Daily Current Affairs

Capsule 29th January

2019

1. India and China sign protocol for exports of Indian tobacco leaves to China

India and China have signed the protocol for exports of Indian tobacco leaves to China.

Quality tobacco on par with international standards is available in India at competitive prices and there is

a good potential for export of Indian tobacco to China.

The protocol with China will pave the way for revival of Indian tobacco exports to China and prove

economically beneficial to Indian farmers.

2. Kerala to launch NRI pension scheme

The Kerala government will soon launch a `Pravasi Dividend Pension Scheme`

The government will provide regular pension to Non Resident Keralites on a one-time payment of Rs 5

lakh.

The one-time payment of Rs 5 lakh will be deposited with KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund

Board) for financing infrastructure projects.

The state would also set up a call centre with an international Toll Free Line to provide information,

register complaints and details about action taken on various issues faced by the Non-Resident Indians.

3. Madhya Pradesh announces 'Yuva Swabhiman Yojana' for poor urban youth

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced the launch of the 'Yuva Swabhiman Yojana' for youths

from the economically weaker sections in urban areas.

Under this scheme, 100 days of employment will be provided to youths from economically weaker

sections in urban areas.

They will also be given skill training

The urban poor youth are left out as those in rural areas get employment under the Mahatma Gandhi

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). This scheme will effectively cover urban youth.

4. World’s biggest cyclothon ‘Swasth Bharat Yatra’ culminates in Delhi

The Swasth Bharat Yatra, the world’s biggest cyclothon to push people to eat right, culminated in New Delhi.

The campaign was flagged-off on 16th October last year on the occasion of World Food Day.

The yatra began from six different locations - Leh, Panaji, Thiruvananthapuram, Puducherry, Kolkata and

Agartala on six different tracks.

This yatra is a part of the Eat Right India movement.

5. SBI Card and Etihad Guest launched premium card for international travel

SBI Card and Etihad Guest, have joined hands to launch a travel specific Visa credit card for members and Indian

travellers.

This is the first international co-brand partnership of SBI Card, the country's second largest credit card

issuer.

The card will be available in two variants, Etihad Guest SBI Card and Etihad Guest SBI Premier Card.

The card will bring an unmatched value proposition to Etihad Guest members and international travellers

from India.

6. India ranks 6th in GDPR readiness index

India ranked sixth leading nation globally in the GDPR readiness index, according to latest ranking released by

global networking leader Cisco.

Nearly 65 per cent of Indian organisations are better prepared for the European Union's General Data

Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The GDPR focused on increasing protection for EU residents' privacy and personal data, came into force

in May 2018.

7. ICAR's 'Kisan Gandhi' tableau wins first prize at R-Day parade

The ICAR tableau in the Republic Day Parade has won the first prize for its Kisan Gandhi theme.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research tableau with the theme "Mishrit Kheti, Khushiyon Ki Kheti"

portrayed Gandhi with goats and a cow and Kasturba engaged with charkha and caring animals. The

tableau showcased a view from Bapu Kuti at Wardha Ashram.

Tripura bagged the first prize for the state tableau while tableau from Jammu and Kashmir was adjudged

the second and Punjab won the third prize.

8. ICC suspends Ambati Rayudu from bowling in International Cricket

Ambati Rayudu has been suspended from bowling in International Cricket by the International Cricket Council

(ICC).

He has been banned after having found his bowling action to be illegal.

Rayudu had been reported for suspect bowling action during the first of the three-match ODI series

between India and Australia in Sydney, which India won 2-1.

ICC said that the suspension will remain in place until he is tested and can demonstrate he is able to bowl

with a legal action.

9. Former Defence Minister George Fernandes passes away

Former Defence Minister and Anti-Emergency Crusader George Fernandes passed away.

George Fernandes was a senior Janata Dal leader before he founded the Samata Party.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha 9 times and once to the Rajya Sabha.

He also served as Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Industry.

He served as the Defence Minister of India in both the second and third National Democratic Alliance

governments (1998–2004).

During his tenure as the defence minister, the Kargil war over Kashmir broke out between India and

Pakistan in 1999.