Current Affairs Dec 2017 - Appointments
1 - S K Chourasia appointed as DGOF and Chairman of Ordnance Factory Board
Shri Sunil Kumar Chourasia, IOFS, has been appointed as the new Director General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF) and Chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). Manufacturing of new products through collaboration with public and private players is the core mantra of OFB. Previously, Sunil Kumar was Member, OFB and was in charge of Material & Components division. He has served as director in Ministry of Defense from 1992 to 1997 and chief vigilance officer in PSUs from 2002 to 2005.
2 - Dia Mirza appointed as UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India
Former Miss Asia Pacific, actor, producer, entrepreneur and environmentalist, Dia Mirza, was selected as UN Environment’s Goodwill Ambassador for India. Dia will have responsibility to raise awareness and seek solutions to environmental issues. As a Goodwill Ambassador, Dia will work with the United Nations to further spread the message for clean air, clean seas, wildlife protection and climate change.
3 - Ellie Goulding signed as UN Environment Global Goodwill Ambassador
British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding signed on as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for UN Environment, joining the fight to save the lives and habitats of people and animals by cleaning up our air and seas, fighting climate change and protecting species. UN Environment’s global campaign, Breathe Life, is tackling air quality and over 100 cities have joined with the goal of creating clean air in cities by 2030. Ellie is also backing UN Environment’s #CleanSeas campaign. Already 37 governments have joined the Clean Seas campaign.
4 - IPS officer Abhay appointed NCB Director General
According to an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of senior IPS officer Abhay as the Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau, NCB. The ACC has approved his appointment to the post till 18th of November 2019. Mr. Abhay is at present working in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The post was lying vacant after R R Bhatnagar took over as DG of CRPF in April 2017.
5 - Dinesh K Sarraf appointed as Chairman of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board
Former retired Chairman of ONGC, Dinesh K Sarraf was given duties of working as head of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board by the Appointments Cabinet Committee, for a 5-year term or till the age of 65, whichever will be earlier. Due to retirement of many members of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board and absence of new appointments, PNGRB has been practically not functioning for last one year. PNGRB is responsible for refining, transport, trade, supply and marketing of petroleum products. PNGRB board includes a full-time chairman, three members and one Member (legal).
6 - Rahul Gandhi elected as new President of Congress
Rahul Gandhi was unanimously elected for the post of the Congress president. He became the 49th Congress president after he took over the baton from his mother Sonia Gandhi. He is the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to become Congress president. Rahul Gandhi was elevated as the party's vice president in January 2013. He entered electoral politics in 2004. He was appointed as the party general secretary in 2007.
7 - Senior IAS officer Pradeep Singh Kharola appointed as Air India CMD
Karnataka’s 1985-batch IAS officer Pradeep Singh Kharola was selected to the post of Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, replacing Rajiv Bansal. He has experience of working as Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, as the Chairman of Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation Ltd and as principal secretary to the Karnataka Chief Minister. Air India is the flag carrier airline of India that has debt burden of more than Rs 50,000 crore, at present.
8 - Nakul Chopra appointed as chairman of BARC India
President of Advertising Agencies Association of India and Senior Advisor of Public Communications, Nakul Chopra was selected as the 3rd Chairman of Television ratings agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) India. He replaced Viacom18 Group CEO Sudhanshu Vats, who completed his one-year tenure. BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) India is an industry body set up to analyze Television Rating Points of TV Serials, shows and movies of Television(TV) Analytics of India and publishes weekly TV viewership data for India.
9 - Buddhist monk Dhammapiya selected as new secretary general of IBC
Tripura’s buddhist monk Dhammapiya was selected as the new secretary general of the International Buddhist Confederation. Other members to this board, comprise of representatives from Mongolia, Australia, Mexico, Bhutan, Uganda and other countries. Dr Dhammapiya belongs to Tripura’s Manubankul area. International Buddhist Confederation is a confederation based in Delhi, meant for preservation of heritage sites and development of regional cooperation in India and other parts of the world. IBC was founded by Lama Lobzang in 2013. It is first such institution which unites Buddhists from the whole world.
10 - R Hemalatha took charge as Director of National Institute of Nutrition
R Hemalatha has taken chargee as the new Director of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad. Hemalatha is a highly accomplished scientist and has vast experience in the field of maternal and child health, clinical and population-based studies. She has served as secretary of the Nutrition Society of India, is a fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences and a fellow of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences.
11 - UNGA voted against US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital
UN member-states voted on a motion rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, with President Donald Trump threatening to cut funding to countries that back the measure. UN General Assembly decided on a draft resolution reaffirming that Jerusalem is an issue that must be resolved through negotiations and that any decision on its status has no legal effect and must be rescinded. The measure was sent to the General Assembly after it was vetoed by the United States at the Security Council, although all other 14 council members voted in favor.
12 - Justice UD Salvi selected as officiating chief of National Green Tribunal
Justice U D Salvi was selected as officiating chief of National Green Tribunal by Ministry of Environment and Forests, replacing Justice Swatanter Kumar. Justice Swatanter Kumar will retire on February 13, 2018. Since retirement of Justice Swatanter Kumar is due till February, Justice U D Salvi will remain part of five-member panel, to be headed by Chief Justice of India. The National Green Tribunal is meant for speedy disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment.
13 - BCCI appointed Saba Karim as General Manager of Cricket Operations
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Mr Saba Karim as General Manager, Cricket Operations. The General Manager’s post has been lying vacant since the resignation of MV Sridhar. Mr Karim will assume office from January 1, 2018. He will report to Mr Rahul Johri - CEO, BCCI, and assist him in meeting Board's vision and strategy. Saba Karim represented India in one Test and 34 ODIs. He was a national selector from the East Zone in 2012 and later took over as a a television commentator.
