Current Affairs Daily Digest – February 14 2019
1.WHO issues new international standard for music devices
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) issued a new international standard for the manufacture and use of musical devices. The aim behind the move is to prevent young people from going deaf. Nearly 50 per cent of people aged 12-35 years — or 1.1 billion young people — are at risk of hearing loss due to prolonged and excessive exposure to loud sounds, including music they listen to through personal audio devices.
Over five per cent of the world’s population — or 466 million people — has disabling hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children); impacting on their quality of life. The majority live in low- and middle-income countries.
It is estimated that by 2050, over 900 million people — or 1 in every 10 people — will have disabling hearing loss. Hearing loss which is not addressed poses an annual global cost of $750 billion.
2.Ashwani Lohani re-appointed as Air India CMD
Ashwani Lohani returns to the post of Chairman and Managing Director of Air India about 19 months after he demitted office.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Wednesday appointed Lohani, who recently retired as Chairman, Railway Board, as CMD of Air India for a period of one year or until further orders.
He replaces PS Kharola, who has taken over as Secretary Civil Aviation.
3.Bill Introduced For NRI Men To Register Marriage Within 30 Days
Against the backdrop of cases of Indian women being trapped in fraudulent marriages with non-resident Indians (NRI), a bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha to make it compulsory to register such marriages within 30 days.If an NRI man fails to register his marriage within 30 days of date of marriage, his passport can be impounded or revoked.
Also, it allows courts to attach properties, movable and immovable, of “proclaimed offenders” or people who fail to appear before courts despite warrants being issued against them.
The ‘Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019’ empowers passport authorities to impound or revoke passport or travel documents of NRIs who fail to register their marriage within 30 days of getting married.
4.CCEA approves Rs 2,900 Cr for Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Upgradation Scheme for MSMEs
The Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Upgradation Scheme (CLCSTUS) was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the next three years, with a total outlay of Rs 2,900 crore.
The scheme aims to boost the competitiveness of MSMEs by integrating ongoing technology upgradation efforts with the Credit Linked Capital Subsidy (CLCS), hand-holding zero defect zero effect manufacturing (ZED), increasing productivity through waste reduction, design intervention, cloud computing, facilitation of intellectual property, and nurturing new ideas.
5.Union Minister for Mines Shri Narendra Singh Tomar to Inaugurate 58th Meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board at Pusa
Union Minister for Mines Shri Narendra Singh Tomar will inaugurate the 58th meeting of Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) tomorrow. Minister of State for mines Shri HaribhaiParthibhai Chaudhary will be present as the Guest of Honouron this occasion.The meeting will be held at NASC Complex, ICAR, Pusa, New Delhi under Chairmanship of Shri Anil Mukim, Secretary, Ministry of Mines.
The meeting will be attended by senior officers of Ministry of Mines, Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the members from other Central Ministries, State Directorates of Mining and Geology, representatives from private mining industry, PSUs, Mining associations and other stakeholders.
During the day-long meeting, total 897 Field Season Proposals of GSI for the year 2019-20 will be placed before the Board for discussion and approval. Out of 897 programs, GSI has drawn up 390 programmes under mineral exploration which is being the most priority sector of Ministry of Mines.
6. Prime Minister addresses CREDAI YouthCon-2019
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the CREDAI YouthCon-2019, at Talkatora Stadium, in New Delhi. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister said that work is progressing at a fast pace to ensure that every homeless person has a house by 2022. He said that around 1.5 crore houses has been built through PM Awas Yojana, out of which 15 lakh houses were built for the poor in urban areas. He added that under the present Union Government, there is transparency in the entire process. He mentioned that when a Government frames policies with the right intent, it will result in the elimination of corruption and better results.
The Prime Minister said that Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has strengthened the trust between the customers and the Real Estate Developers. He said that RERA has been notified in 28 states. More than 35000 Real Estate Projects and 27000 Real estate agents have registered under RERA, and lakhs of flats are being built.
7.Cabinet approves signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Argentine in tourism
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Argentinein the field of Tourism.
The signing of MoU between India and Argentine in the field of tourism will help the two parties in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector.
8.Cabinet approves MOU between India and Finland on Cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for Memorandum of Understanding between India and Finland on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space. The MoU has already been signed in 10th January, 2019 at New Delhi.
The signed MoU will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space.
The Memorandum of Understanding shall enable the following potential interest areas of cooperation such as,
- Remote sensing of the earth
- Satellite communication and satellite based navigation
- Space science and planetary exploration
- Development, testing and operation of space objects and ground system
- Launching of Finnish Space objects by Indian launch vehicles
- Processing and use of space data
- Developing innovative applications and solutions based on space technologies and use of artificial intelligence
- Cooperation around emerging New Space opportunities and data ecosystems and sustainable used of outer space.
9.Parallel Taxi Track Operation by all women crew
In a first for the IAF,the “OTTERS” squadron of Western Air Command has undertaken Parallel Taxi Track (PTT) Operations with a full women crew in the Dornier 228 aircraft. The pilots, Sqn Ldr Kamaljeet Kaur and her co-pilot Sqn Ldr Rakhi Bhandari carried out successful parallel taxi track landing and take-off operations at Sirsa. This achievement highlights the theme of Aero India 2019 which is earmarked on 23 February as the day to highlight the Achievements of Women in Aviation Sector.
Parallel Taxi Track Operations are carried out to enable unhindered operations even when the runway is not available due to enemy action or any other reasons.
10.Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM- SYM) to be Implemented from February 15
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) will be rolled out by the Ministry of Labour and Employment tomorrow . The scheme announced in the Interim Budget was notified by the Ministry recently. As many as 42 crore workers are estimated to be engaged in the unorganized sector of the country.
The unorganised workers mostly engaged as home based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washer men, rickshaw pullers, landless labourers, own account workers, agricultural workers, construction workers, beedi workers, handloom workers, leather workers, audio- visual workers and similar other occupations whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less and belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years are eligible for the scheme.
Following are the salient Features of PM-SYM:
- Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber under the PM-SYM, shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
- Family Pension: During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.
(iii) If a beneficiary has given regular contribution and died due to any cause (before age of 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal.
- Contribution by the Subscriber: The subscriber’s contributions to PM-SYM shall be made through ‘auto-debit’ facility from his/ her savings bank account/ Jan- Dhan account. The subscriber is required to contribute the prescribed contribution amount from the age of joining PM-SYM till the age of 60 years.
11.Prafulla Chhajed is new CA Institute President
The CA Institute has a new President in Prafulla P Chhajed. This professional body’s central council has also elected Atul Kumar Gupta as the Vice President of the institute for 2019-20. Chhajed, who hails from Mumbai, is the 67th President of the CA Institute and has succeeded erstwhile President Naveen N D Gupta.
Currently, Chhajed is the Chairman of Board of Directors of ICAI-ARF and XBRL India. He is also one of the directors of Indian Institute of Insolvency Professionals of ICAI, which is the first insolvency professional agency of India.
12.Cobra Gold, one of world’s largest multinational military exercises, kicks off in Thailand
One of the world’s largest and longest-running international military exercises officially began this week in Thailand.
The 38th annual Cobra Gold exercise, scheduled to run through Feb. 22, is co-sponsored by the Royal Thai and U.S armed forces. They are joined by another 27 nations, including Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore. China and India participate in civic-action parts of the exercise.
13.Rocket Display And Artillery Firepower At Army’s “Exercise Topchi”
Using ultra light Howitzers and indigenous Swathi weapon-locating radar, Indian Army demonstrated its artillery firepower at the annual ”Exercise Topchi” held near Nashik .The event took place at the vast firing ranges at Deolali Camp . It not only showcased the artillery firepower, but also the aviation and surveillance capabilities.
14.Joint exercise ‘Rahat’ for disaster relief held in Jaipur
In Rajasthan, Jaipur based Sapta Shakti Command of Indian Army is conducting a two- day Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise “Exercise Rahat”. The exercise began in Jaipur. It involves all stake holders at the national and state level. This is the eighth such exercise conducted by the Indian Defence Forces.
The exercise is being conducted in pursuance of the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Combined Commanders Conference – 2015, to achieve ‘Disaster Resilient India’.
15.Finance Commission meets Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development
The Fifteenth Finance Commission had a meeting with the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development in New Delhi yesterday. The meeting was chaired by the Minister for HRD Shri Prakash along with the Chairman of the Finance Commission Shri N.K. Singh. Members of the Commission and Senior Officers of the Commission as well as MHRD attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed key issues of the sector requiring the Commission’s intervention including investment in School Infrastructure, Teacher’s salaries & training, Career Counselling, school students, Pre-schooling of children akin to the Sikkim model to give a boost to early learning, and other issues.
16.CBDT Chairman Sushil Chandra Appointed New Election Commissioner
Sushil Chandra, the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes or CBDT, has been appointed as the new Election Commissioner. The appointment came ahead of this year’s general elections, which is due by May. Election Commissioners are appointed for a term of six years, or till the age of 65 – whichever is earlier
The three-member Commission which has been one member short since December also has a huge workload: Reviewing poll preparedness in various states, preparing electoral rolls and coordinating a multitude of arrangements that go into conducting the elections in the second largest democracy.
Mr Chandra, an IIT graduate and a 1980 batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax cadre), has recently retired from the CBDT.
17.ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 schedule
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 will be held in England and Wales from May 30, 2019 to July 14, 2019.
This time, in the first round of the tournament the ten teams will play against each other. The top four teams will progress to the semifinals. The participating teams are England (hosts), Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and West Indies.
18.Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, AVSM, NM takes over as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command
Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, AVSM, NM assumed the charge as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam today 14 Feb 19. The Flag Officer was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1984. He is a graduate of National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune, United States Naval Staff College at Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and the Naval War College, Mumbai.
In addition to a specialisation in Navigation and Direction within the Navy, the Admiral holds a M Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Mumbai, MSc Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras and Master Degree in Personnel Management from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (University of Pune).
