Top 5 Current Affairs This December 2013

1. Jayanthi Natrajan has resigned from the Union Cabinet as Environment and Forests Minister. She is reportedly to play a bigger role in the Congress party ahead of general elections-2014.

2. The Election Commission recognized Aam Aadmi Party as a state party and reserved symbol of broom in Delhi on 19 December 2013. As per laid norms, a party may be recognized by the Election Commission if the party wins at least three percent seats.

3.  The Reserve Bank of India, RBI, has tightened norms for credit card holders. In a notification on Friday, the RBI advised banks to treat a credit card account as a non-performing asset if the customer fails to pay the minimum due amount within a stipulated 90-day period.

4. Usha Sangwan was appointed as the first woman managing director of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) by the Government. She is the first woman director of LIC in its near six decades of existence.
5. IRCON International Limited on 20 December 2013 has been awarded the prestigious India Pride Awards for Excellence in Central PSUs in India Image Enhancement. The award was received by Mohan Tiwari, the CMD of IRCON from M.M. Pallam Raju, the Union Minister for Human Resources Development.

6. Senior advocate P.H. Parekh has been appointed as the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for 2013-14. This is Mr. Parekh’s sixth term as SCBA President.

7. China built a new research station in Antarctica called Taishan. It was China’s fourth research station in the southern pole. The aim of the research station would be to provide a base for research on bio-ecology and remote satellite sensing.

8. Bolivia on 20 December 2013 launched the country’s first telecommunication satellite Tupak Katari. The satellite has been named upon an indigenous national hero, who fought the 18th century Spanish colonial rule.

9. India post 421 in 2nd innings, set 458-run target for South Africa. After extending the lead to over 350 runs, India lost Virat Kohli (96), Rohit Sharma (6) and Cheteshwar Pujara (153) in quick succession.