Current Affairs - 2019-20

Notes:
In line with the Digital India vision, the government has introduced Sahaj – Online release of new LPG connections through the portal mylpg.in, so that customers can register for new LPG connections online, as well as make online payments for the same.
Recently twelve cities Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna, Mumbai and Pune are included in this scheme.

Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana seeks to supplement the financial needs of the farmers by procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income.

Notes:
United Nations Ocean Conference is going to be organized from June 27 to July 1 in Lisbon, Portugal. It will be co-hosted by the governments of Kenya and Portugal. The aim of the conference is to promote science-based innovative solutions needed to ensure sustainable management of ocean. It also seeks to promote green technology and innovative use of marine resources. The conference will discuss solutions to address threats to health, ecology, economy and governance of the ocean. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin will be secretary-general of the Conference and the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Miguel de Serpa Soares will serve as the special advisor to the Presidents of the Ocean Conference on the ocean and legal matters.

Notes:
410 schools from across the state have been selected for the National Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar. Now out of these schools, 26 schools will be selected at the state-level Swachh Vidyalaya to again participate in the national level competition.

Notes:
The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) announced that electricity bill payments across 70 electricity boards will now be enabled on 123PAY.The payment facility is powered by the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). It will allow users to make quick payments by providing a seamless electrical bill payment service via 123Pay. 123PAY, through its four technology options, will assist users in making digital payments promptly from their bank accounts.

Notes:
Exercise Cutlass Express 2021 took place in the Western Indian Ocean, specifically Mombasa, Kenya. It was led by US Naval Forces Africa and involved participation from India and several African nations: Kenya, Comoros, Djibouti, Seychelles, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and Tanzania.

Notes:
The AVIC AG600, code named Kunlong, is the world’s largest amphibious aircraft made by China. It is designed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The aircraft made its first flight in Zhuhai, Guangdong on 24 December, 2017.

Notes:
Russia’s nuclear energy agency, Rosatom launched the nuclear-powered ice breaker Ural at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg, another step towards ensuring all-year round navigability of the Northern Sea Route.

Notes:
Sterling K Brown, on 8 January, 2018, created history by becoming the first African-American to win Golden Globe in the Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama category for his performance as Randall Pearson on NBC’s breakout hit “This Is Us”. Brown previously won an Emmy for his performance— a historic win, as it made him the first black actor to win the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series since 1998.

Notes:
Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.

• Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order.
• Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
• PADMA VIBHUSHAN Awardee:

(i) Ms. Teejan Bai, Art-Vocals-Folk, Chhattisgarh, (ii) Shri Ismail Omar Guelleh (Foreigner), Public Affairs, Djibouti, (iii) Shri Anilkumar Manibhai Naik, Trade & Industry-Infrastructure, Maharashtra, (iv) Shri Balwant Moreshwar Purandare, Art-Acting-Theatre, Maharashtra.