CURRENT AFFAIRS 15-16th Dec., 2014

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CURRENT AFFAIRS 16th Dec., 2014

1. Wholesale inflation dropped to a six-year low of 0 per cent in November. The data reflects falling cost of production in the economy due to the sharp contraction in global prices of crude and commodities and moderating food prices.

2. Reserve Bank of India has allowed banks to flexibly structure the existing project loans to infrastructure and core industries with the option to periodically refinance them. This option was available only to new loans in these segments earlier. The viability of the project is re-assessed by the bank and vetted by the Independent Evaluation Committee.

3. Securities and Exchange Board of India has said that it was ready to have a re-look at the new delisting norms wherein promoters planning to take their company private have to secure the consent of 25 per cent of public shareholders due to the industry opposition. The new norms had aimed to reduce the time taken by the delisting process by about half and make the regulatory framework more effective.

4. Polio hit Ms. Mahajabeen Madarkar won the achiever’s award on International Day for Persons with Disabilities by the Department for Women and Child Welfare.

5. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was honoured with a special award at the glittering Miss World 2014 ceremony in London for her charity work. 22-year-old South African beauty Rolene Strauss was crowned Miss World 2014.

CURRENT AFFAIRS 15th Dec., 2014

1. U.S. Congress passed a $1.1-trillion spending bill for fiscal year 2015 averting a government shutdown. The bill funds nearly all federal government agencies through next September.

2. Centre has decided to provide financial assistance to parents of transgender children to enable them to bring them up without discrimination and stigma. It will also ensure old age pension to transgenders to ensure a dignified life. The government has also plans to provide scholarships to such children.

3. According to the new draft National Offset Policy (NOP), Foreign companies selling goods worth over Rs.300 crore to the government or public sector undertakings would have to source part of their supplies from domestic manufacturers. The policy is aimed at boosting manufacturing sector growth.

4. Fortune 500 List of Indian companies 2014 was released by the Fortune Magazine. Among the 500 companies, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) tops the list with an annual revenue of 500973 crore rupees followed by Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).

5. Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling became longest serving Chief Minister of India by completing 20 years in the office. He has been chief minister of Sikkim since 12 December 1994. Earlier, the longest serving CM was late Communist leader Jyoti Basu who was chief minister of West Bengal