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20th July 2017 – Current Affairs Today

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National Current Affairs

Maharashtra govt approves revised policy of ‘Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree’ scheme

  • According to the earlier provisions, the ‘Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree’ scheme is for those girls who come under Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and those whose annual income was upto Rs 1 lakh. 
  • According to the revised provisions, families having an income upto Rs 7.5 lakh will be eligible for the scheme.
  • As per the revised provisions after having the first girl child, if the mother or the father undergoes a family planning operation, a sum of Rs 50,000 shall be deposited in a bank in the name of the girl child.
  • If any of the parents undergo a family planning operation after having the second girl child, a sum of Rs 25,000 shall be deposited in the name of both children.
  • The scheme will be valid only if there are a maximum of two girl children born. In case a third child is born, the scheme shall become invalid for the first two as well.
  • The girl will be able to withdraw the interest money twice – once she attains 6 years of age and when she turns 12. 
  • The girl will be able to withdraw the principle money plus the interest when she turns 18, provided she has completed her education upto Standard 10 and is unmarried.

Shala Siddhi Prohatsan Yojana started in 25,000 MP schools

  • Madhya Pradesh’s school education department is going to start programs such as ‘Hamari Shala Kaisi Ho’ and ‘Shala Siddhi Karyakram’ in all government schools of the state.
  • It aims to provide qualitative education to the government school students.
  • The State Education Centre has also started Shala Siddhi Prohatsan Yojana under the programme in 25 thousand schools of the state to encourage best works. 
  • A time table has also been fixed for the award process going by the time table, the district core committees would be required to form block-level selection committees by 22nd July.
  • The selected schools will be required to forward their applications for Shala Siddhi Karyakram to Sankul Principals by 28 July.
  • The selection committee will then forward applications of 3 primary and 3 middle schools for awards to the District Institute for Education and Training (DIET).

Odisha’s longest bridge inaugurated

  • The 88 km bridge over the river Kathajodi will connect the state capital of Bhubaneswar with Cuttack.
  • It will reduce the distance between the two cities by 12 km. 

International Current Affairs

US imposes new sanctions against Iran over ballistic missile program

  • The US Departments of Treasury and State announced they are targeting 18 Iranian individuals, groups and networks.
  • According to the Associated Press the restrictions ranged from a company that allegedly aided Iran’s drone program to a Turkey-based provider of naval equipment and a China-based network that provided electronics to Iran.
  • The new sanctions freeze any assets the targets may have in the US and prevents Americans from doing business with them.
  • Tehran insists its missile tests do not breach any UN resolutions. These missiles are solely for defense purposes and not designed to carry nuclear warheads.
  • The Islamic Republic has also said that it will spare no effort to meet its national security needs, and does not allow any party to interfere in the imperative.

Australia joins International Solar Alliance led by India and France

  • The International Solar Alliance is an alliance of countries which are located completely or partly between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
  • ISA is co-led by India and France.
  • The larger aim of ISA is to mobilise over $ 1000 billion by 2030towards promoting solar power on all fronts – generation and storage.
  • India is contributing $1 million to the ISA fund the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).

Business & Economy

MoU Signed Between Department of Defence Production and GSL, HSL,GRSE, BDL

  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) for the financial year 2017-18.
  • The revenue from operations, as per the MoU, has been targeted at  Rs 5300 crore. BDL has planned to spend an amount of Rs 140 crore for modernization and Capital expenditure.
  • A MoU has been signed between Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL),a Schedule ‘B’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) and a Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence for the financial year 2017-18.
  • The revenue from operations has been targeted at Rs 600 Crore.
  • During the current financial year GRSE has set a target to develop Indigenous Capability and Infrastructure for Assembly, Test and Trial of Marine Diesel Engines, at its Engine Plant at Ranchi.

India food grain output up 8.7% at record 273.38 MT in 2016-17

  • Rice output increased by 4.5% to a record 109.15 million tons.
  • Wheat production was up 5.6% at all-time high of 97.44 million tons.
  • Coarse grains production rose 15.2% to highest ever 44.39 million tons.
  • Output of all major pulses jumped 37% to 22.40 million tons.
  • A record high output of grains, which contribute about 12.4% to the consumer inflation (CPI) basket, will increase supplies and moderate prices in coming months.
  • It will also help farmers tide over losses suffered during the demonetization drive that squeezed the demand for food items and lowered their prices.

People in News

T.R. Zeliang as new CM of Nagaland

  • Nagaland Governor PB Acharya dismissed the five-month-old government of Shurhozelie Liezietsu, and appointed Naga People’s Front (NPF) legislator,TR Zeliang as 19th Cheif Minister of Nagaland.
  • Zeliang, who had staked claim to form a new government, was present in the House with his supporters — 35 NPF legislators, four BJP legislators and seven Independent members.

Bharat Arun appointed Team India bowling coach until 2019 World Cup

  • Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Bharat Arun as the Indian Cricket team’s bowling coach until 2019 World Cup.
  • Sanjay Bangar will be an assistant coach  and R Sridhar as fielding coach till the 2019 ODI World Cup.
  • Ravi Shastri is the newly appointed coach of Indian Cricket team.
  • Australia’s Patrick Farhart and Shankar Basu also retained their positions as physio and trainer respectively, for the same two-year period until the conclusion of the 2019 World Cup.

Awards

Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi tops poll of most powerful Arab women

  • UAE Minister of State for Tolerance Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi has topped a poll of the most powerful Arab women in government this year.
  • The UAE represents the highest number of women, with 18, followed by Egypt, with 16.
  • According to the Forbes women in the Arab world were pioneering in the banking sector.Women in this industry represents 28% of the 2017 businesswoman list.

Science & Technology

US Navy tests world’s first Laser Weapons System LaWS

  • S. Navy recently tested the world’s first-ever active Laser Weapons System (LaWS).
  • It is $40 million system which is currently deployed on board the USS Ponce amphibious transport ship in the Persian Gulf. 
  • The system has special materials that release photons at the speed of light that silently hits a target, burning it to a temperature of thousands of degrees.
  • Each strike travels 50,000 times the speed of an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

UIDAI launches ‘mAadhaar’ app

  • UIDAI, which issues Aadhaar numbers, has launched mAadhaar app for mobile users. It will allow users to carry unique identification profile on mobile.
  • A user can download Aadhaar number profile through their smartphones and will therefore not require hard copies of the card.
  • It allow users to carry their Aadhaar demographic information, i.e. name, date of birth, gender, address and the photograph linked with their Aadhaar number, on their smartphones.
  • A Person can also lock/ unlock their biometric details linked to Aadhaar to secure their personal data.
  • mAadhaar app users can also update their profile via QR code and share eKYC details with service providers such as telecommunications companies. 

Environment and Ecology

Underwater ‘ghost nets’ posing threat to marine ecosystem off Kerala

  • The underwater ghost nets is posing threat to the marine ecosystem off Kerala coast. It may become major threat to the natural habitat and breeding ground of underwater fish.
  • Ghost nets have destroyed many of the underwater reefs identified with flourishing fish stock because of its ‘stifling cover’.
  • There are four types of ghost nets that penetrate the bottom of the seas:
    • The first are the large fishing vessels that stray into the territorial waters and deploy large nets.
    • The second type of ghost nets are smaller and are used by fishermen, but are cut off by a passing vessel.
    • The third type of ghost nets are those that get caught in violent currents and swivel down to the ocean floor, where they get stuck.
    • The fourth type are ghost nets are those which get abandoned at sea after three or four uses.

Sports Current Affairs

 Kerala emerge champs at 57th National Inter-State Championships

  • Anu R. (400m, Kerala) emerged as the best woman athlete at 57th National Inter-State Championships with 1105 points.
  • Haryana’s Sandeep Kumar won the gold medal in the men’s 20000m race walk on Day 2 of the National Inter State Championships athletics meet, in Guntur on July 16, 2017.
  • Soumya B won the gold medal in the women’s 20000m race walk on Day 3 of the National Inter State Championships athletics meet

Indians win gold and bronze at first global robotics Olympiad

  • A group of seven Indian students has bagged two awards at a robotics Olympiad organised by ‘FIRST Global’ in Washing D.C.
  • The students, who hail from Mumbai, won gold for Zhang Heng Engineering Design Award The Indian team also won a bronze for Global Challenge Match.
  • There was a proud moment for all-girl team from Afghanistan as they won the Rajaa Cherkaoui El Moursli award for courageous achievement.

Football legend Francesco Totti confirms retirement

  • Totti played 786 matches for Roma in total, scoring a club-record 307 goals, and won the 2006 World Cup with Italy.
  • He played his final game for Roma in May after 24 years

Mumbai teens Joshi, Ananya Dabke win Dutch Open

  • Mumbai teens Neel Joshi and Ananya Dabke has bagged the under-15 boys and girls titles in the Dutch Open Junior Squash Championship.
  • Joshi beat 5/8 seed Khalil Alhassan of England 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 in the boys final.
  • In the corresponding girls title round Dabkebeat Serena Daniel of the US by 11-7, 11-4, 12-10.
  • In the semi-finals that featured three Indians, he beat compatriot Arnaav Sareen 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, after trailing 1-2.
  • In all-India final Alhassan with a 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 win over Kanhav Nanavati in the other semi-final.