Current Affairs 25th February 2020

1. US surpasses China to become India’s top trading partner

• According to the Commerce Ministry data,
• The bilateral trade between the US and India
• USD 88 billion in 2018-19 FY
• India’s trade with China was at USD 87.1 billion.
• US is one of the few nations with which India has trade surplus.

2. Riek Machar swears in as first Vice President in South Sudan

• Transition govt will serve for 36 months.
• South Sudan Capital – Juba.
• Currency- Pound.

3. NITI Aayog organizing Sustainable Development Goals Conclave 2020

• Partnerships, Cooperation & Development of North Eastern states, in Guwahati from 24 February.
• NITI Aayog has the mandate of overseeing the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national level.
• NITI Aayog plans to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

4. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi completes one year

• Under the Scheme, an amount of  Rs 6000 per year
• in three equal instalments of 2000 rupees in every four months
• directly into the bank accounts of the farmers.
• PM Modi launched the scheme on 24 February 2019 at Gorakhpur.

5. Delhi, Ahmedabad top in consumption of added fat: ICMR

• Delhi and Ahmedabad topped
• Hyderabad is at the bottom
• A recent survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research on the food habits of citizens.
• Men daily eat fat at 34.1 gm/person
• Women daily eat fat at 31.1 gm/person

6. Temperature controlled largest Terminal to store Agro & Pharma Products launched at Mumbai airport

• The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai
• Run by a joint venture between Airports Authority of India & GVK,
• Announced the launch of the world’s largest temperature-controlled Terminal for processing and storage of agro and pharma products.
• Export Cold Zone can hold over 700 tonnes of cargo at one time.

7. CSIR-CDRI Scientist Dr. Niti Kumar gets SERB Women Excellence Award-2020

• Senior Scientist from Division of Molecular Parasitology & Immunology,
• CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow has received SERB Women Excellence Award-2020.
• Award will be conferred by the Indian President.
• During National Science Day Celebrations on February 28.
• SERB-Science and Engineering Research Board.

8. 1st ever Ladakh winter conclave 2020 concluded in Leh

• 3-Day Ladakh winter conclave 2020 concluded.
• Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur
• Mathur appealed the tourism industry to strengthen the border villages to showcase the development
• Also said that 40 tourism themes are possible in the Ladakh region.
• Conclave aimed at attracting tourists in the winter season.

9. 3-day International Conference on ‘Ensemble Methods in Modelling & Data Assimilation’ in Noida

• Organised by NCMRWF, MoES in Noida.
• To provide a platform for discussions & deliberations on the present status, future prospects & optimum use of EPS,
• EPS- Ensemble Prediction System.

10. Advisor to LG J&K, Farooq Khan flags off youth exchange programme ‘Watan Ko Jano’

• A group of students from across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories.
• For a ten-day tour ‘Watan Ko Jano’, a youth exchange programme.
• 200 students are participating in the ‘Watan Ko Jano’.
• Lieutenant Governor of J&K : Girish Chandra Murmu.

11. Govt aims to make Chhattisgarh a steel hub of the country: Dharmendra Pradhan

• Union Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel : Dharmendra Pradhan
• Steel industry plays an important role.
• For making India a five trillion-dollar economy by 2024.
• He said this in the visit to Bhilai Steel Plant, Chhattisgarh.

12. India wins one silver, two bronze medals in Asian Wrestling Championships

• Asian Wrestling Championships in New Delhi on 23 February.
• India secured total 20 medals
• Including 5 golds, 6 silvers & 9 bronzes
• India’s highest tally of medals in the history of the Championship.
• Ravi Dahiya’s gold in the 57 Kg is the first on the list.