Current Affairs April 2016 - Miscellaneous



  • The Upper House of Myanmar's parliament approved a Bill on 1 April 2016 to give more powerful role over the country's parliament and government to Aung San Suu Kyi.

  • President Pranab Mukherjee on 1 April 2016 signed ordinance to authorize expenditure beyond April 1 in Uttarakhand which is under President's rule.

  • Union Government launched a Mobile App to empower People to demand 24x7 Power for the states on 31 March 2016 − Vidyut PRAVAH.

  • The administration of National Capital Territory of Delhi launched the Phase I of ‘Green Initiative’ at an estimated cost of 2 crore rupees.

  • Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016 were notified by the Union Government to properly manage the 484 tons per day bio-medical waste from 168869 healthcare facilities (HCFs) across the country.

  • The Legislative Assembly of Haryana passed a bill prescribing minimum educational qualifications to contest for urban local bodies.

  • Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched the Startup India portal and mobile app in New Delhi on 31 March 2016.

  • The theme of the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action that was observed on 4 April 2016 across the world is Mine Action is Humanitarian Action.

  • The 2016 Nuclear Security Summit concluded on 1 April 2016 in Washington, D.C., United States

  • Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore was adjudged as the top university in India as per the India Rankings 2016 released under National Institutional Ranking Framework.

  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its first bi-monthly monetary policy review for the 2016-17 fiscal on 5 April 2016 cut key interest rates by 25 basis points.

  • Delhi High Court in Joginder Singh vs State (NCT of Delhi) on 4 April 2016 held that keeping a criminal case pending for indefinite period amounts to violation of constitutional rights of the accused under Article 21 (right to life).

  • The subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, officially set the Guinness World Record for simultaneously planting 208751 saplings at a single location in less than an hour.

  • Odisha government launched its first set of 100 English-medium schools in 14 districts under the aegis of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya.

  • The great Indian Mathematician & Astronomer whose statue was unveiled at UNESCO headquarters on 6 April 2016 is Aryabhatta.

  • Myanmar's (Burmese) Parliament in Naypyidaw on 5 April 2016 passed a bill that gives Aung San Suu Kyi the post of state counselor, which is similar to that of Prime Minister.

  • Syria, Yemen and Iraq are greatest emergency areas wherein 125 million people are living in crisis according to a World Health Organization report.

  • Cyclone Zena forced Fiji authorities to issue orders asking peoples to stay inside their homes.

  • In UK, Britain's Royal Mail launched a set of special postage stamps on 5 April 2016 to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of the playwright William Shakespeare.

  • The Cabinet sub-committee on scarcity of Gujarat declared 623 villages as scarcity affected.

  • The electricity regulatory commission of Madhya Pradesh approved an average hike of eight percent in power tariff.

  • Union Minister of State for Textiles, Santosh Kumar Gangwar inaugurated the Apparel and Garment making Centre at District Industries Centre Complex in Dimapur, Nagaland.

  • Under the first Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2016-17, the repo rate was reduced by 25 basis points to 6.5 percent.

  • The Union Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change on 5 April 2016 notified Solid Management Rules, 2016, which will replace Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000.

  • India’s expenditure on military in 2015 was 51.3 billion dollars, as per a study of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This was 3.1% of global spending.

  • The researchers of American University successfully managed to 3D print chemically active structures that could help in mitigating pollution.

  • Ranjan Baindoor, who was part of the Ranji Trophy-winning Mumbai team of 1983-84 under Sunil Gavaskar, died on 4 April 2016.

  • Indian scientists developed eco-friendly nanotechnology which is basically a biopolymer, which uses a naturally occurring substance for water purification Chitosan.

  • The Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia of West Indies on 6 April 2016 was renamed as Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.

  • The Union Cabinet gave approval to Exim Bank of India for increasing the framework agreement with Central Bank of Iran.

  • The Union Cabinet gave its approval to implement National Hydrology Project that provides for establishment of National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) as an independent organization.

  • Jharkhand State Government that announced two percent employment reservation in various departments for meritorious sportspersons of the state on 10 April 2016.

  • World number two shuttler Kento Momota of Japan was axed from Japan’s badminton team for the 2016 Rio Olympics for Gambling at an illegal casino.

  • Chinese researchers in April 2016 introduced a new approach for making an all-weather solar cell that can generate electricity even during rains by making use of Graphene.

  • Scientists, led by an Indian-origin researcher, discovered a way to forecast earthquakes based on slow fault movements caused by moving sub layers of Earth Deepa Mele Veedu.

  • A four-member Indian professional boxing team which will compete in the WBA Oceanic undercard bouts in Jinghong, China on 11 April 2016 are Mukesh Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Sandeep Singh and Pramod Kumar.

  • Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat unveiled Swami Vivekananda statue in Palampur town of Kangra district

  • Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom arrived in New Delhi on 10 April 2016 on a two-day visit to India.

  • India will take part in a special meeting of the OECD in Paris on 13 April 2016 to firm up cooperation between countries in the wake of 'Panama Papers' leak.

  • 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on the Tiger Conservation was inaugurated on 12 April 2016 in New Delhi.

  • US President Barack Obama on 12 April 2016 designated a new Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument in Washington to honour the women's equality movement in America and across the globe.

  • The Supreme Court on 12 April 2016 gave 2 weeks’ time to the Union Finance Ministry and Indian Banks Association's to give response on the defaulted loans issue.

  • The Taliban said that it has launched its annual spring military offensive in Afghanistan, titled Omari Operation.

  • The Supreme Court said that gender justice is endangered by ban on entry of women of menstrual age group in Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

  • The 16-year-old Indian-American boy who invented a low-cost hearing aid to help those who cannot afford the expensive devices is Mukund Venkatakrishnan.

  • The first Water Express train carrying five lakh liters of water reached Latur district of Marathwada region of Maharashtra hit by drought.

  • Gujarat government set up control rooms at headquarters in districts that are facing Water scarcity.

  • Tausif Monif was appointed the Global Operations President of Lambda Therapeutic Research.

  • Veenu Paliwal, India's top woman biker and the Lady of the Harley, died on 11 April 2016 in a road accident.

  • First company in India to implement the Union Health Ministry’s Cigarettes Packaging Amendment Rules, 2014, that calls for display of health warnings in 85 percent of the area on tobacco products is Golden Tobacco Ltd.

  • To enable both militaries to use each other's assets and bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, India and the US agreed in principle to conclude Logistics Exchange Agreement.

  • Delhi Government approved the Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015 that focuses on In-situ development for city’s urban poor.

  • Election Commission removed Rajeev Kumar from the post of Kolkata Police Commissioner and placed Soumen Mitra, ADG & IGP of the State CID in his place.

  • The Dardic indigenous people residing in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and fears existential threat is - Kalash (Kalasha)

  • The 1985 batch IPS officer who was appointed the Director General of Haryana Police is - K P Singh

  • The state that announced the formation of a new Integrated Tribal Development Agency is - Andhra Pradesh

  • The cricketer named as the Wisden's Leading Cricketer in the World for the year 2015 is - Kane Williamson

  • The nuclear capable undersea ballistic missile that was successfully test fired in March 2016 from an undisclosed location in the Bay of Bengal is - K-4 missile

  • The senior journalist appointed the president of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts is - Ram Bahadur Rai

  • People of this state on 14 April 2016 celebrated the harvest festival, Vishu – Kerala

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 April 2016 unveiled the National Perspective Plan for Port Development at - Maritime India Summit in Mumbai

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched National Agriculture Market portal to connect e-mandis in several States at a function in New Delhi, aimed at - Ushering in much needed agri marketing reforms

  • In its annual report Migration and Development Brief, World Bank said, India retained its top spot in 2015, attracting about 69 billion US dollars in remittances, down from - 70 billion in 2014

  • Organization that 14 April 2016 released Innocenti Report Card 13, titled Fairness for Children: A league table of inequality in child well-being in rich countries - United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

  • Union Government notified the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities (PoA)) Amendment Rules, 2016 on 14 April 2016 that amended the rules of 1995.

  • PV Rao was appointed as the Chairman of the High Powered Group (HPG) to develop a policy paper on promotion of Pre-Engineered Buildings (PEB) technology by Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC)

  • European Parliament approved a joint system for Police and Justice Officials to access airline passenger data on all flights to and from the EU.

  • K P Singh of the 1985 batch IPS officer was appointed the Director General of Haryana Police.

  • Andhra Pradesh announced the formation of a new Integrated Tribal Development Agency.

  • International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Global growth forecast on 12 April 2016 termed Brexit that means Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU).

  • The driver of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who opened a bank account at the age of 116 years and is considered to be the oldest human alive is Colonel Nizamuddin.

  • The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, on 16 April 2016 approved its first set of loans valued at 811 million US dollars for four BRICS countries namely Brazil, India, China and South Africa to create 2370 MW of renewable energy capacity.

  • Rudra Gaurav Shresth was appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Mozambique.

  • The name of the supercomputer unveiled by Sikkim Governor at the National Institute of Technology, Sikkim is Param Kanchenjunga.

  • The traces of Isotopes of Supernova that were discovered on Moon as per publication in Physics Review Letters journal is 60Fe Iron Isotope.

  • India, Afghanistan and Iran on 11 April 2016 finalized draft of the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement on Transport and Transit Corridors.

  • The state that launched its first all-women bus service on 19 April 2016 is Jammu & Kashmir.

  • Manali’s district administration took the path of Delhi’s Odd-Even scheme to beat the traffic woes on this highway, Manali - Leh Highway.

  • The monkey-hunting tribes are found in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and were in news in April 2016.

  • Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was appointed as the chief selector of Pakistan’s cricket team.

  • World Bank and UNICEF announced to establish an alliance with an aim to make early childhood development (ECD) program a global policy.

  • Maharashtra State government on 18 April 2016 decided to restrict digging of bore wells beyond 200 feet.

  • The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced a new annual global home and away league, involving world's leading hockey nations, to be launched in 2019.

  • A special court issued a non-bailable warrant against Vijay Mallya in a money laundering case involving alleged defrauding of IDBI Bank of 950 crore rupees.

  • Bulgaria will host the 40th World Congress of Vine and Wine and the 15th General Assembly of the International Organization of Vine and Wine in 2017.

  • Italy overtook France to become the world's leading wine producer.

  • Ismael Quintana, Puerto Rican composer and singer died in Colorado, United States of America on 16 April 2016.

  • British boxer, Nick Blackwell, announced his retirement from the sport on 18 April 2016.

  • Iran unveiled S-300 missile system parts at army parade on 17 April 2016.

  • Bimlendra Jha in April 2016 was appointed as the CEO of Tata Steel UK.

  • The 106-carat diamond also known as Mountain of Light in Persian that came into news due to a hearing in Supreme Court of India Kohinoor.

  • Union Government on 19 April 2016 extended the Beti Bachao Beti Padho (BBBP) Scheme in additional 61 districts across 11 States and Union Territories.

  • China suspended "Business 20" an anti-corruption taskforce in 2016 after taking over the G20 presidency

  • France has planned to extend the state of emergency in place since November terrorist attacks for a further period of two months to ensure security at the Euro 2016 soccer tournament.

  • Laos's National Assembly appointed Communist Party chief, Bounnhang Vorachit, as the country's new President.

  • Laos's National Assembly appointed Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith as Prime Minister of the country.

  • Ethiopia declared two days of national mourning for 208 people killed in cross-border cattle raids.

  • Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, was conferred Order of Arts and Letters honor of France on 20 April 2016.

  • India and China agreed to abide for peaceful negotiations to settle the problematic border issue and reach a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution.

  • Shaktiman, the Uttarakhand Police horse, died on 20 April 2016 after being injured during a protest in Dehradun.

  • The book that won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Drama category is Hamilton.

  • The novel that won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction category is The Sympathizer.

  • The news agency that won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service is Associated Press.

  • Union Government on 20 April 2016 notified that the Department of Disinvestment is renamed as Department of Investment and Public Asset Management or DIPAM.

  • 468 villages of Saurashtra and Kutch region were declared as partially scarcity-hit by the Gujarat government.

  • Signaling a major social change, women were permitted entry to the 'garbha griha' of Trimbakeshwar temple in Maharashtra.

  • The Indian environmentalist and political activist included in the TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World is Sunita Narain.

  • India's national carrier Air India featured in an official commemorative album launched to mark Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday celebrations.

  • India needs to grow at 10% to become ten trillion-dollar economy and eliminate poverty by 2032.

  • Bollywood actress, Radhika Apte, bagged the best actress in an international narrative feature honor at 2016 Tribeca Film Festival for her performance in anthology film "Madly".

  • India cancelled the visa given to Dolkun Isa, a leading Chinese dissident leader, to participate in a conference in Dharamsala, after China's objection over it.

  • The 25-year-old Indian rower, Dattu Bhokanal, qualified for the Rio Olympics after winning a silver in the finals of men's single sculls at the 2016 FISA Asian and Oceania Olympic Qualification Regatta at Chung-ju in South Korea.

  • Andhra Pradesh interim Secretariat complex that was inaugurated at Velagapudi village in capital region Amaravati is named as AP Government Transitional Headquarters.

  • The Sub Committee that was constituted to interact with the trade and industry on the imposition of Central Excise Duty on jewelry will be headed by Former Chief Economic Advisor Ashok Lahiri.

  • The Ecuadorian government declared eight days of national mourning as the death toll from the massive earthquake that hit the South American country a week ago raised to 654.

  • The Six Day Army Commanders Conference that will appraise current and emerging strategic security scenario and modernization among others began in New Delhi.

  • Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso appointed former Finance Minister, Clement Mouamba, as the Prime Minister.

  • Operation Sulaimani, is an initiative in which the people of Kozhikode, Kerala are silently funding to feed anyone who is hungry for free, with utmost dignity.

  • The American natives saw a full moon on 22 April 2016, also called as The Pink Moon.

  • Badminton player, Nandu Natekar, became the first non-cricketer to be included in the Legends Club of Cricket Club of India founded by late Jagmohan Dalmiya.

  • Amanullah Khan, the founder of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, passed away on 26 April 2016.

  • The Cabinet of Bangladesh approved a law with provision to impeach Supreme Court judges if allegation of misconduct or incapacity is proved.

  • Indian origin wrestler who is set to represent Australia at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016 is Vinod Kumar Dahiya.

  • Renowned Freedom fighter Poornima Arvind Pakvasa, died on 25 April 2016. She was popularly known as Didi of tribal Dang district.

  • The Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2016 that was passed in Lok Sabha on 25 April 2016 seeks to amend Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925.

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of Madhya Pradesh and Sun Pharma entered into an agreement for Research and innovation in Preventive health.

  • The western Odisha town that continued to remain the hottest place in the State is Titlagarh.

  • Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the State government is seeking a loan of 5000 crore rupees from the World Bank for implementing Water conservation to changing crop pattern.

  • Indian cricketer, Kapil Dev, became the sixth cricketer to be inducted into the Legends Club founded by the late Cricket Club of India (CCI) president Raj Singh Dungarpur.

  • The 7-year old Kashmiri girl who will, for the first time, represent India at the World Kickboxing Championship in Andria, Italy is Tajamul Islam.

  • One of the 17 zones of Indian Railways that launched a missed call service for train updates is Western Railway.

  • The Japanese financial services firm Nomura announced that India may surpass China in attracting Foreign Direct Investment in 2016.

  • Facility notified by the Department of Telecommunications in Mobile Phone Handsets Rules 2016 is Panic Button and Global Positioning System.

  • A Naval Detachment (NAVDET) was on inaugurated at Androth Island of Lakshadweep.

  • Ashok Lavasa was appointed as the Expenditure Secretary in the Union Finance Ministry on 26 April 2016.

  • Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) was suspended in view of government interference in the board by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

  • The design of the speed breakers which will be introduced on a few highways to act as virtual speed breakers by the Union Road & transport Ministry is Three-dimensional (3D) design.

  • Venezuela ordered a two-day working week for public sector workers as a temporary measure to help it overcome a serious energy crisis.

  • 1982 batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh Cadre, Ajay Mittal, was appointed as the Information and Broadcasting Secretary.

  • The theme of the 2016 World Day for Safety and Health at Work was observed across the world on 28 April 2016 is Workplace Stress: a collective challenge.

  • Union Government decided to extend the ceasefire with NSCN (R) for a further period of one year with effect from 28 April 2016.

  • State cabinet of Jammu and Kashmir approved 5 percent interest subvention to flood-hit traders with effect from 1 April 2016.

  • State Government of Maharashtra decided to increase the punishment for chain snatching up to 5 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of 25000 rupees.

  • Haryana Janhit Congress (Bhajan Lal) party merged itself with Indian National Congress.

  • Papua New Guinea decided to close a detention centre used by Australia for asylum seekers.

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