Latest Current Affairs – December 17 2018
1. Aadhaar not compulsory for banking, SIM cards as Centre changes law
Aadhaar details for bank accounts or mobile phone connections will no longer be mandatory as Union Cabinet approved an amendment to the existing law, making Aadhaar details optional for these services. The cabinet also cleared stringent penalties for hackers, and those responsible for data breaches. The Supreme Court on September 26 had upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar.
2. 5G services likely to be rolled out by 2020: DoT
The Department of Telecommunications said it expects to complete processes for 5G spectrum auction by August 2019 and the services will be rolled out by 2020. TRAI has given a preliminary set of recommendations, which the working committee at the DoT is looking at, it added. Field trials for 5G services are currently going on, DoT further said.
3. Centre appoints Madhavi Divan as ASG in Supreme Court
The Central government has appointed advocate Madhavi Divan as the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) to represent it in the Supreme Court. Divan is the third woman to be appointed as ASG in the top court. She has represented two state governments, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, in the apex court. She will hold the office till June 30, 2020.
4. Bhupesh Baghel takes oath as Chhattisgarh Chief Minister
Bhupesh Baghel took oath as Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh at Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium in Raipur. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were present during Baghel’s swearing-in ceremony. The party ousted BJP in the state after 15 years by winning 68 seats in the 90-member Assembly.
5. Kamal Nath sworn-in as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister
Kamal Nath has been sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh at the Jamboree Maidan in the state’s capital Bhopal. Congress won 114 seats in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly. The party secured the support of one Samajwadi Party legislator, two Bahujan Samaj Party legislators and four independent candidates, to cross the majority mark of 116 seats.
6. Philippines’ Catriona Gray crowned Miss Universe 2018
Philippines’ Catriona Gray has been crowned Miss Universe 2018, becoming the fourth woman from the country to win the title. Tamaryn Green from South Africa was named the first runner-up while Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez stood third at the pageant which was held in Bangkok, Thailand. India was represented by 22-year-old Nehal Chudasama, who couldn’t qualify for top 20.
7. Ashok Gehlot sworn-in as Rajasthan CM, Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM
Ashok Gehlot was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the third time at the Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur. The 67-year-old had won from Sardarpura seat by defeating BJP candidate Shambhu Singh by a margin of over 40,000 votes. Meanwhile, state Congress President Sachin Pilot took oath as Deputy Chief Minister.
8. Nepal government banned all Indian currency notes above Rs 100
The Nepal government has banned the validity of Indian currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations in the country.
India is currently Nepal’s largest trade partner, and their decision to ban all Indian currencies above Rs 100 denomination would also affect Nepalese people and business for their transactions.
The Indian government had introduced new currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 after the demonetisation of old notes in 2016. However, the citizens of Nepal have been using the new Indian currency in their country for nearly two years now.
9. PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate new campus of IIT Bhubaneswar on December 24
Besides dedicating the new IIT Bhubaneswar campus, Modi will lay the foundation stone for IISER, Berhampur.
On the occasion of bicentenary celebration of the historic Paika Rebellion, PM Modi will also release commemorative coin, postage stamp and inaugurate the Chair at Utkal University in memory of country’s first independence movement.
The Paika Rebellion, also called the Paika Bidroha, was an armed rebellion against British East India Company’s rule in Odisha in 1817. The Paikas were the traditional militia of Odisha who served as warriors.
10. Indian American Shree Saini from USA crowned Miss India Worldwide 2018
Indian-American Shree Saini crowned Miss India Worldwide 2018 at the 27th annual global pageant held in the Fords City of New Jersey. It is Organised by the New York-based India Festival Committee (IFC).
Sakshi Sinha from Australia was declared as the first runner-up and Anusha Sareen from the United Kingdom declared as the second runner-up.
