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Current Affairs – March 16, 2018

S.No Topic Page Number

1 Important Days 2

2 World News 3

3 National News 4 - 6

4 State News 7 - 8

5 Banking & Economy 9 - 10

6 Sports 11

7 Awards & Honours 12

8 Appointments & Resignations 13

9 Books & Authors 14

10 Science & Technology 15

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Important Days

World Sleep Day: 16 March 2018

World Sleep Day is an annual event, intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to

action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, social

aspects and driving. World Sleep Day is held the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox of

each year.

The theme of World Sleep Day 2018 is ‘Join the Sleep World, Preserve Your Rhythms to

Enjoy Life’.

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World News

President Ram Nath Kovind’s six day Visit to Mauritius & Madagascar

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind was on a six-day official visit to island nations of

Mauritius and Madagascar from March 11, 2018.

Besides, President Kovind’s visit to Madagascar was the first ever visit by an Indian

President andhe was chief guest at the island nation’s golden jubilee of independence

celebrations, a high honour.

On March 13, 2018, President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the World Hindi Secretariat

building in Mauritius. India announced a new USD 100 million Line of Credit for defence

procurement by Mauritius.

During the course of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Madagascar, India and

Madagascar signed an umbrella agreement in the field of defence.

Sri Lanka lifts FB ban after it agrees to curb hate speech

Sri Lanka has lifted its ban on Facebook after the social media giant agreed to step up

efforts to curb hate speech amid the ongoing emergency in the country.

A 10-day nation-wide state of emergency was imposed following clashes between

Buddhist and Muslim communities in the country’s Kandy district. Sri Lanka lifted its ban

on WhatsApp

World Ocean Summit 2018 concluded in Mexico

The fifth World Ocean Summit was held at Riviera Maya, Mexico.

It’s a chance for business, government and environmental leaders to talk about the

problems facing the world’s seas and to come up with solutions to protect the planet’s

vast ocean resources.

Bolivia unfurls ‘world’s biggest flag’ stretching 200 km

Bolivia claimed to have unfurled the world’s biggest flag that stretched nearly 200

kilometres.

Tens of thousands of Bolivians held the flag in a show of support for the country amid a

maritime dispute with Chile.

Bolivia has been demanding access to the Pacific Ocean, which it lost to Chile during a

war in the 19th Century.

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National News

Lok Sabha passes Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017

On March 15, 2018, Lok Sabha passed Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017

which seeks to authorize Central Government to fix tax-free gratuity amount and period

of maternity leave with an executive order.

Under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, formal sector workers with five or more years

of service are eligible for maximum Rs. 10 lakh tax-free gratuity after leaving job or at

time of superannuation.

After implementation of 7 Central Pay Commission recommendations, ceiling of gratuity

amount for central government employees was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lak.

Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates Delhi Energy Dialogue (DED) 2018

On March 14, 2018, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra

Pradhaninaugurated the first edition of Delhi Energy Dialogue (DED) 2018 in New Delhi.

The dialogue was organised by Ashden India Collective (AIC) in alliance with the Climate

Parliament and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

The dialogue served as a platform for stakeholders in the field of energy and power to

deliberate on key developments and challenges for ‘energy for all’ in India.

While inaugurating the dialogue, Mr. Pradhan stated that India is a happening place for

energy as every day 40 million people are going to hydrocarbon retail points to meet

their demand and 190 million people are getting the benefit of subsidies.

Three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela begins in Delhi

Three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela, focusing on ‘doubling farmers’ income’ began in

New Delhi on March 16, 2018. Highlights of Krishi Unnati Mela:

The objective of Krishi Unnati Mela is to create awareness among farmers about latest

agriculture related developments.

Farmers and agri-scientists from various parts of India will be attending this Mela.

800 stalls displaying latest agriculture and allied sector technologies have been set up at

the venue of Krishi Unnati Mela.

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Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of IACP held in New Delhi

On 14 March 2018, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the two-day Asia-

Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) at

Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of IACP held in New Delhi

Theme of the conference: Challenges to Policing in 2020 – How is Cyber Space shaping

our approach to Cybercrime and Terrorism, how do we perform within it and take

advantage of it.

The conference was organised by the Asia-Pacific World Regional Office (APWRO) of

IACPalong with Intelligence Bureau. Intelligence Bureau Director Rajiv Jain was the host

of the conference.

Main focus of the conference: discussions on exploitation of cyber space by terrorist or

organized groups for committing crimes and illegal activities. Ways to prevent such

activities was discussed.

PM Modi inaugurates 105 Indian Science Congress in Manipur

On 16 March 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 105th session of the

Indian Science Congress in Imphal, Manipur.

Imphal has become the second city in the North-East India to host the Indian Science

Congress.

The Indian Science Congress has participation from 5000 delegations. Noble laureates,

scientists, scholars and researchers from all over India take part in this congress.

He inaugurated Luwangpokpa Multi-Sports Complex, Rani Gaidinliu Park, and few other

projects after inaugurating the congress.

He laid foundation stone of the National Sports University, 1000 Anganwadi Centres, 19

residential complexes for teachers, doctors and nurses, etc.

Government has proposed Common Eligibility Test to Rajya Sabha on 14th March 2018

Government has been proposed Common Eligibility Test (CET) to Rajya Sabha on 14th

March 2018, that a Common Eligibility Test (CET) will be conducted for govt exams viz

SSC, Banking, Railway and others 2019 onward.

However it still is not officially out and will be treated as a supposition until it is

proclaimed on the papers.

This is proposed in order to bring transparency in various government procedures, to

ease the difficulty faced by surging candidates after failure in the proper conduction of

exam.

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LaQshya program for pregnant woman

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently announced the launch of program

‘LaQshya’, aimed at improving quality of care in labour room and maternity Operation

Theatre (OT).

The Program will improve quality of care for pregnant women in labour room, maternity

Operation Theatre and Obstetrics Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and High Dependency

Units (HDUs).

The LaQshya program is being implemented at all Medical College Hospitals, District

Hospitals and First Referral Unit (FRU), and Community Health Center (CHCs) and will

benefit every pregnant woman and new-born delivering in public health institutions.

‘LaQshya’ will reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, improve quality of

care during delivery and immediate post-partum period and enhance satisfaction of

beneficiaries and provide Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to all pregnant women

attending public health facilities.

Atal Bhujal Yojana

The Government has proposed Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) aimed at sustainable ground

water management with community participation in select over-exploited and ground

water stressed areas in seven States (Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,

Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh).

ABHY is designed as a Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of Rs. 6,000 Crore and is

proposed to be implemented with World Bank assistance.

KUSUM Scheme – harnessing solar power for rural India

The Government of India is in the process of formulating a Scheme ‘Kisan Urja Suraksha

evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM)’ which, inter alia, provides for:

Installation of grid-connected solar power plants each of capacity up to 2 MW in the

rural areas

Installation of standalone off-grid solar water pumps to fulfill irrigation needs of farmers

not connected to grid

Solarization of existing grid-connected agriculture pumps to make farmers independent

of grid supply and also enable them to sell surplus solar power generated to DISCOM

and get extra income and Solarization of tube-wells and lift irrigation projects of

Government sector.

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State News

Tamil Nadu Neutrino project gets environmental nod

Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has granted environmental

clearance for setting up India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project at Bodi West

hills in Theni district of Tamil Nadu.

In November 2017, Tamil Nadu State Expert Appraisal Committee had observed that

proposed site forms part of the catchment area of various streams that contribute to

the Vaigai watershed.

However, considering the national importance of the project, MoEF took up the

proposal at the Central level as a special case and granted environmental clearance with

17 conditions.

Among these, most important condition is to obtain Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board

(TNPCB) consent to establish and operate the project.

Andhra Pradesh Stands at 51st Position In Global Multidimensional Poverty Index

Andhra Pradesh stands at equivalent to 51st rank globally in Multidimensional Poverty

Index (2017) according to a recent household survey conducted in the state.

Andhra Pradesh becomes the first Indian state to conduct an exclusive household survey

at state and district level to estimate the multidimensional poverty of the state.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched the Andhra Pradesh

Multidimensional Poverty (MPI) Index Report 2017. As per the report Andhra Pradesh

has an index value of 0.0825 whereas India as at 66th position with an index value of

0.1911

Navi Mumbai junctions get buttons to change traffic signal

In a first, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has installed pedestrian push buttons

at certain junctions, allowing pedestrians to change the traffic signal.

Traffic signals on all four sides of the junction will carry the push buttons. Once the

pedestrians push the buttons, the signal will turn red for vehicles and will change to the

green pedestrian sign

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India’s first coastal policing academy set up in Gujarat

India’s first national coastal policing academy, National Academy of Coastal Policing

(NACP) to train police forces in effectively safeguarding country’s shoreline will start

functioning from April 2018.

It will be launched from campus of Gujarat’s Fisheries Research Centre located in coastal

Okha town in Devbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat.

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Banking & Economy

SEBI Raises Currency Derivatives Trade Limit to $100 Mn

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has raised the exposure limit under

exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) for residents and foreign portfolio

investors (FPIs) to USD 100 million across all currency pairs.

This decision comes after RBI raised the exposure limit to USD 100 million in February

2018.

ETCD, in USD/INR, EUR/INR (Euro), GBP/INR (Great British Pound) and JPY/INR (Japanese

Yen) are primarily used by Indian exporters and importers and foreign portfolio

investors (FPIs) to hedge their risk against currency price fluctuations.

It is to be noted that for taking positions within the prescribed limit,

corporate/individuals are not required to present any proof on underlying exposure.

ADB to lend $120 mn for improving Indian rail infrastructure

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $120 million loan agreement with India to

improve operational efficiency of Indian railways by double-tracking and electrification

of tracks along high-density corridors.

The loan is part of the $500 million multi-tranche financing facility for railway sector

investment programme approved by the ADB board in 2011.

The loan amount will be used to complete the ongoing works commenced under earlier

tranches.

Muthoot Finance ties up with global IME bank for money transfer service to Nepal

Muthoot Finance Ltd., the flagship company of Muthoot Group tied up with Global IME

Bank to expand its money remittance services between Indo Nepal Corridor.

Muthoot Finance is the only Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) to extend the

money transfer services from India to Nepal.

India’s exports in February up 4.5% to $25.8 Billion

India’s exports grew by 4.5% in February-2018 to 25.8 billion dollars. It was 24.7 billion

dollar during the same period in February-2017.

This announcement was made by the Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia.

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Karnataka Bank’s all-woman branch

Karnataka Bank opened its first all-woman branch at Bull Temple Road in Bengaluru.

This is the 800th branch of the bank.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahabaleshwara MS, Managing Director and CEO, said the

bank opened 36 branches during 2017-18.

The bank has registered a business turnover of Rs 1.06-lakh crore.

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Sports

Germany’s Tommy Haas retires from professional tennis

Tommy Haas of Germany, the Indian Wells Tournament Director, has announced his

retirement from professional tennis.

Tommy has announced his retirement at the age of39. He became world number two in

May 2002.

He bagged silver medal in the Olympic Games in 2000. He has achieved 569 career wins.

He was made Tournament Director at Indian Wells in 2016.

Jaffer 1st Indian aged 40+ to hit 250 in rst-class innings

Wasim Jaffer has become the first Indian over 40 years of age to slam a 250-plus score

in a first-class innings.

Vidarbha’s 40-year-old Jaffer achieved the feat by hitting an unbeaten 285 in the first

innings against Rest of India in the ongoing Irani Cup. Jaffer also surpassed 18,000

firstclass runs, becoming the sixth Indian to achieve the feat.

Odisha to host Senior Nationals Table Tennis after 12 years

Odisha will host the 80th Senior National Table Tennis Championships, most probably at

Cuttack, after a gap of 12 years. The state had hosted the event in 2001 and in 2006.

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Awards & Honours

Jackie Shroff’s ‘Shunyata’ Wins International Award In US

Actor Jackie Shroff’s short film ‘Shunyata’ has won an award at Best of India Short Film

Festival in Los Angeles, US. The 22-minute fiction film directed by Chintan Sarda was

selected to be in top six from amongst thousands of entries and was played at a theatre

in Los Angeles.

An industry based jury then adjudged it the best film. The prize includes a cash prize of

$1,000

Veteran actress Simi Garewal wins UK film festival award

Veteran actress and talk show host Simi Garewal has been felicitated with a “UK Golden

Flame Award” for her contribution to Indian cinema at the opening ceremony of the

annual Tongues of Fire UK Asian Film Festival in London.

ICMR wins the 2017 Kochon Prize for TB research

The 2017 Kochon Prize was awarded to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

today in New Delhi for building a tradition of excellence in TB research and

development.

The $65,000 Prize is awarded annually by Stop TB Partnership to individuals and/or

organizations that have made a significant contribution to combating TB.

MDWS Bags Award for best implementation of E-office

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public

Grievances & Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, presented a Certificate of Appreciation to

Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for implementation of e-office software.

The award was received by Shri SatyabrataSahu, Joint Secretary and Mrs Seemantinee

Sengupta, Senior Technical Director, HOD, NIC-MDWS, on behalf of the Ministry at a

function heldat the Ministry of Personnel, Grievances and Pension.

E-Office is one of the Mission-mode Projects under the Digital India programme.

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Appointments & Resignations

Mujahid Anwar Khan appointed new Pakistan Air chief

On 16 March 2018, Pakistan appointed Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan as the new

chief of Pakistan air staff.

Mujahid Anwar Khan will take charge as Pakistan Air chief on 19 March 2018. He

replaces Sohail Aman.

Currently, Mujahid Anwar Khan is Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Support) and Director

General, Air Force Strategic Command at Air Headquarters, Islamabad.

Slovak PM Robert Fico resigns

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and his government resigned.

Slovak President Andrej Kiska accepted the resignation.

He has resigned because of the political crisis triggered by the slayings of an

investigative journalist and his fiancee.

Slovenian PM Cerar resigns

Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar has resigned.

He resigned after a court annulled the result of a referendum in the latest blow to his

crisis-hit government, months ahead of planned elections.

Sangeeta Bahadur Appointed Next Ambassador Of India To Belarus

Sangeeta Bahadur has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic

of Belarus. She is an IFS officer of 1987 batch.

She is currently Additional Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs.

Larry Kudlow Becomes Trump’s New Economic Adviser

President Donald Trump named Larry Kudlow as the next head of the White House

National Economic Council. He has replaced Gary Cohn.

Mr Kundlow is the conservative media analyst who served as his informal economic

adviser during the 2016 campaign

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Books & Authors

Sri Lanka Cricket releases book on Jagmohan Dalmiya

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on the occasion of the 70th independence of the island nation,

paid a glowing tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya by releasing a book,

titled ‘A Tribute to Jagu’.

SLC President Thilanga termed Dalmiya as a ‘hero’ who had the guts to stand up for

what was right and carry on in the face of unmatched adversity. They felicitated him

posthumously as the greatest non-Sri Lankan contributor to their country’s cricket.

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Science & Techonology

India’s first cloned Assamese buffalo born

Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) said that, a cloned Assamese buffalo

male calf was born for the first time. India’s first cloned Assamese buffalo born

The Assamese buffalo clone calf named Sach-Gaurav was born on 22 December 2017

through a normal delivery.

The calf was born to a Murrah buffalo. The Assamese buffaloes were seen only in the

north-east India. They were mostly used for agricultural work.

The birth weight of the calf was 54.2 kg. It was healthy and had normal physiological

parameters.

Railways introduces innovative analytical approach to locomotive scheduling to enhance

productivity

Indian Railways has launched an innovative analytical approach to enhance the

deployment of electric and diesel locomotives run passenger trains.

A software dependent mathematical decision support system will be utilised to improve

the productivity of locomotives.

This system has been developed by Ministry of Railways along with experts.It is

implemented all over India.

This system finds out the minimum number of locomotives needed to run all the

passenger trains according to time table, also fulfilling the maintenance and operation

necessities at the same time.