Current Affairs 08 February 2018 1. India successfully test fires Nuclear-Capable Prithvi-II missile ● India successfully test fired Nuclear-Capable Prithvi-II missile from Odisha coast. ● The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) conducted user trial of surface-to-surface medium-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II from launch complex-3 of Integrated Test Range at Chandipur. ● The Prithvi-II missile is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads. ●
The first missile to be developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Program, Prithvi-II was inducted into India’s armed forces in 2003.
2. Six Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement Released By RBI ● The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee displayed its last bi-monthly policy review for the current financial and kept repo rate unaltered at 6 percent. ● The reverse repo rate under the LAF (liquidity adjustment facility) stays at 5.75 percent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the bank rate at 6.25 percent. ● The arrangement decided based on worldwide uncertainty and inflation is coming when there’s a tremendous unpredictability activated by rising expansion and inflation over the US Federal Bank rate.
3. Goswami first female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets ● India’s veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami added another feather to her illustrious cap by becoming the first female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets. ● The 35-year-old, playing her 166th ODI, dismissed opener Laura Wolvaardt for her 200th scalp.
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She was also adjudged ICC Women Cricketer of the Year in 2007.
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Interestingly, the first male cricketer to pick 200 ODI wickets, was also an Indian — the great Kapil Dev.
4. Google and NCERT join hands to teach students digital safety ● Google and NCERT signed a pact to integrate a course on ‘Digital Citizenship and Safety’ in information and communication technology curriculum. ● The curriculum developed by NCERT in collaboration with Google will be used to train students from class I – class XII across 1.4 million schools in India where they will learn how to become good and responsible digital citizens. ● The curriculum is spread into four themes – being smart, being safe, being a digital citizen and being future ready.
5. Forbes Releases Its First-Ever Cryptocurrency Rich List ● Forbes has released its first list of cryptocurrency richest list individuals. ● According to the list, Serial fintech entrepreneur and CEO at Ripple, Chris Larsen topped the list with a fortune of $ 7.5-8 billion. ● Joseph Lubin was ranked second with a fortune of $1 billion-$5 billion, leaving behind – the founder of the world’s largest crypto-exchange Binance, Changpeng Zhao with a fortune of $ 1.1 to $ 2 billion. ●
According to the Forbes, the fourth place is taken by Cameron & Tyler Winklevoss. Their wealth amounted to $ 0.9-1.1 billion.
6. Bermuda becomes first country in world to repeal same-sex marriage ● Bermuda has become the first country to legalise and then repeal same-sex marriage.
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Bermuda’s governor approved a bill reversing the right of gay couples to marry, despite a supreme court ruling last year authorising same-sex marriage. Governor John Rankin was seeking to balance opposition to same-sex marriage on the socially conservative island while complying with European court rulings that ensure recognition and protection for same-sex couples in the territory.
Important points: Bermuda ➢ Capital: Hamilton ➢ Currency: Bermudian dollar
7. Pema Khandu Lays Foundation Stone for Rhododendron Park in Tawang ● Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu laid the foundation stone for Rhododendron Park in Tawang. ● He also carried out plantation drive of different varieties of Rhodos. Tawang is home to 50+ different varieties of Rhodos. ● The Chief Minister expressed hope that the park will not only add to the scenic enhancement of the city but will also offer an opportunity for conservation of Rhodo Species, which are under serious threat due to the various ongoing road and land acquisition projects by the Army and BRO.
8. 5th South Asia Region Public Procurement Conference held in New Delhi ● The 5th South Asia Region Public Procurement Conference was held in New Delhi. ● It was hosted by Public Procurement Division (PPD) of Ministry of Finance and All India Management Association (AIMA). ● The Conference is held under the auspices of the South Asia Region Public Procurement Network (SARPPN), which is sponsored and facilitated by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank. ●
The First Conference was held in Kathmandu in 2010, the second in Islamabad in 2014, the third in Dhaka 2015 and the fourth in Sri Lanka 2017.