NATIONAL AFFAIRS
SDMC to get 2nd waste-to-energy plant soon:
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has begun the process of approving the project, with the Standing Committee giving a nod to the 15 megawatt (MW) plant to be set up at Tekhand.
South Delhi may soon get its second waste-to-energy plant that would significantly reduce the amount of garbage that has collected at the Okhla landfill over the years.
I enjoyed challenging term: Vice President
“Everyday is a new day,” Hamid Ansari said about his nine-and-half years as Vice President (two successive terms). He was returning from a four-day visit to Rwanda and Uganda. His current term is to end in August 2017 and, after the ongoing set of Assembly elections, elections to the post of President and Vice President are the biggest events in India’s political calendar this year.
Inaugurates 112-foot bust of ‘Adi Yogi’ at Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated to the Mahashivaratri celebrations after inaugurating the 112-foot bust of the ‘Adi Yogi’ at the Isha Yoga Centre.
It was unfair to see yoga as just a set of exercises that it brought about inner peace and helped one live in harmony with nature.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Zhong Shan has been named new head of the Ministry of Commerce:
China has appointed a new head for its top economic planning agency and a new commerce minister as part of a reshuffle ahead of a crucial Communist Party meeting later this year.
Zhong Shan currently a vice commerce minister, has been named new head of the Ministry of Commerce taking over from Gao Hucheng.
India is America’s greatest strategic partner:
India is America’s “greatest” strategic partner and the country has been instrumental in helping the US build its technology and medical professions, a top US governor has said while urging other governors to visit the country.
“We clearly understand the strategic importance of India-US relations. As we grow our 21st century economy,” Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, who is also the chair of the powerful National Governors Association.
Indian High Commission to UK, YK Sinha Presents Credentials to Queen Elizabeth:
India’s 26th High Commissioner to the UK, Y.K. Sinha presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in a formal ceremony marked by royal pomp and a horse-drawn carriage. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Girija Sinha, the Deputy High Commissioner and senior officers of the High Commission.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
India building a supercomputer juggernaut:
India will likely unveil its most powerful supercomputer. If its processors operate at the full capacity of 10 petaflops (1 followed by 15 zeroes of floating point operations per second), a clock speed a million times faster than the fastest consumer laptops, it could earn a place among the world’s top 10 fastest supercomputers and improve weather forecasting.
The government has sanctioned ₹400 crore for the project this year. Most of the machine’s computing power will help in monsoon forecasting, using a dynamical model.
BANKING AND BUSINESS
Note ban sucked cash like vacuum cleaner: IMF
India’s demonetisation led to huge cash shortages that have “adversely affected” consumption and like a “vacuum cleaner” it sucked in cash and then was slowly replacing the currency.
Given the shortage of cash in the market, IMF in its report urged the Indian government to continue to enhance the supply of new banknotes, and if needed consider extending or expanding targeted temporary exemptions, including on use of old banknotes, particularly for rural and remote areas. Real GDP growth is projected to slow to 6.6% in FY2016/17 and then rebound to 7.2% in FY2017/18, due to temporary disruptions (primarily to private consumption) caused by cash shortages accompanying the currency exchange initiative.
‘FDI inflows zoom 18% to $46 billion in 2016’:
Foreign direct investment in India grew 18% during 2016 to touch $46 billion, data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion showed. The country attracted FDI of $39.32 billion in 2015. The main sectors which attracted the highest inflows were services, telecom, trading, computer hardware and software and automobile. Bulk of the FDI came in from Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands and Japan.
India, ADB ink pact for industrial corridor:
India and Asian Development Bank have signed a $375 million pact for loans and grants to develop 800-km Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor, which is the first phase of a planned 2,500-km East Coast Economic Corridor. ADB had last September approved $631 million in loans and grants for the corridor. The ADB said in a statement that it approved loans comprising a $500 million multitranche facility.
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Motherson’s Sehgal is EY Entrepreneur of 2016:
Vivek Chaand Sehgal, chairman of Motherson Sumi Systems Limited (MSSL), the flagship company of Samvardhana Motherson Group (SMG), has been chosen as the ‘EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2016’. Mr. Sehgal will represent India at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award ceremony at Monte Carlo in June.
The EOY is a global business award programme, now in its 18th year in India. Co-Founder of Infosys Nandan Nilekani gets the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the Unique Identification Authority of India – the Aadhaar initiative, which is a pioneering citizen identification programme.
SPORTS
Jason McCracken took charge as the CEO of the International Hockey Federation (FIH):
Jason McCracken took charge as the CEO of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the same time as Narinder Batra became its president and the New Zealander, who has been an elite umpire, technical official and an administrator for more than 20 years, believed world hockey is in a good place right now.
Shooting World Cup: Song Buhan, Shi Mengyao and Laetisha Scanlan set World records:
Pooja Ghatkar gave India a robust start, winning the women’s air rifle bronze in the shooting World Cup at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad. On a day when three World records were set — two by China’s Song Buhan and Shi Mengyao, and one by Laetisha Scanlan of Australia.
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Former PM releases latest edition based on Upinder Singh‘s 2008 book:
Upinder Singh, renowned historian and daughter of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released the Hindi edition of her 2008 book on ancient and medieval history. The book, titled Pracheen Evam Poorv Madhyakaleen Bharat ka Itihaas — Pashaan Kaal Se 12th Shatabdi Tak, was released by the former Prime Minister, former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi. The book has been published by Pearson India.
