Daily Current Affairs 1st January, 2020

Daily Current Affairs 1 January 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Web portal launched for Delhi-NCR residents to track or block their lost/stolen phones

The government has launched a portal, www.ceir.gov.in, for Delhi-NCR subscribers. It will facilitate requests for blocking of stolen or lost mobile phones by customers, blocking of such mobile phones across various mobile networks, allowing services to other existing customers having mobile phones with the same International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, sharing of traceability data with police authorities, as well as unblocking of recovered phones.

• The initiative was launched in Mumbai in September this year, and has been rolled out for Delhi-NCR now. It will be extended to other parts of the country in 2020.
• The project is backed by the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system, which was undertaken by the telecom department for addressing security, theft and other concerns including reprogramming of mobile handsets.

National children’s science congress held in Kerala

27th National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) was held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It was the first time that the congress was held in Kerala.

• The theme of this edition of science congress was ‘Science, Technology and Innovation for a clean, green and healthy nation’.
• As many as 658 children in age group of 10 to 17 years from across the country, including 25 delegates from Indian school in Middle East countries will participate in the event.

Odisha government launches e-certificate project, first of its kind in country

The Odisha government has launched a unique “people-friendly” project to provide official documents such as income, residence and similar other certificates online without any fees.

• Without visiting government offices, people can now apply for these certificates online under the e-certificate project launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the Revenue and Disaster Management department as part of the 5T model of governance.
• Billed as the first of its kind in the country, the move aims at benefiting over 5 million applicants annually, revolutionising peoples life.

CM Khattar inaugurates canteen for farmers, labourers with low-priced food

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated Atal Kisan Mazdoor canteen, a canteen where farmers and labourers will get food for Rs 10 in Karnal’s New Anaj Mandi.

• It is very pocket friendly as people will get a wholesome diet from the canteen at a price of Rs 10. The food will include four rotis, pulses, vegetables and rice.
• On the occasion, Khattar announced that a similar canteen for sugar mill workers will be started soon.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Christina Koch Sets Record for Longest Spaceflight by a Woman

NASA astronaut Christina Koch set a new record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, eclipsing the record of 288 days set by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson in 2016-17. Koch still has six weeks to go before returning to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). When she arrives back on Earth in February 2020, the Expedition 61 Flight Engineer will have spent more than 300 days in space.

• Koch had earlier made history in her stay aboard the orbital laboratory. In October, she was part of the first all-female spacewalk.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Govt ropes in Flipkart for sale of products made by women self-help groups under DAY-NULM

Products made by women self-help groups formed under the DAY-NULM will now be available on e-commerce platforms as the government has signed an MoU with Flipkart in this regard. The government would also rope in Amazon on January 7  to provide a platform for the online sale of SHGs’ products.

• Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), self-help groups consisting 44 lakh women have been working across the country, a move aimed at making women financially independent.

India may overtake Germany to become fourth-largest economy by 2026: CEBR report

India is expected to become the fourth largest economy by 2026 and the third largest by 2034, according to a report by UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). The CEBR report states that India would surpass Germany to take on the mantle in 2026 and further topple Japan in 2034 to become the third largest economy.

• The report stated that India would achieve its dream of reaching a gross domestic product (GDP) of $5 trillion by 2026. It has pegged the achievement a couple of years after the government’s target.

SPORTS

IOA ends boycott call for 2022 Commonwealth Games

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has withdrawn its boycott call for the 2022 Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham. The decision was taken during its Annual General Meeting held in New Delhi. The cause of the boycott call was exclusion of shooting. IOA also announced that the country will bid to host either the 2026 or the 2030 edition.

APPOINTMENTS

Harjeet Kaur Joshi becomes first woman to helm Shipping Corporation

Harjeet Kaur Joshi has been appointed as the full-time Chairperson and Managing Director of privatisation-bound Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), becoming the first woman to helm the country’s biggest ocean carrier by fleet size.

• Also, the government has decided to sell its 63.75 per cent in SCI, to a private strategic buyer and the stake sale is in process.

Centre appoints Rohan Shah as Governor on ERIA Board

Ministry of Commerce and Industry has appointed Rohan Shah, a practicing counsel at the Supreme Court, as India’s Representative and Governor on the board of Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (“ERIA”).

• The Board of ERIA meets once in every six months in Jakarta and then in Japan.
• ERIA, formed by the Governments of the ASEAN countries, is engaged in research and guidance on policy formulation related to economic integration, cross border trade issues and narrowing development gaps in the ASEAN region.

AWARDS

Amitabh Bachchan receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award from President Ram Nath Kovind

Amitabh Bachchan, who has been conferred this year’s Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 66th National Awards, has received the award. President of India Ram Nath Kovind presented the award to the actor. Amitabh Bachchan is honoured with the award for his outstanding contribution to the film industry.

Sanjay Gupta of ‘Jagran’ to be honoured with Lokmanya Tilak journalism award

Sanjay Gupta, the editor-in-chief of ‘Jagran’, will be honoured with the ‘Lokmanya Tilak National Journalism Award’ for his contribution to the fieid of journalism.

• The award is given to recognise the work of an individual, which he or she has carried out for the larger good of the journalistic field.

Ilaiyaraja selected for Harivarasanam award for 2020

Renowned musician and composer Ilaiyaraja has been selected for this year’s Harivarasanam award. The award comprises a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, citation and a plaque.

• The award has been instituted by the state government and is being given from 2012 onwards.

OBITUARIES

Former DG of Doordarshan Shiv Sharma passes away

Former Director-General of Doordarshan Shiv Sharma has passed away. He was 85. Mr. Sharma was associated with coverage of Asian games in 1982.

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