Current Affairs Today 03rd April 2019 | Current Affairs News

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Daily Current Affairs PDF of 3rd April 2019

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

Japan reveals new imperial era name – Reiwa

• Japan named its next imperial era Reiwa, or roughly ‘auspicious calm’, as the nation prepared for a once-in-a-generation transition in the world’s oldest continuous monarchy, with a new emperor set to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne next month.
• The word ‘reiwa’ implies the people’s hearts coming together in beauty to create and develop culture.
• Emperor Akihito, 85, is preparing to step down at the end of the month, drawing the curtain on his three-decade reign. His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 59, will replace him May 1, marking the beginning of the new era.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

Odisha receives GI tag for ‘Kandhamal Haldi’

• ‘Kandhamal Haldi’, a variety of turmeric indigenous to southern Odisha, has earned the Geographical indication (GI) tag from Intellectual Property India.
• The recognition coincided with the state’s Foundation Day (Utkal Divas). Odisha, on April 1 1936.
• This unique variety of turmeric is grown in Odisha’s southern hinterland. It is key cash crop of tribal people from Kandhamal district of Odisha.
• It has multifaceted utility in food, medicine and cosmetics considering its unique aroma and color to food items and various cuisines.

Centre extends “disturbed area” tag under AFSPA for three districts of Arunachal Pradesh

• The Centre has extended the “disturbed area” tag under  Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for three districts of  Arunachal Pradesh for another six months.
• The decision was taken after considering the present law and order situation in the six districts of the state. The three districts which will continue to be designated as disturbed areas under AFSPA are Tirap, Changlang and Longding.
• The designation, which allows imposition of AFSPA, will also continue for the four police stations areas of the state’s three other districts bordering Assam. They include Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district, Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district and Sunpura in Lohit district.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

Kotak Bank to levy charges on UPI transactions like Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe

• From the 1st May 2019, Kotak Mahindra Bank will charge for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions.
• UPI was the leading contributor of the digital payments push since demonetization.
• For each bank account, first 30 UPI fund transfers will continue to be free, every month.
• The charges Rs. 2.50 per transaction for below or equal to Rs. 1,000, and above Rs. 1,000, Rs. 5.00 per transaction, will be applicable for all fund transfers done via UPI using a Kotak Bank account. This will also include payment apps, such as Paytm,Google Pay, and PhonePe.
• The 30 free UPI funds transfers will also include money transfer made to any bank account using the account number and IFSC code. That will also attract the same charges as UPI transactions

Cardif sells 5 crore shares in SBI Life Insurance for 2,889 crore 

• BNP Paribas Cardif, the foreign partner of SBI Life Insurance, sold 5 crore shares of the company for Rs. 2,889 crore.
• The sale was done at average price of Rs. 577.93 per equity share.
• Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has bought 2 crore shares at an average price of Rs 577.50 per shares, as per the regulatory filing.
• The company is required to increase its public shareholding to 25 per cent of its paid-up equity share capital on or before October 2, 2020.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Eight core industries show 2.1% growth in February 2019

• The combined index of eight core industries stood at 125.8 in February 2019, which indicates a marginal increase of 2.1 per cent during the month.
• The eight core industries, including coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity, are responsible for almost 41 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• Coal production:It grew by 7.3% in February 2019 against 1.3% growth in the same period a year ago.
• Steel production:It recorded 17.92% growth as against 5% growth in the same period a year ago.
• Natural gas production: It grew by 3.8%.
• Fertilizers Sector:It grew by 2.5%.
• Cement production: Itgrew by 8%.
• Electricity production:It grew by 0.7%, falling from 4.6% growth in February 2018.
• Production of crude oil:It recorded -6.1% growth.
• Refinery products:It recorded -0.8% growth

Paytm gets SEBI approval to offer stock broking services

• Alibaba-backed Paytm’s subsidiary Paytm Money has received approval from Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to begin stock broking services to let its users buy shares through the platform.
• The broking services will allow investors to trade in the cash segment, derivatives, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), among other listed entities.
• In addition to this, Paytm Money’s membership with exchanges   BSE & NSE was also approved.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigns

• Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has resigned after weeks of mass protests.
• The eighty-two year old leader was in power for 20 years and was under mounting pressure to step down since his decision to seek a fifth term. Mr Bouteflika was rarely being seen in public after suffering a stroke in 2013.

Google India head Rajan Anandhan Quits after 8 years

• Google India head Rajan Anandan has resigned from his post to focus full-time on investing in promising early-stage technology startups across India and Southeast Asia.

• He will continue his role at Google until the end of April 2019.

• His responsibility will be taken over by Country Director Sales Vikas Agnihotri in the interim.
• After Google, Rajan Anandan is all set to join Sequoia Capital India as Managing Director

CURRENT AFFAIRS: COMMITTEES

Government proposed 2 committees to probe complaints against Information Commissioners

• Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has proposed to constitute two bureaucratic committees to probe and decide on complaints against Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs).
• It envisages setting up of two committees — one, to receive and decide on complaints against CIC and second one for complaints against ICs.
• Committee for CIC:It will comprise of Cabinet Secretary; DoPT Secretary and retired CIC.
• Committee for ICs:It will include Secretary (Coordination) in Cabinet Secretariat; DoPT Secretary, and retired IC.

 CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Batman to be first inductee into Comic-Con Museum’s Character Hall of Fame

• Batman, who turned 80 years old, got a birthday gift at WonderCon in Anaheim, with the fictional character being announced as the first entrant to the Comic-Con Museum’s Character Hall of Fame
• The ceremony will take place at the Federal Building in San Diego’s Balboa Park, the future site of the Comic-Con Museum, on July 17.
• Batman first appeared in the ‘Detective Comics No. 27’ published on March 30, 1939, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU

India inks an agreement with a development bank for setting up Institute of Agriculture & Rural Development in Malawi

• India signed an agreement with a development bank for setting up India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development (IAIARD) in Malawi.
• The ministry of External affairs signed the MoU with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Consultancy Service (NABCONS).
• The agreement was signed as a part of India’s efforts to enhance capacity in the areas of agro-financing and entrepreneurship development for African countries.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Garuda Prakashan launches ‘Modi Again’ and ‘Saffron Swords’

• One of India’s homegrown startup publishing houses – Garuda Prakashan is all set to launch its next two books ‘#Modi Again’ and ‘Saffron Swords – Centuries of Indic Resistance to Invaders’.
• ‘#Modi Again: Why Modi is right for India, An Ex-Communist’s Manifesto’ is the story of someone who was raised on communist ideology but grew to question the dogmas he was taught in the education system. It’s a fascinating journey about decolonization, its relevance far beyond one election authoring the book ‘#Modi Again’, Aabhas Maldahiyar.
• Manoshi’Sinha’s ‘Saffron Swords: Centuries of Indic Resistance to Invaders’ is another book of timeless tales. It fills in the gap in the current education system which treats invasions of India as one long saga of defeat for Indian people.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

India’s first professional Kho Kho league launched

• The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI), along with eminent industrialist Amit Burman has launched the country’s first franchise-based league for the sport – Ultimate Kho Kho.
• KKFI has partnered with Dabur India for this event. Eight teams will participate in the event.
• CEO of the Ultimate Kho-Kho league: Tenzing Niyogi (former sports advisory leader at Ernst and Young)
• Chairman of the Ultimate Kho-Kho league: Rajeev Mehta

Ghosal 1st Indian male to enter top-10 in PSA world rankings

• Saurav Ghosal became the first Indian male squash player to enter the top 10 in the PSA world rankings.
• Indian women squash players, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal, had earlier reached the top-10 in the women’s world rankings.
• Ghosal has moved up two places to a career-high ranking of tenth.
• Egypt’s world champion Ali Farag, meanwhile, maintains his position at the top of the ladder.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

Renowned dramatist Kartik Rath passed away

• Noted Odia theatre personality Kartik Chandra Rath has passed away
• Rath is known for organising the international theatre festival in Cuttack for more than 20 years
• He won the Sahitya Akademi Award and also won the prestigious literary award for his One Act Play ‘Nisang Bisarga’.
• Recipient of Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi award and Odishi Sangeet Natak Akademi award, Rath has penned over hundred plays and directed over 500 plays in his career as a dramatist.

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