Current Affairs- December 2012
Current Affairs December 2012 -Third
Week
U.S. beauty Olivia Culpo crowned Miss Universe 2012
Olivia Culpo, a 20-year-old Rhode Island native,
beat 88 other beauty queens to be crowned as Miss Universe 2012 at a gala
ceremony in Las Vegas on December 20, 2012. Philippines’ Janine Tugonon was
adjudged the first runner-up followed by Venezuela’s Irene Esser. Ms. Culpo,
who grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island and dreams of making it big in showbiz,
has brought the title back to the U.S. after a decade. Brooke Lee was the last
winner in 1997. Wearing a red gown, Ms. Culpo was crowned by 2011 winner Leila
Lopez of Angola during the competition that lasted for two hours.
Other Highlights
·
India’s Shilpa Singh made only to the top 16
spot.
·
The panel of 10 judges included names like
singer Cee Lo Green, ‘Iron Chef’ Masaharu M Orimoto and Pablo Sandoval of the
San Francisco Giants.
·
Philippines’ Janine Tugonon the first runner-up
Hat-trick
for Narendra Modi in Gujarat Assembly Elections; Congress wins Himachal Pradesh
Narendra Modi swept back to power in Gujarat for
the third time by winning 115 while Congress party could manage just 61 seats. Narendra
Modi who is set to become the Chief Minister yet gain beat his nearest rival Shweta
Bhatt by a margin of over 86,000 votes in Maninagar.
World Cup Kabaddi Tournament 2012 won by India
India on 15 December 2012 won the 3rd World Cup
Kabaddi Tournament for the third consecutive time in the Men’s category and
second consecutive time in the Women’s category both held at Guru Nanak Dev
Stadium in Ludhiana. Indian men defeated arch rival Pakistan with a margin of
37 points whereas, Indian women thrashed Malaysia 72-12. The Kabaddi world cup
was a 15-day tournament. In men's category, third prize went to Canada and in
women's category, it was given to Denmark. Indian men registered a hat trick by
outclassing Pakistan in every aspect of game. At the end of the first half,
Indian men squad was leading with a point difference of 34-9. India’s raider
and stoppers showed an extraordinary sport in collecting points for their
country. Women’s final was virtually a one sided show as Malaysian team was no
match against Indian eves.
Constitution
Amendment Bill on Quota for SC/STs in Government Job passed by Huge Majority in
Rajya Sabha
The Constitution Amendment Bill that provides
quotas for SCs and STs in Government Job Promotions was approved in Rajya Sabha
on 17 December 2012 by an overwhelming majority. The new amendment demands
retaining of Article 335 and deletes the words or in the article to make sure
that condition of efficiency as mentioned in the Article continues to be the
part of Indian Constitution and not wiped out. The bill would also ensure that
the provision of the Article 335 and its effects are retained and allows
related standards for promotion against reserved vacancies to candidates
belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
Ranbir
Kapoor to be Brand Ambassador of Blackberry Smartphone maker Research-In-Motion
(RIM)
Blackberry Smartphone maker Research-In-Motion
(RIM) in third week of December had signed in Ranbir Kapoor as its brand
ambassador in India. The signing of Ranbir Kapoor is a move to attract young
entrepreneurs and professionals, as the celebrity endorsement is an accepted
norm in India in terms of youth and consumer association with brand. It is also
the first time Blackberry had signed a celebrity in India as its brand
ambassador.
Jeet Thayil among 24 Chosen for Sahitya Akademi Award
Delhi
Government to Draft New Bill for Amendments in Law on Rape, Sexual Assault
In the background of Vasant Vihar gang rape
which took place on 16 December 2012, Delhi Government decided drafting new
bill for making amendments in the law against rape and sexual assault. It was
decided that amendments would be made so that the law against rape and sexual
assault were more stringent. The new bill would be prepared by Additional
Solicitor General Indira Jaising and it would later be moved to Home Ministry
via Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The new bill would aim at filling gaps
in present law on rape and sexual assault. At present, the laws on rape and
sexual assault have various gaps in justice delivery system. Decision to draft
new bill was taken by CM Sheila Dikshit after negotiations with social workers,
professors and experts.
Lok
Sabha Passed the banking bill Clearing way for New Corporate Licenses
The Lok Sabha on 18 December 2012 passed the
Banking (Amendment) Bill, which majorily focuses on attracting more foreign
investment into the banking industry and cleared a major obstacle and paved the
way for the Reserve Bank of India to issue new bank licenses.
Highlights
of the Bill is as Follows
• The Bill was passed after the government
agreed to drop the debatable Forwards Markets Contract Clause, which proposed
permitting banks to enter commodity futures trading.
• Introduced in the Lok Sabha in March 2011, the
Bill gives the RBI the power to surpass bank board as well as to inspect the
books of associates of banking company.
• The Bill allows foreign banks to convert their
Indian operations into local subsidiaries or transfer shareholding to a holding
company of the bank without paying stamp duty.
• The Competition Commission clause in the
Banking Bill had also been modified which will allows RBI to remain the banking
regulator, while the Competition Commission of India (CCI) will regulate
mergers and acquisitions.
• CCI will have the power to investigate and
clear mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector.
• It also provides for voting rights to
investors in private sector banks appropriate with their shareholding. The cap
on voting rights for investors in private sector lenders, such as HDFC Bank and
ICICI Bank, will now rise to 26 per cent from 10 per cent, and to 10 per cent
for government banks, such as State Bank of India, from just 1 per cent.
• The passage of the Bill was critical to the
government as it paves the way for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue new
banking licenses to the private sector
• In October2012, the Cabinet approved the
Forward Contract Regulation Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill to give more powers to
the FMC, but the Bill is yet to get Parliamentary approval.
• Foreign banks have long sought these changes
which will now help them in expanding their operations in India.
Roger Federer - Swiss Male Athlete of the Year
The world No.2, 17 times Grand Slam champion Roger
Federer, 31, was named Swiss Male
Athlete of the Year on 16 December 2012. Federer received the honour for the
fifth time. Roger Federer, the Swiss tennis player acquired the same title in
2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. The female Athlete of the year was Nicola Spirig,
the Olympic triathlon champion of Switzerland.
Subhash Joshi -New Chief of Indian Border Security Force (BSF)
Subhash Joshi on 18 December 2012 appointed as
the new chief of Border Security Force (BSF) while special secretary in home
ministry Ajay Chadha appointed to head the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Subhash
Joshi is at present is the director general of National Security Guard and he
is going to lead the 1.8 lakh strong border force BSF. The post of the chief of
Indian Border Force had fallen vacant on 1 December 2012 due to retirement U K
Bansal’s, the director general of the Border Security Force ( BSF).
The above appointments is going to be in effect
from the dates these officers assume charge of their posts and till their
superannuation or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier.
Queen
Elizabeth Became First Peacetime British Ruler to Attend Cabinet Meeting
On 18 December 2012, Queen Elizabeth became
first British ruler ever since 1781, who attended the cabinet meeting. Though
she did not take part in any deliberations, but she participated in the cabinet
meeting as an observer and a listener. Queen Elizabeth remained seated on the
chair which is usually occupied by the prime minister. At present, Britain has
a tradition of monarch allowing a weekly audience to PM in order to receive
private as well as confidential briefing. But actually, the Queen just rubber
stamps the ministerial decisions, maybe sometimes in presence of the Privy
Council.
Historic series win for England Cricket Team in India
The last test match between India and England of
the Tournament England Tour to India ended up as a draw and with this India
lost the four-test match cricket series against England by 1-2 on 17 December
2012. With this win England succeeded in ending a 28 year long wait of winning
a test series on Indian Soil. Before this the English side under the captaincy
of David Gower won the test series in India 1984-85.
Series Highlights
·
The first Test was played at Ahmedabad from 15
November to 19 November 2012 in which India won the match by 9 wickets.
·
The second was played at Mumbai from 23 November
to 26 November 2012 in which England won the match by 10 wickets
·
In the third test match played at Kolkata from 5
December to 9 December 2012 England won the match by 7 wickets
·
The fourth & last test resulted in a draw
and was played at Nagpur from 13 December to 17 December 2012
Indigenous Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Vaccine Developed by India
First vaccine of the world was developed against
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) using the Indian strain of virus. National Institute
of Virology (NIV), Pune offered the strain of JE virus to Bharat Biotech. This
JE virus was gathered from Kolar in Karnataka. Bharat Biotech had submitted
results from final human trials to Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) so
that it could have marketing clearance. Currently, India imports the stock of
JE vaccine from National Biotech Group of China. The arrival of this indigenous
Indian vaccination will help in protection of the Indian population against the
disease which is largely growing in the country.
What is Japanese Encephalitis (JE)?
JE is the mosquito-borne virus which mainly
affects the CNS or Central Nervous System. It can be transmitted to human
beings if infected mosquito bites. Mosquitoes in turn are affected when they
feed on domestic pigs that carry this virus. JE usually affects children who
are below 15 years of age. Around 25 percent affected children usually die and
among those who survive, 30-40 percent suffer from mental and physical
impairment. In 2011, it was reported that JE had occurred in 135 districts in
17 states of India.
Naina Lal Kidwai became the First Woman President of FICCI
On 15 December 2012 Naina Lal Kidwai took over
as President of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry),
becoming the first woman to head the leading industry body. Kidwai, is the
first woman and professional manager to be elected as President of the chamber.
She is 55 years old. Chairman of Digjam
Ltd, Sidharth Birla was elected as Senior Vice-President of FICCI. Kidwai
succeeded R V Kanoria of Kanoria Chemicals & Industries Ltd. Chairman of
Xpro India Ltd. Naina Lal Kidwai is the Country head of HSBC India and Director
of HSBC Asia Pacific.
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good work..very informative
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