Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 01 2020
1. RPF renamed as Indian Railways Protection Force Service; Railway prices hiked
The Railways Ministry has renamed Railway Protection Force (RPF) as Indian Railway Protection Force Service. The ministry has also accorded Group A status to RPF.
The Indian Railways has increased the train fares to 1p per km from January, 1, 2020 in non-suburban trains and non-air-conditioned trains. The fares have been hiked by 2p per km. The price hike was published by Indian Railway Conference Association.
2. Kerala: the first state to pass anti-CAA resolution
The Kerala Government on December 31, 2019, passed a resolution to rollback the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that was passed during this winter session of Parliament. According to the Kerala Government, the CAA act contradicts the basic principles of Constitution.
3. Central Equipment Identify Register: Government launches web portal to trace stolen mobiles
The Government of India on December 30, 2019, launched “Central Equipment Identify Register” portal to block and trace mobile phones. The web portal will operate under Department of Telecom.
4. India commences worlds largest ever vaccination programme to control FMD
National Animal Disease Control Programme for FMD and Brucellosis The union Government launched a new scheme National Animal Disease Control Programme for FMD and Brucellosis with a financial outlay of Rs. 13,343.00 crore for five years (2019-20 to 2023-24) by vaccinating 100% cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, and pig population for FMD and 100% bovine female calves of 4-8 months of age for brucellosis to prevent loss of Rs. 50,000 crores.
5. Indian govt to give 5G spectrum for trails to all telecom players
The Indian government decided to allocate spectrum to all telecom operators and equipment makers for the upcoming 5G trials in the country. The announcement made by India’s federal technology and communications minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad.
The government decided to give 5G Spectrum for a trial to all operators in the country. The Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei to conduct super-fast speed 5G network trials in India.
6. ISRO to set up second launch port in Thoothukodi district of Tamilnadu for small satellite launch vehicles
Indian Space Research Organisation will establish a second launch port in Thoothukodi district in Tamilnadu exclusively to launch small satellite launch vehicles. Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru today, ISRO Chairman K Sivan informed that this will come up in 2300 acres.
7. Vinod Kumar Yadav assumes charge as Chairman, Railway Board on reappointment for period of one year
Vinod Kumar Yadav has assumed the charge of Chairman, Railway Board after being reappointed. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved the reappointment of Vinod Kumar Yadav as Chairman, Railway Board for a period of one year.
8. Air Marshal MSG Menon VSM assumes charge as Air Officer-in-Charge Administration
Air Marshal MSG Menon VSM takes over as Air Officer-in-Charge Administration of Indian Air Force with effect from 01 Jan 2020.Air Marshal MSG Menon VSM was commissioned in Administrative branch of IAF in Dec 1982.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Calicut University. He has undergone Higher Air Command Course from College of Air Warfare. He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College Wellington and the prestigious National Defence College.
9. Air Marshal Vibhas Pande VSM assumes charge as Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance
Air Marshal Vibhas Pande VSM has taken over as Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance of Indian Air Force with effect from 01 Jan 2020.Air Officer was commissioned as Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) in IAF on 29 Aug 1984.
He started his career as Engineering Officer in IAF with fighter aircraft and later also gained experience in maintenance operations on transport aircraft and helicopters. He has flown nearly 1200 hrs on helicopters as Flight Engineer and has also been Air Force Examiner for Rotary Wing aircraft.
10. Usha International bags Appliance of the Year Award 2019
Usha International, India’s leading consumer durables company, has been awarded the Appliance of the Year Award in the Ceiling Fan Category for its Energia range of ceiling fans at the National Energy Conservation Awards 2019 held in New Delhi recently.
This is 4th time that Usha has won the award for its energy efficiency initiatives. The company has been recognized for its contribution in BEE Star labelled appliances category earlier in the year 2013, 2015 and 2016 as well.
11. Nirmala Sitharaman unveils Rs 102 lakh crore of infra projects for next 5 years
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled Rs 102 lakh crore of infrastructure projects that will be implemented in the next five years as part of the government’s spending push in the infrastructure sector.
Addressing a press conference, she said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in his Independence Day speech spoken of investing Rs 100 lakh crore in infrastructure.
12. WhatsApp service and helpline number launched for women
The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has launched a dedicated women helpline, ‘Damini’, which is a calling and a WhatsApp service for the safety of women.
The unique number “81142-77777” has been subscribed for the helpline, which is an extension of the ‘Nirbhaya Yojana’ that aims to ensure safety of women.
13. AAI to set up India’s first three water aerodromes in Andaman & Nicobar
Airports Authority of India (AAI) is in the process of seeking environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for three, first-of-its-kind in the country, water aerodromes in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The AAI intends to develop water aerodromes in Long Island, Swaraj Island and Shaheed Island with a total investment of Rs 50 crore and sought clearance for preparing the Terms of References separately for three airports.
14. CRPF DG Bhatnagar retires; ITBP chief given additional charge
ITBP Director General S S Deswal has been given the “additional” charge to head country’s largest paramilitary force CRPF as its serving DG, R R Bhatnagar, retired.
An order issued by the Union home ministry said Deswal, a 1984-batch Haryana cadre IPS officer, will hold the CRPF charge “till the appointment and joining of the successor or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”
15. Axis Bank appoints Amit Talgeri as Chief Risk Officer
Axis Bank appointed Amit Talgeri as the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) of the bank for three years, from January 1, 2020. “Cyril Anand, the incumbent CRO will retire from the services of the bank, with effect from close of business hours of December 31, 2019,” Axis Bank said in a statement.
16. RBI launches ‘MANI’ app for visually challenged to identify currency notes
With an eye to aid the differently-abled, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a mobile app to identify currency notes. The visually challenged can identify the denomination of a note by using the application, which can also work offline once it is installed, the central bank said.
Users can download the app, called ‘MANI’, which is an acronym for Mobile Aided Note Identifier, and will have to scan the notes using the camera.
17. Walmart India names Sameer Aggarwal as its Deputy CEO
Walmart India has elevated Sameer Aggarwal to the role of deputy chief executive officer, and industry sources believe he would take over in the coming months the reins of Walmart’s flagship wholesale retail unit in the country from current CEO Krish Iyer.
“Sameer Aggarwal has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Walmart India effective 1st January 2020. He will continue reporting to Krish Iyer, President & CEO Walmart India, and oversee operations, merchandising, people.
18. BBC Global News appoints Rahul Sood as MD for India and South Asia
BBC Global News, the BBC’s international commercial news, sport and features arm – has appointed Rahul Sood to the newly created role of managing director for India and South Asia. Joining in January 2020, Sood will have responsibility for leading the growth of commercial activities of BBC Global News across the business.
Sood will report to Chris Davies, Global EVP of marketing and distribution, and Alistair McEwan, SVP Commercial Development, Asia and ANZ at the BBC Global News. He will assume management of the commercial sales teams across the region with head of distribution, Sunil Joshi, and advertising sales director, Vishal Bhatnagar, reporting directly to him.
19. Arun Kumar Shukla takes charge as CMD of Hindustan Copper
Arun Kumar Shukla has taken over as the new chairman and managing director of Hindustan Copper Limited on January 1, 2020. He had earlier joined the company as Director (Operations) on October 1, 2018.
Before joining Hindustan Copper Ltd., Mr Shukla had been working as Executive Director in NMDC, an official statement said.
