6th APRIL CURRENT AFFAIRS IN ENGLISH

1. ‘VII Moscow Conference on International Security’

Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, who is on three-day visit to Russia to attend ‘VII Moscow Conference on International Security’ from 03 to 05 April 2018, addressed the II Plenary Session of the Conference on the theme titled ‘Global Security in a Polycentric World’ covering aspects related to current global defence, security and strategic scenario on April 4 in the Russian capital. 

• Raksha Mantri stated that for India, cooperation with Russia is vital in ensuring stability and security in our shared Eurasian neighbourhood, especially in addressing the menace of terrorism.

2. Piyush Goyal Launches UTTAM APP for Coal Quality Monitoring

The Union Minister for Railways and Coal Shri Piyush Goyal launched UTTAM App for Coal Quality Monitoring.  UTTAM stands for – Unlocking Transparency by Third Party Assessment of Mined Coal (uttam.coalindia.in).

• The Ministry of Coal and Coal India Limited (CIL) developed UTTAM,aims to provide an App for all citizens and coal consumers to monitor the process of Third Party Sampling of coal across CIL subsidiaries.
• UTTAM App ensures accountability, transparency, effectiveness and efficiency in coal ecosystem. 
• UTTAM is an example of leveraging technology to facilitate a bidirectional channel between Coal India Limited and a common citizen. 

3. Prime Minister to inaugurate International Energy Forum in New Delhi

India will host the 16th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial Meeting from 10-12th April 2018 in New Delhi.

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the Meeting on 11th April 2018.
• Petroleum Ministers from 42 countries would attend the Meeting.
• The biennial IEF Ministerial Meetings are the world's largest gathering of Energy Ministers who engage in a dialogue on global energy issues.
• The IEF Ministerial meetings are informal dialogues, at both the political and technical levels, aimed to improve policy and investment decisions, and through increased knowledge and experience sharing.

Points to Remember

• The International Energy Forum (IEF) is an inter-governmental arrangement set up in 1991, based in Riyadh.
• It serves as a neutral facilitator of informal, open, informed and continuing global energy dialogue among its members comprising of energy producing and energy consuming states, including transit countries.

4. Indian maritime day: 5 April

The National Maritime Day of India is observed on 5 April every year across the country.

• On this day in 1919 navigation history was created when SS Loyalty, the first ship of The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd., journeyed to the United Kingdom.
• The theme of the National Maritime Day in 2018 is ‘Indian Shipping – An Ocean of opportunity’.

5. Samta Diwas: 5 April

A homage function on the occasion of the 111th birth anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram was organised by the Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment at Samta Sthal, opposite Rajghat, New Delhi.

• The Function at Samta Sthal started by paying homage by Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment and President Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale, former Speaker of Lok Sabha Smt. Meira Kumar and senior officers of the Ministry, family members of Babuji and large number of followers.

6. First Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement, 2018-19

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released First Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement of 2018-19 on April 5 2018.

• Growth rate: 7.4 percent
• Inflation target for the first half of current fiscal: 4.7-5.1 percent
• Repo rate: 6 percent
• Reverse repo rate: 5.75 percent
• MSF: 6.25%
• Bank Rate: 6.25%
• CRR: 4%
• SLR:19.5%

7. ICICI Bank launches social media-based remittance service for NRIs

Leading private lender ICICI Bank announced the launch of a service that enables Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to send money to a beneficiary in India using social media platforms like WhatsApp and e-mail.

• Christened 'Social Pay', this first-of-its-kind service is available on Money2India (M2I), the bank's app for remittances.
• This new facility will enable NRIs to send money conveniently to their friends and family.

8. Bank of Baroda slapped with Rs 9 crore fine over remittance scam

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has slapped Rs 9 crore penalty on Bank of Baroda for "failing" to adhere to anti-money laundering norms, and not having an effective system to report suspicious transactions linked to the Rs 6,000 crore scam in its Delhi-based branch.

• The FIU has levied the maximum penalty of Rs 1 lakh, as stipulated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), for each instance of "delayed" filing of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) by the state-owned bank in the case.

9. Agreement Between NPCIL and EDF of France

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Electricite de France (EDF) of France have signed an Industrial Way Forward Agreement for implementation of six nuclear power reactor units at Jaitapur, Maharashtra with a total capacity of about 10,000 MW.

• The Evolutionary Pressurized Reactors (EPRs) are evolutionary reactors, whose design has evolved from “KONVOI’ and “N4’ reactors which have been in operation in Germany and France respectively for about two decades.

10. India pips Japan to become second largest crude steel manufacturer

In a major achievement, India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s second largest producer of crude steel in February, according to the Steel Users Federation of India (SUFI).

• At present, China is the largest producer of crude steel in the world, accounting for more than 50% of the production.
• India overtook the U.S. in 2015 to become the third largest producer of crude steel.

11. India win South East Asian Women Handball C'ship

India defeated Bangladesh by 27-10 in a one-sided match to win the fifth South East Asian Women Handball Championship at K.D. Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow.

• A total of five countries participated in the tournament.
• While Nepal finished as runner-ups in the five-country tournament, Bangladesh settled for the third spot and a bronze medal.

12. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu Wins India’s First Gold at CWG 2018

World champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu (48kg) secured India's first gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

• The Indian ended with a score of 196kg (86kg+110kg).
• Earlier, Weightlifter Gururaja bagged India's first medal (silver) in the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a total lift of 249 kg in the men's 56 kg event