06 January 2018 Current Affairs
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India excludes Pakistan from a SAARC Initiative
India has excluded Pakistan from the list of SAARC member countries with which it will be connecting its state-of-the-art National Knowledge Network (NKN) for sharing scientific databases and remote access to advanced research facilities. The government has kicked off the process of appointing a telecom company that will connect and extend the NKN to research and education networks in six South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation member states – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
US lists Pakistan with ten other nations for Religious Freedom Violations
The United States has placed Pakistan on ‘Special Watch List’ for “severe violations” of religious freedom. It is only country to be put under the newly-formed list. Moreover, US also re-designated about 10 countries as ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ under its International Religious Freedom (IRF) Act. They are Burma (Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
World Book Fair 2018 starts in New Delhi
The 26th edition of the World Book Fair has begun on January 6, 2018 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. It will come to an end on January 14. The main theme of the World Book Fair is ‘Environment and Climate Change’. It is being organised by National Book Trust, in association with ITPO. The 2018 World Book Fair hosts European union as the Guest of Honour country. The EU member States will exhibit publications in English and other European languages.
India GDP growth likely at 6.5% in 2017-18: CSO
The Indian economy will expand by 6.5% in 2017-18, according to the new data of the government’s Central Statistics Office (CSO). It had released its first advance estimate for India’s GDP growth rate in the current financial year. The economy had grown by 6.3% in the September quarter, after slumping to a three-year low of 5.7% GDP growth in the June quarter as the implementation of goods and services tax (GST) and demonetisation took their toll. The Indian economy grew at 7.1% in 2016-17.
Bellucci to come back from 5-month ban
Brazilian tennis player Thomaz Bellucci was given a five-month suspension for doping. The 30-year-old Bellucci was tested positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. Bellucci said the positive test was the result of a contaminated vitamin supplement.
Himalayan Hydro Expo 2018 kicked off at Kathmandu
The Himalayan Hydro Expo 2018 kicked off at Kathmandu, the capital Nepal. President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the exhibition. Delegates from various countries including India, China, Austria, Czech Republic and Norway are participating in the expo. The basic objective of Expo is to unleash massive hydropower potential of Nepal and bring all stakeholders under one roof.
HRD Ministry releases All India Higher Education Survey
The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education of Indian has registered an increase from 24.5% in 2015-16 to 25.2% in 2016-17 according to latest All India Higher Education Survey (AIHES) released by HRD Ministry. The survey findings were based on responses of 795 universities, 34,193 colleges and 7,496 standalone institutions. There are total of 864 universities, 40,026 colleges and 11,669 standalone institutions in the country.