Current Affairs Daily Digest – February 20 2020
1. NITI Aayog organizes North East Sustainable Development Goal Conclave 2020 in Assam
NITI Aayog is to organize North East Sustainable Development Goal Conclave 2020 in Assam between February 24, 2020 and February 26, 2020. The Conclave is to be held in the state capital Guwahati. Chief Ministers of all the north eastern states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura and Sikkim are to participate in the conclave.
2. Cabinet approves to set up a 12-member Technology Group
Union Cabinet approved to set a technology group. The 12-member group will provide scientific advice on mapping of technologies, commercialization of dual use technologies and develop a road map on selected key technologies. The group will provide three major pillars of support namely Policy support namely Policy support, research and development proposals and procurement support.
3. Manipur- the major role player of Act East Policy
India has been focusing on Act East Policy lately with a strong motive of developing the North East. Out of all the North Eastern States, Manipur has evolved the major supporter of Act East Policy.
4. Cabinet approves Phase II of Swachh Bharat Mission
Union Cabinet approved on implementing the phase II of Swachh Bharat Mission. The phase II of the mission will focus on Open Defecation Free Plus. The budget allocated for phase II of the mission is Rs 52,497 crores. The mission in this phase is to converge with Jal Jeevan Mission and MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act).
5. GoI to launch “TILHAN Mission” to make India Self Reliant in oil seed Production
Agricultural Minister Narendra Singh Tomar announced that Government of India is to launch “TILHAN MISSION” to boost the oil seed production. The announced that Government of India is to launch “TILHAN MISSION” to boost the oil seed production. The announcement was made at an occasion of Soil Health Card Day. Soil Health Card Day was celebrated all over India on February 19, 2020.
6. China moves against Pakistan in FATF, Turkey now the only supporter
China has joined India and United States in putting Pakistan on Grey list of the FATF (Financial Action Task Force). Both China and Saudi Arabia have joined US, India and other European countries sending stern messages to Pakistan against its actions of terror funding money laundering.
7. India ranked 131 out of 180 nations in WHO ‘child flourishing index’
India ranks lower than 130 other countries on measurements of children’s survival, health, education and nutrition, factors taken into account in the World Health Organisation’s ‘child flourishing index’. The report additionally states that every country in the world has levels of excess carbon emissions that will prevent younger generations from a healthy and sustainable future.
8. Sachin Tendulkar World Cup victory lap awarded Laureus honour
Tendulkar was in Berlin for the awards ceremony on Monday, 17 February, and received the trophy from former Australia captain Steve Waugh, after Tennis legend Boris Becker made the announcement. The award, for the period between 2000 to 2020, celebrates “moments from the past two decades where sport has unified people in the most extraordinary way.”
9. RailMadad was received National e-Governance Award
RailMadad was awarded Silver under Category II of National e-Governance Awards-“Excellence in providing Citizen-centric Delivery”. The award was presented at the 23rd National Conference on e-Governance which was held in Mumbai on 7-8 February 2020.
10. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the Statehood Day on 20 February
Indian states of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the Statehood Day on 20 February. The culture of Arunachal Pradesh is special. The people are known for their wonderful nature and patriotic zeal. Similarly, the people of Mizoram are known for their valour and rich value systems. It holds the rich Mizo culture and the contribution of the state towards India’s progress.
11. PM-led panel names President’s secy Sanjay Kothari as next CVC, ex-IAS officer Bimal Julka to be CIC
Sanjay Kothari, the Secretary to the President, has been selected as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner by a high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official said on Wednesday.
The committee has also chosen former Information and Broadcasting Secretary Bimal Julka, currently serving as an Information Commissioner, as the new Chief Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission.
12. India becomes 5th largest economy, overtakes UK, France: Report
India emerged as the world’s fifth largest economy by overtaking the UK and France in 2019, says a report. A US-based think tank World Population Review in its report said that India is developing into an open-market economy from its previous autarkic policies.
“India’s economy is the fifth largest in the world with a GDP of $ 2.94 trillion, overtaking the UK and France in 2019 to take the fifth spot,” it said.
13. IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Central Bank seek RBI nod to exit PCA framework: Report
IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, and Central Bank of India have approached the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), seeking permission to exit the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework, according to a report in the Financial Express on Thursday.
“It’s possible that one bank may be brought out of PCA by the end of this month,” the report said, citing a source.
14. World Day of Social Justice 20 February
2020 Theme: “Closing the Inequalities Gap to Achieve Social Justice”
Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality, or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.
