India quadrupled its imports on lithium-ion batteries.

NATIONAL NEWS

India quadrupled its imports on lithium-ion batteries.

• Indian manufacturers import Li-ion batteries from china, japan and south Korea, becoming the world’s largest importers.
• Indian imports of Li-ion batteries were 175mn in 2016, 313mn in 2017, 712mn in 2018 and 450mn in 2019.
• In 2018, the Central Electro Chemical Research Institute(CECRI) in Tamilnadu, under the council of scientific & industrial research (CSIR) and RAASI solar power Pvt ltd signed MoA for transfer of technology for India’s first lithium-ion battery project.
• China dominates the lithium-ion battery market.

Cauvery delta: a protected agriculture zone- TN government.

• The Chief Minister of Tamilnadu had announced the Cauvery delta region as a protected special agriculture zone(SAZ) as a step towards food security of the state.
• The special agriculture zone will have 24-hour power supply for agricultural activities, priority treatment for conservation, irrigation facilities and marketing, collection and processing Centre’s and concessions on agro-equipment’s and recurring and non-recurring expenses.
• The hydrocarbon exploration will not be permitted in the delta region says TN government.
• Chief minister of Tamilnadu: Edappadi K.Palaniswami.

Government condemned US government’s centers for disease Control and Prevention(CDC).

• The US government’s CDC was censured for funding an unapproved Indian laboratory in Manipal, and for not attaining proper permissions for undertaking training in India for work on NIPAH virus by the government of India.
• These high risk pathogens are tested only in BSL4 lab, for the highest level of microbial safety.
• The ministry of health and family welfare had directed both CDC and Manipal Centre for virus research(MCVR) to close their study and to transfer all the NIPAH virus samples to the certified ICMR- National Institute of Virology in Pune.
• Government directed Centre for disease control and prevention(CDC) to stop all the unauthorized funding.
• Union minister of health and family welfare: Dr. Harsh Vardhan.

Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Campaign

• The ministry of information and broadcasting organised an 18-day long campaign called “Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Campaign” across the nation.
• The main aim of the campaign is to commemorate the Unity in Diversity of our country and to promote the spirit of national integration through a mutual understanding between all states and union territories.

DefExpo 2020 concluded in Lucknow

• A three-day event of DefExpo 2020 was concluded at Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh.
• Almost 200 cooperation involving Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), Transfer of Technology (ToTs) and launching new products were held in DefExpo.
• In particular, 23 MoUs were signed between the UP Government and private companies and 14 MoUs between Indian and Russian companies.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Bangladesh to undergo disinvestment in 4- govt owned banks

• The Bangladesh government has decided to disinvest in its four State Owned Commercial Banks.
• The four banks are namely, Bangladesh Development Bank Limited (BDBL), Agrani Bank Ltd, Janata Bank Ltd and Sonali Bank Ltd.
• The process of disinvestment will also be extended in the seven state owned enterprises in the energy sector by the government of Bangladesh.

Switzerland votes for law against HOMOPHOBIA.

• Switzerland votes in a referendum in favour of a new law against homophobia.
• 60.5% voted in favour of widening existing law against discrimination of resentment to hatred on ethnic or religious views to include sexual orientation.

BBIN MVA held at New Delhi.

• Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Act(MVA) was held at new delhi.
• The meeting was convened to talk over on the Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular Traffic between the four countries signed in 2015.

OBITUARY NEWS

Padma shri Giriraj Kishore passes away

• Renowned hindi novelist Padma shri giriraj Kishore passes away in Kanpur.
• He was best known for his novel “Pehla Girmitiya” which is based on mahatma gandhi’s stay in south Africa.
• He was awarded the Padma Shri by the President of India in the year 2007 and also was the recipient of Sahitya Akademi award.
• He was also presented the Vyas Samman in 2000 and Ph.D. by Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University in 2002.

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

RBI to bring up a customer agency for digital payments sector.

• RBI announced that it is to prepare an agency to look after the interests of digital payment platform customers and their securities as large number of Indians opting digital payments for their transactions.
• RBI will establish an SRO (Self-Regulatory Organisation) by April 2020. And that will foster best practices on security and protection of customers and the pricing.

PFRDA doubles minimum net worth for pension fund managers

• The regulator of the National Pension System (NPS), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has doubled the minimum net worth for pension fund managers from ₹25cr to ₹50 cr.

SPORTS NEWS

Bangladesh won U-19 world cup

• Bangladesh beat India to win the ICC U-19 world cup cricket title in south Africa by three wickets.
• Bangladeshi skipper Akbar Ali was declared the Player of the Match for his captaincy.