14 May
IPCI Info

14 May

International News Affairs

  • Today (2nd Sunday of May) is Mother’s Day.
    • Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.
    • Theme of Mother’s Day 2017 :  “Every Mother knows”

 

  • UJALA (UK Joins Affordable LEDs for All), the world’s largest efficient lighting programme, was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal in London today.
    • This programme aims to increase LED penetration in UK.
  • Voting has begun today in Nepal’s first local-level polls in two decades, a landmark moment in the country’s transition to democracy.
    • At least 49 lakh people are eligible to vote in the election in which nearly 50,000 candidates are contesting for the position of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Ward Chairman and Ward Member in 283 municipalities.
  • Two warships of the Indian Navy today reached Malaysia on a 6-day visit to step up maritime cooperation, including effectively containing piracy in the Indian Ocean region.

National News Affairs

  • As per recently released Public Affairs Index (PAI) 2017,Kerala has been declared as the State with the best governance in the country for a second straight year.
    • The index judged the states on important themes such as infrastructure, social protection, law and order, and environment, among others.
    • Top 5 in the List :
      • Kerala
      • Tamil Nadu
      • Gujarat
      • Himachal Pradesh
      • Karnataka
    • PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate India’s longest river bridge, the 15-km-longDhola-Sadiya bridge near the China border, on 26th May 2017.
      • Situated over the Brahmaputra river at an aerial distance of around 100 km from the Chinese border, the bridge can withstand the weight of a 60-tonne battle tank.
      • Note: The Bridge’s construction began in 2011 at a cost of Rs. 950 crore.
    • The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to form ‘Maa’ committeesto keep an eye on mid-day meals served to students in state-run primary schools.
      • Each ‘Maa’ committee will have six mothers, from all sections of society, whose students are studying in that school.

New Appointments

  • Emmanuel Macron today sworn-in as the President of France.
    • With this, 39 year old Macron has become youngest President of France.
    • He takes over from François Hollande, whose five-year term was plagued by high unemployment figures.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

  • The Income Tax Department has launched a facility allowing people to correct errors in their PAN and Aadhaar details.
    • The links for corrections are available on gov.in, the department’s e-filing website.

MOUs & Agreements

  • The US and China have signed a 10-point trade dealthat opens the Chinese market to US credit rating agencies and lifts China’s ban on US beef imports and shipments of liquefied natural gas.

Current Sports Affairs

  • Wrestler Bajrang Punia won the Gold medal in the men’s 65 kg final at the Asian Wrestling Championships, defeating South Korea’s Lee Seung-chul in Delhi today.
    • Note : This is India’s first gold at the tournament, after Olympians Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat won silver medals earlier.
  • Ramudri Someswara Rao has won a Gold medal in the men’s 200-metre T44 event at the 2017 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in China today.
    • Indian para-athlete Hokato Sema won a bronze medal in the shot put event.
  • Indian dairy cooperative Amul will sponsor the New Zealand cricket team for the upcoming Champions Trophy in England.
    • Note: Amul had earlier sponsored Netherlands in the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
13 May
IPCI Info

13 May

International News Affairs

  • Today (second Saturday of May) is World Fair Trade Day.
    • This day was created by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) in 2004.
    • This is the annual day of celebration recognising those in the fair trade supply chain, run by The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
    • Theme of World Fair Trade Day 2017 : ‘Human Chains for Fair Trade and the Planet’
  • India is set to skip China’s two-day Belt and Road Forum starting from Sunday due to sovereignty concerns on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a part of China’s One Belt One Road project.
    • Note: India-China relations have been strained recently over multiple issues including China’s blocking of India’s NSG membership attempt and its support to Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar.
  • India moved up to the 26thspot in the Global electricity accessibility rankings of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index.
    • India was at the 99th position in 2014; it jumped 73 ranks in 2016.
  • Brazil has declared an end to its public health emergency over the Zika virus, 18 months after the outbreak in 2015.
    • The number of cases dropped 95% between January and April, compared to the same period a year ago.
    • Note: The World Health Organisation had lifted its own international emergency in November last year.

MOUs & Agreements

  • Nepal and China today signed a framework agreementon Beijing’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, days ahead of a summit in Beijing to showcase President Xi Jinping’s ambitious plan to build a modern day Silk Road.

National News Affairs

  • Nagpur is set to become India’s first city to get a fleet of electric cabs.
    • The pilot project will see around 200 electric cabs in Nagpur and the local body will also provide charging stations across the city.
  • Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani launched Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin Gujarat for 5 districts of the state.
    • PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) is an ambitious scheme of Narendra Modi Schemes under which the government provides affordable houses to the homeless people at affordable cost.
    • Under housing for all scheme, the central government will provide houses to the people who are living under Below Poverty Line and other categories also.
  • Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi has announced that all future elections in the country will be held using Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines along with the electronic voting machines.
    • The move comes amid series of allegations by political parties, including Mayawati’s BSP and Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, that voting machines were tampered with during the elections.
  • The Uttar Pradesh government is going to make Saturdays as ‘no school bag day‘ in the state-run schools.
    • As per the proposal, the school kids would be allowed to come to school without school bags so that they can enjoy the creative activities.
  • Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched new Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) for pneumonia in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
    • There are over 90 different types of pneumococcal bacteria which cause a range of problems including ear infections and serious chest infections pneumonia.
    • This vaccine would help health department to control the pneumonia and child mortality rate.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

  • The US is close to completing a series of Arms deals with Saudi Arabia totalling more than $100 billion which could surpass over $300 billion over a decade.
    • Note : Saudi Arabia is leading a military coalition in Yemen which has been accused by UN of carrying out attacks that “may amount to war crimes”.
  • The Centre today exempted NRIs, citizens above 80 years, and residents of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Meghalaya from having to mandatorily quote their Aadhaar numbers to file income tax returns.
    • Note : Earlier, the Centre had announced in this year’s Union Budget that Aadhaar card will be compulsory for filing income tax returns and obtaining PAN cards from July.
  • New Changes Introduced by SBI
    • SBI has revised service charges on various cash transactions effective June 1, including a ₹25 charge on withdrawing money from an ATM through SBI’s mobile wallet app.
    • Customers will be charged for exchanging more than 20 soiled notes and of value above ₹5,000.
    • Basic Savings Bank Deposit account customers will get four withdrawals, including ATM withdrawals, free in a month.

Awards & Honours

  • The 112-foot tall bust of ‘Adiyogi‘ Lord Shiva at the Isha Yoga Foundation in Tamil Nadu has been declared the world’s largest bust (sculpture) by the Guinness World Records.
    • The bust, unveiled by PM Narendra Modi earlier this year, refers to the source of Yoga and symbolises the 112 methods of self-transformation that the first Yogi offered.

New Appointments

  • Actor Amitabh Bachchan has been appointed as World Health Organisation’s Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis in South-East Asia Region.
    • He has been appointed to boost awareness and intensify action to stop the spread of hepatitis.

Science & Technology

  • India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas today successfully demonstrated an air-to-air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile firing capability.
    • The Derby BVR missile destroyed a maneuverable aerial target with pinpoint precision at the Interim Test Range in Odisha’s Chandipur.
    • Note : The Derby firing is a major step towards clearing BVR capabilities on LCA aircraft.
  • A massive ransomware Cyber Attack dubbed WannaCry, targeted computers in 99 countries including India today, with more than 57,000 attacks detected so far, cyber security firms Kaspersky and Avast have confirmed.
    • Russia was the worst hit country, witnessing over 70% of the affected computers, while India was third on the list.
  • NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer successfully completed the 200th spacewalkfor the $100-billion International Space Station (ISS).
    • Note : ISS’ first spacewalk was conducted on December 7, 1998, by NASA astronauts Jerry Ross and Jim Newman.
  • Pune-based doctors will conduct India’s first womb transplantation next week when they will transfer two uteri from healthy donors to two recipients, who are unable to bear children.
    • Note : Womb transplantation was first performed in Sweden in a 16-hour-surgery in 2012 and the first baby, born to the recipient in 2014, was delivered prematurely by caesarean section in a healthy condition.

Sports Current Affairs

Former cricketer VVS Laxman has been awarded honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club.

12 May
IPCI Info

12 May

International News Affairs

  • Today (second Saturday of May) is World Fair Trade Day.
    • This day was created by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) in 2004.
    • This is the annual day of celebration recognising those in the fair trade supply chain, run by The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
    • Theme of World Fair Trade Day 2017 : ‘Human Chains for Fair Trade and the Planet’
  • India is set to skip China’s two-day Belt and Road Forum starting from Sunday due to sovereignty concerns on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a part of China’s One Belt One Road project.
    • Note: India-China relations have been strained recently over multiple issues including China’s blocking of India’s NSG membership attempt and its support to Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar.
  • India moved up to the 26thspot in the Global electricity accessibility rankings of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index.
    • India was at the 99th position in 2014; it jumped 73 ranks in 2016.
  • Brazil has declared an end to its public health emergency over the Zika virus, 18 months after the outbreak in 2015.
    • The number of cases dropped 95% between January and April, compared to the same period a year ago.
    • Note : The World Health Organisation had lifted its own international emergency in November last year.

MOUs & Agreements

  • Nepal and China today signed a framework agreementon Beijing’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, days ahead of a summit in Beijing to showcase President Xi Jinping’s ambitious plan to build a modern day Silk Road.

National News Affairs

  • Nagpur is set to become India’s first city to get a fleet of electric cabs.
    • The pilot project will see around 200 electric cabs in Nagpur and the local body will also provide charging stations across the city.
  • Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani launched Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin Gujarat for 5 districts of the state.
    • PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) is an ambitious scheme of Narendra Modi Schemes under which the government provides affordable houses to the homeless people at affordable cost.
    • Under housing for all scheme, the central government will provide houses to the people who are living under Below Poverty Line and other categories also.
  • Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi has announced that all future elections in the country will be held using Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines along with the electronic voting machines.
    • The move comes amid series of allegations by political parties, including Mayawati’s BSP and Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, that voting machines were tampered with during the elections.
  • The Uttar Pradesh government is going to make Saturdays as ‘no school bag day‘ in the state-run schools.
    • As per the proposal, the school kids would be allowed to come to school without school bags so that they can enjoy the creative activities.
  • Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched new Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) for pneumonia in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
    • There are over 90 different types of pneumococcal bacteria which cause a range of problems including ear infections and serious chest infections pneumonia.
    • This vaccine would help health department to control the pneumonia and child mortality rate.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

  • The US is close to completing a series of Arms deals with Saudi Arabia totalling more than $100 billion which could surpass over $300 billion over a decade.
    • Note : Saudi Arabia is leading a military coalition in Yemen which has been accused by UN of carrying out attacks that “may amount to war crimes”.
  • The Centre today exempted NRIs, citizens above 80 years, and residents of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Meghalaya from having to mandatorily quote their Aadhaar numbers to file income tax returns.
    • Note : Earlier, the Centre had announced in this year’s Union Budget that Aadhaar card will be compulsory for filing income tax returns and obtaining PAN cards from July.
  • New Changes Introduced by SBI
    • SBI has revised service charges on various cash transactions effective June 1, including a Rs. 25 charge on withdrawing money from an ATM through SBI’s mobile wallet app.
    • Customers will be charged for exchanging more than 20 soiled notes and of value above Rs. 5,000.
    • Basic Savings Bank Deposit account customers will get four withdrawals, including ATM withdrawals, free in a month.

Awards & Honours

  • The 112-foot tall bust of ‘Adiyogi‘ Lord Shiva at the Isha Yoga Foundation in Tamil Nadu has been declared the world’s largest bust (sculpture) by the Guinness World Records.
    • The bust, unveiled by PM Narendra Modi earlier this year, refers to the source of Yoga and symbolises the 112 methods of self-transformation that the first Yogi offered.

New Appointments

  • Actor Amitabh Bachchan has been appointed as World Health Organisation’s Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis in South-East Asia Region.
    • He has been appointed to boost awareness and intensify action to stop the spread of hepatitis.

Science & Technology

  • India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas today successfully demonstrated an air-to-air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile firing capability.
    • The Derby BVR missile destroyed a maneuverable aerial target with pinpoint precision at the Interim Test Range in Odisha’s Chandipur.
    • Note : The Derby firing is a major step towards clearing BVR capabilities on LCA aircraft.
  • A massive ransomware Cyber Attack dubbed WannaCry, targeted computers in 99 countries including India today, with more than 57,000 attacks detected so far, cyber security firms Kaspersky and Avast have confirmed.
    • Russia was the worst hit country, witnessing over 70% of the affected computers, while India was third on the list.
  • NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer successfully completed the 200th spacewalkfor the $100-billion International Space Station (ISS).
    • Note : ISS’ first spacewalk was conducted on December 7, 1998, by NASA astronauts Jerry Ross and Jim Newman.
  • Pune-based doctors will conduct India’s first womb transplantation next week when they will transfer two uteri from healthy donors to two recipients, who are unable to bear children.
    • Note : Womb transplantation was first performed in Sweden in a 16-hour-surgery in 2012 and the first baby, born to the recipient in 2014, was delivered prematurely by caesarean section in a healthy condition.

Current Sports Affairs

  • Former cricketer VVS Laxman has been awarded honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club.
11 May
IPCI Info

11 May

International News Affairs

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi today left for Colombo, Sri Lanka to attendInternational Vesak Day (Buddha Jayanti) celebrations from 12th to 14th May 2017.
  • The Vatican is celebrating the big-bang theory.
    • The Vatican Observatory has invited leading scientists and cosmologists to talk black holes, gravitational waves and space-time singularities as it honors the late Jesuit cosmologist considered one of the fathers of the idea that the universe began with a gigantic explosion.
    • The May 9-12 conference aims to help correct the notion that the Roman Catholic Church was hostile to science.
  • The 2017 Moscow Victory Day Parade was recently took place in Red Square in Moscow.
    • Russia observed this parade to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany (Soviet Union’s triumph over Hitler) in 1945.
    • In a show of strength, over 10,000 Russian troops marched with ballistic missiles, armoured tanks, and new aircraft systems to mark the day.

National News Affairs

  • Today (11th May) is observed as the National Technology Day to commemorate India’s technological achievements, including the initiation of ‘Operation Shakti’ (Pokhran-II) at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan in 1998.
    • Following Operation Shakti, erstwhile Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee then declared India a full-fledged nuclear state, making it the sixth country to join the “nuclear club”.
    • National Technology Day 2017 Theme: ‘Technology for inclusive and sustainable growth’.
  • India’s leading overseas education consultant Edwise is organising the World Education Fairacross 12 cities from May 13 to 28.
  • A 5-judge benchheaded by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar has begun hearing petitions challenging the practice of Triple Talaq.
    • Important Note :
      • These five judges are from 5 different communities, namely,
        • J S Khehar (Sikh)
        • Kurian Joseph (Christian)
        • R F Nariman (Parsi)
        • U U Lalit (Hindu)
        • Abdul Nazeer (Muslim)
      • Kochi Metro is going to employ 23 members from the Transgender community.
        • Note : This is the 1st time a government owned company has formally appointed members of the transgender community.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

  • Bengaluru has topped the list of most affordable tech cities in the world followed by Cape Town and Santiago, according to the Savills Tech Cities Index.
  • Paytm has signed a non-exclusive term sheet to acquire Snapdeal-owned payments platform FreeCharge.
    • Note : The term sheet being non-exclusive means that Snapdeal will be able to propose FreeCharge to other potential buyers as well.
  • Indian Railways is going to acquire End of Train Telemetry (EoTT) systems, to do away with the need of guards stationed in the last coach of trains.
    • The systems will be used to establish communication between the driver and the last wagon, ensuring that the train is running with all wagons.

People in News

  • Canadian singer and songwriter Justin Bieber on Wednesday performed at his first ever concert in India at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, where he waved the Indian flag towards the end of the concert.
    • The 23-year-old singer performed his songs including ‘Baby’ and ‘Cold Water’.

New Appointments

  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of 1982 West Bengal cadre IAS officer Sanjay Mitra as the next Defence Secretary.
    • Prior to this appointment, Mitra was the secretary in the ministry of road transport and highways.
  • French cosmetics company L’Oréal Parishas named Val Garland as its Global Makeup Director.

Current Sports  Affairs

Indian wrestler Harpreet Singh (80kg) has won Bronze medal in Greco- Roman category at Asian Wrestling Championship.

10 May
IPCI Info

10 May

International News Affairs

  • Today (10th May) is World Migratory Bird Day.
    • Theme of World Migratory Bird Day 2017 : “Their Future is our Future”
  • The International Court of Justice, United Nations’ principal judicial organ, has stayed the hanging of ex-Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was given death sentence by Pakistan for spying.
    • Note : Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 and the Pakistan court, that sentenced him, had described him as a Research and Analysis Wing agent who was undertaking counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Buddhist festival ‘Vesak Day’ (Buddha Jayanti)that commemorates birth, enlighten and death of Buddha at Sri Lanka during 12th to 14th May 2017.
    • Important Points to Note :
    • This will be Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to Sri Lanka since becoming the Prime Minister.
    • Vesak is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar.
    • This is the first time Sri Lanka will host the festival.
  • The 29th India–Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) has commenced at Port Blair under the aegis of Andaman and Nicobar Command.
    • The bilateral exercise is scheduled to be held from 9th to 25th
    • This exercise aims to enhance mutual understanding and inter–operability between the two navies.

National News Affairs

  • PM Narendra Modi today launched the Integrated Case Management Information System (ICMIS) to help the Supreme Court go paperless.
    • This system will help litigants access data and retrieve information online.
    • It will help bring transparency, reduce manipulation and help the litigant know about the progress of the case on a real time basis.
  • Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the government-run district and rural hospitals in the state will soon provide free blood tests, X-rays, CT scans and other medical tests 24 hours a day.
    • The tests will be outsourced to a private laboratory chain that would be reimbursed by the government for expenses incurred.

New Appointments

  • Liberal Moon Jae-in has won South Korea’s presidential election, ending nearly a decade of conservative rule in the country.
    • Moon, who secured 41.1% votes in early election triggered by ex-President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment, has vowed to achieve peace with North Korea, in contrast to the country’s current policy.
    • After taking the oath of office, he declared his willingness to visit the nuclear-armed North Korea under right circumstances.
  • Adi Godrej has handed over Godrej Group’s flagship firm Godrej Consumer Products to daughter
    • Nisaba (39) is among the youngest women to head a large-sized Indian firm.
  • Twitter has elevated Taranjeet Singh as its Country Director for India.
    • Prior to this appointment, Singh was responsible for sales and marketing support for Twitter’s advertisers in India.

 

Awards & Honours

  • Vikram Vishal, an IIT-Bombay Assistant Professor, has won the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Medal for Young Scientists, 2017.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

  • India is going to commence a  10,000-crore deep sea mission by the year end to explore mineral wealth beneath the Indian ocean floor, the Ministry of Earth Sciences announced today.
    • The Exclusive Economic Zone allotted to India in the international waters will be covered under the mission.
    • Oceans surrounding the Indian peninsula have over 1,300 islands with 7,500 km of coastline.
  • Indian Railways subsidiary IRCTC is introducing Pay-on-Delivery option for buying train e-tickets, allowing users to pay at the time of ticket’s delivery to their home.
    • The service will be available in over 600 cities and would be initially available five days before the departure date.

Science & Technology

  • India will replace its Maitri station in Antarctica in next 3 to 4 years, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has announced today.
    • The government is drafting laws to safeguard India’s interest in the cold continent, currently governed by international laws, said the ministry’s secretary.
    • To expand India’s research in Antarctica, a new ship with ice-cutting facility would be procured, he added.

Current Sports Affairs

  • South African cricket’s governing body Cricket South Africa has regained the right to bid for and host major tournaments after their changes met the government’s transformation criteria.
    • The South African government had asked the board to include a minimum average of six players of colour, including two black Africans, in the South African squad over the course of the season.
  • Indian women’s cricket team pacer Jhulan Goswami became the all-time leading wicket-taker in women’s ODI cricket after picking up her 181st wicket against the South African women’s team today.
    • Goswami, who has featured in 153 ODIs for the Indian women’s team so far, went past Australia’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who had picked up 180 wickets in 109 matches.
09 May
IPCI Info

9 May

International News Affairs

  • World Thalassemia Day was observed on 8th May 2017.
    • This day is observed every year on 8th of May to increase the awareness about this disease among common public all through the world.
    • Note : Celebrating World Thalassemia Day on 8th of May was established by the World Health Organization in order to raise the public awareness about this disease, prevention measures and measures to avoid its transmission.
    • Theme of World Thalassemia Day 2017 : ‘Together for Humanity’
  • India has been unanimously elected as the President of the UN-Habitat, an organ of the United Nations to promote sustainable human settlements across the globe.
    • UN-Habitat reports to the United Nations General Assembly.
    • Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who is currently in Nairobi in Kenya, will chair the four-day meeting of the 58-member Governing Council (GC) of UN-Habitat there from today.
    • Note: Since the UN-Habitat came into being in 1978, it is the third time that India has been elected to lead this organisation after 2007 and 1988.

National News Affairs

  • The Maharashtra government today banned the sale of ‘High in Fat, Salt and Sugar’ (HFSS) food in school canteens across the state.
    • Furthermore, schools have been asked to replace the junk food items with healthy food such as whole grain, home-made rotis, parathas, rice, etc.
  • All Uttar Pradesh government officials above the age of 50, who are found unfit by the government will compulsorily be asked to retire, CM Yogi Adityanath ruled today.
    • The officials will be judged on the basis of performance, punctuality and public image.
    • The CM has directed to make the list of unfit officials ready by June 30.
  • Union Minister of State for Aviation Jayanta Sinha today announced that the Centre will bring 200 airports under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) regional air connectivity scheme.
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked all the state governments to link prisons with courts through video conferencing in order to expedite trials and to save costs of escorting undertrials to courts.

People in News

  • In a first, a Supreme Court bench found Justice CS Karnan of the Calcutta High Court guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to six months in prison.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

  • TheReserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to introduce new batches for settlement of payments through the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) from July 10.
    • The RBI said additional settlements in the NEFT system at half-hour intervals are being introduced to enhance the efficiency of the system and add to customer convenience.
    • Note : NEFT is a widely-used online payment system regulated by the RBI that allows inter-bank transfer of funds.
  • Apple today briefly touched $800 billion market valuation, making it the world’s first ever company to hit the milestone.
    • The world’s most valuable company, Apple is followed by Google parent Alphabet, and Microsoft in market valuation.

New Appointments

  • Seasoned diplomat Venu Rajamony, currently Press Secy. to President of India Pranab Mukherjee, has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to the Netherlands.
  • One of Pakistan’s senior-most diplomats, Sohail Mahmood, will replace Abdul Basit as Pakistan’s new High Commissioner to India.
  • US President Donald Trump has nominated Indian-American Neil Chatterjee as a Member of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
    • FERC is an agency responsible for overseeing America’s power grid and deciding on multibillion-dollar energy projects.

Awards & Honors

  • Konkona Sen Sharma has been named the Best Actress for the film ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ at the 17th edition of the New York Indian Film Festival.
    • She also received the Best Director award for her directorial debut, ‘A Death in the Gunj’.
    • Note : ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ was the opening film at the film festival.

Current Sports Affairs

  • World Basketball governing body Basketball Federation of India, FIBA revises its earlier rule banning players from wearing headgear.
    • This move will enable India’s Sikh players to wear turbans and play in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers in China.
08 May
IPCI Info

8 May

International News Affairs

  • Today is World Red Crossand Red Crescent Day.
    • This day is an annual celebration of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s principles.
    • This year marks the 67th year of the celebration, which was first officially celebrated in 1948.
    • Theme World Red Cross Day 2017 : “Less Known Red Cross Stories”.
    • Important Note : The day is also the birth anniversary of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’s founder Henry Dunant.
      • He wonfirst Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
    • To mark the 156th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, India is going to organise Tagore cultural Festival in Egypt from 8th to 12th
      • This Festival will be organised by the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC), which is the cultural wing of the Indian Embassy in Cairo.

National News Affairs

  • The Maharashtra government has declared its Bhilar village in the Satara district as India’s first ‘Pustakanche Gaav’(village of books).
    • As many as 25 locations around the village have been turned into reader hot-spots with display of books.
    • Inspired by Britain’s Hay-on-Wye town, the aim of the project is to promote the “culture of reading” and boost tourism.
  • The Centre has allowed emergency vehicles, including those of police, defence and paramilitary forces, to use multicoloured beacons having red, blue and white colours.
    • Further, duties relating to disaster management have also been permitted to use such lights.
  • The strategic anti-Naxal operations command headquarters of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been shifted back from Kolkata to Raipur.
    • Note : In 2010, the central zone command headquarters was shifted from Raipur to Kolkata owing to logistics and connectivity issues.

Awards & Honors

  • Hollywood Actress Emma Watson today won the 1st ever genderless Best Actor award for her role in Beauty and the Beast at the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

  • India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has cut its interest rate for home loans up to ₹30 lakh by 0.25% to 8.35%, while those above ₹30 lakh saw a cut of 0.10%.
    • Note : Last week, SBI cut its term deposit rates by up to 50 basis points for amounts below ₹1 crore.
  • 3 India-born citizens are among top 5 richest people in Britain, according to the Times Rich List 2017.
    • Hinduja Brothers Srichand and Gopichand have topped the list to become the top of 134 billionaires in the country.
    • David and Simon Reuben, of Iraqi Jewish origin but Mumbai-born, have been ranked the third-richest with an $18 billion fortune.
    • Steel magnate Lakshmi N Mittal is UK’s fourth-richest with $17 billion.
  • Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated India’s First Integrated Bio‐refinery for Renewable Fuels & Chemicals for producing ethanol from a variety of biomass.
    • The plant is situated at Rahu in Pune district of Maharashtra.

New Appointments

  • Former French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron has been projected as the 25th President of France based on exit polls after the final round of voting in the presidential elections today.
    • The 39-year-old centrist will be the youngest ever leader of the country.
  • Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona has been appointed the Coach of Fujairah FC, a second-tier football club in the UAE.

Current Sports Affairs

India ended the Grand Prix of Liberation Plzen 2017 Shooting championships with 7  medals after Indian shooter Heena Sidhu claimed a bronze medal in the women’s 10-metre Air Pistol event today.

06 May
IPCI Info

6 May

International News Affairs

  • Today (6th May 2017) is International No Diet Day.
    • This day is an annual celebration of body acceptance, including fat acceptance and body shape diversity.
    • Note: The  symbol of International No Diet Day is a light blue ribbon.
  • A law banning excessively thin models has come into effect in France, and ‘unhealthily skinny’ models will not be allowed to work in the fashion industry unless they provide a doctor’s medical certificate.
    • The health ministry explained the aim is to fight eating disorders and inaccessible ideals of beauty.

National News Affairs

  • The world’s first “ladies special” suburban train, which runs in Mumbai, has completed 25 years.
    • Prior to its launch, women commuters were forced to travel in cramped regular ladies compartments.
    • Note : At present, the Western Railway operates eight ladies special services daily, divided equally during the morning and evening peak hours.
  • The Supreme Court today asked the state governments to issue a notification to include children affected with HIV in the disadvantaged group for imparting free, compulsory education under the 2009 law.
  • Capital punishment has been carried out in 4 instances in India since 2000.
    • Yakub Memon was hanged till death in 2015 after being convicted in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case.
    • Afzal Guru was executed in 2013 while Pakistani militant
    • Ajmal Kasab was hanged in 2012.
    • Dhananjoy Chatterjee was hanged in 2004 for rape and murder.
    • Note : The four convicts in Nirbhaya gang rape case will be hanged soon as the Supreme Court confirms death sentence.
  • The government has declared the entire Assam as a “disturbed” area under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act for another 3 months.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

  • The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today announced that it will soon launch a smartphone app which will allow people to rate the service quality of their call after the call ends.
    • It also announced that it will further bolster the existing ‘Do Not Disturb’ system, which helps people to avoid calls from telemarketers.

Awards & Honors

  • Saqib Majeed, a Kashmir based freelance photographer has bagged prestigious 2016 Wisden-MCC (Melbourne Cricket Council) Cricket ‘Photograph of the Year’ Award.
    • With this he has become the first Kashmiri and second Asian after Atul Kamble to receive the prestigious award.

New Appointments

  • In a bid to improve their efficiency, the Indian government today appointed heads for 7 Public Sector Banks. They are :
    • Sunil Mehta – Punjab National Bank
    • Dinabandhu Mohapatra – Bank of India
    • Usha Ananthasubramanian – Allahabad Bank
    • Melwyn Rego – Syndicate Bank
    • Rajkiran Rai G – Union Bank of India
    • A. Sankara Narayanan– Vijaya Bank
    • Subramaniakumar – Indian Overseas Bank

Obituaries

  • India’s first woman High Court Chief Justice and Delhi High Court’s first woman judge, Justice (retired) Leila Seth (86), passed away.
    • She was the mother of noted author Vikram Seth (A suitable boy, Two lives)
  • Swimming legend Adolph Kiefer (98), USA’s oldest living gold medalist in any sport, died today in Illinois aged 98 after reportedly suffering from pneumonia.
    • He won the 100-meter backstroke at the 1936 Berlin Olympics as a 17-year-old, creating an Olympic record that stood for 20 years.

Science & Technology

  • The recently launched GSAT-9 / ‘South Asia Satellite‘ became the 1st Indian spacecraft to use an electric propulsion system (EPS).
    • It significantly reduced the payload weight as the satellite carried only 80kg of chemical fuel for its 12-year-long mission, 25% of the fuel otherwise needed.

Sports Current Affairs

  • Boxer Shiva Thapa won a Silver medal at the Asian Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan today.
    • With this he became the first Indian to claim three back-to-back medals at the event.
  • India’s men’s hockey team clinched the Bronze medal at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, after defeating New Zealand 4-0 in Malaysia today.
05 May
IPCI Info

International News  Affairs

  • Today (5th May) is International Midwives Day.
    • This internationally recognised day is observed by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) to highlight the work of midwives.
    • ICM established the idea of the ‘International Day of the Midwife’ following suggestions and discussion among Midwives Associations in the late 1980s, then launched the initiative formally in 1992.
    • Theme of International Day of the Midwife 2017 : “Midwives, Mothers and Families: Partners for Life!”
    • Note : Meaning of Midwife = a nurse whose job is to look after women when they are giving birth to a baby
  • The US House of Representatives today approved a revised bill to repeal Obamacare and replace it with a Republican healthcare plan, handing President Donald Trump his first major legislative victory.
    • Now  the bill needs to pass the Senate to become a law.
  • Donald Trump today signed an executive order on religious liberties designed to ease a ban on political activity by churches and other tax-exempt institutions.
    • The order also gives regulatory relief to religious employers that object to an Obamacare mandate for contraception in healthcare.

MOUs & Agreements

  • Russia and Iran which are allies of the Syrian regime as well as the rebel supporter Turkeysigned a Russia-backed plan for creating safe zones in Syria.
    • The pact which was signed in the Kazakh capital Astana was meant to halt fighting in the war-torn Syria.

National News Affairs

  • The Centre has launched Tarang Sanchar Web Portal that gives information to the public regarding Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF) signals and eases their misconceptions about EMF emissions from mobile towers.
    • Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said that it will empower consumers to know about the towers in a particular area and whether they are compliant with the EMF emission norms.
  • The Election Commission today announced that it will hold an open hackathon in the last week of May, allowing people to try and hack EVMs.
    • This announcement comes amid various political parties and leaders alleging tampering of EVMs in the elections.
  • TheAssam government today changed the names of all the major roads of Guwahati.
    • GS Road has been renamed as Mahapurush Srimanta Sankerdev Path, Beltola-Khanapara Road is renamed as Peer Azan Fakir Road.
  • The Supreme Court upholds the conviction and death penalty to four convicts’- Mukesh, Akshay, Pawan and Vinayawarded to them by the High Court in the 16th December, 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case.

New Appointments

  • Prabhat Kamal Bezboruah has been appointed as the Chairman of the Tea Board.
    • Note : He will be the first non-IAS to head the Tea Board of India.
  • M S Boje Gowda has been appointed as the Chairman of the Coffee Board.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

  • President Pranab Mukherjee today signed an ordinance giving more power to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)to deal with the growing problem of non performing assets.
    • The ordinance means an amendment to the Banking Regulation Act.
    • The amendment will give RBI the power to issue directions to banks to recover dues from loan defaulters, among others.
  • Australia will be selling Kesar variety of Indian mangoes for the first time with the inaugural consignment of nearly 400 trays landing in Sydney.
  • The Income Tax department today activated thee-filing facility for all categories of Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for the assessment year 2017-18.
    • The new ITRs have been made available for filing on the e-portal of the department.
    • Note : The government had launched all ITRs on March 31 including the one-page simplified ITR-1 (Sahaj) for salaried class.
  • India’s first private sector small arms manufacturing plant, Punj Lloyd Raksha Systems has been inaugurated in Madhya Pradesh.
    • This plant is goingto supply world class weapons to the armed forces in line with the India’s defence indigenisation programme.
    • This is a joint venture between India’s Punj Lloyd and Israel Weapon Systems.

Science & Technology 

  • TheIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today successfully launched GSAT-9 also known as the “South Asia” satellite from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
    • The satellite, which costs ₹235 crore, will provide communication, disaster management support, and connectivity to South Asian countries during a 12-year mission.
    • Note : 7 of the eight SAARC countries excluding Pakistan are part of the project.
  • The first Chinese-built passenger jet, C-919, completed its maiden flight today.
    • The twin-engine 158-174 seat passenger jet, made by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation, features several imported elements like German landing gear and an Austrian interior.
    • Note : China is expected to overtake the United States as the largest aviation market by 2024.
  • Facebook has launched its “Express Wi-Fi” commercially in India.
    • This service is now available via 700 hotspots across four states of Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan and
04 May
IPCI Info

National News Affairs

  • The Swachh Bharat survey 2017 has declared Madhya Pradesh’s Indore as the cleanest city in India.
    • The survey, conducted in 434 cities, declared Gonda in Uttar Pradesh as the filthiest Indian city.
    • The top 10 Cleanest cities are :
      • Indore
      • Bhopal
      • Visakhapatnam
      • Surat
      • Mysuru
      • Tiruchirapally
      • New Delhi Municipal Council
      • Navi Mumbai
      • Tirupati
      • Vadodara
    • The Assam government is going to introduce a ‘traditional’ dress code— dhoti-kurta for men and mekhela-chador for women — for its employees on first and third Saturdays of every month, on voluntary basis.