Current Affairs – May 26, 2018
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Current Affairs – May 26, 2018 S.No Topic Page Number 1 Important Days 2 2 World News 3 - 4 3 National News 5 - 6 4 State News 7 5 Banking & Economy 8 - 9 6 Sports 10 - 11 7 Awards & Honours 12 8 Appointments & Resignation 13 9 Science & Technology 14 10 Obtiuaries 15 1 Important Days India to Be Host Country for Celebrations of World Environment Day 2018 India will be the host country for celebrations of World Environment Day 2018. The announcement in this regard was made by the Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. The theme for this year is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. The government has launched green deeds campaign to raise awareness about protection of the environment. The World Environment Day will be celebrated on 5th of June. 2 World News Columbia the first Latin American nation to join NATO On May 26, 2018 the president of Columbia Juan Manual Santos announced that Columbia has formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The formalization will take place in Brussels and that Columbia will be a global partner of NATO. Columbia is the only country of Latin America to be a part of NATO. Apart from Columbia Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Korea, New Zealand, Iraq, Mongolia and Japan are in the same ranks. Columbia also announced to be a partner of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Netherlands Becomes 64th Signatory Member of International Solar Alliance The Netherlands has become the 64th signatory member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, is on a two days official visit to India at PM Modi’s invitation. The joint statement issued hailed the Netherlands as India’s “Gateway to Europe”. Prime Minister Modi said both countries have stood together on many an international forum and the Solar Alliance is a symbol of this strong partnership. India also welcomed the Netherlands as the Partner Country for the TechSummit in 2019. Mission Innovation Ministerial Meeting Held in Sweden The 3rd Mission Innovation (MI-3) Ministerial was held at Malmo-Sweden during 22-23 May, 2018. The Ministerial was co-hosted by the European Commission, together with Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Nordic Council of Ministers. 3 Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Dr. Harsh Vardhan lead the Indian delegations. Mission innovation countries launched Mission Innovation Champions Programme to felicitate clean energy innovators. Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated Smart Grid Workshop at Copenhagen and Chaired public- private roundtable on Strategies on Decarbonisation through innovations in Smart Grids. India announced setting up of First International Incubator for clean energy in a public- private partnership at a total investment of around US $ 5 million in Delhi. Japan’s women clinch Uber Cup Japan’s women clinched the Uber Cup, the Woman’s World Badminton Championship, defeating Thailand 3-0 in Bangkok. It ends an Uber Cup drought for Japan that stretches back to 1981. The Uber Cup is second in prestige only to the Olympics as a national team event. As of the 2018, China is the most successful team, having won fourteen times. Japan is second, having won it six times. 4 National News Inauguration of the 5 day ASEAN India Film Festival by the MoS of Information and Broadcasting Col.Rajyavardhan Rathore On May 26, 2018. Minister of State (I/C) for information and broadcasting and Sports & Youth Affairs, Col Rajyavardhan Rathore inaugurated the ASEAN India Film Festival in New Delhi. The tagline for this festival is: ‘Friendship through Films’. To boost cultural exchanges and create a platform for exchange of new trends of filmmaking. Rs.5000 crore loan waiver of Rajasthan Government approved by NCDC On May 26, 2018. National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) sanctioned Rs. 5000 crore for the Rajasthan government farm loan waiver. To help waiver loans off the small and marginal farmers. The Rajasthan government on its budgetary speech had announced a one time loan waiver for upto Rs. 50000 for small and marginal farmers provided by cooperative banks. This would cost the Government Rs. 8000 crore amount. In May 31 the govt will start district loan waiver camps from Banswara district. Supreme Court refuses to interfere with NGT at on PVC pipes The Supreme Court on Friday refused to intervene with an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to freeze its own directive to publish a warning about hazardous lead content in Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes. A Vacation Bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra, however, granted petitioner-advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay liberty to approach the tribunal. 5 NIC sets up cloud-enabled National Data Centre in Bhubaneswar IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is all set to inaugurate, on May 28. A cloud-enabled National Data Centre at Bhubaneswar, which will offer round-the-clock operations with secure hosting for e-governance applications of ministries and departments. 6 State News Telangana govt announces unique life insurance scheme for farmers Telangana government has announced a unique life insurance scheme for farmers. Under the scheme, the government will provide life insurance facility of five lakh rupees to the nominee, after the death of the insured farmer. As per the scheme, the government will offer life insurance facility of 5 lakh rupees to the nominee, after the death of the insured farmer. Manipur gets first solar toilet Manipur has become the first state in the Northeast and the third state in India to have solar toilets. The solar toilets were inaugurated by Tourism Director, Waikhom Ibohal at Ibudhou Marjing hill Heingang recently. The solar panel that are fitted to the toilets absorb heat to generate power. They also have the efficiency to transform waste material. PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone in Jharkhand Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the 2400MW first phase of NTPC’s Patratu Super Thermal Power Project in Jharkhand. This project is a 74:26 Joint Venture between Government of Jharkhand and Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (PVUN). PVUN is a subsidiary company of NTPC making a total capacity expansion of 4,000MW. 7 Banking & Economy ICICI Bank sets aside Rs 100 Crore for investing in startups ICICI Bank is taking the digital route for growth, by partnering and investing in financial technology companies, as well as, setting up an innovation lab and a team to conceive digital solutions. ICICI Bank Headquarters located in Mumbai. Paytm Bank to fan out 1 lakh ‘mobile bankers’ across India in a year The Paytm Payments Bank, India’s first bank providing zero balance accounts. And zero charges on digital transactions, plans to train and fan out one lakh banking business correspondents, including women, in a year across India’s Tier-I and II towns, villages and remote areas. Yes Bank empanelled as ‘Settlement Bank’ for NSE Yes Bank has received approval from National Stock Exchange to be empanelled as ‘Settlement Bank’ for National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE. YES BANK will provide comprehensive Settlement & Clearing services suitable to the members by leveraging its state-of-the-art Technology platform coupled with superior service excellence and constant innovation. 15th Finance Commission constitutes high level group The Fifteenth Finance Commission constituted high level group to explore and give recommendations for a balanced expansion of the health sector. The high level group will be headed by Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi. 8 CBDT releases all 7 ITR e-filling forms On May 26, 2018. After a month of being notified the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has released all the 7 e-filling forms for the taxpayers. For e-filling of the taxpayers for the assessment year 2018-19. EPFO noties 8.55% interest for 2017-18 The Central Board of Trustees of the Employment Provident Fund Organization has notified its field offices to credit an 8.55% rate of interest on the holdings of subscribers for 2017-18. It is the lowest rate since the financial year 2012-13. There are around five crore subscribers. The Labour Ministry has approved of the decision, said an order issued to more than 120 field offices. 9 Sports News ICC bans smart watches from field, dressing rooms The ICC has prohibited players and officials from using communication devices, especially smart watches, on the field of play as well as the dressing room, taking another step at curbing corruption in the sport. The ICC on Friday confirmed that under the Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) Regulations, smart watches are not permitted to be worn on the field and in areas designated as PMOA. Sudeva Football club acquired Spanish Leagues’ Club On May 26, 2018. Delhi based Sudeva Football Club to expand its operations in Europe through Spanish league’s third division club C.D Olimpic Xativa. Sudeva becomes the First football club to do so. Indian and Spanish coaches will work together through workshops and training camps. This move will offer the Indian players to extend their talents in the Spanish football league. It will ensure a minimum of 35-40 matches is played by players of either teams. India bags 1 silver and 1 gold, China is at the top in Archery World Cup stage II 2018 On May 26, 2018. Indian archers won silver and a bronze in the Archery World Cup Stage II in Turkey. Chinese Taipei Got holds of gold in the women’s match. India’s mens team exited in the first round itself. The women’s recurve team of: DIpika Kumari, Promila Daimari, Ankita Bhagat will face the Chienese Taipei team of: Lei Chien-Ying, Peng Chia-Mao, Tan Ya Ting.