Current Affairs Daily Digest – December 31 2019
1. General Bipin Rawat to be first Chief of Defence Staff
Former Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will be the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). CDS will function as a single-point Adviser to the government on matters related to the military and will focus on better synergy between the Army, Air Force and the Navy. General Rawat retired as Army Chief.
2. General Manoj Mukund Naravane takes charge as 28th Chief of Army Staff
General Manoj Mukund Naravane took charge as the 28th Chief of Army Staff succeeding General Bipin Rawat. General Naravane served as Vice Chief of the Army before taking charge of the 1.3 million-strong Army.
In his 37 years of service, General Naravane served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.
3. RBI buys Rs 10,000 cr worth long-term govt securities in 2nd special OMO
The Reserve Bank of India bought 10,000 crore rupees of long-term government securities and sold 8,501 crore rupees of three short-term bonds. RBI announced to purchase and sell government securities simultaneously under Open Market Operations (OMO) for 10,000 crore rupees each.
The RBI offered to sell four securities in the auction. Open Market Operations (OMO) An open market operation (OMO) activity by the central bank to give liquidity in its currency to a bank or a group of banks.
4. India’s Forest Cover Expanded By Over 5,000 Square Km In 2 Years
The forest and tree cover in India risen by 5,188 square kilometers in the last two years. Karnataka is growing the maximum protection of 1,025 sq km. There is an increase of 3,976 sq. Km (0.56 percent) of forest cover and 1,212 sq. Km (1.29 percent) of tree cover compared to the 2017 report. Different States – Forest The three states in terms of forest cover are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.
5. Eleven day long Dhanu Jatra begins at Bargarh in western Odisha
The famous 11-day Dhanu Jatra celebrated as the largest open-air theatre of the world begins at Bargarh in western Odisha. The Jatra based on the mythological story of Lord Krishna and his demon uncle King Kansa.
Dhanu Jatra – Festival Dhanu Jatra is the annual drama-based open-air theatrical performance celebrated in and around Bargarh city considered to be the world’s largest outdoor theatrical festival that finds a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records.
6. Kerala tops Niti’s Sustainable Development Goal Index, Bihar worst performer
Kerala retained the top rank while Bihar was adjudged as the worst performer in Niti Aayog’s SDG India Index 2019, which evaluates progress of States and Union Territories on social, economic and environmental parameters, as per a report released on Monday.
7. Centralised Access Control System and e-BCAS Project launched to digitise employee movement process at airports
Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/C) for Civil Aviation, launched the biometric-enabled Centralised Access Control System (CACS) and ‘e-BCAS Project Training Module. The two projects launched are important milestones to enhance security and ease of doing business at airports.CACS project is to digitize the employee movement process at the airports.
This multi-layered security system encompasses the uniqueness of the Airport Entry Permit (AEP)users, biometric authentication in addition to PIN-based identity verification through contactless smart card technology. The cost of the card is Rs. 225 valid for three years. Biometric ID (Biometric enabled Centralised Access Control System having chip-embedded smart AEPs) thus issued, is non-duplicable.
8. HDFC Lifes strategic tie-up with Paytm aims to increase life insurance penetration
HDFC Life, one of Indias leading life insurance companies, announced its tie-up with Paytm. This partnership will enable Paytm customers to purchase innovative life insurance products offered by HDFC Life, via the mobile commerce platform.
This tie-up is yet another milestone in HDFC Lifes ongoing journey to form strategic partnerships thereby making life insurance easily accessible to every Indian.
9. Assam CM launches torch relay of Khelo India Youth Games
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and officials of the Khelo India Youth Games launched the torch relay of the competition in Guwahati.
The tournament will be held between 10 January 2020 to 22 January 2020. Chief Minister Sonowal asked the people of Assam to create a fantastic environment for all the athletes who will be participating in the third Khelo India Youth Games.
10. Nagaland Assembly Speaker Vikho-o Yhoshu dies of lung cancer
Nagaland Assembly Speaker Vikho-o Yhoshu died at a hospital in Mumbai after battling lung cancer for several months, family members said. He was 67. The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader was undergoing treatment in Mumbai after being diagnosed with the disease early this year.
