07 January 2020 - Daily Current Affairs

07 January 2020 - Daily Current Affairs

07 January 2020 - Daily Current Affairs

1. ISRO to set up Human Space Flight Centre in Challakere, Karnataka

  • The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will establish a Massive Human Space Flight Center in the Challakere in Chitradurga district of Karnataka.
  • For this ISRO has proposed 2,700 crores of the infrastructure plan to construct the facility that will become operational in three years.
  • The center aims is to provide training astronauts within the country, which is currently being provided by Russia.
  • Currently, HSP work is split in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram and the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.
  • Apart from all this work, Challakere will also host work related to crew and service modules of the spacecraft that carries the astronauts and up to mission control.
  • The HSFC was formally announced in January 2019 and works from a temporary place at the ISRO Headquarters, Antariksh Bhavan.

Note:

  • Gaganyaan is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft that is intended to send 3 astronauts to space for a minimum of seven days by 2022.
  • If India’s Gaganyaan mission is successful, it will become the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to send humans to space.

2. Amit Shah lays foundation stone of Delhi Cycle Walk project

  • On January 06, 2020, Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of the Delhi Cycle Walk project at Tughlakabad, New Delhi to make the city most walkable and environment-friendly.
  • This 36-kilometer project is the first phase of the Delhi Cycle Walk which will have the whole network of over 220 km. This cycle walk will cover abundant forests, dense residential areas and workplaces in close proximity to the city.
  • The project will be based on green strategies and universal accessibility and security have been given due care in it.
 Source: News on AIR

3. 2020 observed as Year of Mobility by CISF

  • On January 06, 2020, the CISF has decided to observe 2020 as the “Year of Mobility” for the welfare of the troops.
  • It will focus on the construction of residential units and the implementation of welfare measures for the troops.
  • In the year 2020, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will aim at creating the infrastructure for their families.
  • It will also aim at focusing on sports and physical fitness leveraging modern gadgetry.
  • The CISF guard civil airports, nuclear power stations, mines, thermal power stations in the private domain as well.

4. Room ACs to have default temperature setting of 24 degrees Celsius 

  • The Centre has made mandatory the default temperature settings for room air conditioners, of all makes and types, from January 1, which had been formed after consulting with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
  • The 24-degree Celsius default setting has been made mandatory from January 1, 2020, for all room air conditioners covered under the ambit of BEE star-labelling program vide this notification.
  • Additionally, the Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) as per the new standards will range from (3.30 - 5.00) for split and (2.70 - 3.50) for window air conditioners, which will be applicable from 1st January 2021 onwards.
  • This would make it mandatory for all brands and types of star labeled ACs to have 24 degrees Celsius as the default temperature from January 1.

5. NSE Launched AI-Powered Knowledge Hub in New Delhi

  • On January 6, 2020, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has launched an AI-powered learning platform NSE Knowledge Hub in New Delhi.
  • The hub will assist insurance, banking, and financial services. The hub has adopted the latest technology of Artificial Intelligence.
  • Spearheaded by NSE Academy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NSE, the platform seeks to collaborate with organizations in the BFSI industry to enhance the skills of their employees and academic institutions to prepare future-ready talent for the financial services industry.
Note:
  • The technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are two major keys for India to become 1 trillion-dollar economy by 2035.
  • The hub is one such step of the technologies to boost the economy of the country. The learning modules in the hub will help in understanding the stock exchange and its functioning better. It will help in creating an adequate workforce.

State Affairs

6. Zo Kutpui Festival organizing in Mizoram

  • The Mizoram state government will be organizing Zo Kutpui (festival) in at least 10 states across India and countries such as the US, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
  • The first edition of the festival will start on January 9 in Vanghmun in Tripura and will be held over three days.
  • The festival will then move to other states which have a significant Mizo population.
  • The move is an attempt to unify and strengthen the brotherhood among various Mizo tribes living in different parts of the world.
Note:
  • Chief Minister of Mizoram: Zoramthanga
  • Governor: S. Sreedharan Pillai
Source: Business Standard

Conference and Summit

7. 5th Global Drosophila Conference held at Pune

  • On January 06, 2020, the fifth edition of the Asia Pacific Drosophila Research Conference (APDRC5) was held in Pune.
  • The conference was organized in the country for the first time by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER).
  • The last four editions of this conference took place in Taipei, Seoul, Beijing, and Osaka.
  • It is a biennial conference and it aims to promote the interaction of Drosophila researchers in the Asia-Pacific region with their peers in the rest of the world.
  • It brings together scientists from all over the world who use the fruit fly, Drosophila, as a model organism to address basic and applied questions.

8. Kochi to host global meet on the marine ecosystem

  • The third international symposium on marine ecosystems – challenges and opportunities (MECOS-3) is to be held in Kochi from January 7 to 10.
  • Eminent marine scientists, oceanographers, fisheries researchers, and marine biotechnologists from across the globe are expected to participate in it.
  • The symposium will be organized by the Marine Biological Association of India.
  • It will serve as a platform for discussions on a range of topics, including the impact of the climate crisis on marine ecosystems and the unusual warming of the Arabian Sea.
  • The symposium will review concerns of the marine ecosystem and will formulate new strategies for sustainable utilization of marine wealth.
  • The Conference is important because billions of people rely on oceans for their jobs and food. A Healthy ocean is also important for economic growth and food production.

Defence

9. Naval Exercise 'Naseem-Al-Bahr' will be conducted in Goa

  • 12th edition of the Indo-Oman bilateral naval exercise ''Naseem-Al-Bahr' will be conducted in Goa.
  • To participate in it Two ships of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), RNOV Al Rasikh and RNOV Khassab arrived at Mormugao Port on January 06, 2020.
  • Along with these ships, Indian Naval Ships Shubhadra and Beas will also participate in the exercise.
  • Naseem-Al-Bahr' (or sea breeze) naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the RNO, being conducted since 1993.
Note:
  • India and Oman conduct regular biennial exercises between all three services namely army, navy and air force.
  • ”Al Najah” is the army exercise conducted between the countries.
  • “Ex Eastern Bridge” is the Air Force exercise that is held between the countries.

10. Indian Army to sign MoU for AK-203 assault rifles with Russia

  • The Army is likely to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the procurement of over 7.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles from Russia.
  • As per the MoU, around 1 lakh rifles are to be received directly from Russia and the rest will be manufactured in India
  • The rifles will be manufactured at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh by a joint venture (JV) called Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL). Of the JV, 50.5% is to be owned by India and 49.5% by Russia.

Sports

11. Bhubaneswar To Host First Edition of Khelo India University Games

  • The first edition of Khelo India University Games is scheduled to be held at the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar from February 22 to March 1, 2020.
  • The launching ceremony of the event was held in Bhubaneswar on January 06, 2020, where the logo and jersey were unveiled by Union Sports Minister, Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nisank’ and along with the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik.
  • Khelo India University Games will witness over 4,000 athletes from 100 Universities across India vying for top honours in 17 different disciplines namely archery, athletics, boxing, fencing, judo, swimming, weight-lifting, wrestling, badminton, basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, rugby and kabaddi.
Source: NDTV

12. India's Magesh Chandran wins Hastings International chess title

  • Indian Grand Master P Magesh Chandran has won the 95th edition of the prestigious Hastings International Chess Congress in Hastings, England.
  • France's Romain Edouard, who was the only player to end the tournament a half-point behind Chandran, took the second spot.
  • The US-based Chandran posted six wins and secured three draws to take the top spot.
  • The Indian had become a GM in 2006 and moved to the US for higher studies at the University of Texas.

13. Rajnath Singh inaugurates 3-day National Traders Convention in Delhi

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the National Traders Convention in New Delhi.
  • The convention has been organized by the Confederation of All India Traders and will deliberate upon various issues concerning traders.
  • The aim of this convention will be to discuss the role of the trading community in achieving a 5 trillion dollar economy goal. today said NDA government is committed to protect the interests of traders and to promote ease of doing business.

14. Uttar Pradesh becomes 1st state to shortlist migrants for citizenship

  • Uttar Pradesh is all set to become the first state in the country to start the exercise of shortlisting migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, eligible for citizenship under the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
  • The exercise will also identify those who are living illegally in the state.
  • All 75 district magistrates have been asked to track down migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who have settled here for decades, without citizenship.
Note:
  • Chief Minister- Yogi Adityanath
  • Governor- Anandiben Patel

Banking and Economy

15. Indian Bank sings MoU with WEWA to provide credit

  • Public sector lender, Indian Bank has signed an MoU with the Women Entrepreneurs Welfare Association (WEWA), Tamil Nadu, to offer training and credit linkage to women members/entrepreneurs of the association for establishing the business.
  • The bank, which has dedicated products specially designed for women customers, will provide loans to WEWA members at special discounted rates.
  • Training will be given to the WEWA members in the INDSETIs (Indian Bank Self Employment Training Institutes)
  • WEWA aims at adding 1,000 members by 2023 and requested the bank to provide the skill training to their members as per the interest and choice of the members.
Note:
  • Indian Bank MD and CEO: Padmaja Chunduru
  • Headquarters: Chennai
  • Tagline: Your Own Bank

16. Health insurance policy in the name ‘Arogya Sanjeevani’ mandatory for insurance companies: IRDAI

  • The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA) has introduced a standard health cover policy that must be offered by all general and standalone health insurers.
  • As per the guidelines issued by the IRDAI, every general and standalone health insurer should offer a standard health product, the Arogya Sanjeevani Policy, with a minimum sum insured of Rs 1 lakh, with the upper limit of Rs 5 lakh. The policy term will be for one year.
  • The Arogya Sanjeevani policy is a first of its kind standard health insurance product that will help easy availability of health insurance.
  • The minimum entry age will be 18 years with lifelong renewability and there is no exit age.
  • The premium under this product will be the same across India, and no geographic location and pricing will be allowed.
  • The insurers will now come up with product filing to the regulator and will have to offer it from April 1, 2020.
Source: Business Line

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