Daily Current affairs - January 4th, 2018 for all competitive exams
World Braille Day is
annually celebrated on January 4, the birthday of Braille inventor, Louis
Braille.
- The day recognizes the contributions of Louis
Braille in helping blind and visually impaired people to read and write.
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the
world use this day to create awareness about the challenges faced by
visually impaired individuals and to encourage businesses and governments
to create economic and social opportunities for the blind.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
to launch National nutrition mission
The first phase of
National Nutrition Mission (NMM) is expected to be launched by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jhunjhunu, Rajastan on January 22.
- In the first phase, 315 districts from different
states will be taken up. In the second, 235 districts will be covered in
2018-19.
- The key objectives of NMM are to prevent and reduce
stunting in children prevent and reduce undernutrition in children.
Centre approves Rs. 5,369 cr.
for waterway project
The Cabinet Committee on
Economic Affairs approved the more than Rs. 5,369 crore Jal Marg Vikas Project
for development of fairway on National Waterway-1 with the technical and
investment support of the World Bank.
- The project will extend over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- The project, which is expected to be completed by
March 2023, will provide alternative mode of transport that will be
environment friendly and cost effective
Cabinet approves MoUs with
Italy, Israel in energy sector
The Union Cabinet approved
the signing of an MoU with Israel in the field of oil and gas, and was also
apprised of another MoU signed with Italy on renewable energy.
- The MoU is expected to provide impetus to
India-Israel ties in the energy sector.
- The MoU between India and Italy was signed on
October 30, 2017 in New Delhi.
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakhsa Yojna (PMSSY)
The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of an AIIMS in Bilaspur in
Himachal Pradesh with an outlay of Rs. 1,350 crore under the Pradhan Mantri
Swasthya Surakhsa Yojna (PMSSY).
- The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
was announced in 2003 with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in
the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and
also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.
- The scheme has two components: Setting up of new
AIIMS and upgradation of government medical colleges.
Govt. nod for revised PPP port
concessions
The government approved a
revised model concession pact for projects based on public private partnership
(PPP) design at major ports to make the investment climate more investor
friendly.
- The revised Model Concession Agreement (MCA)
includes providing an exit route to developers by way of divesting their
equity up to 100% after completion of two years from the Commercial
Operation Date (COD), similar to the MCA provisions of the highways sector.
- The amendments in the MCA envisage constitution of
the Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes - Ports (SAROD- PORTS) as
a disputes resolution mechanism similar to the provision available in the
highways sector.
Telecom policy 2018: TRAI
seeks comments
The Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper inviting stakeholder
comments on the new National Telecom Policy(NTP) that is expected to be
finalised by March this year.
- NTP-2018 can have twin goals (i) facilitate
development of communication infrastructure and services to achieve
inclusive socio-economic growth in the country, and (ii) to propel India
to become the front-runner in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- This policy would set the mission and objectives to
be accomplished by the end of calendar year 2022, when India will be
celebrating its 75 years of Independence
Health Ministry and Tata
Memorial Centre Launches India's First Digital Online Oncology Tutorial
Smt Preeti Sudan, Secretary
(Health and Family Welfare) 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 aims to train the
doctors across the country to educate them in early detection, prevention,
palliation, rehabilitation and treatment of various cancers.
Swachha Bharat Mission has declared Hyderabad as Open
Defecation Free (ODF) city
Swachha Bharat Mission has declared Hyderabad as Open Defecation Free (ODF)
city.
- The City has been included in the fresh list of ODF
cities released by the Swachha Bharat mission, after a few teams from the
quality control division of the Mission held a series of inspections.
Gandikota-Chitravathi lift
irrigation scheme launched
A.P. Chief Minister N.
Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the Gandikota-Chitravathi lift irrigation scheme
at Parnapalli in Pulivendula constituency of Kadapa district.
- Mr. Naidu performed ‘Jala Siriki Harathi’ at the
delivery point of the Gandikota-Penchikala Basi Reddy Chitravathi lift
irrigation scheme.
- The Gandikota-Chitravathi lift irrigation scheme was
built with an outlay of Rs. 1,350 crore
‘Panchayat secretary’s
certificate is no proof’
Certificates issued by the
‘gaon’ or village panchayat secretary/Executive Magistrate is no proof of
Indian citizenship.
- It is only a supporting document used for the
limited purpose of establishing a linkage between the holder of the
certificate and the person(s) from whom legacy is being claimed, the
Supreme Court has clarified.
- The certificate merely acknowledged the shifting of
residence of a married woman from one village to another
Indo-Myanmar agreement on land border crossing
The Union Cabinet has approved an agreement between India and Myanmar on
land border crossing which the government said would enhance economic
interaction between people of the two countries.
- The agreement will also facilitate movement of
people on the basis of valid passports and visas which will enhance
economic and social interaction between the two countries.
- It is expected to provide connectivity and enhance
interaction of the people from north-eastern states of India with those of
Myanmar.
- The agreement will also safeguard the traditional
rights of the largely tribal communities residing along the border which
are accustomed to free movement across the land border.
- India shares a 1643-km long border with Myanmar
in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
Pakistan test-fires naval
cruise missile ‘Harba’
The Pakistan Navy successfully
test-fired the indigenously developed ‘Harba’ naval cruise missile.
- The Pakistan Navy said the missile is capable of
hitting its target from surface to surface and ground assault.
- The indigenously-built missile was launched from PNS
Himmat and it successfully hit the target.
Country
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Pakistan
|
Capital
|
Islamabad
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Currency
|
Pakistani rupee
|
President
|
Mamnoon Hussain
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Prime Minister
|
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
|
Iceland becomes the first
country to make it illegal to pay men more than women
As the law is being
enforced, both government offices and private business – which employ more than
25 staff – will have to obtain a special government certification on the equal
pay policies, failing which, they could be fined.
- Although similar provisions are available in places
such as Switzerland or the US state of Minnesota, Iceland becomes the
first country to make it compulsory.
Country
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Iceland
|
Capital
|
Reykjavik
|
Currency
|
Icelandic króna
|
President
|
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson
|
China to set up $2 billion AI
Research Park in Beijing
Beijing is planning to build
a 13.8-billion-yuan artificial intelligence development park in the city’s
west.
- The AI park will house up to 400
enterprises and have an estimated annual output of 50 billion yuan.
- China aims to grow the local industry to over 150
billion yuan by 2020 and 400 billion yuan by 2025, according to the State
Council.
Country
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China
|
Capital
|
Beijing
|
Currency
|
Renminbi
|
President
|
Xi Jinping
|
Typbar TCV vaccine developed by BBL
Typbar TCV is a Typhoid conjugate vaccine developed by
Bharat Biotech Ltd (BBL).
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has
pre-qualified its typhoid conjugate vaccine. The new vaccine was found to
have given a longer immunity from typhoid than older vaccines and it
required fewer doses for childhood immunisation.
- The pre-qualification by WHO allows for the sale of
the vaccines to UN agencies such as UNICEF and GAVI.
Typbar TCV is reportedly the world’s first typhoid vaccine clinically
proven for use on recipients who can be as young as six months. A single dose
offers 87% protective efficacy against typhoid.
|
RBI Initiates PCA Against
Allahabad Bank
The Reserve Bank of
India has initiated 'prompt corrective action' (PCA) against
Allahabad Bank over its high bad loans.
- High net non-performing assets (NPA) and a negative
return on assets (ROA) for two years in a row have prompted the action.
The action would help improve its risk management, asset quality and
profits.
- There are total 11 banks on which RBI has
initiated PCA till date.
To ensure that banks don't go bust,
RBI has put in place some trigger points to assess, monitor, control and take
corrective actions on banks which are weak and troubled. The process or
mechanism under which such ac tions are taken is known as Prompt Corrective
Action, or PCA.
|
Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas
Bank Introduces Desktop ATMs in Rural India
The Andhra Pradesh Grameena
Vikas Bank (APGVB) has operationalised its first desktop ATM in
Telangana.
- The mini-ATM within the branch premises will
facilitate customers to withdraw small amounts.
- With these ATMs, there will be no need for separate
ATM rooms, so there is no security issue.
- This initiative is the biggest under the SBI and
among the best regional rural banks (RRBs).
Andhra Pradesh Grameena
Vikas Bank is a regional rural bank in India. It was established in 2006 as a
Regional Rural Bank as per Regional Rural Banks Act of 1976.
|
IICA, IPPB Sign MoU to Provide
Training on Payment Banking
The Indian Institute of
Corporate Affairs (IICA) and India Post Payments Bank
(IPPB) signed an agreement for the training of employees of the latter in
the area of payment banking.
- Under the agreement, IICA has been entrusted with
the key responsibility of capacity building of IPPB through training of
its officials/employees besides providing research support by instituting
Research Chairs in the emerging area of payment banking.
Senior IPS officer Abhay takes
the appointment as NCB chief
Senior IPS
officer Abhay has taken charge as the new chief of the Narcotics
Control Bureau (NCB).
- Abhay was till now working in the Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) as additional DG.
- He has had a seven-year stint with
the CBI in the past apart from heading the crime branch and
special branch of the Odisha Police.
U-19 WC: Two Indian umpires in
ICC’s panel
Indian umpires Anil
Chaudhary and C. K. Nandan will be a part of the 14-strong panel of officials
for the Under-19 World Cup.
- Under-19 World Cup starting January 13 in New
Zealand.
