Current Affairs 4th October 2017

Current Affairs 4th October 2017 - Important Points

• Chairmen of two sub-committees of IWF - Birendra Prasad Baishya
• ‘Swachh Andhra Mission’ launched by - Andhra Pradesh CM
• World Habitat Day observed globally on - 2nd October 2017
• GES 2017 going to be held in Hyderabad in - November 2017
• Central excise duty on Petrol and Diesel reduced by - Union Government
• Which state topped among all states by building 3.2 lakh toilets in 17 days ? - Uttar Pradesh Government
• Turtle Sanctuary to be set up in Allahabad by - Union government

Current Affairs 4th October 2017 - Details

Chairmen of two sub-committees of IWF - Birendra Prasad Baishya

Indian Weightlifting Federation President, Birendra Prasad Baishya has been elected as the chairman of two sub-committees of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). Baishya was elected as the chairman of International Weightlifting Federation's Ethics Commission as well as of Anti-Disciplinary Commission at the world body's Executive Committee Meeting, which was held at Bucharest, Romania.
About Birendra Prasad Baishya

• Baishya hails from Assam, one of the seven sisters in the north-east of India.
• Baishya is currently serving as the Executive Board member of Asian Weightlifting Federation.
• He is also the Vice-President of Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation.

More about International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)

• The IWF is the international governing body for the sport of Olympic weightlifting.
• Founded in 1905, it has its headquarters in Budapest, Hungary.
• Originally called the Fédération Haltéphile International (FHI), its name was changed to IWF between the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.
• It has 187 member nations and its current President is Tamas Ajan.

‘Swachh Andhra Mission’ launched by - Andhra Pradesh CM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched ‘Swachh Andhra Mission’ on 2nd October 2017, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Ace shuttler PV Sindhu was appointed as the brand ambassador of this mission.
She along with the state minister for Information Technology and Rural Development Nara Lokesh and public representatives were present in the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Naidu praised Singhu and said that it is a proud moment of the state that Sindhu is chosen as the brand ambassador for Swachh Andhra.

World Habitat Day observed globally on - 2nd October 2017

The World Habitat Day was celebrated across the world with the theme ‘Housing Policies: Affordable Homes’ on 2nd October 2017. This day is celebrated to reflect the world’s towns and cities states and to emphasize the basic right of all to receive adequate shelter.

Important Points

• In 1985, the United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day.
• The day was first celebrated in 1986.
• The declaration is intended to remind the world of its power and responsibility to shape the future of all cities and towns.
• The United Nations Human Settlements Program the ‘UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour award’ launched in 1989. It is also considered as the most prestigious human settlements award in the world.
• The winners of the award are honoured on the occasion of this day.

GES 2017 going to be held in Hyderabad in - November 2017

The 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2017 will going to be held in Hyderabad, India from 28th to 30th November 2017. A high-level delegation from the Government of India and the USA met at NITI Aayog are to plan the summit.
The Summit will going to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Advisor to the POTUS (President of the US) Ivanka Trump, leading the US delegation. It is the paramount annual meeting of emerging entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors across the globe.
Through mentoring, networking and workshops, the GES allow entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, build partnerships,secure funding, and create innovative goods and services that will be changing societies.
Women entrepreneurs and the incredible potential women bring to entrepreneurship are the focus for this year.

More about GES 2017

• GES 2017 will be generating an environment that will empower innovators, particularly women, to take their ideas to the next level.
• Women signify tremendous promise for economic growth and success in both developing and developed countries, but also face terrific barriers to build businesses.
• This year the theme of the summit is “Women First, Prosperity for All” to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit in all its strengths and diversity.
• GES 2017 will be graced by more than 1600 delegates, including investors and entrepreneurs, CEOs of major knowledge-based industries.
• The participants will be representing 160 countries, almost from every region of the world.
  On behalf of Government of India NITI Aayog is taking the lead in organising this Summit.
• This summit is expected to be the unique occasion for Indian Startups and Innovators to interact and network with the finest entrepreneurs of the world.
• This year's agenda consists of breakout sessions, workshops and master classes.
• In the Breakout Sessions panelists will be arguing on key themes, innovative industries and other aspects of entrepreneurship being highlighted in GES 2017.

Central excise duty on Petrol and Diesel reduced by - Union Government

The Union government has decided to reduce the central excise duty on Petrol and Diesel by Rs 2 per Litre effective from 4th October 2017. After this reduction, the decrease in prices of Petrol and Diesel will going to be Rs 2.50 per litre and Rs 2.25 per litre respectively in the capital.
This measure is aimed to give relief to the farmers and consumers, especially in the view of the coming agricultural season when Kharif crops would be harvested and Rabi crops would be sowed.

Important Points

• From the past few weeks, prices of both the fuels were rising due to increase in their international market price.
• On 3rd October, the prices of Petrol and Diesel were Rs 70.88 per litre and Rs 59.14 per litre respectively in Delhi.
• Besides this, the centre has also requested the state governments to make reduction in VAT imposed by them on Petrol and Diesel so as to give more relief to consumers.
• The Revenue loss on account of these reductions in excise duty would be around Rs 26,000 Crore in a full year and about Rs 13000 Crore during the rest of the current financial year.

Which state topped among all states by building 3.2 lakh toilets in 17 days ? - Uttar Pradesh Government

The Uttar Pradesh government stated on 3rd October 2017 that it has built more than 3.52 lakh toilet units in 17 days under the Centre's Swachhta hi Seva campaign thereby, topping other states in this effort. According to an official statement, the toilets were constructed between 15th September and 2nd October.
Rajasthan ranked 2nd with around 2,54,953 toilets and then Karnataka, which built around 2, 41,708 toilets in the same period. In all, almost 18, 24,549 toilets were constructed across states, according to a statement issued by the office of chief secretary Rajiv Kumar. The statement also added that nagar panchayat Sahanpur in Bijnore district was declared open defecation free by the Centre on 4th September.

Turtle Sanctuary to be set up in Allahabad by - Union government

The development of a Turtle sanctuary in Allahabad along with a River Biodiversity Park at Sangam under Namami Gange program to protect the rich aquatic biodiversity of river Ganga from growing anthropogenic pressures approved by the Union Government.
This project initiation is estimated to be of Rs 1.34 crore and it would be including expansion of River Biodiversity Park at Sangam (Ganga convergence, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati), Turtle Rearing Center establishment (Permanent nursery at Triveni Pushp and makeshift annual hatcheries) and to raise awareness about the river Ganga significance and imperativeness of its conservation has been agreed.

This Turtle sanctuary project will be given much needed platform to make the people aware of their place in the ecosystem, improve their complexity of co-existence with the environment understanding, their task and responsibilities, and help generating awareness to reduce the impact of human actions on crucial natural resources. The task of dissipating knowledge about river Ganga will be taken up ardently in this project, which is fully funded by the center.

The sustainance of above 2000 marine species including endangered gharials, dolphins and turtles in river Ganga exemplifies the rich biodiversity of this lifeline to above 40% of the country’s population.

At Allahabad, Rivers Ganga and Yamuna are home to some of the most scarce fauna like turtles (Batagur kachuga,Batagur dhongoka, Nilssonia gangetica, Hardella thurjii etc.), the National Aquatic Animal - Gangetic dolphin, the Gharial and many migratory & resident birds.