Daily current affairs dated 20 April, 2017

Daily current affairs dated 20 April, 2017

Gandhi’s stamps sold for Rs. 4.14 crore

A set of 1948 stamps picturing Mahatama Gandhi has sold for a record of 500,000 pound. The “Unique” strip of four ten-rupee stamps is considered the most important and desirable item of post-Indian independence. The purple-brown stamps are emblazoned with the word “SERVICE” and were issues to then governor-general’s secretariat for official use.

Jackie Shroff get Raj Kapoor award

Veteran actor Saira Banu has been named for the prestigious Raj Kapoor Lifetime achievement award of the Maharashtra Government. Actor Jackie Shroff is selected for the Raj Kapoor special contribution award. Marathi actors Vikram Gokhale and Arun Nalawale has been selected for the coveted V. Shantaraman Lifetime achievement award and V. Shantaraman special contribution and annual awards.

Austrailia Unveils new citizenship process

Australia has unveils major changes to citizen process. Aspiring citizens will have to undergo tougher tests on their English language skills and ability to demonstrate Australian values. Migrants must demonstrate support for religious freedom and gender equality respect for women and children. Applicants must also have completed four years as permanent resident.

Taj Mansingh Hotel to be auctioned

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to E-auction Taj Mansingh Hotel. Taj Mansingh Hotel is presently run by Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (IHCL). IHCL has approached against the Delhi High Court order, which had paved the way for auctioning of the Historic property.

Nabard extends Rs 9,241 crore to banks

NABARD has extended Rs. 9,241 crore as refinance support to cooperative banks and regional rural banks (RRBs) in Gujarat. The loan has been given for providing crop loans to farmers during 2016-17. NABARD has provided Rs 2,274 crore to the state government for irrigation projects under rural infrastructure development fund (RIDF).

India contributes $250,000 to UN

India has made a quarter-million-dollar contribution to the UN programme for helping countries to hold elections and develop their electoral systems. This is the second Indian contribution of $ 250,000 to the programme for electoral assistance and capacity building.  The division principally provides technical assistance for organizing and conducting elections.

Action plan for antimicrobial resistance

The minister of Health and Family Welfare has finished comprehensive and multi-sectoral national action plan to combat the menace of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India. The ministers have signed a ‘Delhi Declaration’ for collectively strategizing to contain AMR. Declaration calls on all stakeholders including UN, WHO, FAO and other UN agencies to help India fight AMR.

8.65% percent interest rate on EPF approved

Finance Ministery has revised interest rate on Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) to 8.65 percent for the financial year 2016-17. The change in interest rates will enable the retirement fund body EPFO to pay this interest rate to accounts of nearly four crore subscribers. There will be a surplus fund after providing 8.65% interest rate for the last fiscal.

100 percent paper trail voting in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh

ECI has decided to link all Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter-verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections. VVPAT machines produce a print out of the vote cast using an EVM. The print out is deposited in a box and can be used to resolve any dispute regarding the election.

Narendra Modi and Paytm Head most influential people

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been featured in the Time’s Magazine’s 100 most influential people list. Along with PM Modi, who is a regular on the Time’s list, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma too has made the cut. Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, riding high on the digital economy wave in India, has been featured in the Time list under the Titans category.

Sachin Tendulkar: face for clean Ganga

Sachin Tendulkar may be the new face of the National Mission for Clean Ganga. Prime Minister’s office is preparing a mega campaign to sensitize about the need to reduce the pollution in the holy river. Next month onwards, events and activities around the Ganga Dussehra, Ganga Ekadashi and a Char Dham Yatra are also being planned to generate public interest.

40 year old definition of Blindness, gone

India has changed its definition of blindness, bringing it in line with the WHO criteria. According to the new definition, a person who is unable to count fingers from a distance of three meters would be considered “blind” as against the earlier stipulation of six meter, which was adopted in 1976.

Modi will inaugurate UN Vesak day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate UN Vesak day in columbo on May 12. Vesak Day, also known as Budhha Poornima, is a traditional holiday commemorated by Sri Lanka’s majority Sinhala Budhists. This year’s celebration, with the theme ‘Buddhist teachings for social Justice and sustainable world peace’, will be marked through the series of programmes from May 12-14.

China launches unmanned cargo spacecraft

China on April 20 launched its first unmanned cargo spacecraft on a mission to dock with the country’s space station, making further progress in the ambitious Chinese Space Programme. The Tianzhou 1 blasted off a top a latest generation Long March 7. It will conduct scientific experiments after reaching the now-crewless Tiangong 2, China’s second space station.