17th APRIL CURRENT AFFAIRS IN ENGLISH

1. India ranks 10th on new Commonwealth innovation index

India has ranked 10th on a new Commonwealth Innovation Index, topped by the UK, Singapore and Canada.

• The index was launched as part of a new Commonwealth Innovation Hub on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London.
• It has been created in partnership with the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and its annual Global Innovation Index (GII).

2. First regional conference of eastern states on Water Resources

The first regional conference of eastern states on Water Resources was held in Kolkata on April 16 to address the outstanding water issues of these states.

• The conference deliberated on finding a solution to mitigate intra and intra-basin issues relating to water resources in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.
• The issue of interlinking of rivers also come-up for discussion at the conference.

3. East Godavari, first district with complete LED street lighting

East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh is all set to become the country’s first ‘LED street light district’.

• The rural LED street lighting programme in the district entailing the installation of around 3.1 lakh LED street lights has been completed.
• The exercise is expected to save around 34 Million Units (MU) annually.
• AP is already ranked the best State in implementation of energy efficiency and conservation programmes by the World Bank.

4. India Signs Loan agreement with World Bank for usd 48 million for Meghalaya

A Loan Agreement for IBRD loan of USD 48 million for the “Meghalaya Community - Led Landscapes Management Project (MCLLMP)” was signed with the World Bank.

• The Objective of the Project is to strengthen community-led landscapes management in selected landscapes in the State of Meghalaya.
• The Project consists of three components: Strengthening Knowledge and Capacity for Natural Resource Management; Community-led landscape planning and implementation and Project Management and Governance.

5. World Bank forecasts 7.3 pc growth for India this year

The World Bank has forecasted a growth rate of 7.3 per cent for India this year and 7.5 per cent for 2019 and 2020.

• It has also noted that the country's economy has recovered from the effects of demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax.

6. Kotak Mahindra becomes second-most-valued bank

 

Uday Kotak-led Kotak Mahindra Bank has pipped SBI to become India’s second-most-valued lender after HDFC Bank in terms of market capitalisation.

• Kotak Mahindra Bank is now also among the top 10 most-valued companies on the BSE.
• Kotak Mahindra Bank now has a market capitalisation of 2,22,970.4 crore rupees.
• HDFC Bank remained the country’s most-valuable bank with a market capitalisation of 5.04 lakh crore rupees.

7. Bhuj Mercantile Coop Bank bags Banco Award

Kutch-based Bhuj Mercantile Cooperative Bank has bagged the prestigious Banco Award for best performing cooperative bank.

• The bank was adjudged best among the 1500 cooperative banks from across the country.
• Banco Award given anually to the top performing cooperative banks recognise and encourage best practices in the cooperative banking sector.

8. 2018 Pulitzer Prize winners for journalism

• Pulitzer prize for public service: jointly awarded to The New York Times, and The New Yorker.
• Pulitzer prize for breaking news reporting: staff of The Press Democrat.
• Pulitzer prize for investigative reporting: staff of The Washington Post
• Pulitzer prize for explanatory reporting: jointly awarded to the staffs of The Arizona Republic and USA Today network
• Pulitzer prize for local reporting: staff of The Cincinnati Enquirer
• Pulitzer prize for national reporting: jointly awarded to the staffs of The New York Times and The Washington Post
• Pulitzer prize for international reporting: Clare Baldwin, Andrew R.C. Marshall, and Manuel Mogato of Reuters
• Pulitzer prize for feature writing: Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah, freelancing for GQ
• Pulitzer prize for commentary: John Archibald, of the Alabama Media Group
• Pulitzer prize for criticism: Jerry Saltz of New York magazine
• Pulitzer prize for editorial writing: Andie Dominick of The Des Moines Register
• Pulitzer prize for editorial cartooning: Jake Helpern and Michael Sloan, freelancing for The New York Times
• Pulitzer prize for breaking news photography: Ryan Kelly of The Daily Progress
• Pulitzer prize for feature photography: photography staff of Reuters

9. Veteran journalist S Nihal Singh no more

Veteran journalist S Nihal Singh breathed his last at the National Heart Institute following illness. He was 88.

• He was the founding editor of The Indian Post in 1987.
• He was awarded the prestigious International Editor of the Year Award in New York for opposing the Emergency imposed by former prime minister Indira Gandhi.