• South India’s First High Altitude Cricket Stadium Inaugurated In Kerla-

Kerala Governor Nikhil Kumar inaugurated south India’s first high altitude cricket stadium at Krishnagiri in Wynad district of Kerala on 17 December. This is the second cricket ground in India after Dharamsala stadium to be located as such height.The stadium spreads over 4.4 hectares area and is situated at about 2800 feet above the sea level. The Kerala Cricket Association had invested 6.5 crore rupees for construction of the stadium.

• Union Cabinet Approved The Prevention of Communal Violence Bill 2013-

The Union Cabinet on 16 December approved the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill 2013. The bill aimed to prevent and tackle the communal violence in the country and punish the perpetrators of the violence. The Bill has been named as The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013. view history The Bill has the provision of creating an institutional arrangement for speedy investigation, disposal of cases and for providing relief and rehabilitation to victims of communal violence. It also seeks imposition of enhanced punishment on persons involved in communal violence.

• India Won Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2013-

India has won the women’s Kabaddi World Cup championship for the third time in a row, defeating New Zealand 49-21 in the summit clash in Jalandhar, Punjab on 12 December. Indian women’s team has won 2011, 2012, and 2013 editions of World cups.

• International Migrants Day observed across the world on 18 December 2013-

(i). International Migrants Day was observed across the world on 18 December 2013.
(ii). The number if international migrant worldwide has reached 232 million in 2013.
(iii). The Secretary General of UN put forward an ambitious eight point agenda in his report to the General Assembly to “make migration work” for all: for all: migrants, societies of origin and societies of destination alike.
(iv). The UN General Assembly on 4 December 2000 took into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world and proclaimed 18 December as the International Migrants Day.
(v). The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 1990.

• RBI Policy review: All rates remain unchanged-

Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan surprised the markets, today, by leaving all key policy rates unchanged.
The Reserve Bank, in its Mid-Quarter Monetary Policy Review, kept its short-term lending rate unchanged at 7.75 per cent, and the Cash Reserve Ratio steady at 4 per cent. The RBI governor said the apex bank will take calibrated action in the future, based on inflationary trends and action by the US Federal Reserve.

CRR is the minimum percentage of cash deposits that banks must keep with the central bank. The current rate is 4%, which means for a cash deposit of Rs. 100, the bank has to park 4 rupee with the central bank.

• About “LOKPAL BILL”-

The Lokpal Bill, 2011, also referred to as The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, is an anti-corruption law in India which “seeks to provide for the establishment of the institution of Lokpal to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for matters connecting them”.

The bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha on 22 December 2011 and was passed by the house on 27 December 2011 as The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011. The bill was subsequently tabled in the Rajya Sabha on 29 December 2011.

After a marathon debate that stretched until midnight of the following day, the vote failed to take place for lack of time. On 21 May 2012, the bill was referred to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha for consideration. The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 17 December 2013 after making certain amendments to the earlier Bill and in the Lok Sabha on 18 December 2013.

The Lokpal will be a three-member body with a chairperson who is or was a chief justice or Supreme Court judge, and two members who are or have been high courts judges or chief justices. Implementation of the Lokpal bill will hopefully reduce corruption in India.

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