Current Affairs : 06-12-2019 in English

Important Day

• Theme for World Soil Day 2019 (5 December) - "Stop soil erosion, Save our future".

Economy

• As per decision by the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on 5 December, Repo rate - 5.15 percent (no change).
• The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on 5 December has raised the consumer inflation target for October-March to - 4.7-5.1 percent (previous target - 3.6 percent).
• The 2019 edition of ‘OECD Economic Surveys: India’ report has projected India's gross domestic product (GDP) for the financial year 2019-20 to grow at - 5.8 percent (For 2020: 6.2%).

Environment

• As per the India Meteorological Department, the calendar year 2019 has witnessed the highest number of cyclonic disturbances over the Arabian Sea in the last 127 years – 7 incidents.

International 

• First place in the UNCTAD’s Business-to-Consumer (B2C) E-commerce Index 2019, which measures an economy’s preparedness to support online shopping – Netherlands (2nd – Switzerland).
• The Pacific Air Chiefs’ Symposium 2019 (PACS 2019) held in – Hawaii, USA.
• Year of the Nurse and Mid-wife, announced by World Health Organisation (WHO) - 2020.
• This India-born IT company launched its next-generation cybersecurity defence centre in Melbourne (Australia) - Wipro Ltd.
• On 4 December, India launched the RuPay card in - Maldives (also handed over "KAAMIYAAB" patrol vessel).
• First place in the Germanwatch’s Climate Risk Index 2020 - Japan.
• World’s worst country in terms of extensive and invasive use of biometric data, according to Comparitech (UK) – China (followed by Malaysia, Pakistan and the US).

National

• Overall rank of India in the UNCTAD’s Business-to-Consumer (B2C) E-commerce Index 2019 –73rd (9th in the category of developing nations).
• India’s rank in the Germanwatch’s Climate Risk Index 2020 - 5th (in the overall global vulnerability index in 2018).
• India’s ranking in the list of the worst countries in terms of extensive and invasive use of biometric data, according to Comparitech (UK) – 5th.
• First-ever inclusive tool which can assess foundational skills of learners, was launched by CBM India Trust, Pratham, and ASER at the India International Centre (IIC), Delhi - Assessment for All (AfA) tool.
• Number of nursing professionals who were conferred with the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2019 for their meritorious services – 36.
• Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and this PSU bank signed a MOU on 4th December - Bank of Baroda (BoB).
• Fit India Plogging Run (picking up garbage while jogging), which was launched on 2 October 2019 and covered 50 cities, concluded in – Delhi (on 5 October).
• 'Most Innovative Payment Start-up' and 'Most Innovative Fintech Product' at the India FinTech Awards (IFTA) 2019 – Razorpay.

Persons in News

• 'Fintech Leader of the Year' at the India FinTech Awards (IFTA) 2019 - Harshil Mathur (CEO of Razorpay).
• Person who popularly known as the Plogman of India and named as the Plogging Ambassador of India - Ripu Daman Bevli.

Sports

• Top spot in the latest International Cricket Council's (ICC) Test rankings in batting - Virat Kohli.
• Winner of the Ballon d'Or award (Men) - Lionel Messi (Barcelona FC).
• Winner of the Ballon d'Or award (Women) - Megan Rapinoe.

State Current Affairs

• The University of Mysore Academic Council has approved setting up of a separate department for disability and rehabilitation studies in its campus at - Manasagangotri.
• Avantee mega Food Park inaugurated in - Dewas, Madhya Pradesh (first food park of central India).

Science

• There are at least ____ different ancestral groups or lineages in Asia, according to the researchers from GenomeAsia 100K consortium at NTU, Singapore – 10.

General Knowledge

• Government of India has established Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) in – 2016 (7th September).
• UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) was launched in the year – 2017.
• Founder of modern nursing (St Thomas' Hospital), known as “Lady with the Lamp” - Florence Nightingale (English statistician) (Lived: 1820- 1910).
• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) - Founded: 2008; Headquarters: Mumbai.
• International Cricket Council (ICC) – Founded: 1909 (15 June); Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) – Founded in: 1964 (30 December); Headquarters: Geneva (Switzerland).
• India Meteorological Department (IMD) was founded in – 1875.
• World Health Organisation (WHO) - Founder: Brock Chisholm; Founded: 1948 (07 April); Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.