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Daily GK Update 19 And 20th December 2014

1. Carbon-dioxide emissions at all-time high in 2013.
i. Global carbon-dioxide emissions from burning of fossil fuels and production of cement


reached a high of 35.3 billion tonnes in 2013, mainly due to the continuing steady increase in energy use in emerging economies such as India.
ii. Brazil (6.2 per cent), India (4.4 per cent), China (4.2 per cent) and Indonesia (2.3 per cent) reported a sharp rise in emissions of the greenhouse gas that year.
iii. The global emissions, however, increased at a notably slower rate of 2 per cent than the average yearly 3.8 per cent since 2003.
iv. China, the United States and the European Union remain the top three emitters of carbon dioxide, accounting for 29 per cent, 15 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively, of the world’s total.

2. Railways to operate special trains to Kerala during Sabarimala puja and Christmas
i. The South Western Railway will operate premium super fast special train service between Bengaluru Cantonment Thiruvananthapuram Central to clear the extra rush during Sabarimala puja and Christmas.
ii. The trains will leave Bengaluru Cantonment at 7.15pm to reach Thiruvananthapuram Central at 8.20am on the next day. This service will be available on December 25, 27, 29, January 3 and 12, 2015 .

3. Rajinder Khanna to be next RAW chief
i. The Narendra Modi government on Saturday named Rajinder Khanna, a 1978 batch RAS officer, as the new chief of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). 
ii. He will take over from incumbent Alok Joshi, who retires at the end of this month.
iii. Another key appointment on Saturday was that of Prakash Mishra, a 1978 IPS officer of Odisha cadre and presently special secretary (internal security) in the Union home ministry, as the chief of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

4. India-Bangladesh river development plan needed: experts
i. Highlighting the intricate and complex river system shared by India and Bangladesh, experts from both the countries stressed on developing a comprehensive river development plan which involves water management, sediment management, navigation and inland transport.
ii. International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN), under its initiative ‘Ecosystem for Life’ which has been emphasising on management of shared river ecosystem of the two countries, on Thursday launched a documentary 'River Highways’ on the theme of inland navigation between the two countries.

5. ‘GDP likely to grow 5.5 per cent in 2015’

i. The country’s economy is likely to grow at around 5.5 per cent in the current fiscal, the Finance Ministry said in its mid-year review tabled in Parliament on Friday.

ii. In the first six months of 2014-15, the economy grew at an annual 5.5 per cent, the report said.
Based on the trend of receipts and expenditure relative to the budget, the Finance Ministry said the budget deficit target is in line with estimates.
iii. The report added that the government expected no change in interest rates till the fiscal year ends in March.

6. CEAMA awards Soon Kwon, MD, LG Electronics India with 'Man of Electronics' award
i. Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) facilitated Soon Kwon, Managing Director, LG Electronics India with the 'Man of Electronics' award at their 35th annual function, held in New Delhi recently.
ii. The coveted award was presented by the chief guest of the event, Minister of State for Planning (Independent Charge) and Defence, Rao Inderjit Singh.
iii. The prestigious 'Man of Electronics' award received by Kwon is recognition of his exceptional performance and contribution to the growth and promotion of consumer electronics industry in India. Being an LG veteran and having worked across global markets in the past 31 years.

7. Indira Awas Yojna falls short of target: CAG
i. The previous UPA government in five years between 2008 and 2013 spent Rs 60,239 crore with a target to construct over 427 lakh houses for the rural poor across the country under its ambitious Indira Awas Yojna. 
ii. A report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), tabled in Parliament on Friday, said the government's ambitious programme fell short by almost 25% of its target and by the start of the 12th Plan (2012-17) the shortfall of houses for the rural poor was almost at the same level that it was at the start of the 11th five year plan. 

8. 8.75% interest on PF for 2014-15
i. Over five crore provident fund subscribers governed by the EPFO will get 8.75 per cent interest on their deposits for the current fiscal.
ii. The Finance Ministry has ratified the rate for 2014-15, after a decision was taken to retain the interest payout at this level by the Central Board of Trustees of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, sources said.
iii. As per the practice, EPFO trustees’ decision gets implemented after the concurrence of the Finance Ministry.

9. It's Atletico De Kolkata Vs Kerala F.C. in ISL Finals

i. Atletico De Kolkata and Kerala F.C. will Lock horns in the ISL finale on 20th December 2014.

ii. Atletico defeated Goa F.C. in the penalty shoot outs after the goalless draws over two legs.
iii. While Kerala F.C. defeated Chennaiyan F.C. 4-3 on aggregates to reach the summit clash.
iv. Atletico is co owned by Saurav Ganguly while Sachin is the joint owner of the Kerala F.C.

10. TVS Chairman Venu Srinivasan conferred honorary citizenship of Busan
i. TVS chairman Venu Srinivasan was made Honorary Citizen of Busan, Korea. 
ii. He was conferred with the citizenship for his efforts to enhance friendship and cooperation between India and Republic of Korea. 
iii. He was conferred the title by Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City, Suh Byung-soo during the honorary citizenship ceremony held at Busan.

11. FIPB clears HDFC Bank's proposal to raise Rs 10,000 crore
i. The Foreign Investment Promotion Board has cleared HDFC Bank's proposal to raise Rs 10,000 crore, ending months of struggle by India's most valuable bank by market cap to enhance its capital base. 
ii. Shareholders in May this year allowed the lender to raise Rs 10,000 crore through routes that may include public or private placement as well as domestic or international markets. 
iii. Its efforts to raise overseas funds had been stuck because of a rule that qualified parent HDFC's investment in the bank as foreign. 

12. Sebi bans 260 entities for illegal gains
i. Sebi on Friday banned about 260 people for using the stock market to make illegal gains aggregating Rs 480 crore using the Long Term Capital Gains route available in the Income Tax Act during 2012 and 2014.
ii. Sebi barred 152 entities for making a combined gain of Rs 177 crore by manipulating the stock price of First Financial Services. 
iii. It also banned another 108 entities for making similar gains of Rs 313 crore by manipulating the stock price of Radford Global stock in 2012, the orders said. 

13. Indian-American Richard Rahul Verma sworn in as US ambassador to India

i. Indian-American Richard Rahul Verma has been sworn in as the US Ambassador to India by Secretary of State John Kerry. 
ii. 46-year-old Verma is the first ever Indian-American to be the top US diplomat in New Delhi. 
iii. He is scheduled to arrive in India ahead of Kerry's visit to Delhi next month. US President Barack Obama will arrive in late January to attend the Republic Day Parade on January 26 as the chief guest. 

14. HRD secretary charged in Jagan Reddy assets case
i. For a government that claims only bureaucrats above board will be appointed to senior positions, it came as an embarrassment on Friday as education secretary SN Mohanty appeared before a special.
ii. CBI court in Hyderabad along with 11 other accused in a disproportionate assets case against YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. 

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