CURRENT AFFAIRS TODAY FEB 16 2019

1. Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime minister Narendra Modi approved setting up of New Viral Vaccine Manufacturing Unit in which State/UT?

Answer –  Coonoor, Tamil Nadu

Explanation:
Union Cabinet approved the proposal for allotment of 30 acres of land to Pasteur Institute of India for establishment of New Viral Vaccine Manufacturing Unit at Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. The land for the project will be transferred free of cost and will also be changed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from ‘industrial’ to ‘institutional’.The project includes production of Anti Sera (like snake venom and Anti Rabies Sera) and Viral Vaccine (like TCA anti-measles vaccine, JE vaccine, etc.) at its manufacturing unit in Coonoor.







2. How many years of extension is given to the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK),whose tenure ends on March 31, 2019?

Answer –  3 years

Explanation:
PM Modi chaired Union Cabinet approved extension of tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) beyond 31st March 2019 for 3 years.The tenure of the present commission is upto March 31, 2019.Safai Karamcharis and persons engaged in manual scavenging in the country will be the major beneficiaries of the proposal. NCSK was established in 1993 as per the provisions of the NCSK Act 1993 initially for a period upto March 31, 1997.






3. Which bill is introduced in the cabinet to protect Indian citizen mostly women by their NRI spouses against exploitation and accountability?

Answer – Registration of Marriage of Non Resident Indian (NRI) Bill 2019


Explanation:
Union Cabinet approved introduction of Registration of Marriage of Non Resident Indian (NRI) Bill 2019. It will offer protection against exploitation of Indian Citizens mostly women by their NRI spouses and create more accountability.The Bill requires amendment of the legal framework. When the bill us passed, marriages performed by NRIs would be registered in India or Indian Missions and posts abroad.





4. India had signed with which country for setting up Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter-terrorism?

Answer –  Morocco

Explanation:
The Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Morocco for setting up a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter-terrorism, subject to the cases relating to terrorist attacks.The objectives of the MoU are obtaining and exchanging information on terrorist activities.





5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired Union Cabinet allowed which enterprise to participate in bidding for the strategic disinvestment of Engineering Projects (India) Limited (EPIL)?

Answer –  Eligible Central Public Sector Enterprises (EPSEs)


Explanation:
Answer –
Explanation:
Union Cabinet approved CCEA’s decision by allowing eligible Central Public Sector Enterprises (EPSEs) and Private Sector Entities to participate in bidding for the strategic disinvestment of Engineering Projects (India) Limited (EPIL).A meeting held on October 2016 by CCEA has given in principle approval for strategic disinvestment of 100% shares of Government of India in EPIL and merge it with a similarly placed CPSE.The proposed disinvestment will unlock resources which will be used to finance the social sector and development programmes. The modification will also promote competition in bidding process.





6. What is the new increased value of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for raw jute for the financial year 2019-20 approved by Union Cabinet?

Answer – Rs.3950 per quintal 


Explanation:
Cabinet committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given approval to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for raw jute for 2019-20 season.For Fair Average Quality (FAQ) raw jute the MSP has been increased to Rs.3950 per quintal for 2019-20 season from Rs.3700 per quintal in 2018-19 season. The jute cooperation of India will continue to act as Central Nodal Agency. It will undertake price support operations at the MSP in jute growing states.





7. India signed a deal with which Country to procure 72,400 Sig Sauer Assault Rifles worth around Rs.700 Crore?

Answer – US


Explanation:
The Indian Government has signed a deal with the US under Fast Track Procurement (FTP) to avail the Indian Army with 72,400 new ‘Sig Sauer Assault Rifles’ which will overhaul the army’s inventory of frontline rifles. These Sig Sauer Assault rifles are 7.62*51 mm which are compact, robust, advance in technology and easy to maintain in field conditions.These new rifles will come at a cost of around Rs. 700 Crore and will be used by the army troops deployed along the 3,600 km China’s border.As the contract is made under Fast-Track Procurement (FTP), the assault rifles will be made and supplied within a year. Out of 72,400 rifles, around 66,000 are for the Indian Army and rest 2000 for Indian Navy and 4000 for the Indian Air Force.



8. Who was appointed as the new Election Commissioner of India by President Ram Nath Kovind?

Answer –  Sushil Chandra


Explanation:
President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Sushil Chandra, the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), to be designated as the new Election Commissioner on 14th February, 2019. Mr. Sushil Chandra is an IIT graduate and is a1980 batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) official of Income Tax Cadre, was recently retired from CBDT.Mr. Chandra was appointed CBDT Chairman on November 1, 2016 and further he got 2 extensions.The Election Commission now has Sunil Arora as the Chief Election Commissioner who will succeed O.P. Rawat and Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra as fellow commissioners.




9. Who was appointed as the Chief of Staff at Eastern Naval Command,Vishakhapatnam?

Answer – SN Ghormade


Explanation:
On 14th February 2019, a National Defence Academy (NDA) graduate, Vice Admiral SN Gharmade took charge as the Chief of Staff at Eastern Naval Command, Vishakhapatnam.SN Gharmade was commissioned into Indian Navy on 1st January 1984 and he had assumed command of Guided Missile Frigate INS Brahmaputra, Submarine Rescue Vessel INS Nireekshak and Minesweeper INS Allepey in his 35 years long career.He was honoured by President of India with Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) on 26th January 2017 and Nau Sena Medal in 2007.



10. German Nobel Prize winning Manfred Eigen,passed away recently at the age of 91.He belongs to which field?

Answer – Chemist


Explanation:
German Nobel Prize winning chemist, Manfred Eigen, passed away at the age of 91 on 13th February, 2019. He was awarded half of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on 1967 for his work in measuring extremely fast chemical reactions. He had shared this prize with R. G. W. Norrish and George Porter.