Current Affairs December 2016 PDF

CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2016 PDF
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AWARDS AND HONOURS
NAME OF THE AWARD AWARD WINNER KEY POINTS TO NOTE

ICCR distinguished ideologist Prof. Yu Long Yu For the contribution of foreign scholars
award to the development of Indology
Top in Global Education Singapore Primary 4 and Secondary 2
Rankings students topped both subjects in the
Trends in International Mathematics and
Science Study (TIMSS)
Best cities award Kolkata Kolkata is the only Indian city to receive
the prestigious award. It received the
award during the C40 Mayors Summit
held in Mexico City.
Athlete of the Year Usain Bolt Bolt will retire next year, following the
2017 World Athletics Championships in
London.
worlds 22nd most connected Delhi Airport Topped by Chicago Airport
airport
International Childrens Peace Kehkashan Basu
Prize
Miss Supranational 2016 Srinidhi Shetty She also won the title of Miss Asia-
Oceania.
Highest French civilian Award John Kerry
First Indian to medal at IqbalSayed The Mr Olympia amateur event held
MrOlympia in Hong Kong.
NaturePhotographer of the La La Land 'Best Picture' at Critics' Choice Awards
Year Contest
Best Footballer in the World Cristiano Ronaldo He has been voted the best player in the
world for a fourth time.
Brazil player of the year Chapecoense goalkeeper He killed in the Colombian air crash last
Danilo month
ITF World Champion Britains Andy Murray and
Germanys Angelique Kerber
Most Improved Player of the PV Sindhu The Award conferred by Badminton
Year award World Federation (BWF)
SASTRA Ramanujan award Kaisa Matomaki, Maksym The award for Excellence of
Radziwill Mathematics
AIBA's Legends Award MC Mary Kom She is also RajyaSabha MP
AIBA Pro boxing Best Boxer Vikas Krishnan _
trophy
Favourite fanatics of 2016 Nandan Nilekani He is a prominent figure in Indian
business and politics
2 www.DayTodayGK.com
Sahitya Academy Award Asaram Lomte For his story collection 'Alok'
SKOCH silver award Corporation Bank For attaining the position of number1
channel partner of LIC of India
Most Innovative Citizen Coimbatore City Municipal It has been selected for Digital India
Engagement Corporation Award
2016 Jnanpith Award Bengali poet ShankhaGhosh He is the 52nd recipient of Jnanpith
Award.
SIES-Sri Maharashtra CM Devendra

ChandrasekarendraSaraswati Fadnavis,
National Eminence Award. ISRO chairman A S Kiran
Kumar ,
UK-based scholar John _
Ralston Marr and
Hari Katha exponent Kamala
Murthy
FIFA Ballon dOr Award Real Madrid forward Cristiano He won worlds best football player for
Ronaldo fourth time.
2016 prestigious International UAE based Indian _

Childrens Peace Prize. environmental activist
KehkashanBasu
PETAs Person of the Year Sunny Leone For her dedication to promoting the
rescue of homeless dogs and cats,
AIFF Player of the Year 2016 JejeLalpekhlua
2016 AIFF Woman Footballer Sasmita Malik Sasmita Malik is an Indian women
of the Year footballer
2016 AIFF Emerging Player of Rowllin Borges Rowllin Borges is an Indian footballer
the Year who currently plays for East Bengal
2016 AIFF Emerging Woman SanjuPradhan SanjuPradhan is an Indian footballer who

Footballer of the Year plays as a winger for East Bengal in the I-
League
2016 AIFF Award for Best Punjab Football Association
Grassroots Development
Programme
2016 AIFF Award for long- Nike Nike, Inc. is an American multinational
time contribution to Indian corporation
Football
2016 AIFF Award for Best Pranjal Banerjee Bengal referee
Referee
2016 AIFF Award for Best Joseph Tony _
Assistant Referee
Miss World 2016 Stephanie Del Valle She is hailing from Puerto Rico
National title in 6-Red Pankaj Advani
Snooker
2016 Forbes India Celebrity Salman Khan _
100 List
Jnanpith Award2016 ShankhaGhosh He is Bengali poet and literary critic
World's Best Playmaker of Lionel Messi The Award conferred by the
2016 International Federation of Football
History and Statistics (IFFHS)
Knighthood from British Shankar Balasubramanian He is an Indian-origin British professor of
Queen chemistry
BharatiyaJananpith 2016 Shraddha and Ghyansham 'Hawa Mein PhadphadatiChitthi' and on
Kumar Devansh Devansh for his poem 'Akash Mein Deh'
BihariPuraskar 2016 Satya Narayan For his Hindi book titled, "YehEkDunia"
Andy Murray Knighthood in the New Years
honours list in Britain
ViratKohli India's Sportsperson of 2016 In India Today poll
APPOINMENTS
NAME DEPT/FIELD
Crown Prince MahaVajiralongkorn Thailand King
ShavkatMirziyoyev Uzbekistan President
Alexander Van der Bellen Austrian President
O. Panneerselvam Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Nana Akufo-Addo Ghana President
AdwaitaGadanayak Head National Gallery of Modern Art
Rajendra Kumar New CBDT member
Paolo Gentiloni Italian Prime Minister
Bill English New Zealand PM
Antonio Guterres UN Secretary General
PulkitTrivedi Indias new Industry Director
Lt Gen NaveedMukhtar Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
SainaNehwal Integrity Ambassador of Badminton World Federation
(BWF)
J Ravichandran Interim Chief of National Stock Exchange
Lt Gen BipinRawat The New army chief
Air Marshal BS Dhanoa Chief of the Indian Air Force
Anil Dhasmana RAW chief
Rajiv Jain IB chief
Priyanka Chopra Brand ambassador for Assam tourism
Justice J S Khehar Chief justice of India
ViratKohli brand ambassador of American Tourister
Deepak Agarwal Noida CEO Authority
Rahil Ansari Audi India head
SorinGrindeanu Romanias president
Navy Chief Sunil Lanba Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee
Anil Baijal Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Telanganas 2nd International Kite Festival 12 to 17 Jan
Telangana International Kite Festival (TIKF), is a family fun festival celebrating Sankranthi from 12th-
17th January 2017.Telangana Tourism and Incredible India are joining hands with Aga Khan
Academy to profile the longstanding regional tradition of kite-flying and the unique culture, crafts
and cuisine of Telangana through an exciting festival program for schools, children, families and kite-
flying enthusiasts of all ages.
Arunachal CM PemaKhandu, 32 other PPA MLAs join BJP
The BJP came to power in Arunachal Pradesh has without having to win an election as chief minister
PemaKhandu switched loyalties twice in three months to give the saffron party its second
government in the Northeast, after Assam.
The countrys easternmost state plunged into a political crisis two days ago when the 37-year-old
Khandu and six legislators were suspended by the ruling Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA), a
regional outfit that he had joined from the Congress in September.
India's 1st transgender school opens in Kerala
Indias first transgender school opened in Kochi. The school, named Sahaj International, was
inaugurated by transgender activist, writer and actor KalkiSubramaniam at Thrikkakara in Keralas
Ernakulam district. This alternative learning centre works in collaboration with National Institute of
Open Schooling (NIOS). The school, the first of its kind in the country, is expected to go a long way
in ensuring equal opportunities for transgenders who have dropped out from school. The new
learning centre will help them continue their education and appear for Class X and XII examinations.
Safety record of Air Traffic Control comparable to best: AAI
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has defended the safety record of Air Traffic Control (ATC) at all
airports in the country as being very good and comparable to the best in the world.
At times, it may not be possible to eliminate human error, whether it is aviation or other industries,
but continuous efforts are being made by the Airports Authority of India to offset such human errors
through Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), recurrent training to the controllers and introducing
technology.
NRIs can exchange demonetised notes till June 30
President Pranab Mukherjee approved an ordinance allowing more time for non-resident Indians
(NRIs) to deposit their old notes and imposing stiff fines on residents holding or trading in
demonetized currency.
According to the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016, NRIs have been
given time till June 30 to deposit their old notes but any individual returning to India from abroad
will have to make a declaration to customs authority at the airport about the number and
denomination of the specified bank notes (SBNs) or junked currency he or she is carrying.
President approves ordinance criminalising holding of old notes
The government has made holding, transfer and receiving of the demonetised note a criminal
offence, punishable with a minimum fine of Rs 10,000.This follows President Pranab Mukherjee
approving promulgation of the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016, that
provides for a fine of Rs 10,000 or five times the cash held, whichever is higher, on holding of more
than 10 banned 1,000 and 500 rupee notes.
MEA eases passport rules for orphans, single parents
The government has announced a series of steps that would help single mothers, orphaned
children, and sadhus obtain passports with ease.The new rules for online application require the
applicant to provide the name of father or mother or legal guardian. This would enable single
parents to apply for passports for their children and facilitate issue of passports where the name of
either the father or the mother is not required to be printed at the request of the applicant.
MEA eases the process for passport applicants
Applicants can submit:
PAN Card, birth certificate, voter identity card, Aadhaar, driving license
Students can submit transfer certificate/school leaving certificates
* Online passport application form now requires the applicant to provide the name of any one
among the father, mother or legal guardian.
* No marriage certificates needed for married applicants.
* No need to name the spouse in cases of applicants who are divorcees.
* Orphaned children can submit a declaration from their respective orphanages while sants can
name their spiritual gurus.
PM Modi launches mobile payments app BHIM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a mobile app for the Unified Payment Interface (UPI).
The application, which will be common across all banks and financial institutions, is called BHIM
(Bharat Interface for Mobile). The BHIM app will empower the poorest of the poor, he said. "It is for
the small merchant, farmers in far-flung areas, tribals. That's why its name has been borrowed from
the man who sacrificed his life for the downtrodden
Government launches IVRS platform to tackle call drops
The Union government has launched an Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS) system at multiple
locations including Delhi and Mumbai to obtain direct feedback from subscribers on call quality. The
feedback will be shared with operators so they can take corrective steps in the problem areas and
address the issue of call drops.
In order to obtain direct feedback from subscribers and use that feedback to solve the problem of
call drops, Department of telecommunications (DoT) launched an IVRS system in Delhi, Mumbai,
Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Goa on 23 December 2016
Government launches SwachhSwasthSarvatra initiative
SwachhSwasthSarvatra initiative, aimed at strengthening health centres in open defecation-free

blocks, will be launched on Thursday by the Union Health Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry
of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Human Resource Development.The objective is to strengthen
community health centres in 708 open defecation-free blocks across the country to enable them to
achieve higher levels of cleanliness and hygiene.
Arunachal CM PemaKhandu suspended from party
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister PemaKhandu was temporarily suspended from Peoples Party of
Arunachal on Thursday along with six other lawmakers for alleged anti-party activities.Khandu,
Deputy CM Chowna Mein and 5 other MLAs were suspended from the partys primary membership
with immediate effect.
Amazon launches platform to let people sell used products
Amazon has launched a service called Sell as Individual, which will let you sell old goods on its
platform. With the new service currently available for users in Bengaluru, you can sell products
locally in the city. Amazon will also offer doorstep pickup, packing and delivery of products you are
selling.
Karan to launch his biography 'An Unsuitable Boy' in Jan
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is going to launch his autobiographytitled An Unsuitable Boy has
unknown and intimate details of Karans life, his growing up years, and his Bollywood career.Karan
Johar has penned the book along with PoonamSaxena.
The book is published by Penguin Books, and they have released a short video to make this
announcement.
Several of the world's highest bridges are in China, although the world's tallest bridge
measured in terms of the height of its own structure, rather than the distance to the ground
remains France's Millau viaduct at 343 metres.
New technology developed to detect skin cancer early
Researchers have developed an automated technology that combines imaging with digital analysis
and machine learning to help physicians detect melanoma at its early stages.People with melanoma
often have mole-looking growths on their skin that tend to be irregular in shape and colour and can
be hard to tell apart from benign ones, making the disease difficult to diagnose.
PM inaugurates 12k cr Char Dham highway project in Ukhand
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Char Dham Highway Development
Project in Uttarakhands Dehradun. The project aims to improve connectivity to the Char Dham
pilgrimage centres of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Around 900 km of national
highways will be developed in Uttarakhand under the project at an approximate cost of 12,000
crore.
Govt launches campaign for door-to-door screening of TB
To detect cases of latent infection, the government has launched a door-to-door screening
campaign for tuberculosis (TB). The Union health ministry has started a campaign to find patients
before they develop full-blown TB and put them on preventive treatment. The campaign has been
launched in five Indian states, while the official launch will take place in January 2017.
Govt to set up special units to probe crimes against women
The Modi government has decided to augment capacity of states in investigation of crimes like rape,
acid attack, dowry death and human trafficking by setting up 200 special investigating units after
identifying the most crime-prone districts. An affidavit filed by the Home Ministry in the Supreme
Court said Investigative Units for Crime Against Women (IUCAW) will be set up on a 50:50 cost
sharing basis with the states, subject to ceiling of Rs 28 lakh per unit.
Assam Government launches Health Insurance Scheme Atal-AmritAbhiyan
Assams BJP led government has rolled out Atal-AmritAbhiyan health insurance scheme which will
provide coverage against several critical illnesses. Launched to mark the 92nd birthday of former
prime minister AtalBihari Vajpayee, the scheme will offer coverage against 437 illnesses in six
disease groups, namely, cardiovascular, cancer, kidney, neo-natal, neurological conditions and
burns.
Union Cabinet approves ordinance to make possession of old notes penal offence
The Cabinet approved the promulgation of an ordinance extinguishing the Reserve Bank of Indias
liability for cancelled Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as the logical conclusion to the governments
demonetisation initiative. The move will also give the finance ministry enough time to factor into
the budget the amount of cash that hasnt been returned to the system if required
The ordinance is expected to provide a limited window for depositing the cancelled notes at select
RBI branches until March 31and also prescribes a monetary penalty for anyone holding such
currency in large quantities after the deadline.
Meghalaya to host National Games 2022
Meghalaya will host National Games in the year 2022, as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has
accepted the States bid for the games. The year 2022 will also mark the 50 years of its statehood.
The announcement regarding the hosting was recently made at IOA meeting held in Chennai. The
state had pledged 5 crore rupees as a bid amount for the National Games.
AIADMK passes resolution to appoint Sasikala as party chief
The era of VK Sasikala in the All India Anna DravidaMunnetraKazhagam has begun. The ruling party
of Tamil Nadu appointed VK Sasikala, an aide of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa as
the general secretary in a general council meeting in Vanagram, Chennai.
The resolution was moved by party presidium chairman E Madusudanan and Panneersevlam and
EdapadiPalanisamy. The resolution makes it clear that Sasikala will be formally elected as party
General Secretary at a later date in keeping with the stipulations of the party constitution.
Government launches SwachhSwasthSarvatra initiative
SwachhSwasthSarvatra, an inter-ministerial joint initiative between the Ministry of Drinking Water

and Sanitation and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was launched in the Capital. The
objective of the SwachhSwasthSarvatra initiative is to build on and leverage achievements of two
complementary programmes Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and Kayakalp of the Ministry of
Drinking Water and Sanitation and Ministry of Health and FamilyWelfare, respectively.
World Bhojpuri Conference begins in Varanasi
High Commissioner of Mauritius to India, JagdishwarGoburdhun has said that a World Bhojpuri
Conference will be held from December 30 2016 to January 1 2017, in which participants from over
18 countries are likely to be present. The conference will deliberate over culture, religion, language
and business among other issues.
The conference is an effort to strengthen the links of the people of Indian-origin, who once
belonged to the Bhojpuri-speaking belt in India and had migrated to different parts of the world.
Government launches IVRS platform to tackle call drops
The government has launched an Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS) system at multiple
locations including Delhi and Mumbai to obtain direct feedback from subscribers on call quality. The
feedback will be shared with operators so they can take corrective steps in the problem areas and
address the issue of call drops.
In order to obtain direct feedback from subscribers and use that feedback to solve the problem of
call drops, DoT launched an IVRS system in Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Maharashtra and Goa on 23rd December 2016
Haryana police gets Indias 1st digital investigation centre
The Haryana police have set up the countrys first centre for digital investigation and training in
Gurgaon in a bid to enhance cyber policing and monitor social media content. The state-of-the-art
facility Digital Investigation Training and Analysis Centre (DITAC) on the third floor of Traffic
Tower in SushantLok 1 was inaugurated by Haryana chief minister ManoharLalKhattar.
No jail term for holding old notes, minimum fine of Rs.10,000
Government has made holding of more than 10 junked Rs 500/1000 notes a penal offence
punishable with a minimum Rs 10,000 fine, but the harsher four-year jail term has been dropped.
The Specified Bank Notes Cessation of Liabilities Ordinance, approved by the Cabinet headed by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, allows individuals to hold no more than 10 notes of the old
currency. It allows 25 such currencies to be held by research scholars.
India eases visa process for Bangladeshis
In a bid to ease the procurement of Indian tourist visas for Bangladeshis, India will now allow those
with confirmed travel tickets to submit their visa applications directly without prior appointments.
The Indian Visa Application Centre in Mirpur will receive walk-in tourist visa applications from
confirmed travellers and senior citizens from January 1.
The initiative has been taken as part of the on-going efforts to streamline, liberalise and ease the
process of securing Indian visas. These measures are aimed at making Indian visa securing easier for
Bangladesh visitors to India and strengthening people-to-people contacts between India and
Bangladesh
India 2nd largest arms buyer among developing nations
India has emerged as the second largest purchaser of arms among developing nations after Saudi
Arabia. Between 2008 and 2015, India purchased defence equipments worth USD 34 billion, which is
a distant second after Saudi Arabias USD 93.5 billion, said the report Conventional Arms Transfers
to Developing Nations 2008-2015 released by Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Government cancels FCRA licences of 20,000 NGOs
The government of India has cancelled the FCRA licence of close to 20,000 of the 33,000 NGOs
operating in the country after they were found to be flouting certain norms laid out in the Foreign
Contributions Registrations Act, 2010. The FCRA or Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 is
nothing but a regulatory act formed to keep a check on civil society bodies that may be receiving
foreign funds in an illegal manner. Therefore, the cancellation of an FCRA licence means that the
NGOs in question can no longer take funds from a foreign contributor but they can continue to work
on donations given by Indian companies and individuals.
Kerala to seek Union governments approval for using deer antlers in Ayurveda medicines
Kerala to seek Union governments approval for using deer antlers in Ayurveda medicines. Antlers of
spotted deer and sambar may find their way into Ayurveda medicines if a recommendation of the
Kerala State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) finds favour with the National Board for Wildlife and the
Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Antlers are the extensions of the deers skull. All three deer varieties found in Kerala, including
spotted deer, sambar, and barking deer, shed their antlers annually.
Gujarat government announces Biotechnology Policy 2016
Gujarat Government announced its Biotechnology Policy-2016 to establish state as a preferred

destination for manufacturing of biotechnology products. The policy has provisions for various
incentives for investors who are keen to set up their units in the state.
It aims to take annual turnover of biotechnology products to Rs 15,000 crore from current f Rs 4,500
crore turn over within next 3-4 years and make Gujarat top state in this sector in the country.
Rajasthani writer Satya Narayan chosen for 2016 BihariPuraskar
Eminent Rajasthani litterateur Satya Narayan has been chosen for the 26th BihariPuraskar, 2016 for
his Hindi book titled, YehEkDunia, the K K Birla Foundation announced. Instituted in 1991 by the
Foundation, the award which is named after famous Hindi poet Bihari,recognises outstanding work
in Hindi or Rajasthani, published during the last ten years by a Rajasthani writer. Narayan will be
awarded a cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs, besides a citation and a plaque.
Last year the BihariPuraskar was awarded to BhagwatiLalVyas for his Rajasthani poetry collection
titled, Katha Sun AaweHaiSabad.
Bapus Charkha among 100 Most Influential Photos of All Time
A 1946 picture of Mahatma Gandhi with his Charkha (spinning wheel) in the foreground is among
the 100 most influential images of all time, according to a compilation by Time magazine of images
that changed the world. The black and white photo of a bespectacled Gandhi taken
by Margaret Bourke-White shows Gandhi sitting on a thin mattress on the floor, head bent down as
he is reading the news while his spinning wheels sits in the foreground.
Andhra pradesh CM Chandrababu to head central committee to promote e-payments
Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, who is known for his tech savviness across the country, will now
act as the convener of a 13-member committeeannounced by the Union governmentto promote
cashless transactions in India. The committee headed by Naidu, will five other chief ministers, NITI
Aayog members, academia and other experts.
Govt launches campaign to educate people about digital payments
Government has launched a massive campaign to educate people about digital payments. The
campaign comes in the wake of governments demonetization move and resulted cash
crunch. Organizations like Nehru Yuva Kendra are being roped in to spread the awareness on digital
payments and its advantages over cash payments.
Raj Bhawan of Himachal Pradesh has adopted the cashless system for all kind of payments.
Himachal Pradesh Governor AcharyaDevvrat has stressed on the need to adopt a cashless
system in the state and to begin with he directed the Raj Bhawan staff to ensure that all
transactions are made online. Himachal Pradesh Raj Bhawan would go cashless and all payments be
made online. The cashless economy would go a long way in completely eliminating black money and
people would also get accustomed to it.
Nagalands 53rd statehood day
The state of Nagaland on its 53rd statehood day, a state known for scenic beauty and talented
citizens will take the state to new heights of progress. It was on this day in 1963 that the Nagaland
attained statehood as the 16th state of the Indian Union and second in North East after being
bifurcated from Assam.
Union Cabinet approves Rehabilitation Package for displaced families from PoKJ, Chhamb
The Union Cabinet has approved Central Assistance of 2000 crore rupees for 36,384 displaced
families from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu & Kashmir (POJK) and Chhamb. It was approved
following an announcement of Prime Ministers Development Package for Jammu & Kashmir 2015
announced in November, 2015
Union Cabinet approves simplification of Visa regime
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for liberalization, simplification and rationalization of the
existing visa regime in India. It has approved incremental changes in the visa policy as decided by
the Union Ministry of Home Affairs with approval of Home Minister and in consultation with various
stakeholders.
Union Cabinet approves Indias negotiating position adopted at Kigali conference to Montreal
Protocol
The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to the negotiating position adopted by India
at the recent 28th Meeting of Parties (MoP) to the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda. The
negotiations at Kigali meet held in October 2016 were aimed at including HFCs in the list of
chemicals under the Montreal Protocol.
Union Cabinet approves inclusion of 15 new caste in Central OBC list
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for inclusion of 15 new castes and modification in 13 other
castes in the Central list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in respect of 8 states. These states are
Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and
Uttarakhand. The Union Cabinet took this decision based on the recommendation of the National
Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
ChitraRamkrishna Quits NSE, J Ravichandran Interim Chief
ChitraRamkrishna quit as Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange with
immediate effect presumably over differences with some board members, after having served the
premier bourse for over two decades since its inception.
Senior executive J Ravichandran has been given the interim charge till the NSE board, headed by
former Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla, finds a full-time replacement for Ramkrishna, who rose
through the ranks to head the exchange and was part of the team that set up NSE in 1992.
7th World Ayurveda Meet Opens in Kolkata
With the support of the Ministry of AYUSH, the World Ayurveda Foundation is organising the
7thWorld Ayurveda Congress on December 2-4 at Science City in Kolkata. The focus of the Ayurveda
Congress will be Strengthening the Ayurveda Ecosystem. The ministry has also organised
AROGYA Expo from December 1-4 at Science City to facilitate development and growth of AYUSH
system of medicine.
Quick link-
Govt bans manufacturers from emitting greenhouse gases
The government has issued directions prohibiting certain manufacturers from emitting a
potent greenhousegas with high global warmingpotential into the atmosphere, the RajyaSabha was
informed. The government has issued orders on October 13, 2016 directing manufacturers of hydro
chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC-22) not to emit or vent hydro fluorocarbons (HFC-23) in the atmosphere.
Joint maritime exercise Konkan 16 between India and UK begins
Konkan 16, the 2016 edition of the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and
the Royal Navy, is being held from today till December 16 in Mumbai and Goa as part of efforts to
strengthen the existing bonds of friendship between India and the United Kingdom. The exercise will
also enhance the capability of the two navies to work together to contribute towards maritime
security in the global commons.
Maharashtra govt works on Maha wallet to encourage cashless
The Maharashtra Government has started an application named Maha Wallet to encourage the
cashless transaction. Maha Wallet application will be a secure e- service where the money of the
citizens would be secured.Maha wallet will be a secure e-service where the citizens money would
be secure. We are working on a system where needs of each of the 11.97 crore population of the
state are being considered.
Amazon launches global startup program Launchpad in India
Amazon recently announced that is bringing its global Startup program Launchpad to India. The
India Launchpad portal is live with products from over 400 startups in which 25 of them are India-
based. In the Lauchpad program Amazon partners with Startups and sells their products on its giant
ecommerce platform. Additionally, Amazon also helps startups market and promote their products.
India has received over US $300 billion US Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) milestone.
India crossed the $300 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) milestone between April 2000 and
September 2016, firmly establishing its credentials as a safe investment destination in the world.
Thirty-three per cent of the FDI came through the Mauritius route, apparently, because the
investors wanted to take advantage of Indias double taxation avoidance treaty with the island
nation.
Haryana CM approves implementation of Rs. 50-crore National Hydrology Project

Haryana Chief Minister ManoharLalKhattar has given approval for implementation of the Rs 50-
crore National Hydrology Project to be set up in the state with 100 per cent assistance from the
Centre. The project aimed at improving the extent, quality and accessibility of information about
water resources, and strengthening the capacity of water resource management institutions in the
country.
Odisha to appoint 1000 Banking correspondents in unbanked gram panchyats
The Odisha government has decided to appoint one thousand Banking Correspondents in about one
thousand unbanked Gram Panchayats of 107 blocks across the State.The decision was taken at a
high level meeting presided over by chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at the State Secretariat in
Bhubaneswar in VIEW of the difficulties faced by the people in unbanked rural areas across the state
after the demonetization of 1000 and 500 rupees note since November 8.
Chandra babu launches AP PURSE mobile app to promote digital transactions
The Andhra Pradesh government has launched AP Purse, a new platform to help people in the state
move to cashless payments using mobile WALLETS. Its tech-savvy chief minister Chandrababu Naidu
says his team wants to make AP the first state in India to completely switch to digital transactions.
AP Purse is an Android app that compiles various mobile payment apps and tools. With this, the
government hopes to create awareness and expand adoption of digital wallets, especially outside
bigger urban areas.
KVIC launched e-commerce platform to PROMOTE khadi Government
Consumers will be able to buy genuine khadi products online from an e-commerce portal to be
launched by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). Trying to encash on fast-growing e-
commerce sector and increasing demand for khadi products in the country, the KVIC has submitted
a proposal to launch its online portal to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSME).
Bengal forms anti-child trafficking panel
West Bengal government has announced setting up a panel for prevention of child trafficking in the
wake of a child smuggling racket being unearthed in the state. The panel will be headed by
Parliamentary Affairs Minister ParthaChatterjee and will comprise members from the opposition
parties Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist.
UGC asks universities, colleges to create awareness about cashless transactions
UGC has asked all universities and colleges across the country to launch a month-long campaign to
create awareness about cashless transactions with the government focusing on making India a
digital economy. In a letter to varsities, the University Grants Commission (UGC) said a month-long
campaign from December 12 can be run to educate and train students in various modes of digital
payments.
Hindi Ranked 10th In World Power Language Index, English On The TOP
Hindi is considered as 10th most powerful language in the World Power Language Index published
by World Economic Forum on december 2, 2016. As we know Hindi is most Primarily Spoken
Language of India with a share of 41%, Hindi is also the official language of indian government.
Kerala Government launches HarithaKeralam Mission
HarithaKeralam, an ambitious programme envisaged by the Kerala government to make the state
clean, protect its water sources and soil, was launched by Chief Minister PinarayiVijayan. Brand
ambassador of the scheme, eminent Carnatic vocalist and playback singer K J Yesudas and noted
actress ManjuWarrier were among those
FSSAI bans use of newspapers for packing food
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory saying it has
decided to ban the use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items, a common practice
by small corner shops and street vendors.
In its advisory, FSSAI asked commissioners of food safety of all states and Union territories to take
necessary steps to restrict the use of newspapers for packing, serving and storing of food items as
the newspaper ink can contaminate food items leading to serious health concerns.
Worlds largest cricket stadium to come up Gujarat
The Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad is set to become the biggest cricket
stadium in the world, as far as seating capacity is concerned. The Gujarat Cricket Association has
handed the stadiums renovation project to Larsen and Turbo (L&T). This will almost double its
seating capacity, surpassing the Melbourne Cricket Ground which seats 1,0,024 as the stadium with
the largest seating capacity.
ONGC to roll out new basin in Agartala by 2017

State-run energy behemoth ONGC will set up a new basin in Agartala by the end of next year as it
looks to focus more on exploration of oil and gas in the North-East region. ONGCs North East
operations are divided into two areas Assam Shelf from Jorhat to Duliajan and Assam Fold Belt
from Silchar to Agartala.
Andhra Pradesh CM launches website of APEDB
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandababu Naidu launched the website of the Andhra Pradesh
Economic Development Board (APEDB). The website, apedb.gov.in is aimed to provide a repository
of knowledge on investing in Andhra Pradesh, policies of various sectors and also gives the investor,
various investment opportunities the state has to offer.
MP CM launches Narmada SevaYatra
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched Narmada Seva YATRA at
Amarkantak. The Narmada Sewa YATRA will create awareness about the conservation of the river. It
will cover more than 1,900 kilometres in 16 districts. Trees will be planted along the banks of the
Narmada and sewage water will be treated before it flows into the river.
Govt to soon launch helpline number 14444 to promote digital payments
A nationwide toll-free helpline number 14444 will be launched soon to educate people and
provide support related to cashless mode of transactions. It is awareness with intention of
conversion in actual transaction. It is to help people at the first level to zero in on the option most
suitable for them that depends on person whether he has feature phone or not, Aadhaar number or
not, bank account so many combination need to be seen.
President of India Launches 100 Million for 100 Million
The President of India, ShriPranab Mukherjee marked his 81st birthday by launching a 100 Million
for 100 Million Campaign organized by the KailashSatyarthiChildrens Foundation at
RashtrapatiBhavan on December 11, 2016. The global effort to mobilize 100 million youth for
shaping a better future of 100 million children who are less privileged is the beginning of a change
which was long overdue.
SainaNehwal to set up badminton academy in Haryana
Ace women badminton player SainaNehwal will be provided land by the Haryana government to set
up a badminton academy in the state. The land to the international star will be provided by the
Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HSIIDC) at Manesar
in Gurgaon district, 45 km from New Delhi.
DipaKarmakars autobiography to be co-authored by her coach Bishweshwar Nandi
The incredible story of DipaKarmakar, who with one death-defying vault of faith in the Rio Olympics,
won a billion hearts to become the queen of Indian gymnastics, will be told in a memoir to be co-
authored by her coach Bishweshwar Nandi. Tentatively titled "DipaKarmakar: The Small Wonder",
the book will have many untold stories of struggle and triumph besides rare archival photos from
the Karmakars' private album as well as competition photos from the Olympics and Commonwealth
Games.
PM inaugurates Indias largest cheese plant in Banaskantha district
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has attended a programme organized by the Banaskantha
Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Banas Dairy) at Deesa in Gujarat. The event marked the launch
of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee year of Banas Dairy. On this occasion, the Prime Minister
unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of a cheese plant and whey drying plant at Palanpur by
remote control.
Rajiv Gandhi airport Achieves carbon neutral status
The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad has achieved carbon neutral status. It is
the first in the Asia-Pacific region in the 5-15 million passengers per annum category to attain this
status.
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, a GMR Group-led consortium, which manages and
operates the airport, also claimed that it is the second airport among all categories in the Asia-
Pacific region to achieve carbon neutral status.
Earlier in September, 2016 GMR Group-led Delhi Airport had become the first airport in Asia-
Pacific to achieve carbon neutral status among all categories.
Nitingadkari lays foundation stones for Rs.1152 cr projects in Manipur
Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping NitinGadkari has laid the foundation
stones for 17 road projects at a cost of Rs 1152 cr in two functions held at Jiribam and Imphal.
He announced the government has decided to hand over responsibility of ImphalJiribam highway to
National highways and infrastructure development corporation Limited (NHIDCL) by taking it over
from Border Roads Organisation of Indian Army.
India, Indonesia sign three agreements
India and Indonesia on Monday signed three agreements following delegation-level talks here
headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Indonesian President JokoWidodo. A
memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on cooperation in the area of youth and sports.
Another MoU was signed on cooperation in the area of standardisation.
A joint communique was also signed on voluntary international cooperation to combat illegal,
unregulated and unreported fishing and to promote sustainable fisheries governance.
Punjab government launches countrys 1st amphibious bus project
The Punjab government has launched its ambitious amphibious bus project at the Harike wetland
near Amritsar. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal launched the bus and took the inaugural
ride with officials and media.
The bus project has cost the state government over Rs 11 crore. The bus will be run by the Punjab
Tourism department and tourists coming to the wetland will be able to enjoy its 4-km ride in water
and on land.
Karnataka to launch online portal for auctioning livestock
The Karnataka government is set to launch an online portal for trading livestock, beginning with the
auction of cattle and sheep. The portal would allow buyers and sellers to make their choice based
on online profiles of the cattle. The scheme is aimed at saving the dairy farmers from being
cheated by brokers during the trade.
Kerala govt announces 70 acres of free land for IIT Palakkad
Kerala government decided to hand over 70 acres of land at zero cost in Palakkad district for setting
up the permanent campus of Indian Institute of Technology. A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief
Minister PinarayiVijayan decided to assign 70.02 acres at Pithiest west village in the district.
RajyaSabha passes Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill
A bill stipulating up to two- year jail term and a maximum fine of Rs 5 lakh for discriminating against
differently-abled persons was passed by the RajyaSabha. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill,
2014, which aims at securing and enhancing the rights and entitlements of disabled persons, was
passed by a voice vote after rare unanimity was witnessed among the Opposition and Treasury
benches in the House, which has seen acrimony and disruptions since the Winter Session began on
November 16.
CAT, NEET, NET exams to be linked with Aadhaar
The Union government is planning to link entrance examinations, including the Common Admission
Test (CAT) conducted by the Indian Institute of Management, the unified National Eligibility-cum-
Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical colleges and the University Grants Commissions
National Eligibility Test (NET), with Aadhaar.
NGT bans sale, use of Chinese manjha in India
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned the sale and use of glass coated thread in the entire
country, including Chinese Manjha. The Manjha Association will submit a report to the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the CPCB will file the report before the NGT.
The Manjha Association said that Nylon Manjha is bio degradable but the NGT observed that this
ban is an interim order and directed the effected parties to forward their grievances to CPCB.
Gujarat tops list of states in LED bulb distribution
Maharashtra has ranked second in the country in distribution of LED bulbs as part of country-wide
campaign for reducing power consumption. "Gujarat tops the list followed by Maharashtra in LED
bulb distribution. Gujarat has distributed 2.70 crore LED bulbs till December 12 this year from the
date of its launch, earlier this year. On the other hand, Maharashtra has distributed 2,00,99,730 LED
bulbs so far," Deepak Kokate, Regional Manager of Maharashtra state unit of Energy Efficiency
Services Limited.
India becomes worlds 4th largest defence spender
India has become the worlds fourth largest spender on defence, following a 13.1% increase in its
2016-17 defence budget, according to US research firm IHS Inc. Indias rise in the rankings from sixth
position last year is a result of an increase in expenditure to $50.7 billion, combined with cuts to
military spending by Russia and Saudi Arabia, where low oil prices have put considerable strain on
their.
India is first country to give discounts on online payments
India has become the first nation to subsidize the use of digital cash after the government unveiled a
raft of measures including discounts on online payments for insurance policies, rail tickets and
highway toll charges. Union finance minister ArunJaitley sought to draw Indians toward digital
payments by offering up to 10% off on insurance policies, highway usage and concessions on train
travel.
World Bank declares pause to protect Indus Waters Treaty
The World Bank Group has announced a pause in the separate processes initiated by India and
Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to
resolve their disagreements. The announcement temporarily halts the appointment of a Neutral
Expert, as requested by India, and the Chairman of the Court of Arbitration, as requested by
Pakistan, to resolve issues regarding two hydroelectric power plants under construction by India
along the Indus rivers system.
Govt announces Lucky GrahakYojana, DigiDhanVyapariYojana to promote digital payments
Government announced Lucky GrahakYojana to encourage consumers and DigiDhanVyapariYojana

to encourage merchants for transition to digital payments. Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog
Amitabh Kant said, National Payment Council of India will announce 15,000 winners of 1000 rupees
each for next 100 days, starting from this Christmas.
November WPI inflation at 3.15%
Inflation at the wholesale level slowed in November due to subdued prices, with the Wholesale
Price Index registering a growth of 3.15 per cent, its slowest rate since June 2016. WPI registered a
growth rate of 3.4 per cent in October, and the index has now witnessed a slowing growth rate for
the third consecutive month as of November.
Paytm partners with NHAI for digital payments at toll plazas
Digital payments platform Paytm has announced partnership with major NHAI toll concessionaries
like Reliance Infra, Sadhbav, IRB, MEP, L&T and GMR to enable cashless payments at all state,
national and city toll plazas. With the partnership, commuters across the country can now pay their
toll charges instantly with Paytm by scanning the QR code placed at toll payment counters, using
Paytm app.
e-Tourist visa extended to citizens of 161 countries
The government has extended the facility of e-Tourist Visa for citizens of 161 countries. Tourism
Minister Mahesh Sharma said the number of foreign tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) during
January to November this year was 9,17,446, registering a growth of 168.5 per cent over same
period of previous year.
Himachal Pradesh becomes sixth in India to attain 100% Aadhaar saturation
Himachal Pradesh has achieved 100 percent Aadhar saturation on the basis of population of year
2015, making it the sixth state after Delhi, Telangana, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh to have
achieved this milestone.
In this small hill state Aadhaar numbers have been generated for 72, 52,880 residents. In order to
maintain this achievement in future, special arrangements have been made under which services of
Anganwari workers and health services will be taken to cover different age groups.
Asia Pacific countries resolve to adopt Urban Plus approach to take planning beyond city limits
Asia Pacific countries that account for over 55% of global urban population have resolved to adopt
Urban Plus approach taking urban planning and development beyond city limits to prevent
unmanageable and unsustainable urban expansion. This was contained in the New Delhi
Declaration adopted here today on the conclusion of three day deliberations of the Asia Pacific
Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD). The theme of the
conference was Emerging Urban Forms-Policy Reforms and Governance Structures in the Context of
New Urban Agenda.
Department of Telecom to launch portal on mobile radiation: ManojSinha
The Department of Telecom (DoT) is set to launch a portal Tarang with data on all mobile
towers and transmitters across the country in a month that will allow a user to check the radiation
compliance status. The government is responsible and concerned for public health but some
misconceptions prevail and they need to be addressed by awareness.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana comes into effect
PradhanMantriGaribKalyanYojana (PMGKY) has comes into effect. 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 HasmukhAdhia 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. He said, declarations 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 Brain Storming
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.
SwasthyaRaksha Programme launched by the AYUSH Ministry to promote health and health
education in villages
SwasthyaRakshan Program has been initiated through Central Council for Research in
AyurvedicSciences (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 SwasthyaRakshan
OPDs, SwasthyaParikshan Camps and Health/Hygiene awareness programme.
Single tribunal to decide all state water disputes
The Centre has decided to set up a single, permanent Tribunal to adjudicate all inter-state river
water disputes subsuming existing tribunals, a step which is aimed at resolving grievances of states
in a speedy manner. Besides the Tribunal, the government has also proposed to float some benches
by amending the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 to look into disputes as and when required.
Unlike the Tribunal, the benches will cease to exist once the disputes are resolved.
PM launches major skill development projects in Kanpur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation of Indian Institute of Skills in Kanpur
tomorrow with the aim of making youths more employable and self-reliant. The institute has been
conceptualised by the Prime Minister during his visit to Singapores Institute of Technical Education.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate KaushalPradarshini (skill exhibition) for the youth of
Uttar Pradesh.
The exhibition would showcase state-of-the-art vocational training practices across different
sectors and would be open for public view at Railway Grounds, Kanpur between December 19 and
December 22.
Uttarakhand Government gives nod for 7th pay panel recommendations
The Uttarakhand government has approved implementation of the seventh Pay Commission
recommendations, a move which will benefit over 2.50 lakh state government employees and
pensioners ahead of polls in the state.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah inaugurates first air ambulance service in Bengaluru
Chief Minister Siddaramaiahhas inaugurated Karnatakas first air ambulance service at HAL airport
in the state capital. Newly built helicopters are specially designed to fulfill the requirements of the
patients while transporting them from one place to another. For the time being, only three
choppers are available for the service and named as H 130.
Maharashtra to become 1st state to have 24x7 helpline for forests
In a first in the country, the Maharashtra forest department will launch a state-wide call centre
facility from January 6. It will operate from Goregaon in Mumbai and is currently functioning on a
trial basis. Citizens will soon be able to call on a 24x7 toll free number (1926) to lodge complaints or
get information about a variety of issues related to forests and wildlife.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh inaugurates MSG skin bank
DeraSachaSauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has established a new global skin bank in the Shah
SatnamJi Specialty Hospital in Sirsa from the revenue that was generated from his movie "MSG 2 -
The Messenger". MSG Global Skin Bank is equipped with state-of-the-art modern medical machines
including an incubator, bio-safety cabinet, hot air oven, dermatome, skin graft mesher and cold
room.
39 infra projects to be inaugurated in Ghaziabad
RajyaSabha Member of Parliament (MP) and Samajwadi Party general secretary RamgopalYadav will
inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 39 projects of Ghaziabad Development Authoritys (GDA)
valued at Rs 1,260 crore. The foundation stone will be laid for 14 projects that will include two
flyovers in Vasundhara, Raj Nagar Extension and HapurChungi, road widening near Hindon air base,
Bunkar Mart for weavers at MadhubanBapudham and construction of housing under
SamajwadiAvasYojna scheme. The projects are expected to cost Rs 683 crore.
UP CM AkhileshYadav inaugurates 5,500 projects in 6 hours
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister AkhileshYadav inaugurated and laid foundation stone of more than
over 5,500 projects in about six hours, at 13 different places in Lucknow. He began the day by
inaugurating a new building at state capitals Ram ManoharLohia Hospital.
Among these, were the works for villages under the Janeshwar Mishra Gram Yojna, newly-
constructed kisan bazaars at Lucknow, Saifai, Jhansi, Kannauj among others, special mandis for
Lalitpur, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Mahoba and Jalaun, nearly 183 link roads, and a 199 KW solar
power plant at Naveen Mandi in Ghaziabad.
Bengaluru to get India's second sericulture centre
Union government is all set to launch its second centre of excellence for sericulture in Bengaluru.
This will provide a fillip to Karnatakas status as the premier sericulture hub of India. The first such
centre was set up in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The Central Silk Board has set up the centre to boost the silk
industry, which is going through a tough phase.
The country now imports nearly 4,000 metric tonnes of high quality raw silk from China. he
automatic reeling machine can produce about 20 metric tonnes of silk per year utilizing cocoons
produced by around 200 local farmers.
NGT announces 25k fine on bulk waste burning in open areas
The NGT has imposed a complete ban on burning of waste in open places across the country and
announced a fine of Rs 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning. The green panel also asked
the Environment Ministry and all states to pass appropriate directions in relation to the ban on
short-life Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and chlorinated plastics within a period of six months.
Indias first Beer Mile festival to be held in Bengaluru
Bengaluru will host Indias first Beer Mile Run, wherein a participant will be required to drink a pint
of beer, run a quarter mile, and then repeat the process until a mile is completed. Prizes to fastest
runners in different categories will be awarded. The event, which is scheduled for January 15, 2017,
will also offer food, music, and games.
PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Cancer Centre in Varanasi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid foundation stone for a cancer centre and a super speciality
hospital besides touring Kabir Nagar area to inspect laying of underground cables, installation of
heritage streetlights and lighting of heritage buildings.
Government reconstitutes committee helping Krishna River Board
The Union Water Resources Ministry has reconstituted a committee that was tasked with assisting
the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). The new committee will be headed by A.K. Bajaj,
former chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC). Besides, Gopala Krishnan, R.P. Pandey,
Pradeep Kumar Shukla and N.N. Rai will be its members. The committee was reconstituted based on
the demand of Telangana government.
India suffers from huge gender pay gap: ILO Report
According to Global Wage Report 2016-17 released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO),
India suffers from huge gender pay gap. It shows that India has among the worst levels of gender
wage disparity (men earning more than women in similar jobs) with the gap exceeding 30%.
Singapore has among the lowest gender wage disparity at 3%. Among major economies, South
Korea only fared worse than India, with a gap of 37%.
President promulgates the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Fifth Ordinance, 2016
The President of India has promulgated the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Fifth
Ordinance, 2016 (8 of 2016) on 22nd December, 2016.
After the Indo-China aggression in 1962, specific properties of Chinese nationals in India were
vested in the Custodian in terms of Defence of India Rules, 1962. Subsequently, after the Indo-Pak
conflict in 1965 & 1971, the movable / immovable properties of Pakistani nationals automatically
got vested in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India and their vesting was continued in the
Custodian by the Enemy Property Act, 1968.
NITI Aayog launches the National Index for Performance on Health Outcomes
A Performance on Health Outcomes index, spearheaded by NITI Aayog along with Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, to nudge States towards transformative action in the Health sector was
launched. The index has been developed over several months, with inputs from domestic and
international experts, including academicians and development partners, seeking feedback from
States through multiple iterations and pre-testing the indicators in two States prior to its
finalization.
Northeast gets its second Ayurvedic College in Shillong
AYUSH Minister ShripadYessoNaik has inaugurated the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and
Homeopathy (NEIAH) to provide health care to the people of north eastern states. With its
inauguration, NEIAH became the second Ayurvediccollege in the Northeast with a Homeopathy
college, and the Central Academic Institute of Ayush in Assams Guwahati.
Modi features on government of India calendar
The Government of India calendar 2017 that features Prime Minister Narendra Modi on each page
draws flak on social media. The calender launched by Information and Broadcasting Minister M.
Venkaiah Naidu.
The theme of the calender is MeraDeshBadalRahaHai, AageBadhRahaHai.

This is the first time, a central government using the yearly calendar to showcase its
achievements. The minister Venkaiah Naidu has also launched digital calendar app, which was firstly
introduced in the year of 2014.
Solar power project starts at Bengaluru airport
In an initiative to harness renewable energy, a 3.5 MW solar power project was inaugurated at the
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) airport in Bengaluru. The project is reportedly spread over 23 acres
of land with around 12,985 solar modules. Notably, HAL is aimed at establishing 50 MW of
renewable energy in the next two years.
DRDO successfully flight tests Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon
The Defence and Research Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully flight tested the
Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft.SAAW an indigenously
designed and developed 120 kg. class smart weapon, developed by DRDO, is capable of engaging
ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kms.
PM Modi lays foundation stone of 3,600 crShivaji memorial
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay foundation stone for the grand memorial of Maratha warrior
king ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj and the metro rail projects in Mumbai and Pune.
The main feature of the Shivaji memorial, slated to cost Rs 3,600 crore, will be a 192-metre-tall
statue of the iconic Maratha king. The site is a rocky outcrop, roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan
shore. Chief Minister DevendraFadnavis recently said the Shiv Smarak will not only be the tallest
memorial in the country, but in the entire world.
Govt clears acquisition of weapons system worth over Rs.7k cr
The government of India gave the go ahead to the IAF to purchase one more C17 heavy transport
aircraft and also gave the nod to the Coast Guards proposal to acquire six multi-mission maritime
aircraft for Rs 5,500 crore. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister
ManoharParrikar, also reviewed the working of the DRDO besides giving the go ahead for the
procurement of 1,500 indigenously designed and developed Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC)
warfare protection system for the infantry combat vehicle for Rs 1,265 crore.
Google to launch online safety campaign for consumers in India
In a bid to raise awareness about online safety, Google India has partnered Ministry of Consumer
Affairs for rolling out a nationwide Digitally Safe Consumer campaign.
Google, along with Department of Consumer Affairs, will undertake a year-long campaign
focussed on building capacities of consumer organisations, personnel of Consumer Affairs
department and counsellors of National Consumer Helpline on Internet safety and related issues.
This initiative will add to Googles existing campaigns guiding users to navigate the web and
manage their digital lives safely and leverage the web to the fullest.
Govt observes Good Governance Day
Good Governance Day is being observed by the government on the occasion of former PM
AtalBihari Vajpayees birth anniversary. A 100-day campaign will be launched across the country on
the theme of good governance on the occasion, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said. Under the
campaign, MPs will travel across India to highlight the Centres key initiatives, he added.
NGT asks govt to regulate use of plastic during polls
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests (MoEF) regarding rampant use of plastic flags and banners by political
parties during elections and asked to decide on the issue within six months.
Pak Hindus in India can register for citizenship for Rs.100
The registration fees for Hindus and other minority community people from three neighbouring
countries, including Pakistan, as Indian citizens have been drastically reduced to as low as Rs 100
from Rs 15,000. In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the new rules will be applicable to
minority communities- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians- from Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Bangladesh and living in India on Long Term Visa.
Odisha Government launches BijuSishuSurakshyaYojana to nurture HIV positive orphan kids
The Odisha Government launched the BijuSishuSurakshyaYojana, a scheme to nurture the orphan
and HIV-infected children residing in different child care institutions and orphanages. The main
objective of the scheme is to facilitate care and protection towards orphans and HIV infected
children of the state. It will act and supplement for providing additional resources and
complementary modalities to the existing centrally sponsored schemes.
India successfully tests its longest range nuclear missile
Agni-5, Indias longest range nuclear capable missile, was successfully test fired from the Kalam
Island off Odisha coast today by the Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO. The
intercontinental surface-to-surface ballistic missile, the latest in Indias Agni family of medium to
intercontinental range missiles, with new technology for navigation and guidance, gives India the
strategic depth it needs to contain its enemies, say scientists. Ready to be deployed, the Agni-5 will
soon join Indias military arsenal.
Centre inks deal with MIT to develop inland waterways
The Centre has signed a deal with the Infrastructure Architecture Lab of Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) for developing ferry services at 18 locations across six cities. All these cities,
including Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata, are located on National Waterway 1, the longest
waterway in India. Notably, India has approximately 14,500 km of navigable waterways.
Indias first 2G Ethanol Bio-refinery to be set up in Punjab
Union Food Processing Minister HarsimratKaurBadal recently laid the foundation stone of Punjabs
first second-generation bioethanol plant at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district. Built on 49 acres of
land, the Rs 500 crore plant offers a practical solution to the problem of stubble burning by
converting crop residue into ethanol.
GOI launches Smart Consumer mobile App & OCMC for speedy redressal of consumer grievances
The Union Government has launched Smart Consumer mobile App and an Online Consumer
Mediation Centre (OCMC) to provide speedy redressal of consumer grievances. Apart from this, a
helpline 14404 was also launched for consumer related grievances on the occasion of National
Consumer Day (24th December
Odisha Government to launch DAMAN programme for malaria control
The Odisha government has decided to launch a new malaria control programme, DAMAN , in
inaccessible areas with annual expenditure of Rs 24 crore from the state budget. DAMAN stands for
DurgamaAnchalare Malaria Nirakaran (malaria control in inaccessible areas) will be implemented in
8,000 villages of all 79 blocks of eight high malaria endemic southern districts. DAMAN will continue
for five years with a total spending of Rs 120 crore. The government has already sanctioned Rs 10
crore to role out the programme.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Russia, Turkey agree to push for ceasefire in Syria
The foreign ministers of Russia and Turkey agreed in a telephone conversation to push for a
ceasefire in Syria and to prepare for possible peace talks planned in the Kazakh capital of Astana.
During the conversation the importance was stressed of a rapid completion of agreements on
practical parameters to end military actions (in Syria), the separation of the moderate opposition
from terrorist groups, and preparations for the meeting in Astana.
China blocks India's move to label MasoodAzhar as terrorist
With Beijing blocking its move to list JeM chief MasoodAzhar as a UN designated terrorist, India
has said the development reflected "double standards" in the fight against terrorism and was
"surprising" as China was itself a victim of terrorism.
China's decision to block the proposal to list MasoodAzhar as a designated terrorist under the
1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council which had been presented nine months
ago and had received the strong backing of all other members of the Committee.
World's highest bridge opens in China
The world's highest bridge has opened to traffic in China, connecting two provinces in the
mountainous southwest and reducing travel times by as much as three-quarters, local
authorities. The Beipanjiang Bridge soars 565 metres (1,854 feet) above a river and connects the
two mountainous provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou.
Egypt approves deal to hand over islands to Saudi Arabia
Egypt's government has approved a deal to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia and
has sent it to parliament for ratification on Thursday, according to state television. An Egyptian
state advisory body recommended that a Cairo court uphold a ruling that annulled an agreement
giving Saudi Arabia control of two islands.The agreement, announced in April, caused a public
uproar and rare protests by Egyptians who said the uninhabited islands of Tiran and Sanafir were
Egyptian.
Colombia approves amnesty deal for FARC rebels
Colombias Congress has approved an amnesty law to protect thousands of demobilisingFarc

guerrilla fighters from prosecution for minor crimes committed during the countrys 52-year
war.The law, a key part of a peace deal signed last month between the government and the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels, will not include those who have committed war
crimes or human rights violations.
China launches 2 high resolution remote sensing satellites
China today successfully launched a pair of high-resolution remote sensing satellites to get
commercial images.The satellites were launched today from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre
in Shanxi Province.
The satellites launch followed release of a white paper yesterday which said China
plans to form a BeiDou network consisting of 35 satellites for global navigation services
by 2020. It is expected to compete with Americas Global Positioning system.
China plans to start providing basic services to countries along the Silk Road
Economic Belt and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road in 2018
Astronomers discover universes biggest Galaxy Supercluster near Milky Way
A team of international astronomers has discovered Vela super cluster, one of the biggest super
galaxy clusters near the Milky Way. It was spotted by a research team of astronomers from South
Africa, Australia and Europe with help slew of telescopes including the Anglo-Australian Telescope
(Sydney) and South African Large Telescope (Cape Town).
Vela super cluster is massive and it is estimated to carry 100,000 galaxies with trillions of stars. It is
one of the biggest concentrations of galaxies found in the Universe. Our galaxy Milky Way,
BRICS nations to share tax information automatically to eliminate tax evasion
The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries have agreed to share tax
information automatically as per their commitment to ensure the fairness of the international tax
system. Decion in this regard was taken at the meeting of Heads of Revenue of BRICS Countries in
Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Singapore TOPS global education rankings
Singapores teens are the best in the world, according to international education survey. In all three
subjects, Singapore students demonstrated knowledge and skills equivalent to almost two
additional years of schooling compared to students in the US, France and Sweden. The US improved
on its 2012 performance by moving up to 25 on the list.
China passes law to levy environment tax on polluters
China has passed a new law to levy environment tax on polluters, specially on heavy industries. The
Environment Tax Law was adopted by the legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC) Standing
Committee which concluded its meeting here yesterday. However, carbon dioxide, one of the major
contributors to global warming, is not included in the levying list. Under the new law, companies will
pay taxes ranging from 350 yuan (USD 60) to 11,200 yuan (USD 1870) per month for noise,
according to their decibel level.
China tests 5th-generation fighter jet FC-31 Gyrfalcon
China has tested the latest version of its fifth-generation stealth fighter. The new FC-31 has better
stealth capabilities, improved electronic equipment and a larger payload capacity than the previous
version which debuted in October 2012. The jet is manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corp., a
subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC). The so-called fifth-generation twin-engine
jet is Chinas answer to the US F-35, the worlds most technically advanced fighter.
Saudi Arabia introduces tax on foreign workers
Saudi Arabia will introduce an expat levy on foreign workers with dependents from 2017, which
was revealed during the countrys budget announcement. The fee will start at $26 (1,760) per
month in July 2017 and will rise each year to reach $106 (7,178) a month in July 2020. It is unclear
whether the fee will be assessed for each dependent.
Worlds longest tunnel opens for regular service in Switzerland
Regular rail service through the worlds longest tunnel began on carrying passengers deep under the
Swiss Alps from Zurich to Lugano. The famed Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) had a ceremonial opening
in June, attracting European leaders like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President
Francois Hollande for its maiden ride.
Venezuela scraps largest banknote, gives 10 days to exchange
The Venezuelan government is to withdraw its largest banknote from circulation in its latest attempt
to tackle the worlds worst inflation crisis. President NicolsMaduro has said that the 100-bolivar
note, which is currently worth only two US cents (1.6p) on the black market, will be withdrawn.
Venezuelans will then have 10 days to exchange the notes at the central bank.
Apple may join SoftBank's $100 bn technology fund
Softbank Group is looking for investing partners as it assembles the worlds largest private equity
fund and may connect with Apple for a small portion of the $100 billion.
The Japanese tech conglomerate run by Masayoshi Son announced the Softbank Vision Fund in
October in partnership with the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Rio Gets UNESCO World Heritage Status
Brazil- Rio de Janeiro, nicknamed the Marvelous City, officially entered the UNs list of world
heritage sites in recognition of its soaring granite cliffs, urban rainforest and beaches. The UN
cultural body, UNESCO, highlighted the extraordinary fusion of man-made and natural beauty in
certifying Rio on the world heritage list during a ceremony held at the Christ the Redeemer statue.
India, Tajikistan ink four agreements

India and Tajikistan have signed four agreements, including one on exchange of financial
intelligence, following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tajik
President EmomaliRahmon.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on cooperation in the exchange of

financial intelligence related to money laundering, related crimes and financing of terrorism.
Grand Palais in Paris opens giant ice rink for winter revelers
The Grand Palais in Paris put on an eye-catching party on ice to open their 2,700 square metre rink
to the public. It the world's largest non-permanent indoor ice rink, with more than 100 workers
involved in laying the ice over the concrete floor at the French landmark, organisers said at the
opening. The third edition of the Grand Palais des Glaces runs until Jan. 2.
Kyrgyzstan President arrives in Delhi today on 4-day visit to India
Kyrgyz President AlmazbekSharshenovichAtambayev will arrive in New Delhi on a four-day visit

during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ways to deepen
ties in areas of defence, security, trade and connectivity. It will be first presidential visit from the key
central Asian nation to India in 13 years and Atambayevs first trip here as President.
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.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani unveils bill of rights
Irans President Hassan Rouhani unveiled a bill of rights was guaranteeing freedom of speech,
protest, fair trials and privacy. This bill is a call by the Iranian nation against some arrogant Western
countries who think they are ahead of Third World countries in human rights. One of the major
demands of Iranian people is citizenship rights
Pakistan Navy launches live missile from Arabian Sea
Pakistan Navy has undertook live missile firing in the North Arabian Sea. Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff
Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah witnessed the launch of the surface-to-surface anti-ship missile from
sword class frigate PNS Aslat.
The missile successfully destroyed its intended target with pinpoint accuracy.
The missile was equipped with state-of-the-art navigational technologies of Terrain Contour
Matching (Tercom) and all-time Digital Scene Matching and Area Co-relation (DSMAC) which
enables it to engage various types of targets with pinpoint accuracy even in the absence of GPS
navigation.
Babur weapons system is an important force multiplier for Pakistan's strategic defence.
Pakistan Senate adopts resolution seeking withdrawal of Rs 5,000 notes
The Pakistan Senate has passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of high denomination Rs. 5000
currency notes from circulation in order to curb the flow of black money. Senator UsmanSaifUllah
Khan of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) tabled the resolution that was endorsed by the majority of
lawmakers in the Upper House.
102-yr-old scientist wins case for office in college campus
A 102-year-old Australian ecologist, the country's oldest working scientist, has won a battle to keep
working on campus at an Australian university. Dr David Goodall was ordered to work from home
next year after his presence at Western Australia's Edith Cowan University was deemed a safety risk.
Australia's oldest working scientist, Goodall has produced more than 100 research papers in an
ecology career spanning 70 years.
Nepal to hold first military exercise with China
Beginning a new level of bilateral military engagement, Nepal will hold its first ever joint military
exercise with China on February 10. The focus of the military exercise, named Pratikar-1, will be on
training Nepali forces in dealing with hostage scenarios involving international terror groups.
Nepals Chief of Army Staff General RajendraChhetri visited Beijing in March when both sides had
resolved to strengthen military ties.
Worlds first solar road opens in France
France has just opened the first public solar panel road in the world. The road, called the Wattway,
was officially opened by French Minister of Ecology Sgolne Royal and Mayor Guy Monhe. The
stretch of road is covered in photovoltaic panels, which transform solar energy into electricity.
Japan approves record 3 lakh crore defence budget for 2017
The cabinet of Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a record 5.05 trillion yen ($41.4 billion)
defense budget for fiscal year 2016/2017. The rise in the defense budget is primarily driven by a
weakened yen, higher personnel costs and an increase in expenses for the planned relocation of the
U.S. Marine Corps Futenma air base in Okinawa Prefecture. The MOD will also construct a military
radar station on Yonaguniisland, the westernmost inhabited island of Japan.
China launches satellite to monitor global CO2 emissions
China launched a carbon dioxide monitoring satellite via a Long March-2D rocket from Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center in northwest Chinas Gobi Desert. China is the third country after Japan and
the United States to monitor greenhouse gases through its own satellite.
The 620-kg satellite TanSat was sent into a sun synchronous orbit about 700 kilometers
above the earth and will monitor the concentration, distribution and flow of carbon dioxide (CO2) in
the atmosphere. On a three-year mission, TanSat will thoroughly examine global CO2 levels every 16
days, accurate to at least 4 ppm (parts per million).
This was the 243rd mission of the Long March series rockets. Besides TanSat, the rocket also
carried a high-resolution micro-nano satellite and two spectrum micro-nano satellites for
agricultural and forestry monitoring.
France becomes first country to use drones for national mail service
The French postal service is beginning an experimental drone delivery program to deliver parcels on
a nine mile route once a week. After the program gets approval from the French aviation regulatory
authority, the federal postal service will be the first to ever use drone delivery on a regular route.
The drones used in the French postal service experiment have the capacity to fly up to 12 miles
carrying about two pounds maximum, going around 19 miles per hour.
Japan successfully launches solid fuel rocket
Japans space agency has successfully launched a solid fuel rocket named Epsilon-2. The rocket is the
latest in Tokyos effort to stay competitive in an industry that has robust growth potential and
strong security implications.
The Exploration of Energisation and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) mission will be operated by
the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), studying Earths magnetosphere.
The Epsilon-2 three-stage rocket is part of a new generation of solid propellant rockets and
makes it possible for launch costs to be reduced up to one third, according to JAXA.
US imposes more sanctions on Russia
Companies building a multi-billion dollar bridge to link the Russian mainland with annexed Crimea, a
project close to the heart President Vladimir Putin, were targeted by the United States in an
updated sanctions blacklist. The U.S. Department of the Treasury added dozens of people and
companies to the list, first introduced after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in
2014 and expanded over its support for separatist rebels in the east of the country.
Missing Russian plane with 91 onboard crashes into Black Sea
A Russian military plane crashed in the Black Sea as it made its way to Syria with 92 people onboard,
including Red Army Choir members heading to celebrate the New Year with troops. Fragments of
the Tu-154 plane of the Russian defence ministry were found 1.5 kilometres from the Black Sea
coast of the city of Sochi at a depth of 50 to 70 metres.
The plane had been on a routine flight to Russias Hmeimim airbase in western Syria, which has
been used to launch air strikes in Moscows military campaign supporting its ally President Bashar
al-Assad in the countrys devastating civil war.
Obama signs defence bill, enhances cooperation with India
US President Barack Obama has signed into law the $618 billion defence budget for 2017, which
enhances security cooperation with India and conditions nearly half of the funding to Pakistan on a
certification that it is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network. Early this year, US
defence secretary Ashton Carter refused to give a similar certification to Pakistan due to which it
was not given $300 million under coalition support fund.
Philippines evacuates thousands ahead of Christmas typhoon
Philippine authorities began evacuating thousands of people and shut down dozens of ports as a
strong typhoon threatened to wallop the countrys east coast on Christmas Day. Nock-Ten is
expected to be packing winds of between 203- 250 kilometres per hour when it crosses over
Catanduanes, a remote island of 250,000 people in the Bicol region.
China resumes diplomatic relations with Sao Tome
China resumed diplomatic relations with Sao Tome and Principe in Beijing, after the African nation
cut diplomatic ties with the Taiwan region. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Sao Tome and
Principe counterpart UrbinoBotelho held talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, and
signed a joint communique on resuming diplomatic relations.
Italy approves bailout for the worlds oldest bank
Italys government approved a state bailout for Monte deiPaschi di Siena, after the worlds oldest
bank failed to secure backing from private investors. Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and his cabinet
paved the way for a 20 billion euro ($20.8 billion) rescue fund to help the countrys embattled
banking sector, with BMPS, Italys third largest bank, the priority.
Earthquake of magnitude 7.7 hits Chile
A strong Christmas Day quake rattled southern Chile, triggering initial tsunami fears and
evacuations, but no deaths were reported and damage was minor. The quake registered 7.7 on the
Moment Magnitude scale according to seismologists at the US Geological Survey. The epicenter of
the shallow quake was on the southern part of Chiloe island, in a zone of several national parks.
Scientists develops first Biological Pacemaker using Human Stem Cells
In a major advancement in medical sciences, Canadian Scientists have succeeded to develop first
functional pacemaker cells from human stem cells that can be considered as a promising alternative
to electronic pacemakers.
These pacemakers can regulate heart beats with electrical impulses. Pluripotent stem cells
have the potential to differentiate into more than 200 different cell types that make up
every tissue and organ in the body.
Learning how to generate pacemaker cells could help in understanding disorders in
pacemaker cells, and provide a cell source for developing a biological pacemaker. Biological
pacemakers represent a promising alternative to electronic pacemakers.
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
Snapchat acquires Israeli startup Cimagine
Snap Inc, the parent company behind the popular Snapchat app, has acquired an augmented reality
company Cimagine Media for an estimated $30-40 million. Cimagine Media is a four-year-old
startup, which helps retailers and consumers visualise products that they are planning to purchase
by placing them in their home before purchasing. Cimagine already has partnerships with a number
of big-ticket brands such as Shop Direct, Coca-Cola and John Levis.
BANKING AND FINANCE

ICICI Bank to convert 100 villages into digital in 100 days
ICICI Bank has announced that it will transform 100 villages into Digital Villages in as many days as
part of its continuing effort to provide digital ecosystem across the country, including rural
India. The Digital Village programme encompasses digitization of transactions & commercial
activities, vocational training and credit facility to help villagers earn a sustainable livelihood.
RBI extends period of enhanced PPI limit
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the period of enhanced Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI)
limit of Rs20,000 as part of efforts to promote digital payments. Considering that the bank is
undertaking a comprehensive review of the guidelines and framework for Prepaid Payment
Instruments (PPI) issuance in the country, it has been decided to extend the measures till the
completion of review of the PPI guidelines,
Mori in Andhra gets Smart Digital village tag
Mori, a tiny village under Sakhinetipallimandal in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, today
sealed its place on Indias digital map by transforming completely into a Smart Digital Village, in
every sense of the term.
MobiKwik to allow payment of utility bills through e-wallet
MobiKwik, a mobile wallet company, has announced that it had got an in-principle approval from
the Reserve Bank of India to set up Bharat Bill Payments Operating Unit (BBPOU). This company will
now be integrated in Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), a bill payment system by NPCI, offering
interoperable and accessible bill payment service to customers through a network of agents.
RBI restricts withdrawals from Jan Dhan accounts up to Rs 10,000
The Reserve Bank of India has put withdrawal limits on bank accounts opened under
PradhanMantri Jan DhanYojana (PMJDY) which are funded through deposits of Specified Bank
Notes (SBNs) after November 9. The notification issued by RBI stated that the limits are being
imposed to protect innocent farmers from activities of money launders and legal consequences
under the Benami Property Transaction & Money Laundering laws.
Coal India arm signs pact with SBI Capital markets
Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI) the consultancy arm of Coal India Ltd., has
signed a memorandum of understanding with investment banker SBI Capital Markets. The
agreement is aimed at tapping each others strengths to increase their respective market share in
the rapidly growing consultancy area.
Banks to bear liability in case of online security breach: RBI
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified that banks will have to bear the full liability in the event
of any security breach or compromise in the authorised card network. Banks issuing the cards will
offer the payment authentication solutions of the respective card networks on an optional basis to
their customers.
MMTC to tie-up with SBI to sell govt minted Indian Gold Coin
Public Sector Company MMTC will tie-up with the State Bank of India (SBI) to sell government-
minted Indian Gold Coin. The state-run bullion trader, which has already tied up with over half a
dozen banks, has so far sold one lakh pieces of Indian Gold Coin and has set a target of selling 5
lakhs units in the next few years. The coin is available in denominations of 5gm, 10gm and 20 gm
bar.
YES Bank has partnered Ola to set up mobile ATMs for cash withdrawal
Yes Bank has partnered cab aggregator Ola to set up mobile ATMs across 30 locations in the country
that will allow people to withdraw up to Rs 2,000 per card. The Point of Sale (PoS) enabled ATMs will
be stationed in Ola cabs from where customers of any bank can withdraw the amount. The service
will be available in over 30 locations across 10 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai,
Pune, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Jaipur.
Bank of Baroda has raised Rs 1,000 crore by issuing bonds
Public sector player Bank of Baroda has raised Rs. 1,000 crore by issuing bonds that are compliant
with global capital adequacy norms or Basel III. The bank has issued and allotted bonds with issue
size of Rs. 1,000 crore on December 2, 2016, it said in a regulatory filing. The bonds will carry
interest rate of 8.5 per cent. The bonds are in nature of unsecured perpetual bonds.
DTAB suggests one-time licensing for drugs
The drugs technical advisory board recently recommended one-time licensing for manufacture and
sales of drugs, with a rider that there be at least one annual inspection and in cases where risk is
high. At present, the renewal of licences for each formulation rests with state regulators and is
around three years.
MoES launches Winter Fog Experiment 2016-17
The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has launched Winter Fog Experiment (WIFEX 2016-17)
to study presence of extended periods of fog in northern parts of the country. It is an intensive
ground-based measurement to understand different physical and chemical features of Fog will be
conducted at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Delhi.
ISRO to launch Resource Sat-2A on 7th of Dec
In its thirty eighth flight (PSLV-C36), ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle successfully launched the
1235 kg RESOURCESAT-2A Satellite from SatishDhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. This is the
thirty seventh consecutively successful mission of PSLV. After PSLV-C36 lift-off from the First Launch
Pad with the ignition of the first stage, the subsequent important flight events.
Government asks banks to install additional 10 lakh PoS to promote digital transactions
In order to promote digital transactions across the country, government has asked banks to install
10 lakh additional Point of sale (PoS) terminals within four months. Towards this end, banks have
already placed ORDERS for 6 lakh PoS machines and another 4 lakh are likely to be ordered in the
next few days. There are about 15 lakh PoS terminals currently across different merchants to
facilitate card based payments.
Recommendations of RatanWatal Committee for Digital Payments
The Committee on Digital Payments, headed by former Finance Secretary Ratan P. Watal, submitted
its final report suggesting measures to boost cashless transactions in the medium term, to Finance
Minister ArunJaitley. The Committee constituted by the Ministry of Finance under the chairmanship
of Ratan P. Watal, Principal Advisor, NITI Aayog and former Finance Secretary has submitted its final
report to the Finance Minister.
Mobile and Digital Banking induction campaign for youth
Minister of State( I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel has led a Mobile and Digital Banking
induction campaign for youth at Maj. Dhyanchand National Stadium.
As the demonetisation phase completes one month, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
continues to promote the benefits of online banking and boosts the methods of cashless
transactions with the help of youngsters.
The Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan which comes under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and
Sports is leading the initiative and has invited interested youngsters to join the drive for
#Youth4DigitalPaisa.
PNB launches Mobile Wallet
Punjab National Bank launched the Banks Mobile wallet - PNB Kitty. PNB Kitty is a digital wallet that
enables a smart phone user to undertake on line transactions using the money stored in it i.e.
without using debit card / credit card / internet banking and sharing sensitive information like
passwords or card details.
State Bank MobiCash Mobile Wallet launched
State Bank of India (SBI) has launched Mobicash Mobile Wallet in association with state-owned
telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). It will provide a mobile wallet to
the masses and works with smart as well as normal feature phone.
The special feature of Mobicash is that users can deposit cash with BSNL retail outlets and
can also withdraw cash from his/her account.
The bank said the wallet will initially be available in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Bihar.
The service will then be expanded on pan-India basis by December-end. Our Bureau
Ukraine nationalises country's largest bank
Ukraine has nationalised the countrys 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 countrys bank deposits and even has branches in the Baltic States.
YES Bank, Ola tie up to provide cash at your doorstep
YES Bank, Indias fifth largest private sector bank has partnered with Ola, one of the popular mobile
apps for transportation, to provide cash-on-demand at customers 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.
Lanura is first village to go cashless in J&K
A village in central Kashmir's Budgam district has become the first village in the state to go
'cashless'. Lanura village, about 30 kms from the summer capital here, has become the first village in
Jammu and Kashmir to go cashless. So far, 150 persons have been provided training to use EPS at
Lanura which falls in PanchayatBugroo-B in block Khansahab of the district.
Amazon launches ewallet in bid to increase cashless transactions
Amazon India on Friday launched its online wallet Amazon Pay Balance, in a bid to increase cashless
orders. The company, which does not offer an online wallet based payment option, has introduced a
payment option similar to how mobile wallets work. The option is, however, limited to Amazon-
based transactions.
RBI to issue new Rs.50 banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi series
The Reserve Bank of India has said that it will issue Rs 50 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma
Gandhi Series-2005, with inset letter L, R in both the number panels, bearing signature of
DrUrjitR.Patel, Governor, Reserve Bank of India, and the year of printing 2016 printed on the
reverse of the banknote.
These banknotes would have the ascending size of numerals in the number panels and without
intaglio printing; the banknotes are similar to Rs 50 banknotes issued earlier in Mahatma Gandhi
Series-2005.
Deutsche Bank allows men six-month childcare leave in India
In a first and major step towards breaking gender stereotypes, Deutsche Bank (DB) has delinked
parental leave from gender. From January 1, the bank will offer the same quantum of childcare
leave maternity leave of 6 months in India to men as well, if they happen to be primary
caregivers. The new leave policy is being rolled out across Asia Pacific.
RBI slaps fine on 5 foreign banks for violating FEMA rules
The Reserve Bank has imposed penalty on five foreign banks, including Deutsche Bank and Standard
Chartered Bank, for violation of its instructions on reporting requirements of the FEMA. The three
other banks are: Bank of America, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi and The Royal Bank of Scotland.
The penalties have been imposed in exercise of the powers vested in the Reserve Bank under the
provisions of Section 11(3) of FEMA 1999, taking into account, the violations of the
instructions/directions/guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India, from time to time.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

China launches 2 high resolution remote sensing satellites
China has successfully launched a pair of high-resolution remote sensing satellites to get commercial
images. The satellites were launched today from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi
Province.
The satellites, SuperView-1 01/02, blasted off at 11:23 am Beijing time on the back of a Long March
2D rocket. They are able to provide commercial images at 0.5-meter resolution.
Trial run of Indias first 700 MW nuclear reactor in 2017
The trial run of Indias first 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) coming up at Kakrapar
is expected to take place sometime in mid-2017, said a senior official of the Nuclear Power
Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). Indias atomic power plant operator NPCIL is building four 700 MW
PHWRs two each at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Gujarat and Rajasthan Atomic
Power Station (RAPS) in Rajasthan.
ISRO will launch 83 satellites in january 2017
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch 83 satellites, 80 of them foreign, in one
go in January. The 80 satellites weighing 500 kg, belong to Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands,
Switzerland and the U.S. These international customer satellites are being launched as part of the
commercial arrangement between them and Antrix Corporation Ltd., the commercial arm and PSU
under the ISRO.
India International Science Festival (IISF-2016) inaugurated in New Delhi
India International Science Festival (IISF-2016) inaugurated in New Delhi. India has achieved a pre-
eminent position in the field of Science & Technology, Space, Atomic Energy, Information
Technology and newly emerging technologies such as Nano Technology and Bio Technology. The
India International Science Festival (IISF-2016), the largest festival of science in this country with its
focus on Science for the Masses.
Japan successfully launches space junk collector into orbit
Japan has launched a cargo ship bound for the International Space Station (ISS), carrying a space
junk collector that was made with the help of a fishnet company. Scientists at the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) are experimenting with a tether to pull junk out of orbit around Earth,
clearing up tonnes of space clutter including cast-off equipment from old satellites and pieces of
rocket.
China launches new-generation weather satellite
China has launched a new weather satellite marking an upgrade of its meteorological satellites in
geostationary orbit. The Fengyun-4 satellite, the first of China's second-generation weather
satellites in geostationary orbit to have been launched, is also the country's first quantitative
remote-sensing satellite in highest orbit.
ISRO signs deal for first privately built satellite
The Indian Space Research Organisation has roped in a consortium of six companies to deliver the
countrys first industry-built spacecraft by late 2017. The contract has signed includes assembly,
integration and testing (AIT) of two spare navigation satellites consecutively in around 18 months. It
was signed between M. Annadurai, Director of ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), and the consortium lead;
Alpha Design Technologies P Ltd. ISAC assembles the countrys satellites for communication, remote
sensing and navigation.
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
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.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Apple to start making iPhones in India from April
Apples Taiwanese manufacturing partner Wistron is setting up a plant at Peenya in Bangalore to

manufacture or assemble iPhones for the tech giant, a report in Times of India said. While Apple
declined to comment on the news, the report quoted industry sources as saying that production
at the plant will start as early as April 2017.
China to hold first military drills with Nepal next year
China will hold its first military drills with Nepal next year. China is vying to increase its influence
in landlocked Nepal, which serves as a natural buffer between China and India, challenging
Indias long-held position as the dominant outside power.China and Nepal had been in initial
communication about joint army exercises, and details would be announced in due time, Yang
said without giving details.
Union Cabinet approves ratification of International Solar Alliance
The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to the proposal of Ministry of New &
Renewable Energy (MNRE) for ratification of ISAs Framework Agreement by India.
ISA was launched jointly by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France
on 30th November, 2015 at Paris on the side-lines of the 21st CoP meeting of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The ISA will strive to bring together more than 121 solar resource rich nations for
coordinated research, low cost financing and rapid deployment. The foundation stone of
the ISA Headquarters was laid at GwalPahari, Guragaon in Haryana.
India, Singapore sign revised tax avoidance agreement
India has signed a revised double tax avoidance agreement (DTAA) with Singapore to tax capital
gains on investments from the city-state starting 1 April 2017.India has already revised similar
tax agreements with Mauritius and Cyprus, the two other top sources of foreign direct
investments into the country.Under the new treaty with Singapore, India will tax investments at
50% of the capital gain tax between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2019.
India and Kyrgyzstan sign 6 agreements in various fields
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed Kyrgyz Republic as India's valuable partner in pursuit of
making Central Asia a region of sustainable peace. The relationship between India and the Kyrgyz
Republic is filled with goodwill from centuries of shared historical links.
Arunachal Pradesh and Thailand signs MoU to promote cooperation and collaboration.
For promoting cooperation and collaboration between Arunachal Pradesh and Thailand, a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SurindraRajabhat University Regional
Development Strategies (SRRURDS) Foundation of Surin Province, North East of Thailand and
Mahabodhi Lord Buddha College (MLBC) in Arunachal Pradesh.
Union Cabinet approves ratification of International Solar Alliance
The Union Cabinet has gave post facto approval to Indias ratification of the framework agreement
of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched last year jointly by India and France at Paris on the
sidelines of the 21st Conference of Parties on climate change.
The ISA, headquartered in India with an interim secretariat at the National Institute of Solar Energy
(NISE) premises in Gurugram, aims bring together more than 121 nations for coordinated research,
low cost final.
India has agreed to train Vietnams Sukhoi-30 fighter pilots
The defence ties with Vietnam, India has agreed to train the southeast nations Sukhoi-30 fighter
pilots. The agreement was reached during bilateral discussions between Defence Minister
ManoharParrikar and his Vietnamese counterpart, General Ngo Xuan Lich. India and Vietnam have
been steadily stepping up their cooperation, especially in the defence sector, against the backdrop
of the growing assertiveness of China in the region.
India to establish Center of Excellence in IT at Egypt
India will establish a centre of Excellence in Information technology at Egypts oldest and most
prestigious Al-Azhar University as part of an effort to ENHANCEcooperation in education between
the two countries. The centre will be set up in the engineering department of the university early
next year.
India and vietnam sign civil nuclear cooperation deal
India and influential East Asian nation Vietnam have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement,
with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that it will further strengthen the comprehensive
strategic partnership between the two countries. The two countries also signed three other
agreements to enhance aviation links, to jointly work in the area of energy efficiency and
promotion of parliamentary cooperation.
India designated as major US defence partner
Defence minister ManoharParrikar and US secretary of defence Ashton Carter have finalised Indias
designation as a major defence partner of the US. This was announced in the India-US joint
statement issued at the close of Carters visit to New Delhi. Carter is on his farewell visit to Asia as
the eight-year-old Barack Obama administration prepares to hand over charge to the new
administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
India, Russia to hold joint naval drills
The Russian-Indian Indra NAVY 2016 naval exercise will be held on 14-21 December in the
southeastern Indian coastal city of Visakhapatnam and in the Bay of Bengal. The Harbour Phase of
the two-phase exercise will be held from 14 December to 18 December in Visakhapatnam, and the
Sea Phase will take place in the Bay of Bengal from 19 December to 21 December.
EU, Cuba sign First agreement on political cooperation
The European Union and Cuba signed a political accord that the heads of the EU member states
signed on Monday a historic deal with Cuba on political dialogue and cooperation.
Brussels and Havana finished the negotiations on the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement
on March 11. The agreement included a number of issues, aimed at improving political and
economic cooperation.
Seventh Indo-Maldives joint military exercise EKUVERIN begins
Seventh edition of Exercise EKUVERIN will be held from 15 to 28 Dec 2016 at Kadhdhoo, Laamu
Atoll, Maldives. The Exercise is a 14 day platoon level joint military exercise between the Indian
Army & the Maldives National Defence Force conducted on a yearly basis.
The aim of the exercise is to conduct military training with emphasis on amphibious &
counter insurgency/ counter terrorism operations with a view to enhance interoperability between
the two armies.
The contingents comprise of platoon strength from BIHAR Regiment and a similar strength of
the Maldivian National Defence Force. The previous edition of the exercise was held in India at
Trivandrum, Kerala.
Union Cabinet approves Indias approach to climate change negotiations at COP22 to UNFCCC
The Union Cabinet has approved Indias approach to Climate Change Negotiations at the 22
Conference of Parties (COP) to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
held in Marrakesh, Morocco in November 2016.
Approval to Indias Approach to Climate Change Negotiations at the COP is intended to safeguard
the interest of poor and vulnerable groups by emphasizing on adaptation, loss and damage, and
protecting the development space. It incorporates the interest of all strata of society in the country.
Union Cabinet approves amended DTAA between India and Tajikistan
The Union Cabinet has approved the protocol amending the agreement between India and
Tajikistan for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes
on income. The protocol, after it enters into force, will enable sharing of information exchanged
under Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, DTAA with other law enforcement agencies for non-
tax purposes.
India, Kazakhstan ink protocol to enhance bilateral ties
India and Kazakhstan have inked a new protocol to take bilateral ties, especially in trade and
economic relations, forward. The protocol was signed after both sides participated in the fifth
Kazakh-Indian Joint Working Group on trade and economic cooperation.
Both countries discussed prospects for further cooperation in areas such as trade, energy,
investment promotion, development of industry, transport and logistics, tourism, pharmaceuticals,
agriculture..etc.
SPORTS
WINNER TITLE SPORT/ VENUE

India Womens Asia Cup Held in Terdthai Cricket Ground,
Bangkok.
PankajAdvani World Billiards Championship Singapore
Olympian Shiva Thapa Gold in national boxing
championships
Magnus Carlsen World Chess Championship He retained the title after defeating
2016 Sergey Karjakin of Russia.
India Junior World Cup Hockey Major Dhyan Chand Stadium. India
Indian Super League Atletico de Kolkata Cricket
champions
Karun Nair Indian cricketer to score triple MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
century in Tests
3rd BBC Sports personality of Andy Murray
the year
ArjunBhati Kids Golf World Championship Malaysia
Shiva Keshavan Asian Luge Championships Japan
Argentina FIFA Team of the Year title Belgium
RavichandranAshwin Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy He also ICC Cricketer of the year
India U-19 Asia Cup Defeated Sri Lanka
ViratKohli Top of list of best players of Lord's Cricket Ground have followed
2016 the trend and selected top 20 players
for this calendar year.
Kush Bhagat Youth Chess Championship She is 7-year-old Mumbai based girl
Sergey Karjakin World Blitz Chess Doha, Qatar
Championship
OBITUARY
NAME OF THE PERSON FIELD

Fritz Weaver Actor
Sammy Lee Olympic gold medal-winning diver
J. Jayalalithaa Tamil Nadu CM
John Glenn American to Orbit Earth
Ramesh Prabhu Politician
SaumitraChaudhuri Noted economist and former Planning Commission
member
Henry Heimlic Developer of life saving Heimlich manoeuvre
ChetanRamarao Veteran Kannada actor
George Michael British singer
DinanathBhargava Co-Artist of national emblem
Bernard Fox Actor
Walter Swinburn Renowned jockey
Sunder LalPatwa Madhya pradeshCM
Richard Adams Writer
RatnasiriWickremanayake Former Sri Lankan PM
Carrie Fisher Actress
Vera Rubin A pioneering astronomer
Barbara Tarbuck Actress
BalasahebVikhePatil Former Union Minister and Congress leader
IMPORTANT DAYS
DATE OBSERVED DAY

December 1 World AIDS Day
December 2 World Computer Literacy Day, International Day for
the Abolition of Slavery
December 3 International Day of People with Disability or World
Disability Day
December 4 Indian Navy Day
December 5 International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social
Development
December 7 International Civil Aviation Day, Indian Armed Force
Flag Day
December 9 The International Anti
Corruption Day
December 10 World Human Rights Day, International Children's Day
of Broadcasting
December 11 International Mountain Day, UNICEF Day
December 14 National Energy Conservation Day(India)
December 15 International Tea day
December 16 Kargil Vijay Diwas
December 17 International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
December 18 International Migrants day
National Minorities day
December 19 Goas Liberation day
December 20 International Human Solidarity day
December 21 Handloom Week
December 22 National Mathematics Day
December 24 National Consumer Day
December 25 Good Governance Day
December 29 International Bio-diversity day
ALL THE BEST!!!

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NAME OF THE AWARD AWARD WINNER KEY POINTS TO NOTE

SIES-Sri Maharashtra CM Devendra

2016 prestigious International UAE based Indian _

2016 AIFF Emerging Woman SanjuPradhan SanjuPradhan is an Indian footballer who

Telanganas 2nd International Kite Festival 12 to 17 Jan

Arunachal CM PemaKhandu, 32 other PPA MLAs join BJP

India's 1st transgender school opens in Kerala

NRIs can exchange demonetised notes till June 30

President approves ordinance criminalising holding of old notes

MEA eases passport rules for orphans, single parents

MEA eases the process for passport applicants

Applicants can submit:

* No marriage certificates needed for married applicants.

* No need to name the spouse in cases of applicants who are divorcees.

PM Modi launches mobile payments app BHIM

Government launches IVRS platform to tackle call drops

Government launches SwachhSwasthSarvatra initiative

SwachhSwasthSarvatra initiative, aimed at strengthening health centres in open defecation-free

Arunachal CM PemaKhandu suspended from party

Karan to launch his biography 'An Unsuitable Boy' in Jan

New technology developed to detect skin cancer early

PM inaugurates 12k cr Char Dham highway project in Ukhand

Govt launches campaign for door-to-door screening of TB

Assam Government launches Health Insurance Scheme Atal-AmritAbhiyan

Meghalaya to host National Games 2022

AIADMK passes resolution to appoint Sasikala as party chief

SwachhSwasthSarvatra, an inter-ministerial joint initiative between the Ministry of Drinking Water

World Bhojpuri Conference begins in Varanasi

Government launches IVRS platform to tackle call drops

Haryana police gets Indias 1st digital investigation centre

No jail term for holding old notes, minimum fine of Rs.10,000

India eases visa process for Bangladeshis

India 2nd largest arms buyer among developing nations

Government cancels FCRA licences of 20,000 NGOs

Gujarat Government announced its Biotechnology Policy-2016 to establish state as a preferred

Rajasthani writer Satya Narayan chosen for 2016 BihariPuraskar

Bapus Charkha among 100 Most Influential Photos of All Time

Andhra pradesh CM Chandrababu to head central committee to promote e-payments

Govt launches campaign to educate people about digital payments

Nagalands 53rd statehood day

Union Cabinet approves simplification of Visa regime

Union Cabinet approves inclusion of 15 new caste in Central OBC list

ChitraRamkrishna Quits NSE, J Ravichandran Interim Chief

7th World Ayurveda Meet Opens in Kolkata

Maharashtra govt works on Maha wallet to encourage cashless

Haryana CM approves implementation of Rs. 50-crore National Hydrology Project

Odisha to appoint 1000 Banking correspondents in unbanked gram panchyats

Chandra babu launches AP PURSE mobile app to promote digital transactions

Bengal forms anti-child trafficking panel

UGC asks universities, colleges to create awareness about cashless transactions

Kerala Government launches HarithaKeralam Mission

FSSAI bans use of newspapers for packing food

Worlds largest cricket stadium to come up Gujarat

ONGC to roll out new basin in Agartala by 2017

MP CM launches Narmada SevaYatra

Govt to soon launch helpline number 14444 to promote digital payments

President of India Launches 100 Million for 100 Million

SainaNehwal to set up badminton academy in Haryana

DipaKarmakars autobiography to be co-authored by her coach Bishweshwar Nandi

PM inaugurates Indias largest cheese plant in Banaskantha district

Rajiv Gandhi airport Achieves carbon neutral status

India, Indonesia sign three agreements

Punjab government launches countrys 1st amphibious bus project