Current Affairs 20 January 2018 1. Government announces 9 new smart cities ● Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced nine new smart cities in the latest round of the central government’s flagship Smart Cities Mission. ● The nine cities chosen in the fourth round are; Bareilly, Moradabad and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Erode in Tamil Nadu, Bihar Sharif in Bihar, Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Diu in Daman and Diu, Kavaratti in Lakshadweep and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.
2. Amplus partners with Yes Bank for solar power tie-up ● Amplus Energy Solutions has signed a MoU with India’s leading bank Yes Bank for a strategic tie-up to co-finance projects in the solar energy sector in India. ● Yes Bank, which has been focussing on funding green energy projects in India, also announced that it will mobilise USD one billion by 2023 for financing solar energy projects in India and USD five billion till 2030. ●
The total project’s capacity under the partnership of Amplus Energy Solutions and Yes Bank is expected to be up to 1,000 MW.
Important points: Yes Bank ➢ Headquarters: Mumbai ➢ CEO: Rana Kapoor ➢ Founder: Rana Kapoor
3. WhatsApp Unveils New Business App For Small And Medium Enterprises ● Popular messaging platform WhatsApp unveiled a new ‘WhatsApp Business’ app, aimed at small and medium enterprises.
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The free-to-download Android app will make it easier for companies to connect with customers, as well as its 1.3 billion users to chat with businesses.
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WhatsApp Business is available and free to download on Google Play in Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the UK and the US, it added.
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Using the business app, SMEs can help customers with useful information such as a business description, email or store addresses and website.
4. India To Set Up USD 350 Million Fund To Finance Solar Projects ● Power Minister R.K. Singh, India will set up a $350 million fund to finance solar projects, as the country steps up efforts to achieve its ambitious target of adding 175 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy by 2022. ● India will need at least $125 billion to fund a plan to increase the share of renewable power supply in the country’s grid by 2022, underlining the immense financing challenge ahead. ●
The fund was announced by R K Singh, at the first-ever outreach programme of the ISA in Abu Dhabi’s World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2018.
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Installed renewable power capacity is currently about 60 GW, and India plans to complete the bidding process by the end of 2019/20 to add a further 115 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2022.
5. India becomes member of Australia Group ● After its entry into the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), India notched up another success as it became a member of the Australia Group. ● The third of four key global export control regimes that will help pave the way for entry into the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group. ● India became the 43rd member of the Australia Group, an informal forum of countries which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.
Important Points:
Australia ➢ Capital: Canberra ➢ Currency: Australian dollar ➢ Prime minister: Malcolm Turnbull ➢ President: Stephen Parry
6. INS Vikramaditya affiliated to Bihar Regiment, IAF’s No. 6 Squadron ● Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy’s largest ship and its sole aircraft carrier were formally affiliated to the Indian Army’s highly-decorated and battle-hardened Bihar Regiment and the Indian Air Force’s No. 6 Squadron. ● A glittering ceremony was held onboard INS Vikramaditya at the Karwar Naval Base, nestled amongst the picturesque Western Ghats, attended by Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, and the Army’s Military Secretary Lt General Amarjeet Singh, who is also the Colonel of the Bihar Regiment.
7. President Kovind unveils book on self development in Delhi ● President Ram Nath Kovind unveiled a book on heartfulness techniques and principles titled ‘The Heartfulness Way’. ● Authored by Kamlesh Patel, widely known as Daaji, the fourth Global Guide of Heartfulness, and Joshua Pollock, a heartfulness trainer and practitioner. ● The book promises to be a treat for those who are curious about what is heartfulness and how it can change our day-to-day lives. It was launched by Commerce and Industries Minister Suresh Prabhu.
8. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated its 13th Raising Day ● The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated its 13th Raising Day. The Director Intelligence Bureau, Shri Rajiv Jain was the chief guest on this occasion. ● NDRF highlighted the disaster threat of country and important changes taken place in Disaster Management in India and across the world.
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The “Apex Body for Disaster Management” in India is the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
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The responsibility for Disaster Management in India’s federal system is that of the State Government.
9. AU Small Finance Bank inks MoU with LIC to offer PMJJBY schemes ● Banking finance company AU Small Finance Bank has signed a MoU with LIC to offer Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) schemes. ● Under the MoU, LIC will give a life cover of Rs 2 lakh in case of death to the customer at a nominal premium of Rs 330 per annum. ● The company will also offer loans under government’s affordable housing and subsidy schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. ●
The product will be targeted for both salaried and self- employed (professional and non-professional) customers in urban, semi-urban and rural areas.