National News
1. Pradhan Mantri
Ujjwala Yojana Achieves 5 Core Mark
 |
| Sumitra Mahajan |
i.
Loksabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan handed over 5 croreth LPG connection under Pradhan
Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) to Smt Takrdiran of Delhi in the
Parliament House. The 5 crore feat has been achieved in the time period of
over 2 years.
ii. PM Modi launched
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) on 1st May 2016 and it is
implemented by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas through
its Oil Marketing Companies. In the current year, considering the huge success
of the Scheme, target was revised to 8 crores
with budgetary allocation of Rs 12,800 crore.
iii. Uttar Pradesh has got the
maximum number of LPG connections (87 lakh) followed by West Bengal (67 lakh)
and Bihar (61 lakh).
2. India Elected
President of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development
i.
AIBD India has
been elected as the President of the Asia-Pacific Institute for
Broadcasting Development (AIBD) for a period of two years. India got
elected against Iran during voting which took place at the 44th annual
gathering of AIBD in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
ii.
Director General of All India Radio F. Sheheryar was re-elected as chair of the
executive board while
Sri Lanka was elected as vice-chair. Broadcasters from 26 countries in the
region including India are full members of the organization.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for SBI PO/Clerk Exam 2018-
·
AIBD,
established in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO, is a unique regional
inter-governmental organisation and is mandated to achieve a vibrant and
cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy
and resource development.
3. NHAI Signs MoU With SBI for Long Term Unsecured Loan of Rs 25000 Crore
i. The National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI) signed an MoU with the State
Bank of India (SBI) for getting Long Term Unsecured Loan of Rs 25000
crore for 10 years with 3 years of moratorium on repayments. This is
the SBI’s highest long-term unsecured loan to any entity.
ii. Moreover, this is the
largest amount of loan to have been sanctioned to NHAI in one stroke by any
institution. SBI offered the loan to the NHAI in response to the Expression of
Interest invited by the latter from Scheduled Commercial Banks to fund Rs 25000
Crore as an unsecured loan for 10 years with 3 years of moratorium on
repayments.
4. Supreme Court To Get 3 Serving Women Judges For 1st Time
i. The Supreme Court will
have three serving women judges for the first time, after the Centre
cleared the elevation of Madras High Court Chief Justice Indira
Banerjee.
ii. The other two judges
are R Banumathi, appointed in August 2014, and Indu
Malhotra, appointed in April 2018. Notably, SC will have a total of 22 male
judges including two new male appointees.
International News
5. EAM Sushma Swaraj
in Kyrgyzstan as part of her 3-central asian nations' tour
i.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is now in Kyrgyzstan which
is the second leg of 3-central Asian nations' visit. Before landing in Bishkek,
the Minister completed a successful visit to Kazakhstan where
she met the country's top leaders to discuss ways to consolidate its strategic
partnership with India in areas like trade, energy, security and information
technology.
ii. Minister Sushma Swaraj held
a bilateral meeting with her Kazakh External Affairs counterpart. Sushma Swaraj
expressed India's interest to partner with Kazakhstan on several fronts.
