Current Affairs: 01/12/2017

Current Affairs: 01/12/2017

1. World AIDS Day: 1 December

i. World AIDS day is celebrated every year all over the world on December 1st to raise the public awareness about Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS. The theme for World AIDS day 2017 is 'Right to health'. 

ii. It is a pandemic disease caused due to the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

2. BSF Raising Day: 1 December

i. Border Security Force (BSF), the sentinels of Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, celebrated its 52nd Anniversary of Raising Day on 1st December.

ii. BSF is the biggest border guarding force in the world. It came into existence on the eventful day of 1st December, 1965. BSF is deployed on Indo-Pakistan International Border, Indo-Bangladesh International Border, Line of Control along with Indian Army and in Anti-Naxal Operations.

3. India, Singapore Sign Agreement on Enhancing Naval Cooperation

i. India and Singapore sign agreement on enhancing naval cooperation. The agreement will enhance security of sea lanes between the two countries. The Singapore Defence minister Ng Eng Hen was in India and signed the agreement with Defence Minister Nirmala Seetharaman.

ii. A Navy to Navy agreement was also signed between the two nations that will allow temporary deployments and logistic support in each other's bases.

4. IMF Approves New USD 88 billion Credit Line For Mexico

i. The International Monetary Fund has approved a new USD 88 billion credit line for Mexico, replacing the existing line.
ii. The two-year flexible credit line boosts Mexico’s ability to immediately deal with a potential need for liquidity, without having to request an IMF loan.

5. Nagaland Celebrates 54th Statehood Day

i. Nagaland is all set to celebrate the 54th Statehood Day and the 18th Hornbill festival 2017 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.

ii. President Ram Nath Kovind who is on a maiden visit to the state will grace the occasion and inaugurate the 10 day State Hornbill festival 2017. He was accorded the Guard of Honour by the Assam Rifles.

6. Govt Fixes Sovereign Gold Bonds Rate at Rs 2,952/gram

i. The government has fixed 2,952 rupees per gram as price of new series of sovereign gold bonds (SGBs). The government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, has decided to offer a discount of Rs 50 per gram to investors applying online and making payments digitally.

ii. The issue price will be Rs 2,902 a gram for investors applying online and the payment through digital mode.

7. CBDT Signs two Indian Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs)

i. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into 2 Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs). These Agreements are the first ever Bilateral APAs with The Netherlands.
ii. With the signing of these Agreements, the total number of APAs entered into by the CBDT has gone up to 186. This includes 171 Unilateral APAs and 15 Bilateral APAs. These two APAs pertain to the Electronics and Technology sectors of the economy.

8. Pakistan's Law Minister Zahid Hamid Resigns

i. Pakistan's law minister Zahid Hamid has quit as the Civilian government surrendered to the wishes of hardline religious groups.

ii. The groups on their part, who had held Islamabad under a protest siege for nearly a month, called off their violent protests.

9. S K Chourasia Appointed as DGOF and Chairman of Ordnance Factory Board

i. Shri Sunil Kumar Chourasia, Indian Ordnance Factories Service Officer (IOFS), has been appointed as the new Director General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF) and Chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) w.e.f. 1st December, 2017.

ii. Previously, he was Member, OFB and was in charge of Material & Components division.

10. Cabinet Approves Setting up of National Nutrition Mission

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved setting up of National Nutrition Mission (NNM) with a three year budget of Rs.9046.17 crore commencing from 2017-18.

ii. The program through the targets will strive to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth weight babies. More than 10 crore people will be benefited by this program. This will be funded by Government Budgetary Support (50%) and 50% by IBRD or other MDB.

11. Dia Mirza Appointed as UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India

i. Former Miss Asia Pacific Dia Mirza was appointed as UN Environment’s Goodwill Ambassador for India. A long-standing supporter of environmental conservation, Dia will take up the role to add more weight to her work on raising awareness of and seeking solutions to environmental issues.
ii. As a Goodwill Ambassador, Dia will work with the United Nations to further spread the message on priority areas including clean air, clean seas, wildlife protection and climate change.

12. Shared Value Summit Held in New Delhi

i. The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Suresh Prabhu was the chief guest for the Shared Value Summit 2017. The summit was held in New Delhi. The theme for this summit was “Equity and Empowerment”.

ii. Mr Prabhu will unveil the Inclusive Business List and Emerging Social Enterprise List for the year 2017.