Current Affairs 19 February, 2020

Nancy

MME Expert

4 years ago Banking and Insurance, SSC and Railways, Teaching Exams..., MBA Exams, Other Exams

1. IISc ranked 16th in Times Higher Education Ranking.

Times Higher Education Ranking was released in London. The ranking was titled “The Emerging Economies University Ranking 2020”.
Around 11 Indian Universities were included in the top 100. However, China had more Universities than India in the ranking. Around 30 Universities of China were in the top 100.
The ranking included 533 Universities from 47 countries all over the world. Out of these, 56 Indian Universities appeared in the ranking.
The IIT Kharagpur moved up 23 places to 32nd rank, IIT Delhi improved by 28 places and was at 38th rank and IIT Madras was at 63rd rank climbing 12 places.

Foot Notes:
About IISC
Established in: 1909
Director: Anurag kumar

2. Pakistan successfully tests nuclear-capable air launched cruise missile Ra'ad-II of 600 km range.

Pakistan test fired 600 km range Ra’ad II missile successfully on land and at sea. The missile range has been upgraded from 550km in 2017 to 600km. It is important for India to closely monitor such advances as New Delhi is roughly 430km from Lahore.
The first Ra’ad II missile was unveiled in an annual parade in Pakistan in 2017. Ra’ad I had a range of 35km. The changes have been made significantly in the tail part of the missile. Ra’ad I had twin tail and was bigger in size. The recently test fired Ra’ad II had “X” configuration.
So far, the Ra’ad missiles of Pakistan are being carried by Mirage II fighter jets. Indian experts believe that Ra’ad II is Pakistan’s answer to Nirbhay cruise missile.

Foot Notes:
About Pakistan
Currency: Pakistani rupee
Capital: Islamabad
Prime minister: Imran Khan
President: Arif Alvi

3. Foundation stone laid for 50m high lighthouse at Dhanushkodi.

Foundation stone for a 50-metre high lighthouse laid at Dhanushkodi in Rameswaram. This is the fifth lighthouse in the region.
The light house is to be built at a cost of Rs 8 crore rupees. The lighthouse is to be located opposite to the old church that was destroyed in a cyclone in 1964. It will facilitate navigation to 33 to 37 km from the sea shore.
The INS Rajali and INS Agrani Naval Stations in Tamil Nadu operate under Southern Naval Command and the light house will be of great help for them.

4. Delhi-based IGIA becomes 1st single-use plastic-free airport of India.

According to the GMR Group-led Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), Delhi-based Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has become the 1st airport in India to be completely free of single-use plastic usage.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) -ITC Sustainable Development Center of Excellence (CESD) also recognized DIAL for successfully implementing the campaign to make the airport voluntary plastic free.
With the resolve to ‘Beat plastic pollution’ on the occasion of World Environment Day in the year 2019, the IGIA campus has also become the first airport in the country to complete it by launching a campaign to make plastic single-free.

Foot Notes:
About Delhi International Airport Ltd
Headquarters: New Delhi
Chief Executive Officer(CEO): Videh Kumar Jaipuriar.
It is a joint venture consortium of GMR Group (64%), Airports Authority of India (26%) and Fraport (10%).

5. Pak High Commission issued visas to Indian pilgrims to visit Katas Raj temples.

The Pakistan High Commission has issued visas to a group of Indian Hindu pilgrims for visiting Katas Raj temples in Chakwal city of Pakistan’s Punjab province from February 19 to 25, 2020, these visit governs under The Pakistan-India Protocol on visits to Religious Shrines (1974) signed by both the countries.
Katas Raj temple is also known as Qila katas or complex of Katas temple is considered as one of the holiest places for the Hindu community, the temples form a complex and its surrounded by a pond named Katas.
A large number of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals every year.

Foot Notes:
About Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Capital: Islamabad
Currency: Pakistani rupee
President: Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi
Prime Minister: Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi

6. Ambala City bus stand to be renamed after late Sushma Swaraj.

The Haryana government has decided to rename the Ambala City bus stand after former Union minister late Sushma Swaraj. The bus stand will now be called ‘Sushma Swaraj Bus Stand’.
It is a mark of tribute to Swaraj, launched on 14 February, the birth anniversary of the leader, who was born in Ambala Cantt.

Foot Notes:
About Haryana
Governor of Haryana: Satyadeo Narayan Arya.
Chief Minister (CM) of Haryana: Manohar Lal Khattar.

7. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated on 19 February.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated on 19 February. He was an embodiment of courage, compassion and good governance.
His life continues to motivate millions. The year 2020 marks the 390th birth anniversary of great Maratha warrior Shivaji. PM Narendra Modi paid his tribute to India's great hero.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a valorous warrior and an outstanding administrator. He was born 19 February 1630, at Shivneri Fort. He built a strong navy to usher several pro-people policies. He opposed injustice and intimidation. In 1664, he sacked the Mughal trading port of Surat. In June 1665, Shivaji and Raja Jai Singh I signed the Treaty of Purandar. In October 1670, he harassed the British forces at Bombay for their support of the Mughals. He fell ill and died on 3 April 1680 at Raigad.

8. Veteran Kannada actress Kishori Ballal passed away.

Veteran Kannada actor Kishori Ballal passed away on 18 February 2020. She was 82 years old. She passed away due to age-related ailments in Bengaluru.
She has acted in around 75 movies including her role in Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Swades".

9. Delhi Police integrated with Uber launched “Himmat Plus app”

Delhi Police along with Uber launched “Himmat Plus app”, at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, New Delhi, to ensure safety and security of the people travelling in cabs.
The police headquarters will receive the real time location of a driver or rider in case of emergency through this app so that PCR (Police Control Room) van can be assigned to provide assistance.
Nearly, 1000 Himmat QR (Quick Response) verification cards were distributed among drivers. Once a rider scans the QR card, they can access a driver’s details and vehicle information on the Himmat app & can report their journey directly to police.

Foot Notes:
About Delhi
Chief Minister (CM): Arvind Kejriwal.
Deputy CM: Manish Sisodia.
Governor: Anil Baijal.

10. Kala Kumbh exhibition organised by the Ministry of Textiles in New Delhi

The “Kala Kumbh” exhibition was recently organized by the Ministry of Textiles in New Delhi. The exhibition was held to promote Geographical Indication (GI) craft and heritage of India.
The exhibitions are planned in various major cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. The exhibitions are sponsored by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH)
The GI tag is used on handicrafts which correspond to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). As of August 2019, 178 GI handicraft products were registered from all over India.