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

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.

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.

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

India’s Neeraj Chopra ranked in the Eugene leg of Diamond League  On May 26, 2018. Eugene leg of Diamond League was held in Doha on April.  Neeraj Chopra ranks 6 with a javelin throw of 80.81 m.

 He shattered his own national record of 87.43 m.  German’s Thomas Rohler took the gold with 89.88m, Johannes Vetter ranked second and got silver with a throw of 89.34 m, Andreas Hofmann won the bronze with a throw of 86.45m.

Awards & Honours

Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve wins India Biodiversity Award 2018

 Arunachal Pradesh-based NGO Singchung Bugun Community Reserve (SBVCR) has won the India Biodiversity Award 2018 in the “Conservation of wildlife species” category.  It was awarded for its efforts to conserve rare critically endangered bird Bugun Liocichla.

Appointments & Resignation

Saad Hariri as the Prime Minister of Lebanon for the third time

 On May 26, 2018 Lebanese President Michel Aoun announced that Saad Hariri won the rank of the Prime Minister for the third term.  He won 111seats out of 128 seats.  Opposition party was: Hezbollah.  The challenges he will be facing are: growing unemployment, refugee crisis, crumbling infrastructure.

Boards of Max Financial Services and Max Life Insurance announced Sachil Vachani as the new Director

 On May 26, 2018, The boards of Max Financial Services and Max Life Insurance appointed Mr. Sachil Vachani as the Director.  He started his career as a banker with Citigroup in London. In 2004 he joined Dixon Technologies as business head.  He has joined as the representative of owner group to create a powerful real estate brand –Max Estates.  He has successfully worked on sale of 22.5% stake of Max Ventures to New York Life Insurance Company in 2017 and a joint venture of Max ventures with Japans’ Toppan printing company ltd.

Prof Ganeshi Lal will take over as Governor of Orissa

 Professor Ganeshi Lal has been appointed the Governor of Odisha with effect from the date he takes charge.  Kummanam Rajasekharan has been appointed the Governor of Mizoram. Kummanam Rajasekharan will replace incumbent Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma, whose term ends on 28 May 2018.

Science & Technology

Mobikwik launches UPI on platform

 Leading digital financial services platform, MobiKwik has announced the launch of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) on its platform via its own Virtual payment address (VPA) handle @ikwik. MobiKwik’s users can, by default, use their mobile number as their own VPA which will be ‘@ikwik’.  Users can simply scan and generate UPI QR functionality to send and receive money using VPA and phone number from the contact list.

UNICEF launches data visualisation app

 The UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund) has launched Data Visualisation App to provide user-friendly visual representation of complex analytics of education scenario in India.  It has been developed with technical inputs from the UNICEF, in collaboration with National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and National Institute of Education Planning and Administration (NIEPA).

Obituaries

India’s highest decorated general Zorawar Chand Bakshi passes away at 97

 On 24 May 2018, General, Lt Gen Zorawar Chand Bakshi, also known as Zoru Bakshi passed away in New Delhi.  Zorawar Chand Bakshi was 97 years old. He had received Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), Vir Chakra, Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).  He had played a major role in the capture of the Haji Pir pass from Pakistan army.

Veteran Gujarati writer, humourist Vinod Bhatt passes away

 Eminent Gujarati writer and humourist Vinod Bhatt died following a prolonged illness. He was 80.  Bhatt was bed-ridden for a long time due to kidney failure, his family members told reporters.