Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 05 2020
1. Gujarat government employees now get DA at par with central govt employees
The Gujarat government hiked the dearness allowance (DA) by five percent. With this, the DA would be 17 percent on par with Central government employees. The hike will come into effect retrospectively from July 1, 2019. It will benefit 5.11 lakh employees and 4.5 lakh, pensioners. This month’s salary paid with new DA, arrears of previous months would pay in a phased manner. The hike would put an additional burden of 1,821 crores on the state exchequer every year.
2. ISRO sets up academic centre in Karnataka to provide 2 crore
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set up a regional academic center for space at the National Institute of Technology (NITK) at Surathkal in Karnataka’s southwest Dakshina Kannada district. The center at NIT-K will conduct joint research and development in space technology applications to meet the needs of our space programs. ISRO will provide two crore grants annually to NIT for the R&D projects and promotional activities throughout the year.
3. “Cyber Safe Initiative” launched by Maharashtra Government
Cyber Safe Initiative was launched by Maharashtra Government. The initiative was launched commemorating the birth anniversary of Indian Social Reformer Savitribai phule. Savitribai Phule was the first female teacher of India. The aim of the initiative is to spread awareness against atrocities committed against children and women.
4. APEDA: Eight States finalise Agricultural Action Plan to boost Exports
The Agricultural and Processed Food Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) announced that eight states namely Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Karnataka finalised their action plan to boost agricultural exports.
5. Project NETRA: ISRO Signs pact to set up optical Telescope
The Indian Space Research Organization signed a pact with Indian Institute of Astrophysics to establish an optical telescope under “Project NETRA”. The organisation also tied up with NIT-Karnataka to set up a regional academic centre for space to promote research and development.
6. Neutral pronoun ‘they’ voted Word of the Decade
Neutral pronoun ‘they’ has been voted word of the decade by US language experts, beating out other contenders.
“They” is used in English by a growing number of non-binary individuals, people who do not identify as either male or female. They prefer the plural neutral pronoun to bypass using the pronouns “he” or “she”.
7. IOB receives government capital infusion of Rs 4,360 crore
Public sector Indian Overseas Bank has received capital infusion of Rs 4,360 crore from the government of India, the bank said.
In a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges, the bank said it has received the amount as contribution of the government in preferential allotment of equity shares during the financial year 2019-20 as government’s investment.
8. Irfan Pathan announces retirement from all forms of cricket
India all-rounder Irfan Pathan announced on Saturday he will be retiring from professional cricket with immediate effect.
Irfan Pathan, who made his international debut in 2003, played professional cricket for 16 years. Despite not featuring in an international fixture since 2012, Irfan was playing domestic cricket until February 2019.
9. Karur Vysya Bank MD and CEO P R Seshadri resigns citing personal reasons
P R Seshadri, managing director and CEO of Karur Vysya Bank, resigned from the position citing personal reasons, the Bank informed the exchanges. It said Seshadri submitted his resignation through a letter. The Board of Directors of the Bank accepted the resignation on the day and he will be relieved from services on March 31, based on his request. He was appointed as the MD and CEO in September, 2017.
10. Manav Thakkar becomes world no.1 in latest International Table Tennis Federation rankings
Young Indian paddler Manav Thakkar became world no.1 in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings in the Under-21 men’s singles category. With this, Thakkar became the fourth Indian to achieve the feat after Harmeet Desai, G Sathiyan and Soumyajit Ghosh.
11. Saurabh Chaudhary wins gold in men’s 10 m air pistol at 63rd National Shooting C’ship
Ace shooter Saurabh Chaudhary has won the men’s 10 metres air pistol gold at the 63rd National Shooting Championship in Bhopal today. The 17-year-old from Uttar Pradesh shot a classy 246.4 to finish on top.
12. Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi to bag best men’s player award in Dubai
Star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo ended the year by winning the best men’s player at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards here.
Ronaldo did not win the Ballon d’Or this year, finishing behind Lionel Messi who bagged it for the record sixth time and Liverpool’s Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk.
