Category: All Current Affairs

Madhya Pradesh govt launches revised version of Yuva Swabhiman Yojana

The Kamal Nath-led Madhya Pradesh government has launched a revised version of Yuva Swabhiman Yojana (YSY), with an increased monthly stipend and annual number of working days. The scheme is for unemployed, ensuring 100 days of employment every year to economically weak urban youth at a stipend of Rs 4,000 per month. In the revised version the amount of monthly stipend has been increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 4,000, while the days of employment will be increased to 365 days from 100 days.

Nasscom partners with Japan to bring more startups and tech firms

Industry body National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) have partnered to bring more startups and technology firms in contact with Venture Capitalists and strategic partners from Japan. Three startups have already received funding as part of the first round of interactions held.

Bharti Airtel removed from DGFT blacklist

Bharti Airtel’s name has now been removed from the denied entry list, after it highlighted the relevant details and documents submitted to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The DGFT, which is under the Commerce Ministry, had put the company under the list, commonly known as blacklist, for non-fulfilment of export obligation in respect of certain Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) authorisation issued to it.

Pine Labs launches Paper PoS, merged QR product

Pine Labs, a leading merchant commerce platform, on Wednesday announced the launch of Paper PoS (point of sale) for its merchants, which can be used to accept Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Bharat QR payments through a merged static QR at the point of sale. Merchants can use Paper PoS to accept payments across different kinds of UPI and Bharat QR payments, including Amazon Pay, Google Pay, PayZapp, PhonePe and YONO. Using countertop POS machines, merchants can print a customer charge slip.

Economic survey likely to peg GDP growth at 6-6.5% in 2020-21

India’s economic survey for 2019-20 is likely to peg GDP growth at 6-6.5 per cent in 2020-21. The GDP growth is expected to improve next year due to a series of fiscal measures to revive demand that the government is likely to announce in the Union Budget for 2020-21. GDP growth fell to 4.5 per cent during July-September 2019. The government has estimated the economy to grow by five per cent in 2019-20.

PMAY-G: The objective of ‘Housing for All’ to be achieved by 2022

Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Grameen, Union Government aims to achieve objective of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022. In last 5 years, a total of over 1.5 crore rural houses have been completed. Government has set a target of 60 lakh houses for the current financial year. The eligible beneficiaries will get 1.95 crore houses in the second phase of the scheme, as stated by the Ministry of Finance.

9-Judge Constitution Bench to frame issues about discrimination against women

On February 3, a 9-judge Constitution bench will  frame issues for deliberation in the matter relating to discrimination against women in various religions and at religious places including Kerala’s Sabarimala Temple, as stated by the Supreme Court. The bench will consider issues related to the entry of Muslim women into mosques, female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community and barring of Parsi women, married to non-Parsi men, from the holy fireplace at Agiary.

Pensioners’ life certificates will be collected from their doorstep

Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has taken a landmark step to make life easier for senior citizens to submit their Annual Life Certificate for continued pension. The centre has asked banks to collect annual life certificates of its Pensioners from their doorsteps, saving them from hassles of visiting pension disbursing banks. An amount not more than Rs 60 will be charged for the service. Pensioners are required to give proof of them being alive to banks every year in order to ensure continued pension.

Sanjana Kapoor conferred French honour ‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters’

Sanjana Kapoor received the prestigious French honor of ‘Chevalier dans Ordre des Arts et des Lettres‘ – Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters – for her outstanding contribution to the field of theatre. In 2012, she co-founded Junoon, an organisation dedicated to increasing the reach of theatre and the arts to wider audiences through innovative initiatives.

Franck Riester conferred the symbol of the distinction on Kapoor in a special investiture ceremony on January 28 at the French embassy in New Delhi. Some noted Indian recipients of this honor in the past include Bharti Kher, Shah Rukh Khan, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Aishwarya Rai, Raghu Rai, Ebrahim Alkazi, Habib Tanveer, Upamanyu Chatterjee, Wendell Rodricks, and Aruna Vasudev.