Important Current Affairs 27th December 2019

NATIONAL NEWS

Mumbai: CSMT gets ‘Eat Right’ station certificate From FSSAI

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station in Mumbai has been conferred with ‘Eat Right Station’ certification with the five-star rating by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for food safety and hygiene.

• An official release said that the CSMT is the first station on the Central Railway to get this certification.

• It stated that the CSMT has been judged on the basis of compliance of food safety and hygiene, availability of healthy diet, food handling at preparation, food waste management, promotion of local and seasonal food and creating awareness on food safety and healthy diet.

• ‘Eat Right Station’ initiative is a part of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement launched by FSSAI and an FMCG major which is aimed at promoting food safety and hygiene at the static catering units at railway stations.

Second edition of Eat Right Mela inaugurated by Health Minister in New Delhi

• Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said, the right kind of diet will help to reduce the disease burden in the country.

• Inaugurating the second edition of Eat Right Mela in New Delhi, the Minister said, healthy eating should become a people’s movement.

• He stressed upon the importance of having a people’s movement, encouraging people to have healthier diets which will help in reduction of the disease burden in the country.

• Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated that the Eat Right Mela is a commendable effort and outreach activity for citizens to nudge them towards eating right.

• He also highlighted that on one hand, India is suffering from under-nourishment and on the other side, there is obesity due to the result of junk food, wrong choices of food, overeating and lack of exercise.

First-ever university for transgenders to come up in UP

• The first university for the transgender community in India will be opened in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district.

• The university, which will come up in Fazilnagar block of Kushinagar district, is being built by the Akhil Bhartiya Kinnar Siksha Seva Trust (All-India transgender education service trust).

• In the university, the transgender community will be able to study right from class one to PG and even do research and get PhD degree.

FM releases stamp on DRI

• Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman released a postage stamp to commemorate distinguished service and glorious contribution of  Directorate of  Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in protecting the nation. After releasing the stamp, Sitharaman stressed on the critical need for training officers of DRI in using technology and data analytics to be able to inspire confidence of citizens and deter smugglers, the finance ministry said.

• She remarked that DRI continues to play an immense role in countering smuggling as well as in preserving the cultural heritage and environment of the country.

• The challenges faced by the organisation continue to grow with the adoption of innovative modes of smuggling, she said and called for increasing the concerted efforts of DRI, the statement said.

About DRI:

• DRI was formed on December 4, 1957 to function as an apex intelligence agency of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs to counter the menace of smuggling.

• DRI has established itself as the premier intelligence agency commanding the trust of international and national agencies with its intelligence inputs on myriad subjects inter alia ranging from fake Indian currency note, narcotics, gold, arms & ammunitions, wildlife, cultural heritage and commercial fraud, it added.

IAF bid farewell to MiG-27 ML Bahadur as India retires the strike aircraft

• The MiG-27 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force, which were part of the Kargil war with Pakistan 20 years ago.

• The fleet has been decommissioned after around 35 years of service and it received ‘water salute’ at a ceremony in Jodhpur.

• The MiG-27 had earned the tag of ‘Bahadur’ from IAF pilots.

• All other variants, such as MiG-23 BN and MiG-23 MF and the pure MiG-27 have already retired from IAF.

PM Modi launches Atal Bhujal Scheme for efficient groundwater

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) which aims to improve groundwater management.

• The scheme has been designed with the principal objective of strengthening the institutional framework for participatory groundwater management.

• It aims to bring behavioral changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management in seven States. The 7 states includes Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

• The scheme will promote panchayat led ground water management and behavioural change with primary focus on demand side management.

• The Government has outlaid Rs. 6000 crore for the scheme.

BANKING AND ECONOMICS

Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank, IOB get Rs 8,655 cr fund infusion by GOI.

• Three loss making PSU Banks — Allahabad Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and UCO Bank – have got Rs 8,655 crore fresh capital infusion from the government.

• The Finance Ministry has approved infusing fresh capital amounting to Rs 2,153 crore in the Allahabad Bank, Rs 2,142 crore in the UCO Bank and Rs 4,360 crore in the Indian Overseas Bank via preferential allotment of shares.

• UCO Bank posted a loss of Rs 892 crore in Q2, Allahabad Bank a loss of Rs 2,103 crore and Indian Overseas Bank posted Rs 2,254 crore loss in July-September quarter.

• All these banks, except the Allahabad Bank, are currently under the Reserve Bank of India”s prompt corrective action (PCA) framework and they need to have net NPA below six per cent to get out of PCA which is a key criterion.

• These banks filed separate regulatory filings on their capital infusion.

RBI launches new PPI for small digital transactions

• The Reserve Bank of India has introduced a new semi-closed prepaid payment instrument (PPI) which can be used for the transaction of goods and services up to a limit of Rs 10,000.

• The loading facility of the instrument will be linked only from a bank account.

• This direction has made under Section 18 read with Section 10(2) of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

• PPIs are instruments that facilitate the purchase of goods and services, including financial services, remittance facilities, etc., against the value stored on such instruments.

• There are currently three kinds of PPIs allowed by RBI: closed system, semi-closed and open PPIs.

• The PPIs may be issued as cards, wallets, and any such form/instrument which can be used to access the PPI and to use the amount therein

About RBI:

RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das;

Headquarters: Mumbai;

Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' launched five documents developed by UGC

• The Union Human Resource Development Minister launched the 5 documents developed by UGC covering the 5 verticals of Quality Mandate in New Delhi.

• These 5 documents cover evaluation reforms, eco-friendly and sustainable university campuses, human values & professional ethics, faculty induction and academic research integrity.

• These 5 documents help to improve the quality in Higher Educational Institutions, University Grants Commission has adopted the Higher Education Quality Improvement Programme Mandate.

• The quality mandate aims at evolving higher education system to equip country’s next-generation with vital skills, knowledge and ethics for leading a rewarding life.

The 5th Round of India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue was held in Tokyo

• The 5th Round of India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue was held in Tokyo, Japan.

• The two sides exchanged views on various topics of mutual interest in the maritime domain and identified the means for further strengthening their maritime cooperation.

• Both sides reiterated the importance of the Dialogue as an important mechanism between the two countries for consultations on issues of mutual interest in maritime affairs and agreed to hold the next round of the Dialogue on a mutually convenient date in India.

• The first round of India-Japan Maritime dialogue was held in New Delhi in 2013.

• About Japan:

Japan Capital: Tokyo,

Currency: Japanese yen,

PM: Shinzo Abe

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

American Academy of Ophthalmology bestows Life Achievement honour to Indian Ophthalmologist Dr Santosh G Honavar

• Dr Santosh G Honavar, India’s ophthalmologist is conferred with American Academy of Ophthalmology’s (AAO) highest award Life Achievement honour that is given to its members. He is the first Indian chosen for the honour.

• The award was formally presented to Dr Honavar recently at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology held in San Francisco.

• Dr Santosh G. Honavar, a Hyderabad-based Indian ophthalmologist was chosen for its highest award to recognize his contributions to the Academy, its scientific and educational programs, and to the advancement of ophthalmology.

About American Academy of Ophthalmology:

• American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye specialists. The mission of the American Academy of Ophthalmology is to protect sight and empower lives by serving as an advocate for patients and the public, leading ophthalmic education, and advancing the profession of ophthalmology.

• Founded in 1896 and headquartered in San Francisco, USA, American Academy of Ophthalmology has 32,000 professional members. 90 per cent of its members are practising ophthalmologists.

Unicef award to Kamareddy dist. for Swachh Bharat implementation

• Kamareddy district of Telangana has secured the United Nations International Children’s and Education Fund (Unicef)-2019 Award.

• The district has won the award for effective implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission in water sanitation and hygiene sectors.

• Kamareddy district was on top in the country among other districts in construction of individual sanitary lavatories, swachh darpan wall paintings, swachh survekshan, swachh sundar shouchalay and many other activities.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg steps down

• Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has stepped down as the company is facing tough period following two fatal crashes.

• He will be replaced by Chairman David Calhoun effective January 13, 2020.

• He became the CEO of the world’s largest aerospace company in July 2015.

• The company’s best selling commercial jet was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two fatal crashes killed 346 people.

About Boeing:

Headquarters of Boeing: Chicago, United States.

OBITUARY

 ‘Friends’ theme songwriter Allee Willis passes away at 72

• Allee Willis, writer of ‘I’ll Be There For You’ which was used as the theme song in TV series ‘Friends’, died in Los Angeles from a cardiac arrest. She was 72.

• Willis entered the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018 for a catalog that also included hits such as Neutron Dance, What Have I Done To Deserve This?, Lead Me On and Boogie Wonderland and You’re The Best, which is the theme track of The Karate Kid.

• The songwriter was a two-time Grammy winner and was also nominated for a Tony and an Emmy.

Da Chen ,‘Colours of the Mountain’ author passes away

• China’s brilliant storyteller, Da Chen, who created the critically acclaimed memoir “Colours of the Mountain” passed away recently.

•  In “Colours of the Mountain” he recounted the abuses he and his family suffered during the latter years of the country’s Cultural Revolution.

• The book was published in seven languages. His last book which was published recently was “Girl Under a Red Moon”