India approved as the Observer to Indian Ocean Commission.

NATIONAL NEWS

Fifth Edition of National Conference on Economics of Competition Law.

• The Fifth National Conference on Economics of Competition Law has been organised by The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
• Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Dr. Bibek Debroy has inaugurated and addressed the conference.
• FACT: Chairman of CCI – Ashok Kumar Gupta.

India approved as the Observer to Indian Ocean Commission.

• India has been approved as one of the observer in the 5 nation grouping in the Western Indian Ocean. The five nations are namely Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius and French Reunion.
• The decision was made during the member meeting of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).
• The IOC is an intergovernmental organisation composed of five African Indian Ocean nations formed to enhance security ties among the countries.

Ministry of Home Affairs approves Automated Facial Recognition System(AFRS).

• The Union Ministry of Human Affairs has approved the proposal of National Crime Records Bureau(NCRB) for the authorisation to use Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS).
• The AFRS is used for the identification of criminals, unclaimed dead bodies and missing persons.
• FACT: Union Minister of Home Affairs – Amit shah.

Google plans to Launch Delhi Cloud Region.

Google announced its plan to open a Delhi Cloud Region which is going to be the company’s 2^nd cloud region in India.

The Delhi cloud Region is projected to be launched by 2021 which will have three zones to protect against service disruptions.

The First cloud region was launched in Mumbai in 2017.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

QS World University Ranking 2020.

• QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has now released its ranking by subject for the year 2020.
• In the top 100 university lists 26 Indian Higher Education Institutes has taken a spot into it.
• IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi has ranked 44^th and 47^th position in the category of Engineering and Technology (E&T).
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, US ranked at top position in the list of E&T category.

Pritzker Architecture prize 2020.

• Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara were conferred with the Pritzker Architecture prize for the year 2020.
• Pritzker Architecture Prize is an annual award sponsored by Hyatt foundation is regarded as the profession’s highest award.
• The Pritzker Architecture Prize is founded by Jay A. Pritzker & his wife Cindy and the award consists of $100,000 (US) & a bronze medallion.

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

NCLT approves Cochin Shipyard’s Tebma Plan.

• The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved ₹65 crore resolution plan submitted by Cochin Shipyard Limited for Tebma Shipyards Limited.
• Temba’s Lenders include banks like SBI, Andhra Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, Punjab National Bank and Syndicate Bank with a total debt of ₹602.39crore.
• According to the resolution the banks will get 9.7% of the admitted debt.
• The National Company Law Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates issues relating to Indian companies established in 2016, headquartered at New Delhi.

Sebi Launches “sebi SCORES” a new Mobile Application.

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (sebi) has launched a new mobile application for the benefit of the investors in Lodging grievances.
• The App named as “sebi SCORES” is designed with the view of supporting the investors in lodging their grievances in Sebi Complaints Redress System.
• FACT: Sebi Chairman - Ajay Tyagi.

Zomato has Bought Uber eats India for $ 206 million.

• The Food Delivery Giant firm Zomato has acquired Uber eats India business for $206 million.
• In January 2019, Zomato has acquired Uber’s food delivery business in India, Uber Eats in an all-stocks deal for a 9.99 % stake in Zomato.
• FACT: Zomato CEO - Deepinder Goyal.

                       Headquarters of Zomato - Gurugram, Haryana.

                     Uber CEO - Dara Khosrowshahi.

                     Uber Headquarters - San Francisco, U.S.

RBI Deputy Governor N S Vishwanathan resigns.

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy Governor Mr. N S Vishwanathan has resigned from his position 3 months prior to his retirement.
• He was appointed as the deputy governor in 2016 replacing H R Khan.
• FACT: There are 4 deputy governors in RBI namely B. P. Kanungo, N. S. Vishwanathan, Mahesh Kumar Jain, and Michael Patra and their tenure is 3 years.
• RBI Governor - Shaktikanta Das.

SPORTS NEWS

The 1^st edition of Khelo India Winter Games begins at Gulmarg.

• The first ever Khelo India Winter Games has started at Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, inaugurated by the Union Minister for sports.
• The 5-day event is Organised by Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council in association with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• FACT: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports – Kiren Rijiju.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS

Fourth Global Ayurveda Festival is to be held at Kochi.

• The 4^th edition of Global Ayurveda Festival is going to be held at Kochi, Kerala from May16th to 20^th.
• The 5-day event is organised by the Ministry of AYUSH with the theme as “Ayurveda Medical Tourism: Actualizing India's credibility”.
• FACT: Union Minister for AYUSH - Shripad Naik.

Namaste Orchha Festival kick starts in Madhya Pradesh.

• A 3-day festival called Namaste Orchha begins here in Madhya Pradesh at Orchha.
• The festival is being celebrated to create new oppurtunities and initiatives in enriching the state and its cultural and architectural heritage.
• Orchha city is a famous tourist destination and its well-known for the Ramaraja Temple situated there.
• FACT: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh – Kamal Nath.

                     Governor of Madhya Pradesh – Lalji Tandon.

                    Tourism Minister of Madhya Pradesh - Surendra Singh Baghel.