IPCI Info

21 July

International News Affairs

  • The landmark India-Japan civil nuclear agreement came into effect from today.
    • This deal would enable Japan to export nuclear power plant technology as well as provide finance for nuclear power plants in India.
    • It will also assist India in nuclear waste management and could undertake joint manufacture of nuclear power plant components under the Make in India initiative.
  • The report by the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, ‘Ending AIDS: Progress towards the 90-90-90 targets’, today revealed that IndiaChina and Pakistan are among the 10 countries that accounted for more than 95 per cent of all new HIV infections in the Asia and the Pacific region in 2016.

National News Affairs

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited a total of 49 countriesin the last three years.
    • Modi’s foreign trips as PM started with his visit to Bhutan in June 2014.
    • Further, he has visited the USA five times in the last three years.
  • The Gujarat government has decided to celebrate the ‘World Heritage City’ status granted to Ahmadabadby UNESCO for a fortnight (a period of two weeks).
    • The programme, starting on August 1, will include heritage walks, cultural events, lectures and seminars about the 600-year-old city.
  • Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang won the vote of confidence in the state assembly today, garnering the support of 47 out of 59 MLAs.
    • Note:Zeliang was re-appointed the CM after former CM Shurhozelie Liezietsu was sacked for not appearing for the floor test.

Science & Technology

  • Indian Navy’s second LCU Mark IV L52 ship was formally launched in Kolkata, West Bengal today.
    • The LCU Mark-IV vessels are designed for multipurpose amphibious operations jointly carried out Indian Navy and Indian Army to ensure maritime security of Andamans and Lakshadweep islands.
    • LCU L52 ship is the second in series of the eight Mark IV LCU vessels built by GRSE for Navy. The first ship of the series was commissioned in 2016.
    • LCU – Landing Craft Utility

Obituaries

  • American rock band Linkin Park’s lead vocalist Chester Bennington(41) died by committing suicide.
  • Bhiku Daji Bhilare (98), who claimed to have saved Gandhi from an earlier assassination attempt by Nathuram Godse in 1944, passed away today.
    • According to Mahatma Gandhi’s great grandson’s book, there were four attempts on Gandhi’s life before Godse killed him in 1948.
    • Bhilare reportedly foiled the second attack in Panchgani by overpowering Godse.

 

Banking, Business & Economic News

  • The much awaited pension scheme-Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana– for senior citizens aged 60 or above was formally launched by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today.

 

MOUs & Agreements

  • The Indian Army has signed MoU with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to raise one regiment of the advanced Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles (MRSAM) defence system.
  • The regulator for the securities market in India Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has signed an MOU with the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
    • The MoU was signed for exchange of information concerning Central Counterparties (CCPs) under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).
    • CPs are entities that help facilitate clearing and settlement activities.

Current Sports Affairs

  • India’s only ATP tournament the Chennai Open is set to move out of Chennai after 21 years because it is unable to meet the commercial demands of the main organizers IMG.
    • Important Note: Now Pune is going to host the tournament from next year.
  • India’s women’s cricket team defeated defending champions Australia by 36 runs to reach the World Cup final for the second time in history.
    • India, who will face hosts England in the title clash on Sunday, first reached the final in 2005, where they lost to Australia.
    • Important Points to Note :
      • Cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur scored 171, the highest WWC score by an Indian.
      • With this she became only the second player in women’s World Cup history to score a century in the knockout stage.