Current affairs 22 January 2018

1. Centre to declare 2018 as ‘national year of millets’ Nutrient-rich millets have got a boost with the Union government deciding to...

1. Centre to declare 2018 as ‘national year of millets’

Nutrient-rich millets have got a boost with the Union government deciding to declare 2018 as the ‘national year of millets’.

• This decision has been taken following a request by Karnataka, which is the country’s leader in the millet sector.
• At the inauguration of the three-day international trade fair of organics and millets, Union Statistics and Programme Implementation Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said the Union Agriculture Ministry had already completed the formalities in this regard.

2. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) Crosses One Crore Mark

Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his un-daunting support to the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), as the programme crossed one crore mark in antenatal check-ups.

• The Union Health Minister stated that Hon’ble Prime Minister of India had envisioned that 9th of every month, symbolizing the 9 months of pregnancy, should be dedicated to pregnant women.
• The PMSMA programme was launched in 2016 to fulfil his vision and ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across India. 

3. CBI registers Rs. 80-cr bank fraud case against PNB officials

The CBI has registered 22 cases against officials of Punjab National Bank relating to fraud in bank loans processed by them on the basis of forged documents causing a loss of over Rs. 80 crore to the bank.

• The cases relate to four branches of the bank in Bhopal and Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.
• It said the bank alleged in its complaint that the officials had fraudulently sanctioned and disbursed loans to private persons dealing in coal business from 2011 to 2016.

4. India to overtake China as fastest growing large economy in 2018: Report

India will overtake China to be the fastest growing large economy in 2018 and the country's equity market will become the fifth largest in the world, says a report.

• According to a Sanctum Wealth Management report, when the rest of the world offers low growth and insufficient structural change, India, by contrast, is seen as a reforming economy with the prospect of strong long-term growth.
• At a time when developed economies are cheering 2-3 per cent growth, India is focused on breaching 7.5 per cent, it said.

5. OP Rawat appointed New Chief Election Commissioner

Om Prakash Rawat has been appointed as the next Chief Election Commissioner, the law ministry said.

• Mr Rawat, who is currently an Election Commissioner, will succeed the outgoing Achal Kumar Joti, who is retiring on January 22.
• Ashok Lavasa, a former finance secretary and an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1980 batch, has been appointed as an Election Commissioner, to fill up the vacancy left behind by Mr Rawat in the three-member poll panel.
• Sunil Arora is currently the other Election Commissioner.

6. Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust of Odisha wins prestigious UNWTO Award

Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust in Odisha has won prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Award for Innovation in Tourism Enterprise at 14th UNWTO Awards ceremony held in Madrid, Spain.

• The award was given in recognition of Mangalajodi’s business model that is both economically viable and environmentally sustainable based on principles of community ownership and Eco Tourism.

7. 63rd Jio Filmfare Awards 2018: Complete list of winners

 

• Best Film: 'Hindi Medium'
• Critics' Award for Best Film: 'Newton'
• Best Actor In A Leading Role (Female): Vidya Balan for 'Tumhari Sulu'
• Best Actor In A Leading Role (Male) : Irrfan Khan for 'Hindi Medium'
• Critics' Award for Best Actor (Male): Rajkummar Rao for 'Trapped'
• Critics' Award for Best Actor (Female): Zaira Wasim for 'Secret Superstar'
• Best Director: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari for 'Bareilly Ki Barfi'
• Best Debut Director: Konkona Sensharma for 'A Death in the Gunj'
• Best Actor In A Supporting Role (Male): Rajkummar Rao for 'Bareilly Ki Barfi'
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female): Meher Vij for 'Secret Superstar'
• Best Original Story: Amit Newton for 'Newton'
• Best Actor (Male) in a Short Film: Jackie Shroff for 'Khujli'
• Best Actor (Female) in a Short Film: Shefali Shah for 'Juice'
• People's Choice Award for Best Short Film: 'Anahut'
• Best Short Film (Fiction) : 'Juice'
• Best Short Film (Non Fiction): 'Invisible Wings'
• Best Playback Singer (Male): Arijit Singh for 'Roke na ruke naina' - 'Badrinath Ki Dulhania'
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Meghna Mishra for 'Nachdi phira' - 'Secret Superstar'
• Best Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya for 'Ullu ka pattha' - 'Jagga Jasoos'
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Mala Sinha and Bappi Lahiri

8. Blind Cricket World Cup: India beat Pakistan to retain title

India retain Blind Cricket World Cup title after beating arch-rivals Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling final played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in UAE.

• Chasing a huge 308-run target in 40 overs, India romped home in the penultimate over of the match.
• Earlier, riding on Badar Munir's fine half-century, Pakistan scored 307/8 to give India big target in the final of the fifth edition of the tournament.