1. Bhuvan-GAIL Portal launched to monitor pipelines

i) GAIL (India) Ltd. has launched a satellite surveillance portal called ‘Bhuvan-GAIL Portal’ to monitor its 13,000 kms of gas pipeline network and address security concerns. 

ii) GAIL has collaborated with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a unit of Indian space research organisation (ISRO), to launch this portal. 

iii) It will be used to monitor the changes in the pipeline’s Right of Use (RoU). GAIL will start using this portal by January 2016 and it will also opt alternative methods like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). 

iv) GAIL has also developed a mobile application through which pictures of untoward incidents, taken from any mobile phone, can be uploaded instantly on the portal. 

v) GAIL pilot project on satellite monitoring on its 610-km long Dahej-Vijaipur pipeline was a success.

2. International Volunteer Day observed on December 5

i) International Volunteer Day was observed on December 5th, 2015 on the theme- ‘Your world is changing. Are you? Volunteer!’

ii) This year’s theme challenges people across the globe to work towards making the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ a reality. 

iii) This day is considered as a chance for volunteers & organisations all over the world to collaborate among themselves and achieve sustainable development goals.

iv) It was established by United Nations General Assembly in 1985. 

3. China’s first electricity-powered aircraft approved 

i) China has developed its first electricity-powered aircraft called RX1E, which has been approved for production by the nation’s civil aviation ministry.

ii) The light aircraft was developed by Shenyang Aerospace University.

iii) It is a two-seater, which is powered by lithium batteries. It is capable of flying at 3000 meters. The aircraft are can primarily be used for pilot training, sightseeing & experimental flying.

4. India State of Forest Report 2015 released

i) India State of Forest Report (ISFR) was released by Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar. As per the report, India’s forest & tree cover has been increased by 5081sq km. Total forest cover has increased by 3775 sq km & tree cover by 1306 sq km.

ii) The total forest and tree cover is 24.16% of India’s total geographical area or 79.42 million hectares.

iii) The total carbon stock in forests is around 7,044 million tones, which has increased by 103 million tones.

iv) The maximum increase in the forest cover has been observed in Tamil Nadu (2501 sq km). Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover at 77,462 sq km. Mizoram has highest forest cover in percentage terms -88.93%.

5. UP hosts first International Bird Festival  

i) Uttar Pradesh recently hosted the first-ever International Bird Festival in order to promote the state as a global birdwatching destination.

ii) The three-day festival began on December 4, 2015 at the National Chambal Sanctuary and was jointly conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. 

iii) Over 80 Indian ornithologists and 25 international bird experts were invited to the event, including Tim and Carol Inskipp, Pamela Rasmussen, Tim Appleton, Per Alstrom, Bano Haralu, etc. During the event, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also launched a book titled Birds of UP.

iii) National Chambal Sanctuary was established as a riverine sanctuary along the Chambal River in 1979. It is famous for its largest ghariyal (Gavealis Gangeticus) population.

6. Centre to support rural entrepreneurs under MUDRA

i) The Union government has decided to support rural entrepreneurs under the Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency (MUDRA).

ii) Under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, which was launched in April 2015, the overall loan disbursement target was set at Rs.1.22 lakh crore for the current fiscal.

iii) Communications & IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asserted that enhancing rural entrepreneurship through common services centres (CSC) is essential to make the Digital India campaign successful.

7. RBI changes priority sector lending norms

i) The Reserve Bank of India recently revised the priority sector lending norms. As per these norms, banks have to ensure that 8% of their total loans go to small & marginal farmers.

ii) The initial sub-limits for direct lending & indirect lending for agriculture have been merged into a total agri target of 18% as large loans to processed food industry has also been included under agriculture. 

iii) Banks can also lend to build social infrastructure such as schools, healthcare facilities, drinking water facilities & sanitation facilities. Home loans as well as education loans will also get a boost by these new norms.

8. Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill 2015 passed

i) Delhi Legislative Assembly recently passed the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill 2015 unanimously in order to establish a statutory anti-corruption ombudsman. This bill empowers Lokpal to take action to curb corruption against any government functionary in the national capital through its own investigation wing.

ii) Jan Lokpal will be a three-member body including one chairperson & two members. All of them will be appointed by a selection committee comprising the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition & Speaker of Delhi’s Legislative Assembly.

iii) Jan Lokpal has all the rights to investigate matters in New Delhi and it can be removed only after a High Court probe against it.

9. Arvind Subramanian-led committee recommends standard GST rate

i) Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian-led committee has suggested a standard goods and services tax (GST) rate of 17-18%. 

ii) The standard rate is the rate at which most of the goods and services will be taxed and is based on revenue-neutral rate of 15-15.5%. 

iii) The committee excluded real estate, electricity, alcohol & petroleum products while calculating the tax rates, but suggested to bring these products & services under GST soon.

iv) The announcement has increased chances for unanimity in deciding the standard rate, thus making it possible for the bill to be passed in the winter session.

10. Singapore replaces Mauritius as top FDI source 

i) During the first half of current fiscal Singapore replaced Mauritius as top FDI source by providing $6.69 billion FDI to India.

ii) As per data from Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), India received only $3.66 billion FDI from Mauritius during the same period. This might be due to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Singapore, which incorporates a Limit-of-Benefit clause (LoB). This has made Singapore-based investors comfortable to invest in India.

iii) The major sectors that have attracted foreign investors are computer software & hardware, trading, services & automobile and telecommunications.

iv) Overall, Singapore makes around 15% contribution to India’s FDI where as Mauritius makes around 34%.

11. Atlas V rocket successfully launched 

i) A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket zoomed toward the International Space Station (ISS) to carry off OA-4 Cygnus cargo spacecraft. 

ii) The 194-ft rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

iii) The current Cygnus mission would be the first US delivery of cargo since April 2015. Due to some substandard rocket launches and failed delivery run, the supplies at the station are running low. The capsule carries over 3500kg of food, clothing, computer gear, spacewalk equipment, science experiments and other supplies.

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