Latest Indian Current Affairs December 2011-Burning topics

Read here on this page the National Current Affairs for the month of December 2011

In our previous articles on Current Affairs,we have published the Quizzes and Question Answers for December 2011.Now in this article we are going to post some burning topics that includes Indian Current Affairs for the month of December 2011.Candidates preparing for different competitive exam must go through these topics.The topics are precise and to the point and are marked with highlights.

The articles given below will cover the Current Affairs for December 2011.These burning topics will contains only National current affairs for December 2011.In our next post will post World Current Affairs December 2011

Current Affairs December 2011

PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi's important visit to Manipur:

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh make an important one day visit to the state of Manipur on December 3,2011.He was accompanied by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Highlights: The following announcements are made by the Prime Minister:

• Airport of Imphal would be upgraded to International Standards.
• 125 KM Jiribam-Toupal road would be completed by 2016.
• Capacity of LPG bottling plant at Sekmai would be doubled to 1.200 MT
• Union Home Ministry would be instructed to to give Manipur a corpus of Rs 50 crore annually for modernisation of State`s Police force.
• Bus service will be started between Imphal and Mandalay (Myanmaar)

Dr Singh and Mrs Gandhi during the visit announced that devolution of funds under the 13th Finance Commission from the center to state for the period 2010-2015 was Rs 13,500 crore which was doubled than the previous period.Along with Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh the two leaders laid down the foundation stone of National Institute of Technology in Imphal.

Himachal Pradesh first to make Carbon Inventory

Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to have prepared its green house inventory.In the inventory it has calculated its total carbon emissions from various sectors like energy,industry,transport and tourism.

Highlights:

• First State in India to accomplish this unique feat.
• In early 2011 the state got Carbon credit Programme approved by world bank
• The state has successfully calculated its carbon emissions from various industries.
• The inventory gives a clear idea about gases emitted by various sectors

India and UAE sign two major Agreements:

On 27th November 2011,India and UAE has signed two major agreements on security cooperation and transfer of sentenced persons.The agreements were signed between the Union Home Minister Mr P Chidambaram and visiting UAE Dy. PM and Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed al Nahyan after their talks in New Delhi

Highlights:

• The two agreements are on security cooperation and transfer of sentenced persons
• The security agreement seeks to strengthen the framework of cooperation to tackle terrorism,organised crime and drug trafficking.
• It will also cover illicit trafficking in weapons,ammunition and explosives besides taking initiatives on training of personnel
• The accord on transfer of sentenced persons will facilitate their rehabilitation by allowing them to serve their sentences in their own countries.

Cabinet Nod for 51 % FDI in Multi-brand retail

The Union Cabinet on 24th November 2011,approved 51 % Foreign Direct Investment in Multi-brand retail and 100 % FDI in single brand retail.This decision will enable foreign retail giants such as Tesco,Warl-Mart and Carrefour to enter India's retail market.

Highlights:

• 51% FDI was okeyed in Multi-brand retail and 100 % FDI was okeyed in single brand retail.
• Minimum investment will have to be $ 100 million.Besides 50 % investment will have to be made in back-end infrastructure.
• 30 % of products will have to be sourced from SME's 
• The retail chains will have to be allowed only in cities with a population of more than 10 lakh as per the 2011 census.By this specific criterion,foreign retail brands will be able to operate in 53 cities.
• In a single Brand retail 100 percent FDI has been allowed under a specific set of conditions.

1. Selling Products under the same brand name internationally.
2. Product retailing will cover only those products that are branded during manufacturing.
3. The foreign investor should be the owner of the brand, etc among others.

India Elected to UN`s Joint Inspection Unit:

In a significant victory ,India has been elected to the United Nation's Joint Inspection Unit (JIU).In the election,India defeated regional rival China in a direct fight for the lone seat from the Asia-Pacific region.With this victory,India returned to powerful external oversight body after a gap of 35 years.

Highlights:

• JIU is an external independent oversight body of United Nations mandated to conduct evaluations,inspections and investigations.
• Countries are elected to JIU for a period of 5 years and typically extend their term for another 5 years on run
• India defeated china in a direct fight for the lone seat from the Asia-Pacific region.
• With this victory India returned to power after a gap of 35 years.
• Before this,India served the JIU once which was from 1968 to 1977.

Corruption costs India`s 1.5 Percent of GDP Growth: Report

According to a report released by the Planning Commission of India on November 20,2011,corruption, especially in high places is eating up the country`s GDP growth by at least 1.5 percent per year.The report highlighted that if India`s corruption levels were reduced to that of the Scandinavian nations,investment in the country would increase annually by some 12 percentage points and GDP growth by almost 1.5 percent.

Highlights:

• The report says that graft is eating up the country's GDP growth by at least 1.5 percent per year.
• India`s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in 2009 was 3.4,whereas that of the Scandinavian countries was 9.03 percent.
• If India`s corruption levels were reduced to that of the Scandinavian nations,investment in the country would increase annually by some 12 percentage points.
• If India improves its corruption perception by 2.38 points,its GDP growth will improve by 0.5 percent
• The Plan panel suggests that removing the legal protection from corrupt civil servants,appointment of Ombudsmen at local levels, and setting up of local grafts to deal with graft.

Rs 15680 crore Road projects approved by Cabinet

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) on November 16,2011 approved 15 highway projects spanning over 1,814 km and worth Rs 15,680 crore.The move is expected to give a boost to road construction activities and lead to better connectivity.Barring one,all other projects are four lane and six lane.

Highlights:

• The newly approved 15 highway projects span over 1814 Km and are worth Rs 15,680 crore
• It will take the total length of projects awarded in 2011-12 to 4600 km,which accounts for the 70 % of the target for the current fiscal.
• Out of new projects,14 would be taken up on build,operate and transfer (BOT)-tall method.
• One project will need Government Assistance through deffered payments to the private sector.

Cabinet Approves 26 % FDI in pension sector:

The Union Cabinet on November 16,2011 approved changes in the Pension fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill.It will pave the way for 26 % foreign investment in pension fund management companies.

Highlights:

• The Union Cabinet has approved 26 % FDI in the pension sector.
• It was decided that there would be no guarantee of assured returns on pension fund schemes.
• Greater participation of employees and stakeholders in the Pension Advisory Committee was okeyed.
• The new bill will pave the way for conferring statuary backing on the authority for promotional development and regulatory functions in the sector.

Agni-IV Flight-tested successfully

Agni-IV India`s most advanced long range missile was successfully flight-tested from the wheeler Islands Off the Africa coast on November 15,2011.This is the longest mission conducted by DRDO so far

Highlights:

• Agni-IV,capable of carrying nuclear war-heads,was earlier called Agni-II Prime.
• The two stage missile weighs 17 tonnes and is 20 meters long, and it carry a 1,000 kg Pay-Load of conventional explosives.
• The missile covered a range of more than 3,000 km on 20 minutes of fluent flight.
• In this mission the DRDO used a host of new technologies for the first time.

 

New Rules for Nuclear suppliers finalised

The Central Government announced on November 16,2011 that it has finalised new liability rules for the nuclear suppliers.The rules aim to meet the concerns of the American nuclear suppliers who are wary of being exposed to unlimited liability in the event of an accident involving any of their reactors.

Highlights

• The new rules aim to meet the concerns of the American nuclear suppliers who are wary of being exposed to unlimited liability in the event of an accident.
• US Officials had opposed two provisions of the Indian Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act-Section 46 and Section 17(B).
• The new rules don't affect Section 46 and thus leaves unaddressed the American concerns related to this.
• Steps,however have been taken in case of the 17 (b),thus limiting the US firms' liability in the event of accidents.

India,Maldives sign Framework Agreement, MOU

India and Maldives on Nov 12,2011 signed a framework agreement on cooperation and development and an MOU.The two pacts,signed by visiting Prime Minister Dr. ManMohan Singh and Maldivian President Mr Mohammed Nasheed in Male will serve as the bed rock for bilateral cooperation in safeguarding each others security intrest.

Highlights

• India and Maldives signed agreements on combating terrorism and drug trafficking,disaster management and coastal security;transfer of sentenced prisoners;co-operation in culture for 2012-15 etc.
• Deals on construction of 10,000 houses costing $ 40 million,developing a police training academy and port development etc were also linked.
• India will also upgrade the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male,the referral hospital in the island nation
• A credit of $ 100 million was also announced for Maldives.

India Pushes for Global Internet Governance Mechanism

It was announced on November 6,2011 that as the next step in its push for a global Internet governance mechanism ,India has presented to the UN a proposal for the establishment of a committee for Internet Related Policies.This proposed committee will help in framing international public policies on issues relating to Internet governance.

Highlights:

• India has presented to the UN a proposal for the establishment of a committee for Internet Related Policies (CIRP).
• The proposed committee will help to frame international public policies on issues relating to Internet governance.
• As per the India's proposal,the CIRP should consist of 50 member states,chosen elected on the basis of equitable geographical representation.
• There will be four advisory groups,one each for civil society,the private sector,the inter-governmental and international organisations, and technical and academy community.

India,Japan Decide to Shore Up Defence ties

An India-Japan Defence Minister's meeting was held in Tokyo,the capital of Japan on November 2,2011.At the meeting the two sides decided to increase their military engagement by conducting joint naval exercises and stepping up interaction between their armies and air forces

Highlights:

• India and Japan have decided to increase their military engagement by conducting joint naval exercise and stepping up interaction between their armies and air forces.
• As per the pact the vessels and the aircraft of the Indian navy and Japan's Maritime self defence force will pay mutual visits in 2012.
• So far India and Japan along with the US have conducted a single trilateral exercise-the Malabar exercise which took place in 2007.
• Another exercise,scheduled for 2011,at the Okinawa coast of Japan did not materialise after Japan expressed its inability to take part in the aftermath of the March 2011 Tsunami  and earthquake