Daily Current affairs - August 2nd, 2017 for all competitive exams
Inadequate breastfeeding may drain Indian economy of USD 14bn
The Global
Breastfeeding Scorecard, a new report by the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF)
and WHO in collaboration with the Global Breastfeeding Collective, has been
released.
- The
scorecard was released at the start of World Breastfeeding Week alongside
a new analysis, demonstrating that an annual investment of only USD
4.70 per newborn is required to increase the global rate of exclusive
breastfeeding among children under six months to 50% by 2025.
To provide
the Centre and State governments with a real time, reliable and meaningful
management information system, the IT systems of all North Eastern States’
treasuries (namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya,
Sikkim, and Tripura) except Nagaland, have been integrated with PFMS.
- PFMS
is a Centralized Transaction System & Platform, providing end to end
Financial management services to all stakeholders. CPSMS Transaction
System. Program division (Sanction) DDO- Bill Preparation.
- PAO
– Payments. State Government (Departments/Treasury etc.) Implementing
Agency. (E-Payments and other transactions) Banks. External Systems
(MCTS/OCEANS etc.) MIS Users. For Analytical Approach. UIDAI. Citizen.
Post Offices.
A new
representative body — US- India
Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) — is being set up to further
enhance business relations between the two countries.
- The
non-profit corporation aims to promote bilateral trade and work on
creating “meaningful opportunities that have the power to change the lives
of citizens.
The World
Bank has said that India is allowed to construct hydroelectric power plants on
the Jhelum and Chenab Rivers after secretary-level discussions between India
and pakistan on the technical issues over the Indus Waters Treaty concluded
recently in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation.
- India
and Pakistan disagree about the construction of the Kishenganga (330
megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric power plants being
built by India (the World Bank is not financing either project).
- The
two countries disagree over whether the technical design features of the
two hydroelectric plants contravene the Treaty.
The
government has launched a portal, e-RaKAM,
to provide a platform to sell
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.
- The
portal is a joint initiative by state-run-auctioneer MSTC and Central Warehousing
Corporation arm CRWC.
- E-RaKAM
is developed by MSTC Limited and supported by marketing & logistics
partner CRWC Limited.
According
to a research report from the University of California, Climate change may have
led to over 59,000 farmer suicides over the last 30 years in India.
- The
study tested the link between climate change, crop yields and suicide by
comparing the number of suicides across India between 1967 and 2013 with
crop yield and climate data. Data on suicides were collected from the
National Crime Records Bureau.
- The
study was carried out using data for all States and Union Territories.
However, the study has several limitations, though, including the fact
that it has not looked at other factors that could have contributed to
suicides.
Justice B
N Srikrishna, former judge of the Supreme Court of India will head a Committee
of experts which has been formed to deliberate on a data protection framework
for the country.
- The
government led ten-member committee will “identify key data protection
issues in India and recommend methods of addressing them.”
- The
terms of reference of the committee include, “To make specific suggestions
for consideration of the Central Government on principles to be considered
for data protection in India and suggest a draft data protection bill.”
Arvind Panagariya has stepped down as
Vice-Chairman of the government think tank NITI Aayog. The Columbia University
professor will be returning to the U.S. to rejoin academia.
- The
noted economist, who was appointed to the post by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in January 2015.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced
a total package of Rs. 2,350 crore for the north eastern States hit by floods
and an immediate release of Rs. 250 crore for flood-hit Assam, as he undertook
a visit here to assess the situation.
- He
also announced a relief of Rs. 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those
killed in the floods in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and
Tripura
Opening a new front for collaboration in anti-piracy operation in
Eastern Africa, India and Somalia on Tuesday signed an agreement for transfer
of sentenced convicts.
- The
agreement was the highlight of the ongoing visit of the Foreign Minister
of Somalia.
Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry on Tuesday
made a comeback in the Indian market with the introduction of KEYone Limited
Edition Black with a price tag of Rs. 39,990.
- The
device would be available on Amazon India and the sale will begin on
August 8.
John Kelly, a former Marine General who took over
as the White House Chief of Staff.
- Press
Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Gen. Kelly has complete authority
over all staff and operations at the White House.
The Jharkhand Cabinet on Tuesday gave its
approval to the Jharkhand Religious Independence Bill, 2017.
- According
to an official release here, Section 3 of the Bill prohibits forceful
conversion. In the event of violation of the Section, there will be up to
three years imprisonment or Rs. 50,000 penalty or both.
- If
the crime involved a minor, a woman or a person from the SC/ST community,
the prison term would be up to four years and a penalty of Rs. 1 lakh, the
release said.
Stock exchange BSE on Tuesday said SEBI had
approved the appointment of Dhirendra Swarup as the bourse’s new chairman.
- Mr. Swarup, former Chairman of the Pension Funds Regulatory and Development Authority, has more than four decades of experience, including in finance and pension reforms.
