Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 03 2020
1. World Book Fair, 2020 at New Delhi
The New Delhi World Book Fair organized by the National Book Trust is being held for 42 years now. The trust is an apex body of Government of India functioning under Ministry of Human Resource Development.
The World Book Fair is to be held between January 4, 2020 and January 12, 2020. The fair is organized jointly by National Book Trust and India Trade Promotion Organization. More than 800 exhibitors and 40 foreign exhibitors are to participate in the fair.
2. India to set strict restrictions on non-essential imports from China
Ministry of Commerce and industry has announced that 371 items from China will get strict restriction from March 2020. The move aims at curbing imports of non-essential items such as plastic goods, toys, furniture, sports.
The rules are to be framed by the Ministry in coordination with BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). Though the rules focus on Chinese imports, it will also be applicable to Indian producers in order to make the regulations WTO-compliant.
3. 2020 Designated as “Year of Nurse and Midwife”
In the honor of 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the World Health Organization designated the year 2020 as the “Year of Nurse and Midwife”. This year, WHO is to focus on nursing and midwifery in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage. The organization is leading the development of “World Nursing Report” that is to be launched in 2020.
4. KVIC opened first silk processing plant in Gujarat
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) a first Silk Processing Plant inaugurated at Surendranagar in Gujarat. The cost of production of silk yarn increases the sale and availability of raw material for Gujarati Patola Sarees locally. The plant set up by a khadi institution at the cost of Rs 75 lakhs in which KVIC contributed Rs 60 lakh. The unit employed 90 local women.
5. Mirabai ranked eighth in latest Olympic qualification rankings
Former world champion Mirabai Chanu maintained her eighth spot released by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The Olympic qualification competes in the 49kg category gathered 2966.6406 ranking points.
Chanu improved her performance in 2019. She lifted 86kg in snatch and a personal best of 113kg in clean and jerk for a total of 199kg at the Asian Championships in April.
6. Delhi first fully automated car park tower unveiled in Green Park
Delhi Municipal Corporation inaugurated the city’s first fully-automated car-parking tower facility at Green Park. The facility can accommodate at least 34 cars. The facility inaugurated by Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
7. Hillary Clinton appointed as new chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast in Ireland
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appointed as the new chancellor of Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland. Clinton who is a regular visitor to Northern Ireland back to the first visit of President Bill Clinton in 1995, becomes the university’s first female chancellor. She will serve as chancellor for a five-year term.
8. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas signs Contracts for 7 Blocks Awarded under Open Acreage Licensing Programme
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas contracts for seven blocks, awarded under Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) Bid Round – IV. The Government launched OALP Bid Round – IV on 27th August 2019. The Bid Round-IV offered seven blocks under International Competitive Bidding (ICB) process.
The bidding closed on 31st October 2019. Seven blocks Around approved for award to ONGC, for which the Revenue Sharing Contracts have signed in the presence of the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. The total area awarded in the 7 Onland blocks is 18,510 sq.km. The blocks spread across three sedimentary basins.
9. PM Narendra Modi disburses 12,000 crore rupees to six crore farmers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi electronically released 12,000 crore rupees under Pradhan Mantri Samaan Yojana to six crore farmers in Tumakuru. He awarded the Krishi Karman Award to the progressive farmers from 21 states.
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka gave deep sea fishing boats and transponders that will help them to navigate in the deep sea. Prime Minister emphasized on agro exports, value-addition of produce, marketing, and doubling of farmers income by 2022. The individual programs are launched for coffee, rubber, coconut, cashew, and pulses. The government is committed to improving irrigation facilities and providing skills to the agriculturists.
10. Union Government signed MoU with Flipkart company under DAY-NULM Scheme
The Union Government of India signed MoU with Flipkart company for selling the products made by women self-help groups under the scheme Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM). Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) scheme, self-help groups consisting of 44 lakh women working across the country, a move aimed at making women financially independent.
11. General Bipin Rawat proposes integrated Air Defence Command for armed forces
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat issued directions to prepare a roadmap to create an Air Defence Command to enhance the security of India’s skies. The areas identified for bringing in tri-services jointness and synergy include setting up of common logistics support pools where two or more services have their presence.
The CDS will have a crucial role in ensuring optimum utilization of allocated budget, ushering in more synergy in procurement, training, and operations of the services through joint planning and integration.
12. Odisha bags Krishi Karman Award
For the fifth time in a row Odisha has bagged Krishi Karman Award from the Centre for its overall food grain production in 2016-17.
Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo received the “Commendation Award” in agriculture from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Tumkur in Bengaluru.
13.Ritualistic festival ‘Lai Haraoba’ begins in Tripura
In Tripura, Lai Haraoba, a ritualistic festival observed by Manipuri meitei communities since ancient times, began in Agartala last evening. The five day long festival is jointly organised by Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of Tripura, Puthiba Lai Haraoba Committee and Puthiba Welfare & Cultural Society, Agartala.
14. Bank of Baroda co-lend with JM Financial
Bank of Baroda (BoB) entered into a co-lending agreement with JM Financial Home Loans Ltd (JMFHL) to offer loans to homebuyers.
The tie-up is expected to create an effective lending model by combining the expertise of both BoB and JMFHL to provide a seamless experience to retail home loan customers.
15. NBA mastermind Stern passes away
David Stern, 77, who oversaw NBA’s growth into a global sports powerhouse while serving as commissioner from 1984 to 2014, died after suffering a brain haemorrhage last month.
The NBA, whose championship games were not televised live in the United States when Stern’s 30-year tenure began, announced his passing.
