22. JAN.2019
1. Environmentalist organization says a plastic waste import to India has gone up.
:-A Delhi-based environmentalist organization, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Smriti Manch (PDUSM) reported that in spite of a ban on the import of plastic waste into India, the influx of PET bottles has quadrupled from 2017 to 2018. Indian firms are importing plastic scraps from China, Italy, Japan and Malawi for recycling and the imports of PET bottle scrap & flakes have increased from 12,000 tonnes in FY 16-17 to 48,000 tonnes in FY 17-18 growing at 290%. India has already imported 25,000 MT in the first 3 months of FY 18-19. Government and industry estimates suggest that India consumes about 13 million tonnes of plastic and recycles only about 4 million tonnes.
2. Maharashtra won the Khelo India Youth Games.
:-Khelo India Youth Games 2019 was held at Pune, Maharashtra. Maharashtra won the title and won 85 gold, 62 silver and 81 bronze for a total of 228 medals. Khelo India School Games 2018 trophy was won by Haryana. This year, Haryana won 62 gold, 56 silver and 60 bronze for a total of 178 medals and stood in second place. Delhi stood third by securing 48 gold, 37 silver and 51 bronze, a tally of 136 medals. About Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai Governor: C.Vidyasagar Rao Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis Official language: Marathi
3. Germany banned Iranian airline Mahan Air.
:-Germany banned Iranian airline Mahan Air from its airports, in an escalation of sanctions adopted by the European Union (EU) against Tehran over attacks on opponents in the bloc. The move is to protect Germany’s foreign and security policy interests. Mahan Air, Iran’s second-largest carrier, was blacklisted by the U.S. in 2011, as Washington said the carrier was providing support to an elite unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards known as the Quds Force. The U.S. Treasury has threatened sanctions against countries and companies offering the airline’s aircraft landing rights.
4. ZSI says 19 species of amphibians are critically endangered and 33 species are endangered.
:-As per the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) update on Indian amphibians, 19 species being treated as critically endangered and 33 species as endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Since 2009, the scientists of the ZSI in collaboration with other institutes have been updating the Indian amphibian checklist periodically.
In 2009, the total number of species listed was 284. In 2010 it was 311, in 2011 it was 314, in 2012 and 2013 it was 342, in 2015 it was 384 and in 2017 it was 405 species.
5. CNIL imposed 50 billion euros on Google.
:-CNIL (National Commission on Informatics and Liberty), France’s data watchdog imposed a fine of €50 million ($57 million) on U.S. search giant Google, using the EU’s strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the first time. According to CNIL, these violations are yet to have been rectified by google. Under European Union’s strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies are required to gain the user’s “genuine consent” before collecting their information, which means making consent an explicitly opt-in process that’s easy for people to withdraw. CNIL (National Commission on Informatics and Liberty) National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (CNIL) is France’s data protection regulator? It aims to ensure that data privacy law is applied to the collection, storage, and use of personal data.
23. JAN.2019
6. Tamil Nadu has introduced smart cards for the driving license applicants.
:-Tamil Nadu has launched smart cards in place of printed documents for the driving license applicants and vehicle owners in the city. The smart card, embedded with a computer chip, will have several security features. The smart card system for licenses and vehicle registration was inaugurated by Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar at a function at the Regional Transport Office South Chennai, Thiruvanmiyur. The smart card would be produced according to the specifications issued by the Centre and will have two sections, VIZ (Visual Interpretation Zone) and MRZ (Machine Readable Zone). The smart card has several security features.
7. Maharashtra Cabinet approved the implementation of a Women Safety Initiative scheme.
:-The Maharashtra State Cabinet approved the implementation of a ‘Women Safety Initiative scheme’ at a cost of Rs.252 crore. The initiative comes under the Centre’s Nirbhaya scheme, started in 2013 to enhance women’s safety. The Central government has approved implementation of the scheme under the Safe City Project to curb atrocities against women in public places. This will be implemented in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Chennai, Bengaluru and Ahmadabad. The Centre will spend 60% under the scheme, which works out to Rs.151.20 crore, while Maharashtra will spend 40% or Rs.100.80 crore. The scheme includes enhancing existing CCTV systems and their reach. The funds will be used to initiate SOS hotspots and developing a ‘Track Me’ mobile application, which will be used to send alert messages to known persons in case of emergency. The project also aims to check online abuse of women.
8. Maharashtra State Cabinet approved Rs.100 crore for the construction of a memorial of founder BAL Thackeray.
:-The Maharashtra State Cabinet approved Rs.100 crore for the construction of a memorial of Shiv Sena founder BAL Thackeray. The funds approved will come from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which will undertake the construction of the memorial and will later be refunded by the government. In December, the Cabinet had waived Rs.14.41 crore in stamp duty on the lease agreement for the bungalow. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced in 2015 that the Thackeray memorial will be built at the Mayor Bungalow in Dadar.
9. Svamaan Financial Services launched a microfinance venture.
:-Anushree Jindal founder of Svamaan Financial Services, a micro lender, has launched a microfinance venture, initially in two States, Karnataka and Maharashtra. It aims in expanding into banking services in the future. Svamaan Financial Services recently received Reserve Bank of India’s approval for starting operations, will offer financial products to unbanked and under-banked sections of the population. Initially, the Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) will focus on Karnataka and Maharashtra with plans to enter the eastern markets of Orissa and Chhattisgarh by 2020. Svamaan aims to reach 100,000 customers by 2021.
10. Researchers developed a system producing fuel from Carbon dioxide.
:-Researchers from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea developed a system that can produce electricity and hydrogen fuel from carbon dioxide, the main contributor to global warming. The Hybrid Na-CO2 system can continuously produce electrical energy and hydrogen through efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion with the stable operation for over 1,000 hours. The key to that technology is the easy conversion of chemically stable CO2 molecules to other materials. The new system has solved this problem with CO2 dissolution mechanism
24. JAN.2019
11. Greenland’s melting ice causes sea levels to rise.
:-Researchers warned that Greenland’s melting ice disappeared four times faster in 2013 than in 2003 and is noticeable across the Arctic island, not just on glaciers. Greenland’s melting ice causes sea levels to rise. The report said that 111 cubic kilometers of ice disappeared per year in 2003; 10 years later this figure had almost quadrupled to 428 cubic km. The melting ice observed in the study is caused by rising land temperatures, and in part, the fact that the ice comes into contact with waters that are increasingly warmer. As the atmosphere’s temperature gradually rises, an acceleration of the ice melt can be immediately noticed.
12. Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards for 2017 has been announced.
:-The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards for 2017 have been announced. Nireeswaran by V.J. James has been selected the best novel. Mindaprani, written by Veerankutty, is the best poetry. Aymanam John’s Ethara Characharangalude Charitra Pusthakam has secured the award for the best short story. Pazhavila Rameshan, M.P. Parameswaran, Kunjappa Pattannur, K.G. Paulose, K. Ajitha, and C.L. Jose have been selected for awards for their overall contributions. The awards carry a purse of Rs.30, 000. K.N. Panikker and Attur Ravivarma will be presented with akademi’s fellowships worth Rs.50, 000.
13. Karnataka CM to inaugurate Swami Vivekananda memorial in Belagavi.
:-Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is to inaugurate ‘Vivek Smarak’, the Swami Vivekananda Value Education and Cultural Centre at Belagavi on February 1. Swami Vivekananda had stayed in the house from October 16-18, 1892, before his sojourn to the U.S. Eleven months later; the monk would deliver the historic speech in Parliament of the World Religions in Chicago. The house has been declared a sub-centre of the Ramakrishna Mission. The Centre will be used to train youths in moral values and right conduct. The Centre will have an audiovisual Centre where children can learn about Swami Vivekananda’s life and thoughts while playing games. It will also house a museum with pictures and mannequins in the bedroom and the hall that the preacher stayed.
14. M.R.Ravi to be awarded the State level EC award.
:-The Karnataka Election Commission has selected M.R.Ravi, former Chief Executive Officer of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat for the for a State-level Election Commission award. The award will be presented to him for functioning effectively as the Nodal Officer in the Assembly election process. The award will be presented to him at a function to be attended by Governor Vajubhai R. Vala in the Town Hall in Bengaluru on January 25. Mr. Ravi is now Commissioner for Textile Development and Director of Handlooms and Textiles in Bengaluru.
15. Adani and IOCL to invest Rs.28, 000 crore on Tamil Nadu State.
:-The Adani Group and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) committed a total investment of over Rs.28, 000 crore in the State, on the inaugural day of the Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2019.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd Chief Executive Officer Karan Adani said the group was planning to invest Rs.12, 000 crore in the State across various projects including logistics, industrial park, and city gas distribution. The major part of the investments, about Rs.10, 000 crore, would go towards expanding port capacity. The IOCL made a commitment to invest about Rs.16,641 crore on retail outlet network (petrol bunk), petrol oil & lubricant terminals, LPG infrastructure, lube complex, gas distribution and a gas pipeline, among other projects.
25. JAN.2019
16. IndiGo Airlines appointed Ronojoy Dutta as its new CEO.
:-IndiGo Airlines appointed global aviation professional Ronojoy Dutta as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr. Ronojoy Dutta replaces the former CEO Aditya Ghosh. The place has been vacant after his resignation in April 2018. Mr. Dutta was president of United Airlines, where he worked for nearly twenty years. He has served on the boards of United Airlines, US Airways, and Marsico Trust Funds.
IndiGo airlines: Founded: 2005
Parent company: Interglobe Aviation Ltd
Headquarters: Gurgaon, India
Co-founders: Rakesh Gangwal, Rahul Bhatia
President: Aditya Ghosh
Chairman: M. Damodaran CEO: Ronojoy Dutta
17. South Africa plans to ease travel procedures for Indians.
:-Indian travelers to South Africa have spent 20% more than they did last year, till just mid2018. Representatives from the 2 countries met with the aim of strengthening tourism ties between the two countries. Cordial relations between South Africa and India go way back in time, significantly owing to India’s support to the anti-apartheid movement. The minister said the Indians’ average length of stay went up by 7.7% and total bed nights by 4%. India is one of the top sources of tourism for South Africa. The country plans to improve destination marketing support.
18. TN government plans to unveil a new electronics manufacturing policy.
:-The Tamil Nadu government plans to unveil a new electronics manufacturing policy in February, with the aim of becoming the leader in the sector. The State was working on an electronics manufacturing policy, which was being prepared with inputs from experts. The State is currently the second largest in terms of electronics manufacturing and has huge potential to become No. 1. Uttar Pradesh holds the first position.
19. BMC budget around Rs.33,000 crore to be presented in February.
:-The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra is likely to present a Rs.33, 000 crore budget in the first week of February. However, the civic body is confident it will not have to dig into its fixed deposits (FDs). The projects like coastal road and sewage treatment plants have caused a 21% increase. While no new taxes are likely to be introduced, the BMC is counting on its capital receipts. The health department will get a sizeable chunk of the budget, around 14%, specifically because of the hospital revamp projects. On the other hand, revenue expenditure will also rise marginally because of the Seventh Pay Commission.
20. Talks between U.S. and Taliban have entered 4th day.
:-Negotiations between the Taliban and U.S. officials in Qatar entered a fourth straight day. Washington has been stepping up efforts for a peace deal that could pave the way for the Taliban’s participation in the next government. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry also confirmed that talks were ongoing between the two sides. However, there was no immediate comment from the U.S. Embassy or NATO. The talks come after Mr.Khalilzad spent the weekend in Pakistan, where he met with Prime Minister Imran Khan as part of a regional tour that saw the envoy shuttling between India, China, and Afghanistan.
26. JAN.2019
21. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa to be Chief Guest at R-Day Parade.
:-South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade. He is the second President of South Africa after Nelson Mandela to be the Chief Guest at the parade. President Ramaphosa will be accorded ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan Friday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ramaphosa will hold delegation level talks on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. Both the leaders will also address the India-South Africa Business Forum today with the objective to grow business ties between the two countries. AIR correspondent reports, relations between India and South Africa are age old.
Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi is revered in the African nation as he had an important role in the nonviolent movement in South Africa. India was at the forefront of the international community in its support to the anti-apartheid movement there. India is among the top five trading partners of South Africa. Both countries have close cooperation in the areas of vocational training and capacity building.
22. President Ram Nath Kovind to address nation on 70th Republic Day.
:-President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation today on the eve of the 70th Republic Day. The address will be broadcast from 7 PM on the entire national network of All India Radio and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version. AIR will broadcast regional language versions from 9:30 PM onwards on its respective regional networks.
23. Sahitya Akademi Award Winning Bengali Writer Atin Bandyopadhyay Passes Away.
:-Sahitya Akademi award winning Bengali writer Atin Bandyopadhyay passed away of brain stroke. Bandyopadhyay, who was 85 was born in Dhaka in then undivided Bengal and had taken up various jobs as a sailor, school teacher, factory manager, journalist to finally became a writer. Winner of 2001 Sahitya Akademi award for his compilation of short stories Panchayati Galpo, Bandyopadhyay had also penned popular fiction pieces like Nilkantha Pakhir Khonje, Aloukik Jaljaan, Nil Timi, Ekti Jaler Rekha in his illustrious career spanning over decades.
24. Johan Botha Announces Retirement From Cricket.
:-Former South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha announced his immediate retirement from all forms of Cricket. Botha played for South Africa in 5 test matches, 78 one-day internationals, and 40 T20 Internationals from 2005 to 2012. Botha captained the Proteas in 10 ODIs and took the team to the No. 1 ranking after they defeated Australia 4-1 in Australia in 2009. He captained South Africa in 21 matches across ODI and T20I cricket for 16 victories between 2008 and 2012. He moved to Australia to play for South Australia, captained the Redbacks in Australian domestic cricket and became an Australian citizen in 2016.
25. Bihar to provide land to service sector industries.
:-The department decided to provide land to the service sector entities as well to boost investments in the state. The event was organized by Bihar Foundation, in association with state industries department and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Over 200 crore of investment has already been made in the food processing sector in the state. Business mechanisms and international policies of different countries can be used to enrich the entrepreneurship structure in Bihar. Members of 10 different chapters of the foundation from abroad and eight chapters from across the country participated in the event.
27.JAN.2019
26. Jnanpith Winning Hindi Writer Krishna Sobti Passes Away.
:-Eminent Hindi author and essayist Krishna Sobti passed away in Delhi. She was 93. She was a recipient of many coveted awards like Sahitya Akademi, Jnanpith awards and was also offered Padma Bhushan, which she had declined. Some of her celebrated works include Daar Se Bichhudi, Mitro Marjani, Zindaginama, and Dil-o-Danish, Badalom ke Ghere, Ai Ladki and Gujarat Pakistan Se Gujarat Hindustan.
27. IPS officer Aparna Kumar completes South Pole expedition.
:-Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Aparna Kumar who is on deputation to Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) becomes the first woman Indian Police Service the South Pole is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and is at the centre of the Southern Hemisphere. It is situated on the continent. The temperature there ranges from minus 37 degrees to minus 48 degrees. As a result of this harsh climate, there are no native resident plants or animals. The expedition began from Chile. IPS officer Aparna Kumar began her journey with a team of seven members and two guides.
28. Amul Camel Milk launched in Gujarat.
:-The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF) has launched Amul Camel Milk in selected markets of Gandhinagar, Ahmadabad and Kutch. The camel milk offers a wide range of benefits such as: Camel milk assists healthy bacteria growth in the gut making it easy to digest. Camel milk assists healthy bacteria growth in the gut making it easy to digest and it also improves gastrointestinal health and systemic immunity. Rich in Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Camel Milk can provide 70% of the recommended daily value per serving. Camel Milk is rich in calcium which helps to build.
29. RBI approved Ravneet Gill as Yes Bank MD & CEO.
:-The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Ravneet Gill as the MD & CEO of private sector lender Yes Bank. It also said that Mr. Gill must join the bank before March 1, 2019. Mr. Gill is currently the India chief of foreign lender Deutsche Bank. If any private bank is appointing Directors or CEOs it should get approval from the Reserve Bank of India.
The RBI has set the age limit for the MD and CEO as 70 years.
Yes Bank: Founded: 2004
Type: Banking,
Financial Services Founder: Rana Kapoor, Ashok Kapur
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Non-Exe Chairman: Brahm Dutt
MD & CEO: Rana Kapoor
30. Karnataka State demands Rs.2 lakh for the victims of Sulwadi temple poisoning.
:-Karnataka State BJP president and former Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa said that the victims of Sulwadi temple poisoning would receive Rs.2 lakh as compensation from the Centre.
The State has also sought funds from the Centre to rehabilitate the victims of the Sulwadi temple Prasad poisoning case in which 17 people died and scores were hospitalized.
28.JAN.2019
31. Telangana govt. to provide app to tackle sewer blockage.
:-Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has proposed the State government to provide a mobile app to drivers of the mini jetting machines to tackle sewer blockage complaints in a speedy manner and give easy access to the machines.
The app will be integrated with the complaints module of the Water Board. It will show the complaints registered under the mini jetting machines jurisdiction.
With the help of complaint details, the driver will be able to know the route map of the locations where the complaint is pending. After attending the complaint, geo-tagged photographs will be captured and the complaint will automatically be closed in the system.
32. Aditya Jagtap won his third PSA title.
:-Aditya Jagtap won his third Professional Squash Association (PSA) title in the Bourbon Trail Challenger Tour squash at Chattanooga, USA.
He defeated Andrew Schnell of Canada and secured 12-10, 4-11, 7-11, 11-8, and 11-6.
Aditya, ranked 120th, got past the early rounds with ease before facing third seed, Schnell. The triumph should help him move into the top 100.
Professional Squash Association (PSA):
Founded: 1975
Location: England,
UK President: Ali Farag (for Men), Jenny Duncalf (for Women)
Chairman: Ziad Al-Turki
PSA is the governing body for the men's and women's professional squash circuit Over 800 players from all the 5 continents
33. IMD announced cold waves in Himachal Pradesh.
:-India Meteorological Department said that the Cold wave conditions continue in Himachal Pradesh. The prominent tourist destinations have reduced to below freezing temperatures. The minimum temperature in Manali was minus 5 degrees Celsius, followed by minus 4.2 in Kufri, minus 1.5 in Dalhousie and minus 0.2 deg C in Shimla.
India Meteorological Department
Formed on: 1875 Headquarters: New Delhi
Functions under: Ministry of Earth Sciences
Minister responsible: Harsh Vardhan
Director General: K.J. Ramesh
34. Cabinet to approve relief package for farmers.
:-The Union Cabinet is to approve a relief package for farmers grappling with falling prices and to tackle distress in the farm sector. The relief package is seen as an attempt to assuage the farming community’s discontent ahead of the general elections.
The Agriculture Ministry has recommended several options to provide both short and longterm solutions to address agrarian distress. It has also proposed is waiving interest on crop loans for farmers who pay on time, which will cost an additional Rs.15, 000 crore to the exchequer. There is also a proposal to completely waive premium for insurance on food crops.
The Centre is also evaluating the scheme followed by the Telangana and Odisha governments wherein a fixed amount is transferred directly into the bank account of farmers.
35. VPT meets its total energy requirement from solar power.
:-The Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT), the only major port in India, has met its total energy requirement from solar power generated by its captive plant.
It has achieved the incremental growth during the current fiscal year three months ahead of the schedule. Now, the VPT is generating 17 million units of power per annum. After meeting the requirement of the port and its BOT operators it is selling the surplus to the Andhra Pradesh State.
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