Current Affairs 18th March 2018

Current Affairs 18th March 2018 - Important Points

• 105th Indian Science Congress  inaugurated by - Prime Minister
• Maharashtra Government bans use of plastic by - CM Devendra Fadnavis
• India, ADB sign $120 million loan to improve rail infrastructure on - 16th March 2018

Current Affairs 18th March 2018 - Details

105th Indian Science Congress  inaugurated by - Prime Minister

PM Narendra Modi initiated 105th meeting of Indian Science Congress at Manipur Central University in Imphal. The principal subject of 5 days Indian Science Congress is “Reaching the Unreached Through
Science & Technology”.
Key Points

• The Indian Science Congress 2018 was planned by the Indian Science Congress Association of India.
• This is 2 nd time the Science Congress is being organised in the North-East. Former it was organised at Shillong in 2009.
• About, 5,000 representatives from all over nation and 2,000 researchers along with 4 Nobel Laureates are joining in this year jumbo event.
• Under this subject, researchers from around the world will debate at linking social breaches through innovations. Its push will be on science guidelines which influence society and sustainable progress.

Did you know?

• Indian Science Congress Association was initiated in the year 1914 at its HQ in Kolkata.
• It is planned by ISC every year in the 1st week of January. The 1st conference of the ISC was organised in January 1914 in the Asiatic Society, Kolkata.
• The 104th edition of Indian Science Congress was planned in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh with the subject ‘Science and Technology for National Development’.

Maharashtra Government bans use of plastic by - CM Devendra Fadnavis

The usage of plastics has been banned by the Maharashtra Government in specific time way, mentioning environmental and public-health apprehensions. The decision was granted at cabinet meeting headed by CM Devendra Fadnavis. The restriction will comprise disposable cups and plates, plastic bags, thermocol, cutlery, non-woven polypropylene bags and plastic packaging.
Key Facts

• The restriction excuses plastic utilised to cover medicines, solid waste, forest and horticulture goods, tree saplings and usage of plastic in export tasks. Likewise, plastic covers and wrappers utilised for factory-made and processed goods would also be excused.
• The resolution will be compulsory across rural and urban Maharashtra and all MCs, DCs and CEOs of zilla parishads have been ordered to make sure the execution of this in their particular regions.
• All small and medium size factories and big manufacturing engaged in plastic trades will be provided
  satisfactory time to adopt alternative modes of trades.
• Government has suggested various trade models along with jobs to people involved in plastic industries.
• Government will also issue some incentives to people, who firmly adhere to restriction resolution.
• There is also suggestion to slap penalty like non-renewing of licences for shops and factories which intrude upon the decision.

India, ADB sign $120 million loan to improve rail infrastructure on - 16th March 2018

The Union Government inked a $120 million loan contract with the Asian Development Bank for achievement of works for double-tracking and electrification of railway tracks along more populated areas to improve operational effectiveness of Indian railways on March 16th , 2018.
This loan is portion of the 500 million dollars multi-task funding facility for Railways Investment Program sanctioned by the Asian Development Bank Board in 2011. The credit amount will be utilised to finish the ongoing tasks originated under previous tranches.
On behalf of the Union Government, Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, inked the credit agreement, while Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, Kenichi Yokoyama, inked on behalf of Asian Development Bank.
Objective

• The project mainly focuses to improve the efficiency of railway with electrification, introduction of up-to- date signalling system and doubling the railway tracks on the foremost routes in the nation.
• It will facilitate develop an energy-efficient, secure and trusted rail system that will result into reduced travel time and enhanced operational and economic efficiency.
   
  Key Highlights
• The capital for loan is believed to useful towards achieving the double-tracking of approximate 840 kilometres railway tracks and electrification of 640 kilometres of routs in densely populated corridors.
• The investment program would be aiming busy cargo and passenger tracks in the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Odisha and AP including the metropolitan cities of New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.
• The doubling of railway tracks will be done along the Daund to Titlagarh unit, the Raipur to Titlagarh Unit, the Sambalpur to Titlagarh unit and the Hospet to Tinaighat unit while electrification will be completed along the 641 kilometers Pune to Wadi Guntakal unit.