21st January 2020 Current Affairs
National Affairs
PM Narendra Modi, Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli to jointly inaugurate Jogbani-Biratnagar check post
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepali counterpart KP Sharma Oli will on Tuesday jointly inaugurate the second Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Jogbani-Biratnagar, built with Indian assistance to facilitate trade and people’s movement.
This is the second ICP on the Nepal border. The first was built at the Raxaul-Birgunj border in 2018.Both Prime Ministers will also witness the remarkable progress in Indian government-assisted post-earthquake housing reconstruction projects in Nepal.
The Indian government had committed to building as many as 50,000 houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts, of which 45,000 have already been built.
12th National Tribal Youth Exchange Programme inaugurated in Puducherry
Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Dr Kiran Bedi inaugurated the 12 th National Tribal Youth Exchange Programme in Puducherry. The Nehru Yuva kendra Sangathan National Vice Chairman Vishnu Varadhan Reddy, Puducherry Chief Minister’s Parliament Secretary Lakshmi Narayanan, NYKS State Director Nataraj, Sub-Collector Shashvat Saurabh and other dignitaries participated in the inaugural function. Two hundred youths from Naxal-affected districts of Chattisgarh are taking part in this week-long programme.
The programme has been jointly organized by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and Puducherry Government with a view to ensure development and empowerment of the tribal youths. They will be visiting many places to know about the language, customs, culture, arts, dressing patterns, food pattern and other aspects of Puducherry.
One nation, one ration card’ scheme to be implemented by June 1 across India

‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme will be implemented by June 1, 2020 across the country. The announcement was made by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan. This scheme has been preponed from its original date of June 30, 2020 to June 1, 2020.
On January 1, 2020 the scheme is operational in 12 states across the country which includes Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Tripura, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Shri Y.S. Chowdary release Seismic Microzonation reports for Delhi and Kolkata
The Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan released Seismic microzonation reports for Delhi and Kolkata in New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion, he said
Such scientific endeavours should help us to minimize the impact of earthquakes by (a) Proper assessment of Seismic Hazard (b) Implementation of safe building construction codes, and (c) adopting appropriate land-use planning. The Minister complimented scientists and investigators involved in the Seismic Microzonation of NCT Delhi and the Kolkata Megacities.
About Ministry of Earth Science:
- Founded- 2006
- Headquarters- New Delhi
- Minister- Harsh Vardhan
Fit India Cyclothan Conducted in Panaji,Goa

The Fit India Mission under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized the inaugural event of ‘Fit India Cyclothon’. The Cyclothon was flagged off by Union Minister Kiren Rijju and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant from the Campal Parade Ground in Panaji, Goa.
The event witnessed participation by over 500 cyclists who cycle through a five-kilometer stretch within the panaji city.
3rd edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020: PM Modi interacts with students, teachers in New Delhi

The Prime Minister(PM), Shri Narendra Modi has attended the 3rd edition interaction programme with school students ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020‘ held at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.The purpose of this one-hour long program was to ensure that the students relieve stress and give upcoming board and entrance examinations.
The 1st edition of PM’s Interaction Programme with school and college students “ParikshaPeCharcha 1.0” took place at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 16th February, 2018. The 2nd edition “ParikshaPeCharcha 2.0” was also held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 29th January, 2019.
International Affairs
WEF begins its 50th Annual Meeting in Davos

The 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum begins in Davos, Switzerland. On the Indian side, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will lead the delegation to the WEF. This year programme will focus on achieving the maximum impact on the Forum’s platform for public-private cooperation. This year 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum theme will be “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World”.
The welcome message was followed by the annual crystal awards and this year’s recipients included celebrity film star Deepika Padukone. She has been given the award for her leadership in raising mental health awareness. These awards are given to those cultural leaders, who are improving the state of the world through their contributions to inclusive and sustainable change.
Summits & Conference
Ravi Shankar Prasad to inaugurate second edition of NIC Tech Conclave-2020
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad will inaugurate the second edition of NIC Tech Conclave-2020 in New Delhi tomorrow. The two-day event is being organized by the National Informatics Centre.
This Conclave will contribute immensely to the capacity building of Government officers across the country and help in delivering high-quality citizen-centric services. This year’s theme is Technologies for Next-Gen Governance.
Ranks & Reports
UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects Report 2020
The United Nations has released its annual fylagship report “World Economic Situation and Prospects Report 2020″. The report depicts the state of the world economy through the lens of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Important Points:
- United Nations Headquarters: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945.
- Secretary-General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.
WHO: TB diagnostic test ‘TrueNat’ developed in India has high accuracy
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) Global Tuberculosis Programme has included an Indian Molecular assay (test or analysis) named “TrueNat” as its initial test to identify strain resistance of TB bacteria. The assay has been included in rapid communication document on Molecular Assays of the mentioned global TB programme and has high accuracy.
Important Points:
- Founded- 7 April 1948.
- Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland.
- Director General- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Appointments
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty appointed as the Managing Director of SBI

The Government of India (GOI) has appointed Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the Managing Director (MD) of the State Bank of India (SBI) for a period of three years. He is currently serving as the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of the SBI.
The proposal of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, GOI to appoint Setty as the MD of the SBI is approved by the Appointment Committee of Cabinet (ACC).
Important Points:
- Headquarters– Mumbai
- Chairman– Rajnish Kumar
Banking & Finance
Airtel joins hands with Bharti AXA to provide Rs 179 prepaid plan with life insurance of Rs 2 lakh

Bharti Airtel Limited (also known as Airtel), an Indian global telecommunications services company has partnered with Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Limited to offer Rs 2 lakh insurance cover to Airtel users with every recharge of Rs 179 prepaid bundle. The new plan will be accessible at any Airtel retail store or on Airtel Thanks app.
About Bharati Airtel:
- Founded– 7 July 1995
- Headquarters– New Delhi
- Chairman– Sunil Bharti Mittal
Reserve Bank cancels certificate of authorisation of Vodafone m-pesa

India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) of Vodafone M-pesa Limited, a Payment System Operator (PSO), after it had voluntarily surrendered the authorization. Now Vodafone m-Pesa cannot continue to transact the business of issuance & will no longer have the rights to provide payment facility as a prepaid instrument (PPI).
Important Points:
- Formation– 13 September 2014
- Headquarters– Mumbai ,Maharashtra
Awards
Deepika Padukone received the Crystal Award 2020

The 26th Annual Crystal Award for the year 2020 by the world Economic Forum(WEF) has been awardwd to Deepika Padukone. She was honored for her contribution to the field of mental health.
The Crystal Awards recognizes as well as celebrates the achievements of leading artists and cultural figures whose leadership inspires inclusive and sustainable change.
Acquisitions and Mergers
Zomato acquires Uber Eats business in India

“Zomato” has announced the acquisition of Uber Eats business in India. Uber Eats is an Uber Technologies Inc’s food delivery business in India. The acquisition was done in an all-stock deal. The deals provides Uber with the 9.99% ownership in Zomato after the acquisition.
Important Points:
- CEO of Zomato: Deepinder Goyal.
- CEO of Uber Technologies Inc: Dara Khosrowshahi.
Important Points:
- CEO of Zomato: Deepinder Goyal.
- CEO of Uber Technologies Inc: Dara Khosrowshahi.
Sports Affairs
India beat Pakistan to lift 4th Diplomat Cup Cricket Championship
The team of the Indian Consulate in Dubai defeated the team of the Pakistan Consulate to lift the Diplomat Cup Cricket Championship 2020 on 18 January 2020.The 4th edition of the was participated by the Consulates of eight countries – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan , Bangladesh , Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and the US.
This is the third successive year that India won the Diplomat Cup Championship. The first tournament was won by Bangladesh in January 2017.The event is organized every year by Skyline University College in Sharjah, with the Indian Consulate in Dubai as the permanent patron.
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