Current affairs on 29 October 2020

Ministry of education appoints Shashi Kiran Shetty as chairman of NITIE
Shashi Kiran Shetty, chairman of Allcargo Logistics and Gati, has been appointed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, as the Chairman of the Society and Board of Governors (BoG) of the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), one of India's premium and only institution offering post graduate courses in Industrial Engineering.

Cognizant names Rajesh Nambiar as Chairman and Managing Director of India
Nasdaq-listed IT firm Cognizant has appointed Rajesh Nambiar as the Chairman and Managing Director of India and a member of Cognizant's Executive Committee effective November 9, 2020.

Cabinet approves MoU signed between India and Cambodia
The union cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and Cambodia on cooperation in the field of medicine and health. The MoU will increase the cooperation between the countries through joint initiatives and technological developments in health sector. Also, it will strengthen bilateral ties between the countries.

Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project approved by Union Cabinet
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the Phase II and Phase III Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP). These two phases are to be implemented with financial assistance from the World Bank and AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank).

Union Cabinet approves norms for Mandatory Packaging in Jute MAterials
The Union Cabinet approved by PM Modi approved that 20% of sugar and 100% of food grains should be mandatorily packed in jute bags. However, when in shortage of jute bags, the Ministry of Textiles can ease the provisions to 30% of food grains (to be packed).

Union Cabinet approves Mechanism for Procurement of Ethanol
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the Mechanism for the public sector oil companies to procure ethanol. Under the new mechanism, the prices of ethanol obtained from sugarcane based raw material has been increased for the forth coming sugar cane season.

India-Japan Cooperation in ICT approved by Union Cabinet
The Union Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between India and Japan on Cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technologies.

India-UAE Defence Cooperation enhanced through Joint Production
India and United Arab Emirates recently held a webinar to boost defence production and exports between the countries. The webinar was organised to help India achieve its target of reaching 5 billion USD of defence exports in five years.

Krishi Upad Mandi (Amendment) Bill 2020
Chhattisgarh Assembly passed an amendment Bill to invalidate the Centre's recently-notified agriculture legislations in one day session. The Assembly passed the Chhattisgarh Krishi Upad Mandi (Amendment) Bill 2020. It gives strength to the state government to control all agricultural produce markets.

Odisha CM Launches 'Sumangal' & Student Scholarship Web Portals To Aid Beneficiaries
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, October 27 launched two web portals. Patnaik launched 'Odisha State Scholarship Portal' and 'Sumangal Portal'. The former portal is to help eligible students of the state to avail scholarship benefits in a seamless and transparent manner, while the latter one is to help people avail inter-caste marriage incentives.

NTPC Ltd. enters into foreign currency loan agreement under GREEN initiative
In the first funding for NTPC Ltd under Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC)'s GREEN or Global Action for Reconciling Economic growth and Environment preservation initiative, India's largest power producer entered into foreign currency loan agreement with Japanese Government's financial institution for JPY 50 billion (approx. USD 482 million or Rs. 3,582 crore).

Dr Satish Mishra bags "Dr Tulsi Das Chugh Award-2020
The National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) has selected the Principal Scientist, Division of Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, (CSIR-CDRI)-Lucknow, Dr Satish Mishra for "Dr.Tulsi Das Chugh Award 2020". He is awarded for his research work on Malaria parasite's life cycle which is a complex process involving two hosts and three invasive stages.