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- India to attend the SCO Culture Ministers’ meet for the first time
The Minister of State for Culture (I/c) and Minister of state for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma will be attending Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Cultural Ministers Meeting at Sanya in China on 17th of May, 2018.
- It is the first time that India would be attending the SCO Culture Ministers’ Meeting.
- The meeting will showcase India’s initiatives to actively pursue cultural cooperation with other countries including SCO countries.
- It will also help to promote cultural relations and people to people contacts with the individual members of this organization through cultural exchange programmes.
- India became full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on 9th June, 2017 during the SCO Heads of State Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
- India 3rd largest solar market in world: Mercom
India emerged as the third largest solar market in the world in 2017 behind China and the US, Mercom Communications India said in a report.
- As per the report, India set a new record with 9.6 GW of solar installations in 2017, which was more than double the 4.3 GW installed in 2016.
- The robust growth boosted the country’s total solar installed capacity to 19.6 GW as of December 2017, it added.
- Cabinet approves setting up of a Central University in Andhra Pradesh
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its in-principle approval for establishing a Central University by the name of “Central University of Andhra Pradesh” in Janthaluru Village of Ananthapur District, Andhra Pradesh.
- A provision of funds worth Rs. 450 crore has been approved for meeting the first phase expenditure towards establishment of the said University.
- The approval would increase access and quality of higher education and help in minimizing the regional imbalances in education facilities, and give effect to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014.
- Establishment of National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation at Bhopal
The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR) at Bhopal as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 under the aegis of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
- The estimated cumulative cost of the project is Rs. 179.54 crore in first three years. This includes non-recurring expenditure of Rs. 128.54 crore and recurring expenditure of Rs. 51 crore.
- The main objectives of the NIMHR are to provide rehabilitation services to the persons with mental illness, capacity development in the area of mental health rehabilitation, policy framing and advanced research in mental health rehabilitation.
- Suresh Prabhu launches Intellectual Property mascot – IP Nani
The Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Suresh Prabhu launched the Intellectual Property (IP) mascot – IP Nani – at the conference on National Intellectual Property Rights Policy in New Delhi.
- An anti-piracy video featuring Mr. Amitabh Bachchan was also launched by the Minister at the event.
- Mascot IP Nani is a tech-savvy grandmother who helps the government and enforcement agencies in combating IP crimes with the help of her grandson “Chhotu” aka Aditya.
- The IP mascot will spread awareness about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) among people, especially children, in an interesting manner.
- International Rail Coach Expo to be hosted by Integral Coach Factory Chennai
For the first time an International Rail Coach Expo (IRCE) to focus on Rail Coaches and train sets, is being held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, from 17th to 19th May, 2018, in the ICF RPF Parade Grounds, Chennai.
- Many reputed rail car and equipment builders will be showcasing their technology and products. It will be a unique platform to bring different suppliers under one roof and create synergy for “Make in India”.
- The expo is being hosted by Integral Coach Factory, popularly known as ICF, under the Ministry of Railways, in coordination with CII (Confederation of Indian Industries) and RITES Ltd. a PSU under Ministry of Railways.
- Delhi projected to become world’s most populous city around 2028: UN report
Delhi is projected to become the most populous city in the world around 2028, according to new United Nations estimates, which said India is expected to add the largest number of urban dwellers by 2050.
- The 2018 Revision of World Urbanisation Prospects produced by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) said that 68 per cent of the world population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050.
- Currently, 55 per cent of the world’s population lives in urban areas.
- RBI imposes penalty on Cooperative bank
The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a penalty of ₹50,000 on Universal Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd, Mancherial, Telangana with respect to violations on loans and advances.
- The apex bank in a release said the Cooperative Bank had violated its directive and guidelines on loans and advances to directors and their relatives.
- Indore is the cleanest city: cleanliness survey
The Swachh Survekshan 2018 assessed 4203 Urban Local Bodies and was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), under the aegis of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
- The exercise undertaken between 4th January 2018 to 10th March, 2018 enhanced the scope to cover a record number of Urban Local Bodies impacting around 40 crore urban citizens across length and breadth of the country by 2700 assessors.
- As compared to 2017 where Swachh Survekshan was conducted in 434 cities, this year the scope was enhanced manifold.
At the national level, the Top 3 cleanest cities are:
- Indore
- Bhopal
- Chandigarh
Jharkhand is the best performing State.
The awardees under various categories (Population above 10 lakh) are:
- India’s Cleanest City – Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
- India’s ‘Cleanest Big City’: Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh)
- India’s ‘Fastest Mover’ big city: Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)
- India’s Best City in ‘Citizens Feedback’: Kota (Rajasthan)
- India’s Best City in ‘Innovation & Best Practices’: Nagpur (Maharashtra)
- India’s Best City in ‘Solid Waste Management: Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)
The awardees under various categories (Population of 3-10 lakh) are:
- India’s Cleanest Medium City: Mysuru (Karnataka)
- India’s ‘Fastest Mover’ Medium City: Bhivandi (Maharashtra)
- India’s Best City in ‘Citizens Feedback’: Parbhani (Maharashtra)
- India’s Best City in ‘Innovation & Best Practices’: Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh)
- India’s Best City in ‘Solid Waste Management: Mangalore (Karnataka)
- India’s Cleanest Small City: Delhi Municipal Council
The awardees under various categories (Population of 1-3 lakh) are:
- India’s ‘Fastest Mover’ Small City: Bhusawal (Maharashtra)
- India’s Best City in ‘Citizens Feedback’: Giridih (Jharkhand)
- India’s Best City in ‘Innovation & Best Practices’: Ambikapur (Jharkhand)
- India’s Best City in ‘Solid Waste Management: Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)
- Cleanest State Capital / UT Capital Cities / Uts: Greater Mumbai (Maharashtra)
- Fastest Mover State Capital / UT: Jaipur (Rajasthan)
- Best State Capital / UT in Citizens Feedback: Ranchi (Jharkhand)
- Best State Capital / UT in ‘Innovation & Best Practices: Panaji (Goa)
- Best State Capital / UT in ‘Solid Waste Management’ : Greater Hyderabad (Telangana)
Source: currentaffairs.wifistudy.com
