Latest Current Affairs – January 17 2019
1. Gandhi Peace Prize Conferred for Last 4 Years
Gandhi Peace Prize for the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 has been conferred on the following:
1. For 2015: Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari for their contribution in Rural Development, Education, Development of natural resources.
2. For 2016: Jointly to Akshaya Patra Foundation for its contribution in providing mid-day meals to millions of children across India and Sulabh International for its contribution in improving the condition of sanitation in India and emancipation of manual scavengers.
3. For 2017: Ekal Abhiyan Trust for their contribution in providing Education for Rural and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India, Rural Empowerment, Gender, and Social Equality.
4. For 2018: Shri Yohei Sasakawa for his contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and across the world.
2. Commerce Ministry forms panel to streamline gems and jewellery industry
To streamline the Rs 5-trillion gems and jewellery industry, the Union ministry of commerce announced a committee to draft guidelines for forming a domestic council. Last year, the ministry had proposed to recognise the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (AIGJF) as a council for representing the domestic gems and jewellery sector. This seems to have been dropped. The five-member committee is headed by Pramod Agrawal, chairman, Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council. It has members from the India Bullion and Jewellers Association, AIGJF and other trade bodies.
3. India’s Satyarup becomes world’s youngest mountaineer to climb 7 Peaks, 7 Volcano Summits
Mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta became the youngest man to climb the seven highest peaks and volcanic summits across all continents after conquering Antartica’s highest point Mount Sidley. Satyarup achieved the feat at the age of 35 years 262 days while Australia’s Daniel Bull did it aged 36 years 157 days. With this feat Satyarup also became the first Indian to conquer the seven mountain peaks and seven volcanic summits.
4. Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the 10th edition of the India Rubber Expo 2019 in Mumbai
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the 10th edition of the India Rubber Expo – 2019 in Mumbai. The three-day event being held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre is one of the most anticipated events in the rubber industry’s calendar.
The rubber industry is a truly homegrown industry which is having a deep impact on several global markets. The minister hoped that the rubber industry will continue to grow faster, create more employment opportunities, increase exports and add to the economic output of India.
The National Rubber Policy will be unveiled soon to address issues concerning the sector and also to boost productivity, Mr Prabhu said the rubber industry can also contribute significantly in India’s efforts to become a 5 trillion dollar economy. a multi-pronged strategy is being formulated to boost India’s exports and to ensure that India’s products get market access in more than 150 countries.
5. GDP growth likely to be tad higher at 7.5% in FY20: India Ratings and Research
The country’s economy is likely to grow a tad higher at 7.5 per cent in 2019-20 on account of steady improvement in major sectors — industry and services, said India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) .
According to the advance estimates of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the economy may clock a growth rate of 7.2 per cent in the current financial year, up from 6.7 per cent in the previous year. Ind-Ra, a Fitch Group company, expects gross domestic product (GDP) growth to be a “tad higher” at 7.5 per cent in fiscal 2019-20.
6. PM inaugurates global trade show at Vibrant Gujarat Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a global trade show in Gandhinagar, organised as part of the ninth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show is being held on around two lakh sq mt area of an exhibition ground in the state capital. Around 25 industrial and business sectors are showcasing their products at the event. It is important that they are set up in time for people to come and view what they are selling, so utilizing resources such as Classic Exhibits, but companies in a closer location, will help them present their booth in an eye-catching and hopefully profitable way.
The trade show will continue till January 22 and will be open for general public on the last two days (January 21 and 22). For the first time, the government has organised buyer-seller and reserve buyer-seller meet as part of the trade show, where manufacturers, mainly from the MSME sector, are displaying their products.
7. John Bogle, founder of Vanguard, dies at 89
John C. Bogle, who simplified investing for the masses by launching the first index mutual fund and founded Vanguard Group, died Wednesday, the company said. He was 89. Bogle did not invent the index fund, but he expanded access to no-frills, low-cost investing in 1976 when Vanguard introduced the first index fund for individual investors, rather than institutional clients.
8. SBI, other banks agree to finance Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Corridor
A consortium of banks led by State Bank of India has agreed to provide finance for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ pet Nagpur-Mumbai ‘Samruddhi Corridor’ expressway project. SBI has agreed to lend the highest amount, Rs 8,500 crore, said Bhushan Gagrani, principal secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office. “Other lenders include Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra as well as the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India.The estimated cost of the project, being constructed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, is around Rs 50,000 crore, of which around Rs 26,000 crore are required for the construction of the expressway.
9. Narendra Modi inaugurates Kollam bypass
Giving a major boost to Kerala’s infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his third official visit to Kollam, inaugurated the 13-km long, 2-lane Kollam bypass on National Highway-66 (NH 66). According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Kollam bypass has been constructed at a cost of Rs 352 crore.
The highway has three major bridges over Ashtamudi Lake, with a length of 1,540 metres in total. The big infrastructure project has been developed in order to ease traffic congestion around the Kollam town as well as to reduce the travel time between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
10. India-Myanmar joint training exercise begins in Chandimandir
The second edition of the India-Myanmar bilateral army exercise, IMBEX 2018-19, commenced at Chandimandir Military Station that houses the headquarters of the Western Command.
The aim of this joint training programme, spread over six days, is to train the Myanmar delegation for participation in United Nations peace keeping operations under the UN flag. The exercise includes participation of 15 officers from Myanmar Army and 15 officers from the Indian Army.
12. Maharashtra FM-led GoM to look at issues related to lottery under GST
A ministerial panel headed by Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will examine uniformity of taxation on lottery under GST or other issues arising out of it. According to the terms of reference, the panel will decide whether the disparity in tax structure on the same product needs be continued or a uniform rate be prescribed for both, the finance ministry said in a statement. Under GST, state-organised lottery falls under the 12 percent tax slab while state-authorised lottery attracts 28 percent tax.
