By: D.K Chaudhary
1. ISRO Launches Navigation Satellite IRNSS-1L
i. The Indian Space Research Organisation launched the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-1L, the eighth such satellite to be a part of a constellation. It was launched from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
ii. IRNSS-1L is expected to replace IRNSS-1A, the first of the seven navigation satellites that was rendered ineffective after its three rubidium atomic clocks failed. The seven satellites are part of the NavIC navigation satellite constellation.
- Dr. K Sivan is Chairman of ISRO.
- Headquarters of ISRO- Bengaluru.
2. India, Morocco Sign Pact to Promote Mineral Exploration
i. India has inked a pact with Morocco under which focus would be laid on the evaluation of potential mineral resources and promoting exploration and mining through the participation of both public and private sector.
ii. The MoU was signed in New Delhi after the bilateral discussions between Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and his counterpart Aziz Rabbah of Morocco.
- Morocco Capital- Rabat, Currency- Moroccan dirham.
3. Important Cabinet Approvals- 11th April 2018
i. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The important Cabinet Approvals are given as follows-
ii. The Cabinet has approved-
1. MoU between India and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on the return of Illegal Migrants.
2. Revision of pay and allowances of Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories.
3. Headquarters (Host country) Agreement between India and the International Solar Alliance.
4. Exploration and Exploitation of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) from areas under Coal Mining Lease allotted to Coal India Limited (CIL) and its Subsidiaries.
ii. The Cabinet has approved-
1. MoU between India and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on the return of Illegal Migrants.
2. Revision of pay and allowances of Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories.
3. Headquarters (Host country) Agreement between India and the International Solar Alliance.
4. Exploration and Exploitation of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) from areas under Coal Mining Lease allotted to Coal India Limited (CIL) and its Subsidiaries.
4. IGI Among World’s Top 20 Busiest Airports
i. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has climbed six positions to reach on 16th Position to enter the club of the top 20 airports across the world, the Airport Council International’s preliminary report on airport traffic for 2017.
ii. IGI’s passenger traffic grew by 14.1% year over year. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport in the United States with 104 million passengers secured the top spot, followed by Beijing at the second position and Dubai at the third.
5. Indian Consortium and Saudi Aramco Sign MoU for Refinery in Maharashtra
i. An Indian consortium consisting of IOCL, BPCL and HPCL signed an MoU with Saudi Aramco on the sidelines of the16 International Energy Forum Ministerial.
ii. According to the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, the project cost is estimated at around Rs3 lakh crore ($44 billion). The refinery will be capable of processing 1.2 million barrels of crude oil per day (60 million tonnes per annum). The plan is to finish the project by 2025.
ii. According to the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, the project cost is estimated at around Rs3 lakh crore ($44 billion). The refinery will be capable of processing 1.2 million barrels of crude oil per day (60 million tonnes per annum). The plan is to finish the project by 2025.
