Current Affairs 25 January 2018

1. International Conference on ‘Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Election Process’ Flagging off the 8th National Voter...

1. International Conference on ‘Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Election Process’

Flagging off the 8th National Voters Day Celebrations scheduled to be held on 25th January 2018, Election Commission of India (ECI) hosted a one-day International Conference on the subject ‘Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Election Process’ in New Delhi.

• Chief Election Commissioner of India Mr. O.P.Rawat, reiterated ECI’s resolve to uphold the sanctity of free, fair and peaceful elections in keeping with the rich democratic traditions of India. 

2. SARAS PT1N makes its maiden flight

SARAS PT1N (14 seater) designed and developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), a frontline aerospace research laboratory, has successfully made its maiden flight.  

• Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, has congratulated the scientists of CSIR-NAL and other agencies involved in the successful maiden flight. 
• The aircraft took off at about 11 a.m from HAL airport and flew for about 40 minutes at the maximum height of 8500 ft at the speed of 145 knots. 

3. Rapid Reporting System for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls launched

Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Shri Rakesh Srivastava launched the Phase -1 i.e. the beneficiary module of the Rapid Reporting System for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls - a web based on line monitoring for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls in New Delhi.

• This Portal has been developed in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC).

4. Nitin Gadkari to lay the foundation stone for Ghazipur Intermodal Terminal

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari, will lay the foundation stone for an Intermodal Terminal at Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh.

• The Rs 155 Cr terminal is being constructed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India as part of the World Bank aided Jal Marg Vikas Project on river Ganga or the NW-I, that aims to augment the navigational capacity of the river. 
• The terminal is expected to provide between 5000 direct and indirect jobs. The first phase of the terminal construction is expected to be completed by April, 2020.

5. India to host 16th International Energy Forum meet

The 16th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial meeting will be held in New Delhi on April 10 to 12.

• It will be hosted by Government of India in New Delhi and co-hosted by the Government of China and South Korea.
• Representatives from 92 countries will be participating in the conference, including 72 member countries of IEF and 20 guest countries.
• India had last hosted the IEF ministerial conference in 1996.

6. 7th Asia Steel International Conference from Feb 6

The 7th Asia Steel International Conference will be held in Bhubaneswar from February 6 to 9.

• Tata Steel, in association with the Indian Institute of Metals, announced it.
• The last Asia Steel conference was held in 2015 at Yokohama, Japan.
• This major conference is held every three years and provides a platform for exchange of knowledge on various aspects of the global steel industry.

7. Japan’s Development Loan Assistance to India for an amount of Yen 45 billion

The Government of Japan has committed JICA Official Development Assistance loan for an amount of Yen 45 billion (Rs.2587 crore approx.) for the project. 

• The Notes in this regard were exchanged between Mr. S. Selvakumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India and H.E. Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India on Japanese official development assistance loan for Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Project (Phase 3) (I). 
• This Project will provide residents of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) area especially in 110 villages with safe and stable water supply and sewerage services by carrying-out construction of water treatment plant and sewage treatment plants thereby improving living conditions of the residents as well as the investment environment in the concerned areas in BBMP in the State of Karnataka. 
• India and Japan have had a long and fruitful history of bilateral development cooperation since 1958. In the last few years, the economic cooperation between India and Japan has steadily progressed.
• This further consolidates and strengthens the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan.

8. Somanath takes charge as VSSC director

Noted scientist S Somanath took charge as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

• He succeeds K Sivan, who was appointed as ISRO Chairman recently.
• Somanath took charge at a function in ISRO headquarters Bengaluru.
• He is currently the Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Valiamala, the lead centre responsible for liquid engines and stages for all launch vehicles and satellite programs of ISRO.

9. Dilip Chenoy appointed FICCI Director General

Industry Chamber FICCI said that it has appointed Dilip Chenoy as its Director General.

• He had resigned from NSDC in late 2015 amid reports that the government was unhappy with the functioning of the skills development body.
• He was appointed by the previous Congress-led UPA government.

10. Naveen Patnaik conferred 'Ideal Chief Minister' award

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was conferred the “Ideal Chief Minister” award by former President Pratibha Patil at Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad in Pune.

• He received the award in a special event organised by Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Governance.

11. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan receives First Ladies Award

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan received the prestigious First Ladies Award by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

• The Ministry of Women & Child Development has selected 112 women who have been the first to achieve a milestone in their respective fields and Aishwarya was one of them.