Daily GK Updates - 2nd December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Government begins registration for drone operators in the country :  According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, they started the registration process through a portal “Digital Sky platform” for drone operators in the country.Earlier, The Union Government has announced the release of its Civil Aviation Regulations to enable safe flying of Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS) popularly referred to as drones.For drones of micro size and above categories, operators are required to register on the Digital Sky portal.According to Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu, Drones are an industry of the future and it is a matter of great pride for the country that we are now at the cutting edge of the rulemaking in this industry.

2. 80th session of three-day WCO policy commission starts today :  The 80th Session of the Policy Commission of the World Customs Organization (WCO) starts in Mumbai.The Session is being organized by the WCO and hosted by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), India.More than 30 countries along with their delegations will be participating in the three-day long discussion on various matters related to customs.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery : The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed every year on 2 December.The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery.Slavery includes trafficking of persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labor, forced marriage and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.The day was first celebrated in 1986.

2. Cyril Ramaphosa to be the Chief Guest at Republic Day celebrations 2019 : South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the Chief Guest at the 2019 Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.Ramaphosa's visit will further cement business and people to people ties between India and South Africa. Since 1950, India has been hosting head of state or government of another country as the state guest of honour for Republic Day  (26-January)celebrations in New Delhi.

3. Asia Pacific Summit-2018 begins in Kathmandu : Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has inaugurated the two-dayAsia Pacific Summit-2018 in Kathmandu, Nepal.The theme of Summit is "Addressing the Critical Challenges of Our Time: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity, and Universal Values".Around 1500 participants from 45 countries, including India, attending the summit.

4.  Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sworn in as Mexico president : Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (65-year) has been sworn in as the new Mexican President.Lopez Obrador also reaffirmed his intentions to sell Mexico's official presidential plane, to not live in the presidential palace.He has announced his intention to promote a recall referendum during his administration, adding the promise that he will never seek re-election.

5. 2nd December: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery : The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery organized every year on 2nd December by the United Nations General Assembly.The Day was first celebrated in 1986.The Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others was approved by the United Nations General Assembly on December 2, 1949.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. GST collection for November stands at Rs. 97,637 cr : According to an official release, The GST collection in the month of November 2018 stood at 97 thousand and 637 crore rupees (in October-crossed one lakh crore rupees.).Out of the total GST collection, the CGST collection is 16 thousand and 812 crore rupees.SGST is over 23 thousand crore rupees while IGST collection stood at 49 thousand and 726 crore rupees.