Wednesday 20 January 2016

Current affairs 20 - January - 2016

1)   India has ranked 89th globally in Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2015-16 list of 106 assessed countries in terms of talent competitiveness of its human capital. This GTCI list was compiled by INSEAD business school in partnership with Adecco and Human Capital Leadership Institute of Singapore (HCLI). This index measures a nation’s competitiveness based on the quality of talent it can produce, attract and retain.
2)   National Conference on “Sustainable Agriculture, Farmer’s Welfare” - The two-day National Conference on “Sustainable Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare” was chaired in Sikkim. The conference will be attended by state government representatives, scientists, academicians, bankers, experts and practitioners.
3)   Bihar Government has formally approved 35 per cent reservation for women in government jobs in the state. Decision in this regard was taken by state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna. This 35 per cent reservation for women will be applicable to in all government jobs including reserved and unreserved category. Presently state is already providing 35 percent reservation for women in recruitment as police constables and sub-inspectors. There is also 50 percent reservation for women as primary school teachers and in the Panchayati Raj system.
4)   IIT-Kharagpur has launched an innovation centre. Target: To promote the culture of innovation among its undergraduate students right from their first year. M N Faruqui Innovations Centre was launched by ArjunMalhotra(Co-founder of HCL Technologies) comprising a Design Facility and Tinkering Laboratory.
5)   Maharashtra Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tata Trust for a skill training programme for the youth in the state. This programme has been undertaken under the state government’s ambitious Kushal Maharashtra, Rojgaryukt Maharashtra initiative.
6)   Senior journalist and scholar Aroon Tikekar passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was 72. He was associated with different various newspaper groups and has authored over 20 books.
7)   Expert Committee to simplify income tax laws headed by Justice (retired) R.V. Easwar has submitted its report to Union Finance Ministry. The 10 member committee has recommended simplifying provisions related to tax deduction at source (TDS), tax refunds and claims of expenditure for deduction from taxable income. It also has suggested several taxpayer-friendly measures to improve the ease of doing business in the country, accelerate process of tax dispute resolutions and reduce litigation.
8)   Sikkim has formally become India’s first fully organic state after it successfully implemented organic farming practices on around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land. Formal declaration in this regard was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after inaugurating the Sikkim Organic Festival 2016 in Gangtok, Sikkim. PM also handed the Organic Certificate to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. The Sikkim Organic Festival 2016 has been organised on the sidelines of the National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. On this occasion, PM also launched three new orchid species developed in Sikkim which is also known as the Land of Flowers viz. Cymbidium Sardar (named after Sardar Patel), Cymbidium Deen Dayal (named after Deen Dayal Upaddhyay) and Cymbidium Namo (named after Narendra Modi).

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