DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: FEBRUARY 20, 2018

NATIONAL

India to host World Environment Day 2018:

India is the global host of 2018 World Environment Day which will take place on June 5, 2018.

With “Beat Plastic Pollution” as the theme for this year’s edition, the world is coming together to combat single-use plastic pollution.

India successfully test-fires Agni-II ballistic missile:

India’s surface-to-surface Agni-II ballistic missile, with a strike range of 2 thousand kilometres was test-fired successfully from the Abdul Kalam Island, off Orissa coast. As part of user trial, the Strategic Forces Command with logistics support from Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out the test.

Odisha

Capital: Bhubaneswar
Chief Minister: Naveen patnaik
Governor: C. Jamir

Shri R.K. Singh inaugurates ‘International R&D Conclave’:

Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri R.K. Singh inaugurated the ‘International R&D Conclave’– two day conference on Emerging Opportunities and Challenges of R&D in Indian Power Sector, organised by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in New Delhi.

In his address inaugural, Shri Singh stressed upon the need of a dedicated R&D department in CEA to coordinate the research in power sector, and asked the concerned departments to make an effort to implement the ideas emerging from this Conference.

PM Modi flags off Palace Queen Humsafar Express in Mysuru:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Palace Queen Humsafar Express train at the Mysuru railway station. The train will run from Mysuru to Udaipur in Rajasthan.

The Prime Minister also dedicated a 140-km long fully electrified railway line from Mysuru to KSR Bengaluru to help the Indian Railways in achieving energy-efficient transport.

The train will connect the five Western Indian states – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Karnataka

Capital: Bengaluru
Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah
Governor: Vajubhai Vala

CABINET APPROVALS (20 FEBRUARY):

The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals

Cabinet approves India-Morocco Cooperation Agreement in Railway Sector
Cabinet approves Agreement between India and Israel on Film Co-production
Cabinet approves New Bill to ban Unregulated Deposit Schemes and Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018
Cabinet approves proposal for Mahanadi Water Disputes – Constitution of a Tribunal under Inter-State River Disputes Act, 1956
Cabinet approves Six Laning of Nidagatta – Mysuru Section of NH-275 in Karnataka
Cabinet approves Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel in Uttarkhand as part of ‘Chardham Mahamarg Pariyojana’

World Congress on Information Technology in Hyderabad:

The city is set to host two mega technology events — Nasscom India Leadership Forum (ILF) and the 22nd edition of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) was held in Hyderabad.

The WCIT is being organised for the time in the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver inaugurate the summit through a video conference.

Telangana

Capital: Hyderabad
Chief Minister: Chandrasekhar rao
Governor: S. L. Narasimhan

National Conference “Agriculture 2022- Doubling Farmers’ Income”:

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) is organizing a National Conference under the title of “Agriculture 2022 – Doubling Farmers’ Income” at National Agriculture Science Complex (NASC), Pusa, New Delhi. It is a two days conference scheduled on 19th and 20th February, 2018. The Conference is being organized on the advice of the Hon’ble Prime Minister with a view to identify various critical issues relating to agriculture and farmers’ welfare and finding appropriate solutions.

INTERNATIONAL

UK, India launch joint research projects on clean water & energy:

The UK- India Joint research projects on Water Quality Research and Energy Demand Reduction in Built Environment were launched in New Delhi.

The projects were jointly launched by NITI Aayog member Dr V K Saraswat, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Ashutosh Sharma and Research Councils UK- India Director Daniel Shah.

The Water Quality Research programme has eight projects and Energy Demand Reduction in Built Environment programme has four projects, with a total joint investment of up to 15 million British Pound.

Currency: Pound sterling
Capital: London
Prime minister: Theresa May

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to attend Canada-India Business Forum in Mumbai:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visited Mumbai as part of his week-long visit to India.

Mr Trudeau is scheduled to attend Canada – India Business Forum at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. He will have separate meetings with business leaders as well as film personalities to explore future opportunities.

To promote Canada-India cooperation on a range of issues, Mr Trudeau will be joined by a delegation of six Canadian ministers, including Canada’s Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers.

Canada

Currency: Canadian dollar
Capital: Ottawa

Saudi Arabia to host first Arab Fashion Week in Riyadh:

Saudi Arabia will debut with its first ever Arab Fashion Week in Riyadh in March this year. The move is another example of the opening up of the country under Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s ambitious transformation programme. The Dubai-based Arab Fashion Council said the fashion week will be held in Riyadh from March 26 to March 31, with a second edition already scheduled for October.

Saudi Arabia

Capital: Riyadh
Currency: Saudi riyal

BANKING & BUSINESS

Amazon becomes first foreign ecommerce firm to enter food retail venture in India:

Amazon has rolled out its own food retailing business in India with a pilot in Pune, becoming the first foreign ecommerce firm to stock and sell food items directly to consumers.

After Fitch, Moody’s places PNB under review for downgrade:

Following the biggest scam in the country’s banking sector to the tune of Rs 11,340 crore at state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB), credit ratings agency Moody’s placed the lender under review for downgrade.

The agency has a Baa3/P-3 rating on the Delhi-based lender now while it has a Baa3 rating on its foreign currency issuer rating. The bank overall has a Baa2 rating with a stable outlook now from Moody’s.

Fitch has placed the bank on ‘Rating Watch Negative’ (RWN). “Fitch Ratings has placed Punjab National Bank’s (PNB) Viability Rating of ‘bb’ on Rating Watch Negative (RWN), following the large fraud reported by PNB,” the US-based agency said.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS

Centre constitutes committee to study Brahmaputra and flood control measures in Assam:

The Centre has constitued a committee headed by the Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog Rajiv Kumar to study the Brahmaputra and flood control measures in Assam and neighbouring states. Assam Water Resource minister Keshab Mahanta has informed this.

AWARDS & HONOR

Milkbasket recognised as ‘Startup of the Year’ 2017:

Milkbasket, India’s first and largest micro-delivery platform has been recognised as ‘Startup of the Year’ 2017 at the 7th Small Business Awards.

The startup of the year award is dedicated to young SMEs, aged 7 years or less, with great potential to become big in local/international markets.

SPORTS

Christian Coleman breaks world indoor record in 60 meters:

Christian Coleman has set up a world record in 60 metres race.

The World silver medallist ran the distance in 6.34 seconds at the US indoor national championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu retains Winter Olympic figure skating gold:

Japanese Yuzuru Hanyu became the first figure skater in 66 years to win back-to-back Winter Olympic gold medals in the men’s singles event as he won Japan’s first gold medal at PyeongChang Games.

Hanyu won the title with 317.85 points, beating compatriot Shoma Uno and multiple world champion Javier Fernandez of Spain to the second and third spots.

North Korea

Currency: won
Capital: Pyongyang
Leader: Kim Jong-un

Sardar Singh back as Indian hockey team captain for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup:

The Hockey India selectors brought back Sardar Singh as captain of an 28-member Indian squad for the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia from March 3-10.

Malaysia

Currency: Malaysian ringgit
Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Alex Blackwell: Australia vice-captain announces retirement

Alex Blackwell, Australia’s most capped female player has announced retirement from all forms of cricket.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Social Justice: February 20

World Social Justice is observed every year on February 20. Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.

2018 theme: Workers on the Move: the Quest for Social Justice

Click here to view February 20th Current Affairs Quiz

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ: FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Click here to know more about February Current Affairs