NATIONAL NEWS. 9th India-Japan Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi 9th India Japan Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi on May 1, 2018.

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1 NATIONAL NEWS 9th India-Japan Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi 9th India Japan Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi on May 1, Highlights of 9th India Japan Energy Dialogue: i. The Indian side was represented by Minister of State(Independent Charge) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R.K Singh and Japanese side was represented by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Mr. Hiroshige Sekosigned. ii. In the joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, both India and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation and work together in promoting well-functioning energy markets. iii. It has been agreed that both countries will initiate the discussion towards development of Electric Vehicles (EVs) by collaborating with Policy dialogue on next generation/zero emission vehicles. iv. Both countries have acknowledged the importance of development and deployment of next generation technologies including hydrogen to realize de-carbonization. Quick Facts about Japan: Capital Tokyo Currency Japanese yen 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be held in Varanasi 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh from 21st to 23rd January, A About 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: i. 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth. ii. It will be organised by Union Ministry of External Affairs in association with the Uttar Pradesh State Government. iii. Theme of the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New India.

2 ISA to create ecosystems for startups in solar innovations In March 2018, International Solar Alliance (ISA) had a setup a task force, which would be responsible for creating ecosystems for startups in solar innovations by enabling incubation, partnerships and access to finance. Role of ISA task force in creating ecosystems for startups in solar innovations: i. The task force is being chaired by SoftBank Group Corp Chairman & CEO Masayoshi Son. ii. At the meeting of this task force, convened by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on April 28, 2018, it was decided to identify six star centres of global excellence. iii. This task force will also develop an overarching innovation strategy to promote innovation in the areas such as solar finance, technologies and applications. Vijay Prahar exercise underway in Rajasthan troops of Indian Army s South Western Command are participating in the ongoing Vijay Prahar exercise near Suratgarh in Rajasthan. Vijay Prahar exercise: i. Objective of this exercise is to fine-tune jointmanship between troops of Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) and maximising the impact of the joint operations ii. The exercise emphasises on testing fighting capabilities by launching mock offensives with fighting equipment and armed helicopters. Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh, MoS railways Ranjan Gohain flag off Antyodaya Express On 1st May 2018, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and union minister of state for railways Ranjan Gohain flagged off Antyodaya Express. Antyodaya Express: i. Antyodaya Express began its service from Raipur, Chhattisgarh on its first day. ii. It is a fully unreserved, well-equipped weekly train between Durg and Firozpur Cantt. ii. The train features modern coaches, RO drinking water, mobile charging facilities, bio-toilets, LED lights etc. BUSINESS & ECONOMY GST Revenue collection in the month of April 2018 exceeds Rs. 1 Lakh Crore As per data released by Union Ministry of Finance; the total gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collected in the month of April 2018 surpassed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark and stood at Rs crore.

3 GST Collection for April 2018: i. Rs crore GST collection for April 2018 consists Central GST (CGST) worth Rs crore, State GST (SGST) of Rs crore, Integrated GST (IGST) of Rs crore and cess of Rs 8554 crore. ii. Since roll out of GST in July 2017, April 2018 is the first ever month in which GST collection surpassed Rs. 1 lakh crore mark. iii. Surge in GST collection has been attributed to implementation of E way bill system for movement of goods worth over Rs from one state to another. Inter-state E-way bill system was rolled out from April 1, 2018 while intrastate (movement of goods within state) is being rolled out in phased manner across various states. APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS IIS officer Sitanshu Ranjan Kar takes over as PIB DG On May 1, 2018, Indian Information Services (IIS) officer Sitanshu Ranjan Kar took over as the Director General of Press Information Bureau (PIB). WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum quits Facebook WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum has announced his exit from WhatsApp. It is said that WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum has decided to exit from WhatsApp due to difference of opinion with parent company Facebook because of data privacy, encryption and other issues. Jan Koum sold WhatsApp to Facebook for over $19 billion in He has also planned to step down from Facebook s board of directors. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY InSight: NASA to launch its first mission to study deep interior of Mars On May 5, 2018, NASA will be launching InSight, the first-ever mission dedicated to exploring the deep interior of Mars. More information about launch of InSight : i. InSight will be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, US aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. ii. InSight stands for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport. It is a stationary robotic lander. iii. InSight will be NASA s first mission since the Apollo moon landings to place a seismometer (a device that measures

4 quakes), on the surface of another planet. iv. It will carry a suite of sensitive instruments to gather data. These instruments include an ultra-sensitive seismometer for detecting marsquakes, which has been built by a multinational team led by France s Centre National d Etudes Spatiales and a thermal probe, developed by German Aerospace Center (DLR) that can bury itself up to five metres underground and measure heat flowing from inside the planet. v. Information collected through this mission will help to know about the earliest stages of Mars formation. vi. On May 5, 2018, Atlas V rocket will also carry a separate NASA technology experiment known as Mars Cube One (MarCO), which consists of two mini-spacecraft and will be the first test of CubeSat technology in deep space. vii. MarCo is designed to test new communications and navigation capabilities for future missions and may aid InSight communications. Quick Facts about NASA: Founded in 1958 Headquarters Washington D.C., US Telecom panel gives nod to in-flight connectivity in Indian airspace In big boost for flyers, the Telecom Commission, highest decision-making body of the Department of Telecommunications, today approved the long awaited mobile in-flight connectivity, facilitating both Voice And Data Callsand date surfing in Indian airspace,. The commission headed by Aruna Sundararajan says that the formalities to provide the facility will be made available over next three months. In-flight connectivity will be allowed in both domestic as well as international airlines entering the Indian space. SPORTS ISSF World Cup Stage 2 Overview i. On 20th to 30th April 2018, ISSF World Cup Stage 2 was held at the Changwon International Shooting Range in Changwon, South Korea. ii. The total medals tally was topped by China with a total of seven medals: four golds, two silvers and one bronze. iii. Shahzar Rizvi won India s first medal at the ISSF World Cup Stage 2. He won a silver medal in the 10m air pistol event. iv. The Indian pair Manu Bhaker and Om Prakash Mitharwal finished fourth in the 10m mixed team air pistol event. Lewis Hamilton won Azerbaijan Grand Prix Formula 1 motorist Lewis Hamilton has won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2018 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari came second while Sergio Perez of Force India came third. Azerbaijan Grand Prix was held for the first time in 2017.

5 IBFF conducts Third Edition of National Blind Football Tournament On 27th April to 1st May 2018, the Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF) conducted the third edition of All India Invitational Blind Football Tournament in Kochi, Kerala. Third Edition of National Blind Football Tournament: i. Over 100 players from all over India participated in the tournament. The Round Robin League Games were played from 27th April to 29th April 2018 at the Alwaye Blind School Grounds. ii.on 30th April 2018, semi-finals were played at the Jogo grounds. Finals of the tournament were also played there. iii. Blind Football is a fast paced 5-a-side football played by visually impaired athletes with a ball having a noise-making device inside. iv. It is played in a smaller pitch on an enclosed court. The game was introduced as a Paralympic event in About Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF): Formed 2016 Affiliated to Paralympic Committee of India and IBSA, New Delhi Promoted by Society for Rehabilitation of the Visually Challenged, Kochi OBITUARY Eminent economist and former West Bengal Finance Minister Ashok Mitra dead On 1st May 2018, former Finance minister of West Bengal Ashok Mitra passed away after suffering from respiratory problems, at a hospital in Kolkata. Former AIFF President P P Lakshaman passes away On 30th April 2018, former AIFF Secretary PP Lakshmanan died after suffering from a long term illness in Kannur, Kerala. IMPORTANT DAYS Maharashtra Day & Gujarat Diwas On 1st May 2018, Gujarat and Maharashtra celebrated their Statehood Day. i. Maharashtra and Gujarat came into existence as states on 1st May Hence May 1 is marked as Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day. ii. On 1st May 1960 Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed on linguistic grounds. Gujarat to launch month-long water conservation project from May 1: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that, the Gujarat government will start a month-long initiative named Sujalam

6 Sufalam Water Conservation Initiative, from 1st May 2018 (Foundation Day of Gujarat) to increase its water conservation capacity. World Labour Day May 1, 2018 On 1st May 2018, World Labour Day was celebrated all over the world. World Labour Day: i. International Workers Day also known as Labour Day or Workers Day or May Day is celebrated every year on 1st May. ii. This day is a celebration of labourers and the working classes. May 1 was chosen as International Workers Day to commemorate the tragedy that happened due to a bombing at a labour protest against the police in Chicago in World Asthma Day is being observed- May 1, 2018 World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. World Asthma Day takes place on the first Tuesday of May. The inaugural World Asthma Day was held in The theme this year is Never too early, never too late. It s always the right time to address airways disease.