Current Affairs Dec 2015 - Miscellaneous

• In Odisha, a Special Chit Fund Court in Cu.ttack on 23 December 2015 passed orders for confiscation of the properties of chit fund company − GLP Developers Ltd

• The minimum age fixed to be categorized as juvenile as per Juvenile Justice (Amendment) Bill, 2015 passed by the Rajya Sabha on 22 December 2015 − 16 years.

• The Grand Prix badminton title won by the Indian pair Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy − Mexico Grand Prix.

• Indian-origin software engineer who won Innovate UK's KTP Best of the Best Awards 2015 on 21 December 2015 − Nandagopal Lakshminarayanan.

• The state that decided to provide a cashless medical scheme for regular government employees, pensioners and their dependents − Assam.

• In order to minimize pollution from Coal-based Thermal Plants, the Environment Ministry notified to cut the emission of particulate matter by 40 percent from thermal plants by − 1 January 2017.

• Giving a boost to Make in India initiative, which Chinese telecom major will set up a manufacturing plant in Noida − Vivo.

• The cricketer who will lead the Under-19 Indian cricket team for the upcoming World Cup − Ishan Kishan.

• Famous on-screen Bollywood couple named as brand ambassador of Haryana tourism − Dharmendra & Hema Malini.

• Delhi government appointed him to head the inquiry commission to probe financial irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association − Gopal Subramanium.

• The European Union on 21 December 2015 extended its economic sanctions against Russia for six months over its involvement in − Ukraine crisis..

• The Union government on 21 December 2015 approved an assistance of 678 crore rupees for 73 projects to build houses for people belonging to economically weaker section in − Telangana.

• The state which became the first state to rehabilitate the persons living in slums on PPP mode − Gujarat.

• First cricketer from New Zealand to top the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) Test rankings is − Kane Williamson.

• Method announced by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 17 December 2015 to compute interest rates on advances − Marginal Cost of Funds Methodology.

• The former Indian cricketer appointed as the bowling coach of Afghanistan’s national cricket team − Manoj Prabhakar.

• The aviation industry turnaround expert who on 17 December 2015 resigned from the post of Chief Executive Officer of Jet Airways is − Cramer Ball.

• Hindustan Unilever is set to acquire Mosons Group’s flagship brand known as − Indulekha and Vayodha.

• An Italian Catholic newspaper on 17 December 2015 reported that the new person who will be given Sainthood is − Mother Teresa.

• India announced that it will contribute 5 Lakh US dollars to the United Nations annual Emergency Response Fund (ERF) to support − global humanitarian relief operations.

• The Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declared Emperor Ashoka’s birth date as a holiday in the state − 14 April.

• The state which announced a 10512 crore rupees relief package for drought-hit villages is − Maharashtra.

• Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation partnered with Paytm for − E-catering payments.

• The country which was adjudged as the best to do business with, by Forbes in its 'Best Countries For Business Report 2015' − Denmark.

• The railway station that will be the first one to get Wi-Fi services as part of a partnership between Google and RailTel that aims at providing the services in 400 railway stations across the country − Mumbai Central.

• For the first time since 2006, the US Federal Reserve on 16 December 2015 increased the interest rate by − 0.25%.

• The city in which the two-day 14th Meeting of Heads of Governments of SCO Member States was concluded on 15 December 2015 − Zhengzhou (China).

• Title of the United Nations Human Development Report 2015 that was released on 14 December 2015 − Work for Human Development.

• The Government of India on 11 December 2015 signed a protocol to amend double taxation avoidance pact with − Japan.

• He was on 10 December 2015 sworn in as the President of Argentina − Mauricio Macri.

• Campaign launched on the occasion of Human Rights Day that was observed across the world on 10 December 2015 − Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always.

• The bilateral maritime exercise Indra Navy 2015, which commenced on 7 December 2015 in Vishakhapatanam is between India and − Russia.

• The winner of the 2014–15 Men's International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey World League Final is − Australia.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 December 2015 released two commemorative coins of 125 rupees and 10 rupees denomination, as part of the 125th birth anniversary year celebrations of − Dr Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

• Winner of 2015 Davis Cup tennis title − Great Britain.

• Winner of 2015 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title − Nico Rosberg.

• He led the formation of Breakthrough Energy Coalition on 30 November 2015 to reduce demand for fossil fuels − Bill Gates.

• The Polish professional footballer, who plays for German club, Bayern Munich awarded with four separate official Guinness World Records certificates is − Robert Lewandowski.

• The initiative launched by India and France jointly on 30 November 2015 − International Solar Alliance.

• Person sworn-in as the 43rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on 3 December 2015 − Justice Tirath Singh Thakur.

• Indian-American techie who has been appointed as advisor to the Accessible India campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi − Pranav Desai.

• The percentage to which the priority sector lending target for RRBs was increased to by the RBI − 75%.

• Bangladesh's state-run Atomic Energy Commission signed a deal with Russia to set up two nuclear power plants, each with 1,200 MW capacity, an investment totaling $12.65 billion.

• Direct-selling FMCG firm, Amway India announced Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar as its brand ambassador to promote Nutrilite range of the products.

• Sri Lankan cricketer, who is facing the prospect of a four-year ban after his Blood sample tested positive for a banned substance − Kushal Perera.

• The first Indian to officiate a wrestling competition in Olympics − Ashok Kumar.

• Lallianzuala Chhangte became the youngest ever goal-scorer for India in football on 27 December 2015 by scoring against Nepal.

• 2015 Atal Samman Award was conferred to Achyutanand Mishra.

• Karnataka Legislative Council achieved the rare feat of recording 99 percent voting in the recently held elections for Legislative Council.

• In accordance with the Good Governance initiative, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the e-office in the Ministry on 28 December 2015.

• The new crude distillation unit of Bharat Petroleum was dedicated to the nation on 28 December 2015.

• The government had announced that individuals above 10 lakh rupees taxable income limit in the financial year 2014-15 will not be able to avail the benefits of LPG subsidy.

• Dr. Vijay Kelkar is the chairman of the Committee on Revisiting and Revitalizing the PPP Model of Infrastructure Development. Its report was released by the Union Government on 28 December 2015.

• The report of the RBI’s Committee on Medium-term Path on Financial Inclusion headed by Deepak Mohanty was released on 28 December 2015.

• The 18th Session of the India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting was held on 28 December 2015 in New Delhi.

• Gulmarg in Jammu & Kashmir will host the 5-day long 12th National Skating Championship that will begin on 30 December 2015.

• Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad has become country's first airport to offer e-boarding facility.

• Ramakrishna Mission established official ties with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

• The Government of Andhra Pradesh has proposed an underwater tunnel in the river Krishna to connect Amaravati and Vijayawada.

• The Union Government on 1 January 2016 formed Shyam Benegal Committee for holistic interpretation of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

• Veteran South Indian classical vocalist Sanjay Subrahmanyam was on  1 January 2016 conferred with the 2015 Sangita Kalanidhi award.

• The former Bengal Cricket Captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla on 30 December 2015 announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

• The Indian-origin cancer research expert, Harpal Singh Kumar received a Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.

• The Union Cabinet approved the construction of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa road section of the trilateral highway in − Myanmar.

• Gyanendra D Bandgaiyan was on 30 December 2015 appointed as the Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance.

• Haryana government decided to set minimum education qualification for contesting municipal elections is −

 

• The lady weightlifter, who won the gold medal in 75 kilograms category at the Senior National Weightlifting Championship is − Kavita Devi

• DAVA (Drug Authentication and Verification Application) project of the Department of Commerce won the 2015 eASIA Award under Trade Facilitation category as announced by Asia Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (AFACT) in Tehran, Iran on 31 December 2015.