APPOINTMENTS

Actor Priyanka Chopra to be brand ambassador for Assam tourism

The Assam government has appointed top Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra as the state’s tourism brand ambassador for two years. Priyanka Chopra is beyond doubt one of the top most popular faces in India as well as abroad. She will be in contract with us as brand ambassador for two years, during which she will promote Assam tourism.

AWARDS AND HONORS:

 Miss World 2016: Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Del Valle takes the crown

Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico was crowned Miss World 2016, edging out runners-up from the Dominican Republic and Indonesia winning the top prize in the 66th edition of the pageant held this year in the United States. Del Valle, 19, is a brown-eyed brunette student who speaks Spanish, English and French, and hopes to get into the entertainment industry.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Goa celebrating 55th Liberation Day

The state of Goa is celebrating its Liberation Day on 18 December 2016. It was on December 19, 1961, that Goa was liberated from the Portuguese rule after a prolonged freedom struggle and military operation. It was granted statehood in 1987 and went ahead to become one of the richest and highest per capita income states of the country.

18th December: International Migrants Day

The United Nations (UN) International Migrants Day is celebrated on December 18 each year. Each year the UN  to observe International Migrants Day by distributing information on the human rights and migrants’ fundamental freedoms. People are also invited to share their experiences and contribute to designing action plans to ensure their protection.

INDIAN AFFAIRS

 Pradhan Mantri Garib KalyanYojana comes into effect

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) has comes into effect on 17 December 2016 . Any unaccounted cash or deposit in a bank account can be disclosed under the scheme before April 1, 2017. The PMKGY provides for 50 per cent tax and surcharge on declarations of unaccounted cash deposited in banks.

• Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said, declaration of undisclosed income under it can be made by any person in the form of cash or deposits in an account with bank or post office or a specified entity.
• The scheme will continue till 31st of March next year. He said, the money generated from disclosure of unaccounted cash will be used for this yojana under new black money disclosure scheme will be kept confidential.

Union Minister Vijay Goel inaugurates conference on Youth Development

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel to inaugurate Conference on Youth Development in New Delhi. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has convened a Brainstorming Session in New Delhi tomorrow to generate ideas for Youth Development and empowerment. Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel will inaugurate the daylong Conference being organized on the subject for the first time with major stakeholders.

‘Swasthya Raksha Programme’ launched by the AYUSH Ministry to promote health and health education in villages

Swasthya Rakshan Program has been initiated through Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) in selected districts/ villages with the following aims and objectives to organize Swasthya Rakshan OPDs, Swasthya Parikshan Camps and Health/Hygiene awareness programme.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

 India-Nepal Folk Crafts Festival kicks off in Kathmandu

The India-Nepal Folk Crafts Festival (INCF), an initiative of South Asia Foundation (SAF) to promote cultural exchanges between the two neighbors. The festival, from December 19 to 23, aims to promote crafts based bilateral relations and enhance cultural exchanges between the artisans of India and Nepal. SAF, set up in 1991, has been working to enhance the livelihood of the artisans of the region and contributing towards strengthening the crafts sector of Nepal and India.

BANKING AND FINANCE

 Ukraine nationalises country’s largest bank

Ukraine has nationalised the country’s biggest bank in a bid to avert a financial meltdown in the war-scarred former Soviet state. The government moved to take over PrivatBank after months of rumours that the lender was heavily burdened by bad debts. PrivatBank controls one-third of the east European country’s bank deposits and even has branches in the Baltic States.

YES Bank, Ola tie up to provide cash at your doorstep

YES Bank, India’s fifth largest private sector bank has partnered with Ola, one of the popular mobile apps for transportation, to provide cash-on-demand at customer’s doorstep.

• Customers will be able to use the Ola app to book a cab and opt for ‘cash at their doorsteps’ that will be enabled using Point-of-Sale (PoS) machines powered by YES Bank.
• The bank, in a statement, said the service will be available across 10 cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Jaipur.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

Power Ministry to launch GARV-II app for tracking rural electrification

To ensure transparency in implementation of rural electrification programme, the Power Ministry will launch a new app, GARV-II, to provide real time data of all six lakh villages of the country. The GARV-II will enable the commoners to participate in the development work and can give their input about rural electrification programme. Thus, the rural electrification work would be open to public scrutiny.

DoT to Launch Portal That Lets You Check Radiation Status of Mobile Towers

The Department of Telecom (DoT) will launch in a month a portal ‘Tarang Sanchar’ that will help users get checked the radiation level of mobile towers and transmitters across the country in a month.  In order to get radiation of a particular tower tested, the applicant will have to pay a fee of Rs 5,000.

SPORTS

India beat Belgium 2-1 to win hockey junior World Cup crown after 15 years

India has become the first nation to win the hockey junior World Cup at home at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium. India beat Belgium 2-1 to win their second world title after 15 years. This was Indian hockey’s first-ever world-level title in 15 years, the last being its maiden win in the same competition in 2001. It was also the first time that a host has won this title.

OBITUARY  

 Former Planning Commission member Saumitra Chaudhuri passes away

Noted economist and former Planning Commission member Saumitra Chaudhuri passed away. Chaudhuri was appointed member of Planning Commission in June 2009.