Major Ports Authority Bill, 2020 – Passed in Parliament

Shankar School of Banking February 11 , 2021 469

NATIONAL NEWS

Rajya Sabha on 9^th February passed the Major Ports Authority Bill, 2020, which was passed by Lok Sabha in September 2020.
The Bill proposes to create a Board of Major Port Authority, for each major port replacing the existing Port Trusts under the 1963 Act.
The Bill also proposes to constitute an Adjudicatory Board, to be appointed by the Central Government, to replace the existing Tariff Authority under the 1963 Act which fixes the scale of rates for assets and services available at ports.
Adjudicatory Board will consist of a Presiding Officer and two members.

National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO), under Ministry of Science & Technology, has organised 3 days 40th INCA International Congress from 10th February, 2021 in Kolkata.
Indian National Cartographic Association (INCA), the only professional body of the cartographers and geo-spatial technologists, was founded on 7th August, 1979 at Hyderabad.
INCA has become one of the biggest organizations of its kind in the world.
The focal theme of 40th INCA International Congress is ‘Digital Mapping Innovations in Make India Initiatives’.
The event was inaugurated by Governor of West Bengal Sri Jagdeep Dhankar.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 via video conferencing on 10^th February 2021.
The theme of the Summit is ‘Redefining our common future: Safe and secure environment for all’.
He reminded the member nations commitment to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 percent from 2005 levels.

The Government of India has classified UAE to be eligible for Category I licence for FPI.
UAE is the 2^nd Non-FATF country after Mauritius to get this exemption.
This Category I status gives less compliance burden, simplified KYC norms and documentation requirements and fewer investment restrictions.
Currently, 72 out of 113 FPIs are coming from UAE which were under Category II licence before.

Drass Red has won the 13th CEC Cup Ice Hockey Championship beating Hockey Club Chiktan team.
The 1st Women CEC Ice Hockey Cup 2021 was lifted by Shakar Chiktan Team defeating Wakha Mulbekh Team.
32 Men teams and 5 Women Teams participated in the tournament held in Kargil, Ladakh, was organized by the District Youth Services & Sports.

The World Pulses Day falls on February 10 every year and recognised Pulses as a global food.
On World Pulses Day, people make efforts in creating awareness about the importance of Pulses in sustainable food production.
World Pulses Day 2021 is under theme #LovePulses.
The World Pulses day was first announced by UN General Assembly in 2019.
The UN General Assembly after recognizing the value of pulses in 2013, adopted 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP).