Important Current Affairs 28th January 2018

Important Current Affairs 28th January 2018

Download Daily Gk and Current Affairs PDF (English)

Download Daily Gk and Current Affairs PDF (HINDI)

Current Affairs 28th January 2018: SPORTS NEWS

Saina loses to world no 1, finishes 2nd at Indonesia Masters

●    Saina Nehwal was beaten by current world number one Tai Tzu Ying.
●    She finished as the runner-up at the Indonesia Masters. 
●    This was Saina's first appearance in an international competition final since her title triumph at Malaysia Masters in January last year. 

Current Affairs 28th January 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

World's 1st car to get speeding ticket was going at 13 km/h

●    The first ever instance of a car being charged for speeding occurred on January 28, 1896.
●    Vehicle was travelling at 13 km/h which was four times the allowed limit. 
●    The car was pulled over by a policeman who chased it on a bicycle. 
●    The speed limit was raised to 22.5 km/h soon after the incident.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono Hails Indo-Japan Ties In 2017

●    Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has hailed the remarkable progress of Indo-Japan strategic ties in 2017.
●    He described it as a "great year" for bilateral relations.
●    Kono was speaking at the Republic Day celebration event hosted by India's Ambassador to Japan Sujan R Chinoy at the Indian Embassy yesterday.

Saudi Prince Alwaleed, The 'Warren Buffett Of Saudi Arabia'

●    Prince Alwaleed bin Talal -- the billionaire who has been released after nearly three months in detention -- has been dubbed the "Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia" for his vast business interests.
●    Prince Alwaleed was the most high-profile detainee among 350 suspects rounded up since November 4 under a sweeping anti-graft campaign.

Current Affairs 28th January 2018: SCHEMES

Govt saved ₹65,000 crore through DBT schemes: NITI Aayog CEO

●    NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said that the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism in several government schemes helped the government save around ₹65,000 crore. 
●    He said that all government schemes should be linked to DBT, or else corruption cannot be ended. 
●    At present, about 300 schemes are implemented through DBT,.
●    It will benefit nearly 41 crore people.

Current Affairs 28th January 2018: AGREMENT NEWS

To Boost Influence In Indo-Pacific, India Signs Crucial Deal With Seychelles

●    India has signed an agreement with the Indian Ocean archipelago nation of Seychelles for the development, management, operation and maintenance of facilities on Assumption Island.
●    The island in Seychelles is leased to India for the operation of a naval base and air strip by the Indian navy.
●    Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Seychelles Secretary of State Barry Faure signed the agreement.

Current Affairs 28th January 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban Launches Smart Star-Rating for Garbage Free Cities

●    Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/C) for Housing and Urban Affairs along with the Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar launched the ‘Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage-Free Cities’ in Goa. 
●    The star-rating initiative, developed by the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban will be rating cities on a 7-star rating system based on multiple cleanliness indicators for solid waste management.
●    Cities can be rated as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 star based on their compliance with the protocol conditions specified for each of the rating. 

International Dam Safety Conference to be held at Thiruvananthapuram

●    India will be hosting the International Dam Safety Conference - 2018 at Thiruvananthapuram on January 23-24. 
●    Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala will inaugurate the conference and Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State for of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation will preside over the inaugural function.  
●    Central Water Commission is organizing the event in association with Kerala Water Resources Department (KWRD), Kerala State Electricity Board, National Institute of Technology Calicut and College of Engineering, Trivandrum.

AYUSH Minister lays foundation stone for Homeopathy Research Institute in Jaipur

●    The Minister of State (IC), for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik laid the foundation stone for Central Research Institute (CRI) in Jaipur 
●    This will be the third CRI under the aegis of Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH).
●    CCRH is an autonomous body of Ministry of AYUSH for undertaking scientific research in Homoeopathy, with 23 institutes across the country. 

Ministry of Railways sets Zero scrap balance target for all Zonal Railways.

●    Earnings from sale of Railway scrap not only augments Railways revenue but also helps in keeping the Railway track, stations, workshops, depots neat and tidy.  
●    In this regard, Ministry of Railways has directed all Zonal Railway & Production units to achieve Zero scrap balance by end of March 2018.  
●    Total scrap sales till December 2017 of current financial year has reached to Rs. 1837 crores which is 22% higher than December 2016.

Election Commission of India Hosts International Conference on ‘Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Election Process’ 

●    Election Commission of India (ECI) hosted a one-day International Conference on the subject ‘Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Election Process’ in New Delhi.
●    Delegates at the Conference included Chairpersons/Commissioners / Senior Officials of five Election Management Bodies (EMBs) viz. Australia, Bhutan, Guinea, Moldova & Zambia.
●    It will also have heads of two International Organisations, International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES) and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).

795 Police Officers get Republic Day Police Medals 

●    A total of 795 Police personnel have been awarded Medals on the occasion of the Republic Day this year.  
●    Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG) have been awarded to 107 personnel, President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service to 75 personnel and Police Medal for Meritorious Service to 613 personnel.
●    Among the 107 Gallantry Awards, 66 are from J&K theatre, 35 from the areas affected by Left Wing Extremism and three from the North-East Region. 

Foundation Stone laid for Rs.3618 crore Doubling with Electrification projects 

●    Union Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain laid the foundation stone for Rs.3618 crore Doubling with Electrification projects covering 349 kms in Kanyakumari-Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram section.
●    Besides laying the foundation stone for three infrastructural projects, Shri Rajen Gohain inaugurated/dedicated Escalator facility, Wi-Fi services and 100% LED lighting facilities at Nagercoil Junction Railway station.

Current Affairs 28th January 2018: SCIENCE NEWS

Total Eclipse of Moon to take place on January 31

●    A total eclipse of the moon will occur on January 31, 2018.  
●    This is the first eclipse of the year, with a rare coincidence of a blue moon and a super full moon. 
●    The full moon on that day happens to be the second full moon of the calendar month of January, termed as a blue moon.  

Current Affairs 28th January 2018: ECONOMY NEWS

The Government of India announces details of Bank recap and Comprehensive Reform Plan

●    The Government of India unveiled details of the recapitalisation of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) announced in October, 2017.  
●    The capital infusion plan for 2017-18 includes Rs.80,000 crore through Recap Bonds and Rs.8,139 crore as budgetary support.  
●    The reforms agenda is based on the recommendations made at the PSB Manthan held in November, 2017 involving senior management of PSBs and representatives from Government.  

Current Affairs 28th January 2018: APPOINTMENT NEWS

Rawat appointed New Election Commissioner

●    The President appointed the senior-most Election Commissioner, Shri Om Prakash Rawat as the Chief Election Commissioner in the Election Commission. 
●    President also appointed Ashok Lavasa, as the Election Commissioner.
●    Chief Election Commissioner joined office with effect from the 23rd January, 2018