Daily Current affairs - January 10th, 2018 for all competitive exams
World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10 every year, marking the anniversary of first World Hindi Conference which was held in 1975.
Since 1975, World Hindi Conference has been organised in different countries like India, Mauritius, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, United States etc.
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Cabinet approves continuation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme beyond 12th Plan
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to continuation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) till the term of the 14th Finance Commission i.e. 31.03.2020.
- The Scheme would entail an annual allocation of Rs. 3,950 crore and a total outlay of Rs. 11,850 crore over the next three years with an additional annual allocation of Rs. 5 crore per year for monitoring through independent agency(ies) and for capacity building/training to State/District officials to be imparted by the Ministry.
- The MPLADS funds are released to the nodal District Authorities on receipt of requisite documents and as per provisions of Guidelines on MPLADS.
The MPLAD Scheme is an ongoing Central Sector Scheme which was launched in 1993-94. Since the inception of the Scheme till August, 2017, a total number of 18,82,180 works for Rs. 44,929.17 crore have been sanctioned from MPLADS fund.
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Cabinet approves number of amendments in FDI Policy
The Cabinet gave its approval to a number of amendments in the Foreign Direct Investment, FDI Policy.
- It will lead to larger FDI inflows contributing to growth of investment, income and employment.
- Currently, FDI, upto 49 per cent is allowed under automatic route but any investment beyond the limit require government approval.
- Approval also has been given for 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in Construction Development.
- Foreign airlines have been allowed to invest up to 49 per cent under approval route in Air India.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Canada for cooperation in the field of Science & Technology
The Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canada for cooperation in the field of Science & Technology.
- The MoU will provide a mechanism and help to foster scientific cooperation between R&D and academic institutions of India and Canada.
- Under this MoU, the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnership to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability (IC-IMPACTS) programme will be supported to promote India-Canada multidisciplinary research partnerships.
Cabinet approves implementation of CCEA decision on closure of Tungabhadra Steel Products Limited
The Cabinet approved the implementation of the CCEA decision on closure of Tungabhadra Steel Products Limited, TSPL regarding disposal of its immovable assets.
- It also provides for getting the name of the company struck off from the Registrar of Companies after setting balance liabilities of TSPL.
- The CCEA had approved the closure of the company in December, 2015 after discharging all dues to employees and workers and creditors.
- Cabinet approved transfer of MMH Plants to Government of Karnataka along with 20,000 square meter land.
Cabinet approves fixed term for Chairperson and Members of the National Trust
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to amend Section 4(1) and Section 5(1) of the National Trust for the Welfare of Person with Autism, Cerebral Plasy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 to fix the term of the Chairperson and Members of the Board of National Trust for three years.
- Section 4(1) of the National Trust Act, 1999 provides that the Chairperson or a Member of the Board of National Trust would continue in office beyond the prescribed term of three years until his successor shall have been duly appointed.
- In case of resignation of the Chairperson, section 5(1) of the Act provides for him to continue in office until his successor is duly appointed by the Government.
World Bank Projects India’s Growth Rate at 7.3% in 2018
World Bank has projected India’s growth rate at 7.3 percent in 2018 and 7.5 for the next two years. According to the 2018 Global Economics Prospect release, despite initial setbacks from demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST), India’s economy is estimated to have grown at 6.7 percent in 2017.
- India’s growth potential will be around 7 percent for the next 10 years. In comparison with China, which is slowing, the World Bank is expecting India to gradually accelerate.
President: Jim Yong Kim
CEO: Kristalina Georgieva
Headquarters: Washington D.C.
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The Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA)
A one-day National Conference on Welfare of Laboratory Animals was recently organised by CPCSEA, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, with the theme of “Implementation of 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) while using animals in academic research and regulatory testing in India.
- The conference laid emphasis on the issue of ethical use of animals in academics and regulatory testing in India. The discussions were focussed on evaluating the possibilities of exemption of animal experiments in academics and regulatory testing.
The Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals(CPCSEA) is a statutory Committee, which is established under Section 15(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. All establishments engaged in research and education involving animals, are required to comply with the various guidelines, norms and stipulations set out by CPCSEA.
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India's 1st All-Women Railway Station in Mumbai Enters Limca Records
The Matunga suburban station on the Central Railway (CR) has found its way into the Limca Book of Records for having an all-woman staff.
- The achievement comes six months after Matunga became the first railway station in the country to be run by an all-woman staff. The station is being manned exclusively by women staffers since July 2017, a first on the Indian Railways.
- This initiative was taken by Central Railway General Manager D.K. Sharma in July 2017 with the aim of empowering women.
Karnataka Tops States with Investment Intentions of Rs. 1.49 lakh crore
Karnataka topped all states with investment intentions of Rs. 1.49 lakh crore till October 2017, according to R V Deshpande, Karnataka Minister for Large, Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development
- The investment was 43 percent of the country's total investment intentions. Karnataka has topped in FDI inflows and has performed well in exports, contributing about 40 percent in electronics and software services.
Supreme Court makes national anthem optional in theaters
The Supreme Court made it optional for cinema halls to play the national anthem before screening a film.
- On November 30, 2016, a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy had passed an interim order that made all cinema halls in India play the national anthem before the film starts.
- After a change of attorney general, with K K Venugopal succeeding Mukul Rohatgi , which filed an affidavit requesting the court to make playing of the national anthem optional in cinema halls.
- Venugopal requested a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud to modify the 2016 order by replacing “shall” with “may”.
No viable alternative to hanging, Centre tells court
Considering the “dynamic progress” made in modern science to adopt painless methods of causing death, the court had asked the government to explore viable methods other than hanging to execute condemned prisoners.
- The centre has said that there is no viable method at present other than hanging to execute condemned prisoners.
- The court has favoured a re-look at the practice of hanging to death as “the Constitution of India is an organic and compassionate document which recognises the sanctity of flexibility of law as situations change with the flux of time”.
The court is hearing a writ petition which has sought the court’s intervention to reduce the suffering of condemned prisoners at the time of death.
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India, U.K. to ink illegal migrants pact
India will sign a pact with the United Kingdom for a return of illegal Indian migrants within a month of them being detected by British authorities.
- The U.K has consistently raised the issue of return of illegal migrants — said to number in thousands — with India.
- The memorandum of understanding comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit in March.
First security dialogue between India and Indonesia was held in New Delhi
India and Indonesia held their first security dialogue on operational cooperation in security and counter-terrorism.
- It was led by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs H Wiranto.
- The Indonesian foreign ministry had said the two countries will discuss cyber security, counter-terrorism efforts and transnational organised crime.
- Indonesia and India agreed to strengthen strategic partnerships across various key areas, including defence, security, economy and maritime at the 5th Indonesia-India joint commission meeting in Jakarta.
Saudi Arabia increases India’s Haj quota by 5,000
Saudi Arabia has increased India’s quota of Haj pilgrims by 5,000 in the second hike in two years.
- This takes the total number of Indian pilgrims who can perform Haj to over 1.75 lakh, including the 35,000 increase in quota last year. The increase will be effective from later this year.
- The Gulf country has expanded India’s quota after Naqvi signed a bilateral annual Haj agreement between India and Saudi Arabia with the Haj and Umrah Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Mecca.
Country
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Saudi Arabia
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Capital
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Riyadh
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Currency
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Saudi riyal
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King
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Salman
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ISRO mulls launching 65 satellites for a slew of uses
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set itself an ambitious to-do list of making and launching around 65 satellites for a slew of uses.
- They are planned to be realised over the period from 2017 to 2021.
ICICI Bank and Ola partners to offer integrated services
Ola has partnered with ICICI Bank to offer a range of integrated services to customers and driver-partners.
- Customers of ICICI Bank will be able to book Ola rides and pay the fare through the bank’s mobile banking platforms — ‘iMobile’ and ‘Pockets’.
- ICICI Bank will also offer a ‘Pay Direct’ card for Ola’s driver partners.
Bank
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ICICI Bank
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Headquarters
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Mumbai
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Tagline
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Hum Hai Na, Khyal Apka.
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CEO
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Chanda Kochhar
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Direct tax collections jump 18.2%
Net direct tax collections grew at a multi-year high of 18.2% in the April to December period, according to official data.
- The provisional figures of direct tax collections up to December 2017 show that net collections are at Rs. 6.56 lakh crore which is 18.2% higher than the net collections for the corresponding period of last year,
- The net direct tax collections represent 67% of the total Budget Estimates of direct taxes for financial year 2017-18 (Rs. 9.8 lakh crore)
Net direct tax collections grew 12% in the same period of the previous financial year.
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Paytm Launches Investment Arm, to Invest $10 million
Mobile-first financial services platform Paytm announced the setting up of yet another company, ‘Paytm Money Limited’.
- It’s wholly owned subsidiary of One97 Communications, the firm that owns the Paytm brand, to build investment and wealth management products for its users.
- Paytm Money will be the fourth consumer brand from the company after Paytm, Paytm Mall and Paytm Payments Bank.
- The new brand will deal in money market fund where users would be able to store cash and earn interest.
Flipkart's PhonePe Inks Pact with FreeCharge
Flipkart’s payments arm PhonePe has partnered mobile wallet company FreeCharge to allow the latter’s customers pay for transactions at PhonePe’s partner merchants.
- According to the deal terms, PhonePe has now enabled its users to link their existing FreeCharge wallets to the PhonePe app. Once linked, PhonePe customers will be able to spend their FreeCharge wallet balance at all online and offline merchant outlets that accept payments via PhonePe.
Phone Pe Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Sameer Nigam.
CEO of Freecharge- Sangram Singh, Owner- Axis bank.
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Trump named world’s most oppressive leader on press freedom
US President Donald Trump has been named the world’s most oppressive leader towards press freedom by New York-based non-profit organisation Committee to Protect Journalists.
- While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was named the ‘Most Thin-Skinned’ over his efforts to charge his critics
- Chinese President Xi Jinping was ranked the highest in the ‘Tightest Grip on Media’ category.
Rajiv Bindal elected as speaker of 13th Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly
In Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Rajiv Bindal MLA from Nahan has been elected unanimously as speaker of 13 th Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly.
- Bindal Hails from solan and have been continuously a member of the house since year 2000.
- He was health minister in previous BJP government and a popular leader from Nahan from where he was elected second time after his constituency was declared reserved following delimitation in 2012.
Aditya Mehta Wins Kolkata Open 2018 International Invitation Snooker Championship
Professional player Aditya Mehta won the Kolkata Open 2018 International Invitation Snooker Championship in the capital city of West Bengal Kolkata.
This is his third Kolkata Open title since it’s inception.
- In the thrilling final he defeated Englishman Professional Player Alfie Burden.
Bahrain to host first-ever ‘Baby Olympics’
Bahrain has announced plans to host the first-ever ‘Baby Olympics’ where two to four-year-olds will take part in the games in April.
- The Athletics competition will host three events: medley relay for four year-olds, a hurdles toddle for three year-olds, while participating two year-olds will cross a specially designed stretch of 15 meters in a freestyle race.
- Other Olympic events will include a freestyle gymnastic moves contest, a free-kick competition in football, a basketball free-throws contest and a weightlifting show.
- The move is aimed at creating awareness among youngsters to practice sport.
Anchal Thakur Bags Bronze, India's 1st International Medal in Skiing
Aanchal Thakur made history as she won India's first ever international medal in skiing. The 21-year-old Manali resident clinched bronze in the coveted Alpine Ejder 3200 Cup.
- The Championship was organised by the Federation Internationale de Ski (skiing's international governing body) in Erzurum, Turkey. She won the medal in the slalom race category.
