2nd April 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• World Autism Awareness Day is being observed today (2nd April 2015)
• It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution "62/139.
• This day was adopted on 18 December 2007, it was proposed by Qatar, and supported by all UN member states.
• 2015 Theme : Employment: The Autism Advantage
• Note : It is estimated that more than 80% of adults with autism are unemployed.
• International Children's Book day is being celebrated today.
• This day is sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), an international non-profit organization.
• This day is observed to commemorate Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's birthday
• He was famous for his fairy tales. 
• India has agreed to help Colombo in evacuating its nationals from strife-torn Yemen.
• There are reportedly around 75 to 100 Sri Lankan expatriates, including students, in Yemen.
• A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued today against former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf by a court for repeatedly failing to appear in the 2007 murder case of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi.
• In an attempt to deepen economic and strategic ties between the neighbouring countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Pakistan next week.
• The Chinese leader was expected to visit Pakistan in 2014 during his trip to India, Sri Lankan and the Maldives but postponed it due to the ongoing protests against the government in Islamabad.
• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched his government’s much-hyped subsidised Aahar scheme on the occasion of the State’s Foundation Day.
• The scheme was launched in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela in the first phase.
• Four Aahar outlets each have been opened in five towns where meal consisting of rice and Dalma is being provided at a subsidised rate with financial assistance from three State run corporations and Tata Steel.
• Each Aahar outlet will cater to a thousand people daily between 11 am and 3 pm. 
• The scheme is supported by 
• Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar
• Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) in Rourkela and 
• Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) in Sambalpur
• Tata Steel is sponsoring the scheme in Berhampur.

National Affairs

• Mahavir Jayanti is being celebrated across the country today
• The new capital of Andhra Pradesh will be called Amaravati, after the historical capital of the Satavahana dynasty in second century A.D. 
• Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement after a cabinet meeting yesterday's evening.
• Maharashtra Government to construct 56 lakh toilets in the state by 2019 under the cleanliness campaign of central government. 
• Cleanliness ambassadors will be appointed at village level to ensure rural sanitation and half of them will be women. 
• Sanitation parks will be set up at 'tehsil' level to enable gram panchayats to check various models of toilets and select any of them for building in their village.
• Centre moves to Supreme Court seeking review of apex court’s decision to scrap Jat Quota.

Business & Economy

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) celebrates it's 80th Anniversary today.
• Established on : 1st April 1935.
• First Governor of RBI : Sir Osborne Smith (1st April 1935 to 30th June 1937)
• Present Governor of RBI : Raghuram Rajan (4th September 2013 -)
• Prime Minister asks RBI to prepare a 20-year roadmap for financial inclusion; asks banks to take a considerate view in lending to the poor.

 Awards & Honors

• New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has been awarded Sir Richard Hadlee medal, the country’s highest cricketing honour, for his inspirational leadership and exemplary batting at a glittering ceremony, in Auckland.
• McCullum led the Kiwis to their first World Cup final where they did lose to Australia by seven wickets at a packed MCG on March 29 but won a million fans with their entertaining show throughout the 50-over showpiece event.

Sports

• International Badminton ranking released
• Saina Nehwal officially confirmed as World No 1
• Rising women's shuttler PV Sindhu is in ninth position.
• In the men's category, India Open Super Series winner Kidambi Srikanth stayed at the fourth spot with China's Chen Long leading the rankings chart.
• These lists were released by Badminton World Federation (BWF).
• Saina Nehwal today reached the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open Super Series premier badminton by beating Xue Yao of China.

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