Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan to come into force from February 15, 2019

• The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM) Yojana that was announced in the Budget for 2019-20 will come into force from February 15, 2019. It is a pension scheme for workers of unorganised sector.
• All unorganised sector workers up to 40 years of age can subscribe to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM) scheme from February 15, 2019. The scheme has been brought under the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008.
• Eligibility: This Scheme shall be open only to the unorganised worker for joining,
  • whose monthly income is not exceeding fifteen thousand rupees
  • who has a savings bank account in his name and
  • has Aadhar number.
  • Age from 18 years to 40 years
• Monthly Contribution/ Premium: The worker joining the scheme at the age of 40 years would contribute Rs 200, while workers at the age of 29 years would pay Rs 100. However the age wise monthly premium is given in the table below. 

Overview of PM Modi’s Visit to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

• Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, was on a day long visit to Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu and Hubli in Karnataka on February 10, 2019 to unveil several development projects in these States.
• The first destination of PM was in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka respectively.
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13th PETROTECH 2019 Begins at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida

• PETROTECH-2019, the 13th International Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition, began at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on February 10, 2019.
• The three-day mega event, from 10 to 12 February 2019, will be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 11.
• Theme: Collaborating For Sustainable and Secure Energy Access for all. 
• The Conference has been organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India.
• The event will be attended by 95 Energy Ministers from partner countries and 7000 delegates from around 70 countries
• It is India’s flagship hydrocarbon conference to showcase the recent market and investor friendly developments in India’s oil and gas sector.

India’s first Institute of Advanced Virology inaugurated in Kerala

• India’s first Institute of Advanced Virology was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• The Institute of Advanced Virology is affiliated to Global Virus Network, which has 45 centres of excellence in over 29 countries.
• The institute was announced after the outbreak of the Nipah virus in the state in May 2018 and the  foundation stone for the institute was laid on May 30, 2018.
• The institute can confirm the viruses causing infectious diseases and detect new ones without delay in order to plan preventive measures.

3rd Brahmaputra Literary Festival,2019 begins in Guwahati, Assam

• The third edition of the Brahmaputra Literary Festival,2019 was inaugurated in Guwahati, Assam by the Chief Minister of the state Sarbananda Sonowal.
• Authors from more than 20 countries are taking part in the third edition of the Brahmaputra Literary Festival.
• The three-day literary event has been jointly organised by the National Book Trust and Publication Board Assam.

Mukesh Ambani tops Hurun India Philanthropy list 2018

• Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani has topped the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2018. Chairman of the Piramal Group, Ajay Piramal was second on the list.
• The total Indian philanthropy amount in the list stands at Rs 1,560 crore. The list included 39 Indians. The list is compiled by Barclays Hurun India.
• Mukesh Ambani and family donated Rs 437 crore from October 2017 to September 2018. Ajay Piramal donated Rs 200 crore during the same period.

World Government Summit 2019 begins in Dubai, UAE

• The seventh session of the World Government Summit began on February 10, 2019 in Dubai, UAE. Main theme: Development of human life.
• The main theme of the event will focus on the development of human life, in line with the summit’s approach aiming at boosting governments’ efforts to shape a better future for the planet’s 7 billion inhabitants.
• Over 600 speakers, including heads of states, top thinkers and leaders as well as 30 international organisations, will address the summit.

Multinational Maritime Exercise ‘AMAN 19’ Commences at Pakistan

• The 6th edition of the multinational Naval Exercise, AMAN-19, kicked off at Pakistan Navy Dockyard on February 8, 2019.
• The five day exercise will have a common resolve of “Together for Peace”
• The Naval Exercise is conducted biennially by Pakistan Navy since 2007 to bring in world navies under one umbrella for collaborative peace and security in the maritime domain.
• This year 45 nations are participating through Ships, Aircraft, Special Operating Forces, Observers and Speakers.
• AMAN-19 will also witness 3 days ‘International Maritime Conference’ being organized by National Centre for Maritime Policy Research (NCMPR).

Abu Dhabi Adds Hindi as 3rd Official Language in Court

• The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has included Hindi as the third official language alongside Arabic and English, to be used in its court.
• The move will enable millions of Indian expatriates in UAE to lodge claims and conduct other legal procedures in their own mother tongue, know their rights and duties without a language barrier and also bring transparency in litigation procedures.
• The decision is in line with project “Tomorrow 2021” that provides for a provision of bilingual forms for litigation procedures for non-Arabic parties.
• They would be required to translate court documents into English/Hindi in all civil and commercial cases lodged in Abu Dhabi courts if the defendant does not speak Arabic 

First World Pulses Day Observed on February 10