Daily Current Affairs for 4th Jan 2018 ( English)
1. The proposals for procurement
of 131 Barak missiles for Indian Navy and 240 precision-guided munitions (PGM)
for Indian Air Force (IAF) together estimated at Rs.1,714 cr were cleared by
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It is a regular procurement through the revenue expenditure.
These are SAM(surface-to-air missiles) designed to be used as a ship-borne
anti-missile defence system.
2. The Ancient
Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2017 has
passed by Lok Sabha to allow government to take up infrastructure projects
within prohibited areas around protected monuments. The Bill amends
the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
The Bill amends provision related construction in ‘prohibited areas’ in the
parent bill to permit construction of public works in ‘prohibited areas’ for
public purposes. It introduces definition for ‘public works’, which includes
construction of any infrastructure that is financed and carried out by central
government for public purposes.
3. The Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA) has exempted cruise tourists arriving with e-visa from the
requirement of biometric enrolment for a period of three years i.e. till 2020 on request of the
Ministry of Shipping. The purpose of the move is to promote cruise tourism in
the country and make India attractive cruise tourist destination. E-visa
facility is being implemented in five major ports viz. Mumbai, Mormugao, New
Mangalore, Cochin and Chennai.
4. The details of
electoral bonds for political funding that can be routed by donors to political
parties were announced by the Union Government. It makes
India first country in the world to have such unique bonds for electoral
funding. The electoral bonds scheme was announced in Union Budget 2017 with
an aim for increasing transparency in political funding. Electoral bonds can be
purchased for any value in multiples of Rs.1,000, Rs.10,000, Rs.10 lakh, and
Rs.1 crore from any of the specified branches of State Bank of India (SBI). The
electoral bonds will be available for purchase for a period of 10 days each in
months of January, April, July and October with additional 30 days to be
specified by Central government in year of general election so that this does
not become a parallel currency. It will have a life of 15 days during which
they can be used to make donations to registered political parties. The bond
can be encashed by an eligible political party only through a designated bank
account with the authorised bank.
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6. Andhra
Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank (APGVB) operationalised its first desktop ATM at
Kasibugga in Mandi Bazar in Warangal, Telangana. It
is specifically meant for rural customer who typically has small cash
needs. APGVB has laid out plans to install 100 such desktop ATMs in
different busy branches. 60 of them will be in Telangana State and 40 in AP
branches. The Tagline of this APGVB is ‘We are with you!’
7. Swachh
Survekshan –the nationwide cleanliness survey was launched across India on 4th Jan
2018.The main objective of the survey is to evaluate the achievements in the
cleanliness level in urban areas.it is deemed as the World’s biggest survey, it
will conducted in over 4000 cities with a population of more than 40 cr.
8. The cabinet committee
on economic affairs has approved the mandatory packing norms under the Jute
Packing Material (JPM) Act, 1987. The approval mandates that 90 percent
of the food grains and 20 per cent of the sugar products shall be mandatorily
packed in jute bags. it’s provision for 100 % packing of food grains in jute
bags is subject to the ability of the jute industry to meet the requirement.
9. The Haryana
government has mandated installation of Solar Photovoltaic
Power plant in new buildings . This has been done in a move to
conserve electricity and use it efficiently.
10. Assam Chief
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Chah Bagichar Dhan Puraskar Mela
2017-18’ at a function held at Sarbananda Singha auditorium in Tinsukia,
Assam. Under this scheme people belonging to tea community who opened bank
accounts during demonetisation will be credited Rs 2500 in their
accounts. In the next phase, another 2500 rupees will be credited to
accounts which are continuously operated for 6 months from now.
11. The Dhanu
Yatra festival held in Bargarh district of Odishacame to an end on
2nd Jan 2018. It began on 23 December 2017. This festival is based on
Krishna Leela and Mathura Vijay. The Dhanu Yatra festival was held for 11 days.
Bargarh was made to look like Mathura, which is the birthplace and homeland of
Lord Krishna. River Jeera was made to resemble river Yamuna.
Amapali region was transformed into Gopapura. Various artists from different
parts of India performed in the festival.
12. AB Mathur was appointed
as interlocutor on its behalf to hold talks with the United
Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). He is the former special
secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
13. Emami Group announced
actor Salman Khan as the brand ambassador for its edible oil brands. Salman
Khan will work with Amitabh Bachchan in promoting Emami’s edible oil brands.
Emami Healthy & Tasty, Himani Best Choice and Rasoi are Emami’s edible oil
brands.
14. Four new species of
balsam from various locations in Eastern Himalayas was discovered by the
scientists in northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. They are Impatiens
haridasanii, Impatiens pseudocitrina, Impatiens nilalohitae and Impatiens
roingensis. India is home to more than 230 balsam species. Their genus is
called Impatiens, signifying impatient nature of their fruits which explode
when touched.
15. Jawaharlal Nehru
Port Trust (JNPT) has won “Samudra Manthan-Caring Organisation of the
Year” award which was organised by Bhandarkar Shipping. Bhandarkar
Shipping is an important publication of the maritime industry. The objective of
this award is to create healthy competition in the maritime sector. Jawaharlal
Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) is India’s number one container port in terms of volume
and efficiency.
Prepared by Sarala Dhavamanoharan
Announcement !
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