Category: All Current Affairs

Niue announced as world’s first ‘Dark Sky Nation’

March 16, 2020

• The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has recognised Niue as a ‘Dark Sky Place’.
• With this, Niue has become the world’s first whole country to be recognised as a ‘Dark Sky Place’.
• Niue is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean.

39th GST Council meet on ’ Know your Supplier’ ; GST on mobile phones hiked to 18%

March 16, 2020

• On 14 March 2020, several decisions have been taken regarding the Goods and Services Tax (GST) mechanism on particular sections during the 39th GST Council meet in New Delhi led by Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• GST on Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service in respect to aircraft was reduced to 5%from 18% with full ITC (Input Tax Credit).
• Net cash tax liability is came at after deducting the input tax credits available from gross tax liability. GST on mobile phones and specified parts were increased to 18% from 12%.

HIL (India) Limited released Customer Payment Portal

March 16, 2020

• On March 13, 2020 HIL (India) Limited, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, in association with Union Bank of India launched Customer Payment Portal in New Delhi to collect the payment from the customers through various online modes for fast & smooth collection of dues.
• It is introduced to speed up the Government’s vision of ‘Digital India’.
• This portal enables HIL customers to quickly & conveniently pay their outstanding debts from their homes or offices using any debit card, credit card, net banking, UPI or online wallet.

Shardul Thakur appointed as brand ambassador of Tata Power

March 16, 2020

• Indian cricketer Shardul Thakur selected as the brand ambassador of Tata Power, the largest power generation company in India which targets to give uninterrupted power supply from its various plants located across India.
• This is his 1st major commercial endorsement & the campaign featuring him does have a significant presence in digital, radio & outdoors.

National Vaccination Day 2020

March 16, 2020

• National Vaccination Day is celebrated every year on 16th March 2020.
• This day is observed throughout India to spread awareness and the importance of getting timely vaccinations.
• This day was first celebrated in 1995 and the first dose of Oral Polio Vaccine was given in India.
• On March 27, 2014, the World Health Organization(WHO) declared India a polio-free country.

Justice Bansi Lal Bhat got selected as officiating chairperson of NCLAT for 3 months

March 16, 2020

• On March 14, 2020, According to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India (GoI), Justice (Retd.) Bansi Lal Bhat has been selected as the officiating Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) for a period of 3 months with effect from March 15, 2020 or until a regular Chairperson is appointed, whichever is earlier.
• The government has also selected Justice (Retd.) Anant Bijay Singh as a Judicial Member of  NCLAT & Ms. Shreesha Merla and Mr. Alok Srivastava as Technical Members.

RBI revises exposure limits for urban cooperative banks to single, group borrowers

March 16, 2020

• On March 13, 2020, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised exposure limits for urban cooperative banks (UCBs) of tier-1 capital to a single borrower to 15% and a group of borrowers to 25%.
• The revised exposure limits shall be applicable to all types of fresh exposures received by UCBs.
• The RBI had earlier allowed UCBs to have exposures up to 15% and 40% of their capital funds to a single borrower and a group of borrowers, respectively.

Phool Dei festival was observed in Uttarakhand

March 16, 2020

• On March 14, 2020 Uttarakhand Chief Minister (CM) Trivendra Singh Rawat celebrated the traditional harvest festival “Phool Dei”.
• The festival also showcases the inner bonding between the communities who all are residing in the hills.
• It is the harvest festival of Uttarakhand that is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March- April) in the Hindu Calendar.

CRPF inks MoU with Aditya mehta foundation to train its specially-abled troops in areas of cyber security & AI

March 16, 2020

• On March 13, 2020, The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), India’s largest Central Armed Police Force, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF),a non-profit organization which helps people with disabilities to pursue sports, to train its 189 CRPF personnel who had lost their limbs in operations in areas of cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI) and paralympic sports.
• The agreement inked in the presence of CRPF’s Director General (DG) AP Maheshwari, will help create newer opportunities for such personnel to continue as the integral part of the force.

Manipur CM announces CMAST & CMAT scheme to encourage athletes & artists

March 15, 2020

• Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has announced the scheme for the welfare of sportspersons and artists of the State.
• Chief Minister’s Akhannaba Sanaroising gi Tengbang (CMAST) is for the welfare of sportspersons
• Chief Minister Artist Sing gi Tengbang (CMAT) is for the betterment of artists