Daily GK Update [19th April, 2016]

1. Maneka launches Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme in 61 more districts

i. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 22nd January 2015 and has completed one year of implementation.

ii. On completion of its first year, the BBBP scheme is being expanded in additional 61 districts across 11 States/UTs with low Child Sex Ratio.
iii. The WCD Minister Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi launch the Beti Bachao, Beti Padho scheme in additional 61 districts.
iv. This Scheme launched by the Ministry at a high level conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi to be attended by Principal Secretaries, Departments of WCD/Social Welfare, Education and Health, Deputy Commissioners/Collectors and District Magistrates from the new 61 BBBP Districts.
v. The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme is designed to address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio and related issues of disempowerment of women through a life cycle continuum. Initially launched in select 100 districts (low on CSR), the key elements of the scheme include awareness and advocacy campaign, multi-sectoral action in select 100 districts (low on CSR) and effective enforcement of Pre-Conception & Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act.

2. India's Ad Growth Rate To Be The Fastest In 2016 : Report

i. According to agency Carat, India's 2016 advertising growth rate will be the fastest at 12%, which is ahead of global average of 4.5%. 

ii. The agency Carat is the part of the Dentsu Aegis Network. It urge the marketers of India to promote their goods and services, that is expected to propel the country’s advertising growth rate by a significant margin in 2016.

iii. It has also better India’s performance last year, when the advertising growth rate was 11%. 

iv. The report release by the agency says that India's ad growth rate will also be ahead of most other markets including the US (4.7 per cent), the UK (6.2 per cent), Russia (0.2 per cent), China (5.8 per cent), Japan (1.8 per cent), and Brazil (6.8 per cent).

v. The report also mentioned that the the size of advertising market in India is very small. It is around 50,000 crore only, which is very lower in terms of global. So, while a higher rate of growth is in part due to a small base, the agency stated that advisers in India are spending more on brand promotions as they seek to induce top recall in a competitive market. 

3. Inflation negative for 17th month; at —0.85% in March

i. Continuing the deflationary trend for 17th month, WPI inflation was at (—)0.85 per cent in March but may inch up gradually in the coming months on growing pressure on food and vegetable prices. 

ii. Wholesale Price Index-based inflation rate in March was marginally higher at (—)0.91 per cent in February. 

iii. In March last year, it was (—)2.33%.

iv. This is the 17th straight month since November 2014 when deflationary pressure persisted. Food inflation stood at 3.73 per cent in March compared with 3.35 per cent in February, showed official data. Inflation rate for vegetables came in at (—)2.26 per cent in March, while for cereals and pulses it was at 2.47 per cent and 34.45 per cent respectively.

v. India Ratings said that although prices of oil and manufactured items are expected to remain benign and keep the pressure on WPI inflation low, the same cannot be said about food inflation over the next few months despite the prediction of an above than normal monsoon.

4. PM Modi inaugurates superspeciality hospital in Katra

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in Katra belt of Reasi district.

ii. The 230-bed hospital has been set up by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board with an investment of about Rs 300 crore at Kakryal near Katra.

iii. At the inauguration, the Prime Minister was flanked by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and Health Minister Bali Bhagat.

iv. The hospital has more than 20 different streams of medicine and surgery, including cardiology, cardio-thoracic surgery, neurology, neuro surgery, nephrology etc.

v. Among the many novel features of the hospital project is the provision for rain water harvesting, solar energy utilisation, incineration of waste material, generators for power backup, and two sewage treatment plants, shopping complex, parking facility and various other required ancillary services.

5. Maneka Gandhi to inaugurate conference of north-east states on child adoption

i. The Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi inaugurated the Regional Conference of North Eastern States on Child Adoption in Shillong, Meghalaya. 

ii. The Conference was organized by the Central Adoption Resource Authority(CARA) of the WCD Ministry. 

iii. Ministers In-charge of Social Welfare and Women & Child Development in the North Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura participated in the conference. 

iv. Smt Maneka Gandhi said that this reform process has culminated in the enactment of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The new Act lays down timelines for the Child Welfare Committees and Adoption Agencies for various stages of adoption. 

v. The Act provides for mandatory registration of Childcare Institutions and linkage with CARA, so that each child becomes ‘adoptable’.

6. India, Afghanistan And Iran Finalize Draft Of Chabahar Trilateral Agreement

i. India, Afghanistan and Iran have finalized draft of the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement on Transport and Transit Corridors. 

ii. The agreement was finalized at the 2nd meeting of experts from the three counties in New Delhi. The agreement will be signed after completing necessary internal procedures in the three countries.

iii. This was a very tight matter for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomacy as it involved two rival Islamic nations, both rich in energy resources. 

iv. The Agreement envisions trilateral cooperation for providing alternative access to seas to Afghanistan, inter alia for Afghanistan’s trade with India. 

v. When this agreement will come into force it will facilitate better regional connectivity including between India and connections to Afghanistan and Central Asia. It will enhance the utilization of the Chabahar port and will also contribute to economic growth of landlocked Afghanistan. 

7. India Sign MoU With Mauritius For Cooperation In Traditional Medicine And Homoeopathy 

i. India and Mauritius have signed an MoU on cooperation in the field of traditional system of medicine and Homoeopathy. 

ii. The MoU was signed during the recent visit of Minster of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) and Health and Family Welfare Shripad Yesso Naik to Mauritius. 

iii. It also aims at promotion and popularization of the various Indian traditional systems which fall under AYUSH.

iv. The MoU will help to promote cooperation in the field of traditional system of health and medicine between the countries. 

v. It will also envisage the exchange of experts and supply of traditional medicinal substance because both the countries share a common culture with respect to the Ayurvedic system of medicine.

8. India To Purchase 145 M777 Howitzers For US$ 750 Million 

i. India is likely to buy 145 M777 Howitzers for $750 million to equip its Mountain Strike Corps. 

ii. The decision to buy ultra-light Howitzers produced by BAE Systems under the ‘Make In India’ program was discussed at a meeting on April 12 between Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and his US counterpart Ashton Carter.

iii. The artillery gun programme to equip the Mountain Strike Corps is being finalized as India and the US are in agreement on its “make in India” component. 

iv. The initial price notified by the US in 2012 was $694 million. The manufacturer has been seeking 10 per cent hike on the four-year-old price. The negotiation price is about $750 million. The tender will be for associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support. 

v. The Army intends to use the howitzers to modernize its forces and enhance its ability to operate in hazardous conditions. In India, the BAE Systems had tied up Mahindra as its business partner for its proposed in-country assembly, integration and test (AIT) facility for the M777 Howitzer.

9. Petroleum Minister Visit To Bangladesh

i. Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan is on a three day visit to Bangladesh from 17th to 19th of April, 2016. 

ii. The visit is to take stock of the ambitious agenda set for the India-Bangladesh Hydrocarbon Sector during the visit of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in June 2015.

iii. During the meeting with his counterpart, Shri Pradhan discussed issues on the bilateral Hydrocarbon Sector between the two countries. He also discussed modalities for sustainable supply of High Speed Diesel from Siliguri Marketing Terminal of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Parbatipur Depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). 

iv. He also included the setting up of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by IOCL and the Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline.

v. Today Mr. Pradhan will  travel to Chittagong for a day visit where he is scheduled to witness the award of contract by Eastern Refineries Ltd to Engineers India Ltd for its expansion of its refinery by 3 MMTPA.

10. Culture & Tourism Minister releases commemorative and circulation coin on Tatya Tope

i. Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Dr. Mahesh Sharma released a memorial Coin of Rs. 200/- and a Circulation Coin of Rs. 10/- on Tatya Tope on the occasion of his Martyr Day in New Delhi. 

ii. One of the most outstanding leaders of India’s First War of Independence, Tatya Tope was a patriot of the highest order. 

iii. He was captured by the British Forces on 07 April, 1859 and after a hurried trial for waging war against the East India Company, he was hanged to death on 18 April 1859 at Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh. 

iv. Ministry of Culture has been celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of Tatya Tope during 2015-16 in association with State Government of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively. 

v. The Government of India is also considering creation of infrastructure in the memory of Tatya Tope by constructing a Memorial at Yeola, Nasik, Maharashtra and a War Museum at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh in association with the respective State Governments. 

11. FICCI Ladies Org Plans To Set Up Centres In Gujarat

i. FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO) has planed to set up two Mahila Huts in Gujarat. 

ii. These centres will help in the upliftment of women belonging to all sections of the society through education and training.

iii. FLO is the women wing of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) which encourages and facilitate women to showcase their talents, skills, experiences and energies across sectors. 

iv. The organization Chairperson Roopa Patel said that the company plans to setup the 'Mahila Hut' at Vadodara and Ahmedabad in Gujarat. For the project the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has already agreed to give a plot to FLO for setting up a hut and the work will begin soon.

v. These huts will focus on empowering the girl-child and women at the grass-root level through education and training. The project will also provide the quality training programme for women in non-traditional jobs and support young women entrepreneurs through skill development.

12. PM’s awards for excellence in Public Administration On Civil Services Day function 

i. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will confer PM’s awards for excellence in Public Administration to civil servants on April 21, 2016. 

ii. PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration have been instituted with a view to acknowledge, recognize and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by officers of the Central and State Governments for the welfare of common citizen. 

iii. The Civil Services Day function will be organised at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on April 20- 21, 2016 by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. 

iv. A new category of Excellence in implementing a Priority Programme which includes Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY), Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), Swachh Vidyalaya and Soil Health Card Scheme has been added to the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration. 

v. A total of ten districts will be awarded the Prime Minister’s Awards this year under the four Priority Programmes. These awards will be given in three Groups, - the first group consists of eight North-Eastern States and the three Hill States of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The remaining 18 States constitute the second Group while the third Group comprises of the seven Union Territories. Eight awards will be given to the first and second Group under the four Priority Progammes and two awards will be given for Programmes - PMJDY and Swachh Vidyalaya for the third Group comprising seven Union Territories. 

13. President of India presents Hindi Sevi Samman Awards 

i. The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the Hindi Sevi Samman Awards for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 today (April 19, 2016) at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan in presence of Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Human Resource Development and other dignitaries.

ii. These Awards were instituted by Central Hindi Institute, Agra in 1989.  

iii. 14 scholars receive this award in seven different categories every year for their contribution in the field of Hindi language and literature.

14. 14th meeting of Foreign Ministers of Russia, India and China held in Moscow

i. The 14th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of India and the People's Republic of China was held on 18 April 2016 in Moscow, Russian Federation.

ii. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Union Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India Sushma Swaraj, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi took part in the meeting.

iii. The Ministers discussed various aspects of trilateral cooperation on global and regional issues, the progress in strengthening the international legal framework underlying the modern world order, and the neutralisation of common challenges.

iv. The exchange of views confirmed the three countries’ identical or similar approaches to the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, including Syria, the prospects for promoting the Middle Eastern settlement, and the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

v. They focused on stepping up efforts to combat international terrorism and the global drug threat. They also discussed on creating a new security and cooperation architecture in the Asia-Pacific region.

15. Novak And Serena Bag Top Honours At Laureus World Sports Awards

i. Tennis stars, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have walked away with their third 'Sportsman and sportswoman of the Year' Laureus World Sports Awards respectively.

ii. Both the players, who are the at the top of the Tennis rankings have won three Grand Slams last year.

iii. In the other categories, American golf star Jordan Spieth, who was also nominated in the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ category, won the ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ award. 

iv. Paralympic swimmer Daniel Dias of Brazil was given disabled sportsperson of the year award. He won the award for the third time while the New Zealand's Rugby World Cup-winning team, All Blacks was adjudged team of the year, with their captain Dan Carter bagging the comeback of the year award.

v. A special spirit of sport award was given posthumously to Johan Cruyff. He was given the award for helping to deliver sport-related projects for underprivileged children around the world. The Netherlands football legend died of cancer last month aged 68.