27.10.17 Uttar Pradesh (UPPCS) Current Affairs

by

UTTAR PRADESH

 

  • Supreme Court asks UP govt to file comprehensive plan to protect Taj Mahal

 

  • Blaming Uttar Pradesh government for taking “ad-hoc” approach towards protection of Taj Mahal, the Supreme Court  directed the state to file a comprehensive report for preservation of the 17th century structure and the ecology surrounding it.
  • Meanwhile, a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta stayed operation of its order by which it had directed demolition of a multi-layer parking being constructed in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal.
  • Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for UP government, told the bench that the state was committed to protect and preserve the structure and there should not be any doubt about it. He said that the state had already prepared a comprehensive plan for Taj Mahal.

 

  • The court has been monitoring the case for the last 31 years after it was contended that growing pollution level in the city posed serious danger to Taj and it had restrained authority not to cut down any tree without its permission in Taj Trapezium Zone- a 10,400 sq.km trapezium-shaped area covering the five districts of the Agra region.

 

  • The TTZ comprises over 40 protected monuments including three World Heritage Sites — the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

  • Saudi Arabia bestows humanoid robot with citizenship

 

  • A humanoid named Sophia has made history by becoming the first robot in the world to be granted citizenship.

 

  • Saudi Arabia offered citizenship to the robot, designed by entrepreneur David Hanson.

 

  • The particulars of the citizenship were not discussed, and it’s not clear if Sophia will have the same rights as a human Saudi Arabian citizen.

 

·       Qatar Introduces Minimum Wage for First Time

  • The tiny Gulf state host of the 2022 football World Cup Qatar committed that it will introduce a minimum wage for workers in the country.
  • The announcement was made by labour and social affairs minister Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi.
  • The announcement came a day before a meeting of the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO)

 

·       India has 3rd Highest Number of Family-Owned Businesses

 

  • Indiahas 108 publicly-listed family-owned businesses, third highest in the world, while China tops the tally with 167 such companies followed by the US which has 121, according to the Credit Suisse report.
  • As per the Credit Suisse Research Institute’s (CSRI) latest “CS Family 1000” report, with an average market capitalisation of USD 6.5 billion, India ranks 5th in Asia Pacific excluding Japan, and 22nd globally, in terms of average m-cap.

 

NATIONAL 

 

  • Letters of Intent’ for 14 monuments under ‘Adopt a Heritage Scheme

 

  • Seven shortlisted companies were given ‘Letters of Intent’ for fourteen monuments under ‘Adopt a Heritage Scheme’ of Ministry of Tourism at the closing ceremony of ‘Paryatan Parv’ at Rajpath Lawns, New Delhi.

 

  • These companies will be the future ‘Monument Mitras’ who would associate pride with their CSR activities.

 

  • SBI Foundation shortlisted for the adoption of – Jantar Mantar, Delhi.

 

  • NBCC shortlisted for the adoption of  Purana Quila, Delhi.

 

  • The ‘Adopt a Heritage Scheme’ of Ministry of Tourism was launched on World Tourism Day i.e. 27thSeptember, 2017 by the President of India.

 

·       Indian Navy approves new mission-based deployment plan

 

  • During the ongoing Naval Commanders’ Conference, Indian Navy approved a “new mission-based deployment” planunder which mission-ready ships and aircrafts will be deployed along critical sea lanes of communications.

 

  • A new transition cycle for ships from maintenance periods to operational deployments has also been approved by Chief Admiral Suni Lanba.

 

  • Several operational issues and efforts to make Indian Navy self-reliant and modernize its warfare capability were also discussed at the conference.

 

·       Piyush Goyal launches first set of solar plants with capacity of 5 MW

 

  • Railway Minister Piyush Goyal launched the first set of solar plants with a total capacity of5 megawatt in New Delhi area.
  • The project is part of the government’s National Solar Mission in which Indian Railways plans to commission one thousand Megawatt solar plants across its network.
  • The railways are working towards speeding up its electrification and road-map for identifying various solutions to achieve larger goal of transforming Railways as a 100 per cent de-carbonised and most energy efficient.

 

·       Gokul Natesan Second Indian-Origin Player to be Signed by NBA G-League Side

 

  • Gokul Natesan is the 97th pick in the NBA draft to became only the second Indian-origin player to be signed by an NBA G-League side.
  • Amjyot Singh recently became the third Indian to walk into the National Basketball Association (NBA) league.
  • The Managing Director for India of NBA is Yannick Colaco.

 

·       Puducherry Becomes an Associate Member of BCCI

 

  • TheCricket Association of Puducherry (CAP) was chosen by the Committee of Administrators (CoA)as an associate member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 
  • This means Puducherry will be allowed to play the Ranji Trophy in 2018.
UPPCS Notes brings Prelims and Mains programs for UPPCS Prelims and UPPCS Mains Exam preparation. Various Programs initiated by UPPCS Notes are as follows:- For any doubt, Just leave us a Chat or Fill us a querry––