Source: Cick Here

• 30th January 2019, is celebrated as World Leprosy Eradication Day which stresses the need of eradicating the disease.


• It also brings to light the discrimination and stigma that people suffer from society every day.


• Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease is a highly contagious infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.


• This year’s theme for World Leprosy Day is ‘ending discrimination, stigma, and prejudice’.

Source: Cick Here

• In an aparent effort to give more chance to foreign workers who have received higher education from the US, the US government announced a new rule related to the filing of the all-important H-1B visas.


• The Trump administration insisted that the new rule is more 'efficient' and 'effective'. The US government also expressed confidence that the introduction of new rule will help the US in attracting best talent.

Source: Cick Here

• India is going to host the G20 annual summit is 2022 when it celebrates its 75th year of independence and in order exploit it to the full extent, capacity augmentation of available resources and efficient addressal of organizational challenges must be done on time to fill the infrastructure, management and intellectual gap.


• Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi requested Italy to host the 2021 G20 summit instead of 2022 summit which was accepted by Italy.

Source: Cick Here

• Transparency International released the Global Corruption Index 2018.


• According to report,India ranked 78 out of 180 countries with a score of 41.


• while China ranked 87 and Pakistan ranked 117.


• while Denmark is the least corrupt country and syria ,south sudan ,somalia is the most corrupt country.

Source: Cick Here

• Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte along with UN representative launched Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable development . The new centre is located near Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters in Rome.


• The major objective is boosting the agricultural sectors and promoting rural development in Africa. It will ensure a better future for the youth in the Continent who can be the drivers of development.


• It will help in implementing the goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the landmark 2015 Paris Climate Agreement to stop depending fossil fuel and cap global warming.


• A discussion on how G7 countries can fight environmental degradation and promote Africa’s sustainable economic growth was held by ministers.


• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

Source: Cick Here

• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in new study says the life expectancy of people in Delhi can go up by nearly three years if the air pollution is reduced by 25%.


• NCAP is a programme launched by Union Environment Ministry to improve air quality by 20 to 30% in the next 5 years.


• The programme takes 2017 as the base year to improve air quality. The study by Energy Policy Institute at University of Chicago (EPIC) uses the same base year as its parameters.


• They says the programme could pay off extensively in bringing the life expectancy up by an average of 1.4 years.


• Delhiites could gain around 2.8 years to their life, people in Kanpur would live 2.4 years longer and people in Kolkata could live 1.1 years longer.

Source: Cick Here

• a special scheme is launched by Maharashtra government with an aim to curb infant deaths. Child development Minister Pankaja Munde launched the scheme by distributing baby care kits to the children born in Primary health centre and Government Hospitals.


• The baby care kit contains a blanket, a small mattress, a towel, a thermometer, baby oil, shampoo, toys, nail cutter, gloves, socks, among other items. The kit costs around Rs.2000.


• The scheme is applicable only for first child of the parents. It will be beneficial for around 4 lakh women across Maharashtra.


• The government allocated Rs. 20cr for the scheme. Similar scheme launched by different states were successful in bringing down the infant mortality.


• Infant mortality is the death of young children under one year. India is among the countries having highest number of deaths among newborns.

Source: Cick Here

• Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons Inaugurated first Swadesh Darshan Project in Sikkim. It was inaugurated in the presence of Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation for Sikkim Ugen T Gyatso in Zero Point, Gangtok, Sikkim.


• The project is named as ‘Development of North East Circuit : Rangpo – Rorathang – Aritar – Phadamchen – Nathang – Sherathang – Tsongmo – Gangtok – Phodong – Mangan – Lacliung – Yumthang – Lachey – Thangu-Gurudongmer-Mangan-Gangtok-Tuminlingee-Singtam’.


• Swadesh Darshan scheme cost are Rs.98.05 crores was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in June 2015.
  
• Under the scheme, the government will develop quality infrastructure in the country with an objective of providing better experience and facilities to the visitors. It will also promote a economic growth.


• The Ministry will develop tourism infrastructure facilities like tourism information centre, meditation centre, walkways, cafeteria, public toilets, etc. under the scheme.

Source: Cick Here

• UP government approved construction of world’s longest expressway connecting Prayagraj with western UP. It will have a length of 600 km.


• Ganga express way will start from Meerut and will touch Amroha, Shajahanpur, Rac Bareli, Pratapgarh, Bulandshahr, Badaun, Farrukhabad, Hardon, Kannauj, before reaching Prayagraj.


• The estimated cost of the project will be around Rs. 36,000cr. The express way will provide massive connectivity in the state and in near by cities.


• Another express way project is upcoming for UP namely the Budelkhand expressway. It is a four lane access controlled highway.


• Budelkhand expressway will start from Jhansi and passes through Chitrakoot, Banda, Hamirpur, Auraiya, Jalaun, Etawah, Naseempur and joins the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.


• It amounts to Rs.640 crores to make payment to the land owners. The Industrial Development Department issued order for the land acquirement.

Source: Cick Here

• The two-wheeled, self-balancing and battery powered electric vehicles- Segway provided by Western Railway to Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel posted in all major railway stations in Mumbai.


• The vehicle will help RPF in keeping an eye on every nook and corner of the railway station. It will be helpful in railway stations having long platforms.


• At present, Segways are used by Marine Drive Police in South Mumbai. The officials need sufficient training to operate these vehicles.


• Segways will help the security personnel to carry out their duties more efficiently. They will be able to move faster in the premises of the railway station.


• It was launched on the 70th Republic Day function where Western Railway General Manager A K Gupta inaugurated 6 segways at Churchgate Railway Station.

Source: Cick Here

• Central banks of UAE and Saudi Arabia launched common digital currency called ‘Aber ‘. UAE central bank will establish an additional means for the central financial transfer systems of the two countries and enable bankers to directly deal with each other.


• Aber will be used in financial settlement between the two countries through Block chains and distributed Ledger technologies.


• Both Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) and the United Arab Emirates Central Bank (UAEIB) are studying the impact on the improvement and reduction of remittance costs and the assessment of risks through Aber.


• The use of digital currency will be restricted to a limited number of banks in each state. If the first phase is successful then economic and legal requirements for future uses will be considered.

Source: Cick Here

• The Securities and Exchange Board of india (SEBI) proposed a new set of framework for REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and InvITs (Infrastructure Investments Trusts) in order to provide flexibility to issuers in terms of fund raising and increasing the access of these investment vehicles to investors because despite of various relaxations given by SEBI, these investment vehicles have failed to attract investors.


• SEBI had allowed the setting up and listing of REITs under REITs Regulations which was notified by SEBI in 2014.


• SEBI had sought comments from Public till 18th February 2019 on the fresh Consultation paper released to amend regulations pertaining to both REITs and InvITs.


• The minimum allotment and trading lot for publicly issued REITs and InvITs is planned to be reduced under the new set of Framework.


• Leverage limit for InvITs is proposed to increase from existing 49% to 70%.


• As per the new proposal, the minimum application and allotment lot should be of 100 units and value of one lot should in range of Rs. 15000 to Rs 20000 at the time of initial listing.


• For REITs, the prescribed lot for the purpose of trading of units on the stock exchange is Rs. 1 lakh whereas for InvIT, It is Rs 5 lakh.


• SEBI has proposed a separate framework to enable unlisted privately held InvITs as per which the number of investors should be determined by the issuers and minimum investment by an investor should not be less than Rs 1 crore.


• SEBI had also allowed the existing privately placed InvITs to migrate to the new proposed framework if they obtain approval from more than 90% of the unit holders by value.

Source: Cick Here

• The government may offer more tax benefits on housing loans in the budget.


• There are expectations that the government may increase the basic income tax exemption limit.

Source: Cick Here

• Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated first Astro Turf Football Pitch of the State at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima, Nagaland.


• The pitch was inaugurated on the occasion of 100th birth anniversary of the legendary footballer Dr. T. Ao.


• The state government also planned to partner with Bhaichung Bhutia Football schools for a game development plan. It will begin with young-footballers in which under-16 footballers all over the state will receive an opportunity to be part of this program.


• The Astro Turf has size of 105×66 metres for playground which is FIFA approved size. An exhibition match was also played between Chief Minister XI and Chief Secretary XI.


• The government will work on strategic sports infrastructure development plan to provide quality sports facilities in every district.

Source: Cick Here

• Viswanathan Anand settled for third place in Tata Steel Masters Chess tournament held in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands.


• Magnus Carlsen won the title and it is 7th Tata Steel Chess title after setting for a draw against Anish Giri.


• Anish Giri secured 2nd position with 8.5 points while Magnus Carlsen ended with 9 points. Anish who is ranking No.5 is a Russian born Dutch Grandmaster.


• Viswanathan Anand ended with 7.5 points with 3 victories, a lone loss and nine draws. Anand now ranked sixth in the world rankings.


• Vladislav Kovalev of Latvia won game in Challengers section to assure himself a place in the next year masters. The young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhad ranked 11th when he settled for a draw with Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan.

Source: Cick Here

• New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets in the fourth ODI at Hamilton to win their first match of the five-match ODI series.


• India lost an international match under Rohit Sharma's captaincy after 12 consecutive victories dating back to March 2018. The match witnessed India getting all out for 92, their seventh lowest total in ODI cricket history.

Source: Cick Here

• Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal received the Carnot prize for his work towards sustainable energy solutions from University of Pennsylvania in New Delhi.


• This award rewards the works done by piyush Goyal to reform the electricity sector and extended access to electricity to 18,000 villages.


• Last year This award was skipped before being entitled to the former power minister ,because of the Amritsar tragedy in which over 60 people died after being moved down by a train.

Source: Cick Here

• Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar assumed charge as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.


• He served as the Navigating Officer of Indian Naval Ships Beas, Nilgiri, Ranvir and Vikrantand as a Commanding Officer of INS Kulish and Ranvir, and Executive Officer on board INS Brahmaputra.


• He holded as a deputy Chief of naval Staff from June 6, 2016.

Source: Cick Here

• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) that conducts prestigious civil service exams to select diplomats ,country’s bureaucrats appointed Rajiv Nayan Choubey as the member of UPSC.


• Chairman of UPSC, Aravind Saxena administered the Rajiv Nayan Choubey oath of office.


• UPSC can have a maximum of 10 members excluding the chairman,with Rajiv Nayan Choubey’ s appointment filled up UPSC’s complete strength.

Source: Cick Here

• Senior diplomat Sunjay Sudhir was appointed as India’s Ambassador to the Maldives. He presently works as a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,which he will be resigning shortly.


• Also, government appointed Vinay Singh Chauhan as the Ambassador of India to Burkina Faso who is presently Consulate General of India.

Source: Cick Here

• Former Punjab Ranji cricketer and coach Amrik Singh Nagra died due to cardiac arrest in Ludhiana.


• In 1987, Amrik Singh Nagra was one of six players selected for under 19 championship from Ludhiana.

A. Mumbai B. Kota C. Kolkata D. New Delhi Answer: D

A. 40 % B. 25 % C. 50 % D. 65 % Answer: B

A. Tamil Nadu B. Haryana C. Assam D. Maharashtra Answer: D

A. Gangtok, Sikkim B. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh C. Calicut, Kerala D. Darjeeling, West Bengal Answer: A

A. Ranjana Prakash Desai B. Pranavi Roy C. Salim Abbas D. Anjali Khanna Answer: A

A. Atal express way B. Ganga express way C. Uttara express way D. Prayag express way Answer: B

A. Justice G.S. Sistani B. Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal C. Justice Sarang Diwan D. Justice Manish Mundra Answer: A

A. Pune B. Panaji C. Mumbai D. Bengaluru Answer: C

A. 45 B. 23 C. 67 D. 78 Answer: D

A. Johannesburg, South Africa B. Nairobi, Kenya C. Rome, Italy D. Abuja, Nigeria Answer: C

A. China B. Thailand C. India D. Malaysia Answer: C

A. Moolah B. Aber C. Siaro D. Urzo Answer: B

A. United States of America B. South Korea C. China D. Japan Answer: C

A. Empowered B. Estate C. External D. Entry Answer: B

A. Narendra Singh Tomar B. Piyush Goyal C. Nitin Gadkari D. Jual Oram Answer: B

A. Reshma Ravichandran B. Poonam Chandan C. Narthaki Nataraj D. Aneekha Agarwal Answer: C

A. Surabhi Singh B. Rajiv Nayan Choubey C. Akash Aluwalia D. Rudramoorthy S Answer: D

A. Akshay Mithra B. Ravi Shankar C. Uma Sindhya D. Sunjay Sudhir Answer: D

A. Mahisha Bhatt B. Suman Kumari C. Anu Chhabra D. Rani Adnani Answer: B

A. Vice Admiral Vikrant Thapar B. Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar C. Vice Admiral Praveen Hebbal D. Vice Admiral Saroj Manish Answer: B

A. Mahendra Nath B. Joshua Holla C. Arvind Giri D. Vinay Singh Chauhan Answer: D

A. Tamil Nadu B. Kerala C. Assam D. Odisha Answer: C

A. Devilbug B. Superbug C. Monsterbug D. Infinitebug Answer: B

A. Carlos Brathwaite B. Jason Holder C. Shimron Hetmyer D. Roston Chase Answer: B

A. Vishwanathan Anand B. Magnus Carlsen C. Anish Giri D. Vladislav Kovalev Answer: B

A. Kohima B. Dimapur C. Mokokchung D. Wokha Answer: A

A. Hockey B. Football C. Cricket D. Badminton Answer: C

A. Ending discrimination, stigma, and prejudice B. Eradicate Leprosy C. Education to Leprosy affected kids D.Science and Technology to eliminate Leprosy Answer: A

A. January 31 B. January 30 C. January 29 D. January 28 Answer: B

A. Iran B. Israel C. Bahrain D. Turkey Answer: B

A. Uttar Pradesh B. Bihar C. Jharkhand D. Gujarat Answer: D

A. Maharashtra B. Karnataka C. Delhi D. Uttar Pradesh Answer: A

A. France, Germany B. UAE, Saudi Arabia C. Saudi Arabia, Qatar D. Qatar, UAE Answer: B

A. Bangladesh B. Malaysia C. China D. Japan Answer: C

A. Demands for Grants B. Guillotine C. Vote on Account D. Appropriation Bill Answer: C

A. RBI B. SEBI C. FICCI D. NITI Aayog Answer: B

A. Sikkim B. Manipur C. Meghalaya D. Nagaland Answer: A

A. Kerala B. Puducherry C. Jharkhand D. Goa Answer: D

A. Air India B. Air Asia C. Lufthansa D. Tiger Air Answer: A