Latest Current Affairs January 31 2018
- Vikram Singh Sisodia Named Chef-De-Mission For CWG
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has appointed its joint secretary Vikram Singh Sisodia as the Chef-de-Mission for the upcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in Gold Coast, Australia.
The IOA also appointed three team managers to accompany Sisodia and help him in the day-to-day duties during the Games
- WHO confers the prestigious IhsanDogramaci Family Health Foundation Prize
Dr Vinod Paul, Member, NITI Aayog has been awarded the prestigious IhsanDoramaci Family Health Foundation Prize by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He is the first Indian to receive this global honour, which is conferred in recognition to his services in the field of family health.
The WHO Board resolution acknowledges Dr Paul as an internationally renowned researcher, clinician, educator and public health advocate in the area of family health, with a special focus on newborn health.
- India’s GDP growth rate for FY 2016 revised to 8.2% from 8%
India’s annual economic growth in the fiscal year that ended in March 2017 was unchanged at 7.1 per cent, the central statistics office said. FY16 GDP growth was revised to 8.2 per cent from the earlier projection of 8 per cent.
The core industries growth number for December was also released, which showed the eight core industries growing at 4 per cent as against 7.4 per cent in November.
The Economic Survey 2017-18 has predicted that the Indian economy will grow by 7-7.5 per cent in 2018-19.
- India Ranks 6th in the List of Wealthiest Countries
India has been ranked sixth in the list of wealthiest countries with total wealth of $8,230 billion, while the United States topped the chart, says a report by New World Wealth.
According to the report, the United States is the wealthiest country in the world as the total wealth held in 2017 amounted to $64,584 billion, followed by China at the second place with $24,803 billion and Japan with $19,522 billion at third.
- Government Signs $250 million Loan Agreement with ADB
India and the Manila- based Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $250 million loan to finance the construction of 6,254 km of all-weather rural roads in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal under the flagship Prime Minister’s Rural Roads Programme (PMGSY).
he First Tranche Loan is part of the $500 million Second Rural Connectivity Investment Program for India approved by the ADB Board in December 2017.
The program is aimed at improving rural connectivity, facilitating safer and more efficient access to livelihood and socio-economic opportunities for rural communities through improvements to about 12,000 kilometres Rural Roads across the 5 States.
- Third Scorpene-class submarine INS Karanj launched
The Indian Navy has launched the third Scorpene class submarine Karanj. Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba’s wife Reena Lanba launched the submarine, which has been constructed by shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited.
A total of six submarines are going to be built at the MDL. The submarines are being built in collaboration with French shipbuilding major Naval Group (formerly DCNS).
- India and World Bank sign $100 Million Project for Tamil Nadu
The Government of India and the World Bank signed a $100 million Loan Agreement that is expected to promote rural enterprises, facilitate their access to finance, and create employment opportunities for youth, particularly women, in selected blocks of Tamil Nadu across 26 districts, directly benefitting over 400,000 people.
The Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project will create an enabling environment for producer organizations and enterprises to promote businesses across select value chains.
- Axis Bank Launches 4th Edition of “Evolve”
Private sector Axis Bank has launched the fourth edition of ‘Evolve’, an annual multi-city knowledge series for Banks SME customers.
The current edition of evolve, titled “Transform your Family Business into your dream company”, will empower the SMEs understand the winning strategies and best practises that have helped some of the leading family businesses in India grow into reputable enterprise.
- Melbourne to Host Final of 2020 World T20
Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the final of both the men’s and women’s World Twenty20 when the tournaments come to Australia in 2020.
The women’s tournament, made up of 10 teams, will be held from Feb. 21 to March 8 before 16 men’s teams play from Oct. 18 to Nov. 15. It will mark the first time the tournaments are held as standalone events in the same year in the same country.
- Sharath Kamal Lifts National Men’s Singles Title
Veteran Sharath Kamal beat top-seed Anthony Amalraj 4-1 to win the men’s singles title for the eighth time, equalling the feat of Kamlesh Mehta at the 11Even Sports Senior Table Tennis Nationals.
- Ottanthullal artiste Geethanandan dead
Acclaimed Ottanthullal artiste Kalamandalam Geethanandan died during a performance at Avittathur, near Irinjalakuda, in Kerala. He was 58.
He was a teacher of Ottanthullal at Kerala Kalalamandalam for more than a quarter century.
