Daily Current affairs - April 10th, 2018 for all competitive exams
A two-day scientific convention is being organised in New
Delhi by Ministry of AYUSH on the occasion of World Homoeopathy Day, on 10-11th
April 2018.
- The
Vice President Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu will be the chief guest at the
function while Minister of State (I/C) for AYIJSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik
will preside.
- The
theme of this convention is “Innovate: Evolve; Progress: Exploring Science
since 40 years”.
- This
day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founder of
Homoeopathy Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann.
Homeopathy is a system of alternative medicine developed in
1796 by Samuel Hahnemann, based on his doctrine of like cures like (similia
similibus curentur), a claim that a substance that causes the symptoms of a
disease in healthy people would cure similar symptoms in sick people
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Government inks Rs 639 crore deal for 1.86 lakh
new bullet-proof jackets
Army’s ordinary infantry soldiers are now
finally going to get some desperately-needed modern bullet-proof
jackets under a Rs 639 crore contract inked on Monday.
- The
Army said the major contract for procurement of 1,86,138 bullet-proof
jackets(BPJs) has been signed with domestic private company SMPP Pvt. Ltd.
President 3-Nation Visit: 2 agreements signed
with Swaziland
President Ram Nath Kovind, on a three-nation
Africa visit, held delegation-level talks with Swaziland King Mswati III
in Mbabane.
- India
and Swaziland signed two agreements on health and visa waiver.
- President
Kovind was conferred with 'Order of the Lion', the highest award of
Swaziland. After concluding the visit to Swaziland, President Kovind
will visit Zambia, in the third and final leg of his visit.
PM Modi launches India's 1st all-electric
high-speed train
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off
India's first all-electric high-speed locomotive in Bihar.
- The
first big Make-in-India project completed by France's
Alstom, the train has the country's most powerful engine
with 12,000 horsepower and a maximum speed of 120 km/hr.
- The
average cost of one high-speed locomotive is around Rs25 crore.
Satyagraha se Swachhagraha campaign
To commemorate
the launch of Champaran Satyagraha over a century ago on 10th April,
1917, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in
coordination with the Government of Bihar, is working to spread the message of
Swachhata across the country by initiating the “Satyagraha
se Swachhagraha” campaign.
- Under
the campaign, Swachhagrahis from different parts of the country were
invited to Bihar, where they worked with 10,000 Swachhagrahis from Bihar
to “trigger” behaviour change throughout the 38 districts of the State and
build momentum of the jan andolan further.
Mahatma
Gandhi launched the Champaran Satyagraha over a century ago, on 10th April,
1917, to give the country freedom from foreign rule. April 10th, 2018 marks
the end of the centenary year celebrations of the Champaran Satyagraha, and
is going to be celebrated through the “Satyagraha se Swachhagraha” campaign,
which is aimed at achieving freedom from filth.
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Swachh
Bharat Mission (SBM) Gramin, launched on October 2, 2014 is the largest
behaviour change campaign ever attempted in the field of sanitation in the
world. It aims to build an ODF (Open Defecation Free) and Swachh Bharat
by October 2, 2019 as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th
birth anniversary. SBM-Gramin mainly focuses on ensuring the use of toilets,
besides their construction.
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Transgenders to be recognised as independent
gender category in PAN Form
The government has amended Income Tax
rules that will now allow transgenders to be recognised as an
independent category of applicants for obtaining a Permanent Account
Number (PAN) for their tax-related transactions.
- The
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which frames the policy for the
department, issued a notification that provides a new tick box for the
transgenders to apply for the PAN.
Andhra Pradesh becomes the second state to get
happiness department
The Andhra Pradesh government will soon
constitute a Happiness Commission that will take up a series of programmes to
promote “happiness” in the state.
- The
commission, which will work under the department of planning, will be
headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
- Andhra
Pradesh became the second state in the country to introduce an exclusive
ministry for happiness in April 2017. Madhya Pradesh is the first.
Nagaland seeks DGP from other cadres
The Nagaland government has requested the Ministry of Home
Affairs to depute an officer from other cadres to become the State’s Director
General of Police.
- Rupin
Sharma, an IPS officer of the Nagaland cadre, has been the acting chief
since the tenure of L. Doungel as DGP ended in November last year. Mr.
Doungel, an IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre, was on deputation. Mr.
Sharma, he pointed out, has “just 26 years of experience and his
experience of serving in the State is very limited, with just about one
year as SP of Peren district”.
In order to become DGP in other States, one has to have
completed 30 years of service, but in the case of Nagaland, up to 28 years
have been considered during the past.
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Right to convert is part of fundamental right of choice
The Supreme
Court has held that a person’s right to choose a religion and marry is an
intrinsic part of her meaningful existence. Neither the State nor “patriarchal
supremacy” can interfere in her decision.
- The
observations are part of the 61-page reasoned judgment published by the
Supreme Court in the case of Hadiya, a 26-year-old Homeopathy student who
converted to Islam and married a Muslim man. The case first gained
attention as a case of forced conversion.
- Freedom
of faith is essential to his/her autonomy; Choosing a faith is the
substratum of individuality and sans it, the right of choice becomes a
shadow.
- Matters
of belief and faith, including whether to believe, are at the core of
constitutional liberty. The Constitution exists for believers as well as
for agnostics.
Constitution
protects the ability of each individual to pursue a way of life or faith to
which she or he seeks to adhere. Matters of dress and of food, of ideas and
ideologies, of love and partnership are within the central aspects of
identity. Society has no role to play in determining choice of partners.
Article 25
states that subject to public order, morality and health, and to the other
fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution, all persons are equally
entitled to “freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise
and propagate religion.” The word “propagate” mean “to transmit or spread
one’s religion by an exposition of its tenets,” but does not include the
right to convert another person to one’s own religion.
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Cauvery: SC slams Centre’s inaction
The Supreme Court rapped the Centre for not framing a
water-sharing scheme for the Cauvery and ordered it to prove its “bona fides”
by submitting a draft scheme by May 3.
- The
three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra expressed its
disappointment over the Centre’s lack of resolve to play its part in
ending the water conflict between neighbours, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
A February 16 judgment of the Supreme Court had directed
the Centre to frame the scheme by March 29. Yet, on the eve of the deadline,
the Centre moved the court for another three months to frame the Cauvery
scheme. This would have taken it well past the Karnataka Assembly election
scheduled on May 12
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World’s first microfactory to help tackle
e-waste hazard
An Indian-origin scientist in Australia has launched the
world’s first microfactory that can transform the components from electronic
waste items such as smartphones and laptops into valuable materials for re-use.
- According
to Veena Sahajwalla, a professor at the University of New South Wales, the
e-waste microfactory has the potential to reduce the rapidly growing
problem of vast amounts of electronic waste causing environmental harm and
going into landfill. It can also turn many types of consumer waste such as
glass, plastic and timber into commercial material and other products.
- For
instance, from e-waste, computer circuit boards can be transformed into
valuable metal alloys such as copper and tin while glass and plastic from
e-devices can be converted into micromaterials used in industrial grade
ceramics and plastic filaments for 3D printing. The modular
microfactories can operate on a site as small as 50 square metres and can
be located wherever waste may be stockpiled.
A microfactory is one or a series of small machines and
devices that uses patented technology to perform one or more functions in the
reforming of waste products into new and usable resources. The e-waste
microfactory that reforms discarded computers, mobile phones and printers has
a number of small modules for this process and fits into a small site, said
Ms. Sahajwalla.
The discarded devices are first placed into a module to
break them down. The next module may involve a special robot for the
identification of useful parts, she said. Another module then involves using
a small furnace which transforms these parts into valuable materials by using
a controlled temperature process developed via extensive research.
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China bans exports of weapons-related goods to
North Korea
China has tightened trade controls on North Korea
by banning exports of electronics and other goods that can be used in making
weapons.
- The
ban announced as part of UN Security Council sanctions imposed to press
the government of North Korea.
- The
latest ban covers “dual use” industrial components, metal alloys and other
materials that can be used in both civilian products and weapons.
Singapore and China Signed MoU along Belt and
Road initiative
Singapore and China signed an
MoU in Beijing, China to promote greater collaboration between Singapore
and Chinese companies in third-party markets along the Belt and
Road.
- Under
the MOU, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), NDRC (China's lead
agency for BRI) and Enterprise Singapore will form a working group to
identify sectors and markets of mutual interest, and organise business
matching activities and forums to facilitate third-party market
cooperation between Singapore and Chinese companies along the Belt and
Road.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is
a mega project initiated by China to connect countries across Europe, Africa
and Asia together via ancient land and sea trade routes.
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Reliance
Infra wins Rs 1,081-cr Kudankulam nuclear power project contract
Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra) said it has
won a Rs 1,081 crore contract from Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.
- The
company said its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) division
has won the contract amidst competition from leading players like BHEL,
Larsen & Toubro, Tata Projects and BGR.
- The
contract entails design, engineering, supply, erection, testing and
commissioning of SSC package and allied civil works on EPC basis.
11 public sector banks placed under RBI’s PCA Framework
11 public sector banks have been placed under the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI)’s Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework due to
non-performing assets.
- These
banks have been placed under RBI’s PCA framework to keep a check on NPAs.
Generally, lending activities of banks under PCA are restricted.
- They
are also restricted from opening new branches, staff recruitment and
increasing the size of their loan book. They are instructed to disburse
loans only to companies whose borrowing is above investment grades.
PCA norms
allow the regulator to place certain restrictions such as halting branch
expansion and stopping dividend payment. It can even cap a bank’s lending
limit to one entity or sector. Other corrective action that can be imposed on
banks include special audit, restructuring operations and activation of
recovery plan. Banks’ promoters can be asked to bring in new management,
too. The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board, under PCA.
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SBI to invest Rs 80bn in Hydropower project of
Nepal
The State Bank of India will be investing a
total of Rs 80 billion in the Arun III hydropower project of
Nepal, which has 900 megawatts (MW) electricity production capacities.
- The
SJVN, which has been awarded the construction of the mega power
project of Nepal, has made an informal agreement with the SBI to acquire
the investment as a loan and soon will make the formal agreement.
SBI Launches UK subsidiary with 225 mn Pounds
Capital
The SBI has announced the launch of its UK
subsidiary, SBI (UK) Limited, with an initial capital commitment
of 225 million pounds from its parent entity.
- India's
largest state-owned bank, which celebrated the new subsidiary with a
special event in London, becomes the first foreign bank in the UK to
ringfence its retail division from its wholesale business.
Delhi’s IGI airport among the top 20 busiest airports
As per ACI’s
World Airport Traffic Forecasts, the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport,
operated by the Delhi International Airport Ltd, has emerged as one of the
busiest airports in the world and is in fact among the top 20.
- As
per the latest statistics of Airports Council International, IGI Airport
jumped six notches to be in the top 20 busiest airports in the world for
2017 in terms of traffic volume. It jumped from 22nd rank in 2016 to 16th.
- Delhi
has also been ranked first in airport service quality for airports above
40 million passengers per annum along with the Mumbai airport.
- Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport (ATL) was ranked the busiest airport in the
world.
Airport
Council International (ACI) Founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering
cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation,
ACI is the trade association of the world’s airports, currently serving 641
members operating from 1,953 airports across 176 countries.
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FMs of southern States to meet in Kerala
Kerala Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has urged the
Centre to freeze the terms of reference (ToR) of the 15th Union Finance
Commission, which he said, tended to restrict the commission’s freedom to
discharge its constitutional obligation and threatens to reduce the fiscal
leeway of the States.
- Dr.
Isaac told reporters that Finance Ministers of the southern States would
converge to deliberate the impact of the ToR.
8th Theatre olympics concludes in Mumbai
51-day long 8th Theatre olympics, concluded in Mumbai on
April 8, 2018. Theatre Olympics is the largest international theatre festival
and was held in India for the first time.
- 8th
edition of Theatre Olympics was inaugurated by Vice President M Venkaiah
Naidu at the Red Fort, Delhi, on February 17, 2018
- This
event brought together around 25000 artists under the theme “Flag of
Friendship”.
8th Theatre Olympics witnessed 450 shows from more than 30
countries performed across 17 Indian cities – Agartala, Bengaluru, Ahmadabad,
Bhopal, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Guwahati, Jaipur, Imphal, Jammu,
Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Patna, Thiruvananthapuram, and Varanasi.
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Conference on Water, Environment and Climate
Change begins in Nepal
An international conference on ‘Water,
Environment and Climate Change: Knowledge Sharing and Partnership’ started
in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- The
basic objective of the conference is to bring together professionals,
government and non-government institutions to discuss and deliberate on
challenges related to water and environmental issues.
1st meeting of NITI Forum for Northeast held in Agartala
The first
meeting of newly constituted NITI Forum for North East was recently held in
Agartala, Tripura. The meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog.
- Strategies
for improving Road, Rail and Air Connectivity in the North East Region,
improvements in agriculture and allied sectors, water management were some
of the key focus area during the meeting.
The Union
Government set up the ‘Niti Forum for North-East’ in February 2018. The forum
will be co-chaired by the Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog
and Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Development of
Northeastern Region (DoNER). The forum will have its Secretariat in the
Ministry of DoNER.
The NITI
Forum for Northeast is tasked to identify various constraints on the way of
accelerated, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the North
East Region of the country and to recommend suitable
interventions for addressing identified constraints. It will also review the
development status in the NER.
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Nepal president inaugurates International
Conference on Human Rights in South Asia
President of Nepal Bidya Devi
Bhandari inaugurated an International Conference on Human Rights in
South Asia in Kathmandu.
- The
conference is organized by the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal.
- The
representatives of Human Rights Commissions and institutions, human rights
activists from 20 countries including India are participating in the 3-day
event. The theme of the conference is "Identifying Challenges,
Assessing Progress, Moving Forward: Addressing Impunity and Realizing
Human Rights in South Asia".
Orban’s party records landslide win
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s election triumph
delighted other nationalists but sent a chill through civil society groups and
portended fresh battles with Brussels.
- After
a campaign centred on resistance to immigration and trumpeting a strong
economy, near-complete results showed that Mr. Orban’s Fidesz party
snapped up almost half the vote (48.8%).
- This
will give it a two-thirds majority in Parliament and a legislative carte
blanche to pursue his transformation of the central European country into
what he calls an “illiberal democracy”.
UN body names Messi responsible tourism ambassador
The UN World Tourism Organization said it has appointed FC
Barcelona’s Argentine star Lionel Messi as an ambassador to promote responsible
tourism.
- The
UN body defines “responsible tourism” as tourism that “helps maximise the
sector’s benefits while minimising its potentially negative impact on the
environment, cultural heritage and societies across the globe”
- World
Tourism Organization chief: Zurab Pololikashvili
Trump’s new national security adviser Bolton
takes charge
US President Donald Trump’s third national
security adviser John Bolton started work on April 9.
- A
day after the White House announced the abrupt departure of Michael Anton
as the top spokesperson of the national security council.
- Trump
had not remarked on his departure at the time of going to print.
German physics Nobel laureate Peter Gruenberg
passes away at 78
German physicist Peter Gruenberg, a
joint Nobel Prize winner whose work revolutionised digital data
storage, has died.
- Gruenberg
received the 2007 Nobel prize for physics, together with French
scientist Albert Fer.
- He discovered
so-called giant magnetoresistance (GMR) which led to a
breakthrough in the development of gigabyte hard disks.
Kidambi Srikanth set to become World No. 1
Kidambi Srikanth will become the No. 1
player in the world.
- The
25-year-old will be the new No. 1 when the Badminton World Federation
(BWF) releases its weekly rankings.
- Srikanth,
who played a crucial role in helping India win gold at the Commonwealth
Games, will move to the top of rankings with 76,895 points.
