Important Current Affairs 21st March 2018

Important Current Affairs 21st March 2018

Current Affairs 21st March 2018: NATIONAL  NEWS

Approval of Ayushman India-National Health Mission

●        The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to launch the Centrally Sponsored Ayushman India-National Health Security Mission (AB-NHPM).
●        This includes components of central sector under the mission of Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
●        The scheme covers the benefit of Rs five lakh per family per year.

India to close NRI India-Development Foundation

●        The Union Cabinet has approved the closure of the Indo-Development Foundation (IDF-OI) of Indians living abroad, so that the contributions of the Overseas Indians to the National Program for Major Programs like Clean Ganga Mission and Clean India Mission Coordination can be extended.
●        With the approval of the Cabinet in 2008, the government had set up IDF-II as an autonomous non-profit trust, to facilitate the contribution of Overseas Indians voluntarily in the social and development projects of India.
 
Agreement between India and Guyana on cooperation in renewable energy

●        The Union Cabinet was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Guyana for cooperation in renewable energy.
●        The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Minister of State for Power and Innovation and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge), Shri RK Singh, and the Vice President of Guyana and his Excellency Mr. Karl B. Grinz, Foreign Minister on 30 January 2018.
●        The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding is to create a basis for cooperative institutional relations to encourage technical bilateral cooperation on matters of innovative and renewable energy on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and mutual exchange in both countries.

Approval of Northeast Industrial Development Plan (NEIDS) 2017

●        The Central Cabinet has approved the financial allocation of 3000 crore rupees by 2020 to the North-Eastern Development Plan (NEIDS), 2017.
●        The Government will provide allocated allocation for the remaining period after evaluation before March 2020.
●        NEIDS is a set of incentives covered under the previous two schemes with more allocation.

Cabinet approves Central Sector "Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry" for sericulture sector

●        Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the Central Sector 'Integrated Industrial Development Scheme' for the next three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
●        In the three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20, the total allocation of 2161.68 crores has been approved for the implementation of the scheme.
●        The Ministry will implement the scheme through the Central Silk Board.
 
Approval of review of energy paradigms under e-urea policy

●        Under the new energy policy-2015, energy rules targeted for 11 urea units will be implemented effective from 1st April, 2018.
●        Expansion of existing energy models, including nominal fines, will be extended for two years under the new urea policy 2015.
●        In view of this, there are 14 urea manufacturing units which have failed to achieve targeted energy models.
 
 
Central sponsored scheme approved to continue the National Higher Education Campaign (RUSA)

●        Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the National Higher Education Mission (RUSA) from 01 April, 2017 to 31 March, 2020.
●        RUSA will increase the country's total enrollment ratio by 30 percent to 30 percent.
●        He will also try to increase the expenditure in higher education by the State Governments.
 
 
Three-day preview International Yoga Festival was inaugurated by Jitendra Singh

●        A three-day International Yoga Festival for the preview of International Yoga Day (IDY) 2018 was inaugurated by the Minister of State for North Eastern Region (Independent Charge), Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Minister of State for Defense Dr. Jitendra Singh Today, at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.
●        In his inaugural address, Shri Jitendra Singh said that Yoga helps strengthen us which creates a healthy, more powerful and happy family, society and nation.
●        Mr. Singh also said that Yoga has now united the whole world with its charm towards a healthy life.
 
 Committee on Journalist Welfare Scheme and Central Press Accreditation Committee Reconstituted
●        The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has reconstituted the Committee on the Media Welfare Scheme and the Central Press Accredited Committee.
●        Journalists have been made the first members of the Journalists Welfare Committee.
●        In the Central Press Accredited Committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Director General of PIB (PIB), representatives of the Press Council and News Broadcasters Association (News Broadcasters Association, NBA) have been included as members.
 
 UGC gave autonomy to 60 higher educational institutions

●        University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to give autonomy to 60 academic institutions across the country on March 20, 2018.
●        This decision has been taken after accepting the UGC's absolute criteria and getting top position in the ranking of NAC.
●        In this autonomy, autonomy has been given to 5 Central Universities, 21 State Universities, 24 Deemed Universities, 2 Private Universities and 8 private institutions.

Organic Farming Revolution in India on the lines of Green Revolution

●        The indiscriminate utilization of chemical fertilizers in agriculture is a matter of concern and keeping in view the widespread impact of environment, socio-economic and production on the fronts, the attention of the government has been taken.
●        Addressing the National Conference of Ascham organized on organic farming in New Delhi today, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh said this.
●        He said that India is the largest country to organize organic farming in the world.

Current Affairs 21st March 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

Approval of the establishment of 100% proprietary rights of Telecommunication Consultants India Limited (TCIL) in the US

●        The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of 100 per cent ownership of Telecommunication Consultants India Limited (TCIL) in the US.
●        In the Texas state of America, the C-Corporation of Telecommunications Communications India Limited (TCIL) will be formed, which will have the right to register to do business in other states of the United States.

Approval for establishment of mission in Africa in relation to implementing the Indo-Africa Forum Conference (IAFS-III)

●        The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of 18 new Indian Missions in Africa during the four-year period of 2018-2021.
●        18 new Indians in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Shad, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Swaziland and Togo in Africa The mission will be opened during the four year period of 2018-2021.
●        In this way, the number of Indian Missions in Africa will increase from 29 to 47.
 
India and France joint warfare 'Varun-2011' started

●        The first joint naval warfare between India and France was held on March 2018 at the Mormugao Port Trust in Vasco da Gama, Goa on March 19, 2018.
●        This maneuvers will be held in the Arabian Sea, far off the coast of Goa.
●        France's Submarine and Frigate Jean de Vieen and Indian destroyer INS Mumbai and Frigate Triand will be involved in this maneuvers.
●        Navy helicopters are also participating in this maneuvers.

Current Affairs 21st March 2018: ECONOMY

Amendment of agreement between India and Qatar for prevention of financial irregularities in relation to avoiding double taxation and income tax

●        The Union Cabinet has approved amendment in the agreement between India and Qatar for preventing double taxation and prevention of financial loss in relation to tax on income.
●        The current double taxation agreement (DTAA) with Qatar was signed on April 7, 1999 and came into effect on 15 January 2000.

Current Affairs 21st March 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

BSNL to launch one lakh Wi-Fi hotspots by the end of this year

●        Public sector telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) plans to install one lakh Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide by the end of 2018 .
●        Apart from revenue sharing with WiFi network partners, it will be installed on the basis of BSNL 's own capital expenditure model.
●        BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Anupam Srivastava told reporters that around 18,000 Wi-Fi facility sites have already been made-in-built.