Current Affairs 21st February 2018: Daily GK Update

ii. The 26th edition of Nasscom India Leadership Forum (ILF) was also held in the same venue later on. Nasscom is the host of the of WCIT. Telangana is the state partner for both the events.

3. Government Clears Private Commercial Mining in Coal

ii. The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) under the Chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi. Currently, the private sector is allowed coal mining for captive use only.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Syndicate Bank PO 2018 Exam-

• Coal Minister of India- Piyush Goyal.
• Coal accounts for around 70% of the country’s power generation.

4. Haryana Government Launched 4 Subsidized Food Canteens Under ‘Antyodaya Aahaar Yojna’

ii. These have been set up under the ‘Antyodaya Aahaar Yojana’ to provide healthy, nutritious and hygienic food at only Rs 10 per meal to all poor and needy. 

ii. Under the scheme, schoolgirls studying in Zilla Parishad schools will get sanitary napkin packet at Rs 5 while rural women can avail it at the subsidised rate of Rs.24 and Rs.29.

• Maharashtra CM- Devendra Fadnavis, Governor- C V Rao.

i. The Delhi government announced the launch of “Mission Buniyaad” for improving learning skills of children studying in state and municipal-run schools. The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

ii. Under the programme which will run from April to June for Class 3 to 5 in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) schools and for Class 6 to 8 in government’s schools, children will undergo a reading level assessment based on which they will be enrolled in specialised “Mission Buniyaad” classes.

7. R.K. Singh Inaugurates ‘International R&D Conclave’ in New Delhi

i. Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh inaugurated the ‘International R&D Conclave’ in New Delhi. It is a two-day conference on Emerging Opportunities and Challenges of R&D in Indian Power Sector.

ii. It has been organized by Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The conference was stressed upon the need of a dedicated R&D department in CEA to coordinate the research in the power sector.

8. Centre Constitutes Committee to Study Brahmaputra and Flood Control Measures in Assam

i. The Centre has constituted a committee headed by the Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog Mr Rajiv Kumar to study the Brahmaputra and flood control measures in Assam and neighbouring states.

ii. According to the Assam Water Resource minister, Keshab Mahanta, measures are being taken by the Water Resource department to repair the damaged river embankment due to flood.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Syndicate Bank PO 2018 Exam-

• Assam CM- Sarbanand Sonowal, Governor- Jagdish Mukhi.
• Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is situated in Assam.

9. Newborn Mortality Rate: India 12th Worst Among Low-Income Countries

i. India has been ranked 12th-worst among 52 low-middle income countries based on the number of children dying within the first month of their birth, which is 25.4 per 1,000 live births.
ii. Pakistan is the worst with 45.6 newborn deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

iii. Japan, with an NMR of 0.9 deaths per 1,000 live births, has been ranked the world’s safest country in which to be born followed by Iceland (1) and Singapore (1.1).

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Syndicate Bank PO 2018 Exam-

• UNICEF was Founded in 1946. 
• It Headquarters in New York, the USA.

10. Kerala Makes Vaccination Compulsory for School Admissions

i. Kerala government has made vaccination compulsory for school admissions from next academic year onwards. Parents will have to show details of shots given to children at the time of enrolment in schools. 

ii. The health minister of Kerala KK Shailaja has released the new health policy draft. The move comes in the wake of stiff opposition from certain communities against the vaccination drive.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Syndicate Bank PO 2018 Exam-

• Kerala CM- Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor- Palaniswamy Sathasivam.
• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (famous for Tiger reserve and Asian elephant) is situated in Kerala.

11. Jaipur’s Gandhinagar Railway Station Becomes Fully Women Operated Station

i. The Gandhi Nagar railway station in Jaipur, Rajasthan became railway station to be fully-managed by women. Gandhi Nagar is an important railway station in Jaipur situated on the Jaipur-Delhi rail route. The station has the footfall of more than 7,000 passengers every day.

ii. There are 40 women staff at the station beside women personnel of the railway protection force have been deployed at the station.

12. Government Sets Up the “NITI Forum for Northeast”

i. The Union Government has issued order setting up the ‘Niti Forum for North-East’. The forum will be co-chaired by the Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog Mr Rajiv Kumar and Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh. 

ii. The NITI Forum for Northeast is tasked to identify various constraints on the way of accelerated, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the North East Region of the country. The forum will have its Secretariat in the Ministry of DoNER.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Syndicate Bank PO 2018 Exam-

• NITI- National Institution for Transforming India.
• NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman- Rajiv Kumar, CEO- Amitabh Kant.

13. UP Investors Summit 2018: Important Highlights of Day 1

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day ‘UP Investors Summit’ in Lucknow. It is the first such event by the Yogi Adityanath government. The summit is aimed at showcasing investment opportunities and potential across various sectors in Uttar Pradesh.

ii. It was emphasised that Uttar Pradesh government should compete with Maharashtra to become the first Indian state with a trillion-dollar economy.

Highlights of Day 1- 

1. Uttar Pradesh has signed 1,045 pacts worth Rs4.28 trillion on the first day of the UP investors’ summit.

2. PM Modi announced Rs20,000 crore defence corridor for Bundelkhand.

3. The Aditya Birla Group will invest Rs 25,000 crore in Uttar Pradesh over the next 5 years.

4. Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani promised investment of another Rs10,000 crore through Jio in the next three years.

5. Adani Group will invest Rs 35,000 crore in UP over the next five years in various sectors.