Introduction
Current Affairs is a type of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or ongoing at the time of broadcast. The article Current Affairs 29 February 2020 includes News summary on current events of International, National, Education, Banking, Sports, Awards and Obituary importance of 29 February 2020.
INT
WHO raises global virus risk to maximum level
Click Here
Key Highlights- The World Health Organization raised its global risk assessment of the new coronavirus to its highest level after the epidemic spread to sub-Saharan Africa and caused financial markets to plunge.
- WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the risk was being raised to “very high” because of the continued increase in cases and the number of new countries affected in recent days.
Donald Trump nominates controversial ally John Ratcliffe as intelligence chief
Click Here
Key Highlights- US President Donald Trump announced Republican lawmaker John Ratcliffe as his intelligence chief Friday, sparking fresh controversy over a crucial position that has lacked a permanent office holder for months.
- The 53-year-old Trump loyalist was nominated as director of national intelligence after Dan Coats stepped down in July last year, but withdrew from consideration after strong criticism of his credentials from Democrats and a tepid response from key Republicans.
Luxembourg becomes first country to provide free public transport
Click Here
Key Highlights- Luxembourg will become the first country in the world to offer a free public transport system as the government tries to reduce particularly dense car traffic.
- Some cities have already taken similar partial measures but the transport ministry said it was the first time such a decision would cover an entire country.
- The free transport, which is being flagged as “an important social measure”, will affect approximately 40 percent of households and is likely to save each one around 100 euros ($110) per year.
US To Sign Agreement With Taliban, Mike Pompeo To Attend Deal
Click Here
Key Highlights- The United States will sign an agreement with the Taliban as part of its efforts to bring lasting peace in war-torn Afghanistan, President Donald Trump announced.
- "Soon, in my direction, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will witness the signing of an agreement with representatives of the Taliban, while Secretary of Defense Mark Esper will issue a joint declaration with the government of Afghanistan," Trump said in a statement.
National
NCAER releases 1st edition of land records and services index 2020: MP emerges as top performer, Ladakh at bottom
Click Here
Key Highlights- According to the 1st edition of NCAER Land Records and Services Index (N-LRSI 2019-20) released by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) , Madhya Pradesh (MP) emerged as the best performing state in terms of digitising land records with the score of 74.9.It was followed by Odisha (67.5points) and Maharashtra (65.3 points).
- The Index has been released during a half-day programme held in New Delhi by NCAER under the aegis of the NCAER Land Policy Initiative (NLPI), supported by the Omidyar Network, India
Govt approved 32 projects under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
Click Here
Key Highlights- Government approved a total of 32 projects under ‘unit’ scheme of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) [scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro Processing Clusters] in the meeting of Inter-Ministerial Approval Committee (IMAC) presided over by Union Minister of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
- The project covers about 17 states, leveraging an investment worth of Rs 406 crores.
PM Modi To Lay Foundation Stone For Bundelkhand Expressway In UP Today
Click Here
Key Highlights- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 10,000 Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) all over the country in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. He is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Bundelkhand Expressway which will provide a four-lane access-controlled route in Uttar Pradesh.
- Nearly 86 percent of farmers are small and marginal with average land holdings in the country being less than 1.1 hectares.
Indian Penal Code, Criminal Law Among 37 Central Laws To Be Applicable In J&K
Click Here
Key Highlights- The Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Representation Of People Act, 1950, Census Act 1948 and Prevention Of Corruption Act, 1988, are among the laws which will be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir following Union Cabinet's decision to approve adaptation of central laws under concurrent list to the Union Territory.
- The cabinet had approved the order for adaptation of Central Acts in the Union Territory under Section 96 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
- As a result, 37 central laws which were not applicable to the union territory will now be applicable.
Punjab To Reduce Government Employees' Retirement Age To 58
Click Here
Key Highlights- Reducing government employees' retirement age from 60 to 58, free education for all students up to Class 12 and a debt waiver for landless farmers were some of the major announcements made by Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal in the 2020-21 budget.
- Mr. Badal presented a Rs 1,54,805 crore budget in the state Assembly.
Education
MHT CET 2020 Application Process Ends
Click Here
Key Highlights- MHT CET 2020 application process will end today. The number of candidates who have registered for the exam has risen to 4,07,073 and those who have completed the application process has risen to 3,87,692 students. MHT CET exam is held for admission to undergraduate professional programmes in engineering, pharmacy, agriculture etc.
Application process for 170 vacancies closing soon, engineers can apply
Click Here
Key Highlights- National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited online applications for the recruitment of manager (technical) and deputy general manager (technician). There are a total of 170 vacancies including 46 for manager posts and 124 for DGM posts.
- Candidates can apply online at nhai.gov.in. The last date to apply is March 12. Candidates will have to send the printout of the application form after filling it online with requisite documents from the parent department by March 26.
IGNOU OPENMAT 2020 registration begins for MBA admissions
Click Here
Key Highlights- Online application process for IGNOU OPENMAT 2020 has begun. NTA will conduct the OPENMAT XLVII for admission to management (MBA) programme on April 29.
- The online application process will close on March 23. Candidates can apply online at https://ignouexams.nta.nic.in/
- NTA will release the IGNOU OPENMAT 2020 admit card on April 9. It will be a computer-based test.
Banking
Sakshi Batra tells you about the SBI IPO and expert recommendations for investors on the same.
Click Here
Key Highlights- India’s second-largest credit card issuer, SBI Cards is coming up with an initial public offering (IPO) which will be open for subscription for four days from March 2 to March 5.
- SBI Cards proposes to raise Rs 10,289 crore at the lower end of the price band (Rs 750 per share) and Rs 10,355 crore at the upper end (Rs 755 per share).
GDP growth at 4.7% in Q3FY20, decoding the numbers
Click Here
Key Highlights- India's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.7 percent in the Q3FY20, according to data released on February 28.
- The changes in the aggregate value of goods and services produced in an economy can be measured by the gross value added (GVA) which was estimated to grow at 4.5 percent in 2019-20.
Sports
Ritu Phogat dominates Chinese opponent in second MMA fight at ONE
Click Here
Key Highlights- India’s champion wrestler-turned-Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Ritu Phogat continued to dominate at the ONE Championship as she notched up a win by unanimous decision against debutante Wu Chiao Chen of China at the ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE held behind closed doors at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
- The Chinese, who has an 8-0 record as an amateur in MMA and has been a former JJIF Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship gold medallist, was no match for the determined Indian in a heavily one-sided women’s atomweight contest.
India pulls out of shooting World Cup in Cyprus
Click Here
Key Highlights- The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has decided to pull out the Indian team from the March 4-13 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in Nicosia, Cyprus, due to novel coronavirus scare.
- A member of the squad, training here at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, confirmed the development. “As of now we are not going as the hotel booking and air tickets have been canceled,” the member said.
Appt
Diplomat Abhishek appointed as next Ambassador of India to Venezuela
Click Here
Key Highlights- Diplomat Abhishek Singh has been appointed India’s next Ambassador to Venezuela, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
- Singh, a 2003-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian embassy in Kabul, the MEA said in a statement. He is expected to take up the assignment “shortly”, it added.
The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of Sumant Kathpalia as the MD and CEO of IndusInd Bank for three years
Click Here
Key Highlights- Private sector lender IndusInd Bank said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Sumant Kathpalia as the chief executive for three years.
- "As previously advised to the Exchanges, the Bank’s Nomination & Remuneration Committee and the Board had considered and submitted the name of a potential candidate for the role of MD & CEO, to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
Other Articles
Banking Awareness Quiz
Current Affairs 28 February 2020
Current Affairs One Liners February 2020
Current Affairs EBooks | Quizzes | Special Articles
General Awareness EBooks | Mock Tests | One Liners
