Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 19 2020
1. Centre appoints Nripendra Misra as chairman of NMML executive council
Former principal secretary to the Prime Minister, Nripendra Misra, has been appointed chairperson of the executive council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML). According to a government order, the Executive Council of the NMML has been reconstituted and it will be now chaired by Mr Misra.
2. Electric vehicles are future of India Elecrama conference at Noida
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar explained that the electric vehicles are the future of the country as they are eco-friendly and helpful in the reduction of carbon footprint. The fourteenth edition of Elecrama – a conference for discussion on new trends and innovation for energy transition at Greater Noida.
3. Russia urges Iran and US to wind down tensions
Russia’s acting Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged Iran and United States to wind down tensions after Iranian forces accidentally downed a Ukrainian passenger jet. The tragedy was a severe red flag and a signal that everyone should start working on de-escalation. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has defended the country’s armed forces after it admitted shooting down the plane by mistake.
4. Mastercard to invest $1 bn in India over 5 years towards tech development
Global payments company Mastercard planned to invest nearly $1 billion in India over the next five years. The proposed investment will be made over five years in our India operations includes an R&D facility at Pune and another center at Vadodara. The facilities catered to the company’s global operations, of which Vadodara provided the backend multiple payment support. Khanna noted that Mastercard, as a technology-driven global entity.
5. Gujarat ranked top for water efficiency Delhi among worst performing states
Gujarat ranked the best for parameters on efficiency targets in the review of state and Central government water departments by the ministry of Jal Shakti. Rajasthan is the third-best, and Delhi is among the worst-performing states, according to the ranking for 2019 circulated to different state governments recently.
The seven Central departments reviewed, the Survey of India, got the top billing followed by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and Central Water Commission. The Central Pollution Control Board, the country’s pollution watchdog, has got the lowest rank in the ranking for the year 2019.
Telangana got the top slot, and this year’s topper, Gujarat, was ranked seventh last time. Delhi. Among the states that significantly improved its ranking was Tamil Nadu.
6. World Gold Council report: RBI ranks 6th in buying gold abroad
The World Gold Council (WGC) recently released its report, “World Gold Outlook 2020”. The report says that gold has performed the best since 2010 in 2019. In 2019, the gold trade in USD has increased by 18.4% as compared to 2010.
According to the WGC, RBI (Reserve Bank of India) currently holds 625.2 tonnes of gold. This is 6.6% of the country’s foreign exchange. With this, India ranks sixth in the world among other central banks.
7. GoI launches “Seismic Hazard Microzonation” to minimize earthquake disasters
The Ministry of Earth Science has launched Seismic Hazard Microzonation project in major cities of India. The project aims to reduce hazards of seismic activities by putting in adequate measures.
It is the process of dividing earth quake prone areas based on certain factors. The factors include geological and geophysical characteristics of sites.
8. DV Sadananda Gowda launches APNA UREA – SonaUgle” brand of HURL
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda launched the APNA UREA – Sona Ugle brand of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited (HURL) at a function in New Delhi.
HURL is Joint Venture Company promoted by the three Maha Ratna Companies – Coal India Limited, NTPC Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
9. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw conferred with Australia’s highest civilian honour
Australia has conferred its highest civilian honour, the Order of Australia honour, on Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for her contribution towards advancing the country’s relationship with India.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu invested Mazumdar-Shaw as an Honorary Member within the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division at a ceremony in Bengaluru, the Australian High Commission said in a statement.
10. 9th International Children’s Film Festival begins in Kolkata
The 9th International Children’s Film Festival begins in Kolkata with the screening of Aizaz Khan directed Hamid. About 250 films from 45 countries will be screened in the week-long festival.
According to the official sources, the National Award winner Children actor, Talha Arsad Rishi will inaugurate the festival.
11. Veteran Odia Hindustani vocalist Sunanda Patnaik passes away at 85
Eminent Indian classical singer and daughter of noted Odia poet Baikunthanath Patnaik, Sunanda Patnaik passed away in Kolkata . She was 85 and had been hospitalised for age related complications.
Singer of Gwalior gharana of classical music, Sunanda was referred to as ‘Guruma’ in the classical music circle. Her popular devotional Odia song ‘Jeevana Patra Mo Bhariccha Kete Mote’ that was penned by her father, still holds a special place in the hearts of Odias.
12. Hyderabad, Bengaluru top two among most dynamic cities in the world, Delhi 6th in the list
Technology hub Hyderabad has edged out 129 other cities in the world to emerge as the world’s most dynamic city, according to the seventh edition of the City Momentum Index by global real estate services firm JLL.
The city has pushed Bengaluru to second place to regain the top position after a gap of one year. Chennai is at fifth and Delhi is at sixth place.
