Current Affairs 01st March 2020

1. NITI Aayog selects J&K for first pilot project among all States and UTs on SDGs

• On Sustainable Developmental Goals.
• It would get a chance to work with UN Development Programme (UNDP).
• Information would be sought from District Commissioners.

2. PM to launch 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations

• From Chitrakoot, UP.
• For all over the country.
• He will also lay the foundation stone for the Bundelkhand Expressway at Chitrakoot.
• Government had announced setting up of Defence Industrial Corridor in UP.
• India has defence requirement worth over $250 billion by 2025.

3. Govt announces amnesty scheme for power consumers across UT of J&K

• Which will come into effect from March 1, 2020.
• The Administrative Council headed by the Lieutenant Governor G.C. Murmu approved the scheme.
• Waiver of penalties & interests will cost 600 Cr to the govt.

4. Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates the 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference

• Narendra Singh Tomar is the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj.
• Inaugurated the 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra Conference in New Delhi.
• Govt had set a target to double farmer income by 2022.

5. Union Power Minister dedicates 11 REMCs to the nation

• Union Power Minister R. K. Singh.
• Dedicated 11 Renewable Energy Management Centers (REMC) to the nation at a function in New Delhi..
• Government of India target 175 GW RE Capacity by 2022.

6. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: PM distributes aids and devices to Divyangjan & Senior Citizens

• PM Modi is to distribute assistive aids and devices to senior citizens and Divyangjan.
• The objective of the event is to propagate information to senior citizens and Divyangjan belonging to BPL category.
• About how to face their challenges in day-to-day life.
• The RVY was launched in 2016 at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.

7. Gujarat Assembly to start ‘Best MLA’ award from year 2019

• The award will be in the lines of Outstanding Parliamentarian Award given to MPs & Best MLA awards given in some other states.
• Lok Sabha Speaker : Om Birla.

8. Two-day unique Chilli Festival begins at Kasrawad in Madhya Pradesh

• It will help in fulfilling the Central Government’s goal of doubling the income of farmers.
• Chilli Festival is a business opportunity for traders, investors & exporters.
• Did you Know
• Chilli-based cuisine stalls will also be set up on the occasion.

9. Defence Minister inaugurates new Light Combat Helicopter Production Hangar at HAL Complex in Bengaluru

• Raksha Mantri : Rajnath Singh
• Inaugurated the new Light Combat Helicopter Production Hangar
• At Helicopter Division in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Complex at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• LCH is a 5.5-tonne class combat helicopter designed and developed by HAL.
• It inherits many features of the Advanced Light Helicopter.

10. Bengaluru continues to record highest number of digital transactions in India in 2019

• Followed by Chennai, Mumbai & Pune,
• While United Payments Interface was the most preferred mode of payment,
• Said a new report by online payment processor Worldline India.
• UPI is followed by debit cards, IMPS & credit cards.

11. Sri Lankan govt not to sign MCC with US

• MCC = Millennium Challenge Cooperation
• The MCC agreement is to provide a grant of 480 million US dollars to Sri Lanka
• For development of transport and land deeds based on certain conditions.
• Sri Lankan President- Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

12. India to attend signing of Peace Deal between US & Taliban in Doha

• The deal would allow for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
• The US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan since late 2001.
• The Qatar government has invited India for the ceremony.

13. JD(U)’s Vamikinagar MP Baidyanath Prasad Mahto passes away

• He was elected to Lok Sabha from Vamikinagar as Janata DaL (United) candidate & was deputy leader of the JD(U) in the current Lok Sabha.
• Passed away at the age of 72.

14. World Rare Disease Day observes on last day of February

• 29 February 2020 is the 13th international Rare Disease Day coordinated by EURORDIS.
• EURORDIS = European Organisation for Rare Diseases.
• On this day many patient organisations all over the world will hold awareness-raising activities.
• Rare Disease Day is held on the last day of February every year.
• Rare disease-Any disorder that affects small part of the people.