Current Affairs 18 February 2018 1. Launch of Superfast Russian Cargo Ship Mission Aborted ● The launch of a Russian cargo ship bound for the International Space Station was aborted in the final minute, just as it was poised to fly the fastest resupply mission to the orbiting lab in history. ● The uncrewed Progress 69 resupply ship and its Russian-built Soyuz 2.1a rocket were just seconds away from launching into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan when the abort occurred. ● The spacecraft, known as Progress MS-08 in Russia, is carrying 3 tons of food, fuel and other supplies for the station’s six-person Expedition 54 crew and was scheduled to make a superfast 3.5-hour trip to the orbiting lab after liftoff. Important points: Russia ➢ President: Vladimir Putin ➢ Capital: Moscow Currency- Russian ruble
2. India and Iran signed an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation ● India and Iran signed an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation (DTAA) and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income. ● The Agreement is on similar lines as entered into by India with other countries.The Agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to Iran & vice versa, and will prevent double taxation. ●
It will improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.
3. India and Iran sign nine MoUs to boost bilateral ties ● India and Iran signed nine agreements in order to further the bilateral cooperation between the two sides.
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The pacts were signed after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Iran President Hassan Rouhani at New Delhi’s Hyderabad house.
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The two countries inked pacts to enhance cooperation in the areas of taxation, maritime cooperation, health and medicine, trade, agriculture and postal cooperation.
Important points: Iran ➢ President: Hassan Rouhani ➢ Capital: Tehran ➢ Currency: Iranian rial ➢ Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei
4. Sumitra Mahajan inaugurates 6th India Region CPA conference ● Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan inaugurated the 6th India region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference at Patna in Bihar. The Speaker spoke about the objectives and role of the Parliamentary Association body. ● The conference will hold discussions mainly on two topics: ‘Parliament’s role in the development agenda’ and ‘Legislature and Judiciary’ – Two important Pillars of Democracy. ●
The Speaker stressed upon the need to strengthen the legislature, executive and the judiciary in order to make democracy strong.
5. UP budget 2018: Yogi Adityanath govt presents Rs 4.28 trillion budget ● Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh presented its second budget. Ahead of 2019, general elections, this is considered one of biggest budgetary allocation for the state. ● UP Finance Minister Rajesh Aggarwal presented a mega budget of over Rs 4.28 lakh crore with a focus on farmers, artisans, youth, infrastructure and urban development. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights: 1. Total budgetary allocation of Rs 4.28 lakh crore 2. Budgetary allocation 11.4% higher than last fiscal
3. 20 new agriculture centres to be opened 4. 5500 centres to be opened to procure wheat from farmers 5. Rs 50 crore allocated to handicraft and handloom sector 6. Rs 150 crore allocated to provide subsidized electricity to weavers 7. Rs 8815 crore located to women and child welfare programs 8. Chief Minister Self Employment Scheme has been allocated Rs 100 crore 9. Start up fund of Rs 250 crore has been created. 10. Rs 404 crore allocated for madrassa modernisation 11. Rs 920 crore allocated for rural road construction and widening 12. Rs 500 crore for metro projects across the state 13. Rs 7482 crore for cleaning Ganga and keeping it pollution free