Current Affairs 23 January 2018 1. Lakhtakia appointed as new DG of National Security Guard ● Senior IPS officer Sudeep Lakhtakia has been appointed as the new Director General (DG) of the ‘black cats’ commando force National Security Guard (NSG). ● The officer is currently serving as a Special DG in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters New Delhi.
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He will take over from incumbent S P Singh who will retire from the post of NSG DG on January 31.
2. WEF ranks India at 62nd place on Inclusive Development Index ● India ranked at the 62nd place among emerging economies on an Inclusive Development Index, much below China’s 26th position and Pakistan’s 47th. ● Norway remains the world’s most inclusive advanced economy, while Lithuania again tops the list of emerging economies, the World Economic Forum (WEF) releasing the yearly index here before the start of its annual meeting. ●
India was ranked 60th among 79 developing economies last year, as against China’s 15th and Pakistan’s 52nd position.
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The top-five most inclusive emerging economies are Lithuania, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Latvia and Poland.
Important points: World Economic Forum ➢ Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland ➢ Founder: Klaus Schwab ➢ Founded: 1971
3. Malta’s Valletta becomes Europe’s Capital of Culture ● Malta’s Valletta has been officially inaugurated as the European Capital of Culture. Over 140 projects and 400 events have been planned in 2018 around three main themes: Island Stories, Future Baroque and Voyages. ● About one-fifth of Malta’s 450,000-strong population was in the streets of the capital as Valletta was officially inaugurated as the European City of Culture.
4. India to grow at 7.4 percent in 2018: IMF ● India is projected to grow at 7.4 percent in 2018 as against China’s 6.8 percent, making it the fastest growing country among emerging economies. ● In its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) update in Davos, Switzerland on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected a 7.8 percent growth rate for India in 2019. ●
In 2017, India’s growth rate dropped to 6.7 percent.
Important points: International Monetary Fund (IMF) ➢ Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States ➢ CEO: Christine Lagarde ➢ Founded: 27 December 1945, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States ➢ Formation: 27 December 1945 (72 years ago) ➢ Founders: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White
5. Siddharth Singh wins Swedish Open junior badminton title ● Young Indian shuttler Siddharth Pratap Singh secured his maiden international title, bagging the Swedish Open Junior International Series with a straight-game victory over Denmark’s Mads Christophersen in the finals in Uppsala, Sweden.
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Playing his first career final, Siddharth defeated Christophersen 21-15, 21-11 in a 33-minute match to claim the men’s singles title.
Important points: Sweden ➢ Capital: Stockholm ➢ Currency: Swedish krona ➢ Prime Minister: Stefan Löfven
6. ONGC acquires 51.11% stake in HPCL for ₹36,915 crore ● Public sector exploration giant ONGC has got the consent for acquiring controlling stake in fellow PSU Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL). ● According to a statement issued by ONGC, it has entered into a share purchase agreement with the President of India for acquiring the 778,845,375 equity shares of HPCL (representing 51.11 percent of HPCL). ● This acquisition is in line with the government’s objective to combine the Central Public Sector Enterprises to give them the capacity to bear higher risks and avail themselves of economies of scale. Important points: ONGC – Oil and Natural Gas Corporation ➢ Headquarters: Uttarakhand ➢ CEO: Shashi Shanker ➢ Founded: 14 August 1956
7. West Indies to host 2018 Women’s World T20 ● The ICC has announced, the 2018 edition of the Women’s World T20 will be hosted by West Indies in November 2018. ● The three venues were selected by Cricket West Indies – Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana and St Lucia. ● Hosts Windies will defend the title they won with an eight-wicket victory over Australia in Kolkata in 2016.
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The November event in the Caribbean will be the first stand-alone ICC Women’s World Twenty20 after the past five events were played alongside the men’s event.
8. India-ASEAN Business & Investment Conference held in New Delhi ● India-ASEAN business and investment conference held in New Delhi ahead of the landmark commemorative summit meeting on the 25th of January. ● The Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu stresses enhanced connectivity via land to strengthen trade ties. ● Silver jubilee of India-ASEAN partnership is being celebrated in New Delhi on the 25th January with an unprecedented summit meet.