1. India To Notch Up To 7.5 % Growth In 2016–17 : IMF
ii. And as per IMF prediction India will overtake the China’s GDP by more than 1%.
iii. These growth in India is driven by private consumption as well as by increased industrial activity.
i. India and the United States announced an in-principle logistics exchange agreement to enable their militarizes to use each other’s assets and bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.
ii. India, however, clarified it does not entail positioning of US troops on its soil.
iii. In a fillip to ‘Make in India’ programme in defence, the US moved forward in providing technology for making seaborne aircraft carriers and shared two new projects for making fighter jets in India.
iv. As per the US counterpart and Parrikar, “As our engagement deepens, we need to develop practical mechanisms to facilitate such exchanges.
v. In this context, Secretary Carter and I agreed in principle to conclude a Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in the coming months.”
3. India ranks 44 in 2016 Global Connectivity Index, Digital India seen as driver of growth
i. Huawei has announced its third Global Connectivity Index report during the Global Analyst Summit 2016 in Shenzhen, China.
ii. In terms of numbers, United States, Singapore and Sweden top the rankings, while India is ranked 44.
iii. The report which measures the progress of 50 nations in investment and deployment of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
iv. Huawei Global Connectivity Index 2016 notes that the Indian government’s Digital India initiative is driving growth, and improved broadband penetration.
v. The report says the initiative will enable last mile connectivity, bringing many people online for the first time, and enables a whole new opportunity for telecom operators.
4. Cabinet announces Mufti Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme to supplement NFSA
i. State Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti approved some major initiatives as a part of the Government’s response to the marginalized, disadvantaged and other sections of the society.
ii. In a major welfare initiative, the Cabinet approved launch of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) to supplement the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
iii. Under this scheme, all those persons who are covered under the State’s public distribution system will get additional 5 kgs of ration per person in addition to 5 kgs of ration they are entitled to get under NFSA.
iv. The additional quota of ration under the scheme would be provided to the consumers at the subsidized rate of Rs 13 per kg for Atta and Rs 15 per kg for Rice and the State Government will bear the financial burden of Rs 1497 crore per annum for the implementation of NFSA and MMSFES.
v. The quantum of additional food grains would be 5 Kg per soul subject to a maximum ceiling of 35 Kg per family.
5. India and Germany signed agreement on Namami Gange Programme
i. Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and German International Cooperation (GIZ) signed an Implementation agreement for Ganga Rejuvenation under the Namami Gange Programme in New Delhi.
ii. The agreement was signed in the presence of the German Ambassador to India, Dr. Martin Ney and Secretary, Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shashi Shekhar.
iii. The project will closely cooperate with other National and international initiatives including Indo-German bilateral projects like Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy (SNUSP) and Sustainable Environment-friendly Industrial Production (SEIP).
iv. The project duration is three years that is from 2016 to 2018 and the German contribution in the project will be to the tune of 22.5 crore rupees.
v. It will enable responsibility of stakeholders at National and State level to apply integrated river basin management approach for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga.
ii. But the decision to change the name will be placed before the Haryana cabinet before being sent to the Union Government.
7. Campus Wallet For Students Launched By Federal Bank
ii. This is a student Identity Card integrated with banking technology and the Chillar Payment Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is a technology driven startup company.
8. Aishwarya Rai Won Global Indian Of The Year Award
ii. She was honoured at NRI of the Year award function held in Mumbai. The 42 year old actress has dedicated the award to her daughter Aaradhya.
ii. Mr. JJ Singh has been chosen for the honour in recognition of his ‘stellar role’ in modernizing the Indian Army and initiating robust exchanges between the Indian and French armies.
10. Meeran Borwankar Appointed As The New DG Of BPR&D By GOI
ii. Her appointment made by a cabinet committee and order issued by Department of Personnel and Training.
v. BPR&D has set up with the objective of the Government of India for the modernization of police forces. It has evolved as a multifaceted, consultancy organisation. At present it has 4 divisions – Research, Development, Training and Correctional Administration.
ii. The accident took place when she was on a national wide tour on her Harley Davidson. She was on the way to Jaipur from Lucknow.
12. Padma Sachdev selected for Saraswati Samman 2015
i. Author and poet Padma Sachdev on 12 April 2016 was selected for the prestigious Saraswati Samman for 2015 for her autobiography titled Chitt-Chete, written in Dogri language.
ii. The book, published in 2007, links the personal trials and tribulations of the author with issues concerning society, nation and the world at large.
iii. She Born in Jammu, Padma Sachdev is first modern woman poet of Dogri language and has published her several poetry collection including Meri Kavita Mere Geet that has won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1971.
iv. She has also received the Padma Shri, the Indian fourth highest civilian award in 2001, and the Kabir Samman for poetry for the year 2007-2008, given by Government of Madhya Pradesh.
v. The Saraswati Samman for 2014 was given to Veerappa Moily for his work Ramayana Mahanveshanam.
13. Chawrasia wins Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Month
i. India’s SSP Chawrasia, who clinched the Hero Indian Open last month, has been named the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Month for March.
ii. Chawrasia produced a gutsy display of golf in his National Open last month to win his third Asian Tour title by defeating 2015 Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Year Anirban Lahiri and Korean rising star Jeunghun Wang by two shots.
iii. The victory was especially sweet for Chawrasia, who settled for second best on four occasions in the Indian Open before his triumph at the Delhi Golf Club.
iv. The Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Month award is one of the partnership initiatives aimed at recognising outstanding efforts of Asian Tour members both at home and abroad.
14. England Cricketer James Taylor retired from International Cricket
i. England and Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor on 12 April 2016 announced his retirement at the age of 26 due to ill health.
ii. He was diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) that needs an operation to his Heart.
iii. He played seven Test matches for England and the first was against South Africa at Headingley in 2012. He averaged 26 with top Test score was 76 against Pakistan in November 2015.
iv. He made his one-day international debut in 2011 against Ireland and played 27 ODIs with an average of 42.23. He scored seven fifties and one century (101) against Australia in September 2015.
v. At the time of his retirement, Taylor had the fourth-highest limited-overs average (53.11) in international and domestic cricket history after Michael Bevan (57.86), Cheteshwar Pujara(54.12) and AB de Villiers (53.53).
Important Current Affairs Quiz for Bank ...
