• Economy and Business

RBI Slaps Penalty on Syndicate Bank and Axis Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India has slapped a Rs1-crore penalty on Syndicate Bank and Rs20 lakh on Axis Bank for violating norms.
• The penalty on Syndicate Bank is due to non-compliance with the directions regarding frauds and risk management systems.
• Axis Bank was fined for contravention of the directions on detection and impounding of counterfeit notes and installation of note sorting machines.

• Sports

Ramit Tandon Wins Seattle Open

• Indian squash player Ramit Tandon defeated Egyptian Mohamed El Sherbini in the finals to win the Seattle Open, a PSA challenger squash Tour event.
• The top-seeded Indian, who rose to his career high ranking of 58 in the latest February list, won his first PSA title in the new year and fourth title overall in his career.

• Awards

NFDC won award

• The National Film Development Corporation of India has been declared winner under the Mini ratna category by the Ministry of MSME.
• This was done as a part of the Ministry to felicitate CPSEs to recognise their exemplary work towards promotion of SC/ST entrepreneurs.
• NFDC was incorporated in the year 1975 and was formed for the integrated development of the Indian Film Industry.

• Appointments

Dinesh Bhatia appointed as the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Argentina

• The Union government has appointed Dinesh Bhatia as the next Ambassador of India to Argentina.
• Currently, He is the Consulate General of India at Toronto.
• India’s envoy to Argentina Sanjiv Ranjan has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Colombia.

• Important Days

6th February: International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

• International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a United Nations-sponsored annual awareness day that takes place on 6th February as part of the UN’s efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation.
• Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons.
• It is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

• Science and Tech

ISRO launches GSAT31 from French Guiana

• Today, India’s communication satellite GSAT-31 has been launched successfully from Kourou Launch Base, French Guiana (at Indian time- 2:31 am).
• The Ariane-5 (VA 247) rocket placed it in the intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit in 42-minutes.
• It was immediately taken control by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientists from its Hassan facility in Karnataka.
• GSAT-31 (India’s 40th communication satellite) will provide transponder capacity for DTH television and connectivity to services like VSATs for ATMs, stock-exchanges, Digital Satellite News Gathering DSNG and e-governance applications.
• GSAT-31 had a lift-off mass of 2536 kg and operational life of over fifteen years.

• States

UP Govt. forms SIT on Sikh riots of Kanpur in 1984

• Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the circumstances that led to riots in Kanpur in 1984, following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
• The four-member SIT will be headed by retired UP Director General of Police, Atul, submit its report in 6 months.
• In August 2017, the apex court had issued a notice to the state government on a petition seeking a SIT probe of the riots.
• At least 125 people were killed in 1984 riots in Kanpur after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

• States

NGT slaps Rs.25 lakh fine on UP government

• The National Green Tribunal slapped a penalty of Rs. 25 lakhs on the UP government for its failure to stop the discharge of dirty water in the Upper Ganga canal.
• The bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that adequate steps were not taken for proper waste management.
• This was said while hearing a plea filed by Vivek Tyagi against Niwari Nagar Panchayat.

• States

Maharashtra Sets Up Panel to Review Welfare Schemes for Tribals

• The Maharashtra government has set up a committee to review various schemes being implemented for the welfare of tribals in the state.
• The 17-member committee, headed by former MLA and Shramjeevi Sanghatna president Vivek Pandit, will undertake the study of various works done for providing employment opportunities, minimum wages and proper livelihood to tribals.
• As per a recent government order, the committee will suggest measures to ensure that children in tribal regions were not deprived of education. The committee will hold its meetings every three months and submit its recommendations to the government.

• Miscellaneous

Bullet train to pass through Sanctuary

• A committee chaired by Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan has accorded wildlife clearance to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed train corridor.
• The corridor encroaches upon the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and flamingo sanctuary, the home to leopards, in Mumbai.
• The project for India’s first bullet train was inaugurated in September 2017 by PM Narendra Modi.

• Agreements

NTPC signed an agreement with HDFC Bank

• NTPC signed an agreement with HDFC Bank on 5th February 2019 for a Rs. 2500 crore loan to part financial expenditure.
• The agreement has a 15 years tenure.
• It was signed by NTPC’s Executive Director A K Gautam and Raveesh Bhatia, Regional Head, Corporate Banking, HDFC Bank.