Daily GK Updates - 6th December, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:  DECember 6, 2015

1.   HR GOVT. TO CELEBRATE “GITA JYANTI” FESTIVAL FROM DEC19:

The Haryana Government has decided to celebrate ‘Gita Jayanti Mahotsava’ throughout the state from December 19 to 21. A district level celebration committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners concerned. Additional Deputy Commissioners would be the Vice-Chairman and City Magistrate would be the member secretary of the committee.

2.   ANDHRA PRADESH FIRST STATE TO JOIN DISCOM REVIVAL SCHEME UDAY:

Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in the country to join the Centre’s scheme for revival of debt stressed power distribution companies after the state gave in-principle nod to the Power Ministry for joining UDAY. Though many other states including Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Haryana have evinced the interest in joining the scheme, Andhra Pradesh is the first state to officially communicate its intend to avail benefits under UDAY.

3.  GOVT. IMPOSES ANTI-DUMPING DUTY ON KITCHEN WARE PRODUCTS:

Finance Ministry has imposed an anti-dumping duty of up to $1,732.11 per tonne on import of ‘melamine tableware and kitchenware products’ like dinner sets and mugs from China, Thailand and Vietnam with an aim to protect domestic industry from cheap shipments. The anti-dumping duty in the range of $582.85 – 1732.11 per tonne will remain in effect for five years, a Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) said.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.   INDO-PAK NSA MEET IN BANKOG:

National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan held talks in Bangkok on December 6. On a wide scope of bilateral ties including terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir, and agreed to take forward the “constructive” engagement. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Nasir Janjua also discussed peace and security and other issues including tranquility along the LoC.

2.  CANADA SENT FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF URANIUM TO INDIA:

Canada has successfully sent the first consignment of 250 tonnes of uranium to India as part of bilateral civil nuclear cooperation between both countries. It was shipped by Canada’s Cameco Inc, as part of contract with Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) that was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Canada in April 2015.

3.INDIA- RUSSIA JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE INDRA NAVY-15 BEGIN IN VISHAKAPATNAM:

The eighth edition of India-Russia joint naval exercise-INDRA NAVY-15 has begun in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. INDRA NAVY-15 is a bilateral maritime joint naval exercise between the Indian and Russian navies for epitomising the strategic relationship between the two countries. The primary aim is to increase interoperability between the navies of two countries and develop common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations. The scope includes wide- ranging professional interactions during the Harbour phase and spectrum of maritime operations during the Sea Phase.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  SARITA, SIVA, DEVENDRA WIN IN CHINA:

Asian Games bronze-medallist L Sarita Devi (60kg) returned to competitive boxing after her one-year ban with a resounding victory in the opening contest of the training-cum-competition assignment in the city of Qian’an, China. World Championships bronze-medallist Shiva Thapa (56kg) beat Thailand’s Yuttapong Thong Dee 3-0, while Commonwealth Games silver-medallist L Devendro Singh (49kg) notched up a Technical Knockout against China’s Yang Yufeng in the third round of his bout.