Daily Current affairs - May 3rd, 2018 for all competitive exams
World Press Freedom Day observed on May
03 every year.
- The UN General Assembly declared May 3 to be World
Press Freedom Day to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend
the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to
journalists who have lost their lives while following their profession.
- Theme: Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and
The Rule of Law
- World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN
General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the
twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991.
UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day by conferring the
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize on a deserving individual,
organisation or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the
defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially
when this has been achieved in the face of danger. Created in 1997, the prize
is awarded on the recommendation of an independent jury of 14 news
professionals.
2018 winner Egypt - Mahmoud Abu Zeid
|
Union cabinet approved extending investment limit
of Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandan Yojana
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for extending the investment limit
from Rs 7.5 lakhs to Rs 15 lakhs as well as extension of time limits for
subscription from 4thMay 2018 to 31stMarch, 2020 under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya
Vandan Yojana (PMVVY) as part of Government’s commitment for financial
inclusion and social security.
- PMVVY is a Pension Scheme exclusively for the
senior citizens aged 60 years and above.
- The Scheme can be purchased offline as well as
online through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India which has been
given the sole privilege to operate this Scheme.
- Scheme provides an assured return of 8% p.a. payable
monthly (equivalent to 8.30% p.a. effective) for 10 years.
Pension is payable at the end of each period, during the policy term of
10 years, as per the frequency of monthly/ quarterly/ half-yearly/ yearly as
chosen by the pensioner at the time of purchase. The scheme is exempted from
Service Tax/ GST. On survival of the pensioner to the end of the policy term
of 10 years, Purchase price along with final pension installment shall be
payable.
|
Union cabinet approved for continuation of Pradhan
Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana(PMSSY)
In a major boost to the expansion of healthcare infrastructure in the
country, Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan MantriSwasthya
Suraksha Yojana(PMSSY) beyond 12thFive Year Plan to 2019-20.
- 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.
- It is a central sector scheme.
The scheme has two components: Setting up of new AIIMS and upgradation of
government medical colleges.
Setting up of new AIIMS would not only transform health education and
training but also address the shortfall of health care professionals in the
region. Construction of new AIIMS is fully funded by the Central Government.
The Operations & Maintenance expenses on new AIIMS are also fully borne
by the Central Government.
|
Union cabinet approved to accede WHO
Framework Convention on tobacco control
Union Cabinet has given approval to accede to the Protocol under World
Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on tobacco control to eliminate
illicit trade in tobacco products.
- It will be applicable to both smoking and chewing or
smokeless tobacco (SLT) forms as negotiated and adopted under Article 15
of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
(WHO FCTC).
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first
international public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO.
The objective of FCTC is to provide a framework for supply and demand
reduction measures for tobacco control at the national, regional and global
levels.
Article 15 of WHO FCTC envisages elimination of all forms of illicit
trade and tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and
counterfeiting. India is a party to WHO FCTC.
|
CCEA approved to rename MsDp as Pradhan Mantri Jan
Vikas Karyakram
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal for
renaming and restructuring of Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) as
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK).
- CCEA has also approved its continuation during the
remaining period of the 14th Finance Commission.
- Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) was
launched in the year 2008-09 in 90 identified Minority Concentration
Districts (MCDs) having at least 25% minority population and below
national average with respect to one or both of the backwardness parameters
with the objective of developing assets for socio-economic and basic
amenities.
- MsDP has been identified as one of the Core of the
Core Schemes under National Development Agenda in the Report of the
Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored
Schemes, which was constituted by NITI Aayog.
About PMJVK:
The Programme aims to address development deficits in the identified
minority concentration areas. The identification of minority concentration
areas has been done on the basis of presence of substantial population of
notified Minority Communities based on Census, 2011.
The restructured programme would provide better socio economic
infrastructure facilities to the minority communities particularly in the
field of education, health & skill development as compared to the present
situation, which would further lead to lessening of the gap between the
national average and the minority communities with regard to backwardness
parameters.
|
EPFO stops services
provided at CSCs
The Employees’ Provident Fund
Organisation (EPFO) on Wednesday said it had discontinued services provided
through Common Service Centres (CSC), “pending vulnerability checks”. However,
it added that no data had been leaked.
- The statement follows reports alleging theft of
subscriber data by hackers from the website ‘aadhaar.epfoservices.com’,
operated by CSCs, which comes under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
Maharashtra becomes 1st to
provide digitally-signed documents
Maharashtra became the first
state to provide digitally-signed land record receipts (also known as 7/12
receipts), which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed would check
irregularities and bring in transparency.
- The 7/12 receipt is the most important document
which establishes the ownership of the land and is primarily used by
farmers while applying for loans.
Army’s ‘Vijay Prahar’
exercise underway in Rajasthan
Over 20,000 numbers of the strike
formations of the Army’s South Western Commandare involved in the “Vijay
Prahar” exercise to fine-tune the Army’s jointmanship with the Indian Air
Force (IAF) near Suratgarhin Rajasthan.
- This exercise is for IAF testing in the “Gagan
Shakti” exercise in the western sector of Rajasthan. It shares over 1,000
km border with Pakistan.
- To witness the final phase of the exercise, Army
chief General Bipin Rawa tand and other senior officers will join.
- During the exercise, the formations are practising
and operationalising certain concepts of operating in the network-centric
environment, integrated employment of modern-day sensors with the weapon
platforms, employment of attack helicopters in the air cavalry role and a
bold offensive of application of the Special Forces.
India, China to set up
hotline between military HQs
The militaries of India and China have
reportedly agreed to set up a hotline between their headquarters after an
informal summit between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi
Jinping.
- The hotline would enable the militaries to intensify
communication in order to avoid confrontations like the 73-day Doklam
standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Scientists produce alcohol
from wood for the first time
Japanese scientists have invented a way
of producing alcoholic beverages from wood of cherry, cedar, and birch trees.
- The method involves pulverising wood into a creamy
paste and adding yeast and enzymes to start fermentation.
- Four-kilogram cedar wood produced 3.8 litres of
liquid, with a 15% alcohol content. They hope to make their “wood alcohol”
commercial within three years.
Facebook to offer dating
service
Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg announced
that the world’s largest social network will soon include a new dating feature
— while vowing to make privacy protection its top priority in the wake of the
Cambridge Analytica scandal.
- Mr. Zuckerberg unveiled the plans as he addressed
Facebook’s annual F8 developers conference in San Jose, California
—emphasising that the focus would be on helping people find long-term
partners.
- Under the new feature, users will be able to create
a separate “dating” profile not visible to their network of friends, with
potential matches recommended based on dating preferences, points in
common and mutual acquaintances.
Cambridge Analytica shuts
down all its operations
The controversial UK marketing
analytics firm Cambridge Analytica, which has been at the heart of the Facebook
data scandal, has announced to cease all its operations immediately and
filing for insolvency in Britain and the United States.
- Cambridge Analytica, also said,
its British parent firm SCL Elections Ltd is to shutting down
immediately.
- The firm is currently facing
allegations of improper use of data on 87 million Facebook
users which was hired by President Donald Trump’s 2016 US election
campaign.
India rises to 5th spot in
world's top five defense spenders
India has surpassed France to
become one of the world's five largest military spenders, Swedish
arms watchdog Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Report.
- India spent $63.9 billion on its military in 2017,
an increase of 5.5% compared with 2016.
- The other countries in top five include the US,
China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
India-South Africa
business summit happens in Johannesburg
The India-South Africa business summit
concludes in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The visit began with a series of
bilateral meetings: he met Dr. Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry of
South Africa and ministers from Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho.
- Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil
Aviation, Surest Prabhu also highlighted the historical relations between
India and Swaziland, Botswana, and Lesotho and promised to take the
economic partnership forward.
- The ministers also met with the India-South Africa
CEOs forum members.
- They expressed their confidence in the Indian
Governments and their efforts to strengthen India-Africa relations.
Committee formed to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s
150th birth anniversary
A government committee has been formed to coordinate year-long celebrations
of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary from October 2, 2019.
The Committee will guide and approve policies, programmes, activities for
the commemoration and will also supervise implementation of the decisions taken
from time to time.
- The Committee has a total of 125 members, including
116 from India and encompasses the President (as chair), the
Vice-President, Prime Minister, Union Ministers, and former Prime
Ministers, Chief Ministers, senior MPs and political leaders from across
party lines.
- It also includes eminent Gandhians, social thinkers
and activists representing a cross-section of Indian society and regional
diversity.
- The Committee also has nine international members,
including two former Secretaries General of the United Nations – Mr Kofi
Annan and Mr Ban Ki-moon – and Nobel laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu of
South Africa and former US Vice-President Al Gore.
Women and Child
Development ministry to hold national conference of 244 districts under Beti
Bachao Beti Padhao
Women and Child Development Ministry
hold National Conference of 244 Districts under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, BBBP,
in New Delhi.
- The Nodal Officers of 244 Districts, State Nodal
Officers and Senior officers will be present in the day-long Conference.
- The Union Minister for Women and Child Development,
Maneka Gandhi be the Chief Guest at the function.
Malayalam detective
novelist Kottayam Pushpanath passes away
Well-known Malayalam detective novelist
Kottayam Pushpanath, who ushered a generation of readers into the world of
horror and suspense, died at the age of 80 in Kottayam.
- Creator of fictional detectives Marxin and
Pushparaj, has authored over hundred detective novels, many of which have
been translated into other South Indian languages, apart from being
adapted on screen.
- Pushpanath is also credited for producing the first
genuine detective story in Malayalam.
- His first detective novel Chuvanna Mnushyan (the Red
Man) was published in Manorajyam weekly in 1968.
Renowned
Artist-Philosopher Ravinder Sharma passes away
Ravinder Sharma, fondly called
Guruji, the founder of Adilabad's Kala Ashram died at the age of 65 years.
- A trained artist, Guruji had been awarded Kala
Ratna by the Andhra Pradesh State government in 2014. After
bifurcation of the State, the Telangana government awarded him
the Ugadi Puraskaram in 2015
Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat
receives WBC Asia Boxer of the Year Award
Neeraj Goyat, an Indian Pugilist got WBC
Asia Boxer of the Year Award.
He is the current WBC Asia Champion in
welterweight category.
- Since turning pro in 2011, Neeraj has won nine
fights including two knockouts
- Neerav Tomar, promoter of IOS Boxing Promotions
which manages Neeraj and Vijender Singh, was bestowed with 'WBC Asia
honorary Promoter of the year 2017 Award' by the Asian Boxing Council at
WBC Asia and WBC Muaythai annual awards presentation ceremony in Bangkok
Justin Langer appointed
head coach of Australian cricket team
Former Australian cricketer Justin
Langer has been appointed as Australian cricket team's head coach for
all three formats. Langer replaces Darren Lehmann, who had stepped
down after Australia's tour of South Africa amid the ball-tampering controversy.
- The 47-year-old, who represented Australia in 105
Tests, will begin his four-year term ahead of limited-overs series against
England in June.
