1. India became world's 5th largest economy by overtaking UK and  France.

• India has emerged as the fifth-largest world economy in 2019, overtaking the UK and France, as per a report by US-based think tank World Population Review.
• India's economy is the fifth-largest in the world with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.94 trillion, overtaking the UK and France in 2019 to take the fifth spot.
• The size of the UK economy is $2.83 trillion and that of France is $2.71 trillion. India's service sector is the fast-growing sector in the world accounting for 60 per cent of the economy and 28 per of employment.

Foot Notes:
About UK
Capital: London
Prime minister: Boris Johnson
Currency: Pound sterling

About France
Prime minister: Édouard Philippe
Capital: Paris
Currencies: Euro, CFP franc

2. India got 35th rank  in “Worldwide Education in  the Future Index 2019”.

• India ranks 35th in the Worldwide Educating for the Future Index (WEFFI) 2019, as per a report published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
• The country ranked 40th with an overall score of 41.2 across categories in 2018.
• The index assesses countries based on their abilities to equip students with skill-based education.
• Finland was at the top of the index followed by Sweden.

3. Goa paired with Jharkhand under 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' scheme.

• Under Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat, Goa state is paired with Jharkhand. Various exchange activities are already on between Goa and Jharkhand.
• The Directorate of Art and Culture from Goa has been organizing many activities in this regard.
• Recently cultural and folk artistes troupes from Goa participated in an event in Jharkhand successfully.
• Artisans, craftsmen and artists from Goa visit Jharkhand and they get an opportunity to render their talent.

Foot Notes:
About Goa
Governor: Satya Pal Malik
Chief minister: Pramod Sawant
Capital: Panaji

4. India stunned Australia by beating it by 17 runs in opening game of ICC World T-20.

• Hosts Australia were stunned by India in the opening game of the Women's T20 World Cup in Sydney.
• Chasing 133, the defending champions were bundled out for 115. India’s leg-spinner Poonam Yadav claimed 4-19.
• India's 132-4, anchored by 49 not out from Deepti Sharma, seemed no more than par, but Indian team exploited the slow conditions to win by 17 runs.

Foot Notes:
About ICC
Chairperson: Shashank Manohar
CEO: Manu Sawhney
Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Founded: 15 June 1909

5. “Mahant Nritya Gopal” Das elected as President of Ram Mandir Trust.

• The first meeting of the Ram Mandir Trust to oversee the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya was held in New Delhi.
• The trust has decided that a Committee will be formed to decide on the construction of the temple. Nripendra Misra, former principal secretary of Prime Minister Modi will be the head of the temple construction committee.
• Mahant Nritya Gopal Das was elected as the president of the Trust whereas Champat Rai would be the general secretary. The 15-member trust was formed in adherence to the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya dispute in November last year.

6. International Mother Language Day was celebrated on 21 February.

• International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February.
• The day is observed every year to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. The day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999.
• The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh 21 February is the anniversary of the day when Bangladeshis fought for recognition for the Bangla language.

Foot Notes:
About UNESCO
Headquarters: Paris, France
Head: Audrey Azoulay

About Bangladesh
Capital: Dhaka
Currency: Bangladeshi taka
Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina

7. India to switch to world's cleanest petrol, diesel from April 1.

• India will switch to the world's cleanest petrol and diesel from April 1 as it leapfrogs straight to Euro-VI emission compliant fuels from Euro-IV grades now.
• This has been achieved in just three years and not seen in any of the large economies around the globe.
• India will join the select league of nations using petrol and diesel containing just 10 parts per million of sulphur as it looks to cut vehicular emissions that are said to be one of the reasons for the choking pollution in major cities.
• State-owned oil refineries spent about 35,000 crore rupees to upgrade plants that could produce ultra-low sulphur fuel.BS-VI has a sulphur content of just 10 ppm and emission standards are as good as CNG.

Foot Notes:
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: Dharmendra Pradhan

8. Centre releases 19,950 crore rupees as GST compensation to states and UTs.

• The Central Government has released 19,950 crore rupees as GST compensation to states.
• With this release of GST compensation, the Central Government has released a total of over 1.20 lakh crore rupees towards GST compensation to the states during the current fiscal.
• In the financial year 2018-19, an amount of over 95 thousand crore rupees was collected as GST compensation of which over 69 thousand crore rupees was released to the States and Union Territories as GST compensation.

9. Govt to launch “Tilhan Mission” to boost oilseed production.

• The government will launch the Tilhan Mission to make the country self-reliant in oilseed production.
• The announcement was made at an occasion of Soil Health Card Day. Soil Health Card Day was celebrated all over India on February 19, 2020.
• Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, the government is seriously working on enhancing the oilseed production in the country. The government has also decided to create 10 thousand Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) across the country for which an assistance of over 6,000 crore rupees will be provided.
• He also said, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will not be mandatory for farmers and it will be voluntary for them.

10.  PM-led panel selected  President's secretary “Sanjay Kothari” as next CVC.

• Sanjay Kothari, the Secretary to the President, has been selected as the new Chief Vigilance Commissioner.
• Also, former Information and Broadcasting Secretary Bimal Julka, has been selected as the new Chief Information Commissioner(CIC) in the Central Information Commission. Both Kothari and Julka are retired Indian Administrative Service officers.
• The Central Vigilance Commission is an-corruption watchdog with autonomous status. The Central Information Commission was constituted under the Right to Information Act and has the jurisdiction over all central public authorities

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Current Affairs 20 February, 2020

Current Affairs 19 February, 2020

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