Current Affairs Daily Updates: 3rd and 4th Dec 2017

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Mentor for Bank Exams
Current Affairs Daily Updates: 3rd and 4th Dec 2017
1. Shared Value Summit 2017 was held in New Delhi.
  • The summit is organised by Shared Value Initiative India, Institute for Competitiveness (India), and SoulAce & India Council on Competitiveness.
  • It aims to provide a platform to identify and address the barriers that exist to equality and empowerment in the Indian society.
  • Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Industry and Commerce was the chief guest for the event.
  • Mr Prabhu unveiled the Inclusive Business List and Emerging Social Enterprise List for the year 2017.
  • The theme of the summit was “Equity and Empowerment”.
2. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES) held in Geneva.
  • CITIES of Wild Fauna and Flora was held in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • CITIES is an international agreement between governments of various countries.
  • It aims is to ensure that international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
  • India won the award for high effort to combat Illegal Wildlife Trade.
  • Secretary-General of CITIES presented the award to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
  • “Operation Save Kurma” was conducted by the WCCB to combat illegal trade of live turtles and its parts.
3. Uhuru Kenyatta, sworn in for a second term as Kenya’s president.
  • Uhuru Kenyatta has been sworn in for a second term as the president of Kenya.
  • Kenyatta was administered the oath by Anne Amadi, Chief Registrar of the Judiciary.
  • He is the fourth president of the Republic of Kenya.
  • He is the son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president.
4. Corporation Bank launches RuPay credit cards.
  • RuPay Select and RuPay Platinum credit cards were launched by Corporation bank.
  • These cards will boost digital payment and will be beneficial in creating a ‘less cash society’.
  • Jai Kumar Garg, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Corporation Bank, unveiled the cards in Mangaluru.
  • Personal accident insurance of ₹10 lakh and ₹2 lakh is offered on RuPay Select Credit Card and RuPay Platinum Credit Card, respectively.
  • RuPay is an Indian domestic card scheme conceived and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India.
5. D K Sarraf is appointed as the new Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board.
  • Appointments Committee of the Cabinet appointed D K Sarraf as the new Chairman of the PNGRB.
  • He was also the Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.
  • PNGRB was constituted under The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006.
  • It regulates the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas.
6. Government launches National Strategic Plan and Mission SAMPARK:
  • With an aim to eradicate AIDS by 2030, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the National Strategic Plan 2017-24 on the occasion of World AIDS Day (1st December).
  • Mission SAMPARK was also launched to find individuals who are left to follow up and will be brought under Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).
7. BSF to celebrate 52nd establishment day today (04 – 12 – 2017)
  • Country’s first line of defence Border Security Force (BSF) is all set celebrate its 52nd establishment day today.
  • Senior BSF officials in Gujarat say BSF plays a crucial role in securing both land and sea borders of the state.
8. BIMSTEC members discuss draft text of Coastal Shipping Agreement:
  • With an aim to boost trade between the member countries through facilitating coastal shipping, the first meeting of the Working Group of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) was recently held.
  • The member countries have discussed the draft text of BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement.
  • The agreement has been drafted by Indian Ministry of Shipping.
9. China launches land exploration satellite.
  • China launched a land exploration-satellite into a preset orbit, designed for remote sensing exploration of land resources.
  • The satellite took launch on a Long March-2D rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China’s northern Gobi Desert.
  • The launch was the 257th mission of the Long March rocket series.


10. Infosys appoints Salil S Parekh as new CEO and managing director.
  • Infosys, India IT services company, named Salil S Parekh as chief executive.
  • The IIT-Bombay graduate and Cornell University alumnus and Capgemini executive is the new Infosys CEO and MD.
  • UB Pravin Rao who was serving as the interim CEO has been re-designated as a chief operating officer from January 2.
11. India re-elected to International Maritime Organisation Council:
  • India has been re-elected to International Maritime Organisation Council at its headquarters in London.
  • India has been elected under category B that represents the countries with largest interests in international sea borne trade.
12. Nepal to host International Conference on Climate Change:
  • Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari will inaugurate an international Conference to raise awareness on climate change and its adverse consequences on the people in the Hindu Kush mountain range.
  • The 4 day-long conference aims to provide a platform to over 200 delegates including scientists, environmental experts and policy makers to develop solutions for maintaining a sustainable climate.
13. AnshuPrakash appointed as Delhi Chief Secretary:
  • Senior IAS officer (1986 batch)AnshuPrakash has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government.
14. A Surya Prakash reappointed as PrasarBharati Chief:
  • The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has reappointed A Surya Prakash as the Chairperson of PrasarBharati till 2020.
15. Japan will host the Ministerial meeting of UNSC:
  • Japan is going to host a ministerial meeting of the United Nations Security Council on 15th December.
  • The aim of the meeting is to find peaceful ways to put pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
16. Virat Kohli surpasses Brian Lara for most double centuries as captain.
  • Virat Kohli overtook West Indies great Brian Lara, who held the record previously with five double tons in Tests.
  • With a sixth double hundred, Kohli has also tied Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag for the most 200-plus scores for India in Tests.
  • Kohli became the 11th Indian batsman to achieve the milestone and the fourth fastest in terms of innings.
17. 2nd December: International Day for Abolition of Slavery:
  • The International Day for Abolition of Slavery is observed by the United Nations General Assembly every year on 2ndDecember.
  • The day marks the date of adoption of a resolution by the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and Exploitation of the Prostitutions (Resolution 317 (iv).
18. 2nd December: National Pollution Control Day:
  • The National Pollution Control Day is celebrated every year on 2nd December in India to pay tribute to the people who have lost their lives because of Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
19. 2nd December: World Computer Literacy Day:
  • With an aim to promote awareness about computer literacy and electronic devices, the World Computer Literacy Day is celebrated every year on 2nd December.
20. 3rd December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities:
  • The International Day of Persons with Disabilitiesis observed every year on 3rd December.
  • The theme for this year is- ‘Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all’.
21. 11th Annual MedTech Summit held in New Delhi:
  • The 11th Annual MedTech Summit was recently held in New Delhi.
  • Department of Biotechnology and IIT Delhi have implemented a Bio Design Programme to develop affordable and innovative medical devices to fulfill the clinical needs.