DAILY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS – 09.04.2018 TO 10.04.2018

NATIONAL Transgenders to be recognised as independent gender category in PAN form • The government has amended Income Tax rules that will now allow transgenders to be recognised as an independent category of applicants for obtaining a Permanent Account Number (PAN) for their tax-related transactions. • The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which frames policy for the department, issued a notification that provides a new tick box for the transgenders to apply for the PAN. • The notification, issued under sections 139A and 295 of the Income Tax Act, specifies the new application process for obtaining a PAN number by an individual. • The amendment will now be reflected in Form 49A (PAN application form for Indian citizens) and 49AA (PAN application form for individuals not a citizen of India). • PAN is a 10-digit unique alphanumeric number alloted by the I-T department to individuals and entities. PM flags off India’s first all-electric high-speed train in Bihar Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India’s first all-electric high-speed locomotive in Bihar. The addition of all-electric high-speed locomotive in Bihar will be a giant leap in PM Modi’s govt initiative ‘Make in India’. The electric locomotive, with a 12,000 horsepower (HP) was flagged off from Bihar’s Madhepura loco factory. Before the launch of high speed locomotive train, the most powerful electric engine in India was of 6,000 HP. FSSAI launches initiative to address Vitamin D deficiency The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched ‘Project Dhoop’, an initiative aimed at shifting the school assembly time to noon to ensure maximum absorption of Vitamin D in students through natural sunlight. The project was launched at National Bal Bhavan in New Delhi, and saw participation of around 600 students from NCERT, NDMC and North MCD Schools. Maharashtra Govt introduces free chemotherapy in 10 districts The Maharashtra state government has introduced free chemotherapy facility in 10 districts from June. The state government will include more districts once the scheme is rolled out in these districts successfully. The facility will be made available at the district hospitals of Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Pune, Amravati, Jalgaon, Nasik, Wardha, Satara, Bhandara and Akola. Haryana govt announces special benefits to TB patients The Haryana state government has decided to provide special benefits, including nutritional support, to tuberculosis patients in an effort to eliminate the infectious disease by 2025. The state government would provide nutritional support of Rs 500 per month during treatment to notified TB patients with effect from April 1 this year through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. Kerala Govt to launch ‘community radio’ to update farmers In an effort to boost agricultural production and attract more people to farming, Kerala state government is planning to launch a community radio at Kuttanad, also known as the `rice bowl’ of Kerala, to keep them abreast of the latest developments in the sector. Tobacco products, cigarette packs to show helpline number from Sept All tobacco products and cigarette packs will have a national toll-free number printed on them from September this year to assist users to quit addiction. The number is – 1XXX-XX-2356. The toll-free number will help in creating awareness among tobacco users and give them access to counselling services to effect behaviour change. World No Tobacco Day-31may UP Government launches Ganga Hariteema Yojana The Uttar Pradesh Government launched the Ganga Hariteema Yojana, also known as Ganga Greenery scheme, on in the 27 districts of Uttar Pradesh that are located on the bank of river Ganga. The scheme aims to enhance the green cover in the catchment areas of the river Ganga and to control the land erosion. Vice President inaugurates “Scientific Convention on World Homoeopathy Day” The Vice President of India Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the two-day “Scientific Convention on World Homeopathy Day” organized by the Ministry of AYUSH in New Delhi. The convention was attended by more than 1500 delegates, which included homoeopathic researchers, scientists from allied sciences, practitioners, students, industrialists as well as representatives of various homoeopathic associations. Homeopathy is a system of alternative medicine developed in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann. Gram Swaraj Abhiyan to be organised on Ambedkar Jayanti The Prime Minister has announced that on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti a “Gram Swaraj Abhiyan” would be organised starting from 14th April to 5th May, 2018. This Abhiyan is being undertaken for reaching out to poor households, spreading awareness about government welfare schemes and other people centric initiatives. IAF to conduct biggest combat exercise along Pakistan, China borders The Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to conduct its biggest ever combat exercise along Pakistan and China borders. The exercise- Gagan Shakti, 2018– will be taking place between April 10 to 23. Depending upon the order of the Air Force Chief, the Air Force will mobilise its assets in the war scenario within 48 hours of the orders. INTERNATIONAL International conference on human rights starts in Nepal • The three-day international conference on human rights with the theme ‘Identifying challenges and assessing progress: addressing impunity and human rights in South Asia’ started in Nepal to address the issues relating to human rights and impunity in South Asia. • President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the conference.The conference will issue a 'Kathmandu Declaration' at the conclusion through holding intensive discussions on various issues relating to human rights and impunity. • The first international conference on ‘Water, Environment and Climate Change: Knowledge Sharing and Partnership’ has started in Kathmandu, Nepal. Vice President of Nepal Nanda Bahadur Pun inaugurated the conference.

1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar-750015 1 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected]

DAILY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS – 09.04.2018 TO 10.04.2018

BILTERAL Nepal PM conferred with Honorary degree at Dehradun University Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is on a three-day State visit to India, was presented an Honorary degree at GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in the capital city of Uttarakhand Dehradun. The Nepal Prime Minister is accompanied by his wife Radhika Shakya and an entourage of ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), secretaries and other high-ranking officials of the Nepal Government. ECONOMY SBI to invest Rs 80 billion in hydropower project of Nepal • The State Bank of India (SBI) will be investing a total of Rs 80 billion in the Arun III hydropower project of Nepal, which has 900 megawatts (MW) electricity production capacities. • The SJVN, which has been awarded with the construction of the mega power project of Nepal, has made an informal agreement with the SBI to acquire the investment as loan and soon will make the formal agreement. • Along with this, the Punjab National Bank will lend the loan for the construction of the 268 km long 400 KV transmission line via the Everest Bank which is the joint venture bank of the PNB. • Everest Bank Limited is the Commercial Bank of Nepal. Which is joint venture of Punjab National Bank, India. This is first Nepalease Bank which have Representative Office in India. Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal RBI dumps GVA model, switches back to GDP to measure economy • The Reserve Bank switched back to the gross domestic product (GDP)-based measure to offer its growth estimates from the gross value added (GVA) methodology, citing global best practices. • Government had started analysing growth estimates using GVA methodology from January 2015 and had also changed the base year to 2018 from January. • While GVA gives a picture of the state of economic activity from the producers’ side or supply side, the GDP model gives the picture from the consumers’ side or demand perspective. • Globally, the performance of most economies is gauged in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). This is also the approach followed by multilateral institutions, international analysts and investors, and primarily they all stick to this norms because it facilitates easy cross-country comparisons PERSON IN NEWS Wipro’s Rishad Premji new Nasscom chairman: Global software major Wipro’s Chief Strategy Officer Rishad Premji has been appointed the new Nasscom Chairman for 2018-19. ’s strongman Viktor Orban wins third term in power: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban won a third straight term in power in elections after his anti-immigration campaign message secured a strong majority for his party in parliament, granting him two-thirds of seats based on preliminary results. Ban Ki-moon named Boao Forum chair: Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was elected chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, which is currently underway in China’s Hainan province. Ban replaced ’s Yasuo Fukuda. AWARD India’s Anish Sood wins at Independent Music Awards Electronic dance music artiste and music producer Anish Sood became the first Indian artiste to win the Best Electronica/Dance Single at the 16th Annual Independent Music Awards (IMA) in London. SPORTS • Indian ’ ageless wonder Leander Paes became the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup as he combined with Rohan Bopanna to not only grab a record 43rd win but also bring the country back in the tie against China. • The 2018 Asia Cup, that was earlier scheduled to be held in India, has now been moved out to the United Arab Emirates. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the winner of Asia Cup qualifier will compete in the 50-overs format event. • Ankita Raina became only the third Indian woman tennis player to breach the top-200 rankings in singles. She jumped 15 places to reach a career-best 197 in the WTA chart. The 25-year-old Ankita is the first player to achieve the feat since Sania Mirza put India on the singles map with her remarkable achievements over the years. • German Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has won the Bahrain Grand Prix, the second race of the 2018 Formula 1 season, for a record of fourth time, two weeks after clinching the Australian GP, strengthening his grip on the top spot in the driver standings. • Top seed and World No.3 Garbiñe Muguruza of fought her way to her first title of the year at the Abierto GNP Seguros, with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over No.4 seed Timea Babos of Hungary to win 2018 . MISCELLANEOUS ‘Happy Cities Summit 2018’ starts in Amaravati Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Founder of Isha Foundation Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev inaugurated a three-day long ‘Happy Cities Summit 2018’ at Mangalagiri town in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. Forum for North East’ held in Agartala The first meeting of the newly constituted ‘NITI Forum for North East’ was held in Agartala, Tripura. The meeting was organized by the NITI Aayog, Ministry of DoNER and the North Eastern Council (NEC). It was discussed that the focus of development projects in the NER will be based on the concept of “HIRA” (Highways, Inland Waterways, Railways and Airways) as spelled out by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Assam’s Spring Festival Begins in Manas National Park The two-day Assam Spring Festival began at the Manas National Park where visitors will get to experience the state’s local food, music, handloom and handicrafts. The aim of the event is to promote the local food and culture of the fringe villagers. It is an attempt to create a model of alternative livelihood through food, handloom and Cultural Park.

1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar-750015 2 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected]