DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: MARCH 15, 2018

NATIONAL
The Book signed by Tagore auctioned for USD 700

A signed hardcover copy of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘The King of the Dark Chamber’ – the English translation of his famous Bengali play ‘Raja’ – has been sold for USD 700 at an auction in the US.
Signed on a prefatory page in fountain pen by Tagore, the Bolpur edition of the book was published by The Macmillan Company in 1916.
Tagore became the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize (Literature) in 1913.

Pune Tops In Improved Quality Governance: Survey

Pune has emerged as the top city to show improvement in quality of governance, according to a survey.

Janaagraha released its 5th edition of its Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS), which evaluated the quality of governance in 23 major cities across 20 states based on 89 questions.

NCRB launches ‘Citizen Services’ mobile app

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) launched a mobile app called ‘Citizen Services’ on March 11, 2018, on the occasion of its 33rd Inception Day.

The application has been developed in-house by the NCRB. It will offer various essential police related services to the citizens.

The application will also enable a complainant to download FIR, except in cases of those categorized as ‘sensitive’.

The services aim to provide a smooth interface between the citizens and the police.

INTERNATIONAL
Saudi Arabia Cabinet Approves Nuclear Power Program National Policy

Saudi Arabia’s cabinet approved the national policy of the atomic energy program.
The national policy includes limiting all nuclear activities to peaceful purposes, within the limits defined by international treaties.
It also stressed on the importance of optimal utilization of natural resources from nuclear materials and applying best practices for radioactive waste management.

India,Madagascar signed umbrella agreement in defence

Under the agreement, both the countries will explore various ways of co-operation in the field of defence. An amended air service agreement was also signed to support efforts towards improving connectivity between the two countries.
The two countries will have co-sharing agreement with Air Seychelles through Air India and Air Madagascar.
Mr Kovind announced a donation of 1000 tonnes of rice and a cash grant of 2 million dollars towards multiple calamities relief in Madagascar.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Madagascar President Rajaonarimampianina jointly inaugurated Center for Geo-informatics Applications in Rural Development in Anta-nana-rivo.
Madagascar
Capital: Antananarivo
Currency: Malagasy ariary
President: Hery Rajaonarimampianina

World Happiness Report 2018

The World Happiness Report is a landmark survey of the state of global happiness.

The World Happiness Report 2018, ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, and 117 countries by the happiness of their immigrants.

Finland has overtaken Norway to become the happiest nation on earth, according to a UN report. India ranks 133rd in the report

Top 10 happiest countries, 2018

(2017 ranking in brackets)

Finland (5)
Norway (1)
Denmark (2)

The 10 unhappiest countries, 2018

(2017 ranking in brackets)

Malawi (136)
Haiti (145)
Liberia (148)

BANKING AND ECONOMY

World Bank projects India’s GDP growth at 7.3 per cent for the next financial year

The World Bank has projected India’s GDP growth at 7(point)3 per cent for the next financial year which it states will accelerate further to 7(point)5 per cent in 2019-20.

The World Bank’s biannual publication, India Development Update – India’s Growth Story, expects the economy to clock a growth rate of 6.7 per cent in the current fiscal ending 31st March.

Chief economic adviser: Arvind Subramanian

APPOINTMENTS
Angela Merkel Elected To 4th Term As German Chancellor

Germany’s parliament elected Angela Merkel for her fourth term as chancellor.

It puts an end to nearly six months of political drift in Europe’s biggest economy.

Lawmakers voted 364-315 to re-elect Merkel, Germany’s leader since 2005, who ran unopposed.

Germany

Capital: Berlin

Currency: Euro

Gina Haspel appointed as CIA’s First Female Director

Gina Haspel has been appointed as CIA’s First Female Director.

Gina Haspel is first-ever female director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

She is a career intelligence officer with more than 30 years’ experience.

Slovenian PM Cerar resigns

Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar has resigned, hours after the Supreme Court annulled the result of a September referendum that approved a 1-billion-euro railway project, the centre-left government’s biggest investment programme.