Current Affairs April – 25 – Centre plans UID for cows against smuggling

NATIONAL

TN Joins Centre’s “BharatNet” Programme:

Tamil Nadu government signed a MoU with Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) for implementing Centre’s rural internet connectivity programme, ‘BharatNet’. It connects 12,524 village panchayats. A sum of Rs 50 lakh has been allocated as the state’s share capital.

U.P challenges to become ODF state by Oct 2nd 2018:

On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath announced that the state will become an “Open Defecation Free” (ODF) state by October 2018. He also released the quarterly magazine ‘Gramoday Sankalp’ and its online version.

Centre set to launch scheme “IDEAS” for students:

The Centre is set to launch a scheme to be called “IDEAS” (Innovations for Development of Efficient and Affordable Systems) for students from higher educational institutions.

Rs.1 crore to be rewarded for volunteer who offer innovative, original and practical solutions to problems country faces. The participation of IITs, NITs and CFTIs will be mandatory.

MPT constructs India’s “First Longest Ropeway” across Arabian Sea:

Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) plans to construct India’s “first and longest 8-km ropeway” across the Arabian Sea which connects Mumbai with the famous Elephanta Island (UNESCO World Heritage site). It begins from Sewri in Mumbai’s east coast and end at Raigad district’s Elephanta Island.

Centre plans UID for cows against smuggling:

The Centre has proposed issuing “Unique Identification Number Sequences” for cows to protect them from cattle smuggling to become mandatory throughout India. A “tamper-proof identification using polyurethane tags” which provides full identification details to be used.

INTERNATIONAL

Pakistan court allows worship at Shiva temple:

A bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) of Pakistan headed by Justice Ateeq Hussain Shah permitted Hindus to worship at the Shiv Jee temple of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under section 20 of the Constitution. It had been off-limits for 20 years.

Banking & Business

HCL acquires Urban Fulfillment Services for $30 mn:

HCL Technologies acquired U.S.-based provider of mortgage business, Urban Fulfillment Services (UFS) for $30 million. The acquisition strengthens HCL’s capabilities in mortgage BPO services, loan fulfillment and debt servicing.

SBI and CREDAI Joins For “Affordable Housing”:

SBI and CREDAI had signed an MoU to provide loans at a concessional rate to builders and customers for “Affordable  Housing Projects” This project helps the real estate sector specifically affordable and green housing projects. The duration of the agreement is three years.

SBI and CREDAI Joins For “Affordable Housing”:

LIC has introduced two Aadhaar based endowment assurance plans. “Aadhaar Shila” exclusively for women and “Aadhaar Stambh” is meant for men.

Amount assured on death under Aadhaar Stambh is 100% whereas for Aadhaar Shila it is 110%. This plan is available from age 8-55 years and maturity is 70 years and the terms available are from 10 to 20 years.

YES Bank ties up with Paisabazaar.com:

    Private sector lender YES Bank announced alliance with Paisabazaar.com under which the bank will offer conditionally approved loans to the latter’s existing customers.

The aim is to make the process of availing a loan easy and seamless and act as a one stop financial solution provider for all retail lending needs of the customer through its advanced analytics and data mining capabilities.

e-SOT, e-PRAN cards launched for Atal Pension Yojana users:

To benefit and digitally empower over 45 lakhs Atal Pension Yojana (APY) subscribers, the facility of online viewing of the statement of transaction (e-SOT card) and also the e- Permanent Retirement Account Number (e-PRAN card) were launched. APY Subscribers can print their e PRAN card and get it laminated for their future reference if needed.

YES Bank awarded Golden Peacock Award 2017 for innovative mobile technology product SIMsePAY:

    India’s fifth largest private sector Bank, YES BANK has won the prestigious ‘Golden Peacock Innovative Product/Service Award 2017’ for its innovative mobile technology product, SIMsePAY at the Dubai Global Convention 2017 for the 27th World Congress on Leadership in Business Excellence & Innovation and Presentation of Golden Peacock Awards.

Science & Technology

3 African Countries Pilots World’s First Malaria Vaccine From 2018:

WHO reported that Ghana, Kenya and Malawi which has high rate of malaria to pilot the world’s first injectable malaria vaccine, called “RTS,S or Mosquirix,” for babies and children from 2018. It was developed by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline with the non-profit PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative and part-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  

AWARDS

Singer Vani Jairam Honoured With    Ghantasala National Award:

Versatile playback singer Vani Jairam was presented the Ghantasala National Award in Ongole. The singer said she valued most the award instituted in the memory of the legendary singer Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao.

Prafulla Samantara wins Goldman Environmental Prize 2017

Activist Prafulla Samantara was named as one of the six winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize for 2017. He was honoured for his “historic 12-year legal battle” that affirmed the indigenous Dongria Kondh’s land rights and protected the Niyamgiri Hills from a massive, open-pit aluminum ore mine by Vedanta group in Odisha.

Filmmaker-Actor K. Viswanath wins Dadasaheb Phalke Award:

Renowned filmmaker and actor Padma Shri Kasinadhuni Viswanath, best known for his award-winning movies in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi, has won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2016.

It is the highest recognition in Indian cinema. President Pranab Mukherjee presents the award on May 3 at Vigyan Bhawan.

John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Honours Obama:

Former U.S. President Mr. Barack Obama will receive the 2017 Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in Boston. The award is considered as nation’s pre-eminent award for ‘elected officials and public servants’.

SPORTS

Younis Khan “First Pakistan Player” to Join 10,000 Club:

Younis Khan became the first Pakistan player to complete 10,000 Test runs on the third day at Sabina Park against West Indies. He got there in his 208th innings. He became the sixth fastest among the 13 batsmen to have passed the milestone.

Olympian Manpreet Kaur wins Shot Put Gold with National record:

Olympian Manpreet Kaur produced a stunning 18.86m, broke her own National record of 17.96m and won the women’s shot put gold at the athletics Asian Grand Prix. The athlete easily qualifies for this August’s World Championships in London where the entry standard is 17.75m.

Centenarian Man Kaur wins 100m sprint:

The 101-year-old Man Kaur won the 100m sprint at the World Masters Games in Auckland. It was her 17th gold medal in the Indian athlete’s late-blooming career. Ms. Kaur clocked 1min 14 sec duration. Ms. Kaur was the only participant in the 100-years-and-over category.

Historical Events of the Day

April 25th – World Malaria Day: 

    World Malaria Day is observed on 25th of April every year. It was established in May 2007 by the  World Health Assembly  to provide “education and understanding of malaria” and spread information to prevention and treatment in endemic areas.

Theme of the year 2017: “Let’s close the gap”.