NATIONAL NEWS
Kumbh enters Guinness Book of World Records
The Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 has secured place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest crowd management, largest sanitation drive and largest painting exercise of public sites.
- Around 503 shuttle buses were pressed into service on the highway in one go for the team on February 28. Several people participated in a painting exercise on March 1 and 10,000 workers engaged in cleaning at the Kumbh, all performing their duties together.
PM Modi inaugurates ordnance factory in Amethi
Indo-Russia Rifles Ltd. plant at Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) Korwa in Amethi inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 7, 50,000 units of AK-103 assault rifles, the third generation of AK-47, will be produced at the OFB facility in UP. The production of the assault rifles under joint venture between Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern and OFB will be the biggest ever.
- The Russian share in the JV as per the provisions of the law is going to be 49.5% with the OFB share being the majority 50.5% of the registered capital.
Cabinet approves ‘Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana’
The Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana was approved by the Union Cabinet for providing financial support to Integrated Bioethanol Projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock. The Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The JI-VAN Yojana will be supported with total financial outlay of Rs 1969.50 crore for the period from 2018-19 to 2023-24.
- The scheme focuses to incentivise 2G Ethanol sector and support this nascent industry by creating a suitable ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and increasing Research and Development in the area.
HRD Ministry launches Rs 250 Crore scheme ‘STARS’ to fund Science Projects
The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister, Prakash Javadekar launched STARS – Scheme for Translational and Advanced Research in Science to fund science projects. The ministry has approved funds worth Rs 250 crore for the scheme. These funds will be utilised to sponsor about 500 science projects.
- The project will be coordinated by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
Ayushman Bharat and Uber ink partnership for providing free healthcare for drivers
A ride-sharing company has partnered with the government's flagship healthcare insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, to facilitate free healthcare for several drivers associated with the firm. The National Health Authority (NHA), the apex body implementing the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has inked an MoU with Uber.
- Uber, under its Uber CARE initiative for driver and delivery partners, will facilitate the setting up of common service centres (CSC's) at Partners Seva Kendras across India.
Assam's Hailakandi top aspirational district: Niti Aayog study
Assam's Hailakandi district has shot up to number one from the 52nd position, among the aspirational districts of the country, a new report released by the Niti Aayog said.
- Aspirational district Hailakandi will be given an additional allocation of Rs 10 crore for securing first rank.
Himachal to set up 100 trout farms
Himachal Pradesh will develop 100 trout farms for production of carp fish this year. It will provide employment to over 550 people. The government plans to set up two trout hatcheries under the public-private partnership (PPP) initiative to provide seeds. A smoked trout and fillet canning centre would also be set up in the Kullu district.
- Three retail outlets, one each in Kangra, Chamba and Shimla district, will be established to ensure appropriate marketing support to the trout production.
Uttarakhand to set up centre of excellence for Himalayan fibre
The Uttarakhand government has decided to set up a centre of excellence for Himalayan fibre in Almora district of Kumaon. The centre of excellence will be set up with support from the Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA)- Ghaziabad. NITRA, which comes under the Union Ministry of Textile, will set up a training institute for developing fibre products at the Centre.
- The cabinet also cleared a proposal for allotment of 0.4 hectares of land needed for the centre at Bercimi village in Almora.
CISF sets Guinness Record for Longest Single Line Cycle Parade
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) created the Guinness World Record for ‘longest single line bicycle parade (moving)’ at the Yamuna Expressway, Noida. CISF personnel rode 1,327 bicycles non-stop in a single line, maintaining a uniform distance between the bicycles.
- The record was earlier held by Hubballi Bicycle Club of India, with 1,235 bicycles in a single chain.
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI imposes penalties on IDBI, Dena Bank
The Reserve Bank has imposed a monetary penalty of 2 crore on Dena Bank and 1 crore on IDBI Bank for non-compliance with various directions. Dena Bank said the Reserve Bank has imposed a penalty of Rs 20 million on it for non-compliance with the directions.
- In a separate filing, IDBI Bank said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of 10 million on the Bank for contravention of its regulatory directions on time-bound implementation and strengthening of SWIFT related operational controls.
RBI levies Rs 4-crore fine on Karnataka Bank
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has levied a penalty of Rs 4 crore on Karnataka Bank for delayed implementation of four "Swift" related operational controls. The Reserve Bank of India, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 46 and 47A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 has levied an aggregate penalty of Rs 40 million on the Bank for delayed implementation of four of the Swift-related operational controls.
- The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system is a messaging network used by banks and other financial institutions globally to send and receive information, such as money transfer instructions.
- Extra info.:
SWIFT Headquarters:La Hulpe, Belgium
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
India tops Global Consumer Confidence Survey
The global consumer confidence in India is at peak. This was revealed in the latest Conference Board Global Consumer Confidence Survey, which is conducted in collaboration with Nielsen. India had a Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) score of 133 in the fourth quarter of 2018 edging past the Philippines (131) and Indonesia (127).
- South Korea has the most pessimistic consumers in the world. Meanwhile, the Global Consumer Confidence Index increased one point to 107 in fourth quarter of 2018, the highest in 14 years.
IDBI Bank gets govt nod to handle import, export transactions with Iran
The IDBI Bank has received government nod to handle import and export transactions with Iran, a move which would help in promoting two-way trade amid US sanctions on the Persian Gulf nation. US President Donald Trump had in May last year withdrawn from the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, re-imposing economic sanctions against the Persian Gulf nation.
- IDBI Bank has been identified to route the payments. UCO Bank had in the previous round of sanctions handled rupee payments.
SPORTS
Dhoni joins Sachin, Sourav, Dravid in elite group
Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become only the fourth Indian batsman to complete 13,000 runs in List A cricket. Dhoni has amassed 13,054 runs in 412 List A matches at an average of 50.79.
- The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has joined an elite club, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.
APPOINTMENTS
Macky Sall elected as Senegal’s President for the second term
Senegalese President Macky Sall has won re-election without the need for a second round of voting, giving him five more years in office. Sall, the incumbent president ultimately received 58.27 percent of the vote.
- Senegal has long been a democratic example in West Africa where coups and clinging to power used to be all too common.
- Extra info.:
Senegal Capital: Dakar
Currency: Franc
Bhagwan Lal Sahni appointed Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes
Bhagwan Lal Sahni, a BJP leader from Bihar's Muzaffarpur, has assumed charge as the chairman of the newly constituted National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). BJP leader and former Varanasi mayor Kaushalendra Singh Patel, BJP national secretary and former MP Sudha Yadav from Haryana, and Telangana BJP general secretary Achary Talloju have been appointed as members of the commission.
- The NCBC was given constitutional status by Parliament last year, after repealing the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
- Extra info.:
NCBC Headquarters: New Delhi
AN Jha replaces Shaktikanta Das as 15th Finance Commission Member
Ajay Narayan Jha joined the 15th Finance Commission as its member. He joins in place of Shaktikanta Das who had resigned as a member of the Commission after being appointed as governor, Reserve Bank of India.
- Jha had also served as the secretary to the 14th Finance Commission which was headed by former RBI Governor Y V Reddy.
Bezbaruah reappointed as Chairman of Tea Board
The Commerce Ministry has reappointed P K Bezbaruah as the chairman of Tea Board for a period of three years. Bezbaruah, the owner of Bokahola Tea Company in Assam, was earlier appointed as chairman of Tea Board as its first non-IAS officer.
- Bezbaruah was also instrumental in initiating a revamp of the old electronic auctioning system. The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore has been assigned to do the task.
OBITUARIES
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal Bharat Mohan Adhikari passes away
Former Deputy Prime Minister and senior Communist leader of Nepal, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, has passed away. He was 83. A three-time minister, Mr. Adhikari also led the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management and Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affair once each.
- He is remembered for his first stint as finance minister in the first Communist-led government in 1995 led by Man Mohan Adhikari, his elder brother.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Hearing Day
World Hearing Day is a campaign held each year by Office of Prevention of Blindness and Deafness of the World Health Organization (WHO). Activities take place across the globe and an event is hosted at the World Health Organization on March 3rd.
- The campaign's objective is to share information and promote actions towards the prevention of hearing loss and improved hearing care. The theme of the campaign for 2019 is "Check your hearing".
World Wildlife Day
The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working in partnership to facilitate the global celebration of the United Nations World Wildlife Day 2019 which is celebrated on 3 March.
- The theme of the day is- 'Life below water: for people and planet'.
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