Current Affairs - 2019-20

Notes:
The sixth Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia summit was held in Amritsar, from December 3 to December 4, 2016. The Key Features of the Conference are:

• The delegates from nearly 40 countries and leading groupings like EU participated in conference
• Indian delegation was led by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
• The theme of this edition of the conference was “Addressing Challenges, Achieving Prosperity”
• The three big issues of the conference were (i) countering terrorism to create stability in Afghanistan, (ii) Providing Afghanistan connectivity to strengthen economic activities and (iii) the development which is essential for its progress

Notes:
Custard apples are also known as sitaphal. Beed district of Maharashtra is famous for its organically grown custard apples. Beed’s custard apples were recently issued GI certificates.

Notes:
Gujarat’s Dahej is all set to get India’s first roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) vessel passenger ferry services around April 2017. The Rs 550 crore projects being executed by the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), and is expected to bring down travel time between Saurashtra regions in Gujarat with its Southern parts significantly. From Ghoga in Saurashtra to Dahej in South Gujarat takes around 10-12 hours for trucks and buses, and even by cars it is not less than 6-8 hours. Once the Ro-Ro ferry service commences, this time would be dramatically shortened to one and a half hours. Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers, and railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle, such as a self-propelled modular transporter. This is in contrast to lift-on/lift-off (Lolo) vessels, which use a crane to load and unload cargo. Roll-on/Roll-off or ‘Ro-Ro’ services for freight transport have being proposed to be introduced at five places – Kolkata, Sahibganj, Varanasi, Patna and Bhagalpur besides setting up small terminals at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore.

Notes:
In January 2018, the Turkish military began an operation in the Kurdish- majority Afrin Canton and the Tel Rifaat Area of Shahba Canton in Northern Syria. Turkey code-named the operation as Operation Olive Branch.

Notes:
The First Indian Mushroom Growers Association (IMGA) was launched recently by Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) at Bengaluru. Mushroom production is indoor actively using vertical space well suited to small farmers & landless labourers. Mushroom cultivation does not require large tracts of land and can be grown on marginal lands under sheds prepared for its cultivation. Mushroom cultivation thus not only meets the dietary requirements but also adds to the income.

Notes:
Pusa Kiran and Pusa Malvi are varieties of wheat. These were recently in news when scorching heat in early march damaged the wheat yield in the country this year.

Notes:
As per Economy Survey 2017-18, five States Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana account for 70 % of India’s exports. Out of which, Maharashtra ranks first and account for 22.2 percent of share in export, Gujarat ranks second with 17.2 percent of the share, Karnataka ranks third with 12.7 percent share, Tamil Nadu at fourth place with 11.6 percent and Telangana at fifth place with 6.4 percent share. Also when it comes to inter-state trade, the five largest exporting states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Also, in case of inter-state trade, the five largest importing states are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat.

Notes:
India’s total foreign exchange reserve is US405.1434 billion with foreign exchange assets (FCA) component at US380.0499 billion, gold reserves at US21.1399 billion, SDRs of US1.4796 billion and US$2.4740 billion reserve position in IMF in the week to July 20, 2018.

Notes:
Japan has won the Wrestling World Cup 2018 in Women’s Freestyle held at Takasaki, Japan. Japan has lifted a total of 10 titles in the category followed by China and United States. Who was the founder of International Wrestling Federation?

Notes:
The 2018 Women’s World Chess Championships were held in Russia at Khantymansiysk.