Download Current Affairs Capsule in December 2019 for the upcoming Kerala KAS Examination, other PSC Exams and UPSC Exams
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South Asian Games 2019
South Asian Games 2019
o Host cities – Kathmandu and Pokhara in Nepal.
o Mascot – Black Buck.
o Flag bearer of India in the opening ceremony – Thejinder Pal Singh.
o Event new to South Asian Games – Paragliding.
o India tops the games with 312 medals followed by Nepal.
§ Overall champions of State Fencing championship 2019 – Kannur.
o Runner up – Ernakulam.
§ National Senior Women’s Boxing Championship held at – Kannur.
§ International Anti Corruption day – 9 th December.
o Observed by – United Nations Organisation members.
o Theme of 2019 – United Against Corruption.
§ Former Indian cricketer GS Lakshmi becomes the first women match referee in men’s ODI cricket match.
§ Armed Forces Flag Day – December 7.
§ President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone to the memorial to mark the completion of 200 years of the Paika rebellion in Odisha.
§ Masatsugu Asakawa elected as the president of the Asian Development Bank
§ Operation Thunder – Launched by the Motor Vehicles Department of Kerala to curb law violations by tourist buses
§ Lini Puthussery, the nurse who passed away treating the first victim of the Nipah virus in Kerala has been honoured posthumously with the Florence Nightingale Award 2019.
§ Lional Messi honoured with the Ballon d’Or award 2019.
§ New CEO of Alphabet Inc, the parent company of Google – Sundar Pichai.
§ The world anti-doping agency banned Russia for 4 years from international sports events including Tokyo Olympics 2020.
o WADA – World Anti-Doping Agency
§ Lok Sabha passes citizenship amendment bill (CAB).
§ Miss Universe 2019 – Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa.
§ New internet radio service by the Information and Public Relations Department, Govt. of Kerala – ‘Radio Kerala’.
§ India’s rank in Human Development Index brought out by UNDP as part of Human Development Report 2019 – 129.
§ The book ‘Karthavinte Namathil’ written by – Sr Lucy Kalappurakkal.
§ NAPDDR – National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction. This is a programme launched by the central government to reduce the use drugs and alcohol among its citizens
o In Kerala this programme will be implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
§ N Srinath appointed as the head of Tata Trusts, the country’s largest public charity organization.
§ Sanna Marin, the Prime Minister of Finland will become the youngest to lead a government in the world.
o At 34, she becomes the youngest Prime Minister beating Ukraine’s 35 year old Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk.
§ Wasim Jaffer became the first player in Indian cricket to play 150 Ranji matches.
§ Sri Lanka began its first Test cricket tour in Pakistan in 10 years. The tour to Paksitan was stopped following a militant attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team in Lahore in 2009.
§ The Kerala government has appointed V Thulasidas, the managing director of Kannur International Airport as the special officer of the proposed airport at Sabarimala.
§ The senior woman lawyer of the Supreme Court, Adv Lily Thomas passes away. Adv Lily Thomas was the first woman to complete LLM course from the Madras University.
§ India for the first time ranks among the top 10 countries in the Climate Change Performance Index.
§ Kerala becomes the first state to prepare People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) for all its local bodies. It is a record of bio resources and traditional knowledge.
§ FASTag mandatory for toll payments from January 15, 2020.
o FASTag is an RFID tag (Radio Frequency Identification) to be fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle for making toll payments directly from the bank accounts linked by the customer.
§ ‘We, For Us’ – Campaign of Kerala government aimed at making local communities capable of dealing with natural disasters and participating in rebuilding activities.
o ‘Mapathon’ – A part of ‘We For Us’ campaign for preparing the detailed map of each and every place in the state.
§ Kudumbasree Kerala Chicken - Project to create availability of quality broiler chicken meat throughut Kerala.
§ ‘Technology for Training’ – exhibition held at Naval Base Kochi as part of 33rd Tri Services Training Commands Conference (TSTCC).
§ New appointments – Kerala
o Secretary – General Administration department – K R Jyothilal
o Secretary of Printing and Stationary department – Bishwanath Sinha
o Secretary of Sainik welfare department – Bishwanath Sinha
o State mission director of National Health Mission – Rathan U Kelkar
§ According to revised pain and palliative care policy of Kerala, CHCs (Community Health Centres) will be the first referral centres for inpatient palliative care.
§ Andhra Pradesh cabinet cleared a bill that proposes death penalty in case of sexual abuse of women.
o The new law will be called Andhra Pradesh Disha Act.
o Once passed, Andhra Pradesh will become the first state to have capital punishment for rape cases.
§ The Indian girl who was mentioned as ‘Greta Thunburg from the east’ by medias at the ‘2019 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’ held at Madrid, Spain – Licypriya Kangujam.
§ The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior citizens bill – Six months imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10000 for children who abuse their parents and senior citizens.
§ 50 th flight of PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vechicle) – PSLV C 48 – Injected 10 satellites into orbit.
§ ILP system comes into force in Manipur.
o ILP – Inner Line Permit – Official travel document issued by the Government of India to Indian Citizens to travel into a designated area.
§ UN Global Climate Action Award 2019 (Carbon Neutral Now category) – Infosys.
§ The President gave assent to Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2019 turning it into an act.
§ New Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation – Shrikant Vaidya.
§ Israel won the Admiral’s cup sailing regatta held at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala.
§ 24 th International Film Festival of Kerala – awards
o Best Film – Suvarna chakoram award – ‘They Say Nothing Says the Same’ (Japanese film directed by – Joe Odagiri)
o Best director – Rajatha Chakoram – Allan Deberton for the film ‘Pacarette’.
o Rajatha Chakoram for best debut director – Cesar Diaz.
o Special jury mention – Lijo Jose Pellissery.
o Lifetime achievement award – Fernando Solanas.
§ Boris Johnson and his Conservative party has scored a massive victory in British elections.
§ Mark Boucher appointed as the head coach of South Africa cricket team.
§ ‘Voice of gulf returnees excellence award’ for the movie – Uyare.
§ National school athletic meet 2019 – Ancy Sojan (in long jump) and A Rohit (400m hurdles) of Kerala break meet record.
§ Kerala becomes the overall champions of the National School Games Athletics (Under 19) 2019.
o Gold in 100 meter race girls – Ancy Sojan
o This is the 20th successive championship title for Kerala
o The games was held at War Hero stadium at Sangur in Punjab
o Ancy Sojan of Kerala bagged the best girl athlete award after winning 4 gold medals in the meet.
§ Vishranti – Retirement home at Kerala police academy, Thrissur for retired dogs of Kerala police.
§ BWF World Badminton Tour champion 2019 – Kento Momota.
§ Miss World 2019 – Toni Ann Singh from Jamaica.
o India’s Suman Rao crowned Miss World Asia 2019 and Second runner up of Miss World 2019.
§ The central government has given in principle clearance to the semi high speed rail corridor of Kerala.
o This rail corridor called Silver line will cover 532 km from Thiruvanathapuram to Kasaragod.
§ Adv VK Beenakumari appointed as the member of State Human Rights Commission.
§ Mathrubhumi Sahitya Puraskaram 2019 – U A Khader.
§ Kerala police decides to install surveillance cameras in the examination halls for all internal examinations of the force.
§ 70 th senior basketball championship to be held at Ludhiana in Punjab.
o Kerala men’s team captain – Basil Philip.
o Kerala women’s team captain – Chippy Mathew.
§ Indian players in ICC women’s cricket team 2019 - Smriti Mandhana (T20 and ODI), Julan Goswami (ODI), Poonam Yadav (ODI), Shikha Pandey (ODI) and Deepthi Sharma (T20).
§ Sahitya Academi awards 2019 – 2 Keralites among the list of winners.
o Shashi Tharoor – for the book ‘An Era of Darkness’ in the creative non fiction category in English.
o V Madhusoodhanan Nair – For the poetry collection ‘Achan Piranna Veedu’ in the Malayalam poetry category.
§ Cyrus P Mistry restored as the chairman of the Tata group after the judgment of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
§ T Padmanabhan bestowed with the ONV memorial award instituted by the University of Kerala.
§ Project to be launched by Kerala police that will give special focus on vulnerable children prone to sexual or physical abuses – Kavacham.
§ 3 children from Kerala (all from Kozhikode) win National Bravery Award 2019.
o K Adithya becomes the first from Kerala to be selected for the highest honour ‘Bharat award’ for saving the life of 20 people from a bus after it caught fire while running.
o Other winners – Muhammad Muhsin (Honoured posthumously) and Fathah.
§ Indian Premier League cricket 2020 auction –
o Most expensive player – Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders).
o Most expensive Indian player – Piyush Chawla (Chennai Super Kings).
§ Sanjay Kaul appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Kerala Financial Corporation.
§ Kerala Sahitya Academi Fellowship (for the year 2018) – KG Shankara Pillai and M Mukundan.
o President of Sahitya Academi – Vaishakan.
o Secretary of Sahitya Academi – KP Mohanan.
§ Indian American scientist Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan appointed as the Director of National Science Foundation, USA.
§ Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu wins gold in 49kg category of Qatar International Cup.
§ 66th Yamaha Fascino Filmfare Awards – South 2019 – Malayalam
o Best film – Sudani From Nigeria
o Best director – Lijo Jose Pellissery (Ee Ma Yau)
o Best actor (Female) – Manju Warrier (Aami)
o Best Actor (Male) – Joju George (Joseph)
o Best actress (Critics) – Nimisha Sajayan (Eeda)
o Best actor (Critics) – Soubin Shahir (Sudani From Nigeria)
§ US President Donald Trump unveils its sixth military branch – Space Force.
§ The Sports ministry of India has launched ‘One state one game’ initiative (make a state proficient in a single sport) for increasing the medal tally in coming Olympics.
o Sports minister of India – Kiren Rijiju.
§ National food and cultural expo of Kudumbashree mission, ‘Saras Fair’ starts at Anthoor in Kannur.
§ Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani wins majority votes in the presidential election.
§ Future 2020 technology summit to be held in Kochi from April 2.
§ Vayohitham – Statewide programme launched by the National Service Scheme, Vocational Higher Secondary Education (VHSE) department of Kerala with the aim of making the students aware of the need of caring the elderly.
§ Winner of MTB Kerala held in Wayanad – Cory Wallace (men’s international category)
o MTB or Mountain Terrain Bike is the international mountain biking challenge organized by the Department of Tourism, Kerala.
§ Jaipur International Film Festival – Lifetime achievement award – Shaji N Karun.
§ P Sachidanandan (Anand) has been awarded the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram 2019, the state’s highest literary award.
o Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is instituted by Kerala Sahitya Academi.
§ Multi language training centre opened at – Kazhakoottam in Thiruvananthapuram.
§ Renowned actor Amithabh Bachan presented with Dadasaheb Phalke award.
§ Harsh Vardhan Shringla appointed as the Foreign Secretary of India.
§ ISRO plans to launch unmanned test flight of Gaganyan with a humanoid and the solar mission Adithya L1 in 2020.
§ Ola launches Artificial Intelligence enabled safety feature called ‘Guardian’.
§ Indian boxer Sumit Sangwan banned for one year by National Anti-Doping Agency.
§ Typhoon that hit Philippines killing about 20 people and forcing thousands to flee their homes – Typhoon Phanfone.
§ Saudi Aramco listed as the most valued public company in the world.
§ The women and child development department of Kerala plans to conduct Night walk as part of Nirbhaya day from 11pm to 1 am at 100 selected centres of the state.
o Name of campaign – Sadhairyam Munnottu.
o Message – Pothuyidam Entethum.
§ National Children’s Science Congress 2019 will be held at Thiruvananthapuram.
§ The state cabinet has decided to recommend the governor to increase the number of members in Local Self Government Institutions.
o Present strength of members in Grama panchayats – minimum 13 and maximum 23.
o Proposed strength – minimum 14 and maximum 24.
o Present strength of members in District panchayats – minimum 16 and maximum 32.
o Proposed strength – minimum 17 and maximum 33.
§ Brand name of cloth bags unveiled by Kudumbashree as part of its green initiatives – Pacha.
§ Ilayaraja selected for Harivarasanam award 2019.
o Harivarasanam award is announced by the Kerala government each year ahead of Makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala.
§ KFON – Project of Kerala state government to provide high speed internet connectivity.
o It is a joint venture of KSEB and Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd.
o KFON – Kerala Fiber Optic Network.
§ CK Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 – Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Anjum Chopra.
§ The chief minister inaugurates K-RERA – Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
§ Loka Kerala Sabha, an assembly of the representatives of non resident Keralites, will be held from January 1 at R Shankaranarayanan Thampi members lounge in Thiruvananthapuram.
§ Khelo India Youth Games will be held at Guwahati in Assam from January 10 2020.
o Mascot – Jaya and Vijaya.
o This games is held in two categories – under 17 and under 21 with the objective of grass root level talent hunting.
§ Indian weightlifter Seema has been banned for 4 years by National Anti Doping Agency for a doping violation.
§ National Basketball championship 2019
o Men’s champions – Punjab
o Women’s champions – Indian Railways
o Men’s runner up – Tamil Nadu
o Women’s runner up – Kerala
§ Padmaprabha puraskaram 2019 – Santhosh Echikkanam.
§ Murali Narayanan create new world record by playing flute continuously for 108 hours.
§ The Indian Ambassador to Austria who was called back due to allegations of financial irregularities – Renu Paul.
§ National Conference on vedas to be held at – Thiruvananthapuram.
§ New chief minister of Jharkhand – Hemant Soren.
o Political party of Hemant Soren – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
§ Champion of Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship 2019 – Koneru Humpy.
o India’s first woman Grand Master – Koneru Humpy.
§ General MM Naravane takes charge as the Chief of Indian Army.
§ Top states where forest cover increased significantly in the past two years
§ Karnataka
§ Andhra Pradesh
§ Kerala
§ General Bipin Rawat appointed as the first Chief of Defence Staff of India.
o Retirement age of CDS – 65 years.
§ Kerala tops in the NITI Ayog’s Sustainable Development Goals index 2019.
o Last position – Bihar.
§ Drive in Kochi to take stringent action against those supplying contaminated water – Operation pure water.
§ Indian History Congress 2019 held at – Kannur University.
§ Ever rolling trophy of Keralotsavam 2019 bagged by – Thrissur.
o Second position – Kannur
o Third position – Malappuram
o Keralotsavam organized by – Kerala state youth welfare board.
§ Kolam (Rangoli) protest against Citizenship Amendment Act took place at Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
§ Indian players in the Wisdon T20 international team of the decade – Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.
o Captain of the team – Aaron Finch (Australia).
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