Current Affairs Today 1st and 2nd March 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 1st and 2nd March 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

• Zero Discrimination Day is observed on 1 March.
• World Defence Day is celebrated on 1 March 2020.
• World Wildlife Day is observed on 3 March.
• World Hearing Day is observed on 3 March every year.
• The Union Minister of State PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ‘Pension Adalat’ and National Pension System (NPS) Awareness and Grievance Redressal Programme in Jammu.
• The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2020 on 1 March.
• Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers has organized “ACREX India 2020” at India Expo Mart Limited, Greater Noida.
• Indian Railways launched its first ‘Restaurant on Wheels’ at the Asansol Railway station, Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal.
• Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot inaugurated the “Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, Awareness, Marketing (EKAM) Fest”.
• Union Minister of State (IC) for Tourism & Culture Prahlad Singh Patel launched the multilingual Incredible India website in New Delhi.
• Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah inaugurated the National Security Guard (NSG) Regional Hub campus at Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Bundelkhand Expressway at Chitrakoot on 29 February.
• Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was conferred the Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee award 2020 for Politics on 28 February.
• Punjab State government announced major changes in the 2020-21 budget.
• In Madhya Pradesh unique Chilli Festival begins at Kasrawad in Khargone district.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has launched “Suposhit Maa Abhiyan” in his constituency Kota, Rajasthan.
• Former Home Affairs Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, was sworn in as Malaysia’s new Prime Minister.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a total of USD 4 million to help developing countries in Asia and Pacific to fight the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
• Airport Authority of India & Tripura State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of 6 equipment hiring centres in Manu Block under the Dhalai District, Tripura.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hardiwar-based Patanjali Bio Research Institute (PBRI) on 1 March.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) entered into an academic collaboration and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Savitribai Phule Pune University.
• Pekka Lundmark has been announced as the new Chief Executive Officer & President of Nokia.
• World Number 2 Rafael Nadal wins his first title of the year, defeating unseeded Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in the final of the ATP Mexico Open.
• Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India (SPMCIL) funded a sum of Rs.1 crore towards the National Sports Development Fund under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
• India won a $40 million defence deal to supply 4 indigenously-built weapons locating radars to Armenia in Europe.
• Columbia researchers have discovered 17 new planets by combing through data gathered by NASA’s Kepler space telescope.
• Veteran athletics coach and Dronacharya awardee Joginder Singh Saini passed away.
• Former India hockey player Balbir Singh Kullar passed away.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

Zero Discrimination Day is observed on 1 March

• Zero Discrimination Day is observed on 1 March.
• The day promotes diversity and recognizes that everyone counts.
• The symbol for Zero Discrimination Day is the butterfly.
• It is used by people to share their stories and photos as a way to end discrimination and work towards positive transformation.

History:

• The United Nations celebrated Zero Discrimination Day on 1 March 2014, after UNAIDS.
• UNAIDS is a program on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) launched its Zero Discrimination Campaign on World AIDS Day in December 2013.

Extra Shots:

UNAID: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS is the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Abbreviation: UNAIDS
• Executive director: Winnie Byanyima
• Head: Winnie Byanyima
• Founder: Peter Piot
• Founded: 26 July 1994

World Defence Day is celebrated on 1 March

• World Defence Day is celebrated on 1 March 2020.
• The day is observed to raise awareness of public protection from natural and technogenic disasters and rescue service work.

History:

• World Civil Defense Day was instituted by the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) General Assembly in 1990. It commemorates the day when the ICDO Constitution came into force as an intergovernmental organization in 1972.

Extra Shots:

ICDO: The International Civil Defence Organisation is an intergovernmental organisation with the objective to contribute to the development by States of structures ensuring the protection and assistance of population and safeguarding property and the environment from natural or man-made disasters.

• Founder: Georges Saint-Paul
• Founded: 17 October 1966
• Founded at: Paris, France
• Secretary General: Vladimir Kuvshinov
• Type of business: Intergovernmental organization (IGO)

World Wildlife Day is observed on 3 March

• World Wildlife Day is observed on 3 March.
• The day aims to celebrate beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora. It raises awareness to conserve wildlife.

Theme:

• The theme of 2020 World Wildlife Day is “Sustaining all life on Earth”.
• The theme encompasses all wild animal and plant species as a component of biodiversity and the livelihoods of people.
• It focuses to ensure sustainable use of resources, and on conserving life both on land and below water to stop biodiversity loss.

World Hearing Day is observed on 3 March

• World Hearing Day is observed on 3 March every year.
• The day raises awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.

Theme:

• The theme of 2020 World Hearing Day is “Don’t let hearing loss limit you. Hearing for life!”.
• It highlights that timely and effective intervention will ensure that people with hearing loss can achieve their full potential.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Union Minister inaugurates ‘Pension Adalat’ in Jammu

• The Union Minister of State PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ‘Pension Adalat’ and National Pension System (NPS) Awareness and Grievance Redressal Programme in Jammu.
• This is the first time that Pension Adalat is being conducted outside Delhi as the government wants to reach out to every part of society and every part of the country to get the grievances redressed in the real-time as aspired by the Prime Minister.
• The Pension Adalats will help in on-the-spot redressal of pensioners’ grievances which has given the right of ‘Ease of Living’ to the pensioners.
• The Minister also launched ‘Do You Know’ Twitter Series on Family Pension, along with a booklet highlighting case studies with the interpretation of Pension Rules.

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

Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated 2020 Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela

• The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2020 on 1 March.
• The fair aimed at calling talent in Agriculture.

Agriculture:

♦ The festival aims to make agriculture a profitable venture.

♦ The government provides funds to promote agriculture as it is vital that the share in GDP and exports should rise.

♦ It aimed to spur interest in farming.

♦ The Mela is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priority to agriculture and achieving the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

♦ Discussion at the fair directed the Agriculture Institutes and scientists to ensure that superior seeds are provided to farmers at reasonable rates.

in every state.

♦ Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) publications were released in the farmers’ fair.

ISHRAE organizes ACREX India 2020 in Greater Noida

• Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers has organized “ACREX India 2020” at India Expo Mart Limited, Greater Noida.
• “ACREX India 2020” is largest exhibition of South Asia on Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Industry.
• This was the 21st edition of the exhibition which was witnessed by visitors from over 25 countries.
• The 21st edition of the exhibition focuses on indoor air quality, sustainable buildings and HVAC technology.
• The exhibition also acted as a valuable stage for all players which are connected to the HVAC industry.
• A live exhibit titled “Shudh Vaayu Deergh Aayu” (Trans: Clean air, Long life) was also exhibited with regard to indoor air quality and clean air.
• ISHRAE has also instituted “ACREX Hall of Fame” which will act as a benchmark for industry to honour iconic projects in India.
• It has also framed “ACREX Awards of Excellence” to award products and services across disciplines like innovation, green buildings, energy saving, green products, building automation etc.

Railways launched first Restaurant on Wheels at the Asansol Railway station

• Indian Railways launched its first ‘Restaurant on Wheels’ at the Asansol Railway station, Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal.
• It was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Babul Supriyo in a programme held at Asansol station.

Restaurant on Wheels:

♦ Two over-aged Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) coaches are converted into restaurants.

♦ It is expected to cause Rs.50 lakh of non-fare revenue during the next 5 years.

♦ The restaurant is for the use of Railway passengers and the general public of Asansol.

♦ He also inaugurated two new air-conditioned Retiring Rooms and Electronic Reservation Chart Display System, through Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) fund and a Battery operated Car at Asansol station.

♦ The Electronic Reservation Chart Display System at Asansol station will provide easy access to information about the reservation status in different trains. It will be helpful for train passengers.

Extra Shots:

Indian Railways is 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 as of March 2017.

• Founded: 16 April 1853, India
• Customer service: 139
• Headquarters: New Delhi

EKAM fest was inaugurated in New Delhi

• Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot inaugurated the “Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, Awareness, Marketing (EKAM) Fest”.
• The fest is being held from 28 February to 6 March in New Delhi.

Organizing Team:

• The exhibition-cum-Fair was organized by National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC) under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Aim:

• EKAM Fest aims to promote entrepreneurship among the Divyangjan community and raise awareness about the potentialities of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). It provides an opportunity for all to encourage these products made with extraordinary determination by the divyang craftspersons and entrepreneurs.

EKAM Fest:

♦ The festival aims to provide a major marketing opportunity to PwDs entrepreneurs.

​​​​​​​♦ The move by NHFDC is to make efforts for the development of a brand and platform for the marketing of products of these determined entrepreneurs.

​​​​​​​♦ Ekam represents the inclusiveness and unity which appropriately describe the efforts being put in by NHFDC to develop the marketing platform and aggregation of the products through the promotion of entrepreneurship, knowledge sharing, Awareness creation and marketing initiatives amongst the Divyangjan.

​​​​​​​♦ Divyang Entrepreneur and Artisans from all over the country.

​​​​​​​♦ The week-long Ekam Fest includes activities like cultural extravaganza including performances by Divyang artists and well-known professionals.

​​​​​​​♦ The events will hold astrological consultations and foot massage by Divyang professionals.

​​​​​​​♦ It will showcase vibrant products from J&K and North-Eastern region with products ranging from handicrafts, handloom, Embroidery work, and dry fruits.

​​​​​​​♦ During the Fair, around 80 Divyang Entrepreneur or Artisan and organizations from 18 States/UTs will display their skills represented through their beautiful products, services, and demonstration of skills.

Participants:

• Delegations including Union Minister for Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Textiles Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Ministers of State for SJ&E Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria, Shri Ramdas Athawale were present in the fest. Around 80 Divyang Entrepreneur, artisans and organizations from 18 States and Union Territories will participate in the festival.

Extra Shots:

NHFDC:

• NHFDC was established in 1997 under the registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. The apex corporation functions under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It provides financial assistance to the Divyangjan/PwDs for their economic rehabilitation and provides a number of skill development programmes to empower them to grow and sustain their enterprises.

Tourism Ministry launched multilingual Incredible India website

• Union Minister of State (IC) for Tourism & Culture Prahlad Singh Patel launched the multilingual Incredible India website in New Delhi.

Incredible India website:

♦ Ministry of Tourism revamped the multilingual Incredible India website design to provide more information about India’s tourist destinations, attractions, experiences, and where the value lies.

​​​​​​​♦ Incredible India 2.0 website aims to showcase the varied tourism products of India by providing visitors with relevant, personalized and contextual digital experience escalating tourism awareness, attraction, and opportunities.

​​​​​​​♦ Incredible India website project was launched by the Ministry of Tourism.

​​​​​​​♦ The promotional website aims to project India as a ‘must-visit’ destination across the globe.

​​​​​​​♦ The website now comprises of a plethora of information about 28 States and 9 Union Terrorists, around 165 destinations, 2700+ pages, along with multiple attractions.

Extra Shots:

• Union Minister of State (IC) for Tourism & Culture: Prahlad Singh Patel

Minister Amit Shah inaugurated NSG Regional Hub at Kolkata

• Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah inaugurated the National Security Guard (NSG) Regional Hub campus at Kolkata, West Bengal.
• It aims to provide adequate facilities to the brave NSG jawans.
• He also various welfare projects for NSG, amounting to over Rs. 245 crores, across Kolkata, Manesar, Chennai, and Mumbai.
• It will ensure to boost the capabilities of the force and raising the morale of the jawans.

NSG Regional Hub campus:

♦ NSG Regional Hub campus is worth over Rs.162 crores.

♦ The Residential and Non Residential complexes can house 460 persons and families, office accommodation and modern training facilities including ​​​​​​​Baffle firing range, indoor shooting ranges swimming pool, sports complex, and artificial rock craft wall, etc.

​​​​​​​♦ It has become a model regional hub of the NSG, which will help in honing the professional acumen of the NSG commandos.

​​​​​​​♦ It will contribute significantly to the capacity building of the first responders, the Police forces of the States.

​​​​​​​♦ The campus will hold the responsibility of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and the entire North-Eastern region.

Extra Shots:

National Security Guard (NSG):

• Formed on: 1986
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Minister responsible: Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs
• NSG also referred to as “The Black cats”, combats terrorist activities with a view to protecting states against internal disturbances. It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

PM lays foundation stone for the Bundelkhand Expressway

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Bundelkhand Expressway at Chitrakoot on 29 February.
• He also launched a saturation drive for distribution of Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to all the beneficiaries under the PM-KISAN Scheme.

Bundelkhand Expressway:

♦ The estimated cost of the 296 km long project is Rs.14,849 crore.

♦ The aim of the supplement the nodes of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.

♦ The  Expressway is expected to benefit Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah districts.

♦ It will increase connectivity in UP and the people with the facilities available in big cities.

♦ It will generate employment opportunities in the state.

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

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Assam CM awarded 2020 Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee award

• Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was conferred the Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee award 2020 for Politics on 28 February.
• The award was conferred by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Speaker of People’s Majlis of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed at the 6th India Ideas Conclave in Gujarat.
• He was awarded for his work in integrating the nation and to take Mukherjee’s vision and philosophy forward.

Syama Prasad Mukherjee:

• Syama Prasad Mukherjee was born on 6 July 1901. He served as the youngest ever Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University. He is the first Minister of Industry and Supply in independent India. In 1946, he demanded the partition of Bengal to prevent the inclusion of its Hindu-majority areas in a Muslim-dominated East Pakistan. He co-founded Janata Party (renamed as BJP) in the year 1977-1979. He was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir State police for entering the state without a permit. He passed away in jail on 23 June 1953.

Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee award:

• Syama Prasad Mukherjee award was instituted by India Foundation. The award carries a citation, a specially designed trophy and a cheque worth Rs.1 lakh.

Extra Shots:

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

Punjab to reduce government employees retirement age to 58 years

• Punjab State government announced major changes in the 2020-21 budget.
• The budget announcement was made by Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal.
• He presented a Rs.1,54,805 crore budget in the state Assembly.

New Schemes:

♦ The state government announced to waive Change of Land Use (CLU) charges for two years for the new industries coming up outside the municipal limits and slash the “mandi” fee on vegetables from 4%-1%.

♦ It has reduced the government employees’ retirement age from 60 to 58.

♦ It also introduced a scheme for free education for all students up to Class 12.

♦ The state announced a debt waiver for landless farmers.

♦ The budget allocated Rs.100 crore for giving 10 lakh free smartphones to the youth.

Extra Shots:

Punjab

• Capital: Chandigarh
• Chief Minister: Captain Amarinder Singh
• Governor: V.P. Singh Badnore

Madhya Pradesh: Chilli Festival begins in Khargone district

• In Madhya Pradesh unique Chilli Festival begins at Kasrawad in Khargone district.
• Chilli Festival is a big business opportunity for traders, investors and exporters.
• It will also help in fulfilling the Central Government’s goal of doubling the income of farmers.
• Chilli-based cuisine stalls will also be set up on the occasion.
• Thousands of farmers from many districts of the state are participating in this festival being held in Kasrawad in Khargone district.
• State Agriculture Minister Sachin Yadav has said that the festival aims to promote the Nimari brand of chillies.
• Nimar and Malwa regions are the highest chilli producing regions of the state.
• The red chillies of these regions are exported to China, Pakistan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
• This year too, 5 lakh 41 thousand 740 MT of green chillies and more than 63 thousand MT of red chillies have been produced in Dhar district.

Extra Shots:

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

Om Birla launches ‘Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan’ in Kota

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has launched “Suposhit Maa Abhiyan” in his constituency Kota, Rajasthan.
• This Abhiyan is to provide nutritional support to pregnant women and adolescent girls.
• Om Birla appealed to every section of the society to cooperate in the malnutrition-free India campaign. Under this Abhiyan, 1,000 pregnant women would be given food items for one month.
• At the same time, the health of the child, including medical examination, blood tests, medicines, delivery, would be covered.
• It is a campaign to preserve and maintain the health of our future generations.

ExtraShots:

Rajasthan

• Capital:Jaipur
• Chief Minister:Ashok Ghelot
• Governor: Kalraj Mishra

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Muhyiddin Yassin becomes new Prime Minister of Malaysia

• Former Home Affairs Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, was sworn in as Malaysia’s new Prime Minister.
• He was appointed following the abrupt resignation of 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, who had been in office since the general elections of 2018.

Extra Shots:

Malaysia (Capital/Currency): Kuala Lumpur/ Malaysian ringgit

Prime Minister: Muhyiddin Yassin

ADB sanctions 4 million USD to members countries to contain Corona Virus

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a total of USD 4 million to help developing countries in Asia and Pacific to fight the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
• The Asian Development Bank has approved a further USD 2 million to help developing countries in Asia and the Pacific contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and improve resilience to this and other communicable diseases.
• The funds will be available for all ADB developing member countries in updating and implementing their pandemic response plans.

Extra Shots:

ADB: The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, which is headquartered in the Ortigas Center located in the city of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. The company also maintains 31 field offices around the world to promote social and economic development in Asia.

• Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
• President: Masatsugu Asakawa
• Membership: 68 countries
• Founded: 19 December 1966
• Purpose: Economic development

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

AAI & Tripura Govt sign MoU for construction of equipment hiring centers

• Airport Authority of India & Tripura State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of 6 equipment hiring centres in Manu Block under the Dhalai District, Tripura.
• The project has been taken by the Airport Authority as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility scheme.
• The equipment hiring centres, equipment related to agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries will be kept.
• The types of equipment will be rented out to the needy farmers, Self Help Groups and to any other needy at a minimal cost.
• The project will be benefited to 6000 families.

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

Tripura:

• Capital: Agartala
• Governor: Ramesh Bais
• Chief Minister: Biplab Kumar Deb
• Literacy: 87.75%

ICAR, PBRI signs MoU to undertake research work and education

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hardiwar-based Patanjali Bio Research Institute (PBRI) on 1 March.
• The MoU aims to undertake research work, training, and education.
• The MoU was signed by ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohapatra and PBRI CEO Acharya Balkrishna in the presence of Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

Aim:

• The MoU aims to foster close interaction in research, technology demonstration, capacity building, seed production, entrepreneurship, and skill development.

MoU provisions:

♦ The MoU will provide a new opportunity to include a new arena to work for both organizations.

♦ It is expected to promote organic farming practices across the country.

♦ Specific plans will be developed under the agreement to work on collaborative research programmes in areas of national interest related to sustainable agriculture development that is suitable for different agro-ecologies in India.

♦ The agreement will enable the postgraduate (PG) students of deemed universities and research institutes of ICAR to undertake internships in various areas of specialization with PBRI.

♦ As per the agreement, ICAR will assist PBRI in capacity building, technology demonstration, seed production for scaling up popular varieties developed by ICAR so that it can be transferred among the farming community of the country.

Extra Shots:

ICRA: ICRA Limited is an Indian independent and professional investment information and credit rating agency. It was established in 1991, and was originally named Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited.

• Headquarters: India
• CEO: Naresh Takkar
• Founded: 1991

IAF, Savitribai Phule Pune University signs MoU to establish Chair of Excellence

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) entered into an academic collaboration and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Savitribai Phule Pune University.
• The MoU aimed to establish a ‘Chair of Excellence’ at the Department of Defence & Strategic Studies.

Chair of Excellence:

♦ The IAF has named it as “Marshal of the Air Force (MIAF) Arjan Singh Chair of Excellence” with an aim to pay tribute to the legend and commemorate the centenary birth year of the MIAF Arjan Singh.

♦ The Chair will empower the IAF officers to pursue Doctoral Research and higher studies in Defence & Strategic Studies and allied fields.

♦ The chair will facilitate research and higher studies in the area of National Defence and allied fields of Air Force officers.

♦ It will be inculcating a strategic outlook and building a pool of strategic thinkers.

Extra Shots:

IAF: The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks fourth amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict. Wikipedia

• Founded: 8 October 1932, India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Role: Aerial warfare
• Attack: Jaguar, Harpy
• Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
• Fighters: Dassault Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Dassault Mirage 2000, Mikoyan MiG-29, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, HAL Tejas

APPOINTMENT

Nokia announces Pekka Lundmark as its new President & CEO

• Pekka Lundmark has been announced as the new Chief Executive Officer & President of Nokia.
• Pekka Lundmark will succeed Rajeev Suri who will serve as the President & CEO of Nokia till August 31, 2020.
• Pekka Lundmark is presently serving as the President and CEO of an energy company “Fortum” which is based in Espoo, Finland.

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Rafael Nadal wins Mexican Open title 2020

• World Number 2 Rafael Nadal wins his first title of the year, defeating unseeded Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in the final of the ATP Mexico Open.
• He secured his 85th ATP Tour title. Nadal won the ATP 500 title for the third time and first since the event changed from clay to hard-court in 2014.
• In the women’s final, seventh-seeded Heather Watson captured her first WTA title in three years by grinding out a 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 win over Canadian teen Leylah Fernandez.

SPMCIL contributed Rs.1 crore for National Sports Development Fund

• Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India (SPMCIL) funded a sum of Rs.1 crore towards the National Sports Development Fund under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
• The fund will be given for the top Indian athletes who are selected for the Tokyo Olympics and beyond.
• The company funded under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of the Company.

Extra Shots:

Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India (SPMCIL):

• Founded on: 10 February 2006
• Headquarters: Janpath, New Delhi
• Chairman & MD: Tripti Patra Ghosh
• Owned by: Government of India

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

India bagged USD 40 million defence deal with Armenia

• India won a $40 million defence deal to supply 4 indigenously-built weapons locating radars to Armenia in Europe.
• India won the deal by overtaking Russia and Poland.
• The move by GoI is to boost the defence sector of the country.
• The deal is a major achievement for the ‘Make in India’ programme in the defence sector.

Highlights:

• Under the deal, India will supply 4 SWATHI weapon locating radars.
• The weapon is to be developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and delivered to Armenia in Europe.
• Armenians had conducted trials of systems offered by Russia and Poland but they approved the Indian system, which was developed by DRDO. India began the supply of the equipment to Armenia.

Extra Shots:

SWATHI weapon:

♦ The SWATHI weapon will help in locating radars.

♦ It provides fast, automatic and accurate location of enemy weapons like shells, mortars, and rockets in its 50-km range.

♦ The weapon includes 81mm (or higher calibre mortars), 105mm (or higher calibre shells) and 120mm (or higher calibre free flying rockets).

♦ The weapon is being developed by DRDO’s Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE)

♦ SWATHI can simultaneously handle multiples projectiles fired from different weapons at different locations.

♦ The weapon can adjust the fire of its own artillery weapon also.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Astronomers discovered 17 new planets

• Columbia researchers have discovered 17 new planets by combing through data gathered by NASA’s Kepler space telescope.
• The planets include a potentially habitable Earth-sized world.
• The researchers looked for planets, especially those lying in the potentially habitable “Goldilocks Zone” of their stars, where liquid water could exist on a rocky planet’s surface.
• Over 16 new planets were discovered.
• The smallest is only two- thirds the size of the Earth one of the smallest planets to be found with Kepler data so far.
• The remaining planets range in size up to eight times the size of the Earth.

Extra Shots:

KIC-7340288 b:

♦ The current findings include a rare planet named KIC-7340288 b.

♦ The planet is located about a thousand light-years away

♦ The planet is one and a half times the size of the Earth

♦ It has a year that is 142 and a half days long. It orbits its star at 0.444 Astronomical Units (AU).

♦ The planet gets about one third of the light that the Earth gets from the Sun.

OBITUARIES

Dronacharya awardee Joginder Singh Saini passes away

• Veteran athletics coach and Dronacharya awardee Joginder Singh Saini passed away.
• He was born on January 1, 1930, in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab, Saini was a science graduate and became an athletics coach in 1954.
• He became the chief coach of the then Amateur Athletics Federation of India in 1970.
• He received the Dronacharya Award in 1997 for his contribution to Indian athletics.
• He was the chief coach of the Indian athletics team which won 18 medals, including eight golds, at the 1978 Asian Games.

Former India hockey player Balbir Singh Kullar passes away

• Former India hockey player Balbir Singh Kullar passed away.
• He was a part of the 1968 Olympics bronze-winning team.
• He was born at Sansarpur village of Jalandhar district in Punjab.
• He made his India debut in 1963 in Lyon, France.
• He was also a member of the Indian team that won the Asian Games gold in 1966 at Bangkok and the Olympic Bronze in 1968 in Mexico.
• He also served as an Indian national team selector.

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