Point-Wise Current-Affairs & GS (Includes Important PIB Updates) 2018 with Maps & Data- IAS, SSC etc

The central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) signs 10 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers on 28 February 2017. The 10 APAs signed in sectors likes’ telecom, Pharma, banking and finance, steel, retail and information technology.

Highlights

• CBDT expects more APAs

Expert committee set up by SIDBI has sanctioned Rs. 300 crore to fund managers. They would invest in startups, taking total sanctions so far fiscal to over Rs. 1, 100 crore. This money will be released spread over the 14^th and 15^th finance commission cycles.

Senior IAS officer Sumit Mullick was appointed as Chief Secretary of Maharashtra. He is succeeded by Swadheen Kshatriya. CM Devendra Fadnavis clears appointment of Sumit Mullick. He is senior most bureaucrat of state presently.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju inaugurated country’s first integrated heliport at North Delhi. Heliport has been developed by Pawan Hans; it is a state-owned helicopter service company. Facility has been successfully tested.

Gopal Baglay has been appointed as new spokesperson of Indian foreign ministry succeeding Vikas Swarup. Former spokesperson Vikas Swarup was appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Canada. Baglay has served as deputy high commissioner to Islamabad.

In India February 28 is celebrated as National Science Day every year. It aims to impart scientific temper in minds of people of all age groups. Theme of year 2017 is “Science and Technology for especially abled persons”.

About 30 - 35 % of annual crop yield in India gets wasted because of pests. Large-scale crop-loss is having an adverse effect on agricultural biosafety. It is paramount to food security of country. It is discovered by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) scientist.

Japanese scientists have develop a new flexible material that is tougher than steel. Newly discovered material is combining hydrogels with woven glass fibre fabric. It may have a wide range of potential applications.

ZTE has launched next generation 5G IT baseband units (BBU) with Intel Corporation. Companies used Mobile World Congress (MWC) to show off world’s first 5G IT baseband units (BBU). ZTE is China-based smartphone manufacturer.

Pakistan and Turkey entered into 10 accords of cooperation in diverse areas. It including hydrocarbon and solar energy, and financial intelligence related to terrorism financing. It is to enhance their bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Rio Olympian Thanackal Gopi won men’s title in second edition of IDBI Federal Life Insurance New Delhi Marathon. While Monika Athare claimed honors in women’s section. Half marathon title won by G Lakshamanan. Manju Yadav won women’s half marathon title.

Union Urban Development Ministry formulated ‘National Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy’. Policy framework aims to promote living close to mass urban transit corridors like Metros, monorail and bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors.

Test skipper Virat Kohli has been named as ‘Captain of Year’ at 10^th annual ESPNcricinfo Awards. While England’s Ben Stokes won Test Batting Performance of the Year Award. West Indians topped chart with awards for Sunil Narine, Carlos Brathwaite and Hayley Mathews.

Saina Nehwal was appointed a member of International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Commission (AC) last year. She is joining Badminton World Federation (BWF) Athletes’ Commission as a representative of IOC AC.

India and Ukraine have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation between two countries through medium of Cinema. Cooperation would be worked out through a policy and institutional framework.

Medical project Rajasthan Heart Attack Treatment programme (RAHAT), launched by a private hospital in Rajasthan. It is to provide people timely treatment during heart attacks in remote as well as rural areas.

India and Bangladesh have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for development of Sylhet city. It is a metropolitan city in northeastern Bangladesh. It had been a part of the former Assam province of India.

Venezuela and Libya have been suspended from voting in UN General Assembly. It is for second time in two years because of millions of dollars in unpaid dues to world body. Dues vary according to factors including national income.

India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed $375 million pact for loans and grants to develop 800km Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor. It is first phase of a planned 2, 500km East Coast Economic Corridor. Earlier ADB had approved $631 million in loans and grants for

Gujarat assembly approved a bill banning hookah bars. Operating a hookah bar will be a criminal offence warranting a maximum of three-year imprisonment and Rs. 50, 000 fine. Running hookah bar in Gujarat will be considered as punishable.

Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC launched a Goods and Services Tax (GST) mobile application. It is for taxpayers to readily access a host of information related to new indirect tax regime. Application is aimed at improving ease of doing business and providing outstanding

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has become one of top three most-valuable brands in information technology (IT) service sector. Assessment done by Brand Finance, it is leading brand valuation firm in world. Brand Value has grown by US $6.7 billion over past 7 years.

India and Germany ratified a comprehensive Social Security Agreement (SSA). It is to improve investment flows between two countries. The agreement is expected to reduce operational costs of Indian and German companies active in either of countries.

Nagaland Governor appointed former Chief Minister T R Zeliang as finance Advisor to Government of Nagaland. This post will be in rank of a cabinet minister and will receive pay and allowances admissible to a cabinet minister.

Categ

Union Cabinet has given its approval for Agreement between India and Poland on cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. India and Poland will constitute a Joint Working Group (JWG) to cooperate in the agriculture sector.

World Trade Organization announced that Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) has now entered into force. It is having surpassed minimum requirement of 110 ratifications from members. It is biggest reform of global trade for this century.

Central Excise Day is commemorated every year all across India on 24^th of February. It is to encourage employees of excise department to carry out central excise duty all over India. It is to prevent corruption in goods manufacturing business as well as implement other rules to c

Astronomers have discovered for first time seven new Earth-sized exoplanets that may be able to sustain life. Lead researcher Michael Gillon, with University of Liege in Belgium discovered that these exoplanets are orbiting a star 39 light years away.

Scientists have discovered seven new endemic species of Nyctibatrachus (night frogs). Four of these species are hardly 14 mm in length it is among the smallest ever described. Found through rainforests of Western Ghats in southern India.

Union Cabinet chaired PM Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Australia. MoU is for promotion and development of cooperation in civil aviation security. it will provide compliance of international obligation.