Current Affairs Daily Digest – February 05 2020
1. Cabinet approves amendment to bring cooperative banks under regulatory control of RBI
Union Cabinet has decided to bring Cooperative banks under the regulatory mechanism of Reserve Bank of India. Briefing media persons after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadkar said the move will ensure greater accountability and transparency in the functioning of Cooperative Banks. Mr Javedkar said Cooperative Banks need to fulfill regulatory requirements set for scheduled commercial banks.
2. Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu betters her own national record; wins gold with 203 kg lift
In Weightlifting, former world champion Mirabai Chanu bettered her own national record by two kilogram as she lifted a total of 203kg to win the 49kg gold in the National Championships in Kolkata. The 25-year-old Manipuri lifted 88kg in snatch in her second attempt and 115 kg in clean and jerk for a total of 203kg.
3. WHO report: Cancer Cases to increase by 81% in 2040
While the world marked World Cancer Day on February 4, 2020, the World Health Organization released its report on Cancer. According to the report, the cancer cases will increase by 81% by 2040. This is mainly due to lack of investment. The report says that it is essential to invest 25 billion USD in the next decade to save millions of lives.
4. Karnataka launches Janasevaka scheme for home delivery of govt services
The Karnataka government on Tuesday launched the Janasevaka scheme in a few municipal corporation wards to ensure home delivery of various services like ration cards, senior citizen identity and health cards.
The scheme, which was launched by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, will pertain to 53 services involving 11 departments.
5. Natural disasters cost world $232 billion in 2019: Report
The world lost as much as $232 billion due to natural disasters in 2019, with India leading in casualties with 1,750 deaths, said a recent report by AON, global professional firm which provides risk solutions to insurance firms, among other things.
6. India, Norway ink 4 MoUs in field of research, higher education
India and Norway on Tuesday signed four MoUs in the field of research and higher education to strengthen their bilateral partnership.
The agreements were signed here during the visit of a delegation of prominent education and research institutions from Norway led by Director-General, Anne Line Wold, Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.
7. NTPC signs largest-ever single foreign currency loan for $750 million
State-owned power generator NTPC Ltd today announced it has signed a syndicated loan in Japanese Yen equivalent to $750 million. The proceeds will be channelized to fund projects for cutting down emission levels from power plants and hydro projects.
“This is the largest-ever syndicated JPY loan raised by any Asian corporate from offshore Samurai loan market. It is also the highest-ever single foreign currency loan raised by NTPC,” the company said in a statement.
8. AMU Faculty Becomes First Indian To Receive IADR Fellowship
Dr Saima Yunus Khan, Chairperson, Department of Paediatrics and Preventive Dentistry, Dr Z A Dental College (ZADC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) accomplished an exemplary feat as she became the first Indian to be conferred with the prestigious IADR Fellowship in the field of dental research, a statement from the varsity said.
The International Association of Dental Research (IADR) John Clarkson Fellowship is awarded to obtain training and experience in dental public health at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of the University of Manitoba, Canada for a period of five months.
9. India’s GDP growth to be slightly higher at 5.5% in 2021: Jahangir Aziz of JPMorgan
India’s economy might gain some momentum in 2020 given greenshoots popping up here and there, but it would struggle to achieve 5 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth, according to Jahangir Aziz, head of emerging markets economic research at JPMorgan .
Aziz told CNBC-TV18 that things were not looking very good on the growth front and hopefully next year GDP will be slightly higher at about 5.5 percent.
10. RBI Introduces ‘Low KYC’ To Help Fintech Companies Retain Customers
In an attempt to ease out regulations for fintech companies, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has agreed to allow non-compliant know-your-customer (KYC) accounts to continue making payments through mobile wallets. The central bank had earlier put a cap on transaction limits.
RBI is expected to permit transactions by giving customers the option to convert their ‘minimum KYC’ accounts to the central bank’s newly introduced ‘low KYC’ PPI (Paid Payments Instruments) accounts.
