Current Affairs Update 7 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. 7 December 2018
Cabinet approves National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the launching of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) to be implemented by Ministry of Science &Technology at a total outlay of Rs. 3660 crore for a period of five years.
- The Mission will feed the Central Ministries/ Departments and State Govts and also the Industry to effectively use the CPS technologies in their projects and schemes for the benefit of the society.
2018 Partners’ Forum to be held in New Delhi, India
- New Delhi, India will host the PMNCH Partners’ Forum 2018. The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (The Partnership, PMNCH) is an alliance of more than 1000 organizations in 192 countries from the sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health communities, as well as health influencing sectors.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the two-day event on December 12.
- India’s Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI), which aims to ensure full immunisation of children up to two years of age and pregnant women, will be among the 12 success stories from around the world to be highlighted at a prestigious global meet on infant and maternal health.
Govt contribution to NPS to rise to 14% of basic salary
- The Cabinet has raised the government’s contribution to National Pension Scheme (NPS) to 14% of basic salary from the current 10 per cent.
- Minimum employee contribution will, however, remain at 10%. Earlier the contribution of both Employee and the employer was equal at 10% each.
- The Cabinet also approved tax incentives under 80C of the Income Tax Act for employees’ contribution to the extent of 10%.
- The committee also allowed government employees to commute 60% of the fund accumulated at the time of retirement, up from 40% at present.
- These changes may come into effect from April 1, 2019. However the final date is yet to be decided.
India’s first agri export policy to double farmers’ income to $ 60 bn by 2022 approved
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Agriculture Export Policy, 2018.
- It is the country’s first Agriculture Export Policy with an aim to double farmers’ income and agricultural export to $60+ billion by 2022 from present $ 30 bn.
- The main objective of the policy is to double agricultural exports from present ~US$ 30+ Billion to ~US$ 60+ Billion by 2022 and reach US$ 100 Billion in the next few years thereafter, with a stable trade policy regime.
India is fourth highest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world; China Top
- As per the study by Global Carbon Project, India is the fourth highest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, accounting for 7 per cent of global emissions in 2017.
- The top 10 emitters were China, the US, the EU, India, Russia, Japan, Germany, Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
- The top four emitters in 2017 covered 58 per cent of global emissions. Rest of the world contributed 41 per cent last year.
- World carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to have risen 2.7 per cent from 2017 to 2018.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy conferred Skoch Award for National Significance
- SKOCH Group, India’s topmost independent think-tank for socio-economic issues with a focus on inclusive growth, organized 54th SKOCH Summit on the State of Power, Oil and Gas on December 6 in New Delhi.
- Based upon the survey of the SKOCH Group, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India emerged as the best performing sector and was conferred with the Skoch Award for National Significance.
- The award was received by Secretary, Ministry of New Renewable Energy Shri Anand Kumar.
- Besides, ONGC Videsh emerged as the best performing company in the segment
FAO Council approves India’s proposal to observe International Year of Millets in 2023
- The UN Food and Agriculture organisation (FAO) Council has approved India’s proposal to observe an International Year of Millets in 2023.
- This decision was taken at the 160th session of FAO Council, currently underway in Rome.
- The Council has also approved India’s membership to the Executive Board of the World Food Program (WFP) for 2020 and 2021.
Exim Bank Grants USD 500 mn loan to Tanzania for Water Projects
- Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has extended a credit facility of USD 500 million (about Rs 3,542 crore) to Tanzania for water supply projects in the African country.
- Under this agreement, of the total line of credit of USD 500 million by Exim Bank, goods and services of value of at least 75 per cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India, while the remaining 25 per cent of goods and services may be procured by the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outside India.
Krishnamurthy Subramanian appointed as new Chief Economic Advisor
- The government has appointed Krishnamurthy Subramanian, as the new chief economic adviser to the finance minister for a period of three years.
- The post of the chief economic adivser had been lying vacant since Arvind Subramanaian left the finance ministry.
- Krishnamurthy currently serves as an associate professor of finance and as the executive director of the Centre for Analytical Finance at the Indian School of Business.
All new vehicles to have high security registration plates from April 2019
- All new vehicles will be sold pre-fitted with High Security Registration Plates – HSRP from the 1st of April 2019.
- The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has notified amendments in Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to this effect.
- The HSRP helps in keeping track of the vehicle, and makes it easier to trace a lost or stolen vehicle.
IndiGo becomes first Indian airline to have 200 planes
- IndiGo announced that it has become the first domestic airline to have 200 aircraft in its fleet.
- Four new aircraft have joined the fleet, taking the fleet count to 200
International Civil Aviation Day: 07 December
- International Civil Aviation Day: 07 December
- The purpose of International Civil Aviation Day is to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States.
- For 2015-2018 inclusive the Council has selected the following theme: Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind.
Armed Forces Flag Day
- Armed Forces Flag Day (Flag Day of India) has been observed annually in India on December 7 since 1949 as an honour to the soldiers, sailors and airmen of India who fought on the borders to safeguard the country’s honour.
- The three branched of the Armed Forces – the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy are remembered on this day.
- The ‘Armed forces Flag Day Fund’ (AFFDF) has been constituted by the Government of India for the welfare and rehabilitation of the Ex-Servicemen (ESM) community.
Former national champion swimmer Arun Kumar Shaw passed away
- Seven-time national champion swimmer Arun Kumar Shaw passed away at 82.
- Shaw won national championships in 1959, 1962, 1964, 1965-67 and set national records many times. Shaw was also a national selector for several years.
Senior Congress MP Mohammad Asrarul Haque Passes Away
- Senior Congress MP Mohammad Asrarul Haque passed away following a heart attack. He was 76.
- Haque was the state president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, a leading Islamic organisation in India.
- He was a member of the Indian Parliament and represented Kishanganj seat.
- Haque was also a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the president of All India Milli Council.