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The South Central Railway zone signs MoU with SBI for “doorstep banking”

January 17, 2020

The South Central Railway (SCR) zone of Indian Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with State Bank of India for “doorstep banking” that will enable direct collection of earnings. The MoU will coverall the 585 railway stations of the zone. The MOU was signed on January 13, 2020 by the SCR zone and the SBI officials in Secunderabad.

According to the MOU, the direct pick up of cash from all the railway stations under the SCR zone dispenses with the complex as well as tedious step of movement of cash earnings through the ‘cash safes’ by trains. This doorstep banking system will allow an easier and hassle free collection of traffic earnings by the SBI and will also allow remittance into the government account, by avoiding delay in transmission of the cash earnings.

IIM-Indore partners with TikTok for management lessons

January 17, 2020

The Indian Institute of Management, Indore has signed an MoU with the video sharing platform “TikTok“. The MoU will facilitate the production of short video modules for students and trained professionals.

These videos will be catered to the existing student demographic of IIM Indore, facilitating management courses at the institute. These include professionals working in managerial positions, entrepreneurs as well as government officials.

Since Tik Tok is a social media platform that is quite popular among the youth, this novel approach to imparting management education by one of the top B-Schools in India can be seen as a smart move. It is a good step towards modernising education and making it more accessible.

World Bank and GoI Sign $88 million loan agreement for AIWTP

January 17, 2020

The Government of India, the Government of Assam and the World Bank signed a loan agreement of $88 million here today to help modernize Assam’s passenger ferry sector that runs on its rivers including the mighty Brahmaputra. The Assam Inland Water Transport Project (AIWTP) will help Assam improve the passenger ferry infrastructure and its services and strengthen the capacity of the institutions running the inland water transport.

The government ferries are operated by the Assam Shipping Company (ASC) while the terminals and terminal services are provided by the Assam Ports Company (APC) in the state of Assam. A majority of Assam’s more than 361 ferry routes cross the Brahmaputra or serve its islands, providing a crucial means of transport to thousands of commuters in both the urban and rural areas of the Brahmaputra Valley.

The loan agreement was signed by Shri Khare, on behalf of Government of India and Mr Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Country Director (India), World Bank on behalf of the World Bank. Whereas, the Project Agreement was signed by Shri Adil Rashid, Commissioner (Assam Transport) and State Project Director on behalf of Government of Assam and Mr Kamal Ahmad on behalf of the World Bank.

Henley Passport Index 2020: India ranks 84th, Japan told

January 17, 2020

Henley Passport Index 2020 recently released the rankings of the world’s most powerful passports. The rankings of these passports are based on data collected from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The list included passports of 199 countries and 227 tourist places. This list has been prepared based on new visa policies. The list included the most powerful and weakest passport of the world.

Japan has topped the Index for third consecutive year followed by Singapore, Germany, and South Korea. The Indian passport ranked 84th, along with Tajikistan and Mauritania. The top 10 most powerful passports for 2020 are Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Finland, Spain, USA and UK, Luxembourg, Denmark. Afghanistan is among the world’s worst passports.

Rajnath Singh flags off 51st K9 VAJRA-T at L&T Gujarat

January 17, 2020

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Armoured System Complex at Hazira in Gujarat. The gun weighs 50 tonnes and can fire 47-kilogram bombs at targets up to a distance of 43 kilometres.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Rajnath Singh called for an active participation of the private sector in defence manufacturing, reaffirming the government’s commitment to make India an arms manufacturing hub and net defence exporter.

Rajnath Singh assured that the government will make all efforts to remove any roadblock and work together to achieve the goal of indigenisation and self-reliance in defence sector.

India to host 19th SCO Heads of Government meeting 2020

January 17, 2020

The 19th council of heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be hosted by India later this year. This would be the first high-level meeting of the SCO that would be organised here since India’s admission to the eight-member grouping. The SCO Heads of Government meeting will be held in India in the second half in autumn.

SCO General Secretary Vladimir Norov, who arrived on Sunday on a four-day trip, made the announcement on the sidelines of an event. India took over the presidency of the heads of government’ meeting last year and it was announced in the 18th meeting of the SCO’s Council of heads of government-held in Tashkent in 2019.

1st edition of Krishi Manthan begins in Gujarat

January 17, 2020

The first edition of Krishi Manthan– the largest Food, Agri-business and Rural Development Summit of Asia begins in Gujarat. The summit is organized by Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

More than 1,500 delegates including students and academicians are participating in the two-day event organized by the Food and Agribusiness Committee of IIMA. It is an exclusive platform for industry, academia, and policymakers to share ideas, knowledge, and expertise to create solutions.

Eminent speakers like the founder of Honey Bee Network, SRISTI, NIF and GIAN Padma Prof. Anil Gupta, IIMA Professor in Production and Quantitative Methods Chetan Soman, Founder of 24 Mantra Organic Rajashekhar Reddy Seelam, former Executive Vice President of Mahindra Agri Solutions attended the summit.

Microsoft promises to be ‘carbon negative’ by 2030

January 17, 2020

Microsoft announced ambitious new plans to become ‘carbon negative’ by 2030 and then go one step further and remove by 2050 all the carbon it has emitted since the company was founded in 1975. Microsoft has also announced its investment of $1 billion in a “climate innovation fund” for technology for carbon capture and removal.

The focus on taking the enormous step of clearing all the carbon it has contributed in the last 45 years sets the tech giant apart from other companies that have focused on reducing their current and future emissions. Ikea pledged to go carbon negative as well, but it did not commit to removing all the carbon it is responsible for in its history, according to NPR.

Microsoft created a detailed plan to take gradual steps over the next decade to reach net-zero emissions by overhauling its entire supply chain to reduce emissions. The company already asks employees to consider greenhouse gas emissions in all its business decision. Microsoft’s plan includes using 100 percent renewable energy and relying on electric vehicles.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk submits resignation

January 18, 2020

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk has submitted a letter of resignation and President Volodymur Zelenskiy will consider it, the presidential office said on Friday. Oleksiy Honcharuk has been the Prime Minister of Ukraine since 29 August 2019 becoming the youngest-ever head of government at the age of 35.

Piyush Goyal to lead Indian delegation to WEF 2020 in Davos

January 18, 2020

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will lead the Indian delegation to the 50th World Economic Forum at Davos from January 20 to 24. Goyal will also participate in an informal WTO Ministerial gathering being held in Davos during this period. The theme of the World Economic Forum’s meeting this year is ‘Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World’.

The union minister will hold bilateral meetings with ministers of Australia, South Africa, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Korea and Singapore. He will also meet Director General of World Trade Organization and Secretary General of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Apart from this, Goyal will hold bilateral meetings with CEOs of companies, attend WEF sessions and round tables on ‘Accelerating Investments in Indian Railways‘ and attracting Global Institutional Investments in India.

The minister will participate in the WEF along with Union Minister of State for Shipping and Chemical and Fertilizers, Mansukh L Mandaviya; and Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh; Finance Minister of Punjab and the IT Minister of Telangana.

Kerala: Sports awards announced, Muhammad Anas wins GV Raja award

January 18, 2020

The sports awards was announced by Kerala Sports Minister E P Jayarajan. The award is instituted by Kerala State Sports Council with Indian sprinter Muhammad Anas winning GV Raja award (Male) for athletics. Anas had won silver for India in the 400-meter race at Jakarta Asian games.

P C Thulasi was announced the winner for GV Raja award in the female category which carries prize money of Rs 3 lakh and a citation. Athletics coach, T P Ouseph will be conferred with Olympian Suresh Babu lifetime achievement award which carries a prize of Rs 2 lakh and a citation. Football coach Satheevan Balan of the Kerala State Sports council clinched the award for the best sports trainer.

The Sports Minister also announced awards for meritorious sportspersons in different categories that included school and college level students. Singer Suman & Music Director Kuldeep to get MP’s Mangeshkar Award. They have been chosen for this award for their contribution in the field of music and will be awarded in February 2020 at an event in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Senior journalist and former parliamentarian Ashwini Chopra passes away

January 18, 2020

Senior journalist and former BJP MP Ashwini Kumar Chopra passed away at a hospital in Gurugram after a prolonged illness. He was 63. He was suffering from terminal cancer and had been admitted to Medanta Hospital about three weeks ago.

The media baron-turned journalist was elected as an MP from Karnal, Haryana, in 2014. He was the editor of Punjab Kesari, Delhi. Popularly known as ‘Minna’, he was a promising cricketer in his youth.

NITI Aayog and Ladakh UT sign MoU to develop infrastructure projects

January 18, 2020

NITI Aayog entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union Territory of Ladakh administration on 17 January 2020. The MoU NITI Aayog will be supporting the UT’s administration through its crucial initiative Development Support Services to States for Infrastructure Projects (D3S-i).

The MoU executed in the presence of NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and Joint Secretary MC Jauhari. It will be signed by NITI Aayog Senior Adviser Dr. Yogesh Suri and Adviser to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Umang Narula.

NITI Aayog committed to assist the UT’s administration in creating a strategic plan for identifying prioritized infrastructure projects and by providing end-to-end transaction-management support for the identified projects.

Sania Mirza wins WTA doubles title with partner Nadiia Kichenok

January 18, 2020

Sania Mirza lifted the WTA Hobart International trophy at Hobart, Australia with partner Nadiia Kichenok after edging out Shaui Peng and Shuai Zhang in the final. The unseeded Indo-Ukrainian pair pipped the second seed Chinese team 6-4 6-4 in one hour 21 minutes.

It is Sania’s 42nd WTA doubles title and first since Brisbane International trophy in 2007 with American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Sania did not compete on the WTA circuit in the entire 2018 and 2019 seasons to start a family with Pakistani cricketer husband Shoaib Malik.

Russia to deliver five S-400 air defence systems by 2025

January 18, 2020

Russia has started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India. All five units will be delivered to India by 2025. The S-400 air defence missile systems are among the best in the world and it would serve well for Indian security.

India signed a USD 43-billion deal with Russia for the purchase of five S-400 systems during the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in New Delhi on October 5, 2018, for long-term security needs.

3rd North Zone Conference of Media Units held in Jammu

January 18, 2020

The 3rd edition of North Zone Conference’ of Media Units of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, is being held in Jammu. The two-day Conference is organised by the Regional Outreach Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir region.

Joint Secretary Vikram Sahay asked the IIS officers to work in coordination and effectively promote programmes and policies of the Union Government. He stressed upon the young officers to learn and disseminate information in regional languages.

Nityanand Rai inaugurates Conference on Census 2021 in New Dekhi

January 18, 2020

A Conference of the Chief Secretaries and Administrator State and Union Territories on Census 2021 and updating of National Population Register, NPR was held in New Delhi. The conference was inaugurated by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. He also inaugurated the Official Mascot for Census 2021.

The data collected in the Census helps in framing policies for the welfare of the people of the country. Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla remarked on the vastness of this exercise and involvement of the State functionaries. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Dr Vivek Joshi made a brief presentation on the Strategy for Census 2021.

Bapu Nadkarni, former India all-rounder passes away

January 18, 2020

Former India legendary all-rounder, Bapu Nadkarni died on Friday following an old-age related illness at age 86. He played 41 Test matches for India in which he scored 1414 runs and grabbed 88 wickets with 6/43 as his best bowling figures. He was best known for his parsimonious left-arm spin bowling and ability to get maiden overs at will, including 21 consecutive ones against England in a Test match in Madras (Chennai).

Khagendra Thapa Magar, ‘World’s shortest man’ passes away

January 18, 2020

27-year-old Khagendra Thapa Magar, the world’s shortest man who could walk, passed away in Nepal. He was born on 14 October 1992. He stood at 67.08 cm (2 ft 2.41 in) tall and was declared the shortest man alive by Guinness World Records (GWR) in 2010 after turning 18. He made his first appearance in the GWR 2011 book, alongside Jyoti Amge, the shortest teenager (female) living.

‘Apna Urea – Sona Ugle’ launched by Union Minister of Fertilizers

January 18, 2020

Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda unveiled the logo and brand ‘Apna Urea Sona Ugle‘ of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Ltd (HURL) at a function in New Delhi. HURL is Joint Venture Company promoted by the three Maha Ratna Companies – Coal India Limited, NTPC Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

With the objective of making the country self-reliant in Urea, Government had approved the revival of three sick Urea plants located at Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni, which have been undertaken by HURL. The  other two plants at Ramagundam and Talcher will also commence production soon. The  country is importing 70 to 80 Lakh metric tonne of fertilizer every year.

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