DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: APRIL 25, 2018

NATIONAL

Mobile App (m-Awas) for allotment of General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) through Automated System of Allotment (ASA) launched:

Sh. Hardeep Puri, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs (I/C) launched a Mobile App (m-Awas) for allotment of Government accommodations in General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) in Delhi under the control of the Directorate of Estates. Secretary, Housing and Urban Affairs, Sh. Durga Shanker Mishra and other senior officers of the ministry were also present on the occasion. The application has been developed by NIC.

Mega vaccination campaign against Measles-Rubella to be initiated in Punjab:

The State-wide Vaccination Campaign against Measles-Rubella is all set to be initiated in Punjab from 1st May onwards as a part of a National strategy to eliminate Measles and control Rubella in the country. During the State-Wide Campaign against Measle-Rubella, around 75 lakh children aged between 9 months to 15 years will be vaccinated.

Punjab

• Capital:Chandigarh
• Governor: P. Singh Badnore
• Chief Minister:Captain Amarinder Singh

Government of India and World Bank Signs Agreement to Improve Rural Road Network in Madhya Pradesh:

The Government of India, the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the World Bank signed a $210 million loan agreement for the Madhya Pradesh Rural Connectivity Project. The Project is expected to improve the durability, resilience and safety of the gravel surfaced rural roads and enhances the capacity of the state to manage its rural roads network.

The Project will cover 10,510 km stretch of rural roads in Madhya Pradesh that fall under the Chief Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (CMGSY) program.

Madhya Pradesh

• Capital: Bhopal
• Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Governor: Anandiben Patel

Diu becomes first Smart City to run on 100 per cent renewable energy:

Diu Smart City has become the first city in India to run on renewable energy during daytime, setting a new benchmark for other cities to become clean and green. The city is offering its residents a subsidy of Rs 10, 000 to Rs 50,000 for installing 1-5KW roof top solar panels and its savings amount to 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. Diu had been importing 73 per cent of its power from Gujarat until last year.

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 29th Road Safety Week in New Delhi:

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated the 29th Road Safety Week at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Besides administering Road Safety oath, Gadkari also released a book named “Have a Safe Journey” and also awarded school students.

INTERNATIONAL

Canada and EU to co-host meeting of women foreign ministers:

Canada and the European Union will host the world’s first 2-Day female foreign ministers’ meeting in September 2018 in Canada. The announcement was made by the Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Attend Summit In Beijing:

Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are in Beijing to attend the foreign and defence ministers’ meet organised by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO.

Member countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation include China, India, Russia,  Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan.

Canada

• Currency: Canadian dollar
• Capital: Ottawa

 BANKING & BUSINESS

India signs loan agreement with World Bank for US$ 125 million for “Innovate in India for Inclusiveness Project”:

A Loan Agreement for IBRD credit of US$ 125 (equivalent) for the “Innovate in India for Inclusiveness Project” was signed with the World Bank on 24th April, 2018 in New Delhi. The Loan Agreement was signed by Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of Government of India and Mr. Hisham Abdo, Acting Country Director, World Bank (India) on behalf of the World Bank.

The Objectives of the project is to nurture indigenous innovation, foster local product development and accelerate commercialization process by bridging critical skill and infrastructure gaps to promote affordable and innovative healthcare products generation for inclusive development and increasing competitiveness in India.

Iran bans banks from using crypto currencies:

Iran banned the use of bitcoin and other crypto currencies by banks and financial institutions amid ongoing debate over how best to regulate the technology.

Iran

• Currency: Iranian rial
• Capital: Tehran
• President: Hassan Rouhani

Bank of India inks pact with NeSL to share data under insolvency rules:

State-run Bank of India (BoI) said it has entered into an agreement with National E-Governance Services (NeSL) for information utility (IU) arrangement under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

As per the agreement, BoI will avail NeSL service to expedite corporate insolvency resolution process. Under the IBC 2016, IU is proposed to offer services for accepting electronic submission of financial information, recording the same safely and accurately, verifying and authenticating the financial information submitted by a person and providing access to information stored to persons specified by the regulations. In September 2017, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) registered NeSL as the first IU.

Paytm Payments Bank registers 100M KYC wallets:

Paytm Payments Bank announced that it now has over 100 million KYC wallets, against the constant campaigning done by bank about the benefits of the Know Your Customer (KYC) system.

After the successful response received, the bank has introduced several options that include Paytm KYC centers and ‘Paytm-Ka-ATM’ outlets to offer more localised support.

E-commerce think tank to hold first meet:

Suresh Prabhu, the commerce and industry minister, will be holding the first ecommerce think tank meeting. The minister will chair the meeting which will aim at framing a national policy on ecommerce.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Jailed Egyptian Photographer Wins UNESCO Press Freedom Prize:

The United Nations’ cultural agency has ignored warnings from Egypt and awarded the World Press Freedom prize to an imprisoned Egyptian photographer.

A jury awarded the honor to Mahmoud Abu Zeid, known as Shawkan, who has been in jail since he was arrested in Cairo in August 2013 for covering a demonstration at Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square.

Sunderban Reserve Forest to obtain Ramsar site status:

The Sunderban Reserve Forest, spread of 4,260 sq. km. with over 2,000 sq. km. of mangrove forests and creeks, is likely to be declared a Ramsar Site.

West Bengal government gave its approval to the State Forest Department to apply for recognition under the Ramsar Convention.

The Indian Sunderbans, with 2,114 sq. km. of mangrove forests, comprise almost 43% of the mangrove cover in the country according to a 2017 Forest Survey of India report.

SPORTS

Shahzar Rizvi’s silver opens India’s account at ISSF World Cup:

World record holder Shahzar Rizvi claimed India’s first medal at the ongoing World Cup organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) at Changwon, South Korea.

He won the silver in the 10 meter air pistol event on day three of the year’s second World Cup. Rizvi missed the gold by 0.2 points to Russia’s Artem Chernousov. Samuil Donkov of Bulgaria won the Bronze.

Panathinaikos banned from European football for three years by UEFA:

Greek giants Panathinaikos have been banned from European competition for three years by UEFA for failing to pay their debts, European football’s governing body announced on Tuesday.

India win 8th South Asian Judo Championship:

India have clinched the title of team champion in the 8th series of South Asian Judo Championship. In the men’s team category, India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 3-2 in the finals to claim the title. Under the women’s team category, India thrashed hosts Nepal 5-0 to seal the title.

India ended their campaign in the tournament with a total of 12 Gold medals and three Bronze medals.

In the event which was held in Army Physical Training Center, Lagankhel, Nepal stood second with two Gold medals, seven Silver and 13 Bronze medals in total. Pakistan finished at the third spot with two Gold, four Silver and three Bronze medals.

HISTORIC EVENT OF THE DAY

National Panchayati Raj Day- 24^th April

National Panchayati Raj Day (National Local Self-Government day) is the national day of India celebrated by Ministry of Panchayati Raj on 24 April.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan at Ram Nagar on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day at Mandla in Madhya Pradesh.

Then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh inaugurated the first National Panchayati Raj Day in 2010.