Top GKToday’s News Headlines-17 May 2020

Top GKToday’s News Headlines-17 May 2020

INDIA

  • Online dashboard NMIS (National Migrant Information System) developed by NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) to monitor and facilitate movement of migrants across states
  • A Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mark IV warship built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) commissioned into the Indian Navy at Port Blair
  • CSIR-CMERI INNOVATIONS
  • Scientists at CSIR-CMERI (Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute) in Durgapur, West Bengal, developed two sprayer units to disinfect indoor areas
  • The two units BPDS & POMID are designed with two-stage spraying and separate storage tanks
  • BPDS is Battery Powered Disinfectant Sprayer; POMID is Pneumatically Operated Mobile Indoor Disinfection Unit

REFORMS PACKAGE

  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled structural reforms in eight sectors while announcing the fourth tranche of government’s Rs 20 lakh crore economic package.

COAL MINING

  • Govt. will introduce commercial mining of coal by the private sector, ending government monopoly on the sector.

MINERALS MINING

  • 500 mining blocks would be offered through an open and transparent auction process
  • Joint auction of bauxite and coal blocks will be started to enhance the aluminium industry’s competitiveness
  • The distinction between captive and non-captive mines will be removed to allow the transfer of mining leases and sale of surplus unused minerals

DEFENSE

  • FDI limit in the defence manufacturing under automatic route will be raised from 49% to 74%.
  • Govt to notify a list of weapons/platforms banned for imports, such items can only be purchased from India

AVIATION

  •  There will be easing of restrictions on utilisation of Indian air space to reduce travel time and save on fuel
  • Currently, only 60 per cent of the Indian airspace is freely available.
  • 6 more airports to be privatised
  • India to become a global hub for Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), tax rates rationalised

DISCOMS IN UTs

  • Electricity distribution companies in Union Territories (UTs) will be privatised for better service and improvement in operational and financial efficiency in distribution

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

  •  Rs 8,100 crore will be provided as viability gap funding (VGF) for development of social infrastructure

SPACE

  • Private sector to be given a major role in India’s space programme, including in satellites, launches and space-based services.
  • ATOMIC ENERGY
  • Research reactor will be set up in public-private partnership (PPP) mode for making medical isotopes for use in affordable treatment for cancer and other diseases

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

  • Zubair Iqbal appointed new MD of Jammu & Kashmir Bank for 3 years; R K Chibber to continue as Chairman for next 3 years

WORLD

  • International Day of Light celebrated by UNESCO on May 16; day is anniversary of 1st successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist Theodore Maiman in US
  • International Day of Living Together in Peace observed by UN on May 16

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