18.10.17 Gujarat (GPSC) Current Affairs

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GUJARAT

 

  • Gujarat first state to implement flexible coal utilization scheme

 

  • GMR Chhattisgarh Energy Ltd, a GMR group company, has won the bid to supply 500MW electricity to state-run Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) under the central government approved scheme, which allows flexibility in utilization of domestic coal for reducing the cost of power generation. Under the agreement, GMR will supply electricity to GUVNL at Rs 2.81 per unit.
  • With this move, Gujarat becomes the first state to implement the flexible coal utilization initiative whereby coal allocated to Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL), a subsidiary of GUVNL, will be made available to the GMR group company in Chhattisgarh, which in return will use the coal to generate power and supply it to GUVNL at the agreed tariff.

 

  • The Union cabinet in May 2016 had approved the proposal of ministry of power for allowing flexibility in utilization of domestic coal among power generating stations to reduce the cost of power generation. The objective of the scheme is to allow flexibility in optimal use of domestic coal in efficient power generation resulting in reduction in cost of electricity generation and reduce the power purchase cost of state distribution companies.

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

·       US Author George Saunders Wins 2017 Man Booker Prize

 

  • US author George Saunders won the 2017 Man Booker Prize.
  • He became only the second American writer to win Britain’s renowned Prize, which was awarded for his first full-length novel “Lincoln in the Bardo”. 
  • The 2016 Man Booker Prize went to ‘The Sellout’ by Paul Beatty.

 

·       Zimbabwe bans Fruit, Vegetable imports as Forex Crunch Deepens

 

  • The east African landlocked country Zimbabwe, with immediate effect, banned the import of fruits and vegetables to preserve the scarce foreign currencies.
  • Last year Zimbabwe spent more than $80 million on fruit and vegetables which included tomatoes, onions, carrots, grapes, apples and oranges.
  • Many of the Zimbabweans are keeping U.S. dollars at home or they are spending in buying Hard Currency on the black market. This same situation was prevailing during the period of hyperinflation a decade ago.

 

·       Pakistan elected among 15 nations to UN Human Rights Council

 

  • The15 member nations including Pakistan have been elected to serve on the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.
  • 15 new member nations who have been elected are Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain and Ukraine.

 

  • Google Viewed as Most Authentic Brand in India: Survey

 

  • Indian consumers regard Google as the most authentic brand, even though Amazon.com tops the list globally, reveal results of a new survey.

 

  • In India, Google is followed by Microsoft, Amazon.com, Maruti Suzuki and Apple.

 

  • Globally, Apple takes the second spot after Amazon in the authenticity race, according to the results revealed by Cohn & Wolfe.

 

 

NATIONAL 

 

·       Ministry of Women and Child Development launches campaign on ‘women for women’

 

  • The Ministry ofWomen and Child Developmentis undertaking an online campaign #IamThatWoman.
  • The main aim seeks to highlight the various aspects of women standing ‘by’ and ‘for’ women. Ministry of WCD has urged people to shun stereotypes associated with women harming other women. Twitter and Facebook users have been encouraged to tag and share stories of women helping women with a photograph and post online with the hashtag #IamThatWoman.
  • A woman manager can easily empathize with her female juniors and help her climb the ladder of success.

 

·       MCX launches first commodity options trading with gold

 

  • Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX)launched trading in Gold option’s contract in presence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
  • Underlying for Gold options contract which is currently available for trading are Gold (1 Kg) futures expiring on November 28, 2017, and January 29, 2018.
  • The Options in securities and commodities market are primarily meant for hedging. However they are also used for speculation.

 

  • Haryana records 39 percent of all cancer cases in India

 

  • Cancer is strengthening its grip across India, and reportedly, Haryana has a major share, with over 39% of cases recorded in the state.

 

  • Approximately 17.3 lakh new cancer cases are being estimated by the year 2020 in India, therefore with the present trends Haryana might have around 6.5 lakh cancercases by then.

 

  • Breast cancer has a majority share of cancer cases and is the leading cause for deaths in women suffering with non-communicable disease.

 

  • According to an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report, breast cancer shares 10% of all cases.

 

 

  • Hema Malini’s Biography:Beyond The Dream Girl

 

  • Deepika Padukone launched the biography of veteran actress Hema Malini in Mumbai.

 

  • The biography, titled ‘Beyond The Dream Girl’, is written by Ram Kamal Mukherjee, and was unveiled on Hema Malini’s 69th birthday (October 16).

 

  • The biography’s foreword has been written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

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