State
Tamilnadu:
Free Amma Wi-Fi hotspots launched by Tamil Nadu CM
- The Tamil Nadu government launched its ambitious free Amma Wi-Fi hotspots in five places in the state, that includes Labour Statue on Marina front in Chennai, Gandhipuram bus stand in Coimbatore, Central Bus Terminus in Salem and Coimbatore, Mattuthavani MGR bus stand in Madurai.
TN NGO wants TN govt to enact vibrant clinical establishment legislation
- Makkal Nalavazvu Iyakkam, an NGO working in public health systems, has urged TN Governor Banwarilal Purohit not to give consent to the Tamil Nadu Clinical Establishment (Regulations) Amendment Act, 2018 in its present condition.The network has appealed to enact vibrant legislation. It has asked the governor to direct the TN government to design a vibrant Act that will protect the health rights of the people of Tamil Nadu and join with the mission of the central government and other state governments.
AWARDS
| Awards | Awardees |
| Tamizhthai Award for 2017 | Bengaluru Tamil Sangam |
| Kabilar Award for 2017 | K.V. Balasubramanian |
| U.Ve.Sa. Award for 2017 | S. Krishnamurthy |
| Kambar Award for 2017 | Sugi. Sivam |
| Sollin Selvar Award for 2017. | Vaigaiselvan |
| G.U. Pope Award for 2017 | K. Rajeswari Kothandam |
| Umaruppulavar Award for 2017 | Haji M. Mohammad Yusuf |
| Elangovadigal Award for 2017 | V. Nallathambi |
| Amma Literary Award for 2017 | M.S. Srilakshmi of Singapore |
| Chief Minister’s Tamil Computing Award for 2016 | R. Doraipandi of Ultimate Software Solutions |
Andhra Pradesh
200-year-old Ivory skeleton: Anatomy and history
- A rare ivory skeleton, the bones of which have been carved to clockwork precision on the lines of the human skeleton, is the cherished treasure at the Anatomy Museum of Andhra Medical College.The ivory skeleton, 5’6” in height and weighing 231 lbs (104.78 kg), reflects the ingenuity of the sculptor, who had carved it more than two centuries ago. It was procured from the famous Saraswati Mahal of Thanjavur, which was under the patronage of Rajah Serfoji (1798-1832). The skeleton is said to have been made between 1805 and 1810.
Kerala:
‘thingQbator’ at IIITM-K
- Cisco a multinational technology conglomerate is collaborating with the Nasscom Foundation to set up an incubator at the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala (IIITM-K) for startups to develop IoT-based products. Named thingQbator, the facility is envisaged as an IoT laboratory and maker space that provides technology infrastructure for innovators to develop their ideas.
Uttarparadesh
Special sanitation drive in Bhojpur to make open defecation free
- The Bhojpur district has launched a special sanitation drive under the ‘Satyagrah Se Swachhagrah’ programme with a view to making the district open defecation free.Altogether 436 ‘swachhagrahis’ or sanitation volunteers, out of which 206 have come from from Uttar Pradesh will assist and work with 230 local volunteers under a massive awareness drive and motivational programme in all the 228 panchayats of the district.
National News
5% GST in Railway catering services
- The Finance Ministry said that food and drinks supplied by the Indian Railways or the IRCTC in trains, platforms and stations, will attract 5% GST.This would bring about uniformity in the rate of GST applicable to the supply of food and drinks made available in trains, platforms or stations.
IAF to procure 114 fighter jets
- The Indian Air Force on Friday started the process to acquire a fleet of 114 fighter jets which are expected to significantly enhance its overall strike capability.The Request for Information or initial tender is for joint production of the aircraft by a foreign aircraft maker along with an Indian company under the recently-launched strategic partnership model which aims to bring in high-end defence technology to India.
Central government bans imports of hormone oxytocin
- The Union government banned imports of the hormone oxytocin to stop its misuse in the livestock industry, where activists say it causes hormonal imbalances and shortens the lives of milch animals.Often called the ‘love hormone’, oxytocin is released naturally in human bonding activities such as sex, childbirth and breastfeeding.
Swadhar Greh Scheme
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme which targets the women victims of difficult circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity. The Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security for these women.
As per guidelines of the Swadhar Greh Scheme, to seek financial assistance the agency should meet following requirements:
- The agency should be either recognized by State/UT under existing law or should be well known with the experience or working in the field for at least 3 years and its work should be reported satisfactory by the State Govt./UT Administration concerned.
- It should ordinarily have been engaged in the field of women’s welfare/social welfare for a minimum period of two years
- Its financial position should be sound
- It should have facilities, resources, experience and personnel to undertake the management of such project
- It should run Swadhar Greh on a no-profit basis and
- It should have facilities like computers, internet connection etc at Swadhar Greh.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs to launch “Van Dhan Vikas Kendra” at Bijapur
- The Ministry of Tribal affairs has approved establishment of the first multipurpose “Van Dhan Vikas Kendra” on pilot basis for establishment in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh State for providing skill upgradation and capacity building training and setting up of primary processing and value addition facility. This first model Van Dhan Vikas Kendra is being implemented for training of 300 beneficiaries with a total outlay of Rs 43.38 lakhs for training, providing equipments & tools for primary level processing and infrastructure & building for housing the Kendra. This Kendra to start with will have processing facility for Tamarind brick making, Mahua flower storage facility and chironjee cleaning and packaging.
Indian Railways inducts New Machine 09-3x Dynamic Tamping Express for improved Mechanised Track Maintenance
- Indian Railway has inducted three numbers of 09-3X Dynamic Tamping Express machines, the state of the art integrated track maintenance. The New 09-3X- Dynamic Tamping Express costing about ₹ 27Cr each is a latest high output integrated tamping machine having multiple functions, so far being carried out by different machines.
- It can measure pre & post track geometry, correct the track to required geometry, can tamp three sleepers simultaneously, stabilize and measure post tamping track parameters under load to ensure quality of work done. This eliminates the need for a separate stabilisation machine which reduces operating costs and track possession time. This machine will vibrate & compact the loose stone ballast after tamping for safe movements of trains. These machines have been manufactured in India under MAKE IN INDIA initiative with imported components. This advanced technology simulator is presently only available in five countries including India.
Exercise Gaganshakti-2018
- An all encompassing coordinated and composite exercise named Gaganshakti is being conducted by the IAF from 08-22 Apr 18. The aim of this exercise is real time coordination, deployment and employment of Air Power in a short & intense battle scenario.During Gaganshakti IAF will exercise the entire machinery to validate its concept of operations and war waging capability. With each successive exercise, the lessons learnt in the previous exercises and doctrinal precepts are put to test, for developing new concepts. This year the IAF has planned tactics that will be tested in a real time scenario.
International
Corruption charges: South Korea’s former President Park Geun-hye jailed for 24 years
- South Korea’s disgraced former President Park Geun-hye was jailed for 24 years on April 6 for corruption, closing out a dramatic fall from grace for the country’s first woman leader who became a figure of public fury and ridicule.A trial that lasted more than 10 months ended with Park being found guilty on multiple criminal charges, including bribery and abuse of power. Park’s successor described the sentencing as a “heartbreaking event” for both the nation and the ex-leader herself.
China double amputee to climb Everest
- A Chinese climber who lost both legs on Everest four decades ago is hoping to finally reach the summit after Nepal’s top court overruled a controversial government ban on blind and double amputee climbers.Xia Boyu is the first double amputee to be given a permit to climb the world’s highest mountain after the ban was revoked.
Science and Technology
Virgin Galactic’s tests spaceship
- Richard Branson’s company Virgin Galactic conducted a supersonic test flight over the Sierra Nevada mountains of its SpaceShipTwo passenger rocket ship.The company said, three years after a fatal accident on an earlier version of the ship.
Business
Reserve bank revises limits for investment in debt instruments by FPI
- The Reserve Bank of India has revised the limits on investment in debt instruments by foreign portfolio investors (FPI).The revision comes into effect immediately. And, the revision is done in consultation with the Government of India.The move comes in the wake of an earlier announcement to have a detailed review of current regulations on debt investment by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) to facilitate the process of investment and hedging by FPIs.
TRAI to review of number portability
- Telecom regulator TRAI on Friday initiated a consultation process to review the current system of mobile number portability in order to make it more subscriber-friendly. The regulator said due to recent closure or discontinuation of services by some of the operators, a substantial number of subscribers had been forced to port their mobile number to other service providers.
- Due to recent closure of services by some of the operators, new issues have also emerged.TRAI has received large number of complaints related to the difficulties faced by the subscribers of these service providers in porting their mobile numbers, it said.
Sports
CWG 2018: Sanjita Chanu bags gold medal
- Sanjita Chanu landed India its second gold medal at the XXI Commonwealth Games, winning the top spot in the women’s 53kg category of the weightlifting competitions in Gold Coast, Australia.
CWG 2018:Deepak Lather youngest Indian weightlifter bags bronze medal
- Teenager Deepak Lather became the youngest Indian(18 years old) weightlifter to claim a Commonwealth Games medal, clinching a bronze in the men’s 69kg category.The youngster, competing in his maiden Commonwealth Games, holds the distinction of being the youngest to hold the national record as well.