation Zone
 Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japanese Air Self Defence Force (CRZ) Notification, 2018 on 28 December 2018.
(JASDF) began their air exercise 'SHINYUU Maitri-18' at Air  The new notification will allow the greater use of coastal
Force Station Agra on 3 December 2018. areas for tourism and industrial growth.
 The theme of the exercise is joint Mobility/Humanitarian  Temporary tourism facilities such as shacks, toilet blocks,
Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) on Transport aircraft. drinking water facilities etc. have now been permitted in
 IAF participated in the exercise with 'An-32' and 'C-17' Beaches.
aircraft with aircrew & observers. Union Cabinet approves Homoeopathy Bill, 2018
ASEAN Defence Ministers meeting begins  On 28 December 2018, the Union Cabinet approved the
 The ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) draft National Commission for Homoeopathy, Bill, 2018.
Experts' Working Group on 'Military Medicine' began at  The bill seeks to replace the existing regulator Central
the Central Command in Lucknow on 2 December 2018. Council for Homoeopathy (CCH) with a new body to
 The meeting will conclude on 6 December 2018. ensure transparency.
 The meeting is being co-chaired by India and Myanmar.  It also proposes a common entrance exam and an exit
 The aim of the conference is to establish better co- exam which all graduates will have to clear to get
operation in medical operations amongst ASEAN and practicing licenses.
ASEAN-Plus countries. Triple Talaq bill passed in Lok Sabha
Tactical exercise 'Vajra Kayaa' completed  The Lok Sabha passed the Muslim Women (Protection of
 On 1 December 2018, the Special Forces of India and Rights on Marriage) Bill 2018 on 27 December 2018.
United States completed their three-day tactical exercise  The Bill makes all declarations of instant triple talaq void
called 'Vajra Kayaa'. and illegal.
 'Vajra Kayaa' is a part of the joint military drill 'Vajra Prahar  It seeks to make the practice a punishable offense with
2018'. imprisonment of up to three years.
 The Bill will replace the Muslim Women (Protection of
Rights on Marriage) Ordinance-2018.

President gives assent to two bills  The Bill has provisions to constitute National Surrogacy
Board, State Surrogacy Boards and appointment of
 President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to two bills
appropriate authorities for regulation of surrogacy.
from Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh.
 It permits surrogacy only for couples who cannot conceive
 The 'Himachal Pradesh Early Childhood Care and Education
a child.
Centers Bill, 2017' aims to ensure quality education to
children. Cabinet gives nod to law amendment for Aadhaar
 The 'Tamil Nadu Vanniyakula Kshatriya Public Charitable
 The Cabinet approved amending the two existing laws to
Trusts and Endowments Bill, 2018' aims to create a board
provide legal backing for seeding of biometric ID Aadhaar
to maintain and administer public charitable trusts.
with mobile numbers and bank accounts.
Manipur passes 'Anti-mob Violence Bill'  The Telegraph Act is being amended to provide legal
backing for the issuance of mobile SIMs through Aadhaar.
 Manipur's Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who also holds
 The amendment to the Prevention of Money Laundering
charge of the Home Department, moved the 'The Manipur
Act will give individuals the option to link their bank
Protection from Mob Violence Bill, 2018' in the state
accounts to Aadhaar.
Assembly.
 The bill was passed by the Assembly unanimously on 21 Transgender bill passed in Lok Sabha
December 2018.
 On 17 November 2018, the Lok Sabha passed the
 It recommends a rigorous life imprisonment term if the
'Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill', 2016.
crime results in the death of a victim.
 The bill seeks to empower the transgender community by
Govt introduces bill to amend Companies Act providing them with a separate identity.
 The bill also seeks to define transgenders and prohibit
 On 20 December 2018, the government of India
discrimination against them.
introduced a bill to amend the Companies Act in Lok
Sabha.  The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2016.
 The bill seeks to improve the ease of doing business in 1st state to have a law banning 'sextortion'
India.
 Jammu and Kashmir have become the first state in the
 The bill will replace the 'Companies (Amendment)
country to have a law banning sexual exploitation of
Ordinance 2018' that was promulgated in November 2018.
women by those in positions of authority, having a
 The amendments will help reduce the burden on special
fiduciary relationship or a public servant.
courts and bring down applicable penalties for small
 The State Administrative Council approved the
companies.
amendment of 'Prevention of Corruption (Amendment)
Consumer Protection Bill passed in Lok Sabha Bill, 2018'.
 It also approved the 'Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Laws
 On 20 December 2018, Lok Sabha passed the Consumer
(Amendment) Bill, 2018'.
Protection Bill, 2018 that seeks to replace the Consumer
Protection Act, 1986. Dam Safety bill introduced in Lok Sabha
 The Bill enforces consumer rights and provides a
 The government of India introduced the 'Dam Safety Bill'
mechanism for redressal of complaints regarding
in the Lok Sabha on 12 December 2018.
deficiencies in goods and services.
 The bill will help states and union territories adopt uniform
 It seeks to establish Consumer Disputes Redressal
procedures to ensure the safety of reservoirs.
Commissions at District, State, and National levels.
 The bill also provides for surveillance, inspection,
President's rule imposed in Jammu and Kashmir operation, and maintenance of specified dams to prevent
dam failure related disasters.
 The central government imposed President's rule in
Jammu and Kashmir from December 20, 2018. Lt Governors can set up special courts
 President's rule was first imposed in J&K in 1986, whereas
 Lieutenant Governors (LGs) and Administrators of Union
it was imposed for the second time in 1996.
territories have been empowered by the central
 President's Rule is the imposition of Article 356 of the
government to designate civil courts as special courts to
India Constitution on a state which gets incapable of
adjudicate contracts relating to infrastructure projects.
running the constitutional machinery.
 The Union Home Ministry passed an order to this effect on
 The President will dissolve the state assembly.
3 December 2018.
Surrogacy Bill passed in Lok Sabha  The decision was taken due to the large pendency of cases
relating to infrastructure projects in UTs.
 Lok Sabha has passed the Surrogacy Bill, 2016 on 19
December 2018. Witness protection scheme approved by SC
 The bill is aimed at prohibiting commercial surrogacy and
 The Supreme Court approved the government of
unethical practices relating to it.
India's draft 'Witness Protection Scheme 2018' on 5
December 2018.

 The aim of the scheme is to safeguard witnesses and their

family members from any threats against their lives and
reputation.
 It said that the scheme shall be the 'law' under Article 141
and 142 of the Constitution.
 It asked all the states to implement the scheme.

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Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I 1st December

to 31st December 2018

India’s Largest Online Test Series 1

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Awards &Honours  This was organised to reward innovative solutions by DIPP

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Govt to declare ESZs around 21 National Parks

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Government Policies & Schemes

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Committees & Recommendations

Environment  The government has constituted a Group of Ministers

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RBI imposes ₹1 cr fine on Indian Bank Loans to be linked to external benchmarks

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 The aim of the scheme is to safeguard witnesses and their

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