Daily Current Affairs for March 16-17,2018 ( English)
National:
1. Pranab
Mukherjee Foundation was launched on March 15, 2018 at a function at
the official residence of former President where Pranab Mukherjee and Tata
Group head Ratan Tata jointly inaugurated the foundation to initiate, support
and execute projects aimed at improving the quality of life of people.
2. The
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in December 2017 launched 'LaQshya'
Initiative- 'Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative'. It is
expected to improve the quality of care provided to the pregnant mother in the
Labour Room and Maternity Operation Theatres with an aim to prevent undesirable
adverse outcomes associated with childbirth. It will be implemented in
government Medical Colleges (MCs) besides District Hospitals (DHs), and high
delivery load Sub- District Hospitals (SDHs) and Community Health Centres
(CHCs). It is being implemented to ‘fast-track’ interventions for achieving
tangible results.
3. World
Economic Forum’s (WEF) Energy Transition Index (ETI) released as part of report
titled Fostering Effective Energy Transition. India was ranked at 78th
among 114 countries on World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Energy Transition
Index (ETI) released as part of report titled Fostering Effective Energy
Transition.Top 10 countries in Energy Transition Index were Sweden (1st),
Norway (2nd), Switzerland (3rd), Finland (4th), Denmark (5th), Netherlands
(6th), the UK (7th), Austria (8th), France (9th) and Iceland (10th).
4. The
Ministry of Environment and Forests gave environmental clearance to India-based
Neutrino Observatory (INO) project to be established in Bodi West hills in
Tamil Nadu. It was clarified that there will be no impact of
blasting on any habitation in the vicinity due to INO project. It was
informed also that there was no scope for radioactivity and leaching of water.
5. The
Lok Sabha passed the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to empower
government to fix period of maternity leave and tax-free gratuity amount with
an executive order. The Bill seeks to amend the Payment of Gratuity
Act, 1972. It allows for payment of gratuity to employees in any establishment,
factory, mine, oilfield, plantation, port, railways, company, or shop employing
10 or more workers. The Bill removes the existing ceiling of Rs 10 lakh
amount of gratuity payable to an employee and states that the ceiling may be
notified by the central government.
6. Haryana became
third state, after Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to have provision of capital
punishment for such sexual offenders. The Haryana Assembly unanimously passed Criminal Law (Haryana
Amendment) Bill, 2018 providing for death penalty for convicts found guilty of
raping girls aged 12 years or less.
7. Panchayati Raj
(Amendment) Bill 2018 was passed by Arunachal Pradesh Assembly to do away with
the Anchal Samiti, the intermediate level of the three-tier panchayati raj
system and set up a two-tier system in the state. This is being done
as per 73rd Amendment of Constitution that enables state having less than 20
lakh population not to have intermediate level and Arunachal has population of
13.84 lakh. Three-tier panchayati raj institutions were set up in state in
2003, 2008 and 2013, and elections for next five-year term were due in
April-May 2018. The purpose of setting up two-tier panchayati raj system in
state is to standardis use of financial resources due to poor resource base.
8. Specific Relief
(Amendment) Bill, 2017 has passed by the Lok Sabha to further ease procedures
for doing business in the country. The Bill seeks to amend the Specific Relief Act, 1963. The Bill
seeks to remove conditions of specific performance is limited right, which may
be given by court at its discretion and permit specific performance by courts
as general rule.
9. Maharashtra
Government has banned use of plastic in time-bound manner, citing environmental
and public health concerns. The ban will include plastic bags, thermocol, disposable cups
and plates, cutlery, non-woven polypropylene bags, plastic pouches and
packaging. The decision was taken at cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis.
10. The fifth edition
of Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) 2017 report released by
Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation, Janaagraha. Pune was ranked
first among 23 cities across India in terms of quality of urban governance. The
objective of survey was to measure preparedness of cities to deliver high
quality infrastructure and services in long term by evaluating city syst ems.
It spans 23 Indian cities and factors in answers to 89 questions .These
questions are classified on four categories viz. urban planning & design,
urban capacities & resources, transparency, accountability &
participation and empowered & legitimate political representation.
11. 105th session of
Indian Science Congress (ISC) at Manipur Central University in Imphal was
inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The focal theme of 5-day ISC is “Reaching
the Unreached through Science & Technology”.
12. Jaipur will co-host
8th Theatre Olympics, the largest international theatre festival being held for
the first time in India. As a co-host, it will provide great opportunity to highlight
the cultural heritage of Rajasthan. It will provide platform to number of folk
art forms and theatre performers from state have. Some of folk art forms like
Swaang, Gawri among others will be showcased during the theatre festival. The
8th edition of Theatre Olympics was inaugurated by Vice president Venkaih Naidu
in New Delhi in February 2018. The theme of festival is – “Flag of Friendship“.
The event was organised by National School of Drama (NSD). The 51-day long
nationwide theatre extravaganza will cover 17 cities in India with more than
25,000 artists performing 450 shows, 600 ambience performances and 250 youth
show. 30 countries participated in the festival from across the globe. The
Jaipur chapter of Theatre Olympics 2018 is organised by National School of
Drama (NSD) under the aegis of Ministry of Culture in collaboration with
Ravindra Manch Society and Art & Culture Department, Rajasthan Government.
International:
1. A
global human rights body Amnesty India on March 15, 2018 launched 'Halt the
Hate' website to track alleged hate crimes in India against
marginalised people such as the Dalits, Adivasis, religious minority groups and
transgenders.
2. Chinese
scientists developed artificial heart using Rocket Technology and it is
currently undergoing testing experiments on animals. The heart
was developed jointly by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) and
Teda International Cardiovascular Hospital in North China’s Tianjin. The
artificial heart uses magnetic and fluid levitation from rocket system. This
technology used can reduce damage to the blood and enable pumping of blood to
work longer.
Science & Technology/defence:
1. India’s first
cloned Assamese buffalo male calf named Sach-Gaurav was born in Hisar, Haryana. This credit goes to
The Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) It was born to Murrah
buffalo, at Hi Tech Sach Dairy Farm, 100 kms from cloning laboratory, making it
first buffalo calf to be born in field.
Appointments/Resignations:
1. Angela Merkel was
sworn in as Chancellor of Germany for a fourth term on March 15, 2018 after
lawmakers voted to re-elect her as leader in a close vote.
2. Slovakia’s Prime
Minister Robert Fico officially resigned, less than three
weeks after the murder of an investigative reporter Kuciak and his fiancee
Kusnirova.
Announcement !
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