Current Affairs: April 25-26th, 2018

April 25-26th, 2018

1.  World Malaria Day: 25 April

• World Malaria Day is observed on April 25 every year to recognize the global effort to control malaria and also to spread awareness about the around the world.
• The theme for this year’s Malaria Day is ‘Ready to beat Malaria’.
• The theme projects collective energy and commitment of the global malaria community that is uniting all around the world to curb the disease and working towards the common goal of making the world malaria free.

2. World Intellectual Property Day: 26 April

• Every April 26, we celebrate World Intellectual Property(IP) Day to learn about the role that intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright) play in encouraging innovation and creativity.
• World Intellectual Property Day was established by World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) to raise awareness of the impacts of IP on our daily life.
• This year’s theme for World Intellectual Property Day is “Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity”.

3. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Attends Meeting of India-Mongolia Joint Committee.

• India and Mongolia discussed economic cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, energy, services and IT.
• Mrs. Sushma Swaraj co-chaired the India-Mongolia Joint Committee meeting on Cooperation with her Mongolian counterpart Damdin Tsogtbaatar in Ulaanbaatar.
• The two countries have agreed to explore ways to identify new areas of cooperation in all sectors of mutual interest and to enhance bilateral trade and investments.
• Static Part: Mongolia:- Capital- Ulaanbaatar|Currency- Mongolian togrog|Prime Minister- Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.

4. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves an increase in MSP for Raw Jute by Rs 200 for the 2018-19 season.

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Raw Jute by 200 rupees for the 2018-19 season.
• The MSP for Fair Average Quality of Raw Jute has now been fixed at 3700 rupees per quintal.
• The MSP of Raw Jute is expected to ensure appropriate minimum prices to the farmers and step up investment in Jute cultivation and thereby production and productivity in the country.
• The CCEA also gave nod to Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Bamboo Mission, NBM, under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture during the remaining period of Fourteenth Finance Commission.
• An outlay of 1290 crore rupees is provisioned for implementation of the Mission during the remaining period of 14th Finance Commission.

5. India signs a loan agreement with World Bank for US$ 125 million for “Innovate in India for Inclusiveness Project”.

•  Loan Agreement for IBRD credit of US$ 125 (equivalent) for the Innovate in India for Inclusiveness Project was signed with the World Bank in New Delhi.
• The Objectives of the project is to nurture indigenous innovation, foster local product development and accelerate commercialization process by bridging critical skill and infrastructure gaps to promote affordable and innovative healthcare products generation for inclusive development and increasing competitiveness in India.
• The closing date of Innovate in India for Inclusiveness project is 30 June 2023.
• Static Part: 1. World Bank:- President- Jim Yong Kim|Headquarters- Washington, DC.
  2. IBRD stands for International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

6. Coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ begins in Kerala.

• Two-day coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ to strengthen and assess the loopholes in the coastal security mechanism was held along Kerala coast.
• The exercise saw the participation of Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Indian Navy, Coastal Police and Marine Enforcement wing and various other security stakeholders.
• It saw the participation of three ships of India Navy, 10 of ICG, four fishing boats, besides 20 coastal police stations from Vizhinjam to Kasaragod.
• The objective of the exercise was to provide seamless seaward cover along the coast by all concerned security agencies from coastal belt area to limit of territorial waters i.e. 12 nautical miles.
• The exercise assessed effectiveness of coastal fishing community in serving as ‘eye and ears’ for early warnings of a seaward threat.

7. HUDCO Celebrates its 48th Foundation Day.

• The Minister of Housing & Urban Development Hardeep Singh inaugurated the 48th Foundation Day of Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO).
• HUDCO is playing an important role in taking financial inclusion forward in the country, as it is taking care of the housing finance needs of the economically deprived sections.
• Static Part: HUDCO was founded on 25th April 1970.

8. NITI Aayog launches Atal New India Challenge encouraging innovation in various sectors.

• The Atal Innovation Mission, under the NITI Aayog, launched the Atal New India Challenge.
• Under it, grants of up to one crore rupees, and mentorship will be given to the winning ideas.
• Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, the challenge will be a milestone in terms of innovation in various sectors. He said innovation, technology, and research in sectors like agriculture and water transport should be given priority.
• Speaking on the occasion, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said, Atal New India Challenge involves innovating for the requirements of India. He said the country needs tailor-made solutions for the 1.3 billion people of the country.

9.  India ranks 138 in World Press Freedom Index.

• India slipped in the annual World Press Freedom Index 2018 for the second straight year, falling two places to rank 138th among 180 countries in the latest list.
• The country was ranked 136th in 2015, gained three places to 133rd in 2016, and fell back to 136th last year.
• Norway once again topped the list, followed by Sweden and the Netherlands, while North Korea found itself at the bottom.

10. Indo-Malaysian Joint Military Exercise ‘Harimau Shakti’ Held in Kuala Lumpur.

• As part of ongoing Indo-Malaysian defense cooperation, a joint training exercise Harimau Shakti will be conducted in the dense forests of Sengai Perdik, Hulu Langat, Malaysia.
• The exercise is aimed at bolstering cooperation & coordination between armed forces of both the nations and to share the expertise of both the contingents in the conduct of counterinsurgency operations in jungle terrain.
• Static Part: Malaysia:- Capital- Kuala Lumpur|Currency- Malaysian ringgit.

11. TV actor Amita Udgata passes away.

• TV actor Amita Udgata breathed her last due to lung failure. The veteran actor has many popular TV shows to her credit.
• Amita Udgata became a household name after playing the role of ‘Amma’ in Star Plus’ popular social drama Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya.
• Amita was also seen in films like Sarabjit and Hasee Toh Phasee.

12. State Textile Ministers Meeting Held in New Delhi.

• Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani discussed ways to promote handloom and handicrafts in the country with State Textile Ministers in New Delhi.
• The meeting, chaired by the Union Minister, also deliberated on the collaboration between the Centre and the states over the issue.
• Minister of State for Textiles Ajay Tamta said facilities to weavers including insurance, subsidies, marketing, education to their children was also discussed during the meeting.

13. HRD Ministry Launched Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0.

• The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has launched the second edition of the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan in New Delhi.
• Under Mission, students from colleges and universities will go to nearby villages to get acquainted with the life of the village people and the problems faced by them in the day to day life.
• The scheme has been extended to 750 reputed Higher Educational Institutes (both public and private) of the country.
• IIT Delhi has been designated to function as the National Coordinating Institute for this programme and the Ministry intends to extend the coverage to all the reputed Higher Educational Institutes, in a phased manner.

14. Scientists Developed a New Method to 3D Print Food.

• Scientists have developed a new technique to 3D print food that can allow users to cook according to their preferences.
• Their new platform and optimized methods can turn carbohydrate and protein powers into food with microstructures that can be tuned to control food texture and how the food is absorbed by the body.
• 3D printing of food works much like 3D printing of other materials in which layers of raw material are deposited to build up a final product.

15. Bangladesh’s First Satellite “Bangabandhu-1” to be Launched on 7th May.

• Bangladesh will become a member of the exclusive club of satellite-owning countries as its first commercial satellite “Bangabandhu-1” will likely be flying to space on 7th May this year.
• The satellite will be launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral (US).

16. Foreigners can now travel to Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur without a permit.

• Foreign tourists, except those from Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan, would now be allowed to visit some of the most pristine locations in the country.
  
• The home ministry has decided to relax the six-decade-old Protected Area Permit regime from Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur for five years with effect from April 1.
• Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, all areas falling between the Inner line and the International Border of some states were declared as protected areas.