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Current Affairs Assam – December 1-7, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of December 1-7, 2018 )

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December 1

North East Skill Centre (NESC) to be launched in January

• The ambitious North East Skill Centre (NESC) project, a joint collaboration of the Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM) and Institute of Technical Educational Services, Singapore (ITEES), will be launched in January.
• The centre will offer a one-year certificate course to achieve the twin goal of generating employment and meet the demand of the industry for skilled manpower.
• Specialised and industry-driven training would be imparted in four sectors – beauty and wellness, retail services, hospitality –food and beverage service and hospitality – housekeeping.
• The NESC will have state-of-the-art infrastructure located on a sprawling campus in Guwahati with a fully equipped laboratory.

G20 summit: India presents 9-point agenda on fugitive economic offenders

• India on Friday presented a nine-point agenda to G20 member nations calling for strong and active cooperation among them to comprehensively deal with fugitive economic offenders.
• The agenda was presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the second session of the G20 Summit on international trade, international financial and tax systems.
• Cooperation in legal processes such as effective freezing of the proceeds of crime, early return of the offenders and efficient repatriation of the proceeds of crime should be enhanced and streamlined.
• India also called for joint efforts by G-20 countries to form a mechanism that denies entry and safe havens to fugitive economic offenders.
• India suggested the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) should be called upon to assign priority and focus to establishing international cooperation that leads to timely and comprehensive exchange of information between the competent authorities and financial intelligence units.
• India also advocated setting up of a common platform for sharing experiences and best practices including successful cases of extradition, gaps in existing systems of extradition and legal assistance, etc.

Double Taxation Pact between India & Hong Kong came into effect

• The double taxation avoidance pact between India and Hong Kong came into effect on 30^th November after both sides completed the due procedures.
• The agreement between India and Hong Kong for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income was signed on March 19.
• India completed all the relevant procedures required by its laws for the entry into force of the agreement on May 11 and the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region completed all the relevant procedures required by its laws for the entry into force of the agreement on November 30.
• The pact will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to Hong Kong and vice versa.
• It will prevent double taxation and provide for exchange of information between the two sides.
• The agreement will also improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.

BRICS leaders declare common stand on WTO reform

• Leaders of the emerging economies’ bloc BRICS declared their common stand on the reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 30^th
• A communique was issued after Brazilian President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held an informal meeting on the sidelines of G-20 Summit.
• BRICS countries agreed that full support should be given to the rules-based multilateral trading system represented by the WTO and to ensure transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive international trade.
• BRICS countries pledged to support the improvement of the WTO, increase its relevance and validity and safeguard the core values and basic principles of the WTO, and agreed that the WTO should embody the interests of all members, developing economies in particular.

December 2

Siu-Ka-Pha Divas observed on December 2

• Asom Divas, a day to remember the contributions of the first Ahom king Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha, was observed in various places in Assam.
• Since 1996 December 2 has been celebrated in Assam as the Sukaphaa Divawkh, or Axom Divawkh (Assam Day), to commemorate the advent of the first king of the Ahom kingdom in Assam after his journey over the Patkai Hills.

FACTFILE – Chaolung Sukaphaa (r. 1228–1268)

• Siu-Ka-Pha was the first Ahom king in medieval Assam, was the founder of the Ahom kingdom.
• A Tai prince originally from Mong Mao, the kingdom he established in 1228 existed for nearly six hundred years and in the process unified the various indigenous ethnic groups of the region that left a deep impact on the region.

Rajnath Singh to inaugurate Hornbill Festival

• Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the 19th edition of the Hornbill Festival at Kisama village.
• Nagaland Governor PB Acharya will be the chief host on the occasion, while US Ambassador to India, Kenneth I Juster, has been invited as the guest of honour.
• The Nagaland Government has earmarked Rs 5 crore for the festival, which will culminate on December 10. The celebrations and programmes have been scheduled in five districts of the State including Kohima, Dimapur, Mokokchung, Phek and Wokha, she said.
• The annual festival unites one and all, while promoting the tourism prospects of the State. The festival aims to display the rich traditions and the vibrant culture of Nagaland through colourful performances, crafts, sports, food fairs, games and ceremonies.
• The heritage village of Kisama has been made a plastic-free zone. The visitor turnout to Kisama stood at 2.43 lakh last year and the number might swell this year.

Kaziranga National Park home to 907 Eastern Swamp Deer

• During a Census of Eastern Swamp Deer in Kaziranga National Park, physical counting of the species in Kaziranga National Park had put the total population of Eastern Swamp Deer at 907, which is less than the last census figure carried out in 2016, where the total population was 1,148.
• Last year’s heavy flood in Kaziranga had killed many wild animals, including Eastern Swamp Deer.

FACTFILE – The barasingha or swamp deer

• The barasingha deer species distributed in the Indian subcontinent.
• Populations in northern and central India are fragmented, and two isolated populations occur in southwestern Nepal. It is extinct in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• The swamp deer differs from all the Indian deer species in that the antlers carry more than three tines.
• Because of this distinctive character it is designated barasingha, meaning “twelve-tined.”
• Mature stags have 10 to 14 tines, and some have been known to have up to 20.
• It is listed on CITES Appendix I. In India, it is included under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• It is put under Vulnerable category in IUCN conservation status.

G-20 Summit endorses multilateral trade system and WTO reforms

• The G-20 Summit concluded on 1^st December, with members endorsing the multilateral trading system, and calling for reforms to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• International trade and investment are important engines of growth, productivity, innovation, job creation and development.
• The system is currently falling short of its objectives and there is room for improvement. Therefore support the necessary reform of the WTO to improve its functioning.
• Signatories to the Paris Agreement, reaffirm that the Paris Agreement is irreversible and commit to its full implementation, reflecting common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
• The two-day summit discussed issues such as the future of work, infrastructure for development, financial stability, climate sustainability and international trade, among others.
• India to host G-20 summit in 2022, coinciding with the country’s 75th anniversary of Independence. PM Modi thanked Italy for allowing India to play the host. Italy was to host the international forum in 2022.

FACTFILE – G-20

• The G-20 is a grouping of the world’s 20 major economies.
• G-20 members comprise Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US. Spain is a permanent guest invitee.
• Collectively, the G-20 economies account for nearly 90 per cent of the gross world product, 80 per cent of world trade, two-thirds of the world population, and approximately half of the world land area.

DAC approves purchase of BrahMos, armoured vehicles

• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of equipment worth Rs 3,000 crore which included the BrahMos missile for Navy ships and Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) for the Army’s main battle tank Arjun.
• The DAC, chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, approved the procurement of the indigenous BrahMos missile for two Indian Navy ships to be built in Russia.
• The indigenously designed BrahMos missile is a tested and proven supersonic cruise missile and will form the primary weapon on-board these ships.
• The ARVs to be procured are designed and developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation and would be manufactured by M/S BEML.
• ARVs ensure efficient and speedy repair and recovery operations during combat.

ASEAN experts to meet on military medicine in Lucknow

• A four-day meeting of experts in military medicine from ASEAN countries, being co-chaired by India and Myanmar, will be held here from 2^nd The objective is to establish better cooperation in medical operations amongst the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries.
• For civil support by military operations other than war, especially humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.
• There will be expert working group on military medicine, 4th bilateral talks between India and Myanmar, a table-top exercise and planning for field training exercises encompassing broad themes.
• Around 50 delegates from various countries and officers from India’s Army Medical Corps are likely to participate in the event.
• The event aims to establish preparedness and response mechanisms to manage mass casualties and outbreak of infectious diseases resulting from large-scale disasters as also to facilitate synergy, better understanding, increase capability of the combined operations amongst the Armed Forces of Asean member states and Asean Plus countries.

FACTFILE – ASEAN nations and thier Capital

1. Nation of Brunei – Bandar Seri Begawan
2. Cambodia – Phnom Penh
3. Indonesia – Jakarta
4. Lao People’s Democratic Republic – Vientiane
5. Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur
6. Republic of the Union of Myanmar – Naypyidaw
7. Republic of the Philippines – Manila     
8. Republic of Singapore – Singapore
9. Kingdom of Thailand – Bangkok
10. Socialist Republic of Vietnam – Hanoi

Govt launches ‘Digital Sky Platform’ online platform for registration of drones

• The Union Civil Aviation Ministry launched the ‘Digital Sky Platform’ for the registration of drones and their operators. Nano drones in India can start flying legally with immediate effect from 1^st December as the Civil Aviation regulations come into force.
• For drones, operators and pilots are required to register on the Digital Sky Portal. Payments for Unmanned Aerial Operator’s Permit (UAOP) and Unique Identification Numbers (UIN) will be accepted through the Bharat Kosh (bharatkosh.gov.in) portal.
• To get permissions to fly Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), operators or remote pilots will have to file a flight plan.
• Flying in the ‘green zones’ will require only intimation of the time and location of the flights via the portal or the app.
• Permissions will be required for flying in ‘yellow zones’ and flights will not be allowed in the ‘red zones’.
• The government in August had announced a policy and guidelines for drones designed to open up an array of opportunities in the Indian civil aviation sector.
• The regulations are intended to enable visual line-of-sight, daytime only and a maximum of 400 feet altitude operations.
• The regulations list various categories of drones, and all of these except the “nano” type weighing less than 250 gram and those owned by government and intelligence agencies, are to be registered and issued with a Unique Identification Number (UIN).

December 2018 – Monthly PDF | Monthly Quiz eBook

Go To Assam Current Affairs                                                                                                  Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz