Budget 2020-21 announces largest ever science mission: A 8000 cr National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications

1.International Children’s Film Festival ends in Dhaka

The 13th International Children’s Film Festival of Bangladesh concluded in Dhaka with an award giving ceremony in which 11 awards were conferred in various categories.The Best Feature Film award in the international section was given to the Dutch film Romy’s Salon, directed by Mischa Kamp.

The Finnish director Merja Maijanen bagged the best director award for her film Good Girl.

German film Day X, directed by Katharina Rivilis won the Best Short Film Award.

The Bangladeshi director Ragib Mahmud Shafayet Shah got the Young Talent Award for his film The Smoker while Sudipto Shah won the Social Film Award for his film Khoka Jokhon Chhotto Chhilen.

A total of 179 films from 39 countries were screened at five venues in Dhaka during the Children’s Film Festival which started on 24th January.

2.Maldives rejoins Commonwealth

The Maldives has once again become a member of the Commonwealth of nations.President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the announcement, fulfilling one of his key presidential pledges.

The president said that the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, confirmed Maldives’ reinstatement into the organization as its 54th member state.

The Maldives first became a member of the Commonwealth in 1982 but former President Abdulla Yameen decided to leave it in October 2016, amid mounting pressure from the group over corruption and deteriorating human rights.

3.ISRO announces it is preparing low-cost satellite launch vehicles

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that it is preparing low-cost satellite launch vehicles costing around 30-35 crores rupees each, which can put into orbit satellites weighing 500 kgs.The first such launch is expected to take place in the next four months from the country.

This capability will give ISRO a big commercial boost as it will be able to cater to micro, mini and medium segments of the market.

4.Mumbai’s favourite arts festival Kala Ghoda kicks off

Mumbai’s favourite arts festival Kala Ghoda kicked off.In its 21st edition, this year the annual arts extravaganza is packed with a bigger, tighter selection of vibrant events.

For the next nine days, Mumbaikars have the opportunity to enjoy host of festivities including contemporary artworks, talks by esteemed names in the city and performances across music, theatre and stand-up comedy and much more on the streets of South Mumbai.

5.Budget 2020-21 announces largest ever science mission: A 8000 cr National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications

The government in its budget 2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA) with a total budget outlay of Rs 8000 Crore for a period of five years to be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).Quantum technologies are rapidly developing globally with a huge disruptive potential.

Their applications which will receive boost include those in aero-space engineering, numerical weather prediction, simulations, securing the communications & financial transactions, cyber security, advanced manufacturing, health, agriculture, education and other important sectors .

6.Union Budget 2020-2021

Presenting the first Union Budget of the third decade of the 21stcentury, Finance Minister-Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, unveiled a series of far-reaching reforms, aimed at energizing the Indian economy through a combination of short-term, medium-term, and long term measures.The Union Budget was structured on the overall theme of “ Ease of Living”. Further, three prominent themes of the budget are:-

Aspirational India – better standards of living with access to health, education and better jobs for all sections of the society.

Economic Development for all – “Sabka Saath,Sabka Vikas , Sabka Vishwas”.

Caring Society – Both humane and compassionate.

The income tax rates have been revised.

10% tax for income between Rs 5-7.5 lakh as against 20%

15% tax for income between Rs 7.5-10 lakh as against 20%

20% tax for income between Rs 10-12.5 lakh as against 30%

25% tax for income between Rs 12.5-15 lakh as against 30%

30% tax for income above Rs 15 lakh

15% concessional tax rate for new power generation companies.

Tax on cooperative societies reduced to 22% without exemptions.

100% tax concession to sovereign wealth funds on investment in infrastructure projects.

For year 2020-21:Nominal growth of GDP estimated at 10%.

Fiscal deficit of 3.8% estimated in RE 2019-20 and 3.5% for BE 2020-21.

Rs 690 billion will be spent toward healthcare spending

High-speed train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be actively pursued, Nirmala Sitharaman says while presenting Union Budget 2020.

Insurance cover for bank depositors to be raised to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 1 lakh

5 new smart cities in public-private partnership mode

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to be completed by 2023

100 more airports to be developed by 2024

To launch a new direct tax dispute settlement scheme — Vivaad se Vishwaas scheme.

Govt plans to sell part of its holding in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) by way of Initial Public Offering.

Government doubles the divestment target for the next fiscal at Rs 2.1 lakh crore.

Start-ups with turnover up to Rs. 100 crore to enjoy 100% deduction for 3 consecutive assessment years out of 10 years.

India will host the G20 Presidency in the year 2022 and the Finance Ministry is set to allocate Rs 100 crore for the preparations.

Defence gets Rs 3.37 lakh crore as the defence budget

Rs 2.83 lakh crore to be allocated for the 16 Action Points; Rs 1.6 lakh crore allocated to agriculture and irrigation; Rs 1.23 lakh crore for Rural development and Panchayti Raj.

Rs 4,400 crore for clean air; Rs 53,700 crore for ST schemes; Rs 85,000 crore for SC, OBCs schemes; Rs 28,600 for women specific schemes; Rs 9,500 crore for senior citizen schemes.

Rs 30,757 crore rupees for Union Territory of J&K; Rs 5,958 crore rupees for Union Territory of Ladakh.

National recruitment agency: New common entrance test for non-gazetted government jobs and public sector banks.

5 new Smart cities to be set up via PPP model.

Rs 1.7 lakh crore allocated to transportation.

100 more airports to be set up by 2024 to support UDAN scheme.

Rs 6,000 crore for BharatNet programme; Fibre to Home connections under BharatNet will be provided to 1 lakh gram panchayats this year itself

5 archaeology sites to be developed for world-class museums

Rakhigarhi (Haryana)

Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh)

Shivsagar (Assam)

Dholavira (Gujarat)

Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu)

Maritime museum to be set up at Lothal- the Harappan age maritime site near Ahmedabad, by the Ministry of Shipping.

Rs 18,600 crore worth Bengaluru suburban transport project launched; 20% equity will be provided by the Centre.

New Education Policy to be announced soon.

Fish production to be raised to 200 lakh tonnes by 2022-23

Rs 3.6 lakh crore allocated to water sanitation and pipeline project; Rs 12,300 crore for Swachh Bharat.

7.Lt Gen Y K Joshi takes over as GOC-in-C Northern Command

Lieutenant General YK Joshi took over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command at Udhampur.Before assuming the charge, he visited “Dhruva War Memorial”.

He paid tribute to martyrs who have sacrificed their lives under the Northern Command since 1972.

Gen Joshi commanded 13 JAK RIF in Operation VIJAY and PARAKRAM.

Nicknamed ‘Joe’, he also displayed outstanding leadership during the Kargil war.

8.Govt appoints M Ajit Kumar as chairman of CBIC

The Government of India appointed M Ajit Kumar IRS as chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).The appointment came just two days before the Union Budget 2020 presentation.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment.

The new Chairman’s immediate responsibilities will include accelerating the Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues and to deal with the changes introduced in customs duties in the Union Budget for 2020.

9.Flame-Throated Bulbul ‘Rubigula’ official mascot for Goa 2020 National Games

‘Rubigula’, Flame-Throated Bulbul, has been unveiled as the official mascot for the Goa 2020 National Games in Panaji, Goa.Goa will be hosting the 36th edition of the National Games from 20th October to 4th November 2020.

The event will see participation by 36 states and union territories, 12,000 athletes.

The Flame-Throated Bulbul is the state bird of Goa.

10.Sofia Kenin wins Australian Open final

In Tennis, American Sofia Kenin won her first Grand Slam title with victory over Spain’s Garbine Muguruza at the Australian Open.Kenin won 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 against two-time major winner Muguruza in Melbourne.

Kenin, who turned 21 in November, is the youngest Australian Open champion since Russian Maria Sharapova in 2008.