Latest Current Affairs – January 23 2019
1. Vodafone Idea Board Approves Rights Issue for Rs 25,000 crore
The Vodafone Idea board approved a plan to raise funds to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore via rights issue.As part of the fund-raising plan, promoters of the company — Vodafone group and Aditya Birla group — intend to contribute up to Rs 11,000 crore and Rs 7,250 crore, respectively, towards the issue.
Vodafone Idea had announced plans to raise Rs 25,000 crore last year in equity to bolster its balance sheet and meet future capex needs to boost 4G coverage in an effort to catch up with rival telcos as they continue to pump capital. According to the new strategy, the management plans to invest Rs 27,000 crore in 2019-20, supported by savings of around Rs 14,000 crore that it expects to come from synergising operations of merged entities.
2. Omega Healthcare Inks MoU With IIIT-Bangalore
Omega Healthcare Management Services said it has signed a pact with IIIT-Bangalore for advanced use of latest technology in providing healthcare solutions. The MoU is aimed at building industry-grade AI engines that can be embedded as part of Omega’s business solutions to solve healthcare business challenges, the company said in a statement.
The pact also entails research programmes in artificial intelligence (AI) and Data Science, aiming to focus on specific business-related processes along with expected outcomes, with the programme being collectively decided by both organizations .
3. JNPT becomes the only Indian port to be listed among world’s top 30 container ports
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India’s premier container port, has got listed among the top 30 container ports globally. JNPT notched up five spots to be 28th on the list compared to its previous ranking, according to the latest Lloyds report. This is a validation of all the efforts and strategic initiatives being implemented at JNPT in order to enhance overall port efficiency.
Various new processes activated under the Ease of Doing Business initiative have helped in overall growth of the port business besides allowing the EXIM trade to save time and cost. JNPT also launched an App service to facilitate better tracking of consignment and ease the trade process for their EXIM partners. The App allows traders to access all the relevant information about consignment and port related updates regarding traffic and weather.
4. ICC Awards: India’s Rishabh Pant named ICC’s Emerging Cricketer of 2018
India’s fast-rising wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was named the International Cricket Council’s Emerging Player of the Year in the world body’s annual awards. The 21-year-old Pant was picked by the ICC’s voting academy for a stellar show in his breakthrough Test year in 2018.
He became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a Test century in England, and equalled the record for the most catches taken in a Test, with 11 against Australia in Adelaide in December. He was also the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a Test hundred in Australia.
5. PM Inaugurates Subhas Chandra Bose Museum at Red Fort
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Subhas Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort to mark the leader’s 122nd birth anniversary. PM Modi also visited the Yaad-e-Jalian Museum, which is the museum on the Jallianwala Bagh and World War I, reported news agency Press Trust of India.
He will also visit the Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Independence as well as Drishyakala- Museum on Indian Art at the same venue. The museum on Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army showcases different artefacts, including a wooden chair and sword used by the leader, medals, badges and uniforms. The Yaad-e-Jalian showcases an authentic account of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, which occurred on April 13, 1919. It also showcases the bravery and valour of the Indian soldiers during World War I.
6. Government institutes Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar
Government has instituted an annual award titled Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar. The award is to be announced every year on 23rd January on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
For the year 2019, 8th Battalion of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) located at Ghaziabad has been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for its commendable work in Disaster Management. The Award recipient will receive a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 51 lakh.
7. YES Bank ties up with Maharashtra to onboard fair price shops as BCs
The Maharashtra government has partnered with private sector lender YES Bank, under its e-PDS State programme, to onboard fair price shops (FPS) as Business Correspondent Agents. YES Bank will onboard close to 40 per cent of all fair price shops in Maharashtra, spanning 12 districts such as Palghar, Thane, Pune, Kolhapur, Latur,” the lender said in a release, adding that this will cover more than 20,000 ration shop owners and over 70 lakh citizens.
8. India ranks 80th on Global Talent Competitive Index 2019
At 80th rank, India moves up one position on the Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI) 2019, according to a report released by INSEAD business school in partnership with Tata Communications and Adecco Group.
According to the report, India’s biggest challenge is to improve its ability to attract and retain talent.
China emerged as the best performer among the BRICS countries, with an overall position of 45th. However, India performed better than its lower-income peers when it comes to growing talent and access to growth opportunities.
9. India ranks in ‘Bloomberg Innovation Index’ of 60 economies for first time ever
In a major breakthrough with regard to recognition of India amid the global space, India has been ranked in Bloomberg’s 2019 list of most innovative countries in the world — 2019 Bloomberg Innovation Index – for the first time ever. India has grabbed 54th spot in the Bloomberg Innovation Index with a score of 47.93 out of 100 in ‘2019 Bloomberg Innovation Index’ of 60 economies.
South Korea has topped the Bloomberg Innovation Index for the sixth time in a row with a total score of 87.38, followed by Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Singapore, Sweden, U.S., Japan and France in the top 10
10. Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashaschandra presented Saraswati Samman for 2017
The 27th Saraswati Samman was conferred upon eminent Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashaschandra . Organised by the KK Birla Foundation, the award for 2017 was given to Yashaschandra for his poetry collection, ‘Vakhar,’ published in 2009. The poet was given a plaque and Rs 15 lakh prize money by famed poet-lyricist Gulzar.
The Saraswati Samman is given annually to an author for outstanding literary work published in the last 10 years in any of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
11. Yoga is India’s greatest legacy and most glorious gift to the world: Vice President
The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Yoga was India’s greatest legacy, its most glorious gift to the world. He said that the massive participation of people from all over the world on International Yoga Day celebrations was a testament to the fact that the world has accepted Yoga and was celebrating it.
Addressing the gathering after releasing the book ‘Universal Brotherhood through Yoga’ compiled by Bharatiya Sanskrit Pitham, here today, the Vice President said that Yoga has the power to bring in the essential transformation required to change the way people live, think and interact with fellow human beings and Mother Nature.
12. Indian Army to hold military exercises with African nations in Pune
The Indian Army will conduct military exercises with African nations at the Aundh Military station and College of Military Engineering in Pune. Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique and Uganda will be participating in the joint military exercise.
The joint exercise named ‘India-Africa Field Training’ is being conducted with an aim to synergise United Nations peacekeeping operations.
The exercise is scheduled to be held between March 18 to 27, 2019.Training in anti-terror operations, humanitarian mine action and joint peace operations keeping in mind UN mission will be the focus of the military exercise.
13. Online inter-state trade through the e-NAM portal started
The e-NAM platform has reached an inflection point by initiation of inter-state trade in January 2019. The start of online inter-state trade through the e-NAM portal this month is a landmark achievement in e-NAM history and its strengthening in future will definitely add a new chapter to Agricultural marketing in the Indian context.
The first inter-State trade on e-Nam between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has been carried out on 19.01.2019 between farmer from Gadwal mandi in Telangana State, who sold 8.46 quintal of groundnut to, a trader in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh through the e-NAM portal. This has been followed by another trade between these two mandis across both States.
14. NAS Shibpur to be commissioned as INS Kohassa
To enhance the operational capability of Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), Naval Air Station (NAS) Shibpur will be commissioned as INS Kohassa, a Defence release said. Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of Naval Staff will commission NAS Shibpur which was established in 2010 as INS Kohassa on January 24, the release issued by the Headquarters . INS Kohassa has been named after a White-Bellied Sea Eagle, which is a large bird of prey endemic to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it said.
The NAS Shibpur was set up as a Forward Operating Air Base (FOAB) for surveillance in North Andaman. Located in the northern most part of the islands, the airfield holds strategic importance not only for the security of the islands but also for its overall development.
