Current Affairs - February 1, 2018 Current Affairs

Uttar Pradesh State Cabinet launched 'Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojna Grameen', a new scheme to construct houses in rural areas. Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana Gramin is for those who have not been covered under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna and those who are not beneficiaries of any other government housing schemes. Under this scheme, Rs 1.30 lakh financial aid (for constructing houses) will be given to people residing in Naxal-affected areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rs 1.20 lakh to selected beneficiaries. Beneficiaries under this scheme also includes those families, who have been affected with Kala Azar or Japanese Encephalitis and those who belong to Vantangia or Musahar tribes and do not have houses or are living in "Kuchcha" houses.

The Government of India (GoI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $250 million loan agreement for the construction of over 6,200 kilometres all-weather rural roads in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The program is aimed at improving rural connectivity, facilitating safer and more efficient access to livelihood and socio-economic opportunities for rural communities through improvements to about 12 thousand kilometres Rural Roads across the 5 States.

Sauli Niinisto, the current President of Finland, has won the 2018 Finnish presidential election on January 28, 2018. He won his second 6-year term with an overwhelming 62.7% of the vote. His closest rival, Pekka Haavisto of the Greens of Finland, secured just 12.4% votes. The term will from 1st March 2018 to 1 March 2024. Mr. Niinisto, who is in office since 2012, is known for cultivating good relations with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. During his first term, Mr. Niinisto was instrumental in maintaining relations with Moscow, despite the country backing western economic sanctions against Russia over its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Finland, which shares 1,340 km border and a difficult history with Russia, has also developed closer ties with NATO but stopped short of full membership in line with a tradition of avoiding confrontation with Russia.

Cleanliness is a very important aspect of our day to day life. Being clean and keeping our surroundings clean should be our primary work and agenda. Therefore, so far toilet facilities are provided at 192 toll plazas across the country, while the remaining 180 toll plazas will be covered by the end of March 2019. Notably, the National Highways Authority of India has provided toilet facilities at 192 toll plazas across the country, while the remaining 180 toll plazas will be covered by the end of March 2019 under Swachh Bharat Mission. Under the Government of India's flagship programmes Swachh Bharat Mission, NHAI is providing separate ladies and gents toilets on both upside and downside of each of its 372 toll plazas, and also placing litter bins and hoardings carrying the Swachhta message along with message discouraging littering at these sites.

Radha Mohan Singh, the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, has launched the Rapid Detection Kits for adulterants (ammonia and formaldehyde) in fresh fish in New Delhi on January 30, 2018, which has been developed by Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi. Ammonia helps in preventing ice from melting and use of formaldehyde increases the shelf life of fish therefore many people in the fisheries sector are using these chemicals. The kit helps in detecting both the chemicals in the fish. Because, the continuous ingestion of ammonia and formaldehyde can lead to many health issues including abdominal pain, vomiting, unconsciousness, and sometimes even cause death.

Shailendra Kumar Joshi was named the Chief Secretary of Telangana. Decision regarding Shailendra Kumar Joshi's appointment was taken by Telangana Chief Minister K.Chandrashekhar Rao. Shailendra Kumar Joshi is at present the Special Chief Secretary, Irrigation. He replaces S.P. Singh as Telangana Chief Secretary.

The Asia's largest drip irrigation project involving 2,150 kilometres of pipeline will be started at Ramthal Marola area of Bagalkot district in Karnataka. The project is executed by one of India's largest infrastructure firms Megha Engineering & Infrastructures (MEIL) and it will be inaugurated by the Karnataka water resources minister MB Patil. It will be built with technical assistance from the Israel firm Netafim and it is the first project in India with Israeli drip irrigation technology. It will be maintained by MEIL for five years.

Indian Government and World Bank signed a $100 million loan agreement to promote rural economy in across 26 districts of Tamil Nadu (TN). Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project envisages creation of an enabling environment for producer organizations and enterprises to promote businesses in select value chains.

The Syrian National Dialogue Congress was held in Sochi, Russia. The Syrian National Congress was organized by Russia, Iran and Turkey. Around 1,500 delegates participated in the congress. Representatives from various countries and international organizations also took part in the congress. Issues discussed were related to ending the seven-year civil war, necessary amendments to the constitution and post-war reconstruction. An important outcome of the congress is formation of a constitutional committee to promote a constitutional reform. The committee consists of Syrian government delegation and the opposition delegation.

Norway topped in the Global Democracy Index. Countries in the index have been placed under four broad categories i.e full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime and authoritarian regime. India has ranked 42nd on the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Democracy Index 2017. This marks a drop by 10 spots as compared to 32nd rank last year.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences and Technology, YS Chowdray presented the Geospatial World Excellence Award-2018 to Odisha at the Geospatial World Forum Meeting, in Hyderabad. The Geospatial world excellence award has been awarded to Odisha for successful IT application on tracking of mineral production, dispatch and value obtained in real time by i3MS website based software. The award was received by Pradipta Mishra, Senior Scientist of Odisha Space Application Center (ORSAC) on behalf of Odisha government. The i3MS (Integrated Mines and Mineral Management System) was designed by ORSAC scientists. Nearly 3000 geospatial experts from 90 countries attended the Geospatial World Forum Meeting.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Indian Government have signed USD 250 million loan agreement for construction of all-weather roads in five Indian states under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Funds procured through this loan will be used for construction of 6254 kilometres all-weather rural roads in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. First tranche of this loan is part of the USD 500 million Second Rural Connectivity Investment Programme for India, which was approved by ADB in December 2017. USD 800 million First Rural Connectivity Investment Programme (executed in 2012, financed by ADB) added about 9000 kilometres of all-weather rural roads in the above mentioned states.

The Maharashtra state cabinet approved the introduction of Asmita (dignity), a scheme to provide sanitary pads to 7 lakh girls in government schools for Rs 5 a pack. The scheme Asmita aims to provide sanitary pads at subsidized price to girls in the age of 11 to 19 years. It has been launched with a motive to increase the usage of sanitary pads in rural areas of Maharashtra from the current usage rate 17% to targeted 75%. Three small scale manufacturers would produce the sanitary pads. It would be supplied through women self- help groups (SHGs).

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed senior bureaucrat Neelam Kapoor as Director General (DG) of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). ACC was headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She is 1982 batch officer of Indian Information Service (IIS). At present, she is Principal Director General of the Directorate of Field Publicity. She was Principal Director General of Press Information Bureau (PIB) in UPA Government headed by then PM Manmohan Singh. As PIB chief, she was in-charge of information officers attached to every central government ministry. SAI is an apex National Sports body set up in 1984 by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the development of sport in India. It conducts various activities and schemes to promote sports in India.

State Bank of India (SBI) has initiated a pilot scheme of credit cards for farmers. SBI credit cards for farmers will extend credit facility to farmers for 40 days just like regular credit card. However the major difference as compared to regular credit cards is that the interest rates on farmers' credit card would be much lower. SBI has launched this facility on a pilot basis in three States - Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar has stated that it will roll out this facility on national level on basis of response received and experience gathered during the pilot phase.