TNPSC Daily Current Affairs and GK April 27th to 30th, 2017 (English). This covers International Affairs, National Affairs, State Affairs, Sports Affairs, Awards and Prizes and Important Days.
International Affairs
Belgium opens first country to open an honorary consulate office in GIFT City, Gujrat
Belgium has become the first country to open an honorary consulate office in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). Besides the Belgian Embassy in New Delhi, two Consulates-General in Mumbai and Chennai, and an honorary consulate in Kolkata, Belgium has expanded its diplomatic representation in India with this new office in Gandhinagar. Hari Sankaran was nominated as Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Belgium to the state of Gujarat.
El Salvador become the first country in the world to ban the Mining of metals
El Salvador has become the first country in the world to ban the mining of metals to protect water sources and the environment. According to the text published on April 27, 2017 in the official journal the law bans prospection, exploration, exploitation, extraction or processing of metallic minerals in El Salvador.
International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day (ICDRD) is observed on April 26
The International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day (ICDRD) is observed every year on April 26 to raise global awareness of the consequences of the explosion of the Nuclear Power Plant. The day commemorates an explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 which spread a radioactive cloud over large parts of the Soviet Union, now the territories of Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Due to explosion, nearly 8.4 million people in the three countries were exposed to the radiation.
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work Day observed on April 28
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work. It is held on 28 April and has been observed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003.
National Affairs
India's first Digitalis-ed Panchayat Ward "Aymanam" in Kerala
A ward in the Kottayam district of Kerala has became India's first digitalised panchayat ward.Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar inaugurated the website of the first digitalized Panchayat ward number 15 of Aymanam Grama Panchayat.
India’s First-ever Transgender Athletic meet was held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
India’s first-ever transgender athletic meet was held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on April 28, 2017 to provide a platform for the transgender community to display their athletic ability. AThe event was jointly organised by Kerala sports council and Sexual Gender Minority Federation of Kerala.
World Intellectual Property Day observed on 26 April
World Intellectual Property Day is observed internationally on every 26 April.The observance of WIPD is organised by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The aim is to learn about the role that intellectual property rights (Patents, Trademarks, Industrial designs, Copyright) play in encouraging innovation and creativity.
2017 Theme for World Intellectual Property Day is 'Innovation- Improving lives'.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Flag-off First UDAN Flight
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will flag off the first UDAN flight under RCS on Shimla-Delhi sector on 27th April, 2017. Prime Minister will also flag off the inaugural UDAN flights on Kadapa – Hyderabad and Nanded-Hyderabad sectors. To make air travel accessible to citizens in regionally important cities, the Ministry launched ‘Ude Deshka Aam Naagrik’ (UDAN) Regional Connectivity Scheme in October, 2016.
India's Srishti Kaur wins Miss Teen Universe Pageant
Srishti Kaur from India was crowned Miss Teen Universe 2017, beating out 25 other contestants from around the world in the annual beauty pageant. Samantha Pierre from Canada and Ary Trava from Mexico were the runners-up in the event held at the Ruben Dario National Theatre in Nicaragua’s capital Managua.Kaur, a resident of Noida, also won the prize for best national costume.
RK Pachnanda appointed as the new Director General of ITBP
RK Pachnanda, the 1983 batch of the West Bengal cadre IPS officer, has been appointed as the new Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police(ITBP).
Indian short film “Azaad” will be screened by UNESCO as part of 2017 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) in Indonesia
The Indian short film “Azaad” will be screened by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organisation (UNESCO) as part of 2017 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) event, which will be held from May 1-4, 2017 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The movie is written and directed by Rahul V. Chittella, which tells the story of the dysfunctional relationship between a father and his son.
Sankha Ghosh conferred the 52nd edition of the Jnanpith Award-2016
Prof. Sankha Ghosh, an eminent Bengali poet and literary critic, has been conferred the 52nd edition of the Jnanpith Award (2016) by President Pranab Mukherjee at a function in New Delhi on April 27, 2017. He was awarded for his outstanding contribution in the field of literature. Excerpt of Ghosh’s classic creations are Adim lata -gulmomay, Murkho Baro, Samajik Noy and Baborer Prarthana. With this, Prof. Ghosh has become the 6th Bengali author to win India’s highest literary award after Mahasweta Devi, Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, Ashapurna Devi, Subhash Mukhopadhyay and Bishnu Dey.
India to host World Road Meeting (WRM 2017) Meeting
India is set to host the 18th World Road Meeting (WRM 2017) on November 13, the International Road Federation (IRF). The WRM, the biggest global platform for road engineers, safety and transport experts and companies engaged in road safety products, will be attended by over 4,000 delegates from across the world.
2017 Theme is 'Safe Roads and Smart Mobility: The Engines of Economic Growth'.
India hosted the 2017 International Basava Convention (IBC)
The International Basava Convention (IBC) has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on April 29, 2017. To mark the occasion, he launched translated volumes of Vachana, penned by 12th century social reformer Basavanna and other saints in 23 Indian languages The Prime Minister has also released the digital version of the work at the first-ever celebration of Basava Jayanthi at the national level. Vachana is a prosaic form well known in the Kannada literature which propagate values of universal brotherhood.
Sudarsan Pattnaik won gold at the 10th edition of Moscow sand art championship
The noted Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik from Odisha has won the jury prize gold medal at the 10th edition of Moscow Sand art Championship-2017 in Moscow, Russia. Pattnaik secured the gold for his 10 feet high sand sculpture of Lord Ganesh with messase “Go Green” at the Championship to highlight the importance of ecological balance in the face of global warming. The theme for the international sand sculpture event was “The world around us”.
Sports Affairs
Nita Ambani made member of IOC’s Olympic Channel Commission
India's first woman International Olympic Committee member Nita Ambani has made it to two important commissions of the global sports governing body, including the prestigious Olympic channel. Besides the Olympic Channel, the 53-year-old Ambani has also been made a member of Olympic education Commission as IOC announced the composition of 26 commissions for 2017.
She is one of the 16 members of the Olympic Channel Commission headed by United States Olympic Committee Chairman Lawrence Francis Probst. She will serve the world sport's apex body till the age of 70.
Rafael Nadal Wins 10th Barcelona Open Title 2017
Rafael Nadal romped to Barcelona Open title as he swept aside Austria's Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-1 for a 51st clay-court crown.This was Nadal's 10th Barcelona Open title. Nadal won in Barcelona between 2005-2009, 2011-13 and now in the last two years.
Sujal Kahar, shortlisted to Represent India at the FIFA Football for Friendship (F4F) Programme
Sujal Kahar (Age 12), the football enthusiast and goal-keeper from Mumbai, has been shortlisted to represent India at the 5th edition of FIFA Football for Friendship (F4F) global social programme. India joins the programme for the first time and will participate alongside over 60 other countries. Sujal will join young footballers from around the world in St. Petersburg, Russia in July 2017.
Syrian Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini becomes Goodwill UNHCR Ambassador
Syrian refugee and Olympic athlete Yusra Mardini has been appointed UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador.She swam at the Olympic last August as one of 10 athletes in the first-ever refugee Olympic team.
Yashwanth Naidu declared Man of the tournament in 2017 T-20 Deaf and Dumb Asia Cup
Yashwanth Naidu, a deaf and Dumb Cricketer from Andhra Pradesh, has been declared Man of the Tournament in the T-20 Asia Cup for his controlled bowling at Dhaka, Bangladesh. In the triangular tournament, India beat Bangladesh and Pakistan in the T-20 Asia Cup to lift the Trophy.