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Showing posts with label
April 2015 Current Affairs updates.
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Showing posts with label
April 2015 Current Affairs updates.
Show all posts
International Affairs
- Today is International Jazz Day.
- This day is being observed to break down barriers and create opportunities for mutual understanding and tolerance.
- The Day is intended to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people.
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International Affairs
- Indonesia has executed eight convicted drug traffickers (seven of them foreigners) by firing squad despite international calls for clemency.
- Australia recalled its ambassador in protest of the execution of two Australians.
- Indonesian President : Joko Widodo
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National Affairs
- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today directed that anyone caught burning any kind of waste--dry leaves, plastics, solid waste will be liable to pay Rs 5,000 as fine.
- The money generated from the fine will be used for various projects related to restoration of environment.
- Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today announced compensation of Rs 1,092 crore to farmers affected by inclement weather conditions, to be disbursed by May 15.
- Of the total amount, Rs 720 crore will be provided by the Centre while rest will be provided by the state government, he said.
- Centre cancels licenses of nine thousand Non-governmental organizations for violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
- To probe heinous crimes against women, the Centre has proposed to set up 150 investigative units for violence against women in most crime prone districts in the country.
- Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary told Lok Sabha that the objective of these units will be to assist the local police in investigation of heinous crimes against women like rape, acid attack, dowry death and human trafficking etc.
- The total cost estimation for the initiative would be about Rs 98 crore for the 12th Five Year Plan period and the centre and state would share the cost on a 50:50 basis.
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International Affairs
- Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is on a three day state visit to India.
- During this visit, he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend delegation-level talks.
- Nepal Earthquake :
- The Indian Army has named the aid to Nepal 'Operation Maitri' or friendship.
- Scaling up ‘Operation Maitri’, India has deployed two dozen military
aircraft and choppers and was also undertaking a “big evacuation”
through the road route.
- Foreign Secretary : S Jaishankar
- Home Secretary : L C Goyal
- Chief of National Disaster Management Authority : R K Jain
- India Meteorological Department head : L S Rathore
- India today launched a national disaster helpline 1078 as it
intensified relief and rescue operations in earthquake-hit Nepal by
deploying more aircraft and military helicopters which have brought back
over 5,400 people from the Himalayan nation.
- PM Narendra Modi has donated one month's salary to the Prime
Minister's National Relief Fund, for assistance to those affected by the
recent earthquake.
- Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu's proposal to contribute 1-month salary for
rehabilitation work in Nepal unanimously accepted by all Lok Sabha MPs.
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International Affairs
- Today is International Day of the Dog (Dog Day).
- Today is World Intellectual Property Day.
- This day was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to "raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life" and "to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe".
- Important Note : 26 April was chosen as the date for World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.
- Fresh tremors of 6.7 magnitude felt in Nepal causing panic among people.
- Tremors also reported from several parts of India including Delhi.
- Death toll in Nepal crosses 2000.
- Central Government announces a compensation of two lakh rupees each to families of those killed in the quake in India.
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National Affairs
- Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will flag off the much-awaited AC double-decker train for Lucknow from New Delhi tomorrow.
- Prime Minister NarendraModi, for the first time traveled in Delhi Metro from Dhaula Kuan to Dwarka.
- In his tweet, Mr. Modi said he enjoyed the ride and thanked Sreedharan, the former Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, popularly known as Metro Man.
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International Affairs
- Today (24th April) is World Day For Animals In Laboratories (also known as World Lab Animal Day).
- This day was established in 1979 by the British National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS).
- The date 24th April was chosen to observe this day, as it marked the birthday of former NAVS president Hugh Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding.
- Switzerland became the World's Happiest Country.
- The country topped the 3rd annual World Happiness index.
- It was closely followed by Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Canada.
- Togo, Burundi, Benin and Rwanda, with civil-war wracked Syria, were least happy.
- The third World Happiness Report, released by the U.N.’s Sustainable
Development Solutions Network today, ranked 158 countries based
on Gallup surveys from 2012-15 and analyzed the key factors contributing
to happiness levels.
- During this survey, they considered the Life expectancy, social connections, personal freedom and the economy.
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National Affairs
- Government today launched Call to Action for TB free India, a campaign to make the country Tuberculosis (TB) free in the next five years.
- Launched by : Health Minister J P Nadda
- Note : The government is going to launch a toll-free helpline, whereby even
a missed call would suffice to connect them with the health programme
against the disease.
- Unmarried central government employees can now avail benefits of LTC for visiting any part of the country, as per a relaxation in the rule.
- Earlier it was restricted to them use the facility for going to their hometown only.
- A fresh order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training said that the facility of conversion of home town LTC to allow travel to different parts of the country, under the special dispensation scheme.
- LTC : Leave Travel Concession
- Jammu & Kashmir government slaps Public Safety Act against separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat and shifts him to Kot Bhalwal jail.
- The Public Safety Act (PSA) allows detention of a person for a minimum of six months without trial.
- The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has received an ISO 9001:2008 certification from the British Standards Institute in respect of various permissions and licenses issued by it for the broadcasting and print media and films.
- These include permissions or licences for satellite TV channels, teleports, multi-system operators, community radio stations, DTH services, publication of Indian editions of technical and scientific and foreign magazines of news and current affairs and facsimile editions of foreign newspapers and permission for foreign film producers.
- I&B Secretary : Bimal Julka
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a three-day global exhibition on services at New Delhi to showcase India's strength in the sector and provide platform to the industry to explore business opportunities.
- Over 40 countries will participate in the exhibition.
- The services sector includes IT, ITeS, telecommunication, healthcare, education, logistics, media and entertainment, R&D and space.
- Note : Share of India's services sector in the global services trade is only 3 percent as compared to 4.6 percent of China.
International Affairs
- Today (23rd April) is World Book and Copyright Day.
- This day is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- This day is an opportunity to recognize the power of books to change our lives for the better and to support books and those who produce them.
- Note : Incheon chosen as 'World Book Capital 2015' by UN for promoting reading in underprivileged sections.
Science & Technology
- One of NASA’s crowning glories, the Hubble Space Telescope, marks its 25th anniversary this week.
- With 1 million-plus observations, including those of some of the farthest and oldest galaxies ever beheld by humanity, no man-made satellite has touched as many minds or hearts as Hubble.
- Important Note : Hubble rocketed into orbit on April 24, 1990.
- NASA engineers have developed the first full-scale, 3-D printed copper rocket engine part - a combustion chamber liner that operates at extreme temperatures and pressures.
Sports
- Sports Ministry suspends recognition of Paralympics Committee of India for poor management and conduct of National Para-Athletics Championships.
- Bangladesh sweeps 3 match ODI series against Pakistan with a 8 wicket victory in the final match at Dhaka.
- World’s top-ranked women’s shuttler Saina Nehwal and compatriot P.V. Sindhu won their respective matches to reach Quarter final of Asia Badminton Championship 2015.
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International Affairs
- International Mother Earth Day is being observed today (22nd April).
- This day is observed to create awareness and to support environmental protection.
- The Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
- The idea came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.
- Ministry of External Affairs, India Sushma Swaraj is on 5-day visit to Jakarta.
- In this visit, she will attend the 60th anniversary of Bandung Conference.
- She will also attend the 10th anniversary celebrations of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership.
- Bandung Conference :
- The Bandung Conference was the first global meeting of African and Asian states to promote cooperation along economic and cultural lines, and opposition to colonial and neocolonial politics.
- The conference was hosted in Bandung, Indonesia by President Sukarno, in April 1955, and included delegates from 25 countries representing more than one-half of the world’s population.
- Bandung spawned the Non-Aligned Movement, a vibrant coalition of countries that created a non-western set of alliances and politics, in opposition to the cold war politics of the U.S. and Soviet Union.
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National Affairs
- The Urban Development Ministry has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure cleanliness during and after public meetings and gatherings.
- Under the SOP, organizers have been made accountable for ensuring cleanliness.
- The Ministry has taken a serious note of spoiling of public places through littering of water bottles, left- over food items, packaging material and wrappers during public gatherings and meetings.
- With an aim of monitoring implementation of various ongoing projects including Rail Budget proposals, The Indian Rrailways today launched E-Samiksha, an online monitoring mechanism.
- Designed by NIC, the software is currently being used by
Cabinet Secretariat, PMO and other Ministries for monitoring progress
implementation of various programmes and follow-up of meetings.
- NIC - National Informatics Centre
- Railway Minister : Suresh Prabhu
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International Affairs
- Chinese President XI JIngping is on a two day visit to Pakistan.
- On the first day of his visit, Pakistan and China sign 51 agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for cooperation in different fields.
- The agreements including the
multibillion dollar economic corridor through the PoK that will expand China's influence in India's neighbourhood.
- Xi Jinping also scheduled to unveil a $45-billion investment plan that can help Pakistan end its chronic energy crisis and transform it into a regional economic hub.
- Pakistan Prime Minister : Nawaz Sharif.
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National Affairs
- The Maharashtra government has decided to link all ration shops in Mumbai and suburban Thane district with a biometric system by November with a view to check irregularities in the public distribution system (PDS).
- The Maharashtra government has set up a 12 member task force on agriculture development and poverty alleviation to address the issues.
- This task force will be headed by the additional chief secretary (Agriculture).
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National Affairs
- Patna High Court is celebrating 100 years of its establishment.
- The court came into existance in the year 1916.
- President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the centenary celebration.
- The word 'Godse' is no longer unparliamentary except in reference to 'Nathuram Godse', Lok Sabha has ruled.
- Parliament had banned the use of the word in 1956.
- Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948 in New Delhi.
- The order lifting the ban was passed yesterday and has brought much relief to Shiv Sena MP from Nashik Hemant Tukaram Godse who had pitched for removal of the word "Godse" from the list of "unparliamentary words".
- Lok Sabha Speaker : Sumitra Mahajan
- Cult Bollywood classic “Sholay”, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, hit theatres in Pakistan for the first time yesterday, 40 years after its India release.
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National Affairs
- National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notices to chief secretaries of all states seeking status on prevention of air pollution on roads.
- NGT Chairperson : Justice Swatanter Kumar
- The Gujarat government today formed a Task Force comprising several ministers to device a new strategy to eliminate poverty in the state and provide suggestions to the government to achieve this objective.
- Gujarat's Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramanlal Vora has been appointed chairman of this task force.
- Members of this Task Force :
- Finance Minister : Saurabh Patel
- Tribal Development Minister : Mangubhai Patel
- Transport Minister : Vijay Rupani
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International Affairs
- US President Barack Obama writes article on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Time Magazine.
- Obama called Modi as India's Reformer-In-Chief.
- In his Article, the US president said that Mr Modi, laid out an ambitious vision to reduce extreme poverty, improve education, empower women and girls and unleash India's true economic potential while confronting climate change.
- Important Note : Narendra Modi featurec on Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people.
- Other Indians who feature in the list are, ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochchar and Vikram Patel, co-founder of the NGO Sangath and the Centre for Global Mental Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
- India and Canada today agreed to take 'concrete measures' to expand bilateral cooperation in key areas, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi commending his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper for maintaining the relationship between the North American country and India via his visits to New Delhi.
- In the joint statement the two leaders stated that they have agreed to take concrete measures to expand bilateral cooperation in key areas including the economy, trade and investment, civil nuclear cooperation, energy, education and skills development, agriculture, defence and security, science, technology, innovation and space, culture, people-to-people ties, and regional and global issues.
- Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar is on a visit to South Korea to boost defence ties.
- This is his first official visit to South Korea
- He will co-chair the India-RoK (Republic of Korea) Defence Ministerial meeting with his Korean counterpart Gen. Han Min-Koo tomorrow.
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International Affairs
- After visiting France and Germany, Modi arrived Canada on the final leg of his three-nation visit.
- India and Canada inked a total of 13 deals in the area of skill development.
- Deals signed includes commercial agreement to supply Uranium for India's nuclear plants
- The $350-million uranium agreement, which was signed by Cameco and
the Atomic Energy Commission of India in the presence of Prime Ministers of India and Canada , marked a new chapter in India's ties
with Canada, which had imposed sanctions on India after its nuclear
tests.
- Under the deal which runs through 2020, Cameco will supply 7.1 million pounds of uranium concentrate to India.
- Prime Minister of Canada : Stephen Harper
- Modi announced liberalised visa policy for Canadian nationals visiting India.
- Foreign Minister of Belarus, Vladimir Makei is on a three-day visit to India.
- India and Belarus today agreed to enhance their bilateral ties especially in the field of trade and economy.
National Affairs
- Six parties from the erstwhile Janata Parivar merged today under the leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav, a development which comes ahead of Bihar assembly elections slated later this year and the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
- The six parties are,
- Samajwadi Party (SP),
- Janata Dal-United (JD-U),
- Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD),
- Indian National Lok Dal (INLD),
- Janata Dal-Secular JD-S) and
- Samajwadi Janata Party-Rashtriya (SJP-R).
- According to sources, the group will endorse Nitish Kumar as the merged entity's chief ministerial candidate for Bihar.
- The government has formed an inter-ministerial committee headed by Cabinet Secretary to review the Official Secrets Act in the context of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose files.
- Cabinet Secretary : Ajit Seth
- Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader has inaugurated two-wheeler ambulances in Bengaluru.
- He termed this bike ambulance project as a “platinum ten minutes” trauma care initiative.
- Aimed at reducing deaths due to road accidents, the platinum trauma care initiative is useful for negotiating heavy traffic in urban areas where it will be difficult for four-wheeler ambulances to reach the accident spot at the earliest.
New Appointments
- Mrs. Meenakshi Madan Rai was sworn in as the first lady judge of the Sikkim High Court today.
Deaths
- Renowned Assamese filmmaker and actor Bidyut Chakraborty passed away.
- He directed several Assamese movies including Raag-Biraag, Goon Goon Gaane Gaane, Dwaar. Chakraborty even won Indira Gandhi national award for Raag Biraag.
Sports
- India remains at number two spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings.
- With 122 points, Australia topped the chart.
- With 116 points, India are placed just six points behind Australia.
- India are followed by South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Pakistan.
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International Affairs
- Australia today assured India that it would extend full technological support for the ambitious project to cleanse the Ganga, saying measures like controlling effluent discharge could be used to clean the river.
- Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs : Julie Bishop
- Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation : Uma Bharati
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Allianz SE, Oliver Baete.
- In the final leg of his three-nation trip, he left Germany for Canada and met his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper in Ottawa.
- This will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 42 years.
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National Affairs
- Over four months after the President granted assent to the two Bills, the NDA Government today finally notified the Ninety-Ninth Constitutional (Amendment) Act and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, thus ending the over two-decade-old collegium system of appointing judges of Supreme Court and high courts.
- Under the new law, a six-member panel – National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) – headed by the Chief Justice of India will select judges of the apex court and state high courts.
- Along with the Head, this panel includes two senior-most Supreme Court judges, Union
Minister of Law and Justice and two “eminent persons” nominated by a
committee comprising the Prime Minister, CJI and Leader of Opposition in
the Lok Sabha or leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok
Sabha.
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International Affairs
- US President Barack Obama met Cuban President Raul Castro in Panama
- This is the first formal meeting between the two countries' leaders in half a century.
- Mr Castro has called for the lifting of the US economic blockade on Cuba, in place since 1959.
- United States, France and Israel have expressed grave concern over the release of UN-designated terrorist and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
- While the US said it has communicated its concerns to Pakistan, French President Francois Hollande expressed his country's indignation over the development.
- Israel also termed the release as a setback.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Hannover, Germany on the second leg of three-nations tour.
- He holds meeting with top businessmen of the country.
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International Affairs
- India and France agree to intensify co-operation on counter terrorism including information and intelligence sharing
- In a joint statement after bilateral talks between the two countries
in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President
Francois Hollande referred to their common desire to tackle terrorism
and promote security.
- French aviation company (Aircraft manufacturer) Airbus today announced that it is ready to manufacture in India.
- It is going to outsource work worth two billion dollars in next five years.
- Airbus Group CEO : Tom Enders
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