DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS : FEBRUARY 28, 2018
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS : FEBRUARY 28, 2018
NATIONAL
Centre sanctions more than Rs. 700 crore under PMGSY for Arunachal Pradesh:
Union Rural Development Ministry has sanctioned more than Rs. 700 crore for 43 roads and 15 bridges under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for Arunachal Pradesh.
A total of 685 KM of roads and 577 metres of bridges will be constructed out of the sanctioned amount.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the grant and said his concern for Arunachal Pradesh in terms of connectivity is evident from the positive gesture.
Arunachal Pradesh
- Capital:Itanagar
- Chief Minister: Pema Khandu
- Governor:B D Mishra
I&B Minister Smriti Irani releases ‘India-2018’ book:
Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani released India 2018 and Bharat 2018.
The books are published by the Publications Division. An annual government publication on its policies and development programmes, they are available in both print and online versions.
INTERNATIONAL
Kabul Process Conference held:
Kabul Process Conference, which is aimed at discussing security and political issues in Afghanistan, held.
Nearly 23 countries including Pakistan are participating in the day long event. Foreign Secretary Vijay K Gokhale will represent India at the conference.
International bodies like the European Union, United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) are also scheduled to converge into the Afghan capital to attend the conference.
The meeting aims to secure support for an agreement to end backing of cross-border terrorism and to find a peaceful solution in ending the decades-long insurgency in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan
- Currency: Afghan afghani
- Capital: Kabul
BANKING & BUSINESS
RBI raises currency derivative trade limit to USD 100 mn:
The Reserve Bank raised the exposure limit under exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) trading for residents and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to USD 100 million across all currency pairs involving the Indian rupee. The RBI’s decision to raise the limit will help entities engaged in forex transactions to maintain their currency risks in a better manner.
Earlier, the RBI had imposed a limit of USD 15 million for USD-INR and USD 5 million for other currency pairs of Indian rupee with Euro, Japanese Yen and British Pound.
India Ranks 47th On Inclusive Internet Index: Facebook
India is ranked 47th out of 86 countries when it comes to inclusive Internet and connectivity for all, a Facebook report. Facebook, which commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to create a comprehensive “Inclusive Internet Index,” found India in the middle of Asian countries (12th out of 23) when it comes to connectivity.
Sweden took the first place, followed by Singapore and the US.
The scores on the index, which covered 91% of the world’s population, is based on the scores of Availability, Affordability, Relevance and Readiness categories.
SBI, Tez focus on growth of digital payments ecosystem:
Technology giant Google announced a deeper integration with State Bank of India (SBI) for its mobile payments app, Tez. The integration will allow Tez users to now create a SBI Unified Payments Interface (UPI) id – @oksbi and get access to exclusive offers for SBI customers.
The two will focus on building unique propositions for users and merchants including specially curated offers.
IndusInd Bank and Ripple tie-up for cross border remittances:
IndusInd Bank announced its partnership with Ripple, the enterprise blockchain solution for Global Payments, to facilitate payments into and out of India. With this affiliation, RippleNet can now provide instant access in emerging markets such as India, Brazil and China.
In 2017, India saw a total of $65 billion move into the country and IndusInd Bank which has significant interests in cross border remittances, plans to harness the power of Blockchain technology for facilitating global payments.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
Pakistani mountaineer Samina Baig appointed UNDP goodwill ambassador:
Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman to have climbed Mount Everest, was appointed as the national goodwill ambassador by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Baig will lead efforts to build national awareness and partnerships around Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate change, environmental protection and women empowerment.
Pakistan
- Currency: Pakistani rupee
- Capital: Islamabad
- Prime Minister:Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
AWARDS & HONOURS
Roger Federer wins Sportsman & Comeback of the Year awards at Laureus:
Twenty-times Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has won the 2017 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Comeback of the Year awards.The 36-year old Swiss star bagged the honour last night at the 18th edition of the awards ceremony in Monaco.
Serena Williams took home the World Sportswoman of the Year award after winning her 23rd grand slam in 2017.
Formula 1 constructors’ champions Mercedes picked up the Team of the Year trophy, while wheelchair athlete Marcel Hug bagged the Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
SPORTS
PyeongChang Winter Olympics 2018 Important Highlights:
PyeongChang Winter Olympics 2018, officially known as the XXIII Olympic Winter Games were held in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The motto of Winter Olympics 2018 was “Passion.Connected”.
Soohorang, a white tiger, and Bandai, an Asiatic black bear were the official mascots for this event.
Top Tally- Top 3 Countries-
- Norway (Total 39).
- Germany (Total 31).
- Canada (Total 11).
Senior Asian Wrestling Ch’ship: 55 kg. Greco Roman Wrestler won Bronze Medal
Indian Greco Roman Style Wrestler Rajender Kumar won Bronze Medal in 55 kg weight category in 2018 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship being held at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
In repechage round, he defeated Tajikistan Wrestler Khasan Sufiev by 8-0 points.
In final bout of Bronze Medal, he defeated Uzbek Wrestler Javokhir Mirakhmedov by 3-3 points and secured Bronze Medal for India.
OBITUARY
Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati passes away:
Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Mutt, passed away in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Born as Sri Subramaniyam on July 18, 1935, at Irul neeki in Tiruvarur, Jayendra Saraswathi was the head of the Kanchi Mutt etablished by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century.
Noted Odia author Kanakalata Mohanty dies :
Noted Odia author Kanakalata Mohanty died in a private hospital. She was 82.
She has written several novels, including ‘Ete Andhara’, ‘Kete Jwala’ and ‘Anuradha’, and more than 100 short stories.
HISTORIC EVENT OF THE DAY
National Science Day: February 28
National Science Day being observed on February 28. The day is observed to mark the discovery of Raman effect by Physicist CV Raman on 28th February, 1928.
The objective is to spread the message of importance of science and its application among the people.
Theme of the year 2018 is “Science and Technology for a sustainable future“.
PM Modi pays tribute to former PM Morarji Desai on his birth anniversary:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to former Prime Minister Morarji Desai on his birth anniversary.
Born on 29th February 1896 Morarji Desai participated in the freedom movement. He served as the 4th Prime Minister of India.
He also served as Deputy Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Union Finance Minister and Chief Minister of Bombay State.
He died at the age of 99 on 10th April, 1995.
