Daily Current affairs - February 8, 2018 for all competitive exams
Union Cabinet has approved implementation of
Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) scheme at a total cost of 1,650 crore
rupees for a period of seven years beginning 2018-19.
- The
scheme was announced in the Union Budget for 2018-19.
- Under
this scheme, the best students who have completed or are in the final year
of B. Tech or Integrated M.Tech or M.Sc. in Science and Technology streams
from IISc or IITs or NITs or IISERs or IIITs will be offered direct
admission in PhD programme in the IITs or IISc.
- Such
students, who fulfil the eligibility criteria, and are shortlisted through
a selection process, as laid down in the PMRF Guidelines, will be offered
a fellowship of 70 thousand rupees per month for the first two years, 75
thousand rupees per month for the 3rd year and 80 thousand rupees per
month in the 4th and 5th years.
- Apart
from this, a research grant of 2 lakh rupees will be provided to each of
the Fellows for a period of 5 years to cover their foreign travel expenses
for presenting research papers in international conferences and seminars.
- A
maximum of 3000 Fellows will be selected in a three year period beginning
2018-19.
Change in the basis of classifying Micro, Small and Medium enterprises
The Union
Cabinet has approved change in the basis of classifying Micro, Small and Medium
enterprises from ‘investment in plant & machinery/equipment’ to ‘annual
turnover’.
Section 7 of
the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 will
accordingly be amended to define units producing goods and rendering services
in terms of annual turnover as follows:
- A
micro enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover does
not exceed five crore rupees;
- A
small enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover is
more than five crore rupees but does not exceed Rs 75 crore;
- A
medium enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover is
more than seventy five crore rupees but does not exceed Rs 250 crore.
Additionally,
the Central Government may, by notification, vary turnover limits, which shall
not exceed thrice the limits specified in Section 7 of the MSMED Act.
At present
the MSMED Act (Section 7) classifies the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs) on the basis of investment in plant and machinery for manufacturing
units, and investment in equipment for service enterprises. The criterion of
investment in plant and machinery stipulates self declaration which in turn
entails verification if deemed necessary and leads to transaction costs.
|
Union cabinet approved the increase target for PM Ujjwala Yojana
The Cabinet
has approved the increase in the target for the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana,
meant to provide LPG connections to rural women, to eight crore from the
earlier five crore, adding that this has to be achieved by 2020. It also
approved an additional allocation for the scheme of Rs.4,800 crore.
- Pradhan
Mantri Ujjwala Yojana aims to provide LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)
connections to poor households. Under the scheme, an adult woman member of
a below poverty line family identified through the Socio-Economic Caste
Census (SECC) is given a deposit-free LPG connection with financial
assistance of Rs 1,600 per connection by the Centre.
- Eligible
households will be identified in consultation with state governments and
Union territories. The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas.
According to
the World Health Organization, solid fuel use is responsible for about 13% of
all mortality and morbidity in India (measured as Disability-Adjusted Life
Years), and causes about 40% of all pulmonary disorders, nearly 30% of
cataract incidences, and over 20% each of ischemic heart disease, lung cancer
and lower respiratory infection.
|
Cabinet approves signing of a MoC between India
and USA on Law Enforcement Training
The Union
Cabinet has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC)
between Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC),USA and Bureau of
Police Research & Development (BPR&D), India on Law
Enforcement Training.
- This
has paved the way for enhanced cooperation between the two countries in
security related matters under the aegis of the India-US Homeland Security
Dialogue.
- The
MoC will help in improving the standards of training, training materials,
quality of trainers etc. which will go a long way in improving the
functioning of police forces in the country and realizing the concept of
SMART Police.
India and United
States share common interest to fight terrorism and transnational crimes in
all their forms and manifestations and to prevent the continued growth of
terrorist organizations. India and US also share a common interest in
protecting the homeland and vital infrastructures and in preventing
disruption of global supply chain by terrorist attacks.
|
Cabinet approves signing of a MoU with United
Kingdom on Cooperation in the Field of Skill Development, Vocational Education
and Training
The Union
Cabinet has given its approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Cooperation in the
Field of Skill Development, Vocational Education and Training.
- The
MoU would pave the way for closer bilateral cooperation between the two
countries in the field of vocational education and training and skill
development.
Skill Development is a national priority for India and the
United Kingdom and a key part of the bilateral partnership. In November,
2016, the two Prime Ministers endorsed Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
as one of the priority area for collaboration.
|
Rationalization of Autonomous Bodies under Department of Health &
Family Welfare
The Union
Cabinet has approved the proposal for closure of Autonomous Bodies, namely,
Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) and Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK) and the
functions are proposed to be vested in Department of Health & Family
Welfare (DoHFW).
- The
rationalization of Autonomous Bodies under Department of Health &
Family Welfare will involve inter-ministerial consultations and review of
existing bye laws of these bodies. The time frame for implementation is
one year.
Rashtriya
Arogya Nidhi (RAN) was set up as a registered society to provide
financial medical assistance to poor patients receiving treatment in
designated central government hospitals. An advance is placed with the
Medical Superintendents of such hospitals who then provide assistance on a
case to case basis.
Jansankhya
Sthirata Kosh (JSK) was set up
with a corpus grant of Rs.100 crores in the year 2003 to raise awareness for
population stabilization strategies. JSK organizes various activities with
target populations as a part of its mandate. There has been no continuous
funding to JSK from the Ministry.
|
New Instrument adopted by International Labour Organization (ILO)
The Union
Cabinet has given its approval for placing the new Instrument adopted by
International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation concerning “The
Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience (No.-205)” before the Parliament.
- The
International Labour Conference of ILO at its 106th Session held in Geneva
in June, 2015 adopted the Recommendation. India supported the adoption of
Recommendation.
- The
Recommendation provides guidance to member States on the measures to be
taken to generate employment and decent work for the purposes of
prevention, recovery, peace and resilience with respect to crisis
situations arising from conflicts and disasters. It also emphasizes the
need to ensure respect for all human rights and the rule of law, including
respect for fundamental principles and rights at work and for
international labour standards, in particular those rights and principles
relevant to employment and decent work.
The International Labour Organization (ILO)
is a United Nations agency dealing with labour problems, particularly
international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for
all. The ILO has 187 member states: 186 of the 193 UN member states plus the
Cook Islands are members of the ILO. In 1969, the organisation received the
Nobel Peace Prize for improving peace among classes, pursuing decent work and
justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing
nations.
|
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
Based on
recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), the
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for increase in
the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of “Milling
Copra” to Rs.7500 per quintal for 2018 season from Rs. 6500 per quintal in
2017.
- The
MSP of copra is expected to ensure appropriate minimum prices to the
farmers and step up investment in coconut cultivation and thereby
production and productivity in the country.
The Commission
for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) is an attached office of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. It came
into existence in January 1965. Currently, the Commission comprises a
Chairman, Member Secretary, one Member (Official) and two Members
(Non-Official). The non-official members are representatives of the farming
community and usually have an active association with the farming community.
|
Union Cabinet approves an auction of 60 oil and
gas fields of ONGC, OIL
The Union Cabinet approved offering of 60 oil and
gas fields of ONGC and OIL in the second auction of Discovered Small Field
round.
- Out
of the 60 fields, 22 were discovered by Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), 5
belong to Oil India Ltd and 12 are relinquished fields.
- The
remaining 21 are fields that did not receive any bid in the DSF first
round last year.
These discoveries are estimated to have 194.65 million tons
of oil and oil equivalent gas in place. Investments in these fields will
lead to the generation of over 88,000 jobs as direct, indirect and induced
employment.
|
Union cabinet approved proposal for ratification of Minamata Convention
The Union
cabinet has approved a proposal for ratification of the Minamata Convention, a
global treaty to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects
of mercury. After joining the Convention, it will now be easier for India to
get technological or financial assistance to address issues related to mercury.
- Till
now, the convention has 88 ratifications and 144 signatories including
India, which signed it on 30 September 2014. India had actively
participated in the negotiating process, making significant contributions
in finalizing the treaty text but had not ratified it till now. India’s
neighbours – Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan – are also
signatories to the convention. But only Sri Lanka has ratified it.
The Minamata
Convention on Mercury is a multilateral environmental agreement that
addresses specific human activities which are contributing to widespread
mercury pollution. Implementation of this agreement will help reduce global
mercury pollution over the coming decades.
|
Govt. gives approval, financial sanction to
build 12 nuclear power reactors
The government has accorded administrative
approval and financial sanction for construction of 12 nuclear power reactors
in the country.
- Out
of these, 10 will be indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)
with a capacity of 700 MW each and the remaining two will be Light Water
Reactors.
- Two
PHWRs each will be set up in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Haryana, while
four will be established in Rajasthan.
- The
two LWRs each having a capacity of 1,000 MW will come up at Kudankulam in
Tamil Nadu.
- Currently,
seven nuclear power projects are being constructed in the country with a
combined capacity of 5300 MW of capacity.
ISRO established Village Resource Centres on a pilot scale
To demonstrate
the potential of satellite technology for development of rural areas, ISRO
established Village Resource Centres (VRCs) on a pilot scale. About Rs 18
crores was spent for establishing 473 VRCs.
- The
project is running in association with selected NGOs, Trusts and State
Government Departments.
- To
provide the space based services directly to the rural areas, ISRO/ DOS
has launched the Village Resource Centres (VRCs) programme in association
with NGOs/ Trusts and state/ central agencies.
VRCs provide
various space technology enabled services such as tele-healthcare,
tele-education, natural resources information, advisories related to
agriculture, career guidance to rural students, skill development and
vocational training etc.
Establishing new VRCs is an ongoing process and the same is
carried out based on communication technology needs, funds available,
proposals received from State Governments/NGOs etc.
|
Karnataka panel proposes 3-colour official
state flag
A committee constituted last June by the Kannada
and Culture department of the Karnataka government recommending an official
three-coloured flag to replace an unofficial two-coloured one currently used to
signify local pride.
- Led
by the chairman of Kannada Development Authority G S Siddaramaya, the
nine-member committee has recommended a flag with the yellow and red of
the unofficial flag to be separated by white in the middle with the state
symbol on it.
- Karnataka
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the issue will be put up for
consideration by the state cabinet before it is forwarded to the Union
Ministry of Home Affairs. If adopted with clearance from the MHA,
Karnataka will be the second state after Jammu and Kashmir to have an
official state flag.
Dubai Retains Rank as World’s Busiest
International Airport in 2017
Dubai International Airport has held on
to its No 1 ranking as the world’s busiest airport for international
travel, after seeing around 88.2 million passengers in 2017.
- Dubai
International Airport first surpassed London Heathrow as the
world’s busiest airport for international traffic in 2014.
Bermuda becomes 1st country to abolish same-sex marriage
Bermuda has become the world’s first country to
abolish same-sex marriages, almost a year after it had allowed the same in May
2017.
- The
country has now replaced the legislation with that of domestic
partnerships, giving same-sex couples equivalent rights to those of
heterosexual couples.
- It
is intended to meet the demands of both supporters and opponents of
same-sex marriages.
Space sports car now flying beyond Mars
The world’s first space sports car is cruising
toward the asteroid belt, well beyond Mars.
- SpaceX
chief Elon Musk confirmed the new, more distant route for his rocketing
Tesla Roadster, which was launched aboard the company’s Falcon Heavy from
Florida.
- The
Heavy became the most powerful rocket flying inaugural test flight.
HAL Develops First Hawk-i Flight
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has
developed the first flight of Hawk-i with indigenous Real Time Operating
System (RTOS).
- Hawk-i
is the first indigenous RTOS developed in India from scratch and certified
by Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification
(CEMILAC).
The RTOS is the system software which provides a standard
run-time environment for real-time applications execution in a safe and
reliable manner.
|
First Ever Chat Based Job Search App 'Empzilla'
Launched
The first ever of its kind in the
country chat-based job search mobile app 'Empzilla' is being launched
that will do away with existing limitations of employers and job seekers making
selection process quick and cost-effective.
- The
mobile app gets the conversation between employers and job seekers going
in seconds and the latter can chat with the potential employers.
RBI to Set up Ombudsman for Non-Banking Finance
Companies
The Reserve Bank of
India announced setting up ombudsman for addressing customer
grievances in the non-banking finance companies.
- The
rules will be laid out by the end of February 2018.
- RBI
will start with deposit-taking NBFCs and widen the scope to
cover NBFCs with asset size of Rs 100 crore.
- There
are around 20 banking ombudsmen have been appointed with offices
mostly in state capitals.
RBI to Link Base Rate with MCLR
The Reserve Bank of India will link the
base rate with the MCLR from 1st of April 2018 to ensure expeditious
transmission of its policy rate to borrowers.
- The
RBI had introduced the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rates
(MCLR) system with effect from 1st April 2016, the Central bank
observed that a large proportion of bank loans continue to be linked to
Base Rate.
- According
to the RBI Deputy Governor NS Vishwanathan, it has been decided to
harmonize the methodology of determining benchmark rates by linking base
rate to MCLR as it is more sensitive to policy rate signals.
Defence Ministry constitutes a 13-member advisory committee to
expedite capital acquisition for Armed Forces modernisation
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has
constituted a 13-member advisory committee to monitor and expedite capital
acquisition projects for the modernisation of the armed forces.
- The
committee will undertake an independent review and check the status of ongoing
critical projects worth more than 500 crore rupees. The panel will suggest
measures to improve the capital acquisition process.
- The
committee, headed by Vinay Sheel Oberoi, will have to present an initial
status report on identified projects to the Defence Minister by March 31.
5th South Asia Region Public Procurement
Conference Held in New Delhi
The Fifth edition of South Asia Region Public
Procurement Conference was held in New Delhi. It was hosted by
Public Procurement Division (PPD) of Ministry of Finance and All India
Management Association (AIMA).
- It
was held under auspices of South Asia Region Public Procurement
Network (SARPPN), which is sponsored and facilitated by
the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development
Bank.
- The
theme this edition of the conference was “Public Procurement and
Service Delivery”.
The First edition of South Asia Region Public
Procurement Conference was held in Kathmandu in 2010, second in
Islamabad (2014), third in Dhaka (2015) and fourth in Sri Lanka (2017).
|
National Informatics Centre (NIC) to organize three-day National
Meet on Grassroot Informatics- VIVID 2018
National Informatics Centre (NIC) is organizing a
three-day National Meet on Grassroot Informatics- VIVID 2018 in New Delhi.
- The
event will be inaugurated by Electronics and Information Technology Ravi
Shankar Prasad at India Habitat Centre. The theme for VIVID 2018 is –
Cyber Security and Innovation.
- The
Meet is aimed at showcasing the various initiatives of NIC in creating and
enhancing the security of Digital Infrastructure in the country.
VIVID would be an extensive platform for knowledge sharing
which would empower 240 NIC district officials from across the country to
interact and leverage on each other’s experience and best practices.
|
India ranks 44 out of 50 nations in global IP index
India has “increased substantially” its score in
the latest international Intellectual Property (IP) index released by the US
Chambers of Commerce, ranking 44th out of 50 countries.
- India’s
overall score has increased substantially from 25 per cent (8.75 out of
35) in the 5th edition of the Index to 30 per cent (12.03 out of 40) in
the 6th edition, according to the annual report prepared by the Global
Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) of the US Chambers of Commerce.
- India
now ranks 44 out of 50 countries. Last year, India ranked 43rd out of 45
countries in the index, with an overall score if 8.4 points.
- The
US tops the list with 37.98 points, followed by United Kingdom (37.97) and
Sweden (37.03).
- The
annual report notes that India in July 2017 issued ‘Guidelines on the
Examination of Computer-Related Inventions’ which significantly improved
the patentability environment for technological innovations
Forbes Releases its First-Ever Cryptocurrency
Rich List
Business magazine Forbes has released
its first-ever Crypto Rich List, comprising 20 wealthiest people in the
cryptocurrency space.
- The
list was topped by Ripple Co-founder Chris Larsen, who is
estimated to have a crypto net worth of $7.5-8 billion.
- He
is followed by Ethereum Co-founder Joseph Lubin ($1-5
billion) and Founder of cryptocurrency
exchange Binance Changpeng Zhao ($1.1-2 billion).
GoAir appoints Jyri Strandman as Chief
Operating Officer
Low-cost airline GoAir announced the
appointment of Jyri Strandman as its Chief Operating Officer.
- Jyri
will be responsible for strengthening GoAir’s operational functions of
Flight Operations; Engineering; Airport, Security and Airside Operations.
- Jyri
has over 30 years of experience in the aviation industry.
- Before
Joining GoAir, Jyri is with US-based Spirit Airlines as director,
Operations and VP, Flight Operations.
Mandhana 1st Indian woman to hit ODI tons in 3 away nations
Opener Smriti Mandhana slammed a 129-ball 135
against South Africa at Kimberley to become the first Indian woman cricketer to
smash ODI hundreds in three away countries.
- Mandhana
had earlier slammed a ton each in Australia and England.
- The
century was also the first by an Indian woman against South Africa in
South Africa.
MS Dhoni
4th wicketkeeper to effect 400 dismissals in ODIs
MS Dhoni became the fourth wicket-keeper to
effect 400 dismissals in ODIs when he had Aiden Markram stumped during the
third match between India and South Africa.
- Dhoni
is the only wicketkeeper in history to affect more than 100 stumpings in
ODIs.
- Wicket-keepers
who have more dismissals to their name than Dhoni are Kumar Sangakkara
(482), Adam Gilchrist (472) and Mark Boucher (424).
Virat Kohli has more ODI century number by
India captain
Virat Kohli scored his 34th ODI century for India
in the third ODI against South Africa in Cape Town.
- This
is his second century in South Africa and third in four innings.
- He
is now past Sourav Ganguly as the Indian captain with most ODI
century. He now has 12 centuries while Ganguly has only 11.
