Current Affairs 19th March 2020

1. HSBC appoints Noel Quinn as Chief Executive Officer

• HSBC = Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation
• Quinn joined HSBC in 1987.
• HSBC Headquarters : London, United Kingdom.

2. Agreement between India and Brunei for Exchange of Information notified

• Agreement signed for the exchange of information & assistance in collection with respect of taxes
• It will help to curb tax evasion & tax avoidance.
• Brunei Capital : Bandar Seri Begawan,
• Currency : Brunei dollar.

3. US Africa Command cancels annual military exercise African Lion

• Became the latest casualty of the global coronavirus pandemic with this year’s event being cancelled,
• Command called off the entire event and began planning for African Lion 21.
• Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal were the host cities.

4. Salesforce names former SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya as India CEO

• She was the 1st woman to lead the more than 200-year-old SBI.
• Move comes as the Salesforce becomes aggressive in India, a market that is gradually adopting digital technologies.
• Arundhati Bhattacharya retired from SBI in 2017.

5. ISRO designs Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System

• ISRO has designed NavIC messaging system and developed a ‘NavIC receiver’.
• NavIC = Navigation with Indian Constellation
• Indian National Centre for Ocean Information System (INCOIS) is using this messaging system to broadcast emergency warning messages.
• It also broadcasts information of Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ).

6. GMR Hyderabad International Airport goes Single-Use Plastic-free

• From 1 March 2020 and use of such material has been imposed across the airport.
• This initiative is in line with the government’s campaign to phase out SUP by 2022.
• They are also encouraging eco-friendly products like jute bags.

7. AIMRI gets accreditation as a certification body

• AIMRI = Aries International Maritime Research Institute
• Located in Sharjah, UAE
• AIMRI Has received accreditation from Emirates International Accreditation Centre, for Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015) Audits and certification.
• EIAC = Emirates International Accreditation Centre.

8. Power Generation from Conventional Sources Registered Annual Growth of 5.45% in 2018-19

• From 1.17 billion units in 2015-16 to 1.38 BU in 2018-19.
• Power generation from hydro sources has registered a compound annual growth rate of 3.3%.
• HPO will be a separate entity in new projects.

9. Cumulative renewable energy capacity of 132.15 GW installed in the country: R.K. Singh

• As part of the Paris Accord on Climate Change, India has installed at least 40% of its total electricity generation capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
• As on 29.2.2020, a cumulative renewable energy capacity of 132.15 GW had been installed.
• Minister of State for Power & New & Renewable Energy : RK Singh.

10. More than Rs 20,000 Cr of loans sanctioned under ‘Stand Up India Scheme’ since inception

• Over 91,000 accounts up to 10.03.2020.
• The scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs. 10 lakh-Rs. 1 Crores to at least one SC/ ST borrower & at least one-woman borrower.
• Stand Up India Scheme was launched on 5th April 2016.

11. CSIR announces innovation awards for school children

• CSIR = Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
• CSIR has announced Innovation Awards for School Children (CIASC)
• To support their scientific temperament and to encourage innovative spirit among them.
• Proposals can be submitted by a student or a group of students.
• Eligibility- Students of up to Class 12 & below 18 years of age.

12. Bihar govt declares Coronavirus as epidemic

• Govt has given special powers to deal with the situation.
• If a suspected case of COVID-19 refuses isolation, the officers authorized will have powers to forcefully admit or isolate such person for a period of 14 days.
• 311 suspected cases have been reported so far in the state.

13. Bangladesh celebrates 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 17 March

• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the founder President of Bangladesh.
• The day marks the beginning of the yearlong celebration of the birth centenary named ‘Mujib Barsho’ .
• He led the movement against the oppressive Pakistani rulers
• Bangladesh PM : Sheikh Hasina

14. Health Ministry placed Draft National Policy for Rare Diseases in its website

• A component of rare diseases has been included in the draft.
• Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi was established under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It was made effective from 1 January 2019.

15. Ministry of Culture establishes institute to promote Buddhist studies, art, and Culture

• Ministry of Culture has established Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies (CIHCS) at Dahung, Arunachal Pradesh.
• The main objective of CIHCS is to preserve ancient Buddhist manuscripts and to promote research in different aspects of Buddhism.
• Digitizing ancient Buddhist text is another aim.

16.   1.59 lakh SSAs covered with at least one bank branch under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana

• All villages were mapped by banks into 1.59 lakh Sub-Service Areas
• With one SSA catering to 1,000 to 1,500 households.
• This was stated by Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs.
• 0.33 lakh SSAs have been covered with bank branches.

17. Permanent commission to women in Indian Navy: SC

• Justice DY Chandrachud directed to grant permanent commission to serving women officers in Navy within 3 months with increments.
• A permanent commission entitles an officer to serve in the Navy till he retires unlike SSC, which is currently for 10 years.
• Short Service Commission can be extended by four more years.

18. The winning innovations stand to win a grant of Rs 10 lakh

• Microsoft India and NASSCOM Foundation launched the Innovate for Accessible India campaign
• Aim to empower people with disabilities with the technology and tools required.
• For better integration into society and admittance to equal opportunities.
• The winning innovations stand to win a grant of Rs 10 lakh.