VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 16^th, 2018

                         IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 16^th , 2018

1.     The United Nation's International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (International Ozone Day) is being observed today.

a.      The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun, thus helping preserve life on the planet. 

b.     2018 Ozone Day theme : Keep Cool and Carry on: Montreal Protocol

2.     (16th September) is International Red Panda Day (IRPD). 

a.      Red panda is a mammal slightly larger than a domestic cat and feeds on the bamboo.

b.     The commemoration of the International Red Panda Day is a way to promote and encourage people save these adorable beings as they are being listed under endangered species. 

3.     India is Partner Country in 87th Izmir International tradeshow in (Izmir) Turkey. 

a.      India also launched its mega business pavilion ‘Source India’ hosting 75 Indian companies in the tradeshow.  

4.     Union Ministry of Power has launched Chiller Star Labelling Program to encourage deployment of energy efficient chiller systems in the country. 

a.      It was launched as part of occasion of 24th World Ozone Day and 31st Anniversary of Montreal Protocol, which are being observed today (16th September 2018).

5.     The Union Ministry of Tourism has inaugurated India’s first tribal circuit projectconnecting 13 tourism sites in Chhattisgarh under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. 

a.      The circuit connects Jashpur, Kunkuri, Mainpat, Kamleshpur, Maheshpur, Kurdar, Sarodadadar, Gangrel, Kondagaon, Nathiya Nawagaon, Jagdalpur, Chitrakoot, and Tirthgarh in Chhattisgarh.

6.     West Bengal government has made it compulsory for all cinema halls and multiplexes in the state to screen Bengali films with immediate effect.  

7.     Rajasthan’s 1st Lion safari was inaugurated at Nahargarh Biological Park. 

a.      The park is located on Delhi-Jaipur National Highway in the Aravalli foothills, nearly 12 kilometers from state capital Jaipur (known as Pink City). 

b.     It will be open for visitors from October 2018.

8.     The Nagaland government has declared the Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary as an elephant reserve making it the 30th reserve for Elephants in India.

a.      This reserve is located in Mon district of Nagaland and spreads over an area of 5825 acres (2357 hac).

9.     Union Ministry for Minority Affairs has launched India's 1st National Scholarship Portal Mobile App (NSP Mobile App). 

a.      It aims to provide smooth, accessible and hassle-free scholarship system for students from poor and weaker sections.

10.                       Jammu and Kashmir Government appointed Dilbagh Singh as Director General of Police (DGP) of the state.

11.                       India’s first underwater robotic drone EyeROV TUNA was handed over to Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 

a.      This underwater drone will be used by NPOL for research and development activities which in turn would result in commercial product for defence purposes.

12. The Ocean Cleanup foundation (founded by 24-year-old Dutch innovator Boyan Slat) launched world’s first ocean cleanup array titled System 001, from San Francisco, marking start of cleanup of Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a collection of marine debris in North Pacific Ocean. The patch is larger than area of France.

13. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned indigenously built patrol vessel ICGS Vijaya in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. 

a.      It is second in the series of 98 m offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) commissioned by ICG.

14. The Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) has developed India’s first indigenous medical kit for protection against nuclear warfare or radioactive leakage. 

a.      The kit will ensure protection from serious injury and aid faster healing of wounds due to nuclear warfare or radioactive leakage.

15.                       The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad was awarded Airports Council International Airport Service Quality World no.1 Airport Award in the 5-15 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) category. 

a.      This is for the second consecutive year Hyderabad airport has won this award (1st was in 2016). 

b.     International Executive Council (International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID)), accorded Heritage Irrigation Structure (HIS) status on Telangana's Sadarmatt anicut and iconic Pedda Cheruvu tank.  

c.      Both these sites will now be inscribed in the ICID Register of Heritage Irrigation Structures.

16.                       The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is going to purchase Government securities (G-secs) worth Rs 10,000 crore on September 19, a move aimed at inducing liquidity in the system. 

a.      The purchase of the government securities will be done through Open Market Operations (OMO).

17. Cyient Solutions & Systems, a joint venture of IT firm Cyient and BlueBird Aero Systems of Israel) bagged order from Indian Army to supply SpyLite mini UAV(unmanned aerial vehicle) systems for high altitude aerial surveillance. 

a.      SpyLite mini UAV unmanned aerial system has endurance of 4-5 hours and maximum flight ceiling of 30,000 feet, making it ideal for Indian Army operations along border with China and Siachen glacier.

18. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved 100% electrification of broad gauge routes of Indian Railways (IR) by the year 2021-22. 

a.      The 100% electrification will reduce use of imported fossil fuels thereby improve energy security. 

b.     Reduction in consumption of high speed diesel oil will also result in reduction of GHG emissions, thus, reduce environmental impact of Railways.

19. To boost dairy sector, the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 10881 crore.

a.      Under this scheme, first installment of Rs. 440 crore was given to National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

b.     Under this scheme, eligible milk organisations will be provided financial assistance in the form of a loan at 6.5% interest for building an efficient milk procurement system and other dairy processing infrastructure. 

c.      This loan will be reimbursed over period of 10 years. 

d.     It also has provision of interest subsidy on loans