Daily Current Affairs : 26th December 2013

1. Narendra Modi gets a clean chit in Gujarat riots case. In a big relief to BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, an Ahmedabad court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by Zakia Jafri against the closure report of Special Investigation Team (SIT) which gave a clean chit to the Gujarat Chief Minister in connection with the 2002 post-Godhra riots case. Zakia Jafri is the wife of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was among 69 people killed in the Gulberg Society massacre in Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002.

2. Couple of bitcoin operators in India have begun suspending their business after RBI’s warning against use of such virtual currencies due to potential money laundering and cyber security risks. While RBI is yet to come out with a clear regulatory framework for bitcoins, which have been gaining currency across the world over the past few months, it has issued an advisory cautioning general public against use of bitcoins and other virtual currencies.

Bitcoin :  Bitcoin is a virtual currency that can be generated through complex computer software systems with solutions shared on a network, although the process is complex and such 'mining' can be done only on very powerful servers. Hardly three years into existence, bitcoin has already become the world's most expensive currency and its per unit value soared past USD 1,000 level or about Rs 63,000 recently, although the prices have now slipped below Rs 50,000 level. Bitcoin came into existence in 2009 and the current number of bitcoin units generated so far stands at about 12 million.

3. The Union Cabinet has approved granting of constitutional status to proposed Judicial Appointments Commission, JAC, for appointment and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary today. The status would ensure that composition of the commission cannot be altered through an ordinary legislation.

4. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the proposal of Axis Bank for increase in foreign investment from 49 percent to 62 percent. This is subject to the aggregate foreign institutional investors holding not exceeding 49 percent of the paid up equity share capital of the bank," an official statement said.

5. The Central Government has appointed Arun Tiwari as Chairman & Managing Director of Union Bank of India. Prior to this, He was an executive director at Allahabad Bank.

6. Senior IAS officer Ashok Lavasa was today appointed as Civil Aviation Secretary. The 1980 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre is currently Special Secretary in Ministry of Power. He will take charge after superannuation of incumbent K N Srivastava, a 1978 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre, this month end, said an official release by Ministry of Personnel.

7. Senior IPS officer J N Choudhury has been appointed as head of National Security Guard (NSG) in place of Arvind Ranjan who will take over as the full-time chief of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The Union Home Ministry issued the orders today on the appointments to the two important central security forces.

8. Senior IPS officer Arvind Ranjan will take over as the full-time chief of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in place of J N Choudhury. The Union Home Ministry issued the orders today on the appointments to the two important central security forces. Mr. Ranjan, a 1977-batch officer of Kerala cadre with a wide experience in central paramilitary forces, took over the full charge of the 1.47-lakh strong CISF on Thursday at its headquarters here.

9. The Union Cabinet today approved a pension proposal for 43,000 MTNL employees, who joined the public sector company from Department of Telecom. The pension proposal will cost the government an estimated 500 crore rupees annually.

10. The Punjab govt launched a pension scheme for the registered construction workers of the state under which those aged 60 and above will be paid up to Rs 10,000 annually. The construction workers registered with the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board, who have attained the age of 60 years, would be benefited under the new scheme, a spokesman said in Chandigarh. Those enrolled with the board for five years would get Rs 4,000 per year, while those for 10 years would be paid Rs 6,000 per year.

11. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Pakistan's richest parliamentarian. The fortune of the elected representatives in Pakistan range from billions of rupees to just a few lakhs. Several legislators are industrialists owning sugar and textile mills, landlords and businessmen. Sharif, as per the declarations, owns agriculture land worth Rs 1.43 billion, has made investments of over Rs 13 million – he has shares in six different mills – and has Rs 126 million in seven bank accounts. He also owns a Toyota Land Cruiser 2010 as well as the 1973 and 1991 models of Mercedes Benz. The premier also owns a 1991 model tractor.

12. Deepika Kumari creates national record in women's 50 m archery. Top ranked women recurve archer Deepika Kumari has created a national record in women's 50 metre round in the 34th Senior National Archery Championship in Jamshedpur. World Cup silver medallist Deepika shot 346 points breaking the previous record of 333 points held by Olympian L Bombayla Devi. In the Men's section, Atanau Das emerged winner in the individual Olympic round. Olympian pair of Jayanta Talukdar and Deepika Kumari won the recurve mixed team event.

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