Important Current Affairs 17th April 2018

Important Current Affairs 17th April 2018


✅Noted journalist S Nihal Singh passed away

Noted journalist and former Chief Editor of The Statesman and The Indian Express, Surendra Nihal Singh passed away on 16th April.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.

✅World Haemophilia Day Observed On April 17

World Haemophilia Day is recognized worldwide on 17th April every year to increase awareness of haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders.It was started by the World Federation of Haemophilia.It also helps to raise funds for patients who cannot afford haemophilia treatment.The theme for World Haemophilia Day 2018 is “sharing knowledge”.

✅UK joins International Solar Alliance

The United Kingdom joined the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA) ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s four-day visit to Britain.The UK’s partnership will involve providing expertise and advice to the alliance, but no monetary contributions.The UK became 62nd country to join ISA, which includes countries like France, Australia, Bangladesh, Tuvalu, Benin, UAE, Brazil.

✅Bengaluru is highest paying city for talent

With an average annual CTC for talent across all levels and functions standing at about Rs 11 lakh, Bengaluru topped the list of salary trends this year.Pune stands second at around Rs 10 lakh, followed by NCR and Mumbai with an average annual CTC of a little under Rs 10 lakh and around Rs 9 lakh, respectively.The report has been published by Randstad India.

✅Yes Bank launches overdraft facility for MSMEs

Yes Bank recently announced the launch of ‘YES GST’, an OD (over draft) facility for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).Through this first-of-its-kind, industry first initiative, an MSME can avail OD up to Rs. 1 crore, based on their annual turnover, backed by GST returns.This OD facility can be availed by a MSME against mortgage of residential or commercial property.

✅Pilgrimage train flagged off from Sambalpur

A special pilgrimage train for senior citizens, under the ‘Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana’, has been flagged off from Sambalpur station by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.The train will take senior citizens to Shirdi, Nasik and Trimbakeshwar during the seven-day tour.The Odisha government has signed an MoU with the IRCTC for the pilgrimage plan.

✅M&M joins Rs 1-trillion m-cap club

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd entered the coveted Rs 1 trillion market capitalisation club, after its share price hit a fresh 52-week high on the BSE.Following the jump in its m-cap, M&M has joined the ranks of Ultra Tech Cement, Power Grid Corporation, and IndusInd Bank.The company’s market capitalisation (m-cap) jumped to Rs 1,01,829.91 crore.

✅Asteroid 2018 GE3 makes surprise fly-by Earth

A giant asteroid gave Earth a surprise close shave this week, flying by at a distance of 1,92,000 kilometres, just a day after astronomers discovered the object.Designated 2018 GE3, made its closest approach to Earth at around 0641 GMT on April 15.NASA estimated that the asteroid measures 48 to 110 meters wide.

✅CII projects FY19 GDP growth at 7.3-7.7%

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) projected India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow at 7.3-7.7% during the 2018-19 financial year.This is based on strengthening demand in the rural economy, including agriculture and non-farm activities, as well as better global growth climate.The CII projected 2.5-3.5% growth for the agriculture sector, 7.2-7.5% for the industrial sector.

✅Kochi to host India Skills Kerala 2018

Kerala will host the India Skills Kerala 2018 – in Kochi from April 28 to 30, as part of the World Skills India 2018.The event is aimed at identifying and training talents to get medals at the World Skills Competition Kazan 2019.The proposed India Skills Kerala 2018 is an avenue provided to the youngsters in the State to showcase their vocational skills.

✅India won elections to key UN subsidiary

India has won an election to a crucial Non-Governmental Organisation committee in the UN.The UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held elections to a number of its subsidiary bodies.The ECOSOC focusses on advancing the three dimensions of sustainable development economic, social and environmental.India topped the election to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations.

✅US places India under watch list

The US Treasury Department placed India under a watch list that monitors countries’ currency practices.The department in its report observed that the foreign exchange policies of six countries were needed to be monitored.Earlier, the department had five countries – China, Germany, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland – under this list. India is now the sixth country.

✅Yuki Bhambri back in top-100

Tennis star Yuki Bhambri today broke back into the top-100 for the first time since February 2016.As per the latest rankings, he jumped 22 places to a career-best rank of 83.This follows his title-winning performance at the Taipei Challenger. This is the best rank an Indian has achieved in ATP singles chart since Somdev Devvarman touched a career-high 62 in July 2011.

✅Target revised for PMGSY from 2022 to 2019

The Government has said that the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is well on its way to achieve the target by March 2019.The scheme, since its inception in 2000, has been able to provide connectivity to more than One lakh fifty thousand habitations.This centrally sponsored programme is implemented in partnership with the respective state governments.

✅New York Times, New Yorker won Pulitzer

The New York Times and The New Yorker won the Pulitzer Prize for public service on April 16.The Washington Post won the Pulitzer in the investigative category for relentless reporting that influenced the outcome of the 2017 Senate race in Alabama.The New York Times and The Washington Post shared the Pulitzer in national reporting for coverage of Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

✅Ola to introduce 10,000 EVs

App-based cab aggregator Ola plans to introduce 10,000 e-rickshaws and electric autorickshaws in India in the next 12 months.The ride-hailing company is in talks with state governments, OEM partners and electronic vehicle innovators to speed up the introduction of EVs in India.Ola aims to bring one million electric vehicles on the road by 2021.

✅Swimmer Shelar created world record

Pune-based 17-year-old swimmer Sampanna Ramesh Shelar became the first person in the world to double cross Bangla Channel.Shelar became the first person to swim to and fro from Saint Martin’s Island Jetty to Teknaf in Bangladesh also known as the Bangla Channel.Sampanna started swimming at about 5 am on 13th April and completed the journey of 32.2 kilometers in 9 hours and 10 minutes.

✅WB to fund community-led landscapes mgmt

A loan agreement worth USD 48 million for the “Meghalaya Community – Led Landscapes Management Project (MCLLMP)” was signed between India and the World Bank.The objective of the project is to strengthen community-led landscapes management in selected landscapes in Meghalaya.The project will help manage the depleting resources, by strengthening the communities and traditional institutions.

✅Kotak Mahindra became 2nd most valuable bank

Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd beat India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) for the first time to become the second most valued bank in the country.HDFC Bank Ltd remained country’s most valuable bank with a market capitalization of Rs5.04 trillion.Kotak Mahindra Bank has a market capitalization of Rs 2,22970.40 crore.

✅World Bank forecasted 7.3% growth for India

The World Bank forecasted a growth rate of 7.3% for India in 2018 and 7.5% for 2019 and 2020.Growth is expected to accelerate from 6.7 in 2017 to 7.3% in 2018, the World Bank said in its twice-a-year South Asia Economic Focus.In its report the World Bank said, India should strive to accelerate investments and exports to take advantage of the recovery in global growth.