Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 26 January 2017

:: NATIONAL ::

More common people in Padma awards category

The Padma series of awards are conferred in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order; and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. They are presented by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhavan around March or April.
This year the President of India has approved conferment of Padma Awards on 89 persons comprising seven Padma Vibhushans, seven Padma Bhushans and 75 Padma Shri awards; 19 awardees are women.

Padma Vibhushan:

Sharad Pawar
Murli Manohar Joshi
K.J. Yesudas
Prof. Udipi Ramachandra Rao
P.A. Sangma (posthumous)
Sunder Lal Patwah (posthumous)
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

Padma Bhusan:

Thailand’s Princess- Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
Cho Ramaswamy (posthumous)
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
Prof. Devi Prasad Dwivedi
Tehemton Udwadia
Ratna Sundar Maharaj
Swami Nitanjana Nanda Saraswati

India's corruption ranking does not improve

A major international index of corruption and transparency has placed India on the watch list for its inability to curb mega corruption scandals and petty bribery.
The annual index of Transparency International issued for 2016 placed India with Brazil and China in the 40th position. India’s condition showed growth with inequality.
India’s ongoing poor performance with a score of 40 reiterates the state’s inability to effectively deal with petty corruption and large-scale corruption scandals.
The impact of corruption on poverty, illiteracy and policy brutality showed that not only was the economy growing but so was inequality.
India’s current ranking, putting it in the high corruption zone, has drawn critical observations from transparency campaigners.
South Asia had performed poorly. Bangladesh at 27th and Nepal at 29th positions were slotted in the highly corrupt section.
Pakistan, at 32, also came in the red zone. Afghanistan ranked 15th was in the “highly corrupt” list with South Sudan, North Korea and Libya.

US finds true friend in India

The U.S. considered India “a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world”, President Donald Trump told Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The two discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the U.S. and India in broad areas such as the economy and defence.
Each leader invited the other to visit his country. Mr. Trump looked forward to hosting Mr. Modi later this year.
They also discussed security in the region of South and Central Asia. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi resolved that the United States and India stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism.
In 2009, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the first leader hosted by President Barack Obama. Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump would be expected to meet first at the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany in early July.
And they could possibly meet on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, which Mr. Modi could attend this year.
Mr. Modi is the fifth world leader Mr. Trump spoke to after he assumed office.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Mexican President Pena Nieto, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi were the first four.

Important agreements signed between India and UAE

India sealed 14 agreements, including a comprehensive strategic partnership, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The summit-level talks, however, fell short of clinching a major investment agreement for India, though the visiting Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Apart from the strategic partnership, agreements on defence industries, maritime transport, cybersecurity, shipping and transport were also signed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the UAE to partner India in stabilising South Asia and fight security challenges. He welcomed greater investment from the country for India’s infrastructure sector.
However, a major agreement on engaging the massive investment fund of the UAE for India’s infrastructure sector remained unattained. UAE also has the largest sovereign wealth fund that India is looking for investments.
There is an agreement that UAE will invest nearly $75 billion in India over the next couple of years.
Sheikh bin Zayed, is the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. UAE considers its relationship with India a priority and views India as a linchpin of stability and security in the Asian continent.
The Gulf state will also showcase its growing military clout at the Republic Day parade, where a marching contingent of its armed forces will participate in a show of solidarity with India.

Kerala will come up with all women police

The State Cabinet decided to establish a women’s police battalion, with its headquarters either in the State capital or Kannur.
Another decision on special recruitment to the armed police under the sports quota will benefit 74 sportspersons who have made notable achievements in various sports and games.
While 157 physically challenged persons working on temporary basis will be eligible for re-employment in unfilled supernumerary posts .
The decision to establish the women’s battalion has been taken in the context of the government’s decision to increase the strength of women police to 15 per cent in a phased manner.

:: International ::

China formally exited from TPP

China is hoping to galvanise two regional trade proposals — the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Free-Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) — following the formal exit of the U.S. from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
President Donald Trump signed an executive order, withdrawing the U.S. from the 12-nation trade deal, widely seen in China as a Washington-led attempt to contain its rise.
Instead of the TPP, Prof. Wang backed the RCEP, which has the 10 countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations as the core of the proposed free trade agreement. Besides, six other nations India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are part of the arrangement.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying pointed out that Beijing will back further negotiations on RCEP, which have already made substantial progress and should be completed at an early date.
In the Asia-Pacific, the U.S.’s exit has triggered different responses — from calls to re-focus on the RCEP to revive the TPP with China as its new member.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations sworn

Nikki Haley was sworn-in as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, becoming the first Indian American to serve on a Cabinet rank position in any U.S. presidential administration.
Ms. Haley (45), former South Carolina Governor, was sworn in by Vice-President Mike Pence. She was approved overwhelmingly by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with wide bipartisan support.
She is the first woman to be confirmed to Mr. Trump’s Cabinet.

:: Science and Technology ::

GSLV’s cryogenic upper stage tested successfully

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s Propulsion Research Complex at Mahendragiri, successfully conducted the stage level test of GSLV MK III’s cryogenic upper stage C-25.
The 50-second long test of C-25 of the country’s most powerful launch vehicle that can carry satellites weighing 4,000 kg was successful.
The cryogenic upper stage of the GSLV is the large C-25, the most difficult component of the launch vehicle to be developed. It will be powered by the indigenously developed CE-20 engine.

:: Business and Economy ::

Final view on digital payments yet to be taken

Finance Ministry is yet to take a final view on the suggestions made by a panel on encouraging digital payments, which include a recommendation to levy a handling charge on cash transactions over Rs. 50,000.
In its interim report submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 24, the panel has recommended levying of a handling charge for cash payments above Rs. 50,000, while pitching for tax breaks to consumers and merchants using digital modes of payments.
It also suggested the abolition of merchant discount rate to make digital payments cheaper than cash.

:: Sports ::

Bolt looses one of his golds

Usain Bolt lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals when the IOC stripped Jamaica of its 4x100m relay win at the 2008 Beijing Games after Nesta Carter tested positive for doping.
The decision, which follows the retesting of hundreds of samples from the Beijing event, means that Bolt, as Carter’s teammate, loses one of the three gold medals he won there.
This also meant the loss of one of Bolt’s ‘triple triples’ — he won gold in the 100m, 200 and 4x100m at Beijing and went on to repeat the feat in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
The IOC said a re-analysis of Carter’s 2008 samples “resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine.”