Daily Current Affairs 8 February 2020 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
Uttarakhand’s iconic Lakshman Jhula to be replaced by India’s first Glass floor bridge
The Uttarakhand Government has cleared the design of a glass floor suspension bridge, the first of its kind in the country, to be built across Ganga River in Rishikesh as an alternative to the iconic Lakshman Jhula which was closed last year
- The bridge will be built parallel to Lakshman Jhula with a total width of eight metres consisting of two toughened glass floors each with a width of 1.5 metres and as many 2.5-metre asphalt roads in between meant for light motor vehicles like two-wheelers
22nd edition of India International Seafood Show (IISS) 2020 commenced in Kochi, Kerala
A three-day India International Seafood Show (IISS), offering a sea of opportunities for exporters and importers of the countrys marine products held in Kochi, Kerala.
- The 22nd edition of the biennial event is being organised by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA.
Maharashtra registers maximum number of missing women in 2018, MP tops in missing children: NCRB report
According to the NCRB report, the three States where the highest number of women went missing in the three years are Maharashtra, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. In 2016, as many as 28,316 women went missing in Maharashtra, followed by 29,279 in the year 2017, and 33,964 in 2018.
- Mumbai and Pune recorded the highest number of such incidents, with 4,718 and 5,201 women going missing in 2017 and 2018, while in Pune, the number of missing women for the same years was 2,576 and 2,504 respectively.
- In the years 2016-18, a total of 63,407, 63,349 and 67,134 children were reported to be missing across the country. The maximum number of missing children reports were recorded in Maharashtra and West Bengal in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Jammu & Kashmir admin renames PHE & IFC department as ‘Jal Shakti Dept’
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on accorded sanction to renaming of the Public Health Engineering and Irrigation and Flood Control Department as the ‘Jal Shakti Department’.
- The state government accorded sanction to the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and roadmap to achieve 100 per cent coverage of piped water supply by December 2021 across the UT.
Disha Police Station inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh’s Rajamahendravaram
AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy launched the first Disha Police Station in the State in Rajamahendravaram.
- Disha Police Stations are model stations aimed at rendering speedy justice for female victims of Sexual assault (rape), harassment and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
“Drones” to be used for mapping of villages in Madhya Pradesh
In Madhya Pradesh, the state government has decided to use drones for mapping villages. So far, land survey work is being done either manually or with the help of satellite images in Madhya Pradesh.
- “The drone technology will be used for the first time to make maps in the state. 55 thousand villages of the state have been selected for mapping.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Financial closure of Arun-III hydropower project inked b/w India and Nepal
India and Nepal inked financial closure of Nepal’s largest hydropower project, the Arun-III being built with India’s assistance. India has pledged an investment of NPR 100 Billion for the 900 MW mega hydropower project being built in Nepal’s Sankhuwasabha District.
- Everest Bank and NABIL Bank from Nepal agreed to provide debt of 1536 Crore (NPR) for the project whereas five Indian Banks- State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Axim Bank, and UBI have pledged 8598 Crore (NPR) for the same.
Railway Line between India and Bangladesh project to End by 2021
The much-awaited railway line between Agartala to Akhaura in Bangladesh will be completed by September 2021 and the process for acquisition of land and handing it over to the executing agency in both the countries has been completed.
- The 15.6 km-long railway link connects Gangasagar in Bangladesh to Nischintapur in India (10.6 km) and from Nischintapur to Agartala railway station (5.46km).
BANKING & FINANCE
Govt data: $118.3 billion received in remittances since 2018-19
An estimated 13.62 million Indian nationals are staying abroad and $118.3 billion has been received as remittances since April 2018 up to September last year.
- According to the RBI data, during 2018-19, $76.4 billion was received as remittances, while during period 2019-20 (April-September), $41.9 billion was received.
PFRDA increases minimum net worth for pension fund managers to Rs 50 cr
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), the regulator of the National Pension System (NPS), has doubled the minimum net worth criterion for pension fund managers to ₹50 crore from the ₹25 crore stipulated earlier.
- This enhancement in the minimum net worth criterion for pension fund managers will bring pension funds on par with mutual funds which have to meet a minimum net worth requirement of Rs 50 crores as per Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) rules.
APPOINTMENTS
Tidjane Thiam resigns as Credit Suisse CEO
The Zurich-based bank, Credit Suisse said it’s Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam’s resignwd from his post following a spying scandal.
- Thiam would be replaced by Thomas Gottstein, the head of the bank’s Swiss business.
SC appoints C N R Nair to make inventory of ornaments at Sabarimala temple
The Supreme Court Friday appointed retired Kerala High Court judge C N Ramachandaran Nair to prepare an inventory and valuation report of ornaments of Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala temple that are claimed by different sects of the Pandalam Royal family.
AWARDS
Padma Shri awardee Manoj Das to receive Mystic Kalinga Literary Award
Manoj Das, who was recently bestowed with Padma Bhushan for his outstanding contribution to English and Odia literature received Mystic Kalinga Literary Awards-Indian and Global Languages.
- He received the award at the fourth edition of the two-day long Mystic Kalinga Festival (MKF).
President of India Presents International Gandhi Awards for Leprosy
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented the International Gandhi Awards for Leprosy to Dr N.S. Dharmashaktu under the Indian nomination (individual) category and the Leprosy Mission Trust under the institutional category in New Delhi.
- The International Gandhi Awards for Leprosy commemorates the compassion that Mahatma Gandhi possessed and his services towards people with leprosy.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
DoT okays merger of Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has approved the merger of Tata Teleservices’ consumer mobility business with Bharti Airtel, paving the way for the closure of the sector’s last major M&A deal more than two years after it was announced.
- The acquisition expanded Airtel’s spectrum footprint and 4G coverage and its ability to compete with rival Jio.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
IIT-H finds molecule to cure rare ALS neurodegenerative disease
Researchers of the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) have found a molecule called “AIM4” that can help in the treatment of a rare and debilitating neurodegenerative disease called “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis” (ALS) also known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease”.
- ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder that severely affects voluntary movement of muscles and can lead to paralysis and death.
NASA astronaut Christina Koch returns to Earth after record longest stay in ISS
American astronaut Christina Koch, who led the first all-female spacewalk in 2019, landed in Kazakhstan after a record stay on the International Space Station, ending a 328-day mission expected to yield new insights into deep-space travel.
- Christina Koch returned to Earth along with Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and Luca Parmitano of European Space Agency (ESA).
IT department introduced e-calculator to compare due tax under new and old regime
The Income Tax Department launched an e-calculator for individuals to estimate and compare their tax liability under the new tax slabs as compared to the existing regime.
- The calculator, with a comparative table to compare taxes in the old and the new tax regime, for resident individuals (financial year 2020-21) has been hosted on the official e-filing website of the department– https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in.
World’s first bulletproof helmet developed by Indian Army
An Indian Army has developed the world’s first bulletproof helmet which withstands even an AK-47 bullet round from a distance of 10 meters. Earlier, Maj orAnoop Mishra had developed a bulletproof jacket against sniper bullets.
- Besides this, Indian Army’s College of Military Engineering jointly with a private firm has developed India’s first and world’s cheapest gunshot locator. It can locate the exact location of the bullet from distance of 400 meters.
OBITUARIES
Famous cricket journalist & film historian Raju Bharatan passed away at 86
Well known film historian and noted cricket journalist Raju Bharatan passed away following a prolonged illness. He was 86.
- Bharatan was associated with the Illustrated Weekly of India for 42 years.
- He was also a columnist for The Hindu and Sportstar. He was also a popular radio commentator for India’s cricket matches across the globe.