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INDIAN AFFAIRS
Karnataka is the most corrupt state in the country, reveals Survey
According to survey based on 20 states karnataka is the most corrupt state in the country.
Key Points:
i. The Centre for Media Studies (CMS) released its 11th round of the the annual corruption study ‘CMS India Corruption Study 2017′.
ii. According to the survey, “77% of respondents” in Karnataka experienced corruption
in accessing public services.
iii. This is followed by Andhra Pradesh (74%), Tamil Nadu (68%), Maharashtra (57%), Jammu and Kashmir (44%) and Punjab (42%).
iv. In 2005, the more corrupt states were Bihar (74%), Jammu and Kashmir (69%) Odisha (60%).
About Karnataka:
♦ CM of Karnataka: Siddaramaiah
♦ Governor of Karnataka : VajubhaiVala
♦ Capital : Bengaluru
Chhattisgarh passes state GST Bill, becomes fifth state to adopt tax reform law
Chhattisgarh passed Goods and Service Tax (GST) Bill on April 28th 2017 and become the fifth state in the country after Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana and Rajasthan.
i. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said the bill has been enacted to implement the concept of one nation, one tax, one market
ii. The GST Bill is expected at simplifying the tax system and expanding the tax base, he added.
iii. The Bill was tabled earlier in the House by Commerce and Industries Minister Amar Agarwal.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Mumbai, Chennai among top 20 tourist destinations in Asia Pacific
Mumbai and Chennai have ranked among the top 20 tourist destinations in Asia Pacific Region as per the Mastercard Asia Pacific Destinations Index 2017.
i. In terms of total expenditure by international tourists, Singapore hosted the highest spending visitors at $254 per day. For the entire APAC region, overall tourism expenditure stood at $244.9 billion
ii. Chennai attracted 2 million international overnight arrivals and ranked 14th. Mumbai ranked 15th with 4.9 million overnight arrivals.
Global mobile internet conference held in Beijing
The Global Mobile Internet Conference(GMIC), organized by the Great Wall Association (GWC) held from 27th April to the 29th April 2017 at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing, China.
i. The Global Mobile Internet Conference is hosted annually in Beijing and Silicon Valley. Mobile executives, entrepreneurs, developers, and investors from around the globe and across platforms attend GMIC each year.
ii. The first annual Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) was hosted in Beijing, China, April 23–25, 2009.
iii. Great Wall Association (GWC) is the world’s largest and most influential mobile Internet industry.
iv. The conference will cover areas like discuss mobile Internet opportunities within their respective markets, and globally and aims to connect, educate and promote game developers, while helping them to interact with game platforms, publishers, distributors, VCs and media from all over the world.
First direct London-China train completes 12,000-km run
The first freight train linked China directly to the United Kingdom and arrived in the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu on April 29th 2017 after a 12,000-kilometre (7,500-mile) trip, becoming the world’s second-longest rail route.
i. The train also carried pharmaceuticals and machinery.
ii. It started from London on April 10 and passed through France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan during its 20-day trip before arriving in Yiwu in eastern Zhejiang province, a major wholesale centre for small consumer goods.
iii. A train carrying containers from London arrives at the freight railway station in Yiwu, Zhejiang province of China, on April 29, 2017. The sign at the front of the train reads: “First Sino-Euro Freight Train (London-Yiwu).”
BANKING & FINANCE
Need to file your FATCA compliance to banks by April 30 to avoid an account freeze
As per a new financial norm, all bank accounts opened between July 1, 2014 and August 31, 2015, as well as investments made during this period in mutual funds and Insurance schemes will freeze if FATCA compliance has been not filed by April 30, 2017.
i. FATCA compliance is basically a ‘self-declaration’ to provide details about account holder’s tax residency to the financial entity.
ii. It is mandatory for individual as well as non-individual account holders and investors.
RBI says ARCs must have minimum NOF of Rs100 crore by 2019
On April 28, 2017, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that all the existing asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) must have a minimum Net Owned Fund (NOF) of Rs100 crore by March 2019.
i. As per amended SARFAESI Act, 2016, “no ARC can commence or carry on the business 
of securitisation or asset reconstruction without having Net Owned Fund of not less than Rs 2 crore or such other higher amount as the Reserve Bank may, by notification, specify”.
ii. Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) buy out non-performing assets (NPAs) and manages it to make it profitable. In the current scenario, Central Govt. and RBI are envisaging an important role for ARCs in dealing with stressed assets in the system.
iii. Minimum NOF of Rs 100 crore for ARCs was proposed by RBI in the first bi-monthly monetary policy review for FY 2017-18.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Former Minister Ashwani Kumar named for Japanese honour
Japan has selected former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar for this year’s ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ award for his contribution to strengthening of bilateral ties between Japan and India.
i. Ashwani Kumar will be conferred Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun Award which is the highest category of decorations among the Orders of the Rising Sun.
ii. It is bestowed upon foreign nationals in recognition of their outstanding achievements. Industrialist Ratan Tata has been one the Indian recipients of this award in the past.
Indian Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik wins gold medal in Moscow Competition
Sudarsan Pattnaik is an internationally renowned sand artist. He won the jury prize gold medal at the 10th Moscow Sand art Championship.
Key Points:
i. The competition was held between 22nd and 28th April at Kolomenskoye, Moscow in Russia.
ii. The theme for the competition was “The world around us”.
iii. Pattnaik was the Indian representative in the competition, where twenty-five sculptors from different countries participated.
iv. He has won the competition for his 15 feet high sand sculpture “Mahatma Gandhi–World Peace” for non-violence and peace.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
Albania MPs elect speaker Meta as President
Albania’s parliament elected speaker Ilir Meta as the new president of Albania
Key Notes:
i. Meta is a former prime minister and leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration.He was elected as Albania’s new president on April 28, 2017.
ii. He is 48-year-old and Meta was elected to the post in the fourth ballot to choose a president.
iii. He is a leader of the junior governing party the Socialist Movement for Integration.
iv. He was the only candidate proposed by 23 lawmakers. Candidates must be nominated by at least 20 legislators.
Albania :
♦ Capital: Tirana
♦ Currency: Albanian lek
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
China-built world’s largest amphibious aircraft finished first glide test
China carried out maiden glide test of its first amphibious aircraft AG600, the largest in the world, in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai.
i. It designed to be the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, the 37-meter AG600, with a wingspan of 38.8 meters.
ii. It has a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tones.
iii. It can collect 12 tones of water in 20 seconds, and transport up to 370 tones of water on a single tank of fuel.
China :
♦ Capital: Beijing
♦ Currency: Renminbi
♦ President: Xi Jinping
India to launch South Asia Satellite, a priceless gift, on 5 May: PM Modi
On April 30th 2017,Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced South Asia Satellite will be launched on May 5 and describing it as India’s “priceless gift” to its neighbours as ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas’ (cooperation of all, development for all) concept.
i. India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan of seven out of eight SAARC countries are part of this project where eighth SAARC country Pakistan has refused to join this project.
ii. The benefits will be in the areas of mapping of natural resources, tele-medicine, education, IT connectivity and people-to-people links.
About SAARC
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of nations in South Asia. Its members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
♦ SAARC was founded in Dhakaon 8th December, 1985.
♦ Headquarters – Kathmandu , Nepal.
ENVIRONMENT
70 million year old Dinosaur egg fossils discovered in China
Scientists have unearthed five ancient dinosaur egg fossils in China dating back to 70 million years.
Key Points:
i. The shells, discovered near Foshan in the southeast part China, were found at a depth of about eight metres, preserved in red sandstone.
ii. According to QiuLicheng from Guangdongs Archaeological Institute in China Scientists have founded five eggs: three were destroyed, but they are still visible.
iii. According to the researcher the fossils are now being studied at a local museum.
iv. The eggs were round in shape, belonging to phytophagous dinosaurs.
SPORTS
Pankaj Advani wins silver in Asian Snooker Championship
On April 28, 2017, Indian professional snooker player Pankaj Advani, won silver at the Asian Snooker Championship at Doha, Qatar. He lost the finals to China’s Lv Haotian by 3-6.
i. If Pankaj Advani would have won the finals, he would have been the first player to win both 
Asian titles in Billiards and Snooker in same calendar year.
ii. This is Advani’s first silver in the current season, the rest all gold medals — at the National Championships of Billiards, 6-red Snooker and 15-red Snooker, as well as the Asian Billiards Championship.
iii. In May 2016, Pankaj Advani will try to defend his Asian 6-red Snooker title in Kyrgyzstan.
Gul Panag first Indian woman to drive Formula E racing car at a racetrack
Actress Gul Panag has become the first Indian woman to drive a Formula E racing car. She drove the M4Electro at the Circuit de Calafat in Catalonia,Spain. The M4Electro is a Mahindra fourth generation Formula E race car.
i. Before driving a race car on track, Gul Panag trained on a simulator with Felix Rosenqvist – Mahindra Racing Formula E Team driver, at Mahindra Racing’s Development Centre in Barcelona.
ii. It is to be noted that Gul Panag owns a Mahindra’s e2oPlus electric car, which runs on a 210 AH lithium ion motor.
Jehan Daruvala becomes 1st Indian to take pole in FIA F3 European Championship
18-year-old racing driver Jehan Daruvala became the first Indian to take pole in the FIA 
F3 European series, securing the top spot on the starting grid for Race 1 of the second round of the championship in Monza, Italy.
i. However, he was unable to translate this advantage into a race victory, and finished at second place, behind his Carlin Racing teammate Lando Norris of the UK.
ii. Earlier, in February 2017, Jehan Daruvala won 2017 New Zealand Grand Prix and thereby became first India to win a Grand Prix in motorsport.
OBITUARY
Sufi legend Begum Yaman passes away at 52
Begum Yaman K. Khan has passed away. She is a famous sufi singer and daughter of legendary Sitar Maestro (late) UstadVilayat Ali Khan.
Key Facts:
i. Begum Yaman was the granddaughter of UstadInayat Khan and daughter of UstadVilayat Khan of the Imdadkhani.
ii. She used to sing all forms of Indian semi-classical music.
iii. She was the recipient of ‘Hasrat Amir Khusrao Award’ by Urdu Press Club International.
iv. She had devoted her life to practice, teach music and perform all over India as well as internationally.
v. She received an award for her excellence and contribution to semi-classical and Sufianakalam by Balkan-Ji-Bari International.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Immunization Week 2017 observed with the theme #Vaccines Work
World Immunization Week 2017 is being observed across the globe between 24 April and 30 April 2017.
Key Notes:
i. The theme for the 2017 World Immunization Week is ‘VaccinesWork.’Its objective is to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
ii. It aims to raise awareness about the critical importance of full immunization throughout life.
iii. It Promote understanding of the action steps required to achieve the Global Vaccine 
Action Plan.
iv. Highlight the importance of immunization as a top global health investment priority.
v. The year 2017 marks the halfway point in the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP).
vi. The GVAP aims to prevent millions of deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases by 2020 through universal access to immunization.
