19th & 20th January 2020 Current Affairs

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19th & 20th January 2020 Current Affairs
19th & 20th January 2020 Current Affairs

National News

MECOS-3, 2020: Global Marine Ecosystem Meet in Kochi

The 3rd international symposium on marine ecosystems-challenges and opportunities (MECOS-3) conducted in Kochi from 7-10 January 2020.

The meeting will be held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, Kerala.MECOS-3 is to be organized by the Marine Biological Association of India.

MECOS-3 will serve as a platform to hold discussions on a range of topics, including the impact of the climate crisis on marine ecosystems and the unusual warming of the Arabian Sea.

About Kerala:

  • Capital– Thiruvananthapuram
  • Governor– Arif Mohammad Khan
  • Chief Minister– Pinarayi Vijayan

NDRF celebrates its 15th Raising Day

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated  its 15th Raising Day here today . The Union  Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai was the chief guest on this occasion and Shri G.V.V. Sarma, Member Secretary, NDMA was the Guest of Honor.

Workshops on ‘Urban flooding & challenges’ and ‘Biological Emergencies & New Technology in Disaster Management’ were also conducted during the celebrations.

9th International Children’s Film Festival begins in Kolkata

The 9th International Children’s Film Festival begins in Kolkata today with the screening of Aizaz Khan directed Hamid. About 250 films from 45 countries will be screened in the week-long festival.

According to the official sources, the National Award winner Children actor, Talha Arsad Rishi will inaugurate the festival.  Ten venues in the city have been selected for the festival.  Besides the screening of films, an exhibition on the children’s film festival will also be organised.

About Kolkata:

  • Capital- West Bengal
  • Chief Minister (CM)- Mamatta Banerjee
  • Governor- Jagdeep Dhankhar

Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar, R K Singh inaugurate Elecrama 2020

Union Minister of Heavy Industries &Public Enterprises, Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Information & Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar and Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh have inaugurated the 5-day long 14th edition of ELECRAMA 2020 being held at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida,Uttar Pradesh (UP).

The event aims to showcase the Indian electrical industry and provide platform to connect the world with Indian industry with respect to technology, modern trends and innovation for future energy transition.

Important Points about Elecrama 2020:

  • Motto– your link to electricity
  • Founded– 1948
  • President– Mr. R K Chugh

President Kovind Lays Foundation Stone of Super Specialty Hospital in Kavaratti

President Ram Nath Kovind laid foundation stone to Lakshadweep’s first Super Specialty Hospital at Kavaratti today. President who is on two days visit to the union territory assured special focus for the development of Lakshadweep and directed Lakshadweep Administrator to give special attention for the completion of Super Specialty Hospital.

About Lakshadweep:

  • Administrator– Shri Dineshwar Sharma
  • Capital– Kavaratti
  • Formation– 1 November 1956

State News

Gujarat

Gujarat ranked top for water efficiency, Delhi among worst performing states

According to the rankings of ‘Central and state governmental water departments based on their efficiency targets for 2019’ released by Ministry of Jal Shakti, Gujarat ranked the best for parameters on efficiency targets , while National Capital Territory of Delhi remains in the worst-performing state category.

The Survey of India (SoI) received top spot among the 7 central government departments reviewed .It was followed by National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and the Central Water Commission. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) pushed to the last in the year 2019 ranking.

About Jal Shakti Ministry:

  • Headquarters– New Delhi.
  • Union Minister– Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

First edition of Krishi Manthan begins in Ahmedabad

The 1st edition of the Krishi Manthan 2020 which is a Food, Agri-business and Rural Development Summit of Asia was held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat from January 16-17, 2020. The event was organised by Food and Agribusiness Committee of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA).

More than 1,500 delegates including students and academicians are participating in the two-day event organized by the Food and Agribusiness Committee of IIMA.

About Gujatat:

  • Capital- Gandhinagar.
  • Largest city- Ahmedabad.
  • Chief Minister- Vijay Ramniklal Rupani.

Delhi

Union HRD Minister inaugurates the 28th edition of New Delhi World Book Fair 2020

Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nisank’ inaugurated the 28th edition of New Delhi World Book Fair 2020 (NDWBF) at PragatiMaidan in New Delhi The theme of NDWBF 2020 book fair was ‘Gandhi: TheWriters’ Writer’ celebrating 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi. Since 2013, the NDWBF is organised by National Book Trust (NBT) in association with India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), Ministry of Commerce(MoC) under Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with ITPO.

About HRD Ministry:

  • Union Minister- Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’
  • Minister of State(MoS)- Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre
  • Headquarters- New Delhi.

Assam

Magh Bihu festival celebrated in Assam

Magh Bihu, an auspicious harvest festival is being celebrated in Assam. Magh Bihu falls in the local month of ‘Magh’ during mid-january. It is also called ‘Bhogali Bihu’ or ‘Maghor Bihu’ as it is celebrated with community feasts after the annual harvest takes place.

The night before ‘Magh Bihu’ is called ‘Uruka’ meaning the night of feasts. The villagers make bamboo huts called ‘Bhelghor’ or community kitchen where they begin with the preparations for the festival.

About Assam:

  • Capital- Dispur
  • Chief Minister (CM)- Sarbananda Sanowal
  • Governor- Jagdish Mukhi

International Affairs

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Attended the 25th Conference Of Speakers And Presiding Officers Of The Commonwealth (Cspoc) 2020 In Ottawa, Canada

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday attended the Standing Committee Meeting of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) upon his arrival in the Canadian capital Ottawa.

The theme of the first workshop is — ‘Parliamentary Engagement: Openness, Transparency, and Accountability, while the second workshop is based on ‘Challenges and Opportunities Arising from the Displacement of a Parliamentary Assembly’.

Important Points:

  • Capital– Ottawa
  • Currency– Canadian dollar
  • Prime Minister– Justin Trudeau

Awards

Election Commission of India gets ‘Award for Excellence’ for cVIGIL and Voter Helpline App

‘cVIGIL’ and ‘Voter Helpline App’ — two innovative ICT applications of the Election Commission of India, developed in-house, have won the eGovernance ‘Award of Excellence’ for the year 2019. These awards were given by the Computer Society of India (CSI), Special Interest Group on e-Governance (CSI SIG e-Gov), the statement added.

Award of Excellence for the year 2019 was given by Computer Society of India (CSI) and Special Interest Group on e-Governance (CSI SIG e-Gov) at  Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

About Election Commission of India:

  • Election Commissioners- Shri Ashok Lavasa, Shri Sushil Chandra
  • Chief Election Commissioner- Shri Sunil Arora
  • Headquarters- New Delhi

‘Castle of Dreams’ receives the Best Film Award at DIFF

‘Castle of Dreams’ has won the Best Film Award in Asian Competition section of the 18th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF). Reza Mirakarimi has directed the Iranian film ‘Castle of Dreams’ and won the Best Director Award. Anjan Dutt directed movie ‘Finally Love’ has won the Best Audience Award in Cinema of the World Category while ‘Children of the Sun’ directed by Sri Lankan director Prasanna Vithanage has won the Special Jury Award in the 18th Dhaka International Film Festival.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Conferred With Australia’s Highest Civilian Honour

Australia has conferred its highest civilian honour, the Order of Australia honour to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder and chairperson of bio-pharmaceutical company Biocon and appointed as an honorary member in the general division of the Order of Australia by Australia’s High Commissioner to India Ms. Harinder Sidhu at a ceremony in Leela Palace, Bengaluru, Karnataka. She is the fourth Indian citizen to be awarded Australia’s highest civilian honour.

The award is given to foreign nationals who have extraordinarily contributed to Australia or for humanity.

Appointments

Arjun Munda becomes the president of Archery Association of India

Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has become the President of the suspended Archery Association of India (AAI) after the elections held as per the Delhi High Court order. Maharashtra’s Pramod Chandurkar has won the election for the post of Secretary.

A total of 31 State Associations were part of the AAI but only 26 states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir were excluded) cast their votes.

General Satinder Kumar Saini appointed as the new vice Chief of Army Staff

Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General Satinder Kumar Saini appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS). He will take charge on January 25, 2020. He succeeded Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who was promoted as the Chief of Army Staff.

The appointment was made by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) headed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and this was the first order of a senior military appointment made through DMA

GoI appoints Nripendra Misra as chairman of NMML

Nripendra Misra has been appointed chairperson of the executive council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML). The Executive Council of the NMML has been reconstituted and it will be now chaired by Mr Misra. Dr A Surya Prakash, chairperson of the Prasar Bharati board, will be the council’s vice-chairperson.

Important Points:

  • Headquarters of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML): New Delhi.

Sports Affairs

Vinesh Phogat wins gold medal in Rome Ranking Series

A dominant Vinesh Phogat won her first gold medal of the 2020 season at the Rome Ranking Series event after teen sensation Anshu Malik settled for a silver in 57kg competition, in Rome last night. Vinesh downed two tough Chinese rivals on her way to the 53kg gold medal bout in which she overpowered Ecuador’s Luisa Elizabeth Valverde 4-0.

Obituary

Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee & Odia Hindustani vocalist Sunanda Patnaik passed away at 85

Indian Classical Singer Sunanda Patnaik, 85 years old passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal due to age related complications. She was famously known as ‘Guruma’ in the classical music circle. She is the daughter of renowned Odia poet Baikunthanath Patnaik and had composed many bhajans (devotional songs) both in Odia and Hindi.

Important Days

National Immunization Day observed on January 19, 2020

National Immunization Day is observed on January 19, 2020. The Pulse Polio Programme 2020 was conducted as a part of National Immunization Day across the country. The programme aims to protect children less than five years from Polio disease and to eliminate Poliomyelitis in India.

In India , Pulse Polio Immunization Programme was launched in 1995.

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