Current affairs 24 January 2018

1. AP-Zurich sign sister state agreement The Andhra Pradesh Government and the Canton of Zurich have signed a letter of intent, ...

1. AP-Zurich sign sister state agreement


The Andhra Pradesh Government and the Canton of Zurich have signed a letter of intent, to promote mutual prosperity and development.

• The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Naidu by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Government Counselor Minister Carmen Walker Spah for sister state relation.
• This will bring the State of Andhra Pradesh and Canton of Zurich closer and ensure that a framework is created, which supports the exchange between both the parties.

2. AYUSH Minister lays foundation stone for Homeopathy Research Institute


The Minister of State (IC), for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik laid the foundation stone for Central Research Institute (CRI) in Jaipur on 22nd January 2018.

• This will be the third CRI under the aegis of Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), an autonomous body of Ministry of AYUSH for undertaking scientific research in Homoeopathy, with 23 institutes across the country. 
• The institute is also contributing to the Swasthya Rakshan Program at five adopted villages.

3. Inauguration of ASEAN India Business and Investment and Expo


The ASEAN – India Business and Investment Meet and Expo was jointly inaugurated by Mr Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, India with the ASEAN Ministers and Gen. (Dr.) (Retd.) V K Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs, India.

• The inaugural plenary, on the theme of ‘Promoting Mutual Trade and Investment for Shared Prosperity’ covered discussions on strengthening India’s economic relations with the countries in the East with both sides aiming to scale up bilateral trade and investment in the region.
• The session focused on trade facilitation measures taken to promote trade between India and ASEAN countries in manufacturing sector, promoting SME ecosystem to enhance entrepreneurship quotient in the region and startup culture to create new pipeline of ideas.

4. 2500 government buildings to be fitted with super-efficient ACs


The Government has decided to install super-efficient air-conditioners in 2, 500 of its buildings for the first time in the country.

• Launching the replacement of conventional lights with LED lights in East Delhi, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that one lakh conventional air conditioners will be replaced by super-efficient ACs that will consume 30% less power and will be environment-friendly.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that all automobiles will be converted to electric vehicles, keeping in view the government’s commitment to shift to electric mobility by the year 2030.
• “Over 88 crore LED bulbs have been distributed across India, both by government and private agencies under the Mission Innovation scheme of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
• The procurement cost of these bulbs was Rs. 310/- in 2014, whereas it is procured at Rs. 70/- now,” the Minister said.

5. Raipur organises nation's first 'Kachra Mahotsav'


The Raipur Municipal Corporation in Chhattisgarh has organised the India’s first garbage festival that in Raipur.

• The aim is to increase awareness, use the waste generated in the city creatively and to showcase multiple techniques for reusing things that are labelled as garbage.
• The three-day festival was filled with workshops, talks, performances and also some interesting installations.

6. Maharashtra to launch weather advisory system for farmers


The Maharashtra government is all set to introduce a system to issue daily district-wise weather advisory to farmers across the state.

• The system has a capacity to generate weather alerts for every ten minutes, if required.
• The state is taking a step forward to explore the possibility of issuing weather advisory for farmers to minimise their crop losses due to adverse weather conditions," Agriculture Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh told.

7. Khandu inaugurates World War II Memorial Museum in Arunachal


Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the World War II Memorial Museum in the state’s Changlang district bordering Myanmar.

• Built by the Union Culture Ministry, the Rs 2.25 crore museum in memory of those who laid down their lives in WWII is located adjacent to the historic Stilwell Road.
• Khandu visited the war memorial where remnants of the war, personal belongings of the soldiers and others involved were preserved.

8. IOB, NHB tie up for rural housing push


Indian Overseas Bank has signed an MoU with National Housing Bank for the Rural Housing Interest Subsidy Scheme (RHISS) of the Ministry of Rural Development.

• The aim of the RHISS is to provide subsidy for housing loans taken by those living in rural areas for construction and modifications of their dwelling units.
• The interest subsidy under the scheme is 3 per cent for a loan amount of Rs 2 lakh for 20-year tenure.

9. WEF to set up C4IR in Mumbai in partnership with RIL
 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) in partnership with India’s most valued firm Reliance Industries (RIL) has agreed to set up a new Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in Mumbai.

• This would be first (C4IR) opened outside Silicon Valley at San Francisco, which is already home to several exciting developments in the digital space.

10. Nara Lokesh receives Dr. Kalam Innovation in Governance Award 2018


Andhra Pradesh Information Technology (IT) Minister Nara Lokesh was felicitated with Dr. Kalam Innovation in Governance Award 2018 at the Dr. Kalam Centre.

• Nara Lokesh outlined a number of innovative initiatives that the Andhra Pradesh Government is taking to improve its governance.
• The award was presented by Rajya Sabha Secretary-General Desh Deepak Verma during the second edition of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Summit on innovation in governance.