Current Affairs 1 February 2018

International Current Affairs 1. India slips to 42nd place on EIU Democracy Index India has slipped to 42nd place on the Econo...

International Current Affairs

1. India slips to 42nd place on EIU Democracy Index

India has slipped to 42nd place on the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual Global Democracy Index amid the “rise of conservative religious ideologies” and increase in vigilantism and violence against minorities as well as other dissenting voices.

• While Norway has again topped the list, followed by Iceland and Sweden, India has moved down from 32nd place last year and remains classified among “flawed democracies”.
• The index ranks 165 independent states and two territories on the basis of five categories:

National current Affairs

2. Third Scorpene submarine ‘Karanj’ Launched at Mazagon Docks

The third Scorpene class submarine constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for the Indian Navy, was launched on 31 January 2018 by Mrs Reena Lanba, President Navy Wives Welfare Association after the recitation of Sanskrit shlokas from the Atharva Veda and traditional ceremonies associated with the launch of naval platforms.

• She also named this submarine as ‘Karanj’ and wished her good fortune.
• Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff was the chief guest on the occasion.
• Karanj will now undergo rigorous trials and tests, both in harbour and at sea before it is commissioned into the Navy.

3. Railways to Set up a Coach Factory in Marathwada, Maharashtra

A high level meeting was held between Union Minister for Railways and Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai, to discuss the setting up of a massive rail coach factory in Latur, Maharashtra by Indian Railways.

• This plant would manufacture Electric Multiple Units for suburban trains and coaches for metros.
• Work on this project will be done on high priority with fast track processing of all approvals.
• Maharashtra Government has offered several concessions including in land, taxes and etc.

4. Uttar Pradesh India’s most polluted state: Greenpeace report

With 15 of its cities among 30 cities with highest levels of toxic air in the country, Uttar Pradesh is India’s most polluted state, says a Greenpeace India report.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi turned out to be the worst polluted city of UP.
• New Delhi topped list while Lucknow was 18th among the 30 most polluted cities and towns of the country.
• The report reveals that none of the 280 cities with 630 million people comply with the PM10 levels in the air as fixed by WHO at 20.
• Hassan in Karnataka has the cleanest air in the country.

5. Axis Bank Deputy VP inaugurates 19th Samaya Bharati 2018

The 19th India International Watch and Clock Fair "Samaya Bharati 2018" was inaugurated by Amruta Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Vice President of Axis Bank at the Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai.

• The fair, a grand horological event, was organised by India's leading watch and clock magazine "Trade Post" under the auspices of Watch Trade Federation.

Business

6. Ireda and Rumsl Signs Agreement for Large-Scale Solar Parks in MP

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) and Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL) signed an agreement for financing the shared infrastructure of two large Solar Parks in Madhya Pradesh.

• Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), World Bank & IREDA have been able to work out a proposal to channelize US$ 100 Million for creating common infrastructure for ultra-mega solar parks in India to achieve the 100 GW solar capacity addition target by 2022, set by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
• Under the World Bank Line of Credit, IREDA has sanctioned its first loan of Rs. 210.62 Cr. to RUMSL to finance two such solar parks in the state of Madhya Pradesh. 

7. India becomes third largest producer of crude steel

India's crude steel production grew by 6.2 per cent to 101.4 million tonnes (MT) in 2017 compared to 95.5 MT in the previous year, a report by World Steel Association said.

• India has overtaken the US to become the world's third largest steel producer and the country is now looking to bag the second spot from Japan.
• China remained the world leader by producing 831.7 MT in 2017.
• Japan, the second largest global steel producer, witnessed a negative growth as steel output declined by 0.1 per cent.

Sports

8. Table Tennis: Sharath Kamal lifts National Men’s singles title for the eighth time

Sharath Kamal has lifted the National men’s singles title for the eighth time, equalling the feat of Kamlesh Mehta.

• In the final at the Senior Table Tennis Nationals in Ranchi, he defeated top-seed Anthony Amalraj 4-1.
• Suthirta Mukherjee from West Bengal emerged the new women champion, beating Hyderabad Nationals winner Manika Batra 4-3.