Prepared by D.Sarala, Viluppuram

1.       The Supreme Court sought responses from 6 states  namely Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh on a plea seeking a ban on cow vigilante ( “ Gau Raksha”) groups there. This is due to an incident at Alwar ( Rajasthan) where a man was killed allegedly by a mob of cow vigilante group.

2.       The Union government decided to revive 40 year old North Koel irrigation project to address the water requirements in Bihar and Jharkhand.

3.       The Union Ministry of food processing  is going to introduce SAMPADA scheme  for food processing sector . SAMPADA ( Scheme for Agro-Marine Produce Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Cluster). This scheme aimed at reducing the food wastage and doubling farmer’s income by 2022.The Ministry also planned to launch three new schemes namely  ‘Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities’, ‘New Agro-Processing Clusters‘ and ‘Backward and Forward Linkages’.

4.       The Union Ministry of Power has launched URJA MITRA app for state power Distribution utilities to disseminate power outage information to rural/ urban power consumers through SMS/ push/email notifications across the country. It is to provide the real time information. This can be availed through web platform www.urjamitra.com

5.       Parliament has passed the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2017. It is the first national HIV law in South Asia.

6.       The Union Government has set up an ‘Inter- Ministerial Monitoring-cum-Coordination Committee’ to monitor the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme.UDAN is a regional air connectivity scheme connecting unserved and under-served airports.

7.        In order to further promote economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries for creating favourable conditions for more comprehensive economic cooperation. India and Georgia have signed a joint statement to launch joint feasibility study on the free trade agreement between the two countries. The statement was signed by Union Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Gakharia.

8.       Based on the recommendation of the sub-group of Chief Ministers on rationalisation of centrally sponsored schemes , the Union Government has reduced the number of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) from 66 to 28 umbrella schemes, effective from the financial year 2016-17. Under the core scheme( total 20), the funds shared will  be in the ratio of 60:40 for general category states and for the 8 north eastern states and 3 Himalayan states the ratio will be 90:10.Under the core of core schemes (total 6) the fund is fully shared by Centre. Some of the schemes included in this are MGRNEA, National Social Assistance Plan and the National Programme for Persons with Disabilities. Under the Optional Scheme ( total 2) The fund-sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 50:50 for general category states and 80:20 for Northeastern and hilly states. These schemes are for social protection and social inclusion. 

9.       “The Underground Railroad “ novel by Colson Whitehead has won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Earlier in November 2016, the novel had received the National Book Award of US.

 List of 2017 Pulitzer Prize Winners Letters, Drama & Music Fiction: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Drama: Sweat by Lynn Nottage. History: Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison   Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy, by Heather Ann Thompson. Biography or Autobiography: The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between, by Hisham Matar. Poetry: Olio, by Tyehimba Jess (Wave Books) General Nonfiction: Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond. Music: Angel’s Bone, by Du Yun. Journalism : Public Service: New York Daily News and ProPublica Breaking News Reporting: Staff of East Bay Times, Oakland. Investigative Reporting: Eric Eyre of Charleston Gazette-Mail, Charleston/. Explanatory Reporting: International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, McClatchy and Miami Herald Local Reporting: The Salt Lake Tribune Staff National Reporting: David A. Fahrenthold of The Washington Post International Reporting: The New York Times Staff Feature Writing: C. J. Chivers of The New York Times Commentary: Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal Criticism: Hilton Als of The New Yorker Editorial Writing: Art Cullen of The Storm Lake Times, Storm Lake. Editorial Cartooning: Jim Morin of Miami Herald Breaking News Photography: Daniel Berehulak, freelance photographer Feature Photography: Jason Wambsgans of Chicago Tribune

10.   Lok Sabha has passed Constitution 123rd Amendment Bill, 2017 which seeks to give constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes. It seeks to insert a new article 338B in the constitution which provides for NCBC, its composition, mandate, functions and various officers. Insert a new article 342-A which empowers the president to notify the list of socially and educationally backward classes of that state / union territory. In case of a state, president will make such notification after consultation with the Governor. Under the same article, it is proposed that parliament by making a law can include or exclude the classes from the central list of backward classes.

11.   The Bank Board Bureau (BBB) has recommended that Government should bring in reforms in the compensation process in public sector banks (PSBs) on the lines of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

12.   India and Australia have singed six agreements,  these agreements were signed in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull after delegation level talks in various fields such as terrorism, sports, health, environment, aviation sector to boost bilateral cooperation.

13.   The Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Harsh Vardhan on the occasion of 250th anniversary of SOI ( The Survey of India)has launched a new web portal called Nakshe to make open series maps available to Indians for free.

14.   The G20 Digital Ministerial Meeting on Digital Economy was held in Dusseldorf, Germany. Concerned Ministers for the digital economy from G20 countries had participated in it. It was concluded with adaptation of declaration on ‘Shaping Digitalisation for an Interconnected World’.

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15.   The President of India Pranab Mukherjee presented the SCOPE Award (Standing Conference of Public enterprises) at the 8^th Public Sector Day function  held in New Delhi

16.   Nepal Government has presented a new constitution amendment bill in a bid to take agitating Madhesi parties on board before their local election which is going to held on May 14^th 2017

17.   UP government has srapped of Samajwadi Pension Scheme which was initiated by previous Akhilesh Yadav Government.

18.   Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh Govenment has announced that they are going to impose liquor ban in the states in near future

19.   April 12- International Day of Human Space Flight is observed annually to celebrate the anniversary of the first human space flight undertaken by Yuri Gagarin.

20.   Britain was found  to be only G7 nation to call for sanctions on Russia for its support towards its war torn ally Syria

21.   Indian Railways entered into an agreement with Bharat Heavy Electricals (PSU) for installing  roof top SPV systems recently .

22.   The book titled “ Hope in a challenged Democracy – An Indian Narrative “ is written by Ashwani Kumar

23.   Anuja Ravindra Dhir ( Indian origin) became the first non white judge at the Old Bailey Court Of London

24.   India’s first ever micro- drama festival named Thepsis was held in New Delhi

25.   Nokia signed an MOU with BSNL and Airtel to bring its 5G services in India

26.   British DJ Paul Oakenfold who has reached Mt Everest’s base camp has planned to host highest party on earth.

27.   The book titled “ Gandhi in Champaran “ was authored by DG Tendulkar

28.   Haryana Government has decided to increase  the number of  Science  Club in its Schools