NATIONAL NEWS
GST On Haj Reduced From 18% To 5%
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that GST on Haj has been reduced from 18 per cent to 5 per cent and this will significantly lower the air fare thus saving Haj pilgrims’ 113 crore rupees this year. He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a new conference hall and passport section at the Haj House in Mumbai.
- He said this for the first time since the independence that 2,340 women from India will go on 2019 Haj without Mehram.
Country's second tulip garden to be built in Uttarakhand
The government of Uttarakhand has obtained the permission to develop the tulip garden over 50 hectares of forest land in Pithoragarh district at a cost of Rs 50 crore. It will be the second Tulip garden in the country after the one located in Srinagar of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The Tulip Garden will be developed by ONGC, under its corporate social responsibility programme in over 50 hectares of forest land near Chandak hilltop.
- The site was selected under the 13 districts, 13 new destinations’ scheme, to attract more tourists to the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
India's 1st Geographical Indication Store opened in Goa
Union Civil Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated India's 1st Geographical Indication store at Goa International Airport in Dabolim. The store is located on the first floor on Departure Terminal, and jointly set up by Airports Authority of India and The Cashew Export Promotional Council of India.
- The Union Minister informed that currently there are 270 GI registered products in the country and the store will be a boon for the global tourists.
- Extra info.:
Airports Authority of India Headquarters: New Delhi
Odisha CM announces Jiban Samparka Project
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced "Jiban Sampark" project in partnership with UNICEF India to generate awareness about the development and welfare initiatives of state government among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of the state. He inaugurated the annual tribal fair popularly known as "Adivasi Mela" on Republic Day.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Pakistan appoints first ever female Hindu civil judge
Pakistan has appointed the country's first ever Hindu female civil judge after she passed an examination for induction of judicial officers. Suman Kumari, who hails from Qambar-Shahdadkot in Sindh province, will serve in her native district.
- Kumari passed her LL.B. examination from Hyderabad and did her masters in law from Karachi's Szabist University.
UAE, Saudi central banks launch common digital currency called 'Aber'
The central banks of the UAE and Saudi Arabia have launched a common digital currency called "Aber", which will be used in financial settlements between the two countries through Blockchains and Distributed Ledgers technologies.
- Through this digital currency, both the United Arab Emirates Central Bank (UAECB) and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) are studying the impact on the improvement and reduction of remittance costs and the assessments of risks.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
India replaces Japan to become the 2nd top steel producer in the world
India has replaced Japan as world's second largest steel producing country, while China is the largest producer of crude steel accounting for more than 51 per cent of production, according to World Steel Association (worldsteel).
- India's crude steel production in 2018 was at 106.5 MT, up by 4.9 per cent from 101.5 MT in 2017. World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the industry associations in the world.
SPORTS
Rayudu banned from bowling in international cricket
India's Ambati Rayudu has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after the part-timer's action was reported during the first ODI against Australia earlier this month.
- The 33-year-old India player was reported for a suspect action during the first ODI of the three-match series against Australia in Sydney.
AWARDS
ICAR's 'Kisan Gandhi' tableau wins first prize at R-Day
The ICAR tableau in the Republic Day Parade has won the first prize for its Kisan Gandhi theme. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research tableau with the theme "Mishrit Kheti, Khushiyon Ki Kheti" portrayed Gandhi with goats and a cow and Kasturba engaged with charkha and caring animals. The tableau showcased a view from Bapu Kuti at Wardha Ashram. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave away the prizes.
- Tripura bagged the first prize for the state tableau while tableau from Jammu and Kashmir was adjudged the second and Punjab won the third prize. The theme of Tripura's tableau was 'Empowering Rural Economy the Gandhian Way'.
- A total of 22 tableaux were displayed on the 70th Republic Day parade. Of which, 16 were from States and Union Territories, six from various central ministries and departments.
OBITUARIES
Ex-Union Minister George Fernandes passes away at 88
Former Defence Minister George Fernandes, long-time socialist and a trade unionist, who fought the Congress all his life passed away after prolonged illness. He was 88. His term was eventful as it witnessed the Kargil war and Pokhran test.
- In 1994, Fernandes formed the Samata Party, which later allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was appointed convenor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and served as the Defence Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government for two terms, between 1998 and 2004.
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