Current Affairs April 4, 2018 S.No Topic Page Number 1 Important Days 2 2 World News 3 3 National News 4-5 4 State News 6 5 Banking & Economy 7 6 Sports 8 7 Awards & Honours 9 8 Appointments & Resignations 10 9 Science & Technology 11 1
Important Days International Mines Awareness Day International Day for Mines Awareness is observed to spread the awareness about the threat caused by landmines to the safety, health and lives of civilian populations. The theme for 2018 is Advancing Protection, Peace and Development. On 8 December 2005, the UN declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. 2
World News India-Japan-US Trilateral Talks Held In New Delhi The crucial dialogue between the three leading democratic powers (viz. India, Japan and the USA) of the Indo-Pacific region was held in New Delhi. It comes a fortnight ahead of the summit between US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida. The India-Japan-US trilateral was launched in December 2011. It was elevated to ministerial level in September 2015. The last ministerial dialogue was held in New York in September 2017. Trial run of India-Bangladesh container train The trial run of the first container train to run between Kolkata and Dhaka was flagged off on 3rd April. While passenger and goods trains run between the two countries, it is for the first time that container trains will be going to Bangladesh from India. The container train will take around eight hours to reach Bangladesh and can carry 60 containers. 3
National News Govt. signed 16 APAs in March 2018 The Central Board of Direct Taxes entered into 14 Unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements and 2 Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APA) during the month of March 2018. The APAs pertain to sectors like Telecommunication, IT, Automobile, Manufacturing and Banking, Finance & Insurance. The APA scheme launched by Government provides certainty to taxpayers in the domain of transfer pricing. HRD Ministry Constitutes Committee to Prevent Exam Paper Leakages The Ministry of Human Resource Development has constituted a High Powered Committee to examine the entire system of conducting Class X and Class XII examination conducted by the CBSE with a view to prevent leakages. Mr Vinay Sheel Oberoi, Retd. Secretary (Higher Education), MHRD will be the Chairperson of the 7 member High Power Committee. MoDWS launched Satyagraha Se Swachhagraha The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MoDWS) launched Satyagraha Se Swachhagraha campaign in New Delhi. It is a nationwide campaign and will culminate on 10th of this month marking the 100th year of Champaran Satyagraha. The campaign commemorates Champaran Satyagraha to spread the message of Swachhata across the country. NIRF India Rankings 2018 for Higher Education Institutions The Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Prakash Javadekar, released the NIRF India Rankings 2018 in various categories on the basis of performance of Higher Educational Institutions in a programme held in New Delhi. Minister of State Human Resource Development, Dr. Satya Pal Singh released the report on the NIRF Rankings during the event. 69 top institutions in 9 categories were given awards at today s event. In this third edition of India Rankings, a total of 2809 institutions have participated in 9 categories. 4
Given below is the list of winners in various categories: a. Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru in overall category b. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in management category c. Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru in overall in university category d. Miranda House, Delhi in college category e. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali in pharmacy category f. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in medical category g. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in architecture category h. National Law School of India University, Bengaluru in law category i. Indian Institute of Technology Madras in engineering category Suresh Prabhu Launches Digital Initiative for Ease of Export Union Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation Minister, Suresh Prabhu launched digital initiatives by Export Inspection Council (EIC) for ease of export at New Delhi. EIC is the official export certification body of Government of India and has launched this flagship project of Digital India Initiative to keep pace with changing dynamics of the world. Three portals have been developed to reduce transaction time and cost in a transparent manner. The portals will play an important role in the Go Green initiative by reducing paper usage and saving millions of trees. 5
State News Multi Modal Logistic Park inaugurated at Balli, Goa Multi Modal Logistics Park at Balli Station near Madgaon in Goa was recently inaugurated. The part is located on Konkan Railway route. It has been set as per MoU entered between Konkan Railway & Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR). It will benefit trade and industry from economic transport solutions and state of art facilities. Sikkim will give pension to organic farmers Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling announced monthly pension of 1000 rupees for farmers engaged in organic farming in the state. Sikking government has banned sale and consumption of non-organic agricultural and horticultural products. Organic farming doesn t involve the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Sikkim is the first fully organic state in the country. 6
Banking & Economy MoU between Indian Army and HDFC Bank A Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) was signed between the Indian Army and HDFC Bank on the Defence Salary Package. The first MoU between HDFC Bank and the Indian Army was signed in 2011 and was renewed on 13 Mar 2015. Indian Army has MoUs on Defence Salary Package with 11 public and private sector banks. Softbank Signs $930 Million Deal to Set Up Solar Venture in India Softbank has signed a $930-million deal with China s energy conglomerate Golden Concord (GCL) to produce and sell solar equipment in India. GCL will invest for a 40% stake in the joint venture, with Softbank taking the rest. The project will have a 4 gigawatt-capacity and will produce solar ingots, silicon wafers, batteries, and components. 7
Sports Commonwealth Games 2018 Starts at Gold Coast in Australia The 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games will begin in Gold Coast, Australia, with a colourful opening ceremony. This will be a momentous day for the city as the biggest event in its history begins. Carrara Stadium has been chosen as the venue to host the opening ceremony. These Games will mark the 5th time that Australia has hosted the games. India will be represented at the opening ceremony by a contingent of over 200 athletes who will be led by flag-bearer P V Sindhu. 8
Awards & Honours Sindhu, Srikanth bag top honours at ESPN Multi-Sport Awards Shuttlers ruled the roost as PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth were today named Sportspersons of the Year with their coach Pullela Gopichand being adjudged best coach at the inaugural ESPN Multi-Sport Awards. Srikanth claimed the title of Sportsperson of the Year Male for his incredible run, bagging four Super Series titles. He became the only Indian and the fourth player ever to achieve it in one calendar year. Rio Olympics silver medalist Sindhu clinched the Sportsperson of the Year Female title for her fantastic performance round the year, winning the Indian and Korean Open Super Series titles. Other winners included the Indian National Women s Hockey Team, which bagged the Team of the Year title for their first Asia Cup triumph in 13 years. Sreekumaran Thampi to get 25th JC Daniel Award Lyricist and director Sreekumaran Thampi has been selected for the 25th J.C Daniel award. This award comprises of Rs. 5 lakh and a citation. Culture Minister A.K. Balan will announce the award at Kerala State Film Award distribution function in Kollam. Sreekumaran Thampi made his debut in 1966 and has written over 1000 odd melodies. 9
Appointments & Resignations Himanta Sarma elected as President of Badminton Association of India (BAI) Himanta Biswa Sarma has been elected as the President of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) for the next 4 years. He is a Cabinet ranked Minister and convener of the North East Democratic Alliance. He had taken over as the interim President of BAI last year after the demise of former president Akhilesh Das Gupta. 10
Science & Technology Meet Icarus, the farthest star ever seen Scientists have detected the most distant star, Icarus, ever viewed, located more than halfway across the universe. The star was formally named MACS J1149+2223 Lensed Star-1. Scientists used NASA s Hubble Space Telescope to spot the star. The star is 9.3 billion lights years away from Earth and it is about twice as hot as our sun. Turkey launches construction of first-ever nuclear plant Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched the construction of Turkey's first-ever nuclear power plant in Mersin region. The total cost of the power plant estimated around 20 billion dollars. 11