Weekly Current Affairs February 2019: Week IV

National Events

The Central government has increased the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar by Rs. 2 per kg to Rs. 31. Minimum Selling Price Minimum Selling Price is the rate below which the mills cannot sell sugar in the open market to wholesalers and bulk consumers like beverage and biscuit makers.
The Ministry of External Affairs had organised a training course for the officials of the Government of Nepal on ‘Global Perspectives on Public Financial Management’ at the Institute of Government Accounts and Finance (INGAF) in New Delhi.
The training programme was part of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.
The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme was instituted on 15 September 1964 as a bilateral programme for providing assistance from the Government of India.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated National Cancer Institute (NIC) at Badhsa in Jhajjar district of Haryana.
Prime Minister also inaugurated an ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Faridabad. It is the first Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and hospital in North India.
National Productivity Council (NPC) is celebrating National Productivity week from February 12th to 18th, 2019. This year, the theme is “Circular Economy for Productivity & Sustainability”. This theme will help NPC to meet its zero waste goal.
National Productivity Council (NPC)

Circular Economy is based on the model of Make, Use and Return.
It controls the finite stocks and reuses them by recycling and thus balances the resource flow.
National Productivity Council is an autonomous registered society under DIPP (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
It was established in the year 1985.
Its core function is to promote and adopt the new and improved culture of productivity in India.

India’s First District cooling system will come up in Amravati, capital of the Andhra Pradesh. The government of Andhra Pradesh has entered into a 30-year concession with UAE-based international cooling provider.
The Rajasthan Assembly has passed the Rajasthan Backward Classes Amendment Bill, 2019. The bill aims to address the demands of the Gujjars who are protesting for reservations. It provides five per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions to Gurjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadaria communities.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a three-year extension of the Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Up-gradation Scheme (CLCS-TUS) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) with a total outlay of 2,900 crores on 13th February 2019.
This scheme will continue beyond the 12th Five Year Plan for three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
Under this scheme, an upfront capital subsidy of 15 per cent will be provided to the MSMEs on institutional finance of up to Rs 1 crore availed by them.

The World Sustainable Development Summit 2019 was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the PETROTECH -2019 conference a three-day mega event held at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Indian Army on 12th February 2019 showcased its artillery firepower by using ultra light Howitzers and indigenous Swathi weapon-locating radar at the annual “Exercise Topchi”.
The exercise was held at Deolali Camp near Nashik. The aviation and surveillance capabilities were also showcased.

Indian historian Sanjay Subrahmanyam has won prestigious Dan David Prize of Israel for the year 2019.
Sanjay Subrahmanyam shares the award in the category of ‘past time dimension’ with Prof Kenneth Pomeranz of the University of Chicago.

The six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has lowered the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25 per cent.
The limit of collateral free bank loans for farmers to Rs 1.6 lakh from Rs 1 lakh
The definition of “bulk deposits” has been increased to Rs 2 crore from Rs 1 crore currently.
The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the abolition of institutions of Ombudsman for income tax and indirect tax.
The office of Income-Tax Ombudsman was set up in 2003 to deal with grievances of public related to the settlement of complaints relating to income tax.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) every year celebrate February 13 as the World Radio Day. World Radio Day 2019 is celebrated to highlight the importance of the radio in its search for a more peaceful and tolerant world.
February 11 marks the birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan. Hakim Ajmal Khan took great interest in the expansion and development of the native system of Unani medicine.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) launched a new portal LADIS – Least Available Depth to aid in ensuring of optimum use of National Waterways.
Ministry of AYUSH launched the e-Aushadhi portal for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs.
The new e-portal, e-Aushadhi is an acronym for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy Automated Drug Help Initiative.
India and Norway signed a letter of Intent for establishing the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative.