Important Current Affairs 1st September 2017

Current Affairs 1st September 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

National Integration Tour Organised by Indian Army for Students from LEH 

As part of the Indian Army’s ongoing outreach programme to foster the spirit of National Integration across the entire swathe of the country, a tour comprising of 20 school students from Biamah in Leh district of J&K is being organised from 25 August to 05 September 17. 
●    The participants interacted with Lt General Sarath Chand, Vice Chief of Army Staff today. 
●    He shared his experiences while serving in these areas with the students and motivated them to work hard and contribute actively in the Nation Building process. 
●    He also exhorted them to join the Indian Armed Forces and serve the cause of the Nation. 
●    The tour was flagged off from Leh on 25th of August and during the course of their tour the participants have already visited various cultural and historical places in Chandigarh and Delhi. 
●    These National Integration Tours are educational and motivational tours for youth of J&K and North Eastern States, with an aim to provide an insight into the rich heritage of the country as well as various developmental and industry initiatives that are underway. 
●    This initiative will expose them to various career options and enable them to interact with renowned personalities.

Shri Rajiv Kumar, IAS(JH:84) assumes office as the New Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance 

Shri Rajiv Kumar, IAS(JH:84) today assumed office as the new Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. 
●    Shri Rajiv Kumar was Special Secretary and Establishment Officer, Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances & Pension, D/o Personnel & Training in his immediate preceding posting. 
●    Shri Rajiv Kumar has widespread administrative experience in more than 30 years of service during which he held various important assignments including the Administrative postings in his home State of Jharkhand. 
●    Shri Kumar has also worked in the Central Government in various capacities. He was posted as Joint Secretary and then Additional Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance from 19.03.2012 to 12.03.2015. 
●    Later he took over as Establishment Officer & Additional/Special Secretary, Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances & Pension, D/o Personnel & Training from 12.03.2015 till 30.08.2017.

Swacch Vidyalaya Puraskar 2017 

In his Independence Day address to the nation on 15th August, 2014 Hon’ble Prime Minister called upon that all schools in the country should have toilets with separate toilets for girls. 
●    The Department has taken new initiative for furtherance of Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign and instituted Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar in 2016-17 to recognize, inspire and celebrate excellence in water, sanitation and hygiene practices in schools. 
●    Swachhta in schools plays a significant role in determining the health of children, attendance, dropout rate, and learning outcomes. 
●    For the first time, government schools have been ranked on the basis of Swachhta on various criteria viz. Water, Sanitation, Hand washing with soap, Operations and Maintenance, Behaviour Change and Capacity Building.
●    35 States and UTs participated in this Puraskar, at District and State levels, in an online mode. 
●    Thereafter, these were evaluated and awarded at district and state levels. 
●    Out of 643 schools shortlisted by the states, 172 schools have been selected for the National awards for Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2016-17.

Smt Sumitra Mahajan Inaugurates Exhibition-cum-Seminar 

Smt Sumitra Mahajan, The Speaker, Loksabha inaugurated Exhibition-cum-Seminar ‘New India – We Resolve to Make’ here today. 
●    Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was present on this occasion. 
●    Shri Rajiv Yadav, Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs was also present on this occasion.
●    Speaking on the occasion, Smt Sumitra Mahajan, The Speaker, Loksabha said that this programme is not just an exhibition, it is like a Sankalp. 
●    India got independence just in 5 years of starting Quit India Movement due to its Sankalp. 
●    Every freedom fighter fought for Independence in a different method. 
●    In Loksabha, all parties have made a Sankalp to make a New India in next 5 years. 
●    She also said that Exhibition is for children who is our future of India to know that our India’s rich traditions and to make a New India in a better way.
●    Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs said that very few people who participated in August Kranti Andolan are alive today. 
●    In this context, it is very important to make our children know about how we have got our Independence. 

Dedicated FASTag lane operationalized at every toll plaza from today 

NHAI achieved the first milestone in Electronic Toll Collection when it operationalised one dedicated FASTag lane at all toll plazas from today. 
●    Now FASTag enabled vehicles can cruise through the dedicated FASTag lane without stopping at toll plazas on National Highways.
●    The FASTag is an RFID tag available both online and offline through banks and Common Service Centres. 
●    Two mobile applications were launched by NHAI on 17th August, 2017,for ease of obtaining FASTags, which have received tremendous response. 
●    Thousands of road users have downloaded the applications and purchased FASTags in less than two weeks. 
●    The penetration of FASTag has increased to 18 % as on 31st August, 2017.
●    The Government of India has mandated that new vehicles being sold with effect from 1st October, 2017 will be affixed with active FASTag. 
●    The “FASTag Partner App” will facilitate more than 6000 dealers in the country to access a single platform and activate the FASTag at the time of delivery of vehicle.

Youth Sports Centre to come up at Alipur, Delhi

Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel has announced that a new Youth Sports Centre to be built at Alipur, Delhi. 
●    Announcing this here today he said there is an aspiration amongst the youth of rural Delhi to have a State of the Art Youth Sports Centre at par with best facilities in the city since no such facility exists in rural Delhi. 
●    He said, the project has been envisioned so that maximum rural youth can avail the facility for their overall development and promotion of sports in rural areas of the capital. 
●    Shri Goel said the proposed Centre will come up on the NYKS land adjacent to Swami Shraddhanand College of Delhi University. 
●    NYKS has a land measuring about 11 acre out of which 8 acre will be utilized for the Sports Centre. 
●    Shri Goel said the complex will have State of the art sports facilities such as football ground, an Athletic track, as well as volley ball, kabaddi and kho-kho facilities besides a multipurpose indoor hall for training players in Boxing & wrestling. 
●    A modern gym will also be developed. SAI will create SAI training centre at this complex in the next three years.

Current Affairs 1st September 2017: SPORTS

World Boxing Championships 2017: Gaurav Bidhuri won bronze

Wild card Gaurav Bidhuri became only the fourth Indian boxer ever to secure himself a medal at the World Championships after defeating Tunisia's Bilel Mhamdi to enter the semifinals of the mega-event.
●    Gaurav prevailed in a split decision in the bantamweight (56kg) quarterfinal contest to make the last-four stage, becoming only the second from the country to do so in his debut world championship. 
●    The only other Indian to have achieved the feat was Vikas Krishan, in the 2011 edition.
●    Besides Vikas, Vijender Singh (2009) and Shiva Thapa (2015) have been the country's other medallists at the marquee event of the sport. 
●    But they have all settled for bronze medals and it remains to be seen if Gaurav can better them on that.
●    But there was slight disappointment as well for the contingent when Amit Phangal (49kg), another impressive Indian debutant in the event, bowed out in the quarterfinal stage.

India women's team rises to 56 in FIFA rankings

Indian women's football team jumped four places to be ranked 56th in the recently-released FIFA rankings. 
●    India are now placed 13th in Asia, sandwiched between Iran and Hong Kong.
●    "Development of women's football is one of our priorities and it's heartening to see the women's team rise in FIFA rankings. 
●    Congratulations," AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said.
●    National coach Maymol Rocky said, "We've seen successes as well as have faced quite a few tough competitions of late. 
●    The rise in FIFA Rankings reflects our hard work which is being put in by the team relentlessly."

Important Current Affairs 31st August 2017

Current Affairs 31st August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal launches Common Food Processing Incubation Center for Shallots, Perambalur 

Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries launched Common Food Processing Incubation Center for Shallots (Small Onions) in Chettikulam village in Perambalur District of Tamil Nadu through video conferencing from here today.
●    Speaking on the occasion Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that it is a historic & auspicious occasion for Tamil Nadu and Chettikulam Village in particular. 
●    She also congratulated Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), Thanjavur for their initiatives to help double farmers' income by 2022. 
●    She also said that farmers in Perambalur District are producing 70000 tons of shallots per year in a cultivation area of 8000 hectares, in spite of the increasing difficulty in cultivation due to increase in prices of inputs, unpredictable weather, disease outbreak and not getting adequate prices in the market. 
●    This Central Processing Center for Shallots in Perambalur will ensure that no shallots are getting wasted, increase farmers' income and also ensure availability of shallots to consumers. 
●    This Onion processing technology should be taken to all parts of India.

Shri Rajiv Gauba takes over as Union Home Secretary 

Shri Rajiv Gauba, IAS (Jharkhand cadre-1982 batch) today took over as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
●    Shri Gauba joined the Ministry of Home Affairs as Officer on Special Duty on June 27, 2017 and took charge as the Union Home Secretary upon the superannuation of Shri Rajiv Mehrishi.
●    Prior to this, Shri Gauba was Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development. 
●    He has wide-ranging experience in senior positions in the Central and State Governments and in international organisations. Hailing from Punjab, the 1959 born Shri Gauba is a Physics graduate.
●    He has worked as Chief Secretary, Jharkhand. 
●    Earlier, Shri Gauba served in the Central Government in the Ministries of Home, Defence, Environment and Forests and Department of Electronics and Information Technology.

Ministry of Railways Signs two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Swiss Confederation (Switzerland) 

Two MoUs have been signed in the course of the visit of President of the Swiss Confederation, Mrs. Doris Leuthard to India on today i.e.31.8.2017 between Ministry of Railways and Swiss Confederation.
●    The first MoU is between Ministry of Railways and Federal Department of the Environment, Transport and Communications of the Swiss Confederation for technical cooperation in Rail Sector.  
●    This was signed in the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and President of the Swiss Confederation, Mrs. Doris Leuthard by Shri Ashwani Lohani, Chairman Railway Board and Dr. Andreas Baum, Swiss Ambassador to India.
●    The MoU is a follow up on bilateral cooperation in Rail sector discussed in the meeting held between Minister of Railways Mr. Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and Swiss Ambassador in July 2016.

Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi gives National Level Awards to Anganwadi Workers 

The Minister of Women & Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi gave away National Level Awards to anganwadi workers to recognize their exemplary voluntary service in the field of child development and related areas under the ICDS Scheme, at New Delhi today. 
●    The Awards for the year 2016-17 were given to 51 awardees today. These awards are given annually.
●    Speaking on the occasion, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi congratulated the awardees and urged them to keep up their dedication to the cause of child development, community mobilization and awareness generation while delivering the ICDS Services. 
●    The functionaries anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers play a pivotal role in child development since the responsibility of taking care of small children has been given to these frontline workers across the country under the ICDS, the Minister explained.

National Nutrition Week to be observed from 1st to 7th September 

The National Nutrition Week will be observed throughout the country from 1st to 7th September. 
●    The theme of the National Nutrition Week for 2017 is "Optimal Infant & Young Child Feeding Practices: Better Child Health". 
●    The basic objective of this annual event is to intensify awareness generation on the importance of nutrition for health which has an impact on development, productivity, economic growth and ultimately National development.
●    The Food and Nutrition Board of Ministry of Women & Child Development, through its 43 Community Food and Nutrition Extension Units (CFNEUs) located in 30 States/UTs, will coordinate with concerned Department of the State/UT Governments, National Institutions, NGOs and organize State/UT Level Workshops, Orientation Training of Fields Functionaries, Awareness Generation Camps, Community meetings during the week on the specified theme.

Workshop on implementation of Emergency Action Plan for Dams held 

With the purpose of increasing awareness about dam safety measures in the country and finalisation of Emergency Action Plan (EAP) a stakeholders consultation Workshop was organised by Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department in collaboration with Central Water Commission was held recently at Krishnagiri dam site, district Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu. 
●    Over 150 delegates representing the stakeholders involved with relief and rescue operations and representatives from National Disaster Management Authority, State Disaster Management Authority, India Meteorological Department, State Health, Fire, Police, Revenue and Road Departments and Railways participated in the Workshop.
●    Shri NK Mathur, Member, Central Water Commission presided over the Workshop and highlighted the need for the preparation of EAP for each dam and involvement of all agencies in ensuring effective relief and rescue operations. 
●    The brief backgrounds of few of the national as well as international dam disasters were also discussed, along with step by step process for evolving a sound and bankable EAP document.

GST collection for first month exceeds estimates: FM Arun Jaitley

The goods and services tax (GST), launched on 1 July, has got off to a good start, with collections exceeding the revenue target for the first month.
●    And this is when a third of the tax payers are yet to submit their returns and tender their tax dues. 
●    The government is cautiously optimistic that GST revenues will stay on course for the remaining eight months of 2017-18.
●    Addressing a press conference, finance minister Arun Jaitley disclosed that in July, Rs92,283 crore had been received as GST receipts from 3.9 million tax payers, compared with the target of Rs91,000 crore.
●    Not only does this put to rest fears, at least for the time being, that the transition to GST could lead to revenue losses, it is also a shot in the arm for the Union and state governments which had backed the reform initiative.

Current Affairs 31st August 2017: SPACE SCIENCE

Nasa plans to make oxygen on Mars

Nasa is planning to make oxygen from the atmosphere on Mars when its next robot arrives on the mysterious red planet in 2020.
●    Scientists will send microbial life - possibly algae or bacteria - on the 2020 Rover mission in a bid to create air fit for human consumption.
●    They aim to feed the microorganisms in Martian soil in the hope that they will pump out oxygen as a byproduct.
●    If the experiment is successful it will mark a major step towards making Mars habitable for human colonies in the future.
●    Mars's atmosphere contains just 0.13% oxygen, compared with 21% on Earth.
●    Nasa Acting Chief Administrator Robert Lightfoot told Futurism: "Mars 2020, has an experiment where we are going to try and actually generate oxygen out of the atmosphere on Mars, clearly that’s for human capability down the road."
 

Important Current Affairs 30th August 2017

Current Affairs 30th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Cabinet approves promulgation of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Ordinance, 2017

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal of the Finance Ministry to promulgate an ordinance to suitably amend the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017.
●    The approval would allow to increase the maximum rate at which the Compensation Cess can be levied from 15% to 25% on:
●    motor vehicles for transport of not more than thirteen persons, including the driver [falling under sub-headings 870210, 8702 20, 8702 30 or 8702 90]; and
●    motor vehicles falling under headings 8703.
●    The GST Council, in its meeting held in August 2017, taking into consideration the fact that post introduction of GST, the total incidence on motor vehicles [GST+ Compensation Cess] has come down vis-a-vis pre-GST total tax, incidence, and had recommended increase in the maximum rate at which Compensation Cess can be levied on motor vehicles falling under headings 8702 and 8703 from 15% to 25%.

C-DOT celebrates its 34th Foundation Day 

The Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha has called upon C-DOT, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) to innovate and develop Telecom products at reasonable costs for exporting to SAARC countries and other developing regions of the world. 
●    In a message on the occasion for 34th Foundation Day celebrations of C-DOT, he said that the premier Telecom R&D center of the Government of India, can develop products having far reaching impact in the areas of Agriculture, Education and Health care. 
●    The Minister said that in an era of M2M communications, Internet of Things, 5G, Cognitive learning and hyper speed networks, C-DOT has to play an important role in developing state of the art telecom infrastructure at affordable rate for the common man. 
●    Referring to the launch of C-DOT’s latest innovation, “WiDHWAN”, Shri Sinha said that, it has been exclusively designed to cater to the recurring call drop issues in no-signal and low-signal network scenarios in places such as offices and homes. 
●    He also congratulated C-DOT for regularly organizing lecture series on its foundation day, attracting national and international talents from the fields of IT and Engineering to brainstorm on the future challenges facing the sector.

CPWD goes digital 

The Government’s construction major, Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has undergone a major digital transformation enabling payments worth Rs.20,000 cr per year electronically. This has been done by networking all the 400 field offices of CPWD across the country through a special integrated portal ensuring digital payments from this month. 
●    With this, CPWD has become the first organization of a civil ministry to become digital at the field level.
●    CPWD executes over 25,000 project works across the country involving annual payments of over Rs.20,000 cr every year by it’s 400 field offices including in remote, hilly and North-Eastern parts. 
●    The new digital payment mode covers over six lakh transactions. The Office of Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA) of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has evolved this special Public Financial Management (PFMS) Portal for CPWD.
●    During a demonstration of this online payment system to Shri Duga Shanker Mishra, Secretary (HUA), Shri Shyam Dubey, CCA explained that it enables real time monitoring of expenditure in respect of each of the 25,000 projects across the country. 
●    Since fund release is linked to progress of works, digital payments also ensures efficient utilization of funds, he said.

STPs to be constructed under Hybrid Annuity Model at Varanasi and Haridwar 

In the first-of-its-kind success, the creation and maintenance of sewage treatment infrastructure under Hybrid Annuity based PPP model has taken off, with NMCG awarding work to private sector for construction and maintenance of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in two major cities in Ganga river basin - Varanasi and Haridwar. 
●    While the work to construct, operate and maintain a 50 MLD STP in Varanasi has been awarded to a consortium led by Indian infrastructure major - Essel Infra Projects Limited at an estimated cost of Rs 153.16 crore, HNB Engineers Private Ltd. has been awarded the work to develop, operate and maintain the total sewage treatment capacity of 82 MLD (68 MLD in Jagjeetpur + 14 MLD in Sarai) STPs in Haridwar at an estimated cost of Rs 171.53 crore. 
●    The awarded projects would ensure that no untreated sewage waste water goes into river Ganga.
●    Since the inception of Hybrid Annuity-PPP model, many national and international players have shown interest in NMCG projects. 
●    The consultative meetings and conferences with market players attracted large number of participants. 
●    More than 30 firms showed-up for pre-bid meetings of Varanasi and Haridwar projects.
●    The selection of firms was based on lowest bid project cost for developing and operating the treatment infrastructure for a period of 15 years.

CWC signed MoUS with NIT Calicut and NIT Rourkela to support capacity building in Dam Safety Areas 

Central Water Commission (CWC) has signed MoUs with NIT Calicut and NIT Rourkela to support dam rehabilitation efforts of various implementing agencies and CWC.
●    Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has taken on board selected premier academic and research institutes, for capacity building in the areas of dam safety through World Bank assisted Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).
●    The scope includes strengthening the testing laboratories, enhancing analytical capabilities, exposure visits to best global institutions and on ground exposure to dam safety concerns to the faculty of these institutions. 
●    CWC had signed MoUs with IIT Madras and IISc Bangalore in January 2017 and Ministry is supporting these institutes for the procurement of specified equipment and software for enhancing their testing and modeling capabilities. 
●    DRIP is assisting rehabilitation of 225 dams in seven States which are experiencing different levels of distress. 
●    Owners of these dams require technical support for the investigation of dam conditions and supporting rehabilitation efforts. 
 

Current Affairs 30th August 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

Cabinet approves MoU with Myanmar for the Conservation of Earthquake-Damaged Pagodas at Bagan 

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar for the conservation of earthquake-damaged pagodas at Bagan, Myanmar.
●    The MoU will be signed during the visit of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Myanmar during 6-7 September 2017.
●    Implementation of the project will further strengthen India’s enduring ties in culture and religion with Myanmar. 
●    It will also generate immense goodwill for India among the people of Myanmar due to the religious significance as well as the touristic significance of the project. 
●    It will also contribute to India’s development partnership with Myanmar. 
●    Bagan is one of the premier tourist attractions of Myanmar. 
●    It will be an opportunity to showcase India’s expertise in the restoration and conservation of monuments not only to the people of Myanmar but also to the tourists from other countries.

Cabinet approves MoU on "India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund" 

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel on "India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F)". The MoU was concluded in July, 2017
●    India and Israel will make an contribution of four million US Dollars each for the Fund, both equivalent amount, annually for five years. 
●    The Innovation Fund will be governed by a joint Board which will consist of four members from each country.
●    The MoU envisages promotion of bilateral Industrial R&D and Innovation cooperation in the fields of science and technology by extending support to joint projects for innovative or technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes. 
●    Such projects will lead to affordable technological innovations in focus areas of mutual interest such as water, agriculture, energy and digital technologies. 
●    Institutional support in building up consortia including private industry, enterprises and R&D institutions from India and Israel will be enabled through these collaborative projects.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies. The MoU was signed in October, 2016.
●    The MoU will strengthen the existing friendly relations between India and Brazil and promote development of Genomics and Assistant Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) in Cattle through joint activities to be implemented through mutually agreed procedures.
●    An implementation committee shall be created with an equal number of representatives of each party for the purpose of regularly determining the activities and developing work plans and subsequently their evaluation.
●    It will be done through joint projects in the fields of Productivity Improvement of cattle and buffaloes, for the purpose of broadening the existing knowledge base on sustainable dairy development and institutional strengthening.

Important Current Affairs 29th August 2017

Current Affairs 29th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Shri Ashwani Lohani, Chairman, Railway Board pens down a letter for Indian Railwaymen across the country 

The Chairman Railway Board Shri Ashwani Lohani has called upon the railwaymen across the country to always be on guard to ensure the highest level of safety in train operations and instill a renewed sense of confidence in railway passengers. 
●    He emphasized that safety should always remain principle focused area.
●    In a letter sent to all railwaymen, Shri Lohani stressed the need to resolve to bring about an all-round improvement in the working of the railways so that we are able to satisfactorily meet the hopes,  expectations and aspirations of the vast multitude.
●    Referring to the committed workforce of Indian Railways, the Chairman Railway board said that the sincerity, dedication and professional capability of the railway employees, both officers and staff is indeed unparalleled. 
●    It is the men on the field who, regardless of their personal inconveniences and hardships, ensure that the wheels of the Nation keep moving surely and safely.  
●    This is what makes the Indian Railways the most visible symbol of dynamic delivery in our country.

Centre allows States/UTs to take control measures to ensure adequate availability of onion at reasonable prices

As part of its efforts to ensure that the prices of essential commodities are kept under control, Government has taken a decision to enable the States/UTs to impose control measures on traders/dealers of onion to ensure adequate availability of essential commodity at reasonable prices. 
●    On 25.08.2017, Government has notified this decision vide Order SO No. 2785 (E). States may now impose stock limits on onions and undertake various measures like de-hoarding operations, action against speculators and profiteers.
●    This has been necessitated due to the abnormal rise in prices of onions in recent weeks particularly from July end of this year onwards, though the production and supply of onions in the market is better than last year during the same period. 
●    As per all India average retail price, the prices have increased from Rs. 15 per kg to Rs. 28.94 per kg. In the Metros the rise has been even steeper, Rs. 31 per kg in Chennai, Rs. 38 per kg in Delhi, Rs. 40 per kg in Kolkata and Rs. 33 per kg in Mumbai.

Union Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurates 92nd Foundation Course, LBSNAA

The 92nd Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie was inaugurated today, by Union Minister of Textiles and Information & Broadcasting, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani. 
●    Wishing the young officers all the best in their careers, Smt. Irani exhorted them to inculcate sensitivity to the underprivileged and to look upon themselves as custodian of citizens of India.  
●    She hoped that the Officer Trainees would work enthusiastically to bring development to the most backward parts of the country. She asked them to embrace technology through Digital India initiatives for better service delivery.  
●    The Minister expressed the hope that the best practices of the public sector and private sector are imbibed by the Officer Trainees, resulting in a better India.  
●    Smt. Irani administered the Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution of India, to the Officer Trainees. 
●    After the inaugural function, the Minister also interacted with the trainees over lunch, at the Officers’ Mess at the institute.

Uttar Pradesh gets 41,173 more houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

Affordable housing in urban areas is gaining momentum in Uttar Pradesh with the State getting 41,173 more houses sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). 
●    The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has sanctioned 2,17,900 more houses for six States including Uttar Pradesh taking the total houses sanctioned so far to 26,13,568 with a total investment of 1,39,621 cr. Central assistance of 40,597 cr has been approved for construction of these houses.
●    In the latest sanctions, Andhra Pradesh has got 1,20,894 more affordable houses followed by Uttar Pradesh-41,173, Assam-16,700, Gujarat-15,222, Jharkhand-14,017 and  Maharashtra-9,894.
●    Andhra Pradesh is far ahead of others in sanctions under PMAY(Urban) accounting for 20.71% of all the houses sanctioned so far.

Supreme Court judge Justice PC Pant demits office

Supreme Court judge Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant retired after a tenure of little over three years, bringing the vacancies in the apex court to six.
●    Justice Pant, who became a Supreme Court judge on August 13, 2014, was one of the few judges to have been elevated to the apex court from the lower judiciary.
●    With his retirement, the strength of the Supreme Court has come down to 25 judges from 31, including the Chief Justice of India. A Supreme Court judge retires at the age of 65 years.
●    During his tenure in the top court, Justice Pant became a part of various historical and path-breaking judgements.
●    He was a part of the bench which held a midnight hearing upholding the death sentence of Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon.
●    Justice Pant was also part of a bench which had upheld the constitutional validity of the criminal defamation law, saying that the Right to Life under Article 21 includes right to reputation.

PM Modi to attend BRICS summit in China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Xiamen in China to attend the BRICS summit which will be held from September 3-5, the ministry of external affairs said on Tuesday.
●    The announcement of Modi's visit comes a day after India and China ended their 73-day standoff in Dokalam by withdrawing their troops from the area.
●    "At the invitation of the President of People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Xiamen in China's Fujian province during September 3-5, 2017 to attend the 9th BRICS Summit," MEA said.
●    From China, the Prime Minister will travel to Myanmar for a state visit from September 5 to 7 at the invitation of Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw.
●    It will be Modi's first bilateral state visit to Myanmar.
●    "During the visit, Prime Minister will hold discussions with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on matters of mutual interest and also call on President U Htin Kyaw. 
●    Apart from his engagements in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw, he will visit Yangon and Bagan," MEA said.

Important Current Affairs 28th August 2017

Current Affairs 28th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

First Synergy Conference on Defence Pension Organised by Defence Accounts Department

The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) organized its first Synergy Conference on Defence Pensions here, today. 
●    The conference was attended by all Defence Pensioners Associations and was open to all Defence Pensioners. 
●    Welcoming the panel and participants Additional Controller General of Defence Accounts (Addl. CGDA) Shri Prashant Sukul, emphasized the importance of stakeholder consultations by way of Synergy Conferences initiated by DAD. 
●    The objective of the conference was to obtain feedback from the pensioners that would help the department to serve them better with constantly improving systems and procedures. 
●    Digitization of pension data and implementation of a pension sipp were also discussed in detail. 
●    Joint CGDA (Pension) Shri Kanwaldeep Singh, gave a brief presentation on current status on important issues pertaining to pension. 
●    Many issues and suggestions were highlighted by the participants.

Government to hold Pan India Handloom and Handicraft Camps

The Ministry of Textiles proposes to organize Pan India camps in handlooms and handicrafts clusters, under the initiative “Hastkala Sahyog Shivir”. 
●    The camps will be organized during 7th October to 17th October, 2017. 
●    This initiative is dedicated to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Garib Kalyan Varsh, the birth centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhayay.
●    The following services will be provided to the weavers and artisans in these camps:
●    Issuance of credit facilities through MUDRA scheme
●    Assistance for technological upgradation under Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata
●    Distribution of modern tool kits and equipments
●    Issuance of Yarn Pass Book
●    It is proposed to organize the camps in more than 200 handloom Block Level Clusters & Weavers’ Service Centres and more than 200 handicraft clusters in collaboration with State Governments.

Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu Launches Sports Talent Search Portal 

Ministry of Youth Affairs and sports has launched Sports Talent Search Portal to spot the best talent from among the young population of the country. 
●    The portal was launched by the Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu at a function at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. 
●    Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel, Secretary Sports Shri Injeti Srinivas, Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardees sports persons and thousands of school children were present on the occasion to witness the path breaking initiative in the field of sports.  
●    School children presented a series of cultural performances on the occasion.
●    Speaking on the occasion Shri Venkaiah Naidu said that this kind of initiative will not only help in identifying the best talent, but will also provide a level playing field to all the applicants and create a competitive environment.

NMCG Awards Contracts for Three STPs on Hybrid Annuity Mode 

In a big push to Namami Gange programme, National Mission for Clean Ganga under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has awarded for the first time contracts for three STPs under hybrid annuity model. 
●    Two STPs of 68 MLD and 14 MLD will be set up at Haridwar and one STP of 15 MLD at Varanasi. 
●    This Hybrid Annuity model is first of its kind in the country’s waste water management sector. 
●    The Central Government will completely fund the STPs construction ensuring that there is no shortage of resources for the project. 
●    The unique financial model will ensure the transparency and accountability of the running of sewage treatment infrastructure. 
●    The contractors will not only establish the sewage treatment plant but they will also operate and maintain it for a period of 15 years. Thereafter it will be handed over to the local bodies. 
●    This will ensure that no wastewater is dumped in the holy river. 
●    The payment of the operations and management of the projects and the worth of the cost will be provided to the agency over a period of 15 years ensuring that the project runs smoothly.

MNRE & GIZ Signs Agreement to Improve Framework Conditions for Grid Integration of Renewable Energies 

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH India on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany signed an agreement on technical cooperation under the “Indo-German Energy Programme – Green Energy Corridors (IGEN-GEC)” here today . 
●    The main objective of this programme component is to improve the sector framework and conditions for grid integration of renewable energies.
●    In the distinguished presence of  Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines Shri Piyush Goyal and the German Ambassador to India, H.E. Dr. Martin Ney, the agreement was signed by Dr. Wolfgang Hannig, Country Director, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH India and Mr. A.N. Sharan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
●    Dr. Ney added “When in July 2012 Power Grid Corporation of India submitted a comprehensive and well elaborated “Transmission Plan for Envisaged Renewable Capacity” to MNRE it paved the way for India’s ambitious goals to transform its power system by significantly increasing the share of renewable energies in the energy mix. 
●    Also in Germany’s “Energiewende” the evacuation and grid integration of renewable energy plays a pivotal role with major technological and fiscal challenges. 
●    Both the countries have very constructive dialogue under the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF).
 

Current Affairs 28th August 2017: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed Chief of Naval Staff Bangladesh Navy Visits India 

Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff of the Bangladesh Navy is on an official visit to India from 28 to 30 August 2017. 
●    The visit is aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations between India and Bangladesh and to explore new avenues for naval cooperation. 
●    The Chief of Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy will hold bilateral discussions with Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Naval Staff and other senior officials of the Indian Navy on 28 August 2017. 
●    The Admiral is also scheduled to meet Chief of the Air Staff, and will also call on the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, NSA and Defence Secretary as part of his official meetings in New Delhi. 
●    In addition to New Delhi, the Admiral is also scheduled to proceed to Visakhapatnam where he will be visiting various naval establishments, including INS Kalinga, INS Karna and INS Satavahana. 
 

Current Affairs 28th August 2017: APPOINTMENT

Dara Khosrowshahi becomes Uber CEO 

Uber’s board has chosen Dara Khosrowshahi, the head of Expedia, to be its new chief executive in a move that could cost the crisis-plagued Silicon Valley company about $160m to replace his unvested stock options.
●    The unanimous vote on Sunday came after months of infighting, leaks and divisions on Uber’s eight-strong board, which has struggled to unite after former chief executive Travis Kalanick was ousted by investors in June.
●    Mr Khosrowshahi has not publicly confirmed whether he will accept the job. But Expedia chairman Barry Diller said in a memo on Monday that he was “likely” to do so. Shares in Expedia dropped 4 per cent on the news.
●    The Expedia chief was one of three finalists for the role, along with Meg Whitman of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Jeff Immelt of General Electric.
●    The deep divisions at the top of Uber have complicated the chief executive selection process, and dealing with the board will be a major challenge for the incoming CEO.
 

Current Affairs 28th August 2017: SPORTS

Lewis Hamilton won the title of Belgian Grand Prix

This was a weekend to reaffirm Hamilton’s stature as perhaps the finest British sportsman of his generation. 
●    While Andy Murray might reasonably take issue with that claim, the Scot spends his Sundays hitting a tennis ball, not hurling a delicately-tuned machine around the forested majesty of Spa, where a ride through the steepling Rivage generates G-forces more familiar to fighter pilots. 
●    “There are only three sports,” Ernest Hemingway once argued. “Bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering. All the rest are merely games.”
●    As a personality, Hamilton continues to polarise, both by his esoteric fashion sense – he changed straight from his race overalls on Sunday into off-the-shoulder black dungarees bought on his latest trip to New York – and his mercurial mood swings. 
●    But in this chapter for Formula One, he is without peer. 
●    Just 24 hours after he had equalled Michael Schumacher’s 68 pole positions, he underlined his quicksilver racing instincts by thwarting Vettel despite carrying less pace and inferior tyres, as well as negotiating the controversial intervention of a safety car.
 

Important Current Affairs 27th August 2017

Current Affairs 27th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Niti Aayog suggests waste to energy plants to clean up solid waste

The Aayog made the recommendations in its ‘Three Year Action Agenda, 2017-18 to 2019-20’, released by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recently. 

●    The NITI Aayog has suggested setting up an authority which will take up installation of ‘waste to energy’ plants in public-private partnership (PPP) mode to clean up municipal solid waste, which, it said, has become a “serious threat” to public health. 
●    Noting that rapidly rising prosperity has resulted in generation of vast volumes of solid waste in the cities, the Aayog underlined that cities have been “slow to develop effective ways” to dispose municipal waste and called for accelerated action to combat the problem. 
●    “The mountains of waste, which can now be seen in nearly all cities, have become a serious public health threat,” it said.
●    The Aayog made the recommendations in its ‘Three Year Action Agenda, 2017-18 to 2019-20’, released by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recently. 
●    “To speed up the process of cleaning up municipal solid waste, it may be worth exploring the possibility of an authority at the Centre to spread the use of ‘waste to energy’ plants,” it said.

Government Planning to Give 2% Relief on GST For Digital Payments

To give a major push to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's digitisation initiative, the government is now planning to offer 2% incentive over the applicable GST tax rate in case of digital payments on bills up to Rs 2,000. 
●    This means an individual will have to shell out less if the payment is digitally done. As per reports by TOI, the proposal is being discussed between the finance ministry, RBI, cabinet secretariat and ministry of electronics and Information Technology.
●    The Prime Minister, while addressing the nation on the 71st Independence Day had asked people to use less cash and had encouraged individuals to shift to digital payments. 
●    The IT ministry has also launched a slew of initiatives to promote digitization across the nation and is leading the efforts to further popularise electronic payments.Small transactions and are mostly preferred through the cash mode. 
●    Relief is being mooted for smaller transactions because they are large in numbers. Meanwhile, if an incentive can be given for big transactions of up to Rs 2,000 which are very high in volumes, it will provide an impetus to digital payments.

Centre to invite global expertise to build houses for poor

The Centre will invite companies from across the world to showcase their construction techniques, and adopt the selected ones to build affordable houses for poor families in the country.
●    The move is in line with the government's push under the 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' (PMAY) (Urban) project, which aims at providing 'pucca' houses to every poor family in the country by 2022.
●    "We will conduct a challenge for the construction sector. 
●    Global firms will come to India and demonstrate construction of houses at a minimum cost in minimum duration, keeping our requirements in mind," Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary D S Mishra said.
●    He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a round-table meeting here on the 'India Housing Construction Technology Challenge (IHCTC)', organised by the ministry of housing and urban affairs.
●    Mishra said the techniques of the selected demonstrators will be adopted in the upcoming housing projects of the government.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurates first ‘Videsh Bhavan’ in Mumbai

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday inaugurated the country’s first ‘Videsh Bhavan’ at Mumbai. 
●    The bhavan, which integrates all offices of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Maharashtra, is located in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), a business district in suburban Mumbai. Four offices of the ministry in Mumbai – Passport Office, Office of the Protector of Emigrants, Office of the Regional Director of ICCR (the Indian Council for Cultural Relations) and Branch Secretariat of MEA – will be functioning under one roof in the newly constructed building.
●    The facility will help in effective management of the MEA’s engagement with the Maharashtra government, the ministry said on its website.
●    The ‘Videsh Bhavan’ in the city is the first integrated office complex of the MEA established in any state of the country, it said.

Two cases of sedation filed against people of Dera head

A day after 32 people died and hundreds injured in violence following the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Haryana government claimed today that peace had been restored throughout the state. 
●    Two cases of sedition have been registered against the Dera chief’s followers, Haryana Chief Secretary D S Dhesi said and added that one child and three women were among the 28 persons who died in Panchkula yesterday.
●    “Peace is prevailing throughout the state and no incident has occurred anywhere after 6.30 pm yesterday,” Dhesi told a press conference here. 
●    Dhesi also said that proper security arrangements had been made for Monday, when the quantum of Singh’s sentence will be announced by the CBI court. 
●    Addressing a joint press conference with the Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Ram Niwas, and Director General of Police, B S Sandhu, Dhesi disclosed that two cases of sedition had been registered against Dera followers.
●    The police have recovered an AK-47 rifle and one Mauser from the vehicle of a Dera chief’s follower, and two rifles and five pistols from another vehicle, he said. 
●    As many as 524 persons have been arrested under eight different FIRs registered against the Dera followers, he said. 
●    “The law-and-order situation is being constantly monitored. 
●    As many as 101 companies of paramilitary have been deployed in the state. 

Important Current Affairs 26th August 2017

Current Affairs 26th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Rural Games to take Place in Delhi 

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister shri Vijay Goel today announced that the first edition of Rural Games or Grameen Khel Mahotsav will kick-start from Delhi and will take place between 28th August to 3rd September, 2017. 
●    The Rural Games will aim at popularising the indigenous games like wrestling, athletics etc. and will also have fun games like Matka Race, Tug of War for senior citizens to add the fun element in the games. 
●    Interacting with the media shri Goel said, "A Grameen Marathon marked the beginning of the Rural Games fever with participation of 16000 youth from rural Delhi. 
●    In the first stage, the games will be held in Alipur, Mehrauli, Nangloi, Najafgarh and Shahadara where 10000-12000 youngsters will participate and the second stage will commence on 31st August till 01 September 2017 which will have inter-block games.

New Guidelines for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding Process to reduce risk, enhance transparency and increase affordability of Solar Power 

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued  the Guidelines for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding Process for Procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV Power Projects. 
●    These Guidelines have been issued under the provisions of Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003 for long term procurement of electricity by the ‘Procurers’ from grid-connected Solar PV Power Projects (‘Projects’), having size of 5 MW and above, through competitive bidding.
●    Generation Compensation for offtake constraints thereby reducing offtake risks: The “Must-run” status for solar projects has been stressed upon. Generation Compensation provided for following off-take constraints:
●    Back-down     -                      Min.  Compensation 50% of PPA Tariff
●    Grid unavailability -              Compensation by way of Procurement of  Excess Generation / Outright Compensation
●    To ensure lower tariffs, Minimum PPA tenure has been kept at 25 years. Unilateral termination or amendment of PPA is not allowed.
●    Project preparedness to expedite and facilitate setting up of projects: Issues related to land, connectivity, clearances etc. and the extension in case of delay, have been streamlined.
●    Event of Default and the consequences thereof clearly defined to ensure optimal risk sharing between Developer and Procurer. 
●    This has been done by clearly defining the generator and procurer events of default, and describing the consequences thereof.

Government finalises new cadre policy for IAS, IPS officers

A new policy for cadre allocation has been finalised by the Central government for IAS, IPS and other officers, aimed at ensuring “national integration” in the country’s top bureaucracy. 
●    Officers of all-India services — the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) — will have to choose cadres from a set of zones instead of states. 
●    The officers of the three services are currently allocated a cadre state or a set of states to work in. 
●    They may be posted on central deputation during the course of their service after fulfilling certain eligibility conditions.
●    The existing 26 cadres have been divided into five zones in the new policy proposed by the personnel ministry.
●    Zone-I has seven cadres — AGMUT (also known as Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories), Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana.

Forex reserve may cross $400 bn mark 

If the present pace of dollar accretion to the forex kitty continues, which crossed past the USD 393 billion, the reserves may hit the USD 400-billion mark by the week to September 8, 2017, says a report.
●    Forex reserves have been rising with a total accretion of USD 4.389 billion to the kitty since July 14, 2017. 
●    It had touched a record high of USD 393.448 billion after it rose by USD 581.1 million in the week to August 4, 2017.
●    “If the pace of foreign exchange reserves is similar to that of the past four weeks, the reserves would hit USD 400 billion by the week to September 8. Indeed, adjusted for forward positions, forex reserves are already at USD 407 billion,” Morgan Stanley said in a note today.
●    The pace of forex accretion has been the strongest since 2015 and this has also been one of the strongest in Asia ex-Japan in the past 12 months, the report said.

Haryana tells schools to counsel students regarding blue whale game

All private and government schools have been issued an advisory by the Haryana Children Protection Commission (HCPC) to counsel students about the risk of 'Blue Whale Challenge' and other similar online games.
●    The HCPC has asked schools to also keep a close tab on those students who were showing "abnormal" behaviour.
●    The advisory directed the management of all schools to educate students from Class 5 to 12 and make them aware about the deadly, hazardous and negative impact of 'Blue Whale Challenge', which has reportedly claimed lives of several people worldwide.
●    'Blue Whale' is a controversial Internet game in which a series of tasks are given to players for a period of 50 days by the administrators with a final challenge requiring them to commit suicide. 
●    The player is asked to share photos after finishing the different levels of the game. 
●    The game is spread via links on social media platforms.

Current Affairs 26th August 2017: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India-Nepal signed 8 agreements to boost the bilateral relations

India and Nepal on 24 August 2017 signed eight agreements in different areas of mutual benefit including demand reduction and prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and cooperation in the field of standardization and conformity assessment among others. 
●    The agreements were signed in New Delhi during Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba visit to India.
●    Nepal PM Deuba is on a five-day long state visit to in India (23 August to 27 August 2017). 
●    The signed agreements will help the two nations to boost the bilateral relations.
●    List of MoUs/Agreements signed during the visit of Prime Minister of Nepal to India 
●    MoU on modalities for utilization of India’s housing grant component to support reconstruction of 50000 houses

Qatar restores its diplomatic relation with Iran despite demands by Arab nations

Defying demands of Arab nations to lessen its ties with Tehran, Qatar restored its diplomatic relations with Iran. 
●    Qatar's Foreign Ministry on 24 August 2017 announced that the country's ambassador would return to Tehran.
●    Qatar pulled out its ambassador in early 2016 after Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric sparked attacks on two Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran, a move to show solidarity with the kingdom.
●    A Foreign Ministry statement said the state of Qatar expressed its aspiration to strengthen bilateral relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in all fields. 
●    However, the statement had no mention of the tensions that have created a problem in the Persian Gulf region since June 2017. 
●    The problem led to severing ties with four Arab nations, namely Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, with Qatar.

Important Current Affairs 25th August 2017

Current Affairs 25th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

RBI To Issue Rs 200 Notes

The central bank will soon issue 200-rupee note the Finance Ministry has confirmed today. 
●    The move will help fill the vast demand for cash after the notes ban, which wiped out over 85 per cent of the cash in circulation.
●    The Finance Ministry, in a notification, said that on the recommendations of the Central Board of Directors of the RBI, "the central government hereby specifies the denomination of banknotes of the value of two hundred rupees".
●    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposal to bring in 200 denominated bank notes for the first time in history was cleared by the Finance Ministry; the design has reportedly been approved by the Prime Minister's Office.
●    The central bank reportedly decided to bring in 200-rupee notes in March, after consulting with the Finance Ministry. 
●    The notes are going through multiple checks for security and quality, sources have said.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh held guilty in rape case

The CBI court held Gurmeet Ram Rahim guilty of rape and criminal intimidation. 
●    “The Dera chief has been convicted, held guilty for rape. He was held guilty on charges of rape (Section 376 IPC) and criminal intimidation (Section 506 IPC),” CBI counsel HPS Verma confirmed to The Indian Express. 
●    The argument on his sentencing will begin on Monday. 
●    He is likely to face seven-year imprisonment. 
●    Just after the verdict Ram Rahim Singh was taken into custody by Haryana Police. 
He was later taken to Rohtak jail. The verdict came as a big set back to Gurmeet’s followers who have converged in large numbers in Panchkula for last few days.

Current Affairs 25th August 2017: WORLD NEWS

Samsung heir found guilty of corruption, sentenced to five years in prison

A court has sentenced Lee Jae-yong, the acting chairman of the Samsung company, to five years in prison after finding him guilty of offering bribes and other crimes.
●    Jae-yong, who is considered to be one of the richest men in South Korea and heir to the Samsung empire, had been accused of making "large donations" to foundations run by a close friend and confidante, the South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, in return for political favours.
●    The court said Lee had provided bribes anticipating support from Park, who was still president at the time.
●    Lee, the successor of South Korea's richest family and its biggest company, had been accused of offering $38m (£30m) in bribes to four entities controlled by Choi, to whom Park often turned for advice and allegedly gave access to government documents even though she did not have security clearance.

NASA rockets to create glowing artificial clouds

A NASA rocket mission is set to form white artificial clouds that will glow in the night sky, to study disturbances in the upper atmosphere that interfere with communication and technology systems. 
●    The artificial clouds will be visible to residents of the Republic of the Marshall Islands during two rocket flights to occur between August 29 and September 9, the US space agency said.
●    The Waves and Instabilities from a Neutral Dynamo (WINDY) mission will study a phenomenon that occurs in the ionosphere – a layer of charged particles in the upper atmosphere. Known as equatorial spread F (ESF) these disturbances occur after sunset at latitudes near the equator in part of the ionosphere known as the F region.
●    The disturbances interfere with radio communication, navigation and imaging systems and pose a hazard to technology and society that depends on it. 
●    The WINDY mission consists of two NASA suborbital sounding rockets that will be launched nearly simultaneously in a window between 8 and 11 pm local time from August 29 through September 9 from the island of Roi-Namur .

Scientists develop new way to track HIV infection

Scientists have developed a new way to track HIV infection that can identify how individual particles infect each cell, and lead to novel therapies for prevention and treatment of the disease.
●    It has become routine to visualise the movement and progression of individual virions - individual infectious particles - in cells, but the relevance of these observations was previously unclear, as many virions are defective or do not progress to make further copies of themselves.
●    "This approach - and the ability to say 'that virion infected that cell' - will help bring clarity to the field," said Thomas Hope, professor at Northwestern University in the US. 
●    "It allows us to understand what the virus really needs to do to infect a cell. It gives us new details, like where in the cell it happens and the timing of specific events. 
●    The more we know about the virus, the better our chances are to stop it," said Hope.
●    During the course of infection, HIV fuses onto a target immune cell and delivers its capsid - a cone that holds the genetic material of the virus - into the cell's cytoplasm. 
●    From there, the capsid disassembles through a process called "uncoating," which is crucial to the synthesis of viral DNA from its RNA genome and the hijacking of the cell's functions.
 

Current Affairs 25th August 2017: SPORTS

England to host 2018 International Table Tennis Federation Team World Cup

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on 24 August 2017 awarded hosting rights for the 2018 Team World Cup to England.
●    The Team World Cup is ITTF’s second most prestigious tournament after the World Championships.
●    The 2018 Team World Cup will be staged at the iconic Copper Box Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from 22 February to 25 February 2018.
●    The Team World Cup comprises 12 men's and 12 women's teams, which include the host team, Continental Champions and the other top finishers at the World Team Table Tennis Championships.
●    The Team World Cup was last held in Dubai in 2015.

Rani to lead Indian women's hockey team

Forward Rani will be leading an 18-member Indian women's hockey team for the tour of Europe, which begins against the Netherlands on September 5.
●    Goalkeeper Savita will be her deputy.
The team features a mix of youth and the experienced in their line-up with the defence formed by Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita Lakra, Gurjit Kaur, Navdeep Kaur and Rashmita Minz.
●    The custodians are Savita and Rajani Etimarpu while the midfield will feature Namita Toppo, Nikki Pradhan, Monika, Karishma Yadav, Lilima Minz and Neha Goyal.
●    The forwardline will see Rani, seasoned Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Reena Khokhar and Lalremsiami.
●    In their previous outing at the Women's Hockey World League Semi Final, the team lost to England in the quarter final and eventually ended the competition in 8th place.

Important Current Affairs 24th August 2017

Current Affairs 24th August 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Indian Navy Band to Participate in International Military Music Festival in Moscow (Russia) 

The International Military Music Festival "Spasskaya Tower" is the parade of the best military music bands of Russia and other countries that takes place every year at Red Square in Moscow. 
●    This Music Festival is a mega event, where military musicians represent the variety of national, artistic and military traditions of the world.
●    Every year about 1500 musicians, military men and other artists from around 40 countries perform at the "Spasskaya Tower". 
●    The Festival is duly considered one of the largest international events in Russia and attracts tremendous response of the general public.
●    "Spasskaya Tower" is scheduled this year from 24 Aug to 03 Sep 17. 
●    A Tri-Services band from the Indian Armed Forces has also been invited to participate and perform in the prestigious event. 
●    The participation of the Tri- Services Band would foster better ties between the Armed Forces of the two countries and is also a befitting acknowledgment of the professional skills of the Indian Armed Forces bands.

Bilateral Meeting - India and Uzbekistan 

The Commerce and Industries Minister, Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman and Mr. Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Elyor Ganiev, Minister of Foreign Trade held detailed discussions on deepening trade and economic ties between India and Uzbekistan in a bilateral meeting held on 23rd August 2017 in , New Delhi.
●    Commerce Minister expressed happiness on formation of an Uzbek India Trading House at Delhi as a Joint Venture Company.
●    Commerce Minister suggested setting up and activation of a private industry led Joint Business Council to develop and enhance business relations at all levels including investments, trade in goods and services such as education and health in Uzbekistan and India. 
●    She expressed the hope that if the draft agreement under negotiation between India-CIS Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Uzbek Chamber of Commerce is quickly finalized and the Joint Business Council commences work, then it would be a very positive development for enhancing bilateral economic and trade relations.
●    Both the Ministers underlined the high importance of transport & logistics infrastructure for strengthening bilateral trade ties. Commerce Minister requested Uzbek Minister to become member of multilateral INSTC Agreement which would facilitate increased international transit cargo traffic through Iran.

Current Affairs 24th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

EPFO organizes Tiranga Yatra – Commemoration of 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement in Mumbai 

There are moments in the journey of nations that fundamentally alter the course of history.  One such moment was the Quit India Movement that began on 9th August 1942 which finally culminated into freedom of India.  
●    Thereby the nation is observing the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement.  
●    The Tiranga Yatra is an opportunity to achieve ‘Sankalp’ to ‘Siddhi’ towards a ‘New India’.
●    Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, is participating in the celebrations of 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement by organizing Tiranga Yatra all the stakeholders i.e. workers from different industries, employers from different sectors and staff & officers of Ministry of Labour and Employment including EPFO participated in the Tiranga Yatra organized in Mumbai on 23rd August 2017.  
●    The Tiranga Yatra was flagged off by the Minister of State(IC) for Labour and Employment, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, near Indian Oil Office, Bandra(E), Mumbai and culminated at EPFO Regional Office at Bandra(E), Mumbai.          
●    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya has appealed to all workers, employers, staff & Officers of EPFO to identify themselves as Indians duly rising above from caste, creed and religion.
●    Shri Dattatreya raised slogan “corruption Quit India and make swacch India”.  
●    Shri Dattatreya has appreciated initiatives taken by EPFO for use of new technology and Aadhaar based service to subscribers.  
●    He has reiterated that Government is committed for providing housing to all by 2022 and EPFO has launched Housing Scheme where 90% of the EPF money can be withdrawn in addition to monthly payment of EMI out of the future accumulations in their provident fund.

National Museum takes a New initiative on “Small Temporary Exhibitions” from Its Reserve Collection 

The National Museum took a new initiative on “Small Temporary Exhibitions” from its reserve collection. 
●    The exhibitions will be based on several themes, so that it will attract large number of visitors to view new artifacts every fortnight. 
●    Through such programme National Museum is trying to draw visitor’s attention and allows them to experience the collection on many significant art pieces of reserve storage, which generally remains out of focus.
●    The first temporary exhibition on “Traditional Headgear of India” from the Decorative Arts department was inaugurated by Smt. Rashmi Verma, Secretary Ministry of Culture & Tourism, on 24th July 2017 in National Museum, New Delhi. 
●    This exhibition arranged to showcase printed turban, embroidered dopalli and Maratha stitched cap and zardozi cap specially designed for occasional and ceremonial bases.
●    The second temporary exhibition in the series was inaugurated by Smt. Sujata Prasad, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture on 11th August, 2017 in National Museum, New Delhi. 
●    The exhibition will remain open to the public till 27th August, 2017.

New Indian tech reduces cancer risk in petrol

The Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) at Dehradun and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) have developed an indigenous technology to reduce cancer-causing benzene levels in petrol.
●    The World Health Organization has already identified the chemical as a risk for petrol pump workers and vehicle users. 
●    Therefore, the technology is likely to get global attention, sources said.
●    “We are getting a few inquiries on new technology,” senior IIP scientist MP Garg said.
●    IIP officials said the petrol supplied in India carries 1% benzene and the new technology can bring down its levels down to 0.2%. 
●    In fact, RIL has already begun using the technology at its Jamnagar refinery, which primarily exports petrol to the United States, where there are ‘tough’ guidelines on benzene levels.
 

Current Affairs 24th August 2017: APPOINTMENT

Nandan Nilekani appointed non-executive chairman of Infosys

Infosys co-founder and former chief executive Nandan Nilekani returned to the company board after being named non-executive, non-independent chairman.
●    "(The) Board of Directors has unanimously approved the appointment of Mr Nandan Nilekani as the Non Executive Chairman of the Board, effective immediately," the company said in a statement to stock exchanges.
●    The appointment came amid high-level exits from the tech giant, as former CEO Vishal Sikka and directors Jeffery S Lehman and John Etchemendy resigned from the Infosys board with immediate effect. 
●    Chairman of the board R Seshasayee and co-chair Ravi Venkatesan also stepped down from the board. 
●    The company has accepted their resignation

Rajiv Bansal to be Air India CMD for 3 months

Rajiv Bansal, additional secretary and financial advisor in the petroleum ministry, will be the new chairman of Air India Ltd.
●    “He will be holding additional charge for three months and the government will then take a call on who the regular person should be, whether it should be Rajiv Bansal or someone else,” civil aviation secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey said on Wednesday.
●    Earlier, the government named the current chairman of Air India Ashwani Lohani as the chairman of the Railway Board.
●    Bansal, a 1988 batch IAS officer, has done an earlier stint in the aviation ministry as a director. 
●    He has also served in the ministry of electronics and information technology, where he looked after digital payments, IT Act, Aadhaar, and internet governance.
●    During his career spanning close to 30 years, Bansal has also served as secretary, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC); and joint secretary, department of heavy industries.
 

Current Affairs 24th August 2017: SPORTS

Wayne Rooney announces retirement from international football

England's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney announced on Wednesday he is retiring from international football with immediate effect after manager Gareth Southgate tried to recall him to the squad.
●    The 31-year-old -- scorer of 53 goals in 119 appearances for his country -- told Southgate of his decision during a phone conversation on Tuesday.
●    Southgate had phoned Rooney -- who had lost both the captaincy and eventually his place in the squad as he became a peripheral figure under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United last season -- to congratulate him on his early season form for new club Everton.
●    Rooney has looked rejuvenated and happy -- scoring in both their Premier League matches so far -- since he re-signed for the club that nurtured his talent as a teenager before he left for United.
 

Important Current Affairs 23rd August 2017

Current Affairs 23rd August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Cabinet gives in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through an Alternative Mechanism

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through an Alternative Mechanism (AM). 
●    The decision would facilitate consolidation among the Nationalised Banks to create strong and competitive banks. 
●    The salient features of the approval Framework for Consolidation of Public Sector Banks are as follows:
●    The decision regarding creating strong and competitive banks would be solely based on commercial considerations.
●    The proposal must start from the Boards of Banks.

Cabinet approves setting up of a Commission to examine the Sub-Categorization within OBCs 

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved a proposal for setting up of a Commission under article 340 of the Constitution to examine the issue of sub-categorization of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
●    The Commission shall submit its report within 12 weeks from the date of appointment of the Chairperson of the Commission. 
●    The Commission shall be known as the Commission to examine the sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes.
●    The proposed terms of references of the Commission are as follows:
●    To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes/ communities included in the broad category of OBCs, with reference to the OBCs included in the Central list.
●    To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters, in a scientific approach, for sub-categorization within such OBCs, and,
●    To take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes/communities/ sub-castes/ synonyms in the Central List of OBCs and classifying them into their respective sub-categories.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Nepal for laying down implementation arrangement for construction of a new Bridge over Mechi River at Indo-Nepal border 

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed between India and Nepal for laying down implementation arrangement on Cost sharing, Schedules and Safeguard issues for starting construction of a new Bridge over Mechi River at Indo-Nepal border.
●    The estimated cost of construction of the bridge is Rs. 158.65 crore, which would be funded by Government of India through ADB loan. 
●    The new bridge is part of up-gradation of the Kakarvitta (Nepal) to Panitanki Bypass (India) on NH 327B covering a length of 1500 meters including a 6 lane approach road of 825 meters. 
●    Mechi Bridge is the ending point of Asian Highway 02 in India leading to Nepal and provides critical connectivity to Nepal.
●    The construction of the bridge will improve regional connectivity and has potential to strengthen cross border trade between both the countries and cementing ties by strengthening industrial, social and cultural exchanges.

Cabinet approves New Central Sector Scheme - "Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana" 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the renaming of the new Central Sector Scheme - SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) as "Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) " for the period of 2016-20 coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle. 
●    Earlier, CCEA in its meeting held in May, 2017 approved the new Central Sector Scheme - SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) with same allocation and period . 
●    The objective of PMKSY is to supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease Agri-Waste. 
●    PMKSY with an allocation of Rs. 6,000 crore is expected to leverage investment of Rs. 31,400 crore, handling of 334 lakh MT agro-produce valuing Rs. 1,04,125 crore, benefit 20 lakh farmers and generate 5,30,500 direct/ indirect employment in the country by the year 2019-20.

Cabinet approves Closure of loss making Bharat Wagon and Engineering Company 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of Ministry of Railways to close the Bharat Wagon and Engineering Company Limited (BWEL) - a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under Ministry of Railways. 
●    626 employees of BWEL will be benefitted from the voluntary retirement scheme to be offered at 2007 pay scale. 
●    The Government will have to provide one time grant off 151.18 crore towards severance package and for clearing the current liabilities of the company. 
●    This measure will stop flow of financial support from public funds for carrying on the operations of sick/loss making BWEL resulting in savings for the Government. 
●    The implementation will be done as per the timelines prescribed in the guidelines issued by Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) on time bound closure of sick/loss making CPSEs.

National Sports Museum to be established in New Delhi 

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is going to establish National Sports Museum, first of its kind, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. 
●    The decision was taken three months back and after a series of meetings and his personal visits to several locations in the capital, the current venue for museum was finalized by the Sports Minister Shri Vijay Goel himself. 
●    Shri Vijay Goel said, the Museum will showcase the India’s achievements in sports and also focus on the traditional sports within the country. 
●    He said, the aim of the Museum is to popularise the sports as a way of life within the country. 
●    Accordingly, the proposed Museum would go beyond the classical approach of a collection of memorabilia to become an interactive venue of interest for all age groups. 
●    In addition, Shri Goel said, it will display achievements of the Indian greats in sports and also act as an educational hub and offer opportunity for the young to delve into some sporting activity.

Tata Power JV synchronises 186MW Georgia Hydro Project

Tata Power, India's largest integrated power company, through Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC (AGL), its joint venture with Norway's Clean Energy Invest AS Norway (Clean Energy) and IFC InfraVentures (IFC), a member of the World Bank group, today, announced the synchronisation of its 186MW Shuakhevi Hydro Power Project (HPP) in record time. 
●    Furthermore, Tata Power has commenced stabilisation procedures to ensure smooth operations. 
●    The construction of the plant started in the fall of 2013 and has been synchronised on August 1 and 2, 2017, in a record time of less than four years.
●    Shuakhevi HPP is the largest hydropower plant to be built in Georgia over the past 50 years, and its project investment cost exceeded USD420 million. 
●    The completion ceremony was presided by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, and the Vice Prime Minister and Energy Minister, Kakha Kaladze.
●    Around 730 Georgian citizens were employed in the plant construction. The project will significantly contribute to Georgia’s path toward energy independence. 
●    The power generated by the project will be exclusively sold within Georgia throughout the winter, which is a period of energy deficit.

Current Affairs 23rd August 2017: APPOINTMENT

Ashwani Lohani appointed new Chairman of Railway Board

Ashwani Lohani was on Wednesday appointed as the new Chairman of Railway Board after AK Mital tendered his resignation following recent train accidents. 
●    The announcement by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet came hours after Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu indicated that he had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the recent train accidents. 
●    “Necessary communication in this regard has been sent to the Ministry of Railways,” the committee said.
●    Lohani who holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, currently is the Chairman & Managing Director of Air India. 
●    Lohani, an officer of the railway mechanical service, had served earlier as the Divisional Regional Manager of Delhi. 
●    He was also ITDC chairman as well as the director of the Rail Museum in the capital.
●    Mital, a 1976-batch officer of the Indian Railway Stores, was reappointed to the same post two days before his retirement in 2016. 
●    With the two-year extension, Mital was to remain in office till July 2018.