Current Affairs Daily Digest – February 01 2020
1. Vidya Bal-Social Activist, Feminist passed away
The Veteran Feminist, Social Activist and writer passed away in private nursing home on January 30, 2020. She was known for her heroic oppressive practices involving women. She was a forefront fighter for women equality with men.
She worked as an editorial staff of monthly magazine Stree in 1964. Later she founded Miloon Saryajani in 1989. She has written famous biographies namely Kamlaki and Valvantatil.
2. TERI: India’s Steel Demand to increase carbon emissions by 600 MT
World Sustainable Development Summit released its report on India’s Steel Demand. According to the report, if the steel demand of the country continues to grow, the carbon-dioxide emissions from the steel sector will reach 600 million tonnes by 2050.
3. Union Budget Highlights 2020-2021 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Budget 2020 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to revive economic growth and boost people’s income. The Budget is based on Three themes Aspirational India Economic development Caring society Union Budget 2020 was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanin, a bid to revive economic growth and boost people’s income. The Budget is based on three themes – aspirational India, economic development for all, and caring society.
4. Telangana govt to soon begin testing of Novel CoronaVirus in Hyderabad
Telangana State Government will begin testing of Novel CoronaVirus in Hyderabad with the help of testing kits. The authorities at Gandhi Medical Hospital begun test trails of the packages following the approval given by the Central Health Ministry for testing the Virus in Hyderabad.
The medical authorities sent a total of 15 samples of suspect cases to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, and the reports of nine have come negative while the remaining are awaited.
5. First Banana Container Train sent to JNPT for Exports
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority(APEDA) along with State Government of Andhra Pradesh one of the largest member exporter of banana, dispatched the first shipment of 890 MTs of high-quality bananas loaded in 43 refrigerated containers, from Tadipatri, Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) in Mumbai for export to international markets.
6. Union Govt aims to achieve objective of Housing for All by 2022 under PMAY-G
Union Government aims to achieve the objective of Housing for All by 2022 under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Grameen. A total of over one crore 50 lakh rural houses have been completed in the last five years. Eligible beneficiaries will get one crore 95 lakh houses in the second phase of the scheme. The government has set a target of 60 lakh houses for the current financial year.
7. Goa 2020 National Games unveils Rubigula as mascot
Rubigula, Flame-Throated Bulbul unveiled as the official mascot for the Goa 2020 National Games. The Flame-Throated Bulbul is the state bird of Goa. The mascot Rubigula will generate the interest of people towards the National Games. The mascot incorporates the best elements and characteristics of Goa and the Goan people. The state has world-class infrastructure fo the games.
8. ECI appointed Shri B Murali Kumar as Special Expenditure Observer
Election Commission of India appointed Sh B Murli Kumar (ex IRS-1983) as Special Expenditure Observer as also appointed Sh Mrinal Kanti Das (IPS 1977 Retd) as Special Police Observer for General Election to the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi, 2020. Sh Murali, in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, will be supervising and monitoring the work done by the electoral machinery.
9. IAF AN-32 Lands at LEH with Indigenous Bio-Jet Fuel
IAF achieved a milestone, when an AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force, powered with a 10% blend of Indian bio-jet fuel, took-off from Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh. It is the first time that the bio-jet indigenous fuel-powered both engines of the aircraft. The aircraft was flight tested, and its performance was validated at Chandigarh Air Base before undertaking the operational flight to Leh.
10. World’s First Transcatheter Mitral Valve Approved in Europe
The Abbott Tendyne Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation (TMVI) system received the European CE mark. It is the first transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) technology in the world.
The main aim is to make critical need to eliminate mitral regurgitation when surgery or mitral repair is not an option in high-risk surgical patients. This therapy treats significant mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients requiring a heart valve replacement.
11. Union Government appoints M Ajit Kumar as chairman of CBIC ahead of Budget
Central Government appoints M Ajit Kumar as chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. The appointment comes just two days before the Union Budget presentation.
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is the national nodal agency responsible for administering Customs, GST, Central Excise, Service Tax and Narcotics in India.
12. ISRO launches a low-cost satellite launch vehicles
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) declares that it is preparing low-cost satellite launch vehicles costing around 30-35 crores rupees, each which can put into orbit satellites weighing 500 kgs. The first launch is expected to take place in the next four months from the country.
The ISRO has a significant commercial boost as it will be able to cater to micro, mini, and medium segments of the market. ISRO earmarked 1,600 million Dollars for launch vehicles, of which 870 million Dollars will be for PSLV and the remaining for GSLV.
13. Pune, Nashik among four cities to launch clean air project
Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Pune and Nashik in Maharashtra will launch the ‘Clean Air Project in India’ (CAP India) initiative to improve the air quality in their cities. This project will be implemented by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in partnership with city authorities. CAP India was announced at the World Sustainable Development Summit 2020 held in New Delhi.
14. CII celebrates 125 years; Tamil Nadu CM launches new scheme at the event
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is celebrating its 125th birth anniversary in the year 2020. In order to commemorate its anniversary, the organization has been hosting several events in different parts of India under the theme – Theme: CII@125: Business and Beyond.
The Journey of CII began as Engineering and Iron Trades Association (EITA) in 1895. Later the Engineering Association of India that was established in 1942 merged with EITA to form the Association of Indian engineering Industry (AIEI) in 1974. In 1986, it became the Confederation of Engineering Industry (CEI).
15. Sanjana Kapoor receives the French honour for theatre artiste
Sanjana Kapoor will receive the prestigious French honor of ‘Chevalier dans Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) for her outstanding contribution to the field of theatre.
Franck Riester will confer the symbol of the distinction on Kapoor in a special investiture ceremony on January 28 at the French embassy in New Delhi. An organization dedicated to increasing the reach of theatre and arts to a broader audience through innovative initiatives.
16. Mo O’Brien to become the first deaf person to row across the Atlantic Ocean
Mo O’Brien aims to be the first deaf person to row across the Atlantic Ocean in a boat with her all-female team, the Oarsome Foursome, in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2019.
17. Rangers FC signs Indian woman footballer Bala Devi; first Asian footballer to join in history of club
Rangers FC signs Indian woman footballer Bala Devi; marks history by becoming the first woman Indian footballer to play professionally outside India. Ngangom Bala Devi who earlier went to Scotland for a trial for Rangers has officially signed by the Scottish giants with the club releasing a statement of signing her.
18. Australian Open: American Sofia Kenin wins her first Grand Slam title
In Tennis, American Sofia Kenin won her first Grand Slam title with victory over Spain’s Garbine Muguruza at the Australian Open. Kenin won 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 against two-time major winner Muguruza in Melbourne.
Kenin, who turned 21 in November, is the youngest Australian Open champion since Russian Maria Sharapova in 2008.
