International news
Dhaka International Film Festival
- The Rainbow Film Festival organises the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) since 1992 with support from Bangladesh government and many other organizations including the High Commission of India, Dhaka.
- The theme of DIFF 2020 was ‘better film, better audience, better society’.
National news
E-com Platform Launched for Real Estate Sector
- The online platform is for projects that have received occupancy certificates (OCs) and is expected to create a safe and transparent home-buying experience for home buyers.
- Buyers will be able to view complete listing info including floor plans, room dimensions, video tours of units and external views looking out from windows/balconies.
Fuel Conservation Mega Campaign: Saksham
- As per the recent data, India's share of primary energy demand is set to double to 11% by 2040.
- The one-month long annual event “Saksham” aims at creating mass awareness among the public about conventional fuel conservation.
Z Morh Tunnel
- The project includes construction, operation and maintenance of the tunnel with approaches on NH-1 at Srinagar-Sonmarg-Gumri Road.
- The tunnel remains closed during the winters due to heavy snowfall in Gagenger area.
Pulse Polio Programme for 2020
- Pulse Polio is an immunisation campaign which was established by the government of India to eliminate poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis caused by the poliovirus.
- The disease leads to muscle weakness and inability to move among people and spreads easily from person to person.
Mission Organic Development Initiative (MODI)
- The week-long tour of 25 progressive farmers is done under Mission Organic Development Initiative (MODI) programme.
- Under the programme, the entire Leh district of the Union Territory is targeted to achieve Organic farming by 2025.
ICP Biratnagar
- Jobgani-Biratnagar international trade point is one of the important trade points between India and Nepal that share over 1,850 kilometre- long border with each other.
- Biratnagar is also the third-largest Revenue Collecting Customs Office of Nepal.
Banking
RBI Issued New Rules for Debit and Credit Card
- Customers will have to separately set up services on their card for international transactions, online transactions, card-not-present transactions and contactless transactions.
- The new rules will be applicable for new cards issued by the banks from 16th March 2020.
IBBI amended Voluntary Liquidation Process Regulations
- IBBI notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Voluntary Liquidation Process) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 on 15th January. 2020.
- It also provides a process for a stakeholder to seek withdrawal from the Corporate Voluntary Liquidation Account.
Appointments
| Name of the Person | Designation |
| Michael Debabrata Patra | Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
Important Days
| Date | Day | Theme |
| 15th January 2020 | 72nd Army Day | To commemorate the day when General KM Carriappa took over the command of Army and became the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army after Independence. |
| 18th January 2020 | 15th Raising Day | To lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management. |
MoU’s Signed
Bru-Reang Refugees
- The agreement was signed with stakeholders from the State of Tripura, Mizoram and members of the Bru community.
- As per the agreement, over 30 thousand Bru refugees will be settled in Tripura.
GOI signed $88 Million Loan Agreement with World Bank
- The loan agreement has been signed for the implementation of Assam Inland Water Transport Project to help modernize Assam’s passenger ferry sector that runs on its rivers including the mighty Brahmaputra.
- The loan of $88 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a final maturity of 14.5 years including a grace period of five years.
Government Schemes
APNA UREA – SonaUgle
- HURL is Joint Venture Company promoted by the three Maha Ratna Companies - Coal India Limited, NTPC Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
- The Government approved in 2016 the revival of three sick Urea plants located at Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni.
Defence
Exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’
- It is being witnessed by the Director-General of Indian Coast Guard Krishnaswamy Natarajan and Admiral Takahiro Okushima, Commandant, Japan Coast Guard.
- The Exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’ is aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and mutual understanding between the two Coast Guards and enhance interoperability in communication and Search and Rescue procedures and sharing of best practices.
51st K9 Vajra-T Guns
- The gun weighs 50 tonnes and can fire 47-kilogram bombs at targets up to a distance of 43 kilometres.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated L&T’s Armoured System Complex at Hazira in Surat to the nation in January 2019.
IAF Induced First Squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI Aircraft
- The squadron will initially consist of four to six Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters and is expected to reach its full complement of 18 aircraft by the end of 2020.
- The newly reinstated 222-squadron, also known as the Tigersharks, would serve as a lethal weapons platform capable of carrying both aerial and maritime roles in the Indian Ocean Region.
Science and Technology
GSAT-30 Satellite
- The GSAT-30 is a communication satellite of India and will be launched onboard Ariane-5 launch vehicle (VA 251).
- The satellite weighs 3357 kg and has a mission life of more than 15 years.
Novel Corona Virus (nCoV)
- The out-brake of the virus has reported 41 confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus (nCoV) including one death from Wuhan, China on 5th January 2020.
- According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the preliminary investigations suggest a link to the seafood market.
K-4 Ballistic Missile
- The K-4 ballistic missile is a 3,500-kilometre range nuclear capable missile that can be launched from a submarine.
- The missile was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Summits and Conferences
Renewable Energy Investors’ Meet
- The objective of the Investors’ Meet was to disseminate information about the opportunities available under renewable energy in Indian Railways.
- This meet was supported under the Power Sector Reforms Programme, as a part of cooperation agreed in the MoU signed between UK’s DFID and Indian Railways on 2nd December 2019.
ELECRAMA 2020
- It is also a stage where all global leaders can meet and share their ideas to develop cost effective solutions for the world.
- ELECRAMA is the largest congregation of power sector ecosystem in the geography.
50th World Economic Forum
- The theme emphasizes Forum Founder Klaus Schwab's idea that managers have a duty to customers, suppliers and the wider economy, not just dividend-hungry shareholders.
- Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal will lead the Indian delegation at WEF 2020.
2nd Edition of NIC Tech Conclave-2020
- The theme for this year Conclave is “Technologies for Next-Gen Governance”.
- The two-day event is being organized by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
