Current Affairs Today 18th January 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 18th January 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

• Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda unveiled the logo and brand ‘Apna Urea Sona Ugle‘ of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Ltd (HURL).
• In Gujarat, the first edition of Krishi Manthan- the largest Food, Agri-business and Rural Development Summit of Asia organized by Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad began today.
• The US tech giant Microsoft has announced that it would become “carbon negative” by year 2030.
• The 3rd edition of North Zone Conference’ of Media Units of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, held in Jammu.
• A Conference of the Chief Secretaries and Administrator State and Union Territories on Census 2021 and updating of National Population Register, NPR was held in New Delhi.
• Students teachers and parents across India are waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction program Pariksha Pe Charcha-2020.
• NITI Aayog and Union Territory of Ladakh sign MoU for Development of Infrastructure Projects in Ladakh.
• Dilip Ghosh has been re-elected as President of West Bengal BJP for 4 years.
• Former Himachal Pradesh minister Rajeev Bindal has been elected the state BJP chief.
• In Assam, Sarbanand Sonowal led Council of Ministers was expanded today by inducting 2 new faces.
• In Tennis, Sania Mirza and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok have won the women’s doubles title of the WTA International trophy at Hobart in Australia.
• The ICC Under-19 World Cup Cricket 2020 begins in South Africa.
• Kuldeep Yadav became the fastest Indian spinner to claim 100 wickets in ODI during the second match against Australia in Rajkot.
• Russia started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India, and all five units will be delivered by 2025.
• National Informatics Centre (NIC) set up the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Blockchain Technology in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Former India legendary all-rounder Bapu Nadkarni passed away.
• World’s shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar passed away.

NEWS IN DETAILS

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Union Fertilizers Minister launches APNA UREA – Sona Ugle” brand of HURL

• Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda unveiled the logo and brand ‘Apna Urea Sona Ugle‘of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Ltd (HURL).
• HURL is in the process of reviving three sick urea units.
• The sick urea units are located at Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Barauni (Bihar) and Sindri (Jharkhand).
• HURL, a joint venture firm promoted by three PSUs: Coal India Limited (CIL), NTPC Ltd and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL).

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

First edition of Krishi Manthan begins in Ahmedabad

• In Gujarat, the first edition of Krishi Manthan- the largest Food, Agri-business and Rural Development Summit of Asia organized by Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad began today.
• More than 1,500 delegates including students and academicians are participating in the two-day event organized by the Food and Agribusiness Committee of IIMA.
• The students along with working professionals from Food, Agriculture and allied sectors are getting benefited from the workshops during this summit.

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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

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Microsoft vows to be ‘carbon negative’ by 2030

• The US tech giant Microsoft has announced that it would become “carbon negative” by year 2030.
• The announcement has been made in the form of its increased efforts to combat the climate change.
• The company announced that it vows to eliminate all the carbon emissions created by the company since its inception in 1975.
• Microsoft has also announced its investment of $1 billion in a “climate innovation fund” for technology for carbon capture and removal.

Extra Shots:

Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. It develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.

• CEO: Satya Nadella
• Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

3rd North Zone Conference of MIB’s of Media Units held in Jammu

• The 3rd edition of North Zone Conference’ of Media Units of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, held in Jammu.
• The Conference is being organised by the Regional Outreach Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir region.
• The aim of the conference is to strengthen the synergy between the Media Units in order to ensure last-mile delivery, while simultaneously brainstorm the use of new technology in communication.
• The participating states in the conference are UT of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi.

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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

Conference on Census 2021 held in New Delhi

• A Conference of the Chief Secretaries and Administrator State and Union Territories on Census 2021 and updating of National Population Register, NPR was held in New Delhi.
• The data collected in the Census helps us in framing policies for the welfare of the people of the country.
• Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also inaugurated the Official Mascot for Census 2021.

Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020 to be held at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi

• Students, teachers and parents across India are waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction program Pariksha Pe Charcha-2020.
• The event will be held at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.
• Two thousand students, parents, and teachers will be participating from all over the country.

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Pariksha Pe Charcha program

In February 2018, during the first edition of the Pariksha Pe Charcha program, the Prime Minister spoke of the importance of Anuspardha rather than Pratispardha. Vansh Aggarwal, a student of Modern Vidya Niketan.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

NITI Aayog and UT of Ladakh sign MoU to promote development in Ladakh

• NITI Aayog and Union Territory of Ladakh sign MoU for Development of Infrastructure Projects in Ladakh.
• It was signed between NITI Aayog Senior Adviser Dr Yogesh Suri and Adviser to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Umang Narula.
• The agreement was executed in the presence of NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.
• Under this agreement, NITI Aayog will be supporting the UT’s administration through its key initiative ‘Development Support Services to States for Infrastructure Projects (D3S-i)’. In an important initiative to promote the development of key infrastructure sectors in the newly constituted Union Territory of Ladakh.
• NITI Aayog will identify high-impact projects, It will expedited project implementation, addressing structural-level issues and creating unique models of development for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• The main purpose of D3S-i projects is creating PPP (Public Private Partnership) projects. In 2018, phase I of the project was completed. In phase I, 10 projects were selected from 400 projects that were submitted by the states. In phase II, that was completed in the year 2018-19, the selected projects entered transaction stage.

Extra Shots:

The NITI Aayog is a policy think tank of the Government of India, established with the aim to achieve sustainable development goals with cooperative federalism by fostering the involvement of State Governments of India in the economic policy-making process using a bottom-up approach.

• Website: niti.gov.in
• Formed: 1 January 2015
• Objectives: Foster involvement and participation in the economic policy-making process by the State Governments of India
• Jurisdiction: Government of India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairperson: Narendra Modi
• CEO: Amitabh Kant
• Vice Chairman: Rajiv Kumar

APPOINTMENT

Dilip Ghosh re-elected as President of West Bengal BJP

• Dilip Ghosh has been re-elected as President of West Bengal BJP for 4 years.
• Mr Ghosh was the only nominee for the post and was elected unopposed for 2020-23 at the state committee meeting in Kolkata.
• BJP national general secretary Murlidhar Rao handed over the election certificate to Mr Ghosh.

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BJP:

The Bharatiya Janata Party is one of the two major political parties in India, along with the Indian National Congress. As of 2019, it is the country’s largest political party in terms of representation in the national parliament and state assemblies and is the world’s largest party in terms of primary membership.

• President: Amit Shah
• Founders: Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani
• Founded: 6 April 1980, India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Alliance: National Democratic Alliance

Rajeev Bindal becomes Himachal BJP chief

• Former Himachal Pradesh minister Rajeev Bindal has been elected the state BJP chief.
• The announcement was made by party national secretary Sunil V Deodhar at a function in Shimla today.
• Mr Bindal replaces Satpal Singh Satti, who has been Himachal BJP chief for nine years.

Extra Shots:

BJP:

The Bharatiya Janata Party is one of the two major political parties in India, along with the Indian National Congress. As of 2019, it is the country’s largest political party in terms of representation in the national parliament and state assemblies and is the world’s largest party in terms of primary membership.

• President: Amit Shah
• Founders: Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani
• Founded: 6 April 1980, India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Alliance: National Democratic Alliance

Two new ministers inducted in council of ministers in Assam

• In Assam, Sarbanand Sonowal led Council of Ministers was expanded today by inducting 2 new faces.
• BJP legislators Mahmara Sanjoy Kishan and Jogen Mohan took oath as Minister of State for Independent Charges.
• Governor Jagdish Mukhi administered the oath to them at the Raj Bhawan in Guwahati.
• There was a vacancy in the Sonowal ministry after 2 ministers Tapon Kumar Gogoi and Pallab Lochan Das resigned after they won the Lok Sabha elections.

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Assam:

• Capital: Dispur
• Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
• Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
• National Park: Dibru-Saikhowa NP, Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Nameri NP, Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Sania Mirza wins women’s doubles title of WTA International trophy at Hobart

• In Tennis, Sania Mirza and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok have won the women’s doubles title of the WTA International trophy at Hobart in Australia.
• In the final today, they beat Shaui Peng and Shuai Zhang of China 6-4,6-4.
• It is Sania’s 42nd WTA doubles title and first since Brisbane International trophy in 2007 with American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Extra Shots:

WTA: The Women’s Tennis Association is the principal organizing body of women’s professional tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women and was founded to create a better future for women’s tennis.

• Chairman: Steve Simon
• Headquarters: St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
• Sport: Professional tennis
• President: Micky Lawler
• CEO: Steve Simon
• Subsidiary: WTA Finals

ICC U-19 World Cup Cricket 2020 begins in South Africa

• The ICC Under-19 World Cup Cricket 2020 begins in South Africa.
• Indian team played under the captaincy of Priyam Garg.
• The final of the tournament will be played on Feb 09 at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
• India is the most successful team in the tournament, having won four titles till date. India is the defending champions in U19 World Cup 2018.
• Total 16 teams are participating in the tournament, split into four groups of four.

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ICC: The International Cricket Council is the global governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from Australia, England and South Africa. It was renamed as the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.

• Chairperson: Shashank Manohar
• CEO: Manu Sawhney
• Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Founded: 15 June 1909
• Membership: 104 members

Kuldeep Yadav became the fastest Indian spinner to claim 100 wickets in ODI

• Kuldeep Yadav became the fastest Indian spinner to claim 100 wickets in ODI during the second match against Australia in Rajkot.
• The left-arm wrist-spinner reached the milestone in his 58th match when he got rid of Alex Carey for 18 in the 38th over of the Australian run chase.
• The fastest to 100 wickets was Harbhajan Singh in 76 matches.

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Russia to deliver S-400 air defence systems to India by 2025

• Russia started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India, and all five units will be delivered by 2025.
• Indian Armed forces will receive the first batch of 5,000 Kalashnikov rifles this year as well. These will be produced in India under a joint venture.
• In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal to buy the air defence missile systems.

Extra Shots:

Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/Ruble

• Prime Minister: Dmitry Medvedev
• President: Vladimir Putin

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

National Information Centre sets up Centre of Block Chain Technology in Bengaluru

• National Informatics Centre (NIC) set up the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Blockchain Technology in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The main aim is to provide Blockchain as a service and to allow all stakeholders to benefit from shared learning, experiences, and resources.
• The Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology is held by the Union Minister for Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad. The event will be attended by several dignitaries from the Central and State governments.

Extra Shots:

NIC: National Informatics Centre is an attached office under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. NIC provides infrastructure to help support delivery of Government IT services and delivery of some of the initiatives of Digital India.

• Founded: 1976
• Headquarters location: New Delhi
• Director General: Neeta Verma

OBITUARIES

Former India legendary All-Rounder Bapu Nadkarni passes away

• Former India legendary all-rounder Bapu Nadkarni passed away.
• He was a left-handed batsman and slow-left arm orthodox bowler.
• He played 41 Tests in which he scored 1414 runs and grabbed 88 wickets with 6/43 as his best bowling figures.
• His test debut against New Zealand in Delhi in 1955 and played his last Test at Auckland against the same opponents in 1968 under MAK Pataudi’s captaincy.

World’s shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar passes away

• World’s shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar passed away.
• He was born on 14 October 1992, stood at 67.08 cm (2 ft 2.41 in) tall.
• He was born in the Baglung district of Nepal.

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