Top Current Affairs 19 December 2020
Top Current Affairs 19 December 2020: This post contains the latest current affairs for 19 December 2020 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.
National
Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad Becomes first zoo in India to get ISO certification from UK
- The Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad has received the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Standards Certificate from Accreditation Service for Certifying Bodies (ASCB) United Kingdom.
- With this achievement, the Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad has also become the first zoo in the country to get this certificate.
- The assessment of the zoo was conducted in a phased manner by the HYM International Certifications Pvt Ltd, an agency accredited by the ASCB.
- The certificate mentioned that it was being accorded to the zoo for, “Conservation of wildlife, particularly endangered species of Deccan through better upkeep, planned breeding, collaborative research and capacity building”.
Odisha Government launches Pareshram Portal
- The Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched a web portal named ‘PAReSHRAM’ on 17th December 2020, along with 22 other online services of Labour and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) department.
- The new portal and online services will help in ‘ease of doing business’ and contribute significantly to industrial development of the State.
Key features of ‘PAReSHRAM’ Portal
- The ‘PAReSHRAM’ portal will have all the information regarding different labour laws, to help the industries, commercial organisations, small entrepreneurs and the general public.
- It will provide 52 types of services.
- Entrepreneurs can get registration certificate, licence, approval of design of the plant, renewal and other relevant services.
- Application forms for different services and payments will be available
Defence
India-Indonesia Navies undertake 35th coordinated patrol (CORPAT)
- The 35th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) was held between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy along their international maritime boundary line on December 17 and 18, 2020.
- The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kulish, an indigenously built missile corvette, along with P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) participated from Indian side and the Indonesia was represented by Naval Ship KRI Cut Nyak Dien, a Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I) class corvette and an MPA of the Indonesian Navy
- The CORPAT is being conducted between the two navies along the line since 2002 to ensure safety and security of shipping and international trade in the region.
- It facilitates measures to prevent and suppress illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as well as drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
Economy News
ICRA Projects Indian economy to contract 7.8% in FY21
- Domestic rating agency ICRA Ratings has projected the GDP of India to contract to 7.8% in the financial year 2020-2021.
- Earlier this rate was 11 percent.
Agreements
ADB & India sign $300 million loan to upgrade power distribution network in Uttar Pradesh
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed $300 million loan agreement with the Government of India to upgrade rural power distribution networks in Uttar Pradesh, to provide reliable electricity supply to consumers in the state.
- This is the first tranche of the loan for the Uttar Pradesh Power Distribution Network Rehabilitation Project.
- Overall, the $430 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) has been approved for the project constituting two tranches.
- The project envisages conversion of 65,000 kilometers (km) of rural low-voltage distribution lines from bare conductors to aerial bundle conductors (ABC) to create a robust distribution network that will benefit an estimated 70 million people in 46,000 villages.
India and ADB inks USD 4.21 million PRF facility for preparation of infrastructure development projects in Tripura
- The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a US $4.21 million project readiness financing (PRF) facility on 18 December 2020.
- This PRF facility will allow the preparation of infrastructure development projects to improve urban amenities and develop tourism infrastructure in Tripura, to help boost economic development.
- This is first PRF facility by ADB for a state in the northeastern region of India.
Appointments
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu gets six months extension as NHAI chairman
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has extended the tenure of Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as the Chairman of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for a period of six months.
- Sandhu, a 1988-batch IAS officer of Uttarakhand cadre, was to retire on January 21, 2021.
- Now he will serve until July 21, 2021.
- This is a second six months extension for Sandhu. He had received first extension of six months till January 21, 2021 in July 2019.
Sports
Lucy Bronze and Robert Lewandowski Bags Best FIFA Players for 2020
- The Best FIFA Football Awards 2020 was announced on 17th December 2020, during a virtual event held at Zurich.
- The Poland national team captain and FC Bayern München striker Robert Lewandowski has been named “The Best FIFA Men’s Player” for 2020.
- Lewandowski has won the title for the first time in his career.
- He is also the first men’s winner from a club outside Spain since Ronaldo won the 2008 award as a Manchester United player.
- Lucy Bronze, who plays as a right-back for the English club Manchester City and the England national team, bagged “The Best FIFA Women’s Player” for 2020.