Sunday, January 19, 2020

THE HINDU NEWSPAPER IMPORTANT ARTICLES 19.01.2020

the hindu articles

VisionIAS 07:48

NATIONAL

Doval, Gotabaya discuss bilateral issues

Is the Indian economy staring at stagflation?

Can States challenge the validity of central laws?

Green nod for oil, gas exploration waived

India-Pak. trade freeze hits thousands: report

INTERNATIONAL

Xi voices firm support for Myanmar

Taliban aims to sign deal with U.S. by month-end

SCI-TECH & AGRI

TB diagnostic test developed in India has high accuracy, says WHO

IIT Bombay efficiently removes heavy metals from water

Eastern Ghats: land use policies, climate change hit endemic plant habitats

The HINDU Notes – 18th January 2020

the hindu notes

VisionIAS 07:23

📰 GSAT-30 gives India a communication boost

The 3,357-kg satellite, launched from Kourou, will replace the ageing INSAT-4A

•The nation’s latest communication satellite, GSAT-30, was launched into space from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou at 2:35 a.m. IST on Friday.

•The 3,357-kg satellite will replace INSAT-4A which was launched in 2005 and marks the first mission of the year for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

•The high-power satellite is equipped with 12 normal C band and 12 Ku band transponders.

•ISRO quoted its Chairman K. Sivan as saying, “GSAT-30 will provide DTH [direct to home] television services, connectivity to VSATs [that support working of banks] ATMs, stock exchange, television uplinking and teleport services, digital satellite news gathering and e-governance applications. The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer.”

•ISRO opted for a foreign launch as the GSAT-30 is much heavier than the 2,000-kg lifting capacity of its geostationary launch vehicle GSLV-MkII.

•While the newer and more powerful GSLV-MkIII that can lift up to 4,000 kg, the space agency plans to save the two or three upcoming MkIIIs for its first human space flight Gaganyaan of 2022 and two preceding crew-less trials, Dr. Sivan recently said.

•The first Indian crew-less test flight is planned for later this year.

📰 Repeal CAA, Punjab urges Centre in House resolution

Daily Current Affairs, 18th January 2020

vision ias current affairs

VisionIAS 07:14

1) NITI Aayog and UT of Ladakh sign MoU to promote development in Ladakh

•NITI Aayog and Union Territory of Ladakh sign MoU for Development of Infrastructure Projects in Ladakh. It was signed between NITI Aayog Senior Adviser Dr Yogesh Suri and Adviser to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Umang Narula. The agreement was executed in the presence of NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.

•Under this agreement, NITI Aayog will be supporting the UT’s administration through its key initiative ‘Development Support Services to States for Infrastructure Projects (D3S-i)’. In an important initiative to promote the development of key infrastructure sectors in the newly constituted Union Territory of Ladakh.

•NITI Aayog will identify high-impact projects, It will expedited project implementation, addressing structural-level issues and creating unique models of development for the Union Territory of Ladakh.

•The main purpose of D3S-i projects is creating PPP (Public Private Partnership) projects. In 2018, phase I of the project was completed. In phase I, 10 projects were selected from 400 projects that were submitted by the states. In phase II, that was completed in the year 2018-19, the selected projects entered transaction stage.

2) Russia S-400 missiles air defence systems to be delivered to India by 2025

•Russia has started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India. All five units will be delivered to India by 2025. The S-400 air defence missile systems are among the best in the world. This will significantly bolster India’s air defence mechanism. In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal to buy the air defence missile systems.

•The S-400, an upgraded version of the S-300, had previously only been available to the Russian defence forces. It is manufactured by Almaz-Antey and has been in service in Russia since 2007.

3) 3rd North Zone Conference of MIB’s of Media Units held in Jammu

•The 3rd edition of North Zone Conference’ of Media Units of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, held in Jammu. The Conference is being organised by the Regional Outreach Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir region. The aim of the conference is to strengthen the synergy between the Media Units in order to ensure last-mile delivery, while simultaneously brainstorm the use of new technology in communication. The participating states in the conference are UT of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi.

4) Conference on Census 2021 held in New Delhi

•A Conference of the Chief Secretaries and Administrator State and Union Territories on Census 2021 and updating of National Population Register, NPR was held in New Delhi. The data collected in the Census helps us in framing policies for the welfare of the people of the country. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also inaugurated the Official Mascot for Census 2021.

5) Union Fertilizers Minister launches APNA UREA – Sona Ugle” brand of HURL

•Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda unveiled the logo and brand ‘Apna Urea Sona Ugle‘ of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Ltd (HURL). HURL is in the process of reviving three sick urea units. The sick urea units are located at Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Barauni (Bihar) and Sindri (Jharkhand).

•HURL, a joint venture firm promoted by three PSUs: Coal India Limited (CIL), NTPC Ltd and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL). HURL’s three units are expected to be commissioned in February 2021, while Ramagundam (Telangana) and Talcher (Odisha) units are also likely to commence operations next year. The company not to focus on single brand urea, but diversify its product portfolio to include agrochemicals, compost, and nano-fertilizers.

6) ICC U-19 World Cup Cricket 2020 begins in South Africa

•The ICC Under-19 World Cup Cricket 2020 begins in South Africa. Indian team played under the captaincy of Priyam Garg. The final of the tournament will be played on Feb 09 at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, South Africa. India is the most successful team in the tournament, having won four titles till date. India is the defending champions in U19 World Cup 2018. Total 16 teams are participating in the tournament, split into four groups of four.

7) Sania Mirza and Nadiia Kichenok wins WTA doubles title in Australia

•Sania Mirza (India) and Nadiia Kichenok (Ukraine) have won the women’s doubles title of the WTA International trophy at Hobart, Australia. They beat Shuai Peng and Shuai Zhang from China 6-4,6-4. It’s Sania’s 42nd WTA doubles title and first since Brisbane International trophy in 2007 with American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.