Current Affairs February 2019 - National
1 - India's Unemployment Rate Rose Four-Decade High of 6.1%
Based on the National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO’s) periodic labour force survey (PLFS) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the unemployment rate of India has risen a 45-year high. The unemployment rate is 6.1 percent for the year 2017-2018.
The report stated that the unemployment was higher in urban areas (i.e. 7.8%) in comparison to rural areas, which is 5.3%. Further, the unemployment rate among youth rose a high level during the period 2017-2018 in comparison to previous year.
2 - Government Lowers Import Duty On Parts and Components of Electric Vehicles to 10-15%
The Government of India has announced to lower the custom duty on the imports of parts and components of electric vehicles to 10 to 15%. Until now, such vehicle parts and components imported in India for the assembly had 15 to 30% import duty.
With the objective to promote domestic assembling of electric vehicles, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has segregated and made a separate category for parts and components of electric vehicle and custom duty has been lowered down to 10 to 15%.
3 - Banks Liable for Loss Through Fraud – Kerala High Court
In a judgment, the Kerala High Court has given decision that the banks cannot be forgiven from the liability for the loss caused to a customer on account of unauthorized withdrawals from customer’s account.
Hon’ble Court said that merely on the ground that the customer has not responded promptly to the SMS alerts given by bank, it cannot escape from its accountability. In fact, once the customer opens his/her account in a bank, from the same time, bank owes duty to take necessary steps to prevent unauthorized withdrawals or any such fraud in respect of his/her account.
The landmark ruling was made by Justice P. B. Suresh Kumar of Kerala High Court. He dismissed an appeal by the State Bank of India (SBI) who has challenged an order of a Pala sub-court allowing the plea of P.V. George, an NRI, for the realization of ₹2.40 lakh loss. The amount was lost through unauthorized withdrawals by fraudsters in Brazil.
4 - UNICEF in Maharashtra Joined Hands with Goa WCD
The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Maharashtra has joined hands with Goa Women and Child Development (WCD). Their objective is to provide support in the area of child protection in the state.
Chief Field Officer of UNICEF Maharashtra, Ms. Rajeshwari Chandrasekar and Ms. Alpa Vora, the Consultant, Child Protection, UNICEF have discussed on “key challenges around the child protection” in Goa.
Further, Ms. Vora says
“Goa needs for systemic training of the workforce in urgency...Goa has an ICPS set up in place. But for effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) (JJ) Act, 2015, the State needs to have a better convergence of different stakeholders.”
5 - President Ram Nath Kovind Unveiled Portrait of AP Vajpayee at Parliament
On February 12, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India, has unveiled the life-size portrait of former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The portrait is placed at the Central Hall of the Parliament.
Besides, on the eve of Vajpayee’s 94th Birthday (December 24, 2018), Mr. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister, has released a commemorative coin in memory of the great leader late AP Vajpayee. One side of the coin has the Emblem of India and the other side Vajpayee’s picture with his name inscribed in Devanagari and Roman languages.
The veteran leader of BJP, Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India three times – first time, for 13 days (in 1996); second time, for 13 months (1998-99); and third time, he completed his tenure of five years (1999 to 2004).
6 - The Civilian Awards Including Bharat Ratna Cannot Be Used as Titles
In a reply, Government has cleared that the civilian awards including the highest one -Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are titles and cannot be used as either prefix or suffix to respective names. In case of misuse, it can be withdrawn.
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, the Minister of State for Home, said that in case of any misuse, the defaulter shall forfeit the national award conferred on him or her under the procedure laid down in regulation 10 related to creation of these awards.
As per regulation 10, the President may cancel and annul the awards of the decoration to any person and thereupon his or her name shall be erased from the register. Further, the awardee shall be asked to surrender the award.
7 - Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan Pension Scheme Launched for Informal Workers
Piyush Goyal, the Finance Minister, has announced the launch of “Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan” (PMSYM) scheme for the informal workers. Under the scheme, the unorganized workers (informal workers) will get an assured monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 after the age of 60.
However, under the scheme, initially, such workers have to pay Rs. 100 per month; at the same time, government will also contribute Rs. 100. In addition to this, Mr. Goyal also announced hiking of tax-free gratuity to Rs. 30 Lakh from existing Rs. 20 Lakh. However, this facility would be available for the employees whose have completed their service for more than five years.
8 - India’s First District Cooling System in Amaravati
India’s first district cooling system will be set up in Amaravati, the developing capital of Andhra Pradesh. A UAE-based international cooling provider company has made a 30-year concession with Andhra Pradesh government. Based on the agreement, it will build, own, operate, and transfer India’s first district cooling system in Amaravati.
Based on the agreement, the National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) will set up a district cooling system with 20,000 refrigeration tonnes cooling capacity. Interestingly, this agreement will not only set up the cooling district in Amaravati, but also create jobs and homes along with world-class infrastructure, efficient resource management, and green city.
9 - PM Modi Unveiled 800 kg Bhagavad Gita in Delhi
On February 25, Mr. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister, has unveiled a giant “Astounding Bhagavad Gita” at the ISKCON temple in Delhi. The sacred book has a total of 270 pages with weight about 800 kg. Further, it is measuring 2.8 m by 2 m.
As per the ISCKON’s statement, this copy of Bhagavad Gita is the largest principle sacred text ever to be printed. The book, which carries 18 exquisite paintings and an innovative elegant layout, is printed in Milan, Italy. To make it untearable and waterproof, it is published on YUPO synthetic paper.
10 - Andhra Pradesh About to Get New Railway Zone
The Railway Minister, Piyush Goyal, has announced the set-up of a new Railway Zone in Andhra Pradesh. Till now, there are 17 Railway Zones in India, and after this announcement, the number will be increased to 18.
The new railway zone, which is named as “Southern Coast Railway,” would have the headquarter at Vishakhapatnam. Mr. Goyal said that as per item 8 of Schedule 13 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, the Indian Railways was required to examine establishing a new railway zone in the successor state of Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, the creation of a new zone is the result item 8 of Schedule 13.
11 - 40 CRPF Men Killed in Worst Terror Attack in J&K
In a suicidal terrorist attack, about 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and many others injured. The incident took place on February 14 at Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir.
The incident occurred when a convoy of CRPF were going, on the way, Mahindra Scorpio carrying more than 300 kg of explosive. The explosive laden Scorpio targeted the convoy and exploded the vehicle. The injured were rushed to the nearest army base hospital in Srinagar, which is 20 km from the attack site.
As per the report given by Home Ministry, the terrorists triggered the car bomb while 78 vehicles carrying more than 2,500 CRPF men were on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. After the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the sacrifices of CRPF personnel would not go in vain.
Jaish-e-Mohammed, Pakistani-based terrorist group, has taken the responsibility of this attack.
