Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 30th January 2020. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.
Current Affairs Today – 30th January 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- Nation pays homage to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 72nd death anniversary today.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appoints its Executive Director, Janak Raj, as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
- Reliance Industries organization will try to work with India’s highway authority and individual states to possibly supply a plastics-implanted blend.
- National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) launches Police Citizen centric services on the CCTNS platform.
- Indian Railways Central Railway zone set to introduce its first AC local train in Mumbai.
- President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the 34th Surajkund International Crafts Fair on February 1, 2020, in Faridabad, Haryana.
- The 16th Mumbai International Film Festival-2020 for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation films), inaugurated at Nehru Centre Auditorium, Worli, Mumbai.
- S Jaishankar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar lays the foundation stone of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Centre for Empowerment and Livelihoods near the Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat.
- The Kamal Nath government version of Yuva Swabhiman Yojana, a scheme for the unemployed hiking monthly stipend to Rs 5,000 and increasing the number of working days to 365.
- Assam Rifles constructed a combined war memorial in Nagaland for the 357 Army and Assam Rifles personnel killed.
- World’s largest meditation centre was inaugurated at Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- The World Sustainable Summit 2020 is an annual event organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) at New Delhi. This year theme of the event is: ‘Towards 2030: Making the Decade Count’.
- Bengaluru has the worst traffic in the world
- The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has signed a licensing agreement with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Europe.
- Harsh Vardhan Shringla took charge as a new foreign secretary succeeding in Vijay Gokhale. Mr. Shringla is a 1984-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service.
- In Tripura, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated the 65th National School Games Under-17 boys at Umakanta Academy Mini Stadium in Agartala today.
- Indian cyclist Esow Alben has bagged a gold in the men’s Keirin individual event of the Six-Day Berlin Tournament.
- Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.86 meters at the Athletics Central North East meeting in South Africa.
- Bala Devi from Manipur Police becomes the first Indian woman to become a professional footballer in the world.
- Indian Navy has launched operation Vanilla to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief at Madagascar.
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is exploring the possibility of setting up a center for advanced defence technology at the Gujarat University’s upcoming Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Extension and Research and Innovation (CERI).
- Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned a high-speed interceptor boat C-448 in Mangaluru, Karnataka.
- Bajaj Housing Finance Limited (BHFL), a 100% subsidiary of Bajaj Finance Limited, has won the ‘BFSI Digital Innovation Award‘ for Cloud Solutions at the recently held Express BFSI Technology Conclave and Awards 2020.
- Sanjna Kapoor , an Indian theatre personality and former British film actress of Indian and British descent, was awarded the French honor prestigious French honour of ‘Chevalier dans lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) for her outstanding contribution to the field of theater.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
Nation pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 72nd death anniversary
- Nation pays homage to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 72nd death anniversary today.
- It was on this day in 1948, Mahatma Gandhi fell to the bullet of his assassin.
- The day is also observed as Martyrs Day.
- A Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha has been organised at his Samadhi – Rajghat in the national capital.
- All India Radio Delhi will broadcast live commentary on the Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha and Bhakti Sangeet from Rajghat. It can be heard on Rajdhani channel from 9:40 AM.
BANKING AND FINANCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
RBI appoints Executive Director Janak Raj as member of MPC
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appoints its Executive Director, Janak Raj, as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
- The Monetary Policy Committee takes decisions based on a majority vote. Raj replaces M D Patra recently promoted as Deputy Governor of the RBI.
- The decision to appoint Janak Raj taken at the 581st meeting of the central board held in Mumbai.
- The RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das heads the MPC.
Extra Shots:
RBI: The Reserve Bank of India is India’s central banking institution, which controls the issuance and supply of the Indian rupee.
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- Deputy Governors: B P Kanungo, M K Jain, N S Vishwanathan, Michael Debaprata Patra
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Reliance Industries launching new project to use plastics in road construction
- Reliance Industries organization will try to work with India’s highway authority and individual states to possibly supply a plastics-implanted blend.
- India, which utilizes around 14 million tons of plastic every year, comes up short on a sorted out framework for the administration of plastic waste.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is encouraging India to end the utilization of single-use plastics by 2022.
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Reliance Industries Limited is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Reliance owns businesses across India engaged in energy, petrochemicals, textiles, natural resources, retail, and telecommunications.
- CEO: Mukesh Ambani
- Owner: Mukesh Ambani
- Founder: Dhirubhai Ambani
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
NCRB launches two online national level services related to search of missing persons
- National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) launches Police Citizen centric services on the CCTNS platform.
- The Director, Intelligence Bureau, Shri Arvind Kumar, presided over the launch function.
- These online services will help citizens in searching their Missing Persons and Generating Vehicle NOC.
- The services can be accessed through ‘digitalpolicecitizenservices.gov.in’ portal or a link in the existing ‘Digital Police Portal.’
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NCRB: The National Crime Records Bureau, abbreviated to NCRB, is an Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code and Special and Local Laws. NCRB is headquartered in New Delhi and is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
- Headquarters location: New Delhi
- Founded: 11 March 1986
- Motto: Empowering Indian Police with Information Technology
- Agency executive: Ramphal Pawar, IPS, Director;
- Parent department: Ministry of Home Affairs
- Jurisdiction: India
Central Railway first AC suburban train to be flagged off from Mumbai
- Indian Railways Central Railway zone set to introduce its first AC local train.
- The train will be flagged off from platform number 18 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai.
- The introduction of AC local train by the Western Railway zone will be the first time the Central Railway will run an AC local train on its domestic services
- Air conditioning system for passenger & driver. 2 X 15 ton capacity roof-mounted package units (RMPU) for air conditioning in each coach.
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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.
34th Surajkund International Crafts Fair 2020
- President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the 34th Surajkund International Crafts Fair on February 1, 2020, in Faridabad, Haryana.
- The Mela is organized by the Surajkund Mela Authority & Haryana Tourism in collaboration with Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs.
- The fair will help to promote tourism.
- For the 34th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2020, the partner country of the fair is Uzbekistan.
- The state of Himachal Pradesh has been chosen to be the Theme State.
- At least 20 countries & all the states of India will be participating in the Mela.
- The fair was upgraded to international level in 2013 and since 2015, around 20 countries are being invited.
Haryana:
- State formed on: 1 November 1966
- Capital: Chandigarh
- Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
- Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
- Official language: Hindi
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
16th Mumbai International Film Festival begins
- The 16th Mumbai International Film Festival-2020 for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation films), inaugurated at Nehru Centre Auditorium, Worli, Mumbai.
- The oldest and largest film festival for non-feature films in South Asia, which began in 1990 is organized by the Films Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.
- The festival directorate has received 874 entries, with 144 entries from 24 countries in the International competition and 730 entries in the National competition.
- Apart from films in various competition categories, best documentary short fiction and animation films produced in India and abroad will be screened under special packages including Jury retrospectives and Oscar films, best of festivals.
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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.
S Jaishankar lays foundation stone of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Centre at Kevadia in Gujarat
- S Jaishankar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar lays the foundation stone of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Centre for Empowerment and Livelihoods near the Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat.
- The identical Centre will have modern infrastructure, including accommodation for about 100 youth at a time.
- It will run several free of charge skill courses aligned to the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
- Separate Entrepreneurship modules and career counseling and coaching for job aspirants will be other significant activities at this center.
- This center aims to provide training to youth, farmers, Self Help Groups every year through its various capacity building programs.
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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
Madhya Pradesh Government to roll out 365 day work scheme with 5,000 stipend
- The Kamal Nath government version of Yuva Swabhiman Yojana, a scheme for the unemployed hiking monthly stipend to Rs 5,000 and increasing the number of working days to 365.
Yuva Swabhiman Yojana
- The MP government launched on January 31, 2019, guaranteeing 100 days of work and pay to unemployed youth who have registered themselves with the Madhya Pradesh government.
- The stipend has been hiked by Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per month.
- On the lines of MNREGS, the government is ready to extend the guarantee of 100 workdays to 365 days of temporary employment a year .
- The government’s decision came after a review of a year of the scheme feedback was accepted, and the government decided to relaunch it.
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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
Assam Rifles builds war memorial in Nagaland for 357 martyrs
- Assam Rifles constructed a combined war memorial in Nagaland for the 357 Army and Assam Rifles personnel killed.
- The memorial has been built at Mokokchung, which is also the cultural and intellectual centre of Nagaland.
- This memorial is the first of its kind in Nagaland, which also has the famous Second World War Cemetery at Kohima. Assam Rifles operate under Home Ministry.
- Since 2000, they are guarding the Indo-Myanmar Barrier under “one border one force” policy of Government of India.
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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
World’s largest meditation centre inaugurates in Telangana
- World’s largest meditation centre was inaugurated at Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- This centre is built to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and Heartfulness Institute.
- The meditation centre with a central hall and eight peripheral halls to accommodate 1,00,000 people will offer meditation training free.
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Telangana
- Capital: Hyderabad
- Chief Minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao
- Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Nepal creates Guinness World Record for highest altitude fashion show event
- Nepal has created a new Guinness World Record for organizing highest altitude Fashion Show on the earth.
- The Mount Everest Fashion Runway was held at 5340 meters (17515 feet) elevation at Kala Patthar, near Everest base camp.
- 18 supermodels from 10 different countries walked the ramp to create history.
- The event was part of Nepal Government’s Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign.
- The Guinness world record registered the title and awarded a certificate to the organizers including Dr Pankaj Gupta from India and Ms Ramila Nemkul and Mr Riken Maharjan from Nepal.
- The main objective of the fashion show was to create awareness about climate change and also to give a message to the world that Nepal is the destination for all activities.
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Nepal (Capital/Currency): Kathmandu/ Nepalese rupee
- President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
TERI organized World Sustainable Summit 2020 at New Delhi
- The World Sustainable Summit 2020 is an annual event organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) at New Delhi.
- This year theme of the event is: ‘Towards 2030: Making the Decade Count’. The Summit includes Sustainable Action Dialogues, Regional dialogues, corporate conclaves, IFAT Delhi 2020 (Exhibition of Clean Technologies), Youth Volunteer Programmes.
- The event has become a premier international event focusing on developing actions.
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TERI: The Energy and Resources Institute is a research institute in New Delhi that specializes in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development. Established in 1974, it was formerly known as the Tata Energy Research Institute.
- Headquarters location: New Delhi
- Location: New Delhi, India
- Founder: Darbari S Seth
- Founded: 1974
- Director General: Dr. Ajay Mathur
- Director: Ajay Mathur
RANKS AND INDICES
Bengaluru has the worst traffic in the world
- According to a report by TomTom, the Netherlands-based global provider of navigation, traffic, and map products, Bengaluru is the world’s most traffic-congested city.
- Manila in the Philippines took the second place.
- Mumbai, Pune, and New Delhi were the other Indian cities that also featured in the top 10, taking fourth, fifth, and eighth places, respectively.
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
BSE inks licensing agreement with ICE Futures Europe
- The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has signed a licensing agreement with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Europe.
- Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Europe is an operator of global exchanges and clearinghouses.
- India is one of the largest consumers and importers of crude oil in the world, and Brent crude is highly co-related with the Indian crude oil market.
- This agreement will serve the needs and interests to the Indian energy commodities space and market participants to access Rupee-dominated Brent benchmark prices.
- It will also help Indian commodity markets by providing convenient and cost-effective onshore hedging products and enable the price discovery of Brent crude prices in the Indian time zone.
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BSE: The Bombay Stock Exchange is an Indian stock exchange located at Dalal Street, Mumbai. Established in 1875, the BSE is Asia’s oldest stock exchange. The BSE is the world’s 10th largest stock.
- Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Founded: 9 July 1875
- Chairman: Just. Vikramajit Sen
- MD & CEO: Ashishkumar Chauhan
APPOINTMENT
Harsh Vardhan Shringla appointed as new Foreign Secretary
- Harsh Vardhan Shringla took charge as a new foreign secretary succeeding in Vijay Gokhale. Mr. Shringla is a 1984-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service.
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Indian Foreign Service
Indian Foreign Service is the administrative diplomatic civil service under Group A and Group B of the Central Civil Services of the executive branch of the Government of India.
- Formed: October 9, 1946
- Foreign Secretary: Vijay Keshav Gokhale
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Tripura CM kicks off 65th National School Games U-17 boys football
- In Tripura, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated the 65th National School Games Under-17 boys at Umakanta Academy Mini Stadium in Agartala today.
- 38 football teams coming from different parts of the country are taking part in the games. Matches will be played at 17 grounds in 4 districts and the l match will be played on 2nd February at Umakanta Academy Mini Stadium.
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Tripura:
- Capital: Agartala
- Governor: Ramesh Bais
- Chief Minister: Biplab Kumar Deb
- Literacy: 87.75%
Esow Alben wins gold at Berlin cycling tournament
- Indian cyclist Esow Alben has bagged a gold in the men’s Keirin individual event of the Six-Day Berlin Tournament.
- Czech Republic’s Tomas Babek, who won a silver in the 2017 World Championship, came in second while Maximilian Lev of Germany took home the bronze.
- Keirin event is a six-day track cycling race. Each cyclist competes on every day of the competition.
- Esow was honoured with the Young Athlete of the Year Award at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2020 in Mumbai earlier this month.
Indian Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra qualifies for Tokyo Olympics
- Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.86 meters at the Athletics Central North East meeting in South Africa.
- The 22-year-old Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist breached the Olympic qualification mark of 85 meters in his fourth attempt.
Extra Shots:
The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and commonly known as Tokyo 2020 or the Recovery Olympics, is an upcoming international multi-sport event.
- Host city: Tokyo, Japan
- Dates: Fri, 24 Jul, 2020 – Sun, 9 Aug, 2020
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Athletes: 11,091 (expected)
- Stadium: National Stadium
- Opening: 24 July
Bala Devi becomes First Indian Woman Footballer to play professionally in the World
- Bala Devi from Manipur Police becomes the first Indian woman to become a professional footballer in the world.
- The 29-year-old is currently the leading goal scorer for the Indian national women’s team netting 52 in 58 outings since 2010, which makes her the top international goal scorer in the South Asian region.
- She has the top scorer in the Indian Women’s League for the past two seasons and has also been named as All India Football Federation (AIFF) Women’s Player of the Year twice, in 2015 and 2016.
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Indian Navy launches operation ‘Vanilla’ to provide disaster relief at Madagascar
- Indian Navy has launched operation Vanilla to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief at Madagascar.
- The Operation Vanilla has been launched to provide assistance to the affected population of Madagascar post devastation caused by Cyclone Diane.
- In coordination with Embassy of India and Government of Madagascar is planned to undertake relief operations to provide succour to the flood affected populace.
- The Indian Navy Ship is geared to set up medical camp and provide food, water and other necessary relief material.
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Madagascar (Capital/Currency): Antananarivo/Malagasy ariary
- President: Andry rajoelina
DRDO on setting up technology centre at Gujarat University
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is exploring the possibility of setting up a center for advanced defence technology at the Gujarat University’s upcoming Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Extension and Research and Innovation (CERI).
- Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama was the guest of honor expressed disappointment that in the world’s top 200 universities, there is none from India.
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DRDO: The Defence Research and Development Organisation is an agency of the Government of India, charged with the military’s research and development, headquartered in New Delhi, India.
- Headquarters location: New Delhi
- Founded: 1958
- Motto: बलस्य मूलं विज्ञानम्; “Strength’s Origin is in Science” (Sanskrit)
- Minister responsible: Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence
- Subsidiary: Gas Turbine Research Establishment
ICG commissions interceptor boat C-448 in Mangaluru
- Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned a high-speed interceptor boat C-448 in Mangaluru, Karnataka.
- This interceptor boat built by L&T (Larsen & Toubro) shipyard will have a crew of 12 personnel commanded by Assistant Commandant Apoorva Sharma.
- The boat will be used for patrolling and rescue operations.
- The boat is equipped with an infrared system for night surveillance can perform high-speed interception, low-intensity maritime operations etc.
- It has an endurance of 500 nautical miles at 20 knots and can reach a maximum speed of 45 knots.
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ICG: The Indian Coast Guard is an armed force that protects India’s maritime interests and enforces maritime law, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
- Motto: वयम् रक्षामः (Sanskrit); Vayam Rakṣāmaḥ (IAST); We protect (English)
- Director General: Director General Krishnaswamy Natrajan, PTM, TM
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Additional Director General: Additional Director General Krupa Ram Nautiyal, PTM, TM
- Founder: Parliament of India
- Founded: 18 August 1978
AWARDS
Bajaj Housing Finance Limited Bags the BFSI Digital Innovation Awards 2020 for Cloud Solutions
- Bajaj Housing Finance Limited (BHFL), a 100% subsidiary of Bajaj Finance Limited, has won the ‘BFSI Digital Innovation Award‘ for Cloud Solutions at the recently held Express BFSI Technology Conclave and Awards 2020.
- Organised by the Express Computer, an IT business magazine from the Indian Express Group, the BFSI Technology Conclave and Awards, is one of the largest congregation of IT decision-makers, senior executives and partners in India.
- The event, held in Pune from January 24th-25th, 2020 witnessed the best from the BFSI sector participate as speakers and share their views on the way ahead for one of the biggest financial markets in the world.
Theatre artist Sanjna kapoor gets French honour ‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters’ in New Delhi
- Sanjna Kapoor , an Indian theatre personality and former British film actress of Indian and British descent, was awarded the French honor prestigious French honour of ‘Chevalier dans lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) for her outstanding contribution to the field of theater.
- She was honored by French Minister of Culture Franck Riester, who was currently on an official visit to India.
- She currently operates Mumbai-based theater company ‘Junoon’, which works towards spreading the arts to a wider audience through the spread of theater and new initiatives.
Kapoor ,a daughter of Hindi film actor Shashi Kapoorand British actress Jennifer Kendal, made her debut with Aparna Sen’s 36 Chowringhee Lane'(1981).
