Notes:
As per first bi-monthly monetary policy review for 2017-18 of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the repo rate — the main policy rate at which banks borrow from RBI remain unchanged at 6.25%. While, RBI raised the Reverse Repo (RR) rate by 25 bps to 6% and cut the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the bank rate by 25 bps to 6.50%. The central bank also allowed banks to invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) in a bid to spur investments in core infrastructure sectors. The Reverse Repo (RR) rate is the rate at which banks lend funds to the RBI.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government- run Maharshi Patanjali Sanskrit Sansthan will start a one-year diploma course on Hindu priesthood ‘Purohityam’ from July 2017. This course would be open for all irrespective of caste, gender or religion. The basic qualification needed is class X. Thus, there will be no specifications on caste as both Scheduled Caste and Brahmins can apply for the course. The candidates will be taught basics of priesthood, rituals, mantras in accordance with the Hindu tradition.

Notes:
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Sports for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is observed every year on April 6 to recognize the power of sport in promoting peace and its ability to inspire. This year (2017), the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) launched the digital campaign #WePlayTogether to encourage organizations and individuals who support or carry out sport for development and peace activities to partake in the commemoration of the IDSDP.

Notes:
The Government of India (GoI) and the United Kingdom (UK) have decided to set up a fund worth £240 million to finance clean energy projects in India. This will be known as the Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF), which will be sub-fund of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). The purpose of joint UK-India fund is to leverage private sector investment from the City of London to finance India’s infrastructure projects and is likely to raise around £500 million initially. It will focus initial investments in India’s rapidly growing energy and renewable market. The NIIF was formed in 2015 to finance greenfield as well as brownfield projects.

Notes:
Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) is a biennial publication of the World Economic Forum(WEF) which evaluates the travel and tourism (T&T) competitiveness of economies and measures the set of factors that enable the sustainable development of the T&T sector of a country. Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI), 2021 is an update of Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI). As per the released ranking, India has been ranked as 54th in TTDI, 2021 out of 117 countries.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $175 million loan to Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL) to expand its solar energy transmission network in the country. The project funding will improve the capacity and efficiency of interstate transmission networks, particularly in transmitting the electricity generated from new solar parks to the national grid.

Notes:
The World Health Day (WHD) is observed every year on April 7 to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). The day provides with a unique opportunity to mobilize action around a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. This year (in 2017), the WHO is leading a one-year global campaign on depression with theme “Depression: Let’s Talk”, which is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. Depression is the leading cause of ill health and death among 15-29-year olds. More than 300 million people are now living with depression, an increase of more than 18 per cent between 2005 and 2015. It affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries.

Notes:
The National Tuberculosis (TB) summit has started in Kangra district of Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh on April 7, 2017. The slogan of the summit on TB frees India is “India versus TB, TB harega, Desh Jeetega”. The two-day event will provide a platform for tuberculosis (TB) experts, scientists, patients, doctors and government representatives to discuss strategies for implementing a TB control strategy that engages all stakeholders. It will raise awareness and increase momentum to the fight against TB.

Notes:
Marathi film ‘Kasaav’ has won the Best Film award at the 64th National Awards, which were announced at the National Media Centre (NMC) in New Delhi on April 7, 2017. Rajesh Mapuskar has been named as the Best Director for his Marathi film ‘Ventilator’. Akshay Kumar won his first National Film Award for his role in Rustom, a courtroom drama inspired by the 1959 Nanavati case was adjudged the best actor for Rustom while Surabhi Lakshmi won the best actress award for ‘Minnaminungu’. Amitabh Bachchan-starrer film ‘Pink’ has been named the best film in the category on social issues. The Best Hindi Feature Film award went to “Neerja”, directed by Ram Madhvani.

Notes:
India and Israel have signed mega defence deals worth over $2 billion for advanced Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems, which are designed to destroy hostile aircraft, missiles and drones at a range of 70-km. As part of the deal, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide Barak-8 advanced Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems to the the Indian Army.These Barak-8 systems, with their Multi-Function Surveillance and Threat Alert Radars (MF-STARs) as well as weapon control systems with data links, can detect and track hostile aerial threats at a range of 100-km and destroy them at 70-km. Consequently, they will help in plugging the existing holes in India’s air defence coverage.