DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: APRIL 29&30, 2018

NATIONAL

Sikkim Chief Minister Becomes India’s Longest-Serving CM

Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling created history by becoming the longest-serving CM in India.

He surpassed Jyoti Basu, 5-term Bengal CM from June 21, 1977 to November 6, 2000.

In 1993, Mr Chamling formed the Sikkim Democratic Front Party. Chamling, who first took office on December 12, 1994, has led SDF to five successive electoral victories.

With the slogan “New Sikkim, Happy Sikkim”, he launched policies and programmes to transform the state.

Sikkim

Capital: Gangtok

Governor: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

Dalmia Bharat Adopts Red Fort and Gandikota Fort

The Ministry of Tourism signed an MoU with Dalmia Bharat and the Archaeological Survey of India to adopt the iconic Red Fort monument in New Delhi and Gandikota Fort in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project.

The ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme was launched by President Ram Nath Kovind on World Tourism Day in 2018. The World Tourism Day is observed on September 27 every year.

Under the project, it will construct, landscape, illuminate and maintain activities related to provision and development of tourist amenities.

The ministry has also awarded the Letters of Intent to nine agencies for 22 monuments of Phase-IV of the scheme, including the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh, Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan, Mehrauli Archeological Park and Gol Gumbad in Delhi.

Ayushman Bharat Diwas celebrated across the country

As part of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, Ayushman Bharat Diwas is being celebrated across the country, April 30.

The Ayushman Bharat programme seeks to provide easily available and affordable medical facilities in the remote parts of the country. The Scheme has the benefits cover of 5 lakh rupees per family per year.

The target beneficiaries under the scheme will be over 10 crores poor and vulnerable, families.

The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan will strengthen the Panchayati Raj system across the country and address critical gaps that constrain its success.

INTERNATIONAL

Google: Most Trusted Internet Brand in India

According to TRA Brand Trust Report 2018 Google has become the first port of call for all things on the Internet. Facebook, ranked second in the list.

According to the report, e-commerce major Amazon, which had been ranking second since 2015, slipped to third position among the most trusted Internet brands in the country and e-Bay ranked fourth.

The other major e-commerce brand Flipkart was positioned sixth, up from 12th last year in the brand trust report.

The top trust gainers this year 2018 were Netflix (up 506 ranks over last year), Paypal (up 394 ranks over last year), Ebay (up 185 ranks over last year) and Jabong, up by 174 ranks.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

India’s GDP Likely To Grow 7.5% In FY19: Deutsche Bank

According to Deutsche Bank, India’s GDP is likely to grow to 7.5% in this year FY19. The current growth forecast for 2018-19 is 7.5%, which will mark an improvement from the 6.7% likely outturn in 2017-18.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expects India’s economic growth rate to strengthen to 7.4% in the current fiscal, from 6.6% in 2017-18.

Deutsche Bank

Headquarters: Frankfurt, Germany

CEO: Christian Sewing

HDFC Bank unveils IRA 2.0

HDFC Bank has announced the launch of IRA 2.0, its interactive humanoid. In its new avatar, IRA will enhance user experience for customers visiting the Koramangala branch in Bengaluru.

IRA will interact with customers, answer bank-related queries, frequently asked questions, and guide them inside the branch with voice-based navigation.

HDFC Bank also launched its virtual assistant ‘EVA’ on Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

IRA 2.0 has been developed by HDFC Bank in collaboration with its technology partners Invento Makerspaces and Senseforth Technologies.

HDFC Bank first launched a humanoid for customer service in January 2017 at the bank’s Kamala Mills Branch in Mumbai.

HDFC Bank

Headquarters: Mumbai

CEO: Aditya Puri

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Gujarati Poet Sitanshu Yashaschandra Chosen For Saraswati Samman 2017

Eminent Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashaschandras poetry collection “Vakhar” has been chosen for the Saraswati Samman for 2017.

The selection for the award is made by a high level Chayan Parishad (selection committee), presided over by former secretary general of Lok Sabha, Subhash C Kashyap.

His other poetry works include Odysseusnu Halesu-n and Jatayu. Yashaschandra has also been the recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, Kabir Samman and Padma Shri among others.

In 2017, the Saraswati Samman was given to Konkani novelist Mahabaleshwar Sail. The recipients of the award are given a cash prize of Rs 15 lakhs, a citation and a plaque.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Former PM Manmohan Singh Launches Economist Rao’s Book

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has released a book by former Planning Commission and Finance Commission member C H Hanumantha Rao. Mr Rao is presently one of the most creative thinkers, social activist, and distinguished economist in India.

The name of the book is ‘My Journey from Marxism-Leninism to Nehruvian Socialism’.

SPORTS

Rafael Nadal Wins 11th Barcelona Title

Rafael Nadal defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas for 11th Barcelona Open title. This was his 55th title on clay and it was the 77th title overall.

Nadal has also won his 11th Monte-Carlo Masters title last week. He is now the only man in ATP history to have won 400 matches on clay and 400 matches on hard court.

Indian fencer wins silver medal at Reykjavik tournament

India’s CA Bhavani Devi won a silver medal in the sabre event of the Tournoi World Cup Satellite Fencing Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland.

She had beaten Parede Torres in the quarterfinal and followed it up by getting past Guila Arpino of Italy in the semifinal. Bhavani Devi had won a gold at the Reykjavik tournament last year to become the first Indian win to do so in an international fencing event.

Barcelona Clinches Its 25th La Liga Title

Barcelona have clinched their 25th La Liga title by defeating Deportivo La Coruna. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi netted a hat-trick.

Barcelona have got this for the seventh time in 10 years.

Barcelona has 86 points after 34 matches and are 15 points ahead of third-placed Real Madrid.