April 14, 2018 National Film Awards 2018: Vinod Khanna gets Phalke, Sridevi best actress award The winners of 65th National Film Awards were announced by a 10-member jury headed by renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. While Vinod Khanna was posthumously given the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema, late actress Sridevi won the Best Actress award for her performance in MOM that released in July last year. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which had turned out to be the biggest hit at the domestic box-office, won the award for Best Popular Film. Amit Masurkar s Newton, which was sent as India s official entry to the Oscars, was named the Best Hindi film. Ambedkar Jayanti: 14th April Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar popular known as Babasaheb or B. R. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891. This year we celebrate his 127th birth anniversary. Ambedkar saab was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who stimulated the Dalit Buddhist Movement and campaigned against social discrimination against Untouchables since he was a Dalit too and also supported the rights of women and labor. He was independent India s very www.talentsprint.com 1
first minister of law, the principal architect of the Constitution of India and a founding father of the Republic of India. In 1990, he was honored with the Bharat Ratna award and Ambedkar s legacy continues till today with numerous memorials and depictions in popular culture. Exports grow at 9.8% in 2017-18, fastest in 6 years India s exports rose 9.8% during 2017-18, the highest growth rate in six years, while imports went up nearly 20% as commodity prices pushed up the value of shipments in and out of the country along with a pick-up in global trade. But, exports dipped 0.7% in March to $29.1 billion led by a decline in shipments of gems and jewellery and petroleum products from the country, latest data released by the commerce department on April 13 showed. This was the first decline in four months as oil exports dropped 13%, while gems and jewellery exports fell nearly 17%. During March, import growth too slowed down, rising 7% to $42.8 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $13.7 billion. In 2017-18, trade deficit was estimated to have widened to $157 billion, compared to $109 billion in 2016-17. Govt launches e-frro scheme to provide hassle-free travel for foreigners To facilitate hassle-free travel to India for foreigners, the government formally launched the e-frro scheme under which they can avail of various visa and immigration related services online. Launching the project, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said foreigners www.talentsprint.com 2
will be not be required to visit Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) or Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) offices anymore, unless specifically called upon. The e-frro scheme would be a quantum jump towards improving the ease of service delivery with respect to foreigners visiting and staying in India. As of now, foreigners staying in India on visa duration of more than 180 days have to get themselves registered with their respective FROs/FRROs, an official said. Similarly, foreigners requiring different kinds of visa-related services such as visa extension, visa conversion, change of address, change of educational institutions, exit permits etc. are currently required to visit the FROs/FRROs office. Government extends phase 1 of FAME-India by another 6 months The government on April 13 announced extension of phase 1 of the FAME-India scheme entailing incentives for mass adoption of electric and strong hybrid vehicles by six months till September-end or till its second phase is approved, whichever is earlier. "The extension is deemed to have taken effect on April 1, 2018," the Department of Heavy Industry said in a notification. The phase 1 of the scheme was initially proposed for two years till March 31, 2017 but was extended twice for six months up to March 31, 2018. The FAME-India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (hybrid &) Electric vehicles in India) scheme is intended to support the hybrid/electric vehicles market development and its manufacturing ecosystem to achieve selfsustenance. www.talentsprint.com 3
Dandi March theme for India's first bullet train terminal Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March will be the theme of Sabarmati Station in Ahmedabad which will be the terminating station of the proposed high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai-Ahmedabad, a senior official said. Passengers boarding the bullet train from Sabarmati Station will have to pay Rs 3,000 to reach Mumbai, he told reporters. It would the first bullet train station whose design has been finalized by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. Achal Khare, the managing director of NHSRCL, said the cost of building the station is approximately Rs 250 crore. He said the station area will have a three-level parking that can accommodate around 1,500 vehicles. While one level will be for cars, another will be for bus and the third will be for autos, thus ensuring seamless travel for passengers. Govt increases maximum speed limit for expressways The road transport ministry on 13th April notified the increased maximum speed limit on urban road to 70 kmph while 120 kmph is the new cap for vehicles plying on expressways. The government order came just three weeks before the first expressway built by the Central government around Delhi is scheduled for opening. Till now 50 kmph was the maximum speed limit on urban areas and there was no separate speed norm for expressways. www.talentsprint.com 4
India at Gold Coast CWG 2018: All Day 9 Results India witnessed the best day at the Commonwealth Games 2018 so far winning 11 medals including three gold. Wrestlers and shooters continued their golden run while boxers also contributed to India's medal tally on April 13. Here is the list of India's results on Day 9: Shooting (women's 50m rifle 3 positions finals) - Tejaswini Sawant Gold Shooting (women's 50m rifle 3 positions finals) - Anjum Moudgil Silver Shooting (men's 25pm rapid fire pistol finals) - Anish Bhanwala Gold Wrestling (men's 65kg final) - Bajrang Punia Gold Wrestling (women's 57kg final) - Pooja Dhanda Silver Wrestling (men's 97kg final) - Mausam Khatri Silver TT (women's doubles finals) - Manika Batra/Mouma Das Silver Wrestling (women's 68kg) - Divya Kakran Bronze Boxing (men's 91kg SF) - Naman Tanwar Bronze Boxing (men's 56kg SF) - Hussamuddin Mohammed Bronze Boxing (men's 69kg SF) - Manoj Kumar - Bronze www.talentsprint.com 5