Current Affairs 29 January 2018 1. Small finance banks and payment banks to offer Atal Pension Yojana ● The Central government announced Small Finance Banks and Payments Banks to offer social security scheme Atal Pension Yojana (APY) to their subscribers. ● To strengthen the existing channels of APY distribution, it is felt that these new Payments Banks and Small Finance Banks will provide a boost to the outreach of subscribers under APY. ●
Currently, there are 11 Payments Banks and 10 Small Finance Banks that have received the license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start their operations.
2. India and Cambodia sign four agreements ● India and Cambodia signed four agreements in the field of cultural exchange, an exchange line of credit of $26.9 million, a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in a legal matter and an agreement on prevention of human trafficking. ● The documents were exchanged in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Cambodian PM Hun Sen following delegation-level talks between the two countries. New Delhi has agreed to set up a centre of IT excellence in Cambodia. Important points: Cambodia ➢ Capital: Phnom Penh ➢ Currency: Cambodian Riel ➢ Prime Minister: Hun Sen ➢ King: Norodom Sihamoni
3. Kolkata becomes the first Indian metro to get Floating Market ● Kolkata becomes the first Indian metro to get Floating Market the number of shops in this market has doubled due to floating on the water.
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The market located on the eastern edge of the city was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
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The aim is to rehabilitate over 200 shopkeepers from a nearby market that was demolished for the widening of the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass.
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The market will host at least 114 boats, each one accommodating two shops.
Important Points: West Bengal ➢ Capital: Kolkata ➢ Chief minister: Mamata Banerjee ➢ Governor: Keshari Nath Tripathi
4. Himachal Pradesh CM launches ‘Shakti’ app for women’s safety ● Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched the ‘Shakti’ app, which comes with a panic button, for women’s safety. ● The app was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) of the Himachal Pradesh government. ● The app would be available in Hindi and English languages and would not require internet connectivity, adding that shaking the device would trigger the app to send its location through GPS. ●
Once triggered, the app would automatically send a message to the nearest police control room and start recording audio and video after 20 seconds.
Important Points: Himachal Pradesh ➢ Capital: Shimla ➢ Chief minister: Jai Ram Thakur ➢ Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat
5. India to host informal WTO Ministerial gathering in March ● Trade ministers from various countries including Australia, Japan and Switzerland met for an informal WTO ministerial gathering in Davos.India to host informal WTO Ministerial gathering in March.
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The meeting would be held in New Delhi on March 19-20.
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The meeting, also attended by the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, was held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual summit.
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India was represented by Deepak Jagdish Saksena, ambassador and permanent representative to the WTO.
Important points: World Trade Organization (WTO) ➢ Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland ➢ Founded: 1 January 1995 ➢ Leader: Roberto Azevêdo
6. Punjab CM launches benefits under Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana ● Punjab chief minister launches the release of benefits under Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana aimed at the inclusive growth of the distressed sections of the society. ● He appealed to the state’s debt-ridden farmers not to commit suicide since his government was committed to the total implementation of its farm debt waiver scheme by November 2018.
Important Points: Punjab ➢ Capital: Chandigarh ➢ Chief Minister: Amarinder Singh ➢ Governor: V. P. Singh Badnore
7. Grammy Awards winners list in key categories ● The Grammy Awards, the highest honors in the music industry, were handed out at a ceremony in New York. ● Retro R&B star Bruno Mars was the surprise big winner at the Grammy Awards, with a clean sweep of the top awards including Album, Record and Song of the Year, and six overall.
Here is a list of winners in key categories: ➢ Album of the Year: Bruno Mars, 24K Magic. ➢ Record of the Year (for the overall performance of a song): Bruno Mars, 24K Magic. ➢ Song of the Year (for songwriting): Bruno Mars along with songwriters Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy and Philip Lawrence and production team The Stereotypes, That’s What I Like. ➢ Best New Artist: Alessia Cara ➢ Best Pop Vocal Album: Ed Sheeran, Divide. ➢ Best Pop Solo Performance: Ed Sheeran, Shape of You. ➢ Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. ➢ Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar, HUMBLE. ➢ Best Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar, HUMBLE. ➢ Best Rap/Sung Performance: Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna, LOYALTY. ➢ Best R&B Album: Bruno Mars, 24K Magic. ➢ Best R&B Song: Bruno Mars, That’s What I Like. ➢ Best R&B Performance: Bruno Mars, That’s What I Like. ➢ Best Rock Album: The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding. ➢ Best Rock Performance: Leonard Cohen, You Want It Darker. ➢ Best Alternative Music Album: The National, Sleep Well Beast. ➢ Best World Music Album: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration. ➢ Best Dance/Electronic Album: Kraftwerk, 3-D The Catalogue. ➢ Best Music Video: Kendrick Lamar, HUMBLE. ➢ Best Country Album: Chris Stapleton, From a Room, Volume 1.
8. Vijay Keshav Gokhale takes charge as the Foreign Secretary ● Vijay Keshav Gokhale takes charge as the new foreign secretary for a two-year term. He succeeded former foreign secretary S Jaishankar who completed his term of three-years, including one extended year. ● Gokhale, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1981, played a major role in resolving the 73-day-long Doklam standoff between India and China last year. ●
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Gokhale’s appointment to the post of foreign secretary.