DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: OCTOBER 6, 2018
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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: OCTOBER 6, 2018
Daily Current Affairs ( Oct 6, 2018) like many other sections is inevitable and this also helps to score in the Banking awareness , Static GK and Financial Awareness sections. Remember, Banking Awareness and Static Awareness Questions are asked from the General Awareness section. This will also help you to ride your preparations for the forthcoming exams.
NATIONAL
GI tag for Alphonso mango from Konkan
The government has granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag to the Alphonso Mango from Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and other adjoining areas in Maharashtra.
It is a move that will help identify the authenticity of this variety of fruit. A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
The first product to get a GI tag in India was the Darjeeling tea in 2004. There are a total of 325 products from India that carry this indication including Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati.
India signs deal with Russia to buy S-400 Triumf Missiles
India signed a deal worth $5.43-billion to buy five Russian S-400 Triumf missile shield systems at the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit at the Hyderabad House.
Apart from the S-400 missile deal, India and Russia also signed an agreement on space cooperation and an Indian monitoring station will be built near the Russian city of Novosibirsk in Siberia.
The S-400 Triumf missiles are extremely efficient to track and hunt down combat aircraft, even stealth planes, at unprecedented ranges.
India is also planning on acquiring 4 Krivak-class frigates from Russia, two of which will be built in India, which will be a $2.5 billion deal.
Note: Now, The US could impose sanctions using the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act or CAATSA legislation, which deals primarily with countries having “significant transactions” with Russia, North Korea or Iran.
Civil aviation Ministry releases the policy of Digi Yatra
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation, Shri Suresh Prabhu has released the policy on biometric based digital processing of passengers at airports called “Digi Yatra”.
The Digi Yatra Central Platform will be operational by end of February, 2019.
Bangalore & Hyderabad International Airports will be ready with pilot implementation by end of February, 2019.
PM Narendra Modi confers Swachh Survekshan Grameen Awards 2018
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation commissioned “Swachh Survekshan Grameen-2018” (SSG 2018) through an independent survey agency to develop ranking of all districts of India on the basis of quantitative and qualitative sanitation parameters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred the Swachh Survekshan Grameen Awards 2018.
Overall Ranking
Top 3 States are:
Haryana
Gujarat
Maharashtra
Top 3 Districts are:
Satara (Maharashtra)
Rewari (Haryana)
Pedapalli (Telangana)
States with maximum citizen participation are
Uttar Pradesh
Gujarat
Maharashtra
Districts with maximum citizens’ participation are
Nashik (Maharashtra)
Solapur (Maharashtra)
Chittorgarh (Rajasthan)
India And ADB Signs $110 Million Loan to Improve Rural Connectivity in MP
India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $110 million loan agreement to upgrade all-weather rural roads in Madhya Pradesh under the Prime Minister’s Rural Roads Programme (PMGSY). It plans to upgrade about 12,000 km rural roads across the five states.
The $110 million is the second tranche of the $500 million Second Rural Connectivity Investment Programme for India approved by the ADB in December 2017.
The agreement was signed by Ministry of Finance Additional Secretary Sameer Kumar Khare for the Indian government and ADB’s India Resident Mission Country Director Kenichi Yokoyama for the bank.
Indian Railways plans to roll out Project Utkrisht
Railways has plans to develop 640 Utkrisht rakes as part of upgradation of its mail/express trains in the next two years at a cost of Rs 4 billion.
Developed as ‘green rakes’ (consisting of 20 or 22 coaches) at Eastern Railways’ Liluah workshop, they cost Rs 600,000 each.
The rakes have also been given a new colour scheme on the exterior beige and maroon.
All coaches of this rake are fitted with energy efficient LED tube lights, panel of LED lights in doorway and gangway, provision of dustbins in the toilets, stickers with ‘Go Green’ messages, provision of integrated basin-cum-dustbins in AC coaches.
INTERNATIONAL
IORA Countries Adopt Delhi Declaration On Renewable Energy
Nearly 21 countries in the Indian Ocean Rim Association, IORA, adopted the Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy in the Indian Ocean Region.
It was held at the 2nd IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting, he 2nd Global Re-Invest India-ISA Partnership Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet & Expo in Greater Noida.
The declaration also calls for promotion of technology development and transfer, strengthening of public private partnerships in renewable energy and collaboration among IORA member states and the member nations of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). IORA member countries also resolved to collaborate with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
IORA
Headquarters: Ebene, Mauritius
BANKING AND ECONOMY
RBI releases Fourth Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2018-19
The Monetary Policy Committee of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent. The MPC changed the stance from ‘neutral’ to ‘calibrated tightening’.
Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF remains at 6.25%, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.75%.
Reserve Bank also retained GDP growth estimate at 7.4 per cent for the current financial year, adding that it is likely to go up to 7.6 per cent in FY20.
The government has mandated the Reserve Bank to keep inflation at 4 percent (+/- 2 percent).
APPOINTMENTS
Srinivasan Swamy appointed as new IAA chairman
Indian advertising veteran and RK Swamy Hansa Group chairman Srinivasan Swamy took over as new chairman and world president of the International Advertising Association (IAA).
Swamy is the first Indian to hold the prestigious seat at the 80-year old institution.
He takes over the reins from legendary advertising professional Felix Tataru from Romania.
IAA is a global advertising body with presence in 76 countries.
Ramon Laguarta succeeds Pepsico’s Indian-origin CEO Indra Nooyi
Ramon Laguarta assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of global beverage giant PepsiCo succeeding India-born Indra Nooyi.
Nooyi stepped down after 24 years with the company and the last 12 years as CEO.
Laguarta will become the sixth CEO in PepsiCo’s 53-year history. Since September 2017, Laguarta has served as President of PepsiCo, overseeing global operations, corporate strategy, public policy and government affairs.
Pankaj Sharma: India’s Ambassador to UN Conference on Disarmament
Pankaj Sharma has been appointed as the ambassador and India’s permanent representative to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
Mr Sharma is currently the joint secretary (Disarmament and International Security Division) in the Ministry of External Affairs.
Pankaj Sharma had replaced Amandeep Gill as joint secretary of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) division.
R N Ravi appointed Deputy National Security Advisor
The government has redesignated RN Ravi as deputy national security advisor (internal affairs) from his earlier assignment as the chief of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC).
But he will continue to be the centre’s interlocutor for Nagaland. He has been shaping a peace accord with the Naga insurgent group the NSCN (IM).
Ravi will be third deputy to NSA Ajit Doval after former Research and Analysis Wing chief Rajinder Khanna and serving diplomat Pankaj Saran.
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Sudha Menon’s book “Feisty at Fifty” released
Sudha Menon’s book Feisty at Fifty, was released at the Pune International Literary Festival. It is published by Pan Macmillan India.
It talks about empty nests, drooping ‘assets’ including morale, rediscovering ourselves with friends, mothers and daughters, and following our passion.
Menon has written some best-sellers including Leading Ladies: Women Who Inspire India, and Devi, Diva or She-Devil: The smart career woman’s survival guide.
SPORTS
36th National Games To Be Held Next Year In Goa
The 36th National Games will be held in Goa from March 30 to April 14 next year. It was announced by Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) executive director VM Prabhudesai.
The Opening and Closing ceremonies will be held at PJN Stadium, Fatorda.
Five sports — Rugby, Wushu, Modern Penthatlon, Lawn Bowl, and Billiards and Snooker — will be added in the Games programme.
OBITUARY
Oscar-winning animator Will Vinton passes away
The Oscar-winning animator Will Vinton has passed away. Vinton is well known for coining the term ‘Claymation’.
Vinton won an Oscar in for the 1975 animated short film ‘Closed Mondays’.
He was nominated for other animated films like Rip Van Winkle (1978) and The Creation (1981) to name a few.
