Current news in brief (1-7 January, 2018)

  • A World Bank paper titled, ‘Making It Easier to Apply for a Bank Account: A Study of the Indian Market’ has noted a 10% gender gap in opening accounts under the country’s flagship financial inclusion programme — Jan Dhan Yojana — with 73% men applying for the accounts against 63% women. Madhya Pradesh recorded the largest gender gap of 21%.
  • On New Year’s eve, a fast-moving vehicle on Maharashtra’s National Highway 6 killed Bajirao, one of Bor Tiger Reserve’s charismatic, dominant male tigers. Many of national and State highways crossing through at least 26 tiger reserves, are proving death knell for animals. It is also threatening genetic diversity, which is vital for species.
  • China is planning to build its second overseas naval base near Pakistani’s Gwadar port following the opening of its facility in Djibouti in 2017.
  • The planets Jupiter and Mars appeared side-by-side in the sky on January 7 morning, in a cosmic event described as “uncommonly beautiful”.
  • The sub-committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), headed by Minister of State for HRD Satypal singh, is likely to recommend bringing pre-school and classes nine and 10 within the ambit of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, thereby expanding the range of free education for children across India. Currently, the landmark law applies to children between six and 14 years of age studying in Classes 1 to 8.
  • Aerospace company SpaceX founder Elon Musk has announced to launch Falcon Heavy — the world’s most powerful rocket — by the end of January.
  • There has been an increase in water bird species diversity . A total of 11,622 birds were spotted across 63 species. This is in comparison to 53 species and 6,183 total birds in 2017. In 2016, this was even less — 46 species and 3,113 birds
  • NASA’s Curosity Rover have revealed impressions that look “remarkably similar” to trace fossils on Mars, scientists, including one of Indian-origin has claimed. The first new batch of 2018 photographs taken Curiosity Lens Imager MAHLI (Mars Hand Lens Imager: MAHLI) could be similar to Ordovician trace fossils.

  • Saudi officials on January 6, arrested 11 princes for staging a protest against the kingdom’s austerity measures. The princes, who gathered in the historical Palace of Government area in the capital Riyadh on January 6, 2018, were demonstrating against a government decision to suspend payment of their utility bills.

  • The world’s biggest fish market, ‘the Tsukiji market’ in Tokyo, a popular tourist attraction in an area packed with restaurants and shops, will move to Toyosu, a former gas plant, on October 11. The market, which opened in 1935, is known for its predawn daily auctions of tuna, for use by everyone from top Michelin-star sushi chefs to ordinary grocery stores.
  • Storm Eleanor swept through Europe in the first week of January 2018. It was the fourth winter storm in Europe since December 2017.
  • 13 days winter session of the Parliament cleared 10 bills while 15 new bills were introduced. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha utilised nearly 78% and 54% of their allotted time in a winter session — a drastic improvement from the winter session of 2016. The 13-day winter session of Parliament, which concluded on January 5, was the shortest since 2009.
  • Air Marshal Asghar Khan, the first native commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Air Force and a veteran politician, died of cardiac arrest in Rawalpindi on January 5. Khan became the youngest head of the PAF at the age of 35. The 96-year-old was born in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, threatened to sit on hunger strike in all seven districts if officials failed to reach the target of 100% construction of individual toilets.
  • Participants of the Jagriti Yatra called on the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 5, 2018 The Jagriti Yatra is a 15-day long national train journey that covers 8,000 km across the length and breadth of the country. It aims to create awareness and encourage nation building though building enterprise.
  • As per preliminary reports received from the States, the total area sown under Rabi crops as on 5th January 2018 stands at 586.37 lakh hectares as compared to 587.62 lakh hectare this time in 2017. Wheat has been sown/transplanted in 283.46 lakh hectares, rice in 18.77 lakh hectares, pulses in 154.91 lakh hectares, coarse cereals in 52.54 lakh hectares and area sown under oilseeds is 76.69 lakh hectares.
  • Under ‘Medicinal Plants’ component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM), 19 Ayurvedic Herbs Collection Centers have been approved/suggested across the country during 2016-17 and 2017-18.
  • State Bank of India (SBI) has revised the requirement of maintaining minimum average Balance to Rs 1,000 for accounts in Metro and urban regions and Rs 500 for semi urban and rural areas. The SBI customers must maintain it on a Quarterly average balance (QAB) basis instead of a Monthly basis.
  • An Android malware ‘Android.banker.A2f8a‘ has been targeting over 232 banking apps including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank.
  • Gross domestic product of India is estimated to grow an annual 6.5 percent in 2017/18, slower than a provisional 7.1 percent growth in 2016/17.
  • The Lok Sabha on 4 January, 2018 cleared a bill hiking the salary and pension of the Supreme Court and high court judges.
  • Health and Family Welfare Secretary (HFW) on 4 January, 2018 launched the country’s first digital Online Oncology Tutorial Series designed by the Tata Memorial Center in collaboration with the Health Ministry. The oncology tutorial series aim to train the doctors across the country to educate them in early detection, prevention, palliation, rehabilitation and treatment of various cancers.
  • A rare total lunar eclipse that involves the second full moon of the month — popularly referred to as a Blue Moon — is set to take place on January 31 for the first time in over 150 years.
  • The history of the Americas has just been rewritten by the DNA of an infant girl from Alaska, who died 11,500 years ago. Genetic analysis of the 11,500-year-old remains of the six-week-old child indicates that she belonged to a previously unknown population of ancient people in North America.
  • As per the vision plan prepared, in order to fulfil the requirement of Uranium to fuel nuclear power plants, Department of Atomic Energy will achieve nearly ten-fold rise in uranium production in next 15 years (by 2031-2032). The uranium mining projects have been planned in three phases. On completion of the projects in first phase, it is expected to produce 3.5 times of existing uranium production by the 12th year.

  • The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has launched a satellite designed to reach ‘super low orbit’, using a radical ion engine said to be 10 times more efficient than gas jets. The satellite, dubbed Tsubame, will drop down below an altitude of 300 kilometers (186 miles) in the next two years, after starting out at around 480km (298 miles). This will make it the first Earth observation satellite to orbit so low.

  • Government of India has announced to launch of 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2018 commencing from 10th January 2018 to enable resident citizens/HUF to invest in a taxable bond, without any monetary ceiling. The Bonds are open to investment by individuals (including Joint Holdings) and Hindu Undivided Families. NRIs are not eligible for making investments in these Bonds.
  • Scientists at the University of Tokyo in Japan, has developed the robot called Kengoro, that can perform exercises such as sit-ups and push-ups, and even sweat, just like humans.
  • The government expects to roll out all 650 branches of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) by April, 2018, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. IPPB had launched two pilot branches on January 30, 2017 at Raipur and Ranchi.
  • Patients suffering from thalassemia, haemophilia and sickle cell disease among others may start getting disability certificate from designated government hospitals after being denied in the past for lack of guidelines. The Union ministry of social justice and empowerment has framed guidelines for the assessment of the 14 new disabilities that were added to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 in April last year.
  • The UP board has been approached by the government of Nepal for “support and guidance” to its newly established National Examination Board of Nepal after it was impressed with its expertise in accommodating lakhs of students

  • Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has commissioned the world’s largest Refinery Off-Gas Cracker (ROGC) complex of 1.5 mtpa capacity along with downstream plants and utilities. The ROGC complex is a core component of RIL’s J3 project at its integrated refinery-petrochemicals complex at Jamnagar. This is one of the largest capital expenditure programme globally in the sector in recent times.

  • The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017, to increase authorised capital of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) by six times to Rs30,000 crore and enable exit of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was passed by Rajya Sabha on January 2, 2017. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in August, 2017.
  • The overall teledensity in India marginally decreased to 91.56% in September 2017, compared with 93.71% in August 2017 due to a decline in the urban subscriber base, according to a report by India Ratings.
  • The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 54.7 in December from 52.6 in November, recording a rise higher than the average 54.0 recorded since inception of the survey in March 2005
  • The Karnataka government has appointed D.H. Waghela, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, as the chairperson of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC).
  • Indian Railways is operating Astha Circuit Trains for promotion of religious tourism across India. Astha Circuit Trains were announced in Rail Budget, 2016. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) inaugurated the trip of Astha Circuit Trains on 17.02.2017 for Guwahati covering Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar and Puri. So far 10 Astha Circuit Trains are operated.
  • Total funds allocated/spent under Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme is Rs. 343.61 lakhs and number of beneficiaries is 1290 during the last three years:
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for implementation of the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for capacity augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) at a cost of Rs 5369.18 crore with the technical assistance and investment support of the World Bank. The Project is expected to be completed by March, 2023.
  • The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 3, 2018 has approved amendments in the Model Concession Agreement (MCA) to make the Port Projects more investor-friendly and make investment climate in the Port Sector more attractive
  • The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 3, 2018, has given its approval for establishment of new AIIMS in Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh) under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The cost of the project is Rs.1351 crore. Under this scheme, AIIMS have been established in Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Raipur, Jodhpur, Rishikesh and Patna while work of AIIMS Rae Bareli is in progress. Also, three AIIMS in Nagpur (Maharashtra), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri in Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) have been sanctioned in 2015, two AIIMS have been sanctioned at Bathinda and Gorakhpur in 2016 and an AIIMS in Kamrup (Assam).
  • The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 3, 2018 has approved the signing and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and ‘Transport for London’, a statutory body established under the Greater London Authority Act, 1999 (UK) to improve Public Transport in India.
  • The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 3, has approved the Agreement between India and Myanmar on Land Border Crossing. The Agreement will facilitate regulation and harmonization of already existing free movement rights for people ordinarily residing in the border areas of both countries.
  • The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 3, 2018, has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and the USA for co-hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2017 in India.
  • According to air quality index, comparison of air quality across 23 cities of India shows Gurgaon was the most polluted Indian city while Bengaluru was the cleanest. The data also reflects a stark regional divide between north and south India. Air quality index based on daily PM2.5 data averaged across all pollution monitoring stations in the city.
  • The Rajya Sabha on January 2, 2017, made a record of sorts as it took up all the Zero Hour issues and special mentions listed in the agenda for that period.
  • The Centre on January 2, 2017, announced the appointment of AB Mathur as the interlocutor on their behalf to hold talks with the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). A 1975-batch IPS officer, Mathur served as the former special secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), following his appointment on December 10, 2009.

  • Archaeologists have found stone tools dating back to the Middle Stone Age in north Mumbai, indicating human habitation in the area 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. The microliths, or minute flint stone tools, were found on a hill next to Manori beach, which experts believe could have been a possible factory site for such implements.

    India on January 2, 2017, cleared two proposals to buy smart bombs from Russia and surface-to-air missiles from Israel to strengthen the capabilities of its Air Force and Navy. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman approved the purchase of 240 bombs from Russia’s Rosoboronexport to scale up the offensive capabilities of the IAF and 131 Barak missiles from Israel’s Rafael Advance Defence Systems Ltd for the Navy, a government spokesperson said. The bombs will cost Rs. 1,254 crore and the missile deal will be worth Rs. 460 crore. The Barak missiles are being bought by invoking an ‘option clause’ that was part of a previous contract.

  • As per a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, in association with CRISIL (Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited) Risk and Infrastructure Solutions Limited, there is an estimated potential of about 8000 MW of tidal energy, with 7000 MW in the Gulf of Kambhat, 1200 MW in the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, and about 100 MW in the Gangetic delta in Sunderbans in West Bengal.
  • The total Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure reported by companies for the years 2014-15 and 2015-16, as per the filings made on MCA21 registry upto 31.03.2017, is Rs. 9,553.72 crores and Rs. 13,625.25 crores respectively. Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, commenced with effect from financial year 2014-15, has the provision of CSR.
  • Government of India vide notification dated 4th September, 2017, has decided to introduce 45 Kg bag of urea in place of existing 50 Kg bags and a period of six months have been given to urea units as lead time to ensure smooth implementation of the policy.
  • The first so-called two plus-two dialogue between India and the US will be held in April 2018, and Pakistan, Afghanistan, an alternative to China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) plan, and arms purchases will be on the agenda.
  • Union home ministry is considering a proposal to provide special clothing and mountaineering equipment (SCME) to paramilitary forces posted in areas that are located above 9,000 feet in the Himalayas. Currently, the SCME is provided to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troopers posted at an altitude of above 14,000 feet.
  • China has developed a new underwater surveillance network to help its submarines get a stronger lock on targets while protecting the nation’s interests along the maritime Silk Road, which includes the Indian Ocean.
  • The Telangana government on 1 january, 2018 launched a round-the-clock power supply to the state’s 2.3 million farmers free of cost, which experts said might result in misuse and exploitation of groundwater.
  • Vidarbha claimed their maiden Ranji Trophy after beating Delhi by nine wickets in the final of India’s premier domestic tournament in Indore.
  • Assam listed 19 million citizens in the first updated draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which was released at the stroke of midnight on 31 December, 2017.
  • Former West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons has been appointed coach of Afghanistan. The war-torn Afghanistan was awarded Test status in June 2017, along with Ireland.
  • Arunachal Pradesh on December 31, emerged as the second state in the Northeast, after Sikkim, to be declared Open Defecation Free.
  • The scheme allowing conversion of Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards to Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards free of cost came to an end on December 31, 2017. However, the conversion would continue beyond the date on payment of fees
  • Indian golfer Shiv Kapur on 31 December, 2017, won the Royal Cup held in Pataya, Thailand. It was his third Asian tour title of 2017 . Mr. Kapur won the title defeating host nations favourite Prom Meesawat.
  • Six Slovenian Grebes were seen swimming in a pond of Dighal (a village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district). This was only the fourth time the bird’s presence had been recorded in India, and in the region, resulting in visitors racing to the see this rarity.
  • South Korea has seized a Panama-flagged ship ‘KOTI‘, suspected of transferring oil products to North Korea in breach of UN sanctions.
  • -According to the Ministry of Environment, recent Ockhi cyclone led to a piling up of 80 tonnes of plastic debris along the coasts of Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and particularly along the major beaches of Mumbai.

Written by 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *