Compendium-December, 2018

Compendium-December, 2018
National
International
Economics & Financial Awareness
Defence & Security - National/International
Appointments-National/International
Person Resigned/Retired
Sports
Honours / Awards
Obituaries
Important Days
Foreign Visits / Foreign Visitors
Current Affairs MCQs
National
10 Monuments Adopted Under ‘Adopt A Heritage’ Project

 The ‘Adopt A Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’,
scheme is a collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism,
Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI),
to enhance tourism potential and cultural importance in a
planned and phased manner. No fund is given by Ministry of
Tourism.
Adopt A Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan
Agency/ Monument
S.No. S.No. Name of Monument State
Mitras
1. Red Fort Delhi
1. Dalmia Bharat Ltd.
2. Gandikota Fort Andhra Pradesh
Adventure Tour Area surrounding Gangotri
3. Uttrakhand
2. Operators Association Temple and Trail to Gaumukh
of India 4. Mt. Stok Kangri Trek, Lakakh Jammu and Kashmir
3. Apeejay Park Hotels 5. Jantar Mantar Delhi
4. Bliss Inns (V-Resorts) 6. Surajkund Haryana
7. Qutub Minar Delhi
8. Ajanta Caves Maharashtra
5. Yatra Online
9. Leh Palace, Leh Jammu & Kashmir
10. Hampi (Hazara Rama Temple) Karnataka
India’s Heaviest Satellite GSAT-11 Successfully Launched

 India’s heaviest, largest and most powerful satellite GSAT-11 successfully launched by an
Arianespace rocket from the French Guiana.
 Blasting off from the Ariane Launch Complex in Kourou, the Ariane-5 vehicle injected the
GSAT-11 into the orbit in a flawless flight lasting about 33 minutes.
 The satellite will play a vital role in providing broadband services across the country and
also be a platform to demonstrate new generation applications.
 As per the ISRO Chairman K Sivan, GSAT-11 is going to be the richest space asset for India
and it will provide something like 16 Gbps data link services to the country.
About GSAT-11 in Brief:
 The satellite has 38 spot beams as well as eight sub-beams, which will cover the entire
country, including the remote places.
 Launch Mass: 5854 kg.
 Mission Life: 15 Years.
 Power: 13.6 kW Ariane-5 VA-246.
 Type of Satellite: Communication.
 Manufacturer: ISRO.
 Application: Communication.
 Orbit Type: GTO.
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Madhya Pradesh Government to create an Adhyatmik Vibhag (Spiritual department)

 The Government of Madhya Pradesh has announced setting up of a new Adhyatmik Vibhag
(spiritual department). The proposed new department will be set up
by merging several existing departments.
 As per the tweet from the chief minister’s office of Madhya Pradesh
Dharmik Nyas Evam Dharmasv Department (Religious Trust and
Endowment Department), Anand Vibhag (Happiness Department)
in addition to the Directorate of Religious Trust and Endowment,
Madhya Pradesh Teerth Evam Mela Pradhikaran and Rajya Anand
Sansthan would be merged to form the proposed Adhyatmik Vibhag
(spiritual department).
 Anand Vibhag (Happiness Department)
 Madhya Pradesh had become the first state in the country to create Happiness Department.
The government had also announced the setting up of the Happiness Institute.
 Before announcing the creation of Happiness Department the state government had
undertaken an in-depth study of the measures taken to assess the status of happiness
among the citizens by the United Nations as well as the Government of Bhutan and
America’s International Management Institute.
PM Modi inaugurated the Bogibeel bridge in Assam

 The 4.94-kilometer long Bogibeel bridge on Brahmaputra river will connect the two
northeast states of Assam & Arunachal
Pradesh.
Important Facts about the Bogibeel bridge:
1. The 4.9 km-long Bogibeel Bridge on the
Brahmaputra river is India’s only fully welded
bridge for which European codes & welding
standards were adhered to for the first time in
the country.
2. The bridge is constructed at an estimated cost
of 5,800 crore rupees.
3. The bridge has a two-line railway track on the lower deck & a three-lane road on the top
deck.
4. For the first time in Indian Railways, the girder has steel floor system for railway tracks &
concrete for road.
5. The bridge reduces travel time from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh to four hours & will cut
out the detour of over 170 km via Tinsukia.
India ranks 108th in WEF gender gap index 2018

 According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) gender gap index, India has been ranked
108th same as 2017.
 Although record improvement in wage equality for similar work and fully closing its
tertiary education gender gap for the first time.
 As per the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report 2018, India has many challenges as it ranks
142nd out of 149 countries in the economic opportunity and participation sub-index, it also
has a few achievements.
 Gender gap was measured across four key pillars — economic opportunity, political
empowerment, educational attainment, and health and survival.
 India needs to make improvements across the board, from women’s participation to getting
more women into senior and professional roles.
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 India continues to rank third-lowest in the world on health and survival, remaining the
world’s least-improved country on this subindex over the past decade.
 India has slightly improved in WEF’s wage equality for
similar work indicator, where it stood at 72nd place.
 The country has also closed its tertiary education
enrolment gap for the first time in 2018 and has
managed to keep its primary and secondary gaps closed
for the third year running.
 Interestingly, India has the second-largest artificial
intelligence (AI) workforce but one of the largest AI
gender gaps, with only 22 % of roles filled by women.
 According to the report, the world has closed 68 % of its
gender gap and at the current rate of change.
 It will take 108 years to close the overall gender gap and
202 years to bring about parity in the workplace.
 South Asia was the second-lowest ranking region in the
index, with only 65 % of its gender gap now closed.
 India is slightly ahead of the regional average having closed 66 %.
 The global list was topped by Iceland having closed more than 85.8 % of its overall gender
gap. Iceland holds the top spot in the index for the 10th consecutive year.
 Nordic countries Norway (2nd, 83.5 %), Sweden (3rd, 82.2 %), and Finland (4th, 82.1 %)
dominated the top slots.
 Other countries in the top-10 include Nicaragua (5th, 80.9 %), Rwanda (6th, 80.4 %), New
Zealand (7th, 80.1 %), the Philippines (8th, 79.9 %), Ireland (9th, 79.6 %) and Namibia
(10th, 78.9 %).
 The economies that will succeed in the fourth industrial revolution will be those that are
best able to harness all their available talent.
James Michel extradited to India from UAE in AgustaWestland chopper deal bribery case
 British national James Michel, alleged to have been involved in the Rs. 3,700-crore
AgustaWestland chopper deal bribery case, was extradited to India from the UAE on 4
December 2018.
 Under the guidance of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the entire extradition operation
was coordinated by CBI Director In-charge M. Nageswara Rao.
 Michel was arrested by the Dubai Police in February 2017 on the basis of an Interpol Red
Notice issued against him.
 His role in the purchase of 12 helicopters surfaced in 2012 as a middleman for swinging the
deal in favour of AgustaWestland and making illegal payments to Indian public servants.
 What is AgustaWestland case?
 Also referred to as the AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, the Indian helicopter bribery
scandal refers to a multimillion dollar corruption case in India, wherein money was paid to
middlemen and Indian officials in 2006 and 2007 to purchase helicopters for high level
politicians.
 As per the CBI, this amounted to Rs. 250 crore, transferred through bank accounts in the UK
and UAE.
 It came to light in early 2013, when an Indian national parliamentary investigation began
into allegations of bribery and corruption involving several senior officials and a helicopter
manufacturer AgustaWestland surrounding the purchase of a new fleet of helicopters.
 The scandal has been referred to as the Chopper scam or Choppergate by elements of the
media and popular press.
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 Several Indian politicians and military officials were accused of accepting bribes from
AgustaWestland in order to win the Rs.36 billion (US$500 million) Indian contract for the
supply of 12 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters; these helicopters are intended to
perform VVIP duties for the President of India and other important state officials.
National Children’s Science Congress Inaugurated at Odisha

 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the National Children’s Science Congress
to be held between 27-31 December at SOA (Deemed to be
university) in Bhubaneswar, Odhisa. This is the 26th edition of the
National Science Congress.
 The focal theme of the 26th National Children’s Science Congress is
“Science, Technology and Innovation for a Clean, Green and
Healthy Nation.” The National Children’s Science Congress is
being held at Odhisa for the second time. Children from across the
country together with those from five Gulf and ASEAN countries
are attending the event.
 National Children’s Science Congress
 National Children’s Science Congress is a nationwide Science Communication programme
started in the year 1993. It is the programme of the National Council for Science and
Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science and Technology, Government
of India.
 National Children’s Science Congress aims at providing a forum for children from both
formal school systems as well as from out of school of the age-group of 10-17 years to
exhibit their creativity and innovativeness and more particularly their ability to solve a
societal problem experienced locally, by using the method of science.
Odisha's Kandhamal Haldi likely to get GI tag

 Odisha’s Kandhamal Haldi (turmeric), famous for its healing properties, is going to receive
GI tag.
 Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing is based
at the district headquarter town of Phulbani.
 It had moved for registration ‘Kandhamal Haldi’ which was
accepted under sub-section (1) of Section 13 of the
Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and
Protection) Act, 1999.
 Turmeric is the main cash crop of tribal people in Kandhamal.
 Apart from domestic use, turmeric is also used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.
Bahuda Rookery: Another Olive Ridley Nesting Site in Odisha

 Gahirmatha marine sanctuary and Rushikulya rookery coast in Ganjam district are main
Olive Ridley Nesting sites in Odisha. Of these sites, Gahirmatha
marine sanctuary is largest rookery (mass nesting site) of Olive
Ridley turtles.
 Odisha is home to 50% of the total world’s population of Olive
Ridleys and about 90% of Indian population of sea turtles.
Recently, Odisha forest department added another olive ridley
mass nesting site Bahuda Rookery at beach on Bahuda river
mouth in Ganjam district.
 It is located around 20 km to south of Rushikulya rookery coast.
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 Olive Ridley
 Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is smallest and most abundant of all sea turtle
found in world. It gets its name from its olive coloured carapace, which is heart-shaped and
rounded. It is best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands
of females come together on the same beach each year to lay eggs.
 It is found in warm waters of Pacific and Indian oceans. They are found along both-eastern
and western coasts of India. It spends entire lives in ocean and migrates thousands of
kilometers between feeding and mating grounds in course of a year.
Pier placed for world’s tallest railway bridge

 The Northeast Frontier Railway Construction Organisation has put in place the pier near
Manipur’s Noney for the tallest railway bridge in the
world.
 The bridge, across the valley of river Ijai, is part of the
111-km Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal project. Once
completed, it will have a pier height of 141 metres.
 The record for the tallest railway bridge is now held
by the 139-m Mala Rijeka viaduct, Montenegro. The
total length of the bridge will be 703 metres.
 Its tall piers have been made with a specially designed technique to ensure efficient and
continual construction.
India’s largest Cancer Institute to come up in Haryana’s Jhajjar

 Union Health Minister JP Nadda has announced that India’s largest cancer hospital, the
National Cancer Institute will be inaugurated in Haryana’s Jhajjar
district in January.
 The Institute aims to bridge the deficit of tertiary cancer care in the
northern region. The Institute would play a pivotal role in cancer
research in the country.
 National Cancer Institute
 The salient features of the National Cancer Institute are:
 The National Cancer Institute will be set up with 710 beds, out of
which 200 beds will be dedicated for translational research on India-specific cancers.
 The Out-patient Department has been started already.
 Different facilities like surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, anesthesia
and palliative care and nuclear medicine would be available at the institute.
 The Institute will also house first-of-its-kind tissue repository in India.
 The National Cancer Institute would operate under AIIMS.
 The Institute will also house 372 units of flats and 1,080 hostel rooms for staff members.
 A night shelter with a capacity of 800 units meant for patient attendants is also been
planned.
 The Institute will operate on the lines of National Cancer Institute in the US and German
Cancer Research Centre (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum) DKFZ as a nodal centre for
indigenous research, promotive, preventive and curative aspects of care and human
resource development.
Islands of Andaman to be renamed after Netaji Bose

 The Union Government has decided to rename Ross, Neil and Havelock islands of Andaman.
The Ross, Neil and Havelock Islands are to be named as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
Island, Shaheed Dweep, and Swaraj Dweep, respectively.
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 The announcement about renaming is expected to be made by PM Narendra Modi on 30

December during his visit to the Islands. 30th December marks the 75th anniversary of the
Netaji’s visit to the Andaman Islands.
 Netaji’s connect with the Andaman Islands
 Netaji, accompanied by Sarvashri Anand Mohan Sahay, Captain
Rawat-ADC and Colonel DS Raju, the personal physician of Netaji,
landed at the Port Blair aerodrome in Andaman on 29th December
1943. Netaji was accorded a warm welcome. Netaji had appointed
Indian National Army General AD Loganathan as the governor of
the islands.
 After the Japanese captured the Andaman Island during the time of
the Second World War, Netaji had hoisted the flag at Port Blair on December 30, 1943. This
was because he believed that Port Blair was the first territory to be freed from British
rule. Netaji had even suggested way back that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands be
renamed as Shahid and Swaraj Dweep.
India's First Railway University Inaugurated

 Union minister Piyush Goyal along with the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will
dedicate to the nation on December 15 India's first
railway university and third such in the world after
Russia and China, a senior official of the national
transporter.
 This is a big step by the national transporter towards
professional education and training in the railway
sector.
 The railway university began operations on September
5 this year to mark Teacher’s Day.
 The university is the PM Narendra Modi’s brainchild.
Cyclonic Storm Phethai divested Tamil Nadu and AP

 Cyclonic Storm Phethai is the sixth named cyclone of 2018 North Indian Ocean Cyclone
season.
 The previous five named cyclones are Sagar, Mekunu,
Luban, Titli and Gaza.
 Cyclone Pethai has emerged as a deep depression in
the Bay of Bengal around 900 kms off Chennai on 15
December 2018.
 It was expected to bring heavy rainfalls in the coastal
areas of north Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
 It would be an equivalent of Gaja cyclone, the recent cyclone that has left a trail of
destruction in the central districts of Tamil Nadu.
ISRO's Military Satellite Launched, Will Be Air Force's Mainstay In Sky

 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the communication
satellite GSAT-7A on 19th December 2018 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in
Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
 GSAT-7A weighing 2250 kg was launched using Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
(GSLV-F11).
 About GSAT-7A Satellite:
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 The communications satellite, dubbed as the "Indian Angry Bird", meant for the exclusive
use of the Indian Air Force, took off from the launch pad of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh
and was placed in orbit this evening.
 The GSAT-7A will connect all IAF assets like planes, air-borne early warning control
platforms and drones with each other and
ground stations, and work towards a network-
centric warfare capability.
 It will also reduce the possibility of snooping
and leakage of information that's possible
while using satellites launched by foreign
operators.
 ISRO’s GSAT-7A satellite is the heaviest
satellite (2250 kgs) with an indigenously
developed cryogenic stage that has been launched by GSLV. GSAT-7A is a high-tech
communication satellite having new technologies including a Gregorian Antenna.
 It is the 39th communication satellite of ISRO and will mainly be used for military
applications.
 Indian Air Force’s existing communication capabilities of satellites will be augmented with
GSAT-7A.
 GSAT-7A will offer services to the users in Ku-band over the Indian region.
 The launch of GSAT-7A was the 13th flight of GSLV-MkII and the seventh flight with an
indigenously developed cryogenic engine.
 GSAT-7A was lifted off by GSLV which is ISRO’s fourth generation launch vehicle with three
stages.
 The first stage consists of four liquid strap-ons and a solid rocket motor. The second stage
of GSLV has a high thrust engine using liquid fuel.
 The third and final stage of the GSLV is the cryogenic upper stage.
 The GSAT-7A, along with the earlier GSAT-7 and GSAT-6, will form the band of
communications satellite for use of the security forces.
India’s first music museum to be set up in Thiruvaiyaru

 Tamil Nadu has announced the setting up of country’s first music museum with assistance
from the Central government in Thiruvaiyaru which is the birthplace of Saint Tyagaraja,
one of the Trinities of Carnatic music. The other two of the Trinity
are Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri.
 Saint Tyagaraja
 Saint Tyagaraja was a renowned composer of Carnatic music. He
has composed thousands of devotional compositions, mostly
in Telugu in the praise of Lord Rama, many of which remain
popular today. He saw the reigns of four kings of Maratha dynasty
— Tulaja II (1763-1787), Amarasimha (1787-1798), Serfoji II
(1798-1832) and Sivaji II (1832-1855), but he served none of them.
 Saint Muthuswami Dikshitar
 Saint Muthuswami Dikshitar was a South Indian poet and composer. His compositions are
noted for their elaborate and poetic descriptions of Hindu gods and temples and for
capturing the essence of the raga forms through the vainika (veena) style that emphasises
gamakas. His compositions are predominantly in Sanskrit and he has also composed some
of his Kritis in Manipravalam (a mixture of Sanskrit and Tamil).
 Saint Syama Sastri
 Saint Syama Sastri was a musician and composer of Carnatic music and was the oldest
among the Trinity of Carnatic music. Even though he did not compose so many Kritis, his
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compositions are still well known due to the literary, melodic and rhythmic proficiency
observed in them. He composed in a more formal form of Telugu which borrows heavily
from Sanskrit and there are also a number of Kritis in Tamil attributed to him. Most of his
works propitiate the goddess Kamakshi.
Government Launches Asiatic Lion Conservation Project

 The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has
launched the “Asiatic Lion Conservation Project”.
 The aim is to protect and conserve the world’s last
ranging free population of Asiatic Lion and its
associated ecosystem.
 “The Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” will
strengthen the ongoing measures for conservation and
recovery of Asiatic Lion with the help of state-of-the –
art techniques/ instruments, regular scientific research studies, disease management,
Modern surveillance/ patrolling techniques.
 The total budget of the project for 3 years that amounts to nearly Rs. 9784 lakh will be
funded from the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife Habitat (CSS-DWH)
with the contributing ratio being 60:40 of Central and State share.
 Asiatic lions that once ranged from Persia (Iran) to Palamau in Eastern India were almost
driven to extinction by indiscriminate hunting and habitat loss.
 A single population of less than 50 lions persisted in the Gir forests of Gujarat by late
1890's.
 With timely and stringent protection offered by the State Government and the Center
Government, Asiatic lions have increased to the current population of over 500 numbers.
 The last census in the year 2015 showed the population of 523 Asiatic Lions in Gir
Protected Area Network of 1648.79 sq. km. that includes Gir National Park, Gir Sanctuary,
Pania Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary adjoining reserved forests, Protected Forests, and
Unclassed Forests.
 The conservation of Asiatic Lions has always been a priority of Government of India.
 The project activities is envisaged in a manner to cause habitat improvement, scientific
interventions, disease control and veterinary care supplemented with adequate eco
development works for the fringe population in order to ensure a stable and viable Lion
population in the Country.
Lok Sabha passed the Consumer Protection Bill, 2018

 The Lok Sabha has passed the Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 on 20th December 2018,
which will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The Bill seeks to
enforce consumer rights and to offer a mechanism for complaint
redressal related to the deficiencies in goods and services.
 Key points about the Consumer Protection Bill, 2018
 The Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions will be set up at
District, State and National levels as per the bill passed.
 The District Commissions will have the mandate to hear complaints
having claim worth one crore rupees. In the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 this limit was
20 lakh rupees.
 The limit of the Commissions’ at the State level enhanced from 1 crore rupees to 15 crore
rupees.
 Complaints above 15 crore rupees worth of claim will be settled by the National
Commission.
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 The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 has provisions for stringent punishments in the
matters of food adulterations.
 The Bill has the provisions to protect those consumers who use new digital technologies
likes e-commerce and online shopping.
 The Bill seeks to establish a central consumer protection authority (CCPA) which will be
tasked with promoting, protecting and enforcing consumer rights.
 The main objective of the said bill is to protect of the interests of consumers and to provide
effective administration and timely settle consumer disputes. Now, the bill will move to
Rajya Sabha for passage.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to have separate HCs

 Supreme Court order to the Centre to notify the bifurcation of the Andhra Pradesh and
Telangana High Courts by January 1,2019.
 President Ram Nath Kovind ordered the separation of the “common” Hyderabad High Court
into the two separate High Courts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
 Both will function separately from January 1, 2019.
 The principal seat of the Andhra Pradesh High Court is Amaravati, the capital of the State.
 The High Court in Hyderabad will function separately as the High Court of the State of
Telangana.
 Sixteen HC judges, including Justice Ramesh
Ranganathan, who is now the Chief Justice of the
Uttarakhand High Court, shall become judges of the
Andhra Pradesh High Court from January 1.
 The new Telangana High Court will have a strength of
10 judges.
 The Presidential notification quoted Article 214 of
the Constitution which provides that there shall be a
High Court for each State. It pointed out that under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act,
2014, both States were to have a common high court, till separate ones were formed.
 It mentioned that Justice R. Subhash Reddy, now a Supreme Court judge and formerly a
judge of the common High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad, “had exercised the option for
allocation to High Court for the State of Telangana.”
 The court had taken on record the submissions made by the Andhra Pradesh government
that a “very big complex known as ‘Justice City’ is under construction” in Amaravati.
 This complex would house the High Court, subordinate courts and even some tribunals. It
would also have a provision for construction of a residential complex for the High Court and
lower courts’ judges.
President’s rule comes into effect in Jammu & Kashmir

 The state of Jammu and Kashmir has come under President’s rule from 20th December
2018 as Governor’s rule in the state completed its six months. It
implies that now all the policy decisions related to Jammu and
Kashmir will be taken by the Union Cabinet.
 The state faced a political crisis when 25-member BJP withdrew its
support from Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government, reducing it
to a minority government in the state. Thereafter, the Governor’s
rule was imposed in the state.
 In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, which has a separate
Constitution, six months of Governor’s rule is mandatory before President’s rule under
Article 92 of its Constitution. All the legislative powers are exercised by the Governor in
case of Governor’s rule.
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 Now, after the proclamation for the President’s rule has been made, the legislative powers
of the state shall be exercised under the authority of Parliament. The Prime Minister and
the Council of Ministers will aid and advise the president regarding the decisions related to
the state.
 About President’s Rule:
 Under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution,the Union government can take over the affairs
of the state government when state government is unable to function according to the
constitutional provisions. This is called as President’s rule in the state.
 President’s Rule in a state can continue for 6 months.
 It can be extended, with the approval of both the houses done every 6 months, for a
maximum of 3 years
 For President’s rule to continue over a year every 6 months following conditions should be
met: 1. There should already be a National emergency across the country, or in the whole or
any part of the state. 2. The Election Commission of India should certify that the conduct of
elections is not possible in the concerned state.
Union Govt approves amendments to POCSO Act

 The government has approved amendments to the POCSO Act 2012, to bring punishments
for sexual assaults against boys on par with those against
girls, including the provision of death penalty when a child is
under 12-years-old.
 Following the outrage over gangrapes in Unnao and Kathua
earlier this year, the government had brought an Ordinance
in April and followed it by passing a Bill in Parliament during
Monsoon Session.
 The Bill was introduced to amend the Indian Penal Code to
provide death penalty for gangrape of a girl under 12 years, and 20 years in jail to death
penalty for rape of a girl under 12 years, among others.
 Provisions were also added to provide imprisonment for the rest of one’s natural life for
gangrape of a girl under 16 years, while rape of a girl in the same age bracket would be
punishable with jail of 20 years up to life imprisonment.
 However, the absence of changes to Prevention of Child Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012,
which deals with sexual crimes against both girls and boys, meant that similar crimes
committed against boys carried lighter punishment as those committed against girls.
 The latest set of changes approved by the Union Cabinet address these anomalies.
 The Union Cabinet approved changes to Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which deals with
punishments for aggravated penetrative sexual assault, enhancing the punishment of 10
years to life imprisonment to 20 years to imprisonment for remainder of a person’s natural
life or with death.
 This category of offence includes assault on a child under the age of 12 years, gangrape,
assault on a mentally or physically challenged child or one that is committed by a relative.
 The government has also amended the definition of aggravated penetrative sexual assault
to include an offence that causes the death of a child.
Kaiga Atomic Power Station creates world record for continuous operation for 941 days
 The Kaiga Atomic Power Station of Karnataka has created a new world record, with one of
its units functioning continuously without any interruption for more than 940 days. The
previous world record was held by Unit 2 of Heysham of the United Kingdom. It operated
without any interruption for 940 days.
 About Kaiga Atomic Power Station:
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 Kaiga Atomic Power Station is a nuclear power generating station located at Kaiga in
Karnataka, India.
 It is operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India.
 The power plant has been functioning since March 2000.
 The Kaiga power plant has four units of 220 MW each.
 The total power generating capacity of Kaiga power plant is 880 MW
 It is the third largest nuclear power plant in India. Tarapur (1400
MW) of Maharashtra is the largest and Rawatbhata (1180 MW) of
Rajatshan is the second largest power plant in India.
 It supplies electricity to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
 The same unit of Kiaga Power plant had set a world record in October 2018 when it
functioned non-stop for 894 days. The record set by Kaiga power plant is a record for all
kinds of units in the world which generate nuclear power, including advanced gas-based
reactors.
Cabinet approved 10,000-crore for Gaganyaan human space mission

 The Union Cabinet has approved the Gaganyaan project, under which a three-member crew
would be in space for at least seven days.
 The project will cost Rs.10,000 crore.
 The Gaganyaan project was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his
Independence Day speech this year.
 Three-member crew to be in space for at least seven days.
 The mission will be undertaken by 2022.
 India has already inked agreements with Russia and France for assistance in this project.
Delhi High Court Orders Ban on sale of Online Medicines

 The Delhi High Court has ordered a ban on the sale of online medicines
by E-pharmacies across the country. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra
Menon and Justice V K Rao has also ordered central and delhi
governments to implement the order.
 Background
 The court was acting on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by
Zaheer Ahmed, a Delhi based dermatologist. The main complaints in
the PIL were as follows:
 Medicines worth Lakhs was being sold online everyday without much regulation and
posing a huge risk to patients as well as doctors.
 Online sale of medicines is not permitted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and
Pharmacy Act, 1948.
 The Drug Controller General of India in 2015 had clearly directed all state drug controllers
to protect the interest of public health by restraining such sale online.
 By allowing unchecked online sales, the government has failed in its responsibility to
protect public health and fulfill its obligation under Article 21 of the constitution (right to
life).
 Drugs are different from common items; and their misuse and abuse can have serious
consequences for public health.
 Internet is used by a large number of children, minors and also uneducated people in rural
areas. They can become victims of wrong medication.
 Online pharmacies are working without drug licenses and are also indulged in selling
psychotropic substances.
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Indian Railways plans to build first vertical-lift bridge

 Indian Railways is building the country’s first vertical-lift bridge to connect Rameswaram to
mainland India.
 The bridge will allow ships and steamer to pass
through without any hindrance.
 The new bridge would replace the existing 104-year-
old Pamban bridge.
 It would be ready in the next four years.
 India’s first vertical-lift bridge will have a 63-metre
stretch which will lift up while remaining parallel to the deck to allow access to the ships
 Indian Railways is all set to build country’s first vertical-lift bridge connecting
Rameswaram to mainland India.
 Replacing the 104-year-old Pamban Bridge, the new vertical-lift bridge will allow ships and
steamers to pass through without any hindrance.
 The two-kilometre-long bridge will cost Rs 250 crore and is expected to be ready in next
four years.
 know about the first vertical-lift bridge:
1) The new bridge will have a 63-metre stretch which will lift up while remaining parallel to
the deck to allow access to the ships. It will have 100 spans of 18.3 metre and one
navigational span of 63 metre.
Ever seen a moving bridge? The Pamban Sea-Bridge that connects Rameshwaram with
mainland India will soon have vertical lift span technology to allow the cross-navigation of
vessels
2) The existing bridge is 2,058 metre long and has been used for more than 100 years. Since it
has been almost non-operational for the last few years, Indian Railways has planned the
new vertical bridge.
3) India’s first vertical-lift bridge will be three-metre higher than the existing bridge with
navigational air clearance of 22 metre above sea level.
4) Pamban bridge uses ‘Scherzer’ rolling lift technology in which the bridge opens up
horizontally. In the new bridge, a 63-metre section will lift vertically upwards remaining
parallel to the deck.
It will be done using sensors at each end.
5) The entire bridge including navigational span will be designed keeping in mind the Indian
Railways’ electrification plan.
6) The existing bridge is being manually operated. However, the new bridge will have electro-
mechanical controlled systems which will be interlocked with train control systems,
according to an official.
PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates International Rice Research Centre In Varanasi

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Rice Research Institute's
South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) campus in Varanasi.
 The International Rice Research Institute's South Asia
Regional Centre in Varanasi will serve as a hub for rice
research and training in South Asia.
 PM Modi dedicated the institute to the country.
 The institute will help farmers of the region to develop
varieties of paddy which grow in minimum water and
have low sugar content and high nutritional value.
 India's association with the IRRI dates back to the 1960s.
 PM Modi was the first Indian prime minister to visit IRRI headquarters in Manila,
Philippines in November 2017.
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 PM Modi also inaugurated 15 projects worth Rs. 80 crore in his constituency Varanasi .
 PM Modi also attended the 'One District, One Product' Regional Summit in Varanasi where
he interacted with weavers and artisans.
Train 18: India’s first engine-less train becomes country’s fastest train
 India’s first indigenously designed locomotive-less (engine less) train known as Train 18,
breached the 180 kmph speed limit during test run in Kota-Sawai Madhopur section.
 When this train is made operational, it will become the country’s fastest train. It is touted as
next generation Shatabdi Express and will connect metros with
other important cities.
 Background
 Train 18 was rolled out in October 2018 at Chennai’s Integral Coach
Factory (ICF). Earlier in November 2018, Research Designs and
Standards Organisation (RDSO) had announced its trial run
successfully. During this trail on tracks in Moradabad division of
Northern Railway, this train had ran up to 115 km per hour.
 The trials proved that train has defined track geometry parameters, curved alignments of
specific radius and station yard zones. Major trials of this train are now over with just some
more remaining. Once Train 18 becomes operational, it will commence its commercial
operations from January 2019.
 Train 18
 It is capable of touching 200 kmph provided the rest of Indian Railways’ system such as
tracks and signals permit. It will replacing current 30-year-old Shatabdi Express – a day
train. Thus it is touted as next generation Shatabdi Express. It will be first long-distance
train without separate locomotive (engine).
 It has been indigenously developed by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in just
short time span of 18 months. It took investment of nearly Rs 100 crore to build this
prototype and subsequent bulk production will bring down the cost. Thus, it will be
cheaper compared to imported engine less train.
 The High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh approved
additional assistance of Rs 1,146.12 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund
(NDRF) to Tamil Nadu, which was affected by cyclone ‘Gaja’.
 Union government declared the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a banned organization.
Home Ministry order stated the decision was taken under the Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act 1967.
 National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), India’s national
accreditation body, secured equivalence for its accreditation programme for Occupational
Health & Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) Certification Bodies in Asia- Pacific region.
It has signed the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) of the Pacific Accreditation
Cooperation (PAC).
 Lok Sabha passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 which is aimed at prohibiting
commercial surrogacy & unethical practices relating to it. The Bill has provisions to
constitute National Surrogacy Board, State Surrogacy Boards, & appointment of
appropriate authorities for regulation of surrogacy. It permits surrogacy only for couples
who cannot conceive a child. The intending couple must be Indian citizens & married for at
least five years with at least one of them being infertile.
 NITI Aayog unveiled its comprehensive national Strategy for New India titled ‘Strategy for
New India @75’, which defines clear objectives for 2022-23. The document was released
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by FM Arun Jaitley. The Strategy Document advocates empowering & encouraging women
to participate across all sectors of the economy, to build a strong & inclusive New India.
 India’ first private sector unit for manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) opened
at Adani Aerospace Park in Hyderabad. It is built by the Adani Group & Israel-based Elbit
Systems.
 Ministry of Power launched the ECO Niwas Samhita 2018, an Energy Conservation Building
Code for Residential Buildings (ECBC-R).
 India’s first Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence established by the European Union was
inaugurated at the Department of European Studies (DES) at Manipal Academy of Higher
Education, Manipal by Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to India & Bhutan, Tomasz
Kozlowski.
 Government sanctioned 254 projects worth over 24 thousand crore rupees under National
Mission for Clean Ganga. Announcement was made at the India Water Impact Summit 2018
in New Delhi.
Multiple Choise Questions(MCQs)
1. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 was passed by which body on
December 27, 2018?
A. Lok Sabha B. Rajya Sabha C. Parliament D. President
2. ‘Train 18’ officially became fastest train of which country recently?

A. Japan B. Russia C. India D. Italy
3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will rename three islands of Andaman and Nicobar after which
freedom fighter?
A. Shaheed Bhagat Singh B. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
C. Lala Lajpat Rai D. Chandrashekhar Azad
4. Which state will get its own High Court from January 2019?
A. Andhra Pradesh B. Telangana C. Goa D. Puducherry
5. As per the NITI Aayog’s ‘Strategy for New India @75’, Government aims to propel India towards a
USD 5 trillion economy by which year?
A. 2023 B. 2025 C. 2028 D. 2030
6. India’s heaviest satellite GSAT 11 was launched recently by ISRO. GSAT 11 belongs to which
category of satellites?
A. Communication satellite B. Remote Sensing Satellite
C. Earth observation satellites D. Navigation system satellites
7. Which state announced a new initiative ‘PEETHA’ to publicise government schemes?

A. Bihar B. Jharkhand C. Odisha D. Andhra Pradesh
8. Which state has become the first north-eastern state to launch single emergency number ‘112’?
A. Assam B. Meghalaya C. Nagaland D. Manipur
9. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) launched toll-free number _____ and a facility to file
complaints through Common Service Center (CSC), on 28th December 2018?
A. 18121 B. 14433 C. 15567 D. 17552
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10. Prime Minister inaugurated the International Rice Research Institute's South Asia Regional Centre
(ISARC) campus that will serve as a hub for rice research and training in South Asia in which among
the following cities?
A. Bangalore B. Pune C. Varanasi D. Jodhpur
11. The 42nd Indian Social Science Congress was inaugurated by Dr. Najma Heptulla, Governor of
Manipur in Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology campus. What is the theme of the congress for
the year 2018?
A. Human Future in Digital Era B. Making Nation as Digital Hub
C. Nations Future in Digital Era D. Human Life with Digital World
12. How much amount did the Union Cabinet approved budget for the proposed human spaceflight
mission (Gaganyaan)?
A. Rs.5000 crore B. Rs.7500 crore C. Rs.8500 crore D. Rs.10000 crore
13. National Children's Science Congress held in which state?

A. Rajasthan B. Andhra Pradesh C. Karnataka D. Odisha
14. India's longest rail road bridge, Bogibeel Bridge Opens. The bridge is constructed over which river?
A. Narmada B. Tapti C. Bhramaputra D. Krishna
15. India's largest cancer hospital opened up in which state?

A. Uttar Pradesh B. Haryana C. Sikkim D. Bihar
16. Recently which state Assembly has passed a bill which recommends life imprisonment for those
involved in mob violence?
A. Assam B. Manipur C. Rajasthan D. West Bengal
17. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the 'Asiatic Lion Conservation
Project' with an aim to protect and conserve the population of Asiatic Lion. Who is the present
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change?
A. Harsh Vardhan B. Raj Nath Singh C. Suresh Prabhu D. Arun Jaitely
18. India ranked ______ in WEF's Gender Gap Index.

A. 100th B. 108th C. 115th D. 126th
19. Which Twitter handle has been launched by the Union Government to spread awareness about
cyber crimes?
A. @Cyber18 B. @CyberFriend C. @CyberVigyan D. @CyberDost
20. According to the Yahoo Year in Review list, who has retained the position of top newsmaker in India
in the year 2018?
A. Virat Kohli B. Narendra Modi C. Anushka Sharma D. Rahul Gandhi
21. Kandhamal Haldi, which is in news for its GI tag, is produce in which of the following states?
A. Jharkhand B. Tripura C. Odisha D. West Bengal
22. Who is the author of the book 'Blue Waters Ahoy!'?

A. Anup Singh B. Sunil Lanba C. Robin K Dhowan D. DK Joshi
23. What was India’s rank at the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Index 2018?
A. 89th B. 95th C. 108th D. 117th
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International
COP24 IN KATOWICE
 The 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference that took place between 2 and 15
December 2018 in Katowice, Poland, is the 24th
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24).
It is also referred to as the Katowice Climate Change
Conference or Katowice Climate Talks. The most
important outcome of COP24 was that the countries
have agreed on rules for the implementation of the
2015 Paris Agreement.
 Main Outcomes of COP 24 in Katowice:
 The participating nations agreed on the rules to implement the Paris Agreement that will
come into effect in 2020. The rules are regarding how the member nations will measure
the carbon-emissions and report on their emissions-cutting efforts. This ‘rulebook’ can be
called as the detailed “operating manual” of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
 The members of the conference did not agree to “welcome” the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) report on 1.5°C. The US, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Kuwait refused to
“welcome” the IPCC report.
 The parties to the conference agreed to record the pledges in a public registry, as per the
existing interim portal. The public registry will continue to include a search function,
although many attempts have been made to get it deleted.
 It was also agreed among the members that future pledges should cover a “common
timeframe” from 2031. The number of years for the timeframe will be decided later.
 Many difficult matters could not reach an agreement and have been postponed to next year
for resolution. This includes questions such as ways to scale up existing commitments on
emission reduction, different ways of providing financial aid to the poor nations, wording
that prevents double counting and whether member nations are doing enough to cut their
respective emissions.
Italy’s Mount Etna Volcano erupts

 Italy’s Mount Etna volcano erupted on 24th December 2018 resulting in more than 130
earthquakes of up to 4.3 in magnitude. The volcanic lava and
ash spewed from a new fracture near its south-eastern crater
for the first time in a decade and was visible for miles.
 Etna’s eruptions are relatively frequent and there has been a
gradual increase in activity on the volcano over the last month
as reported by the according to Italy’s National Institute of
Geophysics and Volcanology,
 The volcanic eruption and the subsequent earthquakes have
resulted in the closure of Sicily’s Catania Airport and the
Hikers were told to come down to lower elevations to avoid
the noxious fumes.
 Mount Etna Volcano
 Mount Etna is Europe’s highest and most active volcano outside the Caucasus. Mount Etna
is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. The last major eruption was in
1992.
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 The volcano lies above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and
the Eurasian Plate. Mount Etna is in an almost constant state of activity. United Nations has
designated Mount Etna has a Decade Volcano by the United Nations and it was added to the
list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
 A study by the UK lead team reveals that the whole structure of Europe’s premier volcano
was edging towards the sea at a rate of 14mm per year.
Qatar will leave the membership of oil cartel OPEC on 1 January 2019
 The small, gas-rich state of Qatar on 2 December 2018 announced that it will leave the
powerful oil cartel Oil Producing and Exporting
Countries (OPEC) on 1 January 2019 after nearly 60
years of membership.
 For a year and a half, Qatar has been under an
economic embargo by some of its neighbors including
OPEC's de facto leader, Saudi Arabia.
 The withdrawal decision reflects Qatar's desire to
focus its efforts on plans to develop and increase its
natural gas production.
 Qatar will be the first Middle Eastern country to pull out of OPEC, which only deals with
crude oil production.
 It is the world's leading exporter of liquefied natural gas, accounting for about 30% of
global demand.
“Yellow Vests” Movement: Violent protests and riots in Paris erupted against Fuel Price
 The violent protests and riots in Paris erupted as part
of the ongoing “Yellow Vests” movement that sprang
up during November 2018 as a response to hikes in
car fuel taxes.
 The change in fuel taxes, which are due to be
introduced on 1 January 2019, will see tax on diesel
will go up by 6.5% and petrol tax will rise by 2.9%.
 The protests became violent on 1 December 2018 as
thousands of protestors from France’s poor rural regions started mobilizing around Seine
River in Paris and commenced a march.
 All around France, the protests left three dead and more than 260 wounded, with more
than 400 arrested.
 These riots were Paris’ most violent in recent times.
 President Emmanuel Macron on 2 December 2018 visited the affected areas.
Indonesia hit by Volcanic Tsunami

 On 22nd December 2018, Indonesia was hit by a Tsunami. As
the giant tsunami waves crashed into coastal towns on the
islands of Sumatra and Java, at least 281 people were killed
and 1,016 were injured.
 About Tsunami
 Tsunami refers to a series of waves in a water body caused by
the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an
ocean or a large lake.
 Tsunamis are different from the normal sea waves. Normal
waves are generated due to the wind and Tides are generated
due to the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, whereas
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Tsunami is generated by an abrupt movement on the ocean floor due to the triggering
points like Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, underwater explosions, landslides, glacier
calving or meteorite impacts.
 Tsunami waves have a large wavelength in the open ocean. As the Tsunami waves reach
shallow water near shores they grow rapidly in size and make a landfall causing large-scale
destruction.
 Volcanic Tsunami of Indonesia
 The Tsunami which Indonesia witnessed on 22nd December is attributed to the collapse in
the west-southwest flank of the Anak Krakatau volcano.
 The collapse resulted in millions of tonnes of rocky debris plunging into the sea. This
resulted in the displacement of large volumes of water resulting in Tsunami waves.
 Anak Krakatau
 Indonesia lies on the Pacific ring of fire. This makes Indonesia vulnerable to earthquakes.
Indonesia also houses 127 active volcanoes and one of these volcanoes is the Anak
Krakatau.
 Anak Krakatau is a volcanic island formed in 1927 after the Krakatoa volcano eruption. The
Anak Krakatau was erupting from June 2018. The authorities have warned that there can
be an eruption again and have advised people to stay away from the coast for a while.
 Ring of Fire
 Ring of Fire is an area in the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are
frequent. The Ring of Fire is a direct result of the movement and collisions
of lithospheric plates of the earth.
World Bank to invest USD 200 bn in 2021-25 to fight climate change

 The World Bank has unveiled USD 200 billion in climate action investment for 2021-25,
adding this amounts to a doubling of its current five-year funding.
 According to latest OECD data ,developed
countries are committed to lifting
combined annual public and private
spending to USD 100 billion in developing
countries by 2020 to fight the impact of
climate change - up from 48.5 billion in
2016 and 56.7 billion last year,.
 Southern hemisphere countries fighting
the impact of warming temperatures are
nonetheless pushing northern
counterparts for firmer commitments.
 Around one third of the remaining funding will come from two World Bank Group agencies
with the rest private capital “mobilised by the World Bank Group”.
 The bank’s financing package amounts to “about 40 billion a year, but the direct (finance) is
27 billion per year on average.
 In the 2018 fiscal year, running from July 2017 to June this year, the World Bank had
committed USD 20.5 billion to climate action, compared with an annual average of USD 13.5
billion for the 2014-2018 period.
 The countries whose representatives are meeting at the UN climate summit which opened
in the Polish city of Katowice are seeking to make good on commitments made in the 2015
Paris climate accord.
 That agreement saw countries commit to limiting global temperature rises to well below
two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and to the safer cap of 1.5C if at all possible.
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Panama become the first Latin American country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI)
 Panama has become the first Latin American country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI). Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Panamanian counterpart, Juan Carlos Varela
signed more than a dozen deals on 5 December 2018 during the Chinese Premier's visit to
Panama.
 China established diplomatic relations with Panama last year.
 The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as the One Belt One Road (OBOR).
 It is an ambitious development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving
infrastructure development and investments in countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Merriam-Webster selects ‘Justice’ as its 2018 Word of the Year

 Merriam-Webster has declared ‘Justice’ as the 2018 Word Of The
Year. As per Merriam-Webster says, the word ‘Justice’ is used in many
phrases like racial justice, social justice and obstruction of justice.
 About Merriam-Webster:
 Merriam-Webster is a US company famous for its dictionaries and also
known for reference books that it publishes.
 It was founded by George and Charles Merriam in Springfield,
Massachusetts in 1828.
 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. acquired Merriam-Webster in 1964 as its subsidiary
company.
 Every year Merriam-Webster, the American dictionary-publishing company, publishes the
list of Words of the Year. The ‘List of Words of the Year’ contains the ten English language
words of the year. The company started publishing the list in 2003 and have been
publishing at the end of every year since then.
 Initially, the company chose the words based on popular searches on its website. Since
2006, the words in the list are selected by an online poll and by suggestions from readers.
 The words selected by Merriam Webster are usually a reflection of the events that take
place during that year. For example, the Word of the Year for 2005 was ‘Integrity’, which
showed the immense interest that general public had in defining this word amid all the
ethics scandals and controversies in the US government, corporations, and sports. The
Word of the Year for 2016 was ‘Surreal’ and for 2017 was ‘Feminism’.
Akademik Lomonosov: World’s First Floating Nuclear Power Plant becomes operational
 On December 11, 2018, Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov, the world’s first floating nuclear
power plant (FNPP) has become operational. The Russian atomic
energy corporation Rosatom announced that the plant has been
brought to 10% of its capacity.
 Akademik Lomonosov
 Akademik Lomonosov was constructed by Russian state nuclear
power firm Rosatom. It has length of 144 metres and width of 30
metres. It has displacement of 21,500 tonnes and crew of 69
people.
 For power generation, it has been fitted with two modified KLT-
40 naval propulsion nuclear reactors(each of 35 MW capacity)
together providing up to 70 MW of electricity and 300 MW of heat. It is named after Russian
Academician Mikhail Lomonosov.
 It has latest security systems and is considered as one of safest nuclear installations in the
world. However, environmentalists have dubbed it as ‘nuclear Titanic’ or ‘Chernobyl on ice’.
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It will be primarily used to power oil rigs in remote areas of Artic region where Russia is
pushing to drill for oil and gas.
Gitega as the country’s new political capital Burundi

 The government of Burundi has declared Gitega as the country’s new political capital.
Bujumbura, the previous capital of Burundi, will serve as the
economic capital of the country.
 President Nkurunziza had made this promise of shifting the
capital in 2007 which has been implemented now.
 The government has decided to hold future Cabinet
meetings in Gitega and to establish five ministries in Gitega
from the start of 2019.
 Gitega’s population is around 30 000 as compared to Bujumbura’s 1.2 million.
 Burundi:
 Burundi is a country located in the Great Lake area in East Africa.
 Its borders meet Rwanda in the north, Tanzania in the south and east and Congo in the
west. Even though this country is landlocked, but the south-west border is connected to
Lake Tanganyika.
 Five decades ago, the presence of TAW, TUTSI and HUTU Tribes remained the same since
the formation of the country.
 Among the tribal groups between 1993 and 2005, there were about two lakh people lost
their lives due to ethnic conflict.
 After the political stability after the year 2005, the country is on the path of progress.
Australia Recognizes West Jerusalem as Capital of Israel

 On 15th December 2018, Australia recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. With
this, Australia has become one of the few countries that officially
recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and as the seat of the
Knesset (Israel’s parliament). This move is supposed to irk
Indonesia and other countries.
 However, Australia has made it clear that it will not move its
embassy from Tel Aviv until a peace settlement is reached between
Israel and Palestine. Yet, Australia will establish a defence and
trade office in Jerusalem and start looking for an embassy site
 Background
 West Jerusalem is that part of Jerusalem which remained under Israeli control after
the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. A number of western countries such as the UK acknowledge de
facto Israeli authority, but withhold de jure recognition. Israel’s claim of sovereignty over
West Jerusalem is more widely accepted than its claim over city of East Jerusalem
 Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital.
 Before this, United States President Donald Trump’s administration had also
announced recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on December 6, 2017.
 The UN General Assembly passed a resolution in opposition to declare the US
President Donald Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “null and void”
 India also supported the resolution, which was approved with a majority of 127-9 at the UN
General Assembly calling for the US to withdraw its decision
 The Israeli–Palestinian tussle is the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians that
began in the mid-20th century. The origins of this conflict can be traced back to Jewish
immigration, and sectarian conflict in Mandatory Palestine between Jews and Arabs. This
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conflict has been referred to as the world’s “most intractable conflict”, with the ongoing
Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for last 51 years
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft find evidence of water on asteroid Bennu

 NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer
(OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft has found water locked inside asteroid Bennu. Bennu is too small
to have ever hosted liquid water, but this finding does indicate that liquid water was
present at some time on Bennu’s parent body, a much larger asteroid.
 Key Facts
 Data obtained from spacecraft’s two spectrometers OSIRIS-
REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES) and OSIRIS-REx
Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (OVIRS) has revealed
presence ofhydroxyl molecules that contain oxygen and
hydrogen atoms bonded together.
 These hydroxyl groups exist globally across asteroid in water-
bearing clay minerals, indicating that at some point Bennu’s
rocky material interacted with water.
 OSIRIS-REx
 It launched in September 2016 is NASA’s first asteroid sampling mission i.e. it will survey
surface, collect sample and deliver it safely back to Earth.
 It had reached its destination Bennu asteroid in December 2018 after travelling through
space for more than two years and travelling over two billion kilometres.
 Samples returned by the mission to Earth in 2023 will enable scientists to find new
information about the history and evolution of our solar system.
 Bennu
 It is near-Earth carbonaceous asteroid about the size of a small mountain in the Apollo
group. It was discovered in September 1999 by the LINEAR Project. It is one of oldest
known asteroids which is considered as remnant from early in formation of solar system
and orbits close to Earth’s path around Sun.
 It is carbon-rich asteroid and believed to be the type of asteroids that may have chemical
building blocks of life, along with lots of water. So, analysis of returned sample from it could
help to reveal key insights about early solar system and the origin of life on Earth.
 It is potentially hazardous asteroid and there is very slight chance it could strike into Earth
in the late 22nd century.
Global Nutrition Report, 2018

 India has the highest number of ‘stunted’ children in the world and
nearly a third of all stunted children worldwide are to be found in
India as per the recently released WHO’s Global Nutrition Report,
2018.
 About Global Nutrition Report
 The Global Nutrition Report came into existence following the first
Nutrition for Growth Initiative Summit (N4G) in 2013. The Global
Nutrition Report was devised as a mechanism for tracking the
commitments made by 100 stakeholders spanning governments,
aid donors, civil society, the UN and businesses.
 The Global Nutrition Report is the world’s leading report on the state of global nutrition.
The report is delivered by an Independent Expert Group and guided at a strategic level by a
Stakeholder Group, whose members also review the Report.
 2018 Report: Global Profile
22 |
 Stunting among children aged under five has fallen from 32.6 per cent in 2000 to 22.2 per
cent in 2017
 20 million babies are born with low birth weight each year.
 3 million Children in the world over are overweight, while 38.9 per cent of adults are
overweight or obese.
 One third of all women of reproductive age have anaemia.
 Women also have a higher prevalence of obesity than men.
 2018 Report: Indian Profile
 India has the highest number of ‘stunted’ children in the world and nearly a third of all
stunted children worldwide are to be found in India.
 About 46.6 million children in India suffer from stunting due to poor nutrition intake in the
long term and repeated infections.
 India is also the country with the highest number of children who are ‘wasted’. This is an
even more severe indicator of acute malnutrition.
 India has 25.5 million children who are wasted. Among the 50.5 million children who are
wasted globally, India has half of the global wasting burden.
 Stunting in India varied greatly from district to district (12.4 per cent to 65.1 per cent). 239
of 604 districts had stunting levels above 40 per cent.
 As of 2015, the percentage of children Under 5 (both boys and girls) who were stunted was
37.9 per cent and the percentage of children Under 5 who were wasted was 20.8 per cent.
 The households with the lowest incomes had the highest number of wasting (23.8 per cent)
and stunting (50.7 per cent) among children aged under five years.
SpaceX successfully launches 64 small satellites using reusable Falcon 9 rocket

 Elon Musk-led SpaceX has successfully launched 64 small satellites into low Earth orbit
onboard of its reusable and preflown Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California.
 This has set new record in United States of launching satellites in single go. It was third
voyage of Falcon 9 rocket, marking another milestone in
SpaceX’s cost-cutting reusable rocket technology.
 About Satellites
 The 64 small satellites included 49 CubeSats and 15 micro-
satellites belonging to 34 different clients including public,
private and university sources from 17 different countries across
the world including South Korea, France and Kazakhstan.
 The microsatellites weighed few dozen kilograms and CubeSats
weighed even smaller. Among launched satellites, one was
sculpture called “Orbital Reflector” by artist Trevor Paglen, sent by Nevada Museum of Art
and it was not scientific missions.
 Note
 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) holds record for the most satellite launch in
single flight. It had launched 104 satellites in one go using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV-C37) rocket.
 Space X
 It is private US space agency. It was founded by Elon Musk on May 6, 2002 who is its
current CEO of Space X. Its main purpose for its establishment was to reduce cost of space
transport and establish human habitation on Mars house.
 Space X has developed series of Falcon Rockets. To reduce cost of internal transport, the
space company has created re-usable rockets. Majority of these rockets are also used in
other launches.
23 |
 A 33-year-old man Colin O’Brady from the United States has become the first person to
complete a solo trek across Antarctica without any assistance. He finished the 1,500km
journey across the frozen continent in 54 days.
 Nepal imposed a monthly limit on the amount of Indian currency its citizen can spend in
India. A spokesperson of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) stated that a Nepali citizen would be
unable to spend more than INR 1 lakh per month.
 Turkmenistan launched its first messaging app BizBarde. It will allow the exchange of
messages, files, photos & videos.
 In a landmark policy shift, Japan formally announced that it would withdraw from the
International Whaling Commission (IWC) & resume commercial whaling in its territorial
waters next year for the first time in more than 30 years.
 UN General Assembly adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly & Regular Migration,
the first-ever negotiated global framework on a common approach to international
migration in all its dimensions.
 U.N. General Assembly voted nearly unanimously to adopt a framework to strengthen the
international response to the global refugee crisis. The United States & Hungary were the
only two nations that voted against the Global Compact on Refugees, while 181 countries
voted in favor.
 UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared 2019 as the Year of Tolerance,
an extension of the Year of Zayed which has run this year.
 Israel became a full member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international
body set up to combat money laundering, terrorist financing & other threats to the
international financial system.
 The second-largest Ebola outbreak in history has spread to a major city in eastern Congo.
 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has launched a new framework, the UN Global
Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, to combat the scourge of international terrorism
& coordinate efforts across the peace & security, humanitarian, human rights & sustainable
development sectors. It will replace the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force.
 Luxembourg is set to become the first country in the world to make all public transport
free, implementing the move in 2020.
 Australia has become the first country in the world to recognise ‘orphanage trafficking’ as a
form of modern slavery.
1. The 24th meeting of Conference of Parties (CoP) was held in which country?
A. Austria B. Denmark C. Poland D. Fiji
2. Which Nation's air line made history when they flew the first flight without any single use plastic?
A. Portugal B. France C. Greece D. Germany
3. Which country became the first country in Southeast Asia to approve the licensed use of marijuana
and kratom for medical use and research?
A. Bhutan B. Thailand C. Indonesia D. Malaysia
4. Recently, which country launches its first satellite for broadband communication?
A. Vietnam B. China C. Myanmar D. Thailand
5. Which city is officially declared as the new Political Capital of Burundi?

24 |
A. Kingoma B. Bujumbura C. Gitega D. Butare
6. Which African country has joined as a member of International Solar Alliance recently?
A. Angola B. Namibia C. Botswana D. Zambia
7. Merriam-Webster has declared which word as the 2018 Word Of The Year?
A. Justice B. Pilgrimage C. Nomophobia D. Neutrality
8. Where did World's first "floating" nuclear power plant was opened?
A. Brazil B. India C. China D. Russia
9. Who tops in the ranking of Climate Change Performance Index?

A. Sweden B. Pakistan C. Indonesia D. Saudi Arabia
10. Where did Intergovernmental Conference on the Global Compact for Migration for year 2018 was
held?
A. Hyderabad B. Kathmandu C. Marrakech D. Beijing
11. Which country was selected the Chinese character for 'disaster' as its defining symbol for 2018?
A. USA B. Japan C. India D. Indonesia
12. Which is the first ever space mission from that was recently launched by China to land a robotic
craft on the far side of the Moon?
A. Chang e-1 B. Chang e-1A C. Chang e-2 D. Chang e-4
13. Which country is set becomes the world's first country to make all its public transport free by 2019?
A. Laos B. Venezuela C. Vietnam D. Luxembourg
25 |
HUL found guilty of Profiteering Rs 383 crore

 National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) assessment has revealed consumer goods
maker Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) allegedly
profiteering to the extent of Rs 383 crore after the
large-scale goods and services tax (GST) rate cut
last November.
 The National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) has
asked HUL to deposit Rs 223 crore in central and
state consumer welfare funds since the company
itself had proactively deposited Rs 160 crore with
the central consumer welfare fund.
 National Anti-profiteering Authority
 National Anti-profiteering Authority was constituted by the central government to provide
an institutional mechanism under the GST law for checking the unfair profit-making
activities by the trading community.
 National Anti-profiteering Authority is headed by a senior officer of the level of Secretary to
the Government of India. There will be four Technical Members from the Centre and/or the
States.
 GST consumer welfare funds
 The GST law also provides for the creation of a Consumer Welfare Fund wherein undue
benefits made by businesses under the GST law have to be deposited, in case it cannot be
passed on to the identified recipient. The proceeds from the GST consumer welfare fund
can be given as grant to the Centre and state governments as well as regulatory authorities.
 Why the profiteering is rampant in India?
 According to the anti-profiteering laws in India, businesses have to pass on the benefit of
tax cuts as well as tax rebates to consumers. But the businesses often increase prices to
commensurate with the reduced taxes due to the free nature of the market.
 Also, there are no explicit guidelines for companies which they are required to follow so
that the benefit of tax rebates and rate reductions on raw materials are passed on to
consumers at the right measure across all final products. As a result, the NAA is witnessing
a large number of complaints related to overcharging.
IndiGo became India's first airline to have 200 aircraft in its fleet
 IndiGo became India's first airline to have 200 aircraft in its
fleet.
 This happened as the airline inducted 4 new aircrafts in its
fleet on 6 December 2018.
 IndiGo, the Gurgaon-based no-frills carrier, which enjoys over
40 per cent of the total domestic traffic, had inducted the
100th aircraft on 24 December 2015.
 The airline, founded by Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal,
started operations in August 2006 with a Delhi-Imphal flight.
 The airline’s fleet now comprises 123 A320ceos (current engine option), 61 A320 neos
(new engine option) as well as 12 regional jets ATR.
 It currently offers over 1,200 flights to 63 domestic destinations, which include 49 domestic
and 14 international ones.
26 |
Union Government granted exempt, exempt and exempt (EEE) status to NPS
 The Union Cabinet has approved changes to National Pension
Scheme (NPS) which will make the pension plan at par with
other schemes like PPF and EPF.
 The government granted NPS exempt, exempt and exempt
(EEE) status, which means that like PPF (Public Provident
Fund) or EPF (Employee Provident Fund) investment at the
investment stage, accumulation and withdrawal stage will be
tax free.
 Earlier, NPS only enjoyed exempt, exempt and taxable or EET
status, meaning that on withdrawal NPS was partially taxable.
 These changes were approved by the Cabinet in its meeting on 6 December 2018 but their
announcement was delayed due to state elections.
 It is also worth mentioning that the government has raised government contribution in NPS
from the present 10% to 14% for the Central Government employees.
India to increase public health spending to 2.5 % of GDP

 India is set to increase its public health spending to 2.5 % of its Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) by 2025.
 India is one of the first countries to advocate focused
attention on adolescence and to implement a full-
fledged health promotion and prevention programme
for adolescents.
 The central government is set to increase its spending
on public health to 2.5 % of the GDP.
 As of now, the country spends 1.15 % of the GDP on
health.
 The Partners’ Forum meet this year will focus on improving multi-sectoral action for
results, sharing country solutions and capturing the best practices and knowledge within
the health sector and among related sectors.
 Under Mission Indradhaush, a massive immunisation programme, India reached 32.8
million children and 8.4 million pregnant women over the last three years.
ADB retains Indian growth (GDP) forecast at 7.3 % for F.Y-2019

 The Asian Development Bank paged India's economic growth at 7.3 % for the current fiscal
and 7.6 % for 2019-20.
 It predits, despite downside risks posed by stress in the non-
banking sector, limited fiscal space as well as escalating
trade tensions.
 India is maintaining growth momentum on rebounding
exports and higher industrial and agricultural output.
 According to the ‘Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2018
Update’ report, India’s GDP growth moderated to 7.1 % in second quarter of 2018-19 from
8.2 % in the first quarter, averaging 7.6 % growth in the first half.
 Nonetheless, growth forecasts of 7.3 % for FY19 and 7.6 % for F.Y-2020 are retained from
the update despite some downside risks.
 Indian economy is exposed to risks emanating from a tighter credit as the nonbank finance
sector experiences stress, limited fiscal space for public capital expenditure, and escalating
trade tensions.
 ADB’s head quarters is based on Manila, Philippines.
27 |
 On the East Asia growth projections, ADB has maintained it at 6 % for 2018 and 5.7 % for
2019, despite lower forecasts for the newly industrialised economies.
 China is still expected at 6.6 % in 2018, moderating to 6.3 % in 2019.
India to become fifth-biggest economy in 2019: PwC

 According to the accountancy firm PwC; India to become fifth-biggest economy in 2019.
 Britain risks slipping from being the world’s fifth-biggest economy to its seventh-largest
next year, when it is due to leave the European Union, with France and India on course to
overtake it.
 PwC projected economic growth in 2019 of 1.6% for Britain - assuming the country
manages to avoid the shock of a no-deal Brexit in March - versus 1.7% for France and 7.6%
for India.
 The UK and France have regularly alternated in having the larger economy, but subdued
growth in the UK in 2018 and again in 2019 is likely to tip the balance in France’s favour.
 The ranking is based on the size of national economies in US dollar terms.
 Britain’s economy slowed and the value of the pound slumped after the 2016 Brexit
referendum decision to leave the EU.
 India is the fastest-growing large economy in the world, with an enormous population,
favourable demographics and high catch-up potential due to low initial GDP (gross
domestic product) per head.
 It is all but certain to continue to rise in the global GDP league table in the coming decades.
 PwC expects India to rise to fifth place next year from seventh, and France to remain at
sixth.
IDFC Bank merges with Capital First, new entity called IDFC First Bank
 New generation private sector IDFC Bank and non-banking financial company Capital First
announced the completion of their merger,
creating the merged entity IDFC First Bank
 The combined loan asset book of Rs 1.03 lakh
crore for the merged entity IDFC First Bank.
 IDFC Bank and Capital First merged effective
18th December 2018.
 The merged entity to be called IDFC First Bank.
 The board of IDFC Bank approved the
appointment of V Vaidyanathan, founder and
chairman of Capital First Ltd, as Managing
Director and Chief Executive Officer of the merged entity.
 The board of IDFC Bank also approved the appointment of Rajiv Lall, Founder MD & CEO of
IDFC Bank, as part-time non-executive chairman of IDFC First Bank, subject to approval
from the RBI.
 The reconstituted board of the merged entity now stands expanded with the induction of
five new directors.
 IDFC First Bank will now offer a wider array of retail and wholesale banking products,
services and digital innovations, to a greater number of customer segments.
 It will serve 7.2 million customers through its 203 bank branches, 129 ATMs, 454 rural
business correspondent centres across the country's urban and rural geographies.
 The merger between the two entities was announced on January 13, 2018.
 As part of the merger agreement, shareholders will receive 139 shares of IDFC Bank for
every 10 shares held of Warburg Pincus-backed Capital First.
 On a combined basis, IDFC First Bank has on-book loan assets of Rs 1,02,683 crore.
 The retail loan book will now contribute 32.46 % to the overall loan bookt.
28 |
 Infrastructure lender IDFC, which entered the banking space in 2015, has been on the
lookout to grow its retail portfolio.
 In July 2017, IDFC Bank had entered into an agreement with Piramal Group-backed
financial services major Shriram Group for a merger.
States’ Startup Ranking 2018: Gujarat state top performer

 The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) announced results of the first
ever States’ Start-up Ranking 2018 at an event in New
Delhi.
 DIPP began this exercise from January, 2016.
 States have been identified as leaders across various
categories such as Start-up policy leaders, incubation
hubs, seeding innovation, scaling innovation,
regulatory change champions, procurement leaders,
communication champions, North-Eastern leader, and
hill state leader.
 On the basis of performance in these categories, the States have been recognised as the Best
Performer, Top Performers, Leaders, Aspiring Leaders, Emerging States and Beginners, as
follows:
 Best Performer: Gujarat
 Top Performers: Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, and Rajasthan
 Leaders: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana
 Aspiring Leaders: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal
 Emerging States: Assam, Delhi, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu,
and Uttarakhand
 Beginners: Chandigarh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, and Tripura
NITI Aayog releases SDG India Index - Baseline Report 2018

 The NITI Aayog has released the Baseline Report of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG) India Index, which comprehensively
documents the progress made by India's States
and Union Territories towards implementing the
2030 SDG targets.
 The SDG India Index was developed in
collaboration with the Ministry of Statistics &
Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Global
Green Growth Institute and United Nations in
India.
 It was launched by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar.
 Other NITI Aayog Members are - Dr Ramesh Chand, Dr VK Paul and Dr VK Saraswat, CEO
Shri Amitabh Kant, UN Resident Coordinator Yuri Afanasiev and MoSPI Secretary & CSI
Pravin Srivastava.
 NITI Aayog has the twin mandate to oversee the implementation of SDGs in the country,
and also promote Competitive and Cooperative Federalism among States and UTs.
 The SDG India Index acts as a bridge between these mandates, aligning the SDGs with the
Prime Minister's clarion call of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, which embodies the five Ps of the
global SDG movement - people, planet, prosperity, partnership and peace.
 The world is now into the third year of the SDG era.
 The SDGs are ambitious global development goals that address key aspects of universal
wellbeing across different socio-economic, cultural, geographical divisions and integrate
the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development.
29 |
 India's National Development Agenda is mirrored in the SDGs. India's progress in SDGs is
crucial for the world as the country is home to about 17% of the world population.
 The SDG India Index tracks progress of all States and UTs on 62 Priority Indicators selected
by NITI Aayog, which in turn is guided by MoSPI's National Indicator Framework
comprising 306 indicators and based on multiple-round consultations with Union
Ministries/Departments and States/UTs.
 The Index spans 13 out of 17 SDGs. Progress on SDGs 12, 13 & 14 could not be measured as
relevant State/UT level data were not available and SDG 17 was left out as it focuses on
international partnerships.
 A composite score was computed between the range of 0-100 for each State and UT based
on their aggregate performance across 13 SDGs, which indicates average performance of
State/UT towards achieving 13 SDGs & their respective targets.
 If a State/UT achieves a score of 100, it signifies that it has achieved the 2030 national
targets.
 The higher the score of a State/UT, the greater the distance to target achieved.
 Classification Criteria based on SDG India Index Score is as follows:
 Aspirant: 0-49 Performer: 50-64
 Front Runner: 65-99
 Achiever: 100
 OVERALL Aspirant: Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
 Performer: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana,
Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur,
 Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura,
Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman &
Diu, Delhi and Lakshadweep
 Front Runner: Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh and Puducherry
Union Cabinet approved a plan to list which six government-owned companies

 The Union Cabinet has approved a plan to list six government-owned companies.
 The companies are -Telecommunication Consultants Ltd, RailTel Corp India Ltd, National
Seed Corp India Ltd, Tehri Hydro Development Corp Ltd, Water & Power Consultancy
Services Ltd and FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals Ltd.
 However, the timing of the proposed listing was not elaborated.
 The Cabinet also decided to dilute its stake in Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL)
through a share sale.
 The government faces the risk of missing its divestment target for the year, having
garnered less than half the 800 billion rupees targeted amount.
 India Ports Global Limited Company has opened its office and took over operations at the
Shaheed Behesti port at Chabahar. It happened during the occasion of the first meeting of
the follow-up committee for implementation of the trilateral Chabahar agreement between
India, Afghanistan and Iran.
 Govt. will infuse an additional Rs 41,000 crores into cash-starved public sector banks
(PSBs). The outlay will go up from Rs. 65,000 crores to Rs. 1,06,000 crores in the current
financial year to propel economic growth, cementing India’s position as the fastest growing
economy of the world.
 India announces $1.4 billion financial aid to Maldives.India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi
announced this financial assistance to Maldives after he held extensive talks with President
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during which both sides vowed to deepen security cooperation in
the Indian Ocean region.
30 |
 Current account deficit (CAD) widened to 2.9% of GDP for the July-September quarter due
to higher trade deficit compared with 1.1% during the same period of the previous year, as
per the RBI.
 Fitch Ratings revised downwards India’s GDP growth forecast to 7.2% for current fiscal. In
its Global Economic Outlook, It projected that for 2019-20 & 2020-21 financial years,
India’s GDP growth will be 7% & 7.1%.
 According to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, around 5,000 Compressed Bio Gas
(CBG) plants will be set across the country by 2023. These plants meant for extracting
biogas from agricultural residue, cattle dung and municipal solid waste will have an
estimated annual CBG production of 15 million tonne.
 The Centre will arrange a fresh loan of Rs 27,000 crore from the National Small Savings
Fund (NSSF) for the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to service the principal dues of an
earlier loan taken by FCI to run the government’s food subsidy programme.
 The US wants India to remove or substantially prune import tariffs on scores of ICT
products - including high-end mobile phones and smart watches - apart from rolling back
the price curbs on medical equipment like stents.
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will capture payment habits of individuals in six cities,
including four metropolitan towns. For the purpose, the central bank has launched a
‘Survey on Retail Payment Habits of Individuals (SRPHi)’.
 RBI shortlisted six major IT companies, including TCS, Wipro & IBM India, to set up a wide-
based digital Public Credit Registry (PCR) for capturing details of all borrowers & wilful
defaulters. The other three shortlisted vendors are: Capgemini Technology Services India,
Dun & Bradstreet Information Services India, & Mindtree Ltd.
 Noida-based IT major HCL Technologies will acquire seven IBM products by mid-2019 for
$1.8 billion (over Rs 12,700 crore) in its biggest ever acquisition so far. The all-cash deal
entails software in areas including security, marketing, collaboration solutions, &
represents a total addressable market of over $50 billion.
 FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) announced that its board has approved the
merger with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH India) through an-all equity
deal, valuing the total business of the latter at Rs. 31,700 crores.
 Pakistan’s cabinet approved the issuance of first-ever renminbi-denominated ‘Panda
Bonds’ to raise loans from China’s capital markets, as the country moved a step forward to
give the Chinese currency status at par with the US dollar.
 In a bid to make retirement income scheme more attractive for central government
employees, govt. agreed to chip in a higher 14% of the basic salary of an individual as its
contribution to the National Pension System (NPS). Currently, the minimum employee
contribution in NPS is 10% of basic pay.
 The government of India announced a financial assistance of Rs.4,500 crore to Bhutan for
its 12th five-year Plan.
 India and the UAE have signed two agreements, including one on currency swap to step up
cooperation in areas like trade, security and defence.
1. Which state was ranked as the "Best Performer" in the States’ Start-up Ranking 2018?
A. Rajasthan B. Gujarat C. Karnataka D. Kerala
31 |
2. Which Union Territory was ranked as the ‘Top Performer’ in the SDG India Index 2018?
A. Delhi B. Dadra & Nagar Haveli C. Goa D. Chandigarh
3. The Central Government contribution in National Pension Scheme (NPS) was raised to how much
percentage recently?
A. 14 percent B. 15 percent C. 16 percent D. 17 percent
4. Which country decided to withdraw from Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) in January 2019?
A. Qatar B. Indonesia C. Iran D. Israel
5. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs. 4,500 crore financial assistance to which
Asian country for its 12th five year plan?
A. Nepal B. Bangladesh C. Bhutan D. Yemen
6. According to a report titled “In the Dark: How much do power sector distortions cost South Asia” by
World Bank, efficiency gap in India's power sector will cost the Indian economy how much percent
every year?
A. 5% B. 3% C. 2% D. 4%
7. India's first private sector unit for manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) was
inaugurated in which among the following cities?
A. Thiruvanantha Puram B. Chennai
C. Bangaluru D. Hyderabad
8. The EU Parliament has recently approved the world's largest free trade deal with which Asian
country?
A. India B. Japan C. Thailand D. Vietnam
9. Which country is the biggest exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas in the world?
A. Qatar B. Russia C. Saudi Arabia D. UAE
10. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant released the Second Delta Ranking of the Aspirational Districts
Programme. Which among the following districts has topped in the ranking of Aspirational districts
under educational sector?
A. Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu) B. Naupada (Odisha)
C. Sidharthnagar (Uttar Pradesh) D. Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh)
11. Which country is became the world's leading exporter of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) for the first
time?
A. Australia B. Qatar C. Canada D. Iraq
12. Which country is becomes a permanent member of Financial Action Task Force?
A. Fiji B. Chile C. Belgium D. Israel
32 |
Sea trials of IAC Vikrant likely to begin in 2020

 India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant has entered its final phase of
construction and is expected to begin sea trials in 2020.
 Construction would be spread over 7-10 years.
 China has significantly scaled up construction of
aircraft carriers with their first indigenous carrier
undergoing trials and a second one under construction.
 The Navy envisages IAC-II to have a displacement of
65,000 tonnes and use a Catapult Assisted Take Off But
Arrested Recovery (CARTOBAR) for launching aircraft.
 India’s first domestic carrier, Vikrant, weighing 40,000 tonnes.
 It is in third and advanced stage of construction in Kochi.
 It works on a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) mechanism similar to that in
the present carrier INS Vikramaditya, with an angular ski-jump
‘Hand-in-Hand’ counter-terrorism military exercises concluded

 India and China concluded the ‘Hand-in-Hand’ military exercise on 22nd December 2018
in China’s Chengdu city. This was the 7th edition of the ‘Hand-in-Hand’ military exercise.
The ‘Hand-in-Hand’ military exercise did not take place last year due to
prevailing tensions between both sides after 73-day military standoff at
Doklam
 This year’s exercise, which began on 11th December, focused on urban
terrorism in which Indian and Chinese armies conducted the drills
while living and dining together to build up a sense of camaraderie.
 The exercise included live firing and demonstration of driving skills to
rescue hostages held by terrorists in an urban environment. The previous edition of ‘Hand-
in-Hand’ that was held in 2016 in Pune had focussed on counter-terrorism drills in non-
urban areas.
 The exercises and the concluding ceremony were live-streamed by China’s state-run TV
channel CGTN highlighting their importance. The exercise seeks to improve the relations
between the two countries drills keeping in spirit of this year’s Wuhan summit.
 Wuhan Summit
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of China Xi Jinping had held their first
Informal Summit in Wuhan on April 27-28, 2018.
 The purpose of the meeting was to exchange views on overarching issues of bilateral and
global importance and to elaborate their respective visions and priorities for national
development in the context of current and future international situation.
Indian Navy inducted its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) System
 Indian Navy has inducted Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) System first-of-its-
kind system.
 The Indian Navy on 12 December 2018 inducted it at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
 It is used to rescue crew members stranded in submarines that get disabled.
 The DSRV can be operated at a depth of 650 meters and can hold around 15 people.
 The need for DSRVs became known when the Indian Navy’s INS Sindhurakshak sank in
2013; it was one of the worst accidents in Indian Navy history claiming 18 lives.
 The DSRV is currently deployed on mother ship INS Sabarmati, provided by the Shipping
Corporation of India, which will be placed in Mumbai.
33 |
10 Central Agencies authorised by Government to snoop on “any” Computer System

 The Union government has notified 10 Central Agencies giving them the power to intercept,
monitor and decrypt all the data contained in “any” computer system in
India. The Cyber and Information Security Division under the Home
ministry issued this notification.
 The 10 agencies authorised by the central government are the
Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau, Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence, CBI, National Investigation Agency, Enforcement
Directorate, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Research and Analysis Wing,
Directorate of Signal Intelligence (in Jammu & Kashmir, the North-East and Assam) and the
Delhi Police.
 As per the government, the notification fulfils the requirement under Rule 4 of the IT
(Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Description of Information)
Rules, 2009, under which the government has to list the number of agencies permitted for
the interception, monitoring and decryption of any data.
 The Information Technology Act, 2000 is the primary law in India to handle cybercrime and
to deal with electronic commerce. Section 69 of the Information Technology Act,
2000 includes provides for the interception and monitoring along with decryption for
cyber-crime investigations. The Information Technology (Procedures and Safeguards
for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009, has been
notified by the government under Section 69.
 This notification by the government has caused quite an uproar in the Indian Parliament.
The opposition has termed the recent order as ‘unconstitutional’ and an attack on the
Fundamental Rights of the citizens.
World's Top 100 arms makers, Four Indian PSUs listed: SIPRI
 According to a report from a Stockholm-based institute SIPRI, for the first time, four Indian
arms manufacturing companies – all public
sector units, including two from Bengaluru
have found a place in the list of world's top
100 arms manufactures.
 The Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute has clubbed India with
Brazil and Turkey in the category of
emerging producers.
 The combined sales of the seven companies
based in these three countries were $ 11.1
billion in 2017-an increase of 8.1% compared to the previous year.
 India is the largest producer with three defence PSUs and Indian Ordnance Factory Board
selling military equipment worth $ 7.5 billion to the three Services.
 The leading Indian defence manufacturers continue to be Hindustan Aeronautics Limited,
Indian Ordnance Factory Board and Bharat Electronics Limited that figure in the SIPRI top-
100 list since 2002.
 In 2017, a fourth defence PSU Bharat Dynamics Limited.broke into the top-100 with arms
sales of $ 880 million. HAL and IOFB are among the top-50 companies since 2002.
 US companies dominate the global market capturing 57% of the share followed by Russia
(9.5%), UK (9%) and France (5.3%).
 The recently released rankings by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
have placed four Indian Public Sector Undertakings among top 100 arms producers.
 These companies are as follows:
34 |
 Indian Ordnance Factories (37th Rank)

 Hindustan Aeronautics (38th Rank)
 Bharat Electronics (64th Rank)
 Bharat Dynamics (94th rank).
 About SIPRI :
 SIPRI stands for the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), established
in 1966.
 It is a Swedish think tank dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and
disarmament.
 SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to
policymakers, research media and the interested public.
Indra Navy-18 Joint Exercise concluded between India and Russia

 Indra Navy-18, a bilateral naval exercise, between India and Russia concluded on 16th
December 2018. It was a 4-day maritime exercise that took place in the Bay of Bengal.
 INDRA NAVY or India – Russia Navy Exercise is being conducted since 2003. The first
edition of this exercise was conducted in May 2003 in India.
 About Indra Navy 2018:
 Ten warships from both sides participated in the Indra Navy
2018 exercise, which also included an Indian Navy submarine.
 The exercise included search, and seize drills, underway
replenishment at sea drills, and anti-submarine warfare drills
along with other components.
 The navies of India and Russia also conducted live-firings against
aerial targets in the exercise.
 The Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet flagship Varyag participated in
Indra Navy 2018. Admiral Panteleyev, which is an anti-submarine warfare ship, and Boris
Butoma. which is a sea tanker, also were included by Russia in the exercise.
 INS Ranvir, INS Satpura, INS Kadmatt, IN Ships Kuthar and Khanjar and INS Jyoti
participated from Indian side.
 The primary objective of Indra Navy exercise is to increase inter-operability amongst the
navies of India and Russia and exchange best practices.
 India and Russia are major defence partners and India is also a major importer of Russian
defence equipments. Both the sides conduct regular exercises with each other. The last
edition of Indra Navy took place in 2016 in the Bay of Bengal. The main goal behind
conducting of such bilateral military exercises is the strengthening of friendly relations
between the armed forces of India and Russia.
US will withdraw from nuclear arms treaty with Russia

 Donald Trump has confirmed the US will leave an arms control treaty with Russia dating
from the cold war that has kept nuclear missiles out of Europe for three decades.
 Experts warn of ‘most severe crisis in nuclear arms control since the 1980s’ as Trump
confirms US will leave INF agreement.
 Trump was referring to the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty (INF), which
banned ground-launch nuclear missiles with ranges from 500 km to 5,500 km.
 Signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, it led to nearly 2,700 short- and medium-
range missiles being eliminated, and an end to a dangerous standoff between US Pershing
and cruise missiles and Soviet SS-20 missiles in Europe.
 About INF Treaty:
 The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 between US President Ronald Reagan and USSR
President Mikhail Gorbachev.
35 |
 The treaty aimed to end arms race between USA and USSR during cold war and to ensure
some strategic stability in Europe.
 The treaty aimed to end arms race between USA and USSR during cold war and to ensure
some strategic stability in Europe.
 The INF treaty banned the development, testing and possession of short and medium-range
ground-launched nuclear missiles having ranger between 500-5,000.
 Also, all the nuclear and conventional missiles, as well as their launchers, with ranges of
500–1,000 km or (short-range) and 1,000–5,500 km (intermediate-range) were banned
under this treaty.
 The Treaty proved to be a potent deterrent against any full-scale nuclear war in Europe.
Almost 3,000 existing weapons were dismantled and destroyed.
Exercise AVIAINDRA between Indian and Russian air forces held at Jodhpur
 The second edition of service specific exercise AVIAINDRA between Indian Air Force and
Russian Federation Aerospace Force (RFSAF) was held at Air
Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
 The inaugural IAF-RFSAF Ex AVIAINDRA was conducted in 2014
and since then it is conducted bi-annually (twice a year) in both
countries.
 AVIAINDRA 2018
 The aim of this exercise is focused towards anti-terrorist
operations in bi-lateral scenario. It also seeks to further enhance
co-operation and understanding between Air forces of both
countries in each other’s Concept of Operations. This edition of exercise is planned in two
phases.
 The exercise is unique wherein foreign participant does not bring its air assets. In Russia
IAF pilots flew alongside their Russian counterparts in RFSAF aircraft at Lipetsk in
September 2018. Similarly in India, RFSAF pilots will fly alongside their Indian
counterparts in the IAF aircraft, which are common to both Air Forces.
SHINYUU Maitri 18: First India, Japan air exercise begins in Agra
 The first bilateral air exercise SHINYUU Maitri-18 between Japanese Air Self Defence Force
(JASDF) and Indian Air Force (IAF) began at Air Force Station Agra.
 The theme of this exercise is joint Mobility/Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief
(HADR) on Transport aircraft.
 SHINYUU Maitri-18
 The focus of the exercise is set for IAF and JASDF crews to undertake Joint Mobility/ HADR
operations. IAF and JASDF will also practice display of heavy loading/off loading during this
exercise.
 In this exercise, JASDF will be participating with C2 aircraft along with aircrew and
observers. IAF is participating with C-17 and An-32 aircraft with aircrew and observers.
India, US Air Forces exercise Ex Cope India-2018 begins in West Bengal

 Air Forces of India and US began their 12-day joint exercise “Ex Cope India-2018” in West
Bengal. It is fourth edition in series of bilateral joint exercise held by Air Forces of two
nations conducted in India.
 This year for first time exercise will be held at two Air Force bases in West Bengal’s
Kalaikunda and Panagarh.
 This edition of exercise is aimed at providing operational exposure to air force personnel of
both countries and undertake mutual exchange of best practices for enhancing operational
capability.
36 |
 It will be focused on enhancing US-Indian mutual cooperation and building on existing

capabilities, aircrew tactics and force employment. It will showcase US and India’s efforts
and commitment to free and open Indo-Pacific region. US Air Force is participating with 12
F15 C/D, 3 C-130. Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating with Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage
2000, C-130J and AWACS aircraft.
 Indian Coast Guard conducted the Regional Level Marine Oil Pollution Response Exercise
titled ‘Clean Sea – 2018’ at sea off Port Blair.
 The indigenously built Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Agni-5 test-fired successfully from
Abdul Kalam island under Chandipur Interim Test Range. It can carry both nuclear &
traditional weapons. Having 17 meters length & 2 meters diameter the missile can hit the
target from a distance of 5 thousand kilometers.
 Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded approval for the acquisition of defence
equipment worth nearly Rs. 3000 crore which includes BrahMos Missiles, & Armoured
Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) for Battle Tank Arjun.
 Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion
Centre (IFC) in Gurugram that aims to collaborate with partner countries & multi-national
agencies to develop maritime awareness & share information on vessels.
 India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable long-range ballistic missile Agni-IV, with a
strike range of 4,000 km, as part of a user trial by the Army.
1. Name the naval hospital ship, that has been commissioned at Naval station Karanja in the Raigad
district of Maharashtra recently.
A. INHS Suryodaya B. INHS Sandhani C. INHS Vikramaditya D. INHS Parasurama
2. Who has developed a Light Utility Helicopter which achieves important milestone of flying at 6 km
altitude?
A. HAL B. BHEL C. DRDO D. BEML
3. Where did the Indian Navy launched its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) system?
A. Visakhapatnam B. Cochin C. Mumbai D. Kolkata
4. Who conducted an exercise "Cross Bow 18"?

A. Indian Army B. Indian Air Force C. Indian Navy D. Indian Coast Guard
5. India Successfully Test-Fires Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Agni-5 from which of the space
station?
A. Abdul Kalam Island B. Satish Dhawan Space Centre
C. National Remote Sensing Centre D. ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
6. Where did the 10th Edition of the bilateral exercise between the Indian Navy and Russian
Federation Navy begin?
A. Visakhapatnam B. Kolkata C. Cochin D. Chennai
37 |
Shaktikanta Das appointed as 25th Governor of RBI

 India’s former economic affairs secretary and current
member of the Finance Commission Shaktikanta Das
is to be appointed as country's apex financial
institution's head as next RBI Governor.
 He will be the 25th Governor of the apex bank of the
country.
 Shaktikanta Das is a 1980 batch IAS officer of Tamil
Nadu Cadre and a very prominent bureaucrat who
served under both NDA and UPA governments.
 He served as economic affairs secretary from 2015 to
2017; and was key official in both big economic moves of the government viz.
demonetisation and implementation of GST.
 Appointment committee of cabinet approved Shaktikanta Das appointment as RBI
governor. He will serve as governor for the term of three years.
 After the resignation of Urijit patel, Shaktikanta Das has been appointed as 25th governor
of RBI.
 Urijit Patel resigned due to personal reasons.
 His tenure as RBI governor was about to complete in September 2019. Patel has become
fourth RBI to step down before end of term.
 Before him, Sir Osborne Smith, Benegal Rama Rau and S Jagannathan had resigned before
completion of their respective tenures.
Ex-diplomat Zurabishvili elected Georgia's first woman president

 Former Georgian foreign minister and France's ambassador to Tbilisi in the early 2000s,
Salome Zurabishvili elected as new President of
Georgia on Nov 29.
 She is the first female president of the country.
 She is the French-born ex-diplomat, backed by the
ruling Georgian Dream party, had taken 59.52 % of the
second-round vote.
 Her rival Grigol Vashadze, from an alliance of 11
opposition parties led by exiled ex-president Mikheil
Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM), took 40.48 %.
 The opposition denounced the election as a fraud. But while raising some serious concerns,
foreign observers said the vote was "competitive" and well-run.
 The election was seen as a test of Georgia's democratic credentials as it seeks European
Union and NATO membership.
 It was also a trial run for more important parliamentary elections in 2020, when Georgian
Dream is set to face off against a range of opposition parties.
 Georgia getting its independence in 1991 on the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Sunil Arora took over as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India
 Sunil Arora took over as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India.
 Sunil Arora, a retired 1980-batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre, took over as the new Chief
Election Commissioner (CEC) on 2 December 2018.
 He succeeded O.P. Rawat, who demitted office on 1 December 2018 on completion of his
tenure.
38 |
 Arora was the senior-most Election Commissioner in the Election Commission.

 He had held several key posts in the government. At the Secretary level, he served in the
Information and Broadcasting Skill Development and Entrepreneurship ministries.
 He also had stints with other ministries in various capacities. He was Joint Secretary in the
Civil Aviation Ministry and the Indian Airlines CMD for five years.
Krishnamurthy Subramanian appointed as the new Chief Economic Advisor (CEA)

 Krishnamurthy Subramanian was appointed the new Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) by the
Union Government.
 Krishnamurthy Subramanian, currently an associate professor at
the Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business (ISB).
 He was appointed as the new Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) for a
period of three years by the Union Government on 7 December
2018.
 He has been a part of expert committees on corporate
governance for the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
and on the governance of banks for the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI).
 He replaces Arvind Subramanian, who had resigned from his position due to personal
reasons in August 2018.
Zoramthanga was sworn in as Mizoram's new Chief Minister

 Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga was sworn in as Mizoram's new Chief
Minister.
 He took over as Mizoram’s Chief Minister for third term on 15
December 2018.
 This was his third stint as chief minister of the north eastern state,
having led the MNF government in Mizoram in 1998 and 2003.
 Zoramthanga replaced Congress’ Lal Thanhawla, who is
Mizoram’s longest serving Chief Minister having served for over
22 years.
 He was occupying CM’s seat for two terms since 11 December
2008.
 The MNF came to power in Mizoram capturing 26 of the 40 seats in the state assembly.
Kamal Nath took oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
 Kamal Nath took oath as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
 The Veteran Congress leader took oath as the 18th Chief
Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Kamal Nath is also the chief
of Madhya Pradesh on 17 December 2018.
 Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office
and secrecy to him in the presence of Congress president
Rahul Gandhi and others.
 It is worth mentioning that the Congress dislodged the
ruling BJP from power after scoring a historic victory in
the recently held assembly elections.
 Congress won 114 of the 230 seats while BJP won 109 seats. BSP, which won 2 seats, has
supported the Congress.
 Kamal Nath replaced BJP’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was Madhya Pradesh’s Chief
Minister since 29 November 2005.
39 |
Bhupesh Baghel became new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh

 Bhupesh Baghe became new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh
and replaced BJP’s Dr. Raman Singh.
 The Congress leader took oath as the chief minister of
Chhattisgarh in Raipur on 17 December 2018.
 Senior leaders Tamradhwaj Sahu and TS Singh Deo were also
sworn in as ministers.
 Congress had won 68 seats, while Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) had to settle at 15 in the Assembly elections, the results of which were announced on
11 December 2018.
 Baghel became third Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
 State’s second Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh had been state’s Chief Minister since 2
December 2003.
Ashok Gehlot took oath as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan

 Ashok Gehlot took oath as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
 The Senior Congress leader took oath as Rajasthan’s Chief
Minister in a grand oath ceremony held at the historic Albert Hall
in capital Jaipur on 17 December 2018.
 Rajasthan state Congress president Sachin Pilot was sworn in as
Deputy Chief Minister.
 This is Gehlot’s third term as state’s Chief Minister.
 His first term was between 1998 and 2003 while his second term
was between 2008 and 2013.
 It is worth mentioning that Congress won 99 of the 200 seats in Rajasthan Assembly while
the ruling BJP could muster just 73 seats. BSP won 6 seats.
 Gehlot replaced BJP’s Vasundhara Raje, who was holding CM’s post since 12 December
2013.
Bimal Jalan heading Economic Capital Framework committee

 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 26 December 2018 constituted a committee to look into
its Economic Capital Framework.
 Former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan is heading the committee to look into the central bank’s
Economic Capital Framework that was constituted by the RBI on 26 December 2018.
 This committee was constituted in consultations with the Union Government.
 The committee also comprises former RBI Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan, central board
members Bharat Doshi and Sudhir Mankad, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra
Garg and RBI Deputy Governor NS Vishwanathan.
 It is expected to submit its report within 90 days of its first meeting.
B.P. Singh nominated as the Chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)
 B.P. Singh was nominated for the post of the Chairman of the Film and Television Institute
of India (FTII) by the Union Government.
 He was appointed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
 He is current Vice Chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
 Brijendra Pal Singh appointed as the new President of the FTII Society and Chairman of
Governing Council.
 Singh is the creator, director and producer of popular television series CID and Aahat.
 An alumnus of the institution, he replaces Anupam Kher, who announced in October 2018
that he will be stepping down owing to a "busy schedule".
40 |
 The post of President of the FTII Society and Chairman of Governing Council has been
mired in controversy since 2015 when Gajendra Chauhan was appointed to the position.
 The news sparked mass protests from students of the institution who felt that his
appointment was politically motivate.
PM Hasina's Awami League registers landslide victory in Bangladesh polls

 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cruised to victory for a third consecutive term in
Bangladesh's general election.
 Atleast 17 people killed in poll-related violence and demands
of a fresh election by the opposition.
 According to media reports, the ruling Awami League-led
coalition won over 260 seats in the 300-member House.
 Private DBC TV aired results of 299 seats out of 300.
 The ruling Awami League-led grand alliance bagged 266
seats and its ally Jatiya Party secured 21, while the
opposition National Unity Front (UNF) with BNP being its
key partner got only seven seats.
 Independent candidates won in two seats, according to the
local media. The election was postponed in one seat due to the natural death of a candidate.
 Bangladesh's opposition NUF alliance, with BNP as its key partner, rejected the outcome of
the general election and demanded fresh polls under a neutral caretaker government.
 The National Unity Front (NUF) is a coalition of parties, including BNP, Gono Forum, Jatiya
Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Nagorik Oikya and Krishak Sramik Janata League..
 While Hasina is seeking re-election for a fourth term as the prime minister, her chief rival
Zia, who is reportedly partially paralysed, faces an uncertain future in a Dhaka jail.
 Over 600,000 security personnel including several thousand soldiers and paramilitary
border guards were deployed across the nation for the election in which 10.41 crore people
were eligible to vote.
 Government has appointed Sudhir Bhargava as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC),

along with four information commissioners.
 The Union government has appointed advocate Madhavi Goradia Divan as the Additional
Solicitor General (ASG) in the government of India. She will hold office of ASG till 30 June,
2020 and will appear in the Supreme Court on behalf of the government of India.
 Facebook executive Kirthiga Reddy to be hired by private-equity behemoth SoftBank as
partner at its $100 billion Vision Fund. She become the first woman to join a group of just a
dozen that oversees the world’s biggest pool of technology investments.
 Seasoned diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla was appointed as the next ambassador of India
to the United States. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a 1984-batch Indian Foreign Service diplomat
will succeed Navtej Sarna.
 Senior bureaucrat Pranab Kumar Das has been appointed as chairman of the Central Board
of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), the apex policy-making body for indirect taxes. He will
succeed S Ramesh.
 Government appointed Ramphal Pawar as the new Director of National Crime Record
Bureau (NCRB).
 Mr. Ranil Wickremsinghe was sworn in as Prime minister of Sri Lanka by President
Maithripala Sirisena thus bringing an end to the weeks-long political crisis in the country.
Mr. Wickremsinghe was removed as Prime minister in October & was replaced by Mahinda
Rajapaksa who resigned after failing to garner a majority in Parliament.
41 |
 CAG announced that Comptroller & Auditor General Rajiv Mehrishi has become the Vice-
Chair of the UN Panel of Auditors.
 Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Chief K Chandrasekhar Rao was sworn in as the Chief
Minister of Telangana, for the second time.
 US President Donald Trump nominated State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert as
the US Ambassador to the United Nations. Nauert will replace Nikki Haley.
 A former senior Indian diplomat, Preeti Saran, has been elected unopposed to an Asia
Pacific seat on the UN’s Committee on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (CESCR). Saran
was elected to the CESCR for a four-year term beginning on the 1st of January 2019.
 State Bank of India has roped in Asian Games gold medalist Swapna Barman as brand
ambassador for its digital app YONO.
 The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced the appointment
of Jon Ridgeon as its new CEO.
 Ajay Narayan Jha, the Secretary of Department of Expenditure, appointed as new Finance
Secretary to succeed Hasmukh Adhia.
1. Who will head the Expert Committee on Economic Capital Framework constituted by the
RBI recently?
A. Bimal Jalan B. Rakesh Mohan C. Bharat Doshi D. Sudhir Mankad
2. Who has been sworn in as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh?

A. Kamal Nath B. Jyotiraditya Scindia C. Ashok Gehlot D. Sachin Pilot
3. Who was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Rajasthan?

A. Ashok Gehlot B. Sachin Pilot C. Girija Vyas D. Kailash Meghwal
4. Who assumed charge as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?

A. Viral Acharya B. Shaktikanta Das C. Rajiv Mehrishi D. Kaushik Basu
5. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been sworn in as 58th President of which nation?
A. Spain B. Mexico C. Egypt D. Poland
6. Who has been appointed as the new Chief Information Commissioner?

A. Anand Vihri B. Sudhir Bhargava C. Ramesh Chandra Prasad D. Kishore Verma
7. Who has been elected as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in the recently held elections?
A. Moudud Ahmed B. Khaleda Zia C. Fakhruddin Ahmed D. Sheikh Hasina
8. Andry Rajoelina wins the presidential Election of which country?

A. Mangolia B. Montenegro C. Madagascar D. Maldives
9. Who is appointed as the head of the new High Court of Andhra Pradesh?
A. Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan B. Kalpesh Satyendra Jhaveri
C. Ajay Kumar Tripathi D. Ramesh Ranganathan
10. Who has been appointed as the new Defense Secretary of USA as the present secretary Jim Mattis
who is going to leave his post on January 1?
A. Mike Pompeo B. John F. Kelly C. Mike Pence D. Patrick Shanahan
42 |
11. Harsh Vardhan Shringla appointed new Indian Ambassador to US. He will succeed whom among the
following?
A. Vijay Keshav Gokhale B. Gautam Bambawale
C. Navtej Sarna D. Pankaj Saran
12. Who has been appointed as Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC),
the apex policy-making body for indirect taxes?
A. Pranab Kumar Das B. Manohar Shushil C. Vijayendra Bhoopathi D. Mahesh Khanal
13. The Union government has appointed whom as the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) in the
government of India?
A. Aravinda Swamy B. Madhavi Goradia Divan
C. Prashnth Verma D. Malavya Gopinath Singh
14. Ranil Wickremesinghe has once again become the Prime Minister of which among the following
countries?
A. Bhutan B. Bangladesh C. Myanmar D. Sri Lanka
15. Who among the following has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in the recent
elections 2018?
A. TS Singh Deo B. Tamradhwaj Singh C. Bhupesh Baghel D. Chandradas Mahant
16. Who has been appointed as the new president of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)?
A. Sharmila Tagore B. Sajid Nadiadwala C. S. Shankar D. Brijendra Pal Singh
17. Which Indian personality has been appointed as Vice-Chair of UN Panel of Auditors for 2019?
A. Anupam Hazra B. R. Radhakrishnan C. Rajiv Mehrishi D. George Baker
18. Who has been joined as SoftBank's first venture partner for its $100 billion Vision Fund?
A. Juanita Remington B. Pavithra Gunasekaran
C. Rashmika Patil D. Kirthiga Reddy
19. Who has been appointed the new Chief Economic Advisor (CEA)?
A. Pranab Bardhan B. Jayati Ghosh
C. Jagdish Bhagwati D. Krishnamurthy Subramanian
43 |
RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigned from his post

 In a surprising development RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigned from his post with
immediate effect.
 The 55-year old Urjit Patel was the 24th Governor of the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and was appointed for a 3-year
term during September 2016.
 He is the second RBI governor to relinquish the post under
Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's watch.
 Economist Raghuram Rajan had announced in June 2016 he
won't seek an extension when his term ends in September
2016.
 Patel had more than eight months of the first three-year tenure left and was eligible for a
second term as was given to several of his predecessors, barring Rajan.
 He resigned citing personal reasons.
 Relations between the RBI and the Union Government have reportedly soured since
October 2018 after the Finance Ministry started consultations under the never-before-used
Section 7 of the RBI Act, which empowers the government to direct the central bank to
undertake certain policy measures in public interest.
US Defence Secretary James Mattis resigns from his post

 The United States Defence Secretary James Mattis has resigned from
his post on 21st December 2018. His resignation came after his
disagreement with the US President Donald Trump over the
withdrawal of US troops from Syria.
 James Mattis, however, will be occupying the position till February 28
so as to allow sufficient time for his successor to be nominated.
 James Mattis’ experience and stability were widely seen as a balance
to Donald Trumps’ unpredictable policies. As per the political pundits,
his resignation would add to the instability and chaos in the
administration of Donald Trump.
 The US President Donald Trump had a few days ago announced that he will be withdrawing
all 2,000 U.S. troops out of Syria, after making a declaration that the Islamic State group has
been destroyed. This decision is being by opposed by the Pentagon and other people in the
US administration.
Charles Michel resigns as the Prime Minister of Belgium

 Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel announced his resignation.
 Earlier, less than two weeks ago his main coalition partner quit in a row over migration,
leaving him leading a minority government.
 Michel, who took office in 2014, lost the backing of the New
Flemish Alliance (N-VA) over his support for the UN
migration pact, a cause celebre for European anti-
immigration parties.
 The resignation comes two days after demonstrations
against the pact in central Brussels descended into scuffles,
with police forced to use tear gas and water cannon to
restore order.
 After a debate in parliament where opposition parties refused to lend their support to keep
his government working until legislative elections in May next year.
44 |
 Belgium has a history of division between wealthier Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north
and the run-down French-speaking former industrial heartland of Wallonia in the south.
 This has contributed to political instability, and Belgium holds the modern European record
for going the longest time without a government, a whopping 541 days in 2010-2011.
 He was the country’s youngest prime minister since 1841. He belongs to the francophone
liberal party Mouvement Réformateur (MR).
Gautam Gambhir announces retirement from cricket

 Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket.
In his cricketing career, Gautam Gambhir has played total 58 Test matches, 147 ODIs and
37 T20 matches for India.
 He had played his last international one-day match against
England in Rajkot in 2016. He will play his last match for Delhi
in Ranji Trophy against Andhra Pradesh on 6 December, 2019.
 Gautam Gambhir
 He was born on October 14, 1981 in New Delhi. In domestic
cricket, he played cricket for Delhi. In IPL, he played cricket for
Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils. He started his Test
Cricket career against Australia on 3 November 2004.
 He scored 4,154 runs in 58 Tests. He had started ODI career
against Bangladesh on April 11, 2003 and he scored 5,238 runs in 147 ODI. He started the
International T-Twenty Career against Scotland on 13 September 2007.
 Flipkart-owned Myntra’s CEO Ananth Narayanan has resigned from his role with his
position set to be abolished. Flipkart’s Amar Nagaram has been given the responsibility to
head Myntra.
 Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) Chief Upendra Kushwaha resigned as Union Minister of
State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
1. Name the Indian cricketer who recently announced retirement from all forms of cricket?
A. Gautam Gambhir B. MS Dhoni C. Rohit Sharma D. Suresh Raina
2. Who has stepped down from the post of Reserve Bank of India?
A. Chaturvedi B. Urjit Patel
C. Raghvendra Narayan Dubey D. Revathy Iyer
45 |
Sports
BWF World Tour 2018

 BWF World Tour 2018 concluded in Guangzhou, China. It was the final tournament of the
2018 BWF World Tour. The complete list of winners of BWF World Tour 2018:
Category Winner Runner-Up
Men’s Singles Shi Yuqi (China) Kento Momota (Japan)
Women’s P. V. Sindhu (India) Nozomi Okuhara (Japan)

Singles
Men’s Doubles Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen (China) Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe
(Japan)
Women’s Misaki Matsutomo & Ayaka Lee So-hee and Shin Seung-chan
Doubles Takahashi (Japan) (South Korea)
Mixed Doubles Wang Yilü & Huang Dongping Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong
(China) (China)
Belgium Beat Netherlands to Win FIH Hockey World Cup 2018

 In Hockey, Belgium claimed their first ever World Cup title. They defeated the Netherlands
in a dramatic shoot-out in the final of the Men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This is
Belgium’s first ever World Cup title.
Overview of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2018:
1. Best Player- Arthur Van Doren of Belgium.
2. Goalkeeper of the tournament- Primin Blaak of Netherland.
3. Young player of the tournament- Thijs van Dam of Netherland.
4. Top goalscorer- Blake Govers of Australia and Alexander
Hendrickx of Belgium.
5. Fair play award- Spain.
Joshna Chinappa wins National Squash Women’s Singles Title

 Joshna Chinappa won the National Squash Women’s Singles title
after she defeated Urwashi Joshi in the final match of the
competition by 9-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-5. It was her 16th National title
and with this win, she has equalled the record of Bhuvaneshwari
Kumari of winning 16 titles.
 About Joshna Chinappa
 Joshna Chinappa is the first Indian squash player to win the British
Squash Championship in 2003. She won this title in the under 19
category
 She is also the youngest Indian women’s national Squash champion.
 Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik won the squash women’s doubles gold medal
in 2014 at the Commonwealth Games. It was India’s first ever medal in squash at the
Commonwealth Games.
 Mahesh Mangaonkar defeated Vikram Malhotra in the final match by 11-4, 13-15, 11-2, 5-
11, 15-13to win Men’s Singles title. It was the 75th edition of the championship. This is the
maiden title for Mahesh Mangaonkar. The entire tournament was held in Noida.
46 |
Smriti Mandhana named as ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year

 India’s stylish opener Smriti Mandhana named as the International Cricket Council (ICC)
Women’s Cricketer of the Year. She is also named as the ICC
Women’s ODI Player of the Year. The Other Awards
Conferred are:
 Smriti Mandhana has won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award
for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
 Australia’s wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy voted ICC T20I
Player of the Year.
 England’s Sophie Ecclestone named ICC Emerging Player of the Year.
Abhinav Bindra Becomes First Indian To Be Honoured With Shooting's Top Award
 Abhinav Bindra, the 2008 Olympic gold medallist was conferred with shooting's highest
award by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) at the General Assembly in
Munich.
 The Arjuna awardee received the prestigious Blue Cross Award.
 The 36-year-old Bindra had created history during the Beijing Olympics when he became
the first Indian individual to clinch a gold medal.
 The Zirakpur-born Bindra also remains the lone Indian till date to clinch the gold at the
Olympics.
 Bindra had also clinched 4 gold medals in the Commonwealth Games (2002, 2006, 2010,
2014) and one gold during the 2006 World Championships.
Luka ModriA win Ballon d'Or for 2018

 Luka ModriA became the first player in more than a
decade other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to
win Ballon d'Or for 2018.
 The Croatian midfielder led Croatia to their first-ever
FIFA World Cup final.
 This is the first time since 2007 that neither Cristiano
Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or.
 Former Brazil and AC Milan forward Kaka, in 2007, was the last player other than Messi or
Ronaldo to win it.
 33-year old Modric won his third successive Champions League in May 2018 before helping
Croatia to a first World Cup final in July 2018.
P.V. Sindhu defeated Nozomi Okuhara wins World Super Series women’s singles
 P.V. Sindhu defeated Japanese player Nozomi Okuhara in the World Super Series women’s
singles finals to win BWF World Tour Finals.
 The Indian badminton ace became the first-ever Indian
player to win BWF World Tour Finals.
 She defeated Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the women’s
singles finals in Guangzhou (China) on 16 December
2018.
 She defeated Okuhara, the defending champion, by 21-
19 and 21-17 to claim her first-ever BWF gold medal.
 Prior to this in 2018, P.V. Sindhu has won silver at the World Championships, Asian Games,
Commonwealth Games, Thailand Open and India Open.
47 |
WV Raman appointed head coach of India women’s cricket team

 Former India opener W V Raman has been appointed head coach of the Indian women’s
cricket team
 Raman,most recently a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
 He was selected by an ad-hoc committee comprising Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and
Shantha Rangaswamy.
 The panel had recommended three names - former
South African batsman Gary Kirsten, former India
pacer Venkatesh Prasad and Raman.
 The committee had put Kirsten, who led the Indian
men’s team to victory at the 2011 World Cup, as the
frontrunner for the job.
 However, his ongoing contract with Indian Premier
League side Royal Challengers Bangalore made him ineligible.
 Woorkeri Venkat Raman is best remembered as the first Indian to score a century in South
Africa. This was during an ODI match during India’s historic 1992-93 tour of the country.
 He played 11 Tests and 27 ODIs.
 Since retiring though, Raman has built a reputation of being one of the most qualified
coaches in the country.
 He headed the Tamil Nadu and Bengal Ranji teams and is also known for his stint with the
Indian U-19 setup.
Indian woman becomes the fastest Asian to cycle the globe

 A 20-year-old Pune woman Vedangi Kulkarni has become the fastest Asian to cycle the
globe.
 Ms. Vedangi hails from a suburb of Pune, cycled into Kolkata, completing the 29,000 km
distance required to qualify as bicycling across the globe.
 She started off from Perth in July and will now be flying back to the Australian city to
complete the record.
 The 159 days spent peddling up to 300 km a day in 14 countries has shown her the “best
and worst” of both herself and also the world.
 British adventurer Jenny Graham (38) is the fastest woman to have cycled the globe in 124
days in 2018, which was three weeks faster than the previous record.
2nd Khelo India School Games to be held in Pune from January 9 to 20, 2019
 The second edition of Khelo India School Games
rechristened as Khelo India Youth Games will be held
from January 9-20, 2019 in Pune, Maharashtra. It will
take place at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in
Pune. The first edition of this games under Khelo India
Programme was held in New Delhi in February 2018.
 Khelo India Youth Games
 Union Ministry of Sports has expanded in its scope as
compared to Khelo India School Games. It will allow participants to compete in two
categories, (Under 17) and (Under 21). It also allows students from colleges and
Universities to compete. It will see over 10,000 participants from 29 states and 7 Union
Territories. Thus
 Khelo India Programme
 It was introduced by Ministry of Sports and Youth affairs to revive sports culture in India at
grass-root level. Its objective is to build strong framework for all sports played in our
country and establish India as great sporting nation.
48 |
 It is expected to help scout young talent from schools in various disciplines and groom
them as future sports champions. Talented players will be identified under it in priority
sports disciplines at various levels by High-Powered Committed and each will be provided
annual financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh for 8 years.
 The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that Serbia’s Novak Djokovic &
Romania’s Simona Halep have been named the 2018 ITF World Champions. Djokovic
receives the honour for the sixth time, while it is the first year Halep has been recognized.
 Manika Batra won the ‘Breakthrough Table Tennis Star’ award at the prestigious
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Star Awards in Incheon, South Korea. India
coach Massimo Costantini won Table Tennis Star Coach award.
 Sascha Bajin, coach of the world number five Naomi Osaka, become the first-ever recipient
of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Coach of the Year Award.
 Manipur Government honored AIBA World Women Boxing Gold medalist MC Mary Kom
with the title “Meethoileima” (par excellent queen). He also declared that the Imphal West
DC Road towards Game Village will be named as MC Mary Kom Road.
 Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of
Fame.
 Spain’s Real Madrid won the Club World Cup for a third consecutive year, & record fourth
in total, by beating Abu Dhabi side Al Ain in the final.
 Renowned Kabaddi Player, Anup Kumar announced his retirement from Kabaddi ending a
15-year iconic career.
 37th Senior National Rowing Championship held in the Army Rowing Node in Pune. Around
500 rowers & coaches from various rowing associations across the country are taking part
in the Championship.
 Cricket Australia (CA) & the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) announced to rebrand
its Allan Border Medal to Australian Cricket Awards from 2019 onwards.
 Steel Authority of India’s Hockey Academy beat Army XI Danapur to clinch the 115th All
India Aga Khan Gold Cup hockey tournament held at Major Dhyan Chand hockey stadium in
Pune.
 Team Italy won the Admiral’s Cup 2018. The ninth edition of ‘Admirals Cup’ Sailing Regatta
(2018) concluded with a glittering closing ceremony at Ettikulam Beach at Indian Naval
Academy (INA), Ezhimala. Team Singapore was the Runners-Up.
 Kenyan distance runner Eliud Kipchoge & Colombian long & triple jumper Caterine
Ibarguen named male & female world athletes of the year. The pair were honoured by the
IAAF (The International Association of Athletics Federations) at a ceremony in Monaco.
 Ullas Narayan became the first ever Indian individual medal winner in an international
ultra-running event by clinching a bronze in the 2018 International Association of Ultra
Running (IAU) 24 Hour Asia & Oceania Championships in Taipei. Narayan bagged the third
position.
 Indian star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat & Sakshi Malik successfully emerged champions in the
57 kg & 62 kg title respectively in the Tata Motors Senior Women’s National Championship.
 Pawan Singh has become the first Indian to be elected one of seven member’s of the Judges
Committee of the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF).
49 |
 Raninder Singh has become the first Indian to be elected one of the four vice-presidents of
the International Shooting Sport Federation. The 51-year-old Raninder also heads the
National Rifle Association of India.
1. Who has been appointed as the new head coach of Indian national women’s cricket team?
A. Gary Kirsten B. WV Raman C. Venkatesh Prasad D. Ravi Shastri
2. Who has claimed maiden BWF World Tour Finals Title?

A. Saina Nehwal B. Carolina Marin C. Nozomi Okuhara D. PV Sindhu
3. Who among the following footballers has won the 2018 Ballon d'Or honour?
A. Luka Modric B. Cristiano Ronaldo C. Lionel Messi D. Kylian Mbappe
4. Who became the first Indian to win the ISSF's highest shooting honour ‘Blue Cross’?
A. Rajyavardhan Singh B. Abhinav Bindra C. Jitu Rai D. Vijay Kumar
5. Name the women cricketer who wins ICC 'Women's Cricketer' and 'ODI Player of the year' awards
2018?
A. Alyssa Healy B. Smriti Mandhana C. Sophie Ecclestone D. Ellyse Perry
6. Who has taken over as India's chief boxing coach at the ongoing national camp?
A. Vikas Krishna Yadav B. Ghulam Mustafa
C. Dharamender Bidhuri D. C A Kuttappa
7. Who among the following has become the fastest Asian to cycle the globe?
A. Sakshi Chawla B. Shikha Sahai C. Shivani Mehta D. Vedangi Kulkarni
8. Who wins National Squash Women's Singles Title?

A. Joshna Chinappa B. Dipika Palikal Karthik
C. Urwashi Joshi D. Bhuaneshwari Kumari
9. The 2023 Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be held in which country?

A. Australia B. England C. India D. South Africa
10. Which country wins Hockey World Cup 2018 Title?

A. Argentina B. Canada C. India D. Belgium
11. Where did 2019 Khelo India Youth Games will be held?
A. Mumbai B. Pune C. Bangalore D. Kolkata
12. Ajay Rohera, who has created world record for highest first-class debut score in cricket history, is
from which state?
A. Rajasthan B. Uttar Pradesh C. Madhya Pradesh D. Jharkhand
13. What is the new name of Delhi Daredevils?

A. Delhi Dabangs B. Delhi Capitals C. Delhi Devils D. New Delhi Riders
14. Who became the 25th player from his country to be inducted into the ICC hall of fame?
A. Danniel Vitory B. Brain Lara C. Kumara Sangakara D. Ricky Pointing
50 |
Honours / Awards
Catriona Gray from Philippines wins Miss Universe 2018 Title

 Catriona Elisa Gray from the Philippines was crowned as the Miss Universe 2018, beating
93 contestants from other countries. She was crowned by Demi Leigh Nel-Peters from
South Africa, the Miss Universe 2017 title winner.
 India was represented by Nehal Chudasama in the beauty pageant. Nehal Chudasama failed
to enter the final 20 of the Miss Universe 2018 competition. After Lara Dutta had won the
crown in 2000, no Indian contestant has been able to win the Miss Universe title in all these
18 years.
 About Miss Universe 2018:
 Tamaryn Green from South Africa and Sthefany
Guterrez from Venezuela were the first runner-up
and second runner-up at Miss Universe 2018
competition.
 Spain’s Angela Ponce created history as the first
transgender woman to participate in the Miss
Universe beauty pageant.
 The event was hosted by Emmy Award-winning
comedian Steve Harvey.
 Miss universe 2018 Catriona Elisa Gray has a Master Certificate in Music Theory. She also
works as an HIV/AIDS advocate and volunteers at an NGO as a teacher’s assistant.
 The countries of Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia participated for the first time in the
Miss Universe competition.
 This was the 67th edition of the Miss Universe pageant. Miss Universe 2018 was held at in
Nonthaburi Province, Thailand on 17th December 2018. For the first time, the competition
was judged by an all-women jury. Total 94 countries participated in the competition.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa To Be 2019 Republic Day Chief Guest
 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be chief guest at
India's 70th Republic Day celebrations.
 Mr Ramaphosa was invited to be the chief guest by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi when the two leaders met on the
sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina's capital Buenos
Aires.
 President Ramaphosa accepted India's invitation to be the
Chief Guest at Republic Day during 150th anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi.
 The announcement comes a little over a month after US President Donald Trump declined
India's invitation to be the chief guest.
 This year, in a first, the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations were the 10 heads of state
from ASEAN or Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional grouping of 10 Southeast
Asian countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei).
 The chief guest at India's first Republic Day on January 26, 1950 was the President of
Indonesia, and since then, five other Southeast Asian leaders have chief guests at the
Republic Day parades.
51 |
Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskaar

 The central government has launched Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda
Prabandhan Puraskaar annual awards to recognise the excellent work
done by individuals and institutions in the country in the field of
disaster management.
 The award has been instituted with an aim to recognise the efforts of
individuals and organisations who have been working assiduously to
alleviate the human suffering caused by disasters.
 About the Award
 As per the statement issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) three
eligible institutions and individuals will be given the ‘Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda
Prabandhan Puraskaar’ every year with cash rewards ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 51 lakh.
Only Indian nationals and Indian institutions are eligible for this award.
 If the awardee is an individual, the person shall receive a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 5
lakh and in case the awardee is an institution, it will be given a certificate and a cash prize
of Rs 51 lakh and the prize money will be utilised for disaster management-related
activities only.
 For the year 2019, the award would be announced on January 23, 2019, the birth
anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Eminent Sitar Player Manju Mehta conferred Tansen Samman, 2018

 The Madhya Pradesh Government has conferred the annual Tansen Samman upon eminent
Sitar Player Manju Mehta for her contribution in the field of Hindustani Classical Music. The
award was presented by Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on
inaugural function of Tansen Music Festival in Gwalior.
 Tansen
 Tansen (earlier names Ramtanu Pande/Mohammad Ata Ali Khan)
was the legendary court musician of Akbar. His early music training
was held in music school of Gwalior’s Raja Mansingh Tomar. He was a
disciple of Swami Haridas.
 Tansen Samaroh (Tansen Music Festival)
 The department of culture, Madhya Pradesh government organizes annual four day Tansen
Samaroh near the tomb of Tansen in Gwalior every year in December. The vocal and
instrumental artists from all over India come and deliver their performances.
 Tansen Award
 Tansen Award was instituted by Madhya Pradesh government to honour the individual
artists with significant contribution to Hindustani Classical Music. This award carries a cash
prize of Rs. 2 Lakh along with a memento. The first Tansen Samman was conferred upon
Sitar maestro Ustad Abdul Haleem Jafar Khan in 2000.
Sardar Patel Award for National Integration

 PM Narendra Modi has announced the setting up of Sardar Patel Award for National
Integration while addressing the conference of DGPs/IGPs in Gujarat’s
Kevadia.
 Sardar Patel Award for National Integration
 The award would be given for outstanding efforts to
further national integration. The countries first Home Minister Sardar
Patel had devoted his life to unifying India.
 The award for national integration in his name would be a tribute to
him and will inspire more people to work towards furthering the cause
of India’s unity and national integration.
52 |
 DGPs/IGPs Conference at Kevadia

 A three day All India DGPs/IGPs Conference was held at Kevadia. On the occasion, PM Modi
also released a commemorative stamp on the National Police Memorial and Presented
Police medals for distinguished services to IB officers.
 National Police Memorial
 National Police Memorial located in New Delhi’s Chanakyapuri area commemorates the
police personnel from all of the central and state police forces in India who have died in the
line of duty since the nation’s Independence in 1947.
Mamata Banerjee awarded the Skoch CM of the Year Award

 The Chief Minister of West Bengal has been awarded the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year
Award for the year 2017. The award was given to Mamta Banerjee recognising her
contribution in the overall development of West Bengal as West Bengal emerged as the
best-performing state in the field of Governance.
 The Skoch Group is a think tank since 1997 that deals with socio-economic issues in the
country while focusing on inclusive growth. Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu
Naidu was also awarded by the Skoch Group with ‘SKOCH Sprinter of the Year’ Award.
Commerce and Industry and civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu won the ‘Steady
Reformer’ Award.
Kerala became the first state in India has four international airports
 Kerala became the first state in India has four international airports inaugurating Kannur
Airport.
 Union Minister Suresh Prabhu and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the
Kannur International Airport in Malabar area of Kerala state on 9 December 2018.
 With this the total number of international airports in Kerala rose to four and thus
becoming the first state in India to have earned this distinction.
 The three other international airports in Kerala are in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and
Kozhikode.
 The first flight from Kannur International Airport was an Air India Express flight with 180
passengers to Abu Dhabi.
 The international flights operating from this airport will include those to the UAE, Oman
and Qatar.
 The airport has also been connected to Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Amitav Ghosh selected 2018 year’s Jnanpith Award

 Noted English writer Amitav Ghosh has been selected this year’s Jnanpith Award.
 It is a literary award given to an author for “outstanding
contribution towards literature”.
 This announcement was made by in a meeting of Jnanpith
Selection Board chaired by eminent novelist, scholar and
Jnanpith laureate Pratibha Ray on 14 December 2018.
 Ghosh, one of the most prominent contemporary Indian
writers, is known for a series of novels such as Shadow Lines, The Glass Palace, The Hungry
Tide, and Ibis Trilogy - Sea of Poppies, River of Smoke, and Flood of Fire - chronicling the
Opium trade between India and China run by the East India Company.
 He spent his formative years in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while he studied in Delhi,
Oxford and Alexandria.
53 |
24 poets and authors 2018 Sahitya Akademi Award

 India’s national academy of letters Sahitya Academy has announced names of 24 poets and
authors who will be conferred the prestigious 2018 Sahitya Akademi Award in 24 different
Indian languages.
 The award has recognised premier works in 24 Indian languages that includes seven books
of poetry, six novels, six short stories, three of literary criticism and two
of essays.
 The awards will be presented at a roadshow function to be held on 29th
January next year at New Delhi duringFestival of Letters to be organised
by Sahitya Akademi.
 The awardees were recommended by distinguished jury members
representing 24 languages and were approved by Executive Board under
chairmanship of Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar who is President of Sahitya Akademi.
 Awardees are
 Poetry: Sananta Tanti (Assamese), Paresh Narendra Kamat (Konkani), S Ramesan Nair
(Malayalam) and Dr Rama Kant Shukla (Sanskrit), Dr. Mohanjit (Punjabi), Dr. Rajesh Kumar
Vyas (Rajasthani) and Khiman U Mulani (Sindhi).
 Short stories: Sanjib Chattopadhyay (Bengali), Mushtaq Ahmed Mushtaq (Kashmiri), Prof
Bina Thakur (Maithili), Rituraj Basumatary (Bodo), Prof. Budhichandra Heisnamba
(Manipuri) and Nath Upadhyay Chapagain (Nepali).
 Novel: Inderjeet Kesar (Dogri), Anees Salim (English), Chitra Mudgal (Hindi), Shyam Besra
(Santali), Ramkrishnan (Tamil) and Rahman Abbas (Urdu).
 Literary Criticism: KG Nagarajappa (Kannada), Ma. Su. Patil (Marathi) and Prof. Dasarathi
Das (Odia).
 Essays: Prof. Sharifa Vijliwala (Gujarati) and Dr. Kolakaluri Enoch (Telugu).
 Bhasha Salman 2017 and 2018
 Sahitya Akademi also announced its Bhasha Salman for year 2017 and 2018. Yogendra Nath
Sharma was awarded for North zone; Gagendra Nath Das for Eastern zone; G
Venkatasubbiah for South zone; and Shailaja Bapat for Western zone.
 Sahitya Akademi Awards
 It is literary honour that is conferred annually on Indian writers for their outstanding
works of literary merit. It was established in 1954. It is conferred annually on writers of
outstanding works in one of the twenty-four major Indian languages (22 Scheduled
Languages+ English and Rajasthani).
 The award consists of a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque (designed by film-
maker Satyajit Ray), a shawl and cheque of Rs.1 Lakh.
UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah Prize awarded to Vashkar Bhattacharjee

and Tencent
 Bangladeshi disabilities’ advocate Vashkar Bhattacharjee and Chinese private sector ICT
enterprise, Tencent (China) were awarded UNESCO/Emir Jaber al Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah
Prize for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
 They were awarded for there outstanding contribution to
empowerment of persons with disabilities through application of
information and communication technologies (ICTs) to access
information and knowledge.
 They will be presented with award in ceremony to be at UNESCO
Headquarters on occasion of International Day of Persons with
disabilities (Observed on 3 December).
54 |
Mexico’s Vanessa Poncede Leon crowned Miss World 2018

 Mexico’s Vanessa Poncede Leon (26-year) has won
the coveted Miss World 2018 (68th edition) crown at
a grand event in China.
 She is the first Mexican woman to win Miss World.
 She was presented the crown by the last year's Miss
World winnerManushi Chhillar (India) at the event in
Sanya City Arena in China.
 Nicolene Limsnukan of Thailand was named first
runner-up.
 Almost 118 contestants from countries across the world participated in the beauty
pageant.
 India’s Anukreethy Vas (Tamil Nadu) failed to make a mark at the pageant as she could not
even make it to the top 30.
 PM Narendra Modi releases a Rs.100 commemorative coin in honour of former PM Atal

Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi, on December 24, 2018.
 Indian-American Shree Saini has won Miss India Worldwide 2018 title at a pageant held in
the Fords City of New Jersey. Sakshi Sinha from Australia and Anusha Sareen from the
United Kingdom were respectively declared first and second runner-ups in the competition.
 ‘HelpUsGreen’ an Indian start-up ,works to clean up the mighty river Ganga by recycling
thousands of tonnes of floral waste from temples has been honoured by the UN . Uttar
Pradesh-based ‘HelpUsGreen’ has come up with the world’s first profitable solution to the
monumental temple waste problem: ‘flower-cycling’, hailing the initiative.
 Indian Railways bagged 17 awards at the ‘National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA)
2018’ held in New Delhi. Under ‘transport‘ category, Indian Railways obtained 10 awards
for the subsector railway station. Vidisha railway station in Madhya Pradesh won the first
prize. Under ‘building‘ category, Indian Railways got three awards for subsector Railway
hospitals. Railway hospitals of Izzatnagar division won the first prize.
 Actress Sonam Kapoor, a vegan, has been named People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA) India’s Person of the Year for 2018.
 ‘Period. End of Sentence’ has made it to the Oscar shortlist in the Documentary Short
Subject category. This is a film about women in India fighting against the deeply rooted
stigma of menstruation & delving upon the work of real-life ‘Pad Man’ Arunachalam
Muruganantham.
 Producer Ashok Amritraj was honoured with the French Knight of the National Order of
Merit.
 Jharkhand has been selected for “Krishi Karman” award in the rice category from the Union
Ministry of Agriculture.
 Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in October 2018 at his country’s
Istanbul consulate, has been named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” alongside several
other journalists.
 Goa’s Prathamesh Maulingkar created history by becoming the first Asian/Indian to win
Mister Supranational title in a competition held at Krynica-Zdroj, Poland.
 Delhi Minister of Food Supplies, Environment & Forest & Elections Imran Hussain was
awarded by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)-India for banning the
Chinese Manjha, or the glass-coated kite strings, across Delhi.
55 |
 The city of Paris will strip Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary freedom of
the Paris award over her failure to speak out against a crackdown on Rohingya Muslims.
1. Who was honoured with Jnanpith Award 2018?

A. Krishna Sobti B. Durjoy Dutta C. Amitav Ghosh D. Shobha De
2. Name the three Indian-origin students among Time magazine's 25 most influential teens of 2018.
A. Kavya Kopparapu, Rishab Jain and Amika George
B. Kavya Kopparapu, Rishab Jain andVijayendra Verma
C. Kavya Kopparapu, Vijayendra Verma and Amika George
D. Rishab Jain, Vijayendra Verma and Amika George
3. Who has been awarded the UN Human Rights Prize for 2018?
A. Ms. Rebeca Gyumi B. Ms. Asma Jahangir C. Ms. Joênia Wapichana D. All the three
4. On the name of which freedom fighter The Department of Post has issued a Commemorative
Postage Stamp on 18th December 2018?
A. Brajkishore Prasad B. Rajendra Prasad C. Ramnavmi Prasad D. Rajkumar Shukla
5. Who has been named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India's Person of the Year
for 2018?
A. Anushka Sharma B. Alia Bhatt C. Priyanka Chopra D. Sonam Kapoor
6. Who won the 'Glinka World Soil Prize 2018'?

A. Prof. Rattan Lal B. Prof. Agustín Codazzi C. Prof. Venkatraman D. Prof. Vikramaditya
7. Who among the following crowned Miss Universe 2018?

A. Catriona Gray B. Tamaryn Green C. Sthefany Gutiérrez D. Kiara Ortega
8. Which Indian start up has been honoured by UN Climate Action Award at the 2018 UN Climate
Change Conference (COP 24)?
A. EcoFemme B. Sustain Earth C. Help Us Green D. Sustain Earth
9. Who has been selected for the Best Woman Parliamentarian (Rajya Sabha) for 2018?
A. Nirmala Sitharaman B. Smriti Irani C. Roopa Ganguly D. Kanimozhi
10. Jamal Khashoggi, who has been named Time magazine's 2018 "Person of the Year", is from which
country?
A. Saudi Arabia B. Oman C. Iran D. Turkey
11. Who has been honoured with the title "Meethoileima" by the Manipur Government?
A. Anjali Bhagwat B. Mary Kom C. Sania Mirza D. P. V. Sindhu
12. Who has won the trophy of Mister Supranational 2018?

A. Prathamesh Maulingkar B. Jitesh Singh Deo
C. Vishnu Raj Menon D. Kawaljit Anand Singh
13. Which of the following states has become the India's first state to have four international airports?
A. Tamil Nadu B. Maharashtra C. West Bengal D. Kerala
56 |
Obituaries
“Sadaiv Atal” dedicated to the nation on 94th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister
A.B Vajpayee
 Sadaiv Atal,the memorial of former Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee that was dedicated to the nation on his
94th birth anniversary on 25 December 2018.
 It is the name given to the memorial of former Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that has been built in
New Delhi.
 It is situated near the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, where his
funeral took place on 17 August 2018.
 Vajpayee passed away on 16 August 2018 after a
prolonged illness.
 Sadaiv (always) Atal memorial will be managed by a trust headed by Lok Sabha Speaker
Sumitra Mahajan.
Renowned filmmaker Mrinal Sen passed away

 Renowned filmmaker Mrinal Sen passed away at his Kolkata residence on 30 December
2018 at the age of 95.
 Mrinal Sen was one of the towering figures of Indian
cinema.
 Last of the triumvirate of legendary filmmakers from
West Bengal comprising Satyajit Ray and Ritwick Ghatak,
Mrinal Sen was recipient of various awards including
Dada Saheb Phalke award in 2005.
 Some of his well-known works include ‘Aakash Kusum’ (1965), ‘Bhuvan Shome’ (1969),
‘Calcutta 71’ and ‘Interview’ (1971), ‘Khandhar’ (1974), ‘Chorus’ (1975), ‘Mrigaya’ (1977),
‘Akaler Sandhane’ (1981) and ‘Ek Din Achanak’ (1989). ‘Aamar Bhuwan’ (2002) was his last
feature film.
Famous classical singer Pandit Arun Bhaduri passed away

 Famous classical singer Pandit Arun Bhaduri passed away on 17th
December 2018 at the age of 75, after a prolonged illness. He is
survived by his wife and son.
 Pandit Bhaduri had been suffering for quite some time from chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments.
 Pandit Arun Bhaduri was born on 7th October 1943 in Murshidabad,
West Bengal.
 He was a Hindustani Classical Music and Semi-Classical Music
Vocalist, initially tutored by Mohammed A. Daud Khan.
 Pandit Arun Bhaduri was an exponent on Kirana and Rampur Gharana.
 He was famous for fusing all these styles beautifully to create his own inimitable style.
 He also used to sing Bengali songs and Bhajans.
 In 2014, he was awarded Banga Bibhushan Samman. He also won many other awards.
 Norman Gimbel, the Oscar & Grammy-winning lyricist passed away at the age of 91.
 Dr. Hamidi Kashmiri, the tallest literary figure in the world of Urdu language, literature &
literary criticism passed away.
57 |
 Social worker & Padma Shri awardee Sulagitti Narasamma passed away in Bengaluru. She
was 98 years old.
 Legendary Assamese singer Dipali Borthakur popularly referred to as the “Nightingale of
Assam” passed away. She was 77.
 Former Prime Minister of Nepal Tulsi Giri has passed away in Kathmandu. He was 93. He
twice served as the prime minister of Nepal first from 1962 to 1964 & again from 1975 to
1977.
 Senior Congress leader & former Kerala minister CN Balakrishnan passed away in Kochi
due to pneumonia. He was 87.
 Professor Mushirul Hasan, a renowned historian, & former vice-chancellor Jamia Millia of
Islamia, passed away at the age of 71.
1. Recently, to mark the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his Samadhi was dedicated
to the nation. What name is ascribed to Vajpayee’s Samadhi?
A. Saudharm Atal B. Atal Sahej C. Sadaiv Atal D. Atal Sadaa
2. Oscar, Grammy-winning lyricist Norman Gimbel passed away. He hails from which country?
A. USA B. Germany C. Canada D. Singapore
3. Famous personality Mrinal Sen passed away recently. He belongs to which profession?
A. Author B. Film Maker C. Journalist D. Social Activist
4. Famous personality Hamidi Kashmiri passed away recently. He is professionally a ___

A. Poet B. Musician C. Cricketer D. Film Director
5. Renowned social worker and Padma Shri awardee Sulagitti Narasamma passed away. She hails
from which state?
A. Andhra Pradesh B. Karnataka C. Chandigarh D. Maharashtra
6. Tulsi Giri passed away. He was the former PM of which country?

A. Sri Lanka B. Nepal C. India D. Bangladesh
7. Arun Bhaduri passed away on 17th December 2018 at the age of 75. He belongs to which field?
A. Singer B. Politician C. Justice D. Film Maker
58 |
Important Days
 December 1 : World AIDS Day [UN]

 Theme of 2018 : Know Your Status
 December 2 : International Day for the Abolition of Slavery [UN]

 Theme of 2018 : No theme
 December 4 : Indian Navy Day

 Theme of 2018 : Indian Navy, Mission-deployed and Combat-ready
 December 5 : World Soil Day

 Theme of 2018 : Be the Solution to Soil Pollution
 December 7 : Armed Force Flag Day

 December 9 : International Anti-Corruption Day [UN]

 Theme of 2018 : Together, We Are United Against Corruption
 December 10 : Human Rights day [UN]

 Theme of 2018 : Stand Up For Human Rights
 December 14 : National Energy Conservation Day, Vijay Diwas (Indo-Pak war-

1971)
 December 18 : International Migrants Day [UN]

 Theme of 2018 : Migration with Dignity
 December 22 : National Mathematics Day

 December 23 : Kisan Divas (Farmer's Day)

 December 24 : National Consumer Day

 Theme of 2018 : Timely Disposal of Consumer Complaints
 December 25 : National Good Governance Day

1. When the Human Rights Day is celebrated every year?

A. 10 December B. 11 December C. 12 December D. 13 December
2. Every year National Consumers Day is observed on which among the following days?
A. December 20th B. December 21st C. December 22nd D. December 24th
59 |
3. International Human Solidarity Day is annually held on which among the following days?
A. December 20th B. December 21st C. December 19th D. December 18th
4. The International Migrants Day observed on 18th December across the world. What is the theme for
the year 2018?
A. Together for Migration B. Safe Migration in a World on the Move
C. Migration with Dignity D. Migration with Each other
5. Every year India celebrates Vijay Diwas for its victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war on which
among the following days?
A. 12th December B. 14th December C. 15th December D. 16th December
Foreign Visits / Foreign Visitors
 State Visit of President Shri Ram Nath Kovind to Myanmar in between December 10-14,
2018.
 State Visit of Prime Minister of Bhutan Dr. Lotay Tshering to India in between December
27-29, 2018.
 Visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China Mr. Wang Yi to India in
between December 21 - 24, 2018.
 State Visit of President of the Republic of Maldives Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to India in
between December 16-18, 2018.
60 |
Answer Key
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
National
1-A 2-C 3-B 4-A 5-D 6-A 7-C 8-C 9-B 10-C
11-A 12-D 13-D 14-C 15-B 16-B 17-A 18-B 19-D 20-B
21-C 22-A 23-C
International
1-C 2-A 3-B 4-B 5-C 6-D 7-A 8-D 9-A 10-C
11-B 12-D 13-D

1-B 2-D 3-A 4-A 5-C 6-D 7-D 8-B 9-A 10-A
11-A 12-D

1-B 2-A 3-C 4-B 5-A 6-A
1-A 2-A 3-A 4-B 5-B 6-B 7-D 8-C 9-D 10-D
11-C 12-A 13-B 14-D 15-C 16-D 17-C 18-D 19-D
1-A 2-B
Sports
1-B 2-D 3-A 4-B 5-B 6-D 7-D 8-A 9-C 10-D
11-B 12-C 13-B 14-D
Honours / Awards
1-C 2-A 3-D 4-D 5-D 6-A 7-A 8-C 9-D 10-A
11-B 12-A 13-D
Obituaries
1-C 2-A 3-B 4-A 5-B 6-B 7-A
Important Days
1-A 2-D 3-A 4-C 5-D
Source of Information
 http://pib.nic.in
 http://india.gov.in
 http://www.ibef.org
 http://thehindu.com
 http://jagranjosh.com
 http://gktoday.in
61 |

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Compendium-December, 2018

10 Monuments Adopted Under ‘Adopt A Heritage’ Project

Adopt A Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan

India’s Heaviest Satellite GSAT-11 Successfully Launched

Madhya Pradesh Government to create an Adhyatmik Vibhag (Spiritual department)

PM Modi inaugurated the Bogibeel bridge in Assam

India ranks 108th in WEF gender gap index 2018

National Children’s Science Congress Inaugurated at Odisha

Odisha's Kandhamal Haldi likely to get GI tag

Bahuda Rookery: Another Olive Ridley Nesting Site in Odisha

Pier placed for world’s tallest railway bridge

India’s largest Cancer Institute to come up in Haryana’s Jhajjar

Islands of Andaman to be renamed after Netaji Bose

 The announcement about renaming is expected to be made by PM Narendra Modi on 30

India's First Railway University Inaugurated

Cyclonic Storm Phethai divested Tamil Nadu and AP

ISRO's Military Satellite Launched, Will Be Air Force's Mainstay In Sky

India’s first music museum to be set up in Thiruvaiyaru

Government Launches Asiatic Lion Conservation Project

Lok Sabha passed the Consumer Protection Bill, 2018

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to have separate HCs

President’s rule comes into effect in Jammu & Kashmir

Union Govt approves amendments to POCSO Act

Cabinet approved 10,000-crore for Gaganyaan human space mission

Delhi High Court Orders Ban on sale of Online Medicines

Indian Railways plans to build first vertical-lift bridge

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates International Rice Research Centre In Varanasi

2. ‘Train 18’ officially became fastest train of which country recently?

7. Which state announced a new initiative ‘PEETHA’ to publicise government schemes?

13. National Children's Science Congress held in which state?

15. India's largest cancer hospital opened up in which state?

18. India ranked ______ in WEF's Gender Gap Index.

22. Who is the author of the book 'Blue Waters Ahoy!'?

Italy’s Mount Etna Volcano erupts

Indonesia hit by Volcanic Tsunami

World Bank to invest USD 200 bn in 2021-25 to fight climate change

Merriam-Webster selects ‘Justice’ as its 2018 Word of the Year

Gitega as the country’s new political capital Burundi

Australia Recognizes West Jerusalem as Capital of Israel

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft find evidence of water on asteroid Bennu

Global Nutrition Report, 2018

SpaceX successfully launches 64 small satellites using reusable Falcon 9 rocket

5. Which city is officially declared as the new Political Capital of Burundi?

A. Kingoma B. Bujumbura C. Gitega D. Butare

9. Who tops in the ranking of Climate Change Performance Index?

Economics & Financial Awareness

HUL found guilty of Profiteering Rs 383 crore

India to increase public health spending to 2.5 % of GDP

ADB retains Indian growth (GDP) forecast at 7.3 % for F.Y-2019

India to become fifth-biggest economy in 2019: PwC

States’ Startup Ranking 2018: Gujarat state top performer

NITI Aayog releases SDG India Index - Baseline Report 2018

Union Cabinet approved a plan to list which six government-owned companies

Multiple Choise Questions(MCQs)

Defence & Security - National/International

Sea trials of IAC Vikrant likely to begin in 2020

‘Hand-in-Hand’ counter-terrorism military exercises concluded

10 Central Agencies authorised by Government to snoop on “any” Computer System

 Indian Ordnance Factories (37th Rank)

Indra Navy-18 Joint Exercise concluded between India and Russia

US will withdraw from nuclear arms treaty with Russia

India, US Air Forces exercise Ex Cope India-2018 begins in West Bengal

 It will be focused on enhancing US-Indian mutual cooperation and building on existing