1) Govt to launch new campaign called Darwaza Band
•The government launched new campaign called Darwaza Band for promotion of toilet usage in the rural areas across the country. Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, who leads the campaign, is proposed to be joined by Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Narendra Singh Tomar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the formal launch event to be held in Mumbai.
•The campaign is being rolled out countrywide immediately after the launch. It is designed to encourage behaviour change in men who have toilets but are not using them. The campaign also features actor, Anushka Sharma, who will be seen encouraging women to stand up for this issue in their villages and assume a leadership role.
2) Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla appointed Jamia Millia Islamia Chancellor
•Manipur Governor and former Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla has been appointed as the Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
•77-year old Heptulla succeeds Lt. Gen. (Retd.) M.A. Zaki, who completes his five-year term this month. Ms. Heptulla will also serve for the term of five-years. Ms. Heptulla has had the distinction of presiding over the women’s parliamentarians’ group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in 1993.
3) Prakash Javadekar launches UGC App to fight ragging
•Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar launched an Anti-Ragging Mobile App introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in New Delhi.
•This mobile app will help students register complaints to counter the menace of ragging. This app will work on android system on which students can log in and register their complaints immediately. Accordingly all concerned will be informed immediately and action will start immediately.
4) EPFO gives nod to hike in stock investment to 15 per cent
•The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has approved hike in investment limit in exchange traded funds (ETFs) to 15%, from the existing 10%, Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya stated it.
•The decision was taken during the meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT). In 2016, the investment was raised to 10%.
5) Priyanka Chopra bags Dadasaheb Phalke Award
•Actress Priyanka Chopra will be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award for being an international icon. Star will be given the award under the newly introduced 'Internationally Acclaimed Actress' category at a ceremony.
•The board of trustees for Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards include Johny Lever, Pahlaj Nihalani, Mithun Chakraborty and TP Agrawal. The award ceremony will be held on June 1, 2017 in Mumbai.
6) Fencer Bhavani Devi, First Indian to win gold in International Event
•Indian fencer C A Bhavani Devi struck gold in the Turnoi Satellite Fencing Championship at Reykjavik (Iceland).
•Bhavani Devi, who hails from Chennai, defeated Great Britain’s Sarah Jane Hampson 15-13. With this win, Bhavani Devi has also become the first Indian to win a gold medal in an international fencing event. She had previously won a silver medal.
