28-Feb-2019
HRD Ministry Launches SHREYAS Scheme
Union minister Prakash Javadekar launched 'Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills' (SHREYAS) for providing industry apprenticeship opportunities to fresh graduates.
This scheme is a programme basket comprising the initiatives of three central ministries, including the HRD, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
IDBI Bank Appoints LIC's Hemant Bhargava As Non-Executive Chairman
IDBI Bank has appointed Hemant Bhargava as non-executive, non-whole time chairman. Bhargava is currently the Chairman (in-charge) and Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).
The bank stated that Bhargava has been appointed for 3 years or until he continues in his position at LIC. The life insurer is now the majority shareholder in IDBI Bank with a 51% stake.
CZPDC Bhopal And WZPDC Indore Honoured With Saubhagya Award
The Central Zone Power Distribution Company (CZPDC), Bhopal and West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDC), Indore were conferred with the “Saubhagya Award”under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana at the National Conference of Energy Ministers by the Union Minister of State for Energy, R.K. Singh.
The award includes a cash prize of Rs 100 crore each. The PM Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana- Saubhagya was implemented by the Central Government in September 2017, and intends to provide electricity to all Below Poverty Line (BPL) houses of rural and urban areas.
M Narendra Modi Conferred The National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 Awards
The National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 awards were given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The winners from the national level competition are:
- 1st position- Shweta Umre from Maharashtra.
- 2nd position- Anjanakshi M.S from Karnataka.
- 3rd position- Mamta Kumari from Bihar.
RBI, Bank of Japan Sign Bilateral Swap Arrangement
Reserve Bank of India and Bank of Japan have signed a Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA). The BSA was negotiated between India and Japan during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tokyo in October 2018.
The BSA provides for India to access 75 billion US dollars whereas the earlier BSA had provided for 50 billion dollars.
India Ranked 47th In The 'Inclusive Internet Index 2019'
India ranked 47th in the ‘Inclusive Internet Index 2019’ which is prepared by the ‘Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for Facebook. The index was expanded to include 100countries which will represent 94% of the world’s population and 96% of global GDP.
Sweden topped the index whereas Singapore ranked 2nd and the USA ranked 3rd. India maintained its previous year rank.
Mukesh Ambani World's 8th Richest With Net Worth Of $54 bn
With a net worth of $54 billion, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has broken into the global top 10 richest billionaire list compiled by Hurun Research.
The Hurun Global Rich List 2019 is topped by Amazon chief Jeff Bezos for the second year in a row, while the senior Ambani is placed 8th with a network of Rs 3.83 trillion. Ambani is the only Asian among the top 10.
BioAsia 2019 Held In Hyderabad
The 16th edition of BioAsia 2019 Asia’s largest biotechnology and life-sciences forum was conducted in Hyderabad, Telangana. It was inaugurated by the Governor of Telangana E.S.L Narasimhan. The theme of the conference was 'Life Sciences 4.0 – Disrupt the Disruption'.
‘Life Sciences 4.0: transforming health care in India’ was launched by EY. The report discusses the disruptive impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) on the health care ecosystem in India.
'Aviation Conclave 2019' Organised By Civil Aviation Ministry
The Ministry of Civil Aviation organised a conclave on the theme 'flying for all' where more than 200 delegates including industry leaders and regulators deliberated on issues and opportunities in the sector.
Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu stated that the Conclave was about the future of Indian aviation, bringing together industry leaders, government and regulators for setting the tone and propelling us to realize our Vision-2040.
National Science Day: 28 February
National Science Day is celebrated across India on February 28. Famous Indian scientist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman or CV Raman discovered the Raman Effect on this day in 1928. For his discovery, Sir CV Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.
In honour of this discovery and as a mark of tribute to the scientist, National Science Day was marked for the first time on February 28, 1987. This year the theme for the National Science Day is 'Science for people and people for science'.
27-Feb-2019
Rising India Summit 2019 Held In New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Network-18 Rising India Summit, held in New Delhi and laid out his vision for a ‘New India‘. The theme of the summit was, 'Beyond Politics: Defining National Priorities'.
The Prime Minister discussed various topics including income tax and GDP numbers, India’s global standing, Jan Dhan accounts, and unemployment.
Assam Launches PRANAM Commission To Protect Parents Of State Government Employees
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the PRANAM Commission, which is a panel set up to look after the issues concerning a Bill brought in for the protection of parents of state government employees.
The Parents Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and Monitoring (PRANAM) Bill, stated to be the first-of-its-kind bill in the country, aims to protect elderly parents of government employees in their times of need.
Odisha Cabinet Approves State Film Policy 2019
With an aim to promote Odia films and create a conducive eco-system for production of films in the region, Naveen Patnaik-led state cabinet gave its nod to the Odisha State Film Policy-2019.
The policy will promote quality Odia films, facilitate film tourism in the state, establish Odisha as a destination for film shooting and improve screen density in the state.
Muhammadu Buhari Re-Elected Nigerian President
Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected Nigeria's President, results showed, after a delayed poll that angered voters and led to claims of rigging and collusion.
Buhari, 76, took an unassailable lead of more than four million votes as the last states were yet to be declared, making it impossible for his nearest rival, Atiku Abubakar, to win.
Playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar To Be Honoured With META Lifetime Achievement Award
Eminent Indian playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar has been chosen for this year's META Lifetime Achievement Award.
The playwright will be conferred upon with the award on March 12, along with the winners of the 14th Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) festival.
BoB Ties Up With German KfW for USD 130m to Refinance Solar Units
State-run Bank of Baroda has tied up with Germany's KfW Development Bank for funding of USD 113 million to refinance solar projects.
The tie-up is part of an Indo-German Solar Energy Partnership signed in 2015.
RBI Removes Allahabad Bank, Corporation Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank From PCA
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken off Allahabad Bank, Corporation Bank and Dhanlaxmi Bank from the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework allowing them to resume their normal lending activities.
The Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) met to review the performance of banks under PCA and noted that the government has infused fresh capital into various banks including some of the banks currently under the PCA framework.
IWAI and IOCL Signed MoU On Fuel Needs for National Waterways
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)signed an MoU for jointly developing infrastructure for fuels, lubricating oil, LPG, Natural Gas and any other related fuel and gas for meeting the requirement of National Waterways.
The MoU will provide for an understanding over general modalities of mutual cooperation leading to addressing futuristic demand of any form of energy for Inland Waterways and associated services.
Dr. H Chaturvedi's Book On 'Quality, Accreditation & Ranking' Launched In New Delhi
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the book titled 'Quality, Accreditation, and Ranking - A Silent Revolution in the Offing in Indian Higher Education' edited by Education Promotion Society for India's (EPSI) Alternate President Dr. H Chaturvedi in New Delhi.
On this occasion, the UGC Chairman, Dr. DP Singh, and Management Guru Padma Shri Dr. Pritam Singh were present as the guest of honor. The book launch function was organized by EPSI, BIMTECH and Bloomsbury Pvt Ltd.
Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary Win Gold In 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team
Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary clinched the gold medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi.
Ranxin Jiang and Bowen Zhang of China won silver while the Republic of Korea pair Minjung Kim and Daehun Park got the bronze.
26-Feb-2019
PM Modi Inaugurated 40-Acre National War Memorial in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a new National War Memorial, situated in the India Gate complex in New Delhi, to the nation.
The National War Memorial, spread over 40 acres in the India Gate complex behind the canopy, is dedicated to soldiers killed during the Indo-China War in 1962, Indo-Pak Wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971, Indian Peace Keeping Force Operations in Sri Lanka and in the Kargil Conflict in 1999, and also those in the UN peacekeeping missions.
FAGMIL Signs MoU With Himachal Pradesh To Establish India's 4th White Cement Plant Project
Under its diversification programme, FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals India Limited (FAGMIL) has taken up a project to establish a white cement plant near village Nohra Dhar in Himachal Pradesh, at a project cost of approximately Rs. 605 crores.
It will be the 4th white cement plant in the country. The installed capacity of the plant would be 0.3 million tonnes per annum and it will generate the direct employment of approximately150 persons.
Madhya Pradesh Government Launched 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhiman Yojana’
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath launched the State Government’s flagship scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhiman Yojana’ that guarantees 100 days of employment every year to urban youth from economically weaker sections.
Under the scheme, Rs 4,000 stipend per month during 100 days period, would be given to the youth and they will also be given skill development training in order to become independent. (Only those youths, whose family’s annual income is less than Rs 2 lakh and who are in the age group of 21-30 years, are eligible for the scheme).
President Conferred 'Gandhi Peace Prize'
President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2015, 16, 17 and 18at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
The award comprises a cash award of one crore rupees, a citation in a scroll, a plaque and a traditional handicraft item.
Here are the awardees that were facilitated at the occasion:
1. For 2015: Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari was given the award for its contribution in Rural Development, Education and Development of natural resources.
2. For 2016: Jointly to Akshaya Patra Foundation for its contribution in providing mid-day meals to millions of children across India and Sulabh International for its contribution in improving the condition of sanitation in India and emancipation of manual scavengers.
3. For 2017: Ekal Abhiyan Trust for its contribution in providing Education for Rural and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India, Rural Empowerment, Gender, and Social Equality.
4. For 2018: Japan's Yohei Sasakawa for his contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and across the world.
Lifetime Achievement Award For G.R. Karthikeyan
G.R. Karthikeyan, father of India’s first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award at the FMSCI annual awards function.
FIA president Jean Todt was the chief guest and handed over the awards.