Current Affairs Daily Digest – December 30 2019
1. World’s oldest rhino’ dies in Tanzania
Fausta, a female black rhino, who was believed to be the world’s oldest rhino has died at the age of 57 in a Tanzanian conservation area. Fausta died of natural causes in captivity in Ngorongoro Crater, which lies in Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania.
2. Finance Minister launches ‘eBkray’ auction platform for assets attached by banks
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched eBkray, an common e-auction platform to enable online auction of attached assets transparently and cleanly for the improved realization of value by banks. The e-auction platform is now linked on Indian Banks Auctions Mortgaged Properties Information (IBAPI) portal and guidelines have been made available.
3. India improves Sustainable Development Goals Index score by three positions
India has improved its composite score from 57 in 2018 to 60 in the Sustainable Development Goals Index 2019-20.
This has been achieved due to better works in water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy and industry, innovation, and infrastructure. Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have topped the list of states on the SDGs Index-2019-20.
4. SBI cuts external benchmark-based rate by 25 bps
The country’s largest lender, State Bank of India, today announced a reduction in its external benchmark-based rate by 25 basis points to 7.80 per cent from 8.05 per cent.
The Reserve Bank of India has adopted the Repo rate to be the External Benchmark rate. And the Repo rate is the interest rate, at which the RBI lends funds to the banks.
5. AIR organises National Symposium of Poets 2020
All India Radio (AIR) organized the National Symposium of Poets 2020 on 27 December 2019. This edition of poet symposium was attended by select poets from all corners of country, who gave their presentations and captivated the hearts of people.
6. India may overtake Germany to become fourth-largest economy by 2026: CEBR report
India is expected to become the fourth largest economy by 2026 and the third largest by 2034, according to a report by UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). The CEBR report states that India would surpass Germany to take on the mantle in 2026 and further topple Japan in 2034 to become the third largest economy.
The report stated that India would achieve its dream of reaching a gross domestic product (GDP) of $5 trillion by 2026. It has pegged the achievement a couple of years after the government’s target.
7. Maximum age limit for Chief of Defence Staff put at 65
The government has amended rules putting the maximum age limit of 65 years for the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to serve in the post. The changes have been made in the Army Rules, 1954, according to a notification by the defence ministry.
In a landmark decision, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the creation of the CDS who will act as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on all matters relating to tri-services.
8. ISRO planning to launch satellite Aditya to study sun: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his last ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme of this year said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch a satellite called Aditya to study the sun.
“India is quite advanced in the field of astronomy, and we have taken path-breaking initiatives in this field. ISRO has an astronomical satellite called ASTROSAT. Moreover, they are planning to launch a satellite called Aditya, to study the sun,” said Modi.
9. Odisha govt launches e-certificate project to provide caste, residence and income certificates online
The Odisha government has launched a unique “people-friendly” project to provide official documents such as income, residence and similar other certificates online without any fees.
Without visiting government offices, people can now apply for these certificates online under the e-certificate project launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the Revenue and Disaster Management department on Saturday as part of the 5T model of governance.
10. Russia deploys Avangard hypersonic missile system
Russia’s first regiment of Avangard hypersonic missiles has been put into service, the defence ministry says. The location was not given, although officials had earlier indicated they would be deployed in the Urals.
President Vladimir Putin has said the nuclear-capable missiles can travel more than 20 times the speed of sound and put Russia ahead of other nations.
11. Udayan Mane sets new PGTI record; bags TATA Steel Tour C’ship title
In Golf, Udayan Mane produced a flawless seven-under 65 on the final day to claim a thrilling one-shot win at the season-ending TATA Steel Tour Championship in Jamshedpur.
Mane’s 67-66-64-65 determined final round effort saw him establish a new PGTI record for the lowest tournament total as he closed the week with a jaw-dropping 26-under-262 at the Golmuri Golf Course.
It was Mane’s eighth professional title and his second win on the PGTI this season. SSP Chawrasia had settled for second place with another outstanding total score of 25-under-263. Aman Raj (71) the third-round leader, ended the week in tied third place at 23-under-265 along with Delhi’s Chiragh Kumar (67).
12. China successfully launches largest carrier rocket
China has successfully launched the largest carrier rocket of the country, Long March-5, from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China’s Hainan Province. The rocket, also known as CZ-5, blasted off with more than 1,000 tonnes of thrust at 8.45 pm.
The Chinese space authorities declared the mission a “complete success” just over half an hour after the lift-off when the Shijian-20 satellite it carried entered its designated orbit. It is the country’s third attempt to launch the rocket.
