Assam Current Affairs Assam – May 2018
( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the month of May 2018 )
May 2018 – eBook Monthly PDF | May 2018 – Monthly Quiz PDF
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May 9
US withdraws from Iran Nuclear Deal
President Donald Trump announced US withdrawal from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with Iran. Mr. Donald Trump signed a fresh set of sanctions against Iran and warned countries against any cooperation with Tehran on its controversial nuclear weapons programme.
According to the President, the deal gave Iran millions in cash and did not prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. The historic nuclear deal was reached in Vienna in July 2015 between Iran and the P5 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) along with Germany and the European Union.
Mr. Trump’s decision to formally end the U.S.’s participation in the deal that curtailed Iran’s nuclear ambitions could strain its relations with key allies like France, Germany and the United Kingdom, aggravate tensions with Russia and China, and add to instability in West Asia.
FACTFILE – The Iran nuclear deal framework
- The Iran nuclear deal framework was a preliminary framework agreement reached in 2015 between the Islamic Republic of Iran and a group of world powers: the P5+1 (the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China—plus Germany) and the European Union.
- Negotiations for a framework deal over the nuclear program of Iran took place between the foreign ministers of the countries at a series of meetings held from March 26 to April 2, 2015 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- The framework deal was embodied in a document published by the EU’s European External Action Service titled Joint Statement by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Switzerland, and in a document published by the U.S. Department of State titled Parameters for a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Nuclear Program.
- On July 14, 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between Iran and the P5+1 and EU, a comprehensive agreement based on the April 2015 framework, was announced.
Government to set up additional 100 One Stop Centres for women safety
Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) in its program approval meeting an additional 100 stop centers for women affected by violence.
The purpose of these OSC is to provide integrated services for women affected by violence such as police assistance, medical aid, legal aid and counseling for temporary stay for 5 days. These centers are being established across the country.
FACTFILE – One Stop Centres (OSC)
- One Stop Centres (OSC) scheme Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) had launched Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up One Stop Centres (OSC)
- It is funded from Nirbhaya fund.
- These Centres are being established across the country to provide integrated support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces in phased manner.
- So far, Ministry of WCD has set up 182 Centres since April, 2015. These centres have assisted over 1.3 lakh women affected by violence in 33 States/UTs.
- Every OSC is integrated with scheme of Universalization of Women’s Helpline (181) of the WCD Ministry which is operational in 30 States/UTs.
NITI Aayog signed SoI with Google to help grow AI ecosystem in India
The NITI Aayog signed Statement of Intent (SoI) with search engine giant Google to work together to foster growth for India’s nascent artificial intelligence and Machine language.
Under the aegis of this program, Google will train and incubate Indian startups in the accelerator program. These startups will be mentored and coached by Google. Moreover, Indian Researchers, scholars and university faculty will be funded to help bolster research ecosystem for conducting AI Based research.
The NITI Aayog has been entrusted to setup a national programme to conduct research and development in frontier technologies such as AI. In furtherance of this mandate, NITI Aayog has been developing India’s national strategy on AI along with the National Data and Analytics Portal to enable the wide deployment and use of AI.
Google and NITI Aayog will work on the following initiatives:
- Organise trainings for relevant government functionaries to introduce them to open source AI tools with the goal of enabling more effective governance.
- Awarding grants and scholarships to researchers, scholars and university faculty conducting cutting edge research in the field of AI/ML in India.
- Organising AI/ML study jams for students and developers based on Google’s Machine Learning Crash Course (MLCC) on the fundamentals of machine learning
- Incubating Indian AI/ML startups in a program where they will be mentored by Google to better leverage AI in their respective business models.
- Organise a Hackathon focused on using AI/ML and open data sets to solve key challenges within agriculture, education, healthcare, etc. in India
India ranks 4th in Asia-Pacific on Power Index
India ranked fourth out of 25 nations in the Asia-Pacific region on an index that measures their overall power.
The Lowy Institute Asia Power Index measures power across 25 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, reaching as far west as Pakistan, as far north as Russia, and as far into the Pacific as Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
India is ranked fourth on the parameters economic resources, military capability, diplomatic influence and fifth on resilience. The report India ranks third for its aggregate resources score and is set to become the fastest-growing economy in the region, predicted to grow 169% between 2016 and 2030. India pegged as a “giant of the future”.
The US has topped the list. China holds a top-two position across all but one measure and ranks first in economic relationships, diplomatic influence and future trends.
May 10
India’s clean energy capacity touches 70 GW
According to Ministry of of New and Renewable Energy India’s installed clean energy capacity has already touched 70 GW and 38 GW is under implementation as per the data compiled till March 31.
Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said, “India is progressing fast in the areas of renewable energy and government is committed to meeting target of having 175 GW by 2022”.
Key Facts
(i) The 70 GW installed renewable energy capacity in the country is double of the capacity four year back. Nearly, 56,000 solar power pumps were installed in the last financial year, which is highest ever in a single year.
(ii) It has also boasted about discovering lowest wind and solar power tariff of Rs 2.43 and Rs 2.44 per unit, respectively, in the last fiscal through tariff based competitive bidding.
(iii) India generated 100 billion units of electricity through renewables last fiscal, which is highest ever so far.
Government approves green license code for electric vehicles
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways approved the green license plates bearing numbers in white fonts for private e – vehicles and yellow font for taxis.
The objective behind distinctive green number plates is easy identification for vehicles in parking, free entry in congested zones besides other proposed benefits like a concessional troll.
Key Facts
(i) The government is contemplating permitting youth in the age group of 16-18 years to drive e-scooters, which are gearless and this will lead to a big demand for e-scooters.
(ii) Under the Motor Vheicles Act, 1988, those in the age group of 16-18 years are granted licence for below 50 CC gearless scooters.
(iii) The government is also contemplating to ask taxi aggregators to have an incremental share of electric vehicles from 2020 onwards, which could be 1 per cent of the fleet every year. Similarly, all public transport operators may also be mandated to provide 1 per cent incremental fleet from 2020 onwards.
(iv) There is also a proposal to bring down the GST on batteries to 12 percent at par with the GST on electric-vehicles.
Government launches ‘Digital India Internship Scheme’ portal
The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information technology (MeitY) has launched ‘Digital India Internship Scheme’ portal. The portal was launched in Delhi by Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Key Facts
(i) The portal will facilitate students to apply online for internship and will provide an opportunity to secure first hand and practical work experience under the guidance of qualified and experienced Supervisor and Mentor.
(ii) This scheme will offer 25 slots in each session, i.e, summer and winter. Remuneration of Rs 10,000 per month will be offered to interns.
(iii) Students who secured at least 60% marks in B.E/B.Tech or M.E/M.Tech or dual degrees and are in their course of study can apply for internships on the portal.
(iv) The proposed areas of internship include Research and Development in Electronics and IT, Cyber Law/ IT Act, Digital Forensics, Malware Analysis, Mobile Governance, Cloud Computing, Digital Literacy, Software/ Hardware Industry Promotion and Digital Payments.
Mahathir Mohamad sworn in as the seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia
Mahathir Mohamad sworn in as the seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia. He took oath at the Istana Negara palace in Kuala Lumpur.
Mohamad claimed election victory in the country’s General Elections 2018, becoming the world’s oldest Prime Minister at the age of 92. Mahathir’s coalition, Pakatan Harapan, won 121 out of 222 seats.
His coalition defeated the governing Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition led by Prime Minister Najib Razak, which has been in power since Independence 1957.
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