Ministry of Finance

25.01.18 Nagaland(NPSC) Current Affairs

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NORTH-EASTERN STATES

  • Railways to invest Rs 48,000 crore to boost Northeast infrastructure

 

  • The Railways will invest nearly Rs 48,000 crore in the northeast to boost infrastructure and development in the region.

 

  • Tracks up to Imphal will come up by 2020. the Railways could not expedite work in Meghalaya as local councils are unwilling to part with their land. the Railways has acquired land stretching up to 17 km for train connectivity to Kohima in Nagaland.

 

  • Doubling of tracks in Assam has been sanctioned up to Lumding via Goalpara and the NFR is working to complete the task by 2020. 

    INTERNATIONAL

     

    • Japan’s Development Loan Assistance to India for an amount of Yen 45 billion

     

    • The Government of Japan has committed JICA Official Development Assistance loan for an amount of Yen 45 billion (Rs.2587 crore approx.) for the project.

     

    • The Notes in this regard were exchanged between Mr. S. Selvakumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India and H.E. Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India on Japanese official development assistance loan for Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Project (Phase 3) (I).

     

    • This Project will provide residents of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) area especially in 110 villages with safe and stable water supply and sewerage services by carrying-out construction of water treatment plant and sewage treatment plants thereby improving living conditions of the residents as well as the investment environment in the concerned areas in BBMP in the State of Karnataka.

     

    • India and Japan have had a long and fruitful history of bilateral development cooperation since 1958. In the last few years, the economic cooperation between India and Japan has steadily progressed.

     

    • This further consolidates and strengthens the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan.

     

    NATIONAL

     

    ·        Eighth National Voters Day is observed on 25th January

     

    • The Election Commission of India celebrated the 8th National Voters’ Dayacross the country on 25th January for enhanced participation of citizens in the electoral process.
    • The National level function was held in New Delhi.
    • President Ram Nath Kovind gave away awards for best electoral practices to District Collectors, Superintendents of Police and other functionaries involved in election management.

     

    Gk bit – National Voters Day

     

    • National Voters’ Day or Rashtriya Matdata Diwasis celebrated on January 25 every year. The significance of National Voters’ Day is to encourage more young voters to take part in the political process. It is a day to celebrate the right to vote and vibrant democracy of India.

    • The day was first celebrated in 2011 to mark Election Commission’s Foundation Day. This will be eighth National Voters’ Day (NVD) and will be used to spread awareness among voters regarding effective participation in the electoral process.

     

    • ECI (Election Commission of India) is permanent and independent constitutional body established directly by Constitution of India to ensure fair and fair elections in the country. It is multi-member body and currently has three members including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

     

    • Bharat Parv to be held at Red Fort on Republic Day

     

    • Cultural extravaganza Bharat Parvwill be held at the Red Fort in Delhi as part of the Republic Day celebrations.
    • The prime objective of the event is to promote rich cultural diversity of the country, generate a patriotic mood and to ensure wider participation of the general public.
    • The Bharat Parv event includes a display of Republic Day Parade Tableaux, Performances by Armed Forces Bands, Cultural Performances from a different region.

     

    ·        Union Government To Infuse Over Rs88 Thousand Crore In 20 PSB

     

    • The Union Government announced 88,139 crore rupees capital infusion in20 public sector banks, PSBs, during the current fiscal ending 31st March to boost lending and revive growth.
    • IDBI Bank will get the most- Rs10,610 crore followed by State Bank of India 8,800 crore rupees.
    • The 20 banks that will receive the capital infusion during this phase include Bank of India, UCO Bank, and Punjab National Bank.
    • In October last year, the government had announced over two lakh crore rupees bank recapitalization plan spread over spread over two financial years  2017-18 and 2018-19.

     

    • India to host 16th International Energy Forum meet

     

    • The 16th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial meeting will be held in New Delhi on April 10 to 12.

     

    • It will be hosted by Government of India in New Delhi and co-hosted by the Government of China and South Korea.

     

    • Representatives from 92 countries will be participating in the conference, including 72 member countries of IEF and 20 guest countries.

     

    • India had last hosted the IEF ministerial conference in 1996.

     

    ·        Union Government to increase number of AMRIT pharmacy stores 4 times

    • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced to increase the number of AMRIT pharmacy stores by four times by end of 2018 from the existing 111 outlets in a bid to make low-cost medicines more accessible. So far, 52 lakh patients have been benefited by buying discounted drugs (60 to 90% less than market price) from AMRIT (Affordable medicine and reliable implants for treatment) stores and have saved over Rs. 267 crores.
    • The AMRIT (Affordable medicine and reliable implants for treatment) scheme aims to reduce expenditure incurred by patients on the treatment of cancer.
    • Under it, retail outlets in the name of AMRIT pharmacy are opened to sell drugs for cancer and heart diseases at highly discounted rates on market rates.

     

     

    • SARAS PT1N makes its maiden flight

     

    • SARAS PT1N (14 seater) designed and developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), a frontline aerospace research laboratory, has successfully made its maiden flight.

     

    • Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, has congratulated the scientists of CSIR-NAL and other agencies involved in the successful maiden flight.

     

    • The aircraft took off at about 11 a.m from HAL airport and flew for about 40 minutes at the maximum height of 8500 ft at the speed of 145 knots.

     

    • The aircraft programme is named after Indian crane Saras. It was first conceptualised in the 1990s to establish short-haul civil aviation market. The original design of the plane included maximum take-off weight of 6,100kg and a maximum payload of 1,232kg.

     

    • Rapid Reporting System for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls launched

     

    • Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Shri Rakesh Srivastava launched the Phase -1 i.e. the beneficiary module of the Rapid Reporting System for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls – a web based on line monitoring for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls in New Delhi.

     

    • This Portal has been developed in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC).

     

27.01.18 Nagaland(NPSC) Current Affairs

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NORTH-EASTERN STATES

  • Model Code of Conduct in full swing in Nagaland
  • Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinhahas asked banks to report daily to the district election officer on suspicious withdrawal of cash from the bank account of any individual.

 

  • If cash exceeding Rs 50,000 was found in a vehicle carrying a candidate, his agent or party worker, it would be seized.

 

  • The directives were issued as part of the Model Code of Conduct which is in force in Nagaland in view of the elections to the 60-member Assembly on February 27.

 

  • Posters, election materials or drugs, liquor, arms or gifts items valued at more than Rs 10,000, likely to be used for inducement of electors, or any other illicit articles also found in a vehicle, shall also be seized, the statement said.

 

  • Unauthorized political advertisements at private property should also be removed.

 

  • There is a total ban on the use of official vehicles by any political party, candidate or agent for campaigning, electioneering or election-related travel during elections.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

·        Doomsday Clock set to 2 mins to midnight closest since 1953

 

  • The Doomsday Clock close the planet is to an apocalypse was set at2 minutes to midnight, the closest since 1953 during the Cold War.
  • The Clock was moved 30 seconds forward compared to 2017, citing growing nuclear risks and climate dangers.
  • The Clock is maintained since 1947 by scientists worldwide including 15 Nobel Laureates.

 

Gk bit – Doomsday Clock

 

  • The Doomsday Clock has moved closer to midnight, from two-and-a-half minutes to two minutes.

 

  • The Doomsday Clock was created by the board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientistsin 1947 as a response to nuclear The concept is simple – the closer the minute hand is to midnight, the closer the board believes the world is to disaster.

 

 

  • The clock was originally conceived by a group of atomic scientists who had been involved with the Manhattan Project, the scheme responsible for the first nuclear weapons. The scientists regularly produced a bulletin detailing progress and updates in nuclear weaponry and the clock was first designed as an illustration for the cover of the first edition.

 

  • Since then, the clock has moved backwards and forwards – from seventeen minutes to midnight in 1991 to two minutes to midnight in 1953.

 

 

  • India offers to create digital villages in ASEAN countries

 

  • India has offered to enhance rural connectivity in fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations during the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit.

 

  • Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said, “India offers to undertake a pilot project on rural connectivity, which would create digital villages in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam.”

 

  • PM Modi also proposed the ASEAN countries declare 2019 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism.

 

 

 

NATIONAL

 

  • President of India Receives Asean Heads of State and Government

 

  • The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, received the ASEAN Heads of State and Government at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 25, 2018 and hosted a lunch in their honour.
  • Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India-ASEAN relations have come a long way since we established our Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN on January 28, 1992.

 

  • Today, ASEAN is a Strategic Partner for India.

 

  • We have 30 dialogue mechanisms between India and ASEAN, including Annual Summits and 7 Ministerial Meetings in a wide range of sectors.

 

  • Ministry of Highways signs MoU with IL&FS for construction of Zojila tunnel

 

  • An MoU was signed between National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, and M/S IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd for construction of the 14.150  km long,  2-lane bi-directional Zojila Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir .

 

  • This would be India’s longest road tunnel and the longest bi-directional tunnel in Asia.

 

  • The construction of this tunnel will provide all weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh and will bring about all round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions.

 

·        Small Finance Banks and Payment Banks to offer Atal Pension Yojana

 

  • Payments Banks and Small Finance Banks are a New Model of banks conceptualized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • 11 Payment Banks and 10 Small Finance Banks have received a license from Reserve Bank of India to start banking operations in India.
  • Small Finance Banks and Payment Banks are new age banks and given the strength of the bank, expertise and it reaches, Small Finance Bank and Payment Bank can play a pivotal role in the outreach of 83 lacs subscribers under Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
  • APY is a Government’s Old Age Pension Scheme being implemented through all Banks across the country as per the mandate received from the Ministry of Finance and monitored periodically at PMO. PM Narendra Modi had launched the Social Security Scheme on May 9th, 2015 and dedicated the First Ever Guaranteed Pension Product to the people of the country.

 

·        Maharashtra wins best tableau prize in Republic Day parade

 

  • The Punjab Regiment has bagged the award for the best marching contingent among the three services and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police among the paramilitary and other auxiliary forces in the Republic Day parade.

 

  • Maharashtra got the first prize for the best tableau.

 

  • Maharashtra’s tableau was titled Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj coronation.

 

  • Assam’s tableau depicting traditional “masks and sastras” bagged the second prize.

 

  • The third prize went to Chhattisgarh’s display of Ramgarh’s ancient amphitheatre and artistes performing dance based on Kalidasa’s Meghadootam.

 

  • Among the tableaux by Union Ministries and departments, the first prize went to KheloIndia of the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry.

 

  • Of the 23 tableaux, 14 were from the States and Union Territories.

 

  • The External Affairs Ministry presented two tableau depicting the “long socio-cultural, religious, educational and trade relations” between India and ASEAN countries.

 

·        Govt. to set up apex cybercrime coordination centre

  • To deal with cybercrimes such as financial frauds, circulation of communal and pornographic contents, the Union Home Ministry is planning to set up an apex coordination centre and has asked States to establish a similar mechanism in every district.
  • It has also released ₹83 crore for setting up of a cyber forensic training laboratory-cum-training centre for police officials in each State. The funds were given under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children Scheme.
  • The apex centre — Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) — would be set up in Delhi.
  • It would coordinate with State governments and Union Territories, and closely monitor the cyberspace and social media with due emphasis on vernacular content.
  • The centre would also block those websites which flout India’s laws and circulate child porn, and communally and racially sensitive content.
  • State governments have also been asked to set up a State cybercrime coordination cell at the headquarter-level and also establish district cybercrime cells.
  • The Ministry has already created a new wing — Cyber and Information Security Division — to deal with the new-age challenge.
  • The cybercrime cases are of varied types. These range from defacement of government websites, online financial frauds, online stalking and harassment, and data thefts. Each requires specialised investigative skill sets and forensic tools.
  • Phishing, scanning or probing, website intrusions and defacements, virus or malicious code and denial of service attacks are some types of cybercrimes.

 

06.02.18 Nagaland(NPSC) Current Affairs

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NORTH-EASTERN STATES

  • IOC to invest Rs 3,400 crore in Assam to augment operations

 

  • Indian Oil Corporation will invest Rs3,400 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.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

  • Maldives declares state of emergency

 

  • Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has declared a 15-day state of Emergency, his aide Azima Shukoor announced on state television.

 

  • The move gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects as Yameen refuses to comply with a Supreme Court order to release political prisoners.

 

  • The latest crisis was triggered when the Maldivian Supreme Court ordered the release of some opposition leaders, including former president Mohammed Nasheed, after overturning their “terrorism” convictions.

 

 

  • Dubai named the world’s busiest International Airport

 

  • Dubai International Airport says it has held on to its No 1 ranking as the world’s busiest airport for ‘international travel’, after seeing some 88.2 million passengers in 2017.

 

  • Dubai International Airport first surpassed London Heathrow as the world’s busiest airport for international traffic in 2014.

 

  • It has maintained the title ever since, with some 90 airlines flying into skyscraper-studded Dubai.

 

  • The airport is home to the long-haul carrier Emirates.

 

  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia remains the world’s busiest airport overall.

 

 

·        Japan Launches Smallest Rocket Ever To Carry Tiny Satellite into Orbit

 

  • The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)launched the world’s smallest rocket with the ability to put a tiny satellite into orbit.
  • The rocket lifted off from the Uchinoura Space Center.
  • It carried a microsatellite TRICOM-1R, a three-unit CubeSat weighing about 3 kilograms.
  • This satellite launch was a re-flight of the TRICOM-1 mission, which was lost in SS-520’s failure in 2017.
  • The launch was aimed at testing the ability of JAXA to launch low-cost rockets that can put microsatellites into space at affordable rates.

 

NATIONAL

 

·        India contributes $1 million to UN Development Partnership Fund

 

  • India contributed additional $1 million to India-UN Development Partnership Fund, earmarked for South-South cooperation.
  • The contribution aims to intensify its partnerships with other developing countries in the south.
  • India has pledged a multi-year contribution of $100 million to the fund establishment in June 2017.
  • The fund was set up on 9 June 2017 on occasion of the World Oceans Day as a partnership between India and United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

·        International company Singtel to invest 2649 crores in Bharati Telecom

 

  • Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) spend up to 2643 crores on shares in India’s Bharti Telecom, lifting its stake slightly in the holding company for Bharti Airtel to just under half.
  • India’s telecommunications sector has been hit hard by a price war since the entry of carrier Reliance Jio, the telecoms arm of Reliance Industries Ltd, more than a year ago.
  • The purchase worth as much as 26.5 billion rupees could increase Singtel’s stake in Bharti Telecom by up to 1.7 percentage points to 48.9 percent and its holding in Bharti Airtel, the country’s biggest mobile carrier, by up to 0.9 percentage points to 39.5 percent.
  • The deal will be done via a preferential share allotment.

 

 

  • Maharashtra govt approves new wildlife sanctuary at Ghodazari

 

  • The Maharashtra government has approved Ghodazari in Chandrapur district as a new wildlife sanctuary in the state.

 

  • The decision was taken at the 13th meeting of the Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

 

  • The sanctuary, in the North East of Tadoba, will include 159 sq km of Brahmapuri forest.

 

·        India Successfully Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Agni-I Missile

 

  • India successfully test-fired the indigenously developed short-range nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile.
  • The missile was fired from the Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast.
  • The test was conducted by the Strategic Force Command of the Indian Army.
  • The range of Missile is 700 km.
  • It was 18th version of Agni-I.

 

 

·        Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go on 4-day visit to Palestine, UAE, Oman on February 9

 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modiwill have a packed schedule during his four days visit to Palestine, UAE, and Oman from ninth of this month.
  • This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to UAE and first to Oman.
  • During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in many community events.
  • In Dubai, Prime Minister would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit being at which India has been extended ‘Guest of Honour’ status. Joint Secretary (Gulf).

 

  • IWAI Signs Project Agreement With World Bank For Jal Marg Vikas Project.

 

 

  • Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)signed a project agreement with the World Bank for Jal Marg Vikas Project on river Ganga.
  • The World Bank entered into a USD 375 million loan agreement with the Department of Economic Affairs, Union Ministry of Finance for Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).
  • Jal Marg Vikas Project, which is expected to be completed by March 2023, is being implemented with the financial and technical support of the World Bank.

 

08.02.18 Nagaland(NPSC) Current Affairs

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NORTH-EASTERN STATES

 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address elections rallies at Sonamura & Kailasahar in Tripura

 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address rallies at Sonamurain Sipahijala districtand Kailasahar in Unakoti district.
  • Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Sarbanand Sonowal addressed public meetings in Teliamura and Majlishpur yesterday.
  • Assam’s former Chief Minister and Congress leader Tarun Gogoi campaigned in Badarghat constituency.
  • Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar addressed rallies in Kumar ghat and Kailasahar of Unakoti district. The state will go to polls on the 18th of this month to elect a new assembly.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing rallies in Sonamura of Sipahijala and Kailasahar of Kailasahar districts. In view of PM’s rally, the security arrangement has been beefed up in the state.
  • Also, yesterday addressing a rally in Teliamura, Assam’s Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to develop each and every state of the country.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

·        Forbes Releases Its First-Ever Cryptocurrency Rich List

 

  • Business magazine Forbes released its first-ever Crypto Rich List, comprising 20 wealthiest peoplein the cryptocurrency space.
  • The list was topped by Ripple Co-founder Chris Larsen, who is estimated to have a crypto net worth of $7.5-8 billion.
  • He is followed by Ethereum Co-founder Joseph Lubin ($1-5 billion) and Founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance Changpeng Zhao ($1.1-2 billion).

 

·        Bermuda Becomes first Country In World To Abolish Same-Sex Marriage

 

  • Bermuda becomes the first country to legalize and then repeal same-sex marriage.
  • Bermuda’s governor John Rankin approved a bill reversing the right of gay couples to marry, despite a supreme court ruling last year authorizing same-sex marriage.

 

 

NATIONAL

 

·        Google and NCERT Join Hands To Teach Students Digital Safety

 

  • Google and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)signed a pact to integrate a course on ‘Digital Citizenship and Safety’ in information and communication technology curriculum.
  • It was signed on the occasion of Safer Internet Day (06th February).
  • The curriculum developed by NCERT in collaboration with Google will be used to train students from class I – class XII across 1.4 million schools in India where they will learn how to become good and responsible digital citizens. The curriculum is spread into four themes – being smart, being safe, being a digital citizen and being future ready.

 

·        HAL Develops First Hawk-I Flight

 

  • The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited developed the first flight of Hawk-i with indigenous Real Time Operating System (RTOS).
  • Hawk-i is the first indigenous RTOS developed in India from scratch and certified by Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC). 
  • The RTOSis the system software which provides a standard run-time environment for real-time applications execution in a safe and reliable manner.

 

·        Fifth South Asia Region Public Procurement Conference Held In New Delhi

 

  • The Fifth edition of South Asia Region Public Procurement Conferencewas held in New Delhi.
  • It was hosted by Public Procurement Division (PPD) of Ministry of Finance and All India Management Association (AIMA).
  • It was held under auspices of South Asia Region Public Procurement Network (SARPPN),which is sponsored and facilitated by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Islamic Development Bank.
  • The theme this edition of the conference was “Public Procurement and Service Delivery”.

 

 

·        Union Cabinet approves implementation of PMRF scheme gives nod to enhance beneficiaries under Ujjwala Yojana from 5 to 8 crores

 

 

  • Union Cabinet approved implementation of Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) schemeat a total cost of 1,650 crore rupees for a period of seven years beginning 2018-19. The scheme was announced in the Union Budget for 2018-19.
  • Under this scheme, the best students who have completed or are in the final year of B. Tech or Integrated M.Tech or M.Sc. in Science and Technology streams from IISc or IITs or NITs or IISERs or IIITs will be offered direct admission in the Ph.D. programme in the IITs or IISc.
  • Such students, who fulfill the eligibility criteria, and are shortlisted through a selection process, as laid down in the PMRF Guidelines, will be offered a fellowship of 70 thousand rupees per month for the first two years, 75 thousand rupees per month for the 3rd year and 80 thousand rupees per month in the 4th and 5th years.

 

·        Defence Ministry constitutes a 13-member advisory committee to expedite capital acquisition for Armed Forces modernisation

 

  • Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharamanconstituted a 13-member advisory committee to monitor and expedite capital acquisition projects for the modernization of the armed forces.
  • In a statement, the Ministry said, the committee will undertake an independent review and check the status of ongoing critical projects worth more than 500 crore rupees.
  • The panel will suggest measures to improve the capital acquisition process.
  • The committee, headed by Vinay Sheel Oberoi, will have to present an initial status report on identified projects to the Defence Minister by March 31.

 

  • Centre to link driving licence with Aadhaar

 

  • The Centre is in the process of linking driving licences with Aadhaar number to weed out fake licences and a software for this covering all states on a real time basis is under preparation, the Supreme Court was told.

 

  • A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta was informed about it by a court-appointed committee on road safety headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice K S Radhakrishnan.

 

  • This assumes significance as a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra is currently hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar scheme and the enabling 2016 law.

 

  • ISRO sets up 473 Village Resource Centres for rural development

 

  • To demonstrate the potential of satellite technology for development of rural areas, ISRO established Village Resource Centres (VRCs) on a pilot scale, in association with selected NGOs, Trusts and State Government Departments.

 

  • VRCs have provided various space technology enabled services such as tele-healthcare, tele-education, natural resources information, advisories related to agriculture, career guidance to rural students, skill development and vocational training etc.

 

  • About Rs 18 crores was spent for establishing 473 VRCs.

 

·        Development of Solar Cities scheme: 60 Solar Cities to be developed

  • Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)under its “Development of Solar Cities” scheme sanctioned the development of 60 Solar Cities including 13 Pilot and 5 Model Cities up to 12th Five-year Plan period (2012–2017).
  • So far, master plans of 49 Solar Cities have been prepared.
  • Under it, local Governments are motivated for adopting renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures.
  • Solar City developed under this scheme will have all types of renewable energy based projects like solar, wind, biomass, small hydro, waste to energy.

·        Nuclear-Capable Prithvi-II Missile Successfully Test-Fired

  • India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile as part of a user trial by the Army from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, in Odisha. It is a surface-to-surface missile and has a strike range of 350 km.
  • Prithvi-II is capable of carrying 500-1,000 kilogram of warheads and is thrust by liquid propulsion twin engines.
  • Inducted into the Armed forces of the country in 2003, the nine-meter-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled Prithvi-II is the first missile to have been developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

 

  • Jhulan Goswami first female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets

 

  • India’s veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami has added another feather to her illustrious cap by becoming the first female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets.

 

  • Goswami achieved the feat during the second ODI between India and South Africa.

 

  • The 35-year-old, playing her 166th ODI, dismissed opener Laura Wolvaardt for her 200th scalp.

 

  • She was adjudged ICC Women Cricketer of the Year in 2007.

 

03.02.18 Nagaland(NPSC) Current Affairs

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NORTH-EASTERN STATES

  • Arunachali yak the first to be registered as new breed

 

  • Yaks, found in the mountainous regions of Arunachal Pradesh, have been registered by the Karnal-based National Bureau of Animal Genetics Resources (NBAGR) as a distinct breed known as Arunachali yak, this being the first instance of such a registration in the country. Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh will formally award the recognition in New Delhi on Wednesday to the representatives of National Research Centre on Yak (NRCY) based at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

  • The study found that Arunachali yaks are characterized by their predominantly black body colour and the high fat content in their milk which sometimes goes up to 7.45%. A lactating Arunachali yak produces, on an average, 1.3 kg milk per day. Though the milk is comparatively of poor quantity, it is compensated by the high fat content which makes it useful to produce different milk products.

 

  • However, scientific interventions, especially in the areas of breeding and rearing, have been able to slow down the decline of population as Arunachali yaks still remain the main source of livelihood for many Brokpas (yak rearers). West Kameng and Tawang are mainly dominated by the Monpa community, which treats the yaks as an asset for the rural economy, and rears these animals in organized farms or semi-migratory systems.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

  • Inland Waterways Authority of India signs agreement with World Bank

 

  • Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed a project agreement with the World Bank, 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).

 

  • 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 through 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.

 

  • The JMVP, which is expected to be completed by March, 2023, is being implemented with the financial and technical support of the World Bank.

 

  • The project will enable commercial navigation of vessels with the capacity of 1500-2,000 tons on NW-I.

 

 

·        UAE Launches World’s Longest Zip Line

 

  • The United Arab Emiratesmade a record by opening the world’s longest zip line, measuring 83 kmin length.
  • Guinness World Records officials certified the zip line in Ras al-Khaimah.
  • The Jebel Jais Flight takes thrill-seekers atop the country’s largest mountain peak, from a launch pad 1,680 meters (5,512 feet) above sea level.

 

NATIONAL

 

  • Two athletes to represent India at the Winter Olympics

 

  • Luger Shiva Keshavan and cross-country skier Jagdish Singh will represent India at the PyeongChang Winter Olympicswhich begins on February 9.

  • Thirty-six-year-old Keshavan, the country’s best known Winter Olympian, will be taking part in his sixth Games since his debut at Nagano in Japan in 1998.

  • Meanwhile, this will be Jagdish Singh’s maiden Winter Games appearance.

 

  • Textbooks in 4 states to have QR codes: Nilekani

 

  • Schools in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthanwill have QR codes in their textbooks, enabling students to view video tutorial and customized content from smartphones, informed.

 

  • As part of the initiative, textbooks will have digital links with a QR code printed at the lesson and this code will have digital material related to the particular concept, which could be a short video lecture or a tutorial or a customized content.

 

  • Sharing his experiences of working with the government, Nandan said that one of things that he learnt is that government is a big amplifier. “If intervention happens at an early stage, impact will be bigger. The government is currently spending Rs 18,000 crore on education. At the other end, philanthropic capital is also being funded in the sector.

 

  • Dust mitigation plan must for firms

 

  • The Environment Ministry has made it mandatory for companies seeking environment clearance to ensure that they put in place a dust mitigation plan.

 

  • The requirements, specified in a gazette notification on January 25, say that roads leading to or at construction sites must be paved and black-topped. There could be no soil excavation without adequate dust mitigation measures in place. No loose soil, sand, construction waste could be left uncovered. A water sprinkling system was mandatory, and the measures taken should be prominently displayed at the construction site. Moreover, the grinding and cutting of building materials in open area were prohibited and no uncovered vehicles carrying construction material and waste would be permitted.

 

  • The standards were developed by the Central Pollution Control Board as part of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), and will now empower the organisation to fine companies and agencies for not complying with norms.

 

  • Road dust contributed 56% of all PM10 pollution, while it was 38% for PM2.5.

 

  • Before PM2.5 became the focus of attention — for its role in lodging itself in the lungs and for being a key component of diesel emissions — dust was the key villain for a long time. Dust is a generic term for a vast mix of metals and non-metals — silicon, aluminium, titanium, manganese, copper, barium, antimony, selenium and zinc.

 

Gk bit  – PM (particulate matter)

 

  • PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

 

Particle pollution includes:

 

 

  • PM10 : inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller; and

 

  • 5: fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

 

 

  • The average human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter – making it 30 times larger than the largest fine particle.