Current Affairs February 6, 2018 World News Dubai International Airport is the world s busiest International Airport Dubai International Airport named as the world s busiest airport for international traffic. It has maintained the title for 4 years, with some 90 airlines flying into skyscraper-studded Dubai. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia remains the world s busiest airport overall. Maldives Crisis- Government declares state of emergency The Maldives president, Abdulla Yameen, has declared a state of emergency in the country as heavily armed troops stormed the country s top court and a former president Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed was arrested in a deepening political crisis. Exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed urged India to act swiftly to help in resolving the ongoing political crisis in the island nation.
National News Centre releases 65,000 cr under SC special assistance plan The Centre has released 65,000 crore to States and union territories under the special assistance to scheduled castes sub plan till January end of the current fiscal. The amount is more than 80 per cent of the total allocation of 80,000 crore made under the Special Central Assistance to SC Sub Plan for 2017-18. The money is released to States and union territories subject to certain conditions, including that of submission of utilisation certificates. Govt launches Start-up-India ranking framework The government launched the Start-up-India ranking framework to help the Startup India initiative to drive economic growth of the country. Three new tools, namely the State and Union Territory Startup Ranking Framework, the Compendium of Good Practices for Promoting Startups in India and the Startup India Kit were launched by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu. The key objective of the Startup States and Union Territories ranking framework is to encourage States and Union Territories to take pro-active steps towards strengthening the Startup ecosystems at the local level. Govt sets up mechanism in CSIR for transfer of technology Ministry of Science & Technology has set up Mechanism in Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to interact with Small-Scale Industry (SSI) for transfer of Technology from CSIR Labs. In the mechanism, nodal officer in CSIR will coordinate with the SSIs and CSIR labs for appropriate technology required by them. SSI sector is largest employment provider in country, next to agriculture. It contributes almost 40% of gross industrial value added in Indian economy. Indian Railways adopts General Conditions of Contract for Services For the first time, Indian Railways has introduced new General Conditions of Contracts (GCC) for Services. GCC for services defines terms & conditions for contractors engaged in service contracts for non-operational areas such as Facilities Management, Housekeeping and Consultancy etc.
Under the new policy of GCC for Services, concepts of Digital Labour Management System and stepped Performance Guarantee in place of Security Deposit, have been introduced for the first time. As per digital management labour system, a contractor has to compulsorily maintain a data base of all workers including their attendance data and salary details. The concept of stepped performance guarantee (which replaces Security Deposit) reduces the financial burden on the contractor. However it emphasises service delivery by having a provision of confiscation of part performance guarantee in case of unsatisfactory output. Above stated measures have been recommended by a committee of Executive Directors of Railway Board, that was formed for ushering simplification and improvement of service contracts with an aim to improve the quality of services and service contract management. When two people get into wedlock, no one should interfere, says Supreme Court While hearing a petition seeking ban on honour killings and khap panchayats, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said that when two adults marry, no one has the right to interfere. Whether it is parents, society or anyone, they are out of it, he added. The Supreme Court asked the Centre to come up with suggestions for protecting couples. State News Haryana Govt launches Gobardhan Yojana to support farmers The Haryana government has launched the Gobardhan Yojana to provide for the sale of organic manure and cow urine with an aim to benefit farmers. A provision of Rs 11 crore has been made to provide benefits of various projects under this scheme. Mumbai Airport becomes World s Busiest Single-Runway Airport Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport of Mumbai sets record with 980 flights in 24 hours or almost one flight every minute. With this, the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport bettered its own feat of 974 flights in 24 hours, recorded in December 2017. While Gatwick, the U.K. s second-largest airport, remains the most efficient single-runway airport in the world.
Pelican Bird Festival-2018 held in Kolleru Lake The Pelican Bird Festival-2018 was held for first in Atapaka Bird Sanctuary on at Kolleru Lake in Andhra Pradesh. It was jointly organised by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA) and Krishna district administration. Andhra Pradesh Tourism minister Bhuma Akhila Priya and Krishna District collector B Lakshmikantham inaugurated the Pelican Bird Festival-2018. Banking & Economy Assam Government and Ola Sign MoU for River Taxi Service Cab-hailing startup Ola and the Government of Assam have signed a MoU to pilot an appbased river taxi service in Guwahati. The river taxis will be machine-operated boats and users will be able to book the rides through Ola's app. It'll bring commute time down to 2-5 minutes from 45 minutes by road. This MoU was signed during the Global Investors Summit: Advantage Assam. Capgemini to buy LiquidHub for about 400 million euros Capgemini said that, it will acquire LiquidHub to enhance its digital-consulting capabilities in North America. The cost of acquisition is estimated to be nearly 400 million euros. This amount is said to be twice that of LiquidHub s 2017 revenue. Capgemini said that, the transaction would be closed in the next 2 months. LiquidHub is a digital technology services company. India FY2019 fiscal deficit to come in at 3.5% of GDP: Report According to the report by BMI Research, India s fiscal deficit in financial year 2018-19 is expected to come in at 3.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Situation wherein, a government s total expenditures exceeds the revenue that it generates is referred to as fiscal deficit. BMI s projection is higher than Government s fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent of GDP, announced in Union Budget 2018.
BMI has justified its projection by highlighting that as per overall expenditure quantum announced in Union Budget 2018, Indian Government looks keen to promote economic growth during 2018-19, which may reduce its pace of fiscal consolidation. Sports Manav Thakkar ends up with silver at WJC Finals Indian paddler Manav Thakkar settled for silver after losing in the final of the 2018 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals at Luxembourg. The Indian failed to cash in on the close sixth game win as he ended with the junior boys silver medal on Sunday evening. The No. 3 seeded Indian lost to top-seed Kanak Jha of the US by 3-4 (11-9, 3-11, 11-9. 6-11, 3-11, 11-9, 6-11). Shubhankar Sharma becomes Best Indian Golfer in the World Shubhankar Sharma has emerged as the best Indian golfer in the world, grabbing the 72nd position in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). He has won the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sharma has enjoyed a golden run over the past few months on the international stage, clinching his first European Tour win at the Joburg Open. Appointments & Resignations Jerome H Powell sworn in as 16th Chairman of Federal Reserve Jerome H Powell was sworn in as the 16th Chairman of the Federal Reserve for a fouryear term. Mr Powell has succeeded Janet Yellen, the first woman to lead the US central bank in its 100-year history. Powell was nominated for the post in November 2017 by President Donald Trump. The oath was administered by Vice Chairman Randal K. Quarles in the Board Room.
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant gets extension till June 30, 2019 The government has approved a proposal to extend the tenure of Niti Aayog CEO Amithab Kant till June 30, 2019. Amitabh Kant was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog on 17th February 2016 for a two-year term. Amitabh Kant is a 1980 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre. Earlier, he was Secretary in Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. Science & Technology Google launches #SecurityCheckKiya campaign Search engine giant Google has launched #SecurityCheckKiya campaign in India to create awareness around Internet safety. It was launched on the occasion of Safer Internet Day (6 February). The campaign aims to protect first-time web users from account hijacking, safeguard Android devices from malicious apps and secure all their personal data if they lose their device. Nuclear-capable Agni-I missile test fired successful India successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed Agni-I ballistic missile from a test range off the Odisha coast. The test involved 18th version of Agni-I and was conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of Indian Army with logistic support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for a range of about 900 km. The test was conducted from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Abdul Kalam Island in Balasore, Odisha and achieved all parameters within the stipulated time period. Agni-I which was inducted into service in 2004 is a single stage, surface-to-surface short range ballistic missile (SRBM), powered by solid propellants. It is 15-metres-long and weighs 12 tonnes. Initially, Agni-I had a strike range is 700 km. It is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear payload up to 1000 kg. Agni-I s last trial was successfully conducted on November 22, 2016 from the same place.
Important Days International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation was observed on February 6, 2018. The day is observed every year to eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation. It was first introduced in 2003. Female Genital mutilation (FGM) comprises producers that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.