Current Affairs 6 January 2018

1. US puts Pakistan on Special Watch List The US has placed Pakistan on a ‘Special Watch List’ for “severe violations” of religious fr...

1. US puts Pakistan on Special Watch List

The US has placed Pakistan on a ‘Special Watch List’ for “severe violations” of religious freedom.

• It is the only country to be put under the newly-formed list.
• The Special Watch List is for countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom but may not rise to the level of the CPC.

2. Tamil Nadu leads the nation in higher education enrolment

 

Tamil Nadu has emerged as the leader in the country in terms of Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education.

• The All India Survey on Higher Education report (2106-2017), released by Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar , saw the State lead with a GER of 46.9%.
• Among Union Territories, Chandigarh recorded 56.1%.
• GER for higher education is calculated with reference to the age group 18-23.

3. Mamata Banerjee launches West Bengal govt’s official emblem

 

The West Bengal government has launched its official emblem in a programme at Nabanna, two days after getting the approval from the central government.

• The official emblem is conceptualised and designed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
• Terming the occasion as historic, she said the state emblem – the “Biswa Bangla” logo with Ashoka Pillar of the national emblem – would be used in all the official works and documents of the Bengal government from now on.

4. New Delhi World Book Fair 2018

The New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), which has emerged as one of the most significant events in the publishing world, will be held in the Capital during January 6-14 at Pragati Maidan.

• The fair, organised by National Book Trust, India, promotes titles, trade, co-publication titles and the habit of reading.
• The fair serves as a meeting point of readers and publishers and had started in 1972.
•  Considering the ramifications of climate change and in a bid to promote the same, this year the theme of the event is “Environment & Climate Change”.
• European Union will be the guest of honour for this year.  

5. 3rd meeting of the Council for Trade Development and Promotion

Shri Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry will chair the 3rd meeting of the Council for Trade Development and Promotion at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 8th of January, 2018.

• The Council for Trade Development and Promotion was constituted on 03.07.15 under the chairpersonship of the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, in pursuance to the provisions of Foreign Trade Policy statement 2015-20.
• The objective was to ensure a continuous dialogue with the governments of states and Union Territories on measures for providing an international trade enabling environment in the states and to create a framework for making the states active partners in boosting India’s exports.

6. Nitin Gadkari to inaugurate ASEAN India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

 

Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation is in Singapore to inaugurate the ASEAN India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on 6th of January 2018.

• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated every year to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government, reconnect them with their roots and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

7. Goa to host third edition of Science Film Festival

 

Goa will be hosting the third edition of the Science Film Festival of India between January 16-19.

• The festival, titled SCI-FFI Goa, is being organised by the state-based Vidnyan Parishad, Goa's Department of Science and Technology, the Entertainment Society of Goa and the Goa College of Art.
• There would be cash prizes for the best film apart from awards for categories including Direction/Research Presentation, Cinematography, Editing and Design.

8. RBI to issue new Rs 10 currency notes

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will shortly introduce new Rs 10 currency notes under the Mahatma Gandhi series.

• The old Rs 10 banknotes will remain legal.
• The central bank has already printed around 1 billion pieces of the new Rs 10 banknotes.
• The new banknotes will have chocolate brown colour as the base and will also bear the picture of Odisha’s Konark Sun Temple on the reverse side.

9. Govt pegs GDP growth rate at 6.5% for the current fiscal

The advance estimates of the GDP growth stood at 6.5% for the current fiscal FY18, according to the Central Statistics Office.

• The GDP growth in the previous fiscal (FY 17) stood at 7.1%.
• The GDP for the first half of FY18 registered a growth rate of 6%. The GDP growth rate for the first quarter of FY18 fell to a three-year low of 5.7%.
• The numbers come just days ahead of the Union Budget 2018 which will be presented on February 1, 2018.

10. Meghalaya signs deal to host National Games in 2022

The Meghalaya government, the Indian Olympic Association and the Meghalaya State Olympic Association has signed the host city contract to hold the 39th National Games in the state in 2022.

• The mega sports event will coincide with the 50th year of Meghalaya's statehood.
• An estimated 14,450 athletes and officials are expected to visit the state during the Games.