Focus Merit

Category: All Current Affairs

Urban Co-operative Banks report nearly 1000 frauds worth Rs. 220 cr

January 28, 2020

As per the Reserve Bank of India, Urban Co-operative Banks have reported nearly 1,000 cases of fraud worth more than Rs. 220 crore in the last five fiscals. A total of 181 fraud cases, involving Rs 7 crore were noticed during 2018-19. A total of 99 cases involving Rs 9 crore were reported in 2017-18, while 27 such cases involving Rs 9.3 crore during 2016-17. 187 cases of fraud, involving Rs 3 crore were reported in 2015-16 and 478 such cases involving fraud of Rs 19.8 crore during 2014-15.

NABARD estimates credit potential of Rs 90,000 crore for Odisha for 2020-21

January 28, 2020

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday projected an overall credit potential for Odisha under priority sector at Rs 90,395 crore for 2020-21. The credit potential of the state was estimated in the State Focus Paper for Odisha, released in the credit seminar for 2020-21.

Ot of the total credit potential for priority sector, an amount of Rs 43,282.11 crore has been assessed under agriculture, Rs 40,227.79 crore is estimated under farm credit which comprises both crop and term loans for agriculture and allied activities. Other sectors consisting of export credit, education, housing, renewable energy and social infrastructure have 18.43 per cent share in the total credit potential under priority sector.

Global risk degree of novel coronavirus increases from moderate to high

January 28, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) has increased the global risk degree of the novel coronavirus strain 2019-nCoV from moderate to high. The total number of 2019-nCoV confirmed cases globally has reached 2,014 including 1,985 in China. Indian Embassy is considering all options which includes evacuation of Indians in Wuhan. Hubei has suspended the services for the application of ordinary passports and exit-entry permits for Chinese persons.

Indian Railways to run entirely on electricity by 2024

January 28, 2020

Indian Railways is expected to switch entirely to electricity by 2024, as stated Railways Minister Piyush Goyal. It will be the first railway network in the world to be run fully on electricity. India is also planning to make the entire railway network a ‘net-zero emission network‘ by 2030, it will run on clean energy and clean power.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Modi to attend the National Cadet Corps rally

January 28, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally at the Cariappa Parade ground in New Delhi. Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour and review the March Past by the various NCC contingents. The NCC cadets will present before the Prime Minister a cultural performance and their capabilities in fields of adventure sports, music and performance arts. PM will also distribute awards for the meritorious NCC cadets.

Chhattisgarh: Central Zonal Council meeting to be chaired by Amit Shah

January 28, 2020

Union home minister Amit Shah will chair the 22nd Central Zonal Council Meeting aimed to revisit the strategy on countering the left-wing extremism and the development in the affected region at Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

The chief minister of four states — Chhattisgarh Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be attending the 22nd meeting of the Council. Besides the chief ministers who are members of the Council, at least two ministers from each of the four participating states would be accompanying them.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day held on 27th January

January 28, 2020

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is held on 27th January to commemorate the tragedy of the Holocaust. The tragedy which occurred during the Second World War due to the genocide had resulted in the deaths of 6 million Jews and 11 million others, by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. The theme for 2020 was “75 years after Auschwitz – Holocaust Education and Remembrance for Global Justice”.

Eminent Assamese linguist Dr Golok Chandra Goswami passes away

January 28, 2020

Eminent Assamese scholar, linguist and litterateur Dr Golok Chandra Goswami passed away at his residence in Guwahati. He was 96. He was honoured with the Asam Sahitya Sabha’s ‘Sahityacharya’ title, ‘Bhashacharya’ title by Asom Bhasha Bikash Samiti and ‘Anundoram Borooah Award’ by the Anundoram Barooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture. Dr Goswami was the founder president of Assam Bhasha Bigyan Samiti.

Anti-Submarine warfare corvette INS Kavaratti to be delivered to Indian Navy

January 28, 2020

Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) is set to deliver anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette INS Kavaratti to the Indian Navy. INS Kavaratti is 104th warship constructed by GRSE. Kavaratti is the last of the four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes built by the GRSE for the Indian Navy under Project P28.

Under Project P28, ASW stealth Corvettes delivered to Indian Navy are ‘INS Kamorta’ in July 2014, ‘INS Kadmatt’ in November 2015 and ‘INS Kiltan’ in October 2017.All these four corvettes are named after islands of Lakshadweep and Arabian Sea. Five warships have been delivered to Indian Navy by Defence PSU between March 2019 to December 2019

3rd Global Potato Conclave 2020 begins in Gujarat

January 28, 2020

The 3rd edition of Global Potato Conclave-2020 begins today at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the conclave through video conferencing. The Conclave will provide an opportunity to bring all stakeholders at one common platform. Last two Global Potato Conferences were organized during 1999, and 2008. Gujarat is one of the leading producers of Potato in the country.

Gujarat is holding the No. 1 position in India for last one decade, emerging as a major potato hub in the country. Hence, the Conclave is being held in Gujarat. The Conclave is being organized by Indian Potato Association (IPA) in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, and ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla and International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru. This mega event has three major components; (i) The Potato Conference, (ii) The Agri Expo and (iii) Potato Field Day.