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 INDIAN AFFAIRS
Delhi hosts third annual 5G India Congress
Third edition of the Annual 5G India Congress 2018 was held on April 20, 2018 in New Delhi.
Highlights of third annual 5G India Congress:
i. It was organised by Nexgen Conferences, one of India’s leading conferences and B2B event organizers and was supported by well known brands and industry bodies including Huawei, Nokia, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and 5G India Forum.
ii. The event served as a platform for all stakeholders, including network operators, Government & technology providers to come together and discuss about the 5G development for next generation communications in India.
iii. Indian government is planning to roll out 5G by 2020. Besides, as per Global Mobile Operators Association (GMOA), 5G will account for 14 percent of global wireless connections by 2025.
iv. According to a recent report on Indian telecom market, the revenue from 5G-enabled digitisation in India will reach USD 25.9 billion by 2026 and 5G-enabled industry revenue is expected to add around $13 billion to operator revenue.
GoM recommends uniform road tax structure for vehicles across country
A Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted by the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry, has recommended a uniform structure of road tax for vehicles across states.
Recommendations of GoM constituted by the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry:
i. This recommendation was given during GoM’s meeting held on April 20, 2018 in Guwahati, Assam. The two-day meeting was attended by transport ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Haryana and Jharkhand.
ii. The GoM is headed by Rajasthan transport minister Yoonus Khan.
iii. If this recommendation is accepted, transfer of vehicles from one state to another will be allowed without levying road tax.
iv. Other key recommendations of GoM include national passenger vehicles permit for passenger cars and levying tax based on invoice price of the vehicles.
v. For levying tax based on invoice price of the vehicles, GoM has recommended  three slabs viz. 8 percent tax on vehicles below 10 lakhs, 10 percent for vehicles costing between 10-20 lakh, and 12 percent for vehicles above 20 lakh.
vi. Under this structure, diesel vehicles may have to pay 2 percent extra taxes, while electric vehicles will be given a two percent discount.
Major electrification scheme launched in Nagaland
On April 20, 2018, Nagaland launched “Saubhagya, Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana”, aimed at electrifying over 90000 households across the state by March 31, 2019.
More details about “Saubhagya, Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana”, Nagaland:
i. Under this programme, electricity will be provided to 66766 rural households and 24,566 urban households in Nagaland.
ii. The programme will be monitored by Rural Electrification Corporation (REC).
iii. In remote areas where electricity connection is not possible, efforts will be made to provide electricity through Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) system.
Quick Facts about Nagaland:
♦ Capital – Kohima
♦ Current Governor – Padmanabha Acharya
♦ Current Chief Minister – Neiphiu Rio
♦ Important National Park – Ntangki National Park
Govt. launches Central Project Monitoring Unit for e-Vidhan project at Parliament.
On April 20, 2018, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Statistics and Programme Implementation, Vijay Goel inaugurated the new office of Central Project Monitoring Unit for the e-Vidhan project of the Government at the Parliament House Annexe.
About e-Vidhan project:
i. e-Vidhan, a part of Central Government’s Digital India Programme, is a mission mode project to digitize and make the functioning of State Legislatures in India paperless.
ii. Objective of this project is to reduce the use of papers and thereby contribute in conserving environment and maintaining cleanliness.
iii. Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is the Nodal Ministry for the project. Creating Project Monitoring Units, both at Central as well as State levels is an important part of implementation strategy.
First International SME Convention 2018 to be held in New Delhi
The Four day first International SME (Small,Medium Enterprises) convention 2018 is being held in New Delhi from 22ndto 24th April 2018. The main focus of this convention is on inclusion of MSMEs in the Make in India program & empowering women entrepreneurs. It has been engaged by Minister of MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) with 35 International Trade Development organizations.
Participants: – 150 participants from 31 countries and 400 entrepreneurs from India.
India in International SME (Small,Medium Enterprises) convention 2018
i. It helps our Indian SMEs in collaborating with International Companies for setting up manufacturing operations in India.
ii. It will also help to reach and market access of International Counterparts for promoting and exporting Made in India products and services.
iii. It will allow Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur exchange of ideas, free and fair business discussions, mutual sizing of opportunities and ways to address them.
Indian MSME
i. India has more than 60 million MSMEs, especially majority of who are in low-tech areas and serve the local domestic markets.
ii. Few of MSMEs have the ability and capability to derive access to International Markets. Highly developed economies have banked on their small and medium enterprises for both GDP Growth as well as higher employment resulting in higher per capita incomes.
Health Ministry to roll out initiative for prevention & control of viral hepatitis
Shri. Jagat Prakash Nadda,Union health minister has decided to roll out ‘Integrated initiative for prevention & control of viral hepatitis’ with a budget of Rs 517.39 crore for three year. This initiative for prevention and control of viral hepatitis has roll out under National Health Mission (NHM).
i. This initiative addresses with the various aspects such as surveillance, awareness generation, immunization, safe blood, and injection safety infection control, diagnosis of viral hepatitis, capacity building, research and monitoring to combat the disease.
Important points to be noted
i. Under the initiative, the ministry has decided to establish a state coordination unit under the state NHM for efficient rollout of the programme in 26 large and four small states.
ii. There is also a plan to set up 50 state laboratories for assisting in diagnosis and training of the district hospitals for screening of hepatitis.
iii. The ministry intends to scale up to 100 treatment and 665 testing centres over a period of next three years.
iv. It is also proposed to establish 15 model treatment centres based on the endemicity of the disease.
What is Viral hepatitis ?
Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation due to a viral infection. Hepatitis viruses replicate (multiply) primarily in the liver cells. This can cause the liver to be unable to perform its functions.
i. There are several types of hepatitis viruses including types A, B, C, D, E, and possibly G. Types A, B, and C are the most common. All hepatitis viruses can cause acute hepatitis.Viral hepatitis types B and C can cause chronic hepatitis.
ii. Symptoms of acute viral hepatitis include fatigue, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, light-colored stools, fever, and jaundice
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Malaria Summit held in London
A high-level Malaria Summit was held in London, UK on April 18, 2018 to step up action and announce new commitments in the fight against Malaria.
Highlights of Malaria Summit, London:
i. The summit was hosted by ‘Malaria No More’, a non-profit organization that aims to end death caused by malaria, and was Co-hosted by the Government of the United Kingdom and leaders of Rwanda and Swaziland.
ii. The Summit was held alongside 25th Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM) meeting in London.
iii. The Summit served as a platform to secure collective commitments of US$ 4.1 billion from governments, the private sector, philanthropists and international organizations.
iv. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the co-convener of the summit, committed additional USD 1 billion through 2023 to fund research and development efforts in the malaria fight.
v. Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by parasitic protozoans belonging to the Plasmodium type. It is most commonly transmitted by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. 216 million Malaria cases were reported in 2016, across the world.
Swaziland King changes his country’s name to ‘Kingdom of eSwatini’
On April 19, 2018, king of Swaziland, King Mswati III announced that his country’s name has been changed to ‘Kingdom of eSwatini’.
Swaziland is now ‘Kingdom of eSwatini’:
i. The declaration was made during celebrations marking King Mswati III’s 50th birthday as well as 50 years of independence from British colonial rule.
ii. In Swazi language, eSwatini means “place of the Swazi”. The name change was contemplated since many years as citizens were not happy with the word “Swaziland’ – a mix of Swazi and English word.
iii. Kingdom of eSwatini is a tiny landlocked nation in Southern Africa. It attained full independence in 1968, after being a British protectorate since the early 1900s.
iv. It suffers the highest HIV rate in the world, with 27 percent of adults from 1.3 million total population, infected.
Quick Facts about Swaziland:
♦ Capital – Mbabane (executive), Lobamba (legislative)
♦ Currency – Swazi lilangeni and South African Rand
♦ Neighbouring Countries – Mozambique and South Africa
Syria returned prestigious Legion d’honneur
Syria has returned to France the prestigious Légion d’honneur presented to its President Bashar al-Assad.
i. Syria has returned the award citing the reason that It is no honour for its President to wear the award given by a country that is a ‘slave’ to America.
ii. Syria returned the award to France via the Romanian embassy in Damascus.
iii. Last week France joined the US and UK in launching airstrikes at chemical weapons in Syria following the alleged use of poison gas by Bashar’s forces on citizens in a rebel-held enclave outside the capital.
iv. Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, Légion d’honneur is the highest French order of merit for military and civil merits.
v.  The order is divided into five classes and Bashar was decorated with the highest class ’the grand-croix’, in 2001 after he took power in Syria following the death of his father.
Quick Facts about Syria:
♦Â Capital: Damascus
♦Â Currency: Syrian Pound
♦Â Current President: Bashar al-Assad
Commonwealth countries unanimously agree to take action on cybersecurity by 2020
Leaders of 53 Commonwealth countries have unanimously agreed to work closely to evaluate and strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks and response mechanisms by 2020.
Commonwealth countries agreed to take action on cybersecurity:
i. Announcement in this regard  was made through a landmark declaration at the end of 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM), held on 19th and 20th April, 2018 in London, UK.
ii. United Kingdom (UK) Government has pledged up to 15 million pounds to help the Commonwealth nations strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities.
iii. The strengthening measures are also aimed at tackling criminal groups and hostile state actors who pose a global threat to security.
iv. At 25th CHOGM, the leaders also adopted a six-point connectivity agenda to boost trade and investment links across the Commonwealth and agreed to take bold, coordinated action to protect oceans from the effects of climate change, pollution and over-fishing.
Kyrgyzstan forms new government headed by president ally
Kyrgyzstan’s new President Sooronbay Jeenbekov has dismissed the republic’s cabinet of ministers headed by Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, the Kyrgyz president’s press service.
i. On April 19 the Kyrgyz MPs voted to express no confidence in the government. The motion was backed by 101 MPs, and five people voted against it.
About Kyrgyzstan
♦Â Capital – Bishkek
♦Â Official languages – Kyrgyz (national and official) , Russian
♦Â President – Sooronbay Jeenbekov
BANKING & FINANCE
ICICI Bank launches digital form for opening current accounts
India’s largest private sector bank ICICI Bank has introduced a ‘digital form’ which will help open current accounts in a few hours.
ICICI Bank introduces ‘digital form’:Â
i. Through ‘digital form’, ICICI Bank officials would be able to capture information about the customer and the business digitally and verify KYC documents in real-time, at the premise of the customer.
ii. Opening account through ‘digital form’ application will provide a faster and smoother account opening experience to customers by doing away with the hassle of arranging lengthy paper-work like physical photographs and photocopies of KYC documents of themselves and their firm.
iii. ICICI Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Chanda Kochhar has claimed that this is a first of its kind service by any bank in India, and will thus help to secure more clients as it enhances the ‘ease of doing business’.
Quick Facts about ICICI Bank:
♦ Founded in – 1994
♦ Headquarters – Mumbai
♦ Current MD & CEO – Chanda Kochhar
♦ Tagline – Hum Hai Na, Khayaal Aapka
Yes Bank got RBI’s nod to open two global representative offices
Mid-size private sector bank YES Bank has got approval from the Reserve Bank of India to open two international representative offices – in London and Singapore.
Yes Bank’s global representative offices:
i. The two global representative offices in London and Singapore will primarily cater to the NRI (non resident Indian) population and will also provide networking coverage for Yes Bank’s large investor community in these regions.
ii. Offerings at these offices would include ‘Yes First’ and ‘Yes Private Wealth Management’ programme along with Non-Resident External/ Non-Resident Ordinary (NRE/NRO) savings accounts and deposits and similar services.
iii. Yes Bank started creating international presence in 2015, with opening of its first overseas office in Abu Dhabi, UAE followed by IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at GIFT City, Gandhinagar.
Quick Facts about Yes Bank:
♦ Founded in – 2004
♦ Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
♦ Current MD & CEO – Rana Kapoor
♦ Tagline – ‘Experience our Expertise’
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Vodafone launches VoLTE services in Chennai
i. On April 20 2018 Telecom giant Vodafone announced the rollout of Voice-over LTE(VoLTE) Services in Chennai, Tamilnadu and confirmed it would expand the service across the State over the next few months.
ii. This service has been launched successfully in Maharashtra, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana among others.
iii. By using the VoLTE services, 4G customers in Chennai can make calls and can access V.odafone VoLTE for no additional charges and all calls would be billed as per existing plan. The company has invested Rs 7,200 crore till date including Rs 450 crore last year.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2018 TIME 100 Most Influential People List
i. 2018 TIME 100 Most Influential People List, featuring some of the world’s most significant artists, leaders, scientists, activists and entrepreneurs was announced on April 19, 2018.
ii. Four Indian who have featured in 2018 TIME 100 are Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, Ola co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal, Bollywood star Deepika Padukone and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella…………………………………………………………………………………….Click here to Read more
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
US Senate confirms appointment of Jim Bridenstine as NASA Administrator
i. On April 19, 2018 Jim Bridenstine, a Republican congressman from Oklahoma became 13th Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).The appointment has been confirmed by acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot.
ii. Alan Stern, chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation said that “NASA needs dedicated and inspired leadership, and Rep. Bridenstine is an outstanding choice to provide precisely that,”.
Charles to succeed Queen as Commonwealth Head: Reports
On April 20 2018, Prince Charles was confirmed as the successor to Queen Elizabeth as head of the Commonwealth at a meeting of the group’s heads of government in Windsor at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain.
i. The Commonwealth evolved out of the British empire in the mid-20th century, and the queen has been its head since her reign began in 1952.
ii. This week’s Commonwealth summit has seen thousands of delegates from across the globe descend on London, debating issues such as the environment, women’s rights and trade.
iii.T he biennial meeting, taking place in Britain for the first time in 20 years . The next summit is due to be held in Malaysia in 2020.
Cuba elects its first non-Castro president in 60 years: Miguel Diaz-Canel
On April 19,2018 The Cuban government has selected the country’s 57-year-old first vice-president, Miguel DÃaz-Canel, as the country’s President, replacing Raúl Castro.
i. He is the first leader outside the Castro dynasty to lead the country since the 1959 revolution. Raúl became Cuba’s President in 2008 after taking over from his brother Fidel Castro.
About Republic of Cuba
♦Â Capital – Havana
♦Â Official languages – Spanish
♦Â President – Miguel DÃaz-Canel
SPORTS
Mumbai Football Arena to host Intercontinental Cup
The Mumbai Football Arena, the new hub of Indian football, will play host to the inaugural edition of the four-nation Intercontinental Cup, which is slated to be held from June 1 to June 10, 2018.
i. In this tournament the Indian national team competing with South Africa, New Zealand and Chinese Taipei.
ii. The Intercontinental Cup has been planned to be an annual event and will thus have representation from the CAF( Confederation of African Football) region in the form of South Africa, New Zealand from the Oceania, and Chinese Taipei from the AFC.
iii. The respective FAs of all the participating teams will be sending their first Teams for the competition as per the agreements signed with All India Football Federation. Kushal Das, General Secretary, All India Football Federation mentioned the tourney will help the Blue Tigers prepare better for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Para-athlete Shrimant Jha bags bronze at Asian Armwrestling C’ship
On April 2018, Differently-abled Indian arm wrestler Shrimant Jha won a bronze medal at the Asian Armwrestling Championship, which is being held from April 16 to April 22 in Kazakhstan.
i. The 25-year-old, resident of Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh finished behind Tajikistan’s Firuz and Magolia’s Munkhbold to settle for the bronze in the 80kg senior category.
ii. Jha, who was born with four fingers in both his hands, has been doing arm-wrestling since 2010 and started representing India since 2013.He is aiming to achieve in para-olympics.
iii. He is currently working as a junior engineer in a private company.Jha, who has five world championship medals.He also secured a silver medal in Para-Arm Wrestling World Cup in Poland under 80 kg category.
OBITUARY
Kerala Kaumudi chief editor M.S. Ravi dead
i. On April 20,2018 Chief Editor of leading Malayalam daily Kerala Kaumudi M S Ravi ,68 passed away in Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala.
ii. He is the youngest son of Kerala Kaumudi founder editor K Sukumaran, was also the Director of Kerala Kaumudi.Late M S Madhusudanan, Late M S Sreenivasan and M S Mani are his brothers.
South Sudan’s military chief dies during Egypt visit
i. South Sudan confirmed that its military chief General James Ajongo has died during a visit to Egypt.
ii. General James Ajongo had taken over the role a year ago after Paul Malong was fired and put under house arrest.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Creativity and Innovation Day – 21 April
On April 21, 2018, official World Creativity and Innovation Day (WCID) will be celebrated. This day will be observed six days after Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday and one day before International Mother Earth Day.
i. WCID, the world is invited to embrace the idea that innovation is essential for harnessing the economic potential of nations. Innovation, creativity and mass entrepreneurship can provide new momentum for economic growth and job creation.
ii. It can expand opportunities for everyone, including women and youth. It can provide solutions to some of the most pressing problems such as poverty eradication and the elimination of hunger.
National Secretaries day – April 21
i. Secretaries Day also known as Administrative professionals Day or Admin Day is observed in several countries to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals.
ii. National Professional Secretaries Week and National Secretary’s Day was created in 1952 through the work of Harry F. Klemfuss of Young and Rubicam.
National Civil Service Day – April 21
i. The Government of India celebrates April 21 every year as ‘Civil Services day’ as an occasion for the civil servants to rededicate themselves to the cause of citizen and renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.
ii. This date is chosen to honor the day in 1947 when first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar  Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers at Metcalf House, Delhi, he referred to civil servants as the ‘steel frame of India’.
PM to confer Awards for Excellence in Public Administration and address Civil Servants:-
As part of Civil Servant Day, Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration are presented to Districts/Implementing Units for implementation of Priority programme and innovation categories.
i. These awards on the Civil Services day each year bring together civil servants to connect with each other and learn the good practices being implemented across the nation in the field of public grievance.
