5th January Current Affairs 2018 1. Rs 372.51 crore sanctioned by NABARD to Odisha ● The NABARD has sanctioned Rs 372.51 crore loan assistance under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to Odisha towards irrigation and rural bridge projects for the last quarter of this fiscal. ● NABARD has also sanctioned 14 Rural Bridge Projects under Biju Setu Yojana with RIDF loan assistance of Rs 242.34 crore which would add 6222.89 metres of bridge length, benefiting about 4.56 lakh population in 322 villages of the state.
2. RBI puts Allahabad Bank under prompt corrective action ● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated ‘prompt corrective action’ (PCA) against the Allahabad Bank state-run lender over its high bad loans. ● High net non-performing assets (NPA) and a negative return on assets (ROA) for two years in a row has prompted the action, the bank said in a regulatory filing, although it added the action would help improve its risk management, asset quality and profits. Important Points: Allahabad Bank ➢ Headquarters: Kolkata ➢ CEO: Usha Ananthasubramanian ➢ Founded: 24 April 1865 3. Health Ministry launches first Online Oncology Tutorial Series ● The Union Health Ministry launched the nation’s first digital Online Oncology Tutorial Series, which aims to train doctors
across the country in early detection, prevention, palliation, rehabilitation and treatment of various cancers. ●
The digital Online Oncology Tutorial Series has been designed by the Tata Memorial Centre in collaboration with the Union Health Ministry, and is part of a national programme that will be rolled out across the country in collaboration with state governments.
4. India excludes Pakistan from a SAARC initiative ● India has excluded P akistan from the list of SAARC member countries with which it will be connecting its state-of-the-art National Knowledge Network (NKN) for sharing scientific databases and remote access to advanced research facilities. ● The government has kicked off the process of appointing a telecom company that will connect and extend the NKN to research and education networks in six South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation member states — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. ●
Pakistan is the only SAARC nation that has been left out of this initiative.
Important Points: SAARC – South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ➢ Founded: 8 December 1985, Dhaka, Bangladesh ➢ Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal 5. World’s biggest cleanliness survey Swachh Sarvekshan 2018 launched ● As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 39th edition of ‘Mann ki Baat’, the Survey Swachh Sarvekshan 2018 will be conducted from the 4th of January to 10th of March. ● The Cleanliness Survey 2018 will be the largest in the world which will evaluate
achievements in cleanliness level of our urban areas. ●
The main objective of Swachh Survekshan is to encourage large-scale citizen participation and create awareness amongst all sections of society about the importance of working together towards making towns and cities a cleaner and better place to live in.
6. Goa to host third edition of Science Film Festival ● Goa will be hosting the third edition of the Science Film Festival of India between January. ● The festival, titled SCI-FFI Goa, is being organised by the state-based Vidnyan Parishad, Goa’s Department of Science and Technology. ●
The competition aims to boost the culture of science films, all the films submitted should be related to science and technology
Important Points: Goa ➢ Capital: Panaji ➢ Chief Minister: Manohar Parrikar ➢ Governor: Mridula Sinha
7. Meghalaya signs host city contract for 39th National Games ● Meghalaya signed the Host City Contract with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for hosting the 39th National Games in 2022. ● The tripartite contract was signed between the IOA, the Meghalaya State Olympic Association and the state government here. ●
Meghalaya had made the bid to host the 39th National Games after successfully co-hosting the South Asian Games 2017.
Important Points: Meghalaya ➢ Capital: Shillong ➢ Chief Minister: Mukul Sangma ➢ Governor: Ganga Prasad
8. Namami Gange projects worth Rs. 295 crore approved by NMCG ● National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved five projects worth Rs. 295.01 crore. ● Three projects pertain to sewage management in West Bengal at an estimated cost of Rs 278.6 crore, one relates to sewage management in Uttarakhand at an estimated cost of Rs 4.68 crore and one project worth Rs 11.73 crore is related to ghat improvement works in Varanasi. Important Points: ➢ Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister: Nitin Gadkari ➢ Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation: Uma Bharti
9. SBI may cut minimum balance requirement for savings accounts ● The State Bank of India (SBI) is planning to trim its minimum balance requirement. The minimum balance limit is currently Rs 3,000 in urban centres. ● SBI had originally increased the minimum balance requirement to Rs 5,000 in June. ● However, following public backlash the bank brought down the minimum balance requirement to Rs 3,000 in metros, Rs 2,000 in semi-urban and Rs 1,000 in rural centres. Important points:
➢ SBI Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar ➢ SBI Headquarters: Mumbai