DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS : MARCH 1, 2018

NATIONAL

Lakshadweep joins “UDAY” scheme; would derive an overall net benefit of Rs 8 crore through “UDAY”:

The Government of India and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Scheme Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY), for operational turnaround of the Union Territory’s Electricity Department. An overall net benefit of approximately Rs. 8 crore would accrue to Lakshadweep by participating in UDAY. The reduction in AT&C losses to 10.00 per cent is likely to bring additional revenue of around Rs. 3 crore during the period of turnaround.

Lakshadweep

Capital: Kavaratti
Administrator: Farooq Khan

Cabinet approves the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018:

The apex anti-terror body National Investigation Agency (NIA) will be the nodal authority for probing cases of human trafficking after the government approved a proposal in this regard.

The Union Cabinet approves the draft Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, which also proposes a punishment of life imprisonment for repeat offenders. In order to empower the NIA to probe trafficking cases, the National Investigation Act, 2008, will have to be amended.

Country’s first Aviation Multi Skill Development Centre launched in Chandigarh:

Union Minister of Civil Aviation P Ashok Gajapathi Raju inaugurated the country’s first Aviation Multi Skill Development Centre at Chandigarh Airport’s old terminal. The centre, which is a CSR initiative of Airports Authority of India (AAI), will initially train 2,360 students free of cost in three years.

The centre has come up in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council (AASSC) of India. With an outlay of Rs.5.25 crore, this project which is a unique CSR initiative of AAI. NSDC, the implementing agency of MSDE, in collaboration with the Bird Education Society for Travel & Tourism (BESTT) will undertake the training programmes.

Government starts process to build India’s first defence ‘Quad’:

The Defence Ministry has started the process to set up the country’s first Defence Industrial Corridor – ‘Quad’ or quadrilateral corridor will connect Chennai, Hosur, Coimbatore, Salem and Tiruchirappalli of Tamil Nadu to promote industries manufacturing weapons and military equipment.

While presenting Union Budget 2018-19, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced that two defence industrial production corridors will be set up in India to promote domestic defence industry. As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the other defence industrial corridor will come up in the Bundelkhand region which shall bring an investment of Rs 20,000 crore.

Haryana Cabinet approves proposal to give death penalty to rapists of girls aged 12 or below:

The Haryana government approved a proposal to enact a law providing for capital punishment to those found guilty of sexually abusing girls aged 12 years or below. This will entail amending provisions under Section 376 that relate to rape, Section 354 (assault or criminal force against woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 354D (2) (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code.

As per the new legislation, individual/s found guilty of rape or gang rape of a girl up to 12 years of age, will be punished with death sentence or rigorous imprisonment of not less than 14 years which may extend to imprisonment for life, which is for remainder period of person’s natural life.

Haryana

Capital: Chandigarh
Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
Governor: Kaptan Singh Solanki

Indian Railways launch idea competition, SRIJAN to redevelop over 600 stations:

Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC) is taking up redevelopment of around 600 major Railway stations across the country. Towards this objective of stakeholders’ consultation, an idea competition for development of 635 stations on Indian Railways, ‘SRIJAN’ (Station Rejuvenation Initiative through Joint ActioN) has been launched at MyGov portal. The winner for logo competition will get cash prize of Rs 75,000/-and for tagline also will get Rs 75,000/-.

CMFRI to launch e-com portal, mobile app for fishermen:

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has come up with a solution that will help fishermen fetch better price for their catch without depending on middlemen. The institute has developed a multi-vendor e-commerce website “www.marinefishsales.com” and mobile app “marinefishsales” to help fish farmers and fishermen sell their catch directly to customers online.

It was developed under the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project of the CMFRI as part of improving income of the coastal community. The CMFRI will monitor vendor profiles, order status and sales.

Shri J P Nadda launches Viral Load test for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV):

Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the ‘‘Viral Load testing for all People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV)”. The initiative will provide free of cost viral load testing for 12 lakh PLHIV on treatment in the country at least once a year.

He said that routine viral load testing will optimize the utilization of 1^st line regimens, thus preventing drug resistance and ensuring the longevity of people living with HIV.

Chilika lake largest habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins globally:

The Chilika lake in Odisha has emerged as the single largest habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins in the world with the spotting of 155 such animals, a Chilika Development Authority (CDA). The finding is based on the preliminary report of the first ever ‘Annual Monitoring’ of the lake.

Odisha

Capital: Bhubaneswar
Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
Governor: C. Jamir

Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani attends 27th IJIRA:

Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani attended the 27th Technological Conference of Indian Jute Industries’ Research Association on Shaping the Future of Jute in Kolkata. She said the promotion of geo textiles in the north east is the priority of the government. She also hailed the work done by IJIRA in including geo-textile in building new India.

West Bengal

Capital: Kolkata
Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee
Governor: Keshari Nath Tripathi

Inauguration 1st Mega Food Park in Maharashtra at Satara:

The first Mega Food Park in the state of Maharashtra M/s Satara Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd. at Village Degaon, District Satara will be inaugurated by Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, in the presence of Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra.

This is the 10th Mega Food Park being operationalized in the country and the 8th operationalized during the tenure of present government. Under the Scheme, Government of India provides financial assistance up to Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Park project. Satara Mega Food Park has been set up in 64 acre of land at a cost of Rs. 139.30 crore.

Maharashtra

Capital: Mumbai
Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis
Governor: Vidyasagar Rao

INTERNATIONAL

Kathmandu: 7th meeting of EPG on Nepal-India relations concludes

The seventh meeting of Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations has concluded in Kathmandu. Issues like the 1950 Peace and Friendship treaty, trade, environment, border and hydropower were discussed in the meeting.

Nepal

Prime minister: Khadga Prasad Oli
Currency: Nepalese rupee
Capital: Kathmandu

BANKING & BUSINESS

Economy to grow at 7.6% in calendar year 2018: Moody’s

Moody’s Investors Service said the Indian economy is starting to recover from the negative impact of demonetisation and disruption caused by the GST roll-out, but kept GDP growth estimates unchanged at 7.6 per cent for 2018 and for 2019 at 7.5 per cent.

G20 economies will collectively grow 3.4 per cent in 2018 and 3.2 per cent in 2019, up from prior forecasts of 3.2 per cent and 3.1 per cent, respectively.

MOODY’S Investors Service

Headquarters:New York, United States
CEO: Raymond W. McDaniel Jr.

EPFO makes online claims must for PF withdrawals above Rs 10 lakh:

Retirement fund body EPFO has made it mandatory to file online claims for provident fund withdrawals above Rs 10 lakh, taking another step towards becoming a paperless organisation. The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has also made it mandatory to file online claims for withdrawals of above Rs 5 lakh under the Employees Pension Scheme 1995.

Catholic Syrian Bank ties up with Celebrus:

The Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd (CSB) has tied up with Celebrus Capital Ltd (Celebrus), to offer CSB’s customers online trading and demat services. With this partnership, CSB’s customers will be able to open a Celebrus trading account free of cost and also enjoy preferred rates on brokerage charges/AMC fees on the demat account. The agreement also enables Celebrus to distribute other banking products through its marketing channels across India.

Catholic Syrian Bank

Headquarters: Thrissur
CEO: Anand Krishnamurthy

APPOINTMENTS

PNB appoints A K Pradhan as Group Chief Risk Officer:

Hit by nearly Rs 12,700 crore fraud, Punjab National Bank (PNB) appointed its general manager A K Pradhan as the Group Chief Risk Officer. PNB said that the amount of fraud in the Nirav Modi case can go up to Rs 12,700 crore as against the earlier estimate of Rs 11,400 crore.

Punjab National Bank

Headquarters: New Delhi
CEO: Sunil Mehta
Tagline: The name you can bank upon

Ias Sudhir Tripathy appointed as Chief Secretary: Government of Jharkhand:

Senior IAS officer Sudhir Tripathy is likely to be appointed as the next Chief Secretary of Jharkhand. He will be succeeding the incumbent Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma who is retiring on Feb end. Tripathy, an IAS officer of 1985 batch, is presently at the post of Additional Chief Secretary in the state health department.

Jharkhand

Capital: Ranchi
Chief Minister: Raghubar Das
Governor: Draupadi Murmu

SPORTS

Tokyo 2020 mascots unveiled as futuristic superheroes:

Japan has chosen two futuristic fox-like creatures with “supernatural” powers as its mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The as-yet unnamed mascots won a vote among schoolchildren, beating four other equally surreal contenders.

The Blue Olympic Foxy Creature has “an old-fashioned charm that reflects tradition and also has a high-tech, cutting edge vibe”. The Pink Paralympic Creation also has a special power – it can “talk with stones and the wind” and move things with its mind. It has a “dignified inner strength”, and while normally calm, it “gets very powerful when needed”.

Japan

Capital: Tokyo
Currency: Yen
Prime minister: Shinzō Abe

OBITUARY

Best-Selling British Novelist Penny Vincenzi Dead at 78:

British writer Penny Vincenzi, whose stories of romance, rivalry and family secrets topped best-seller lists, has died. She was 78. Vincenzi worked as a journalist before publishing her first novel “Old Sins,” in 1989.

Former SC Judge Ratnavel Pandian passes away:

Former Supreme Court Judge Justice S Ratnavel Pandian passed away after a brief illness. He was 89. He served as Supreme Court Judge from 1988 to 1994. After retirement as judge of the Apex court, he was appointed chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes.

IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THE DAY

Zero Discrimination Day – March 1

On 1 March, people around the world join together to celebrate Zero Discrimination Day.
The UN first celebrated Zero Discrimination Dayon March 1, 2014 by UNAIDS.
The day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout all of the member countries of the UN.

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