Chronicle December 2018

NEWS NOTES

Seoul Peace Prize

·         The Seoul Peace Prize Committee has decided to confer the 2018 Seoul Peace Prize on PM Narendra Modi, in recognition of his dedication to improving international cooperation, raising global economic growth, accelerating the Human Development of the people of India.

Shakti Bhatt prize

·         Us- based Dalit writer Sujatha Gidla's debut book, which takes readers through four generations of her family, at the centre of which is her uncle and People's War Group co - founder KG Satyamurthy, has been named the winner of this year's Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize.

·         The Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize is funded by the Shakti Bhatt Foundation.

·         It was set up in 2008 in memory of young writer Shakti. It carries a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakh.

2018 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award

·         Arshdeep Singh (aged 10), is among the winners of the 2018 Wildlife Photographer of the Year award in the 10-years and under category for his photograph 'Pipe Owls', which is of two spotted owlets nested inside a pipe.

Sikkim Receives "Oscar for Best Policies"

·         Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling received the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Future Policy Gold Award.

·         Nickname the 'Oscar for best policies', the award is co-organized with the FAO by The World Future Council (WFC) and IFOAM – Organics International, and recognizes 'the world's best laws and policies promoting agro-ecology.

Adel Abdul Mahdi

·         Bahram Salih, Iraq's new President has named veteran Shia politician Adel Abdul Mahdi as prime minister-designate and tasked him with forming a new government.

·         According to Iraq's constitution, Abdul Mahdi now has 30 days to form a government and present it to parliament for approval.

Priyank Kanoongo

·         Appointments Committee of the Cabinet appointment Priyank Kanoongo as the new chief of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights for a period of 3 years.

·         Mr. Kanoongo has been a member of the commission from November 2015.

Rakesh Sharma

·         The government has recently appointed senior banker Rakesh Sharma as managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of IDBI Bank.

 Tushar Mehta

·         Additional Solicitor general Tushar Mehta on 11^th October, 2018 was appointed as the new Solicitor General of India. He will hold office till June 30, 2020.

Pankaj Sharma

·         Pankaj Sharma has been appointed as the ambassador and India's permanent representative to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament Geneva.

Vikram Limaye

·         The National Stock Exchange's (NSE) managing director and chief executive officer Vikram Limaye has been appointed chairman of the working committee and director on the board by the international industry body-World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).

·         The decision was taken at the global body's 58^th general assembly and annual meeting that was held from 2^nd October to 4^th October in Athens Greece, NSE.

Sandeep Bakshi

·         ICICI Bank has appointed Sandeep Bakshi as the new Managing Director (MD) and CEO after Chanda Kochhar resigned.

·         The bank accepted Kochhar's early retirement and appointment.

Gita Gopinath

·         Gita Gopinath, professor at Harvard University, has been appointed chief economist of IMF.

·         Ms. Gopinath has studied at the Delhi School of Economist holds a Ph. D. in economics from Princeton University. She was previously working as a co-director of the International Finance and Macroeconomics Program at the National Bureau Economic Research.

Annapurna Devi

·         Annapurna Devi, doyenne of classical Hindustani music, died on 13^th October, 2018. She was 91.

·         Annapurna Devi was an Indian surbahar player of Hindustani classical music and she was the daughter and disciple of Allauddin Khan.

·         She had been married to sitar maestro Ravi Shankar from 1941 to 1962.

G.D Agarwal

·         Professor G D Agarwal (87), aka Swami Gyan Swaroop  Sanand, who was on a fast-unto-death in Haridwar's Matri Sadan ashram for conservation of the river, died of cardiac arrest at AIIMS Rishikesh on 11^th October.

·         He began the fast-unto-death on June 22 this year, demanding the passage of Ganga Protection Act, scrapping of all proposed and under-construction hydropower projects on the Ganga, a total ban on sand mining in the river-bed of the Ganga in Haridwar and formation of a council to look into issues related to the river.

·         Professor Agarwal, a former IIT Kanpur professor, was the first member secretary of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and was baptized as Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand in July 2011.

 

 

Natwar Thakkar

·         Renowned Gandhian, Natwar Thakkar aka 'Nagaland's Gandhi', died on 7^th October. He was 86.

·         Mr. Thakkar, was a Padma Shri awarde, who had founded the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram at Chuchuyimlang.

·         His efforts to spread Gandhiyan Philosophy and peace had earned him the sobriquet 'Nagaland's Gandhi'.

GoM to Look into Sexual Harassment at Workplace

·         The government has recently constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by home Minister Rajnath Singh, to strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks to deal with and prevent sexual harassment at the workplace.

Forbes India Rich List 2018

·         Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has emerged as the richest Indian for the 11^th consecutive year with a net worth of USD 47.3 billion, according Forbes magazine.

·         As per the 'Forbes India Rich List 2018', Wipro Chairman Azim Premji has retained the second spot, adding USD 2 billion to his wealth at USD 21 billion; while Arcelor Mittal Chairman and CEO Lakshmi Mittal moved a place ahead to the third slot with a net worth of USD 18.3 billion, increasing his wealth by USD 1.8 billion. Mittal is followed by the Hinduja brothers with a net worth of USD 18 billion and Pallonji Mistry with USD 15.7 billlion.

Global Competitiveness Report 2018

·         According to the Global Competitiveness Report of 2018 of World Economic Forum, India ranks 58^th, up from five places from 2017 out of 140 economies.

·         The US is 14 points away from the frontier mark of 100, implying that even the top- ranked economy among the 140 has room for improvement.

·         It is followed by Singapore and Germany at second and third place consecutively.

Global Hunger Index 2018

·         India has been ranked at the 103^rd position among 119 countries on the Global Hunger Index as per the Report.

·         According to the report, prepared by Welthhungerhlife and Concern Worldwide. India is among the 45 countries that have "serious levels of hunger".

·         The GHI, now in its 13^th year, ranks countries based on four key indicators undernourishment, child mortality, child wasting and child stunting.

·         India is ranked below many neighboring countries, including China (25^th spot), Nepal (72), Myanmar (68), Sri Lanka (67) and Bangladesh (86), Pakistan is placed at 106^th.

World Bank's Human Capital Index

·         The World Bank released the Human Capital Index (HCI) as part of the World Development Report 2019 on 11^th October, 2018.

·         Broader theme of the World Development Report (WDR) this year is "The Changing Nature of Work". The HCI has been constructed for 157 countries.

·         India is ranked at 115 positions in the index with its score of 0.44 on a scale of 0 to 1 coming even below the average score for South Asia.

Henley Passport Index 2018

·         The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world's passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

·         Japan's passport has been named the most influential in the world, surpassing Singapore, as per Henley Passport Index 2018.

·         The Indian passport has secured the 81^st rank with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 60 destinations.

·         Indians have access to travel without a visa to 60 countries.

"Angriya" Flagged Off from Mumbai

·         India's first domestic cruise, "Angriya" was flagged off from Mumbai to Goa on October 20^th, 2018.

·         It has been named after the first Maratha Navy Admiral Kanhoji Angre and the Angria bank coral reef near Vijaydurg.

·         The cruise has six decks and 104 cabins. It can ferry 399 passengers at a time.

·         The price range of the cruise will be from Rs 7000 to Rs 12000 for one-way. The cruise will run four times a week, except during monsoons.

India's 1^st Crypto Currency ATM

·         ATM Virtual currency exchange Unocoin has installed a currency deposit and dispensing ATM at Kemp Fort Mall, in Bengaluru.

·         The ATM allows customers to deposit and withdraw a minimum amount of Rs 1000, and transact in crypto currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and others.

Ro-Ro Service from Neamati to Majuli Island in Assam

·         Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has started a new Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) facility in collaboration with the Government of Assam to provide the much-needed connectivity for Majuli Island.

Country's 1^st Biofuel Plant in Odisha

·         Bharat petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) will complete commissioning of its second generation (2G) ethanol bio-refinery at Baulsingha village in Bargrh District by 2020.

·         The proposed plant will receive an investment of Rs 1000 crore and the foundation stone was laid on 10^th October, 2018.

1^st India-Israel Innovation Centre Opens

·         The country's first India-Israel Innovation Centre (IIIC), an entrepreneurial technology hub, was launched in Bengaluru on 10^th October, 2018.

 

Kolkata GPO Marks 150 Years in Service of the City

A special postal cover was released under the 120-foot-high dome of Kolkata's General Post Office (GPO), to mark the 150 years of the GPO. Alos, an extension of the postal museum, housed in the building, was inaugurated.

 

75^th Anniversary of Azad Hind Government

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Red Fort to mark the 75^th anniversary of the 'Azad Hind government' headed by Subhash Chandra Bose.

36^th National Games in Goa

·         The much-delayed 36^th National Games in Goa will be held from March 30 to April 14 next year.

·         Opening and Closing ceremonies will be held at PJN Stadium, Fatorda.

·         Shooting and cycling events will be held in New Delhi as Goa does not have facilities for these two sports.

·         Five sports- Rugby, Wushu, Modern Penthatlon, Lawn Bowl, and Billiards and Snooker- will be added in the Games programme.   

Youngest Indian to Make Debut Test Century

·         Teenager Prithvi Shaw became the Youngest Indian to make a century on his Test debut on day one of the first Test against West Indies in Rajkot on 4^th October.