Daily Current affairs - April 12th, 2018 for all competitive exams
World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day is annually observed on
April 12.
- World
Aviation and Cosmonautics Day is celebrating to commemorate the first ever
flight of human in space.
- The
commemorative day was established in the Soviet Union one year later, on 9
April 1962. In modern Russia, it is celebrated in accordance with Article
1.1 of the Law "On the Days of Military Glory and the Commemorative
Dates in Russia
In 2011, 12 April was declared as the International Day of
Human Space Flight in dedication of the first manned space flight made on 12
April 1961 by the 27-year-old Russian Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Gagarin
circled the Earth for 1 hour and 48 minutes aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft
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Cabinet approves agreement to formalise ISA HQ
in India
The Union Cabinet gave its ex post facto approval to an
agreement that would formalise the headquarters of the International Solar
Alliance in India (ISA). The headquarters agreement will institutionalize the
functional arrangements between India and ISA.
- It
will help in a smooth transition of ISA as an international
inter-governmental organization.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and the
United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on the return of Illegal Migrants
Union Cabinet has given its approval to the MoU between India
and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on the return of Illegal Migrants.
- The
MoU will facilitate that the Visa Free Agreement for holders of Diplomatic
passports as well as liberalization of UK Visa Regime for those who are
travelling to the UK legally, after conclusion of the MoU.
- It will help in streamlining the procedure of return of
nationals who are caught to be staying illegally, belonging to the other
party in a specified time-frame.
Cabinet approves revision of pay and allowances
of Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories
Union Cabinet has given its approval for revision
of pay and allowances of Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories. It
will bring the pay and allowances of LGs at par with that of the Secretary to
the Government of India.
- The
Cabinet has approved the proposal for increasing the pay and allowances of
Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories with effect from 1st January,
2016 from Rs.80,000/- per month plus dearness allowance, sumptuary
allowance at the rate of Rs.4,000/- per month and local allowances to Rs.
2,25,000/- plus dearness allowance, sumptuary allowance at the rate of
Rs.4,000/- per month and local allowances at the same rate as applicable
to the officers of the rank of Secretary to the Govt. of India
It will be subject to the condition that the total
emoluments (excluding sumptuary allowance and local allowances) shall not
exceed the total emoluments drawn by the Governor of a State.
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Dr Jitendra Singh launches online dashboard to
monitor public grievances on real time basis
Dr. Jitendra Singh launched an online dashboard developed by
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
- The
dashboard will monitor public grievances on real time basis and
periodically review progress of systemic reforms. The systemic reforms and
their monitoring metrics, catering to grievance issues are highlighted on
the dashboard.
- This
will enable concerned Ministries/Departments to monitor implementation of
these reforms.
On the occasion, the Minister also released the Project
Monitoring Report on "Monitoring of Systemic Reforms and Public
Grievances" as well as the Reports "Grievance Data Analysis, Study
of CPENGRAMS and Systemic Reform Recommendations" and
"Recommendations for Anubhav portal". A Grievance Analysis Study
through the Quality Council of India (QCI) was initiated in 2015 in respect
of top 20 highest grievance receiving Ministries/Departments (from 01.01.2012
to 19.08.2015). The Study involved identification of top grievance prone
areas and focus on root cause analysis. The Reports recommended systemic
reforms to impact and bring about improvements in service delivery. In order
to monitor the implementation of the reforms/ recommendations made, a Project
Management Unit (PMU) was set up by DARPG in August, 2016.
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New fund for defence enterprises
The Indian government is planning to set up a new fund for
small and medium defence enterprises. It will be a dedicated Defence and
Aerospace SME fund, Ajay Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, said.
- The
fund will be registered with SEBI and minority stake can be taken up by
investors, he said adding that the fund will help channelise investments
to the two defence corridors, in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Mr. Kumar
said.
- Meanwhile,
the Adani Group was setting up a new facility to manufacture composite
aero structures for Hermes 900, a tactical medium-altitude, long-endurance
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad to tap rooftop solar potential
Hyderabad has rooftop solar potential of 1,730 MW; can
contribute to India’s rooftop solar goals
- The
city has a rooftop solar potential of 1,730 MW of which 1,193 MW can be
generated from residential areas. This could lead to a reduction of power
demand in the city by approximately 15%.
- These
were some of the observations of the study Rooftop Revolution:
Unleashing Hyderabad’s Solar Potential , a joint effort of Greenpeace
India and Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute.
- With
India announcing a goal of 40 GW from rooftop solar sources by 2020, 1.73
GW (1,730MW) can be contributed from Hyderabad.
The study conducted in areas under 18 circles of the
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation – in categories such as residential,
commercial and transportation, among others – showed that apart from the
residential sector, about 178 MW can be tapped from areas under the public
and semi-public-use category.
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SC seeks Shah Jahan’s ‘signature’ in Taj case
The Supreme Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf
Board to show documents signed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to prove its claim
that it owns the iconic Taj Mahal.
- A
Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked the board counsel to show
it documents to substantiate that Shah Jahan, who had built the Taj Mahal
in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1631, had executed a ‘waqfnama’ in favour
of the board.
- Waqfnama
is a deed through which a person expresses intention to donate a property
or land for charitable purposes or waqf.
The court was hearing a 2010 appeal filed by the
Archaeological Survey of India over the ownership of the historic monument
against the waqf board’s decision to declare the Taj Mahal as its property.
The Bench also asked counsel how Shah Jahan could sign a document when he was
imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb at the Agra Fort in 1658. Shah Jahan died in
1666 in the fort itself. It told counsel that the 17th century monument and
other heritage structures were taken over by the British after the Mughal
rule. After India’s independence, the monuments came under the Government of
India.
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India-Timor Leste Sign MoU in Field of Public
Health
India and Timor Leste(East Timor) have signed an
MoU in the field of public health to extend affordable
healthcare to the people of the Southeast Asian nation.
- Krishan
Pal Gurjar, the minister of state for social justice and
empowerment has recently concluded a four-day visit to Timor Lest.
- The
MoU was being discussed for more than five years and would open avenues of
cooperation between the two countries.
India, Morocco sign pact to promote Mineral
exploration
India has inked a pact with Morocco under which focus
would be laid on the evaluation of potential mineral resources and promoting
exploration and mining through the participation of both public and private
sector.
- The
MoU was signed in New Delhi after the bilateral discussions between Mines
Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and his counterpart Aziz Rabbah of Morocco.
Indian Consortium and Saudi Aramco sign MoU for
refinery in Maharashtra
An Indian consortium consisting of IOCL, BPCL and
HPCL signed an MoU with Saudi Aramco on the sidelines
of the16 International Energy Forum Ministerial.
- According to the Minister for Petroleum and Natural
Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, the project cost is estimated at around Rs3 lakh
crore ($44 billion). The refinery will be capable of processing 1.2
million barrels of crude oil per day (60 million tonnes per annum). The
plan is to finish the project by 2025.
Bangladesh ends Reservation in Government Jobs
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has decided
to scrap the quota system in government services after thousands of
students marched across the country in protest against a controversial policy
of setting aside jobs for special groups.
- The
students began the protests against discriminatory quotas for government
jobs, leaving scores of people injured at the Dhaka University.
First subway in Xinjiang to require riders to
show ID
The first subway line in the northwestern Chinese city
of Urumqi will require riders to show identification.
- The
rule allows for fines of up to 200 yuan ($32) for those without valid
tickets or who use others’ IDs to buy them.
ISRO launches navigation Satellite IRNSS-1I
The Indian Space Research Organisation launched
the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-1I, the eighth such
satellite to be a part of a constellation. It was launched from the first
launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
- IRNSS-1I is
expected to replace IRNSS-1A, the first of the seven navigation satellites
that was rendered ineffective after its three rubidium atomic clocks
failed. The seven satellites are part of the NavIC (NAVigation with
Indian Constellation)
IRNSS-1I is the eighth navigation satellite to join the
IRNSS space segment. Its predecessors, IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F and 1G
were launched by PSLV-C22, PSLV-C24, PSLV-C26, PSLV-C27, PSLV-C31, PSLV-C32
and PSLV-C33 in July 2013, April 2014, October 2014, March 2015, January
2016, March 2016 and April 2016 respectively. Like all other IRNSS
satellites, IRNSS-1I also has a lift-off mass of 1425 kg. The configuration
of IRNSS-1I is similar to IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F and 1G.
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Mahindra group ties up with Japanese firm for
amphibious aircraft ShinMaywa US-2
Mahindra Defence Systems signed an agreement with ShinMaywa
Industries, Japan, to manufacture and assemble amphibious aircraft ShinMaywa
US-2 in India.
- Mahindra
Group (aerospace and defence) President S P Shukla exchanged documents
with director of ShinMaywa Industries, Yasuo Kawanishi at the DefExpo at
Thiruvadanthai near Chennai.
Orkut founder launches ‘hello’ social network
app in India
Orkut Buyukkokten a former Google employee who founded social
networking website Orkut.com launched a new social network “hello” in
India.
- The
app, currently available in Brazil with nearly one million downloads, was
in the beta test mode in India for the past several months.
- Orkut
was owned and operated by Google and was named after its creator, Orkut
Buyukkokten.
Commonwealth Trade Review 2018: India top
recipient of Commonwealth FDI
India has become the top recipient of foreign direct
investment (FDI) from within the Commonwealth. It has become the second-most
lucrative source of investment within Commonwealth after the UK.
- India
has entered into the top five providers of intra-Commonwealth services
trade, surpassing Canada, Australia, Singapore and the UK.
- Intra-Commonwealth
trade is expected to reach USD 700 billion by 2020, contributed majorly by
India’s economic growth.
VHP to have the first election in 52 years for
president post
A major showdown is looming in the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (VHP) with an election being held for the first time in 52 years.
- It
is for the post of president in what is being seen as a move to end its
longstanding leader Pravin Togadia’s effective control of the Sangh affiliate.
- The
election will be held in Gurgaon on April 14 and will end what is seen as
the unfinished agenda of December 29 last year.
NSA Avijit Doval to travel to Russia to boost
ties with Moscow
India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval will travel to
Russia later this week in a bid to reassure Moscow.
- The
ties between the two countries are important to India and that they remain
key defence, security and nuclear partners.
- Doval
will meet his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on the trip, which was
initially meant to be held before the NSA went to the US in March.
- India
and Russia are working on ways to step up defence ties, too, particularly
through the joint production of spare parts.
Kohli and Mithali voted world’s best
The England women’s trio of Heather Knight, Natalie Sciver
and Anya Shrubsole have all been selected amongWisden ’s Five Cricketers
of the Year in a landmark move by the sport’s ‘bible’.
- Only
two female cricketers —Claire Taylor and Charlotte Edwards, Knight’s
immediate predecessor as England captain —had previously won an award
dating back to 1899.
- Meanwhile
India captains Virat Kohli and Mithali Raj were named as the leading men’s
and women’s cricketers in the world respectively.
- Kohli
won his award for the second year in a row after again starring in all
formats, while Raj was acknowledged after a year in which she became the
leading run-scorer in women’s One-Day Internationals during India’s run to
the World Cup final.
Sushil Kumar wins Gold in Wrestling
Indian wrestler and Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar bagged his
third straight Commonwealth Games gold medal after winning the men's
Freestyle 74 kg event.
- The
34-year-old wrestler won the final 10-0, having dominated all previous
opponents with scorelines of 11-0, 10-0, and 4-0. Sushil has a silver and
a bronze in Olympics and was crowned world champion in 2010.
India's Kidambi Srikanth becomes World No. 1
badminton player
Kidambi Srikanth has become the first Indian male badminton
player to attain the world number one ranking since Prakash Padukone in
the 1980s.
- Srikanth had become the first-ever Indian to win four Superseries titles in a year in 2017. It helped India win gold at the mixed team event at the Commonwealth Games for the first time ever.
