Current Affairs 21 February 2018

International Current Affairs 1. World Day of Social Justice: 20 February  Social Equality Justice day is observed every year on 2...

International Current Affairs

1. World Day of Social Justice: 20 February 

Social Equality Justice day is observed every year on 20th February. 

• It is a day recognizing the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment.
• The theme of World Day of Social Justice 2018 is “Workers on the Move: the Quest for Social Justice.”

2. Mandarin approved as official language of Pakistan

The Pakistani Senate has approved a motion to declare Mandarin as one of the official languages of Pakistan.

• The motion said the step was necessary in view of ties between Pakistan and China.
• Punjabi, which is widely spoken in Punjab province of Pakistan, Pashto and many other native languages have not been declared official languages of the country.

National Current Affairs

3. Prime Minister to inaugurate Uttar Pradesh Investor’s Summit in Lucknow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate two–day Uttar Pradesh Investors’ Summit 2018 in Lucknow.

• While the PM will inaugurate the summit on February 21, President Ram Nath Kovind will be present at the closing ceremony. 
• The event has been organized by Uttar Pradesh Government to showcase the investment opportunities and potential in the state.
• Seven nations – Finland, Netherlands, Japan, Czech Republic, Thailand, Slovakia and Mauritius have been identified as country partners for the event.

4. Cabinet approves creation of National Urban Housing Fund

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval for creation of National Urban Housing Fund (NUHF) for Rs.60,000 crores. 

• This fund will be situated in Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The Ministry has so far sanctioned 39.4 lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).

5. Cabinet approves Agreement between India and Israel on Film Co-production

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to an Agreement on Film Co-production between India and Israel signed during the visit of Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu to India, in the presence of both the Prime Ministers in Hyderabad House in New Delhi on 15th January, 2018. 

• Co-production of an Indian film with an international party means that Indian producer can access international funds and can collaborate on the script, talent and distribution at international level.

6. Varanasi to hold ‘Swachhagrah – Bapu ko Kaaryaanjali’

To celebrate the creative and cultural industries in Varanasi and to focus attention on the need for Swachhta by using cultural forms, a Sanskriti Mahotsav “Swachhagrah – Bapu ko Kaaryaanjali” is being organized on the 21st and 22nd February, 2018 at the Man Mandir Ghat and Assi Ghat in Varanasi.

• The Mahotsav will integrate the tangible and intangible heritage along the river-belt and will see the engagement of the academia, artists, artisans, writers, poets, environmental and cultural forums on the use of cultural expressions for conservation and protection of the river and the ancient city.
• The Swachhta drive will be steered by school-children affiliated to Ministry of Culture, Government of India’s Interpretation Centres through exhibitions, songs, puppetry, nukkad nataks and folk dances.
• The 2-day event would focus on performances on the theme of ‘Swachhagraha’ presented under the rubric of ‘Swachhagraha: Bapu ko Karyanjali’.

7. R.K. Singh inaugurates ‘International R&D Conclave’

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

• It is being organised by Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
• In his address inaugural, Shri Singh stressed upon the need of a dedicated R&D department in CEA to coordinate the research in power sector.

Business

8. RBI sets up panel to probe PNB Fraud

In the wake of the Rs 11,300 crore fraud at the Punjab National Bank, the Reserve Bank of India has constituted a five member panel under former board member Y H Malegam

• The Panel will look into the wide divergence by banks in asset classification and provisioning and reasons for frauds.

9. BSNL signs pact with Japan’s NTT AT for futuristic tech, 5G test

State-owned telecom firm BSNL and Japan’s NTT AT along with their Indian partner Virgo Corps, have signed an agreement to collaborate in developing futuristic technologies such as artificial intelligence / IoT and jointly create a 5G test bed.

• The agreement is in line with the vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to collaborate on the next generation technologies.

Deaths

10. Padma Vibhushan cardiologist BK Goyal passes away

BK Goyal, renowned cardiologist and Honorary Dean of the Bombay Hospital, passed away in Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital. He was 82.

• He was awarded the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India.
• The Jaipur-born doctor authored a book, Heart Talk, besides having more than 50 publications in various Indian and globally recognized journals.
• In 2012, the All India Medical Council proposed his name for the post of President of India.