Current Affairs Update 13 December 2018
Current Affairs is an important part for many exams. Be prepared for this section with ByScoop which brings all the important Current Affairs in one place. 13 December 2018
President Kovind inaugurates 5th Enterprise India show in Myanmar
- President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the 5th Enterprise India show in Yangon, Myanmar on December 13, 2018 to showcase Indian manufacturing capabilities and industrial technology.
- The exhibition was set up by Confederation of Indian Industry and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce of about 50 Indian companies ranging from very large companies to small enterprises.
- The focus of the conference was Small and Medium Enterprises.
- President Ram Nath Kovind was on 5-day long (Dec 10-14) visit to Myanmar to continue “India’s high-level engagement with Myanmar under the Act East Policy and Neighbourhood First Policy.”
Govt sets up GoM on stressed power assets to be headed by Arun Jaitley
- The government has constituted a Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to examine the recommendations of a high-level panel on stressed power projects.
- The high-level panel, headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, had submitted its report in November 2019. Now the Group of Ministers (GOM) will examine the specific recommendations of this High Level Empowered Committee
K Chandrasekhar Rao takes oath as Telangana CM for second time
- Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS) President K Chandrasekhar Rao has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Telangana after TRS won over two-thirds of the 119 seat state Assembly.
- This is the second time that KCR became the chief minister of the youngest state of the country.
- He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor ESL Narasimhan.
India and ADB sign a $60 Million Loan Agreement to reduce floods and the riverbank erosion in Assam
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India has signed a $60 Million Loan Agreement to continue financing riverbank protection works, renovation of flood embankments, and community-based flood risk management activities in critically flood-prone areas along the Brahmaputra River in Assam.
- The loan will have a 20-year term, including a grace period of 5 years, an Annual Interest Rate determined in accordance with ADB’s lending facility based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), and a commitment charge of 0.15% per year.
- The Tranche 2 loan is part of the $120 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for the Assam Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Program approved by the ADB Board in October 2010.
OPEC keeps forecast for Global Economic Growth in 2018 unchanged at 3.7 %: Report
- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has not revised its forecast for global economic growth, and it remains at 3.7 per cent for 2018 and at 3.5 per cent for 2019.
- GDP for India by OPEC – For 2018- 7.5 percent ; For 2019- 7.2%
Indian Navy inducts First ‘Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle’
- The Indian Navy inducted its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) System into service at the Western Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
- DSRV is used to rescue crew members stranded in submarines that get disabled.
- The vehicle is currently deployed on mother ship INS Sabarmati, provided by the Shipping Corporation of India.
- The inducted submarine is a third generation product of Scotland-based JFD, a part of James Fisher and Sons Plc.
- The Indian Navy in March 2016 had commissioned two DSRVs. The second will deployed at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.
- With the DSRV’s induction, the Indian Navy has joined the select league of world navies that have an integral submarine rescue capability.
Uttar Pradesh Based Startup Wins UN Climate Action Award in Poland
- Fifteen game-changing initiatives of 14 countries were honoured as winners of the United Nations Climate Action Award at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 24) in Katowice, Poland, on December 11, 2018 for taking steps to address global climate challenge.
Indian Winner
- Uttar Pradesh-based ‘HelpUsGreen’, which works to clean up the mighty River Ganga by recycling thousands of tonnes of floral waste from temples, has been honoured with the 2018 Momentum for Change by UN under Women for Results category.
- HelpUsGreen collects tons of floral-waste from temples in Uttar Pradesh, India on a daily basis. These sacred flowers are handcrafted into charcoal-free incense, organic vermicompost and biodegradable packaging material through its ‘Flowercycling®’ technology.
Vice President presents Lokmat Parliamentary Awards 2018 to 8 parliamentarians
- Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has honoured eight outstanding parliamentarians at the Lokmat Parliamentary Awards 2018 for their contribution in strengthening parliamentary democracy. The winners are:
- Lifetime Achievement Award (Member of Lok Sabha) : Murli Manohar Joshi
- Lifetime Achievement Award (Member of Rajya Sabha) : Sharad Pawar
- Best Parliamentarian (Member of Lok Sabha) : Nishikant Dubey
- Best Parliamentarian (Member of Rajya Sabha) : Ghulam Nabi Azad
- Best Women Parliamentarian (Member of Lok Sabha) : Rama Devi
- Best Women Parliamentarian (Member of Rajya Sabha) : M.K Kanimozhi
- Best Debut Women Parliamentarian (Member of Lok Sabha) : Hema Malini
- Best Debut Women Parliamentarian (Member of Rajya Sabha): Chhaya Verma
National Athletics Championship for Blind concludes in New Delhi
- The Indian Blind Sports Association hosted the 21st USHA National Athletics Championship for the Blind in New Delhi from 10 to 13 December 2018.
- More than 600 players from across the country participated in the four-day championship including 150 female blind sports persons from across 20 states.
- Chairperson of Indian Blind Sports Association, Radhika Bharat Ram.