9 PM Current Affairs Brief – March 20, 2019

HC stays M.P. govt.’s 27% OBC quota ordinance The Madhya Pradesh High court has stayed the state government’s ordinance increasing OBC reservation. Other Backward Class (OBC) is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify castes which are socially and educationally disadvantaged. The ordinance had increased the reservation in government jobs and… Continue reading HC stays M.P. govt.’s 27% OBC quota ordinance

In a first, woman bags Abel Prize for maths Karen Uhlenbeck of the U.S. has been awarded the Abel Prize 2019. She is the first woman to receive the award. She has been awarded the prise for her works on partial differential equations. The Abel Prizes is one of the world’s most prestigious maths awards.… Continue reading In a first, woman bags Abel Prize for maths

Preparedness for West Nile fever reviewed The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and officials from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reviewed the Kerala’s preparedness and actions taken to deal with West Nile Fever (WNF). The review comes in the backdrop of the recent death of a boy who was undergoing treatment for… Continue reading Preparedness for West Nile fever reviewed

Supreme Court bats for hit-and-run accident victims The Supreme Court has called for a “secured and fool proof” method of distribution compensation to victims of hit and run cases. Recently, the Supreme Court had accepted court appointed committee’s recommendation to increase the minimum compensation for death in a hit-and-run case from the existing Rs 25,000… Continue reading Supreme Court bats for hit-and-run accident victims

Cyclone Idai: India reaches out to Mozambique The Indian Navy has had launched a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation near Port Beira in Mozambique. Mozambique has been hit by widespread flooding and devastation after a tropical cyclone named Idai had made landfall near the port city of Beira. Mozambique is located in Southeast… Continue reading Cyclone Idai: India reaches out to Mozambique

Forex swap for liquidity has been received well, says RBI Governor The Reserve Bank of India’s Governor has said that the market response to the foreign exchange swap arrangement announced by RBI has been received well. Recently,RBI has decided to inject long-term liquidity into the system through foreign exchange swap arrangement.The word swap means exchange.… Continue reading Forex swap for liquidity has been received well, says RBI Governor

India, Sri Lanka joint exercise ‘Mitra Shakti-VI’ to commence from Mar 26 Exercise MITRA SHAKTI is a military exercise between India and Srilanka.It is conducted annually as part of military diplomacy and interaction between the two countries.The joint exercise will commence from March 26 to April 8 for the year 2018-19,in Sri Lanka. The aim… Continue reading India, Sri Lanka joint exercise ‘Mitra Shakti-VI’ to commence from Mar 26

RBI seeks modification of NCLAT order in IL&FS case The Reserve Bank of India has decided to appeal in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal(NCLAT) to seek a modification of its earlier order. Earlier,NCLAT had restrained banks from declaring accounts of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) and its group companies as non-performing assets (NPA).NPA… Continue reading RBI seeks modification of NCLAT order in IL&FS case

H-1B changes due to kick in from April 1 The US has said that it will start accepting H1B visa petitions for the fiscal year 2020.The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The US has announced several changes… Continue reading H-1B changes due to kick in from April 1

Justice P.C. Ghose appointed first Lokpal President of India has appointed Justice(retired) Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the first Lokpal of India.President has also appointed four judicial members and four non judicial members as well. The Government had enacted the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act,2013.The Act allows setting up of anti-corruption ombudsman called Lokpal at the Centre… Continue reading Justice P.C. Ghose appointed first Lokpal

Govt cautions against fraudulent websites for KUSUM scheme registration Ministry of Renewable Energy(MNRE) has cautioned the public against fraudulent websites that are conducting registrations under the Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Scheme. Recently,MNRE has formulated the KUSUM Scheme.The scheme aims to promote the use of solar power among farmers.The power distribution companies and… Continue reading Govt cautions against fraudulent websites for KUSUM scheme registration

India, China, Pakistan, other SCO members to hold joint anti-terrorism exercise in 2019 The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s(SCO) member states will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise “Sary-Arka-Antiterror 2019”.The joint-military exercise will take place in Kazakhstan’s Sary Arka region. The decision to hold a joint exercise was announced during the 34th meeting of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure(RATS)… Continue reading India, China, Pakistan, other SCO members to hold joint anti-terrorism exercise in 2019

GoMs on lynchings on hold The government has put on hold Groups of Ministers (GoMs) constituted to suggest measures on anti-lynching due to upcoming lok sabha elections. The Government had created a Group of Ministers (GoM),headed by Home Minister and the other committee headed by Union Home Secretary.Both the Government panel will suggest ways and… Continue reading GoMs on lynchings on hold

U.K. to seek Brexit extension till June 30 British Prime Minister will be writing to European Union seeking for an extension to the current Brexit deadline till June 30 which is due to expire on March 29,2019.All 27 EU members have to agree to any extension proposed. UK PM is seeking a delay after her… Continue reading U.K. to seek Brexit extension till June 30