1. Germany launches
world’s first hydrogen-powered train
European railway
manufacturer Alstom has launched world's first hydrogen fuel cell train.
- French
company said that the CoradiaiLint used fuel cells that turn hydrogen and
oxygen into electricity.
- In
terms of speed, the new train can travel up to 140 kilometers per hour.
2. Exercise Aviaindra-18
Commences at Lipetsk (Russia)
Exercise Aviaindra is
an Air Force level exercise between India and the Russian Federation. First
Aviaindra was conducted in 2014 and has been planned as a bi-annual exercise.
- Exercise
Aviaindra 18 is being conducted at Lipetsk, Russia from 17 Sep to 28 Sep
18 and will be conducted in Jodhpur, India from 10 Dec to 22 Dec 18.
- The
Indian contingent for Ex Aviaindra departed for Russia on 15 Sep 18.
3. International Peace Day
2018
The global community
is celebrating the International Day of Peace. The day is observed
on 21 September every year.
- The theme for
this year is: “The Right to Peace – The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights at 70”.
- This
year, United Nations is celebrating the 70th year of the
declaration of human rights adopted by the General Assembly.
4. 7th UNWTO Global Summit
on Urban Tourism
The World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) is organizing the 7th UNWTO Global Summit on Urban
Tourism: A 2030 Vision for Urban Tourism, on 16-19 September, in Seoul,
Republic of Korea.
- The Summit provides a unique platform to discuss the key issues shaping the future of urban tourism in the context of the 2030 Urban Agenda.
1. PM, Bangladesh PM
Sheikh Hasina, jointly unveil e-plaques for ground-breaking of two projects
Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh
Hasina, jointly unveiled e-plaques for the ground-breaking ceremony of two
projects, via video conference.
- External Affairs Minister of India, Ms.
Sushma Swaraj, and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan, also joined the proceedings.
- The projects include: (a) India-Bangladesh
Friendship Pipeline (b) Dhaka-Tongi-Joydebpur Railway Project
- Speaking on the occasion, the Prime
Minister described the cooperation between the two countries as an example
for the world.
2. DAC Approves
Procurement of Equipment Worth Rs 9,100 Crores
The Defence
Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Raksha Mantri Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman,
met and accorded approval for the procurement of equipment for the Defence
Forces valued at over Rs 9,100 crores.
- Pursuing
the goal of indigenisation and self-reliance, the DAC approved procurement
of two Regiments of Akash Missile Systems under 'Buy (Indian)' category
from M/s BDL.
- The
Missile to be procured is an upgraded version of the previously inducted
Akash missiles and will include seeker technology, possess 360 degree
coverage and will be of compact configuration with reduced signature.
- The
upgraded Akash Weapon System is operationally critical equipment which
will provide protection to vital assets.
- The
DAC also accorded approval for progressing Design and Development of
Individual Under Water Breathing Apparatus (IUWBA) for T 90 Tanks.
3. Union Home Minister
chairs Southern Zonal Council Meeting in Bengaluru
The 28th meeting of the Southern Zonal Council was held under the
Chairmanship the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh in Bengaluru.
- The
meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Puducherry;
Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu; Finance Ministers of Andhra Pradesh
and Kerala Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment and Minister for
Tourism, Karnataka; Minister for Health, Puducherry and Minister of State
for Home, Govt. of India, Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
and senior officers from Central and State Governments.
- The
Council reviewed the progress of the implementation of the recommendations
made at the last meeting relating to security to fishermen, introduction
of peninsular tourism trains, uniformity in allocation of funds in
proportion to population of SC/ST for scholarship for all the courses,
optimum harnessing of renewable energy available in the Southern States
without endangering grid security and development of Puducherry Airport.
- Thereafter,
the Council took up issues which relate to Pulicat lake dispute between
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu fishermen over fishing rights, menace of red
sander smuggling in the holy Seshachalam hills, supply of Krishna water to
augment the drinking water supply to Chennai city, issues relating to
fishing in coastal States in Southern Zone, checking of Antibiotic
residues in aquaculture shrimp export, scheme for modernization of State
Police Forces in the States of Southern Zone, issuance of 'No Objection
Certificate' (NOC) for LPG godown site plan, issues pertaining to Biofuels
programme, etc.
- Out
of the 27 items discussed today, 22 were resolved in the meeting.
4. Dr Jitendra Singh
inaugurates ‘All India Pension Adalat’
The Union Minister of
State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS
PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr
Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ‘Pension Adalat’.
- It
was organised by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare,
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of
India.
- He
also presented the ‘Anubhav’ awards 2018 to six pensioners for their
contribution towards creating institutional memory for the departments.
- On
the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh also launched a booklet—“An era of
sustained reforms for Central Government Pensioners” enumerating
simplification of rules and steps initiated to strengthen the Grievance
Portal and make it user friendly.
5. MHA signs MoU with ISRO
to set up an Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response
The Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of
Space signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up of an
state-of-the-art Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response (ICR-ER) in
Ministry of Home Affairs.
- ISRO
will render its technical expertise for setting up of proposed ICR-ER
whereas the project will be executed under overall supervision of MHA.
- The
proposed Control Room is expected to be established in next one-and-a-half
year.
6. Successful Flight Test
of Prahar
Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested the indigenously
developed surface-to-surface tactical missile ‘Prahar’, from Launch
Complex-III, ITR, Balasore.
- Range
stations and electro optical systems tracked the missile throughout its
flight.
- ‘Prahar’
is a contemporary weapon system capable of carrying multiple types of
warheads and neutralizing a wide variety of targets.
7. Inaugural Naval Flight
Test Seminar held at Goa
The inaugural Naval
Flight Test Seminar was held at Goa on 20 Sep 18.
- The
seminar witnessed some intensive brain-storming sessions on flight testing
fixed and rotary wing aircraft towards integrating them on the aircraft
carrier and small decks.
- There
were also a series of papers which were presented on weapon integration on
service aircraft and towards building and sustaining the training for
Naval Experimental Test Pilots and Flight Test Engineers.
8. Health Ministry
partners with Dell and Tata Trusts
Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, here today exchanged the MoUs with the Tata Trusts and Dell to
provide a technological platform for nationwide prevention, control, screening
and management program of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
- Smt
Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare presided
over the ceremony and also released the user manual for NCD application
under Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) IT Solutions.
9. PM to lay foundation
stone for India International Convention and Expo Centre
The
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will lay the foundation stone for India
International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC) at Dwarka, New Delhi, on
September 20, 2018.
- Located in Sector 25, Dwarka, the Centre
would be a world-class
state-of-the-art Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre, with facilities like
financial, hospitality and retail services.
- The estimated cost of the project is
Rs.25,700 crores.
- The project is implemented by India
International Convention & Exhibition Centre Limited, a 100%
Government owned company under Department of Industrial Policy &
Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The ESI Corporation
during its 175th Meeting held in New Delhi under the
Chairmanship of Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of State for Labour
& Employment(I/C) has taken some very important decisions towards
improvements in its services and benefits being provided to Insured Persons and
their dependants.
- Considering
the change in employment pattern and the current scenario of employment in
India which has transformed from a long term employment to fixed short
term engagement in the form of contract and temping, the ESI Corporation
has approved a Scheme named “ATAL BIMIT VYAKTI KALYAN YOJNA” for
Insured Persons (IP) covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act,
1948.
- This
scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to their Bank Account in case
of unemployment and while they search for new engagement.
11. Union Home Secretary
launches ‘e-Sahaj’ portal for grant of Security Clearance
The Union Home
Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba launched an online ‘e-Sahaj’ portal for grant of
Security Clearance.
- The portal will facilitate an applicant to submit
application online and also to view the status of his application from
time to time.
- Speaking on the occasion, the Union Home Secretary said
that with the introduction of online portal, the process has become
standardized, resulting in a process which will be faster, transparent and
easy to monitor.
- Various functionaries can access the application and
documents online and take timely decisions.
12. ITU South Asia Office
and Technology Innovation Centre to be established in New Delhi
The ITU South Asia Area
Office and Technology Innovation Centre will be established in New Delhi.
- This was announced by Mr. Houlin Zhao, Secretary General (SG)
of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), during the 4th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting held in
Durban, South Africa recently.
- ITU
is a United Nations
specialized agency for Information and Communication Technologies, with
membership of 193 countries and nearly 800 private sector entities and
academic institutions.
13. Vice President returns
after successful visit to Serbia, Malta and Romania
The Vice President of
India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu was on an official Visit to Serbia, Malta and
Romania from September 14-20, 2018 and returned after a successful official
visit.
Some key outcomes:
- Support
for India’s aspiration to be on UNSC and for taking forward UN reforms.
- Endorsement
of India’s stand on terror and support for early adoption of United
Nation’s Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
- Strong
support for resuming EU-India trade agreement after Romania assumes
Presidency of EU.
- Business
Forums generated a good deal of enthusiasm among the industrialists and
businessmen in every country as they got to listen to the Vice President
about India’s transformative initiatives. The growth story and the
reports from World Bank, IMF quoted by Vice President enhanced awareness.
- The
leaders in all the countries expressed unequivocal admiration for India’s
economic growth and were eager to engage and partner with India
politically, economically and culturally. In Romania, there was a special
interest in Space and Aerospace. Malta expressed its desire to join the
International Solar Alliance.
- There
was a clear demand for Parliamentary friendship groups and frequent visits
by Parliamentarians.
- The
visit gave an opportunity for the members of India Diaspora to listen to
the Vice President about the transformative agenda of the government and
encouraged them to think of various ways in which they can contribute to
the country’s development. The vice President underscored the growing
importance of India on the world stage and drew attention to four key
features that need to be recognised. He called them 4Ds – Democracy,
Demographic dividend, Demand and Diaspora.
- The
visit evoked a lot of interest among the top political leadership and
there was an air of bonhomie in all the meetings. The banquets hosted by
the President of Serbia and Malta as well as by the President of Senate of
Romania provided an opportunity for sharing views on bilateral and
multilateral issues with rare candour.
- The
address to the Serbian Parliament was very well received and the
admiration for India as the largest democracy and a vibrant, well
functioning polity was more than evident in the standing ovation the Vice
President received at the end of his address.
- MOUs
entered into related to plant protection, tourism, air services, oil
research, diplomatic training and maritime cooperation.
- In
all the three countries, there was considerable interest in Yoga and
Ayurveda and in Romania, the Vice President launched two books on Ayurveda
and inaugurated an Ayurveda Information Centre.
14. Odisha to name
Jharsuguda airport after Veer Surendra Sai
The Odisha Assembly
has passed a resolution unanimously to name the newly-constructed Jharsuguda
airport after noted freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai.
- Prime
Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the airport on September 22.
- Earlier,
the Civil Aviation Ministry in July had denied naming the airport after
the freedom fighter citing the absence of a state assembly resolution on
this.
15. PM to launch Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana at Ranchi
The Prime Minister,
Shri Narendra Modi, will launch the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) at
Ranchi, Jharkhand, on September 23, 2018.
- Under
this scheme, over 10 crore families will be provided health assurance
worth Rs. 5 lakh each, every year.
- The
Prime Minister will visit an exhibition on the PMJAY. He will witness a
demonstration of activities such as beneficiary identification, and e-card
creation.
- On
September 24, the Prime Minister will inaugurate Pakyong Airport, which
will bring the State of Sikkim on the country’s aviation map.
1. India Post Payments
Bank, Bajaj Allianz join hands ‘to provide insurance to all’
State-owned India Post
Payments Bank (IPPB) and private life insurer Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co
Ltd (BALIC) have entered into a strategic partnership to provide life insurance
solutions.
- This
partnership will leverage IPPB’s last mile reach for building awareness
about life insurance.
- Both
the companies came together to formally sign the Corporate Agency Agreement.
2. ICICI Bank teams up
with HealthAssure to offer tailor-made facilities for NRI customers
ICICI Bank has tied up
with health aggregator HealthAssure to provide tailor-made healthcare services
to the bank’s NRI Pro and Premia savings account holders and their family
members.
- With
HealthAssure, customers will get a ‘Health Pass’, a personal concierge
facility with a host of exclusive healthcare benefits in India.
- Benefits
include discounts of up to 50 per cent on check-ups and consultations with
specialists at over 3,000 primary health-care centres in more than 1,000
cities in India.
3. BRICS bank approves USD
525-million loan for infra projects in Madhya Pradesh
The
New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries has approved a USD
525-million loan to Madhya Pradesh for infrastructure projects.
- The Board of Directors of the NDB approved a USD
350-million loan for the Major District Roads Project II of Madhya Pradesh
and USD 175 million for building and upgrading 350 bridges.
4. PPF, NSC, other small
savings to give higher interest
Small saving schemes
such as Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificates and Post
Office Deposit Scheme will fetch more in the three months period starting
October 1.
- PPF
and NSC will earn interest at 8 per cent while Senior Citizens Savings
Scheme, which has a tenure of five years, will fetch 8.7 per cent.
5. PNB drags Lanco
Vidarbha Thermal Power to NCLT
Lanco Vidarbha Thermal
Power Limited, a subsidiary of Lanco Infratech Limited, now faces proceedings
in the National Company Law Tribunal with the Punjab National Bank dragging it
to the tribunal in Hyderabad for resolution.
- The
diversified Lanco group’s woes seem to continue with Lanco Infratech
Limited already on liquidation process and another group entity tackling
legal proceedings and the Vidharbha unit is now taken to NCLT, Hyderabad.
- Petitioning
the NCLT Hyderabad bench, the PNB has pleaded to take the case for the
Corporate Insolvency Resolution Plan under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Code.
6. IRDAI panel to examine
fintech issues
IRDAI has constituted
a committee, comprising its officials as well as senior executives of a few
insurers, to study regulatory issues fin-tech poses for insurance.
- Besides
in a fast evolving financial technology landscape, the move comes amid the
authority’s emphasis on adopting a regulatory sandbox approach to
experiment with fin-tech solutions.
- With
IRDAI Chief General Manager Randip Singh Jagpal as the chairperson, the
committee would identify key regulatory issues and gaps pertaining to
fin-tech in insurance.
Appointments
1. Moutaz Mousa Abdallah
becomes Sudan’s new PM
Moutaz Mousa Abdallah
has become the Sudan’s new Prime Minister. A 21-member cabinet was sworn in at
the presidential palace in Khartoum.
- Mousa
Abdallah is also holding the finance portfolio in a bid to revive the
country’s ailing economy.
- Sudan
has been grappling with an acute foreign exchange shortage and inflation
above 65 percent for several months.
2. Varun Dhawan and
Anushka Sharma signed as ambassadors of Skill India Campaign
Varun Dhawan and
Anushka Sharma have been signed on to promote and endorse the Skill India
Mission, chaired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
- Varun
and Anushka will dedicate time to promote India's skilled talent and their
fine work by engaging with them across different parts of the country.
3. Govt appoints MDs, CEOs
in ten nationalised banks
Cabinet committee
headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed MDs and CEOs of ten
state-owned banks.
These are:
- Mrutyunjay
Mahapatra: Syndicate Bank
- Padmaja
Chundru: Indian Bank
- Pallav
Mohapatra: Central Bank of India
- J
Packirisamy: Andhra Bank
- Karnam
Shekhar: Dena Bank
- S
S Mallikarjuna Rao has been appointed MD and CEO of Allahabad Bank
- A
S Rajeev: Bank of Maharashtra.
- Atul
Kumar Goel: UCO Bank
- S
Harishankar: Punjab & Sind Bank
- Ashok
Kumar Pradhan: United Bank of India.
4. Govt appoints four
members to local boards of RBI
Rakesh Jain and Sachin
Chaturvedi are among four people appointed members in local boards of the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- Jain
and Chaturvedi have been appointed as member in Southern local board and
Eastern local board of the central bank.
- Revathy
Iyer and Raghvendra Narayan Dubey have been appointed as member in
Northern local board of the central bank.
Awards
5. Dr. Raghupati Singhania
conferred with civilian honour of Mexico
Chairman and MD, JK
Tyre & Industries Ltd., Dr. Raghupati Singhania has been conferred with
'Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle', the highest honour accorded to
non-nationals by the Government of Mexico.
- Melba
PrÃa, Ambassador of Mexico to India presented the award to Dr. Singhania
on behalf of the President of Mexico on the eve of 128th National Day of
Mexico.
- The
top honor is in recognition of Dr. Singhania's exemplary leadership, his
noteworthy services towards humanity and his efforts to strengthen
bilateral ties between India and Mexico.
6. Kerala Tourism wins
two Pacific Asia Travel Association gold awards
Kerala Tourism walked
away with two prestigious gold awards of the Pacific Asia Travel Association
(PATA) for its innovative marketing campaigns.
- Kerala
Tourism got the first gold for its 'Yalla Kerala' travel advertisement
print media campaign in the Gulf countries.
- The
second gold award came for an innovative poster Kerala Tourism had
developed for the third edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB).
7. Kohli, Chanu to receive
Khel Ratna on September 25
Indian cricket captain
Virat Kohli and world champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will receive the
prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna on September 25, the sports ministry
announced.
The list of awardees:
- Rajiv
Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: Virat
Kohli and Mirabai Chanu.
- Arjuna
Awards: Neeraj Chopra, Jinson
Johnson and Hima Das (athletics); N. Sikki Reddy (badminton); Satish Kumar
(boxing); Smriti Mandhana (cricket); Shubhankar Sharma (golf); Manpreet
Singh and Savita (hockey); Ravi Rathore (polo); Rahi Sarnobat, Ankur
Mittal and Shreyasi Singh (shooting); Manika Batra and G. Sathiyan (table
tennis); Rohan Bopanna (tennis); Sumit (wrestling); Pooja Kadian (wushu);
Ankur Dhama (para-athletics); Manoj Sarkar (para-badminton).
- Dronacharya
Awards: C. A. Kuttappa (boxing);
Vijay Sharma (weightlifting); A. Srinivasa Rao (table tennis); Sukhdev
Singh Pannu (athletics); Clarence Lobo (hockey, lifetime); Tarak Sinha
(cricket, lifetime); Jiwan Kumar Sharma (judo, lifetime); V. R. Beedu
(athletics, lifetime).
- Dhyan
Chand Awards: Satyadev Prasad (archery);
Bharat Kumar Chetry (hockey); Bobby Aloysius (athletics); Chougale Dadu
Dattatray (wrestling).
8. Lucknow Metro First
From India To Get This International Award
The Lucknow Metro Rail
Corporation (LMRC) has become the first ever metro rail corporation from India
to bag the International 'Royal Society For The Prevention Of Accidents'
(RoSPA) Award.
- LMRC
has been given the Silver Award for its Phase 1A (North-South Corridor) in
the Project/Infrastructure category for the year 2018.
Deaths
1. India’s first woman IAS
officer Anna Malhotra dies at 92
India’s first woman
IAS officer post-Independence, Anna Rajam Malhotra, died at her residence in
suburban Andheri. She was 91.
- Malhotra
joined the civil services in 1951 and opted for the Madras cadre.
- She
married R N Malhotra, who served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of
India from 1985 to 1990.
- She
is also known for her contribution in setting up the country’s modern port
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) near Mumbai. She was the chairperson of
the JNPT during the execution.
- In
1989, she was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award.
