Current Affairs For Upcoming Bank PO/CLERK Exams. 16th March 2018

National News

1. PM Inaugurates 105th Indian Science Congress in Imphal

i. PM Modi inaugurated the 105th Indian Science Congress in Imphal, Manipur. The theme for ISC 2018 is 'reaching the unreached through science and technology'.
ii. This event is being held in Manipur for the first time and for the second time in the North-East. Earlier it was held at Shillong in 2009.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

• The 104th Indian Science Congress was held in Andhra Pradesh.
• The theme in 2017 was Science & Technology for National Development.

2. Annual Krishi Unnati Mela Begins in New Delhi

i. The three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela has begun in New Delhi with a focus on doubling farmers’ income. The objective of the event is to create awareness among farmers about the latest agriculture-related technological developments.

ii. Lakhs of farmers and agriculture scientists will participate in the mela. The main theme pavilion will be based on Doubling of farmers income by 2022. 

3. Andhra Pradesh Stands at 51st Position in Global Multidimensional Poverty Index

i. Andhra Pradesh stands at equivalent to 51st rank globally in Multidimensional Poverty Index  (2017)according to a recent household survey conducted in the state.
ii. Andhra Pradesh becomes the first Indian state to conduct an exclusive household survey at state and district level to estimate the multidimensional poverty of the state.

iii. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched the Andhra Pradesh Multidimensional Poverty (MPI) Index Report 2017. As per the report Andhra Pradesh has an index value of 0.0825 whereas India as at 66th position with an index value of 0.1911.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

• Andra Pradesh Governor- ESL Narasimhan.
• Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger reserve is situated in Andhra Pradesh.

International News

4. WHO Member-Countries Commit to End TB by 2030

i. Member-countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region, including India, committed to intensifying efforts to eradicate tuberculosis by 2030.

ii. The summit sets the stage for the September 2018 United Nations high-level meeting on TB, wherein the issue will be discussed at the Heads of State level. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

• The Health Ministry and the WHO signed an agreement for enhanced cooperation in the health sector.
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was awarded the International Kochon Prize 2017 for contribution to the National Programme in Tuberculosis research.

5.  Oklahoma to Become 1st US State to Use Nitrogen Gas for Executions

i. Oklahoma plans to start using nitrogen gas for executions, in what would be the first such method of capital punishment in the United States. 
ii. The state is turning to nitrogen after it and other states became unable to acquire drugs required for lethal injections because of opposition from manufacturers to their products being used for capital punishment.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

• Donald Trump is the 45th President of the USA.
• Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the USA.

Appointments

6. Sangeeta Bahadur Appointed Next Ambassador of India to Belarus

i. Sangeeta Bahadur has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Belarus. She is an IFS officer of 1987 batch.

ii. She is currently Additional Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

• Belarus Capital- Minsk, Currency- Belarusian ruble.

7. Larry Kudlow Becomes Trump's New Economic Adviser

i. President Donald Trump named Larry Kudlow as the next head of the White House National Economic Council. He has replaced Gary Cohn.

ii. Mr Kundlow is the conservative media analyst who served as his informal economic adviser during the 2016 campaign.


8. Slovak PM Robert Fico Resigns

i. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and his government resigned as a way out of the political crisis triggered by the slayings of an investigative journalist and his fiancee. Slovak President Andrej Kiska accepted the resignation.
ii. The President has asked Peter Pellegrini, Fico's deputy prime minister, to form a new government. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

• Slovakia Capital- Bratislava, Currency- Euro.

Awards

9. Jackie Shroff's 'Shunyata' Wins International Award in US

i. Actor Jackie Shroff's short film 'Shunyata' has won an award at Best of India Short Film Festival in Los Angeles, US. The 22-minute fiction film directed by Chintan Sarda was selected to be in top six from amongst thousands of entries and was played at a theatre in Los Angeles.

ii. An industry based jury then adjudged it the best film. The prize includes a cash prize of $1,000.

10. Indian Film 'Halkaa' Bags Award at Montreal Fest

i. Indian filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda's "Halkaa", which had its world premiere at the 21st Festival International du Film Pour Enfants de Montreal Film (FIFEM), has bagged the Grand Prix de Montreal at the gala.

ii. The film is a take on a slum child's heroism, aspirations, and dreams.

Economy News

11. Exports in February Up 4.5% to $25.8 billion

i. India’s exports grew by 4.5% in February-2018 to 25.8 billion dollars. It was 24.7 billion dollar during the same period in February-2017. This announcement was made by the Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia.

ii. During April to February period of the current fiscal, exports recorded a growth of 11% to $273 billion. Imports also rose by 10.4% to $37.8 billion during the last month.

12. GST, 2nd Highest Tax Rate in World: World Bank Report

i. According to the World Bank Report, The goods and services tax (GST) is one of the most complex with the second highest tax rate in the world among a sample of 115 countries which have a similar indirect tax system.

ii. Further, there are several exempted sales and exports are zero-rated, which allows exporters to claim the refund for taxes paid on inputs. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

• Jim Yong Kim is the 12th President of the World Bank Group.
• World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC, USA.

Sports

13. Deepa Malik Becomes Asian Rank 1 in Javelin F-53 Category

i. Indian para-athlete Deepa Malik won a gold medal in the F-53/54 category javelin event at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai. 

ii. With this, she became the Asian rank one in the F-53 category. With the win, Deepa has also qualified for the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia, scheduled to be held in October 2018.