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• The United Nations’ International Human Solidarity Day is observed every year on December 20 to celebrate unity in diversity. The day reminds people on the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.


• Its purpose is to eradicate poverty and promote human and social development in developing countries, in particular among the poorest segments of their populations.

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• The annual worldwide round-up of deadly violence and abusive treatment of journalists was released by Reporters without Borders (RSF).


• According to the report, Journalists have never before been subjected to as much violence and abusive treatment as in 2018.


• The figure increased by eight percent to 80, and by 15 percent, in the category of number of professional journalists killed, from 55 in 2017 to 63 in 2018.


• The numbers had been declining for the previous 3 years.


• The number of journalists detained worldwide at the end of the year – 348 – is up from 326 at this time last year.

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• New Zealand government announced regulations for mandatory phase-out of single-use plastic shopping bags with effect from July 1, 2019.


• The phase out will apply to all new plastic shopping bags with handles that are made of plastic up to 70 microns in thickness.


• New Zealand has recently become a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, a global pledge to address the root causes of plastic pollution.

• The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) fifth-term Central Committee’s 41st Convention met from 18 to 20 December 2018 under the high presidency of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, CPP President, Samdech Akka Moha Punhea Chakrey Heng Samrin, CPP Honorary President, and members of the Central Committee Permanent Commission, according to the CPP’s communique released.


• The Convention proceeded successfully in conformity to the pre-determined agenda, and has made important decisions.

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• he US should select the "very best" among the applicants under the H-1B visas, the Trump administration told lawmakers, asserting that it was determined to ensure that the temporary work permits, most sought by Indian IT companies, do not harm domestic workers.


• The H1B visa, popular among Indian IT companies and professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

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• NITI Aayog unveiled its comprehensive national Strategy for New India titled ‘Strategy for New India @75’, which defines clear objectives for 2022-23. The document was released by the Finance Minister of India Mr. Arun Jaitley.


• The Strategy Document advocates empowering and encouraging women to participate across all sectors of the economy, to build a strong and inclusive New India.

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• Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stones for national highways projects worth Rs 9,533 crore at separate events in Roing and Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh.


• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju also accompanied with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.This project will help the development of North Eastern Region of India by job creation, tourism and employment for the youth.

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• Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma launched the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme(MHIS-IV) in convergence with that of the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme.


• The MHIS-IV targets to cover more than 8 lakh households offering over 2300 medical and surgical packages and up to Rs 5 lakh per family.

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• The Karnataka State Cabinet approved a grant of Rs. 8,037.87 crore for the development works in the city under the Chief Minister’s Nava Bengaluru Scheme.


• The funds will be released over the next three years and the works will be executed by the Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

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• Assam government has announced three schemes for the welfare of farmers. The schemes are the Assam Farmers’ Credit Subsidy Scheme (AFCSS), Assam Farmers’ Interest Relief Scheme (AFIRS) and Assam Farmers’ Incentive Scheme (AFIS).


• Under AFCSS, whatever amount of loan the farmers took from banks and whatever amount they repaid, 25% of the money will be reimbursed by the state government.


• On AFIRS, the Minister Stated that currently 3% of the 7% interest against farm loan is paid by the Central government and the remaining 4% is required to be paid by farmers. The state government has decided to pay the remaining 4% loan.


• About AFIS, Mr. Sarma stated that the government is focusing on bringing back the defaulting farmers into the banking system.

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• Lok Sabha has passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 which is aimed at prohibiting commercial surrogacy and unethical practices relating to it. The Bill has provisions to constitute National Surrogacy Board, State Surrogacy Boards, and appointment of appropriate authorities for regulation of surrogacy.


• It permits surrogacy only for couples who cannot conceive a child. The intending couple must be Indian citizens and married for at least five years with at least one of them being infertile. The surrogate mother has to be a close relative who has been married and has a child of her own.

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• Four public sector banks under the RBI's Quick Improvement Work (PCA) framework can exit PCA sanctions after better performance.


• These four public sector banks are Bank of Maharashtra, Corporation Bank, Allahabad Bank and Bank of India.


• This is explained after reviewing the performance of all the 11 banks under PCA framework.

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• US Federal Reserve System increased interest rates.


• This rate increase increased the Fed's benchmark overnight by one quarter from one percentage point to 2.25% to 2.50%.


• This means the cost of borrowing will increase for many consumers and businesses.


• Jerome Powell is the President of the US Federal Reserve System.

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• The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) in consultation with the government of India had decided to have “rule-based dynamic limit” for total Outstanding External Commercial Borrowings(ECBs) to 6.5 Pc of GDP.


• The limit in ECBs was announced based on the gross domestic product (GDP) figures.The soft limit works out to $160 billion during March end for the current financial year while it decreased to $126.29 billion, on September 30,2018.


• This comes in the backdrop of RBI’s Previous month decision of extant ECB provisions, reducing the mandatory hedge coverage from 100 per cent to 70 per cent.

• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has imposed fine of Rs 5 lakh each on Iffco Tokio General Insurance and Royal Sundaram General Insurance for violating motor tariff claims and file & use guidelines.


• IRDI also informed the companies violated File & Use guidelines and circulars issued by it from time to time advising insurers that they shall continue to use the coverage, terms & conditions, wordings, warranties, clauses and endorsements of the erstwhile tariff of classes of insurance covers until further orders.

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• Former India opener WV Raman has been appointed the new coach of the Indian women’s cricket team. He played 11 Tests and 27 ODIs.


• Raman is an experienced coach includes of Tamil Nadu team, Bengal Ranji Trophy team and India U-19 team .He had beaten South Africa’s Gary Kirsten and India’s Venkatesh Prasad for the position of India’s women’s cricket coach.

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• Renowned Kabaddi Player, Anup Kumar announced his retirement from Kabaddi ending a 15-year iconic career. The 35-year-old had led India to a memorable Kabaddi World Cup title triumph in 2016.


• A sports veteran, Arjuna awardee Anup began his international career in 2006 at the South Asian Games in Sri Lanka.

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• The Government of India appointed Harsh Vardhan Shringla as the next Ambassador of India to the United States on December 20, 2018.


• 1984-batch Indian Foreign Service diplomat Harshvardhan will succeed Shringla Navtej Sarna's successor Currently, he is employed as the Indian High Commissioner of Bangladesh.


• Senior diplomat Riva Ganguly Das has been appointed as the new High Commissioner of Bangladesh.

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• From January 1, 2019, the Government of India appointed Pranav Kumar Das as the Chairman of the CBIC.


• He will take over from the current chairman S. Ramesh, who retires on December 31, 2018.


• The Central Indirect Tax Board and the Customs Board (CBIC) are the main indirect tax policy under the Ministry of Finance.


• The CBIC consists of six members and is headed by a president.

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• SEBI, which has been in existence for over three decades, will now have its first full-time Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO).
  
• The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) recently cleared the name of Arti Chhabra Srivastava, a 1990-batch Indian Ordinance Factory Services officer, as SEBI CVO. The appointment was duly approved by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).


• CVOs are considered an extended hand of the CVC, which is tasked with detecting graft by officials holding public office.

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• The Civil aviation ministry along with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) launched an app named ‘GAS 2019’.


• This app will enable users to interact with the co-delegates and speakers besides providing a platform for networking through personal and group chats.


• This was launched ahead of the global aviation summit to be held in Mumbai in January 2019.