Current Affairs 21st December 2018

Current Affairs 21st December 2018 - Important Points

• Military Communication Satellite GSAT-7A successfully launched by - ISRO
• USA pulls out of the Intermediate-Range - Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
• State of Goa celebrates 57th Liberation Day on - 19th December 2018
• Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 approved by - Lok Sabha
• Maruti Suzuki India, Ministry of Rural Development sign MoU for training rural youth under - DDU-GKY
• President’s rule comes into effect in  - Jammu& Kashmir
• Lok Sabha passes Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 on - 20th December 2018
• Former Indian Kabaddi Captain, Anup  Kumar announces retirement  on - 19th December 2018
• Charles Michel resigns as the Prime Minister of Belgium on - 19th December 2018 

Current Affairs 21st December 2018 - Details

Military Communication Satellite GSAT-7A successfully launched by - ISRO

ISRO magnificently released the communication satellite GSAT-7A on December 19th, 2018 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. GSAT-7A evaluating 2250 kilograms was released with the help of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle- GSLV-F11.
About GSAT-7A Satellite

• Indian Space Research Organisation’s GSAT-7A satellite is the heaviest satellite about 2250 kilograms, with an Indian established cryogenic stage that has been released by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle.
• GSAT-7A is a high-tech communication satellite containing new technologies together with a Gregorian Antenna.
• It is the 39th communication satellite of Indian Space Research Organisation and will mainly be utilised for military applications. IAF’s current communication capabilities of satellites will be amplified with GSAT-7A satellite.
• GSAT-7A will propose services to the manipulators in Ku-band over the Indian region.
• The release of GSAT-7A was the thirteenth flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-MkII and the 7th flight with an indigenously produced cryogenic engine.
• GSAT-7A was carried by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle which is Indian Space Research
  Organisation’s 4th generation launch vehicle with following 3 stages-
  i. The 1st stage consists of 4 liquid strap-on and a solid rocket motor.
  ii. The 2nd stage of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle has a high thrust engine with the help of liquid fuel.
  iii. The 3rd and final stage of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is the cryogenic upper
  stage.

USA pulls out of the Intermediate-Range - Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty

Russia has cleared that the USA has finalised to abandon the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces- INF Treaty inked between Russian and the United States of America in 1987. The United States of America had already declared the removal decision from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty in October 2018.
INF Treaty

• The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was inked in 1987 between United States President
  Ronald Reagan and USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev.
• The agreement intended to end arms race between United States of America and USSR during cold war and to make sure some strategic stability in Europe.
• The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty barred the development, testing & possession of short and medium ranged ground-launched nuclear missiles having ranged between 500 to 5000 kilometres.
• Also, all the nuclear & conventional missiles, and their launchers, with short ranges of 500 to 1000
  kilometres and 1000 to 5500 kilometres of intermediate-range were restricted under this treaty.
• The Treaty proved to be a powerful deterrent against any full-sized nuclear war in Europe.
  Nearly 3000 present weapons were dismantled & destroyed after the inking of this treaty.
• Russia has cautioned to take retaliatory actions and to counter any aggression if its security gets vulnerable after the United States pulling out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty.

State of Goa celebrates 57th Liberation Day on - 19th December 2018

Goa celebrated the 57th Liberation Day on December 19th, 2018 to remember getting independence from the 450 years of Portuguese regulation. Every year 19th December is celebrated by India as on this day Operation Vijay was accomplished by the Indian Forces liberating Territories of Goa, Daman & Diu and the Anjadiv Island & from the Portuguese rule.
About Operation Vijay

• PM Jawaharlal Nehru directed a military intervention for the liberation of Goa after all the diplomatic discussions failed with the Portuguese, thereby initiating the Operation Vijay on December 17th, 1961.
• Portuguese army was not much prepared to tackle the attack of Indian forces. The operation persisted for 2 days with negligible bloodshed.
• The Portuguese Governor General Vassalo da Silva was forced to hand over control of Goa, by which Goa finally became independent and become a part of India.
• Major-General K.P.Candeth was designated as the military governor of Goa kept directly under the
  running of the President of India.
  Statehood of Goa
• The territory of Goa was officially integrated into the India after the parliament passed 12th Amendment Act to the Constitution of India in 1963, issuing the status of a UT to Goa, Daman and Diu.
• There was a referendum organised in 1967 in Goa to let individuals of Goa select between continuing as a Union Territory or to join with Maharashtra.
• This referendum is superbly known as Goa Opinion Poll where individuals of Goa selected to continue as a Union Territory.
• On 30 May 1987, Goa was detached from Daman & Diu and became Indian Union’s 25th state. Daman & Diu was reserved as a UT only in the Indian Union.

Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 approved by - Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha has permitted Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016 on December 19th, 2018 to safeguard surrogacy in the nation. The bill has barred commercial surrogacy & allows only altruistic surrogacy. The bill safeguards the rights of the surrogate mother and her child born from surrogacy & promotes decent surrogacy. Surrogacy is well-defined as an agreement between a couple who cannot conceive and a surrogate mother to bear their child.
Provisions of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016

• The bill is valid to all the states of India except J&K. The bill delivers the constitution of National Surrogacy board and State Surrogacy board for regulation of surrogacy procedure.
• The bill is delivering surrogacy to only Indian residents. Thus, Foreigners, NRI and PIOs are not
  permitted.
• Homosexuals & Single parents are also not permissible for surrogacy and bars the couple who already have children.
• The couple looking for surrogacy should keep a certificate of essentiality supplied by suitable authority.
• The bill mandates that females can only surrogate once in their lifetime and her age should be in between 25-35 years.
• The couple who propose for surrogacy should be aged between 23-50 years and married for minimum Five years.
• The bill also delivers provision for the custody of the child to be born, which will be permitted by a court of the Magistrate of the 1st class or overhead.
• The bill also has the provision of penalty & imprisonment if the individual violated the law.

National Surrogacy Board The board consists of:

• Chairperson is Minister in-charge of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Vice Chairperson is Secretary to the Government of India in-charge of Department tackling with
  surrogacy cases.
• Members are 3 female members of Parliament, 3 members of Ministries of Central Government from Women and Child Development, Legislative Department in Ministry of Law & Justice and Ministry of Home Affairs, not underneath the position of Joint Secretary, DG Health Services of Central Government and 10 professionals’members.

Maruti Suzuki India, Ministry of Rural Development sign MoU for training rural youth under - DDU-GKY

The Union Ministry of Rural Development on December 19th, 2018 inked a MoU with Maruti Suzuki India Ltd for training rural youth for skill development under the banner Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana-DDU-GKY.
The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana is the banner placement connected to skilled training scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development.
Significance
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana will fulfill this gap by supporting training projects with an importance on placement, retention, career progression and overseas placement of rural youth.
Maruti Suzuki will give training to at least 5000 applicants in 2 years with guaranteed placement to the rural youth of our nation.
DDU-GKY’s ‘Champion Employers’ policy

• The mission of the DDU-GKY is to make sure rural poor youth are skilled in market related trades and job-relevant competencies.
• One of the ways in which Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana goals to attain this is via the ‘Champion Employers’ policy.
• The Champion Employers are the industry leaders who have the capability to deliver training & captive employment to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana aspirants.
• The policy pursues a strategic alignment of aims of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya-Grameen Kaushalya Yojana with the HR strategy of companies, which have greater potential to utilise trained manpower.

Former Indian Kabaddi Captain, Anup  Kumar announces retirement  on - 19th December 2018

Legendary Indian Kabaddi player & former World Cup-winning captain, Anup Kumar, declared his retirement from the kabaddi sport with immediate effect on December 19th, 2018, taking an end to his 15 years long career.
Kumar, well-known to be one of the most effective players, has headed his team to victory on various occasions and contributed to the overall growth of the kabaddi in the country.
About Anup Kumar

• The kabaddi star started his international career in 2006 at the South Asian Games in Sri Lanka.
• He was a part of the Indian National Kabaddi team that secured Gold Medals in 2010 as well as 2014 Asian Games & in the 2016 South Asian Games.
• He was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2012 for his excellent contribution to Kabaddi in India.
• He was designated as the captain of the Indian National team in 2014 and during his tenure the Indian Kabaddi team secured Two Gold Medals at Asian Games in 2014 & the Kabaddi World Cup in 2016.
• He has played all the 6 seasons of the Pro Kabaddi League so far, representing the U Mumba franchise in the 1st 5 seasons and is presently a part of the Jaipur Pink Panthers.
• He headed the U Mumba franchise for the 1st 5 years taking the side to 3 consecutive finals, a record that has not been attained by any other captain in the league.
• Kumar was the highest points scorer in the opening season of the Pro Kabaddi League with a tally of 169 scores.
• At this year's Pro Kabaddi League Auction, he was chosen by Jaipur Pink Panthers and was handed the role of the captain.

Lok Sabha passes Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 on - 20th December 2018

The Lok Sabha on December 20th, 2018 sanctioned the Consumer Protection Bill 2018. The bill calls for stringent punishment, including jail terms and hefty fines for misleading ads and food adulteration. 
The bill will now go to the Rajya Sabha for debate. The bill pursues to replace the 2015 Consumer Protection Bill that was announced to repeal the 30 years old Consumer Protection Act, 1986. It was formerly introduced in the Lok Sabha in January 2018.
Provisions of the new Bill

• The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 goals to safeguard consumers' interests via a redressal process that would make sure timely & effective settlement of disputes.
• It pursues to enlarge the scope of the present law and make it extra effective and purposeful.
• It pursues to develop a Central Consumer Protection Authority to safeguard customer rights & look into the matters concerned to false/misleading advertisements.
• It has necessities for post-litigation stage mediation as an alternate dispute resolution process. It also delivers for product liability action.

Penalties

• The bill provides for fine & prohibition on celebrities for recommending misleading ads:
  In case of the 1st offence, the fine would include a penalty of up to Rupees 10 lakh and a 1 year restriction on any endorsement.
• For the 2nd offence, the fine would include a penalty of up to Rupees 50 lakh and a 3-year prohibition on contract.
• For producers and organisations, the fine would be up to Rupees 10 lakh and up to 2 years of jail term for the 1st offence.
• For any succeeding offence, the producers and organisations would have to pay a fine of Rupees 50 lakh and serve a jail term of Five years.
• The bill also offers for fine up to life term jail sentence in case of adulteration.

Charles Michel resigns as the Prime Minister of Belgium on - 19th December 2018

Charles Michel has resigned from the position of the PM of Belgium on 19th December 2018. The
resignation occurred as his government was under extreme pressure from the opposition over his
government’s support for the United Nations global compact on immigration.
Charles Michel’s, who became the PM of Belgium in 2014, was the nation’s youngest PM since 1841. He
belongs to the francophone liberal party Mouvement Réformateur. His party had previous lost the
support of their alliance partner nationalist New Flemish Alliance over his support for a United Nations-
backed migration deal. There were various angry protests that took place in Brussels against this
migration agreement.
More about UN Global Compact on Migration

• The negotiations for Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration initiated in 2016 after the influx of above 1 million migrants into Europe. 
• In July 2018, all of the 193 associates agreed to the United Nations agreement on migration except the USA.
• But, only 164 nations formally inked the United Nations migration deal in Marrakech on 10th
  December 2018.
• The pact commits the signatories to progress co-operation on international migration.
• The pact is not legally binding on the nations inking the pact and permits them to be in charge of their own immigration policies.
• The pact stresses that all migrants should be given widespread human rights. It pursues to do away with all forms of discrimination against immigrants and their families.

President’s rule comes into effect in  - Jammu& Kashmir

The state of J&K has come under President’s rule from 20 December 2018 as Governor’s rule in the state finished its 6 months. It suggests that now all the policy decisions related to J&K will be taken by the Union Cabinet. The state tackled a political crisis when 25 membered BJP removed its support from Mehbooba Mufti-led alliance government, reducing it to a minority government in the state. Thereafter, the Governor’s rule was forced in the state.
In the case of J&K, which has a separate Constitution, 6 months of Governor’s rule is mandatory before President’s rule under Article 92 of its Constitution. All the governmental powers are exercised by the Governor in case of Governor’s rule.
Now, after the announcement for the President’s rule has been made, the jurisdictive powers of the state shall be exercised under the consultant of Parliament.  The PM and the Council of Ministers will aid and advise the president regarding the conclusions concerned to the state.
More about President’s Rule

• Under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution, the Union government can take over the businesses of the state government when state government is unable to work as per to the constitutional provisions.
• This is known as President’s rule in the state.
• President’s Rule in a state can continue for six months. It can be prolonged, with the consent of both the houses done every six months, for a maximum of three years.
• For President’s rule to continue over a year every six months below conditions should be met:
  1. There should already be a National emergency across the nation, or in the whole or any part of the state.
  2. The Election Commission of India should confirm that the conduct of elections is not conceivable in the concerned state.