 The Union government has launched National Broadband Mission to provide Broadband access to all villages by 2022. The mission aims to connect 600,000 villages across India with an investment of Rs 7 lakh crore in the next 4 years from both government and private sector. The mission is a part of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018. The mission will secure universal broadband access for implementation of broadband initiatives and aims to offer Internet speed upto 50 Mbps in a phased manner. According to the government, 10% of the funds will come from Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund and the remaining will come from industry in the form of towers and other assets. |
| Source: The Live Mint |
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has waived NEFT, RTGS transfer charges for savings account holders. In an order, RBI instructed banks to make all online payments done through RTGS and NEFT free of cost for savings account holders. The new rule will be effective from January 1, 2020. |
| Source: The Live Mint |
 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won the historic UK General Election as his Conservative Party crossed the magic number of 326 required for a majority in the Parliament. He is re-elected as a Prime Minister of UK. Johnson won the historic election as his Conservative Party crossed the 326-mark required for a majority in Parliament. The latest projections put the Johnson-led Conservatives at around 365, but the party can safely celebrate its victory as it comfortably crossed over the half-way finish line for the 650-member House of Commons. The Opposition Labour party is projected to get 203 seats, a disastrous performance for the party which resulted in leader Jeremy Corbyn announced that he would be stepping down. |
| Source: The BBC |
 The Laura Alexandra Marsh, England cricketer announced her retirement. Laura has won three World Cups in her 13-year career, she made her debut in 2006 as a seamer, later on, she switched to spin. She has represented England in 103 ODI’s (One Day International), 67 T20’s and 9 Tests and has taken 217 wickets in her career. She is also England’s 3rd highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket. Laura Marsh was awarded a full central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in February 2019. She played in her 100th women’s One Day International (WODI) match against West Indies in June 2019. |
| Source: The Hindu |
 Sridhar Patra was appointed as the chairman-cum-managing director of National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO). He is at present Director (Finance) in NALCO. He has been appointed as the CMD of NALCO till the date on October 31, 2024. Sridhar Patra replaced Tapan Kumar Chand from the post. |
| Source: The Business Standard |
 The state police of Gujarat were honoured with ‘President’s colours’. The Gujarat police were presented with the President’s colours by Vice President of India Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. They were presented the president’s colours for their outstanding services. It is the highest honour given to a police force in India. The previously awarded states were Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura and Assam. The president’s colours is also known as ‘Nishaan’ which is an emblem that will be worn by all police officers on the left-hand sleeve of their uniform. |
| Source: The Business Standard |
 State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a loan agreement worth of $277 million (about Rs 1,958 crore) with Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) German development bank for establishing an energy-efficient housing programme in India. The programme shall be part of the Indo-German Development Co-operation, guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Under the programme, both builders and homebuyers shall be financed for developing/purchasing energy-efficient residential projects that achieve at least 25 per cent energy savings in comparison to standard reference buildings. The arrangement of the loan and the grant facilities was facilitated by SBI’s investment banking subsidiary SBI Capital Markets Ltd. |
| Source: The Economic Times |
 India successfully conducted a developmental trial of the land-attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from Chandipur Integrated Test Range, off Odisha coast. The 9-meter long missile can travel at thrice the speed of sound and carry a conventional warhead weighing up to 300 kg. The BrahMos missile is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from submarines, ships, fighter jets or land. |
| Source: The News on AIR |
 Chief Minister N. Biren Singh inaugurated the State-level Orange festival at district Tamenglong in Manipur. Tamenglong district is largest producer of orange fruit in Manipur. The state government under the sponsorship of North Eastern Council organise the festival annually to promote the fruit and encourage its growers. ‘On day one, orange growers’ competition was held and prizes were distributed to top position holders. As part of the festival, cultural show, traditional games, orange queen completion, seminar for growers will be held. |
| Source: The News on AIR |
 The International Migrants Day is organized across the world on 18th December to protect the rights of migrant workers and members of their families. In Dec 2000, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 18 Dec as International Migrants Day after considering the large and increasing number of migrants in the world. The International Organization for Migration salutes migrants and the communities they join, the communities they remake through their mutual effort. We salute them and we support them, and pledge to make the future we believe is arriving for all of us. #WeTogether. |
| Source: The United Nations |
You need to login to perform this action.
You will be redirected in
3 sec
