Saturday, December 29, 2012

December 2012- Current Affairs (4th Week)

Current Affairs- December 2012
Current Affairs December 2012 –Fourth Week (Useful for all competitive Examinations)

Sachin Tendulkar announced Retirement from One Day Cricket
One of the game's all-time greats, SachinTendulkar, on 23 December 2012 announced his retirement from one-day cricket, bringing to an end a glorious 23-year-old career in the format during which he rewrote numerous batting records. Tendulkar goes out after amassing 18,426 runs in 463 one-dayers at an average of 44.83. The diminutive right-hander has an astonishing 49 hundreds in the format, including a double hundred -- the first in this form of the game.
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is an Indian Batsman who is considered one of the greatest batsman of the world after Don Bradman in Test Cricket and the second most successful one day batsman after Viv Richards as per the ranking done by Wisden-the Bible of Cricket. Tendulkar who belongs to Mumbai Maharashtra made his appearance in six world cups for India and was the member of the 2011 World Cup winning squad of the nation.
The major facts related to his one day international career are as follows:
•    Sachin scored 18426 runs in 463 one-day matches at an average of 44.83
•    Tendulkar made his ODI debut on his international tour against Pakistan in 1989 in Gujranwala, where he scored zero runs
•    He scored his first half century in the 9th ODI
•    He made 49 hundreds in the one-day format, including a double hundred which is the first in this form of cricket and 96 half centuries
•    He scored his first century in the 79th ODI against Australia in 1994 at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo in a day-night match-this was the third match of singer world series
•    In the 2003 World Cup in South Africa he finished as the highest run-getter
•    He became the first cricketer to score a double century in the history of One Day international Cricket against South Africa in February 2010
•    He played his last One Day International Match against Pakistan in Asia Cup Dhaka played at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur and scored a half century to help India win the match
•    Tendulkar scored his 100th international century on 16 March 2012 against Bangladesh, where he scored 114 runs

Jnanpith Award 2011 won by Oriya Novelist and Academician Pratibha Ray

Leading Oriya novelist and academician Pratibha Ray, who has over 40 novels, travelogues and short stories to her credit, was on 27 December 2012 named for the prestigious Jnanpith Award for the year 2011 for her contribution to the field of Indian literature. The award carries a cash prize of 7 lakh rupees, a citation and a bronze statuette of Godess Saraswati. Pratibha Ray is the first Oriya woman and fourth Oriya writer to get the coveted award. She will also be the 47th author to be bestowed with the honour. Ray has 20 novels, 24 short stories, 10 travelogues, two poetry collections and a number of essays to her credit. Born in 1943, Pratibha Ray is one of the most widely read Oriya novelists and short story writers. Her novels and stories are deeply and persuasively grounded in the great tradition of story-telling.

Former Army chief Gen VK Singh's Z-Plus Security Cover removed by Union Government

The union government of India withdrew Z-plus security provided to ex-army chief General V K Singh. The former Army chief, who waged a messy battle while in office with the defence ministry over his age, is now actively taking part in protests over corruption, the Delhi gang rape and other issues. The decision to withdraw Z-plus security cover from 1 December 2012 was taken after home ministry reviewed that there wasn’t any threat against the ex-Army chief. Normally, all retiring Army chiefs get Z-Plus security for six months. It continues after that only if the threat perception is high. Gen Singh will, however, continue to stay in his government accommodation in Delhi Cantonment for six months more since he had earlier sought and obtained permission for it from defence minister AK Antony.
As Z-plus security beneficiary, the ex-army chief had around 30-35 Army personnel offering 24*7 proximate security in shifts. Six to seven vehicles which include the primary bullet-proof vehicle was also provided to the ex-army chief. While the government withdrew the security to Gen V K Singh, he would still get secretariat staff as well as certain sahayaks.
What is Z-Plus Security?
In India, depending upon the threat perception, high-risk people are provided securities by local government and the police. There are mainly four categories of security and these are Z-Plus, Z, Y and X. Z-Plus security cover is the highest level of security. Anyone provided with the Z-Plus security, gets a security cover of 36 personnel. Individuals in India who are provided with various categories of securities include cabinet ministers, chief ministers, Supreme Court and High Court judges, senior bureaucrats as well as leading politicians. NSG or National Security guards are usually used for providing security to individuals under Z-Plus security cover.

Shinzo Abe elected as Japan's prime minister

Shinzo Abe, the conservative leader of Japan was elected as the prime minister of the country by lower house of the Parliament called the House of Representatives, on 26 December 2012. Shinzo Abe took oath to rebuild Japanese economy as well as mend the coalition with US. Abe, who was also prime minister in 2006-2007, led the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) to victory in parliamentary elections Dec. 16. As the seventh prime minister of Japan in not even 7 years, Abe replaced Yoshihiko Noda, who belonged to DPJ and whose party suffered deep defeat at the elections. DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) had come into power in 2009 and it lost on grounds of failing policies as well as mishandling of atomic disaster at Fukushima in 2011.

Kamal Nath appointed as the new ex-officio Member of Planning Commission

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s office on 26 December 2012 has re-constituted the Planning Commission and appointed the Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development Minister - Kamal Nath as the new ex-officio member of the Plan panel in place of rural development minister Jairam Ramesh. The decision was taken with the view to lay down government emphasis on the Urban Development and schemes like MNREGA, already in existence for rural development. The other ex-officio members of the Commission are Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M K Alagiri, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal, Law Minister.

Narendra Modi sworn in as Gujarat Chief Minister for fourth term
Narendra Modi, who powered BJP to an emphatic victory in Gujarat, was on 26 December 2012 sworn in as Chief Minister for the fourth consecutive term at the head of a 17-member ministry. Governor Kamla Beniwal administered the oath of office and secrecy to him at Sardar Patel Stadium at Ahmedabad.

Virbhadra Singh took oath for the Sixth time as Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh

Former Union Minister of India and Veteran Congress leader Virbhadra Singh on 25 December 2012 was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Himachal for a record sixth term in Shimla. Governor Urmila Singh administered the oath of office to the septuagenarian, who has been chief minister for more than 16 years. Virbhadra Singh is often referred to as the Raja of Rampur because his ancestors were royalty. He had served five terms as chief minister of Himachal Pradesh between 1983 and 2007. He first assumed office April 8, 1983. In his five-decade political career, he has been an MLA seven times and a parliamentarian five times.

China starts world’s longest bullet train linking Beijing with Guangzhou

China on 26 December 2012 inaugurated world's longest high-speed rail route linking its capital Beijing with the southern metropolis of Guangzhou, covering a distance of 2,298 kms. Running at an average speed of 300 km per hour, the bullet train will save nearly 12 hours by bringing down the travel time between Beijing and Guangzhou from more than 20 hours to around eight. The route connects five provinces and has 35 stops in major cities, including Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Wuhan and Changsha. The new train covers Beijing with China's most industrialised province Guangdong where most developed cities like Guangzhou close to Hong Kong and Maccau are located. The line is expected to be extended to Hong Kong by 2015.

‘Gangnam Style’ Collins dictionary’s word of the year
After becoming the most-watched video ever on Youtube, Korean singer Psy’s pop sensation “Gangnam Style” has now booked a place in popular culture with recognition from a renowned British dictionary. Gangnam Style, is pop sensation with a horse dance video by his Sotuh Korean singer Psy. It became the first video in the history of the Internet to be viewed more than a billion times. “Gangnam Style” has been named among the Collins dictionary’s words of the year along with “mummy porn”, “fiscal cliff” and “Romneyshambles”.
ü   Mummy porn became April’s word of the year as the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey was published during that month and became an instant bestseller.
ü   Defeated presidential candidate Mitt Romney became word of the year for July after critics recognized his visit to London a Romneyshambles.

Shihab Ghanem became the First Arab to receive India’s Tagore Peace Prize

Emirati poet and translator Shihab Ghanem became the first Emirati and Arab to win the Tagore Peace Prize.Tagore Peace Prize is instituted by the Indian government to commemorate the birth anniversary of India’s poet, philosopher and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Ghanem was awarded the accolade in recognition of his creative literary and translation works, both in Arabic and English, and for promoting human understanding and values of love and peace Tagore had advocated. The award is given to one person every two years. Ghanem was chosen due to the promotion of the human values of love and peace via his poetic works.

High-Level Committee Shortlisted Nominees for Padma Awards

High-level committee met on 26 December 2012 to shortlist the nominees of prestigious Padma awards. Rajesh Khanna, singer Kailash Kher as well as director of much-acclaimed movie Sholay’, Ramesh Sippy might be honoured with the prestigious awards on 26 January 2013. Rajesh Khanna, who died on 18 July 2012, was shortlisted for highest category of Padma awards- Padma Vibhushan. Ramesh Sippy and Kailesh Kher were shortlisted for the award of Padma Shri.
Awardees’ names would be declared on 25 January 2013 after PM Manmohan Singh’s approval. Rajesh Khanna, Kailash Kher and Ramesh Sippy were shortlisted after recommendations from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.Usually, the Padma awards are not conferred after the death of an individual, but Rajesh Khanna was considered by the Government as highly deserving candidate for Padma Vibhushan. This would make an exception to the Padma awards. Similar exceptions were made earlier when singer and music director Bhupen Hazarika was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2012.
The high-level committee that shortlisted the nominees of the award included cabinet secretary Ajit Seth, home secretary R K Singh, scientist Anil Kakodkar, principal secretary to the PM Pulok Chatterjee as well as actor Ratna Pathak Shah.

Number of Supreme Court Judges increased to 28 after 3 Judges Sworn In

Justice M.Yusuf Eqbal-Chief Justice of Madras High Court, V. Gopala Gowda-Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and Vikramajit Sen-Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court sworn in as the Judges of Supreme Court of India on 24 December 2012 by the Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir. With this, the number of judges in Supreme Court of India rose to twenty-seven, with four more vacancies remaining. The three judges were appointed by the President of India Pranab Mukherhjee for the post on 21 December 2012.

India successfully test-fires Astra missile third time in a week
India on on 24 December 2012 successfully test-fired its indigenously developed Astra air-to-air interceptor missile from a defence base in Odisha for the third time within a week. The test was conducted for identifying the missile's interception capability and high manoeuvring and was successful in intercepting the simulated target at an altitude of 4 kilometer. Before this test firing, Astra was also tested from the same base on 21 December and 22 December 2012 by the scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), who have designed and developed this missile. After passing all the tests, Astra would be integrated with different combat fighter aircraft like MIG-29, Sukhoi-30 and other light combat aircraft.

Park Geun-hye becomes first woman South Korean President
In recent Presidential elections in South Korea, Park Geun-hye gained the victory to become country’s first woman President, daughter of the former military ruler, Park Chung-Hee.



Justice Swatanter Kumar is new NGT chief

Justice Swatanter Kumar has become the first Supreme Court judge to be the chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which was, till now, functioning without a full-time chairperson. He will decide on cases pertaining to environmental protection, and conservation of forests and natural resources.


President Obama: TIME’s Person of the Year

TIME magazine has named US President Barack Obama Person of the Year "For finding and forging a new majority, for turning weakness into opportunity and for seeking, amid great adversity, to create a more perfect union". This is the second time that Time has chosen Obama. Previously, the magazine chose him Person of the Year in 2008.



Prepared by: currentaffairs4examz.blogspot.com
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