Daily Current Affairs, 11th December 2018

1) International Mountain Day: 11 December

•International Mountain Day is held every year on 11 December, which was established by the UN General Assembly in 2003 to encourage sustainable development in mountains. The theme for 2018 IMD is  “Mountains Matter”. 

2) India Successfully Test-Fires Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Agni-5

•The indigenously built Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Agni-5 has been test-fired successfully from Abdul Kalam island under Chandipur Interim Test Range. It can carry both nuclear and traditional weapons. The first test was conducted in 2012 from ITR Chandipur in Balasore district.

•This is the fourth successful test of this missile. Previously the test of Agni 4 was unsuccessful. Having 17 meters length and 2 meters diameter the missile can hit the target from a distance of 5 thousand kilometers. 

3) Air Force Chief On 5 Day Visit to Japan

•Air Force Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa left on a five-day goodwill visit to Japan. During his visit, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa will call on Japanese Minister of Defence Takeshi Iwaya, Chief of Staff of Japan Air Self Defence Force General Yoshinari Marumo, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano.

•This visit of the Indian Air Chief will provide further impetus towards expanding defence cooperation between the two countries and pave the way for greater interaction and cooperation in the future.

4) President Kovind Embarks On 4-Day Visit to Myanmar

•President Ram Nath Kovind and first lady Savita Kovind left for a 4-day visit to Myanmar. During his stay, the President will visit capital Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon, and interact with his counterpart U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

•The president will also hold a high-level delegation meeting. Myanmar is a country where India’s “Act East” and “Neighbourhood First” policies intersect.

5) Sino-India Joint Exercise Hand-in-Hand 2018 Held in China

•The opening ceremony for the 7th Sino-India joint exercise Hand-in-Hand 2018, was held at Chengdu, China. Company size contingents of 11 SIKHLI from Indian Army and a regiment from Tibetan Military District of People’s Liberation Army participated in the exercise.




•The Indian contingent was led by Col Puneet Pratap Singh Tomar, Commanding Officer, 11 SIKHLI, while the Chinese contingent was led by Col Zhou Jun. The aim of the exercise is to build and promote close relations between armies of both the countries and to enhance ability of the joint exercise commander to take military contingents of both nations under command.

6) India’s Prathamesh Maulingkar Wins Mister Supranational 2018

•Goa’s Prathamesh Maulingkar has created history by becoming the first Asian/Indianto win Mister Supranational title in a competition held at Krynica-Zdroj, Poland. The 27-year-old defeated 37 contestants from all over the world in the final round to win the coveted title.

•At the same pageant, Mister Supranational Poland was adjudged first runner-up,Mister Supranational Brazil was adjudged second runner-up and Mister Supranational Thailand was announced as the third runner-up.

7) Centre’s Contribution To NPS Hiked To 14% of Basic Salary

•In a bid to make retirement income scheme more attractive for central government employees, the government has agreed to chip in a higher 14% of the basic salaryof an individual as its contribution to the National Pension System (NPS).

•The move would benefit over 36 lakh central government employees. Currently, the minimum employee contribution in NPS is 10% of basic pay and an equal contribution is made by the government.

8) India and ADB Sign $31 Million Loan Agreement For Tamil Nadu

•The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed in New Delhi a Loan Agreement for $31 million to build-up the State Tourism Industry and boost visitor arrivals in Tamil Nadu.

•The signatories to the tranche 4 loan for Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism (IDIPT) were Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary (Fund Bank and ADB), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, who signed for the Government of India, and Mr. Kenichi Yokoyama, Country Director for ADB in India, who signed for ADB.