SUPER 6 CURRENT AFFAIRS- 05TH MAY 2017

1) Cabinet approves National Steel Policy 2017

•The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for National Steel Policy (NSP) 2017. The new Steel Policy enshrines the long term vision of the Government to give impetus to the steel sector.

•It seeks to enhance domestic steel consumption and ensure high quality steel production and create a technologically advanced and globally competitive steel industry. The NSP 2017 aims to achieve 300 million tonnes of steel-making capacity by 2030.

•Key features of the NSP 2017:

1. Create self-sufficiency in steel production by providing policy support & guidance to private manufacturers, MSME steel producers, CPSEs

2. Encourage adequate capacity additions,

3. Development of globally competitive steel manufacturing capabilities,

4. Cost-efficient production

5. Domestic availability of iron ore, coking coal & natural gas,

6. Facilitating foreign investment                  

7. Asset acquisitions of raw materials &

8. Enhancing the domestic steel demand.

2) 'South Asia Satellite' set to be launched today- Important Points to Ponder

•India is all set to launch the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) carrying the GSAT-9 or the “South Asia” satellite. According to Indian Prime Minister, the Satellite will be a “priceless gift” to neighboring countries. The satellite will lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

•Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka agreed but Pakistan is not a part of the project that was initially christened the SAARC satellite.

Important Points of the Satellite-

•The lift-off mass of GSLV-F09 is about 2,230 kg which includes the satellite and its launch vehicle.

•The mainframe of the satellite is cuboid in shape, built around a central cylinder.

•The mission lifespan is 12 years.

•The satellite is meant for providing communication and disaster support and connectivities among the countries of South Asia region

•All participating nations will have access to at least one transponder using which they can telecast their own programming.

•Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the part of project

•The satellite will provide communication channels between countries for better disaster management as the region is prone to natural disasters.

3) India's 1st private small arms manufacturing unit opened in Madhya Pradesh

•In order to Strengthen defence ties, India has opened its first private small arms manufacturing plant at Malanpur, Madhya Pradesh in a joint venture with Israel. The plant has been set up as a joint venture Punj Lloyd Raksha Systems between Indian defence conglomerate Punj Lloyd and Israel Weapons Industries (IWI).

•The plant will manufacture weapons like X95 assault rifle, Galil sniper, Tavor assault rifle, Negev light machine gun and the Ace assault rifle. This is the first opportunity for the country to get its own 'Made in India' small arms.

4) Cabinet approves New Central Sector Scheme – SAMPADA

•The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for restructuring the schemes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) under new Central Sector Scheme – SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) for the period 2016-20 coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle.

•SAMPADA with an allocation of Rs. 6,000 crore is expected to leverage the investment of Rs. 31,400 crore will benefit 20 lakh farmers and generate 5,30,500 direct/ indirect employment in the country by the year 2019-20. The objective of SAMPADA is to supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease agri-waste. The SAMPADA is a comprehensive package to give a renewed thrust to the food processing sector in the country.

5) IBBI constitutes Technical Committee to lay down Technical Standards for the performance of core services

•The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has constituted Technical Committee to lay down Technical Standards for the performance of core services and other services in accordance with Regulation 14 of the IBBI (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017. The committee will be Chaired by Dr. R. B. Barman and the three members of the committee are Dr. Nand Lal Sarda, Dr.  Pulak Ghosh and Sh. V. G. Kannan.

•The Committee shall give its recommendation specifically on the matters namely- the Application Programming Interface; standard terms of service; registration of users; unique identifier for each record and each user; submission of information; identification and verification of persons; authentication and verification of information.

6) India break into top 100 of FIFA rankings for 1st time in 21 years

•The Indian men’s national football team has made it into the top 100 of the FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) world football rankings for the first time in 21 years. This upward movement is the result of away wins against Myanmar and Cambodia.

•As per the updated rankings on May 4, India, with a total of 331 points, have climbed a spot and are now placed 100th. The last time India had been in the top 100 of the rankings was way back in 1996, with the 94th spot in February 1996 being the country’s best ever FIFA ranking.