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Current Affairs Current Affairs July 2018

Brexit Secretary David Davis Resigns

 Brexit Secretary David Davis has resigned from the UK government. The resignation comes days after British Prime Minister Theresa May secured the Cabinet’s backing for her Brexit plan at a meeting at Chequers outside London. Shortly after Mr Davis’ resignation, his deputy Steve Baker, and another Brexit Minister Suella Braverman also quit.
Source- The Guardian
Catgeory: International

Prakash Javadekar Inaugurates 17th World Sanskrit Conference In Canada

 Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the 17th World Sanskrit Conference held at Vancouver, Canada. More than 500 scholars and delegates from over 40 countries will participate in the five-day conference and exchange their knowledge by presenting papers on various subjects. The purpose of this conference is to promote, preserve and practice the Sanskrit language all over the world by the people. The World Sanskrit Conference is being held in various countries across the globe once in every three years and so far it has been held thrice in India. 
Source- DD News
Catgeory: International

Government to launch Global Housing Construction Technology Challenge under PMAY-U

 The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is going to launch Global Housing Construction Technology Challenge as part of technology sub-mission of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U). The challenge aims to accelerate PMAY-U’s target of providing ‘housing for all’ as the scheme is moving at pace far slower than its rural counterpart.
  • Global Housing Construction Technology Challenge
Through this global challenge, MoHUA will invite ideas for innovative technologies for mass housing projects that can help build houses faster, cheaper and of better quality with sustainable green materials. The selected technologies will be tried and tested to be found suitable to geographical conditions of six different urban areas selected across the country with varying terrains such as hilly, plain, or earthquake-prone etc. Four parameters in challenge are time, cost, quality, and sustainability. The winning technologies will be used to build 1,000 houses, multi-storey or otherwise, depending on area type, in each of these places. The technology will chosen in such a way that it is scalable so that it can be used to construct cheaper and faster mass housing in similar areas.
  • Significance
The global challenge will invite best innovative ideas from across globe for alternative technologies that go beyond brick-and-mortar building model used widely in Indian construction. The winning technologies, selected based on criteria laid down by a technical committee of MoHUA under this challenge, will be used to build mass houses in tie-up with states, for economically weaker sections and low-income groups under affordable housing project vertical of PMAY-U. Such houses will be constructed in varying geo-climatic zones across the country. The winning technologies will be used to construct houses within the next six to seven months, as against the one-year period required to finish such a project.
  • Background
Under PMAY-U, around 8 lakh houses have been constructed since its launch in June 25, 2015. It does not even account for 10% of revised MoHUA target of providing 1.2 crore houses by 2022. As against this, under rural component of the scheme, PMAY-Gramin, 48.26 lakh houses have been built, with pace almost on course of meeting target of 2.95 crore houses by 2022.
Catgeory: National

JEE (Main), NEET to be held twice a year, over multiple days: HRD Ministry

 Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has announced that two of India’s most popular competitive exams, Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) (Main) and National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET), will now be held twice a year and over multiple days. Both exams will be conducted by newly formed National Testing Agency (NTA). It will also conduct National Eligibility Test (NET).
  • Key Facts
All these exams were earlier conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Henceforth, JEE (Main) for undergraduate admission into various engineering colleges will be held twice a year in January and April. NEET for admission into medical and dental courses will be held in February and May. NET to determine eligibility for post of assistant professor or award of junior research fellowship will be held in December. NTA will conduct these exams will be held over many days and students will have option to choose date. Moreover, if student appearing for JEE (Main) and NEET both times in a year, best of his/ her two scores will be taken into account. All tests will be computer-based and practice modules will be made available on NTA website. For conducing these exams, NTA will create network of test centres and students will be able to use them free of charge. These exams will be conducted more securely, at par with international norms and there will be no issues of leakage and it will be more student-friendly, open, scientific.
  • Significance
By holding these competitive professional career exams twice a year, students will not lose one year because there will be two examinations before admission. This will give students more choice and reduce stress due to single exam conducted on one single day in year. This will give more chances to students, thereby giving adequate opportunity to bring out his/her best.
  • Background
The Union Cabinet approved in November 2017 approved setting up of the NTA as an autonomous body to conduct examinations for entrance to higher educational institutions. Apart from above three exams, NTA will also conduct Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT). JEE (Advanced) exam conducted for IITs entrance will be not conducted by NTA.
Catgeory: National

Brexit Secretary David Davis Resigns

 Brexit Secretary David Davis has resigned from the UK government. The resignation comes days after British Prime Minister Theresa May secured the Cabinet’s backing for her Brexit plan at a meeting at Chequers outside London. Shortly after Mr Davis’ resignation, his deputy Steve Baker, and another Brexit Minister Suella Braverman also quit.
Source- The Guardian
Catgeory: Appointments

6th edition of biennial World Cities Summit held in Singapore

 The sixth edition of biennial World Cities Summit was held in Singapore from July 8 to 12, 2018. Its theme was “Liveable & Sustainable Cities: Embracing the Future through Innovation and Collaboration“. The summit was held together with Singapore International Water Week and CleanEnviro Summit Singapore.
  • Key Facts
The summit was jointly organised by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities and Urban Redevelopment Authority. This year theme went beyond themes of urban governance and liveable cities, to embrace future of cities through technology, innovation and collaboration. The summit explored ways for making cities more liveable and resilient through better governance and planning, technology and social innovations as well as collaborations with various stakeholders with other cities.  It brought together over 20,000 attendees and record number of mayors from over 100 cities around the world to drive future-forward solutions. It provided unique integrated global platform to drive integrated urban solutions, connect global business experts, policy-makers, industry leaders and innovators through strategic collaborative efforts and cutting-edge technologies.
  • World Cities Summit
It is biennial international conference series on public governance and sustainable development of cities. It provides platform for government leaders and industry experts to address liveable and sustainable city challenges, share integrated urban solutions and forge new partnerships. It brings together practitioners and policy makers with leading experts in their field to identify innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges facing cities. The first summit, was held in Singapore in June 2008 and focused on the theme of “Liveable and Vibrant Cities”.
Catgeory: International

RIL Becomes India's Largest Tax Payer In Private Sector

 Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani at the Reliance Industries’ 41st Annual General Meetingannounced that Reliance is India’s largest payer of Goods and Services Tax (GST), Excise and Customs Duty, and Income Tax in the private sector paying Rs.9844 crore in FY18. Reliance has become the first Indian company to record PBDIT (Profit Before Depreciation Interest and Taxes) of over $10 billion. Other Businesses Reliance Industries have are: refining, petrochemicals, retail and digital services.
Source- Business Standard 
Catgeory: Business

UN Member States Approve USD 6.69 Billion For 13 Peacekeeping Operations

 The UN member states have approved a 6.69 billion US Dollar budget for 13 peacekeeping operations for the year 2018-19. It is the second year in a row, the committee has made significant cuts to the overall peacekeeping budget. The Committee also approved significant management reforms including creation of two new departments focused on political and peacebuilding affairs and four stand-alone divisions for Africa. The United States is the biggest contributor to the United Nations.
Source- AIR World Service
Catgeory: International

India To Operate 'World’s Emptiest Airport' In Sri Lanka

 The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) would be operated as a Sri Lanka-India joint venture. The $210 million facility, 241km south-east of Colombo, is dubbed the “world’s emptiest airport” due to a lack of flights.  India would operate the airport as a Sri Lanka-India joint venture. The joint venture would see India gain a major stake of the airport. Currently, it is running a massive loss of Rs.20 billion.
Source- DD News
Catgeory: International

Nepal, India To Jointly Promote Tourism

 The 2nd meeting of the joint working group on tourism cooperation between India and Nepal concluded in Kathmandu, Nepal. Both sides agreed to jointly promote Buddhist and Ramayana circuits and Adventure tourism. The meeting also decided to set up an industry-led India Nepal Tourism Forum. The Indian delegation was led by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism Suman Billa, while Nepalese side was led by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ghanshyam Upadhyaya.
Source- The Hindu
Catgeory: Agreements

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