• National

Medical Council (Amendment) Bill passed in LS

• The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill 2018 was passed in the Lok Sabha on 31 December 2018.
• The bill aims to run the Medical Council of India (MCI) through a panel of eminent professionals.
• The powers of the council have been vested in a Board of Governors (BoG).
• It will continue to perform till a Council is constituted.

• International

Tropical storm ‘Usman’ strucks Philippines

• A tropical storm named ‘Usman’ struck the Philippines on 25 December 2018.
• Storm Usman resulted in heavy rain and triggered deadly landslides in the Bicol region in Manila, Philippines.
• The tropical storm Usman emerged as the deadliest weather disaster for the Philippines after typhoon ‘Mangkhut’ in September 2018.

• International

US, Israel quit UNESCO citing bias

• The United States and Israel officially quit the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the end of 2018.
• Both countries had announced their decisions in 2017 of withdrawing from the agency, accusing it of bias against Israel.
• The US has demanded fundamental reform in UNESCO, which was co-founded by it after World War II to foster peace.
• Israel joined the agency in 1949. It is best known for its World Heritage program, which designates cultural sites and aims to preserve traditions.

• Sports

Jasprit becomes highest wicket taker of 2018

• Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah became the highest wicket-taker across all formats in 2018.
• He took 78 wickets in 2018.
• He took 48 wickets in 9 Tests, 22 wickets in 13 ODIs and 8 wickets in 8 T20I matches.
• South Africa’s bowler Kagiso Rabada is at second place, who took 77 wickets in 2018.

• Appointments

V K Yadav appointed as Railway Board Chairman

• The government of India appointed Vinod Kumar Yadav as Chairman of Railway Board (Ministry of Railways).
• He replaced Ashwani Lohani, who retired on 31 December 2018.
• He was the General Manager of South-Central Railway (SCR).
• He belongs to the 1980 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE).

• Important Days

DRDO day is observed on 1 January

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) day is observed on 1 January.
• The DRDO was established in 1958 with just 10 laboratories to enhance the research work in defence sector.
• G Satheesh Reddy is the Chairman of DRDO.
• DRDO works under the Department of Defence Research and Development of Ministry of Defence.

• Defence

No license required under Arms Act to manufacture defence aerospace items

• Manufacturing of items of defence aerospace and warships will now be covered by Industries (Development and Regulation) Act and will not require any licence from the Commerce and Industry Ministry.
• Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), under the ministry, has issued a notification clarifying the defence products’ list requiring compulsory licence under Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951 (IDRA), and Arms Act, 1959 in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Defence Production.

• Obituaries

Veteran actor-writer Kader Khan passed away

• Veteran actor-writer Kader Khan passed away on 31 December 2018.
• He made his acting debut in 1973 with the movie ‘Daag’ and acted in more than 300 films.
• He also wrote dialogues for over 250 movies, with his first film as a dialogue writer being ‘Jawani Diwani’.
• He was also a screenwriter.

• States

WB govt announces two initiatives for farmers

• The West Bengal government announced two welfare initiatives for farmers on 31 December 2018.
• Both initiatives are part of the ‘Krishi Krishak Bondhu’ scheme and will come into effect from 1 January 2019.
• The 1st initiative will provide Rs 2 lakh to the family of a deceased farmer.
• Under the 2nd initiative, farmers will get Rs 2,500 twice a year for growing a single crop on an acre of land.

• States

UP Cabinet decides to set up cow sheds for stray cattle

• The Uttar Pradesh cabinet 01 Jan approved a plan to set up and run temporary ‘gauvansh ashray asthals’ under the urban and rural civic bodies in order to take proper care of stray cattle.
• The state government will levy Cow welfare cess for this purpose.
• Temporary cow sheds (gaushalas) will be opened in all villages, panchayats, municipalities, nagar panchayats and municipal corporations.

• Agreements

Allahabad Bank & SBI Life signed a pact

• Allahabad Bank signed a bancassurance pact with SBI Life Insurance on 31 December 2018.
• Under the pact, the SBI Life Insurance will be able to sell its products through various branches of Allahabad Bank.
• Sanjeev Nautiyal is the CEO & MD of SBI Life Insurance.
• Bancassurance is an arrangement through which an insurance company can sell its products through a bank.