Current Affairs Update – 19th April, 2016

Hello and welcome to ExamPundit. Here are the important current affairs of 19th April, 2016. These are very important for the upcoming SBI Clerk 2016 and NABARD Assistant Manager Exams.
Current Affairs at a Glance – 19th April, 2016
  1. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the umbrella
    organisation for all retail payments system in the country has announced
    relaxation for claiming personal accident insurance for all RuPay cardholders
    in the country
    .
  2. Flagship refiner-marketer Indian Oil
    Corporation
    has inked an MoU with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation
    to examine the possibility of jointly working on setting up a LPG (liquefied
    petroleum gas) import terminal at Chittagong port and other downstream infrastructure
    in that country.
  3. Infosys co-founder on 17 April
    2016 launched a new app named ‘Itihaasa’ that chronicles Indian IT journey
    since the 1950s. The app ‘itihaasa’ is one of the largest chronicles of
    its kind with 600 videos featuring 44 technology stalwarts.
  4. India and Mauritius have signed an agreement for cooperation in
    the field of traditional medicine and homeopathy
    , a move which will
    help both the nations to conduct joint research and exchange experts in these
    fields.
  5. The Nirma University has recently inked an MoU with Space
    Applications Centre (SAC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad

    for collaborative research leading to technology development and innovation in
    this space.
  6. Union Minister for Culture and
    Tourism and Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma on 18 April 2016 released a
    Commemorative Coin of 200 rupees and a Circulation Coin of 10 rupees to mark
    the Martyrdom
    Day of Tatya Tope
    .
  7. Maharashtra government on 18 April 2016 decided to restrict digging of bore wells
    beyond 200 feet
    . The action was taken to check the steep decline in
    ground water level in the state, which at present is facing recurring droughts
    and severe water crisis in Marathwada and Vidarbha region.
  8. Laureus World Sports Awards 2016 were given in Berlin, Germany on
    18 April 2016. The award ceremony was held in Germany for the first time. World
    No 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic of Serbia
    won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award
    , whereas US tennis player Serene Williams won the Sportswoman of the Year Award.
  9. World
    Bank and UNICEF
    on 14 April
    2016 announced establishment of new alliance that aims to make Early Childhood
    Development (ECD) programme a global policy.
  10. World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on 13 April 2016 announced
    that the
    World Bank Group will invest 2.5 billion US dollars over 5 years in education
    projects that directly benefit adolescent girls
    .
  11. The 14th meeting of the Foreign
    Ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of India and the People’s
    Republic of China
    was held on 18 April 2016 in Moscow, Russian
    Federation.
  12. Silicon Valley coach and mentor William Bill Campbell died on 18 April 2016 after battle with cancer.
    He was 75.

Finance/Economy –
NPCI extends insurance benefit to all RuPay cardholders

  • National Payments Corporation of
    India (NPCI), the umbrella organisation for all retail payments system in the
    country has announced relaxation for claiming personal accident insurance for
    all RuPay cardholders in the country.
  • Earlier in November, this benefit
    was extended to RuPay Classic cardholders to avail accidental insurance benefit
    if the cardholder has performed minimum one transaction in 90 days.
  • All RuPay cardholders (physical
    or virtual) has to perform one successful financial or non-financial transaction
    at ATM, MicroATM, e-commerce, Point of Sale terminal, Business Correspondent of
    the bank at locations by any payment instrument. Further, NPCI has now added
    the branch transactions performed by the customers as well.
  • New India Assurance has been
    chosen for this year’s RuPay Insurance Programme. Currently, there are over 260
    million RuPay Debit Cards in force.

Indian Oil Corporation inks MoU with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation

  • Flagship refiner-marketer
    IndianOil Corporation has inked an MoU with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation to
    examine the possibility of jointly working on setting up a LPG (liquefied
    petroleum gas) import terminal at Chittagong port and other downstream infrastructure
    in that country.
  • According to an oil ministry
    statement, the MoU was signed in the presence of oil minister Dharmendra
    Pradhan who is on a three-day visit to Bangladesh with a view to lending an
    impetus to bilateral energy ties initiated during PM Narendra Modi’s June 2015
    Dhaka visit.
  • The minister’s discussions with
    Bangladesh authorities focused on laying a Chittagong-Tripura pipeline through
    that country for supplying part of the imported LPG to India’s northeast region
    and supplying diesel from Numaligarh Refinery to Parbatipur in Bangladesh.
  • Bangladesh is also signing up
    Indian engineering consultancy firm Engineers India Ltd as consultants for
    expansion of the Eastern Refinery. Bangladesh was also updated on the seismic
    survey being carried out by ONGC Videsh Ltd in offshore blocks allotted by
    Dhaka.

Infosys co-founder S Gopalakrishnan launched app ‘Itihaasa’ chronicling
Indian IT journey

  • Infosys co-founder on 17 April
    2016 launched a new app named ‘Itihaasa’ that chronicles Indian IT journey
    since the 1950s.
  • The app ‘itihaasa’ is one of the
    largest chronicles of its kind with 600 videos featuring 44 technology
    stalwarts.

Main highlights of app Itihaasa
  • It contains over 37 hours of
    footage, 350 archived photographs and articles and easy browsing with 12000
    tags.
  • It follows the installation of
    the country’s first modern computer in 1955 to crystal gazing on Indian IT in
    2040.
  • Through the app users can also
    hear veterans like F C Kohli, Prof Rajaraman, Prof Mahabala, Narayana Murthy,
    Azim Premji, S Ramadorai, Nandan Nilekani, N Vittal and others.
  • Users can personalise stories on
    six dimensions – Time, People, Organisation, Policy, Technical Terms and Place.

Union Government released report of Technical Committee on Large Scale
Integration of Renewable
Energy

  • Union Power, Coal and New and
    Renewable Energy Minister of State(IC) Piyush Goyal on 18 April 2016 released
    Report of the Technical Committee on Large Scale Integration of Renewable
    Energy, Need for Balancing, Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM) and associated
    issues in New Delhi.
  • He also launched Ancillary
    Services Operations in India.

Highlights of the Report
  • India has set an ambitious target
    of achieving 175 GW of renewable generation capacity.
  • In order to integrate such high
    penetration of renewable energy and address the concerns of the stakeholders in
    renewable energy, a high level Technical Committee was constituted with members
    from Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC),
    Central Electricity Authority (CEA), renewable rich states like Gujarat,
    Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Power Utilities like PGCIL, Power System
    operation Corporation Ltd. (POSOCO), NTPC, State Generating companies and
    Private generating companies and Institutions like India Meteorological
    department (IMD), National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), National Institute
    of Solar Energy (NISE), GIZ, Ernst & Young (E&Y), etc.

India –
India, Mauritius sign MoU for research in traditional medicine

  • India and Mauritius have signed
    an agreement for cooperation in the field of traditional medicine and
    homeopathy, a move which will help both the nations to conduct joint research
    and exchange experts in these fields.
  • The MoU, signed during the recent
    visit of Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik to Mauritius, will
    promote cooperation in the field of traditional system of health and medicine
    between the two countries which already share these traditions due to their
    “unique historical and cultural ties”.
  • The agreement envisages exchange
    of experts, supply of traditional medicinal substances, joint research and
    development and recognition of the traditional systems of health and medicine
    in both countries, the ministry said in a statement.

Maharashtra to use hologram technique to check spurious liquor

  • The Maharashtra Government on 18
    April 2016 decided to make it mandatory to have a hologram on every alcohol
    bottle manufactured and sold in the state. The step was taken to check sale of
    spurious liquor.
  • The Government decided to paste
    polyester base track and trace hologram, to be supported by a mobile app, which
    will help consumers find out whether the liquor is fake or genuine.
  • The technique will also help
    prevent loss of revenue due to cheap liquor being imported into Maharashtra
    from neighbouring states.

Nirma University inks MoU with ISRO
  • The Nirma University has recently
    inked an MoU with Space Applications Centre (SAC), Indian Space Research
    Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad for collaborative research leading to technology
    development and innovation in this space.
  • In line with this, ISRO would be
    setting up one of its communication receivers in the Nirma campus, where the
    data would be part of further research, said Nirma Director General Anup Singh
    on the sidelines of the institute’s 21st annual convocation on Monday.

Union Government released Commemorative Coin and Circulation Coin on
Tatya Tope

  • Union Minister for Culture and
    Tourism and Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma on 18 April 2016 released a
    Commemorative Coin of 200 rupees and a Circulation Coin of 10 rupees to mark
    the Martyrdom Day of Tatya Tope.
  • The Union Ministry of Culture has
    been celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of Tatya Tope during 2015-16 in
    association with State Government of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
    respectively.
  • Maharashtra Government organised
    a three day Mahotsav named Shaurya Mahotsav from 26 February 2016.

Maharashtra government banned digging of bore wells beyond 200 ft

  • Maharashtra government on 18
    April 2016 decided to restrict digging of borewells beyond 200 feet. The action
    was taken to check the steep decline in ground water level in the state, which
    at present is facing recurring droughts and severe water crisis in Marathwada
    and Vidarbha region.
  • The violators of the rule would
    face fine or/and imprisonment, as the action will be considered as a punishable
    offence.
  • Besides, the state government
    also conducted special workshops of concerned officials’ to discuss the ways
    for implementation of Maharashtra Groundwater Development and Management Act to
    control the excess water pumping through borewell.

First-ever Investment Framework for Nutrition and Call for Immediate
Action launched by global leaders
  • Leading researchers and
    economists in the fields of nutrition and development on 18 April 2016 unveiled
    a groundbreaking analysis outlining what donors, governments and businesses
    need to invest to accelerate progress for nutrition.
  • The Investing in Nutrition: The
    Foundation for Development event hosted by the World Bank, the Results for
    Development Institute, and 1000 Days is part of a global effort to increase
    investment in nutrition, particularly during the 1000 days between a woman’s
    pregnancy and her child’s second birthday.

What is the need of Investment Framework for Nutrition?
  • Investments in line with the new
    framework will drive progress toward achieving four of the six World Health
    Assembly (WHA) Global Nutrition Targets, specifically those focused on
    alleviating stunted growth, wasting, and anaemia, and increasing exclusive
    breastfeeding.
  • These targets, endorsed by 194
    country governments at the WHA in 2012, were last year enshrined within the
    second Sustainable Development Goal to end malnutrition in all its forms by the
    year 2030.
  • With just 3.9 billion US dollars
    currently invested each year to reach the WHA targets, urgent expanded action
    and investment are needed.
  • A package of proven,
    cost-effective actions can be implemented immediately to jump start progress.

Sports –
Laureus World Sports Awards 2016: Djokovic and Serena won Sportsman
& Sportswoman of the Year

  • Laureus World Sports Awards 2016
    were given in Berlin, Germany on 18 April 2016. The award ceremony was held in
    Germany for the first time.
  • World No 1 tennis player Novak
    Djokovic of Serbia won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award, whereas US
    tennis player Serene Williams won the Sportswoman of the Year Award.
  • For Djokovic it was back-to-back
    second Laureus Awards, whereas for Serena it was her fourth Laureus Awards.

List of Awardees
  1. Sportsman of the Year: Novak
    Djokovic, Serbia (Tennis)
  2. Team of the Year: New Zealand
    national rugby union team
  3. Sportswoman of the Year: Serena
    Williams, the US (Tennis)
  4. Comeback of the Year: Dan Carter,
    New Zealand (Rugby)
  5. Breakthrough of the Year: Jordan
    Spieth, the US (Golf)

Inzamam-ul-Haq appointed Pakistan chief selector

  • The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
    on 18 April 2016 appointed former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq as the new
    chief selector of the team.
  • Inzamam, a veteran of 120 tests
    and 398 one-day internationals, replaced Haroon Rasheed as chief selector. The
    PCB has not set a fixed term for Inzamam’s tenure.
  • The members of the new selection
    committee are former test off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed, former international fast
    bowler Wasim Haider and batsman Wajahatullah Wasti.
  • At the time of appointment,
    Inzamam was the head coach of Afghanistan cricket team. He was appointed as the
    head coach of Afghanistan in October 2015, and was contracted by the
    Afghanistan Cricket Board until December 2016.

World –
World Bank, UNICEF established alliance to promote Early Childhood
Development programme

  • World Bank and UNICEF on 14 April
    2016 announced establishment of new alliance that aims to make Early Childhood
    Development (ECD) programme a global policy.
  • To give all young children access
    to quality services that improve their health, nutrition, learning ability and
    emotional well-being, the alliance calls for programming and public spending
    priority.
  • On the occasion, the World Bank
    Group President Jim Yong Kim and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake jointly
    urged global and national leaders to step up and accelerate action and
    investments in nutrition and ECD programmes as a critical foundation for
    equitable development and economic growth.

World Bank Group to Invest 2.5 Billion US Dollars in Education Projects
benefiting Adolescent Girls

  • World Bank Group President Jim
    Yong Kim on 13 April 2016 announced that the World Bank Group will invest 2.5
    billion US dollars over 5 years in education projects that directly benefit
    adolescent girls.
  • The announcement was followed by
    a call to action from the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama,
    urging key policymakers and influencers from around the world to commit to
    urgent action in support of adolescent girls.
  • The announcement was made at the
    Let Girls Learn event during the World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings.

Highlights of the Investment
  • By 2020, the World Bank Group
    expects to invest at least 2.5 billion US dollars in education projects
    targeting adolescent girl.
  • About 75 percent of these
    investments are expected to be from International Development Association
    (IDA), the Bank Group’s fund for the poorest countries.

14th meeting of Foreign Ministers of Russia, India and China held in
Moscow
  • The 14th meeting of the Foreign
    Ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of India and the People’s
    Republic of China was held on 18 April 2016 in Moscow, Russian Federation.
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
    Lavrov, Union Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India Sushma Swaraj,
    and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi took
    part in the meeting.
  • The Ministers discussed various
    aspects of trilateral cooperation on global and regional issues, the progress
    in strengthening the international legal framework underlying the modern world
    order, and the neutralisation of common challenges.

The 13th Islamic Summit Conference concluded in Istanbul
  • The 13th session of the Islamic
    Summit Conference was concluded on 15 April 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey.
  • The Islamic Summit, which
    commenced on 10 April 2016, was held under the theme Unity and Solidarity for
    Justice and Peace. It also discussed the current situation in Syria, Yemen,
    Libya, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mali, Jammu and Kashmir, Bosnia-Herzegovina and
    Armenia’s aggressions on Azerbaijan, as well as other Member States afflicted
    by conflicts and unstable security situations.
  • The agenda of the summit included
    the question of Palestine and Arab-Israeli conflict, conflict situation in the
    Muslim world, combating terrorism and violent extremism, Islamophopia,
    humanitarian situation in the Muslim world, and the Organisation of Islamic
    Cooperation (OIC) 2025 Programme of Action.

Obituaries –
William Bill Campbell, Silicon Valley coach and mentor, died

  • Silicon Valley coach and mentor
    William Bill Campbell died on 18 April 2016 after battle with cancer. He was
    75.
  • He was widely admired Silicon
    Valley coach and mentor as his advices on leadership and management nurtured a
    range of Silicon Valley luminaries include Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and
    Google co-founder Larry Page.
  • The list of executives who worked
    with Campbell includes former EBay CEO John Donahoe, ex-Twitter CEO Dick
    Costolo, Google parent Alphabet Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and many of the
    tech world’s leading venture capitalists.

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This post was last modified on July 20, 2019 10:16 am