Daily Current Affairs, 29th December 2018

1) PM Modi UP Visit: 6th International Rice Research Institute Inaugurated

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Varanasi and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. During the visit, he laid the foundation stone of medical College in Ghazipur in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He took stock of the preparations for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be held in Varanasi. 

•The PM also dedicated the 6th International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) to the nation. The Institute is built at the campus ofNational Seed Research and Training Center (NSRTC) in Varanasi. 

•The One District, One Product Regional Summit was held at Deendayal Hastakala Sankul (Trade Facilitation Centre & Crafts Museum) in Varanasi. The scheme is aimed at enhancing the skills of local people and increasing the reach of the indigenous trades, crafts and products from small towns and small districts in the state. 

2) Cabinet Approves Amendment in POSCO Act, 2012

•The Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The changes prescribe stringent punishment, including the death penalty for aggravated penetrative sexual assault of children.

•Further, hefty fine would be imposed for not deleting, not destroying child pornographic material or not reporting child pornography. Attempt to inject hormones in children to make them major has been made an aggravated offence under Section 9 of the POCSO Act. 

3) Centre Declares Khalistan Liberation Force Banned Organisation

•The Union government declared the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) a banned organization. A Home Ministry order stated the decision was taken under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 for the outfit’s alleged involvement in the killing of innocent people and police officers and several bombings on civilian targets in India. The KLF and all its manifestations have been declared outlawed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

4) 42nd Indian Social Science Congress Inaugurated in Odisha

•The 42nd Indian Social Science Congress was inaugurated by Manipur governor DrNajma Heptulla at KIIT University campus in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The theme of the Congress was ‘Human Future in Digital Era.’ 

5) Government Infuses Rs 2159 Crore in United Bank of India

•State-owned United Bank of India announced that the government has decided to infuse Rs 2,159 crore in the bank as part of Rs 28,615 crore capital infusion to be done in about half a dozen banks. 

•The government has decided to pump Rs 28,615 crore into seven public sector banks (PSBs) through recapitalization bonds soon. Out of these seven PSBs, Bank of India is likely to get the highest amount of Rs 10,086 crore.

6) US Adventurer Completes 1st Unaided Solo Trek Across Antarctica

•A 33-year-old man Colin O’Brady from the United States has become the first person to complete a solo trek across Antarctica without any assistance. He finished the 1,500km journey across the frozen continent in 54 days, lugging his supplies on a sledge as he skied in bone-chilling temperatures from north to south. 

7) RBI Launches Survey To Capture Retail Payment Habits In 6 Cities

•The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will capture the payment habits of individuals in six cities Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Guwahati. For the purpose, the central bank has launched a ‘Survey on Retail Payment Habits of Individuals (SRPHi)’.

•According to RBI release, the survey will cover a sample of 6,000 individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds across six cities. Sigma Research & Consulting Pvt Ltd has been engaged to conduct the fieldwork of the survey on behalf of the RBI.

8) Luka Modric Wins Balkan Athlete of The Year Award 2018

•Croatia captain Luka Modric was named Balkan Athlete of the Year, becoming only the second soccer player to scoop the prize after Bulgaria’s former European Footballer of the Year Hristo Stoichkov in 1994. 

•Ballon d’Or winner Modric won the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup with his Spanish club Real Madrid as well as being instrumental in helping Croatia reach the World Cup final in Russia. He was awarded the tournament’s Golden Ball Award.