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India
paid Rs 400 crore to international agencies, Japan, Germany for
unutilized external loans
Economy
>
International
Agencies
India
has paid over Rs 400 crore in the last four years as commitment
charges to the Asian Development Bank, Japan, Germany and the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for
unutilised external loans taken to fund development projects.
Iraqi
Army Defeats ISIS in Its First Major Victory Over The Militant Group
In Ramadi
World
> Iraq
The
Iraqi army's capture of Ramadi, the provincial capital lying west to
Baghdad, comes as a huge victory for the US-backed forces in the
country especially after the capital was razed to ground by the
militants nearly 18 months ago. The takeover of Ramadi by the Iraqi
troops has finally deprived the ISIS of its political stronghold. The
militants had seized it in May which had prompted the US to rethink
its strategy against the Islamic State.
China
launches 'most sophisticated' observation satellite Gaofen-4
World
> China
China
successfully launched its "most sophisticated" observation
satellite, Gaofen-4, as part of the country's high-definition earth
observation project. Gaofen-4 was launched from the Xichang Satellite
Launch Centre in the southwestern province of Sichuan aboard a Long
March-3B carrier rocket.
Suicide
blast in govt office in Pakistan, 22 dead, 40 injured
World
> Pakistan
A
suicide bomber attacked a government office in Pakistan, killing at
least 22 people and wounding more than 30, officials said. The
attacker targeted a branch of the National Database and Registration
Authority (Nadra), which issues government ID cards, in the
northwestern town of Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Intelligence
alert regarding terror attacks by Lashkar-e-Taiba on PM Modi,
Parliament
India
> Terror
attack
Intelligence
agencies have issued an alert regarding terror attacks by
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) at various locations in the country during New
Year. According to the intelligence reports, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and Parliament building may be on the radar of the terror group.
Others
Pawan
Kumar Agarwal appointed as CEO of FSSAI
India
> FSSAI
Senior
IAS officer Pawan Kumar Agarwal was on 22 December 2015 appointed as
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of food regulator Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Pawan
Kumar Agarwal is a 1985 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre. He is
presently serving as the Joint Secretary in Union Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship.
Source:
http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/pawan-kumar-agarwal-appointed-as-ceo-of-fssai-1450866343-1
30th
National Consumers Right Day observed
Days
> National
Consumers Right Day
30th
National Consumers Right Day was observed across India on 24 December
2015. The day provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of
the consumer movement and the need to make every consumer more aware
of their rights and responsibilities.
Source:
http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/30th-national-consumers-right-day-observed-1450949633-1
Gautam
Bambawale appointed High Commissioner of India to Pakistan
India
> High
Commissioner of India to Pakistan
Gautam
H Bambawale, presently the Indian ambassador to Bhutan, has been
appointed the next High Commissioner of lndia to the lslamic Republic
of Pakistan. Bambawale will replace TCA Raghavan in Islamabad. His
appointment comes at time when India and Pakistan have decided to
start a comprehensive bilateral dialogue earlier this month during
the visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad.
Agriculture
Ministry launches two mobile apps for farmers
Politics
and Government >
Mobile Apps for
Farmers
In
a bid to let farmers harvest the best of mobile technology, the
Agriculture Ministry had launched two mobile apps for farmers.
According to Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha
Mohan Singh by launching the apps the government would launch a new
crop insurance scheme next month, which would aim speedy disposal of
claims with very less premiums.
Indigenously
developed Air-to-Air missile Astra successfully test fired
India
> Air-to-Air
Missile Astra
Indigenously
developed Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Astra, was on
25 December 2015 successfully test fired. The test was conducted by
the Indian Air Force off the coast of Odisha near the Integrated Test
Range (ITR), Balasore. In addition to this air trial, the missile
underwent successful ground based trials in early December 2015 near
Pune.
Good
Governance Day observed on 25 December
Days
> Good
Governance Day
Good
Governance Day was observed on 25 December 2015 across the country.
The day was observed to mark the birth anniversary of former-Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Source:
http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/good-governance-day-observed-on-25-december-1451105889-1
China
adopted Anti-Terrorism Bill, 2015; First counter-terrorism law in
history
World
> Anti-Terrorism
Bill 2015
China’s
National People's Congress Standing Committee, country’s top
legislature, on 27 December 2015 approved Anti-Terrorism Bill, 2015
to address terrorism at home and help maintain world security. It is
country’s first counter-terrorism law and will enter into force in
January 2016.
India-Iran
strategic partnership discussed at first Joint Commission Meeting
Politics
and Government >
India-Iran
Partnership
The
first India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) since the historic
nuclear deal and decision to ease sanctions from Tehran discussed
measures to expand economic and strategic partnership including
increasing oil imports from the Persian Gulf country besides
disbursement of pending oil payments, investments by Delhi in Iran's
hydro-carbon sector and tried to iron out irritants to seal the
contract for key Chabahar Port by next month.
Modi
government to rename new-look Indira Awaas Yojana to Pradhan Mantri
Awaas Yojana
Economy
> Pradhan
Mantri Awaas Yojana
The
Modi government is renaming yet another welfare programme to remove
its association with the Gandhi family. This time it's the Indira
Awaas Yojana, which aims to build homes for the rural poor. It's to
be renamed the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana.
Bihar
CM bans sirens in VIP vehicles in Patna
India
> Bihar
In
light of the rising noise pollution in Patna, Bihar chief minister
Nitish Kumar banned the use of hooters in vehicles, except in those
of the Governor, Patna high court Chief Justice, fire engines and
ambulances. Kumar stressed on the measures at a home department
review meeting to contain noise pollution by blaring hooters of
vehicles belonging to VVIPSs and VIPs, and also directed putting in
place measures to end unnecessary blaring of horns by regular
vehicles.
China
launches 'most sophisticated' observation satellite Gaofen-4
Science
and Technology >
Gaofen-4
Satellite
China
today successfully launched its "most sophisticated"
observation satellite, Gaofen-4, as part of the country's
high-definition earth observation project. Gaofen-4 was launched from
the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the southwestern province of
Sichuan aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket.
Karnataka's
prisons dept to tie up with Flipkart, Amazon for Make-in-Prison
mission
India
> Karnataka
The
Karnataka state's prisons department plans to tie up with e-commerce
giants Flipkart, Amazon and other online platforms to sell products
made by prisoners at Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. The
made-in-prison initiative will be a first in India, although the
concept is common in countries like the UK, USA, Netherlands, Germany
and Peru, which have even branded such products.
Indian
Navy successfully test fires Long Range Barak 8 missile from INS
Kolkata
India
> Navy
The
Indian Navy on Wednesday successfully conducted the maiden firing of
its newly developed Long Range Barak 8 Surface-to-Air Missile (LR
SAM), crossing a significant milestone in enhancing its anti-air
warfare capability.
Iraqi
PM visits Ramadi after declaring Isis will be 'terminated' in 2016
World
> Iraq
Iraq
prime minister Haider al-Abadi arrived in Ramadi a day after his
government declared the city liberated from Islamic State. Abadi
kicked off his tour with meetings with security and provincial
officials. The recapture of the city, where the Iraqi flag was raised
on Monday over government buildings that had served as Isis’s base
in Ramadi, marks a key victory against the jihadis.
