Current affairs Notes on 07/07/2018

1.31st edition of the India - Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) is held in Belawan, Indonesia. INS Kulish, a Kora class Missile Corvette commanded by Commander Deepak Bali and one Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the Andaman and Nicobar Command reached Belawan on 6th June 2018 for the closing ceremony.

2.The World Bank has approved Rs.6000 crore for Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY), a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. The scheme is to be implemented over a period of five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23 with World Bank assistance. The ABHY has been formulated by the Ministry to address the criticality of ground water resources in a major part of the country. 

3. IISc Bangalore have developed a 'LifeBox' that can extend the preservation time of organs, specifically the heart, and allows for increased travel time and distances. Researchers said that transport of organs using drones could cut down the transportation time by at least 50% compared to green corridors. The technology was used to transport a payload for 10 km.

4.India has registered a significant decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) recording a 22-percent reduction in such deaths since 2013. According to the Sample Registration System bulletin, the MMR has declined from 167 in 2011-2013 to 130 in 2014-2016. According to Health Ministry, every day 30 more pregnant women are now being saved in India as compared to 2013.

5.Bank of Baroda increased its Marginal Cost-Based Lending Rate (MCLR) by 5 basis points. This would come into effect from June 7,2018. Other banks that have recently raised their MCLR rates are : SBI by 10 basis points, Punjab National Bank by 5-10 basis points, Union Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

6.Haryana government has banned single-use water bottles in all government offices in the state. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that a five-point programme would be implemented for maintaining ecological balance in Haryana. It will include plantation of 20 lakh saplings and using LED bulbs.

7.The Election Commission of India launched it's online RTI Portal. The portal - rti.eci.nic.in will facilitate applicants seeking information under the Right to Information Act. The portal also facilitates online reply to applications and also for making first appeal and reply thereto.

8.India hosted the 11th edition of Geo-Intelligence Asia 2018 at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on 04-05 June 2018. It was organised by GeoSpatial Media and Communication with Directorate General of Information System as Knowledge Partners and Military Survey as Co-organisers. 

9.Veteran film actor Anupam Kher will be given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement honour at the 19th edition of International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Bangkok on June 24, 2018.

10.Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) in Telangana has received the approval of Technical Advisory Committee of the Union government in a meeting held in the Central Water Commission (CWC) in Delhi. The Kaleshwaram project, which is the biggest lift irrigation project in the country.The Kaleswaram project across the Godavari river is often described as a boon to the state.

11.The Fuego volcano is an active strato volcano in Guatemala that has recently erupted violently and buried several villages on its southern flank. it is one of the most active volcanoes in Latin America. Three quarters of the world’s active volcanoes can be found on the Ring of Fire.

12.India has moved up four places to the 137th rank among 163 countries in the Global Peace Index (GPI) prepared by Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), world’s leading think tank that develops metrics to analyse peace and quantify its economic value.