Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Quick Gyan (QG) Section of D2G. QG is just a glimpse of what happened today all over the world.
Only For Serious Candidates : We strongly recommend you to read the Current Affairs in detail. For your convenience, we have provided quick links under the updates. Make use of it.
Always Keep Yourself Updated!!!
AWARDS AND HONORS
Jammu-born poet Padma Sachdev gets Saraswati Samman
Jammu-born poet and novelist Padma Sachdev has been chosen for the prestigious Saraswati Samman for the year 2015 for her autobiography in Dogri language. The 76-year-old writer’s autobiography ‘Chitt-Chete’, published in 2007, was selected for the 25th Saraswati Samman from among five works that were shortlisted from 22 works in as many languages published between the years 2005-2014.
The selection for the award, given every year for an outstanding literary work written in any Indian language by an Indian citizen and published during the last 10 years, is made by a jury presided by former Chief Justice Justice A S Anand. The award carries an award money of Rs 15 lakh, a citation and a plaque.
Sachdev, who writes in Hindi and native Dogri, has 60 books to her credit. She has been a recipient of Sahitya Akademi in 1971 for her book of poetry ‘Meri Kavita Mere Geet’.
Quick Link – Saraswati Samman
Aishwarya Rai wins Global Indian of the Year award
Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has won the ‘Global Indian of the Year’ award. Aishwarya was honoured at NRI of the Year award function held in Mumbai. The actress, 42, dedicated the award to her daughter Aaradhya.
- The “Dhoom 2” actress will be seen next in “Sarabjit” alongside Randeep Hooda and Richa Chadha
- Besides Aishwarya, noted tennis player Sania Mirza was also honoured at the NRI of the Year Award 2016.
- Altogether 17 individuals were given the awards under different categories like — entrepreneur, professional, academics, arts & culture, philanthropy, special jury award, global icon of the year and India’s global icon award.
- The NRI of the Year Award recognises outstanding achievements of the Indian diaspora globally.
Quick Link – Global Indian of the Year
Chawrasia wins Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Month
India’s SSP Chawrasia, who clinched the Hero Indian Open last month, has been named the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Month for March.
- Chawrasia produced a gutsy display of golf in his National Open last month to win his third Asian Tour title by defeating 2015 Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Year Anirban Lahiri and Korean rising star Jeunghun Wang by two shots.
- The victory was especially sweet for Chawrasia, who settled for second best on four occasions in the Indian Open before his triumph at the Delhi Golf Club.
- The Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Month award is one of the partnership initiatives aimed at recognising outstanding efforts of Asian Tour members both at home and abroad.
Quick Link – Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Month
BANKING AND FINANCE
India to notch up to 7.5 pc growth in 2016-17: IMF
Retaining its 7.5 per cent GDP expansion forecast for India in 2016 and 2017, IMF asked the government to cut down subsidies, initiate labour reforms and dismantle infrastructure bottlenecks to sustain strong growth. In its World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said India should continue fiscal consolidation, underpinned by revenue reforms and further reduction in subsidies.
- In 2015, India’s growth was 7.3 per cent, which would increase to 7.5 per cent in the next two years of 2016 and 2017, IMF had earlier forecast.
- IMF pointed to lower commodity prices, a range of supply side measures and a relatively tight monetary stance resulting in a faster-than-expected fall in inflation in India, making room for nominal interest rate cuts.
- However, monetary conditions remain consistent with achieving the inflation target of 5 per cent in the first half of 2017, although an unfavourable monsoon and an expected public sector wage increase pose upside risks, it said.
Quick Link – IMF
INDIAN AFFAIRS
India becomes the member of South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network
The Union Cabinet gave its nod for India adopting the statute of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) which will help in checking cross border wildlife crimes.
The approval by the Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi allows the country to become a formal member of SAWEN in order to strengthen ties with the member countries in controlling the trans-boundary wildlife crime through communication, coordination, collaboration, capacity building and cooperation in the region.
SAWEN is a regional network comprises eight countries in South Asia —Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka— and aims at working as a strong regional inter¬governmental body for combating wildlife crimes by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region.
Quick Link – SAWEN
PM Modi Ji to launch online agri-market platform on April 14
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch an online national agricultural products market platform that will integrate 585 wholesale markets across India. The launching of e-platform for marketing of agriculture products is being done with the aim to provide more options to farmers to sell their produce and is part of implementation of the roadmap for doubling income of the farmers by 2022.
- In July last year, the Cabinet had approved setting up of an online national agriculture market with a budget of Rs 200 crore.
- At present, farmers are restricted to selling produce at mandis that charge various taxes. The online agri-market is expected to give choice to farmers to sell their produce both in physical mandis or online platform.
- The easy access to sell online trade is likely to boost their incomes and improve availability, moderating price rise.
Quick Link – Agri-market
Gurgaon is now Gurugram
The Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government has renamed its largest city Gurgaon to “Gurugram“. The neighbouring Mewat district will now be known as “Nuh“. The decision to change the name of Gurgaon to Gurugram has been taken on the basis of the representations received at several fora. As per the Gurgaon district’s official website, the district in ancient times “used to be known as Guru-gram, which in course of time got distorted to Gurgaon.”
Gurgaon district derived its name from the name of Guru Dronacharya; the village was given as gurudakshina to him by his students, the Pandavas, and hence it came to be known as Guru-gram, which in course of time got distorted to Gurgaon. Thus, the district has been existence since the times of Mahabharata.
Quick Link – Gurugram
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Indo German Agreement on Namami Gange Signed
An Implementation Agreement for Ganga Rejuvenation under the Namami Gange Programme was signed between the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and German International Cooperation (GIZ) of Germany.
The objective of the agreement is to enable responsible stakeholders at National and State level to apply integrated river basin management approach for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga. This will be based on Indo-German Knowledge exchange and practical experience on strategic river basin management issues, effective data management system and public engagement.
Quick Link – Indo German Agreement
India and South Korea sign MoU for Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Development of Ports
An MoU was signed by Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road, Transport and Highways and Shipping, Government of the Republic of India and Mr. Kim Young Suk, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Government of the Republic of Korea in Mumbai. The South Korean delegation led by Minister Kim is in Mumbai to participate in the Maritime India Summit, 2016 (MIS, 2016). This MoU is for cooperation and mutual assistance between India and Republic of Korea in port related matters.The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Shipping for signing of this MoU on 06.04.2016.
It is recalled that MIS, 2016 is a maiden flagship initiative of the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India that provides a unique platform for participants to explore potential business opportunities in Indian Maritime Sector. MIS, 2016 is being organised from April 14-16, 2016 at Mumbai and will have conference, exhibition and demo sessions. Republic of Korea is the Partner Country of MIS, 2016. A delegation of over 100 participants from South Korea are attending the Summit.
Quick Link – India and South Korea for CMA
MoU between India and Bangladesh on cooperation in the field of Fisheries
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was apprised about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Bangladesh in September, 2011 on bilateral cooperation in the field of Fisheries and aquaculture and allied activities.
The MoU has strengthened the friendly relations between India and Bangladesh and promote development of cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture and allied sectors through mutually agreed activities and procedures.
The MoU will remain in force for a period of five years unless either of the Parties give prior written notice of at least six months in advance to the other Party of its intention to terminate the MoU. This MoU could be extended for further period as may be mutually agreed upon.
Quick Link – India and Bangladesh on cooperation
MoU between India and UAE on cooperation in preventing and combating of Human Trafficking
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an MoU between India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) on cooperation in preventing and combating of Human Trafficking.
The MoU will strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries and increase the bilateral cooperation on the issues of prevention, rescue, recovery and repatriation related to human trafficking especially women and children expeditiously.
Quick Link – India an d UAE of Human Trafficking
India, US agree on 2 new ‘pathfinder’ projects
India and the US have identified two new “pathfinder” projects under the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) for the joint production of a helmet-mounted digital display and a biological tactical detection system. The Americans also formally pitched two proposals for the manufacture of fighter jets under the ‘Make in India‘ initiative.
Visiting US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar also welcomed the finalisation of four government-to-government project agreements in the area of science and technology cooperation — Atmospheric Sciences for High Energy Lasers, Cognitive Tools for Target Detection, Small Intelligent Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Blast and Blunt Traumatic Brain Injury.
Quick Link – Pathfinder
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