IREDA + MNRE → Signed MoU & Set Revenue target of INR 2406 Crores in the FY 2020-21

• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India setting key targets for the year 2020-21.
• IREDA has set a Revenue Target of INR 2406 Crores for the current Financial Year 2020-21.
• The MoU was signed by MNRE Secretary, Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi and IREDA CMD, Pradip Kumar Das.

About Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA)

• CMD - Pradip Kumar Das
• HQ New Delhi

About Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

• Ministry of State (Mos), Independent Charge (IC) - Raj Kumar Singh
• HQ- New Delhi

Maharashtra Govt → Rs 35,000 crore MoUs with 15 companies during 'Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0' in Mumbai

• Maharashtra has inked Memorandums of Understanding worth around Rs 35,000 crore with 15 companies viz 10 Indian and 5 global companies at the Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0' investor meet in Mumbai, Maharashtra in order to develop state as data and logistics hub in western India.
• About Maharashtra
• Capital - Mumbai
• CM - Uddhav Bal Thackeray
• Governor - Bhagat Singh Koshyari

IlSc + IOC → Hydrogen Generation Technology

• The IISc and the Indian Oil Corporation Research and Development Centre have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop Hydrogen Generation Technology based on biomass gasification.
• It will be developed in order to produce Fuel Cell Grade Hydrogen at an affordable price.
• The technology that is being developed under the MoU will provide clean energy option, The clean energy in turn will address the challenge of biomass waste. The technology will be demonstrated at the Indian Oil Research and Development Centre at Faridabad. The hydrogen generated from this demonstration plant will be used to power fuel cell buses.
• Biomass Gasification - It is a process converting the biomass to hydrogen and other products. The process does not involves combustion rather it is done with the help of steam, heat and oxygen. The technology was first developed by IISc to produce hydrogen rich synthetic gas from biomass. Later, hydrogen was separated from the synthetic gas.

Draft rules for Industrial Relations Code → To be implemented by April, 2021

• The Ministry of Labor have notified the draft rules for the Industrial Relations Code, 2020,
• These rules have to be implemented by April, 2021.
• The Ministry of Labor and Employment introduced four Bills in September 2019 in order to consolidate 29 central laws. These bill were introduced to regulate and consolidate laws on Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security and Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions.

Industrial Relations Code, 2020

• The code states that the industrial establishments with up to 300 workers will not require a standing order on conditions of employment and rules of conduct for workmen. The new provision for standing order will be applicable on industrial establishment with 300 or more than 300 workers.
• The code also introduced new conditions to carry out a legal strike. It has added a provision of arbitration proceedings for workers before going on a legal strike. It states, no person shall go on strike without a 60-day notice, during the pendency of proceedings before a Tribunal or a National Industrial Tribunal and sixty days after proceedings are concluded.
• The code also include provision of re-skilling fund for training of workers of an amount equal to 15 days that has been last drawn by the worker
• The code has kept out the eminent institutes related to defense and space such as DRDO and ISRO out of its purview.

Strategic Policy and Facilitation Bureau to be set up by AYUSH Ministry and Invest India

• The Ministry of AYUSH and Invest India has planned to set up "Strategic Policy and Facilitation Bureau (SPFB)".
• The bureau will facilitate systematic growth of AYUSH sector.
• It would support the AYUSH ministry to make strategic and policy making initiatives in order to initiate the growth and investment of the AYUSH sector.

About AYUSH Ministry

• Founded - 2014
• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) - Shripad Yesso Naik

Strategic Policy and Facilitation Bureau to be set up by AYUSH Ministry and Invest India

• Invest India - Invest India is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency. It is a non-profit organization constituted under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). It is also associated with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Indian Air Force test fired air launched version of BrahMos missile

• The Indian Air Force has successfully test fired an air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
• The cruise missile was test-fired from the Sukhoi fighter aircraft in the Bay of Bengal.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has integrated with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile for over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets.

John Magufuli Won 2nd Term as President of Tanzania

• President John Magufuli won the 2nd term as the President of Tanzania
• John Magufuli was elected as the President in 2015

About Tanzania

• Capital - Dodoma
• President - John Magufuli
• Currency - Tanzanian shilling

Alassane Ouattara Won 3rd Term as the President of Ivory Coast

• Alassane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) won the 3rd term as the President

About Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)

• Capital – Yamoussoukro (Administrative Capital), Abidjan (Economic Capital)
• President - Alassane Ouattara Currency West African CFA franc

New building of Bhimsen Adarsha Higher Secondary School Built with Indian Assistance of Rs 25.83 Million e-Inaugurated in Nepal

• The new building of Bhimsen Adarsha Higher Secondary School Nawalpur District Nepal constructed with the Government of India's financial assistance of NRs (Nepalese Rupees) 25.83 million under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Development Cooperation has been virtually inaugurated.

About Nepal

• Capital Kathmandu
• President - Bidhya Devi Bhandari
• PM – KP Sharma Oli
• Currency - Nepalese rupee

Indian Naval Ship 'Airavat' reaches Port Sudan with Food Aid as Part of 'Mission Sagar-II'

• Indian Naval Ship (INS) Airavat entered Port Sudan with 100 tonnes of Food aid as part of Mission Sagar-II. Under Mission 'SAGAR' Indian government is providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and COVID-19 pandemic.
• The mission is being done in close coordination with the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs and other agencies of Indian Government.
• Mission Sagar-II - Under Mission Sagar-II, INS Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea amid COVID-19 pandemic.

14th Asian Film Awards

• The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) announced the winners of the 14th Asian Film Awards (AFA 14) held at Busan, South Korea. Karsh Kale and the Salvage Audio Collective won the Best Original Music Award 2020 for the film Gully Boy directed by Zoya Akhtar. Yang Ik-Joon, South Korean Actor and Director presented the Award.

About Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA)

• Asian Film Awards Academy, a non-profit organization created jointly by the three main Asian Film Festivals, Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
• Chairman - Dr Wilfred Wong
• 14th Asian Film Award
• Winner
• All awardees
• Best Actor- Lee Byung-hun for "The Man Standing Next" (South Korea)
• Best Actress- Zhou Dongyu for "Better Days" (HongKong, Mainland China)
• Best Newcomer- Jackson Yee for "Better Days" (Hong Kong, Mainland China)
• Best Supporting Actor- Kase Ryo for "To the Ends of the Earth (Japan, Uzbekistan, Qatar)
• best Supporting Actress- Samantha Ko for "A Sun" (Taiwan)
• Best Film - Parasite directed by Bong Joon Ho (South Korea)
• Best Screenplay - Han Jin Won & Bong Joon Ho for
• Best Production Design - Parasite (South Korea) Lee Ha-jun for Parasite (South Korea)
• Best Editing - Yang Jin-mo for Parasite (South Korea)
• Best Director- Wang Xiaoshuai for So Long, My Son (China Mainland)

World's strongest storm → super typhoon Goni troubled the Philippines

• Tyophoon Goni troubled the eastern part of the Philippines. The typhoon is being considered as the world's strongest storm so far this year.
• It has brought "catastrophic violent winds" and thus is being the hardest landfall on record. Super Typhoon Goni first hit land over Catanduanes province and then pummeled Albay.
• The previous strong typhoon was Super Typhoons Meranti of 2016 and Haiyan 2013.
• Goni's attained the maximum wind speed of 310 kilometers per hour.

About Philippines

• Capital - Manila
• President - Rodrigo Duterte
• Currency - Philippine Peso

India and Maldives get three new UNESCO Biosphere Reserves

• International Coordinating Council of UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Man and the Biosphere programme included Panna Biosphere Reserve(Madhya Pradesh) in India, Fuvahmulah Biosphere Reserve (Maldives) and Addu Atoll Biosphere Reserve (Maldives) to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
• A total of 25 new sites were added, one of them transboundary in 18 countries to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It now has 714 Biosphere reserves in 129 countries around the globe.

New Zealand voted in favor of legalizing euthanasia

• New Zealanders have voted in favor of illegalizing the euthanasia for people with a terminal illness.
• The decision was taken in the aftermath of campaigners who were saying that people who are suffering extreme pain should be given a choice of how and when they want to bring their life to an end.
• Euthanasia in India - Passive euthanasia is legal in India under strict guidelines since March 2018. In India Patients consent is required through a living will.
• Passive euthanasia means withholding treatments which are necessary for the continuance of life. This type is legal under specific circumstances in many countries.

About New Zealand

• Capital - Wellington
• PM - Jacinda Ardern
• Currency - New Zealand dollar

CCI greenlights acquisition of Bharti AXA by ICICI Lombard

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002, approved the acquisition of General Insurance Business of Bharti AXA General Insurance Company Limited (Bharti AXA) by ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Lombard).
• As per the proposed combination, the whole general insurance business of Bharti AXA will be transferred to ICICI Lombard by way of demerger, considering that ICICI Lombard will issue shares to Bharti AXA.
• Under the proposed combination, the shareholders of Bharti AXA will receive 2 shares of ICICI Lombard for every 115 shares of Bharti AXA
• CCI greenlights acquisition of Bharti AXA by ICICI Lombard
• Bharti AXA is a Joint Venture(JV) held by Bharti General Ventures Private Limited (51%) and Societe Beaujon (49%).

About Bharti AXA General Insurance Co. Ltd.

• HQ - Mumbai
• MD & CEO - Sanjeev Srinivasan
• Tagline - Suraksha ka Naya Nazariya

About ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd.

• HQ - Mumbai
• MD & CEO - Bhargav Dasgupta
• Tagline - Quick Easy Smart

Aegon Life Insurance > Launched 'Life + 36 critical illness Insurance' Plan on Flipkart

• Aegon Life Insurance Company Limited launched 'Life + 36 critical illness Insurance' on Flipkart. The policyholder of the plan will get the benefit of life protection along with a lump sum amount on diagnosis of any of the 36 critical illnesses. This plan offers a comprehensive insurance cover against COVID-19, which can be availed immediately on the Flipkart app with a basic life insurance plan.
• The policyholder is paid a lump sum amount on the diagnosis of any of the 36 life-threatening illnesses, irrespective of hospital bills.

About Aegon Life Insurance Company Limited

• HQ - Mumbai
• Principal Officer - Mr. Satishwar Balakrishnan
• About Flipkart
• CEO - Kalyan Krishnamurthy
• Head Office - Bengaluru

HDFC ERGO General Insurance → Al Enabled Tool, IDEAS to Automate Motor Claim Settlements

• HDFC ERGO General Insurance launched the Al (Artificial Intelligence) tool IDEAS (Intelligent Damage detection Estimation and Assessment Solution) for motor claim settlements.
• The IDEAS module uses Neural Network image processing and Analytics, Machine Learning and Natural Language that supports instant damage detection as well as calculation of the claims estimate for the surveyors to help in motor claims settlement in real-time.

About HDFC ERGO

• MD & CEO Ritesh Kumar Chairman - Deepak S. Parekh
• HQ - Mumbai
• Chatbot -DIA