DAILY GK 31 DEC 2019

DAILY GK 31 DEC 2019

1)   2nd SDG India Index 2019

ü NITI Aayog has released the 2nd edition of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index and dashboard for the year 2019 in New Delhi. Kerala topped the index with a score of 70.

ü The 2019 index was based on 54 targets spread over 100 indicators out of 306 outlined by the UN, and these 100 indicators are drawn from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI’s) National Indicator Framework (NIF).

ü Kerala was followed by Himachal Pradesh in the 2nd rank with a score of 69. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu together ranked at the third position with a score of 67.

2)   16th ISFR-2019 by FSI released

ü Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC), Prakash Javadekar released the biennial “India State of Forest Report (ISFR)”, in New Delhi. The report assesses forest and tree resources in India biennially and is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI). The ISFR-2019 is the 16th report in the series since 1987.

ü Total forest and tree cover of the country now stands at 80.73 million hectare which is 24.56% of the geographical area of the country.In terms of largest forest cover in the country by area wise, Madhya Pradesh (MP) has the largest forest cover. It was followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place respectively.

ü It is also to be noted that for the 1st time Ortho-rectified satellite data has been used for forest cover mapping.

3)   27^th National children’s science congress 2019

ü Vice President of India,  Venkaiah Naidu has attended the 27^th edition of National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) 2019 based on the theme “Science, Technology and Innovation for a clean, green and healthy nation” held for the 1st time at Mar Ivanios College in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

4)   Directorate General building of CRPF in New Delhi

ü Amit Shah has laid the Foundation stone of the Directorate General Building of CRPF(Central Reserve Police Force) built with a cost of Rs 280 crore in New Delhi.
He also launched a new logo with a “Garuda”, The insignia bears the motto of the force – “Always, Aware, Alert”.

5)   Railways renames RPF as IRPS

ü The Ministry of Railway (MoR) has accorded Organised Group ‘A’ status (OGAS) to Railway Protection Force (RPF) and also renamed RPF as Indian Railway Protection Service (IRPS). The notice of renaming was issued by the Joint Director of Railway Board Amitabh Joshi on December 30, 2019.

ü The Indian Railways (IR) has introduced new Passenger Information System at Anakapalle Railway Station of Vijayawada Division of Andhra Pradesh(AP) in South Central Railway (SCR). The system has been introduced to provide better features and easy guidance to the passengers.

6)   RBI releases draft circular on loan exposure limits & PSL

ü RBI has released draft circular on limits on exposure to single and group borrowers/parties, large exposures and revision in priority sector lending (PSL) targets for primary (urban) co-operative banks (UCBs).

ü UCBs also required to have at least 50% of their portfolio should comprise advances (including all fund-based and non-fund-based exposure on the borrower) of not more than ₹25 lakh per borrower.

ü The reserve bank has also hiked the priority sector lending (PSL) target for UCBs to 75% of adjusted net bank credit (ANBC) /credit-equivalent amount of off-balance sheet exposure from 40%. The norms will be applicable from 31 March 2023.

7)   Australia’s Peter Siddle has announced his retirement from international cricket

8)   Wisden’s T20I team of the decade

ü Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and star bowler Jasprit Bumrah were only two Indians in Wisden’s T20I team of the decade. Kohli has found a place in Wisden’s Test and ODI team of the decade. Bumrah, who was the second-best in the world among quick bowlers also took place in  Wisden’s T20I team of the decade.