Current Affairs Assam – February 15 - 21, 2019
( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of February 15 – 21, 2019 )
February 2019 – Monthly PDF | Monthly Quiz eBook PDF
Go To Assam Current Affairs Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz
February 15, 2019
India-US CEOs Forum to set up working groups
- The India-US CEOs Forum decided to set up working groups on financial services, healthcare and defence to suggest measures to accelerate trade and investment between the two countries.
- 3 working groups would be set up in addition to the existing four on energy and environment, ICT, emerging technologies and digital infrastructure, entrepreneurship and inclusive growth, as well as on infrastructure and manufacturing.
- Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu led the Indian delegation and the American side was headed by US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster.
FACTFILE – India-US bilateral trade
- Total bilateral trade (goods and services) with India was $126 billion in 2017, up 10.4% from $114.2 billion level in 2016.
- Exports were valued at $49.4 billion and imports were worth $76.7 billion. The US goods and services trade deficit with India was $27.3 billion in 2017.
- India is US’s ninth largest goods trading partner with $74.3 billion in total (two-way) goods trade during 2017. Goods exports totaled $25.7 billion and goods imports totaled at $48.6 billion. The US goods trade deficit with India was $22.9 billion in 2017.
- While India was the United States’ 15th largest goods export market in 2017, the latter exported $25.7 billion of goods to India, up by 18.7 per cent ($4.1 billion) from 2016 and up 71.6 per cent from 2007.
- US exports to India accounted for 1.7 per cent of overall US exports in 2017. The top export categories in 2017 were precious metals and stone (diamonds) at $7 billion, mineral fuels ($2.8 billion), aircraft ($2.2 billion), machinery ($2.1 billion), and optical and medical instruments ($1.4 billion).
- US exports of services to India were estimated at $23.7 billion in 2017, 15.2 per cent ($3.1 billion) more than 2016, and 174 per cent higher than 2007 levels.
- Leading services exports from the US to India were in the travel, intellectual property (computer software, audio and visual related products), and transport sectors.
- In the imports bracket, India was the United States’ 11th largest supplier of goods in 2017.
Union Government increases MSP for sugar
- Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of sugar has been increased to Rs 31 from Rs. 29 per kg in order to help millers clear pending dues of sugarcane farmers that now amount to Rs 20,167 crore.
- The mills will not be able to sell sugar below Rs 31 in the open market. It will rovide more liquidity to the sugar mills so that they are able to pay the arrears or dues to the sugarcane
- It would not lead to an increase in the retail prices and they will remain below Rs 40 per kg.
- The total arrears to sugarcane farmers is around Rs 20,167 crore including Rs 7,229 crore in Uttar Pradesh, Rs 4,792 crore in Maharashtra and Rs 3,990 crore in
India’s First District Cooling System to be in Amaravati
- India’s First District cooling system will come up in Amravati, capital of Andhra Pradesh. The government of Andhra Pradesh has entered into a 30-year concession with a UAE-based international cooling provider.
- District Cooling System at Amaravati is part of Andhra Pradesh Government’s vision to create jobs and homes along with a world-class infrastructure at Amaravati.
- The District Cooling System will meet the cooling requirements for the State’s Assembly, High Court, Secretariat and other government buildings that are currently under construction, for which cooling services will commence from early 2021.
FACTFILE – District Cooling Systems
- It produce chilled water, steam or hot water at a central plant and then pipe that energy out (either underground or over rooftops) to buildings for air conditioning, space heating and water heating. So, these buildings don’t require their own chillers, air conditioners, boilers or furnaces.
- District Cooling uses only 50 per cent of primary energy consumption for cooling urban building n compared to other cooling systems.
Ghumot to be notified as a Heritage Musical Instrument of Goa
- The Art and Culture Minister of Goa, Govind Gaude has announced that Ghumot, an indigenous earthen drum will soon be notified as a Heritage Musical Instrument of Goa.
- Ghumot is an indigenous earthen drum fashioned as a designed clay pot, with the skin of the monitor lizard stretched taut across the pot’s mouth, forming a drumhead.
- Ghumot is a percussion instrument widely played during ‘Ganesh Chaturthi Aarties’.
February 16, 2019
World Bank extends $40 million loan for water project in Himachal Pradesh
- The Indian and Himachal Pradesh governments and the World Bank signed a $40 million loan agreement to help provide clean and reliable drinking water.
- The Shimla Water Supply and Sewerage Service Delivery Reform Programmatic Development Policy Loan is expected to improve water supply and sanitation services in and around the iconic hill city of Shimla, which has been facing severe water shortages and water-borne epidemics in recent years.
- The agreement was signed by Khare, Prabodh Saxena, the state Urban Development Department Principal Secretary, and Junaid Ahmad, the World Bank India Country Director.
- The World Bank-supported project will support the state programme of policy and institutional reform needed to bring continuous, pressurised water supply, efficient sewage collection and treatment for all households in the Greater Shimla area.
- The $40 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a four-year grace period and a maturity of 15.5 years.
FACTFILE – International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
- The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is an international financial institution that offers loans to middle-income developing countries.
- The IBRD is the first of five member institutions that compose the World Bank Group, and is headquartered in Washington DC, United States.
- It was established in 1944 with the mission of financing the reconstruction of European nations devastated by WW II, but later, it’s mandate expanded to advancing worldwide economic development and eradicating poverty.
- The IBRD and the International Development Association (its concessional lending arm), are collectively known as the World Bank as they share the same staff.
- It offers a number of financial services and products, including flexible loans, grants, risk guarantees, financial derivatives, and catastrophic risk financing.
Rudra Barua Award bestowed on Guru Nadiram Deuri
- The Luit Konwar Rudra Barua Award was presented to Guru Nadiram Deuri for his outstanding contribution towards promotion of Tiwa folk dance and music.
- The award instituted by the Luit Konwar Rudra Barua Trust consists of a cash award of Rs 25,000, a citation and a shawl.
- The award was presented at Jagiroad, coinciding with the 39th death anniversary of the legendary artiste and organiser.
BIOGRAPHY – Luit Konwar Rudra Baruah
- Luit Konwar Rudra Baruah was one of the foremost music pioneers of Assam.
- He was an actor, composer, lyricist, singer and musician. He served with Govt. of Assam in the Public Relations Department and established the Culture & Film Division in the 1970s.
- He was conferred the title Luit Konwar in honour of the sterling work in the development of music and cinema in Assam.
MCI centre opened at the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital
- The Medical Council of India’s Regional Centre for Medical Education Technologies at the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), Jorhat.
- The MCI Centre for Medical Education Technologies would upgrade the teaching competency of teachers commensurate with the new MCI curriculum, which would be implemented from August 2019.
- The Centre would offer its services to 19 medical colleges from West Bengal, Sikkim,Meghalaya, Agartala, Manipur and Assam.
Sushil Chandra appointed as new Election Commissioner of India
- President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Sushil Chandra as the new Election Commissioner.
- Sushil Chandra Appointed as new Election Commissioner. His appointment fills the vacancy caused after the retirement of O.P. Rawat.
- Sushil Chandra is currently serving as the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Before that he has served as Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) International Taxation in Delhi, Director of Investigation, Mumbai and Director General Investigation, Gujarat.
- Other two members of the Commission, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora and Election Commissioner (EC) Ashok Lavasa.
FACTFILE – Election Commissioner of India
- The appointment was made under the clause (2) of Article 324 of the constitution.
- The Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners.
- The appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf by Parliament be made by the President.
- The President appoints the Election Commissioner based on the recommendations of the cabinet under the Transaction of Business Rules of 1961.
February 2019 – Monthly PDF | Monthly Quiz eBook PDF
Go To Assam Current Affairs Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz