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.12.2018 NATIONAL Amazon announces first device.2018 manufacturing line in India E-commerce giant Amazon has announced its plans to begin manufacturing devices in India. This is the first Amazon.11.2018 manufacturing line in India and reiterates the firm‘s commitment to the government‘s ―Make in India‖ for an Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Amazon will commence manufacturing with contract manufacturer Cloud Network Technology, a subsidiary of Foxconn, in Chennai, and start production later this year. PM Modi inaugurated key projects of Kerala virtually Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and lay the foundation stone of key projects of power and urban sector in Kerala through video conferencing. He will inaugurate the 320 KV Pugalur – Thrissur Power Transmission Project. It is a Voltage Source Inverter based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Project and has India‘s first HVDC link featuring state-of-the-art VSC technology. Built at a cost of Rs 5070 crore, it will facilitate transfer of 2000 MW power from the western region and help meet the growth in load for the people of Kerala. Union Cabinet approves production-linked incentive scheme – telecom sector The Union Cabinet approved a production-linked incentive scheme for the telecom sector. Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Electronic and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, the production-linked incentive worth Rs 12,195 Crore has been cleared for the telecom sector. He said this will create 40 thousand direct and indirect employment. Civil Aviation Ministry allows – drones to Kochi Metro Rail Ltd Civil Aviation Ministry and Directorate General of Civil Aviation have granted permission for usage of drones to Kochi Metro Rail Limited, Kerala. The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System is to be used for Integrated Urban Regeneration & Water Transport System Project. PM Modi to launch Mahabahu-Brahmaputra initiative in Assam Prime Minister Narendra Modi would launch the Mahabahu-Brahmaputra initiative and lay the foundation stones of one bridge and perform a ground-breaking ceremony (bhumi pujan) of another in Assam via video conferencing. Aim : To improve connectivity in the eastern states, will be marked by the inauguration of the Ro-Pax vessel operations between Neamati-Majuli Island, North Guwahati-South Guwahati and Dhubri-Hatsingimari. Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar launches applications for five pan-India surveys The importance of accurate data for policy making, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar launched software applications for five pan-India surveys, including on migrant and domestic workers. The minister also released instruction manuals with questionnaires for the five pan-India surveys being conducted by the Labour Bureau. These five surveys being undertaken by the Labour Bureau are — All-India Survey on Migrant workers, All-India Survey on Domestic Workers, All-India Survey on Employment Generated by Professionals, All-India Survey on Employment Generated in Transport Sector, and All-India Quarterly Establishment based Employment Survey. PM Modi inaugurates oil and gas sector projects in Tamil Nadu Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for key oil and gas sector projects in Tamil Nadu via video conferencing. During his address, the Prime Minister said, Indian Oil‘s 143-km-long pipeline from Ramanathapuram to Thoothukudi will monetise the gas from ONG gas fields. This is a part of a larger national gas pipeline project being developed at a cost of4,500 crore. ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ programme with Prime Minister to be held online Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has announced that the fourth edition of Prime Minister‘s Interaction Programme with school students, teachers and parents – Pariksha Pe Charcha will be held next month. Mr Nishank also said that the registration process for the forthcoming ‗Pariksha Pe Charcha‘ programme has begun which will be open till 14th of March. He informed me that this time the programme will be held virtually. He said the participants of this programme will be selected through an online competition which will be organised on MyGov platform.
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.12.2018 BANKING AND ECONOMIC Oxford Economics ups India .2018growth forecast to 10.2% for 2021 Global forecasting firm Oxford Economics revised India‘s economic growth projection for 2021 to 2 percent from the earlier 8.8 percent. .11.2018 Because the receding COVID-19 risks and the shift in the monetary policy outlook. Brazilian, Indian startup satellite in ISRO’s first mission in 2021 on Feb 28 In its first mission in 2021, India‘s space agency ISRO planned to launch on February 28 Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 and three Indian payloads, including one built by a home-grown start-up. The satellites are slated to be launched on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-51 at 10.28 am from the Sriharikota spaceport, over 100 kms from Chennai. RBI permits residents to make remittances to IFSCs under LRS The Reserve Bank of India has permitted resident individuals to make remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) to International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in the country. The decision of the RBI is aimed at deepening the financial markets in the IFSCs and providing an opportunity for resident individuals to diversify their portfolios.
STATE GOVT NEWS Odisha Govt announced Rs 200 crore Development Package for Maa Samaleswari Temple Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a Rs 200-crore package for the development of the 16th-century shrine of Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of western Odisha. The SAMALEI (Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiatives) project will be implemented during the 2021-22 fiscal. Launching the Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiative (SAMALEI), the Chief Minister said the government will spend Rs 200 crore in 2021-22 to develop an area of 108 acres around the temple. ‘Free Gift Milk to Girl Students of Sikkim’ initiative at Gangtok Sikkim Chief Minister P. S. Tamang launched the ‗Free Gift Milk to Girl Students of Sikkim‘ initiative at Gangtok. The initiative will benefit around 1,500 students who would be provided 200 mls of milk every day. Mr Tamang called the initiative a step towards eradicating malnutrition and other health problems among the young generation. ‘Snakepedia’ mobile app launched in Kerala A team of scientists, doctors and photographers in Kerala have launched a mobile application named ―Snakepedia‖, that will present all relevant information on snakes, to help the public as well as doctors in treating snake bites. The main aim of the app is to help the public identify snakes, avail proper treatment on time for snakebites, bust myths about snakes, and protect snakes as well as snakebite victims. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Birth Anniversary – Prime Minister pays rich tribute Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the occasion of his Birth Anniversary. Remembering Chhatrapati Shivaji as an immortal son of Mother India, Mr. Modi said that the saga of indomitable courage, valour and intelligence of the great Maratha ruler will keep inspiring countrymen for ages. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar remembered Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a great warrior and strategist of India.
SPORTS Chris Morris becomes IPL’s most expensive player Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar and South African all-rounder Chris Morris shattered all records at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction in Chennai. Rajasthan Royals went all-out for the South African all- rounder Morris, buying him for a whopping INR 16.25 crore. Morris, who was declared surplus to requirement by the Virat Kohli-led side after the conclusion of the IPL 2020 last year, turned out to be the most expensive player bought in the history of the cash-rich tournament. South Africa’s Faf du Plessis retires from Test cricket Former captain of South Africa, Faf du Plessis has announced his retirement from Test cricket.
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Kings XI Punjab renamed as.12.2018 Punjab Kings ahead of IPL auction The IPL Franchise, Kings.2018 XI Punjab has formally been renamed as Punjab Kings ahead of the Indian Premier League auction. The new brand name and logo of the team was officially released by the management. The Punjab-based IPL.11.2018 franchise ‗Punjab Kings‗ is co-owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, along with businessman Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman and Karn Paul. The side is currently led by batsman KL Rahul, with former Indian captain Anil Kumble as its head coach.
INTERNATIONAL Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia resigns On February 18, 2021, The Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia has announced his resignation Gakharia said in a statement he was stepping down because of disagreements within his own team over the decision to arrest Nika Melia, chairman of the United National Movement opposition party. Gakharia served as the Prime Minister from 8 September 2019 to 18 February 2021. About Georgia :Capital : Tbilisi & Currency : Georgian Iari
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS Three children from Kerala selected for national awards Three children from the state have been selected for the national bravery awards instituted by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW). Ummer Mukthar of Malappuram who won the special award will get a medal and a cash prize of Rs 75,000, while Jayakrishnan Babu of Wayanad and Muhammed Hamras K of Malappuram who won the general awards will each get a medal and a cash prize of Rs 40,000.
MISCELLANEOUS Essar Oil and Gas signs MoU with Indian School of Mines Essar Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Ltd (EOGEPL), India‘s leading Coal Bed Methane (CBM) gas producer, said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration with the prestigious IIT (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, to jointly work on research and development of various advanced CBM technological innovations indigenously. EOGEPL, an investee company of Essar Global Fund Limited (EGFL), is one of India‘s largest operators of unconventional hydrocarbon acreages. Naman Ojha announces retirement from all forms of cricket Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 37-year-old from Madhya Pradesh, who holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in the Ranji Trophy, has featured in one Test, one ODI and two T20 Internationals. Former governor and noted jurist M Rama Jois passes away at 88 Former Bihar-Jharkhand governor and noted jurist Justice (Retd.) Mandagadde Rama Jois passed away at 88. M Rama Jois, a former Rajya Sabha MP, had also served as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court. Born on July 27, 1932, at Shivamogga, M Rama Jois did his BA and Law degree. He was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from the beginning. Indo-Pak wars’ veteran retired Major General BK Mahapatra Passed away Major General (retired) Basant Kumar Mahapatra, who had participated in 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars, Passed away . He was 87. Mahapatra was commissioned into the armoured corps (Tanks) of the Indian Army as a Combat Officer and was fondly known as ‗Tank Man‘. Mohapatra was conferred with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM). Congress leader and Gandhi loyalist Capt Satish Sharma passes away at 73 Congress leader and former union minister Captain Satish Sharma Passed away. He was 73. Sharma was Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas from 1993 to 1996 in the Narasimha Rao government. Born on October 11, 1947 in Andhra Pradesh‘s Secunderabad, Sharma was a professional commercial pilot. Hyundai Develops Ultimate Mobility Vehicle ‘TIGER X-1’ Hyundai Motor Company has launched a Transformer-like robocar dubbed as TIGER X-1, that can travel over the most challenging terrains on the Earth as well as on other planets.
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TIGER stands for Transforming.12.2018 Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot, and the X-1 denotes its experimental status. The Ultimate Mobility Vehicle.2018 (UMV) TIGER is being developed by Hyundai in partnership with Autodesk and Sundberg- Ferar. AI based translation software.11.2018 ‘Amar Vasha’ launched by Bangladesh Supreme Court The Bangladesh Supreme Court launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) based translation software ‗Amar Vasha‘ through a virtual event. The software will translate orders and judgements of the Supreme Court from English to Bangla.
APPOINTMENT NEWS Honda R&D chief Toshihiro Mibe appointed as new CEO: sources Mibe, who is already a director at Honda, would replace Takahiro Hachigo, who has held the CEOpost for six years. Executive Vice President and ChiefOperating Officer Seiji Kuraishi will remain in his post to support Mibe, the sources Page Industries CEO Vedji Ticku resigns Page Industriesshares decline after CEO Vedji Ticku resigns ‗owing to personal commitments‘ Shares of Page Industries dropped over 5 percent after the Vedji Ticku, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the company resigned ―owing to personal commitments‖. Ajai Malhotra becomes first Indian chairperson at UNHRC advisory Ajai Malhotra became the first Indian to be elected as the Chairperson of the United Nations Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council. He has been on the Indian team negotiating issues such as biological diversity, climate change, desertification, education, energy, forestry, health, human rights, human settlements, intellectual property, international law, labour, ozone depletion, sustainable development and trade. Malhotra first joined the Indian Foreign Services in 1977. Malhotra has previously served as ambassador to Russia, Kuwait, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York and Romania. Amrit Singh appointed as Max Life Insurance Chief Financial Officer Max Life Insurance Company Ltd (Max Life) has announced the appointment of Amrit Singh as Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President, Strategy. Amrit will be responsible for leading the Company‘s finance function and business strategy with the objective of strengthening business performance, growth margins while working with the Company‘s leadership team to drive its strategic initiatives.
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