Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |

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1. Bengali Poet Joy Goswami to Get 31st Moortidevi Award

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_3.1

i. Eminent Bengali poet Joy Goswami will be given the 31st Moortidevi Award for the year 2017. The committee, headed by poet and scholar Satya Vrat Shastri, unanimously decided to confer the award upon Goswami for his poetry collection titled Du Dondo Phowara Matro.

ii. It is the first time the award will be given to a Bengali poet. The award consists of a Saraswati Statue, a Citation Plaque and cash award of Rupees 4 lakh.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

The First Moortidevi Award winner was C. K. Nagaraja Rao.

2. India to Host Meeting of WTO Member Countries on Food Security

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_4.1

i. India will host a meeting of WTO member countries in February 2018 to muster support for food security and other issues. The announcement was made by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi.

ii. The proposed meeting would be in the backdrop of developed nations forming groupings to prepare ground for pushing investment facilitation, preparing rules for e-commerce, promoting gender equality and reducing subsidy on fisheries.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

11th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC11) took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

3. Goa Celebrates 56th Liberation Day

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_5.1

i. Goa has celebrated its 56th Liberation Day. The state was liberated on 19th December in 1961 from Portuguese control after almost 450 years of colonial rule.
ii. The main program was organized at the Sports Authority of Goa Ground, Campal in state capital Panaji. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar unfurled the national flag at the Goa Liberation Day celebrations in Panaji.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

Goa CM- Manohar Parrikar, Governor- Mridula Sinha.

4. Global Innovation Index- India Ranked 60th Most Innovative Country, Switzerland Tops

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_6.1

i. India currently ranks 60th out of 127 countries on the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2017 as compared to 66th rank on GII 2016. The list was topped by Switzerland. NITI Aayog, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) together launched a mega initiative “India Innovation Index”.
ii. This Index will rank states on Innovations through country’s first online innovation index portal that will capture data on innovation from all Indian states on innovation and regularly update it in real time.

The Top 3 Countries on Global Innovation Index 2017 are–

Switzerland,
Sweden,
Netherlands.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

The Global Innovation Index provides detailed metrics about the innovation performance of 127 countries and economies around the world.

5. International Migrants Day- 18 December

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_7.1

i. The International Migrants Day is organized across the world on 18th December. The theme for IMD 2017 is ‘Safe Migration in a World on the Move.’ On 4 December 2000, the General Assembly proclaimed 18 December as International Migrants Day.

ii. On that day, in 1990, the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

6. ICRA Launches Fixed Income Indices for Debt Markets

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_8.1

i. ICRA Management Consulting Services (IMaCS), an arm of ICRA, launched a set of four fixed income indices including one on corporate bonds. It aims to create more depth in the Indian debt market.

ii. ICRA Gilt Indices, ICRA Liquid Indices, ICRA Corporate Bond Indices and ICRA Composite Debt Indices, the four indices launched, would help asset managers and financial services companies make the objective analysis and provide comprehensive benchmarking of debt portfolios.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

Non-Executive Chairman & an Independent Director of ICRA– Arun Duggal,
ICRA Limited (formerly Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited) was set up in 1991.

7. Bharti Airtel to buy Millicom’s Operations in Rwanda

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_9.1

i. Bharti Airtel Ltd has entered into a definitive agreement with Millicom International Cellular S.A., under which Airtel Rwanda Ltd will acquire 100% equity in Tigo Rwanda Ltd.

ii. This comes after Airtel’s announcement to merge with Millicom, which operates the brand Tigo, in another African nation Ghana.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

Rwanda Capital- Kigali, Currency- Rwandan franc.

8. Ola Acquires FoodPanda India Business, to Further Invest $200 million

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_10.1

i. Ola, operated by ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd has acquired food delivery start-up Foodpanda India Pvt. Ltd from its German parent Delivery Hero AG in an all-stock deal that will see the ride-hailing major infuse $200 million in Foodpanda’s India operations.

ii. Under the deal, Foodpanda’s India business will be transferred to Ola in exchange for the latter’s stock. The share-swap arrangement and details of the transaction are still not disclosed.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

CEO of Ola- Bhavish Aggarwal, Headquarters- Bengaluru.

9. NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar Retires

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_11.1

i. National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar retired from the post after completing his five-year tenure.

ii. His successor is yet to be appointed. Justice Kumar resigned as Supreme Court judge after he was appointed NGT chairperson on December 20, 2012.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

The first chairperson of the tribunal was Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta, who was appointed on October 18, 2010.
The tribunal’s principal bench is located in New Delhi.
The NGT was established on October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.

10. BJP wins absolute Majority in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh

i. The BJP has retained power in Gujarat for the 6th time in a row and swept the polls in Himachal Pradesh finishing just short of the two-third majority. The party romped home again in Gujarat by winning 99 seats, seven seats more than the mark of absolute majority in the 182-member House. Congress won 77 seats and others 6.

ii. In Himachal Pradesh, BJP wrested power from Congress by winning 44 seats, two seats short of two-third majority, in the 68 member House. The Congress won 21 and others three. In Himachal Pradesh, Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has won, while former BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has lost.

11. Iraq Overtakes Saudi Arabia as Top Oil Supplier to India

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_13.1

i. Iraq has overtaken Saudi Arabia for the first time to become India’s top crude oil supplier in the current fiscal, according to the Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
ii. Saudi Arabia traditionally has been India’s top oil source but in the April-October period of 2017-18, Iraq dethroned it, supplying 25.8 million tonnes (MT) of oil.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

Iraq Capital- Baghdad, Currency- Iraqi dinar, President- Fuad Masum.

12. Tata Steel Joda Mine Gets Golden Peacock Innovation Award

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_14.1

i. Joda East Iron Mine (JEIM) of Tata Steel has been honored with the prestigious Golden Peacock Innovation Management Award for the year 2017 for driving innovation in mines.

ii. The award was given at Institute of Directors India’s 2nd Global Convention held at Singapore. Golden Peacock Awards Secretariat receives over 1,000 entries per year for various awards, from over 25 countries worldwide.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

The Golden Peacock Award is instituted by the Institute Of Directors (IOD) of India in 1991.

13. India Finishes 1st at Junior Boxing Championship in Germany

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_15.1

i. Indian junior boxers had clinched total 11 Medals (six gold, four silver and a bronze medal) at the fifth International Sven Lange Memorial Tournament, to finish as overall champions in the German city of Schwerin.

ii. Bhavesh Kattamani (52kg) picked up the best boxer trophy along with his gold medal. In the three-day tournament, the other gold-medallists for India were Vijeydeep (63kg), Akshay (60kg), Ish Pannu (70kg), Lakshay Chahar (80kg) and Vinit (75kg). India was named the tournament’s best team.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-

Germany Capital- Berlin, Currency- Euro, Chancellor- Angela Merkel.

14. Badminton Jr. Nationals: Aakarshi Kashyap Wins U-17 & U-19 Singles Titles

Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th December 2017 |_16.1

i. India’s top-ranked junior shuttler Aakarshi Kashyap won U-17 and U-19 singles titles at Badminton junior Nationals in Guwahati, Assam.

ii. In Under-17 category, 16-year-old from Bhilai defeated Malvika Bansod in the final. In under 19 categories final, Kashyap has beaten Vaidehi Choudhari.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RBI Assistant Mains 2017 Exam-