NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. “Paperless Licensing Process” launched for
Petroleum Road Tankers: The “Paperless Licensing
Process” has been launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT), for Petroleum Road Tankers. DPIIT has launched the
process through Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The process
has been launched under the Petroleum Rules, 2002. The “Paperless Licensing
Process” will led to online filing of the applications including the fee
payment and thus heading towards digitisation. The applicants will be intimated
through email and SMS. Under the above process, the license would be authorised
by the concerned officer and would be electronically dispatched to the
applicant.
Note: Union
Minister of Commerce and Industry: Piyush Goyal.
2. Union Home Minister inaugurates I4C &
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: Union Home
Minister has inaugurated the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and Indian
Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) located in New Delhi.
The National
Cyber Crime Reporting Portal is a citizen centric vision which enables people
to report cyber crimes online. The NCCRP will also provide access of cyber
crime related complaints to the law enforcement agencies of the states and
union territories to take action according to the law. It will also increase the coordination among
the law enforcement agencies of the states and union territories in
investigation of cases and resolving them. Presently, 3900 police stations and
700 police districts have been linked with the portal “www.cybercrime.gov.in”.
Indian Cyber
Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) will manage all kinds of cyber crimes
comprehensively in coordinated manner. At the Home Ministry’s initiative, 15
States and UTs have cleared the setting-up of Regional Cyber Crime Coordination
Centres.
Important
takeaways for all competitive exams:
3. Union Budget to be presented on 1st Feb &
Economic Survey on 31st Jan: Union Budget
will be presented on the 1st of February and the Economic Survey on 31st
January 2020. The Budget Session of Parliament will begin on the 31st of this
month.
Note: Economic
Survey of India: The Economic Survey of India is the flagship annual document
of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. The Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Finance presents the Survey in the Parliament every year,
just before the Union Budget. It is prepared under the guidance of the Chief
Economic Adviser attached to the Ministry of Finance.
Union Budget:
The Union Budget of India is the Annual Financial Statement in Article 112 of
the Constitution of Republic of India. The Government presents it on the first
day of February so that it could be materialised before the beginning of the
new financial year in April. The first Union budget of independent India was
presented by R. K. Shanmukham Chetty on 26th November 1947. Until 2016, the
budget of the Indian Railways was presented separately to Parliament and dealt
with separately.
4. Union Government unveils State Energy
Efficiency Index 2019: The Union Government has
released the “State Energy Efficiency Index 2019”. The index was released
during the ‘Review, Planning and Monitoring (RPM)’ meeting held in New Delhi.
The index is developed by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) along with Alliance
for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE). The SEE Index 2019 traces the expansion
and achievements of Energy Efficiency (EE) drives running in 36 states and
union territories. The SEE Index 2019 constitutes quantitative, qualitative and
outcome based 97 indicators to check energy efficiency initiatives, programs
and outcomes in five distinct areas: transport, industry, agriculture,
buildings, municipalities, and DISCOMs.
State Energy
Efficiency Index 2019 has divided States/UTs into 4 groups on the basis of
Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) desired to meet the State’s/UT’s actual
energy demand through electricity, coal, oil, gas, etc. across all the sectors.
The 4 groups are: ‘Front Runner’, ‘Achiever’, ‘Contender’ and ‘Aspirant’.
Key results of
SEE Index 2019: The State Energy Efficiency Index 2019 was topped by Haryana,
Karnataka and Kerala while Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand and
Rajasthan performed worst in their respective groups. The states of Haryana,
Karnataka and Kerala were in “Achiever” group and there was not a single state
in the “Front Runner” group.
5. Pulses Conclave to be held in Lonavala: India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) has announced the fifth
edition of the Pulses Conclave, will be held in Lonavala, Maharashtra from
12-14 February 2020. IPGA expects close to 1500 trade stakeholders from India
and key pulses exporting countries like USA, Australia, Canada, Myanmar,
Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi. The conference aims at
increasing exports, processing efficiencies, protein extraction, value addition
and post-harvest management.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Second largest Muslim Congregation in the world Bishwa Ijtema
begins in Bangladesh: The first phase of the world’s second-largest Muslim
congregation after Haj began on the outskirts of Dhaka. Thousands of devotees
from Bangladesh and abroad are thronging the bank of river Turag at Tongi near
Dhaka to participate in the congregation called Bishwa Ijtema. Noted scholars
give a religious sermon to the devotees on this occasion. The Ijtema began with
the ‘aam bayan’ and will end on January 12 with the final prayers ‘Akheri
Munajat’. The second phase of Bishwa Ijtem will take place between January
17-19. Bishwa Ijtema has been taking place on the Turag riverbank in Tongi near
Dhaka since 1967. In 2011, the congregation was split into two phases to ensure
better management. Bishwa Ijtema draws in Muslim devotees from about 150
countries.
2. Israel unveils revolutionary laser-based air defence system:
According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Israel has successfully developed
a laser-based air defence system. The system is meant to intercept aerial
threats ranging from as mortar fire, drones, medium-range Grad rockets,
anti-tank missiles as well as long-range missiles. The technological
development will enable the long-range targeting and stabilization of laser
beams, allowing them to intercept targets at great distances. The system is set
to be tested in six months' time at an undisclosed location in northern Israel.
If the interception test is successful, the laser-based system will be
dispatched for field use along Israel's border with the Gaza Strip.
3. Pedro Sanchez Takes Oath as the Prime Minister of Spain: The leader
of the Socialist party in Spain, Pedro Sanchez, took the oath as the prime
minister of the country, after winning confidence vote by an extremely tight
margin in 350-seat chamber, with 167 votes in favour and 165 against. With this
win, he has become head of Spain’s first-ever coalition government since the
dictatorship ended in 1975.
OTHER UPDATES:
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI releases “National Strategy for Financial
Inclusion” report: The Reserve Bank of India has released a report
“National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI): 2019-2024“. The National
Strategy for Financial Inclusion for the period 2019-2024 has been formulated
by RBI under the aegis of Financial Inclusion Advisory Committee (FIAC). The
report has been ratified by the Financial Stability Development Council (FSDC).
As per the official statement, “the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion
2019-2024 sets forth the vision and key objectives of the financial inclusion
policies in India to help expand and sustain the financial inclusion process at
the national level through a broad convergence of action involving all the
stakeholders in the financial sector. The strategy aims to provide access to
formal financial services in an affordable manner, broadening & deepening
financial inclusion and promoting financial literacy & consumer
protection.”
Note: RBI 25th
Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Prof. MS Swaminathan & Dr. G Muniratnam
Selected for First Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Awards: Eminent Agricultural Scientist Dr M S Swaminathan and veteran social
worker, Dr. Gutta Muniratnam have been chosen as the first recipients of
‘Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award for Excellence’ and ‘Muppavarapu
National Award for Social Service’’ respectively. The announcement for the
awards was made during the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of Muppavarapu
Foundation and Sankranthi Sambaralu (festivities) organized in Hyderabad.
Note: The
Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award for Excellence is instituted by the
Muppavarapu Foundation. Muppavarapu National Award for Social Service has been
launched by the Swarna Bharat Trust. Each award carries a cash prize of Rupees
Five Lakh and citation.
OBITUARIES
1. Ruler of Oman Sultan Qaboos bin Said passes
away: The longest serving ruler of Oman Sultan Qaboos
bin Said passed away due to years-long struggle with an illness. He was a
charismatic and visionary leader who transformed Oman into a modern and
prosperous nation. He was ruling Oman since 1970. The Sultan is the prime
decision-maker in Oman and also holds the portfolio of Prime Minister, supreme
commander of the armed forces, minister of foreign affairs, minister of finance
and minister of defence. The written constitution Qaboos introduced requires
the ruling family to choose a successor within three days of the throne falling
vacant.
Note: Capital
of Oman: Muscat; Currency: Omani rial.
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