Daily Current Affairs : 17th January 2020 |Daily GK update Quiz

Exp. Arunachal Pradesh government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the IUCN on 13 January in Arunachal Pradesh.

The state has become the first state to initiate the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red listing at the state level. 

About IUCN Red List: The IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. The list has been acting as a powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change. IUCN has projected that it is complexities to protect natural resources.

Exp. Union minister Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the exhibition on Indian Heritage in Digital Space and First International Heritage Symposium at National Museum, New Delhi.

Exp. Union minister Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the exhibition on Indian Heritage in Digital Space and First International Heritage Symposium at National Museum, New Delhi.

Exp. The 19th council of heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be hosted by India later this year.

Exp. 18th meeting of the SCO’s Council of heads of government-held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2019.

Exp. UN lowered its GDP growth estimate for India to 5.7 per cent in the current fiscal (from 7.6 per cent forecast in WESP 2019) and lowered its forecast for the next fiscal to 6.6 per cent (from 7.4 per cent earlier). It has also forecast a growth rate of 6.3 per cent for the fiscal beginning in 2021.

Exp. Lt Col Yuvraj Malik has been appointed the Director of the National Book Trust (NBT), the organisation announced on 14th January. Malik, who has taken over from Sahitya Akademi-awardee writer Rita Chowdhury, joined the NBT on deputation from the Indian Army on January 8.

Exp. Dr Mihir Shah, Distinguished Professor at the University has been appointed the Chairman of the Committee to draft the National Water Policy.

The committee established by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India will outline the new National Water Policy (NWP) for the country.

The committee, comprising of 11 members including Dr Shah, will draft the National Water Policy (NWP) and will submit this to the government within six months from the date of its constitution.

Exp. A senior scientist Sakya Singha Sen from National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) Pune, has been awarded “Merck Young Scientist Award 2019” for doing remarkable research in chemical science.

Exp. India’s high power communication satellite GSAT-30 was successfully launched on-board Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana on 17th January.

Exp. Eminent Sindhi writer Vasdev Mohi will be conferred with 29th Saraswati Samman. He has been selected for this prestigious literary award for his short stories collection- Chequebook

About Vasdev Mohi: Saraswati Samman carries a cash award of 15 lakh rupees, a citation and a plaque. Mr Mohi has authored 25 books of poetry, stories and translations. He has also received Sahitya Akademi Award.