Daily Current Affairs 5th March 2019

1. PM Modi launches Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 

• The national pension scheme is for workers and laborers of unorganized sector. 
• It was announced in the interim budget in February this year. 
• It will provide a monthly pension of 3000 rupees to the employees of the unorganized sector after 60 years of age. 

2. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu embarks on 8-day visit to Paraguay and Costa Rica 

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu embarked on a two-nation visit to Paraguay and Costa Rica.  

• The 8-day tour aims at strengthening bilateral ties with the two Latin American countries.  
• Mr. Naidu will hold discussions with Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez.   
• The Vice President will also call on President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, and also participate in high-level delegation talks with him.

Points to Remember

• Paraguay capital : Asunción 
• Costa Rica capital : San José

3. Rajnath Singh inaugurated project BOLD-QIT on India-Bangladesh border 

Rajnath Singh inaugurated the project BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) on India-Bangladesh border in Dhubri District of Assam.

 

• Border Security Force, BSF is responsible for the safeguarding of over four thousand kilometers long International Border with Bangladesh. 
• At various places, it is not possible to erect Border Fence due to the geographical barriers.
• To overcome this problem, in the year 2017, the Ministry of Home Affairs decided to go for technological solutions besides the physical presence of manpower of BSF.  

4. Kumbh 2019 concluded

Kumbh 2019 the largest religious congregation in the world, concluded in Prayagraj.

• On the last day over one crore, devotees took the holy dip at Sangam in Prayagraj on the occasion of 'Mahashivratri'.  
• Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath formally concluded the Mela.  
• The Uttar Pradesh government branded it as 'Divya Kumbh, Bhavya Kumbh. 
• Around 24 crore devotees from across the world took the holy dip at Sangam. 
• Haridwar will be the venue for next Kumbh in 2022.

5. Maharashtra govt to appoint Lokpal in universities 

Maharashtra government will appoint a Lokpal in all universities except agricultural universities to resolve student grievances. 

• The appointment of the students' ombudsman would be made in the next two to three months.  
•  Maharashtra would be the first state in the country to have such a Lokpal for universities.  
• The Lokpal will be a person related to the university and someone not below the rank of the retired district judge or a retired vice-chancellor. 

6. ISRO launches 'Yuva Vigyan Karyakram' for school children
 

Indian Space Research Organisation has launched “Yuva VIgyani Karyakram”, for the School Children to be studying in the ninth standard.

• ISRO Scientists will impart basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the young ones.
• “Catch them young” residential training program will be of around two weeks duration during summer holidays
• It will have a proposal to select 3 students from each State and Union Territory, covering CBSE, ICSE and State syllabus.

7. Jhulan, Shikha in top five in women's ODI rankings

 

For the first time in nine years, two India bowlers, Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey joined the top-five clubs in the latest ICC women's cricket rankings for ODI bowlers.

• Jhulan Goswami secured the No.1 spot.  
• While Shikha Pandey made a tremendous come back by picking up eight wickets, she has jumped 12 places to occupy the fifth spot on the list.
•  Left-handed India opener Smriti Mandhana consolidated her position at the top with a career-best 797 points.   In ODI All-Rounder rankings, Shikha Pandey has been placed joint 3rd along with South Africa's Dane van Niekerk. 

8. Former union minister Dhananjay Kumar passes away
 

The former minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Venur Dhananjay Kumar, passed away in Mangaluru. 

•  He was 67. He passed away after a prolonged illness 
•  A four-time Lok Sabha member, Kumar served in various capacities in the Vajpayee government, holding the portfolios of civil aviation, finance, and textiles, the latter two as minister of state. 
• His journey in electoral politics began from 1983 when he first became an MLA from BJP. 
•  He had worked hard for the welfare of the state as a cabinet minister in the Vajpayee government.