Latest Current Affairs – May 28 2018
1. Ramdev’s Patanjali launches ‘Swadeshi’ SIM cards with insurance
Yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved launched ‘Swadeshi Samriddhi’ SIM cards, in partnership with state-owned telecom operator BSNL. The SIM, which is currently available only to Patanjali employees, offers ₹2.5-lakh health insurance and ₹5-lakh life insurance alongside data and voice calling benefits. Ramdev said that the key idea behind introducing the SIM card was “prosperity for charity”.
2. TN govt orders permanent shut down of Sterlite plant
Tamil Nadu CM EK Palaniswami has passed an order to permanently shut down Vedanta’s Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin after at least 13 people were killed in police fire during protests against the plant. Protestors alleged that the plant was polluting groundwater and causing health problems for locals. Earlier, the Madras High court stayed the expansion of the plant.
3. RBI appoints Sudha Balakrishnan as its first-ever CFO
The RBI has appointed Chartered Accountant Sudha Balakrishnan as its first-ever Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Until recently, Balakrishnan was a Vice President with the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), India’s first and largest depository. She will be the 12th executive director of RBI and has come on board for a term of three years.
4. India launches second IT corridor in China
India launched its second IT corridor in China in the southwestern city of Guiyang which will focus on Big Data. Agreements worth ₹38 crore were signed at the launch of the corridor by Guiyang Municipal Government and India’s NASSCOM. India’s first IT corridor in China was established in the port city of Dalian last December.
5. CSK defeat SRH to clinch third IPL title
Chennai Super Kings defeated SunRisers Hyderabad to clinch their third Indian Premier League title. With this, Chennai Super Kings equalled Mumbai Indians’ record for winning the most number of Indian Premier League titles (3).
Awards:
- Man of the Match (Final): Shane Watson
- Orange Cap (Most Runs) : Kane Williamson
- Purple Cap (Most Wickets) : Andrew Tye
- Emerging Player: Rishabh Pant
- Stylish Player : Rishabh Pant
- Perfect Catch: Trent Boult
- Super Striker: Sunil Narine
- Valuable Player : Sunil Narine
- Fairplay Award: Mumbai Indians
6. Tata Trusts signs MoU with Government to provide development support in Naxal-hit districts
The Tata Trusts has joined hands with the government to help it in development initiatives in eight worst Naxal-affected districts in Chhattisgarh, which were covered under the “transformation of aspirational” districts programme.
As per the pact, the Tata Trusts will help the government in conducting surveys and providing ground level and technical support in raising the living standards of citizens and ensuring inclusive growth for all. The eight worst Naxal-hit districts, which were chosen for the programme and would be helped by the Tata Trusts are Rajnandgaon, Kanker, Bastar, Bijapur, Kondagaon, Dantewada, Narayanpur and Sukma.
7. IMD to team up with BSNL for sending extreme weather warnings
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is teaming up with state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to send extreme weather warnings to people. BSNL has come up with a technology. If IMD sends an alert, it will be passed on to all BSNL numbers in Delhi (about an impending extreme weather event warning like thunderstorm, dust storm, heatwave).
The area-specific alerts will be sent to users if they are in that particular place where extreme weather pattern is going to occur, even if their phone numbers do not belong to that particular telecom circle. The exercise is being carried out on an experimental stage, and if successful the plan is to rope in other weather agencies as well.
8. S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems: India concludes price negotiations with Russia
India has concluded price negotiations with Russia for a nearly Rs 40,000 crore deal to procure S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems for the Indian Air Force.
The US had announced sanctions against Russia under the stringent law for its alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016. CAATSA, which came into effect in January, mandates the Donald Trump administration to punish entities engaging in significant transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.
India wants to procure the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-India border.
In 2016, India and Russia had signed an agreement on the ‘Triumf’ interceptor-based missile system which can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km. S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.
9. Colombia joins NATO as global partner
One year after reaching partnership deal through a peace agreement with South America, Colombia has formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Colombia joined the ranks of Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries based on the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949.
10. Germany to host first edition of Global Wind Summit
The first edition of the Global Wind Summit will be held in Hamburg, Germany, from September 25-28, 2018.
The organisers of the four-day event are expecting speakers from about 100 countries, including India, China, the US, Spain and Denmark. The conference on wind is the largest and most important meeting of the wind industry worldwide. The event combines two conferences, WindEnergy Hamburg and WindEurope.
India is fourth largest country — after China, the US and Germany — in terms of wind energy installation capacity at around 33 GW.
11. UNEP recognizes Cochin International Airport as world’s first fully solar energy-powered airport
The United Nations Environment Programme has recognised Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) as the world’s first fully solar energy-powered airport. The power plant is accompanied by a solar farm, with vegetables grown below and between solar panels. Erik Solheim, executive director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), appreciates Cochin International Airport Ltd’s solar power plant.
12. Telangana Government announces unique life insurance scheme for farmers
Telangana government has announced a unique life insurance scheme for farmers. Under the scheme, the government will provide life insurance facility of five lakh rupees to the nominee, after the death of the insured farmer. The entire premium will be paid by the government to the insurance agency and the nominee will get the amount within ten days of the claim after the death of the farmer. The dependent family will get the benefit irrespective of the reason for the death of the farmer.
The farmers in the age group of 18 to 60 are eligible to enroll their names to get benefit from it. The scheme will come into force from 15th of August this year.
The Telangana government has enhanced the retirement age limit for teaching professors of state health department from 58 to 65. This decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting held on May 27, 2018.
13. Himachal government to promote organic farming
The state government of Himachal Pradesh has decided to promote organic farming in a big way and plans to adopt an integrated approach for promoting organic and zero budget natural farming system. At present, 39,790 farmers have already switched over to organic farming ensuring production of healthy food grains, free from harmful chemical ingredients. The state government has introduced ‘Prakritik Kheti Khushhaal Kisaan Yojana’ to enhance agricultural income by adopting low-cost climate-resilient Zero Budget Natural Farming System.
