Daily Current Affairs 08 January 2020: We have collected the latest current affairs for 08 January 2020 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. The GK current affairs will help you score more in these competitive exams. Improve your general knowledge with our daily online current affairs. You can also read the daily current affairs on our mobile app.
Current Affairs 08 January 2020
Important Cabinet Approvals: 08 January 2020
- The Union Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was held on 8th January 2020. Following decisions were taken during the meeting:
- Approval for the ratification of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France.
- Approval for Agreement between India and Mongolia on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful and Civilian Purposes.
- Approved Agreement on cooperation in polar science between India and Sweden.
- Approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Kingdom for Enabling Energy Self-Sufficiency for Indian Railways.
- Ex-post-facto approval on the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Government of India and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) on cooperation in the field of Health
- Approved Capital Grant as Viability Gap Funding to Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited for setting up the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid
- Approved ‘In Principle’ strategic disinvestment of equity shareholding of Minerals & Metals Trading Corporation Limited, National Mineral Development Corporation, MECON and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. in Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited. a JV Company with two Government of Odisha State PSUs
- Confer the status of Institution of National Importance to the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Jamnagar, Gujarat
31st Edition of International Kite Festival Begins in Gujarat
- Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated the 31st edition of International Kite Festival at Sabarmati river front in Ahmedabad on January 07, 2020.
- The colourful kite festival will continue till 14th January 2020, the day which is observed as Makarsankranti (festival of Kites) in different parts of the state.
- The International Kite Festival will be held at nine other places across the state simultaneously including Statue of Unity- Kevadiya, Surat and Vadodara.
- More than 140 kite flying experts from 40 countries, about 800 kite fliers from Gujarat and 200 kite fliers from 12 other states are participating in this unique festival.
Gujarat Government to Set up Vikram Sarabhai Children Innovation Center
- The state government of Gujarat has planned to set up Vikram Sarabhai Children Innovation Center (VSCIC) to identify, nurture and promote children’s innovation in the state.
- The announcement regarding this was made by the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani , during the felicitation ceremony of Children’s Innovation Festival (CIF) held at Swarnim Sankul in Gandhinagar on 07 January 2020.
- CIF has been organized by Gujarat University Start-ups and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC), an incubation centre set up by Gujarat University in partnership with UNICEF to identify, nurture and support children’s innovations in the state.
Amit Shah Releases book on life of PM Modi Titled ‘Karmayoddha Granth’
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah released a book titled ‘Karmayoddha Granth’ which depicts the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- ‘Karmayoddha’ means a man with a beating heart for people, a statesman, a hard taskmaster, an able administrator and an ideal leader who leads by example.
Indian Navy Launches Maha-Navy Connect 2020 Tri-Dimensional Expedition in Maharashtra
- The Indian Navy has launched an expedition, Maha-Navy Connect 2020, on 05 January 2020 from the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, as a part of its initiative to promote the maritime heritage of India and spread awareness about Coastal Security amongst the coastal communities in Maharashtra.
- The Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command flagged off the first-ever tri-dimensional expedition which consists of yachting, running and cycling teams of 50 naval personnel along three different axes.
- The expedition, concluding on January 11, extends from Arnala fort, Northernmost fort of Maharashtra to Sindhudurg fort, the southernmost fort of Maharashtra, covering more than 555 km.
- During the expedition, the teams will visit various schools and local establishments, undertake community interaction, Swachhta Abhiyan and awareness campaigns amongst the locals.
India invited as guest of honour at Paris Book Fair 2020
- India will be attending the Paris Book Fair 2020 as the guest of honour country.
- The annual fair will be held in March 2020.
- This will be the third time that India would be the guest country at the fair after 2002 and 2007.
- To continue the cultural exchange, France is expected to be the guest of honour at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2022.
Prez Ramnath Kovind lays foundation stone of Lakshadweep’s first Super Specialty Hospital at Kavaratti
- President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone for Lakshadweep’s first Super Specialty Hospital at Kavaratti on 7th January 2020, during his two days visit to the union territory.
- President also congratulated Rahmath Begum, the only woman who won Padma Shri from Lakshadweep.
India’s GDP growth rate for FY20 estimated at 5% against 6.8% in FY19: NSO
- The first advanced estimates of the national income was released by National Statistical Office (NSO) on 07 January 2020.
- As per the report, the Indian economy is estimated to grow at 5 percent in 2019-20 as against 6.8 percent in the previous fiscal, mainly due to slow deceleration in manufacturing and construction sectors
Two Indian lenders, Axis Bank & ICICI Bank, to cease functioning in Sri Lanka
- The Indian private sector lenders Axis Bank and ICICI Bank are all set to close their operations in Sri Lanka.
- The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has permitted the two banks to cease their operations in the island nation following the requests by their parent banks.
- The licenses issued to them will be cancelled once the winding-up operations are complete, after which the two banks will no longer be permitted to carry on banking operations, including accepting deposits from the public.
Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner Idu Sharif passes away
- Noted sufi singer Idu Sharif, known for his Dhadi folk singing passed away due to paralysis.
- The Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner was from Patiala’s Laloda.
- Dhadi folk singing is a Punjabi folk music which includes singing ballads using Dhadd and Sarangi, the folk instruments of Punjab.