Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 8th 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 – 8th January 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- The World Day of War Orphans was celebrated on 6 January 2020.
- The two Indian private sector lenders Axis Bank and ICICI Bank to close their operations in Sri Lanka after the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has permitted.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has enabled select banks in India to offer round-the-clock (24×7) trading in the Indian rupee to allow Indians to safeguard their foreign exchange (Forex) risks at any time.
- National Statistical Office (NSO) projects India’s GDP growth rate for 2019-20 at 5%.
- Over eight crore farmer families have been benefitted under PM Kisan Scheme.
- The Cabinet approved conferring the status of Institution of National Importance to a cluster of Ayurvedic institutions at Gujarat Ayurved University campus in Jamnagar.
- The 4th edition of ‘Buxa Bird Festival’ has started in Buxa National Park in West Bengal’s, district Alipurduar.
- Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will reach New Delhi tonight on a two-day official visit to India.
- A ten-day-long art exhibition commemorating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was inaugurated on Tuesday in Dhaka.
- The UAE Cabinet has validated the Multi-entry Tourist Visa which would be valid for 5 years. The Multi-entry Tourist Visa facility would be available for all nationalities visiting the UAE. The decision was taken in the UAE’s Cabinet meeting which was held at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the year 2019 was recorded as the seventh warmest year since 1901.
- Two Indian origin women, Judge Archana Rao and Judge Deepa Ambedkar have been appointed as judges to criminal and civil courts.
- Italian Veteran footballer Daniele De Rossi announced his retirement.
- India and Oman will conduct 12th edition of bilateral maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ in Mormugao Port, Goa.
- Indian Navy starts 1st Maha-Navy Connect 2020 Tri-Dimensional Expedition started from Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Union Home Minister released a book ‘Karmayoddha Granth’ on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- One of India’s best-known artists, Akbar Padamsee passed away in Coimbatore on 6 January 2020.
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
World Day of War Orphans day was observed on 6 January
- The World Day of War Orphans was celebrated on 6 January 2020.
- The day is observed every year.
- The day enables the global Communities to recognize the plight of a, particularly vulnerable group.
- The day aims to address the war orphans as it has become a growing worldwide humanitarian and social crisis.
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UNICEF: The United Nations Children’s Fund is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children around the world.
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Head: Henrietta H. Fore
- Founded: 11 December 1946, New York, New York, United States
- Subsidiaries: UNICEF Ireland, Girls’ Education Movement, MORE
- Founders: United Nations General Assembly, Ludwik Rajchman
- Parent organizations: United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Economic and Social Council
BANKING AND FINANCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
2 Indian banks to end their operations in Sri Lanka
- The two Indian private sector lenders Axis Bank and ICICI Bank to close their operations in Sri Lanka after the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has permitted.
- The licenses issued by Central Bank of Sri Lanka will be cancelled once the winding-up operations are complete.
- The two banks are no longer to carry their banking operations, including accepting deposits from the public in Sri Lanka.
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Axis Bank is the fifth-largest bank in India offering a wide assortment of financial products. The bank has its head office in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has 4,050 branches, 11,801 ATMs and 4,917 cash recyclers spread across the country as of 31 March 2019 and nine international offices.
- CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
- Headquarters: Mumbai
ICICI Bank Limited is an Indian multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra with its registered office in Vadodara, Gujarat. As of 2018, ICICI Bank is the second largest bank in India in terms of assets and market capitalisation.
- CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founder: Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India
Sri Lanka(Capitals/Currency): Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan rupee.
- Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe
- President: Maithripala Sirisena
RBI allows offering 24×7 rupee trading via select banks
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has enabled select banks in India to offer round-the-clock (24×7) trading in the Indian rupee to allow Indians to safeguard their foreign exchange (Forex) risks at any time.
- The select banks in India offered Indian customers foreign exchange rates only in inter-bank market hours from 9 am – 5 pm.
- This decision will also make the offshore currency markets in countries like Dubai & Singapore less attractive for Indian investors.
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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
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
NSO projects India’s GDP growth rate for 2019-20 at 5%
- National Statistical Office (NSO) projects India’s GDP growth rate for 2019-20 at 5%.
- The decline has been mainly on account of deceleration in manufacturing sector growth, which is expected to come down to 2 per cent in 2019-20 from 6.2 per cent in the year-ago fiscal.
- The deceleration was also witnessed in sectors like agriculture, construction and electricity, gas and water supply.
- Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics: Rao Inderjit Singh.
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Over eight cr farmer families benefited under PM Kisan Scheme
- Over eight crore farmer families have been benefitted under PM Kisan Scheme.
- The Scheme was launched in February, last year under which income support of six thousand rupees per year in three equal instalments of two thousand rupees is provided to each eligible farmer.
- More than 48 thousand 937 crore rupees has been released under the scheme till date.
- A new facility has been provided on PM-KISAN Web-portal – www.pmkisan.gov.in through Farmers’ Corner link to facilitate the farmers for self-registration and edit his or her name in PM-Kisan database as per Aadhar Card.
- The farmers are being facilitated for self registration and data correction through Common Service Centers.
- The Scheme initially covered only small and marginal farmer families with landholding up to two hectares.
- Later the government extended the scheme to all farmer families irrespective of landholding size
Cabinet approves for different agreements
- India and Mongolia- Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful and Civilian Purposes.
- India and UK- the Department for International Development Government of the United Kingdom for Enabling Energy Self-Sufficiency for Indian Railways.
- India and Sweden- on cooperation in polar science between Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India and Ministry of Education and Research, Sweden.
- India and France- approval for the ratification of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Institutions at Gujarat Ayurved University to get status of Institution of National Importance
- The Cabinet approved conferring the status of Institution of National Importance to a cluster of Ayurvedic institutions at Gujarat Ayurved University campus in Jamnagar.
- the elevation of the status of institution will provide it with the autonomy to upgrade the standard of Ayurveda education, frame various courses in Ayurveda as per national and international demand.
- The strengthening of Ayurveda will reduce government expenditure on health as Ayurveda is cost-effective because of its preventive and curative approaches.
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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
4th ‘Buxa Bird Festival’ kicks off in West Bengal
- The 4th edition of ‘Buxa Bird Festival’ has started in Buxa National Park in West Bengal’s, district Alipurduar.
- More than 50 birdwatchers from pan India and abroad have registered in the festival.
- Over 300 rare species including the Sultan Tit, Greater Spotted Eagle and Great Hornbill visit the national park during this festival.
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West Bengal:
- Capital: Kolkata
- Chief Minister: Mamta Banerjee
- Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
- State Formed in: 1947
- Literacy Rate: 76.26%
- National Park: Buxa National Park, Gorumara National Park, Neora Valley National Park, Neora Valley National Park, Sunderban National Park, Jaldapara National Park
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Sri Lankan foreign minister on two day visit to India
- Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will reach New Delhi tonight on a two-day official visit to India.
- He will have delegation-level meeting with External affairs minister Dr. S. Jaishankar tomorrow during which a gamut of bilateral issues will come up for discussion.
- Cooperation in economic projects, investment by Indian companies, issue of fishermen and stability in the Indian Ocean region are among the main issues likely to be discussed.
- He is also scheduled to visit Mahabodhi temple society on Friday before returning home.
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Sri Lanka(Capitals/Currency): Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan rupee.
- Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe
- President: Maithripala Sirisena
Art Exhibition inaugurated to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Bangladesh
- A ten-day-long art exhibition commemorating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was inaugurated on Tuesday in Dhaka.
- The art exhibition has been organised by the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh in association with the Bangladesh Shilpkala Academy.
- The two Gandhi Ashrams in Bangladesh are located at Jamalpur and Noakhali.
- The exhibition featured unique photographs of Mahatma Gandhi since his days in South Africa to various movements in India.
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Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Taka
- Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
UAE Cabinet validates Multi-entry Tourist Visa valid for 5 years
- The UAE Cabinet has validated the Multi-entry Tourist Visa which would be valid for 5 years. The Multi-entry Tourist Visa facility would be available for all nationalities visiting the UAE. The decision was taken in the UAE’s Cabinet meeting which was held at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.
- The decision has been made to boost the UAE’s tourism economy.
- It also aims to stabilise UAE’s position as a global tourist destination. “Visa waiver” for Mexican citizens visiting the UAE was also introduced during the meeting.
- The above decisions taken during the meeting will be made effective during the first quarter of 2020.
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UAE (Capital/Currency): Abu Dhabi/Dirham
- President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
RANKS AND INDICES
IMD reported that 2019 is recorded as the seventh warmest year
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the year 2019 was recorded as the seventh warmest year since 1901.
- It also said that the heating was substantially lower than the highest warming observed in 2016.
Extra Shots:
IMD: The India Meteorological Department is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founder: Government of India
- Founded: 1875
- Agency executive: Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology
- Jurisdiction: India
- Parent organization: Ministry of Earth Sciences
APPOINTMENT
Two Indian origin women appointed as the judges to criminal and civil courts
- Two Indian origin women, Judge Archana Rao and Judge Deepa Ambedkar have been appointed as judges to criminal and civil courts.
- The judges were appointed by New York mayor Bill de Blasio. Judge Archana Rao is appointed to criminal court of New York and Judge Deepa Ambedkar is appointed to civil court in New York.
- These appointments were effective from 1 January 2020.
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
World Cup winner Daniele De Rossi from Italy retires from football
- Italian Veteran footballer Daniele De Rossi announced his retirement.
- He won the 2006 world cup title for Italy after defeating France.
- He has played 117 games for Italy from 2004-17.
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
India and Oman conduct bilateral naval exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’
- India and Oman will conduct 12th edition of bilateral maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ in Mormugao Port, Goa.
- ‘Naseem-Al-Bahr’ (or sea breeze) is a naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the RNO, being conducted since 1993.
- Indian Navy ships Beas and Subhadra and Oman Navy ships RNOV Al Rasikh and RNOV Khassab are participating in this exercise.
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Oman (Capital/Currency): Muscat/ Omani Rial
- President: Al Said
Indian Navy start 1st ‘Maha-Navy Connect 2020’
- Indian Navy starts 1st Maha-Navy Connect 2020 Tri-Dimensional Expedition started from Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- The aim of the expedition is to promote the maritime heritage of India and spread awareness about Coastal Security amongst the coastal communities in Maharashtra.
- The tri-dimensional expedition consisting of yachting, running and cycling teams of 50 naval personnel.
- This expedition will cover more than 555kms from Maharashtra’s northernmost fort Arnala to its southernmost Sindhudurg fort.
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Indian Navy: The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy.
- Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS): Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, AVSM, VSM
- Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM
- Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS): Vice Admiral M. S. Pawar, AVSM, VSM
- Headquarters location: New Delhi
- Garrison/HQ: Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy)
- Founded: 5 September 1612
BOOKS & AUTHORS
‘Karmayoddha Granth’: A book on the life of PM Narendra Modi launched
- Union Home Minister released a book ‘Karmayoddha Granth’ on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- A ‘Karmayoddha’ is a man with a beating heart for people, a statesman, a hard taskmaster, an able administrator and an ideal leader who leads by example.
- All these qualities have been personified by Narendra Modi.
Extra Shots:
- Union Home Minister: Amit Shah.
OBITUARIES
Famous artist Akbar Padamsee passed away
- One of India’s best-known artists, Akbar Padamsee passed away in Coimbatore on 6 January 2020.
- He was 91 years old.
- He was born in Mumbai in 1928.
- He earned a Diploma in Painting from Sir JJ School of Art.
- He was one of the pioneers of modern Indian art along with S.H. Raza, F.N. Souza, and M.F. Husain.
