15.03.18 APSC (Assam) Current Affairs

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ASSAM

  • Ban on illegal construction work on Tezpur wetlands

 

  • The Sonitpur district administration took a major step to protect the biodiversity and ecology of Tezpur by ordering a ban on illegal constructions in the historic town to the north of the state. Penal provisions under the Disaster Management Act 2005 have also been imposed in case of violations of the order to ban illegal constructions.

 

  • The order also stated that the authorities who are empowered to issue permission for construction work in areas under the jurisdiction of the Tezpur Municipal Boardand the Tezpur Town Development Authority have also been cautioned to stop issuing such permissions with immediate effect. The order also said violation of this order shall be dealt with under sections 51 to 58 of the Disaster Management Act 2005.

 

  • Tezpur is a historic town in northern Assam’s Sonitpur district. It is situated on the bank of river Brahmaputra. It is known as the most clean city of the state for its greenery.

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

  • World Consumer Rights Day: 15 March

 

  • The World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) is celebrated every year on March 15 to pay solidarity with the international consumer movement and give more attention to promote basic rights of consumers.

 

  • It provides an opportunity to promote the basic rights of all consumers and demand those rights that must be respected and protected.

 

  • The theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2018 will be ‘Making digital marketplaces fairer’.

 

 

  • Finland tops 2018 global happiness index

 

  • The World Happiness Report published ranked 156 countries by happiness levels, based on factors such as life expectancy, social support and corruption.

 

  • According to report, Finland is the happiest place to live. Norway and Denmark ranked second and third respectively.

 

  • India ranked 133rd in the report. Burundi ranked last in the index.

 

 

  • Angela Merkel elected to fourth term as German chancellor

 

  • Angela Merkel was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany after lawmakers voted to re-elect her as leader in a close vote on Wednesday morning.

 

  • She will now begin a historic fourth term as Chancellor.

 

  • The vote in parliament ended almost six months of political turmoil after the federal election.

 

 

  • Indian film ‘Halkaa’ bags award at Montreal fest

 

  • Indian filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda’s “Halkaa” has bagged the Grand Prix de Montreal at the gala.

 

  • “Halkaa” was selected among seven international children’s films from different countries in the official competition of the festival.

 

  • The film is a take on a slum child’s heroism, aspirations, and dreams.

 

  • Stephen Hawking: Visionary physicist dies aged 76

 

  • World renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76.

 

  • The British scientist was famed for his work with black holes and relativity, and wrote several popular science books including ‘A Brief History of Time’.

 

  • At the age of 22 Prof Hawking was given only a few years to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease.

 

  • Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge.

 

 

·        IATA Partners With Civil Aviation Ministry in India

 

  • The International Air Transport Association (IATA) signed a MoU with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the National Aviation University to enhance human resource availability in India’s aviation industry.
  • Under the agreement, the signatory institutions would also leverage “the existing infrastructure for training in India to expand the reach of vocational training in aviation disciplines”.

 

NATIONAL

 

  • Pune tops in improved quality governance: Survey

 

  • Pune has emerged as the top city to show improvement in quality of governance, according to a survey.

 

  • The other cities that came in the top five include Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Bhubaneswar and Surat.

 

  • The survey was conducted by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy.

 

 

·        Exports in February Up 4.5% To $25.8 Billion

  • India’s exports grew by 4.5% in February-2018 to 25.8 billion dollars.
  • It was 24.7 billion dollar during the same period in February-2017.
  • This announcement was made by the Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia.
  • During April to February period of the current fiscal, exports recorded a growth of 11% to $273 billion. Imports also rose by 10.4% to $37.8 billion during the last month.

 

  • “Innovation Cell” to be set up in HRD Ministry to boost Innovation

  • An Innovation Cell in the Ministry of Human Resource Development will be created to further strengthen the innovation efforts.

 

 

  • It will be headed by a Scientist and comprise of a senior Ministry official and young professionals who bring to the table new ideas in promoting innovation.

 

  • This was stated by Minister for Human Resource Development,  Shri Prakash Javadekar after a high level review meeting.