Important Weekly Current Affairs PDF Download (01st to 07th March 2020)

By Priyanka Priya - Mar 12 2020

Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of 1st week March 2020. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBI Clerk 2020 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

World Rare Disease Day

  • Every Year, last date of February is observed as World Rare Disease Day. It was first launched by Eurordis in 2008. It aims to create awareness about the impacts of the disease.
  • Theme: Reframe Rare for Rare Disease Day

Zero Discrimination Day

  • Zero Discrimination Day is observed each year on 1 March.
  • The Day was launched by UNAIDS in 2014. Theme: Zero Discrimination Against Women And Girls

World Civil Defence Day

  • World Civil Defence Day, created by decision of the ICDO General Assembly in 1990, is celebrated every year on the 1st of March

Be updated with Daily Current affairs News

Janaushadhi Week 

  • Janaushadhi week is being celebrated across the country from 1stMarch to 7th March.
  • On this occasion various activities like health checkup Camp, Jan Aushadhi Paricharcha, Jan Aushadhi ka sath are being undertaken

National Safety Day

  • National Safety Day is celebrated in India on 4th March by the National Safety Council of India.
  • This day is celebrated to make people get safe from several issues like financial loss, health problems and also any other problems that people are facing in their life

National Dentist’s Day

  • National Dentist’s Day is observed annually everyMarch 6.
  • The day is also a day to remind everyone about the importance of regular dental checkups, and to encourage proper dental care.

Jan aushadhi Diwas

  • Jan aushadhi Diwas celebrated on 7th march of every year.
  • The Jan aushadhi Divas aims to provide further impetus and create awareness about the use of generic medicines.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

President Kovind gives nod for resuming delimitation exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland

  • President Ram Nath Kovind gave his nod for resuming delimitation exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland.
  • A Delimitation Commission was set up under the Delimitation Act, 2002 to readjust the division of each state and union territory into territorial constituencies for the purpose of Lok Sabha and state assembly elections on the basis of census figures of 2001

Shri Amit Shah inaugurates the campus of NSG Regional Hub at Kolkata

  • Presiding over the inauguration of the National Security Guard (NSG) Regional Hub campus at Kolkata Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah termed this as an important step in the direction of giving adequate facilities to the brave NSG jawans, which are important for them to function unhindered in ensuring the security of the Nation

Tourism Minister, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel to launch multilingual Incredible India website in New Delhi

  • The Minister of State (IC) for Tourism & Culture, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel will launch the multilingual Incredible India website in New Delhi . The launch event will witness participation by key stakeholders of tourism industry, foreign ambassadors, foreign correspondents, major associations among others

Government allows airlines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services

  • The central government permitted airlines operating in India to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services to passengers, according to official notification.
  • The Pilot-in-Command may permit the access of Internet services by passengers on board an aircraft in flight, through Wi-Fi on board, when laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, e-reader or a point of sale device is used in flight mode or airplane mode, the notification stated

Government cites concerns over divesting stake below 51 per cent in NTPC, PowerGrid

  • The Power Ministry has raised concerns over the proposed strategic divestment of government equity in NTPC, PFC and PowerGrid, which may bring down its stake to below 51 per cent.
  • Earlier, under disinvestment plan, it was proposed to divest government equity below 51 per cent of its stake in certain public sector undertakings, including NTPC, PowerGrid and Power Finance Corporation (PFC)

Govt suspends all visas granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea & Japan

  • Government has suspended all regular visa and e-visa granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan with immediate effect. Health Ministry stated that those requiring to travel to India due to compelling reasons may seek fresh visa from the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate

IWD 2020: Thinlas Chorol sets up first women’s travel company in Ladakh

  • The International Women’s Day will be celebrated on 8th of this month. Government has taken series of initiatives to empower women. People are using the #IWD 2020 and #BetiPadhaoDeshBadhao to share uplifting stories in the run up to International Women’s Day

Cabinet gives nod for FDI policy on civil aviation; NRIs can acquire up to 100% equity in Air India

  • The Cabinet approved Foreign Direct Investment, FDI policy on civil aviation.  Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar stated, FDI policy was amended to permit foreign investment in Air India
  • Non Resident Indians can acquire up to 100 per cent equity in Air India under automatic route

Cabinet gives nod to Companies Second Amendment Bill to enable Indian firms to list on foreign exchanges

  • Union Cabinet has approved the Companies (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 to amend the Companies Act, 2013. This will enable the listing of Indian companies on stock exchanges in foreign jurisdictions. The listing of Indian companies in foreign stock exchanges is expected to increase the competitiveness of Indian companies in terms of access to capital, broader investor base and better valuations

Centre launches second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)

  • The Centre has launched the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)- SBM(G) Phase-II. It will be implemented from 2020-2021 to 2024-2025 in a mission mode with an outlay of one lakh 40 thousand 881 crore rupees. Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat  launched the second phase of the mission at a National Dissemination and Consultation workshop in New Delhi

Govt announces one-time amnesty scheme for non-compliant LLPs

  • The Ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) has launched a one-time amnesty scheme for Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) companies that have failed to file the requisite statutory documents such as annual statements, change in directors, etc.
  • The move is aimed at promoting ease of doing business as well as to cleanse the system

Government nod to automated facial recognition system for identification of bodies, missing children, criminals

  • The Home Ministry has given approval to the automated facial recognition system (AFRS) for identification of unrecognised bodies, missing children and criminals by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
  • AFRS will use police records and will be accessible only to law enforcement agencies

Health Ministry organizes a national level training workshop for all the states on COVID-19 management

  • Health Ministry is organizing a national level training workshop for all the states and hospitals from other Ministries on COVID-19 management.
  • The workshop to be organized in New Delhi, will train the trainers for COVID-19

Setu Bharatam scheme: All level crossings on NH to be replaced by Over/under Bridges

  • Government aimed to replace all the level crossings on National Highways by Road Over Bridges or Road Under Bridges under the Setu Bharatam scheme.
  • The programme is being implemented by Road Transport and Highways Ministry to ensure safe and smooth flow of traffic and reduced road fatalities by 50 percent by 2020

Aurangabad Airport renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport

  • The Maharashtra Government renamed the Aurangabad Airport as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport, the son of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Google to launch cloud region in Delhi, its second in India

  • Google plans to open a Delhi cloud region, the company’s second in India since it launched one in Mumbai in 2017.
  • The new cloud region will take Google’s existing network to eight in the Asia Pacific region and 22 globally.

STATIC GK

Google

  • Headquarters– California, United States
  • CEO– Sundar Pichai

Ministry of power:

  • Preceding Ministry: Ministry of Energy Sources
  • Founded: 2 July 1992
  • Headquarters: Shram Shakti Bhavan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi
  • Minister responsible: Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge)

Ministry of Tourism:

  • The Ministry of Tourism, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to the development and promotion of tourism in India.
  • Officeholder: Prahlad Singh Patel (MOS independent charge)
  • Founded: 1967
  • Headquarters: New Delhi

Air India:

  • CEO: Pradeep Singh Kharola
  • Headquarters: New Delhi

Swachh bharat mission:

  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission was a nation-wide campaign from 2014 to 2019 to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of cities, towns, and rural areas.
  • Launch year: 2014
  • Launched by (prime minister): Narendra Modi
  • Slogan: One step towards cleanliness
  • Location: New Delhi

Ministry of corporate affairs (MCA)

  • Ministry of corporate affairs – Nirmala Sitharaman
  • Constituency- Andhra Pradesh, Rajya Sabha

MHA

  • Minister of Home Affairs – Amit Shah
  • Constituency- Gandhinagar, Gujarath.
  • Minister of State (MoS)- G Kishan Reddy, and Nityanand Rai

Health Ministry

  • Minister of Health and Family Welfare – Harsh Vardhan
  • Constituency- Chandni Chowk, New Delhi.
  • Minister of State (MoS)- Faggan Singh Kulaste

Ministry for Road Transport & Highways

  • MORTH-Nitin Jairam Gadkari
  • Constituency- Nagpur, Maharashtra.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

China assumes presidency of UN Security Council for March 2020

  • China has taken over as president of the UN Security Council for the month of March 2020, pledging to promote solidarity and cooperation in this capacity. China’s permanent representative to the UN, Zhang Jun stated his country attaches great importance to the work during its presidency and will act responsibly and constructively

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu claims victory in general elections

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory in the general elections. Exit polls indicated that Mr Netanyahu is in a strong position to form the next government

Saudi Arabia starts issuance of permanent premium residency permit to foreigners

  • Saudi Arabia started the issuance of Permanent Premium Residency Permit to Foreigners, Indian investor Yosuffali M A, Chairman of the Lulu group became one of the first to be given the permanent residency permit by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

World Bank announces 12 bn aid package to help countries combat coronavirus outbreak

  • World Bank has unveiled a 12 billion dollar aid package that will provide fast-track funds to help countries combat the coronavirus outbreak. World Bank President David Malpass told reporters that the goal is to provide fast, effective action that responds to country needs.

Indian-American Seema Verma named as key member of coronavirus task force in US

  • Leading Indian-American health policy consultant Seema Verma has been appointed as one of the key members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force constituted by US President Donald Trump to combat the deadly disease that has claimed six lives in the country and infected over 90 others.

UN appeals for USD 877 million to help Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

  • The United Nations appealed for nearly USD 900 million to help hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees and vulnerable host communities in Bangladesh this year.
  • The UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration and other partners launched a joint appeal for USD 877 million (789 million euros)

Sri Lanka to lead science, technology and innovation sector in BIMSTEC

  • Sri Lanka will lead the science, technology and innovation sector in the BIMSTEC and a facility for technology transfer is planned to be opened in the future. This was agreed during the  20th Session of the senior officials’ meeting chaired by Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha in Colombo

Luxembourg becomes first country to make all public transport free

  • In an attempt to reduce traffic jams, Luxembourg has become the first country in the world to make all public transport free from February 29. This is the first time that the decision to offer free public transport has covered an entire country, the transport ministry stated.
Country Capital Currency
China Beijing Renminbi President: Xi Jinping
Israel Jerusalem Israeli Shekel Prime minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
Saudi Arabia Riyadh Saudi riyal Crown prince :Mohammad bin Salman

King: Salman
Luxembourg Luxembourg city Euro Euro
Turkey Ankara Turkish lira President– Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Slovenia Ljubljana  Euro President– Borut Pahor

 

STATIC GK:

BIMSTEC:

  • The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation is an international organisation of seven nations of South Asia and South East Asia, housing 1.5 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion.
  • The BIMSTEC member states—Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand , Nepal and Bhutan [6]—are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
  • Headquarters location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Founded: 6 June 1997

World bank:

  • Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
  • Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)
  • Founded: 1944
  • President : David Malpass
  • MD and CFO :Anshula Kant
  • Chief Economist :Penny Goldberg

United Nations:

  • Headquarters: New York, United States
  • Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
  • Secretary general: António Guterres

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING  AND FINANCE

  • GST collection crosses Rs one lakh crore mark in February
  • Government has collected over one lakh five thousand crore rupees as Goods and Services Tax in February this year which is eight percent more than the GST collected in the same month of last year

Govt to infuse Rs. 200 crore in IFCI next fiscal

  • The government has decided to pump ₹200 crore into Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI), the country’s oldest term lending institution, through the preferential allotment route next fiscal to shore up its capital and enhance operations

Bank credit growth dips to 8.5 per cent in January: RBI data

  • Bank loan growth to NBFCs slowed to 2 per cent in the reporting month from a growth of 48.3 per cent a year-ago
  • Bank credit growth declined to 5 per cent in January from 13.5 per cent in the year-ago period led by a sharp slowdown in loans to the services sector, according to the data compiled by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

OECD slashes India’s FY21 growth forecast to 5.1% on coronavirus woes

  • Global agency OECD lowered India’s GDP growth forecast to 1 per cent, from its earlier projection of 6.2 per cent, for 2020 on concerns over the impact of deadly coronavirus on the domestic as well as the global economy
  • According to the latest OECD Interim Economic Outlook Forecasts, India’s real GDP growth is expected at 5.1 per cent during the fiscal year starting April 1, 2020, and improve to 5.6 per cent in the following year. The latest projection for 2020-21 is 1.1 percentage point lower than the November 2019 forecast

NABARD infuses Rs 1.46 lakh cr in rural banking system during current fiscal

  • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has infused 46 lakh crore rupees in the rural banking system during the current fiscal.
  • NABARD has stated that 66,397 crore rupees have been given in short-term credit and 6,704 crore rupees in long-term credit to rural cooperative banks

Govt introduces bill to amend banking laws to strengthen cooperative banks

  • The Government, introduced a bill in Lok Sabha which seeks to protect the interest of small depositors by bringing cooperative banks under the RBI regulations.
  • Introducing the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated the bill is the “need of the hour” to avoid a PMC Bank-like crisis in the future

Govt has collected Rs 7.52 trillion direct tax in Apr-Jan

  • The government has collected over Rs 7.52 trillion as direct taxes till January 31 of the current fiscal. The Revised Estimate (RE) has pegged the target for collection of direct taxes for the current fiscal, which ends on March 31, at Rs 11.70 trillion

RBI’s new measures will see banks’ dependence on CDs, TDs coming down

  • The requirement of certificates of deposits (CDs) and term deposits (TDs) for banks will come down while their rates could see downward pressure in the wake of the Reserve Bank of India providing long-term funding at a fixed rate (current average rate 5.15 per cent) along with the relaxation in cash reserve ratio (CRR) for incremental loan book growth in certain segments, according to India Ratings (Ind-Ra)

Yes Bank withdrawl limit capped at Rs 50000

  • The government restricted withdrawal from capital starved Yes Bank at ₹50,000 in the next one month. This restriction, which came into effect from March 05, 6 pm, will remain in place April 3, 2020.
  • Yes Bank cannot make in aggregate, payment to a depositor of a sum exceeding Rs. 50,000 lying to his credit, in any savings, current or any other deposit account till April 3rd

NPCI doubles UPI transaction limit to Rs 2 lakh for some payments

  • The National Payments Corporation of India or NPCI, the umbrella organization for retail payments systems, has doubled the per transaction payment limit for Unified Payments Interface or UPI to Rs 2 lakh for some payments.
  • The committee has approved to increase the current limit of Rs 1 lakh per transaction to Rs 2 lakh. This is to fulfill specific needs, including payments for credit cards, loans, insurance, and mutual fund investments

STATIC GK:

IFCI:

  • IFCI, previously Industrial Finance Corporation of India, is a Non-Banking Finance Company in the public sector. Established in 1948 as a statutory corporation, IFCI is currently a company listed on BSE and NSE. IFCI has seven subsidiaries and one associate.
  • CEO: Emandi Sankara Rao
  • Founded: 1 July 1948

NABARD:

  • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development is an Apex Development Financial Institution in India. The Bank has been entrusted with “matters concerning Policy Planning and Operations in the field of credit for Agriculture and other Economic activities in Rural areas in India”.
  • Founded: 12 July 1982
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Agency executive: Harsh Kumar Bhanwala (Chairperson)
  • Purpose: Development assistance; Poverty Reduction

OECD:

  • The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 36 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.
  • Headquarters: Paris, France
  • Founded: 30 September 1961
  • Secretary-General: José Ángel Gurría

RBI:

  • The Reserve Bank of India is India’s central bank, which controls the issue and supply of the Indian rupee. RBI is the regulator of entire Banking in India. RBI plays an important part in the Development Strategy of the Government of India.
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
  • Governor: Shaktikanta Das .There are four deputy governors B. P. Kanungo, N. S. Vishwanathan, Mahesh Kumar Jain, and Michael Patra.

Yes Bank

  • Headquarters– Mumbai
  • MD and CEO– Ravneet Gill
  • Tagline– Experience our Expertise

NPCI

  • Headquarters– Mumbai
  • Chairman– Dilip Asbe

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

RBL, Zomato launch co-branded credit card offering cash back and loyalty membership benefits

  • RBL Bank and Zomato launched a co-branded credit card, powered by Mastercard, in a bid to tap the potential of online food delivery market which has been expanding beyond big cities.The co-branded card, which comes in two variants — Edition and Edition Classic, will offer benefits such as Zomato Gold membership, cash back as well as airport lounge access

Indian Railways turns old coaches to restaurant on wheels

  • Indian Railways launched its first ‘Restaurant on Wheels’ at the circulating area of Asansol railway station for the use of passengers as well as the general public of Asansol.
  • The Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Babul Supriyo, inaugurated this first of its kind restaurant at a program held in Asansol, West Bengal

Fitch cuts India growth forecast to 4.9 per cent for fiscal year 2020-21

  • Fitch Ratings cut its forecast for India’s economic growth to 9 per cent in the current fiscal on weak domestic demand and supply chain disruptions due to the coronavirus outbreak.
  • It stated that the GDP growth is forecast to recover slightly to 4 per cent in 2020-21 (April 2020 to March 2021)

Unemployment rate rises to 7.78 per cent in February, highest in four months

  • India’s unemployment rate rose to 78 per cent in February from 7.16 per cent in January, the highest since October last year, according to a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).
  • According to the Mumbai-based private think-tank, the unemployment rate in rural areas surged to 37 per cent in February 2020 from 5.97 per cent in January

FDI inflow dips 1.4% to $ 10.67 bn in October-December

  • Foreign direct investment into India dipped marginally by 1.4 per cent to $ 10.67 billion (about Rs 76,800 crore) during October-December period of 2019-20, according to government data.
  • Inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) during October-December of 2018-19 stood at $ 10.82 billion. FDI inflows in July-September period of the current financial year stood at $ 9.77 billion.

BEE launches star rating programme for Deep Freezer and Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC) 

  • The Star Labelling Programme has been formulated by Bureau of Energy Efficiency, as part of its mandate, under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. Under this Programme, BEE has covered 24 appliances till date wherein 10 appliances are under mandatory regime. On the occasion of 19th foundation day, BEE has expanded the coverage by including Energy Efficient “Deep Freezers” and “Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC)”.

Paytm arm gets IRDAI brokerage licence

  • Paytm is set to make a foray into the business of selling insurance products with subsidiary Paytm Insurance Broking securing a brokerage license from the sector regulator Insurance Regulatory and Authority of India (IRDAI).
  • The company plans to offer insurance products across four categories including auto, health, and life.

Pine Labs, ZestMoney to offer instant credit, EMI to customers at PoS

  • Merchant commerce platform Pine Labs has partnered with consumer lending fintech Zest Money to provide in-store, digital equated monthly instalment (EMI) options to customers. This will be available through Pine Labs’ Plutus and Plutus Smart point-of-sale (PoS) devices.

ICICI Prudential AMC ties up Saraswat Co-op Bank to tap rural potential

  • ICICI Prudential AMC has tied up with Saraswat Co-operative Bank, the largest in the urban co-operative banking space in India, to distribute its products with the bank’s customers.
  • The tie-up Saraswat Co-operative Bank will offer investment products of ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund to its customers, through its 280 branches, spread across six States.

IRDAI asks insurance companies to design policies to cover coronavirus

  • Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, IRDAI has asked insurers to expeditiously settle hospitalisation claims related to novel coronavirus disease under health policies. the Regulator has instructed insurance companies to come out with policies to cover treatment costs for coronavirus infection.

Microsoft, Accenture join to provide tech support to social enterprise startups

  • Intending to help deepen the reach of entrepreneurs and start-ups that are focused on social impact and sustainability, the joint initiative by Microsoft and Accenture aims to provide hands-on support and technologies to social enterprises, helping them build scalable solutions and business models that can lead to more tangible and lasting benefits.

Zomato buys UberEats India for $206 million

  • Ride-hailing major Uber sold its food delivery business in India to food-tech giant Zomato for $206 million according to the firm’s recent regulatory filings.
  • Zomato had acquired UberEats India in January in an all-stock transaction with UberEats selling the business for a 9.99 per cent stake in the online food delivery business.

After Mumbai, Google to launch its cloud infrastructure in Delhi by 2021

  • Google announced that it plans to open cloud region in Delhi that is expected to be operational by
  • This will be the company’s second cloud region in India; the first one was in Mumbai that was launched in 2017

STATIC GK:

Zomato

  • CEO- Deepinder Goyal
  • Headquarters: DLF Phase V, Gurugram, Haryana, India
  • Founded: July 2008

Google

  • Headquarters– California, United States
  • CEO– Sundar Pichai

IRDAI:

  • Founded: 1999
  • Headquarters: Hyderabad
  • Chairperson: Subhash Chandra Khuntia

Uber:

  • CEO: Dara Khosrowshahi
  • Founded: March 2009,
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance:

  • CEO: N. S. Kannan (19 Jun 2018–)
  • Headquarters: Mumbai

Saraswat Bank

  • Saraswat bank is an urban co-operative banking institution based in Maharashtra, India and operating as a co-operative society since 1918. The Founding Members of the society were Mr. J.K. Parulkar as Chairman, Mr. N.B. Thakur as Vice Chairman, Mr. P.N. Warde as Secretary, and Mr. Shivram Gopal Rajadhyaksha as Treasurer.

Microsoft:

  • CEO: Satya Nadella
  • Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States
  • Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen

Accenture:   

  • CEO: Julie Sweet
  • Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland

Paytm:

  • Founded: 2010
  • CEO: Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Dec 2010–)
  • Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh

IRDAI:

  • Founded: 1999
  • Headquarters: Hyderabad
  • Chairperson: Subhash Chandra Khuntia

Pine labs:

  • Pine Labs is an Indian merchant platform company that provides financing and last-mile retail transaction technology, founded in 1998.
  • Headquarters: Noida
  • Lokvir Kapoor : Executive Chairman
  • Vicky Bindra: Chief Executive Officer

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE),

  • The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is an agency of the Government of India, under the Ministry of Power created in 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the nation’s 2001 Energy Conservation Act. The agency’s function is to develop programs which will increase the conservation and efficient use of energy in India.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Purpose: Development of policies and strategies, with an emphasis on self-regulation and market principles

FDI:

  • A foreign direct investment (FDI) is an investment made by a firm or individual in one country into business interests located in another country. Generally, FDI takes place when an investor establishes foreign business operations or acquires foreign business assets in a foreign company. However, FDIs are distinguished from portfolio investments in which an investor merely purchases equities of foreign-based companies.

RBL bank

  • Founded :1943
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • MD & CEO : Mr Vishwavir Ahuja

Fitch ratings:

  • Fitch Ratings Inc. is an American credit rating agency and is one of the “Big Three credit rating agencies”, the other two being Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. It is one of the three nationally recognized statistical rating organizations designated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 1975.
  • Headquarters: New York, United States
  • CEO: Paul Taylor

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

Kerala High Court bans all forms of agitations in schools, colleges

  • The Kerala High Court banned all forms of agitations by student groups in school and college campuses in the state that disrupt the functioning of educational institutions

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla launches ‘Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan’ in Kota

  • Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has stated that society should also come forward to remove malnutrition problems in the country. Mr. Birla was addressing the program after launching the ‘Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan’  in his constituency Kota

Bihar government raises India’s first tribal women battalion

  • The Bihar government raised the country’s first tribal women police battalion named the ‘Bihar Police Swabhiman Vahini’ with a strength of 675 constables

Punjab prohibits online supply of food from FBOs not possessing hygiene rating

  • Punjab Food & Drug Administration prohibits online supply of food from FBOs not possessing hygiene rating. Ban also applicable on FBOs having less than three marks in hygiene rating

Historic City Chowk in Jammu renamed as ‘Bharat Mata Chowk’

  • The historic City Chowk, the commercial hub in old Jammu, was renamed as ‘Bharat Mata Chowk’ following the passage of a resolution by the general house of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC)

Yog mahotsav begins in Rishikesh

  • An international yoga festival began in Rishikesh with yoga teachers and practitioners from eleven countries taking part in the week-long event. The annual event known as “Antar rashtriya yog mahotsav”

MP govt unveils ”Chilli Chaha” mascot to rebrand the hot spice

  • Madhya Pradesh, the state government has unveiled a mascot named “chilli chacha” for better marketing of the popular spice.
  • The mascot was launched in the first such “chilli festival” organised in Khargone district, which is the largest producer of chillies in the state

Week-long Ekam Fest begins in New Delhi

  • A week-long Ekam Fest began in New Delhi to promote craftsmanship and products of Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs.
  • EKAM Fest is an effort for promoting entrepreneurship and knowledge among Divyangjans and provides a platform for marketing

Centre declares National Chambal Sanctuary in MP as eco-sensitive zone

  • The Centre declared the National Chambal Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, home to gangetic dolphins and 75 per cent population of critically endangered species gharial, as eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).

TN launches Rs 2,857 cr health system reform programme

  • Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami launched the Rs 2,857 crore Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Programme (TNHSRP).
  • The programme, supported by the World Bank at an estimated cost of USD 410 million, roughly Rs 2,857 crore.

India’s biggest multi-level parking to come up in Noida

  • Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 23 development projects worth Rs 2,821 crore in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Noida.The initiative is part of the state government to develop the Gautam Buddha Nagar City as a smart city and ideal model of development and opportunities.

UP govt announces Rs 900 per month for stray cattle upkeep

  • The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a grant of ₹900 per month for the upkeep of a stray cow to individuals who look after any such animal.
  • The government feels that the announcement will help end the traffic menace caused by stray cattle roaming freely on roads, besides their proper care.

Tripura government to provide Rs 5000 to eligible students for buying smartphone

  • The Tripura government has decided to provide Rs 5000 to 14,608 students of the final year of the undergraduate level for buying Smartphone They will be given Rs 5,000 each under the ‘Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana’ scheme for buying a smartphone. The money would be directly sent to their bank accounts.

Student Health Card scheme for school children launched in J&K

  • In Jammu and Kashmir, Lt. Governor G.C. Murmu launched Student Health Card scheme in Jammu. He stated that now Student Health card scheme will also prove to be very beneficial because it will ensure regular checkup of school going children

Gairsain function as the summer capital of Uttarakhand

  • Uttarakhand will now have two capitals, with Gairsain as the summer capital. The decision came from CM Trivendra Singh Rawat in the state assembly.
  • Gairsain, located in Chamoli district between the Kumaon and Garhwal regions, will function as the summer capital.
  • The state’s current winter capital is

 Baghel presents Rs 95,650-crore budget for Chhattisgarh

  • Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel presented a Rs 95,650-crore budget, without any new tax proposals, for fiscal 2020-21 in the Legislative Assembly.
  • He announced a new scheme, ‘Rajiv Gandhi Kisaan Nyay Yojana’, to provide good returns to farmers for agricultural produce with a provision of Rs 5,100 crore

3 day Namaste Orchha festival begins in Madhya Pradesh

  • In Madhya Pradesh, ‘Namaste Orchha’ festival is starting in Orchha, a famous tourist destination of the state. Orchha is famous for its Ramaraja temple as well as other historical buildings.
  • Three days Namaste Orchha festival is an attempt to creating new opportunities and initiatives to promote the state and its rich cultural, natural and architectural heritage and its traditions and history.

Chapchar Kut, the biggest and most joyful festival of Mizoram begins

  • In Mizoram, the biggest and most joyful festival of Mizos, Chapchar Kut is being celebrated across the state.
  • The Chapchar Kut is also regarded as the most popular spring festival to the people of the state. This festival is a public holiday in the state.

STATIC GK:

States Capital Chief minister Governor
Mizoram Aizawl Zoramthanga P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Uttarakhand Gairsain (summer)

Dehradun (winter)

 Trivendra Singh Rawat Baby Rani Maurya
Jammu and Kashmir Srinagar (Summer) ,

Jammu (Winter)

 Lt. Governor G.C. Murmu
Tripura Agartala Biplab Kumar Deb Ramesh Bais
Tamil Nadu Chennai K. Palaniswami Banwarilal Purohit
Chhattisgarh Raipur Bhupesh Baghel Anusuiya Uikey
Madhya Pradesh Bhopal Kamla Nath Lalji Tandon
Punjab Chandigarh Captain Amarinder Singh V.P. Singh Badnore
New Delhi Arvind Kejriwal Anil Baijal
Bihar patna Nitish Kumar Phagu Chauhan
                 Rajasthan Jaipur Ashok Gehlot Kalraj Mishra
Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Yogi Adityanath Anandiben Patel

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS

NCLT approves NBCC bid to acquire Jaypee Infratech via insolvency

  • State-owned NBCC got approval from the NCLT to acquire debt-laden Jaypee Infratech through an insolvency process and complete around 20,000 pending flats over the next three and half years

STATIC GK:

NBCC:

  • NBCC (India) Limited, formerly known as National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited, is a Government of India Navratna Enterprise NBCC (India) Limited is a blue-chip Government of India Navratna enterprise and a Central Public Sector undertaking which trades publicly in the market.
  • Founded: 1960
  • Headquarters: Delhi
  • Chairman-cum-Managing Director : Mr. P K Gupta

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPS AND PORTALS

Government Launches Humsafar Mobile App For Doorstep Diesel Delivery

  • Housing societies, hotels, and hospitals in the national capital region will soon be able to get diesel delivered attheir doorsteps, with the launch of mobile application ‘Humsafar‘ by Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar

SEBI launches mobile app ‘Sebi SCORES’ for investors to lodge grievances

  • Markets regulator Sebi has launched a mobile application for convenience of investors to lodge grievances in Sebi Complaints Redress System (SCORES).
  • The app, ‘Sebi SCORES’, is available on both iOS and Android platforms

STATIC GK

Ministry of Labour and Employment

  • Minister- Santosh Kumar Gangwar
  • Constituency- Bareilly, UP

Securities and Exchange Board of India

  • Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Chairman– Ajay Tyagi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU

India keen to partner with Japan in Mission Purvodaya

  • Union Minister for Steel and Petroleum & Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, met the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, along with the Ambassador of Japan to India, Satoshi Suzuki, in
  • With the abundance of raw materials, strategic geographical location and strong and developing connectivity, Odisha is well poised to be the heart of this eastern steel hub.
  • In Odisha, Kalinganagar will be developed as the epicentre of Mission Purvodaya

Memorandum of Understanding Between Indian Air Force and Savitribai Phule Pune University

  • As a unique initiative of Indian Air Force, the IAF and Savitribai Phule Pune University entered into an academic collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a ‘Chair of Excellence’ at Department of Defence & Strategic Studies on 29 Feb 20

Tripura Govt and AAI sign MoU for construction of 6 equipment hiring centers

  • Tripura State Government and Airport Authority of India has signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of six equipment hiring centers in Manu Block under the Dhalai District of Tripura

ICAR inks pact with Patanjali for farm research, training

  • The country’s premier agri-research body ICAR signed an agreement with Hardiwar-based Patanjali Bio Research Institute (PBRI) to undertake research work as well as training and education

IIT Mandi Signs Deal with NABARD for Setting up Three FPOs in Himachal

  • The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi & Enabling Women of Kamand (EWOK) Society has inked a tripartite deal with the National Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development for setting up three Farmer Producer Organization in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

India, US sign Rs 1200 crore deal for missile protection suites for new VVIP planes

  • India has signed a Rs 1,200 crore deal with the United States for buying protection suites to protect the two new Boeing VVIP planes from missile attacks that will be used to ferry the President and the Prime Minister.The missile protection suites on the two Boeing-777 extended range planes to be code named ‘Air Force One’ would provide it the capability to fend off any missile attacks.

STATIC GK:

USA

  • Capital– Washington, D.C.
  • Currency– US Dollar
  • President– Donald Trump

NABARD

  • Founded- 1982
  • Headquarters- Mumbai
  • Agency executive- Harsh Kumar Bhanwala (Chairperson)

Tripura:

  • Capital: Agartala
  • Governor: Ramesh Bais
  • Chief minister: Biplab Kumar Deb

AAI:

  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Founded: 1 April 1995
  • Key people: Arvind Singh (Chairman), B.S. Bhullar, DGCA (Ex-Officio)

ICAR:

  • The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body responsible for co-ordinating agricultural education and research in India. The Union Minister of Agriculture serves as its president. It is the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes in the world.
  • Location: New Delhi, India
  • President: Narendra Singh Tomar
  • Established: 16 July,1929
  • Director: Trilochan Mohapatra

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION

Sebi chief Ajay Tyagi gets 6 months extension

  • Ajay Tyagi will continue to be the head of India’s capital and commodities markets regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for another six months.
  • Tyagi took over as Sebi chief in 2017 for a three-year term

Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as Malaysia’s new Prime Minister

  • In Malaysia, newly appointed Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yasin took the oath of office. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Muhyiddin Yasin heads a coalition dominated by the country’s ethnic Malay Muslim majority

Nokia appoints Pekka Lundmark as CEO from September 1

  • The Fortum CEO will replace Rajeev Suri. Nokia Chief Executive Rajeev Suri will step down in September and is to be replaced by Pekka Lundmark, until now the CEO of energy group Fortum . Suri steps down after more than a decade in charge of Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks, the company stated

Dayapatra Nevatia named Mindtree COO

  • IT services firm Mindtree has appointed Dayapatra Nevatia as its Chief Operating Officer. In this new role, Nevatia will support the company into its next phase of growth, a statement from the company stated.
  • Nevatia holds decades of industry experience and joins Mindtree from Accenture, where he was the MD and Director of Delivery for Advanced Technology Centers in India

Sudhanshu Pandey takes charge as new CMD of MMTC Ltd

  • Additional Secretary at the Department of Commerce Sudhanshu Pandey has assumed additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director of MMTC Ltd.
  • His predecessor Ved Prakash.

Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey appointed as Union Finance Secretary

  • Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey was designated as the Finance Secretary, according to a Personnel Ministry order.
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved designating Pandey, a 1984 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre, as Finance Secretary, it stated

Glaxo Smith Kline India appoints Sridhar Venkatesh as MD and Vice-President

  • Drug firm Glaxo Smith Kline Pharmaceuticals stated it has appointed Sridhar Venkatesh as managing director & vice president of GSK India, effective April 1, 2020.
  • He will succeed Annaswamy Vaidheesh, who is set to retire from the company effective March 31, 2020, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals stated in a statement.

Sanjay Kumar Panda appointed India’s Ambassador to Turkey

  • Senior diplomat Sanjay Kumar Panda has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to Turkey.Panda is presently Consul General, Consulate General of India, San Francisco.

Former India spinner Sunil Joshi named BCCI’s selection committee chairman

  • Former India spinner Sunil Joshi was named chairman of the national selection panel by the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) in Mumbai .
  • the CAC also picked ex-pacer Harvinder Singh for a place in the five-member group.

Amrish Rau appointed as CEO of Pine Labs

  • Amrish Rau has been appointed as CEO of Pine Labs, a leading merchant commerce platform company.Rau founded the start up Citrus Pay, which was sold off to PayU,replaces Vicky Bindra who after a two-year stint as CEO is moving back to San Francisco

Slovenia confirms Janez Jansa as new PM

  • Slovenia’s lawmakers backed an anti-immigrant politician Janez Jansa to become the new prime minister, paving the way for the formation of a right-leaning government

Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor N S Vishwanathan quits

  • RBI Deputy Governor N S Vishwanathan has decided to step down by March 31 due to ill health, three months before the end of his extended one-year tenure.
  • While the Reserve Bank has accepted his request to be relieved by March 31, His one-year extension was to end on July 3

Puma signs Kareena Kapoor Khan as new brand ambassador

  • German sportswear brand Puma has signed Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan as its new brand ambassador.The new partnership is aimed at encouraging more women to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle

Singapore’s Daren Tang to Succeed Gurry as Next WIPO Director General

  • Daren Tang has been elected to be the next WIPO Director General, succeeding Francis Gurry. Tang is currently the Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)

 Denys Shmygal becomes Ukraine’s new prime minister

  • The Ukrainian parliament has voted in Denys Shmygal, as Ukraine’s new prime minister. Shmygal succeeds Oleksiy Honcharuk, who resigned recently

SBI Life re-appoints Sanjeev Nautiyal as MD & CEO

  • SBI Life Insurance has re-appointed Sanjeev Nautiyal as managing director and chief executive officer of the company.
  • The re-appointment is subject to approval of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and members of the company.

Bimal Julka appointed as new Chief Information Commissioner

  • Information Commissioner Bimal Julka was appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique.
  • President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Julka as the CIC in the Central Information Commission at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

STATIC GK:

SBI Life Insurance Company

  • Founded- 2001.
  • Headquarters- Mumbai.

pine labs:

  • Founded: 1998
  • Headquarters: Noida
  • Executive Chairman: Lokvir Kapoor
  • Chief Executive Officer: Vicky Bindra

BCCI:

  • Secretary: Jay Shah
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • CEO: Rahul Johri
  • Vice president(s): Mahim Verma
  • Founded: December 1928
  • Presidents: C.K. Khanna, Sourav Ganguly

MMTC

  • MMTC earlier known as Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation, is the single largest trader for product lines like minerals, metals and precious metals.
  • Headquarters- New Delhi

RBI

  • Governor of RBI : Shantikanta Das
  • Deputy Governors of RBI :B P Kanungo , Michael Mohapatra ,M K Jain

Mindtree:

  • CEO: Debashis Chatterjee
  • Founded: 18 August 1999
  • Headquarters: Warren, Michigan, United States

SEBI

  • Founded- 1992
  • Headquarter– Mumbai,India
  • Chairperson– Mr Ajay Tyagi

Malaysia:

  • Prime minister: Muhyiddin Yassin
  • Capital: Kuala Lumpur
  • Currency: Malaysian ringgit

Nokia:

  • Headquarters: Espoo, Finland
  • CEO: Rajeev Suri (1 May 2014–)
  • Founded: 12 May 1865
  • Founders: Fredrik Idestam, Leo Mechelin

PUMA

  • Headquarters– Bavaria, Germany
  • Chairman– Jean-François Palus
  • World Intellectual Property Organization
  • Founded- 1967
  • Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland

Ukraine

  • President- Volodymyr Zelensky
  • Capital- Kyiv
  • Currency- Ukrainian hryvnia

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

‘Swami Vivekananda Karmayogi Award’ Conferred upon Jadav Payeng

  • Padma Shri Jadav Payeng, the Forest Man of India will be conferred with the prestigious Swami Vivekananda Karmayogi Award in New Delhi.
  • The arward is instituted by My Home India for his consistent efforts in creating a real man-made forest through massive reforestation

Captain Amarinder Singh honoured with ‘ideal’ CM award

  • The Bhartiya Chhatra Sansad (BCS) conferred ‘Adarsh Mukhya Mantri Puraskar’ (Ideal Chief Minister Award) upon Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for his “path breaking initiatives to ensure good governance and holistic development in the state”

Sarbananda Sonowal receives Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee Award 2020 for Politics

  • Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was presented the prestigious Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee award 2020 for Politics at the 6th India Ideas Conclave.
  • The award was presented at Tent City Narmada in Gujarat

70th Berlin International Film Festival

  • The 70th edition of Berlin International Film Festival( Berlinale) 2020 was held in Berlin, Germany.The Opening film of the festival was ‘My Salinger Year’ and the Closing film was ‘There Is No Evil’.Jury President is Jeremy Irons

Assam environmental activist Jadav Payeng named for Commonwealth Award

  • Assam’s environmental activist Jadav Payeng has been named as the 128th Commonwealth Points of Light Award winner.Called the “Forest Man of India”, he will be felicitated by the British Deputy High Commission at a programme in Guwahati on March 11.
  • The award is in recognition to his outstanding services to environmental conservation, it was learnt. He was also conferred with the Karmayogi Award for 2020 in New Delhi.

PM Modi will be treated with highest honour during Bangladesh visit

  • Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen has stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be treated with the highest honour during his forthcoming visit to Bangladesh to attend the Mujib Centenary Celebrations.

Farrell, McNamara first female duo to win top architecture prize

  • Irish architects Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara have been awarded the 2020 Pritzker Architecture Prize for consistent service to humanity as evidenced by a body of built work” and for leading the way for women in a male-dominated profession.

President Kovind confers 61st annual Lalit Kala Akademi awards

  • President Ram Nath Kovind conferred 61st annual Lalit Kala Akademi’s awards on 15 artistes at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • The awardees include Anoop Kumar Manzukhi Gopi from Kerala, David Malakar from West Bengal, Hari Ram Kumbhawat from Rajasthan, Devendra Kumar Khare from Gujarat, Dinesh Pandya from Maharashtra, Mohan Kumar from Karnataka and Yashwant Singh from Delhi.

Indira Gandhi and Amrit Kaur got place in ‘100 Influential Women of the Century’ of the Times Magazine

  • Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and freedom fighter Amrit Kaur have been included in the list of 100 influential women of the last century by Time magazine. Time magazine released a list titled ‘Spotlights Influential Woman Who Were Often Overshadowed’.
  • Time magazine has published Amrit Kaur and Indira Gandhi as Woman of the Year for the years 1947 and 1976 respectively in a special edition of the magazine.

Sindhu wins TOISA Sportsperson of Year award

  • World champion shuttler PV Sindhu was named Sportsperson of the Year . star batsman Rohit Sharma was named the cricketer of the year at the fourth Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2019 in New Delhi.
  • Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia was given the Lifetime Achievement award, while hockey legend and three-time Olympic gold medallist Balbir Singh Sr was honoured with the Icon of the Century award.
  • National badminton coach Pulella Gopichand won the Mentor of the Year award, while former shooter Jaspal Rana was recognized as the Coach of the Year.

STATIC GK:

Hyatt Foundation

  • Chairman & President– Tom Pritzker
  • Headquarters– Chicago, United States

Commonwealth Awards.

  • Presented every two years, the Commonwealth Awards shine a spotlight on the extraordinary contributions the arts, humanities, and sciences make to education, economic growth and vitality, and quality of life in communities across Massachusetts.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE

19th World Productivity Congress to be held in Bangalore

  • The 19th edition of World Productivity Congress (WPC) will be held on May 6 to May 8, 2020 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre,
  • Theme of 19th Productivity Congress 2020: “Industry 4.0 – Innovation and Productivity”

Pune to host 108th Indian Science Congress in 2021

  • Pune will host the 108th Indian Science Congress in January 2021, the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) has announced. The event, set to be held at Symbiosis International University’s Lavale campus, will be themed on ‘Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment‘ and focus on economic growth, environmental protection and social inclusion of all communities using science and technology.

35th edition of AAHAR, Food and Hospitality fair, begins in New Delhi

  • The 35th edition of AAHAR – the Food and Hospitality fair began in New Delhi.
  • This five-day-long fair is being organized by India Trade Promotion Organisation, ITPO, with support of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Agriculture and Processed Food Products Development Authority and several apex industry associations

India Pharma & India Medical Device 2020 Conference to be held at Gandhinagar

  • The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, in association with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry- FICCI is organising India Pharma 2020 & India Medical Device 2020 Conference & Exhibition at Gandhi Nagar,
  • Theme of the event is “India Pharma: Meeting Challenges of Affordable and Quality Healthcare and India Medical Device: Promoting Affordable responsible and Quality Medical Device for Universal Health Care”

Indian Army’s International Seminar Pragyan Conclave 2020

  • PRAGYAN CONCLAVE 2020, a two-day Indian Army International Seminar being organised by Centre for Land Warfare Studies, commenced at New Delhi.
  • The event brings together cross-domain national and international experts to deliberate on the complex subject of ‘Changing Characteristics of Land Warfare and its Impact on the Military’

Fourth Global Ayurveda Festival to be held at Kochi from May 16

  • The Fourth Global Ayurveda Festival, GAF will be held at Kochi in Kerala from 16th to 20th May.
  • The theme for the five-day event is Ayurveda Medical Tourism: Actualizing India’s credibility.

International Conference on Nano Science and Technology held in Kolkata

  • ICONSAT (International Conference on Nano Science and Technology) is the series of biennial international conference held in India under the aegis of Nano Mission, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India that provides a global platform of interactions among eminent scientists to bring to fore the recent advances in the area of nanoscience and technology.
  • The Nano Mission, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has approved the organization of ICONSAT–2020 by the N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata for the year 2020

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING

Bengaluru continues to record highest number of digital transactions

  • Bengaluru accounted for the highest number of digital transactions in India in 2019, followed by Chennai, Mumbai and Pune, while United Payments Interface (UPI) was the most preferred mode of payment, by online payment processor Worldline India.Bengaluru was the leading city in digital transactions in 2018 as well

Indian chess Grand Master Humpy ranked World No.2

  • Women’s World Rapid Chess Champion and Indian chess Grand Master (GM) Koneru Humpy jumped to second spot leaving behind World Women’s Chess Champion Ju Wenjun in global chess body FIDE’s March month’s overall ranking. Humpy won the prestigious Cairns Cup last month

India has 3rd highest trade-related illicit financial flow globally

  • India has the third highest trade-related illicit financial flow among 135 countries with 83.5 billion dollars (about Rs 6.08 lakh crore) or 3.05 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) escaping the government’s tax net, according to US-based think tank Global Financial Integrity (GFI).

UoH bags top score in QS World University Subject ranking

  • The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has scored in 25 subjects and ranked in three in the QS World University Subject rankings for 2020.
  • The three subjects in which UoH has secured high rankings are: Chemistry 301-350; Biological Sciences 451-500; and Physics & Astronomy 501-550.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

Scientists discover biggest explosion in universe since Big Bang

  • Astronomers have discovered the biggest explosion in the universe since the Big Bang, in a galaxy far away.An explosion five times bigger than any explosion known so far has been discovered in the Ophiuchus galaxy cluster 390 million light-years from Earth

New explosive detection device, developed by DRDO & IISc Bangalore, unveiled in Pune

  • RaIDer-X, a new explosive detection device, was unveiled at the National Workshop on Explosive Detection (NWED-2020) in Pune . RaIDer-X has the capability to detect explosives from a stand-off distance. The data library can be built in the system to expand its capability to detect a number of explosives in pure form as well as with the contaminants.
  • Bulk explosive in concealed condition can also be detected by the device. RaIDer-X has been co-developed by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) Pune and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

India to have its first sky eye in geostationary orbit GISAT-1

  • India will launch its first state of the art earth observation satellite Geo Imaging Satellite (GISAT-1) to be placed in geostationary orbit on March 5, stated the Indian Space Agency.
  • The satellite will provide real-time image of large area of region of interest at frequent intervals. The GISAT-1 will also enable quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events and any short term events

IIT Madras team develops AI-powered drone to counter rogue drones

  • Researchers at IIT Madras have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drone that can counter ‘Rogue Drones.’
  • This system can help law enforcement agencies, security services and armed forces secure airspace over critical civilian and military installations from surveillance by rogue drones

Doctors use gene editing tool Crispr inside body for first time

  • Scientists have used the gene editing tool Crispr-Cas9 inside a person’s body for the first time, a new development in efforts to operate on DNA to treat diseases.
  • CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a tool for locating and cutting DNA at a specific spot

STATIC GK:

ISRO:

  • Headquarters: Bengaluru
  • Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
  • Founded: 15 August 1969
  • Parent organisation: Department of Space
  • Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan

DRDO:

  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation is an agency of the Government of India, charged with the military’s research and development, headquartered in New Delhi, India.
  • Motto: “Strength’s Origin is in Science”
  • Founded: 1958
  • Minister responsible: Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence
  • Agency executive: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman, DRDO

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

Navy to buy 24 MH-60R multi-role helicopters from US

  • New helicopters to replace Sea King 42/42A helicopters procured in the ’70
  • Two days after signing a $3-billion defence deal related to the acquisition of Seahawk multi-role helicopters for the Indian Navy and Apache attack helicopters for the Army, the Indian Navy has announced that 24 MH-60R multi-role helicopters (MRH) will be procured under the Buy (Global) category through Foreign Military Sales. A contract for the MRH was signed on February 25

Tamil Nadu, UP to set up Defence industrial corridors

  • The Minister of State for Defence, Shripad Naik has been decided to set up two Defence industrial corridors in the country, one in Uttar Pradesh and another in Tamil Nadu.
  • Subsequently, five nodes for Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor – Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur, Salem and Tiruchirapalli have been identified.

Juniper Cobra Missile Defense drill cancelled over coronavirus

  • The 10th biannual Juniper Cobra exercise between the IDF and United States European Command (EUCOM) was suspended, as fears over coronavirus continue to rattle Israel and the world.
  • The 10-day-long drill was scheduled to see more than 2,500 US troops participate in several different locations in Israel, Europe and the US.

STATIC GK:

Ministry of Defence

  • Minister of Defence- Rajnath Singh
  • Constituency- Lucknow,UP
  • Minister of State for Defence-Shripad Naik

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

First Khelo India University Games concludes in Bhubaneswar; Panjab University, Chandigarh tops medals tally

  • The Khelo India University Games concluded in Bhubaneswar, Odisha . Panjab University, Chandigarh took home the champions trophy-winning 46 medals including 17 gold, 19 silver, and 10 bronze.
  • Savitribai Phule Pune University claimed the second position and Punjabi University, Patiala declared as the second runners up. Punjabi University, Patiala won 33 medals including 13 gold, 6 silver, and 14 bronze medals. A total of 113 universities took part in the games

Rafael Nadal wins Mexican Open title after beating Taylor Fritz

  • World Number 2 Rafael Nadal captured his first title of the year, defeating unseeded Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in the final of the ATP Mexico Open.

Novak Djokovic bests Stefanos Tsitsipas to lift fifth Dubai Championships title

  • After saving match points to reach the final, top-ranked Novak Djokovic was scarcely troubled as he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 to win the Dubai Championships for the fifth time

FIH rankings: Indian men’s hockey team climbs to fourth position

  • The Indian men’s hockey team has climbed to the fourth position, their highest since the inception of the FIH world rankings in 2003, in the recently released chart. In the women’s list, India occupies the ninth spot. The Netherlands is at the top followed by Australia, Argentina, Germany and England

Tasnim Mir, Mansi Singh win bronze at Yonex Dutch Junior International

  • Young Indian shuttlers Tasnim Mir and Mansi Singh won a bronze medal each in the girls’ singles Badminton event at the Yonex Dutch Junior International 2020 in Haarlem, Netherlands. It was the first time India won two bronze medals in girls’ singles at this BWF Junior International Grand Prix tournament

68th All India Police Athletic Championship kick starts in Haryana

  • 68th All India Police Athletic Championship-2019 began at Bhanu in Panchkula District of Haryana . Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju declared the meet open at Basic Training Centre of ITBPShafali Verma gains top spot in ICC women’s T20I rankings
  • Shafali Verma, the teenage Indian batting sensation, has gained the top spot in the ICC women’s T20 International rankings, riding on her stellar run at the ongoing World Cup.
  • She has become only the second India batter after Mithali Raj to top the women’s T20 International rankings

Kieron Pollard becomes first player to play 500 T20 matches

  • West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard became the first player in the history of T20 cricket to feature in 500 matches when he took the field against Sri Lanka for the first T20I.
  • Dwayne Bravo is second in the list and  Chris Gayle is at the third spot in the list

Mumbai set to host IOC session in 2023

  • Mumbai is set to host the 2023 International Olympic Committee’s session after the IOC Executive Board recommended the Indian city for the annual conference.
  • The IOC Executive Board decided to put Mumbai’s candidature to a vote of the members

Coronavirus: Delhi shooting World Cup postponed, Olympic test event in Tokyo cancelled

  • The upcoming combined shooting World Cup in New Delhi has been postponed, while an Olympic test event in Tokyo has been cancelled due to the global novel Coronavirus outbreak.
  • The tournament, sanctioned by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), was to be held from March 15 to 25 in the capital’s Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.

STATIC GK:

IOC:

  • Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
  • President: Thomas Bach
  • Honorary President: Jacques Rogge
  • Director General: Christophe De Kepper

ICC:

  • Chairperson: Shashank Manohar
  • CEO: Manu Sawhney
  • Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Founded: 15 June 1909
  • Membership: 104 members

International Hockey Federation

  • Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
  • President: Narinder Batra
  • CEO: Thierry Weil
  • Motto: FairPlay Friendship Forever

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY

Former India hockey star and Olympic bronze medallist Balbir Singh Kullar passes away

  • Former India hockey player Balbir Singh Kullar passed away.
  • He was also a member of the Indian team that won the Asian Games gold in 1966 at Bangkok and the Olympic Bronze in 1968 in Mexico

Dronacharya awardee and former India athletics coach Joginder Singh Saini

  • Veteran athletics coach and Dronacharya awardee Joginder Singh Saini passed away.
  • Saini received the Dronacharya Award in 1997 for his contribution to Indian athletics

Bulandshahr BJP MLA Virendra Sirohi passes away

  • Uttar Pradesh MLA from Bulandshahr Virendra Singh Sirohi passed away after a prolonged illness

Ex GE CEO Jack Welch passes away

  • General Electric Co’s former chief executive officer Jack Welch passed away.
  • In 1960, Welch joined GE as a chemical engineer for its plastics division in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Veteran Telugu journalist Potturi Venkateswara Rao passes away

  • Veteran journalist and former editor of Telugu daily Andhra Prabha, Potturi Venkateswara Rao, died at his residence in Hyderabad. He had been battling illness at a private hospital in Banjara Hills in the city.
  • He had started his career as a journalist in 1957 at the Andhra Janatha Telugu newspaper.

Former UN chief Javier Perez de Cuellar passes away

  • Former UN chief and Peruvian Prime Minister Javier Pérez de Cuéllar passed away.
  • He served in embassies across Europe and Latin America, and joined Peru’s delegation to the first UN General Assembly in 1946.

DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan passes away at 97

  • K Anbazhagan, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) General Secretary for 43 years, passed away at the age of 97.
  • He breathed his last at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, following a prolonged illness.
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