Important Current Affairs 12th April 2017 Free PDF

Important Current Affairs 12th April 2017 with Free PDF

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We bring you Important Current Affairs 12th April 2017 with Free PDF in English and Hindi, which will update you with latest headlines, news from various domains i.e: National News, Sports, Business, Awards & recognition. It will help you in preparation of competitive exams like: SSC, SBI, IBPS PO, Clerk, Railways & Various other Entrance examinations.

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Current Affairs 12th April 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Govt plans to fix quantity of food served in restaurants

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Mann Ki Baat radio programme wherein he raised concerns over wastage of food, the government is now reportedly planning to fix the portion sizes of the food served in restaurants and star hotels. 
●    The decision has mostly left many Twitter users with a bitter taste in their mouths.
●    minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan asked that if a person can only eat two prawns, why should he be then served anything more. 
●    “If a person eats two idlis, why serve four! It’s wastage of food and also money people pay for something that they don’t eat,” he said.
●    The government is drafting a questionnaire for eateries, restaurants and hotels for them to explain what size of dishes would they serve to their customers and patrons. 
●    “They are the experts. 
●    They should tell us the maximum amount of a dish a person can eat. 
●    You go to a Chinese restaurant; they give you so much (of food). We are going to call them (stakeholders) for a meeting. 

Govt announces issuance of PAN and TAN in a day

The Central Board of Direct Taxation (CBDT) on 11 April 2017 tied up with the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to issue Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) in 1 day in order to improve ease of doing business.
●    Applicant companies will be required to submit a common application form SPICe (INC 32) on MCA portal. 
●    Once the data of incorporation is sent to CBDT by MCA, the PAN and TAN will then be issued immediately without any further intervention of the applicant. 
●    The Certificate of Incorporation (COI) of newly incorporated companies will include the PAN in addition to the Corporate Identity Number (CIN). 
●    TAN will also be allotted simultaneously and communicated to the Company.
●    In March 2017, PAN was allotted within 4 hrs in 95.63 per cent cases and within 1 day in all cases to the newly incorporated companies.

President of India presents National Geoscience Awards 2016

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the National Geoscience Awards - 2016 today (April 12, 2017) at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
●    Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India has a rich tradition of geo-scientific research, both at the institutional and at the academic levels. 
●    The National Geoscience Awards, instituted by the Ministry of Mines, is a laudable initiative to honour the contributions and years of dedicated work of geoscientists. 
●    Over the last five decades, these Awards have emerged as the most coveted recognition in the field of geosciences. They have encouraged scientists to achieve higher levels of excellence.
●    The President said that it is incumbent on nations the world over to move in the path of sustainable growth. 
●    In this model, growth and development depends not only on the availability of mineral resources but also on their judicious exploitation. 
●    The near surface mineral deposits are depleting very fast. Hence, the geo-scientific community has to step up to meet the demand for future resources by finding deeper sources for the minerals we require. 
●    Special emphasis also has to be given for discovery of strategic and critical minerals to make the nation self reliant and reduce dependence on imports from external sources for our strategic needs. 
●    While addressing the resource needs of the country, we have to also keep in mind the offshore regions which hold enormous potential for phosphorites, gas hydrates and seafloor massive sulphides.

 

Committee Constituted to Prepare Draft Ganga Act Submits its Report 

The committee constituted to prepare draft Ganga Act submitted its report to the Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti in New Delhi today. 
●    The Minister said that Modi Government will soon make this Act after due consultations with all stakeholders. 
●    She directed the Secretary of her Ministry to constitute a high level committee to go through the report and submit its report at the earliest. 
●    The Minister expressed the hope that sufficient provisions have been made in the draft report keeping in view the uninterrupted and clean flow of river Ganga.
●    The Chairman of the committee Justice Shri Girdhar Malviya (Retd.) said that it was a big challenge for them but they could meet it successfully. 
●    He thanked the officials of Union Water Resources Ministry and National Mission for Clean Ganga for their cooperation to the committee.
●    The committee recognized the enormous challenges being faced to maintain the wholesomeness (Nirmalta and Aviralta) of National River Ganga perpetuated due to over stressed water demand from agricultural, domestic and industrial sectors,  on one hand and realized pressure on account of sustaining the religious faith, historical and social belief  on other hand. 

 

Bandra Kurla Complex to be bullet trains first station

Bullet train between Mumbai-Ahmedabad soon will be a reality as the starting point for the route will be resolved by this week.
●    The first station for the bullet train will be underground from Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai. The fast train will travel for 21km under the sea and emerge over ground at Thane. 
●    Earlier, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority had objected the station plan stating that they want the same area to be used for a financial services centres.
●    However, Ministry of Railways on Monday decided that they will build an underground station for the bullet train with the corporate building above it.
●    The bullet train will reduce the travel time to Ahmedabad-Mumbai to just two hours as against the current travel time of seven hours. 
●    In the previous reports, it was mentioned that Railway Board wanted to start two bullet train services on Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. 
●    First, train from BKC with only three stops, namely, Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad). Second, train from BKC with 10 stops, namely, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad. 
●    The ministry expects around 36,000 daily users per day both ways by 2023, going up to 186,000 by 2053. Estimated cost of this project is about Rs 97,636 crore and 81% of the project will funded by Japan.

 

HIV AIDS Prevention and Control Bill passed in Lok Sabha

The Parliament on 11 April 2017 passed the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2017.
●    The Bill provides for the prevention and control of the disease and protection of human rights of those affected by it.
●    The Bill also prohibits any kind of discrimination against such people on ground of treatment, employment and workplace.
●    The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill was passed on 21 March 2017 in the Rajya Sabha.
●    The Bill sets various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons is prohibited.  
●    These include the denial, termination, discontinuation or unfair treatment with regard to employment, educational establishments, health care services, residing or renting property, among others.

 

MP bans polythene bags from May 1

Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to ban plastic and polythene carry bags across the state from May 1 saying that its consumption results in large number of cow deaths. 
●    The government had earlier declared prime tourist destinations and holy cities in the state as polythene free with effect from January 1.
●    "The state cabinet has expressed concern over increasing use of polythene carry bags and their consumption in large number by the cattle resulting into their death. 
●    It was unanimously decided to ban polythene and plastic bags across the state from May 1," said state legislative affairs and public relations minister Narottam Mishra while briefing reporters, on Tuesday.
●    It was chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who had announced to ban polythene in the state from May 1 while addressing the public on Republic Day parade last year. 
●    Chouhan had said that excessive use of polythene and plastic has posed danger to the environment and the cattle.
●    In November 2013, NGT had directed Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to ban plastic carry bags within six months. 
●    In January 2015, NGT had asked the state government to take action in six weeks. However, in October, the NGT issued notifications for banning the use and manufacture of plastic bags by October 30 and ensure implementation of the ban from January 1, 2015.

With NBCC on fast forward mode, its CMD honoured for Leadership Excellence

With public sector construction major National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) making rapid strides in business volumes and diversification over the last four years to become ‘Navratna’, its Chairman and Managing Director Dr.A.K.Mittal has been conferred the ‘SCOPE Leadership Excellence Award’ in individual category. 
●    President Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the Award to Dr.Mittal for his leadership and contribution to the growth of NBCC on Tuesday.
●    Dr.Mittal took over as CMD of NBCC in 2013 and since then the company’s turnover increased by over 80%, order book rose by 417%, market capitalisation shot up by 1,000% to Rs.16,200 cr. Recent disinvestment of NBCC fetched the Government Rs.2,200 crore.
●    Dr.Mittal aligned the company’s business profile with various flagship programmes of the Government seizing the business opportunities.