Indian Affairs, December 27th, 2017, Current Affairs PDF Download

INDIAN AFFAIRS

India’s 1st pod taxi on the way, to follow U.S. safety norms

The five-member committee headed by transport expert S K Dhramadhikari, set up for technical and safety standards of India’s pod taxi scheme (also known as Personal Rapid Transit – PRT) has recommended to invite fresh bids incorporating strictest safety standards on the lines of those prescribed by an American body.

i. India’s pod taxi scheme is Rs. 4000 crore project spearheaded by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

ii. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been mandated to execute it on 12.30 km Delhi-Gurgaon pilot corridor on a PPP (public-private partnership) basis…………………………………………

Odisha Government to set up Heritage Cabinet headed by Naveen Patnaik

On December 26, 2017, Odisha State Government decided to set up a unique ‘Heritage Cabinet’ with an objective to preserve the relics and monuments across the state.

About Odisha’s ‘Heritage Cabinet’:

i. Odisha’s ‘Heritage Cabinet’ would be headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

ii. Main aim of Heritage Cabinet is to protect ancient monuments, temples and archaeological sites across Odisha.

iii. On December 26, 2017, Odisha State Cabinet approved a proposal to bifurcate the tourism and culture department. The Culture Department will now be renamed as Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department.

iv. A decision has also been taken to set up Odia Language Commission. Details pertaining to this commission would be disclosed later.

Quick Facts about Odisha:

♦ Capital – Bhubaneswar
♦ Current Chief Minister – Naveen Patnaik
♦ Current Governor – S. C. Jamir
♦ Important National Park – Bhitarkanika National Park

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates AP Fibre Grid

On December 27, 2017, President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated AP Fibre Grid Project in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh was also present at the inauguration event.

Details about AP Fibre Grid Project:

i. Andhra Pradesh Fibre Grid project, undertaken by Andhra Pradesh State Government is aimed at providing high-speed internet service to every household in the state at affordable rate.

ii. The fibre grid will also offer telephone and television services at nominal rates.

iii. Besides, Andhra Pradesh State Government will use it for state-wide surveillance through more than 20000 closed-circuit cameras.

iv. This project is being implemented by Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet Limited (APSFL), which has become the largest state government-owned telecommunication company in India.

v. Under this project, APSFL has already laid over 23000 kms of the total 55000 kms long Optical Fibre Cable in 13 districts of the Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Air Force Conquers ‘Seven Summits’

On December 26, 2017, a team of Indian Air Force (IAF) mountaineers successfully scaled Mt Vinson in Antarctica and thereby completed ‘Mission Seven Summits’:

About ‘Mission Seven Summits’:

i. In 2005, after successfully scaling Mt Everest, IAF had launched ‘Mission Seven Summits’, a series of mountaineering expedition to fly the Indian tricolour and the

IAF flag on the highest peaks in every continent.

ii. Expedition to scale Mt Vinson in Antarctica was flagged off on December 8, 2017. IAF team that scaled Mt Vinson was led by Capt RC Tripathi.

iii. IAF has thus become the first organisation in India to accomplish this feat.

Quick Facts about Indian Air Force:

♦ Founded in – 1932
♦ Headquarters – New Delhi
♦ Current Chief of the Air Staff – Birender Singh Dhanoa

President inaugurates Indian Economic Association summit in Andhra Pradesh

On December 27, 2017, President Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the centenary conference of the Indian Economic Association in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

Highlights of 100^th Annual Conference of Indian Economic Association:

i. Overarching theme of the conference was ‘India’s Development Experience’.

ii. The conference also had five sub-themes viz. ‘Pace and Pattern of Development’, Monetary and Fiscal Issues in Development Process’, ‘India and External World’, ‘Issues in Distribution’ and ‘Sectoral Performance in Agriculture, Manufacturing and Service Sector’.

iii. The conference was attended by several dignitaries including Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Governor of Andhra Pradesh, E. S. L. Narasimhan, Former Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Dr C. Rangarajan and Nobel Laureate and Founder of the Grameen Bank, Professor Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh.

Five-day Teesta Rangit Tourism festival begins in Darjeeling

On 27^th December 2017, the five-day Teesta Rangit Tourism Festival 2017 started in Darjeeling.

Teesta Rangit Tourism festival:

i. The Teesta Rangit Tourism festival will be held in separate phases in different places of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

ii. It will be held in Darjeeling from December 27 to 29, in Kurseong from December 28 to 29, in Kalimpong from December 29 to 30 and in Mirik from December 30 to 31.

iii. This festival is organized by Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and Darjeeling state tourism department and information and cultural affairs department.

About Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA):

♦ Purpose – administrative body for the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills
♦ Headquarters – Darjeeling
♦ Chairman – Binoy Tamang

AIM selects 1500 schools for tinkering labs across India

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has selected additional 1500 Schools for establishment of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), thereby taking the total number of schools selected so far to 2441.

About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):

i. NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is Indian Government’s endeavour to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across Indian schools, universities and industries.

ii. Vision of AIM is to ‘Cultivate One Million children in India as the Innovators of tomorrow’.

iii. Under AIM, Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) have been established in schools across India to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young generation.

iv. ATLs are open-ended innovation play workspaces for students between Grade VI to Grade XII. It stimulates innovations by combining science & latest technology.

v. Including these recently selected 1500 schools, the total 2441 schools have been selected from over 25000+ applications.

National Children Science Congress begins in Ahmedabad

On 27^th December 2017, the 25th National Children Science Congress begun in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

25th National Children Science Congress:

i. The 25^th National Children Science Congress was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. This event is held till 31^st December 2017.

ii. The theme of the 25th National Children Science Congress is: ‘Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development’. The event’s  main focus will be on persons with disabilities.

iii. Children and teachers from various Asian countries are participating in this event. The event consists of science exhibitions, hands-on demonstrations, presentations, poster session and cultural programmes.

About Department of Science and Technology (DST):

♦ Established – 1971
♦ Head of the department – Dr. Harsh Vardhan
♦ Secretary – Ashutosh Sharma