Current Affairs Updates 24 December 2014

Awards and Honors

• Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Freedom Fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India, India's highest civilian award, the President's office announced today.

1. Mr. Vajpayee a three-time Prime Minister considered the gold standard of leadership in the BJP, will be the first leader from the country's political right to be given a Bharat Ratna.
2. Madan Mohan Malaviya is a freedom fighter icon and educationist popularly known as 'Mahamana'

National Affairs

• National Consumer Day observed today with the objective of providing better protection of consumer's interest. This day is being observed since the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted on this day in 1986.
• In observance of "Good Governance Day" on December 25, Minister of Consumer Affairs & Food has decided to have all official work on e-files within three months.

1. Food Minister - Ram Vilas Paswan

BJP appoints 2 observers each for Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir to oversee the election process of legislative party leaders.

1. J P Nadda and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe will be the party observers for Jharkhand while Arun Jaitley and Arun Singh for J&K

International Affairs

• Japan Parliament today re-elected Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister.
• The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has decided to Ease decades old Ban on Blood Donations by Gay Men.