IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 18th, 2020

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 18th, 2020

CDS Gen Bipin Rawat announces plan to create Peninsula Command
Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat said there are plans to create a Peninsula Command with Navy’s Eastern and Western Command under it.

1)     Along with, India is looking at setting up two to five theatre commands.

2)     Air Defence command will be rolled out by beginning of next year and peninsula command will be rolled out soon.

3)     He also said that India may have a separate Jammu and Kashmir theatre but the shape would be finalised later.

Soil Health Card Scheme to complete five years
The ambitious Soil Health Card Scheme is completing five years on 18 February 2020.

1)     The scheme was launched in 2015 to assess the nutrient status of every farm holding in the country.

2)     The objectives of the scheme are to issue Soil Health Cards to farmers every two years so as to provide a basis to address nutritional deficiencies in fertilization practices.

3)     Soil Health Card provides information to farmers on the nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on the appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

4)     From 2015 to 2017, over 10 crores Soil Health Cards were distributed to farmers in the first phase.

5)     In the second phase, over 11 crore cards have been distributed to farmers across the country. 

Kerala CM launches ''Yodhavu'' mobile app to combat drug menace
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched 'Yodhavu' (Warrior), a mobile app as part of efforts to curb the growing menace in the State.

1)     Through this app the public can inform police about drug abuse and its distribution.

2)     A special feature of the application, introduced by the Kochi city police, was that the informer's identity could be kept secret.

3)     The chief minister urged people to fight against the growing drug menace in the state.

Union Minister Raosaheb Danve visits country’s largest Silos in Moga district
Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Raosaheb Patil Danve visited the country’s largest Silos (steel storehouse) in Dagru village in Moga district in Punjab.

1)     The Silo has a total capacity of two lakh metric tonnes (MTs).

2)     The Silos owned by the Adani Agri-Logistics Limited is with an agreement with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to store, purchase and distribute the wheat stock.

JSW Steel gets NCLAT's approval to acquire Bhushan Power for Rs 19,700 cr
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal has approved the ₹19,700-crore resolution plan of JSW Steel to takeover the bankrupt Bhushan Power and Steel.

1)     The approval comes with the immunity sought by the new owner against investigations being carried out against the erstwhile promoters of Bhushan Power and Steel.

2)     This comes after the government recently amended Section 32A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, providing immunity to the bidders and the insolvent company’s assets from investigation.

Moody's Investors Service slashes India's growth forecast to 5.4 per cent for 2020
Moody's Investors Service slashed India's growth forecast to 5.4 per cent for 2020 from 6.6 percent predicted earlier.

1)     In its on Global Macro Outlook, Moody's said India's economy has decelerated rapidly over the last two years and expects economic recovery to begin in the current quarter.

2)     The growth projections are based on calendar year and as per its estimates.

3)     Global GDP growth forecast has been revised down, and Moody's now expect G-20 economies to collectively grow 2.4 per cent in 2020.

Asian Wrestling Championship begins in New Delhi
Asian Wrestling Championship begins in New Delhi.

1)     It will be held at the KD Jadhav Hall of Indira Gandhi Stadium till the 23rd of this month.

2)     The event will have a total of 30 weight classes, 10 each in Freestyle Men, Women, and Greco Roman.

3)     The Championship will begin with Greco-Roman events, followed by women's wrestling and men's freestyle.

NADA bans javelin thrower Amit Dahiya for four years
National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) has banned javelin thrower Amit Dahiya for four years for evading sample collection and trying to cheat officials during the 2nd National Javelin Throw Open Championship 2019 held at SAI Centre in Sonipat.

1)     NADA had issued the charge of notice to Dahiya on July 16 for violating rule 2.3 of the NADA.

2)     The doping agency presented the case to the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) on January 9 where the athlete's justification was found to be unsatisfactory.

3)     NADA said the ADDP has now passed an order to suspend him for four years from the date of his provisional suspension.

India to host 2020 junior men's Hockey World Cup
India will host next year's Junior Men's World Cup.

1)     The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced this at Lausanne in Switzerland.

2)     This is the second time that India will be hosting the prestigious tournament, having staged it in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in 2016, where the hosts lifted the coveted trophy.

3)     The competition will be played towards the end of 2021 and the exact venue and dates for the tournament will be announced at a later stage.

4)     In all, 16 teams will compete for the title in the Junior Men's World Cup, out of which six will be from Europe, four from Asia, including hosts India, two from Africa, two from Oceania and two from Pan America.

Koneru Humpy wins Cairns Cup
World Rapid Chess Champion Koneru Humpy re-asserted her supremacy in style by winning the Cairns cup title.

1)     He won with 6 points from nine rounds and bagged the 45,000 dollar winner's purse in St. Louis.

2)     Interestingly, in the final round, Humpy drew with GM Dronavalli Harika, who finished sixth with 4.5 points.

Popular Bengali film actor, former TMC MP Tapas Pal passes away
Popular Bengali film actor and former Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal passed away.

1)     Tapas Pal acted in a number of Bengali films besides two times elected in Lok Sabha from Krishnanagar Constituency in Nadia District of West Bengal.

2)     Tapas Pal also elected in the State assembly.

3)     His acting in 'Dadar Kirti', Saheb, Parabat Priya and other films acclaimed appreciation.