Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 28 December 2018

::NATIONAL::

LokSabha passes Triple talaq bill

The LokSabha has passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill by negating the amendments moved by some opposition members. Two hundred forty-five members voted in favour of the bill while 11 voted against it yesterday.
The Bill makes all declarations of instant triple talaq void and illegal. It seeks to make the practice a punishable offence with imprisonment of up to three years.
The Bill will replace the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance-2018. Replying to a debate on the Bill, Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad said, it has not been brought to target any religion but to give justice to women.
The LokSabha has passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill by negating the amendments moved by some opposition members. Two hundred forty-five members voted in favour of the bill while 11 voted against it yesterday.
The Bill makes all declarations of instant triple talaq void and illegal. It seeks to make the practice a punishable offence with imprisonment of up to three years.
Cold wave intensifies in North India
Intense Cold wave continues to grip North India as temperatures dropped at several places in the region.In Delhi, the minimum temperature further dropped to 3.4 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season's average.
The Met Department said, it was the coldest December day in the national capital since 2014. The maximum temperature was recorded at 21.3 degrees Celsius, a notch above the normal.
The Met office has forecast clear skies along with the possibility of dense fog tomorrow morning and haze and smoke thereafter.In Punjab and Haryana, capital Chandigarh recorded the season's coldest night so far at 3.4 degrees Celsius, which is two notches below the normal.
The weatherman said, cold wave conditions are likely to continue in the two states over the next few days.
In Himachal Pradesh, biting cold is being experienced across the state despite clear and sunny weather during the day. Tourist places like Manali, Rohtang and Kalpa received fresh snowfall.

::ECONOMY::

Centre set to release funds to PSB’s via capitalisation bonds

The government is likely to infuse Rs. 28,615 crore into seven public sector banks (PSBs) through recapitalisation bonds by the end of this month, sources said.
The amount infused will help the banks meet regulatory capital requirement, and its disbursement might take place before December 31, sources said.
Out of these seven PSBs, Bank of India is likely to get the highest amount of Rs. 10,086 crore, followed by Oriental Bank of Commerce, which might get Rs. 5,500 crore through recapitalisation bonds, sources added.
Other banks that are likely to receive capital infusion in this round included Bank of Maharashtra which may get Rs. 4,498 crore, UCO Bank (Rs. 3,056 crore) and United Bank of India (Rs. 2,159 crore).
The government will infuse Rs. 2,159 crore capital through preferential allotment in State-run United Bank of India, the lender has informed the exchanges on Thursday.
Finance Minister ArunJaitley had said that recapitalisation would enhance the lending capacity of PSBs and help them exit the RBI’s Prompt Corrective Action framework.

Govt.aims to ensure noise free road transport

The Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri MansukhMandaviya in a written reply to the LokSabha today informed that the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 prohibits replacement/modification of company installed silencers in motor bikes with loud noise producing exhausts.
It is also mentioned under section 52 (1) of the above act, that no owner of a motor vehicle shall so alter the vehicle that the particulars contained in the certificate of registration are at variance with those originally specified by the manufacturer.
Further, contravention of section 52 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 attracts penalty under section 190 and 191 of the Act. Implementation of provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 is carried out by the respective State Government and Union Territory Administrations.
It was also stated that the installation of multi-toned horn in vehicles giving a succession of different notes or with any other sound producing device giving an unduly harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise is also prohibited under the Act. However, certain categories of vehicles like Ambulances, Fire- fighting vehicles etc. are exempted from this restriction.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

U.S – China trade talks to be held in January

China on Thursday said that it has made plans with the United States for talks in January aimed at ending a tariff battle that threatens global trade.
Talking to media, China's Ministry of Commerce spokesman, Gao Feng said, the two sides have made specific arrangements for face-to-face meetings. Mr Gao said, both sides are maintaining close communication.
US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed early this month to postpone more tariff hikes for 90 days while their governments negotiate over US complaints that Beijing steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Salinity rise leads to missing of gangetic dolphins in Sunderbans

Rise in salinity in the water system that makes the Indian Sunderbans has resulted in a decrease in population of the Ganges River Dolphins in the region.
A recent study covering 100 km of rivers and channels around the Sunderbans has revealed that the national aquatic animal is no longer sighted in the central and eastern parts of the archipelago. Only in the western part of Sunderbans, where the salinity is lower, could researchers find some evidence of the species.
The rise in sea level, triggered by climate change, is one of the reasons for the increase in salinity of waters of rivers and channels. “Hydrological modifications like water diversion and commission of large barrages upstream have had a great impact on the salinity profile of the rivers downstream in the Sunderbans,” the publication stated.
In the study, the researchers noted a higher rate of encounter with the species in rivers and stretches that had limited use of motorised boats, less river traffic and more country boats. The encounter rate was higher by almost 55 % in such stretches, the publication stated.

::SPORTS::

India off to good start in Asian Tour Q-school

Indian players got off to a fine start in the Golf Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage with no less than four Indians featuring in Top-20 of the first round.
A total of 17 Indians are in the fray among the 242 players who are fighting for 35 cards this week at the two courses at Lakeview Resorts and Golf Club.
Former Asian Tour winner, Chiragh Kumar, returned to the Q-School after failing to hold onto his car. He turned in a superb six-under 65 that placed him tied 8th, but just one shot behind the seven players, who shared the lead at seven-under 64.