23rd December 2014 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Emperor and people of Japan on the eve of the National Day of Japan (Emperor Akihito’s Birthday) today. 

Recent Committees in News

• The committee headed by the well-known economist Vijay Kelkar, appointed to study the issue of balanced development of various regions of Maharashtra, has recommended autonomous status for Vidarbha, noting that the region's population feels neglected.
• It has also recommended shifting of the state secretariat (Mantralaya) to Nagpur, the state's second capital, for the month of December every year.
• The Government today constituted a committee to look into various grievances relating to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
• The committee comprises of Justice G. P. Mathur (Retired Judge of Supreme Court of India) as Chairman and J. P. Aggarwal, Joint Secretary (Judicial) in the Ministry of Home Affairs as Member Secretary.

National Affairs

• Today is Kisan Diwas (National Farmers Day).
• This day was observed every year on 23rd December to celebrate the (112th) birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh,  the fifth Prime Minister of India.
• ‎BJP‬ set to form government in Jharkhand with 42 seats.
• The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today emerged as the single largest party closely followed by BJP in second spot in Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, in a highly fragmented mandate that threw open various options of government-formation.
• At least 40 people have been killed by Bodo militants in different places in Assam today.
• Minister for shipping, road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari today announced massive investments in ports and roads sector in West Bengal which would help boost the state's economy.
• Today he met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat and told the media that the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) along with the state government would construct a port in the Sagar Islands at an investment of Rs 12,000 crore. 
• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of farmers who committed suicide in the state in recent days even as he appealed to the distressed farmers not to resort to such extreme measures as his government was working for their betterment.   

Banking & Economy

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today announced that the deadline for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes of various denominations, including Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, has been extended by another six months till June, 30, 2015.
• Earlier in March 2014, it had set the last date for public to exchange these notes was January 1, 2015.
• Celebrating Kisan Diwas, e-retailing firm Snapdeal.com today announced the launch of “The Agri Store”, offering products like seeds, fertiliser and irrigation tools, among others, to farmers.
• A Hindi version of the store will also be launched soon to aid farmers in making an informed decision, the company said in a statement.

Visitors

• Bangladesh President Md Abdul Hamid today visited Visva Bharati (Santiniketan) and took keen interest in viewing the memorabilia of the Bard. 
• The Bangladesh President had arrived in Delhi on December 18 on a six-day official visit during which he held talks with the Indian leadership.

Deaths

• Tamil director K Balachander (84), considered guru to legendary actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, died in Chennai today.
• He was was hailed as "Iyakunar Sigaram" (peak among directors) in Tamil film industry.
• Among Mr Balachander's best-known films are Aval Ora Thodar Kathai, Apoorva Raagangal, Avargal, Varumayin Niram Sigappu, 47 Natkal and Ek Duuje Ke Liye.
• He was honored with Padma Shri and Dada Sahbe Phalke awards. 
• Actor Booth Colman (91), known for his roles in tv series 'Star Trek', & films like 'Julius Ceasar' passes away.

New Appointments

• Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of the Congress was appointed as Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Science & Technology

• Russia today successfully test-launched its newest heavy-class Angara rocket, which has been developed with a view to launching manned spacecraft, the defence ministry said.

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