current affairs 20th January 2018

Banking finance company AU Small Finance Bank signed a MoU with LIC to offer Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY). Under the MoU, LIC will give a life cover of Rs2 lakh in case of death to the customer at a nominal premium of Rs330 per annum.

Divers of Great Maya Aquifer Project have discovered world's largest known underwater, flooded cave in Mexico. This cave system is located near the beach resort of Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is made of two massive underwater caverns (Sac Actun and Dos Ojos, measuring 163 miles and 52 miles, respectively) that are connected.

The Maharashtra government has approved a Rs 4,000-crore project aimed at promoting climate-resilient agriculture. The project has been named as the Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojana

India will offer Yoga training sessions at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, in a move aimed at promoting Indian traditions abroad. More than 70 heads of states are expected to attend the summit next week.

Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K) and Blockchain Education Network (BEN) have planned to jointly set up Kerala Blockchain Academy at Technopark campus, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This Blockchain academy is said to be the first of its kind in India. Michael Gord, founder and CEO of MLG Blockchain Consulting, launched the website for the Blockchain academy

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched Girl Child Week programme to celebrate the girl child and spread awareness on gender equality. The Girl Child Week is held from 18 January to 24 January 2018. 24 January is celebrated as National Girl Child Day.

Indian Naval Ship Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy's largest ship, and its sole aircraft carrier were formally affiliated to the Indian Army's highly-decorated and battle-hardened Bihar Regiment and the Indian Air Force's No 6 Squadron.

India climbed up 3 places to secure 102nd spot in the first FIFA rankings of 2018. India has secured a total of 333 points. Indian team remained unbeaten in 2017 and had won seven of nine matches conducted by FIFA.

Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel will be the new Governor of Madhya Pradesh. The appointment was made by the President of India. She replaces O P Kohli, who was given the additional charge as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh in September, 2016, when the tenure of incumbent Ram Naresh Yadav ended.

India joined the Australia Group export control regime and has become the 43rd Member of that Group. It is an informal forum which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the list of nine new Smart Cities, which have emerged winners in Round 4. These nine cities are, Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Erode in Tamil Nadu, Diu in Daman and Diu, Bihar Sharif in Bihar, Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Kavaratti in Lakshadweep.

President Ram Nath Kovind unveiled a book on heartfulness techniques and principles titled 'The Heartfulness Way'. Kamlesh D. Patel is the author of this book. It is the fourth Global Guide of Heartfulness.