Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 10th January 2020. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.
Current Affairs Today – 10th January 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- World Hindi Day is celebrated globally on 10th January every year. The World Bank has projected India’s growth rate at 5% for fiscal year 2020.
- The Reserve Bank of India has revised the Know Your Customer (KYC) norms for banks and other lending institutions.
- New amendments in KYC norms by RBI allows banks and other lending institutions to use “Video based Customer Identification Process (V-CIP)”.
- HDFC Bank launched myApps application on 9 January 2020.
- The State Bank of India has released its research report ‘Ecowrap’. In the report ‘Ecowrap’, the economic research department of SBI has lowered India’s growth rate to 4.6% in the fiscal year 2020.
- In the report ‘Ecowrap’, the economic research department of SBI has lowered India’s growth rate to 4.6% in the fiscal year 2020.
- Census exercise India-2021 to begin on 1st April 2020 and will end on 30th of September 2020.
- Indian Railways is in the process of installing Internet Protocol (IP) based Video Surveillance System (VSS) at stations to enhance security.
- Seven students from Jammu Division have been selected for the 3rd edition of the Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020 programme which will be held on 20 January 2020.
- In Uttar Pradesh, various programs under ‘Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat’ have been organised. Many schools and colleges are also organizing events to promote Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Campaign.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two day official visit to Kolkata from tomorrow.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, the Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation has approved 17 projects worth over 110 crore rupee for funding, submitted by the line departments for funding by the Corporation.
- The Income-Tax Department has launched a 24×7 control room to monitor black money and illegal inducements in poll-bound Delhi.
- Kerala State Government launched a wage subsidy scheme for the first five years for new ventures getting registered from 1 April 2020.
- The 27th edition of South Asian Trade and Travel Exchange Expo (SATTE) 2020 was held in New Delhi.
- The Pulses Conclave 2020 (TPC 2020) has been scheduled to be held from 12-14 February 2020 in Lonavala, Maharashtra.
- Indian passport ranked 84th in Henley Passport Index 2020.The list was topped by Japan.
- The Andhra Pradesh Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the representatives of a German firm, KFW, in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh to implement Zero Budget Natural Farming in the state.
- M Nagaraj has been appointed the company’s Chairman and Managing Director of State-owned Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco).
- Ladakh women team has won the 7th National Ice Hockey Championship women trophy
- India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant is currently under phase-3.
- Visakhapatnam is ready to host another International Naval event ‘MILAN‘ in March 2020.
- Famous Agricultural Scientist Prof. M S Swaminathan and Dr. Gutta Muniratnam were chosen as the first recipients of Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award for Excellence and Muppavarapu National Award for Social Service respectively.
- Veteran Odissi Danseuse Minati Mishra passed away.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
“World Hindi Day” celebrated globally on 10th January
- World Hindi Day is celebrated globally on 10th January every year.
- The day is celebrated every year to promote the use of Hindi language worldwide.
- The World Hindi Day was observed the first time in 2006.
- The day marked the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference held in 1975 in Nagpur.
BANKING AND FINANCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
World Bank projects India’s growth rate at 5% for FY2020
- World Bank has released the Global Economic Prospects report.
- In its report, the World Bank has projected India’s growth rate at 5% for the fiscal year 2020.
- It has also projected India’s growth rate at 5.8% for the fiscal year 2021.
- The report stated the weakness in credit from Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) as the root cause for lowering the growth rate from 6% to 5%.
- While the global economic growth is likely to increase to 2.5% in fiscal year 2020.
Extra Shots:
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. It comprises two institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Development Association.
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
- Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)
- Parent organization: World Bank Group
- Founded: 1944
RBI allows “Video based Customer Identification Process”
- The Reserve Bank of India has revised the Know Your Customer (KYC) norms for banks and other lending institutions.
- New amendments in KYC norms by RBI allows banks and other lending institutions to use “Video based Customer Identification Process (V-CIP)”.
- V-CIP will also provide comfortability to banks and other regulated entities while holding to the RBI’s Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
- The video files recorded as V-CIP are required to be stored bearing the date and time stamp while ensuring the safety and security of the video files.
- RBI has also advised banks to capture clear image of PAN card produced by the customer during the Customer Identification Process (CIP).
- The central bank also advised the banks and other regulated entities to record the customer’s location (Geotagging) to ensure the customer’s physical presence in India.
Extra Shots:
RBI:The Reserve Bank of India is India’s central banking institution, which controls the issuance and supply of the Indian rupee.
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- Deputy Governors: B P Kanungo, M K Jain, N S Vishwanathan
HDFC Bank unveiled myApps application to boost digital payments
- HDFC Bank launched myApps application on 9 January 2020.
- The app aims to boost digital payments in India.
myApps:
- myApps is a customized suite of banking products.
- The app will benefit urban local bodies, housing societies, local clubs and gymkhanas, and religious institutions.
- It will allow institutions to customize their branding and content.
- Using the app one can publish their application on the Google PlayStore or Apple AppStore in the name of the institution.
- myApps is free to all members of each institution without any monthly subscription charges.
- Members can pay monthly bills or fees and make an online booking for different facilities via myApps.
- The app can be customized in over 20 languages starting with Hindi and English.
- The move by HDFC bank aims to help organizations to entirely digitize their ecosystem through myApps.
- Currently, HDFC Bank is offering four types of applications namely, mySociety, myClub, myPrayer, and myCity.
Extra Shots:
HDFC:HDFC Bank Ltd. is an Indian banking and financial services company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has a base of 111,208 permanent employees as of 30 September 2019. HDFC Bank is India’s largest private sector lender by assets. It is the largest bank in India by market capitalisation as of February 2016.
- CEO: Aditya Puri
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founded: August 1994, India
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
SBI’s report ‘Ecowrap’ lowers India’s growth rate to 4.6% for FY 2020
- The State Bank of India has released its research report ‘Ecowrap’.
- In the report ‘Ecowrap’, the economic research department of SBI has lowered India’s growth rate to 4.6% in the fiscal year 2020.
- The report also stated that agriculture and allied activities are expected to grow at 2.8%, while growth in industry projected to grow at 2.5% in fiscal year 2020.
- The service sector is also expected to increase to 6.9% in fiscal year 2020.
Extra Shots:
SBI: The State Bank of India is an Indian multinational, public sector banking and financial services statutory body. It is a government corporation statutory body headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. SBI is ranked 236th in the Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s biggest corporations of 2019.
- Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
- Headquarters: Mumbai
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
India-2021 census exercise to begin on 1st April
- Census exercise India-2021 to begin on 1st April 2020 and will end on 30th of September 2020.
- Census India-2021 will be conducted through a mobile phone application.
- The enumerators of the census will seek the information of the mobile number of the head of the family, information related to TV, Internet, vehicles owned, toilets, source of drinking water besides asking other questions during the house listing phase of the exercise.
Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India: Vivek Joshi.
Indian Railways installs IP based Video Surveillance System at stations
- Indian Railways is in the process of installing Internet Protocol (IP) based Video Surveillance System (VSS) at stations to enhance security.
- Railway Board of India has approved works for provision of Video Surveillance System covering 983 stations over Indian Railways under Nirbhaya funds.
- This year a budget of Rs. 250 crore was allotted to Indian Railways from Nirbhaya fund for installation of the video surveillance system.
- In the first phase of installation, VSS is being installed at 200 stations and as on date work has been completed at 81 stations across India.
Extra Shots:
Indian Railwaysis India’s national railway system operated by the Ministry of Railways. It manages the fourth largest railway network in the world by size, with a route length of 67,368-kilometre and total track length of 121,407-kilometre as of March 2017.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 16 April 1853, India
Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020 programme to be held on 20 January
- Seven students from Jammu Division have been selected for the 3rd edition of the Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020 programme which will be held on 20 January 2020.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be interacting with the students from across the country at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi.
Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020 programme:
♦ Of the 7 selected students, 6 students are from Government Schools.
♦ A total of 4569 students from Jammu Division Schools register for the 3rd edition of the programme of using around 85 Facilitation Centers established across the Division by the Directorate Of School Education Jammu to help students in the registration process.
♦ Students were selected on the basis of submission of online forms, open for the students of class 9th to 12th.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Various programs under ‘Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat’ organized in UP
- In Uttar Pradesh, various programs under ‘Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat’ have been organised. Many schools and colleges are also organizing events to promote Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Campaign.
- Arunachal Pradesh is the partner state of Uttar Pradesh, so cultural exchanges also took place between the two states.
- Such programs are part of government initiative and are being organised at regular interval which encourages people of both states to know each other’s culture in a better way.
Extra Shots:
Uttar Pradesh:
- Capital: Lucknow
- Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
- Governor: Anandiben Patel
- State formed in: 24 January 1950
- Literacy Rate: 67.68%
- Nation Park: Dudhwa National Park
PM Modi will be on 2-day official visit to Kolkata from tomorrow
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day official visit to Kolkata from tomorrow.
- Mr. Modi shall dedicate to the Nation Four Refurbished Heritage Buildings in the city including old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House, and the Victoria Memorial Hall.
- The culture ministry has renovated these four iconic galleries and refurbished them with new exhibitions.
- Prime Minister will also participate in the celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust.
- Prime Minister shall also inaugurate Kaushal Vikas Kendra and Pritilata Chhatri Avas for 200 Tribal girl students of Sunderbans.
Extra Shots:
West Bengal:
- Capital: Kolkata
- Chief Minister: Mamta Banerjee
- Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
- State Formed in: 1947
- Literacy Rate: 76.26%
- National Park: Buxa National Park, Gorumara National Park, Neora Valley National Park, Neora Valley National Park, Sunderban National Park, Jaldapara National Park
J&K: Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation approves 17 projects worth over Rs 110 cr
- In Jammu and Kashmir, the Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation has approved 17 projects worth over 110 crore rupees for funding, submitted by the line departments for funding by the Corporation.
- These include Jambu Zoo project of moreover 49 crore Rs, 8 projects of Higher Education department amounting to nearly 34 crore Rs, 3 of Horticulture department, 4 projects of Youth Services and Sports Department and one of PHE.
Extra Shots:
Jammu & Kashmir:
- Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
- Lt Governor- Girish Chandra Murmu
- National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS, Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc
Delhi polls: 24×7 control room launched to monitor black money
- The Income-Tax Department has launched a 24×7 control room to monitor black money and illegal inducements in poll-bound Delhi.
- They will also host a toll-free number- 1800117574 – where people can inform the department about any activity of use of money power, illegal distribution of cash among other such election-related crimes.
- The Election Commission (EC) has also appointed 22 IRS officers of the I-T Department as expenditure observers for these polls.
Kerala government unveiled a wage subsidy scheme for ventures
- Kerala State Government launched a wage subsidy scheme for the first five years for new ventures getting registered from 1 April 2020.
- The scheme was unveiled by the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 9 January 2020 at the Global Investor Summit ASCEND 2020.
Provisions:
- The initiative will enhance the ease of doing business in the state
- It is expected to subsidize a part of the wage commitment of newly-set up industries for the first five years.
- Only Units that provide Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and Provident Fund (PF) benefits to workers will benefit under the scheme.
- Women employees will get at least Rs.2,000 more than their men counterparts under the proposed scheme.
- It is expected the over 37 lakh people will benefit under the scheme.
Extra Shots:
Kerala:
- Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
- Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
- Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan
- Festivals: Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, Nehru Trophy Boat Race
- National Parks: Anamudi Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Periyar National Park,Silent Valley National Park
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Aralam WLS, Chimmony WLS, Idukki WLS, Periyar WLS, Wayanad WLS, Peppara WLS, Neyyar WLS, Kurinjimala WLS, Malabar WLS etc
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
South Asian Trade and Travel Exchange Expo 2020 held in New Delhi
- The 27th edition of South Asian Trade and Travel Exchange Expo (SATTE) 2020 was held in New Delhi.
- The SATTE expo was supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and sponsored by Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department.
- The objective of the expo was to build new business partnerships and hence was an important place for the promotion of tourism.
- The SATTE witnessed the participation of over 50 countries and 28 Indian states.
- During the expo, the Tourism Department of Jammu & Kashmir launched publicity campaign to showcase diverse tourism attractions.
Pulses Conclave 2020 to be held in Maharashtra
- The Pulses Conclave 2020 (TPC 2020) has been scheduled to be held from 12-14 February 2020 in Lonavala, Maharashtra.
- The announcement was made by the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the nodal body for India’s pulses trade and industry on 9 January 2020.
- The biennial global pulses conference ‘TPC 2020’ is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision is to double the farmer’s income by the year 2022.
Extra Shots:
Maharashtra:
- Capital: Mumbai
- Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
- Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
- State Formed in: 1 May 1960
- Literacy Rate: 82.34%
- National Parks: Chandoli National Park, Nawegaon National Park, Gugamal National Park, Pench National Park, Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park, Tadoba National Park
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amba Barwa WLS, Bor WLS, Great Indian Bustard WLS,
- Lonar WLS, Melghat WLS, Gangewadi New Great Indian Bustard WLS, etc.
RANKS AND INDICES
The Indian passport ranked 84th in Henley Passport Index 2020
- Henley Passport Index 2020 has been released.
- The Indian passport ranked 84th in the world’s most powerful passport index 2020.
- Which is a drop by 2 places as it ranked 82nd in 2019. Now India provides visa-free access to 58 countries.
- The list was topped by Japan.
World’s top most powerful passports:
- Japan: 191 countries
- Singapore: 190 countries
- Germany, South Korea: 189 countries
Extra Shots:
Henley & Partners
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom; Founded: 1997.
- Chairman: Christian Kälin.
- Chief Executive Officer(CEO): Juerg Steffen.
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
AP Government signed MoU with KFW to implement ZBNF
- The Andhra Pradesh Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the representatives of a German firm, KFW, in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh to implement Zero Budget Natural Farming in the state.
- It comes after the Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF).
Provisions of MoU:
- The agreement aims to scale up the ongoing project with KFW.
- The YS Jaganmohan Reddy led-State government has allocated Rs.304 crore on the project.
- The project aimed to cover 2.39 lakh farmers in around 600 village panchayats and promote natural farming.
Extra Shots:
Andhra Pradesh:
- Capital: Amravati
- Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
- Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
- State Formed in: 1 November 1956
- Literacy Rate: 67.4 %
- National Park: Sri Venkateswara National Park, Sri Venkateswara National Park, Papikonda National Park
APPOINTMENT
M Nagaraj appointed as Chairman and MD of Hudco
- M Nagaraj has been appointed the company’s Chairman and Managing Director of State-owned Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco).
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has approved his appointment.
- He has experience in a multitude of sectors such as housing, infrastructure finance, skill development and microfinance in the social sector, and international trading. Hudco provides loans for housing and urban infrastructure projects.
Extra Shots:
HUDCO:The Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited is a government-owned corporation in India. One of the public sector undertakings, it is wholly owned by the Union Government and is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 25 April 1970
- Subsidiaries: Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd, Asset Management Arm, Hudland Real Estate
- Parent organization: Government of India
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Ladakh wins 7th National Ice Hockey Championship women trophy
- Ladakh women team has won the 7th National Ice Hockey Championship women trophy.
- In the final match, Ladakh scoring 2 goals against Delhi and won the tournament.
- The tournament was organised by the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) in association with the Ladakh winter sports club.
- 4 women teams representing Chandigarh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Ladakh participated in the tournament.
Extra Shots:
- President of Ice Hockey Association of India: K. L. Kumarament.
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
India’s 1st indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant to be commissioned by 2021
- India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant is currently under phase-3.
- It involves setting to work of machinery and other equipment and to be commissioned by early 2021 in Indian Navy.
- It will be fully operated by 2022. Vikrant is being built at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) Kochi, Kerala.
Visakhapatnam to host MILAN 2020 naval exercise in March
- Visakhapatnam is ready to host another International Naval event ‘MILAN‘ in March 2020.
- The theme of the exercise for the year 2020 is ‘Synergy Across the Seas’.
- MILAN 2020 is a multilateral naval exercise aimed to enhance professional interaction between foreign-friendly navies and learn from each other’s strengths and best practices in the maritime domain.
Extra Shots:
Indian Navy: The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy.
- Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS): Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, AVSM, VSM
- Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM
- Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS): Vice Admiral M. S. Pawar, AVSM, VSM
- Headquarters location: New Delhi
- Garrison/HQ: Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy)
- Founded: 5 September 1612
AWARDS
Two Agricultural Scientists were awarded Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Awards
- Famous Agricultural Scientist Prof. M S Swaminathan and Dr. Gutta Muniratnam were chosen as the first recipients of Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award for Excellence and Muppavarapu National Award for Social Service respectively.
- The award carried a cash prize of Rs.5 lakh and citation.
- M.S. Swaminathan was awarded for his significant contributions in the field of agriculture. Dr. G Muniratnam was awarded for his extraordinary contribution to improving the quality of people’s lives through social service.
Extra Shots:
Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award:
The National Award for Excellence was instituted by the Muppavarapu Foundation. The award for Social Service was launched by the Swarna Bharat Trust, in Hyderabad.
OBITUARIES
Veteran Odissi Danseuse Minati Mishra passes away
- Veteran Odissi Danseuse Minati Mishra passed away.
- In 2012 she was honored with the Padma Shri.
- She was an A-Grade artist at All India Radio (AIR) and a recipient of the Sangeet Prabhakar title for Hindustani vocal music.
