DAILY NEWS UPDATE: 15th FEBRUARY’ 2018 ECONOMY: BHEL bags order worth Rs 560 crore from NTPC: • The Central Public Sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has bagged a major order worth Rs. 560 crore from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). • The order involves installation of an indigenously developed Flue Gas Desulphurization system in the NTPC station. • The system is aimed at controlling various harmful emissions, as per the more stringent emission norms declared by the Union Ministry for Environment. Note- Both NTPC and BHEL are Maharatna PSUs and are headquartered in New Delhi. NTPC bags order to supply 300 MW electricity to Bangladesh: • India’s biggest electricity producer National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has got the tender to supply 300 MW electricity to Bangladesh for 15 years. • NTPC Vidut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC has emerged as successful bidder. • India currently exports approximately 600 MW electricity to Bangladesh. • NTPC will revenue to the tune of 900 crore per annum. DAILY NEWS UPDATE For FREE MOCK TESTS, Log in to: https://www.ixambee.com/ POLITY: NEET mandatory for foreign medical courses: • Indian students will now need to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) if they want to pursue medical studies outside the country. • This proposal by Medical Council of India (MCI) to amend the Screening Test Regulations, 2002 has been approved by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. • Indian students pursuing medial degree abroad will have to qualify Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE), for registration to practice in India. • Why this move? It is observed that foreign medical institutions often grant admission in MBBS course without properly assessing the ability of the candidate to cope up with the course thus producing poor quality medical graduates. INTERNATIONAL: India gets access to strategic port in Oman for military use: • India signed a key pact with Oman that allows its military vessels to use the strategically located Duqm port and dry dock. • The Duqm port on the southeastern coast of Oman, opening into the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. • It is strategic to India because to its north is the Chabahar port in Iran and not very far from Gwadar port of Pakistan. • Chhabahar port is being developed by India to get access to Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Since land route via Pakistan is not a feasible option due to enmity between two nations. • Gwadar port is being developed by China in the Balochistan province of Pakistan to get access to Indian Ocean. DAILY NEWS UPDATE For FREE MOCK TESTS, Log in to: https://www.ixambee.com/ About Oman: Capital- Muscat Currency- Rial Sultan- Qaboos bin Said al Said No Confidence Motion against SA Prez Jacob Juma: • South Africa's Parliament will hold a motion of no-confidence in President Jacob Zuma today. • The statement was issued by ruling African National Congress (ANC) to which Zuma belongs. • Such a move is due to increasing allegations of numerous corruption against the 75 year old President. • Once the motion passed, then ANC would elect Ramaphosa as President of the Republic. What is a No Confidence Motion? No Confidence Motion is a statement of the House that majority of the house has lost faith in the person holding the position (PM or CM). If passed, the entire Council of Ministers including the PM or CM resigns. Indian, Chinese armies celebrate Chinese spring festival in Ladakh: • A ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) between Indian and Chinese army on the occasion of Chinese spring festival was held in Ladakh region. • The BPM was marked by saluting the national flag of China by both the delegation members. • A cultural programme showcasing vibrant Chinese culture and traditional grandeur was organized. DAILY NEWS UPDATE For FREE MOCK TESTS, Log in to: https://www.ixambee.com/ • Indian delegation was led by Colonel Deependra Jasrotia and Chinese delegation by Senior Lieutenant Colonel Bu Hong Dong. EVENTS: President inaugurates ‘Agricon 2018’ and ‘Agriexpo 2018’: • The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the international conference ‘Agricon 2018’ and ‘Agriexpo 2018’. • He inaugurated these at Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology (CSAUT), Kanpur. SPORTS: India number-one in ODI ranking after South Africa series win: • India has recaptured its number 1 position in ODI ranking after defeating South Africa in ODI series. • By winning the 5th ODI India has taken a lead of 4-1 in the series. It was India’s first ever ODI series win in South Africa. • India is currently at number one in Test ranking and number three in T20 ranking. Federation Cup Kabaddi: Services, Railways emerge champions • Services and Indian Railways registered hard-fought victories to bag the Men’s and Women’s titles in the third Federation Cup Kabaddi tournament in Mumbai. Note- Till now there has been 3 kabaddi World Cups and all three have been won by India and hosted by India. Last one was held in Ahmadabad in 2016. Ranking system for National Sports Federations: • The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is planning a ranking system for National Sports Federations (NSFs). • Objective- to inculcate healthy competition among sports bodies. DAILY NEWS UPDATE For FREE MOCK TESTS, Log in to: https://www.ixambee.com/ • The rankings will be based on the federations’ administrative capability, transparency, talent-spotting ability, and medal count of athletes. • For this purpose a committee will be constituted comprising of sports administrators, sports persons, management experts etc. • The Sports Ministry will also introduce a two-year sports management course in IIM Rohtak. TECHNOLOGY: Russia’s unmanned cargo ship takes off for Space Station: • Russia has successfully launched MS-08 unmanned cargo ship to International Space Station (ISS). • It was launched from Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan. • It was launched by Soyuz-2.1a rocket and the payload carries 2.7 tons of food, fuel and other supplies. • The ISS is orbiting 400 km above earth is currently manned by six astronauts including three from US, two from Russia and one from Japan. Note- Russian space agency- Roscosmos; USA- NASA Europe- ESA; China- CNSA (China National Space Administration) Japan- JAXA; India- ISRO STATES: Straw management now mandatory in Punjab: • Punjab Government has made it mandatory to attach super straw management system with combine harvester machines. • It will check the uncontrolled stubble burning causing severe air pollution. • Stubble burning refers to burning of crop residue after harvest (the lower part of a crop plant after cutting the upper part) due to lack of time between two crop seasons. It causes severe air pollution problem and is one of the major reason for Delhi smog. DAILY NEWS UPDATE For FREE MOCK TESTS, Log in to: https://www.ixambee.com/ • This new combination of machines will now cut the paddy straw into small machines and spread it in the field. • The instructions were issued under Air Pollution Act of 1981. About Punjab: Capital- Chandigarh CM- Captain Amarinder Singh Governor- V. P. Singh Badnore Punjab govt sets up revenue commission to revisit the existing land Acts: • To revisit the existing land Acts to make them relevant with the changed land use situation, Punjab government notified a six-member revenue commission. • Justice (Retd) SS Saron of Punjab and Haryana high court, who will head the commission. • The Commission would also review the existing policies with regard to disposal and utilization of government lands. • It will propose new laws and procedures, along with other methods, to make revenue administration more transparent and responsive to the needs of the people. West Bengal becomes the first state to opt out of Modi Care: • West Bengal has withdrawn from National Health Protection Scheme or known as ‘Modi Care’. • The scheme was recently announced in the budget which will provide 10 crore families a health insurance of Rs 5 lakh per year for secondary and tertiary healthcare. • As per the programme, 40% share of fund has to come from the states and West Bengal is unwilling to spend the sum since it already has similar scheme. • Bengal government had already enrolled 50 lakh people under its own Swasthya Sathi programme. • Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has pegged the expenses for the Centre’s health plan at Rs 5,500-6,000 crore a year. The Centre has made provisional allocation of Rs 2,000 crore and the rest will come from the state. About West Bengal: West Bengal Chief Minister- Mamata Banerjee DAILY NEWS UPDATE For FREE MOCK TESTS, Log in to: https://www.ixambee.com/ Governor- Keshari Nath Tripathi National parks- Jaldapara, Gorumara, Sundarban, Neora valley Meghalaya Governor Inaugurates India, Bangladesh 'Friendship Gate': • Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad inaugurated the "Friendship Gate" between Indian and Bangladesh. • It is constructed with an aim to have a Wagah-like beating retreat ceremony for the Indian and Bangladesh border guards. • It has been constructed near Integrated Check post, 90 km South of capital Shillong on border with Bangladesh. About Bangaladesh: Capital- Dhaka Currency- Taka PM- Sheikh Hasina President- Abdul Hamid Indian states bordering Bangladesh- West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya Assam becomes fourth state to issue RoW guidelines for telcos: • Assam has become the fourth state in the country to issue the Right of Way (RoW) guidelines for telecom service providers. • Right of Way (RoW) is