Current Affairs February 01

NATIONAL

Indian Coast Guard Day: 01 February

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) celebrated its raising day on February 1.
ICG protects India's maritime interests and enforces maritime law, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
It operates under the Ministry of Defence.
Krishnaswamy Natrajan is the Director General of ICG

India-Bangladesh JT Exercise SAMPRITI-IX

As part of the ongoing Indo-Bangladesh defence cooperation, a joint military training exercise SAMPRITI-IX is being conducted at UMROI, Meghalaya, India from 03 Feb to 16 Feb 2020.
Exercise SAMPRITI is an important bilateral defence cooperation endeavour between India and Bangladesh and will be the ninth edition of the exercise which is hosted alternately by both countries.
During the joint military exercise SAMPRITI-IX a Command Post Exercise (CPX) and a Field Training Exercise (FTX) will be conducted.

MP government to roll out 365-day work scheme

The Kamal Nath government of Madhya Pradesh is coming up with a ramped up version of Yuva Swabhiman Yojana, a scheme for the unemployed, hiking monthly stipend to Rs 5,000 and increasing the number of working (hence payable) days to 365.
The decision comes just about a week after Nath’s return from the WEF meet at Davos, where he showcased MP’s potential before investors and emphasized the need to mobilize the economy and generate more jobs.
Yuva Swabhiman Yojana, a Congress manifesto promise and a flagship programme of the Nath government, was launched on January 31, 2019, guaranteeing 100 days of work and pay to unemployed youth.
On the lines of MNREGS, the government is ready to extend the guarantee of 100 workdays to 365 days of temporary employment a year.
The scheme is part of Nath’s attempt to generate employment and boost the economy.

Madhya Pradesh: 3-day Narmada Mahotsav to be held from 31 Jan- 02 Feb

In Madhya Pradesh, three-day Narmada Mahotsav has started in the picturesque plains of Amarkantak on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti.
Local tribal art and culture will be duly demonstrated during Amarkantak Narmada Mahotsav-2020.
The Narmada is a major source of drinking water, irrigation and hydroelectricity for Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
During the Mahotsav, one day will be reserved for all women activities under the theme of “Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao”.

Nagoba jatara concludes in Telangana

A Month-long Nagoba jatara concluded in Telangana with the ceremony of Betal puja.
It is the second biggest tribal carnival and celebrated by the Mesaram clan of Gond tribes for 10 days.
Tribal people from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh belonging to the Mesram clan offer prayers at the festival.

BUSINESS

Economic Survey 2020 tabled in Parliament

Economic Survey 2019-20 has projected economic growth at 6 to 6.5 per cent in the fiscal year starting 1st of April this year.
It has put current fiscal growth at five per cent and said the fiscal deficit target for the current fiscal may need to be relaxed to revive growth.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled Economic Survey in both the houses of Parliament.
The survey called for more reforms to make it easier to do business in the country.
It said, about 1.24 lakh new firms were created in 2018, which is an increase of about 80 percent from about 70,000 in 2014.
It said, the industrial sector as per Index of Industrial Production registered a growth of 0.6 per cent in 2019-20 (April-November) as compared to 5.0 per cent during 2018-19 (April-November).

APPOINTMENTS

RBI appoints ED Janak Raj as member of Monetary Policy Committee

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed its Executive Director Janak Raj as member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), the highest interest rate setting body.
Raj replaces M D Patra, who was recently elevated as Deputy Governor of the RBI.
The government had in 2016 constituted MPC to set the benchmark interest rate.
The MPC is headed by the RBI Governor.

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