National:
1. The Eighth Regional 3R
Forum in Asia and Pacific , co-organized by Ministry of Housing and Affairs,
Japan’s Environment Ministry, and United Nations Centre for Regional
Development (UNCRD) was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The theme of this edition of forum was “Achieving Clean Water,
Clean Land and Clean Air through 3R and Resource Efficiency– A 21st Century
Vision for Asia-Pacific Communities”. The event saw participation of around 40
mayors of cities around the world and mayors of more than 100 cities across
India. The Regional 3R Forum in Asia and Pacific was launched in 2009 in Tokyo,
Japan with objective of integrating 3Rs– reduce, reuse and recycle in policy, planning
and development.
2. The 8th edition of Theatre Olympics which was
inaugurated by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu in February 2018 at the majestic
Red Fort in New Delhi was concluded in Mumbai, Maharashtra after glorious run
of 51 days across 17 cities of India and showcasing rich heritage and culture
across length and breadth of the country. The 8th
Theatre Olympics was biggest international theatre festival held in India for
first time. It staged more than 400 plays and hosted 78 allied events including
34 Living Legend series, 29 Master Classes, seven Interfaces, six national and
international seminars and two workshops across 17 cities. Besides, about 600
ambience performances and 250 youth forum shows were also held during the
nationwide event. It was organised by National School of Drama (NSD) under
Ministry of Culture. The theme of the festival was – “Flag of Friendship“.
3. A linguist Prof Panchanan
Mohanty from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has discovered two languages
recently called Walmiki and Malhar, which were “lying hidden from linguists”.The languages are categorised `endangered’ as it is spoken by a
very small number of people. The Malhar is spoken by just 75 people including
children from a particular community. These people live in a remote and
isolated hamlet about 165 kms from Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha.
4. The state government of
Maharashtra has announced that cancer patients would be provided with free
chemotherapy treatment at district hospitals. The
first phase of the plan would start in June 2018. The move aims to
ease the travelling and lodging problems of cancer patients who come to
Mumbai's Tata Memorial Hospital in Parel, which is one of the country's premier
cancer treatment facilities, for six-week chemotherapy course as a part of
their treatment.
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5. The state government of
Goa has decided to launch its own app-based taxi service to few key tourist
destinations of the state. The taxi
operators who hold the license to run cabs in Goa would be eligible to register
for the new transport service. The new service would operate from locations
such as GTDC residencies and hotels across the state, the Mormugao Port Trust
jetty where cruise vessels anchor, the airport and the St Monica Jetty in
Panaji, besides other spots.
6. The state government of
Kerala on April 7, 2018 issued protocols that are to be followed to confirm
brain death cases.The main aim of the
move is to make organ transplantation more transparent in the state. Speaking
on the same, the state’s Health Minister K K Shylaja said that it is for the
first time that a state in the country is putting in place the Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs) to confirm brain death cases. The guidelines
were drawn on the basis of a directive of the Kerala High Court to put an end
to the concerns and doubts of the public related to the procedures of organ
donations of deceased and transplantation.
7. The Supreme Court on April
9, 2018 asked the Union Government to file its draft scheme by May 3 in
pursuance of its judgment in the Cauvery water dispute case. The court said that it has considered the Cauvery
Water Disputes Tribunal award and decided the water share for states, which has
to be complied with. The Centre, which is up against a plea from
Tamil Nadu for contempt of court, agreed to file a draft scheme implementing
the court’s February 16 judgment for allocation of Cauvery water among
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry.The Apex
court also directed competent authorities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to
maintain peace in their states till the court finally approves the scheme for
implementation of its judgment on Cauvery water distribution.
8. Odisha Public e-library set up by Berhampur Municipal
Corporation (BeMC) and Odisha Society of America (OSA) has started functioning from the
Berhampur Town Hall in Odisha. The Odisha Public e-library is
expected to support the library movement of Odisha and help computer literate
students. The library was opened for the public on 4th April 2018.
The BeMC will connect with the National Informatics Center (NIC) so that its
e-Granthalaya can also be accessed. The library has employed two staff members
and one technical worker.OSA (Odisha Society of America) is an
association of Odia people living in the US. OSA had offered Rs 20 lakh for the
e-library through chief minister’s relief fund.
International:
1.
India and Nepal have agreed to boost cooperation in connectivity
sector as they decided to develop inland waterways for cargo movement within
Protocol to Treaty of Transit between India and Nepal. Both countries recognised untapped potential of inland
waterways to contribute towards overall economic development of the region.
2.
India and South Korea signed mutual recognition of certificate
of competency of seafarers Korea to provide Indian seafarers employment on over
500 Korean ships during four-day visit of Shipping, Road Transport &
Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to South Korea. The pact will help in creating job opportunities for Indian
seafarers and also pave way for recognition of maritime education and training
through various certificates issued for seafarers by governments of both
countries.
3. Hungary's right-wing Prime
Minister Viktor Orban on April 8, 2018 claimed a landslide victory in the
nation’s general election. Orban will serve a third consecutive
term in office, with his party Fidesz projected to keep its key two-thirds
majority in parliament. Hungary's National Election Office stated
that Fidesz party has won almost half of the vote, with 93 percent of ballots
counted.
4. China has banned the
export to North Korea of some items with potential dual-use in weapons of mass
destruction. The announcement
of the export bans comes amid a tightening of exports from China to North
Korea. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce gave details of 32
materials, technologies and forms of equipment with potential use related to
weapons of mass destruction, including particle accelerators and centrifuges.
5. The United Nations
Security Council would be meeting tonight following requests by Russia and the
United States after a deadly chemical attack in Syria. Russia called for a meeting of the 15-member
council on international threats to peace and security while 9 countries
including US, UK and France had called an emergency meeting of the UN Security
Council over an alleged chemical attack in Syria.Russian President
Vladimir Putin and Iran have been blamed for a chemical attack in Douma, Syria
that killed at least dozens of people. Both Syria and Russia,
however, denied that a chemical attack took place and said they have reached an
evacuation deal with the Jaish al-Islam rebels who hold Douma. Under
the deal, 100 buses are said to be moving 8,000 fighters and 40,000 of their
relatives out of the battered town. Hostages who had been held by the rebels
are being set free.
Science and Technology/ Defence:
1. The-counter sale of 14
steroid creams to prevent indiscriminate sale of ointments containing steroids
and antibiotics without prescription was banned by the Union Health and Family
Welfare Ministry. The decision was taken
following consultation with Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB). These 14
preparations were included under Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules,
1945 to impose the ban. It also had submitted their recommendations to Central
Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO). Schedule H is a class of
prescription drugs listed under Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 which governs
manufacture and sale of all drugs in India. These are drugs cannot be purchased
over counter without prescription of qualified doctor. It is revised time
to time on advice of DTAB.
2. Four kingfisher bird
species thriving were recently identified in Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary in
Andhra Pradesh. They are Pied Kingfisher
(Ceryle rudis), White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), Black-capped
Kingfisher (Halcyon pileate) and Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). In India,
12 species of kingfisher bird can be sighted. The four sighted in sanctuary are
wetland dependents.
3. A new class of antibiotics
called odilorhabdins or ODLs that fights drug resistance have been discovered
by the researchers. It was produced by symbiotic
bacteria found in soil-dwelling nematode worms that colonise insects for food.
4. The humanity’s first
mission Parker Solar Probe (PSP) to the Sun in July 31, 2018 is going to launch
by NASA. It is NASA’s first planned robotic
spacecraft to study outer corona of Sun. It has been designed and built by
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. It is named after solar
astrophysicist Eugene Parker, first spacecraft of NASA to be named after living
person. It is undergoing final preparations for its scheduled launch on board
of NASA’s Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
After its launch, the probe will orbit directly through solar atmosphere — the
corona — closer to surface than any human-made object has ever gone.
5. Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI) on April 9, 2018 mooted an ambitious model of a
public Wi-Fi grid that aims to slash Internet access cost by 90 per cent and
push broadband proliferation in India. TRAI
Chairman RS Sharma stated that the regulator's concept involves Public Data
Office Providers (PDOs) - much like PCOs that galvanised connectivity. The
PDOs will be companies or even small merchants, interested in providing Wi-Fi
hotspots to the public using either free or paid model.
Economy:
1.
RBI under its Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework has
placed 11 public sector banks (PSBs) out of 21 State-owned banks because of
deteriorating performance. Three-four more PSBs are
expected to be brought under PCA framework. PCA is process or mechanism to
ensure that banks don’t go bust. Under it, RBI has put in place some trigger
points to assess, monitor, control and take corrective actions on banks which
are weak and troubled. Since PCA framework restricts amount of loans banks can
extend, placing 11 PSBs under it will put pressure on credit being made
available to companies especially MSMEs. The 11 banks already under PCA
framework are IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India (BoI), Central Bank of India,
Indian Overseas Bank, Dena Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), Bank of
Maharashtra (BoM), United Bank of India, Corporation Bank and Allahabad Bank.
2.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched by the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas in New Delhi. Under it gas
connections will be distributed to identified beneficiary women in the national
capital. The scheme aims to empower women and protect their health by shifting
them from traditional cooking based on unclean cooking fuels or on fossil fuels
to clean cooking gas. In February 2018, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA) had approved to enhance target base of PMUY from 5 crore to 8 crore. PMUY
was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2016 with tagline of Swachh
Indhan, Behtar Jeevan. It is first social welfare scheme implemented by
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
3. SEBI will take action in a
phased manner against more than 14,700 entities for non-genuine trades through
illiquid stock option segment. According
to a SEBI order on April 5, adjudication proceedings have been initiated
against 567 entities involved in such trades in the first phase. The
market regulator came across violations by 14,720 entities while it was probing
59 entities in a case related to alleged trading irregularities in stock
options segment of the BSE.
4. Pradhanmantri Kaushal
Vikas Yojna ( PMKVY) was launched by Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar
Deb in Agartala on April 7, 2018.Under this programme, the state aims to achieve the target to
provide training to more than 1 lakh 16,000 youths by 2020. Under it,
those who wish to start, especially the small-scale industries, will be
provided land, other assistance and security.The state government is
also planning to promote industrialisation based on pineapple, bamboo, rubber
and jackfruit.The programme is expected to solve the problem of
unemployment prevailing in the state.
5. RInfra said that, it has obtained purchase order of Rs 1,081 crore for Common Services System,
Structure & Components (SSC) package and allied civil works of Unit -3 and
4 of the Kudankulam project at Tirunelveli District. The contract
comprises design, engineering, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of
SSC package and allied civil works on EPC basis. This project will be commissioned in 56 months. The contract value is
inclusive of taxes and duties and also has imported component of USD 23.2
million.
Sports:
1. The Indian mixed badminton
contingent claimed its maiden Commonwealth Games gold medal on April 9, 2018, thrashing three-time defending champions Malaysia in the final
at Gold Coast, Australia. India also swept the Table Tennis team events
at the CWG with both their men’s and women’s team bagging the gold medal. The
Indian men’s table tennis team matched the women’s team by claiming a memorable
gold medal with a 3-0 win over Nigeria in the final on April 9. It is the first
time since the sport’s induction into the Commonwealth Games’ program that
India has topped both categories.
2. Five-time world champion M
C Mary Kom has assured herself a medal on her debut appearance at the ongoing
Commonwealth Games. The 35-year-old Olympic
bronze-medalist entered the semi-finals in Gold Coast with a 5-0 win over
Scotland's Megan Gordon. Her win has assured the Indian boxing
contingent of its first CWG medal.
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