Current Affairs : 14 April 2018 – Daily News Update
National News
1. Nation Celebrates 127th Ambedkar Jayanti
i. Nation remembers Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on his 127th birth anniversary. Floral tributes were paid at Babasaheb’s Statue in the Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.
ii. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution of India, was born on 14th April 1891 at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, which is now known as Dr Ambedkar Nagar. He was also the first law minister of India.
Important Facts for Exam –
- Unified Payment Interface (UPI) based app BHIM that was launched by PM Modi has been named after Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
2. PM Modi Launches Largest Health Care Scheme on Ambedkar Jayanti
i. On the occasion of Birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the phase one of the Ayushman Bharat schemes that aim at creating a healthy, prosperous and strong India. The first phase of Ayushman Bharat will see 1.5 Lakh such Centers being set up across the country.
ii. The Prime Minister also launched Health and Wellness Centre under Ayushman Bharat scheme in Jangala village of Karnataka. This health and wellness centre will have the facility of teleconsultation.
3. India, Russia Sign 7 MoU at DefExpo 2018
i. India and Russia signed 7 MoUs at Defence Expo at Chennai, Tamil Nadu. These MoUs were signed between the Indian Private Defence sector manufacturing companies and Russian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for manufacture, development of spares, sub-assemblies and assemblies of identified Russian origin platforms.
ii. The MoUs were signed during third India-Russia Military-Industrial Conference held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2018.
Important Facts for Exam –
- INDRA (Naval Exercise) is a joint, bi-annual military exercise conducted by India and Russia starting in 2003.
4. Rajnath Singh Launches Web-Based App e-FRRO for Foreigners
i. Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched the web-based application e-FRRO (e-Foreigners Regional Registration Office) scheme under which foreigners can avail, various visa and immigration-related services online. This will facilitate hassle-free travel to India for foreigners.
ii. As per the Home Ministry, the e-FRRO scheme is aimed at building a centralised, transparent online platform for foreigners to avail of visa-related services.
5. India Mobile Congress 2018 to be Held in New Delhi
i. India Mobile Congress will be held in October 2018 at Aerocity in New Delhi.
ii. It is one of the biggest marquee Mobile, Internet and Technology events in Asia, organized by Department of Telecommunications and Cellular Operators Association of India.
Banking News
1. NERL Brings in ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank as Repository Participants
National E-Repository Limited (NERL), a group company of National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX ), has brought in ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank on board as the repository participants for pledge finance.
ii. NERL has signed the agreement with both the banks where they will offer pledge finance against eNWRs created on NERL’s repository platform commodities stored in warehouses registered with Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA).
Important Facts for Exam –
- Chanda Kochhar is the MD & CEO of ICICI Bank.
- ICICI Bank Headquarters in Mumbai.
- HDFC Bank- India’s largest private bank by market capitalization.
- HDFC Bank Chairman-Aditya Puri.
2. RBI Tightens Monitoring of Liberalised Remittance Scheme
i. The Reserve Bank of India tightened reporting norms for the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) under which an individual can transfer up to USD 2,50,000 abroad in a year. The LRS transactions are currently permitted by banks based on the declaration made by the remitter.
ii. The monitoring of adherence to the limit is confined to obtaining such a declaration without independent verification, in the absence of a reliable source of information.
Important Facts for Exam –
- The Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) was introduced on February 4, 2004, with a limit of USD 25,000.
- Urjit Patel- 24th Governor of RBI, Headquarters- Mumbai, Established on- 1st April 1935, in Kolkata.
3. SIDBI Ties Up with CSC to Promote MSEs in 115 Districts
i. Small Industries and Development Bank of India (SIDBI) announced a plan to promote micro-enterprises in 115 aspirational districts across the country. It has tied up with Common Service Centre (CSC).
ii. The ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ program, which was launched by the prime minister in January 2018, aims to bring about socio-developmental changes in these backward districts which have been chosen from all states of the country.
Important Facts for Exam –
- Chairman of SIDBI-Mohammed Mustafa, Founded- 2 April 1990, Headquarter- Lucknow.
- CSCs are one of the crucial enablers of the Digital India program that are the access points for delivery of various e-governance and business services to citizens in rural and remote areas of the country.
4. World Bank Approves $55mn for Bangladesh Project
i. The World Bank has approved $55mn to expand the use of clean renewable energy in rural areas of Bangladesh where grid electricity cannot reach easily.
ii. The additional financing to the Second Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development (RERED II) Projectwill install 1,000 solar irrigation pumps, 30 solar mini-grids and about 4mn improved cooking stoves in rural areas.
Important Facts for Exam –
- President of the World Bank- Jim Yong Kim.
- Headquarters of World Bank: Washington, DC.
CWG 2018
1. Sanjeev Rajput Clinches Gold in Shooting
i. Shooter Sanjeev Rajput won the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions with a Games record at the 2018 Commonwealth Games to seven.
ii. The gold was Rajput’s third successive medal at the CWG, after having bagged silver and bronze in the 2014 and 2010 editions respectively. India’s Chain Singh stood fifth in the same event.
2. Neeraj Chopra, 1st Indian to Win Gold in Javelin Throw
i. Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian javelin thrower to claim a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, with a season’s best effort of 86.47m in the final.
ii. The 20-year-old junior world champion had made the final after achieving the qualifying mark in his very first throw. Neeraj was favourite for gold after his 85.94m throw in March 2018 at Patiala during the Federation Cup National Championships.
3. Mary Kom, 1st Indian Woman to Win CWG Boxing Gold
i. Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom has become the first Indian woman boxer to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
ii. Mary Kom achieved the feat after defeating Northern Ireland’s Kristina O’Hara in the 45-48kg category final at Gold Coast, Australia. The 35-year-old boxer from Manipur is participating in her maiden Commonwealth Games.