Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 5th and 6th 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 – 5th and 6th January 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- India’s foreign exchange reserves got by 2.520 billion USD to touch a record high of 457.468 billion USD in the week on 27th December 2019.
- State Bank of India (SBI) introduced OTP-based ATM withdrawals with effect from 1st January 2020.
- India has extended a line of credit (LoC) of USD 75 million (over Rs 500 crore) to Cuba
- The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has announced its first Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman.
- Government’s flagship programme Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) and LED Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP), marked its fifth anniversary on 5 January 2020.
- Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel to set up a committee to ensure the payment of Rs 2500 per quintal to farmers against procurement of paddy.
- The Women Science Congress was inaugurated at the ongoing Indian Science Congress in Bengaluru.
- The Yoga Science meet was organized as part of the ongoing 107th Indian Science Congress (ISC) in Bengaluru on 5 January 2020.
- The 11th biennial edition of DefExpo India- 2020 is to be held from 5-8 February 2020 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- India has ranked 34th in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) of the World Economic Forum for the year 2019.
- India’s leading Digital lending startup, RevFin has joined hands with PNB MetLife India Insurance Company to offer protection to the RevFin’s customers by bundling life insurance cover on their loans.
- Shipping Corporation of India has appointed Harjeet Kaur Joshi as the new Chairperson & Managing Director of the company.
- Indian shooter Saurabh Chaudhary has won the men’s 10 metres air pistol gold medal at the 63rd National Shooting Championship in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- Krishnamachari Srikkanth & Anjum Chopra will be conferred with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Aayushi Dholakia has bagged the title of Miss Teen International 2019.
- A 13-year-old Dubai-based Indian girl Sucheta Satish has won the 100 Global Child Prodigy Award in Delhi.
- The United Nations has declared Pakistani education activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai as “Most Famous Teenager of The Decade”.
- An international team of astronomers funded in part by NASA has found the farthest galaxy group identified as “EGS77“.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set up a regional academic center for space at the National Institute of Technology (NITK) at Surathkal in Karnataka’s southwest Dakshina Kannada district.
- Former Governor of Karnataka T N Chaturvedi passed away.
BANKING AND FINANCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
India Forex reserves touch all time high of 457.468 billion
- India’s foreign exchange reserves got by 2.520 billion USD to touch a record high of 457.468 billion USD in the week on 27th December 2019.
- The foreign currency assets, a significant part of the overall reserves, rose by 2.203 billion USD to 424.936 billion USD.
- The reserves surged by 456 million USD to end at 454.948 billion USD.
- Gold reserves increased by 260 million USD to end at 27.392 billion USD. India’s exclusive drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund, however, dipped by 2 million USD to 1.441 billion USD, while the country’s reserve position increased by 58 million USD to 3.7 billion USD.
Extra Shots:
FOREX: The foreign exchange market is a global decentralized or over-the-counter market for the trading of currencies. This market determines foreign exchange rates for every currency. It includes all aspects of buying, selling and exchanging currencies at current or determined prices
SBI asks customers to update mobile numbers for ATM cash withdrawals
- State Bank of India (SBI) introduced OTP-based ATM withdrawals with effect from 1st January 2020.
- SBI OTP-based ATM cash withdrawals are applicable for above Rs 10,000 cash withdrawals.
- This service is functional at all SBI ATMs between 8 pm to 8 am.
- They need to carry their mobile to the ATMs.
- The ATM cash withdrawals now made even safer, with the OTP-based authentication process from SBI, in effect from 1st January 2020.
- Register your mobile number at the nearest SBI branch or ATM to benefit from this service.
Extra Shots:
SBI: The State Bank of India is an Indian multinational, public sector banking and financial services statutory body. It is a government corporation statutory body headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. SBI is ranked as 236th in the Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s biggest corporations of 2019.
- Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
- Headquarters: Mumbai
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
India gives $75 million LoC to Cuba for solar parks
- India has extended a line of credit (LoC) of USD 75 million (over Rs 500 crore) to Cuba.
- The line of credit is being provided to finance solar parks in Cuba.
- The line of credit is as per agreement signed between Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) and Banco Exterior De Cuba for installation of 75 MW Photovoltaic Solar Parks in the Republic of Cuba.
- Banco Exterior De Cuba is a nominated agency of the Government of Cuba.
Extra Shots:
Cuba (Capital/Currency): Havana/ Cuban peso, Cuban convertible peso
- President: Miguel Díaz-Canel
Govt. announced first Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman
- The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has announced its first Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman.
- The award will be conferred by the Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi on 7 January 2020.
- The award aims to acknowledge the positive role and responsibility of media in disseminating the outreach of Yoga in India and abroad.
Award categories:
The award to be conferred on Media Houses would be given under the following categories: Thirty awards under three categories will be conferred.
♦ 8 Sammans to be conferred under the category Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Newspapers.
♦ 8 Sammans to be conferred under the category Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Television.
♦ 11 awards will be given under the category Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Radio.
UJALA scheme marked the fifth anniversary on 5 January
- Government’s flagship programme Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) and LED Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP), marked its fifth anniversary on 5 January 2020. The schemes are being implemented and monitored by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Power Ministry.
Extra Shots:
UJALA initiative was launched on 5 January 2015 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Under the scheme around 36.13 crore LED bulbs have been distributed across India.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Chhattisgarh CM constitutes panels for Rs 2500 paddy price
- Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel to set up a committee to ensure the payment of Rs 2500 per quintal to farmers against procurement of paddy.
- Committee to ensure the payment of Rs 2500
- The schemes of central and state governments for provisions of financial aids for farmers and after detailed discussion-deliberation on all the aspects and submit recommendation within a month.
Chhattisgarh:
- Capital: Raipur
- Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel
- Governor: Anusuiya Uikey
- National Park: Indravati (Kutru) National Park, Kanger Valley National Park, Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
Women Science Congress begins in Bengaluru
- The Women Science Congress was inaugurated at the ongoing Indian Science Congress in Bengaluru.
- DRDO Aeronautical Systems Director-General Dr Tessy Thomas who is known as Missile Woman of India graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
- The women’s science congress aims to provide a single platform for women working in different arena of science and technology to showcase their achievements and experiences.
Extra Shots:
Karnataka:
- Capital: Bengaluru
- Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
- Governor: Vajubhai Vala
- National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.
Yoga Science meet was organized in Bengaluru
- The Yoga Science meet was organized as part of the ongoing 107th Indian Science Congress (ISC) in Bengaluru on 5 January 2020.
- The meet was addressed by the head of SVYASA Yoga deemed University Dr. HR Nagendra.
Highlights:
♦ The participants discussed the benefits of yoga.
♦ They also shared ideas and views on Yoga research.
♦ The meeting discussed that meditation and yoga can compose the human body and mind and give relief from any anxiety and stress.
Extra Shots:
107th Indian Science Congress: The 107th Indian Science Congress (ISC) is held from 3-7 January 2020 at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bengaluru, Karnataka. ISC will provide the desired platform to the farmers who introduced innovations in agriculture.
The theme of the 107th ISC is Science and Technology: Rural Development.
Karnataka:
- Capital: Bengaluru
- Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
- Governor: Vajubhai Vala
- National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.
DefExpo India-2020 to be held from 5-8 February 2020 in Lucknow
- The 11th biennial edition of DefExpo India- 2020 is to be held from 5-8 February 2020 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- The preparations were reviewed by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 5 January 2020.
- It is expected to be the largest exhibition for the world’s defence companies to display their land, sea and air capabilities at a single exhibition.
- Defence Expo- 2020 will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The theme of the expo is India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub.
Extra Shots:
Uttar Pradesh:
- Capital: Lucknow
- Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
- Governor: Anandiben Patel
- Nation Park: Dudhwa National Park
RANKS AND INDICES
India ranked 34th in TTCI of WEF
- India has ranked 34th in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) of the World Economic Forum for the year 2019.
- In 2013, India ranked 65th. WEF analyzed 139 countries and scored each according to three sub-indices:
♦ Regulatory Framework
♦ Business Environment and Infrastructure
♦ Human, Cultural, and Natural Resources
These sub-indices are, in turn, composed of 14 pillars of Travel and Tourism Competitiveness.
The top 10 countries of the Index are:
1) Spain
2) France
3) Germany
4) Japan
5) United States
6) United Kingdom
7) Australia
8) Italy
9) Canada
10) Switzerland
Extra Shots:
TTCI: The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) is released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The index measures the factors and policies that make a country a viable place to invest in the Travel and Tourism sector. This sustainability indicator can be used to calculate the status of the Travel and Tourism goal.
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
RevFin and PNB MetLife in tie-up to offer life cover
- India’s leading Digital lending startup, RevFin has joined hands with PNB MetLife India Insurance Company to offer protection to the RevFin’s customers by bundling life insurance cover on their loans.
- This insurance covers loans up to Rs3 lakh for a period of 3 years.
- The collaboration will help PNB MetLife to reach out to unbanked areas & drive greater financial inclusion in the country by securing the families of the borrowers against loan repayment in case of unfortunate death of the borrower.
Extra Shots:
PNB MetLife India: PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited is one of the leading life insurance companies in India present since 2001.
- Founded:2001
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- MD & CEO: Ashish Kumar Srivastava
APPOINTMENT
H.K. Joshi appointed as CMD of Shipping Corporation of India
- Shipping Corporation of India has appointed Harjeet Kaur Joshi as the new Chairperson & Managing Director of the company.
- She will also hold the additional charge of the post of Director (Finance) of the company for a period of 3 months.
- She is a Fellow Member of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
Extra Shots:
Shipping Corporation of India is a Government of India Public Sector Enterprise with its headquarters in Mumbai that operates and manages vessels that services both national and international lines.
- Headquarters: Mumbai
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Saurabh Chaudhary wins gold at 63rd National Shooting Championship
- Indian shooter Saurabh Chaudhary has won the men’s 10 metres air pistol gold medal at the 63rd National Shooting Championship in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- Second-placed Sarabjot Singh of Haryana, while world number two Abhishek Verma settled for bronze in a high-quality final.
- Abhishek and Sarabjot together won the team gold for Haryana. Sarabjot also won the junior men’s gold.
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
Srikkanth & Anjum Chopra to get CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award
- Krishnamachari Srikkanth & Anjum Chopra will be conferred with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Krishnamachari Srikkanth will be the recipient of 2019’s prestigious CK Nayudu Lifetime Award.
- Former India women’s captain Anjum Chopra is the co-recipient of the lifetime achievement award for the year 2019.
- Srikkanth and Anjum will be conferred with the Lifetime Achievement award by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their contributions to Indian cricket.
Extra Shots:
BCCI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India is the national governing body for cricket in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act.
- CEO: Rahul Johri
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Secretary: Jay Shah
- Women’s coach: W. V. Raman
- Men’s coach: Ravi Shastri
- Presidents: C.K. Khanna, Sourav Ganguly
AWARDS
Aayushi Dholakia becomes Miss Teen International 2019
- Aayushi Dholakia has bagged the title of Miss Teen International 2019.
- She also bagged the titles of Best in National Costume Award and Best in Speech Award. Girls from 22 countries participated in the event to win the coveted title.
- Yessenia Garcia from Paraguay and Anicia Gaothusi from Botswana became the First and second Runners-Up respectively.
- Miss Teen International is the world’s oldest running teen pageant.
- Thu Phan from Vietnam was adjudged Miss Teen Asia, Maria Luisa Piras from Italy bagged the title of Miss Teen Europe, Anicia Gaothusi from Botswana won Miss Teen Africa and Alessandra Santos from Brazil became Miss Teen America at the event.
Indian girl Sucheta Satish wins Global Child Prodigy Award 2020
- A 13-year-old Dubai-based Indian girl Sucheta Satish has won the 100 Global Child Prodigy Award in Delhi.
- She was awarded for singing in most languages during one concert and the longest live singing concert by a child.
- Global Child Prodigy Award is a platform to showcase the talent of children in dance, music, art, writing, acting, modelling, science, sports etc.
- The award is supported by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Oscar Award-winning music producer AR Rahman among others.
UN declares Malala Yousafzai ‘Most Famous Teenager of The Decade’
- The United Nations has declared Pakistani education activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai as “Most Famous Teenager of The Decade”.
- The revelation has been made in its ‘Decade in Review’ report. Malala is working towards children’s rights ever since she was a teenager.
- In recognition of her efforts, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 and also become the yougest recipient of the award.
Extra Shots:
United Nations: It is an International Organization. Its Objective of UN is to not only maintain International Peace and Security but also to develop Friendly relations among nations.
- Founded – 24th October, 1945
- Headquarter- New York,United States
- Secretary General- Antonio Guterres (9th SG OF UN)
- He is from PORTUGAL
- Portugal (Capital/Currency) – Lisbon/ Euro
- United States (Capital/Currency) – Washington, D.C/ US Dollar
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
International team of astronomers finds farthest galaxy group EGS77
- An international team of astronomers funded in part by NASA has found the farthest galaxy group identified as “EGS77“.
- EGS77, the trio of galaxies dates to a time when the universe was only 680 million years old, or less than 5% of its current age of 13.8 billion years.
- EGS77 is the farthest group of galaxies to have ever been sighted. EGS77 was discovered as part of the Cosmic Deep And Wide Narrowband (Cosmic DAWN) survey.
- The team of astronomers was led by an Indian-origin Goa-born scientist, Vithal Tilvi.
- Vithal Tilvi is currently a visiting researcher at the School of Earth & Space Exploration, at the Arizona State University, US.
ISRO sets up academic centre in Karnataka to provide 2 crore
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set up a regional academic center for space at the National Institute of Technology (NITK) at Surathkal in Karnataka’s southwest Dakshina Kannada district.
- The center at NIT-K will conduct joint research and development in space technology applications to meet the needs of our space programs.
- ISRO will provide Rs two crore grants annually to NIT for the R&D projects and promotional activities throughout the year.
- The space agency and the engineering institute.
Extra Shots:
ISRO: The Indian Space Research Organisation is the space agency of the Government of India and has its headquarters in the city of Bengaluru. Its vision is to “harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research & planetary exploration”.
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
- Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
- Founded: 15 August 1969
- Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan
- Subsidiary: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
OBITUARIES
Former Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi passes away
- Former Governor of Karnataka T N Chaturvedi passed away.
- He was the 14th Governor of Karnataka from 2002–2007.
- He also served as of Comptroller and Auditor General of India from 1984 to 1989.
- He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1991.
