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Important Current Affairs 8th August 2017

Important Current Affairs 8th August 2017

Current Affairs February 2017
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Current Affairs 8th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

GMR to develop greenfield International Airport at Mopa in Goa 


The GMR Goa International Airport Limited, an SPV formed by the GMR Airports Limited has signed Concession Agreement with Government of Goa for development and operation of Greenfield International Airport at Mopa on 8th November 2016. 
тЧП    The GMR Airports Limited has won the project through international competitive bidding process with highest revenue share of 36.99%. 
тЧП    The project will operate in hybrid till model with 30% cross subsidy, and is to be implemented in four phases. 
тЧП    The total estimated cost of Phase I of the project is Rs, 3,100 crores. 
тЧП    This information was given by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri Jayant Sinha in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.


Swachh Bharat launches Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2017 


As the Swachh Bharat Mission approaches the third anniversary of its launch by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation today launched a third party verification survey report to take stock of the progress already made by the Mission in rural India. 
тЧП    The Quality Council of India (QCI) has conducted a transparent third-party assessment of the present status of rural sanitation in all States and UTs, called Swachh Sarvekshan Gramin 2017.
тЧП    Under the Swachh Sarvekshan Gramin 2017, QCI surveyed 1.4 lakh rural households across 4626 villages, and found the overall toilet coverage to be 62.45%. 
тЧП    At the time of the survey, i.e. May-June 2017, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) MIS reported the coverage to be 63.73%. 
тЧП    The survey also observed that 91.29% of the people having access to a toilet, use it.  
тЧП    The Swachh Sarvekshan Gramin 2017 report was launched at a press conference today in New Delhi by the Union Minister, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, and the Secretary, Shri Parameswaran Iyer.

Britannia to invest тВ╣1,000 crore in Maharashtra


Britannia Industries is planning a тВ╣1,000-crore investment to set up a mega food park at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra.
тЧП    The company will relocate its upcoming croissant-making facility from Tamil Nadu to the proposed integrated food-park (in Maharashtra), while it ramps ups international business by exploring the setting up of own facilities at Nepal and in African markets.
тЧП    “There has been a change in strategy (for the croissant-making facility). Instead of Tamil Nadu we are looking at Maharashtra now where we are setting up food park,” Varun Berry, Managing Director, Britannia, told BusinessLine, adding that fiscal “incentives” was the reason for this change in strategy.
тЧП    Berry was in Kolkata for the company’s 98th Annual General Meeting.
тЧП    Britannia had entered into a joint venture with Chipita SA, a Greek company for manufacture and sale of croissants.
тЧП    Meanwhile, investments in the green-field project at Ranjangaon are expected across four to five phases. Work will begin this year.


Grameen Marathon for the youth of rural regions in Delhi 


Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports here today organized the first Grameen Marathon for the youth of rural regions in Delhi. 
тЧП    The marathon started from Nizampur village in Delhi with around 11,000 participants.
тЧП    Arjun Awardee and ace badminton coach Pullela Gopichand was the Chief Guest at the flag off ceremony. 
тЧП    He encouraged the young participants and said that this a unique initiative by the Sports Ministry under the leadership of Sports Minister Vijay Goel. 
тЧП    Gopichand further stated that this will enable us to scout for hidden talent in rural regions and train them for future. 
тЧП    Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel had earlier mentioned that such initiatives would go a long way in providing a platform to talented youngsters to represent India. 
тЧП    Shri Goel had stated that a major chunk of our players come from rural and tribal regions and hence it is vital for us to organize such sporting events that help them grow and provides us chance to train them further so that they represent India.
 

Current Affairs 8th August 2017: SPORTS

Cricket Association of Bengal Announces award For Jhulan Goswami


Indian women's cricket team pacer Jhulan Goswami is set to be rewarded with a cash prize Rs 10 lakh and a plaque by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
тЧП    Jhulan guided India to the final of the Women's World Cup in England. 
тЧП    She hails from Bengal and has captained the national team before.
тЧП    The 34-year old recently scripted history by breaking the record of Australian Cathryn Fitzpatrick to become the highest wicket taker in women's One Day Internationals.
тЧП    Jhulan also returned figures of 3/23 in the summit clash restricting the hosts to 228/7 in 50 overs. 
тЧП    But the batter failed to keep her nerves and frittered away a golden opportunity to capture their maiden World Cup title. India eventually lost by nine runs.


Vijender Singh defeats Chinese boxer Zulpikar Maimaitiali


Boxer Vijender Singh, who on Saturday defeated China's Zulpikar Maimaitiali in the unified WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental Super Middleweight title, has dedicated the victory towards peace and harmony between India and China, more particularly in the backdrop of the Doklam stand-off.
тЧП    "Want to dedicate this victory towards peace and harmony between India and China! Jai hind," Vijender Singh took to Twitter on late Saturday night.
тЧП    Singh earlier in the day maintained his unbeaten streak by defeating Maimaitiali.
тЧП    Singh won his second title and ninth consecutive pro bout as he beat his Chinese opponent on points by a unanimous decision.
тЧП    He, however, returned the title saying, "I don't want this title, because I don't want tension at the border”.
тЧП    Speaking about the much-awaited encounter, Vijender had earlier trolled his opponent and said that he would try to finish the bout as soon as possible as "Chinese products don't last long".


Andy Murray Maintains Top Spot In ATP Rankings


Britain's Andy Murray has maintained his position on top of the men's Association of Tennis Professionals world singles rankings released on Monday, with 7.750 points.
тЧП    There were no changes in this week's rankings, with Spain's Rafael Nadal on the second spot, followed by Switzerland's Roger Federer on third, reports Efe.
тЧП    However, with Murray out of action because of a hip injury.
тЧП    Nadal has the opportunity to take top spot for the first time since July 2014 if he reaches the semi-finals of the Coupe Rogers Tournament in Montreal, which kicks off this week.
 

Current Affairs 8th August 2017: DAYS AND DATES

National Handloom Day observed across India to promote welfare of weavers


The 3rd National Handloom Day was observed across India on 7 August 2017, in order to promote indigenous creations and honour the handloom weavers of the country.
тЧП    The day mainly aims to highlight the contribution of handloom to the socioeconomic development of the country and promote handlooms to increase the income of weavers and also to bring their undying skill and hard work out in the limelight.
тЧП    The Union Textiles Minister, Smriti Irani addressed a gathering at Ahmedabad to mark the occasion. 
тЧП    Various programmes were held in universities, schools and other institutions as well.
тЧП    The main function to celebrate the day this year was held at Guwahati and it was presided over by Union Minister of State, Textiles, Ajay Tamta. 
тЧП    Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the Government of India was taking various initiatives for the welfare of handloom weavers.
тЧП    He continued saying that he personally not only appreciates but also salutes the handloom weavers for their commitment, dedication and skill.

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Important Current Affairs 7th August 2017

Important Current Affairs 7th August 2017

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Current Affairs 7th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

29 Indian cities and towns highly vulnerable to earthquakes

Twenty-nine Indian cities and towns, including Delhi and capitals of nine states, fall under “severe” to “very severe” seismic zones, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).
тЧП    A majority of these places are in the Himalayas, one of the most seismically active regions in the world.
тЧП    Delhi, Patna (Bihar), Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), Kohima (Nagaland), Puducherry, Guwahati (Assam), Gangtok (Sikkim), Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Imphal (Manipur) and Chandigarh fall under seismic zones IV and V.
тЧП    The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has classified different regions in the country into zones II to V, taking into consideration earthquake records, tectonic activities and damage caused, the director of the NCS, Vineet Gauhlat, said.


Reliance Communications close to sealing Sistema deal

Reliance Communications is likely to close its merger with Sistema Shyam TeleServices Ltd (SSTL) this week, as the company expects to get the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) approval in a day or two. 
тЧП    A formal announcement is also expected soon, if not this week.
тЧП    Rcom is expecting the DoT, the country’s telecom licensor, to clear the deal this week itself.
тЧП    The approval is expected as the company had paid тВ╣400 crore to the DoT last week, which includes a тВ╣390-crore bank guarantee and тВ╣10-crore spectrum payment, sources close to the development said.
тЧП    In November 2015, Russia’s public diversified holding company Sistema had announced plans to merge its Indian telecom subsidiary SSTL with Rcom.

Supreme Court bans use of heavy metals in firecrackers to prevent air pollution

The Supreme Court has imposed a ban on the use of five harmful heavy metals like lithium, antimony, mercury, arsenic and lead in the manufacturing of firecrackers as they cause air and noise pollution.
тЧП    The Supreme Court order came on a 2015 petition filed by three Delhi children who had requested the court to intervene to regulate the use of crackers and fireworks during festivals like Diwali.
тЧП    The Supreme Court maintained that it is the responsibility of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to ensure compliance of ban order to ensure compliance of ban order particularly in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu where there are a large number of firecracker manufacturers.
тЧП    The court also asked CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) and PESO to make collaborative efforts for setting up standards with regards to air pollution caused by the bursting of firecrackers.

Tiger count in Uttarakhand gone up 

The count of tigers in Uttarakhand has gone up to 242 with an increase of 63 big cats this year, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has said. 
тЧП    Also 11 cubs were found in the two tiger reserves, he had said on Wednesday releasing the latest figures for the year 2016 -17.
тЧП    Uttarakhand has two tiger reserves – the Corbett Tiger Reserve and the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Chief minister Rawat congratulated the forest department for the great work being done for the conservation of tigers and added that in terms of area and tiger population ratio, Uttarakhand is the number one state behind Karnataka which has 400 big cats.
тЧП    According to the data, at least 208 tigers have been identified in Corbett Tiger Reserve, up from last year’s 163. 
тЧП    Also six cubs were identified there. At least 34 tigers have been identified in Rajaji Tiger Reserve in 2016-17, up from previous year’s 16, he said, adding five cubs were also found there.


Cabinet approves revision of cost of Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 


The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of Department of Rural Development for revision of cost of Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011). It provides for:
тЧП    Revising the cost of SECC 2011 to Rs. 4893.60 crore from the approved estimated expenditure of Rs.3,543.29 crore within the indicative cost of Rs.4,000 crore as approved by the Government.
тЧП    Approval of time and cost overrun and consequential revision in the upper limit of cost per record to the consortium of Central Public Sector Undertakings. 
тЧП    The SECC -2011 project has been concluded on 31.3.2016. 
тЧП    The cost has already been committed and the project has met all its milestones.

Current Affairs 7th August 2017: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Arab countries to negotiate with Qatar

The four Arab countries isolating Qatar have reiterated their call for Doha to agree to a framework of six broad “principles” which they say will set the parameters for future talks on how the crisis is resolved.
тЧП    The emphasis on these principles — rather than the 13 specific demands originally issued to Qatar — could indicate that the quartet is now more willing to engage in the mediation process led by Kuwait and backed by the United States, United Nations and European powers.
тЧП    “I don't see this as a softening of the quartet's position on Qatar per se, as much as a measure taken to restart the negotiation process,” said Mohammed Alyahya, a Saudi analyst of Gulf politics and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank.
тЧП    “It is clear that the boycotting nations are prepared to play the long game with Qatar, but there is no doubt that a speedy resolution of the crisis will be in everyone's interest,” he said. 
тЧП    “These six principles are best viewed as an effort to set the foundation for meaningful negotiation process.”

Bolivia Declared 'Total Independence' from World Bank and IMF

Since 2006, a year after Morales came to power, social spending on health, education, and poverty programs has increased by over 45 percent.
тЧП    Bolivia's President Evo Morales has been highlighting his government's independence from international money lending organizations and their detrimental impact the nation.
тЧП    "A day like today in 1944 ended Bretton Woods Economic Conference (USA), in which the IMF and WB were established," Morales tweeted. "These organizations dictated the economic fate of Bolivia and the world. Today we can say that we have total independence of them."
тЧП    Morales has said Bolivia's past dependence on the agencies was so great that the International Monetary Fund had an office in government headquarters and even participated in their meetings.
тЧП    Bolivia is now in the process of becoming a member of the Southern Common Market, Mercosur and Morales attended the group's summit in Argentina last week.
тЧП    Bolivia’s popular uprising known as the The Cochabamba Water War in 2000 against United States-based Bechtel Corporation over water privatization and the associated World Bank policies shed light on some of the debt issues facing the region.

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Important Current Affairs 6th August 2017

Important Current Affairs 6th August 2017

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Current Affairs 6th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

All ASI-protected monuments declared polythene free zones


All monuments and archaeological sites protected by the ASI have been declared as polythene free zones, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma told Lok Sabha on Monday. 
тЧП    A total of 3,686 historical monuments and archaeological sites have been declared protected as that of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
тЧП    Replying to questions, Sharma said ASI has declared all the monuments and archaeological sites protected by it as polythene free zones. 
тЧП    The Culture Ministry has written letters to all chief secretaries of states for their active cooperation in making centrally protected monuments as polythene free zone, he sai“All the field offices of ASI have been directed for necessary compliance,” the minister added. Sharma said Rs 80.47 crore worth revenue has been received through sale of tickets at monuments and site museums up to September of the current financial year. 
тЧП    During the same period, revenue through other heads stood at Rs 3.33 crore, he added.

Haryana bans govt school teachers from taking mobile phones to classrooms


The Haryana government on Thursday barred school teachers from stepping inside the classrooms with mobile phones and decided to hold head of the school “accountable” for violation of this norm.
тЧП    There are about 25 lakh students in the government-run schools, from primary to plus two, across the state, while over 90,000 teachers are posted in these schools.
тЧП    “Henceforth, no teacher will be allowed to take along mobile phone to the classroom,” Virender Singh, joint secretary (school education) told Hindustan Times.
тЧП    He added, “In case any substantive complaint is received from students or general public that the latest guidelines are being violated in any campus, then the head of that school will be held squarely accountable.”
тЧП    This restriction of going to the classroom without mobile phones also applies to the head of school.
тЧП    The education department has directed that all inspecting officers, whether on regular inspection or surprise inspections, will check whether these instructions are being followed in letter and spirit.

Haryana submitted report on ‘Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon’

The Haryana Government had launched a voluntary scheme ‘Mhara Gaon - Jagmag Gaon’, aimed at providing 24-hour uninterrupted power supply to rural domestic consumers and improving electricity bill collections in order to reduce huge accumulated losses of power utilities.
тЧП    Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that the State has become first in the country to launch such an innovative scheme.Giving details about the scheme at a Press conference, the Chief Minister said at present rural consumers were being supplied electricity for only 12 hours daily. 
тЧП    In the first phase of the scheme, 83 feeders have been identified covering 310 villages having minimum line losses between 25 to 70 per cent and which have made payment of their electricity bills.
тЧП    Power supply has been ensured for 15 hours in these villages instead of 12 hour power supply they were getting. 
тЧП    The consumers in these 310 villages falling under these 83 feeders have now urged to install their meters outside their houses and get their old electricity wires replaced with insulated wires, said the Chief Minister.

Union Government launches e-RaKAM portal for selling agricultural produce


The Union Government on 1 August 2017 launched a portal, e-RaKAM, to provide a platform to sell agricultural produce.
тЧП    The portal is a joint initiative by state-run-auctioneer MSTC and Central Warehousing Corporation arm CRWC.
тЧП    The platform is a digital initiative that aims to bring together the farmers, PSUs, civil supplies and buyers on a single platform to ease the selling and buying process of agricultural products.
тЧП    The e-RaKAM is a first-of-its-kind initiative that leverages technology to connect farmers of the smallest villages to the biggest markets of the world through internet and e-RaKAM centres.
тЧП    While launching the portal, the Union Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan stated that the effort should be to auction 20 lakh tonnes of pulses in the first phase through the platform.
тЧП    With the help of the platform, various crops whose price increases due to rainfall or bad weather conditions will be managed and get the market.


Jharkhand Cabinet approves Religious Freedom Bill 2017


Jharkhand Cabinet on 1 August 2017 approved Religious Freedom Bill 2017. 
тЧП    The bill named as Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Bill, 2017 seeks to bring the stringent anti-conversion law in place under which forceful or allurement induced religious conversion will be a non-bailable criminal offence.
тЧП    According to an official release, Section three of the Bill prohibits forceful conversion. In the event of violation of section three, there will be up to three years imprisonment or Rs 50000 penalty or both.
тЧП    The release says that if the crime involves a minor, woman or person from SC or ST community than the prison term would be up to four years and a penalty of one lakh rupees.
тЧП    Allurement for religious conversion has been well defined in the bill, where cash or economic benefits for religious conversion are included. 
тЧП    The bill would be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of Jharkhand Assembly.

Current Affairs 6th August 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

US Senate confirms Christopher Wray as FBI Director
The US senate on 1 August 2017 confirmed the appointment of Christopher Wray as the Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Wray was elected to the post by winning 92-5 votes of the Senate.
тЧП    With this, Wray succeeds James Comey, who was unexpectedly fired by US President Donald Trump in May 2017 in the midst of the investigation into Russian meddling in US Presidential Elections 2016. 
тЧП    Since then, Andrew McCabe has been serving as acting FBI director.
тЧП    Wray, a former high-ranking official in President George W Bush's Justice Department who oversaw investigations into corporate fraud, takes over the FBI at such a challenging time when Trump expelled Comey, who was admired within FBI.

Current Affairs 4th August 2017: APPOINTMENTS


Sanjaya Baru appointed as Secretary General of FICCI


Sanjaya Baru was on 1 August 2017 appointed as the Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) with effect from 1 September 2017. 
тЧП    He succeeds A Didar Singh, who served as Secretary General for 5 years. 
тЧП    However, Didar Singh will continue to serve as a strategic advisor to Pankaj Patel, President of the FICCI.
тЧП    Baru had earlier served as the media advisor to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
тЧП    Baru served as media advisor and chief spokesperson of Manmohan Singh from May 2004 until August 2008.
тЧП    Later, he was appointed as the Editor of Business Standard, a position he served from January 2010 to October 2011.

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Important Current Affairs 5th August 2017

Important Current Affairs 5th August 2017

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Current Affairs 5th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Flipkart completes merger with eBay India


E-commerce major Flipkart on Tuesday said it has completed the merger with eBay India’s operations.
тЧП    With this, eBay.in will now be a Flipkart Group company.
тЧП    The deal was announced in April when the Flipkart group raised $1.4 billion from global technology majors eBay, Tencent and Microsoft. 
тЧП    In exchange of an equity stake in Flipkart, eBay had made a cash investment of $500 million and sold its eBay.in business to Flipkart.
тЧП    The announcement comes a day after smaller rival Snapdeal said it was terminating all discussions of a potential merger. 
тЧП    While Snapdeal did not name Flipkart, it had been widely reported that both were negotiating a merger for the last five months.
тЧП    “Effective immediately, Flipkart will own and operate eBay.in, which will remain an independent entity as part of Flipkart,” Flipkart said in a statement.
тЧП    Besides, the companies will also partner to leverage opportunities in cross-border trade, it added.

Union Cabinet clears proposal to extend proxy voting for NRIs

Cabinet clears proxy voting for NRIs=The Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal to extend proxy voting to overseas Indians by amending electoral laws. 
тЧП    This was informed by a senior government functionary.
тЧП    For overseas Indians, the Representation of the People Act needs to be amended to include proxy voting as other means to cast their votes. 
тЧП    While NRIs and overseas Indians are free to cast their votes in constituencies where they are registered, according to the proposal, they will also be allowed to use the option of proxy, which as of now is only available to service personnel.
тЧП    An expert committee in the Election Commission working on the issue had, in 2015, forwarded the legal framework to the law ministry to amend electoral laws to allow overseas Indians use proxy voting.


Bihar government decides compulsory retirement for non-performing teachers & officials above 50


The Bihar Government on 3 August 2017 informed that it has decided to compulsory retirement to the non-performing head masters, teachers and education department officials above the age of 50 years.
тЧП    The decision was taken after the review of the education department by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. 
тЧП    The review meeting was attended by Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, education minister Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma, chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, development commissioner Shishir Kumar Sinha and principal secretary, department of education, RK Mahajan among others.
тЧП    The Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh said the state government is in process of identifying non-performing institutions and all those responsible for the poor show will be given compulsory retirement. 
тЧП    He informed that those teachers having failed thrice in assessment test would be removed or will be given compulsory retirement, as per government norms.
тЧП    In addition, a committee headed by RK Mahajan is working to identify such non-performing headmasters, teachers, block education officers or district education officers.

Current Affairs 5th August 2017: GLOBAL NEWS


Qatar passes landmark law to grant permanent residency to expats

Qatar, facing a Saudi-led boycott, approved a landmark law with the potential to ultimately transform Gulf societies by granting permanent residency cards -- and new rights -- to some of the foreigners who dominate its population. 
тЧП    The move would be the first in the Gulf region, where the privileges of nationals have been zealously guarded and expatriates’ access to public services and property rights are sharply curtailed. 
тЧП    Under the new law, cardholders will be treated like Qatari nationals and will benefit from elements of the state’s generous welfare system, including education and health-care services, the official Qatar News Agency reported late Wednesday. 
тЧП    They will also be given priority, after locals, for military and civilian public jobs and would be allowed to own property and run certain commercial activities without a local partner, QNA reported. 
тЧП    Those eligible for the card include children of Qatari women married to foreigners, people with special talents “needed by the state,” and others who have extended notable services to the country, it said. Citizenship, however, will remain off-limits to foreigners.


Paris to host 2024 Olympics


Los Angeles announced its intent to host the 2028 Olympics, paving the way for Paris to host in 2024 in a deal hailed as a win-win-win for both cities and the Olympic movement.
тЧП    "I am proud to announce the Olympic Games are coming back to the United States of America," Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti said at ceremony at the StubHub Center stadium. 
тЧП    "In 2028, we are bringing the Games back to LA, one of the great capitals of the Olympic movement. A city that has always been a Games changer and will be again in 2028." 
тЧП    Garcetti downplayed any risk involved in taking on the Olympics so far in advance, saying political or economic setbacks in the interim, or even a natural disaster such as an earthquake, wouldn't prove fatal to the preparations.
тЧП    "Los Angeles is resilient," Garcetti said. "I'm not worried about those things. We aren't going to see sports go away. We're not going to see stadiums disappear. 
тЧП    When you look at those risks, sure in some scenario if the entire Earth falls apart probably the Olympics aren't happening in Los Angeles."
тЧП    "But short of that," Garcetti said, "We're going to have a great Games here in LA."

US Senate confirms appointment of three Indian Americans

Three Indian-Americans picked by President Donald Trump have been confirmed by the US Senate to key governmental posts.
тЧП    While Neil Chatterjee was confirmed on 3 August as the member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a body that oversees electricity, natural gas and oil at the national level, Vishal Amin got confirmed as the Intellectual Property (IP) Enforcement Coordinator in the Trump administration.
тЧП    The third Indian-American to get confirmed to a key governmental position was Krishna R Urs, who was confirmed as the US Ambassador to Peru.
тЧП    Urs, who is a career foreign service officer since 1986, is the second Indian-American to have been selected for an ambassadorial position by the Trump administration, only after Nikky Haley (US ambassador to the United Nations)

Current Affairs 4th August 2017: OBITUARY

Renowned scientist Pushpa Mitra Bhargava passes away

Pushpa Mitra (PM) Bhargava, a veteran molecular biologist and a ardent critic of Genetically Modified crops, passed away on 1 August 2017 following a prolonged illness. He was 89.
тЧП    Bhargava was the Founder-Director of Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).
тЧП    Bhargava was born in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
тЧП    He studied at Theosophical College, Lucknow and Queen's College, Varanasi and completed his BSc in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in 1944.
тЧП    He obtained his MSc in organic chemistry in 1946 and received his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from the Lucknow University.
тЧП    He went to the USA in 1953 and worked as a project associate at a laboratory for cancer research.
тЧП    He was one of the leading scientists who led to the discovery of 5-fluorouracil, an anticancer drug.
тЧП    He founded the CCMB in 1977 as an institution for research in basic biology and for seeking its application for the benefit of society.

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Important Current Affairs 4th August 2017

Important Current Affairs 4th August 2017

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Current Affairs 4th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Supreme Court denies immediate ban on ‘NOTA’


After rejecting the demands of political parties to do away with NOTA in the coming Rajya Sabha elections by poll panel, today Supreme Court refused a plea on immediate ban on None of the Above (NOTA). 
тЧП    Notably, NOTA allows a voter to reject all candidates and was introduced in 2014.
тЧП    A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra questioned the petitioner for approaching the court late since the EC had taken a decision in January 2014 and in November 2015.
тЧП    “When it suited you, you didn’t come to court, but you came to court, when it affected you,” the bench observed.
тЧП    The court also said since the EC’s decision pursuant to the apex court’s verdict in PUCL case in 2013, NOTA was allowed in several elections and being a conscious political leader, the petitioner should have challenged the EC circular in 2015.
тЧП    “We are not going to stay. We will only hear the constitutional issue, “the bench said asking the EC to file its reply by September 13.


Lok Sabha passes Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill for resolution of non-performing assets


The Lok Sabha on 3 August 2017 passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 by voice vote. 
тЧП    The Banking Regulation Bill 2017 seeks to amend the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and replace the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, which was promulgated on 4 May 2017.
тЧП    The bill seeks to empower the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue directions to the banking companies to resolve specific stressed assets by initiating the recently enacted Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
тЧП    The bill seeks to insert provisions for handling cases related to stressed assets of banks. 
тЧП    Stressed assets are loans where the borrower has defaulted in repayment or where the loan has been restructured.


L&T bags Rs 3375-crore Mauritius metro order

Engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro in August 2017 announced Rs 3375 crore (18.8 Bn MUR) worth metro order from the Mauritius government. 
тЧП    The projects will be fully funded through a grant by Union Government and line of credit.
тЧП    In a press statement, the company said, “L&T has won the order from Metro Express Limited which is owned by the Government of Mauritius to design and build an Integrated Light Rail-based Urban Transit System in the African island nation.”
тЧП    The project comprises of a 26-kilometer route, which will connect Curepipe to Immigration Square in Port Louis.
тЧП    The metro line will feature 19 stations, 2 of which will be state-of-the-art elevated stations.

Current Affairs 4th August 2017: SPACE SCIENCE

Israel launches its first environmental research satellite Venus


Israel launched its first environmental satellite into space in the early hours of Wednesday morning from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana, along with a second satellite on a reconnaissance mission for Italy's defense ministry.
тЧП    The country's first environmental satellite's name -- Venus -- is not a reference to the planet; it is rather the acronym for Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro Satellite, and is dedicated to monitoring the effects of climate change on vegetation.
тЧП    It is an earth observation and exploratory mission of the Israel Space Agency (ISA) -- a government body sponsored by the country's Ministry of Science & Technology -- and the French CNES space agency .
тЧП    The satellite will monitor fields and plots of land from space for environmental research purposes, while monitoring the state of land, vegetation, reforestation, agriculture, quality of water reservoirs and more.

Current Affairs 4th August 2017: SPACE SCIENCE

Manju Kumari secures bronze at Junior World Wrestling

India's Manju Kumari won the bronze medal with a 2-0 victory over Ilona Prokopevniuk of Ukraine in the Junior World Wrestling Championship in Tampere, Finland on Thursday.
тЧП    However, Divya Tomar (44kg), Nandini Salokhe (51kg) and Pooja Devi (67kg) failed to make it to the medal round.
тЧП    Manju, competing in 59kg, started her campaign off with a dominating 5-1 victory over Bulgaria's Aleksandrina Nikolaeva Kashinova in the 1/8 stage but was outclassed 0-10 by Japan's Yuzuru Kumano in her quarterfinal bout.
тЧП    However, with the Japanese girl advancing to the final, Manju got another life in the form of repechage and she did not waste the opportunity.


Sardar Singh, Devendra Jhajharia recommended for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna


Devendra Jhajharia today became the first paralympian to be recommended for India's highest sporting honour -- the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna -- along with celebrated former hockey captain Sardar Singh.
тЧП    Javelin thrower Jhajharia, the first Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals, was the first choice of the awards selection committee headed by Justice (Retd) C K Thakkar.
тЧП    The committee has picked 31-year-old midfielder Sardar as its second nominee for the top honour and has suggested that both Jhajharia and Sardar be considered for the award jointly.
тЧП    The 36-year-old Jhajharia two gold medals came in the 2004 Athens Games and last year's Rio Paralympics and he set new world records on both the occasions. He also won a gold medal at the 2013 World Championships.

Current Affairs 4th August 2017: APPOINTMENTS

Mohammad Mustafa appointed as CMD of SIDBI

Senior bureaucrat Mohammad Mustafa was on 3 August 2017 appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). 
тЧП    His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for a period of three years.
тЧП    Prior to this appointment, Mustafa was working as a Joint Secretary in Department of Financial Services.
тЧП    Mustafa is 1995 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
тЧП     Mohammad served as the Chairman of the Board of National Housing Bank in 2014-2015.
тЧП    He has been a Non-Executive Nominee Director of Bank of Baroda since November 2014.

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Important Current Affairs 3rd August 2017

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Current Affairs 3rd August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

MoU signed between Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) & IRCON International Limited for Redevelopment of Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station

Ministry of Railways has entrusted the work of redevelopment of Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station to IRCON along with RLDA by leveraging the commercial potential of the railway land around the station including RLDA’s office as well as air space above the railway station. 
тЧП    In the gracious presence of Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Minister of Railways, Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), a Statutory Authority under Ministry of Railways, Government of India signed an MoU for this purpose with IRCON International Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Railways.
тЧП    Shri Rakesh Goyal, Vice Chairman RLDA and Shri S. K. Chaudhary, CMD IRCON signed the MOU. 
тЧП    Delhi Safdarjung station is proposed to be developed on self-financing model for which finance will be raised through marketing of the commercial built-up area that will be developed on the surplus railway land and air space as part of the Station development project. 
тЧП    The land and the constructed buildings will continue to remain under the ownership and control of RLDA and only the commercial built-up area will be leased for upto 45 years by RLDA . 
тЧП    IRCON will carry out design, construction and marketing of the project. 
тЧП    The Phase-I of the project will come up on the Moti Bagh side of the Station and is targeted for completion by January 2019.


IRCTC Launches pay on delivery scheme


тЧП    People can now pay later for tickets booked under the tatkal quota on the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC) website, it was announced on Wednesday.
тЧП    Till now, this service was available only for general reservations. For tatkal bookings people had to pay first via the standard online payment gateways before the IRCTC portal confirmed their ticket.
тЧП    For tatkal tickets, IRCTC users will be able to pay via cash, debit card or credit card by opting to have tickets delivered at their doorstep, said IRCTC payment provider Anduril Technologies.
тЧП    IRCTC processes 130,000 tatkal transactions daily. 
тЧП    A majority of these tickets is booked within minutes of the quota opening.

India permitted to construct Kishanganga, Ratle projects under Indus Water Treaty: World Bank


India is allowed to construct hydroelectric power facilities on tributaries of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers with certain restrictions under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the World Bank has said. 
тЧП    The World Bank's comments came as officials from India Pakistan concluded the secretary-level talks over the IWT.
тЧП    Pakistan opposes the construction of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric power plants being built by India in Jammu and Kashmir, the global lender said in a fact sheet issued yesterday. 
тЧП    Noting that the two countries disagree over whether the technical design features of the two hydroelectric plants contravene the treaty, the World Bank said the IWT designates these two rivers as well as the Indus as the "Western Rivers" to which Pakistan has unrestricted use. 
тЧП    "Among other uses, India is permitted to construct hydroelectric power facilities on these rivers subject to constraints specified in annexures to the treaty," the Bank said in its fact sheet.

Current Affairs 3rd August 2017: OBITUARY 

Congress veteran Santosh Mohan Dev dead

Congress veteran and former Union minister Santosh Mohan Dev died at a nursing home in Silchar at about 6am on Wednesday. 
тЧП    He was 83.
тЧП    Hospital sources said Dev died of multiple organ failure. He is survived by his wife, former MLA Bithika Dev, and four daughters. 
тЧП    Sushmita, his youngest daughter, is the MP from Silchar.
тЧП    Dev, a seven-time MP and five-time Union minister, was admitted to Valley Hospital and Research Centre on July 26 after he suffered a heart attack. 
тЧП    The government will perform Dev's last rites with full state honours, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal tweeted. 
тЧП    He also declared August 3 as a local holiday in the Barak Valley as mark of respect to Dev.
 

Current Affairs 3rd August 2017: ECONOMY

RBI cuts repo rate by 25 bps to 6%, loans may get cheaper


The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday finally cut interest rates, in line with what the Street was expecting. 
тЧП    Repo rate - the rate at the which the central bank lends short-term money to banks - was cut by 25 basis points to 6 per cent from 6.25 per cent. 
тЧП    RBI's move comes on the back of inflation running well below its target for consecutive quarters. 
тЧП    The central bank had last cut key rates in October 2016. 
тЧП    The current rate of 6 per cent is the lowest since November 2010.
тЧП    A significant moderation in retail inflation over the past three months had reinforced calls for further monetary policy easing from the RBI, which changed its stance to neutral from accommodative at the beginning of the year. 
тЧП    The central bank on Wednesday said it would retain its neutral stance, warning it expected inflation to rise but pinning further moves on the economic data.

Current Affairs 3rd August 2017: APPOINTMENT

Cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur to be appointed DSP by Punjab Government

The Punjab state government has initiated the process of appointing Indian all-rounder cricketer, Harmanpreet Kaur to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the state police.
тЧП    The young star, whose astounding knock of 171 against Australia in the semi-finals steered India into the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 final, said that it was her childhood dream to work with the state police.
тЧП    Kaur met Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on 2 August 2017 who directed the state Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora to complete the necessary formalities for her appointment. 
тЧП    DGP Suresh Arora said that after Kaur’s appointment to the force, they would be setting up a cricket team within the police department.

Current Affairs 3rd August 2017: WORLD NEWS

Donald Trump announces new immigration policy

President Donald Trump is touting new legislation to overhaul the US immigration system, drastically cutting the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country and implementing a "merit-based" visa scheme.
тЧП    If passed, the RAISE Act would cut the number of immigrants allowed into the United States by 50 per cent over the next 10 years. 
тЧП    It would eliminate diversity lottery visas and crack down on so-called "chain immigration" – visas provided based on family connections, rather than jobs skills.
тЧП    Mr Trump promoted the act alongside Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue on Wednesday, claiming it would "reduce poverty, increase wages, and save taxpayers billions and billions of dollars".

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Important Current Affairs 2nd August 2017

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Current Affairs 2nd August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Cabinet approves MoU between India and BRICs countries to set up BRICS Agriculture Research Platform 


The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed among India and various BRICs countries for establishment of the BRICS Agriculture Research Platform.
тЧП    During the 7th BRICS Summit held on 9thJuly 2015 at Ufa in Russia, Prime Minister Shri Modi proposed to establish BRICS Agriculture Research Centre which will be a gift to the entire world. 
тЧП    The Centre will promote sustainable agricultural development and poverty alleviation through strategic cooperation in agriculture to provide food security in the BRICS member countries. 
тЧП    In order to further intensify cooperation among BRICS countries in agricultural research policy, science and technology, innovation and capacity building, including technologies for small¬holder farming in the BRICS countries, an MoU on establishment of the Agricultural Research Platform was signed by the foreign Ministers of BRICS countries in the 8th BRICS Summit held on 16th October, 2016 at Goa.

Cabinet approves construction of doubling of line with electrification between Thiruvananthapuram and Kanniyakumari 


The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of double line with electrification between Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
тЧП    The total length of the line will be 86.56 km.  The estimated cost of the Project will be Rs.1431.90 crore and completion cost of Rs.1552.94 crore with 5% escalation per annum.
тЧП    The project is likely to be completed in four years by 2020-21.  
тЧП    The project will generate direct employment during construction for 20.77 lakh mandays.
тЧП    The project would not only speed up the operation of goods and coaching trains, but also provide additional capacity for meeting the increase in traffic in future.


Jammu and Kashmir passes bill to implement GST in the state


GST became a fully national tax after the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly and legislative council passed the bill, even though the opposition expressed apprehension about the new tax regime. 
тЧП    The state would send the bill to the President for concurrence and the 101 st amendment would be extended to J&K. 
тЧП    Finance minister Haseeb Drabu assured that the state government would ensure enough safeguards and GST would not compromise on Article 370 and Section 5 of J&K constitution in any way. 
тЧП    “If that happens, I will not return to this house,” Drabu said. 
тЧП    Till now Article 370 was used only as an obstruction for whatever purpose, Drabu said and asserted on the need to use it as tool for empowering people of the state and not just as a defensive strategy. 
тЧП    “Article 370 is being used as a tool to whip up political passions and draw political mileage. 
тЧП    It is being used for creating fake controversies,” said Drabu, adding that J&K had acceded to India and India had not acceded to J&K.


Rajya Sabha passes Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017


The Rajya Sabha on 1 August 2017 passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017 that amends Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
тЧП    The Bill extends the deadline for teachers to acquire the prescribed minimum qualifications for appointment by 4 years.
тЧП    The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on 22 July 2017.
тЧП    The Bill states that the teachers who do not possess the minimum qualifications as on 31 March 2015 will acquire the minimum qualifications within a period of four years, that is, by 31 March 2019.
тЧП    The teachers can get the prescribed qualification using the Swayam portal.
тЧП    Teachers will also be provided practical experience by the respective states.


Indian Army develops app, Humraaz

The Indian Army has developed a mobile application named Humraaz. The app will allow serving soldiers to track details like postings and promotions.
тЧП    Through the app 'Humraaz', soldiers can also view their monthly salary slips and the Form 16 and also download them.
тЧП    The mobile app has been developed in-house by the Army and will be launched in the second week of August 2017. 
тЧП    The app will allow prompt communication of information to junior commissioned officers and other personnel.
тЧП    For security reasons, the installation of the application has been linked to verification of Aadhaar details.
тЧП    The Aadhaar details will be verified with the Army database over National Information Centre cloud and Army personnel will get a one-time-password on their registered mobile number.

Current Affairs 2nd August 2017: SPORTS

Swimmer-Dressel grabs seventh gold to equal Phelps record


U.S. swimmer Caeleb Dressel equalled compatriot Michael Phelps's record of seven gold medals at a single world championships on Sunday.
тЧП    Dressel secured his record-equalling feat as the United States won gold in the men's 4x100 metres medley relay, in which he swam the butterfly leg.
тЧП    The 20-year-old had previously won individual gold medals in the men's 50m and 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly, as well as in the men's 4x100m freestyle, 4x100m mixed freestyle and 4x100m mixed medley relays.
тЧП    Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, won seven gold medals at the world championships in Melbourne 10 years ago.


Dhanraj Pillay conferred with Bharat Gaurav by East Bengal Football Club

Former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay was on 1 August 2017 honoured with the 'Bharat Gaurav' by East Bengal Football Club on its foundation day. Bharat Gaurav is the highest award of the club.
тЧП    On the other hand, the club presented lifetime achievement awards to Subhash Bhowmick, a member of the 1970 Asian Games bronze medal-winning national football team and Syed Naeemuddin, former national team coach.
тЧП    Meanwhile, Gurwinder Singh bagged the Footballer of the Year award while Boddupalli Amit was adjudged as the Cricketer of the Year.
тЧП    Pillay played a huge role in reviving the Indian Hockey team and performed brilliantly during his 15-year career.
тЧП    He played a total of 339 matches for India, scoring 170 goals.

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Important Current Affairs 1st August 2017

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Current Affairs 1st August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Jutice Krishna to head expert group on Data Protection Framework for India 


Recognising the importance of data protection and keeping personal data of citizens secure and protected, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has, on 31st July 2017, constituted a Committee of Experts.
тЧП    It will work under the Chairmanship of Justice B N Srikrishna, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India.
тЧП    It will be comprising of members from Government, Academia and Industry to study and identify key data protection issues.
тЧП    It will also recommend methods for addressing them. 
тЧП    The committee will also suggest a draft Data Protection Bill. 
тЧП    Protection of Data is expected to provide big boost to Digital economy of the country.


Inauguration of Technical Secretariat of National Education Policy Committee to draft National Education Policy, 2017 


Eminent Space Scientist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. K. Kasturirangan inaugurated the new office of the Technical Secretariat of the Committee to draft National Education Policy 2017 at the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Campus, Bengaluru today. 
тЧП    The committee has been constituted by Human Resource Developement Ministry, Government of India under the Chairmanship of Dr K. Kasturirangan comprising eminent experts from across the Country to draft National Education Policy, 2017. 
тЧП    The Technical Secretariat has been housed in the premises of NAAC with UGC being the nodal agency.
тЧП    Addressing the gathering at the inauguration, Dr. Kasturirangan, Chairman of Committee to Draft National Education Policy, 2017, said the New Education Policy will be precise, rigorous and will have an overarching perspective aimed towards overall National Development. 
тЧП    “India has inherently provided powerful knowledge centres like ‘Takshashila’ & ‘Nalanda’ to the world. 
тЧП    However there has been a strong disconnect in today’s scenario which needs to be bridged to bring Indian Higher Education into the higher pedestals of Global Education today.


Dr Subhash Bhamre Inaugurates 75th  Raising Day of AFHQ Civilian Services


Minister of State for Defence, Dr Subhash Bhamre inaugurated 75th raising day function of the Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) Civilian Services here today. 
тЧП    Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bhamre said that AFHQ civilian personnel have been standing firmly with the Armed Forces, providing them with the essential support and working for the safety of the nation with dedication and commitment, both in times of peace and war.
тЧП    He appreciated the administrative acumen and work culture of the cadre who have been working shoulder to shoulder with Service personnel and providing them with the logistical support in manpower, quartering, material management, administration and human resources development.
тЧП    The service cadre came to existence when the office of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) was constituted in the Ministry of Defence on August 1, 1942 and all the civilians were brought under one Cadre Controlling Authority.


Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Minister of Railways & Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra lays foundation stone to develop Cold Storage Warehouse for onion at Lasalgaon near Nashik


Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Minister of Railways & Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra laid the  foundation stone for the cold storage on 30th July, 2017 at Lasalgaon near Nashik in Maharashtra. 
тЧП    Indian Railways’ PSU CONCOR (Container Corporation of India ltd.) is developing a cold store at Lasalgaon near Nashik for storage of onions and other perishable produce.  
тЧП    This cold storage will have a total capacity of 2500 MT out of which 1500 MT will be exclusively utilised for onion storage and remaining for other perishable commodities such as fruits & vegetables like Onion, Pomegranate, Grapes, Banana, Tomato, Citrus. 
тЧП    Indian Railways has now steered into the areas of providing storage facility to the farmers and the cold storage at Lasalgaon will be a boon to the farmers of not only Nashik & Lasalgaon, but also of nearby areas of Jalgaon, Manmad, Dhule,etc.
тЧП    The cold storage is being set up on CSR model by CONCOR at a cost of Rs. 5 crores.  
тЧП    The cold storage will be maintained by M/s Lasalgaon Vibhag Sahakari Kharedi Vikri Sangh Ltd. Railways is a major transporter for onion and plays a key role in timely transportation of onion to various consumer market from producer states.  
тЧП    To reduce the spoilages, Indian Railways allots the rakes/ wagons on priority basis wherever possible for carriage of onion.


Health Ministry to launch Intensified Mission Indradhanush


With the aim to accelerating the full immunization coverage and provide greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunization coverage, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has drawn up an aggressive action plan to achieve the target by 2018. 
тЧП    According to the plan, States will conduct Intensified Mission Indradhanush drives for 7 working days from 7th day of every month starting from 7th October 2017 for four consecutive months excluding Sundays, holidays and Routine Immunization days. 
тЧП    A total of 118 districts, 17 urban areas and 52 districts of North East states will be targeted under Intensified Mission Indradhanush.
тЧП    Under Intensified Mission Indradhanush, greater focus will be given on urban areas which were one of the gaps of Mission Indradhanush. 
тЧП    This will be done through mapping of all underserved population in urban areas and need-based deployment of ANMs for providing vaccination services in these areas. 
тЧП    Mobility support to field staff for deployment to such areas in urban as well as rural areas will be provided.


RBI slaps Rs 3 crore penalty on Union Bank


тЧП    The RBI on Monday said it has imposed Rs3 crore penalty on state-owned Union Bank of India for "non- compliance" with the directions on Know Your Customer (KYC) norms in two separate cases.
тЧП    While in one case a penalty of Rs 2 crore has been imposed, Rs1 crore has been slapped in another case. 
тЧП    Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that based on media reports related to a fraud in a bank, it conducted an examination of certain accounts in Union Bank of India, which had substantial transactions.
тЧП    "Upon examination of the documents obtained in this regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed for non- compliance with directions issued by RBI," the central bank said in a statement.
тЧП    The second case related to a complaint regarding "huge cash withdrawals in certain accounts".


Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman, Arvind Panagariya resigns


Arvind Panagariya, Vice-Chairman of Niti Aayog announced his resignation from the post on 1 August 2017.
тЧП    Panagariya revealed that he would be returning to the field of academics in the US.
тЧП    His last working day in office would be 31 August 2017.
тЧП    The 64-year-old was the first one to hold the post of Vice- Chairman in Niti Aayog. 
тЧП    He was appointed to the position in January 2015. 
тЧП    His resignation now brings an end to his two and a half year-long stint with the Government of India’s policy think-tank.
тЧП    Panagariya is an Indian-American economist. 
тЧП    He is known for his market-friendly views and is a close associate of the well-known trade economist, Jagdish Bhagwati.


LPG gas price subsidy to go


The government had previously asked Indian Oil (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) to raise rates of subsidised domestic LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) by Rs 2 per 14.2-kg cylinder per month. 
тЧП    The government has ordered state-run oil companies to raise subsidised cooking gas (LPG) prices by Rs 4 per cylinder every month to eliminate all the subsidies by March next year, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today. 
тЧП    The government had previously asked Indian Oil (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) to raise rates of subsidised domestic LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) by Rs 2 per 14.2-kg cylinder per month.
тЧП    Now, the quantum has been doubled so as to bring down the subsidy to nil, he said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here. 
тЧП    Every household is entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates in a year. 
тЧП    Any requirement beyond that is to be purchased at market price.

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Important Current Affairs 31st July 2017

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Current Affairs 31st July 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

BPR&D to organise two-day National Conference for Young SPs of States/UTs and Commandants of CAPFs beginning tomorrow

The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) is organizing a two day National Conference for Young Superintendents of Police of States/UTs and Commandants of CAPFs, beginning here tomorrow. 
тЧП    The Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad will inaugurate the conference.
тЧП    Briefing the media, Ms. Anupama Nilekar Chandra, IG (Modernization), BPR&D said that during the DGs/IGs Annual Conference in December, 2015 at Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his address, said that the young officers need to be exposed to the latest technological aids available. 
тЧП    Keeping this in view, BPR&D is organising this two-day National Conference with the theme ‘Technological Empowerment for Impactful Policing’. 
тЧП    She said that the participants will include 5 SPs and 5 Commandant rank officers of CAPFs from each State and one SP rank officer from each UT.
тЧП    The two-day conference will include various sessions on topics like Technology for Police, Operations and Technology, Police-Media Interface, Delivery of Citizen Centric Services and Syndicate Group discussion & presentation.

BSF and NSDC sign MoU on Skill Development 

The Border Security Force (BSF) signed an MoU with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) here today in the presence of MoS (Independent Charge) Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju. 
тЧП    The MoU will enable NSDC to provide “Skill training to retired and retiring BSF personnel, as well as to the population residing in the border areas. 
тЧП    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rudy said Skill Development remained an ignored aspect until the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi created the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship two and a half years ago, soon after the NDA Government came to power. 
тЧП    Suffering from colonial legacy, Skill Development remained a neglected sector while the Human Resource Development focus remained confined to imparting academic education, Shri Rudy said. 
тЧП    Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) came to be regulated by the National Council for Vocational Training, an advisory body set up by the Government of India in the year 1956, and today the ITIs cater to around 23 lakh students at any point of time, he said.
тЧП    But this alone is not sufficient and there is much more demand for skilled workforce that the NSDC aims to bridge, he added.


Projects worth Rs 425 crore approved by NMCG


The Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga in its 4th meeting held here today approved seven projects worth Rs 425 crore in the sector of sewage infrastructure, Ghat development and research.
тЧП    In sewage sector, three projects each in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been approved. 
тЧП    For Uttar Pradesh, interception, diversion and STP projects for Unnao, Shuklaganj and Ramnagar have been approved. 
тЧП    These three projects aim at creation of sewage treatment capacity of 29 MLD (Unnao- 13 MLD, Shuklaganj- six MLD and Ramnagar- ten MLD) at a total cost of Rs 238.64 crore.
тЧП    While in Bihar, three projects at Sultanganj, Naugachia and Mokama with total estimated cost of Rs 175 crore have been approved. 
тЧП    These three projects will create additional sewage treatment capacity of 27 MLD (Sultanganj- ten MLD, Mokama- eight MLD and Naugachia- nine MLD).
тЧП    All the six projects will be provided with Operation and Maintenance cost for 15 years by Central government and 100 percent central assistance. 
тЧП    It is also important to mention that Unnao and Sultanganj projects will be taken up under Hybrid Annuity based PPP model in which 60 per cent of the capital cost will be paid to the contractor who has constructed the STP, over a period of 15 years, on the basis of his work performance on the achievement of desired norms of treated wastewater.

Centenary Anniversary of Champaran Satyagrah


The Government has decided to commemorate centenary of Champaran Satyagraha during April 2017 to April 2018. A National Implementation Committee (NIC) has been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Home Minister. 
тЧП    Inaugural function for the commemoration was organised in Delhi on 10th April, 2017.
тЧП    Development of Gandhi Circuit in Bihar is one of the projects identified for development under the Special Package for Bihar announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in 2015. 
тЧП    A project for “Development of Gandhi Circuit: Bhitiharwa-Chandrahia-Turkaulia under Rural Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme” has been sanctioned in Bihar with Central Financial Assistance of Rs. 4465.02 lakh. 
тЧП    A sum of Rs. 893.00 lakh, as first instalment, has been released by Ministry of Tourism.
тЧП    This information was given by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Current Affairs 31st July 2017: REPORT AND RANKING

India is world’s third-biggest beef exporter: FAO report


India is the world’s third-biggest exporter of beef and is projected to hold on to that position over the next decade, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OECD).
тЧП    OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026 report released here this week, said that India exported 1.56 million tonnes of beef last year and was expected to maintain “its position as the third-largest beef exporter, accounting for 16 per cent of global exports in 2026” by exporting 1.93 tonnes that year.
тЧП    The type of beef exported was not specified, but the meat exported appeared to be mostly from buffaloes as the report specified the animal for imports by Myanmar from India. 
тЧП    According to the OECD database, India imported 363,000 tonnes of beef last year and the amount was projected to stay the same over the decade.

Current Affairs 31st July 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

Russia asks 755 US diplomats to leave country following American sanctions


Russian President Vladimir Putin on 30 July 2017 asked 755 US diplomats to leave the country. 
тЧП    The action was taken three days after the US Congress approved sanctions against Russia.
тЧП    Earlier, the US Senate approved a bill to toughen sanctions on Russia for allegedly meddling in the 2016 US Presidential election and for its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
тЧП    Putin in an interview to a Russian TV channel said, more than 1000 people are working at the US embassy and consulates in Russia. 
тЧП    He said 755 of them should stop their activities and return.
тЧП    While announcing his decision, Putin said Russia had run out of patience waiting for relations with the United States to improve.
тЧП    In addition, the Russian Foreign Ministry on 28 July 2017 demanded that Washington should cut its diplomatic presence in Russia to 455 by September; the same number Moscow has in the US.
тЧП    The Russian President also said that an upturn in Moscow's relations with Washington could not be expected anytime soon.

Current Affairs 31st July 2017: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India, Pakistan to hold talks on hydropower projects under Indus Waters Treaty

India and Pakistan will hold talks on two hydropower projects, namely Kishenganga and Ratle, under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) at the World Bank headquarters in Washington on 31 July 2017.
тЧП    Union Water Resources Secretary Amarjit Singh is leading the Indian delegation during the talks. The delegation will include officials from ministries of external affairs and water resources.
тЧП    World Bank Vice President for South Asia region Annette Dixon - in a letter to in a letter to the Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna - has welcomed the participation of both the countries in the dialogue. 
тЧП    She also assured neutrality and impartiality of the international body in helping both the nations to find an amicable way forward. 
тЧП    The meet at Washington is being held as part of efforts by the World Bank to resolve the issues raised by Pakistan over India’s hydroelectricity projects.

Current Affairs 31st July 2017: SPORTS

Sebastian Vettel wins 2017 Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel of Germany and the Ferrari driver on 30 July 2017 won the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród.
тЧП    The second and third place was taken by Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland respectively.
тЧП    The 2017 Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2017 Formula One season and the 32nd running of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
тЧП    Born on 3 July 1987, Sebastian Vettel is a German racing driver.
тЧП    He is currently driving in Formula One for Scuderia Ferrari.
тЧП    He is a four-time Formula One World Champion, having won the championship in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 with Red Bull Racing.
тЧП    He is among the most successful F1 drivers of all time, as he is one of only four drivers to have won four or more drivers' titles.
тЧП    He is contracted to remain as a Formula One driver with Scuderia Ferrari until at least the end of 2017.
тЧП    Vettel started his career in Formula One as a test driver for BMW Sauber.

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Current Affairs 30th July 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi inaugurates Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial in Rameswaram

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on 27 July 2017 inaugurated the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam memorial at Pei Karumbu, Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
тЧП    The PM unveiled the statue of Dr. Kalam, and offered floral tributes at Kalam Sthal.
тЧП    In addition, the Prime Minister flagged off the Kalam Sandesh Vahini, an exhibition bus which shall travel across various States of the country and reach Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on 15 October 2017, which marks the birth anniversary of the former President.
тЧП    Born on 15 October 1931, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.
тЧП    Born and raised in Rameswaram, Kalam studied physics and aerospace engineering.
тЧП    He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Jute-ICARE -- An Initiative of The Government to Double the income of Jute Farmers


Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise for Jute (Jute – ICARE) was launched in 2015 to popularize/introduce some of the better agronomic practices and recently developed microbial-assisted retting among farmers intensively in a few blocks in West Bengal and Assam on pilot basis. 
тЧП    The improved agronomic practices include: line sowing of jute using seed drill to increase yield by 10-15%; weed management in jute by wheel hoeing/nail weeder instead of hand weeding for reducing the cost of weeding; and distribution of quality certified seeds at 50% subsidy.
тЧП    Central Research Institute for Research in Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF) developed a microbial consortium called SONA, to enhance the quantity of fibre yield by 20% as well as its quality in terms of grade by at least 1 ½ grades. 
тЧП    Also, under the project, regular SMSes are sent in regional languages on improved practices in jute cultivation, to registered farmers. 
тЧП    On an average over 50 SMS-es are sent to each farmer at various intervals during the project. 
тЧП    Supply of Seed drills and Nail weeders is undertaken for demonstration purpose.


Axis Bank to buy FreeCharge 

Axis Bank, India's seventh-biggest lender by assets, on Thursday announced that it has agreed to buy mobile payments wallet provider FreeCharge from e-commerce company Snapdeal for Rs 385 crore ($60.04 million).
тЧП    "Digital payments in India are surging. Government policies are driving a less-cash economy," Axis Bank finance chief Jairam Sridharan told a news conference after announcing the deal. 
тЧП    He said the acquisition will double the customer base of the bank and leapfrog its digital journey by multiple years. Axis Bank expects regulatory clearances to the deal in two months. Following this, the bank could consider merging their wallet businesses.
тЧП    The cut-price deal marks a significant erosion of value for FreeCharge which was acquired for $400 million or Rs 2,500 crore (at current exchange rate). 
тЧП    back in 2015 by the Gurgaon-based online marketplace to shore up its online payments play. 
тЧП    At the time, it was touted as the largest deal in the then nascent start-up ecosystem in India.


Govt hikes gold bond investment limit to 4 kg per fiscal


The Union Cabinet on Wednesday raised the annual investment limit in Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) to 4 kg per individual from 500 gm and relaxed other norms to make them more attractive to buyers.
тЧП    The ceiling will be counted on financial year basis and will include the SGBs purchased during trading in the secondary market, an official statement said after the Cabinet meeting here.
тЧП    According to the statement, the investment limit per fiscal year has been increased to 4 kg for individuals, 4 kg for Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities notified by the government from time to time.
тЧП    The ceiling on investment will not include the holdings kept as collateral by banks and financial institutions.
тЧП    “SGBs will be available ‘on tap’. Based on the consultation with NSE, BSE, banks and Department of Post, features of product to emulate ‘on tap’ sale would be finalised by finance ministry,” it said.

Current Affairs 30th July 2017: PERSON

Somdev Devvarman to head Centre of Excellence at DLTA

Somdev Devvarman, former professional Indian tennis player has been roped in to lead a Centre of Excellence at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA).
тЧП    The centre aims to provide coaching to budding players. The search has already begun for coaches, sports psychologist and physios who will work in coordination with each other at the Academy.
тЧП    A comprehensive plan for the same has been submitted by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to the Sports Ministry for approval under the supervision of Devvarman, India's former number one singles player.
тЧП    Coaching would be provided according to the age group. A foreign coach would also be brought in.
тЧП    Qualified physios and sports psychologist will be hired for all round development of the players.
тЧП    A sports science centre is also being planned at the Academy.
тЧП    Overall, the Academy would be able to accommodate about 300 kids for coaching, among which at least 100 would be able to get accommodation there after relocating from their respective states.
 

Current Affairs 30th July 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

Successfully tested intercontinental ballistic missile: North Korea


North Korea said on Tuesday it successfully test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time, which flew a trajectory that experts said could allow a weapon to hit the U.S. state of Alaska.
тЧП    The launch came days before leaders from the Group of 20 nations were due to discuss steps to rein in North Korea's weapons programme, which it has pursued in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions.
тЧП    The launch, which North Korea's state media said was ordered and supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, sent the rocket 933 km (580 miles) reaching an altitude of 2,802 km over a flight time of 39 minutes.
тЧП    North Korea has said it wants to develop a missile mounted with a nuclear warhead capable of striking the U.S. mainland

Current Affairs 30th July 2017: DAYS AND DATES

United Nations World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2017 observed


The United Nations World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2017 was observed across the world on 30 July 2017.
тЧП    This year, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) selected ‘Act to Protect and Assist Trafficked Persons’ as the focus of the Day. 
тЧП    The theme emphasizes one of the most pressing issues of the large mixed migration movements of refugees and migrants. 
тЧП    The theme puts focus on the significant impact of conflict and natural disasters, as well as the resultant, multiple risks of human trafficking that many people face. 
тЧП    In addition, it addresses the key issue concerning trafficking responses: that most people are never identified as trafficking victims and therefore cannot access most of the assistance or protection provided.
тЧП    The day aims at raising awareness of the plight of human trafficking victims, and promoting and protecting their rights.
 


 

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