VINTAGE

 IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 3rd, 2018

 IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 3rd, 2018

1.  Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was today arrested by anti-corruption investigators over his links to misappropriation of $4.5 billion from the state-run 1MDB wealth fund, which was set up to promote economic development. 

2.  The 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) intersessional ministerial meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan. 

a.   It was first RCEP ministerial gathering to be held outside ASEAN countries. 

b.   This meeting was co-chaired by Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing and his Japanese counterpart Hiroshige Seko.

c.   During the meeting, ministers from member countries had in-depth discussions on issues such as trade, service, investment and rules at the meeting.  

d.   Note : The RCEP is a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six states with which ASEAN has existing free trade agreements (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand).

   3.  Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today announced that the government has decided to seek Death Penalty for drug peddling and smuggling. 

4.  The Rajasthan government today announced 1% reservations for five communities– Gujjar, Banjara, Gadia-Lohar, Raika, and Gadariya– under the Most Backward Classes (MBC) category. 

5.  Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal along with the spiritual leader Dalai Lama today launched a 'Happiness Curriculum' for students studying in Class Nursery to Class 8 in government schools. 

a.   The curriculum will include a 45-minute ‘Happiness’ class, which will include meditation, value education, and mental exercises.

6.  With an aim to improve health of school children, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today launched a scheme titled 'Annapurna milk distribution scheme' to provide milk to the students of class 1 to 8.

a.   Under this scheme, nearly 62 lakh students studying in government schools and madrassas will be benefitted with fresh and pure milk thrice in a week.

 7.  Milan Tare, a fisherman from Satpati village in Palghar, who saved 12 crew members in a two-hour operation, is going to receive the National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Award at a function at Vigyan Bhavan on July 5 chaired by Coast Guard DG Rajendra Singh.

  8.  The National Advisor Bureau Limited (NABL) of the UAE has proposed to tow icebergs from Antarctica to use them as new sources of water in the Middle East. 

a.   With an estimated cost of $50-60 million, the project will begin with the pilot phase in 2019.

9.  Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas was formally inducted into Indian Air Force (IAF)'s 'Flying Daggers' squadron, which earlier had Russian MiG-21s. 

a.   The IAF is looking at adding 14 Tejas aircraft in the next two years as it seeks to replace the old Russian MiG-21s. 

b.   The indegenously developed fighter aircraft, Tejas, is said to be the smallest and lightest supersonic fighter aircraft of their class.

   10.              Former Navy chief Admiral JG Nadkarni (86) passed away today.

a.   He served as Chief of the Naval Staff from December 1, 1987 to November 30, 1990. 

b.   He participated in the Liberation of Goa and played a stellar role in the India-Pakistan War 1965 and in 1971.

11. Rajmata of the erstwhile Marwar principality and former MP, Krishna Kumari (92) passed away.

a.   Born in a royal family in Gujarat, she had married Jodhpur's then-ruler Hanwant Singh in 1943.

  12.              Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL), Assam has became first oil Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in India to adopt an online legal compliance system by introducing ‘Legatrix‘. 

a.   Legatrix is cloud-based compliance management system to serve as onestop solution for effectively managing organisations legal and regulatory compliances through monitoring control at different levels. 

b.   This initiative aims to induce greater transparency NRL’s operations and augment its contribution towards Digital India Mission of the Government.

   13.              Saraswati Prasad, Special Secretary and Financial Advisor, Ministry of Steel, has taken over the additional charge of the post of Chairman and Managing Director of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL).

a.   He is going to replace P K Singh who retired on Saturday.

14. Online food delivery startup Swiggy has appointed Vivek Sunder as the startup's first Chief Operating Officer (COO) after four years of being founded.

15. TV anchor Rajat Sharma, known for his show 'Aap Ki Adalat', has been elected as President of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) after winning over 54% of the total votes cast.

a.   Sharma defeated 1983 World Cup-winning cricketer Madan Lal by 517 votes. 

b.   Important Note : DDCA is the first cricket body to hold elections after the implementation of Lodha Committee recommendations.

16. P.K. Shrivastava has taken over as the new Director General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF) and Chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) with effect from July 1.

17. Justice Thottathil Bhaskaran Nair Radhakrishnan, presently Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court, will assume charge as Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court.