Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. MOHALI – SCO 111, 2nd Floor & 106, 1st Floor Phase 10 | +91-8264357356, 8264579087, 0172-4014825 1 | [email protected] | www.indusacademics.com Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. GIST OR NATIONAL NEWS (CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR NDA-II 2017) NATIONAL Shurhozelie Liezitsu has been sworn-in as the 17th Chief Minister of Nagaland, along with 10 other members of the Council. The 81-year old Naga People’s front party President was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor PB Acharya at a ceremony in Kohima. He succeeded TR Zeliang, who resigned as the Chief Minister following widespread protests over reservation to women in local body elections. National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has asked hospitals to display revised price list of cardiac stents. In a notification, the authority said that state drug controllers have also been sensitised on this issue and will inspect more hospitals to check the compliance with its price cap order issued. The authority has cut prices of life- saving coronary stents by upto 85 per cent by capping them at 7,260 rupees for bare metal and 29,600 rupees for drug eluting variety. NPPA has said the companies were under legal obligation to maintain smooth production and supply of the stents. The Union Cabinet has decided to enhance solar power capacity from 20,000 Mega Watt to 40,000 Mega Watt for development of solar parks and ultra mega solar power projects. Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said, the enhanced capacity will ensure setting up of atleast 50 solar parks each with a capacity of 500 Mega Watt and above in various parts of country. He said, solar parks and ultra mega solar power projects will be set up by 2019- 20 with government’s support of 8100 crore rupees. Seven new miniature frog species which can comfortably sit even on a child’s thumbnail have been discovered by Indian Scientists in the Western Ghats after five years of extensive exploration. The study conducted by two Delhi University-based researchers in the Western Ghats said that these frogs were overlooked earlier because of their insect-like calls and secretive habitats. Over 32 per cent, that is one-third of the Western Ghats frogs are already threatened with extinction. Out of the seven new species, five are facing considerable anthropogenic threats and require immediate conservation prioritization. • Indian Navy has successfully test- fired an antiship missile for the first time from an indigenously built Kalvari class submarine, describing the launch as a significant milestone in enhancing its “sub- surface” warfare prowess. The weapon was fired from the submarine, the first of India’s six Scorpene-class submarines which are being built under the Project 75, and it “successfully hit” a surface target during the trial in the Arabian Sea. • India has successfully test-fired an indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile capable of destroying incoming enemy ballistic missile at low altitudes. This Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile, which was tested for the second time in less than a month, is part of an effort to put in place a multilayer missile defence system. • Jawaharlal Nehru University has won the annual visitor’s award for the Best University- 2017. President Pranab Mukherjee had announced institution of these awards in 2014 with the aim of promoting healthy competition amongst Central Universities and motivating them to adopt best practices from around the world in the pursuit of excellence. • National Science Day was celebrated across the country on February 28 this year. The theme for this year was “Science and Technology for Specially Abled Persons”. This day marks the epoch-making discovery of Raman Effect by Indian physicist C V Raman on February 28, 1928. His discovery was awarded with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. • The Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant against serving Calcutta High Court judge C SKarnan to ensure his presence before it on March 31 in a contempt case. A seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar directed the West Bengal Director General of Police to personally execute the arrest warrant on Justice Karnan to ensure his presence before it on March 31, the next date of hearing. The bench refused to consider a communication, written to apex court registry on March 8, as his response to the notice issued against him earlier. MOHALI – SCO 111, 2nd Floor & 106, 1st Floor Phase 10 | +91-8264357356, 8264579087, 0172-4014825 2 | [email protected] | www.indusacademics.com Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. • Parliament has passed the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 with the Lok Sabha approving it on 9th March. The Rajya Sabha has already cleared it. The bill seeks to enhance paid maternity leave for women engaged in organised sector from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for two surviving children. It will be applicableto mines, factories and all establishments employing 10 or more people. In his reply to the debate on the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Minister of Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya said the amendment has job, wages and social security aspects as its integral parts. He said violation of the provisions of the amendment bill would attract 3 to 6 months of imprisonment and a penalty of up to Rs 5000. • Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched the web portal for obtaining Coastal Regulation Zone clearances. The portal is a web-based system for obtaining clearances required from the Ministry under the by the Project proponents for ease of doing business. • Indian Navy has commissioned INS Tillanchang at Karwar, Karnataka. It is a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft . It is the third ship of four follow-on WJFAC built by the Kolkata based Garden Reach Shipbuilders an Engineers. The first two ships INS Tarmugli and INS Tihayu which were commissioned in 2016. Indus Academics: Pathway to career in Defence Services  NDA upcoming batch: Oct 2017  AFCAT upcoming batch: Dec 2017  CDSE upcoming batch: Dec 2017  Scholarships available for wards of Defence Personnel, Economically weaker & students from North-East on FCFS Basis  Early bird discount for first five registrations & meritorious students in each course.  Genuine consideration for Board toppers & meritorious students.  Updated UPSC standard study Material for NDA/CDS/AFCAT/TA . • The world's longest serving warship INS Viraat was decommissioned by the Indian Navy at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra after nearly six decades of service. This marks the end of an era of Viraat being the flagship of the Indian Navy as it had provided utmost protection to the country during many tense situations. • The Union Government has launched the first ever across-the river survey in River Ganga to determine the population of aquatic life, including that of the endangered Gangetic dolphin. The survey will create a baseline scientific data for the government to take suitable measures to improve quality of the Ganga’s water. • Eminent Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail was selected for the prestigious Saraswati Samman 2016 for his novel Hawthan. His novel was shortlisted out of 22 books written in as many languages. He will receive cash prize of Rs 15 lakh and a citation. • The newly constructed Tezu airport will be the first civilian airport of Arunachal Pradesh. Tezu will smoothen transport to several high-altitude districts near the India-China border. Tezu is the nearest town to Walong, where a legendary battle between Indian and Chinese soldiers took place in October 1962. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party has declared a landslide victory in crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, in a result that is expected to boost his claim to a second term. It said, the month-long, fiercely fought vote in Uttar Pradesh and four other states have been seen as a referendum on PM Modi. MOHALI – SCO 111, 2nd Floor & 106, 1st Floor Phase 10 | +91-8264357356, 8264579087, 0172-4014825 3 | [email protected] | www.indusacademics.com Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. BJP Legislature Party leader N Biren Singh was sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Manipur on 15th March,2017. Governor Najma Heptulla administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Singh at Raj Bhavan in Imphal. Eight other MLAs including four from the NPP, one each from BJP, LJP, NPF and one who defected from Congress also took oath as Cabinet Ministers. Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar won the vote of confidence during specially convened Goa Assembly by 22 - 16 votes. This was announced by protem speaker Siddharth Kunkolienkar after the vote of confidence on the floor. Senior Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh, has taken over as Chief Minister of Punjab and was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor VP Singh Badnore at Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh. Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT-PPP) Bill, 2017 was also passed to “grant statutory status to 15 IIITs set up under the PPP mode and declare them as Institutions of National Importance, to enable them to grant degrees to the students in the academic courses conducted by them”. It also approved proposal for opening of 50 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) under Civil / Defence Sector in the country keeping in view the high demand for these schools for their quality of education and excellent results. It also gave its approval for development of the six laning of Handia-Varanasi section of NH-2 in Uttar Pradesh. This work will be under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase- V. • Five-time Parliamentarian Yogi Adityanath was sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers. They were administered the oath to the office and secrecy by Governor Ram Naik at oath taking ceremony held in Kanshiram Smriti Upvan in Lucknow. Besides them 47-member council of ministers also took oath. • Trivendra Singh Rawat was sworn in as ninth Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. He was administered oath to office and secrecy by Governor Krishan Kant Paul at oath taking ceremony held in Parade Ground of Dehradun. Seven Cabinet Minister and two Ministers of State also took oath. • The Government is considering bringing back import duty on wheat to protect farmers’ interest after a bumper harvest in the country. Responding to concerns expressed by the opposition in the Rajya Sabha on farmers being forced to sell wheat below the minimum price, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said, raising import duty is under consideration and the government will take a decision soon. Mr Paswan said, the crop production this year has been at a record 96.64 million tonnes and 6.5 million tonnes of wheat is already in stock. The Minister said, in 2015, a customs duty of 25 per cent was levied on wheat which was subsequently cut to 10 per cent and it was totally removed in December last year. • Union Cabinet has approved setting up of National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes as a constitutional body. In this regard, constitutional amendment bill for amending Constitution mainly by insertion of Article 338B will be soon introduced in the Parliament. • The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, NCST has approved the proposal for five additional seats for tribals in the Sikkim Assembly. In its full meeting held in New Delhi, the Commission gave its approval to the proposal of increasing reserve seats for Scheduled Tribes from 12 to 17 in Sikkim Assembly. At present there are 32 members in the Sikkim assembly and now it would be increased to 40. The Tribal Affairs Minister in a release said, out of the proposed additional eight seats, five seats would be reserved for Limbu and Tamang tribes. • Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel has said that Injectible contraceptive Medroxy Progesterone Acetate (MPA) will be rolled out in the country in a phased manner. In the Lok Sabha, she said that the government has approved Injectible contraceptive for introduction recently under the National Family Programme. It is being introduced first from the government medical hospitals and district hospitals. MOHALI – SCO 111, 2nd Floor & 106, 1st Floor Phase 10 | +91-8264357356, 8264579087, 0172-4014825 4 | [email protected] | www.indusacademics.com Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. • President Pranab Mukherjee has called upon all stakeholders to redouble their efforts for an early achievement of the goal of TB elimination. In his message on World Tuberculosis Day, Mr Mukherjee said, TB continues to be one of the major health challenges of India. World Tuberculosis Day is observed on 24th March to commemorate the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the TB bacillus. • Rajya Sabha has passed HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014. The Bill seeks to safeguard the rights of people living with HIV and affected by HIV. It aims to prevent social stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. • The Uttarakhand High Court has recognized the Ganga and Yamuna Rivers as living entities. It is for the first time any court in India has recognized a nonhuman as a living entity. • History was created when Lok Sabha cleared all the four bills for the launch of the much-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST), the country's biggest tax reform since Independence. The GST will unify the country into a common market, eliminating a string of central and state levies. Central taxes such as the central excise duty, additional excise duty, additional customs duty and service tax will all be merged into one CGST. State levies such as VAT, sales tax, entertainment tax, purchase tax, mandi tax, luxury tax, octroi and entry tax will be subsumed into SGST. [Important] • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for synergy between various Government Departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agricultural Universities to work out efficient cropping patterns and water-use mechanisms in the command areas of irrigation projects. The Prime Minister was reviewing the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, the Government's flagship irrigation programme with the officials of the concerned Ministries in New Delhi. The Supreme Court has banned the sale and registration of Bharat Stage III (BS-III) vehicles from April 1 , when BSIV emission norms would come into force across the country, saying that health of citizens is more important than commercial interests. A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said that BS-III vehicles could aggravate the already deteriorating air quality in the country and such a step was needed to handle the menace of pollution. • Supreme Court has refused to restore administrative and Judicial work to Calcutta High Court Judge CS karnan and granted him four weeks time to respond to contempt notice. A seven judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar took note of personal appearance of Justice Karnan, a first in the history of Indian judiciary, and asked him to respond to the allegations leveled against various judges in his several communications. • Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has launched the e-Cinepramaan, an online film certification system of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). This initiative was launched on the lines of Union Government's vision of ease-ofdoing business and digital India, to make the entire process transparent and efficient. Indian Air Force has formally launched web based e-billing system Aviation Turbine Fuel Digital Issue and Payment. It was unveiled by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa in New Delhi. Kanha Tiger Reserve has become the first tiger reserve in India to officially introduce a mascot - Bhoorsingh the Barasingha - to present the hard ground swamp deer as the spirit of the reserve and spread awareness to save it from possible extinction. Barasingha, or swamp deer, is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh. The Kanha tiger reserve, spread over Mandla and Balaghat districts, is the only place in the world where the species exists. • Parliament has unanimously passed the Goods and Services Tax Bills with the Rajya Sabha considering and returning to the Lok Sabha. Before returning these bills, it rejected all the amendments. The Bills are Central GST, Integrated GST, Union Territory GST and GST Compensation. The Central GST deals with taxation related to Centre, integrated GST deals in taxation of inter-state movement of goods and services while the Union Territory GST Bill covers taxation in Union Territories. Replying to the debate, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assured the Rajya Sabha that agricultural produce will not be taxed under the new indirect tax regime. He said, all those items which are exempted as of now will continue to be exempted. On GST network, MOHALI – SCO 111, 2nd Floor & 106, 1st Floor Phase 10 | +91-8264357356, 8264579087, 0172-4014825 5 | [email protected] | www.indusacademics.com Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. • Union Cabinet has cleared approved setting up an independent rail regulator, named Rail Development Authority . It will be based in Delhi and will be set up through an executive order. • India, along with three other G 4 countries namely Brazil, Japan and Germany, have emphasized the principle of non-discrimination between current and new permanent members in an expanded Security Council of the United Nations. Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, the G4 has emphasized that as a principle, the new permanent members should have all the responsibilities and obligations as well as prerogatives of the current permanent members. • In a bid to strengthen ties, India and Bangladesh signed nearly two dozen pacts comprising defence and civil nuclear cooperation after successful talks between their Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina who was on a four day visit to India. Mr. Modi held extensive discussions with Ms. Hasina on ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. • The Parliament has passed the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Prevention and Control Bill, 2017. It is the first national HIV law in South Asia. The Bill seeks to safeguard the rights of people living with HIV and affected by HIV. It aims to prevent social stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV). Indus Academics: Pathway to career in Defence Services  NDA upcoming batch: Oct 2017  AFCAT upcoming batch: Dec 2017  CDSE upcoming batch: Dec 2017  Scholarships available for wards of Defence Personnel, Economically weaker & students from North-East on FCFS Basis  Early bird discount for first five registrations & meritorious students in each course.  Genuine consideration for Board toppers & meritorious students.  Updated UPSC standard study Material for NDA/CDS/AFCAT/TA . • The Nation remembered Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, chief architect of Indian constitution, on his 126th birth anniversary on 14th April. President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes at Babasaheb's Statue in the Parliament House Complex in New Delhi. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, chief architect of the Constitution of India, was born on 14th April 1891 at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, which is now known as Dr Ambedkar Nagar. He was also the first law minister of India. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the government’s ‘DigiDhan’ movement for digital payment is a step towards curbing the menace of corruption. Speaking in Nagpur on the 126th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar on 14th April, Mr Modi launched two new schemes under the BHIM App for referral bonus to individual users and cash-back for merchants to incentivise them. Seeking to rope in youngsters to promote cashless transactions, the Prime Minister said any person who introduces someone to BHIM app, that person will get a cash back of 10 rupees and if someone refers 20 people a day, the person can earn 200 rupees. The Prime Minister felicitated the winners of the mega draw of incentive schemes to promote digital payments – the Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapaar Yojana. He asked the awardees to become ambassadors of a less-cash campaign. Mr. Modi also launched the ambitious 'Home for All by 2022' scheme under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana by performing ground-breaking for 21 projects coming up in Maharashtra. 42,000 affordable houses are to be built within 36 months in the State. MOHALI – SCO 111, 2nd Floor & 106, 1st Floor Phase 10 | +91-8264357356, 8264579087, 0172-4014825 6 | [email protected] | www.indusacademics.com Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. • Centre has reduced the number of centrally sponsored schemes from 66 to 28 umbrella schemes, effective from the financial year 2016-17. These schemes were reduced based on the recommendation of the sub- group of Chief Ministers on rationalisation of centrally sponsored schemes. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to the martyrs who lost their lives in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, valour and heroism of the martyrs will never be forgotten. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 when a crowd of nonviolent protesters, along with Baishakhi pilgrims, who had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab’s Amritsar, were fired upon by troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer. • April 13 this year marked the 33rd anniversary of Operation Meghdoot. Operation Meghdoot was an Indian armed forces operation launched on 13 April 1984 to capture the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir. This military operation was unique because it was the first assault launched in world’s highest battlefield. • Justice Gita Mittal has been appointed as the acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court with effect from April 14. Her appointment comes at the backdrop of the retirement of current Chief Justice Gorla Rohini. • Union Cabinet has approved setting up of Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh as Institute of National Importance through an Act of Parliament. • April 13 this year marked the 33rd anniversary of Operation Meghdoot. Operation Meghdoot was an Indian armed forces operation launched on 13 April 1984 to capture the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir. This military operation was unique because it was the first assault launched in world’s highest battlefield. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said civil servants should adopt new ways of doing work as per the changing times. Addressing bureaucrats on the 11th civil services day on 21st April. • The Union Cabinet has decided to ban the use of red beacons on all VIP vehicles, including those of the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister, from May 1. • The Supreme Court has questioned the Centre for making Aadhaar mandatory for procuring Permanent Account Number (PAN) card. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, told a bench headed by Justice A K Sikri that they have found that people were giving details of PAN cards which have been procured on the basis of fake documents. Rohatgi said there were instances that one person was having a number of PAN cards and these fake cards were being used to divert funds to shell companies. To this, the bench asked the Attorney General, whether this was the remedy that one need to have Aadhaar for having PAN. The apex court further asked why has Aadhaar been made mandatory. • The government has said it would not take a decision on a Law Commission report, which has proposed stringent punishment against lawyers for misconduct, before holding consultations with the legal fraternity. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters in New Delhi that the government has not taken any decision on the recommendations of Law Commission. • Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked the authorized officers to take action against the Multi System Operators and Cable Operators who are still transmitting analog signals on cable TV network. The Ministry, in an advisory issued to States and Union Territories said, every cable operator is mandated to transmit or retransmit programmes in an encrypted form through digital addressable system with effect from the 1st of this month. The advisory came in the wake of complaints about carriage of analog signals by the MSOs and Cable operators. MOHALI – SCO 111, 2nd Floor & 106, 1st Floor Phase 10 | +91-8264357356, 8264579087, 0172-4014825 7 | [email protected] | www.indusacademics.com Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. • The government has directed Internet service providers ISPs to block distribution and transmission of child sexual abuse content by 31st July. In an order, Ministry of Electronics and IT said, ISPs having cable landing station gateways, international long distance licences in India shall be required to adopt and implement Internet Watch Foundation resources on or before 31st July. The directive has been issued after the recommendation of an inter-ministerial committee that was constituted to recommend solutions to address the issue of child sexual abuse material following a Supreme Court order. • India has finalised its National Action Plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This was announced the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda on April 19. Nadda said the government is ready with a blueprint which meets global expectations and that AMR needs to be addressed comprehensively under the “One Health Approach”. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the maiden flight under the government’s regional connectivity scheme ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik' (UDAN). The Prime Minister inaugurated Alliance Air’s Shimla-New Delhi flight from Jubbar Hatti airport near Shimla. Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, has deployed its 42-seater ATR plane on this sector.. Mr Modi called upon Airlines to start a Sikh circuit connecting important Gurudwaras.UDAN is a first-of-its-kind scheme globally to stimulate regional connectivity through a market- based mechanism. The government aims at connecting 45 unserved and under-served airports and make flying affordable by capping fares at 2500 rupees per seat per hour. • The Supreme Court has said, Lokpal Bill is a workable piece of legislation and it is not justifiable to keep its operation pending. The apex court had reserved its verdict last month on a batch of pleas seeking the appointment of Lokpal in the country. The plea by NGO, Common Cause had sought a direction to the Centre to make the appointment of chairperson and members of Lokpal as per the amended rules framed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. As per the Act, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is part of a selection committee which appoints the Lokpal. Other members of the committee are the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Justice of India or his nominee and an eminent jurist. • Centre has released around 20 thousand crore rupees so far under the Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP) for Jammu and Kashmir. This was disclosed at a high-level inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a package of 80 thousand crore rupees for the state. An official release said, the PMDP will provide a major development push for Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, the Centre has also approved to provide one lakh jobs for undergraduates and school dropouts under HIMAYAT scheme. • The Supreme Court has dismissed the Centres curative petition seeking a recall of its verdict giving police the liberty to probe the role of armed forces in alleged encounter cases in areas where AFSPA is in force. A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said that no case is made out within the parameters indicated in the decision of the apex court. The Centre had moved the Supreme Court on 12th April seeking recall of its verdict in the alleged extra-judicial killings case in Manipur. The Centre said the verdict negated the protection available to the armed forces under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, AFSPA during anti-militancy operations. • President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the 52nd Jnanpith Award on eminent Bengali poet Professor Sankha Ghosh at a function in New Delhi. He was awarded for his outstanding contribution in the field of literature. • Veteran Actor Vinod Khanna passed away in Mumbai on 27th April at the age of 70. He was suffering from cancer. Khanna was a sitting BJP MP from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab and was recently admitted to a hospital. • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a contempt notice to Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on a plea against him for blaming the Centre and the panel for damaging Yamuna floodplains by allowing his NGO to hold a cultural extravaganza. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued the notice and sought his reply before the 9th May the next date of hearing. MOHALI – SCO 111, 2nd Floor & 106, 1st Floor Phase 10 | +91-8264357356, 8264579087, 0172-4014825 8 | [email protected] | www.indusacademics.com Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. • Senior IPS Officer Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar has been appointed as the Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). • India has successfully carried out a fresh user trial of 3,000 kilometre range Agni-III ballistic missile from Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. • The South Asia Satellite has been launched by the Indian Space Research Organization ISRO successfully. The communication satellite on board the launch vehicle “GSLV F-Zero Nine” lifted off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota at 4.57 pm on 5th May and reached the geosynchronous transfer orbit. The South Asia Satellite has 12 Ku band transponders meant for communication purposes. They can also be used for broadcasting services, tele-medicine, tele-education and disaster management. The total cost of the satellite mission has worked out to be 450-crore rupees including 235 crore rupees for the satellite alone. As Prime Minister Modi had announced earlier, it is a gift by India to its neighbours. Six of India’s neighbours including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Srilanka and the Maldives have participated in the project. Pakistan pulled out of the project. The participating nations would be given at least a dedicated transponder for their exclusive use. The launch is a great boost for South Asian regional cooperation in jointly undertaking development initiatives. • The Union Government has declared entire Assam, besides bordering areas of Meghalaya, as a disturbed area, under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), for three more months. In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry cited violence perpetrated by insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and others as the reason for enforcing AFSPA for three more months with effect from the 3rd May.. AFSPA has been continuing in Assam since November, 1990. Indus Academics: Pathway to career in Defence Services  NDA upcoming batch: Oct 2017  AFCAT upcoming batch: Dec 2017  CDSE upcoming batch: Dec 2017  Scholarships available for wards of Defence Personnel, Economically weaker & students from North-East on FCFS Basis  Early bird discount for first five registrations & meritorious students in each course.  Genuine consideration for Board toppers & meritorious students.  Updated UPSC standard study Material for NDA/CDS/AFCAT/TA . • The Centre has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to take immediate steps to stop unauthorised broadcast of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian channels in the state. • Election Commission has said, it will hold all future elections using Electronic Voting Machines with Voter- verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT). Chief Election Commissioner i told this to reporters after holding an all- party meeting in New Delhi on 12th May. The meeting was convened to discuss the issues relating to the reliability of EVMs and VVPATs and electoral reforms. Chief Election Commissioner said, the Commission will also offer an opportunity to all political parties to prove that EVMs used in the recently held polls were tampered with or can be tampered. • Government has exempted the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Meghalaya and citizens above 80 years from mandatory quoting of Aadhaar to obtain PAN cards and file tax returns. In a notification, the Finance Ministry said, the exemption has been given to an individual who does not possess the Aadhaar number or the enrolment ID. The exemption will also apply on non-residents and non-citizens. he MOHALI – SCO 111, 2nd Floor & 106, 1st Floor Phase 10 | +91-8264357356, 8264579087, 0172-4014825 9 | [email protected] | www.indusacademics.com Competitive Exam Prep for UPSC IAS / CDS / NDA, AFCAT Exam. government, under the Finance Act 2017, has made it mandatory for taxpayers to quote Aadhaar or enrolment ID of the Aadhaar application form for filing tax returns. Besides, quoting Aadhaar has also been made mandatory for applying for PAN with effect from 1st of July. • Supreme Court has said the practice of triple talaq is the worst and undesirable form of dissolution of marriages among Muslims, even though there were schools of thought which termed it as legal. This observation came on the second day of continued hearing on the matter. • A seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar has sentenced the Calcutta High Court judge, Justice C S Karnan to six months of imprisonment for repeated incidents of contempt of court. This is the first time that the Supreme Court has sent a high court judge to jail on charges of contempt. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Supreme Court’s Integrated Case Management Information System (ICMIS). This digital filing system will mark Supreme Court’s first towards becoming a paperless, digital court. • The Government has said prescription of generic medicines has been made compulsory in government hospitals. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chemical and Fertilizer Minister Ananth Kumar said the Health Ministry has sent an advisory to the government hospitals in this connection. • Light combat aircraft 'Tejas' has successfully test-fired an air-to-air missile paving the way for powering the indigenously-built aircraft with missiles having beyond visual range (BVR) capabilities The test-firing was conducted on a manoeuvrable aerial target at the interim test range at Chandipur in Odisha The Defence Ministry said that the objective was to assess the integration of the BVR missile with avionics fire-control radar launchers and missile weapon delivery system of Tejas The Ministry said all on-board systems performed satisfactorily during the launch and the missile scored a direct hit on the target destroying it completely. • Election Commission has said, it will hold all future elections using Electronic Voting Machines with Voter- verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT). Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi told this to reporters after holding an all-party meeting in New Delhi on 12th May. The meeting was convened to discuss the issues relating to the reliability of EVMs and VVPATs and electoral reforms. Chief Election Commissioner said, the Commission will also offer an opportunity to all political parties to prove that EVMs used in the recently held polls were tampered with or can be tampered. • National Technology Day was observed across India on May 11 to mark India’s technological advancements. The theme for National Technology Day 2017 was ‘Technology for inclusive and sustainable growth’. The day is commemorated to celebrate the anniversary of first of the five tests of Operation Shakti (Pokhran-II) nuclear test, held on 11 May 1998 in Pokhran, Rajasthan. • Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave passed away on 18th May, 2017. He was 60. Anil Madhav Dave was on July 6, 1956 in Badnagar of Madhya Pradesh. He was a Member of Parliament representing the state. He had also founded an organisation called 'Narmada Samagra' for conservation of Narmada. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Narmada Seva Mission for the conservation of river Narmada,. The river serves as a lifeline of Madhya Pradesh. He also released a road map for the series of steps to be taken for the conservation of Narmada river. The event was organized at Amarkantak in Anooppur district of Madhya Pradesh. The event also marked the conclusion of 'Namami Devi Narmada Seva Yatra’. • The National Green Tribunal, NGT has banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the floodplains of the Yamuna. In an order issued on 19th May,. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also constituted a committee headed by Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to cleaning of the river and asked it to submit reports at regular intervals. 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