9 PM Current Affairs Brief – January 12, 2019

Oceans are heating up at a quickening pace, say scientists News: World’s Oceans Are Warming Faster, Fueling Storms and Sea Rise Important Facts: Oceans are heating up 40% faster on average than a United Nations panel estimated five years ago. A warmer ocean is contributing to increasingly destructive weather patterns around the world More than… Continue reading Oceans are heating up at a quickening pace, say scientists

Hurrying through a legislation: on reservation quota News: Laps in India’s parliamentary procedures reflected in the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019, that enables 10% reservation in education and employment for economically weaker sections. Important Facts: Laps in India’s parliamentary procedures The rules of procedure not followed – Lok Sabha require every Bill to be circulated… Continue reading Hurrying through a legislation: on reservation quota

Meghalaya’s rat hole traps News 1. Search Continues for 15 miners trapped in Ksan Rat Hole Coal Mines   2. Justice B.P. Katoki committee appointed by the NGT reported rampant illegal mining as reason for such mining disaster which continues despite NGT ban Important Facts What is Rat Hole Mining? 1. Rat Hole Mining is… Continue reading Meghalaya’s rat hole traps

ISRO cranks up Gaganyaan project PT Facts News The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has set up a Human Space Flight Centre to implement Gaganyaan Project Important Facts The Centre will be in charge of all human-related programme at the ISRO, including the Gaganyaan project Scientist Unnikrishnan Nair has been named director of the centre.… Continue reading ISRO cranks up Gaganyaan project

PT Facts Centre signs pact with 5 States on Renuka dam News: The Centre has signed an agreement with the chief ministers of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for the construction of a multipurpose dam Important Facts The Renuka dam project has been conceived as a storage project on the Giri… Continue reading Centre signs pact with 5 States on Renuka dam

Migration to Gulf for jobs drops 62% over 5 years News: According to e-Migrate emigration clearance data migration to Gulf for jobs drops 62% over 5 years Important Data Emigration clearances granted to Indians headed to the Gulf for employment have dropped by 21%, During 2018, the largest outflow was to UAE, 35% of the… Continue reading Migration to Gulf for jobs drops 62% over 5 years

FDI via Mauritius dives in first half, Singapore gains News: Singapore becomes preferred country for routing FDI in India with a 77.77 per cent jump in investments. Important Facts: In 2017-18, Mauritius was the top source of FDI into India with $13.41 billion investments followed by Singapore. According to RBI report, Mauritius, has witnessed a… Continue reading FDI via Mauritius dives in first half, Singapore gains

Musk unveils prototype of Mars-bound rocket News: SpaceX Unveils Prototype of Starship, SpaceX’s Mars-Bound Rocket Facts: SpaceX has unveiled the first pictures of a rocket called Starship that may one day carry people to the Moon and Mars. SpaceX currently launches regular supply missions to the astronauts living at the International Space Station, using its… Continue reading Musk unveils prototype of Mars-bound rocket

Cycling could help economy, avoid premature death: Study News: Cycling for short distance trips can yield an annual benefit of ₹1.8 trillion to the economy Important Facts: According to analysis conducted by The Energy Resources Institute (Teri), cycling regularly for an average distance of 3.5 km for just 120 days can help avoid 4,756 premature… Continue reading Cycling could help economy, avoid premature death: Study