NATIONAL NEWS
FSSAI bans staple pins in tea bags from June 30
Food regulator FSSAI issued a notification seeking a ban on the use of pins in tea bags by the food business operators (FBOs) by June 30. Last year, it had decided to ban the stapler pins in tea bags from January 2019 as it poses potential hazard to consumers since any loose staple pin consumed inadvertently with tea may cause a serious health hazard.
- The food authority has also directed the tea bag manufacturing units to submit their plan to switch to new system by procuring the new machines or modifying the existing machines.
Noida: New campus of National Museum Institute inaugurated
The new Campus of the National Museum Institute was inaugurated by Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar. Four new courses that are Archaeology; Palaeography, Epigraphy and Numismatics; Structural Conservation and Cultural and Heritage Management, are expected to be commenced.
- In addition to the regular courses, short-term courses of five-months duration that is Art Appreciation and Bhartiya Kalanidhi (Hindi), which are very popular, and are conducted by the Institute to disseminate the knowledge about the country's tangible and intangible heritage.
Finance Commission forms panel to resolve Punjab's Rs 31,000 crore food account issue
In a major fillip to Punjab's persistent efforts for securing the waiver of Rs 31,000 crore food account, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission N K Singh formed a committee to find ways of settling the matter.
- The committee under the Finance Commission, with the Centre, the State, and the FCI, would explore all possibilities, given its terms of reference and constitutional propriety, to settle the festering problem.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
GST collection crossed Rs 1 lakh cr in January: Government
Revenue collection under Goods and Services Tax (GST) for January crossed Rs 1 lakh crore. Total collection for the month of January last year was Rs 89,825 crore, the Finance Ministry said.
- This increase has been achieved despite various tax relief measures implemented by the GST Council to lower the tax burden on the consumers. Final figures and details of collections for the entire month will be released on February 2.
Chanda Kochhar terminated by ICICI Bank, four months after she quit as CEO
Chanda Kochhar, who had resigned as CEO and MD of ICICI Bank nearly four months back, was terminated and all her entitlements were revoked by the bank. The action by the bank came six days after the CBI booked her along with her businessman husband Deepak Kochhar and Videocon MD Dhoot and a few others for criminal conspiracy in an alleged loan fraud case.
- Pursuant to the decision of the Board of Directors of ICICI Bank, the Audit Committee of the Bank had appointed former Supreme Court judge, Justice (Retd) BN Srikrishna as the Head of Enquiry (HOE) to undertake a comprehensive enquiry on allegations against Chanda Kochhar.
WhatsApp announces 'Startup India-Grand Challenge'
In an effort to encourage entrepreneurs and small businesses in India, Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp announced the "Startup India-WhatsApp Grand Challenge". The top five start-ups will receive a total grant of $250,000.
- Ideas and business models capable of making a large-scale socio-economic impact and solve day-to-day problems have been invited to apply for the challenge by March 10.
India unveils human space flight centre in Bengaluru
The state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it has unveiled a Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru. The facility, unveiled by former ISRO chairman K. Kasturirangan and current Chairman K. Sivan, will be headed by S. Unnikrishnan Nair as the Director.
- The ISRO aims to send humans to space by December 2021 through its Gaganyaan mission. R. Hutton, who was the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Director, will be heading the Gaganyaan project.
SPORTS
Srikanth, Sindhu among those approved by SAI for TOPS scheme
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has approved the names of 23 athletes, including shuttlers PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth, from badminton, cycling, para-athletics and para-shooting fields, to be included in the flagship Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Paralympics and 2024 Olympics.
- The Target Olympic Podium Scheme is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to provide assistance to India's top athletes.
- Extra info.:
SAI Headquarters: Delhi
APPOINTMENTS
Ajai Kumar appointed interim MD, CEO of Yes Bank
Yes Bank announced the appointment of Ajai Kumar as its interim MD and CEO till Ravneet Singh Gill assumes office. Kumar's appointment comes after the co-founder and former MD and CEO, Rana Kapoor, demitted office recently.
- Gill's appointment as the next full-fledged MD and CEO was announced recently and he will assume office on March 1.
Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar takes charge as Vice Chief of Naval Staff
Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, AVSM, VSM assumed charge as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. An alumnus of National Defence Academy at Khadakvasla in Pune, he was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy on July 1, 1982.
- The Admiral has held various challenging Staff and Command assignments during his distinguished naval career spanning more than three decades.
Missiles specialist Vice-Admiral Ajit Kumar P. is new WNC chief
Vice-Admiral Ajit Kumar P. a missiles specialist, took over as the new Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command (WNC) of the Indian Navy. He succeeded Vice-Admiral Girish Luthra who attained superannuation after an illustrious career spanning nearly four decades with the Indian Navy.
- Immediately prior to his new appointment, Ajit Kumar P. was the Vice-Chief of Naval Staff, Naval Headquarters, New Delhi.
Sultan Abdullah sworn in as new Malaysian King
Pahang's Sultan Abdullah Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah was sworn in as the 16th King of Malaysia after his predecessor, Sultan Muhammad V, abdicated the throne earlier this month.
- Abdullah took the charge of the King, also Malaysia's head of state, for the next five years at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur. Sultan of Perak, Nazrin Shah was sworn in as the Vice Minister and will also serve for the next five years.
- Extra info.:
Malaysia Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Currency: Malaysian ringgit
Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra takes over as NCC Director General
Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra assumed the charge of Director General of NCC (DGNCC). Commissioned in the Madras Regiment in December 1980, Lt Gen Chopra is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
- Extra info.:
National Cadet Corps (NCC) Headquarters: New Delhi
AWARDS
Piyush Goyal gets Carnot Prize for power reforms, donates the prize money to International Solar Alliance
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has been awarded the Carnot Prize for his contribution towards sustainable energy solutions by the University of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US. He has donated the prize money to International Solar Alliance.
- The Carnot Prize is given to the personalities who have revolutionised the understanding of energy policy.
Health Minister confers 'Award of Appreciation' to Rajiv Nath of AIMED for his contribution to global healthcare
Rajiv Nath was conferred with the prestigious 'Award of Appreciation' by Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare for his contribution to the Global Public Healthcare sector at The Award of Appreciation Ceremony held at Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi, organized by Diaspora Foundation.
- Recently Rajiv Nath has also been appointed as the Member on Board of National Medical Devices Promotion Council by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) established to boost and strengthen the Indian Medical Devices Sector and lead India to an export driven market in the Medical Devices sector.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Leprosy Eradication Day
World Leprosy Day, held on the last Sunday of January every year, seeks to increase public awareness about leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, a highly contagious infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.
- In India, it is celebrated on the 30th January each year to commemorate the death of Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated on this day in 1948. This year’s theme for World Leprosy Day is ‘ending discrimination, stigma, and prejudice’.
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