Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 22 2020
1. Global Social Mobility Index launched at World Economic Forum: India ranks 76th
World Economic Forum released the Social Mobility Index. The index measures social mobility of the population world wide.
Social Mobility is the upward or downward movement of an individual in personal circumstances in relation to their parents. The countries’ social mobility was measured based on following 5 key dimensions as follows Health, Education-Quality, Access and Equity Technology Work-Wages, conditions and opportunities, Protections and Institutions-Inclusive institutions and social protection.
2. GoI launches paperless licensing of petroleum service stations
Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) announced that it has launched paperless licensing process for petroleum service stations. The paperless licensing has been launched under Petroleum Rules, 2002. The implementing agency of the order would be Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO).
3. Carbon Disclosure Project: India ranks 5th
Carbon Disclosure Project, an annual report on carbon reduction activities of different countries and their firms was released by a non-profit organization Global Reporting Initiative. According to the report, the countries were ranked based on their corporate responsibilities of carbon reduction. In order to assess the role played by them, their science-based targets were weighed.
4. “TIGERSHARKS”, First Squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft inducted by IAF in Tamil Nadu
222 Squadron of Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets was inducted by the Indian Air Force in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The squadron has been named “Tiger Sharks”. The squadron has been inducted with modified Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets that are modified to carry BrahMos missiles.
5. UNCTAD releases Global investment Trend report: India among top 10 recipients of FDI
United Nation Conference on Trade and Development released its report on Global Investment Trend Monitor Report for the year 2019. The Global FDI of the year 2019 was 1.39 trillion USD. This has declined by 1% as compared to 2018.
6. PM Modi to chair 32nd interaction through PRAGATI platform
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 32nd interaction through PRAGATI- the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation in New Delhi today. In the previous thirty-one interactions of PRAGATI, projects worth over twelve lakh crores have been reviewed by the Prime Minister.
In the last PRAGATI meeting, nine projects worth over 61 thousand crore rupees related to 16 states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir were taken up for discussion.
There were also discussions on various topics like grievances of Indian citizens working abroad, National Agriculture Market, Aspirational District Programme and infrastructure development programmes and initiatives.
7. Adani Capital acquires Essel Finance’s MSME loan business
Adani Capital, the NBFC arm of the Adani Group, has acquired Essel Finance’s MSME loan business. The financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
The business has a secured loan book of about ₹145 crore, 1,100 customers and a staff strength of 40 professionals. It operates out of 10 cities in India, the company said in a statement.
8. Bajaj Finserv partners with Apollo Hospitals to launch health EMI cards
Bajaj Finserv has launched digitized health EMI cards covering an entire family with a credit limit ranging between Rs 40,000 and Rs 4 lakh. The 0% EMI cards, which will be accepted across all centres of Apollo Hospitals in the country, has a personal accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh.
9. Gujarat tops SKOCH State of Governance 2019
Gujarat has occupied the top slot in SKOCH State of Governance 2019. The credit goes to its Chief Minister Vijay Rupani who has introduced a number of innovative and progressive policies to make the public delivery system accountable, transparent and effective.
Gujarat topped this year’s ranking with 104 projects from the state making entry to the final shortlist for evaluation. Out of these, 19 projects from Gujarat were found to be exceptionally impactful.
10. Global unemployment projected to rise by around 2.5 million in 2020: UN report
Global unemployment is projected to increase by around 2.5 million in 2020 and almost half a billion people are working fewer paid hours than they would like or lack adequate access to paid work, according to UN’s International Labour Organization report.
The World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2020 (WESO) report, released on Monday, states that global unemployment has been roughly stable for the last nine years but slowing global economic growth means that, as the global labour force increases, not enough new jobs are being generated to absorb new entrants to the labour market.
11. Cabinet approves MoUs among India, Tunisia and Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission for elections for cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration
The MOUs would promote bilateral cooperation, aimed at building technical assistance/ capacity support for the Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia (ISIE) and the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission(PNGEC) for elections for cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration, envisaging cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration and providing a leg-up to such bodies in conducting elections in their respective countries. This would also result in bolstering India’s international relations.
