Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 29 FEBRUARY 2020

::NATIONAL::

President emphasizes need of women empowerment for nation’s development

President Ram NathKovind has said that the benefits of scientific research will make the best impact only when it reach the less-privileged institutions, the youth, women and socio-economically weaker segments.
Addressing the National Science Day celebrations in New Delhi today, Mr Kovind called on people to resolve to enhance quality and relevance of the scientific enterprise in the country. He said, science must work for the people by contributing to their development and well-being.
From ancient times to the medieval era and then the modern period, India has been home to exceptional minds who have pushed the frontiers of human knowledge.
Speaking about the theme of this year's National Science Day which is 'Women in Science', Mr Kovind said, in order to encourage women to take to higher studies in science, he has substantially enhanced the representation of women in central universities as visitor’s nominee.
He said, the step is taken to create a favourable environment of higher studies and employment in faculty positions for women. The President said, during his recent visit to Sriharikota Range of Indian Space Research Organisation he came across a woman scientist so dedicated to the Chandrayaan project that she left her six month old son with her parents and joined the mission.

NITI Aayog selects J & K for pilot projects among SDG states/UT’s

NITI Aayog has selected Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for first pilot project among all States and UTs on Sustainable Developmental Goals.
It would get a chance to work with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This was informed by Principal Secretary RohitKansal in a meeting at Jammu today. He also reviewed the progress made under different Outreach Programmes conducted across J&K.
The programmes would work like that of district indicator framework wherein information would be sought from respective District Commissioners and ranking would be done by setting certain parameters.
He said under the Public Outreach Programme, Lieutenant Governor is touring various parts of the UT and taking firsthand accounts of the issues faced by people and ensuring redressal within the shortest possible time frame.

::ECONOMY::

Coronavirus impacts global markets,investors move towards government bonds

Global markets went into a tailspin on Friday as investors stampeded out of stocks and commodities and flocked to the relative safety of government bonds, prompted by fears of a global recession due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Reflecting the turmoil in the stock markets, the rupee hit a six-month low against the dollar, at ₹72.27, before recovering marginally to close at ₹72.21.
U.S. markets appeared set to experience their worst week since the 2008 global financial crisis. The broad-based S&P 500 index was down 4% in early trade on Friday and is now down almost 15% since its all-time high set just six trading sessions back.
Yields on U.S. Treasury bills fell sharply as investors embraced its relative safety over stocks. The bond markets displayed an inverted yield curve where short-term bills yield more than long-term ones, signifying nervousness over economic prospects.
Oil prices experienced their worst week since 2016, with the prices of the benchmark Brent crude falling to as low as $50.51 a barrel. Elsewhere in the commodity markets, metal prices fell by up to 6%.
Global borrowings benchmark Libor experienced its worst single-day drop in a decade, falling to 1.46275%, as the markets raised their bets on accelerated rate cuts in the U.S. as a response to the economic turmoil.

PSB staff to get performance based incentive

The meeting between bank employees unions and the Indian Banks Association (IBA) on wage negotiations scheduled for February 29 is likely to see the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) accepting the IBA’s latest offer of a 15% hike. The UFBU is the umbrella body of nine bank unions.
In addition to the wage hike, there will be a performance-linked incentive (PLI) for the bank staff, which will be calculated on the basis of the operating profit of the bank. If a bank posts 15% growth in operating profit, then an employee can earn as high as 21 days of pay as PLI.
The wage revision will be implemented across 19 public sector banks, 10 private sector banks and seven foreign banks. The present round of wage negotiations — for the 11th bipartite agreement — started in May 2018 when a 2% hike was offered by IBA.
The officers’ association had demanded a 20% pay hike and it is not clear if they would stick to the demand or settle for 15%. The bank unions has called a three-day strike from March 11-13, and an indefinite strike from April 1, mainly over their demand for wage revision.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India affirms support to Afghanistan for national unity and territorial integrity

A day ahead of signing of a landmark peace deal between the US and the Taliban, Foreign Secretary Harsh VardhanShringla today travelled to Kabul and conveyed to the top Afghan leadership India's unstinted support to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
He met President Ashraf Ghani and handed over to him a letter from Prime Minister NarendraModi.
Shringla met Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Vice President-elect AmrullahSaleh, National Security Adviser HamdullahMohib and acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan HaroonChakhansuri and apprised them about India's strong commitment for all-round development of Afghanistan.
In a series of tweets, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, India stands with Afghanistan for strengthening national unity, territorial integrity, democracy, plurality and prosperity in the country and bringing an end to externally sponsored terrorism.

Srilanka not to sign MCC agreement with U.S

Sri Lankan Government has decided not to sign the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) with the US Government. Cabinet Spokesman Minister BandulaGunawardana told a media conference today that the decision is based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee and the agreement will not be signed in its present form.
He said, the government also considered national security concerns in relation with the agreement adding that it was not in accordance with the Constitution. However, he said, the government is prepared to have discussions with the US to make amendments to the agreement.
The MCC agreement is to provide a grant of 480 million US dollars to Sri Lanka for development of transport and land deeds based on certain conditions. President GotabayaRajapaksa had appointed a committee to look into the agreement after coming into power last November while the former government had approved it.
The government decision came as Sri Lanka’s relations with US and western nations have soured in past few weeks. US Government imposed a travel ban on Sri Lankan Army Chief Shavendra Silva and his family for alleged war crimes during end phase of three-decade long LTTE war.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Study finds decline in dolphin population in Odisha

The Forest Department of the Odisha State Government conducted a census at Chilikalake to count the number of dolphins at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.The Sanctuary is a part of Bhitarkanika National Park of Odisha.
According to the report, the dolphin count came down to 233 in 2020 from 259 in 2019. At the census, 60 Irawaddy Dolphins and only two bottle nose dolphins were spotted. In 2019, the officials had spotted 14 Irawaddy Dolphins and 14 bottle nose dolphins.
The Dolphin Census at the Garimatha Marine Sanctuary was held for the first time in 2015. It was cancelled in 2016 and 2017 due to bad weather.
Chilikalake is a Ramsar Site. This year as the prawn Gherries were dismantled, the dolphins were spread all over the lake.Dolphins are listed in Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection) act 1972. The IUCN red list categorizes Dolphins as Endangered.

::SPORTS::

Corona prompts 6 countries to withdraw from shooting world cup

The novel coronavirus outbreak has prompted six countries to withdraw from next month's shooting World Cup slated to be held from 15th of next month at the Karni Singh Shooting Range in the national capital. This was revealed by the President of National Rifles Association of India (NRAI), Raninder Singh in New Delhi today.
The countries which have withdrawn are China, Hong Kong, Macau, North Korea , Turkmenistan and Taiwan, which has locked down their entire island. The NRAI chief also informed that Pakistan will also not be competing at the event as the country's shooters are busy with a new coach.
Earlier this month, the Indian government refused to grant visas to Chinese grapplers for the Asian Wrestling Championship held in New Delhi due to the disease originating from Wuhan. The epidemic has killed more than 2, 600 and infected over 80,000 people all over the world.