VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 18^th , 2018

                       IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 18^th, 2018

1.      President Ram Nath Kovind is on a week-long state visit to Vietnam and Australia.

a.       Kovind will be in Vietnam in the first leg of his trip. 

i)       This will be his first visit to an ASEAN country.

b)     The second leg of the visit will be in Australia from November 21 to 24. 

i)       This is the 1st visit by an Indian President to Australia.

ii)     Kovind will visit Sydney and Melbourne.

iii)   He will meet Governor General Peter Cosgrove and Prime Minister Scott Morisson. 

iv)   He will unveil a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parramatta, a prominent suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales.

2.      Prime Minster Narendra Modi and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solihexpressed confidence in renewal of bilateral ties and maintaining security and peace in the Indian Ocean.

a.       PM Modi assured Solih of India's firm commitment in helping Maldives achieve sustainable economic development.

b.       Note : Modi was on his 1st Maldivian visit since assuming office.

3.      Today is 291st Foundation Day of Jaipur. 

4.      Union Government has approved 3 proposals under Nirbhaya Fund. They are :

a.       Setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs)

b.       Procurement of forensic kits for sexual assault cases

c.       Setting up video surveillance system at 50 Railway Stations

5.      Researchers from IIT Kharagpur have devised Decision Support System (DCS) to help maximise LPG connections in BPL (Below Poverty Line) households under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

a.       It is a first of its kind for analysis of national level energy policy. 

b.       This kind of DSS can be developed for various central and state level policies for various commodities like agricultural commodities, solar panels distributions and so on.

6.      The Environment Ministry has given the final clearance for a project to build Duplex flats for Members of Parliament (MP) at a cost of ₹676.5 crore in New Delhi. 

a.       The building complex will have 264 new flats along with servant quarters and basement car parking. 

b.       It will be constructed over an area of 19,91,37 square metre.

7.      The Indian government has signed 3 agreements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). They are :

a.       $105 million loan agreement to continue financing transmission system upgrades in Himachal Pradesh for increased supply of hydropower to state and national grid. 

b.       $300 million loan agreement to support lending by India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL).

c.       $169 Million loan agreement for Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment Program.

8.      The Indian government is going to release a Rs. 75 coin on the occasion of 75th anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisting the Tricolour for the 1st time at Port Blair.

a.       It was on December 30, 1943, the legendary freedom fighter, who had founded the Indian National Army (INA) hoisted the Tricolour for the first time at Cellular Jail, Port Blair.

b.       This coin will weigh 35 grams.

c.       It will be made of 50 per cent silver, 40 per cent copper, and 5 per cent nickel and zinc, each.

d.       This coin will bear the portrait of 'Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose' saluting the flag on the background of Cellular Jail in Port Blair.

e.       A numeral 75th along with inscription "anniversary" will be depicted below the portrait. The coin will carry an inscription saying 'First Flag Hoisting Day' in both Devnagari script and English.

9.      Financial Performance of Public Sector Banks for July - September 2018 (Q2 2018 - 19)

a.       Net Profit

i)       State Bank of India - Rs. 944.87 Crores

ii)     Bank of Baroda - Rs. 425.38 Crores

iii)   Canara Bank - Rs. 299.54 Crores

iv)   Indian Bank - Rs. 150.14 Crores

v)     Vijaya Bank - Rs. 139.94 Crores

vi)   Union Bank of India - Rs. 139.03 Crores

vii) Corporation Bank - Rs. 103.01 Crores

viii)                   Oriental Bank of Commerce - Rs. 101.74

ix)    Bank of Maharashtra - Rs. 27 Crores

b)     Net Loss

i)       Punjab & Sind Bank - Loss of Rs. 109.23 Crores

ii)     Dena Bank - Loss of Rs. 416.70 Crores

iii)   Andhra Bank - Loss of 434.10 Crores

iv)   Indian Overseas Bank - Loss of Rs. 487.26 Crores

v)     United Bank of India - Loss of Rs. 883.17 Crores

vi)   Central Bank of India - Loss of Rs. 923.60 Crores

vii) UCO Bank - Loss of Rs. 1136.44 Crores

viii)                   Bank of India - Loss of Rs. 1156.25 Crores

ix)    Syndicate Bank - Loss of Rs. 1542.54 Crores

x)      Allahabad Bank - Loss of Rs. 1822.71 Crores

xi)    IDBI Bank - Loss of Rs. 3602.49 Crores

xii)  Punjab National Bank - Loss of Rs. 4532.35 Crores

10. 1984 Maharashtra-cadre IAS officer,  Ajay Bhushan Pandey has been appointed as the next Revenue Secretary.

a.       He is going to replace Hasmukh Adhia, who will retire on November 30. 

b.       Pandey will continue to hold the additional charge of Chief Executive Officer of UIDAI and Chairman of Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) until further orders. A Pandey will take over from December 1.

11.  India's top two women's tennis players, Ankita Raina and Karman Kaur Thandi, won their 1st doubles title together as they lifted the OEC Open trophy in Taipei today. 

a.       This was also the first WTA title, singles or doubles, for both the Indian players.

12. 5-time world champion MC Mary Kom defeated Aigerim Kessenayeva of Kazakhstan to reach quarterfinals of 48 kg category at AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi.