VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 19^th, 2018

                         IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 19^th , 2018

1.     President Ram Nath Kovind today launched a Logo and a web portal to commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which is celebrated on October 2. 

a.      The logo will also be used by Public Sector Undertakings, subordinate or attached offices, autonomous bodies etc. under the central government.

b.     The portal (http://gandhi.gov.in/) has a feature 'Gandhipedia' which is a "repository of Gandhian knowledge". 

c.      There's also a 'Participate' button that allows individuals and organisations to upload their activities regarding the commemoration on the website.

2.     The Union Cabinet today approved the ordinance making Triple Talaq a punishable offence, after the bill to criminalise triple talaq got stuck in the Rajya Sabha. 

a.      The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in December 2017, but an agreement could not be reached in the upper house. 

b.     The Supreme Court had also struck down the "unconstitutional" practice.

3.     The 182-member Gujarat Assembly today passed a bill to increase MLAs' monthly salaries by over ₹45,000. 

a.      The MLAs who were earlier paid ₹70,727 will now get ₹1,16,316, which is effective from December 22, 2017, so they will also receive the arrears. 

b.     Note : The daily allowances of MLAs' have also been increased from ₹200 to ₹1,000.

4.     The biography of Dutee Chand, who rose from abject poverty to become one of India's biggest sprinting stars, is going to be punished as a book with the title "Story so far".

a.      The book is being written by journalist, author and filmmaker Sundeep Misra, who has previously authored a biography of hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay.

5.     India's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) is going to to run 10,000 ATMs on solar power in the next two years.

a.      At present, the bank has 1,200 ATMs which run on solar power. 

6.     Denmark's largest lender Danske Bank's CEO Thomas Borgen resigned today following an investigation into payments of about $234 billion through the bank's Estonian branch, many of which were suspicious. 

7.     Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is visiting Saudi Arabia for discussions on a possible economic bailout package as he seeks to resolve the country's debt crisis, according to reports. 

a.      What is Bailout ?

b.     Bailout is a general term for extending financial support to a company or a country facing a potential bankruptcy threat.

c.       It can take the form of loans, cash, bonds, or stock purchases.

d.     The reason for bailout is to support an industry that may be affecting millions of people internationally and could be on the verge of bankruptcy due to prolonged financial crises. 

8.     India has signed a $74 million financing loan agreement with the World Bank for Uttarakhand Workforce Development Project (UKWDP).

a.      Objective of UKWDP : To improve the quality and relevance of training at priority Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and to increase the number of labour-market-relevant workers through short term training in Uttrakhand.

9.     Former Union petroleum minister Satya Prakash Malaviya (84) died from prostate cancer. 

a.      He began his political career as a member of Praja Socialist Party and later joined the Congress.

b.     He has served as the petroleum minister in the cabinet headed by former prime minister Chandra Shekhar.

c.      He also served as environment minister in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet.

10.                       Chairman and MD, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., Dr. Raghupati Singhania has been conferred with 'Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle'.

a.      This is the highest honour accorded to non-nationals by the Government of Mexico.

b.     Melba Pría, 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.

11.                       Bollywood Actors Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma have been signed on to promote and endorse the Skill India Mission, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

12.                       Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav has become the quickest Indian spinner to take 50 wickets in ODI cricket, achieving the feat in his 24th ODI against Hong Kong in Asia Cup today. 

a.      Note : The previous quickest Indian spinner to achieve the milestone was Amit Mishra, who reached the 50-wicket mark in 32 ODIs.