Current Affairs 16th March 2020
1. GST rates on mobile phones to
increase to 18% from 1st of April
- Council
also decided to slash GST on maintenance, repair and overhaul services for
aircraft to 5% from 12% & handmade & machine-made matchsticks to 12%.
- FM
Nirmala Sitharaman Chaired the GST Council meet.
2. R K Singh launched new website
of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- Minister
of State (I/C) for Power & New & Renewable Energy & Minister of
State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship = R K Singh
- Launched
the new website of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.
- Structured
back end CMS is developed to manage the website.
- CMS-
Content Management System.
3. Keeping pace with vision of “Digital India”, HIL India Limited launched Customer Payment Portal
- In
association with Union Bank of India
- To
collect the payment from its customers through various online modes
- For
faster and smoother collection of dues.
- HIL is a
CPSE under the Ministry of Chemical & Fertilizers.
4. Govt brings masks and hand
sanitizers under the Essential Commodities Act
- Up to 30
June 2020 by amending the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
- It has
also issued an advisory under the Legal Metrology Act.
- Under the
L.M. Act, States can ensure sale of items at MRP.
5. NMCG concludes “Ganga Amantran
Abhiyan” in New Delhi
- NMCG = National Mission for Clean Ganga.
- Organised
a grand event in the national
capital.
- To mark
the conclusion of its flagship programme ‘Ganga Amantran Abhiyan’.
- Union
Minister for Jal Shakti : Gajendra
Singh Shekhawat.
6. Rs 1.83 Lakh Cr spent on MNREGA in 2017-2020: Govt
- MGNREGA =
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act.
- Expenditure
under MNREGA almost
doubled as compared
to 2011-12 to 2013-14 period,
- The
Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala said.
- MNREGA
provides at least 100 days of wage employment in a year.
- Total
number of districts covered under MNREGA is 691.
7. HAL inks pact with Blue Ray
Aviation for supply of two Dornier Do-228 multi-role aircraft
- Blue Ray
Aviation- Flight Training Organisation in Ahmedabad.
- Blue Ray
Aviation Pvt Limited has signed a MoU with Transport Aircraft Division, a
division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited,
- For
deployment of two HAL made Dornier Do-228 aircraft.
- Dornier
Do-228 aircraft is a 19-seater multi-role utility aircraft for various
applications.
8. Yes Bank AT1 bonds worth Rs
8,415 crore to be reduced to zero
- Yes
Bank’s AT1 bonds worth Rs 8,415 Cr will be written down to zero.
- As per
the globally accepted Basel-III norms.
- That
mandate writing down of such bonds in the wake of an emergency.
- SBI will
have to at least keep a 26% stake in the bank for 3 years.
- RBI had
placed Yes Bank under a moratorium on 5 March.
9. Bill Gates steps down from
Microsoft board to focus on philanthropy
- Stepped
down from Microsoft’s board- company.
- He
co-founded in 1975 & built into the world’s largest software maker, to
devote more time to philanthropy.
- He served
as CEO of Microsoft until 2000. Current CEO is Satya Nadella.
- His
departure reduced the number of Microsoft directors to 12.
10. Iran seeks Financial Help
from IMF first time since 1962 to fight against Corona Virus
- RFI
provides rapid financial assistance, which is available to all member countries
facing an urgent balance of payments need.
- RFI-
Rapid Financial Instrument.
11. March 15: World Consumer
Rights Day
- World
Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on the 15 March annually
- To raise
global awareness about consumer rights and needs.
- Last
year, the Centre has enacted the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 replacing the
old 1986 Act to protect the interest of consumers.
- Theme:
The Sustainable Consumer.
12. Census India-2021 to be
conducted in two phases
- The 1st
phase will begin from the 1 April & will continue until the 30 September.
- The 2nd
phase is Population Enumeration which will be conducted from 9 February- 28
February 2021 throughout the country.
- First synchronous census in India was held in 1881.
13. Centre established a new In
vivo Evaluation facility at SCTIMST
- SCTIMST =
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum.
- The
facility will test medical devices on animals.
- It was
inaugurated by Dr. V.K. Saraswath, President of SCTIMST.
- It has
the capacity to host 40 adult pigs & 70 adult sheep.
14. YES Bank’s new management:
Prashant Kumar appointed MD, CEO; Sunil Mehta Non-Executive Chairman
- Sunil
Mehta = Former chairman of the Punjab National Bank.
