Current Affairs - December 16, 2019 Current Affairs

On 13 December 2019, the Ministry of Coal initiated the auction process of coal mines. The move by the government is to reduce coal imports. After the poor participation of investors in the previous rounds of coal auctions, the government is now finally considering allotment of six mines soon.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will set up a task force on gene therapy in order to encourage research in the field. The purpose of setting up the task force is to explore gene editing based therapeutic approaches that will treat illness.

NASA has finally selected a sample collection site on asteroid Bennu after the arrival of OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in December 2018. The OSIRIS-Rex mission team has selected the site designated Nightingale, which is located in a crater high in Bennu's northern hemisphere. The team has also selected site Osprey of Bennu as a backup sample collection site.

Chess legend Viswanathan Anand has authored an inspirational book where he looks back on his experience to share lessons on how to navigate life.

On December 14, 2019, India and Maldives agreed to expand their maritime security and boost their anti-terror cooperation in order to deal with the common challenges in Indian Ocean Region where China is expanding its military presence. The countries also held the 6th Joint Commission Meeting. It was co-chaired by the External Affairs ministers of the countries.

The Haryana Police Department has adopted a unique barcoding software (Trakea). The software is used to ensure that 1000s of digital forensic reports are stored safe and secure. It offers a foolproof security to the samples collected from the crime scene.

The Ministry of Home Affairs along with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will investigate illegal plantations of marijuana plantations and destroy them deploying drones before the plants are harvested. The ministry is to use the help of satellites to detect the crops.

North Korea has conducted another crucial test on 13 December. The test was aimed to help the country to boost its reliable strategic nuclear deterrent.The unspecified test took place at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground.

Government said that over 1,65,000 lakh farmers across India have been registered on the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform. The announcement was made by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

Chennai has become the first city to have an online waste exchange for municipal solid waste. Residents who want to sell their waste online will be able to contact 2,600 scrap dealers and other agencies across the city. The Madras Waste Exchange, which is both a web portal and an application, has been conceptualized by the Smart City Mission, with support from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Actress Deepika Padukone has been honoured by the 26th Annual Crystal Award for raising mental health awareness.

Thousands of protesters have gathered on the streets of Algeria's capital after former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune was declared the winner of Algeria's presidential election. Tebboune - who also served as housing minister under Abdelaziz Bouteflika - the former president was forced to step down in April following mass protests - won 58.15 percent of votes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kanpur on December 14 to chair the first meeting of the National Ganga Council and review the ambitious "Namami Gange" project. The Prime Minister, who is attending the meeting at Chandra Shekhar Azad Agriculture University, was received at the Chakeri airport by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification on December 15, 2019, to regulate the registration of old vintage vehicles. The ministry has planned to provide a special number plate with letters VA to signify the vintage vehicles.