Latest Current Affairs Highlights for Bank and Insurance Exams 2017

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• The Indian Navy has successfully conducted the maiden trial firing of a newly installed surface-to-air Barak missile system from its air-craft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The firing was conducted as part of the 'Operational Readiness Inspection' from 21 to 23 March. 
• Note : The missile marks a significant milestone in providing air interception and defence capabilities and enhanced operational capabilities of the Navy's aircraft carrier and the flee. 
• The Mental Healthcare Bill, which decriminalizes suicide and guarantees the right to bet-ter healthcare for people with mental illness, was unanimously passed in the Lok Sabha on 27th March, 2017. It mandates that a per-son attempting suicide shall be presumed to be suffering from 'severe stress' and there-fore, shall not be tried or punished by law. 
• Note : The Bill mandates that persons with suicidal tendencies be provided help and rehabilitated. 
• The Union Govt. has sanctioned 101 new integrated cold chain projects that will lever-age a total investment of Rs. 3,100 crore for creation of modern infrastructure for the food processing sector. Note: India is one of the largest food producers in the world and the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables yet only 2.2% of our fruits and vegetables are processed. Existing cold storages are concentrated in a few States and roughly 80% to 90% are used for potatoes. 0 The Supreme Court on 29th March banned the sale and registration of Bharat Stage (111S)-111 emission norm-compliant vehicles from April 1, 2017 saying the health of mil-lions was more important than commerdal interests. 
• Note : The biggest difference between the two is the emission of carbon particulate matter, a major air pollutant. While BS-III vehicles emit 2.30gm of carbon monoxide per kg of fuel, the emission drops to 1gm per kg in BS-IV vehicles. 
• In a historic step towards Implementing a new, consolidated Indirect tax regime from the proposed date of July 1, 2017 the Lok Sabha on 29th March, 2017 passed four Bills, relating to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• The number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel who chose the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) has jumped to over 400% in 2016-17. The Gov( data shows that 2016-17 saw the maximum of 9,065 personnel going for VRS in the last three years from forces like the CRPF and the BSF. 
• The government has notified that Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory advisory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) will now be permanently chaired by a senior MoEF official.
• Note : This step came into effect due to the recently held Jallikattu Protest in Tamil Nadu. Central Government applies its preference now in the management of the organization by making a new Board of 18 members, chaired by Sharad Singh Negi, Special Secretary and Director-General (Forests). MoEF came into effect for three years term. 
• India and Nepal have renewed the supply agreement between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) for another five years. Supplies to Nepal from India have been meeting the petroleum product requirements since 1974. 
• Note : The renewed agreement is an umbrella document between the two parties which apart from detailing the supply of petroleum, oil and lubricant products and also puts in place an institutional mechanism for cooperation in the areas of additional services and technical assistance between the two. 
• The Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) has introduced a mobile application 'Exam Locator' to help students appearing for class 10th and 12th examinations locate their exam centres. The user can then access infommtion by selecting the option class X or XII and entering the roll number.
• The Supreme Court upheld the Tripura High Court order terminafing the jobs of 10,323 teachers for faulty recruitment procedure. 
• Note : The High Court had cancelled the recruitment of college teachers made from March 2010 in several categories.  
• The government is all set to come up with the country's first-of-its-kind dictionary that aims to bring together various sign languages used by people with speech and hearing impairments. The Indian Sign Language (151) dictionary, which is being developed by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), has so far compiled 6,032 Hindi and English words and corresponding graphic representations of signs. 
• Note : It will contain graphic representations of popular signs used by the hearing impaired and will also include regional variations. Apart from that, it will have legal, technical and medical terms. The dictionary is being developed in both print and video formats. Note: The interceptor is a 7.5-metre single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile equipped with a navigation system, a high-tech computer and an electromechanical activator. 
• Vice president of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari attended the Summit of the 21-nation Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in Jakarta, Indonesia. 
• Note : This is the first Summit level conference hosted by Jakarta. Open maritime trade and rights of navigation discussed during his visit. Four documents - IORA Concord, IORA Action Plan, IORA Declaration on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism.
• The State Governments of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir have signed an agreement to fast-track the completion of 206 MW 2,285-crore rupees Shahpur Kandi dam project on the Ravi river in Chandigarh. 
• Note : Shapur Kandi project' was declared a national project in February 2008 by the Centre. 
• The union minister of state for Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh has inaugurated the three-day long 'Destination North East' 2017 in Chandigarh. 
• Note : The event showcased North East as a Potential destination for investment and organized by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and an industry body PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  
• Under the recommendations of the bill, Bill-2016, working women in all establishments will be entitled to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave. If a woman adopts a child below 3 months of age, she will be entitled to 12 weeks leave from the date the child is hand-ed over to her 
• Note : This entitlement will be applicable for the first two children. For the 3rd child, any women will be granted 12 weeks of maternity leave. 
• The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare has launched Mission Fingerling to achieve the Blue Revolution by enabling holistic development and management of fisheries. The programme will enhance the fisheries production from 10.79 mmt (2014-15)10 15 mint by 2020-21. 
• Note : Fish Fingerling production is the single most important critical input visualized to achieve fish production targets under the Blue Revolution. 
• Lok Sabha passed the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2006 after incorporating the changes made by Rajya Sabha. The act provides for the prevention of claims to any properties in India by the successors of people who migrated to Pakistan and China during partition. 
• The Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has inaugurated high-speed rail wire Wi-Fi facility at National Rail museum in New Delhi. The free Wi-Fi service built over the fiber network of Rail Tel is designed to offer High- Speed Broadband like experience to users. Mr. Prabhu also launched a book "Indian Railways- The Weaving of a National Tapestry". 
• The Revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Mode of Operation (MOO) to establish Border haats on the India Bangladesh Border was approved by the Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi. The move aims to promote the wellbeing of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of two countries, by promoting traditional system of marketing the local produce through local markets. 
• The committee was constituted to strength. en border protection and address vulnerabilities in fencing along the Indo-Pakistan bor-der. The committee submitted its recommendations broadly on the issues of Threats and Border Protection, assessment of force level, deployment on the border, infrastructure and technology issues for protection of border and administrative issues. The corn-mittee was appointed on 5th April 2016
• The Water Resources Minister Urns Bhart has inaugurated the day-long national con. ference on 'Jai Kranti Abhiyan' in New Delhi. The objectives of the Abhiyan were strengthening grass root involvement of al stakeholders including panchayati raj institutions and local bodies for participatory irrigation management. 
• Note : There are four important components of Jal Kranti Abhiyan viz. Jal Gram Yojana, Development of Model Command Area, Pollution Abatement and Mass Awareness Programme.
• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has unveiled new exam format for Class VI to IX. The board has replaced Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) which was in place since 2009 with a uniform system of assessment and examination to be followed by its affiliated schools. According to the new guidelines, there will still be two terms, the written test weightage will be 90% and 10 marks of the 20 marks set aside for periodic assessment in each term. 
• Indian Railways will set up Wi-Fi hotspot kiosks at about 500 stations to help people access an array of online services, including various government schemes. The WI-Fi kiosks will function like a PCO for Digital India and enable people to use services like commerce, online banking, offer them access to open school/university and insurance schemes, e-ticketing for train and bus services among others. 
• The Union Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha has released a Postage Stamp on Cub Scouts to commemorate the Centenary year of Cub Scouts in India and abroad. Cub Scouting is meant for children of age group between 8 to 11 years and Cubbing involves games, stories, play acting, handicrafts and also work through the Star tests and Badges. 
• The union Information & Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu' has launched the online film certification system, 'e-CinePramaan' with an aim to the elimination of middlemen and promote clean cinema. The new system of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) will make the entire process of certification transparent and efficient. This will make the process for films to obtain a certificate fully digital and will include OR Codes to check fraudulent certificates.

Shared by Shravan Varma Gadhiraju

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