TNPSC Daily Current Affairs and GK April 13-21, 2017 (English)
International Affairs
China’s Xiamen city to host BRICS Film Festival in June 2017
The 2017 BRICS Film Festival will be held in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province from June 23 to 27.There will be 30 films from BRICS countries screened during the festival.The first BRICS Film Festival was held in New Delhi, India, last September.This year’s festival would be held ahead of the BRICS summit to be held in September this year in China’s Xiamen city.
Time magazine's 'Most Influential People List includes Narendra Modi, Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has won the 2017 Time magazine’s readers’ poll of the 100 most influential people in the world. Duterte got 5% of the total “yes” votes in the poll, which closed on April 16, 2017. The official TIME 100 list, which is selected by TIME’s editors, will be announced on April 20, 2017.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma were the only two Indians to make it to an annual list of '100 most influential people in the world' this year released by the Time magazine.
"United Nations International Day of Vesak" hosted by Srilanka from May 12-14, 2017
The 14th edition of United Nations International Day of Vesak will be hosted by Srilanka from May 12-14, 2017 under the theme “Buddhist Teachings for Social Justice and Sustainable World Peace”. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, will be the chief guest for UN Vesak Day.
Emma Martina Luigia Morano (117), the World’s Oldest Woman Passed Away
Emma Martina Luigia Morano (117), the world’s oldest woman, has recently passed away at Verbania in Italy on April 15, 2017. She was born on 29th November 1899 in the Piedmont region of Italy and was officially the last person born in the 1800s still living.
National Affairs
ISRO has tied up with BHEL to develop low-cost lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to help develop low-cost lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles.
Sagar Baheti, India’s First Visually Impaired Runner to compete the historic Boston Marathon
Sagar Baheti from Bangaluru has become the India’s first visually impaired runner to compete and finish the historic Boston Marathon, which is the world’s oldest, most competitive and the hardest marathon. He covered the 42.195 km distance in 4 hours, 14 minutes and 7 seconds and finished the race at the 18th spot in the visually impaired category.
India hosted the 3rd Edition of Global Exhibition on Services (GES – 2017)
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has inaugurated the 3rd edition of the Global Exhibition on Services (GES-2017) on April 17, 2017 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The GES-2017 will highlight India’s potential to boost its services exports across sectors. The 4-day event will be held at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida and will focus on 20 services sectors, including information technology, tourism and hospitality, logistics, education and financial services.
Himachal Pradesh Government has recently launched ‘Unemployment Allowance Scheme"
The Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh has recently launched an ‘unemployment allowance scheme’ at the state level function at Chamba on the occasion of the 70th foundation day of Himachal Pradesh. As per the scheme, the state government will provide an unemployment allowance of Rs 1,000 per month to youth having intermediate or above qualification where as the unemployed youth with disability would be given Rs 1,500 per month.
Maharashtra became the first Indian state to launch to ensure that transgenders in the state register as voters
Maharashtra became the first Indian state to launch a special awareness drive to ensure that transgenders in the state register as voters. The state branch of the Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched the drive on April 15, celebrated as Third Gender Day (TGD).
The first-ever Nepal-China joint military exercise ‘Sagarmatha Friendship-2017 has started at Kathmandu, Nepal
The first-ever Nepal-China joint military exercise ‘Sagarmatha Friendship-2017’ has started at Kathmandu, Nepal from April 17, 2017 with a special focus on counter- terrorism and disaster management. The purpose of 10-day-long military exercise is to exchange experience, skills and professional knowledge between the armies of Nepal and China. It is to be known that Sagarmatha is the Nepali name of Mt Everest that is bordering between Nepal and China.
India ranked at the 8th position in 2017 A.T. Kearne's FDI Confidence Index
India has been ranked at the 8th position in the 2017 A.T. Kearney Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index. As per A.T. Kearney report, foreign companies have considered India as an attractive destination due to its reforms to enable a transparent and an easy business environment. Around 31% of firms surveyed were optimistic about India’s economic outlook over the next three years.
Punjab government will set up “Book Banks” in schools
The Punjab government will launch an innovative scheme “Book Banks” in all schools of the state so that needy students will get the books for their academic year free of cost.
Vinay Sah appointed as MD and CEO of LIC Housing Finance
Vinay Sah has assumed charge as MD and CEO of LIC Housing Finance. He comes in place of Sunita Sharma, who has been promoted as Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India.Prior to joining LIC Housing Finance, Sah was Executive Director–Marketing/Product Development with LIC of India.
Devendra Kumar Sharma will be the new chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)
Devendra Kumar Sharma, the managing director of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited, will be the new chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The BBMB manages the release of water in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan as it controls Bhakra, Pong and other dams.
Tata Motors launched first Made in India industrial robot "Brabo"
TAL Manufacturing Solutions, a unit of Tata Motors has launched a Made in India industrial robot, which it claims will be 30 to 40 per cent cheaper than competing products.TAL, which also makes components for commercial airplanes, officially launched two variants of the robot named Brabo. Brabo can be used in areas like assembly of parts, machine and press tending.
UP'S Agra, Gorakhpur airport terminals named after Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Mahayogi Gorakhnath
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has decided to name the civil terminal of Agra’s Kheria Air Force airport after BJP ideologue Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath presided over the cabinet meeting that also decided to name the civil terminal at IAF’s Gorakhpur airport after Mahayogi Gorakhnath, founder of ‘Nath Pant’ (monastic movement).The chief minister is the mahant of Gorakhnath temple.
Important Days
National Civil Services Day observed on 21 April
Government of India has taken a decision to observe the 21st of April every year as “Civil Services Day”.First such function was held in Vigyan Bhawan on 21/04/06. The purpose for this day is to rededicate and recommit civil servants to the cause of the people.
World Heritage Day (WHD) observed on April 18
The World Heritage Day (WHD) is being observed every year on April 18 to spread awareness of the importance of protecting and preserving various sites around the world that have achieved world heritage status. The 2017 theme is “Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism”.
World Hemophilia Day (WHD) observed on April 17
The World Hemophilia Day (WHD) is observed every year on April 17 to improve and sustain care for people with inherited bleeding disorders around the world. The 2017 World Hemophilia Day theme is “Hear Their Voices” to unite the community and show support for the millions of people affected by bleeding disorders.
Awards
Giusi Nicolini wins UNESCO'S Peace Prize
The Unesco has awarded its Peace Prize to Giuseppina (Giusi) Nicolini, the mayor of the Italian island of Lampedusa, for her commitment to saving the lives of migrants and refugees.Since becoming Mayor in 2012, Nicolini has been an outspoken defender of refugee and migrant rights.
A.V. Narasimha Murthy bestowed with the Dr. Paduru Gururaja Bhat Memorial Award 2017
Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, the noted historian and archaeologist, has bestowed with the prestigious Dr. Paduru Gururaja Bhat Memorial Award 2017 in Udupi, Karnataka for his contribution to Indian Archaeology, Ancient History and Numismatics.
Dr. Rayappa Ramappa Hanchinal bestowed with the 6th edition of MS Swaminathan award
Dr. Rayappa Ramappa Hanchinal has been bestowed with the 6th edition of prestigious M.S. Swaminathan Award for contribution in the field of agriculture. Dr Hanchinal received the award for his contributions and sustained support to the areas of crop improvement for hot and very hot dry environments, seed production technology and intellectual protection rights in plant varieties.
Saira Banu named for Raj Kapoor Lifetime achievement award
Veteran actress Saira Banu has been named for the prestigious Raj Kapoor Lifetime achievement award of the Maharashtra Government. Actor Jackie Shroff is selected for the Raj Kapoor Special contribution award.
Sports Affairs
Sebastian Vettel, won the 2017 Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix tournament
Sebastian Vettel, a German racing driver for Scuderia Ferrari, has won the 2017 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix tournament at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain.
Sai Praneeth Bhamidipatiwon the 2017 Men’s singles Singapore Open Badminton tournament
Sai Praneeth Bhamidipati from India has won the 2017 Men’s singles Singapore Open Badminton tournament by defeating his compatriot Kidambi Srikanth in the final by 17-21, 21-17,21-17 at Singapore Indore Stadium, Singapore.