SIPVS Knowledge is Power
10-11 May 2018 Current Affairs
- Narendra Modi ranked 9th among 75 most powerful globally in Forbes list
Prime Minister Narendra Modi figures among the 10 most powerful people in the world in US magazine Forbes’ 2018 list that is topped by Chinese President Xi Jinping, while Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani is the only Indian businessman to feature in the list of 75.
- Modi, who is ranked 9th and Ambani at 32, are the only two Indians on the Forbes World’s Most Powerful People list.
- Xi tops the list for the first time, replacing Russian President Vladimir Putin, who drops to second place after being named the most powerful person in the world for four years in succession.
- VP Shri Venkaiah Naidu visits World Heritage city of Old Guatemala
The Vice President of India, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu visited the historic Antigua (old) Guatemala city on May 8, 2018 for understanding how it’s rich heritage is being maintained since it was declared as a World Heritage City by the UNESCO in 1979.
- Antigua Guatemala was the third capital built by the Spanish rulers since their invasion of Guatemala in 1524.
- The first two capitals had to be abondoned by 1541 on account of resistance from the local warriors and natural calamities respectively.
- Old Guatemala witnessed series of earthquakes since 1565 and was destroyed by earthquake Santa Marta in 1773 forcing the shifting of capital to the present Guatamela City.
- Those who stayed back and others who returned started reconstruction of Old Guatemala, restoring most of its mounments.
- UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage City in 1979.
- Army’s ‘Vijay Prahar’ exercise in Rajasthan culminates
The Indian Army’s ‘Vijay Prahar’ exercise in which over 25,000 troops of the Jaipur based South Western command participated culminated in Rajasthan’s Suratgarh.
- South Western Army Commander Lt Gen Cherish Mathson witnessed the final offensive of the forces achieving a decisive victory.
- Fighting equipments including tanks, attack helicopters, drones and fighter aircraft were used in the month-long exercise.
- Signing of MoU between Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India APCPL
Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India(ALIMCO), under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and Aravali Power Company Pvt Ltd (APCPL),Jhajjar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Jhajjar, Haryana.
- Rs. 2 Crores for Distribution of Aids and Assistive Devices to Persons with Disabilities at Charkhi Dadri District of Haryana under the CSR initiative of APCPL in the presence of Shri D.R. Sarin, CMD, ALIMCO and ShriN.N.Mishra, CEO, APCPL.
- As per the MoU signed between ALIMCO and APCPL, Distribution camps will be organized at Charkhi Dadri District for an estimated cost of Rs 2 Crores.
- In the Distribution Camps artificial limbs, aids & appliances such as Motorized Tricycles Tricycle, Wheel Chairs, BTE Hearing Aids, Crutch Axilla Adjustable, Braille Cane, MSIED Kit, Braille Kit, Smart Cane, Smart Phones etc. to Persons with Disabilities will be distributed.
- ALIMCO is a “Not For Profit” Central Public Sector Undertaking working under the administrative control of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
- Fifteenth Finance Commission constitutes an Advisory Council
The Fifteenth Finance Commission has constituted an Advisory Council to advise and assist the Commission. The role and functions of the Advisory Council will be:
- To advise the Commission on any issue or subject related to the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Commission, which may be of relevance;
- To assist in the preparation of any paper or research study which would enhance the Commission’s understanding on the issues containing in its ToR; and
- To help in broadening the Commission’s ambit and understanding to seek best national and international practices on matters pertaining to fiscal devolution and improving the quality and reach and enforcement of its recommendations.
Advisory Council will have following members:
- Arvind Virmani, President, Forum for Strategic Initiatives
- Surjit S. Bhalla, Part-time Member of PMEAC and Sr. Indian Analyst for the Observatory Group and Chairman of Oxus Research and Investments
- Sanjeev Gupta, Ex-Deputy Director (Fiscal Affairs Department), IMF
- Pinaki Chakraborty, Professor (NIPFP)
- Shri Sajjid Chinoy, Chief India Economist, JP Morgan
- Shri Neelkanth Mishra, Managing Director and the Credit Suisse India Economist and Strategist
- Walmart acquires 77% stake in Flipkart
The world’s largest retailer Walmart will acquire a 77 percent holding in Flipkart Group for $16 billion, the companies said in a statement.
- Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal and other shareholders will hold the remainder.
- Japan’s Softbank to exit Flipkart by selling entire 20 per cent stake to Walmart.
- Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal to exit company by selling his 5.5 pc stake to Walmart.
- IMF expects India to grow at 7.4% in FY 2018/19
The Indian economy is expected to grow at 7.4 per cent in the current fiscal and accelerate further to 7.8 per cent as it recovers from the impact of demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) rollout, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said.
- Asia continues to be the main engine of the world’s economy, accounting for more than 60 per cent of global growth as per IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook: Asia and Pacific (REO).
- Carlos Alvarado sworn in as Costa Rican president
Journalist Carlos Alvarado was sworn in as Costa Rica’s president through 2022, promising a “plural” and inclusive government.
- During an inauguration ceremony at Democracy Square in the capital, San Jose, Alvarado accepted the sash of office from his predecessor and ally, Luis Guillermo Solis.
- In his first speech as president, Alvarado said he intends to improve employment, education and health and fight poverty as the Central American nation nears the 200th anniversary of its independence in 2021.
- Pawan Kumar Agarwal gets extension as CEO FSSAI
Pawan Kumar Agarwal was has given three months extension as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
- The tenure of Agarwal, a 1985-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, has been given three-month extension beyond May 15, 2018.
- He was appointed as the CEO of the FSSAI in December 2015.
Source: currentaffairs.wifistudy.com
