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• December 11 is observed as International Mountain Day.


• Theme for the 2018 edition of the International Mountain Day is: “#MountainsMatter”.


• It is celebrated by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to spread awareness about the contribution of mountains in the biodiversity as it consists of approximately a quarter of the terrestrial biological diversity.


• Also to commemorate the day, there will be an IMD side event on “Mountain adaptation: Vulnerable peaks and people” at UNFCCC COP24 in Katowice, Poland.

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• On 11th December 2018, UNICEF (United Nations International Children Emergency Fund) Headquartered in New York celebrated its 71st foundation day.


• On 11 December 1946, UNICEF was created by United Nations General Assembly to provide long-standing charitable and developmental support to children and mothers in evolving countries.

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• On December 10, 2018, the 14-day 7th Sino-India joint exercise Hand-in-Hand 2018, commenced at Chengdu, China. It will conclude on December 23, 2018.


• The Indian contingent consists of 11 SHIKKLI led by Col Puneet Pratap Singh Tomar, Commanding Officer, 11 SIKHLI.


• The Chienese contingent consists of a regiment from Tibetan Military District of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) led by Col Zhou Jun. Major General Kuang Dewang, senior representative of joint training from PLA.


• The aim of the exercise is to build and promote close relations between armies of both the countries.


• The exercise will involve tactical level operations in an international counter insurgency/ counter terrorism environment under UN mandate.

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• On 10th December 2018, Israel became a full member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body set up to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other threats to the international financial system.


• Earlier in 2000 the Jewish state was blacklisted by the organization and was removed from the list in 2002, but now has become the group’s 38th member.


• A FATF compliance report on Israel ranked the country as one of three leading states, alongside the US and the UK, for the effectiveness of its anti-money laundering apparatus, its battle against terror financing, the work of its Money Laundering and Terror Financing Prohibition Authority, and its policy of seizing the financial proceeds of crime.


• The FATF membership will tag Israel as an attractive country for international investment and improve the status of the Israeli financial sector and its ability to operate in the global economy.

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• On December 11, 2018, a 2-day Regional Conference on ‘Good Governance – Focus on Aspirational Districts’ concluded at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.


• It started on December 10, 2018 and was inaugurated by the Governor of Kerala Shri Justice (Retd.) P. Sathasivam.


• It was organized by The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India and Government of Kerala.


• This conference was aimed at providing a common platform for formulation and implementation of best practices in citizen centric governance.


• It consisted of the Session on Effective Governance and Transformation of Aspirational Districts, Session on Good Governance Initiatives.


• Delegates from 9 states and 5 U.T.s from Western and Southern India participated in the Conference.

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• On December 10, 2018, the 2- day first International Conference, on the theme- ‘Sustainable Water Management’, commenced at Indian School of Business (ISB), Mohali in Punjab. It concluded on December 11, 2018.


• It was organized under National Hydrology Project, Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation by Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).


• In the conference, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Acharya Devvrat was the Chief Guest and Shri U.P. Singh, Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation was the Guest of Honour.


• The objective of the conference was to foster the participation of stakeholders, governments among others and to promote sustainable policies for water management at local, regional, national and international levels.


• A CD of documentary entitled ‘Bhakra Beas Nation’s Pride’ on BBMB was also released on the occasion.


• Countries like Australia, United Kingdom, USA, Spain, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Canada, Germany, Sri Lanka etc. took part in the two-day conference.

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• On December 10, 2018, the Delhi government launched a 10-day special inspection drive named- “Operation Minimum Wage”, to check implementation of minimum wage rules set by the state government.


• The operation will continue till December 21, 2018.


• The violation would be checked as per the Minimum Wages Act, 2017 and as per the act, the labourers can lodge a complaint by calling 155214.


• As per the Act, the punishment for not paying minimum wages can be Rs. 50,000 fine or a jail term for three years or both.

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• On 11th December 2018, Arunachal Pradesh gets its 24th district – Lepa Rada,a day after Shi Yomi became a new district.


• Lepa Rada is carved out of the Lower Siang district, comprising four administrative circles – Tirbin, Dari, Sago and Basar.


• Basar will be headquarters of Lepa Rada.


• The state assembly on 29th August 2018 had passed a bill for creation of three new districts – Pakke-Kesang, Lepa Rada and Shi Yomi – in the state.

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• On December 10, 2018, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the rise in contribution of the government in National Pension Scheme (NPS) to 14 per cent from existing 10 per cent, burdening the government by Rs 2,840 crore for 2019-20.


• The change in contribution was recommended by Committee of Secretaries (CoS), thus resulting in a total corpus of 24% from the previous 20%.


• Out of the 24%, 14 per cent would be contributed by the government and the remaining 10 per cent by the employees.


• Furthermore, he also made entire withdrawal amount tax free at the time of retirement by enhancing the tax exemption limit for lump sum withdrawal on exit to 60%.


• At present, 40 per cent of the total accumulated corpus utilised for purchase of annuity is already tax exempted, and of 60 per cent of the accumulated corpus withdrawn by the NPS subscriber at the time of retirement, 40 per cent is tax exempt and balance 20 per cent is taxable.


• This would benefit 18 lakh employees.

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• On 11th December 2018 Jana Small Finance Bank in association with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has launched Jana Bankable Debit Card.


• This card is designed for cricket fans who like deals and offers on online shopping, gym membership, health & wellness products, food delivery, music and travel on top brands like Snap Fitness, Snapdeal, Gaana.com, IXIGO, Myntra, Crocs, Puma and GrowFit.


• The card comes with images of the top Indian cricketers – Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya.


• The Jana Small Finance Bank is the official sponsor of BCCI for all the cricket matches that are played in India.


• To grab the business, the bank is also offering interest rate of 8.5% and 9.1% for senior citizens on fixed deposit on tenor of 181 days to 5 years besides, offering 9% interest rate on Fixed Deposit with no premature withdrawal on a tenor of more than one year and up to 3 years.

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• On December 11, 2018, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a fine amounting to Rs. 1 crore on Indian Bank for violating cyber security norms.


• The Indian Bank had contravened the Circular on Cyber Security Framework in banks due to which it had to face the penalty.


• It is with regard to RBI’s directions on Frauds- Classification and Reporting by Commercial Banks.


• The penalty was imposed under the provision of Banking Regulations Act 1949.

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• On December 11, 2018, Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a loan agreement of 31 million dollars in New Delhi to develop Tourism and boost Jobs in Tamil Nadu.


• It was signed by Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Sameer Kumar Khare and Mr. Kenichi Yokoyama, Country Director for ADB in India.


• This was a tranche 4 loan for Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism (IDIPT) for Tamil Nadu.


• The total cost of the project is $44.04 million, of which the Government will provide $13.04 million. The estimated completion date of the project is June 2020.


• The agreement focuses on Improvement of Tourism infrastructure in Tamil Nadu and Preserving Cultural and Natural heritage of the state.


• It will also support the conservation and restoration of eight heritage monuments, one museum, three temples, and a pond.

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• In the latest ICC cricket rankings, India Captain Virat Kohli maintains his top spot.


• Cheteshwar Pujara‘s knocks of 123 and 71 were the cornerstone of India’s victory in the opening Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. This has given him the career-best ranking to top five.


• India fast bowler Bumrah has achieved a career-high ranking of 33rd, after his three for 47 and three for 68 at Adelaide which helped him to rise five places.

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• Steel Authority of India’s Hockey Academy beat Army XI Danapur 2-1 to clinch the 115th All India Aga Khan Gold Cup hockey tournament.


• Jay Prakash Patel scored the match-winning goal for the SAIL Hockey Academy (SHA) in the final match played at Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in New Delhi.


• Aga Khan Gold Cup is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the country.

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• On December 11, 2018, Sascha Bajin, coach of the world number five Naomi Osaka, became the first-ever recipient of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Coach of the Year Award.


• Under his guidance, Osaka won her career first WTA title at the Paribas Open (Indian Wells) and claimed her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open after defeating American tennis ace Serena Williams.


• He also served as a Gold Member of the newly implemented WTA Coach Program.

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• On 10th December 2018, NBA champion Golden State Warriors have been named the 2018 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year.


• The team will be honored at the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards Show in Los Angeles on December 11 2018.


• Golden State is the fourth team ever to receive the prestigious honor joining the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team (1980), the U.S. Women’s Soccer team (1999) and the Boston Red Sox (2004).

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• On December 11, 2018, Indian economist Surjit Bhalla announced his resigned from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC).


• His resignation is effective from December 1, 2018.


• After the resignation, he joined the CNN IBN group.


• Also he released a book called Citizen Raj: Indian Elections 1952-2019, focusing on indian elections since 1952.

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• On December 10, 2018, Society for Worldwide Inter bank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) India appointed former SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya as the new Chairman of its board.


• She will succeed former banker M. V. Nair who will step down after the completion of his 5-year tenure.


• Earlier in October 2018, Arundhati Bhattacharya was designated as an independent additional director on the board of Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd.


• She also had been elected as an advisor in the private equity firm Chrys Capital Advisors.

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• On 11th December 2018, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh launched a portal ENSURE- National Livestock Mission-EDEG developed by NABARD and operated under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries.


• Under the National Livestock Mission’s component called Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation (EDEG), subsidy payment for activities related to poultry, small ruminants, pigs, etc. goes directly to the beneficiary’s account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).


• The NABARD has developed an online portal “ENSURE” (https://ensure.nabard.org), in order to make the process of DBT better, simpler and transparent, so that the information related to beneficiary and processing of application can be made readily available.


• Under the new process, controlling officer/branch manager of the bank, after scrutinizing & sanctioning of proposal, uploads the subsidy claims in the portal.


• The subsidy will be approved within 30 days from the date of sanction of loan thus the flow of information/funds will also be quicker and more accountable.


• The burden of extra interest due to delay in the disbursal of the subsidy would now be reduced after the launch of the portal.

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• On 10th December 2018, NASA’s Voyager 2 probe became the second human-made object in history to reach the edge of our solar system i.e., the Interstellar space- the space between the stars. Voyager 2 probe now has exited the heliosphere – the protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the Sun.


• Its twin, Voyager 1, crossed this boundary in 2012, but Voyager 2 launched 41 years ago in 1977, carries a working instrument that will provide first-of-its-kind observations of the nature of this gateway into interstellar space.


• Voyager 2 now is slightly more than 18 billion kilometres away from the Earth.


• Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have visited all four gas giant planets — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and discovered 16 moons, as well as phenomena like Neptune’s mysteriously transient Great Dark Spot, the cracks in Europa’s ice shell, and ring features at every planet.

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• On December 11, 2018, Senior Congress leader and former Kerala minister CN Balakrishnan passed away at 87 in Kochi, Kerala.


• He was the Thrissur district Congress committee president for 17 years and the state unit treasurer.


• In 2011, he became the state Cooperation Minister in the Oommen Chandy cabinet.