Daily Current Affairs Capsule 14th January

2019

1. 9th International Conference on Micro Irrigation

Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of is organizing the 9th International Micro Irrigation Conference on Modern Agriculture at Aurangabad in Maharashtra from January 16–18, 2019, in association with International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), Indian National Committee on Surface Water (INCSW) and WAPCOS Limited.

 The Conference will provide a forum for discussions and deliberation through seminars, exhibitions and sessions and will serve to build awareness regarding large-scale use of micro irrigation, strategies for water conservation, advanced crop technology, engineering techniques, etc.

2. Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Jharsuguda to be dedicated to the Nation

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Balangir in Odisha on 15 January, 2019. He will dedicate Multi- Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) Jharsugudaand other developmental projects to the Nation.

 The Prime Minister will inaugurate a new railway line from Balangir-Bichupali. He will also lay foundation stone for permanent building at KendriyaVidhyalaya, Sonepur.

Points to Remember

 The Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Jharsuguda is built at a cost of Rs 100 Crores. It will facilitate EXIM and Domestic cargo including Private Freight Traffic. MMLP is located adjacent to Howrah- Mumbai which is 5 km from Jharsuguda Railway Station. 3. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to dedicate Kollam bypass in

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation the 13 km, 2 lane Kollam bypass on NH-66 in Kerala.

 Constructed at a cost of Rs 352 core, this highway has three major bridges over Ashtamudi Lake. The project will ease traffic congestion around Kollam town and reduce the travel time between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram.

Points to Remember

 Some of the landmark ongoing National Highways projects in the state include the Thiruvananthapuram Bypass, Thalassery-Mahe Bypass, along Wadakkanchery – section of NH-544, Alappuzha bypass on NH66.  These projects, on completion, will create new socio- economic opportunities for the people and boost trade and tourism in this region.

4. Central Government Appoints 14th January, 2019 as The Date on Which Provisions of Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019 shall come in to force

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019, the Central Government hereby appoints the 14th January, 2019 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.

Points to Remember

 Economic reservation in jobs and education is proposed to be provided by inserting clause (6) in Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution. The proposed Article 15(6) enables State to make special provisions for advancement of any economically weaker section of citizens, including reservations in educational institutions. It states that such reservation can be made in any educational institution, including private institutions, whether aided or unaided, except minority educational institutions covered under Article 30(1).

5. Regional Centre of National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD)

Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi inaugurated 5th Regional Centre of National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) at Mohali, Punjab.

 The Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi stressed upon the need for training and development of elected women representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to ensure that fruit of development may reach the grassroots level through their active participation and actual empowerment

Points to Remember

 NIPCCD is a premier organisation devoted to promotion of voluntary action, research, training, and documentation in the overall domain of women and children development.NIPCCD already has four such Regional Centres one each at Bangalore, Guwahati, Indore and Lucknow besides the Headquarters at New Delhi.

6. Dr. T.C.A Anant takes Oath of Office and Secrecy as Member, UPSC

Dr. T.C.A Anant, former Chief Statistician of India & Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, took the Oath of Office and Secrecy as Member, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

 The Oath was administered by Shri Arvind Saxena, Chairman,UPSC.

Points to Remember

 Dr. Anant’s academic background includes Ph. D from Cornell University and Masters in Economics from Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. Prior to his appointment as Chief Statistician, Dr. Anant served as Professor at Delhi School of Economics for more than a decade. Dr. Anant has served in a number of Expert Committees of various Ministries and Agencies of Government of India.

7. First-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award presented to PM Modi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award, at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi.

 The Award focuses on the triple bottom-line of People, Profit and Planet. It will be offered annually to the leader of a Nation.  The Award Citation says:  “Shri Narendra Modi is selected for his outstanding leadership for the nation. His selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy has resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in the country.”

Points to Remember

 Prof. Philip Kotler is a world renowned Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. Owing to his ill-health, he deputed Dr. Jagdish Sheth of EMORY University, Georgia, USA, to confer the award.