Current Affairs- Today’s Headlines: December 19, 2021

– New generation nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-P tested from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha; has a range of upto 2000 km

– PM lays foundation stone of 594 Km long six-lane Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh; will pass through towns of Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, RaeBareli, Pratapgarh and Prayagraj

– SC directs Madhya Pradesh govt to conduct municipal polls without OBC quota

– 3rd India-Central Asia Dialogue of foreign ministers being held in New Delhi on Dec 18-20

– NCC, NHAI sign Memorandum of Understanding to reuse plastic wastes

– Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Defence Minister launches Rashtriya Ekta Geet composed by NCC Cadets in 22 languages

– Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates Rishihood University in Delhi

– Gujarat: 7 die from blast inside Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited (GFL) in Panchmahal district

– Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Girish Thakorlal Nanavati, who investigated the 1984 anti-Sikh and the 2002 Godhra riots, dies at 86

– India, Germany Development Bank sign 442.26 mn loan pact for Surat Metro Rail Project

– Assam govt. inks loan agreement with Asian Development Bank for setting up Assam Skill University project

– PM GatiShakti: Empowered Group of Secretaries holds its first meeting under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary

– DRDE to set up advanced biological defence lab in Gwalior (MP) to research, fight dangerous viruses

– WHO approves emergency use listing for Serum Institute of India manufactured Covovax

– Australian actress Cate Blanchett (52) felicitated with French cinema’s top honour, the Cesar d’Honneur

– International Migrants Day celebrated on Dec 18; theme: ‘Harnessing the Potential of Human Mobility’

– World Arabic Language Day observed on Dec 18

– China’s oldest person, Alimihan Seyiti, dies at 135

– 12 killed in massive blast in Pakistan’s Karachi city