Daily Current Affairs and GK | 05 December 2019

1. 14,500 NGOs banned in last five years from obtaining foreign funds

• 14,500 NGOs have been banned by the government in last five years from receiving foreign funds.
• These NGOs were registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
• Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai also informed the Rajya Sabha that 1,808 NGOs’ FCRA registration was cancelled for not submitting compulsory annual returns for the fiscal year 2017-18.
• Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA):
  • It is an act of Parliament that was passed in 2010.
  • It was formed to regulate the individuals or associations or companies receiving foreign contributions and to ban the receipt and use of these funds for any activity that can cause a threat to national security.

2. SCs/STs reservation in Lok Sabha, State Assemblies to be extended

• A proposal to extend the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for 10 years has been approved by the Cabinet.
• Presently, there are 84 members from SC and 47 from the ST communities in Parliament, while there are 614 SC members and 554 ST members in total in all the State Assemblies.
• Article 341 and Article 342 of the Indian Constitution are related to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, respectively.

3. Citizenship (Amendment) Bill approved by the Cabinet

• The Union Cabinet has approved Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which will be soon introduced in the Parliament.
• The Bill will amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to consider illegal migrants of six communities viz. Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh eligible for Indian Citizenship.
• The bill relaxes the criteria for acquiring citizenship from 11 years to 6 years for these persons.
• Articles 5-11 of the Indian Constitution describes who will be considered Citizen of India.

4. Four key development projects inaugurated in Maldives

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih jointly inaugurated four development projects through video conferencing.
• These projects include lighting up of Male using LED lights and the launch of RuPay card.
• A Fast Interceptor Craft was gifted to the Maldives which will enhance Maldives’ maritime security and promote tourism.
• Construction of a Cancer Hospital and a Cricket Stadium in Hulhulmale, Maldives, is underway.

5. MoU between ECI and EC of Maldives approved by Cabinet

• An MoU signed between Election Commission of India and Election Commission of Maldives on cooperation in the field of Electoral Management and Administration has been approved by the Union Cabinet.
• There will be an exchange of knowledge, experience, and technical assistance and support in capacity building.
• Election Commission of India (ECI):
  • It is an autonomous body that finds mention under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
  • It is responsible for conducting elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and State Legislative Councils, Office of President and Vice President.
  • Chief Election Commissioner: Sunil Arora

6. New potash mineral resources found in Rajasthan

• Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found potash mineral resources in Nagaur and Bikaner districts of Rajasthan.
• This information was given by the Minister of Mines, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi in Lok Sabha.
• GSI also claimed 2476.58 million tonnes of Potash in Nagaur-Ganganagar Basin, which covers part of Nagaur, Churu, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, and Shri Ganganagar Districts of Rajasthan.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI):
  • It is a government organization that functions under the Ministry of Mines.
  • It was established in 1851 to find coal deposits for Railways.
  • Headquarters: Kolkata

7. India and ADB sign $206 million loan agreement

• India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed an agreement to provide a $206 million loan for the development of water supply and sewerage infrastructure in 5 cities of Tamil Nadu.
• These cities include Ambur, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruppur, Vellore and Madurai.
• The project will enable Urban Local Bodies to provide quality services.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB):
  • It is an international financial institution that provides assistance to the developing nations of Asia and the Pacific region for their social and economic development.
  • Its operations began in 1966.
  • Members: 68
  • Headquarters: Manila, Philippines

8. NCT of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorized Colonies) Bill, 2019 passed in Parliament

• National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorized Colonies) Bill, 2019, has been passed in Parliament with the approval of Rajya Sabha.
• The bill aims to give ownership rights to over 40 lakh residents of 1731 unauthorized colonies in Delhi.
• DDA will soon launch a portal for the application after the uploading of maps of delineated colonies.

9. World Soil Day: 5^th December

• World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5th December to raise awareness regarding the importance of healthy soil and the need for the sustainable management of soil resources.
• In December 2013, the UN General Assembly designated 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.
• 2019 Theme-"Stop Soil Erosion, Save our Future"

10. Ballon d’Or Awards 2019 announced

• The winners for 2019 Ballon d’Or Awards have been announced by France Football magazine.  
• Lionel Messi of Argentina has been presented with Ballon d’Or Award.
• He won the award for the 6^th time (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015).

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When did the Parliament pass the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)?

1. 2011
2. 2010
3. 2012
4. 2013

Correct Answer: (b)

2. Which of the following articles of the Indian Constitution mention Scheduled Tribes?

1. Article 341
2. Article 342
3. Article 343
4. Article 344

Correct Answer: (b)

3. According to the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the persons of six communities viz. Hindu, Sikh, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians belonging to which of the following countries will not be considered illegal migrants?  

1. Afghanistan
2. Pakistan
3. Nepal
4. Bangladesh

Correct Answer: (c)

4. A Cancer Hospital and Cricket Stadium are being developed in Hulhulmale with support from India. In which of the following countries Hulhulmale is located?

1. Vietnam
2. Laos
3. Maldives
4. USA

Correct Answer: (c)

5. Recently, an MoU has been signed between India and Maldives in which of the following fields?

1. Elections
2. Health
3. Film
4. Tourism

Correct Answer: (a)

6. In which of the following Indian States Geological Survey of India (GSI) founded Potash mineral resources?

1. Tamil Nadu
2. Kerala
3. Karnataka
4. Rajasthan

Correct Answer: (d)

7. Recently, an agreement has been signed between India and ADB to provide a loan of $260 million for the development of water supply and sewerage infrastructure in 5 cities of which of the following States?

1. Bihar
2. Uttar Pradesh
3. Tamil Nadu
4. Punjab

Correct Answer: (c)

8. The first World Soil Day was celebrated in-

1. 2007
2. 2014
3. 2010
4. 2009

Correct Answer: (b)

9. Who among the following has won the Ballon d’Or Award 2019?

1. Cristiano Ronaldo
2. Lionel Messi
3. Ashley Cole
4. John Terry

Correct Answer: (b)