Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 15th February 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 – 15th February 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- India’s reinsurance company, General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) has received the license from Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia) to commence reinsurance business in Russia.
- The Ghaziabad police launched ‘Operation Nakail’ under which the identity of all auto-rickshaw drivers will be verified and a unique four-digit number will be allotted to them.
- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurate the Cha-Chai, installation of the art-work of Joana Vasconcelos at the National Museum.
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launched India’s first inter-city electric bus service between Mumbai and Pune.
- Union Government clears investments of over 540 crore rupees in some stuck residential properties that will benefit 1,800 home buyers.
- Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh performed Bhoomi pooja ceremony of AIIMS building. Jammu and Kashmir allocated two AIIMS – one in Jammu and another in Kashmir.
- Arvind Kejriwal to take oath for the third time as chief minister of Delhi
- Veteran space scientist G Narayanan has been named the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation’s newly formed commercial entity New Space India Ltd (NSIL).
- Senior IAS officer Rajiv Bansal was named the Chairman and Managing Director of national carrier Air India. He succeeds Ashwani Lohani.
- BJP MP Vishnu Dutt Sharma has been appointed the new Party Chief of Madhya Pradesh.
- Union Territory of Ladakh will host the inaugural Khelo India Winter Games later this month, followed by a similar event in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir in March, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.
- BioAsia 2020 has announced the Genome Valley Excellence Award. American immunologist and oncologist Dr. Carl H June and Novartis CEO Dr. Vasant Narsimhan will be presented this award for their contributions to life sciences.
- Indian feminist scholar, activist Gita Sen has won the prestigious Dan David Prize 2020 under “present” category.
NEWS IN DETAILS
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Bank of Russia gives license to GIC Re for reinsurance business
- India’s reinsurance company, General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) has received the license from Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia) to commence reinsurance business in Russia.
- The license enables the subsidiary to commence transacting domestic and international reinsurance business in Russia based on the capital invested by the Corporation.
Extra Shots:
GIC: GIC of India is a state owned enterprise in India. It was the sole reinsurance company in the Indian insurance market until the insurance market was open to foreign reinsurance players by late 2016 including companies from Germany, Switzerland and France. GIC Re has its registered office and headquarters in Mumbai.
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founded: 22 November 1972
- Owner: Government of India
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
“Operation Nakail” for Auto-rickshaws in Ghaziabad
- The Ghaziabad police launched ‘Operation Nakail’ under which the identity of all auto-rickshaw drivers will be verified and a unique four-digit number will be allotted to them.
- The drivers will be required to get the unique number printed on the front, left, right and rear side of the auto-rickshaws.
- Customers can file complaints using the number if they face any harassment.
Patel jointly inaugurate Cha-Chai art work at National Museum
- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurate the Cha-Chai, installation of the art-work of Joana Vasconcelos at the National Museum.
- The installation represents the five o’clock tradition of serving tea in Portugal originated in the 17th century.
India first inter-city electric bus service between Mumbai and Pune launched
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launched India’s first inter-city electric bus service between Mumbai and Pune.
- Planning to extend these services in other parts of Maharashtra and adjoining states in the near future.
- The 43-seater capacity luxury electric bus is capable of operating within a range of 300 kilometers on a single charge and would be administered twice daily between the two cities.Manufactured by Mitra Mobility Solution, the bus will be operated by Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions.
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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.
Union Government clears Rs 540 cr investments in stuck residential properties
- Union Government clears investments of over 540 crore rupees in some stuck residential properties that will benefit 1,800 home buyers.
- The union government announced a 25,000 crore rupees fund to help complete over 1,500 stalled housing projects.
- A preliminary clearance was given for due diligence to 14 projects with a capital commitment of 2,500 crore rupees that will provide relief to 10 thousand home buyers.
- Another 40 more transactions are under active consideration.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Nine medical colleges two AIIMS sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir
- Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh performed Bhoomi pooja ceremony of AIIMS building. Jammu and Kashmir allocated two AIIMS – one in Jammu and another in Kashmir.
- The nine medical colleges had been sanctioned in Jammu and Kashmir in addition to the two AIIMS.
- The new work culture of the government of working beyond vote bank politics has greatly benefitted the people.
- Union Government approved the proposal for setting up an AIIMS in Jammu at Vijaypur, District Samba under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) in January 2019.
- The estimated to cost of Rs 1661 crores, the project is executed by CPWD.
- It is projected to be completed in 30 months by August 2022. AIIMS Jammu would be a 750-bed hospital with super specialty departments.
- It shall also have a medical college and a nursing college and will be a green building incorporating the state of the art equipment and technology.
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Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
Prime Health Care Plan Prime health care plan is a plan of its purpose in various parts of the country’s health is to provide the storage for all the features.
- Launch year – 2003
Arvind Kejriwal to take oath as Delhi Chief Minister
- Arvind Kejriwal to take oath for the third time as chief minister of Delhi on Sunday.
- AAP won 62 seats in the 70-member Delhi assembly while BJP managed eight seats.
- Congress failed to win any place in the recently held Delhi elections.
- Around 3,000 security personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary will be implemented in the national capital.
- There will be CCTV surveillance of all the routes leading to Ramlila ground.
- The oath-taking ceremony will start at 10 am.
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
ISRO G Narayanan to head space PSU NSIL
- Veteran space scientist G Narayanan has been named the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation’s newly formed commercial entity New Space India Ltd (NSIL).
- He was earlier working as deputy director (systems reliability and quality assurance) at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), a Thiruvananthapuram-based unit of Isro that designs, develops liquid propulsion stages for launch vehicles.
- Narayanan, who hails from Kerala’s Palakkad, had earlier worked as first secretary (space) at the Indian embassy in Paris.
- An alumnus of the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, Narayanan joined ISRO in 1983.
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ISRO:
The Indian Space Research Organisation is the space agency of the Government of India and has its headquarters in the city of Bengaluru. Its vision is to “harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research & planetary exploration”.
- Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
- Founded: 15 August 1969
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
APPOINTMENT
Rajiv Bansal becomes new CMD of Air India
- Senior IAS officer Rajiv Bansal was named the Chairman and Managing Director of national carrier Air India. He succeeds Ashwani Lohani.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his appointment as CMD of Air India. Bansal, a 1988 batch officer of the Nagaland cadre, held the post of Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
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Air India:
Air India is the flag carrier airline of India, headquartered at New Delhi. It is owned by Air India Limited, a government-owned enterprise, and operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving 94 domestic and international destinations.
- Parent organization: Air India Limited
- CEO: Pradeep Singh Kharola
- Bag information: In economy, within India, 25kg free. To other destinations, 20kg free, additional allowance depending on route. More Air India bag information
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Subsidiaries: Alliance Air, Airline Allied Services
Vishnu Dutt Sharma appointed new BJP chief of Madhya Pradesh
- BJP MP Vishnu Dutt Sharma has been appointed the new Party Chief of Madhya Pradesh.
- Surendran will be the new BJP President of Kerala and Dal Bahadur Chauhan has been appointed BJP State President of Sikkim.
- These appointments have been approved by the BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda.
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Madhya Pradesh:
- Capital: Bhopal
- Chief Minister: Kamal Nath
- Governor: Lalji Tandon
- National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju Announces Khelo India Winter Games in Jammu and Kashmir
- Union Territory of Ladakh will host the inaugural Khelo India Winter Games later this month, followed by a similar event in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir in March, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.
- The sports ministry will fund both the Khelo India Winter Games in Ladakh in the third week of February and Jammu and Kashmir in the first week of March.
- Khelo India Ladakh Winter Games will feature an open ice hockey championship, figure skating, and speed skating, and the competition will be conducted at the block, district, and UT levels with the expected participation of about 1700 athletes.
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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
AWARDS
BioAsia 2020 announces Genome Valley Excellence Award
- BioAsia 2020 has announced the Genome Valley Excellence Award. American immunologist and oncologist Dr. Carl H June and Novartis CEO Dr. Vasant Narsimhan will be presented this award for their contributions to life sciences.
- The function will be organized by the Telangana government annual global biotechnology & life sciences forum.Dr. Carl H June will be awarded for his work in immunotherapy, research in development of CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor- T cells) for treatment of cancer & commercialization of world’s first FDA (Food and Drug Administration, United States)- approved gene therapy.
India’s pioneering feminist Gita Sen wins Dan David Prize 2020
- Indian feminist scholar, activist Gita Sen has won the prestigious Dan David Prize 2020 under “present” category.
- She has worked hard in the fields of women’s rights, reproductive and sexual health and poverty eradication.
- Sen is the director of the Ramalingaswami Centre on Equity and Social Determinants of Health at the Public Health Foundation of India.
- Dan David Prize given by Dan David Foundation (headquartered at Tel Aviv University, Israel) this award carries prize of US$ 1 million for achievements having an outstanding scientific, technological, cultural or social impact on our world.
- Each year fields are chosen within the 3 time dimensions – Past, Present and Future.
