Important Current Affairs 17th March 2017 with Free PDF

Important Current Affairs 17th March 2017 with Free PDF

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We bring you Important Current Affairs 17th March 2017 with Free PDF in English and Hindi, which will update you with latest headlines, news from various domains i.e: National News, Sports, Business, Awards & recognition. It will help you in preparation of competitive exams like: SSC, SBI, IBPS PO, Clerk, Railways & Various other Entrance examinations.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS 17TH MARCH 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Inauguration of 3 Day International Buddhist Conference at Rajgir

The three days“International Buddhist Conference” organized by Ministry of Culture and Nava Nalanda Mahavihara,Deemed University was inaugurated by His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Dr.Mahesh Sharma,Minister of Culture and Tourism today at Rajgir International Buddhist Conference, Bihar. 
●    Shri N.K. Sinha,Secretary M/o Culture and Shri M.L. Shrivastava, Vice-Chancellor, Nava Nalanda Mahavihar a Deemed University were present on the occasion.
●    It was followed by the chanting of Mangala Path(Holy Sutra) by the Monks.
●    His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his inaugural address said that all religious traditions should sit in harmony to know the truth which is always unchanged. 
●    That will help the country as well as the World in attaining peace through love and compassion which form the core of Buddhism. 
●    He said that we should not only read about the Buddha and his teachings but we should also experience and experiment it in our lives. 
●    He said that like violence,compassion is the basic makeup of human being. He emphasized on the refinement of our emotions. 
●    The negative emotions that generate within us keep us plagued and diseased. Therefore,we must purify our mind especially through Vipassana Meditation which is of explanatory kind. 
●    He lauded India’s rich religious and philosophical traditions.  He reminded us of the Heart Sutra that Buddha had delivered at Rajgir.

First Airbus Training Centre in Asia to be set up in New Delhi

Airbus is setting up a greenfield training facility at Aerocity, New Delhi, to support India’s growing need for Airbus aircraft pilots and maintenance engineers. 
●    The groundbreaking for the Airbus India Training Centre was performed by P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju,  Minister of Civil Aviation and Tom Enders, CEO, Airbus in the presence of Jayant Sinha,  Minister of State for Civil Aviation.
●    Speaking on the occasion, the  Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that  India’s rapidly growing passenger aircraft fleet must be matched by adequate availability of skilled pilots and maintenance engineers. 
●    Airbus’ pilot and maintenance engineering training center is the type of facility which will help augment the talent pool of such personnel and thus be a force multiplier for the Indian aviation sector.   
●    He also wanted Airbus to think of creating MRO facility in India to take forward the Make in India policy of the Government, as this would create employment opportunity.
●    Tom Enders, CEO, Airbus  said that we have only scratched the surface when it comes to the growth of civil aviation in India. This training centre will be the first such facility fully owned by us in Asia.  
●    It is a symbol of our enduring partnership with this country.

President of India to Inaugurate an International Conference on “Universities of The Future” Tomorrow

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will visit Haryana (Sonipat) tomorrow (March 18, 2017) where he will inaugurate a three-day international conference.
●    Theme was “Universities of the Future: Knowledge, Innovation and Responsibility” at O. P. Jindal Global University (JGU). 
●    The Conference seeks to examine the future of the Indian universities in the twenty first century and will have thirteen thematic panels. 
●    Thematic sessions at the international forum are devoted to important themes surrounding research, knowledge creation and publications, innovation, regulation, policymaking, financing of universities and internationalisation of higher education.
 

NTPC Clocks Highest Ever Annual Cumulative Gross Generation of 263.95 BU

NTPC Group achieved highest ever cumulative gross generation of 263.95 Billion Units (BU) till yesterday during current year surpassing previous annual best of 263.42 BU recorded in Financial Year 2016-17. 
●    Generation of Group NTPC registered an annual growth of 4.71% over last year.
●    NTPC Pit Head Coal stations, having capacity of 25840 MW, recorded day PLF of 95.71% on 16-3-17 and cumulative monthly PLF of 91.4% in the month of March,2017 till date. 
●    29 Units of NTPC coal plants have generated at a PLF of more than 100% on 16-3-17.
●    NTPC stations have continued excellent performance in the current month with Vindhyachal station, India's largest power station having capacity of 4760 MW, achieving highest ever day generation of 114.254 MU at PLF 100.01% on 8-3-17. 
●    Mouda station also recorded highest ever day Generation of 31.2 MU on 9-3-17 and Solar Generation of NTPC touched maximum generation of 2.353 MU on 12-3-17.

Atal Mission investments for Telangana approved for the five year mission period

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), an expenditure of Rs.1,673 cr will be incurred on improving basic urban infrastructure in 12 mission cities in Telangana by 2019-20, the last year of the mission.
●    Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu approved an investment of Rs.703 cr under Atal Mission over the next three financial years i.e 2017-20, taking the total mission investment to Rs.1,673 cr.
●    Expenditure of Rs.415 cr for 2015-16 and Rs.555 cr for 2016-17, as proposed by the State Government  under the State Annual Action Plans for respective years was earlier  approved by the Ministry of Urban Development.
●    Ministry of Urban Development provides a total central assistance of Rs.832 cr for the five year mission period which is almost half of the total expenditure to be incurred in 12 mission cities and towns of Telangana.
●    Of the Rs.703 cr approved for 2017-20, Rs.560 cr will be spent on water supply projects, Rs.126 cr on expanding sewerage networks and Rs.17 cr for development of parks and green spaces in mission cities. 
●    Of this, a lion’s share of Rs.424.26 will be spent on water supply projects in Warangal.

Rs.11,421cr investments for basic urban infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh under Atal Mission (AMRUT)

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), a total expenditure  of Rs.11,421 cr will be incurred in Uttar Pradesh on improving basic urban infrastructure in 61 cities and towns with a population of above one lakh each by 2019-20. 
●    To this effect, the Ministry of Urban Development has approved AMRUT Action Plans of Uttar Pradesh for the next three years i.e 2017-20 in one go involving an expenditure of Rs.4,239 cr. 
●    Annual Action Plans for 2015-16 and 2016-17 were earlier approved by the Ministry. Uttar Pradesh has got the highest investment in the country under Atal Mission.
●    Under AMRUT, launched on June 25, 2015 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, providing water taps to all urban households and augmenting water supply to the level of 135 litres per capita per day is given first priority followed by sewerage and drainage networks, non-motorised urban transport and development of green and open spaces in 500 mission cities during the mission period of 2015-20.
●    For Uttar Pradesh, the Ministry has approved an investment of Rs.4,239cr during 2017-20 in the mission cities. This includes; Rs.1,996 cr in water supply projects in 46 cities and towns, Rs.2,149 cr in sewerage projects in 47 cities and Rs.94 cr for development of parks and open cities in 61 mission cities and towns. 
●    An expenditure of Rs.3,287cr for 2015-16 and Rs.3,895 cr for 2016-17 was earlier approved.With this, investments for the entire mission period stands approved for Uttar Pradesh under AMRUT. 

Government to Evolve River Sediment Management Policy soon

Government will soon evolve a river sediment management policy. This was stated by Shri Narendra Kumar, Chairman, Central Water Commission while inaugurating a national seminar on Sediment management in Indian rivers in New Delhi today. 
●    Shri Kumar said many committees have been constituted in the past to look into the silting problems in rivers of India and suggest suitable remedial measures. 
●    He expressed the hope that the conference will be a step ahead in this direction and extensive consultations among varied stakeholders will result in evolving a comprehensive policy. 
●    Shri Kumar said it is essential to devise a methodology for sediment management which is environment friendly and feasible technically as well as economically.
●    Shri Kumar said over the years silting of rivers has assumed serious proportions. 
●    He said as of now there is general feeling that flood prone rivers are aggrading and undergoing change in carrying capacity, leading to rise in flood level. 
●    Shri Kumar said common practices carried out by river management agencies demonstrate that sediment management till late has been based on limited scientific knowledge. 
●    He was of the opinion that a different approach to sediment management is desirable, incorporating knowledge and management of sediments at the basin skill and a wider application of available scientific knowledge.