Current Affairs 11 January 2018

1. President inaugurate 4th International Conference on Dharma-Dhamma The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, will visit Bihar ...

1. President inaugurate 4th International Conference on Dharma-Dhamma

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, will visit Bihar on January 11, 2018 to inaugurate the 4th International Conference on Dharma-Dhamma at Rajgir.

• The Conference is being organised by Nalanda University in collaboration with the Centre for Study of Religion and Society, India Foundation, and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, with an aim to provide an opportunity to academics and policy makers from India and abroad to share ideas and build collaboration for a better world.

2. Cabinet approves fixed term for Chairperson and Members of the National Trust

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to amend Section 4(1) and Section 5(1) of the National Trust for the Welfare of Person with Autism, Cerebral Plasy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 to fix the term of the Chairperson and Members of the Board of National Trust for three years.

• Section 4(1) of the National Trust   Act, 1999   provides that the Chairperson or a Member of the Board of National Trust would continue in office beyond the prescribed term of three years   until   his   successor   shall   have   been   duly   appointed. In case of resignation of the Chairperson, section 5(1) of the Act provides for him to continue in office until his successor is duly appointed by the Government.   The wording of the above provisions of the Act in its present form has resulted in continuation of a Chairman for an indefinite period as no suitable successor could be found eligible for appointment.
• The proposed amendments in these provisions of the Act seek to avoid such a    situation and will thus eliminate any chance of prolonged continuation in the same post by any incumbent.

3. 5th Meeting on cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine

The 5th Bilateral Technical Meeting on cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine between Govt. of India and Malaysia was held at New Delhi which was a part of agreement signed between both countries in 2010.

• The Meeting was presided by Sh. Pramod Kumar Pathak, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH from Indian side and Deputy Director General Health (Medical), Ministry of Health Malaysia.
• The Meeting had discussed the following agenda:-
• Establishment of Ayurveda Chair in University of  UTAR, Malaysia
• Professional training in Panchakarma therapy for Malaysian experts  in India
• The evaluation of safety and efficacy of combination Ayurvedic/ traditional products for clinical trials.
• Safety evaluation of Ayurvedic products based on Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)
• Bilateral MoU between National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH and Malaysia for Cooperation in the field of Medicinal Plants.
• Registration of Homeopathic Practitioner and their capacity building module in Malaysia. 

4. 5 Day National Youth Festival to begin from 12 January, 2018

  

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the events of the National Youth Festival(NYF) on 12 January 2018 through Video conferencing and will also address the gathering.

• The Festival will commence on the occasion of birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the youth icon of India.  
• The inaugural function will be co-presided by Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath, and Union Minister for State (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore.  
• Union Minister for Culture (Independent Charge) Shri Mahesh Sharma will be the guest of honour on the occasion.
• The Festival is organised by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India in collaboration with State Govt. of Uttar Pradesh at Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Budh nagar, Greater Noida from 12th to 16th January, 2018.
• This is the first time that the National Youth Festival is being organized in NCR.
• The objective of organizing NYF is to provide a platform to bring the youth of the country together in an attempt to provide them opportunity to showcase their talents in various activities.
• National Youth Festival (NYF) is the biggest Youth Festival of its kind in the Country.
• This is the 22nd National Youth Festival. The 1st National Youth Festival was held in 1995 in Bhopal.

5. World Bank projects 7.3% growth for India

 

India’s growth rate in 2018 is projected to hit 7.3% and 7.5% in the next two years, according to the World Bank, which said the country has “enormous growth potential” compared to other emerging economies.

• India is estimated to have grown at 6.7% in 2017 despite initial setbacks from demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

6. IndusInd Bank to roll out battery-powered payment cards

IndusInd Bank and Dynamics Inc announced plans to introduce the first battery-powered, interactive payment cards in the Indian market in 2018.

• The new IndusInd Bank card from Pennsylvania-based Dynamics has multiple buttons that let the consumer use a single card to pay in multiple ways.

7. ISRO names Sivan K as new chairman

The government has appointed renowned scientist Sivan K as the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to replace of A S Kiran Kumar.

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his appointment as secretary, Department of Space and chairman of Space Commission for a tenure of three years.
• Sivan, at present Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, will succeed Kumar, who was appointed on January 12, 2015.

8. Aanchal Thakur gives India its 1st international medal in skiing

Manali resident Aanchal Thakur made history by winning India's first-ever international medal in skiing.

• The 21-year-old clinched bronze in the coveted Alpine Ejder 3200 Cup organised by the Federation Internationale de Ski in Turkey.
• She won the medal in the slalom race category.