DAILY GK UPDATE: 28th DECEMBER

1. N Railway makes history by connecting with Kashmir valley:

 Kashmir valley connected with Banihal town..

Note: The history was made by the Northern Railway on Friday by connecting India's longest railway tunnel through the Pir Panjal mountain range, connecting Kashmir Valley to Banihal town passing through the longest tunnel in India.on Srinagar-Jammu National highway. An 11 Kilometer tunnel in this section has been completed with a cost of 1800 crore paving way for the completion of the prestigious project in 2017.
2. Ratan Tata retires as Tata Group Chairman:

Cyrus Mistry appointed as a new Chairman...

Note: Veteran corporate leader Ratan Tata retired as Chairman of Tata Group Friday after successfully heading the group for 50 years. Tata, who turned 75 on Friday has handed over the reins of the group to Cyrus Mistry and appointed Chairman earlier this month. Mistry made a visit to the group’s headquarters Bombay House today and will take charge of the new assignment on Saturday. Mistry was groomed for the assignment by Tata for a year.

Ratan Tata, who helmed the group for 21 years after being chosen successor by his uncle, the iconic JRD Tata, in 1991, is credited with transforming the group through bold decisions. During Ratan Tata's tenure, the group's revenues grew manifold, totaling to 100.09 billion US Dollars in 2011-12 from a turnover of a mere 10,000 crore ruppes in 1991.

3. National Water Resources Council adopts National Water Policy – 2012

Policy highlights the need for the conservation of water resources...

Note: The National Water Resources Council has adopted National Water Policy-2012 at its meeting held in New Delhi on Friday. Water Resource Minister Harish Rawat said that there was broader consensus in the meeting on community management of water resources, climate change adaptation strategy and efficient use of water.
The policy emphasizes on the concept of basin management to promote integrated resources of water management. Mr Rawat said that the proposed National Water Framework Law and river basin management Law would be drafted only after extensive consultation with States so that their powers are not curtailed

4. MS Sahoo appointed as Secretary of Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI):

Appointment will be effective from 1 January 2013..

Note: MS Sahoo, the former member of SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) on 27 December 2012 had been appointed secretary of the Institute of Company Secretaries. He served as the Joint Secretary (non-functional), Director and Joint Director in the Ministry of Finance, as the Chief General Manager with SEBI, and as Economic Adviser with National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE). He had over three decades of rich work experience in self-employment, private sector, public sector, regulator and government in varied functional areas such as reforms, policy, regulations, research and analysis.Before joining the ICSI, he was an eminent legal practitioner in the field of securities laws.

5. 4th World Telgu Conference held in Tirupati:
 Conference was Inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherje...

Note: President Pranab Mukherjee on 27 December 2012 declared open the 4th World Telugu Conference in the presence of thousands of Telugu-speaking people from across the world in the temple town of Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh. The purpose behind the conference is to give a new dimension and vision for the upkeep of Telugu, tracing its history and while naming prominent persons and their contributions and various literary movements.The event marked with the felicitation of 14 eminent Telugus.

6. Security and Exchange Board of India(SEBI) appointed S Raman as Whole Time Member:

Now SEBI has three whole time members, including Prashant Saran and Rajeev Kumar Agarwal..

Note: Indian Market Regulator SEBI on 28 December 2012 appointed S. Raman as Whole-time Member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Prior to this appointment, Raman, had served as Chairman and Managing Director of Canara Bank from September 2010 to September 2012 and had also served as Executive Director of Union Bank of India from October 2008 to August 2010.

7. TRAI restrictsCentral or State government to enter into broadcasting and distribution of TV channels:

Note: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India -TRAI today recommended not allowing Central or State Government or any company or any entity funded by them to enter into the business of broadcasting or distribution of TV channels. It said that the arm’s length relationship between Prasar Bharti and the Government be further strengthened. TRAI has also recommended for taking such measures to ensure functional independence and autonomy of Prasar Bharti. An official release said the recommendations have been made following a reference by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting last month.

8. 65 woman police stations to set up in WB:

Police stations are being set up to tackle crimes against woman...

Note: Addressing a rally at Nagarkata in Jalpaiguri district on Friday Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that ten of them have already been set up. She said that 19 human rights courts and 158 fast track courts have also been set up.

9. Afghan Govt. launches to provide electronic I cards to all citizens:

More than 400 registration teams will be deployed across the country..

Note: Afghan Government has launched a programme to provide electronic identity cards to all its citizens. Afghan Interior Ministry said that more than 400 registration teams will be deployed across the country to collect data and issue cards to all eligible citizens. Recently govt. conducted written examination for the selection of staff for the registration teams. Nearly five thousand candidates, including 340 female candidates took part in the examination. Initially 550 successful applicants will be selected for the job and deployed in 50 teams in Kabul province.

10. General Norman Schwarzkopf passes away:

Note: Retired Army General Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the U.S.-led international coalition that drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait in 1991, has died. He was 78. Schwarzkopf died yesterday of complications from pneumonia in Tampa, Florida, where he lived in retirement.

11. T20 cricket: India beat Pakistan by 11 runs:

India leveled the two match of Twenty20 international cricket series...

Note: Chasing Indian target of 193 runs for a victory, Pakistan finished their innings at 181 for 7 in the stipulated 20 overs. Ashok Dinda claimed 3 Pakistani wickets, while the remaining four were shared by Ishant Sharma, R.Ashwin, Bhuvanesh Kumar and Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj also led India to the mammoth total of 192, the highest Indian score in the twenty-twenty format so far, with his contribution of 72 runs. India and Pakistan will now play a three match One-Day International series beginning Sunday in Chennai.

12. Asian Champions Trophy Hockey: Pakistan defeat India 5-4 in final:

India failed to defend their Men's Asian Champions Trophy Hockey title...

Note: In the final match of the second edition of the event at Doha, the Sardar Singh-led Indian team lost to arch-rivals Pakistan, 4-5 and settled for the silver medal.