Current Affairs Update 4 January 2019
Current Affairs is an important part for many exams. Be prepared for this section with ByScoop which brings all the important Current Affairs in one place. 4 January 2019
PM Modi inaugurates 8 projects, lays foundation stones for 4 in Manipur worth Rs 1500 Crore
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated eight key development projects and laid the foundation stones for four schemes in Manipur. The overall cost is aroun Rs 1500 crore.
- Some of the projects are: Integrated Check Post at Moreh (Rs 125 crore), Dolaithabi Barrage Project, the FCI Food Storage Godown at Sawombung.
- He also laid the foundation stone for four projects — infrastructure development of Dhanamanjuri University in Imphal West district, flood lighting of hockey stadium and the main stadium at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in Imphal East district and AstroTurf laying in Langjing Achouba of Imphal West district
The 6th ‘Women of India Organic Festival’ to begin in Chandigarh
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development will be hosting the 6th ‘Women of India Organic Festival’ from 12th to 14th January, 2019, at Leisure Valley in Chandigarh.
- It will celebrate and promote women farmers and entrepreneurs in the organic sector from the remotest parts of India.
- The Women of India Organic Festival has been held annually in New Delhi since 2015, and makes its debut in Chandigarh this year.
Andhra tops ACI’s Ease of Doing Business index
- Andhra Pradesh emerged on top of Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI), Singapore’s 2018 Ease of Doing Business (EDB) Index ABC rankings for economies of 21 states of India.
- Maharashtra and Delhi came in second and third place, respectively. EDB index is based upon three parameters called ABC – Attractiveness to Investors, Business Friendliness and Competitiveness Policies.
Food Businesses Needs to Comply with New Packaging Norms by July 1: FSSAI
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI has directed all food businesses to comply with new packaging regulations that bar use of recycled plastics and newspapers to wrap food articles by July 1, 2019.
- As per the food regulatory body, in addition to re-cycling plastic, newspapers have ink and dye which when used for packaging food items is likely to cause cancer.
- The new regulations prohibit packaging material made of recycled plastics including carry bags for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing articles of food.
- These norms will replace all provisions with respect to packaging requirements prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.
In a first of its kind, ICICI Bank, Small Business FinCredit join hands to provide loans to MSMEs
- ICICI Bank and Small Business FinCredit will jointly provide loans worth up to Rs 1 crore to the small and medium enterprises.
- It is the first-of-its-kind programme by a bank and an NBFC with the loans of up to Rs 1 crore is for a tenure of 15 years per customer.
- The partnership has been forged under the aegis of RBI’s circular dated September 21, 2018, that permits banks to engage with a non-banking financial company (NBFC) to co-originate loans for the creation of priority sector assets.
SEBI Permits Custodial Services in Commodity Derivatives Market
- Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed custodial services in the commodity derivatives market.
- The decisions aims to enable participation of institutional investors such as mutual funds and portfolio managers in the commodity derivatives market segment.
- Under the new framework, existing custodians will be permitted to add commodities as an asset class and provide physical delivery of both securities and commodities.
World Braille Day : 04 January
- World Braille Day: 04 Jaunary
- The first official World Braille Day is celebrated on 4 January 2019.
- Purpose: World Braille Day is observed in order to raise awareness of the importance of braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and partially sighted people
Ex-India carrom player Prakash Rele dies at 78
- Former international carrom player and administrator Prakash Rele at 78.
- Rele was also an international carrom umpire.