Current Affairs Today 16th and 17th February 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 16th and 17th February 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

1. World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday of February.
2. Markets regulator Sebi has constituted a Municipal Bonds Development Committee headed by Sujit Prasad.
3. The Indian Railways South Central Railways (SCR) zone has become the 1st zonal railway in the country to have functional “energy neutral” railway stations on the network.
4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting his parliamentary constituency Varanasi to inaugurate several development projects, including flagging-off ‘Mahakal Express,’ expected to link the holy cities of Varanasi, Ujjain, and Omkareshwar.
5. Indian Railways will operate a new train based on Ramayana theme which will take pilgrims to locations associated with Lord Rama.
6. President Ram Nath Kovind is embarking a two-day visit to Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu on 17-18 February 2020.
7. The World’s Biggest Cricket Stadium, the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad renamed as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Stadium will be inaugurated by US President Donald Trump during his visit to India.
8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
9. Union Minister for Food Processing Industries (FPI) Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated the India Pavilion at 25th Edition of the GulFood 2020 in Dubai on 16 February.
10. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare reported that so far 6954 villages have been identified by the States/UTs in which against the target of 26.83 lakh samples, 20.18 lakh samples have been collected, 14.65 lakh samples have been analyzed and 13.54 lakh cards have been distributed to farmers.
11. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is to capture district-wise data or origin of export goods.
12. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat launched the web portal of Shri Badrinath and Shri Kedarnath temple committee.
13. The Maharashtra government has announced 5-day working week for state government employees.
14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on 16 February.
15. Haryana government has decided to give 6 crore rupees to players of the state that bag gold medals at the Olympic Games.
16. Delhi Police celebrated 73rd Raising Day on 16 February 2020.
17. ‘Pyaar ka Paudha’ (a plant of love) campaign has been launched by the Bihar government’s Department of Environment and Forest in Patna, to encourage the practice of planting trees in the state.
18. Indian-origin Alok Sharma was named the new UK Minister in charge of the crunch UN climate talks to be hosted by Britain.
19. Indian Navy’s Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Karambir Singh is on a 4-day visit to Myanmar from 17-20 February 2020.
20. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations ahead of US President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to India beginning the 24th of this month.
21. The Government of Telangana hosting Bio-Asia Summit 2020 in Hyderabad between February 17, 2020, and February 19, 2020.
22. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 43rd Governing Council meeting was held in Rome, Italy.
23. The annual All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was held in New Delhi on 16 February 2020.
24. Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari is representing India at the 3rd High-Level Global Conference on Road Safety for Achieving Global Goals 2030 in Stockholm, Sweden.
25. AsiaOne Magazine and URS Media organized a Networking Meet called India-Thailand: Today, Tomorrow, Together collaboration with the India Thai Chamber of Commerce (ITCC) at their premises at Sathon, Bangkok.
26. Government of India and the World Bank signed a $450 million loan agreement on 17 February.
27. Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed three concession agreements with Adani Enterprises for operations, management, and development of Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangaluru airports.
28. India has initiated Ocean dialogue with Norway to address the problem of Marine Plastic litter.
29. Wadia group-promoted GoAir has appointedVinay Dube as the airline’s Chief Executive Officer.
30. Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa won the 77th Senior National squash championships in Man’s and woman’s category respectively in Chennai.
31. Uganda’s world 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei created history by setting a 5km road world record in Monaco.
32. India will host next year’s Junior Men’s World Cup.
33. Milan 2020 includes a broader array of exercises at sea in multi-national groupings with seamanship drills, simulation of complex operational scenarios, tactical manoeuvres, and others.
34. Armies of India and Bangladesh participated in joint military exercise SAMPRITI-IX at Umroi, Meghalaya.
35. The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Trichy, Tamilnadu has developed Thirumathikart – a mobile app for SHG (Self Help Group) products.
36. The founding member and lead guitarist of acclaimed band Parikrama, Sonam Sherpa passed away.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

9th World Pangolin day 2020

• World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday of February.
• This international effort raises awareness about pangolin species and mobilizes various stakeholders to speed up conservation efforts.
• The 9th World Pangolin day was observed on February 15, 2020.
• Madhya Pradesh has taken special initiative to conserve the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) which is included in the highly endangered species.
• The MP Forest Department and the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) have embarked on a joint project to understand and effectively conserve the ecology of the Indian pangolin.
• In this project, radio-tagging of some pangolins is being done to study their activities, accommodation, routines etc.
• Two Indian pangolins have been successfully rehabilitated in the jungle.

BANKING AND FINANCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

SEBI constitutes Municipal bonds development committee

• Markets regulator Sebi has constituted a Municipal Bonds Development Committee headed by Sujit Prasad.
• This committee will suggest on policy matters pertaining to the development of municipal debt securities and facilitate municipalities for issuance of such bonds.
• This committee comprises representatives from municipal corporations, lawyers, professionals and market practitioners.
• The panel will advise Sebi on issues related to regulation and development of the primary and secondary market of municipal debt securities.

Extra Shots:

SEBI: The Securities and Exchange Board of India is the regulator for the securities market in India owned by the Government of India. It was established in 1988 and given Statutory Powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.

• Founded: 12 April 1992
• Sector: Securities market
• Jurisdiction: India
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Type: Statutory corporation
• Chairperson: Ajay Tyagi

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

South Central Railways zone becomes 1st in India to have energy-neutral stations

• The Indian Railways South Central Railways (SCR) zone has become the 1st zonal railway in the country to have functional “energy neutral” railway stations on the network.
• The South Central Railways has converted a total of 13 railway stations into “energy neutral” stations, which is the highest amongst all the zones across the Indian Railways network.
• The energy-neutral railway stations are capable of meeting 100 per cent energy requirements by tapping into solar power through solar photovoltaic panels which have been commissioned at the station buildings.

Extra Shots:

The South Central Railway is one of the 18 zones of Indian Railways. The jurisdiction of the zone is spread over the states of Telangana, Maharashtra, and some portions of Madhya Pradesh. It has three divisions under its administration, which include Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Nanded.

• Headquarters location: Secunderabad
• Founded: 2 October 1966, Andhra Pradesh
• Date of operation: 2 October 1966

Shri Narendra Modi to Launch 34 Projects Worth Rs 1,000 Crore During Varanasi

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting his parliamentary constituency Varanasi to inaugurate several development projects, including flagging-off ‘Mahakal Express,’ expected to link the holy cities of Varanasi, Ujjain, and Omkareshwar.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate 34 projects worth Rs 1,000 crore on occasion.
• A 63-foot tall statue of Deendayal Upadhyay, which was completed by more than 200 artisans.
• The ‘Mahakal Express,’ which will be launched via a video call, is to become the first overnight-journey private train in the country.
• It will connect the three ‘Jyotirling’ pilgrim centers from Varanasi to Ujjain and finally at Omkareshwar. Narendra Modi will also lay the foundation for about 14 more projects to be carried out an approximate cost of Rs 200 crore.

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

Indian Railways to operate new train based on Ramayana theme

• Indian Railways will operate a new train based on Ramayana theme which will take pilgrims to locations associated with Lord Rama.
• The new Ramayana circuit train will start operating from the last week of March.
• The train will give a feel to passengers of a temple on wheels with themes and pictures related to Ramayana.
• The exterior and the interior of the train will be based on the Ramayana theme with bhajans playing on board.
• The train will take people to all places related to Ramayana.
• The theme of this train will be based on Ramayana. Pictures, thoughts, and poems related to Ramayana will be displayed on coaches outside and pictures related to the epic and music will also be played inside

President to visit Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

• President Ram Nath Kovind is embarking a two-day visit to Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu on 17-18 February 2020.

Agenda:

♦ The President will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate several developmental projects of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu in Daman.

♦ He will inaugurate the Jampore Sea Front Road from Moti Daman Jetty to Jampore Beach and an Ayushman Bharat Wellness Centre in Daman.

Extra Shots:

Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu:

• Administrator: Praful Khoda Patel
• Formed on: 26 January 2020
• Capital: Daman

Donald Trump to inaugurate world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad

• The World’s Biggest Cricket Stadium, the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad renamed as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Stadium will be inaugurated by US President Donald Trump during his visit to India.
• The stadium has a capacity of 1.10 lakh people. Sardar Vallabhbhai Stadium emerged as the World’s Biggest Cricket Stadium after the previous 53000-seater Motera Stadium was demolished back in 2015.

Extra Shots:

Gujarat:

• Capital: Gandhinagar
• Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• State formed on: 1 May 1960
• Literacy Rate: 79.31%
• National Park: Vansda NP, Blackbuck NP, Gir Forest NP, Marine NP, Gulf of Kutch

PM Modi to inaugurate UN Convention on Migratory Species

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The theme of the Conference is “Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home”
• The CMS COP 13 logo is inspired by ‘Kolam’, a traditional art form from southern India. In the logo, Kolam art form is used to depict key migratory species in India like Amur falcon, humpback whale and marine turtles.
• As the host, India will be designated the President for the next three years. India is a signatory to the Convention on Conservation of Migratory wild Animals since 1983.

Extra Shots:

Gujarat:

• Capital: Gandhinagar
• Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• State formed on: 1 May 1960
• Literacy Rate: 79.31%
• National Park: Vansda NP, Blackbuck NP, Gir Forest NP, Marine NP, Gulf of Kutch

Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated India Pavilion at GulFood 2020 in Dubai

• Union Minister for Food Processing Industries (FPI) Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated the India Pavilion at 25th Edition of the GulFood 2020 in Dubai on 16 February.
• The event was held from 16-20 February.

Highlights:

♦ The platform GulFood 2020 facilitated tie-ups between foreign investors.

♦ It also aimed at accelerating the pace of export of food products from India to the western market.

♦ Harsimrat Kaur Badal interacted with the exhibitors and discussed the potential of business opportunities available to them in India, UAE, and other countries.

♦ The FPI Minister proposed to explore the possibility of setting up a fund for providing marketing support to launch Indian products in the UAE supermarkets.

Extra Shots:

India-UAE:

India and UAE have been each other’s largest trading partners for the past years. Currently, the UAE is the third-largest trading partner with bilateral trade reaching US$ 59.909 in 2018-19. Food items are one of the major Indian exports to UAE. The ties between the two countries aim to ensure Food Security for the Gulf nation in the times to come.

Soil health card Scheme completes 5 years as on 19 February

• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare reported that so far 6954 villages have been identified by the States/UTs in which against the target of 26.83 lakh samples, 20.18 lakh samples have been collected, 14.65 lakh samples have been analyzed and 13.54 lakh cards have been distributed to farmers.
• The Soil health card scheme completes 5 years on 19 February 2019.

Soil health card scheme:

♦ Soil health card scheme was launched by PM Modi on 19 February 2015.

♦ The scheme aims to assess the nutrient status of every farm holding in the country.

♦ So far, a total of Rs.751.42 crore has been released under the scheme.

♦ The scheme aims to issue soil health cards to farmers every 2 years so as to provide a basis to address nutritional deficiencies in fertilization practices.

♦ Soil testing is developed to promote soil test based on nutrient management.

♦ The scheme will assist State Governments to issue soil health cards to all farmers in the country.

♦ Soil health will lead to Sustainable Farming.

♦ Soil health card provides information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

CBIC to capture district-wise data or origin of export goods

• Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is to capture district-wise data or origin of export goods.
• The move is in line with PM’s aim of turning districts into export hubs.

Aim: The new initiatives of the CBIC aim to help policymakers make data-driven decisions.

Highlight:

♦ The additional information from the export declarations will provide key statistical input to policymakers on the importance of each district for exports.

♦ It will help in aligning the policies to enhance local capacity.

♦ The export declarations will capture declarations by exporters intending to avail India’s Free and Preferential Trade Agreements (FTAs/PTAs) being exported to partner countries. It will provide critical data on the gains being made by Indian exporters.

♦ It will help the Government to align India’s foreign trade policy.

Extra Shots:

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC):

• Formed on: 26 January 1944
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Officer responsible: Smt.Nirmala Sitharaman
• Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Shri Badrinath and Shri Kedarnath temple committee launches its web portal

• Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat launched the web portal of Shri Badrinath and Shri Kedarnath temple committee.
• The web portal has been developed by Uttarakhand state National Informatics Centre.
• Through this website, it will be possible to easily access information regarding Chardhaam tour from any part of the world.
• He also released Shri Badrinath and Kedarnath temple committee’s diary and calendar.

Extra Shots:

Uttarkhand

• Capital- Dehradun
• Governor- Baby Rani maurya
• CM-Trivendra Singh Rawat
• National Park -Jim Corbett NP, Gangotri NP, Nanda Devi NP, Rajaji NP

5-day working week for Maharashtra govt employees

• The Maharashtra government has announced 5-day working week for state government employees.
• The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
• The new system will be applicable from February 29 onwards.
• Employees working for the Government of Maharashtra presently get second and fourth Saturdays off every month.
• There are over 20 lakh officers and employees in government, semi-government and local bodies in the state.
• The Cabinet also decided that the state department for OBCs, SEBCs (socially and educationally backward classes), VJNTs (vimukt jati and nomadic tribes) and special backward classes will now be known as the ‘Bahujan Kalyan Department’.

Extra Shots:

Maharashtra:

• Capital: Mumbai
• Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
• Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
• State Formed in: 1 May 1960
• Litracy 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.

PM unveiled statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya in UP

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on 16 February.
• He inaugurated the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Memorial Centre in Padao on the Varanasi-Chandauli border.
• He also launched several projects worth Rs.1,200 crore that includes a 430-bed super specialty government hospital, and a 74-bed psychiatry hospital at Banaras Hindu University, UP.

Statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya:

♦ As per BJP ideologue, the panchaloha statue is the tallest statue in the country.

♦ The statue is 63 feet tall.

♦ More than 200 artisans have worked for almost a year in order to complete the structure.

♦ About 30 Odisha craftsmen and artists have worked on the project in 2019.

♦ The Memorial Centre is spread over nine acres.

♦ The Centre has the engravings of the life and times of Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Extra Shots:

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya:

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh in 1916. He was an Indian politician. He was an important leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (present Bharatiya Janata Party). He qualified for the civil services examination but did not join the service. He became a life-time volunteer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1942. He has played a larger role in India’s political life.

Haryana govt announces Rs six crore to those winning gold medals at Olympics

• Haryana government has decided to give 6 crore rupees to players of the state that bag gold medals at the Olympic Games.
• State Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced, 3 crore rupees will be given to those winning gold medals at Asian Games and 1.5 crore rupees to the winners of yellow metal at Commonwealth Games.
• An amount of 15 lakh rupees will be given to each player participating in the Olympic Games so that the players can make the state, as well as the country, proud.

Extra Shots:

Haryana:

• State formed on: 1 November 1966
• Capital: Chandigarh
• Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
• Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
• Official language: Hindi

Delhi Police celebrated 73rd Raising Day

• Delhi Police celebrated 73rd Raising Day on 16 February 2020.
• The celebration was presided over by the Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri Anil Baijal and the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Smt. Kiran Bedi participated in the occasion.
• Home Minister Amit Shah presented medals to Delhi Police Officers for their exceptional service.

Extra Shots:

Delhi Police: Delhi Police functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and not the Delhi government. It is the law enforcement body of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT).

• Formed on: 1861 (Delhi Police on 16 February 1948)
• Headquarters: Indraprashta estate, New Delhi
• Officer responsible: Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs

‘Pyaar ka Paudha’ campaign launched by Bihar govt to encourage practice of planting trees

• ‘Pyaar ka Paudha’ (a plant of love) campaign has been launched by the Bihar government’s Department of Environment and Forest in Patna, to encourage the practice of planting trees in the state.
• The environment department has appealed to the people to gift the plant of love to their close ones as it will be alive for years & also stalls of Patna plants have been planted for this purpose.

Extra Shots:

Bihar

• Capital: Patna
• Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
• Governor: Phagu Chauhan
• Literacy Rate: 63.82%

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Indian-origin minister Alok Sharma to lead UN climate summit

• Indian-origin Alok Sharma was named the new UK Minister in charge of the crunch UN climate talks to be hosted by Britain.
• He has been promoted to the post of Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Cabinet reshuffle.
• He will take charge of the crucial summit ‘COP26′ as its former president was removed amid controversy.

Extra Shots:

United Kingdom (Capital/Currency): London/ Pound sterling

• Prime minister: Boris Johnson.

Admiral Karambir Singh to visit Myanmar

• Indian Navy’s Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Karambir Singh is on a 4-day visit to Myanmar from 17-20 February 2020.
• The visit aims to enhance the bilateral maritime relations between India and Myanmar.

Agenda:

♦ Admiral Karambir Singh will hold bilateral discussions with Admiral Tin Aung San, Commander-in-Chief Myanmar Navy.

♦ He will hold talks with H.E. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief Defence Services, and other senior Government officials.

♦ He will also interact with the trainees of National Defence College in Nay Pyi Taw.

♦ He will visit the Naval Dockyard and Training Command of the Myanmar Navy in Yangon.

Extra Shots:

Indian-Myanmar Navy:

Indian Navy regularly interacts with Myanmar Navy through Joint Working Group Meeting on Maritime Cooperation, the medium of Staff Talks, and other operational interactions which include Port visits, Coordinated Patrols, Bilateral Exercises, Training, and Hydrography, etc.

Myanmar Navy is a member of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). The navy participates in the activities conducted under the IONS construct. Also, both the Navies also interact during maritime activities.

Myanmar (Capital/Currency): Naypyitaw/ Burmese kyat

• President: Win Myint

S Jaishankar meets Mike Pompeo at Munich in Germany

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
• The two leaders discussed bilateral relations ahead of US President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to India beginning the 24th of this month.
• Jaishankar also met US special envoy on Afghan reconciliation and discussed regional and global issues with them.
• The external affairs minister also met Australian and Singaporean defence ministers and said New Delhi is working with them to take security cooperation forward.
• The Munich Security Conference is the world’s leading forum for debate on international security policy and is held annually. It was established in 1963.

Extra Shots:

Germany (Capital/Currency): Berlin/Euro

• President: Frank-Walter Steinmeier

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

BioAsia Summit 2020 begins in Hyderabad

• The Government of Telangana hosting Bio-Asia Summit 2020 in Hyderabad between February 17, 2020, and February 19, 2020.
• The main objective of the summit is to explore the capabilities of Life Science Companies and their investments.
• The theme of the Summit is Theme: Today for Tomorrow.
• The summit will be attended by researchers, investors, conglomerates, start-ups and health care representatives.
• They will focus on the needs of the evolving Life Science industry.

Extra Shots:

Telangana:

• Capital: Hyderabad
• Chief Minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao
• Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan

IFAD Governing Council 2020 held in Rome, Italy

• The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 43rd Governing Council meeting was held in Rome, Italy.
• The 43rd sessions will focus on the overarching theme “Investing in sustainable food systems to end hunger by 2030″.
• The theme highlights how IFAD’s role and experience in supporting sustainable, inclusive, nutritious and efficient food systems uniquely place it in a position to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG2).
• During the meet, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) stated that the sequences of climate change and its impacts on agriculture will push around 100 million people to poverty by 2030.

Extra Shots:

IFAD: The International Fund for Agricultural Development is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations that works to address poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.

• Headquarters location: Rome, Italy
• Head: Gilbert Houngbo
• Abbreviation: IFAD
• Founder: India
• Founded: December 1977, Rome, Italy
• Formation: 15 December 1977

All India Conference of CAT was held in New Delhi

• The annual All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was held in New Delhi on 16 February 2020.
• The Conference was presided over by the Union Minister for Law & Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Highlights:

♦ The jurists and experts deliberated on key issues related to the functioning of the Tribunal and priorities for 2020.

♦ The conference had two technical sessions that discussed issues related to the work of CAT, including structural and institutional issues, the functioning of administrative tribunals in other legal systems and methodology for the functioning of the tribunal.

♦ They discussed methods and measures to improve the quality of adjudication and rate of disposal, service condition of members and infrastructural aspect of the Tribunal’s Benches.

Extra Shots:

Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT):

CAT was established in 1985 under Article 323-A of the Constitution. CAT has 17 Benches and 21 Circuit Benches. It is headed by Chairman Sh. Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, former Chief Justice of High Court of Patna. CAT has been an essential organ of the government towards the achievement of a complaints-free delivery system in the past years. CAT has made significant changes in the Prevention of Corruption Act and other service matters.

Nitin Gadkari to represent India at the 3rd High-Level Global Conference on Road Safety

• Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari is representing India at the 3rd High-Level Global Conference on Road Safety for Achieving Global Goals 2030 in Stockholm, Sweden.
• Organizing team: The conference is organized in active collaboration with the World Bank, World Health Organisation (WHO) and other agencies who aims to strengthen the capabilities of various institutions.
• Aim: The aim of the conference is to bring road safety on the global agenda and renew the world community’s commitment to safer roads.

Highlights:

♦ Leaders from participating countries will prepare ways to reach the United Nations’ goal set under the UN Decade of Action of reducing road crashes by 2030.

♦ The conference highlights the sharing of the expertise by the nations which have gained experience in road safety management with those who are behind in the learning curve.

♦ The developing countries are focusing on certain specific issues and challenges facing them on account of a significant number of their motorized vehicles consisting of two-wheelers.

Background:

The conference is a follow up of the 2nd High-Level Global Conference on “Traffic Safety-Time of Results” in 2015 in Brazil. Gadkari signed the Brasilia Declaration on behalf of India at the 2nd High-Level Global in 2015.

The declaration committed the world community to reduce the number of deaths in road accidents.

Extra Shots:

Sweden (Capital/Currency): Stockholm/ Swedish krona

• Prime Minister: Stefan Löfven

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

India and Thailand marching hand-in-hand to foster business relations

• AsiaOne Magazine and URS Media organized a Networking Meet called India-Thailand: Today, Tomorrow, Together collaboration with the India Thai Chamber of Commerce (ITCC) at their premises at Sathon, Bangkok.
• The exclusive networking saw the presence of eminent dignitaries such as Abhisit Vejjajiva, the former Prime Minister of Thailand and Suchitra Durai, the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom.
• The 13th Asian Business and Social Forum and attempted to highlight the fact that India and Thailand share a strong historical and cultural connection.

Exra Shots:

Thailand (Capital/Currency): Bangkok/ Thai baht

• Prime Minister: Prayut Chan-o-cha

GoI, World Bank signs loan agreement to improve groundwater management

• Government of India and the World Bank signed a $450 million loan agreement on 17 February.
• The agreement aims to support the national programme to arrest the depleting groundwater levels and strengthen groundwater institutions in India.
• The loan agreement was signed by Shri Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and Mr. Junaid Ahmad, India Director, India on behalf of the World Bank.

Agreement Provision:

♦ The Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY)-National Groundwater Management Improvement Programme is supported by the World Bank.

♦ The agreement will allow the implementation of the ABHY scheme in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh and cover 78 districts.

♦ The programme will enhance the recharge of aquifers and introduce water conservation practices.

♦ It will promote activities related to water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment and equip communities and stakeholders to sustainably manage groundwater.

♦ It will support on-ground actions that are based on community ownership and judicious management of water resources.

Extra Shots:

World Bank:

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 of 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
• President: David Malpass

AAI signs concession agreements with Adani Group for 3 airports

• Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed three concession agreements with Adani Enterprises for operations, management, and development of Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangaluru airports.
• The agreements were signed on Friday with the group’s subsidiary companies, namely Adani Ahmedabad International Airport Ltd, Adani Lucknow International Airport Ltd, and Adani Mangaluru International Airport Ltd.
• The concessionaires are required to take-over the three airports after fulfilling certain conditions precedents within 1 80 days from February 14.

Extra Shots:

AAI: The Airports Authority of India or AAI is a statutory body working under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 1 April 1995
• Jurisdiction: India
• Parent organization: Directorate General of Civil Aviation

India, Norway to strengthen bilateral cooperation to contain marine pollution

• India has initiated Ocean dialogue with Norway to address the problem of Marine Plastic litter.
• Both countries decided to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the field of environment and climate change particularly in the field of marine pollution.
• Both countries discussed ways to ensure that the coming decade will be of rapid global action on the Environment.
• India and Norway have formed joint working groups on Blue economy with sustainable development. both the ministers issued a joint statement after the meeting which envisages joint efforts in dealing with challenges of climate change, sharing of technology and research and development in the field of environment.

Extra Shots:

Norway (Capital/Currency): Oslo/ Norwegian krone

• Prime Minister: Erna Solberg

APPOINTMENT

Vinay Dube appointed as GoAir CEO

• Wadia group-promoted GoAir has appointed Vinay Dube as the airline’s Chief Executive Officer.
• Dube would be responsible for the management of the airline and also for meeting the goals and long-term growth objectives of the company.
• Earlier, Dube has served as Senior Vice President-Asia Pacific at Delta Air Lines, CEO at Delta Technology LLC, Vice President-Consulting & Marketing Solutions at Sabre Airline Solutions, among other positions.

Extra Shots:

GoAir is an Indian low-cost airline based in Mumbai, India. It is owned by the Indian business conglomerate Wadia Group. In October 2017 it was the fifth largest airline in India with an 8.4% passenger market share.

• Parent organization: Wadia Group
• CEO: Vinay Dube
• Headquarters: Mumbai

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa Clinched 77th Senior National squash championships

• Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa won the 77th Senior National squash championships in Man’s and woman’s category respectively in Chennai.
• The top-ranked Indian players justified their billing to bag the men’s and women’s titles for a record 13th and 18th time respectively.
• Saurav Ghosal clinically dismantled Abhishek Pradhan 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 in the men’s final while Joshna Chinappa defeated a minor scare to outlast Tanvi Khanna 8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 in the women’s summit clash.

Joshua Cheptegei sets 5km road world record in Monaco

• Uganda’s world 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei created history by setting a 5km road world record in Monaco.
• He ran 12 minutes 51 seconds and smashed the previous record, set by Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto by clocking 13:22.
• Jimmy Gressier of France finished second in Monaco with a European record.
• He clocked 13:18. Also, Britain’s Nick Goolab finished third in a new British record of 13:27.

Extra Shots:

Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei:

Ugandan long-distance runner Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei won silver in the 10000 m run at the 2017 World championship in London. In 2018, he also set a world record for the 15 km road race. In 2019, he became the World Cross Country champion.

India to host 2020 junior men’s Hockey World Cup

• India will host next year’s Junior Men’s World Cup.
• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced this at Lausanne in Switzerland.
• This is the second time that India will be hosting the prestigious tournament, having staged it in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in 2016, where the hosts lifted the coveted trophy.
• The competition will be played towards the end of 2021 and the exact venue and dates for the tournament will be announced at a later stage.

Extra Shots:

FIH: The Fédération Internationale de Hockey, commonly known by the acronym FIH, is the international governing body of field hockey and indoor field hockey. Its headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland and the president is Narinder Batra.

• Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
• President: Narinder Batra
• Founded: 7 January 1924
• CEO: Thierry Weil
• Abbreviation: FIH
• Membership: 137 national associations

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

India gears up for mega multilateral naval exercise Milan

• Milan 2020 includes a broader array of exercises at sea in multi-national groupings with seamanship drills, simulation of complex operational scenarios, tactical manoeuvres, and others.
• The event is aimed at honing the skills of operators, maintainers, planners, and executors across the full range of skill-sets, responsibilities, and authority on board a warship. Forty-two countries, including the US and Russia and some others who don’t have much stock, have been invited to Milam, which will be conducted at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in March.
• Theme: ‘Synergy Across the Seas’

SAMPRITI-IX: Indo-Bangladesh joint military exercise concludes in Meghalaya

• Armies of India and Bangladesh participated in joint military exercise SAMPRITI-IX at Umroi, Meghalaya.
• As the 9th edition of the Joint Exercise SAMPRITI reached its culmination day on 16 February 2020

Highlights:

♦ The exercise was aimed to strengthen the military ties between the two countries.

♦ It allowed the two armies to understand each other’s tactical drills and operating techniques.

♦ The exercise provided an ideal platform for the personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism operations.

♦ It provides aid to civil authorities for disaster management especially in the jungle and semi-urban terrain.

♦ The exercise also deepens the trust and friendship between Indian and Bangladesh Officers and soldiers of contingents participating in each edition.

♦ Both the contingents participated in a number of activities including friendly volleyball and basketball matches.

Extra Shots:

SAMPRITI series of the joint exercise is a very important military & diplomatic initiative between both the nations and the edifice of the trust and friendship between India & Bangladesh which has been nurtured with the sweat and toil of Officers and soldiers of contingents participating in each edition.

Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Taka

• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NIT, Trichy develops a mobile app for Self Help Group products

• The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Trichy, Tamilnadu has developed Thirumathikart – a mobile app for SHG (Self Help Group) products.
• The application was developed in coordination with the Union Department of Science and Technology.
• The main objective of the app is to empower women and help them access market opportunities in a seamless manner.
• The platform will also enable Self Help Groups to showcase their products to a wider audience.
• The app will be introduced to the market at a function to be held in Trichy tomorrow as part of a five-day executive development programme being conducted by the Central Department of Science and Technology.

OBITUARIES

Parikrama lead guitarist and founder Sonam Sherpa passes away

• The founding member and lead guitarist of acclaimed band Parikrama, Sonam Sherpa passed away.
• Sherpa formed Parikrama on June 17, 1991 in Delhi along with Subir Malik, who is also the organ player in the band.
• Sherpa was known for giving music to the band’s many hits including But It Rained, Tears of the Wizard and Am I Dreaming.

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