14th FEBRUARY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. World Radio Day: 13 February

World Radio Day is an observance day held annually on 13 February.

• It was proclaimed on 3 November 2011 by UNESCO's 36th General Conference after originally being proposed by the Kingdom of Spain.
• The theme of World Radio day 2018 is "Radio and Sports".

2. All villages to be linked by roads by 2019

The Centre is making efforts to connect all villages through a road network by next year as part of the 'Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna', said Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav.

• Earlier, the target to compete these works was 2022 but it has been advanced to 2019.
• The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched by the Central government to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations as part of a poverty reduction strategy.

3. Radio Umang: India’s first online radio station launched

Radio Umang, India’s first online radio station that allows the listener to just download and tune in, has been launched.

• Listeners can tune in to this online radio station through web streaming or download the app.
• With 24 hours programming, it has found listeners in Hindi speaking regions of India and in over 60 countries worldwide.

4. President of India hosts ‘LPG Panchayat’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, hosted an‘LPG Panchayat on February 13, 2018 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• The LPG Panchayat was organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with an aim to provide a platform for LPG consumers to interact with each other, promote mutual learning and share experiences.
• Each LPG Panchayat has about 100 LPG customers coming together, near their living areas,to discuss safe and sustainable usage of LPG, its benefits and the link between clean fuel for cooking and women’s empowerment.
• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas intends to conduct 1 lakh such Panchayats across India before March 31, 2019.

5. India-Russia Agriculture Business Summit held in New Delhi

As a part of the country-wide year-long celebration of India-Russia Diplomatic Relations, since April 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare organised two major events, an India-Russia Agriculture Business Summit held in New Delhi and celebration of 70 years of Agricultural Relationship to be held  in Suratgarh, Rajasthan on 14th February 2018.

• Shri Gajender Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Mr Sergey Beletskiy, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Russia addressed the India-Russia Agriculture Business Summit 2018, held at PUSA, New Delhi. 
• Several business houses and leaders of business associations of both countries, working in agriculture sector attended the event.
• This will strengthen exchange of expertise to further business ties between the two countries.   

6. Venkaiah Naidu to inaugurate the Global Theatre Olympics

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate the 8th Global Theatre Olympics on 17th February, 2018 at the majestic Red Fort in New Delhi.

• This Global Theatre Festival is being held in India for the first time.
• The 51 days long event will travel to 17 Indian cities with 450 shows, 600 ambience performances and 250 power packed youth forum shows.

7. R.K. Singh inaugurates ‘Indian Power Stations 2018’ - International Conference

Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shri R.K. Singh inaugurated the ‘Indian Power Stations 2018’ - three-day International Conference on Operations and Maintenance in New Delhi.

• The Minister exhorted the NTPC to become India’s power sector multinational by setting up power plants in other Nations and become world’s largest power producer.
• Shri Singh also added that there was huge opportunity to export cheap power to neighbouring countries which will be beneficial for the entire region.

8. India’s biggest Global Conference on Pharma Industry and Medical Devices

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, along with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), is organizing ‘India Pharma & India Medical Device 2018’, with the theme - ‘Affordable and Quality Healthcare’.

• This is the 3rd International exhibition and conference on Pharmaceutical & Medical Device sector and to be held from 15th-17th February, 2018 in Bengaluru.

9. Tata Steel bags ‘most ethical company’ award

Tata Steel has been recognized by Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as the World’s Most Ethical Company for the year 2018.

• The company has received the award for the sixth time in the ‘Metals, Minerals and Mining’ category.
• IT company WIPRO has also won the award in a separate category.

5th FEBRUARY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Maharashtra to become first state to have Transgender Welfare Board

The long pending Transgender Welfare Board (TWB) will finally see light of the day with the Maharashtra government making a provision of Rs 5 crore for welfare of the community.

• Minister of State for Social Justice Dilip Kamble told that the Board will be set up in a month's time.
• It will look after education, employment, housing, and health schemes for transgenders and protect their Constitutional and human rights.
• Maharashtra will be the first such state to have such a Board, the minister said.

2. India’s biggest floating island released in Neknampur lake

On the occasion of World Wetland Day, city-based NGO Dhruvansh has introduced biggest floating island of India at Neknampur Lake, Hyderabad.

• The duo of Dhruvansh NGO, Madhulika and Neeraj Singh started Neknampur restoration programme in June 2016 adopting various cost effective methodologies to clean the lake.
• After successful introduction of 10×10 feet floating islands last year, the NGO introduced 2,500 square feet floating island with 3,500 wetland plants floating on this platform.

3. First defence industrial corridor between Chennai, Bengaluru

The first of the two defence industrial production corridors, as announced in the Union Budget, will link Chennai and Bengaluru.

• In his budget address, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government will develop two defence industrial production corridors.
• Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the first corridor will link Chennai and Bengaluru and will pass through Coimbatore and several other industrial clusters.

4. India's Super Computer Could Aid In Doubling Farmers' Income

The Union Budget saw much emphasis on doubling of farmers' income and accurate weather forecasts will play a major part in it.

• What could contribute to the doubling of farmers' income is India's most powerful Cray Super Computer - MIHIR - that will give more accurate weather forecasts.
• Built at a cost of Rs. 450 crore, MIHIR is housed in a badminton court-sized room at India's weather office near Delhi, and is capable of performing jobs equivalent to more than 2,500 high-end laptops, all working in tandem. 
• Dr Harsh Vardhan, Science Minister, says "MIHIR, named after the Sun God, will help in our weather forecasting capability and strength will increase tremendously and it will now become about eight petaflops." 
• Dr Vardhan said India will now also be ranked 4th, after Japan, UK and the US for dedicated HPC resources for weather/climate community.

5. Mukesh Khanna Quits as Chief of Children’s Film Society

Actor Mukesh Khanna said he has resigned as the chairperson of the Children's Film Society two months prior to the end of his term, alleging lack of support to take children's films to theatres and inadequate funding for the institution.

• His three-year term was scheduled to end in April.
• The actor is known for his portrayal in popular TV serial Shaktimaan.
• He made his debut on the small screen as Bhisham Pitamah in B R Chopra's Mahabharat.

6. Advantage Assam Summit: Investment of Rs 1,00,000 crore committed

Assam's investment scouting exposition "Advantage Assam" attracted series of investment proposal.

• In the two day event as many 200 MOUs were inked and investment proposal to the tune of Rs 1,00,000 crore is committed.
• The event was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 3.
• Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Group of Industries announced that his company will be investing close to Rs 2500 crore in next three years.
• Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Rs 1500 crore investment is coming in tourism sector. Mahindra will invest in tourism infrastructure in Assam.

7. PV Sindhu finishes runner-up in India Open

Defending champion P V Sindhu suffered a narrow defeat in a pulsating final against American Beiwen Zhang to finish runner-up at the India Open Super 300 badminton tournament.

• Playing her second tournament of the new season, Sindhu came agonisingly close to clinching the title before losing 18-21 21-11 20-22 to Zhang in the women's singles final.
• All England Championships finalist and fourth seed Shi Yuqi of China walked away with the men's crown after beating world no 7 and third seeded Taiwanese Chou Tien Chen 21-18 21-14.

8. Veteran Telugu actor Lakshmi Devi passes away

Veteran Telugu actor Lakshmi Devi Kanakala passed away on February 3 at the age of 78.

• Lakshmi used to be a popular actor in the 1980s. She is known for films such as Prema Bandham and Police Lockup.

9. BJP MP Hukum Singh passes away

BJP MP Hukum Singh (79) died, almost a month after he was admitted to the J P Hospital in Noida with severe breathing problems.

• He was an MLA in Uttar Pradesh for seven terms and a minister in the state before entering the Lok Sabha in the 2014 polls.

10. “A Century is Not Enough”: Autobiography of Sourav Ganguly

Former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly’s autobiography is soon-to-be-published and it is named “A Century is Not Enough”.

• The book is co-authored by Gautam Bhattacharya and published by Juggernaut Books.
• The book covers the ups and downs in more than a decade long career of the former Indian captain fondly called ‘Dada’.

22 JANUARY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Centre to declare 2018 as ‘national year of millets’

Nutrient-rich millets have got a boost with the Union government deciding to declare 2018 as the ‘national year of millets’.

• This decision has been taken following a request by Karnataka, which is the country’s leader in the millet sector.
• At the inauguration of the three-day international trade fair of organics and millets, Union Statistics and Programme Implementation Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said the Union Agriculture Ministry had already completed the formalities in this regard.

2. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) Crosses One Crore Mark

Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his un-daunting support to the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), as the programme crossed one crore mark in antenatal check-ups.

• The Union Health Minister stated that Hon’ble Prime Minister of India had envisioned that 9th of every month, symbolizing the 9 months of pregnancy, should be dedicated to pregnant women.
• The PMSMA programme was launched in 2016 to fulfil his vision and ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across India. 

3. CBI registers Rs. 80-cr bank fraud case against PNB officials

The CBI has registered 22 cases against officials of Punjab National Bank relating to fraud in bank loans processed by them on the basis of forged documents causing a loss of over Rs. 80 crore to the bank.

• The cases relate to four branches of the bank in Bhopal and Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.
• It said the bank alleged in its complaint that the officials had fraudulently sanctioned and disbursed loans to private persons dealing in coal business from 2011 to 2016.

4. India to overtake China as fastest growing large economy in 2018: Report

India will overtake China to be the fastest growing large economy in 2018 and the country's equity market will become the fifth largest in the world, says a report.

• According to a Sanctum Wealth Management report, when the rest of the world offers low growth and insufficient structural change, India, by contrast, is seen as a reforming economy with the prospect of strong long-term growth.
• At a time when developed economies are cheering 2-3 per cent growth, India is focused on breaching 7.5 per cent, it said.

5. OP Rawat appointed New Chief Election Commissioner

Om Prakash Rawat has been appointed as the next Chief Election Commissioner, the law ministry said.

• Mr Rawat, who is currently an Election Commissioner, will succeed the outgoing Achal Kumar Joti, who is retiring on January 22.
• Ashok Lavasa, a former finance secretary and an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1980 batch, has been appointed as an Election Commissioner, to fill up the vacancy left behind by Mr Rawat in the three-member poll panel.
• Sunil Arora is currently the other Election Commissioner.

6. Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust of Odisha wins prestigious UNWTO Award

Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust in Odisha has won prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Award for Innovation in Tourism Enterprise at 14th UNWTO Awards ceremony held in Madrid, Spain.

• The award was given in recognition of Mangalajodi’s business model that is both economically viable and environmentally sustainable based on principles of community ownership and Eco Tourism.

7. 63rd Jio Filmfare Awards 2018: Complete list of winners

 

• Best Film: 'Hindi Medium'
• Critics' Award for Best Film: 'Newton'
• Best Actor In A Leading Role (Female): Vidya Balan for 'Tumhari Sulu'
• Best Actor In A Leading Role (Male) : Irrfan Khan for 'Hindi Medium'
• Critics' Award for Best Actor (Male): Rajkummar Rao for 'Trapped'
• Critics' Award for Best Actor (Female): Zaira Wasim for 'Secret Superstar'
• Best Director: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari for 'Bareilly Ki Barfi'
• Best Debut Director: Konkona Sensharma for 'A Death in the Gunj'
• Best Actor In A Supporting Role (Male): Rajkummar Rao for 'Bareilly Ki Barfi'
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female): Meher Vij for 'Secret Superstar'
• Best Original Story: Amit Newton for 'Newton'
• Best Actor (Male) in a Short Film: Jackie Shroff for 'Khujli'
• Best Actor (Female) in a Short Film: Shefali Shah for 'Juice'
• People's Choice Award for Best Short Film: 'Anahut'
• Best Short Film (Fiction) : 'Juice'
• Best Short Film (Non Fiction): 'Invisible Wings'
• Best Playback Singer (Male): Arijit Singh for 'Roke na ruke naina' - 'Badrinath Ki Dulhania'
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Meghna Mishra for 'Nachdi phira' - 'Secret Superstar'
• Best Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya for 'Ullu ka pattha' - 'Jagga Jasoos'
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Mala Sinha and Bappi Lahiri

8. Blind Cricket World Cup: India beat Pakistan to retain title

India retain Blind Cricket World Cup title after beating arch-rivals Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling final played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in UAE.

• Chasing a huge 308-run target in 40 overs, India romped home in the penultimate over of the match.
• Earlier, riding on Badar Munir's fine half-century, Pakistan scored 307/8 to give India big target in the final of the fifth edition of the tournament.

19 JANUARY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. International Solar Alliance Forum at World Future Energy Summit

In one of its first outreach programmes post-ratification, the ISA hosted a two Day Event ‘International Solar Alliance Forum’ during 17-18th January, 2018 at the Future World Energy Summit (WFES) 2018.

• WFES is a signature event of a global initiative, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, hosted by Masdar scheduled during 15-18th January, 2018 at Abu Dhabi (UAE).
• During the ISA event an ISA Pavilion was also set up for dissemination of information about ISA and its activities and programmes.

Points to Remember

• On receipt of 15 ratifications, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement entered into force on the 6th December, 2017 thereby making ISA a de jure treaty based international intergovernmental organisation.
• So far 19 countries have ratified and 48 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement.

2. Successful Fifth Flight Test of Agni-5 Ballistic Missile

Long Range Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile, Agni-5, was successfully flight tested for its full range from Dr Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.

• This was the fifth test of the Missile and the third consecutive one from a canister on a road mobile launcher.
• All the five missions have been successful.
• The flight performance of the missile was tracked and monitored by radars, range stations and tracking systems all through the mission.

3. Government to set up $350 million fund to finance solar projects

Government will set up a $350 million fund to finance solar projects, Power Minister R.K. Singh said, as the country steps up efforts to achieve its ambitious target of adding 175 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy by 2022.

• India will need at least $125 billion to fund a plan to increase the share of renewable power supply in the country's grid by 2022.
• The country, which receives twice as much sunshine as European nations, wants to make solar central to its renewable expansion.
• Installed renewable power capacity is currently about 60 GW

4. Andhra CM launches e-Pragati platform

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has launched the e-Pragati CORE platform, which will be a common portal for all citizen services online.

• As envisioned by the Chief Minister, a single source of truth and one portal to monitor everything, from insights to action, will be enabled by this platform.

5. FY'19 growth at 7.1%: India Ratings

India's economic growth is set to bounce back to 7.1 per cent next fiscal, from the estimated 6.5 per cent in 2017-18,, rating agency India Ratings said.

• In its outlook for 2018-19, the agency projected average retail inflation at 4.6 per cent.
• The World Bank too has projected a 7.3 per cent growth for India in 2018.

6. Yes Bank ties up with Amplus Energy Solutions

 

Amplus Energy Solutions announced entering into a pact with private sector lender Yes Bank for strategic tie-up to co-finance projects in the solar energy space in India.

• The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed at International Solar Alliance pavilion at the World Future Energy Summit, Abu Dhabi.
• Under the partnership, the total projects capacity is likely to be up to 1,000 mw and these projects would be developed by Amplus by 2023.

7. HDFC first Indian bank to cross Rs5 trillion market cap

India’s most-valued lender HDFC Bank Ltd crossed Rs5 trillion market capitalisation for the first time, making it only the third Indian company to achieve this milestone.

• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) are the other two companies which crossed market capitalisation of Rs5 trillion.
• The bank also reports bad loan ratio below 1%, the lowest among Indian lenders.

8. Microsoft tops Thomson Reuters top 100 global tech leaders list

Thomson Reuters Corp has published its debut “Top 100 Global Technology Leaders” list with Microsoft Corp in the no. 1 spot.

• Microsoft was followed by chipmaker Intel Corp and network gear maker Cisco Systems Inc.
• According to the list, 45 percent of these 100 tech companies are headquartered in the United States.
• Five Indian Companies have also made to the list.

9. Romania to have first female prime minister, Viorica Dancila

Viorica Dancila has been named as Romania's first female PM following the sudden resignation of Mihai Tudose.

• Ms Dancila, a member of the European Parliament, is regarded as an ally of the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea.
• Ms Dancila, 54, is Romania's third prime minister in seven months.

10. ICSI confers Honorary Fellow Membership to Shri P.P. Chaudhary

Shri P.P. Chaudhary, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Law and Justice & Corporate Affairs, was conferred the Honorary Fellowship of Institute of Company secretaries of India (ICSI) at the headquarters of the institute at New Delhi.

• ICSI president CS (Dr) Shyam Agrawal presented the certificate conferring Honorary membership to Shri Chaudhary and administered an oath to him.
• Shri Chaudhary has conducted around 11,000 cases, mostly Constitutional Litigations for the last 38 years.

11. ICC Awards 2018: Full List of the Winners

• Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year - Virat Kohli (India)
• ICC Test Cricketer of the Year - Steve Smith (Australia)
• ICC M ODI Cricketer of the Year - Virat Kohli (India)
• ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year - Hasan Ali (Pakistan)
• ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year - Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
• ICC  T20I Performance of the Year - Yuzvendra Chahal (6-25 v England for India)
• David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year – Marais Erasmus
• ICC Spirit of Cricket - Anya Shrubsole (England)
• ICC Fans Moment of the Year - Pakistan stun India to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017
• The Test and ODI teams of the year were also introduced, with Virat Kohli being named the captain of both the sides.

12. NBA Hall of Famer Jo Jo White dies at 71

Celtics legend Jo Jo White, a two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, passed away at the age of 71.

• White, a seven-time All-Star, averaged 17.2 points in 12 NBA seasons.
• He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
• White won a gold medal with the USA Olympic basketball team at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

13. ‘Namaste Shalom’ magazine launched during Benjamin Netanyahu’s Mumbai visit

The Jewish community has markd Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Mumbai visit with the launch of ‘Namaste Shalom’, a regular monthly magazine on bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

• The magazine was launched at the Magen David Synagogue at Byculla in south Mumbai.
• President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon have welcomed the magazine.