17 December 2012 Current Affairs
India and England retain their spots in ICC Test Rankings
Despite losing to England 1-2 in the home Test series, India retained their number five position as per the latest ICC Test Championship rankings issued on 17 December 2012.India, however, dropped a ratings point to 105, and are now four-points behind Pakistan who are placed at the fourth position.England, on the other hand, consolidated their number two slot by adding a point after drawing the final Test at Nagpur, thereby winning a Test series in India after a long gap of 28 years.England now stand just five points behind leaders South Africa who are at 123 points.Australia are positioned at number three in the rankings.
Sharad Pawar Agriculture Minister releases book “For the Grains” written by KV Thomas
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar 17 December 2012 released a book titled ‘For the Grains’ at a function in New Delhi. The book written by Food Minister K V Thomas is a compilation of 37 speeches delivered by him in recent years.
8,462 posts vacant in All India Radio in different categories
There are nearly 8,500 vacancies in different categories in All India Radio (AIR), the Rajya Sabha was on 17 December 2012.Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said of the 8,462 vacancies, 1,314 are Group A posts while there are 1,596 Group B posts, 3,618 Group C and 1,934 group D posts.
IHF Trophy handball: India clinches titles
India clinched both the men’s and women’s titles defeating Pakistan and Bangladesh respectively in the IHF(International Handball Federation)Trophy handball tournament in Kathmandu.
India Developed Indigenous Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Vaccine
First vaccine of the world was developed against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) using the Indian strain of virus. National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune offered the strain of JE virus to Bharat Biotech. This JE virus was gathered from Kolar in Karnataka. Bharat Biotech had submitted results from final human trials to Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) so that it could have marketing clearance. The vaccine is an injectable one and offers protection rate of more than 90 percent. It can be used for age group of 1-15 years.
Rajya Sabha Passed SC/ST Quota Bill
A Constitution 117th amendment bill providing for quota for SCs and STs in government job promotions was on December 17 passed by Rajya Sabha with an overwhelming vote of 206 in the 245-member House.Ten votes were polled against the proposed legislation.The Bill provides for amendments to Article 16(4) of the Constitution that will allow states to reserve seats in promotion for SCs and STs without collecting data to show the backwardness of class and inadequacy of that class in public appointments.
Guinness World’s Oldest Person Dina Manfredini Died
Dina Manfredini (115 Years) the world’s oldest person and a resident of Iowa, has died on 17 December in Johnston .Guinness World Records identified Manfredini as the world’s oldest person on December 5, a day after the death of 116-year-old Besse Cooper of Georgia.
England won Test series in India after 28 years
On 17 December The last test match between India and England of the Tournament England Tour to India ended up as a draw and with this India lost the four-test match cricket series against England .With this win England succeeded in ending a 28 year long wait of winning a test series on Indian Soil. Before this the English side under the captaincy of David Gower won the test series in India 1984-85.