SIPVS Knowledge is Power
- India ranks 130 in UN’s human development index
India climbed one spot to 130 among 189 countries in the latest human development index released by the United Nations Development Programme.
- Within South Asia, India’s human development index (HDI) value is above the average of 0.638 for the region, with Bangladesh and Pakistan, countries with similar population size, being ranked 136 and 150 respectively.
- In 2016, India’s HDI value of 0.624 put it at 131 rank.
- India’s HDI value for 2017 is 0.640, which put the country in the medium human development category
- Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Ireland and Germany led the ranking, while Niger, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Chad and Burundi have the lowest scores.
- Suresh Prabhu to participate in G-20, Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting in Argentina
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, will participate in the G-20, Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting, being held in Mar del Plata in Argentina on 14th – 15th September 2018.
- The meeting will provide an opportunity for a dialogue on current developments in international trade and its implications for the global economy.
- The Ministerial Meeting will discuss about building an inclusive trade system that contributes to sustainable and shared growth.
- Trade and investment must benefit all and countries must jointly address both the opportunities and challenges of globalization, innovation and technological advancements.
- The Ministerial Meeting will examine the inter relationship between trade and development with a special emphasis on the need to promote further integration of small and medium sized companies into international trade, and the opportunities posed by the digital economy and new technologies.
- Hindi Divas: 14 September
Hindi Divas or Hindi day is an annual day celebrated on 14 September in India.
- On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India had adopted Hindi written in Devanagari script as the official language of the Republic of India.
- World chefs’ congress on Oct 12-14 in Amritsar
The World Cultural Culinary Heritage Committee, under the aegis of the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WorldChefs), will hold the first edition of the World Heritage Cuisine Summit and food festival from October 12-14 at the Qila Gobindgarh in Amritsar.
- The summit, hosted by the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations, will celebrate traditional cuisine with live demonstrations, food tasting, presentations, panel discussions, master classes by chefs from around the world in the holy city.
- It will focus on inculcating appreciation for food culture and traditions, good food habits and sustainable practices.
- Uttarakhand ranked best among states in PMGSY
Uttarakhand has been ranked the best among states in the country for the construction of maximum number of roads under the PMGSY during 2017-2018.
- The state constructed a maximum of 1,839 kilometre roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana against a target of 1,500 km set for the year 2017-18.
- Uttarakhand has also been ranked second for connecting 207 habitations with roads against a target of 172 under the scheme.
- Coast Guard commissions patrol vessel ‘Vijaya’
The Indian Coast Guard commissioned the indigenously built patrol vessel ‘Vijaya’, fitted with advanced navigation and communication equipment.
- The 98-metre ship will be based at Paradip in Odisha for extensive surveillance in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
- Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and Coast Guard Director-General Rajendra Singh took part in the commissioning ceremony.
- India to hold its first global tourism mart from Sep 16
India will hold its first-ever global tourism mart modelled on the ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair.
- The mart will be held in Delhi from September 16-18, said Secretary, Tourism Ministry Rashmi Verma.
- The ten major tourist organisations like FHRAI, HAI, IATO are involved in this mega event.
- 6 AAI-run airports bag international awards
Six aerodromes of the Airports Authority of India have bagged seven international awards.
- The Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards 2017 were presented by the Airports Council International (ACI) at the Customer Excellence Global Summit at Halifax, Canada, on September 12.
- The winning airports are Lucknow, Indore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune airports.
- Writer Brij Katyal passes away
Veteran film writer Brij Katyal, who penned the story of Shashi Kapoor-Nanda hit “Jab Jab Phool Khile”, passed away at a hospice in suburban Bandra.
- One of the most accomplished writers of the film industry, Katyal also has writing credits to his name in many TV serials such as “Dillagi”, “Saans” and “Pal Chhin”, both directed by Neena Gupta.
- His stint in movies also include “Ajooba” and “Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi”, among others.
