Current Affairs - March 24, 2018 Current Affairs

The world's longest sandstone cave named 'Krem Puri' has been discovered in Meghalaya. Krem Puri was discovered in 2016. However its actual length was found between 5th February and 1st March 2018. It was measured by the Meghalaya Adventurers' Association (MAA). It is 24,583 metres long. This cave is over 6,000 metres longer than the world record-holder Cueva Del Saman, a sandstone cave in Edo Zulia, Venezuela. It has also become India's second longest cave in the general category. The longest India cave is the Krem Liat Prah-Umim-Labit system in the Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.

The 45th President of USA Donald Trump announced that the former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will be the New US National Security Adviser. He would replace present National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

Each year we commemorate World Tuberculosis Day on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB. The theme of World TB Day 2018 - "Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world".

Union Minister of Mines Narendra Singh Tomar launched a "sand mining framework" in order to help states to take action against illegal mining. The Sand Mining Framework was prepared by the Ministry of Mines. It was developed after conducting study in several states and consultations with institutions like National Council for Cement and Building Materials, Cement Manufacture Association etc. The suggestions in this framework will offer a roadmap to the states that will help them to develop their policies and will act as a check on illegal mining of sand.

On 21st March 2018, BHEL said that, it has signed a Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA) with HLB Power, Republic of Korea. BHEL said that, this collaboration is for in-house design and manufacture of large size gates and dampers used in coal fired power plants that would be commissioned or retrofitted with high capacity emission control equipment. The TCA was signed by Subrata Biswas, Director (E, R&D) BHEL and Dr. Jong Weon Kim, CEO and Director, HLB Power at BHEL's corporate office. BHEL said that, this TCA will help in developing in-house design, manufacture and testing facilities of very large size gates and dampers.

Air India flight (AI 139) became the first flight to land at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) after passing through Saudi Arabia air space. This is the first time, Saudi Arabia has allowed a commercial flight to Israel to use its airspace. In a bid to further people-to-people contact and diplomatic ties between India and Israel, Air India introduced the direct thrice-a-week flight from New Delhi to Israel's Capital Tel Aviv. Saudi Arabia's decision to permit Air India to use its airspace enabled it to take a shorter route, saving 2.10 hours of travel time. Israel's national carrier El Al, which operates flights to India, does not fly through Saudi Air space. Rather, it takes a longer route over the Red Sea.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) launched Free Wi-Fi Facility at Udwada Village, in Valsad District, Gujarat. The facility was launched by Manoj Sinha, Minister of State for Communications and Minister of State for Railways. I&B (Information and Broadcasting) minister Smriti Irani selected Udwada village under Saansad Adarsh Gram scheme. Anupam Shrivastava, CMD of BSNL, said that two Hotspots with 17 Access points have been installed at Udwada village. Smriti Irani said that, under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana Rs.16.48 Lakh has been allotted for implementing Wi-Fi by BSNL in Udwada Village.

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from Pokhran test range in Rajasthan. The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile. It was developed in a joint-venture between India and Russia. This missile has been named after the rivers Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia. It is a two-stage self-propelled guided missile. It can fly at almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8. It has a range of 290 km. Work to integrate the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft is under progress. BrahMos has a strike accuracy rate of 99.99 %. It follows various trajectories like high, high-low, low, surface-skim etc.

The First Indian Sign Language Dictionary of 3000 words was launched by Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment at a function. The dictionary has been developed by Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLR&TC) under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). The basic aim of developing the ISL Dictionary is to remove communications barriers between the deaf and hearing communities.

The first-ever National Conference on Drug Law Enforcement has inaugurated by Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, in New Delhi on March 23, 2018. The 2-day conference is being organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs. The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh will be the Chief Guest at the closing session. More than 50 State and Central law enforcement agencies involved in combating drug trafficking have confirmed their participation in this Conference. The conference working sessions are focused on various topics such as 'Wider context of drug trafficking in India', 'Financial Investigations' and 'Foreign & Cyber Investigations'. During these sessions various agencies would give presentations while UN and other foreign law enforcement agencies would share their experiences.

Karan Thapar, the veteran journalist and television presenter, has been honoured with the 2017 G.K. Reddy Memorial National Award for journalism for his contribution in the field of journalism. The award was presented to Thapar by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Teen Murti Bhawan in New Delhi on March 22, 2018. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, a gold medal and a special trophy.

The 7th India-Egypt Joint Commission Meeting led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was held in New Delhi. Both the sides reviewed the progress in the areas of political, trade & investment, S&T, cybersecurity, capacity building, security, space, and culture. India and Egypt are two of the world's oldest civilizations that have enjoyed cordial relations based on commonality of views on regional and international issues.

Cabinet apprised of MoU between India and Guyana on cooperation in Renewable Energy. This memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on January 30, 2018 in New Delhi. The MoU contains a framework for a cooperative institutional relationship between India and Guyana to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy. As per the terms of the MoU, a Joint Working Committee comprising representatives from both the sides will be set up to review, monitor and discuss matters related to areas of cooperation.

The Andhra Pradesh government has launched a multi-utility vehicle "NAIPUNYA RATHAM (or World on Wheels)", which aims to bring technology to the remote corners. It was launched at the Secretariat in Amaravathi on March 22, 2018. As part of the Smart village Smart Ward Programme, the Naipunya Rathaams will facilitate and look to improve digital literacy, digital skills and create an awareness on various government schemes that are underway in the new state of Andhra Pradesh. The state government will soon roll out 12 more Naipunya Rathams by May 2018.

Allahabad Bank stated that it has received approval from Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs for amalgamation of its fully-owned subsidiary All Bank Finance Ltd. (ABFL) with itself. Bank's board had approved the proposed amalgamation in December 2016. All Bank Finance offers fee-based services like debenture trusteeship, distribution of mutual fund schemes, investment advisory and portfolio management and security valuation. For financial year 2016-17, ABFL's total income stood at Rs 13.30 crore, while the net profit was Rs 6.76 crore.