Daily Current Affairs 5th December, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 5 December 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

India hands over patrol vessel “KAAMIYAAB” to Maldives

India handed over a patrol vessel named “KAAMIYAAB” to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) during a video conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

• During the event, the two countries exchanged Memoranda of Understanding for 3 grant projects for setting up neighbourhood fish plants in the southernmost atoll of Addu.

Government launches Operation Clean Art

Government launched the Operation Clean Art across India. The operation is aimed to crackdown illegal trade in the mongoose hair.

• This is the first time such an operation is happening in India.It was initiated by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).

Nationwide vaccination drive launched to prevent eight diseases under Mission Indradhanush 2.0

Centre is launching nationwide vaccination drive Indradhanush 2.0 to prevent eight diseases under Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 .

• The government’s flagship scheme is aimed at immunizing children under the age of 2 years and pregnant women against eight vaccine preventable diseases.. The IMI 2.0 aims to achieve targets of full immunization coverage in 272 districts spread over 27 States. The IMI 2.0 will be carried out between December 2019 and March 2020.

Vice Prez M Venkaiah Naidu launches Bharatiya POSHAN Anthem

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the “Bharatiya Poshan Anthem” which aims at taking the message of making India malnutrition-free by 2022 to all corners of the country.

• The anthem was conceptualised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, penned by noted lyricist Prasoon Joshi and sung by Shankar Mahadevan.

India’s first maritime museum coming up at Lothal in Gujarat

The central government has decided to establish a National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal, a Harappan site on the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat. It will be India’s first Maritime Museum.

• The museum will also be an independent research centre of underwater archaeology for the reconstruction of maritime history, the archaeology of boat building and materials traded
• The museum is being set up with technical help from the Portuguese Maritime Heritage Museum.

Odisha Government launches smart learning app ‘Madhu’

Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik launched a smart learning phone application “Madhu” app for school children. The app named after Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das. This app is aimed at helping school students in learning their lessons through videos and tutorials.

Delhi Traffic police signs MoU with World Resource Institute to reduce traffic in Delhi

Delhi Traffic Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) World Resource Institute, India in a bid to improve traffic management and reduce congestion in New Delhi.

• The objective of the MoU is to enable the NCT of Delhi to get a more sustainable transport system which is safe, green and clean.

Mumbai Central gets first ‘Eat Right Station’ certification from FSSAI

The Mumbai Central station of Railways was conferred with the ‘Eat Right Station’ certification with four stars rating by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as a part of ‘Eat Right India’ movement launched last year. With this, Mumbai Central Railway Station becomes the country’s first “Eat Right Station.”

51% Indians paid bribes in last one year, down from 56% in 2018, says survey

According to survey released by Transparency International, fewer Indians paid bribes in the last one year than in the preceding 12 months.

• The percentage of respondents who admitted to paying a bribe was 51% this year, as compared to 56% in the previous survey. However, the figure for 2019 was higher than that for 2017, when it was 45%.T
• India’s ranking in the Corruption Perception Index has risen three places to 78 out of 180 countries.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

First-ever AI camera program auto-detects drivers using mobiles

In a first, an Australian state government has implemented a new artificial intelligence (AI) camera program that can automatically detect if drivers are using their cell phones while on the road.

• As Mashable notes, the program began its rollout in New South Wales on December 1. In its beta run, the government claims the program helped nab over 100,000 drivers.
• The AI camera does not identify defaulters in real-time. Instead, it photographs every vehicle that strays across its lens, and analyses it later to detect probable offender. Drivers only receive warnings for the first three months before they are fined.

Google introduces new digital wellbeing feature — Focus Mode

Google’s new Digital Wellbeing feature ‘Focus Mode’ is now out of beta and rolling out to all devices supporting Digital Wellbeing and parental controls.

• The feature for Android devices allows one to turn off distractions such as social media updates or email notifications until they want to focus on a particular task, TechCrunch notes .There’s also a new break option that lets you use the silenced apps for a specific time before you go back working again.

Typhoon Tisoy hits the Philippines

The typhoon known internationally as Kammuri and called Tisoy in the Philippines reached the Bicol Peninsula southeast of Manila with wind speeds of up to 208 kilometers per hour.

• A powerful typhoon killed four people in the Philippines and Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes in the Philippines.

BANKING & FINANCE

ADB, India Sign 206 Million loan to strengthen urban services in 5 cities of Tamil Nadu

The Central government and Asian Development Bank have signed a 206 million dollar loan agreement to develop water supply and sewerage infrastructure in 5 cities of Tamil Nadu

• The loan agreement was signed in New Delhi by Additional Secretary in the Finance Ministry Sameer Kumar Khare and Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission Kenichi Yokoyama.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

RBI maintains repo rate at 5.15 pc, lowers GDP forecast to 5 pc for FY20

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the repo rate unchanged at the current 5.15 per cent level but revised gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection to 5 per cent from 6.1 per cent for the current financial year 2019-20.

The six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) headed by Governor Shaktikanta Das announced the decision.

Current Monetary Policy Rates:

• Repo Rate: 5.15%
• Reverse Repo Rate (under liquidity adjustment facility): 4.9%
• Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate: 5.4%
• Bank Rate: 5.4%
• Cash reserve Ratio (CRR): 4%
• Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): 18.75%

Crisil slashes India’s FY20 growth to 5.1% over slump across sectors

Rating agency Crisil sharply cut its growth forecast for the current financial year to 5.1 per cent from an earlier estimate of 6.3 per cent. Growth in the second half of 2019-20 will go up to 5.5 per cent, up from the 4.75 per cent in the first half.

• The move comes ahead of the RBI’s announcement on lending rates on December 5.

MobiKwik, Aditya Birla Health Insurance to offer affordable Cancer Protect Cover

Digital payments company MobiKwik partnered with Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co Ltd (ABHICL) to offer sachet health insurance products in India.

• The first product launched under this partnership on MobiKwik platform is a Cancer Protect Cover that will offer a comprehensive protection from diagnosis of all major stages of cancer.

Walmart, HDFC unveil co-branded credit card for ‘Best Price’ members

Walmart India, in partnership with HDFC Bank launched a co-branded credit card exclusively for members of its Best Price Modern Wholesale “B2B Cash & Carry” stores, offering “free credit upto 50 days at Best Price.

• Simultaneously, the card was launched at 26 other Best Price Modern Wholesale Store locations across the country.

KVGB inks MoU with Canara HSBC OBC for bancassurance

Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) and Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance Company Ltd. signed an MoU for bancassurance for selling life insurance products through the branches of KVGB).

• According to the agreement, the bank will market products of Canara HSBC through its 636 branches.

SPORTS

Gurpreet Singh, Sunil Kumar clinch gold medals in Senior National C’ships

In wrestling, Asian Championships silver medallists Gurpreet Singh and Sunil Kumar clinched gold medals on the final day of the senior national championships in Jalandhar.

• Gurpreet defeated Sajan Bhanwal in the 77 kilogram category.
• Sunil defeated Punjab’s Prabhal in the 87 kg final.

New Zealand win Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket award for 2019

New Zealand cricket team was awarded the Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket award for 2019. The Kane Williamson-led team’s on and off-field display during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s has earned them the award. New Zealand gained praise for their humility after losing the premier tournament.

India seal qualifiers spot in Davis Cup with victory over Pakistan

Leander Paes and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan booked India’s place in the Davis Cup by Rakuten Qualifiers after defeating Huzaifa Abdul Rehman and Muhammad Shoaib 6-1 6-3 in Nur-Sultan.

• The win ensured victory for India in the tie against Pakistan and as such they will have a chance to compete in next year’s Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals.

Syed Mushtaq Ali T20: Karnataka retains title after edging TN by one run

Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu to defend its Syed Mushtaq Ali crown in a nail-biting finish at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.

• This is Karnataka’s second title this season after beating TN in the final of the Vijay Hazare trophy as well in October.

APPOINTMENTS

Roopun selected as the President of Mauritius

Lawmakers in Mauritius selected former arts and culture minister Pritivirajsing Roopun as president of the island nation Mauritius. His predecessor Ameenah Gurib-Fakim resigned in March 2018

• Roopun, 61, is a lawyer who was first elected to the National Assembly in 2000 and has been minister of regional administration, social integration, and arts and culture.

OBITUARIES

Veteran journalist Bhaskar Menon passes away

Veteran journalist Bhaskar Menon passed away following cardiac arrest. He was 87. Menon had handled several key news developments, including the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur at Sriperumbudur in May 1991.

• He retired as the Regional Manager (South) of the Press Trust of India (PTI).

Former cricketer Bob Willis passed away

Former England cricketer Bob Willis passed away. He was 70. The former bowler played for the country for more than a decade and took 325 Test wickets in his career.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed every year on December 3 to focus on issues that affect people with disabilities worldwide.

• The theme for this 2019 IDPD is ‘Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda’.

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