Current Affairs 1st June 2018

Current Affairs 1st June 2018 - Important Points

• Upgraded Pinaka rocket successfully test-fired by - DRDO
• PM Narendra Modi launched RuPay card, BHIM and SBI apps in Singapore on - 31st May 2018
• Facebook partners with NCW to launch - Digital Literacy Programme
• Government, World Bank sign agreement worth $500m for PMGSY rural roads project on - 31st May 2018
•  Maiden test Next Generation SFDR Air to Air Missile successfully conducted by - DRDO
• Press Council of India reconstituted on - 31st May 2018
• Denmark Parliament banned wearing of face veils in public on - 31st May 2018

Current Affairs 1st June 2018 - Details

Upgraded Pinaka rocket successfully test-fired by - DRDO

DRDO has effectively test-fired Advanced guided version of Pinaka Rocket from Proof & Experiment. Establishment at Chandipur, Odisha. During the test-fire, 2 rounds were directed and few more rounds have been prearranged.
Upgraded Pinaka

• The guided version is Pinaka rocket mark-II has progressed from earlier version of unguided Pinaka
  mark-I.
• The advanced Pinaka mark-II has been equipped with navigation, guidance and control kit
  established by Research Centre, Imarat.
• The conversion has assisted to improve range of Pinaka to above 70 kilometres with accuracy to 50 metres.
  Pinaka Missile
• It is combinedly developed by Armament Research & Development Establishment- Pune, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad and Research Centre, Imarat.
• It is fired with the help of multi-barrel rocket launcher which can shoot 12 explosive-loaded Rockets within 44 seconds and terminate target area of 4 sq kilometres at a time.
• It has competence to incorporate various types of missiles makes it deadly for enemy as it can even abolish solid structures and bunkers.
• The quick reaction time and high rate fire system stretches an edge to Army during less conflict situation. It already has been inaugurated into Indian Army.

PM Narendra Modi launched RuPay card, BHIM and SBI apps in Singapore on - 31st May 2018

PM Narendra Modi released 3 Indian digital payment systems- RuPay, BHIM and UPI apps by State Bank of India at the  Business, Innovation and Community Event in Singapore, on May 31st , 2018.
With the release, India's RuPay digital payments system was connected with Singapore's 33 years old Network for Electronic Transfers. The initiative will enable RuPay subscribers to complete payments at all of Network for Electronic Transfers System acceptance points across Singapore.
Whereas, holders of Singapore Network for Electronic Transfers System will be able to complete online
purchase on any National Payment Corporation of India e-commerce merchant website in India, using 2.8 million RuPay point of sale stations in India.
Importance
The progress is significant, because it would develop multi-billion-dollar transactions as around 5 million Indians travel and transit via Singapore, internationalising the RuPay commencement with the 1st cross border usage.
Did you know?
PM Narendra Modi initiated the apps during the 1st day of his tour in Singapore, which is a part of his 3 countries tour of South-East Asia. This is PM Modi's 2nd formal visit as the Prime Minister to the island country. India seeks at Singapore as a gateway to ASEAN and as a connection between India and Asia.
Singapore is also a main partner for India in projects related to smart cities, urban infrastructure and logistics.

Facebook partners with NCW to launch - Digital Literacy Programme

Social networking mega Facebook has collaborated with National Commission for Women to release
Digital Literacy Programme to train women on secure use of internet and social media. The programme
was released by Facebook in partnership with Ranchi, Jharkhanda-based Cyber Peace Foundation
involved in exercise linked to all aspects of cyber security.
More about Digital Literacy Programme

• Under it, awareness training will be directed for 60,000 women in universities in major cities over a 1-year period.
• These interactive exercise sessions will deliver training on secure and responsible usage of
  internet, social media and email.
• It will permit trainees to differentiate between credible and questionable data.
• The training will be directed in local languages. The digital literacy programme will advantage females in universities in big cities including Haryana, Delhi, Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
  National Commission for Women
• National Commission for Women is a constitutional body formed under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990. It was formed in January 1992 to analysis the constitutional and legal safeties for women.
• It commends remedial legislative measures, advise Government on all policy issues affecting females and smooth redressal of complaints related to females.

Government, World Bank sign agreement worth $500m for PMGSY rural roads project on - 31st May 2018

The Union Government inked a $500 million loan MoU with the World Bank on May 31 st , 2018 to deliver extra financing for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Rural Roads Project.  The project, executed by the Union Rural Development ministry, goals to shape 7,000 kilometres of climate resilient roads, out of which 3,500 kilometres will be built using green technologies. 

The Loan MoU for the project was inked by Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Sameer Kumar Khare, on behalf of the Government of India and Country Director, World Bank India Junaid Ahmad, on behalf of the World Bank in the presence of Alka Upadhyaya, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development.

Objective

Under this extra financing, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and the Bank’s involvement will highlight on managing the rural road network via green and climate robust construction using green, less carbon projects and new technologies.
Key Importance

• The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has over the years carried about a paradigm shift in the way rural roads are shaped, fabricated, monitored and built, involving communities especially women.
• The extra finance will assist bring a new shift in construction technology using green and low carbon designs and climate strong construction techniques.
• It will facilitate the rural communities to have entree to better economic options and social services.

 Maiden test Next Generation SFDR Air to Air Missile successfully conducted by - DRDO

DRDO effectively carried out maiden flight trial new surface-to-air missile which is power-driven by Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Propulsion Technology. The test also efficaciously demonstrated technology of nozzle-less booster for 1st time in the nation.
Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet’s technology protestor flight test was directed from Launch Centre-III of
Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha. The self-protective missile flew in its proposed trajectory at thrice the speed of sound and met all mission purposes.
Key Importance

• Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology is combinedly produced by India and Russia.
• It will assist both India’s surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles to perform healthier and enhance their strike capability, making them extra lethal.
• Thus, India will have quickest long-range missiles in 2 categories with protection from intimidating attacks.
• Its effective usage in missiles will mark India’s entry into first-class club of countries that utilises next-generation missile technology against manoeuvring targets.
  Difference between SFDR and Conventional Missiles
• Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet is propulsion technology different than that of unadventurous solid fuelled or liquid-fuelled missiles.
• Currently, lot of conventional missiles practices booster configuration with solid/liquid propellants, which have restrictions against manoeuvring target.
• This is because mortal stage of conventional missiles cannot deliver sufficient energy to maintain their pace to hit targets.
• Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology eliminates this drawback by remarkably enhancing endgame manoeuvrability of missile at mortal stage when its seeker is locked onto target.

Press Council of India reconstituted on - 31st May 2018

The Union Government re-formed the Press Council of India on May 31 st , 2018, for a 3 years term. However, the names under medium newspaper group have not been acknowledged yet as the matter linked to it is sub-judice.
Nomination of members of the reconstituted PCI

• On March 16th , 2018, the government informed the names of 8 nominated members of the reconstituted Press Council of India.
• Parliamentarians designated to the fresh body were Meenakshi Lekhi, T.G.Venkatesh Babu, Prathap Simha, Vinay.P.Sahasrabuddhe and Swapan Dasgupta.
• Uttam Chandra Sharma, Pravat Kumar Dash, K.Sreenivasarao, Meenakshi Lekhi and Chhayakanta Nayak were designated for the 2 nd term in the refurbished Press Council of India.
• Members designated to the Press Council of India from different companies were Sushma Yadav from the UGC, Manan Kumar Mishra from the Bar Council of India and K.Sreenivasarao from the Sahitya Akademi.
• Future on May 22nd , 2018, former Supreme Court judge C.K.Prasad was selected as the Chairman of the Press Council of India for a 2nd term.

Denmark Parliament banned wearing of face veils in public on - 31st May 2018

Parliament of Denmark barred the wearing of face veils- burqa and niqab, in public places, on May 31 st , 2018. This is a initiative that will criminalise Muslim women who selected to wear the burqa.
The Danish parliament voted 75-30 with 74 absentees. The measure will come into effect on August 1 st , 2018.

The restriction was maintained by the ruling liberal-conservative coalition parties, the far-right People’s Party and the antagonism Social Democrats, who trust that face veils are conflicting to the Danish values.
Highlights of the legislation banning face veils in public

• The law prohibits the wearing of full-face niqab, balaclavas, face-covering masks and fake beards.
• It does not bandit headscarves, turbans, traditional Jewish Kippa and winter clothing including scarves and motorcycle helmets.
• Denmark’s Justice Minister Soren Pape Poulsen informed that police will not order criminals to remove their veils, however, would charge penalty from them.
• Penalties will vary from 1000 Danish crowns/USD 160 for a 1st offense to 10000 crowns for a 4th violation.