Current Affairs Daily Digest – December 28 2019
1. RBI directs large co-op banks to report all exposures above Rs.5 crore
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed large cooperative banks to report all aggregate exposures of Rs.5 crores and more to Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC). The move is aimed at early recognition of financial distress.
2. Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal inaugurates the National Workshop of HRD Ministry
Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank inaugurated the Social Media Outreach and Communication. Nearly 200 Social Media Champions from various Centrally funded educational institutions participated in the workshop.
Every institution to promote their excellent work through multiple media platforms. The scale and quality of research, innovations, and new studies taking place in IITs, IISERs, IISc. The social media champions play a significant role in improving perception.
3. CDRI and Cipla collaboration for development of new drugs
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI) have signed an agreement for collaboration to jointly develop new drugs for treating various medical conditions and repurposing of drugs for India and global markets with Cipla limited.
4. SBI to launch OTP-based ATM cash withdrawal from January 1
With ATM-related frauds on the rise, banks are introducing ways to protect their customers from tricksters. The country’s largest public sector lender, the State Bank of India (SBI), via a tweet on December 26, said that it will introduce a one-time password (OTP)-based cash withdrawal system for its ATMs. The bank said that this facility will be available for transactions above Rs 10,000 between 8 pm and 8 am.
5. 100th Consecutively Successful Launch of Sounding Rocket RH-200 from TERLS
Space activities in the country started during early 1960s with the scientific investigation of upper atmosphere and ionosphere over the geo magnetic equator that passes over Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram, using small sounding rockets.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram has been pioneering the sounding rocket launch for scientific studies. Large numbers of sounding rockets have been developed and launched from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).
ISRO has developed a series of sounding rockets called Rohini series, important among them being RH-200, RH-300 and RH-560, number in the name indicating the diameter of the rocket in mm.
6. Allee Willis: Friends theme songwriter dies at 72
Allee Willis, a Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated songwriter who helped compose the theme song for the sitcom Friends, has died aged 72. I’ll Be There for You, the single she co-wrote for the Rembrandts, became one of the most recognised television theme songs of all time.
Willis also co-wrote the Earth, Wind & Fire hits September and Boogie Wonderland and, last year, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
7. Mastercard acquires RiskRecon to boost AI-based cyber security
Mastercard announced an agreement to acquire RiskRecon, a provider of artificial intelligence and data analytics solutions to help customers enhance their cyber security capabilities.
RiskRecon’s scanning and evaluation technologies will help companies better protect payment data and intellectual property. Beyond working with Mastercard, the firm will continue to provide solutions to companies in other industries, including healthcare and manufacturing.
8. National outreach programme ‘GeM Samvaad’ take off in 4 States
A national outreach program ‘GeM Samvaad’, launched by Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has begun from 19th December 2019 in 4 States of Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh (HP) and Andhra Pradesh (AP).
The market through GeM Samvaad aims to get feedback from users, which is the first step towards GeM’s ‘Voice of Customer’ initiative that will be used to improve the system. Through this programme, GeM is said to make the actual users aware about the new features & functionalities of the portal.
9. Malala Yousafzai most famous teenager of the decade: UN
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai was declared as the ‘most famous teenager in the world’ by the United Nations in its ‘decade in review’ report released on December 23, 2019.
The UN review stated that from a young age, Yousafzai was known for speaking out in favour of education for girls. She has also been extremely vocal about the atrocities committed by the Taliban on common people.
10. Dharmendra Pradhan unveils India’s First CNG Bus which can run 1000 Kms in one fill in New Delhi
Dharmendra Pradhan unveils India’s First CNG Bus newOn December 24, 2019, In order to make CNG as the eco-friendly option for long-distance transport in India and to promote waste-to-wealth efforts, Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel has unveiled India’s first long-distance CNG bus fitted with composite CNG cylinders, which can travel around 1000 km in a single fill.
Developed by Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) in partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra, & Agility Fuel Solutions of USA (United State of America) this newly launched bus has replaced the traditional very heavy Type-I Carbon Steel cylinders with Type IV Composite Cylinders.
11. UN gives green light to draft treaty to combat cybercrime
UN General Assembly approved it will start the process of drafting a new international treaty to combat cybercrime over objections from the European Union, the United States, and other countries. Russian-drafted resolution was approved by the 193-member world body by a vote of 79-60 with 33 abstentions.
12. Dr Jitendra Singh chairs review meeting of Ministry of DoNER
Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr.Jitendra Singh chaired a review meeting of the activities of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). The Secretary (DoNER), Dr. InderJit Singh, and senior officers of the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC).
13. Indian Air Force Bids farewell to MiG 27
MiG-27, an ace attacker during the 1999 Kargil War through the skies for one last time after serving the Indian Air Force for over three decades. The swing-wing fighter the backbone of a ground-attack fleet of the Air Force for several decades to its squadron of seven aircraft from Jodhpur Air Base. Veteran air warriors, along with serving air warriors in large numbers, are taking part in the ceremony.
