Current Affairs 7th or 8th April 2018

National News

1. TN Govt Launches Mobile App Bi-lingual 'Uzhavan' for Farmers

i. In a bid to use technology for farmers' benefit, Tamil Nadu government has come out with a mobile application named 'Uzhavan' (farmer) app that will allow ryots to have access to nine types of services. It was launched by Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

ii. The app can be used by farmers to get information on farm subsidies, book farm equipment and related infrastructure and get details on their crop insurance, besides receiving weather forecast for the next four days. Palaniswami also launched the 'Amma Bio-Fertiliser' scheme.

2. Patna Tops in 4G Connectivity Among 20 Largest Cities: Report

i. Patna tops in 4G connectivity among 20 of India’s largest cities. It has emerged ahead of the likes of Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, according to the report of OpenSignal, a wireless coverage mapping company.
ii. Four cities from India’s central and eastern regions—Patna, Kanpur, Allahabad, Kolkata, Bhopal and Lucknow—made it to the top 10 while popular tech hubs like Bengaluru are at 10, followed by Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.

3. 'Gobardhan Yojana' Launched to Support Farmers

i. The Haryana government has launched the 'Gobardhan Yojana' to provide for the sale of organic manure and cow urine with an aim to benefit farmers. A provision of Rs 11 crore has been made to provide benefits of various projects under this scheme.

ii. The Gobardhan Yojana would help in doubling the income of farmers and next time, the MSP would be given with additional benefit of 50% over the cost of production.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-

·                     Haryana CM- Manohar Lal Khattar, Governor- Kaptan Singh Solanki.

4. IAF to Conduct Biggest Combat Exercise Along Pakistan, China Borders

i. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to conduct its biggest ever combat exercise named Gagan Shakti, 2018 along Pakistan and China borders. Depending upon the order of the Air Force Chief, the Air Force will mobilise its assets in the war scenario within 48 hours of the orders.

ii. For the first time, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas will be taking part in the exercise and will perform both the offensive and defensive roles.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-

·                     Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa is the present Chief of Air Staff.

5. Centre, Maharashtra Govt & World Bank sign 420 Million Dollar Project

i. The Centre, Maharastra Government and the World Bank have signed a 420 million dollar project to help small and marginals farmers in the Marathwada and Vidarbha region of the state.

ii. The Maharashtra Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture will be implemented in rural areas largely dependent upon rain-fed agriculture. The project will take up a series of activities at the farm and watershed level. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-

·                     President of the World Bank- Jim Yong Kim

·                     Headquarters of World Bank: Washington, DC

·                     Chief Minister of Maharashtra- Devendra Fadnavis

International News

6. World Health Day- 7th April

i. The World Health Day is a global health awareness day organized globally on 7th April. World Health Day is one of the eight official health campaigns which are marked by the World Health Organization.
ii. With an aim to spread awareness about health and well being, the first-ever World Health Day was observed in 1948 by the WHO. The theme of World Health Day is: Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere. The slogan is “Health for All”.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-

·                     WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

·                     Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the Present Director-General of WHO.

Sports News

7. CWG 2018: Manu Bhaker Claims 10m Pistol Gold

Manu Bhaker

i. India’s 16-year-old Manu Bhaker won the gold in women’s 10 air pistol while Heena Sidhu staged a remarkable recovery to secure silver at the 21st Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

ii. Bhaker shot 240.9 to break the Commonwealth Games record, finishing well ahead of her senior teammate Sidhu, who aggregated 234. The bronze medal went to Australia’s Elena Galiabovitch who ended with 214.9. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-

·                     Manu Bhaker bagged gold medals at the 2018 ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico.

8. Leander Paes becomes most successful player in Davis Cup

i. Indian tennis' ageless wonder Leander Paes became the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup as he combined with Rohan Bopanna to not only grab a record 43rd win but also bring the country back in the tie against China.

ii. Forced to play together by AITA, 44-year-old Paes and Bopanna downed a fighting Chinese pair of Mo Xin Gong and Ze Zhang in the do-or-die doubles rubber of the Asia/Oceania Group-I tie.

9. Weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam bags third gold for country

i. Weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam won India's third gold medal in the ongoing 21st Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. In the process, the 25-year-old also retained the title he won in the event at the 2014 Games in Glasgow, Scotland with a total lift of 317 kg. 

ii. India has so far won 3 Gold, One Silver, and one bronze, and all the medals have come from the weightlifting arena.