Daily Current affairs - May 31st, 2017 for all competitive exams
World No Tobacco Day is observed around the
world every year on May 31.
- The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2017 is "Tobacco – a threat to development."
- This theme has been set by the World Health
Organization, WHO. The campaign aims to demonstrate the threats that
the tobacco industry poses to sustainable development, including the
health and economic well-being of citizens in all countries.
India’s Health Minister JP Nadda gets WHO’s special
recognition for tobacco control
World No-Tobacco-Day is observed on 31st May
globally. On this day people are encouraged to observe abstinence of 24 hours
from all forms of tobacco consumption.
- This year Union Health Minister of India Jagat
Prakash Nadda is chosen for WHO Director-General Special
Recognition Awards for accelerating India’s tobacco control
initiatives and taking bold measures to protect people against hazards of
tobacco use.
Darwaza
Band for open defecation
The centre has
launched an aggressive new campaign titled ‘Darwaza Band’ to promote toilet use and freedom from open
defecation across the country’s villages.
- The
campaign is produced by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation
under Swachh Bharat Mission.
- The
campaign has been supported by the World Bank and is being rolled out
countrywide immediately after the launch.
- It
is designed to encourage behaviour change in men who have toilets but are
not using them.
Dual
onslaught on earth: Global warming and local urban heating
According to a
recent study, the world’s cities may be as much as eight degrees Celsius warmer
by 2100 due to a dual onslaught of global warming and
localised urban heating.
- The
projection is based on the worst-case-scenario assumption that emissions
of planet-warming greenhouse gases continue to rise throughout the 21st
century. For the latest study, researchers used data from the world’s
1,692 largest cities for the period 1950 to 2015.
Minesweeper
deal to be inked soon
After repeated
delays and protracted negotiations, India
and South Korea are set to be close to finalising the deal for 12 minesweepers
for the Indian Navy. Commercial negotiations are in the final
stages and should be concluded in the next two months. The technical
negotiations have long been completed which also involves the Indian Navy.
- The
deal for 12 minesweepers or Mine Counter Measure Vessels is worth about
₹32,640 crore and the ships would be manufactured in India under Transfer
of Technology.
- Minesweeper
ships use sonar systems to detect mines planted on the seabed or mines
that float at predetermined depths.
Legalising
gambling: law panel in moral quandary
The Law
Commission has sought views from the public and stakeholders on whether or not
gambling and betting are “morally correct in the Indian circumstances”.
- Primarily,
it wants public inputs on the question of legalising gambling and betting
— conducted clandestinely across the country and the cause of ruin for
many families.
- Gambling
is covered under an archaic law, the Public Gambling Act of 1867.
Important
Decision of NCST
National
Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has asked the Department of Personnel
and Training to constitute a committee having minimum of
two members from ST community to investigate any matter requiring penalty on
employees belonging to Scheduled Tribes community.
- As
per the recommendations of the commission if ST officers are not
available in the Department or Ministry then ST officers from other
Departments may be included in the committee.
International
Comparison Programme (ICP) - 2017
India is
participating in the current phase of International Comparison Programme (ICP) with
reference to 2017.
- In
India, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MOSPI)
will take up the price collection work in rural and urban areas shortly all over the country.
- The
ICP is a worldwide statistical initiative led by the World Bank under
the auspices of the United Nations Statistical Commission, with the main objective of providing comparable price and
volume measures of gross domestic product (GDP) and its expenditure
aggregates among countries within and across regions.
Bicycle
Patrols launched by Delhi police
As a ‘green’
initiative for patrolling the parks, congested lanes and by-lanes, the
cooperative societies etc, the Delhi Police has introduced bicycle
patrols to complement and supplement its existing motorcycle and PCR
patrols which focus mainly on crime prevention along the arterial and main
roads of Delhi.
- Cycle
patrols can go where traditional patrol vehicles cannot. The bicycle
patrols will reach the narrow and heavily congested areas where mechanized
vehicles find it difficult to reach and maintain a steady presence.
Sankhyiki
Bhawan – New office of NSSO:
It is the
newly inaugurated office of the NSSO. The new building houses all divisions
under one roof. Now, with all Divisions under one roof, it will improve coordination
of various work at a very closer level resulting speedier and better output.
- Established
in 1950, the National Sample Survey Office conducts nation-wide
large-scale sample surveys to obtain comprehensive and continuing
information relating to social, economic, demographic, industrial and
agricultural aspects.
Pentagon successfully tests ICBM defense system for
first time
United States has for the first
time successfully tested its defence system against
an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
- A
ground-based interceptor was launched at a California air base and shot
down a mock ballistic missile. As per the Pentagon, the test comes after
Pyongyang fired its ninth missile this year.
- It was the first live-fire test against a simulated ICBM for the Ground-Based Missile Defense.
India to have its own GPS system from 2018
Coming next year, you won't have to rely on
heavily accented lady for directions on Google Maps. Instead India will be
having its own GPS system. 'NavIC' will be operational early
2018.
- NavIC or 'Navigation with Indian Constellation' the name given by PM Narendra Modi after the launch of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System IRNSS-1G, is designed to provide accurate position information to users within the country.
India and Fiji Sign MoU on Defence Cooperation
The Minister of Defence and National Security of
Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola accompanied by his delegation signed a MoU
with the Minister of Defence, Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun
Jaitley in New Delhi.
- An MoU on defence cooperation envisaging several areas of cooperation including in defence industry, military training and humanitarian assistance & disaster management was signed.
India, Germany sign 12 agreements
India and Germany inked twelve
memoranda of understanding and agreements following bilateral
delegation-level talks presided over by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel.
- The agreements inked included nine joint declarations of
intent (JDIs) and three memoranda of understanding.
- The agreements include collaboration in the field of digitalization, skill development, and cooperation in cyber policy. Besides, the two nations also agreed to resume the free trade talks between India and the European Union.
43rd G7 Summit held in Sicily, Italy
43rd G7 Summit was held on 26-27 May, 2017
in Taormina, Sicily, Italy. The 43rd G7 summit was the first summit for
British Prime Minister Theresa May.
- The Group of 7 (G7) is a group consisting of Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United
States.
- The European Union is also represented within the G7. The theme of the Italian G7 Summit 2017 is-" Building the Foundation of Renewed Trust."
New pink-green one rupee notes to be in circulation
soon
The Reserve Bank of India will soon put into
circulation currency notes in one rupee denomination. New one rupee
notes with predominantly pink-green on obverse and reverse in combination with
other colours will be soon put into circulation.
- The notes bearing the rupee symbol have been printed by
the Government of India. At present, one rupee coins are minted. The note
will bear signature of Shaktikanta Das, Secretary in the Ministry of
Finance.
- The numbering will be in black at right-hand bottom portion of the note. On the reverse side, the year ‘2017’ is mentioned. There is also a representation of One Rupee coin with rupee symbol having floral design and the surrounding design consists of the picture of ‘Sagar Samrat’ the oil exploration platform.
India ranks 120th among 131 nations in women
workforce: World Bank report
According to India Development Report released
by World Bank, India had one of the lowest female participation
in the workforce, ranking 120th among 131 countries.
- As
per the report, the participation level has been dropping since 2005, despite
having 42% women who are graduates. Jobs for Indian women remain primarily
in the agriculture sector.
- The share of women in services and industry is less than 20%. Indian women’s workforce participation is closer to Pakistan (24.6 percent) and the Arab world (23.3 percent) while neighboring Countries Nepal (79.9 percent) and China (63.9 percent) are leagues ahead.
Harmanpreet Kaur become the first Indian woman to
play in Kia Super League
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of India's T20 team
has become the first Indian Women cricketer to play in Kia Super League, the
England T20 League.
Kohli only Indian in top 10 of ICC ODI rankings
India captain Virat Kohli is the lone
cricketer from the country to feature in the top 10 of the ICC Players Rankings
for ODIs as he managed to hold on to his third spot in the batsman's
chart.
- The top three batsmen South Africa's AB de Villiers (874 rating points), Australian David Warner (871) and Kohli (852) are separated by just 22 points.
