Latest Current Affairs – February 01 & 02 2019
1. DAC approves indigenous construction of 6 submarines worth Rs 40000 cr
The Defence Acquisitions Council, DAC chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman approved indigenous construction of six submarines worth 40 thousand crore rupees. It is the second project under the Ministry’s ambitious strategic partnership model aiming to boost the government’s Make in India’ program. The first project to get the government’s nod for implementation under the new model was the acquisition of 111 utility helicopters for the Navy at a cost of over 21 thousand crore rupees in August last year. The construction of six advanced submarines under project 75(India) will provide a major boost to submarine design and manufacturing ecosystem in India through the transfer of design, equipment technology and skill sets.
2. Unemployment rate at four-decade high of 6.1% in 2017-18: NSSO survey
The country’s unemployment rate stood at a 45-year-high of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18, according to the National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO’s) periodic labour force survey (PLFS). The report is at the centre of a controversy after two National Statistical Commission (NSC) members, including acting chairman, resigned on Monday, alleging that the government had withheld its release despite the NSC’s approval.
3. Punjab approves Smart Village Campaign
In a major initiative to boost infrastructure and facilities in rural areas, the Punjab government on Tuesday approved the Smart Village Campaign with an outlay of Rs 384.40 crore. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh .
The campaign is based on the premise that each village would achieve goals in different fields like infrastructure, health, education and environment.
4. India to host ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
International Cricket Council CEO and former South Africa cricketer David Richardson announced that the 13th edition of Men’s Cricket World Cup will be played in India in 2023.
Speaking at an event, Richardson said: “There is so much to look forward to. We have two T20 events (Women and Men) in Australia in 2020, followed by the first Test Championship final. Then we have the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in 2021, Under 19 World Cup. And of course, then we have two events in India — the next T20 World Cup at the end of 2021 and the Men’s World Cup itself in 2023.”
In forthcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 scheduled in England and Wales, ten best teams in the world will fight in a very competitive tournament.
5. Mithali Raj becomes first woman to play 200 ODIs
India captain Mithali Raj became the first woman cricketer to play 200 ODIs, adding another achievement to her illustrious career. The 36-year-old is also the highest run-getter in ODIs with 6622 runs at an average of 51.33, including seven hundreds. Mithali could not make a big impact in her 200th game, scoring nine off 28 balls as India were bowled out for 149 in the third and final ODI against New Zealand.
6. G V Krishna Rao takes charge as Chief Commissioner of CGST
G V Krishna Rao assumed charge as Chief Commissioner of CGST, Central Excise & Customs, Guwahati Zone having jurisdiction over all the North Eastern States. A CGST press release here said Krishna Rao, an officer of the 1987 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Indirect Taxes & Customs), is a senior officer of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC). Before joining here, he was holding charge as Principal Commissioner of CGST, Mysuru. Rao’s work jurisdiction will be Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura, it added.
7. Three-day international leather festival begins in Tamil Nadu
The 34th edition of India International Leather Fair (IILF) will kick off in Chennai, highlighting the export prowess of Indian leather entrepreneurs, the industry’s achievements, use of latest technologies and innovations with an eco-friendly tag.
The three-day fair will aim to project India as an investment destination and a manufacturing hub for finished leather product design, said PR Aqeel Ahmed, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports (CLE), which is organising the annual event in association with the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), the Indian Shoe Federation, the Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers & Exporters Association and the Indian Footwear Component Manufacturers’ Association.
8. PM Narendra Modi to launch two Railway projects at Durgapur in West Bengal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Durgapur in West Bengal .According to an official release, Mr Modi will dedicate to the nation, the Railway electrification of 294 kilometre long Andal- Sainthia-Pakur-Malda and Khana- Sainthia Sections.
Electrification of this section will enable ease of transportation of coal, stone chips and ballast to North and North East India in a seamless manner. During the visit, He will also dedicate the twenty kilometre long Hijli- Narayangarh third line to the nation .
9. Tejashri’ scheme for women: Maharashtra
The Maharashtra government will implement the “Tejashri financial services” scheme to help rural women, state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said . it would be implemented by the state’s Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM) and would help understand the needs of rural women and bring them into the mainstream of development.
The minister informed that Rs 68.53 crore will be distributed in the next three years as part of the programme, including Rs 10,000 as loan per person to those from very poor families.Self-help groups (SHGs) will get financial assistance of Rs 20,000 for repayment of loans and working capital of Rs 2 lakh will be made available to women entrepreneurs, he said in a statement.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the Commissioner, Human Development Mission and MAVIM for the scheme.
10. Former IIMC director Hiten Bhaya passes away
Former Planning Commission member and ex-director of IIMC Hiten Bhaya passed away at his residence in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj . Bhaya was a member of the Planning Commission in the Rajiv Gandhi government and had also served as director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and chairman of Hindustan Steel.
11. Vani Kapoor becomes first Indian to grab Australian LPGA card
Vani Kapoor became the first Indian to earn a card for the Australian Ladies PGA Tour (LPGA) after coming through its first-ever Qualifying Tournament at the Ballarat Golf Club in Ballarat, Australia.
Vani shot rounds of 71, 78 and 69 to finish at two-over 218 and was tied-12th with three others. The top-20 from a field of 81 earned playing rights on the Australian LPGA but there were many other benefits and spots available too.
Other Indian girls in the Australian LPGA Qualifying were Diksha Dagar (tied-30th with round of 79-73-72); Astha Madan (tied-37th with cards of 75-78-73) and Ridhima Dilawari (tied-57th with cards of 76-79-76).
12. Govt picks new Director of CBI as IPS Rishi Kumar Shukla, Oppn dissents
Twenty-two days after Alok Verma was ousted as CBI chief, the Centre Saturday appointed Rishi Kumar Shukla, a 1983-batch IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, the agency’s new Director. Shukla was the Madhya Pradesh police chief until January when he was transferred by the Kamal Nath government as chairman of police housing.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) named Shukla even as Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress member in the Prime Minister-headed selection panel, sent a dissent note that S Javed Ahmed, a 1983-batch UP cadre officer, was more qualified for the post in line with Supreme Court guidelines and provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.
13. Sikkim govt signs pact with Microsoft for education sector
Aiming to transform the educational landscape in the state, the Sikkim government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with tech giant Microsoft, officials said. Sikkim Minister for Human Resource Development RB Subba said the state government was committed to harnessing the power of technology to transform e-governance and core sectors and partnering with Microsoft was a much-needed step to help prepare the future generation.
The government’s vision was to make the youth future-ready and Microsoft was an able partner for transformational initiatives. As part of the collaboration, Microsoft would support the state in integrating IT content in the state board curriculum and build student capacity besides building teacher capacity through the Microsoft Educator Network and Innovative Educator Program.
14. P.V.Sindhu is PNB MetLife brand ambassador
PNB MetLife, a life insurance company, signed P.V. Sindhu as its brand ambassador. She is respected by contemporaries, created a fan following across generations with athleticism and aggression on court. The shuttler conquered some of the biggest names in women’s badminton.
The endorsement extends to various initiatives dealing with women’s empowerment organised by the insurance company, more importantly a national-level open tournament, named the PNB MetLife junior badminton championship, aimed at spotting budding age-group talents and support for the exceptionally talented.
15. Assam tops in budgetary practices followed by states: Transparency International
Assam occupied the top slot in the ranking of best practices followed by states in Budget formulation, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, says a survey by Transparency International. The survey is based on 4 parameters which include public disclosure, budgetary process, post budget fiscal management and efforts to make budget more transparent and citizen friendly.
The states which figured lower in the ranking were Meghalaya, Manipur and Punjab.
“Assam is the only state out of the 29 states and 2 UTs, which has published a Citizens Budget in the public domain. The Assam government is the only government that has conducted budget awareness campaigns across 17 districts,” Transparency International .
16. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank launches Ujjivan Bank Kisan Suvidha loan for small and marginal farmers
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) announced the launch of Ujjivan Bank Kisan Suvidha loan to offer financial credit services to small and marginal farmers.
It is the first bank in this category to offer collateral free loans for both agriculture and allied activities such as dairy purchase and maintenance, post-harvest transportation, farm implements purchase, fishery, sheep rearing, sericulture, floriculture, mushroom farming and ad hoc requirements like coconut farm maintenance and vegetable farm development.
The product is launched across four states namely, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka and Odisha. The product provides hassle free loans to individuals with amount ranging from Rs60, 000 – Rs2 lakhs.
