DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: OCTOBER 31, 2018

Daily Current Affairs ( Oct 31, 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

Vice President Embarks On 3-Nation Africa Visit

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has embarked on a three-nation visit to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

Mr Naidu is being accompanied by a high-level delegation for the six-day visit.

he delegation includes Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar, two MPs and senior officers of the Union government.

In Botswana, the vice president will inaugurate the Global Expo Botswana 2018 together with his counterpart in that country.

The vice president, in Malawi, is expected to inaugurate the Business Incubation Centre and India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development and unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

Botswana

Capital: Gaborone

Currency: Botswana pula

Zimbabwe

Capital: Harare

Malawi

Capital: Lilongwe

Currency: Malawian kwacha

3-day India Mobile Congress Held In New Delhi

India Mobile Congress is one of the biggest marquee Mobile, Internet, and Technology event for South-East Asia organized by COAI and DoT.

IMC 2018 was held in Aerocity, New Delhi. The congress was held under the theme of NEW DIGITAL HORIZONS.

It will be organised by telecom industry body Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) with support from the Department of Telecommunications and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The Ministry of Skill Development will also be part of the endeavour.

The congress aims at building ideas, forging lasting Industry relationships, showcasing cutting-edge mobile technology & product trends, providing sectoral insights, industrial solutions, case studies & workshops.

Italian PM Giuseppe Conte In India On A Day Long Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte, who is on a day-long visit to India.

During his visit, PM Conte will hold talks with PM Modi to boost cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, besides participating in the India-Italy Technology Summit.

The Italian prime minister will participate at the 24th edition of the India-Italy Technology Summit which is being organised by the Department of Science and Technology in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Italy

INTERNATIONAL

Seychelles Launches World’s 1st Sovereign Blue Bond

The Republic of Seychelles has launched the world’s first sovereign blue bond — a financial instrument designed to support sustainable marine and fisheries projects.

The proceeds from the bond will support the expansion of marine protected areas‚ improved governance of priority fisheries and the development of the Seychelles’ blue economy.

The World Bank helped develop the blue bond. The three investors are Calvert Impact Capital‚ Nuveen and Prudential.

The bond‚ which raised $15m from international investors‚ demonstrated the potential for countries to harness capital markets for financing the sustainable use of marine resources.

Seychelles

BANKING AND ECONOMY

SBI to issue and encash electoral bonds soon

The State Bank of India, the country’s largest lender, was authorised to issue and encash electoral bonds with effect from October 1 to 10. These could be done at 29 of the bank’s authorised branches.

According to the provisions of the Electoral Bond scheme notified in January this year, these bonds could be purchased by a person who is a citizen of India or an entity incorporated or established in India.

An individual can buy electoral bonds either singly or jointly with other individuals.

Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the previous Lok Sabha or Assembly election are eligible to receive the electoral bonds.

Electoral bonds will be valid for 15 calendar days from the date of issue and no payment will be made to any payee political party if the bond is deposited after the expiry of the validity period. The bond deposited by an eligible political party in its account is credited on the same day.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Malala Yousafzai To Be Honoured Gleitsman Award by Harvard University

Nobel Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai is being honoured by Harvard University for her work promoting girls’ education.

Harvard’s Kennedy School says Yousafzai will be awarded the 2018 Gleitsman Award at a Dec. 6 ceremony.

Yousafzai became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 when she was recognized for her global work supporting schooling for all children.

Yousafzai became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 when she was recognized for her global work supporting schooling for all children.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Anupam Kher Resigns As FTII Chairman

Anupam Kher has resigned as the Film and Television Institute of India chairman.

He addressed the resignation to Information & Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore.

The actor was appointed the Chairperson of the Film and Television Institute of India on October 11 last year. He succeeded Gajendra Chauhan, who had a controversial tenure since 2014 as the head of the Pune-based institute.

OBITUARY

Urdu Writer Qazi Abdussattar Passes Away

Padma Shri Professor Qazi Abdussattar, a noted Urdu writer and former head of Aligarh Muslim University’s Urdu department, passed away.

Winner of several national and international awards, Abdussattar was awarded Padma Shri in 1974.

He was also the first recipient of Ghalib Academy Award in 1978.

His most famous works include “Darashiko”, “Khalidbinwalid” and “Ghalib” which are considered as masterpieces in this genre.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Unity Day – October 31

India is observing Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, also known as National Unity Day, on October 31, 2018, to commemorate the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Statue of Unity – the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, in Gujarat’s Kevadiya, on Patel’s birth anniversary.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, born on October 31, 1875, was a political and social leader of India who played a major role in the country’s struggle for independence and subsequently guided its integration into a united, independent nation.

As the first home minister and deputy prime minister of India, Patel organised relief for refugees in Punjab and Delhi and led efforts to restore peace across the nation.