Current Affairs - February 4, 2018 Current Affairs

The Assam Government has signed an MoU with the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) Limited to build a Twin Tower Trade Centre in Guwahati at a cost of Rs 1950 crore. The Twin Tower Trade centre has enacted a pro-active Act East Policy to elevate and harness the strengths of North-East India and reduce the isolation of the region by improving all round connectivity and civic infrastructure. This trade centre will generate once established and made operational, by connecting us with South East Nations and being a major trading hub thereby increasing economic interlinkages. The headquarters of NBCC is located in New Delhi.

World Cancer Day is observed every year on 4th February. The World Cancer Day was founded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in the idea of supporting the goals of World Cancer Declaration that was written in 2008. The theme for World Cancer Day for 2016-2018 period is: 'We Can. I can'. On the World Cancer Day people are expected to contribute towards reducing the impact of cancer worldwide.

India has won the 12th edition of ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 after thrashing Australia in the final by eight wickets at bay oval at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand on February 3. With this win, India has lifted the ICC Under-19 World Cup for the record fourth time. India's star batsman Manjot Kalra led his team to the victory as he made brilliant unbeaten century riding on 8 fours and 3 sixes. He was adjudged Man of the Match and Shubman Gill Man of the Series.

Arunachal Pradesh gave a nod to much awaited "Arunachal Pradesh Advertisement Policy 2018." State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu approved Arunachal Pradesh Advertisement Policy 2018 which will enable the government to make payment of government advertisement bills to media houses on a timely basis. In another decision, the Cabinet approved the release of gratuitous relief of Rs 2,000 for all contingency and casual workers serving under Arunachal Government. Apart from approving the creation of 25 posts of Assistant Professors for government colleges of the state under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the Cabinet also approved enhancement of salary of teachers working under SSA and RMSA on contractual basis up to 22% with effect from April 1, 2018. The Cabinet directed the education department to ensure that salaries are disbursed by the first week of the subsequent month through the Aadhaar-based DBT through PFMS method.

Alphabet appointed John L. Hennessy as the new board chairman of the company. Hennessy has been on the board since 2004 and Lead Independent Director since 2007. He replaced Eric Schmidt. Schmidt will remain as a "technical advisor" to Alphabet. Hennessy is a former president of Stanford University and has had an extensive career in the tech industry.

Indian Oil Corporation will invest Rs 3,400 crore in Assam over the next five years to expand its operations by setting up new units as well as upgrading the existing ones. The company will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Assam Government to this effect at the two-day 'Advantage Assam - Global Investors Summit 2018', beginning in Guwahati. They are signing an MoU with the state government that will empower us to invest Rs 3,400 crore in Assam over the next five years. This will be for various projects across the state," Indian Oil Corporation,Executive Director (IndianOil-AOD), Dipankar Ray.

The Department of Defence Production (DDP) has constituted the multi-stakeholder task force task force to study use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in military. The 17-member task force will be headed by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. The task force will study the whole gamut of issues surrounding strategic implications of AI in national security perspective.

Shyam Benegal, the veteran film producer and director, has been bestowed with the prestigious V. Shantaram lifetime achievement Award 2018 for his contribution to the promotion of the documentary movement. The award, carrying a trophy, a citation, shawl and cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, has been conferred on Benegal by Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2018 valedictory function on February 3, 2018. Benegal has made 28 great films like Ankur, Mandi, Bhumika and Manthan. Besides that, he has made 41 documentary films on various social topics. His work on television consists of several popular series including the 53 part series 'Bharat Ek Khoj' first broadcast on Doordarshan in 1988. He also made the much acclaimed 'Samvidhaan - The Making of the Constitution of India". He is the recipient of the national award in 1982 for the film 'Satyajit Ray'. The Government of India has honored him with Padmashree, Padma-Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke award earlier.

The Railways Ministry the current flex-fare system and is considering introducing a dynamic pricing system for train tickets, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has said. Under dynamic pricing system, fares will be decided as per the season and demand. The Fares will be automatically adjusted via artificial intelligence, algorithms or technology, to help trains have more occupancy.

India and World Bank signed a US $ 375 million loan agreement for the construction and development of Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). Notably, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed a project agreement with the World Bank today, even as the latter entered into a US $ 375 million loan agreement with the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance for Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). However, the signing of the Agreement follows the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, for the implementation of the US $ 800 million JMVP for capacity augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1(River Ganga) from Varanasi to Haldia. Out of the remaining amount, US $ 380 million is to be sourced from the Government of India counterpart funds from budgetary allocation and proceeds from the bond issue. Another US $ 45 million will come from private sector participation under the PPP mode.

Maharashtra launched four new schemes for funding businesses, agriculture and skill development. The schemes were launched are expected to benefit 'Maratha' community. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the schemes at the Sahyadri guest house, saying that the schemes will train youngsters in developing skills in agriculture and industries, besides funding enterprising endeavors. The state will back financially to help farmers and youngsters. The state will bear the interest of the loans taken from various banks. Those active in the field of agriculture, small-scale industries, self-help groups and farm product companies will also be eligible for the funding.

Fifth International Biennial Conference of Indian Heritage Network (IHCN) was opened up in Odisha signifying socio-cultural heritage surrounding art and craft of India which will go on for three days. International Biennial Conference of Indian Heritage Network was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Addressing the inaugural session CM Patnaik said that "along with the development of modern amenities and facilities, our cities should also be vibrant with the socio-cultural life, centered on heritage, art and craft. The outcome of the dialogue series is to arrive at policy-level recommendations to address the issues relevant to Odisha and also to raise awareness and be a platform for advocacy.

Arun Jaitely, the Union Finance Minister, has inaugurated India's first sentiment index "CriSidEx" for micro and small enterprises in New Delhi. CriSidEx, which is developed jointly by SIDBI and CRISIL, is a composite index based on a diffusion index of 8 parameters and measures MSE business sentiment on a negative to positive scale. This index will give the detail breakup of the sentiment sentiments and analysis as the sector sees it for the current quarter and for the next quarter. The current parametric feedback was captured through a survey of one thousand one hundred MSEs in November and December last year.