Current Affair 27th July 2018

Current Affairs 27th July 2018 - Important Points

• In 2018 AT Kearney FDI Confidence Index, rank of India is - 11th
• Definition of hydrocarbon amended by Government to include - Shale
• Vodafone-Idea merger got - Government approval
• Which party emerged as single largest party in Pakistan Elections - Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)
• Name of Ramon Magsaysay Award winners from India - Bharat Vatwani and Sonam Wangchuk
• NGT forms monitoring committee for - Clean Yamuna Project

Current Affairs 27th July 2018 - Details

In 2018 AT Kearney FDI Confidence Index, rank of India is - 11th

As per 2018 AT Kearney FDI Confidence Index, India ranked 11th.

In 2017 rank of India was 8th. Global consultancy firm AT Kearney published this report. 

Definition of hydrocarbon amended by Government to include - Shale

Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules 1959 were amended by Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to include shale in definition of petroleum. This will allow private compaines to explore and produce it in their respective blocks.

Shale gas is natural gas formed from being trapped within shale formations. Shale gas is unconventional source of methane, like coal-bed gas (in coal seams) and tight gas (trapped in rock formations). It has no colour and it is odourless gas. Shale gas releases 50% less CO2 if we compare it to natural gas and also cheaper than natural gas. So it is a better source for generating electricity too.

Vodafone-Idea merger got - Government approval

 On 26th July 2018, The Department of Telecom (DoT) gave final approval to merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular. Idea Cellular and Vodafone India jointly paid Rs. 7,268.78 crore 'under protest' to the DoT few days ago.

Now together it will known as "Vodafone Idea". It will be largest mobile-phone company. In this company CEO will be Balesh Sharma ( Chief Operating Officer of Vodafone India ) and Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla will be the Non-Executive Chairman.
Vodafone will be have 45.1 percent while Idea promoters will hold 26.1 percent of this new entity.

Which party emerged as single largest party in Pakistan Elections - Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party emerged as single largest party after the Pakistan Elections 2018. Former Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan is head of this party. PTI secured 119 seats however majorty mark is 137 seats.

Imran Khan who has a great career in international cricket for over two decades. His schooling was from Lahore while he did his graduation from Oxford University with Bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics and economics.

Under this captaincy, Pakistan cricket team won world cup in 1992. Imran Khan entered politics in 1996.

Name of Ramon Magsaysay Award winners from India - Bharat Vatwani and Sonam Wangchuk

 On 26th July 2018, Bharat Vatwani and Sonam Wangchuk from India won 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award. This award is also known as Asian Nobel Prize. In total six individuals won this prestigious prize, those are :

• Bharat Vatwani (India),
• Sonam Wangchuk (India),
• Youk Chhang (Cambodia),
• Maria de Lourdes Martins Cruz (East Timor),
• Howard Dee (Philippines) and
• Vo Thi Hoang Yen (Vietnam).

Bharat Vatwani was awarded for his work towards healing of mentally-ill street persons and Sonam Wangchuk was awarded for his community-driven reform of learning systems in remote northern India, thus improving the life opportunities of Ladakhi youth.

Ramon Magsaysay Award was established in 1957. It was created in the memory of 3rd President of Philippines Ramon Magsaysay.

NGT forms monitoring committee for - Clean Yamuna Project

On 26th July 2018, The National Green Tribunal formed a monitoring committee on the cleaning of the Yamuna River. Committee was directed to develop an action plan and asked it to submit it by 31st December 2018.

Retired expert member BS Sajwan and former Delhi chief secretary Shailaja Chandra are the members of this committee. Also NGT directed Govt of Haryana and UP to assist the committee on Yamuna rejuvenation.