20 th January Current Affairs 2018

Transcription

1 2018 (TNPSC, SSC, BANK,UPSC, RAILWAY) Visit Us - examsdaily.in Face book - ExamsDaily

2 1. Mauritius Largest Source of FDI in India- RBI Mauritius was the largest source of foreign investment in India (21.8 per cent share at market value), followed by the US and the UK, according to a census by the Reserve Bank of India. Singapore and Japan were the next two sources of foreign direct investment (FDI), reported the Census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets of Indian Direct Investment Companies , released by RBI. Takeaways 1. Mauritius Capital- Port Louis 2. Currency- Mauritian rupee. 2. Arun Jaitley Launches National CSR Data Portal & Corporate Data Portal The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley launched the National CSR Data Portal & Corporate Data Portal in Delhi. This initiative is a significant step towards driving accountability and transparency for corporate India. 2 The portals easy accessibility to the general public will ensure a high level of compliance and will also help in institutionalising and consolidating the CSR activities. The launch of the portals will bring 100

3 percent transparency in corporate governance by making public over 4-crore filings of nearly 1.2 million companies. Takeaways 1. K. Shanmukham Chetty was the first Finance Minister of independent India. 3. 4th India International Science Festival to be held in Lucknow The fourth edition of the India International Science Festival will be held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The decision to hold the Festival in Lucknow was taken at the first preparatory meeting for the 4th India International Science Festival (IISF). The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan. The 1st IISF was held at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) New Delhi. India had also set a Guinness Book of World Records, when 2000 school students performed two experiments at the Festival. Takeaways 1. The third in the series was held in October 2017 in Chennai. 2. AU Small Finance Bank Inks MoU with LIC to Offer PMJJBY Scheme 4. India Becomes 43rd Member of Australia Group 3

4 India has joined the Australia Group export control regime and has become the 43rd Member of that Group. It is an informal forum which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons. The inclusion will raise India s stature in the field of non-proliferation and help in acquiring critical technologies. India has managed entry into Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Takeaways 1. Australian High Commissioner to India- Harinder Kaur Sidhu. 5. U.S. government shuts down as midnight deadline passes Senators were still negotiating on the Senate floor as the clock turned midnight. The US government officially shut down on Saturday, the first anniversary of President Donald Trump s inauguration, after lawmakers failed to agree a stop-gap spending deal. Senators were still negotiating on the Senate floor as the clock turned midnight, but Mr. Trump s office issued a statement blaming opposition Democrats for the crisis. China accuses U.S. warship of violating its sovereignty 4

5 Huangyan Island is also known as the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed territory in the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines as well as China. Mr. Lu said the ship violated China s sovereignty and security interests and threatened the safety of China s vessels and personnel in the vicinity. The United States has criticised China for constructing islands and military installations in the region, saying they could be used to restrict free nautical movement. U.S. vessels have conducted a series of freedom of navigation patrols in the region. China firmly opposes efforts to use freedom of navigation as an excuse to hurt its sovereignty and urges the United States to correct its mistakes, Mr. Lu said. In a separate statement on Saturday, China s defence ministry said the repeated dispatch of U.S. warships to the region was undermining regional peace and stability and hurting bilateral relations. Takeaways 1. South China Sea, also called the West Philippine Sea. 6. South Africa s ANC to force Jacob Zuma to quit as president enca TV South Africa s ruling African National Congress (ANC) declined on Saturday to comment on a report on its executive plans to force Jacob Zuma to quit as president, as its leaders gather to outline the party s programme for the coming year. 5

6 National broadcaster enca said on Saturday that the ANC s National Executive Committee (NEC) had resolved on Friday to ask Mr. Zuma to resign and that, if he refused, he would be forced to step down by the party s six-strong leadership group. The station did not name its sources. An anonymous NEC member quoted by online news site News24 said that the decision had been reached unanimously. Mr. Zuma s second presidential term is due to run until The newly elected NEC made no mention of his possible early exit in a statement it issued after meeting for the first time on Thursday and Friday under the party s new leader, Cyril Ramaphosa. Asked about the reports that Mr. Zuma would be asked to resign, an ANC spokeswoman said: We can t confirm rumours of things that we don t know. The NEC has issued a statement on the totality of discussions yesterday. 7. Fireworks industry withdraws indefinite closure Withdrawal follows the assurance given by Minister for Dairy Development, K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, that the State government would stand by the industry After 25 days off indefinite closure, the Fireworks industry on Friday midnight announced the withdrawal of their protest and their decision to resume work on Monday. The withdrawal comes following the assurance given by Minister for Dairy Development, K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, that the State government would stand by the Fireworks industry. 6

7 The Chief Minister had promised to take up the air pollution issue against the industry with the Union government and put pressure on the Centre in getting exemption for the Fireworks industry from the Environment (Protection) Rules, The State government had helped the Fireworks industry to bring down the GST rate from 28% to 18%, Mr. Bhalaji said. The government would continue to support the industry on the present crisis also, he added Chief Minister has assured that the ruling party MPs would raise the pollution issue in the parliament and get a favourable solution for the Fireworks industry, he added. 8.Athletes from Ladakh sweat it out for Mumbai Marathon Having practiced for the past month, and having faced tough competitions before, the youngsters from Ladakh hope to better their best timings at the event. As for D Souza, his role pretty much ends as soon as his trainees take their position at the start line. And his advice to them is rather straightforward. Judge the race, then run, and come what may, complete it 9. 90,000 Indians evacuated from foreign conflict zones, countries affected by natural disasters: MEA Around 90,000 Indian nationals have been safely brought back from foreign conflict zones, countries affected by natural disasters and other challenging situations in the last few years. 7

8 Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs Dnyaneshwar M Mulay, said, the evacuation of these people were carried under the aegis of the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). Our (MEA s) dictum is pro-people and people-centric policies with a larger motto of Sarvajanhitay, Sarvajansukhaiy (benefit for all, welfare for all). And, part of that rubric is ICWF. 10. First indigenous aircraft carrier to be ready by 2020 Vikrant, India s first home-made aircraft carrier, will be ready for induction by The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier has been named Vikrant after the first aircraft carrier that India had INS Vikrant, which was HMS Hercules for the British Royal Navy before India bought it after it was decommissioned by the UK. This year, at the Republic Day Parade, the aircraft carrier will feature on the Navy s tableau, portraying the high level of indigenisation in the Indian Navy. 11. Jammu and Kashmir to host international martial arts event Jammu and Kashmir will host first ever international martial arts games, in which over 15 countries are expected to participate, in the first week of October this year in the summer capital Srinagar. 12. Sudeep Lakhtakia appointed new NSG DG 8

9 IPS officer Sudeep Lakhtakia has been appointed as the new director general of National Security Guard (NSG). He is currently serving as a special DG of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters. 13. Angelina Jolie to receive ASC Governors Awards Actor-Director Angelina Jolie will be honoured by the American Society of Cinematographers with ASC Board of Governors Award. Jolie will be felicitated with award during the 32nd annual ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement on February 17 at Hollywood and Highland s Ray Dolby Ballroom. For her wide-ranging accomplishments, she is being honoured with the Board of Governors Award. 14. India rise three places in latest FIFA rankings India jumped three rungs to be placed 102nd in the first FIFA rankings of the year India, who are just above 103rd placed Qatar, are ranked 14th among Asian countries. India garnered 13 points in the last one month for a total of 333 points. The Indians remained unbeaten in 2017, having won seven of their nine matches while two ended in draws. India had also qualified for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Iran is the top-ranked Asian team at the 34th position. 15. Senior journalist Anindya Sengupta passes away 9

10 Senior journalist and Indian Journalists Association Secretary Anindya Sengupta, noted for sharp political and economic reporting has passed away ***