The Daily Brief – 1 April, 2017

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• Commercial power generation in the second unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) commenced. Transmission of power from the second reactor that started with 100 MWe rose to 1,000 MWe on January 20 following technical clearances from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.

• Controversial Calcutta High Court judge, Justice C.S. Karnan challenged a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court to arrest and put him in jail for contempt. He was called to the Supreme Court to explain his allegations of corruption against fellow High COurt and Supreme Court judges. Justice Karnan, in response, accused the Supreme Court Bench of robbing him of his mental and physical balance and his dignity by stripping him of his official work.
• The Supreme Court removed the age cap of 25 years for candidates appearing for the NEET-2017 examination for MBBS/BDS courses and allowed filling up of forms through online portal of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) till April 5.
• India’s fiscal deficit at the end of February worked out to Rs. 6.05 lakh crore, 113.4% of the full year target for the 2016—17 fiscal. This was mainly because of lower realisation on non-tax revenues, according to government data. Fiscal deficit refers to the borrowings made to meet the revenue-expenditure gap.
• Drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has increased price of stents by around 2% after taking into account wholesale price index. A coronary stent is a tube-shaped mediacal device placed in the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved removal of all quantitative ceilings on individual organic products and allowed unrestricted exports of all organic and organic processed products.
• Tamil Nadu won the Deodhar Trophy by defeating Parthiv Patel-led India ‘B’ by 42 runs in the match held at Vizag. With this win, Tamil Nadu became the first state side to win the three-team one-day tournament. It makes Tamil Nadu first to win all major domestic crowns such as Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare, Irani and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for ratification of two fundamental conventions of International Labour Organization (ILO) concerning with Child Labour. These are the Minimum Age Convention and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention.
• The North Western Railway has declared the Barmer-Munawab and Pipad Road-Bilara rail routes in Rajasthan as Green Corridors. Green Corridor ensures zero toilet discharge on rail tracks as part of its commitment to clean environment under the ‘Swachh Rail-Swachh Bharat’ initiative. Trains in the section have been equipped with bio-toilets to ensure zero discharge of human waste on the rail tracks and preventing corrosion of the tracks.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to set up a separate enforcement department to oversee possible breaches of rules and take punitive actions against those who violate them.
• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was selected for the US India Business Council Award of ‘Transformative Chief Minister’. He will receive the award at the second annual West Coast Summit to be held in Menlo Park, California in May 2017.
• State-run NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation Limited) has crossed the milestone of 50 Gigawatts power generation capacity.
• Japan has committed an official development assistance (ODA) of 371 billion yen (about Rs 21,590 crore) for various infrastructure projects, including the dedicated freight corridor, in India for the financial year 2016-2017.
• India, the world’s 3rd largest energy consumer has joined the International Energy Association (IAE) as an associate member. India will now have a greater say in global energy issues. With India as an associate member, IEA now formally covers 70% of the world’s energy consumption, thus increasing its relevance.
• Apple Inc, the maker of the iPhone, announced the opening of its App Accelerator in Bengaluru. The company said that the accelerator would provide specialised support for developers making apps on its mobile operating system iOS.
• Tata Motors announced a 50:50 joint venture with Jayem Automotives for the manufacture of special performance vehicles of Tata cars that incorporate customised design and technical features by Jayem. The joint venture is to be known as JT Special Vehicles.
• SpaceX successfully launched and then retrieved its first recycled rocket, a historic feat and the biggest leap yet in its bid to drive down costs and speed up flights. It was the first time SpaceX founder Elon Musk tried to fly a booster that soared before an orbital mission.