Current Affairs 17 Dec.2016
Accent Institute Hisar

• Union Government is going to deploy 600 young professionals as Zila Swachh Bharat Preraks (ZSBPs), one in each district across the country to boost Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for a period of one year.
• These professionals will be geared to strengthen cleanliness capacities at district level, and provide them technical and management support to make them Open Defecation Free.
• ZSBPs will be to support the Collector/CEO/DDO to implement Swachh Bharat Mission by coordinating the various sanitation-related activities in the district.
• The cadre will be funded and recruited by the Tata Trusts, at no extra cost to the State government or the Union Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation.
• Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation awarded Digital India Silver Award The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation in Tamil Nadu has been selected for Digital India Silver Award instituted by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• It will receive award in the category of “Most Innovative Citizen Engagement” and also for installing and implementing free WiFi Scheme in its various offices.
• The award was instituted for leveraging use of Information and Communication Technology to solicit active engagement of public in the process of governance.
• State Governments can levy property tax on mobile towers: SC
• Supreme Court has ruled that state governments can impose property tax on mobile towers as the levy was on the land and building and not on the use of the plant and machinery.
  With this ruling, the apex court set aside the 2013 verdict of the Gujarat High Court holding that the levy of property tax on mobile towers by state government was beyond its competence.
  Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana comes into effect
• The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) notified along with other provisions of Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 2016 came into effect from 17 December 2016.
• It will remain open until March 31, 2016.

  Union Government issues Notification of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2016

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued the draft notification for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2016 to regulate pet shops.
  China seizes US underwater drone in South China Sea Chinese
• Navy warship has seized an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) deployed by American oceanographic vessel in Subic Bay off Philippines coast in South China Sea (SCS).
• The UUV was deployed by USNS Bowditch, an oceanographic survey ship to test water salinity and temperatures to help in the mapping of underwater channels.
• Its seizure has triggered formal diplomatic protest from the US and a demand for its return.
• US has clearly mentioned that the UUV was in international waters in the SCS.
• It also adds to concerns about China’s increased military presence and aggressive posture in the disputed South China Sea, including its militarization of maritime outposts.
  Costa Rica scraps entry for EU Schengen, Japan visa holders
• Tropical Central American country Costa Rica has changed its migration policy to stop visitors using visas for the European Union’s Schengen zone or for Japan from entering the country. These changes were based on international accords. Earlier, citizens from these countries did not required visa at all to enter Costa Rica. But now they may be required to seek a visa from a Costa Rican embassy or consulate.  The EU’s Schengen zone encompasses 26 countries, including some non-EU countries. Persons can cross internal borders within this zone without being subjected to border checks or visa.