VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCTOBER 22^nd, 2018

                       IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCTOBER 22^nd, 2018

1.     The Indian government's flagship Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme has crossed the one-lakh beneficiary mark within a month of its launch on September 23. 

a.      The scheme's real impact at the population level will show in one-two years, Ayushman Bharat CEO Indu Bhushan said.

2.     PM Narendra Modi hoisted the Tricolour at Red Fort to mark the 75th anniversary of Azad Hind government constituted by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

a.      Azad Hind Government was founded in Singapore on 21st October 1943. 

b.     It was inspired by ideas of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who was leader of Azad Hind Government and also Head of State of this Government-in-exile.

c.      It was India’s first independent government established by Indian nationalists-in-exile during latter part of WWII in Singapore with monetary, military and political assistance from Imperial Japan.

d.     It was a part of political freedom movement originating in 1940s outside India with purpose of allying with Axis powers during Second World War (WWII) to free India from British Rule.

3.     The US Air Force's unmanned space plane X-37B has completed 400 days in Earth's orbit as part of its fifth secretive mission. 

a.      The aircraft is orbiting at a height of around 320 km and is powered by solar cells with lithium-ion batteries.

b.     It was launched aboard one of Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA's space centre in Florida.

4.     For the 1st time in the world, Scientists are planning a mission to explore the deepest parts of the five oceans. 

a.      The project, 'Five Deeps Expedition', will use a two-person craft designed to withstand intense pressures around 9 km below the surface.

b.     To be aired in 2019, the expedition will traverse around 74,000 km in 11 months and descend 72 km under water.

5.     The 27th Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2018) was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 

a.      The six-day event is organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and hosted by Department of Atomic Energy and Gandhinagar-based Institute of Plasma Research.

b.     Aim of FEC 2018 : To provide forum for discussion of key physics and technology issues as well as innovative concepts of direct relevance to the use of nuclear fusion (reaction that powers Sun and stars) as a source of energy. 

6.     Rajput group Karni Sena has appointed Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's wife Riva Solanki as the head of its women's wing in Gujarat.

7.     The government today appointed a parliamentary panel to examine the functioning of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), its coverage and recovery of arrears. 

a.      The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has also decided to review the implementation of labour laws, social security and welfare scheme for workers.

b.     Head of this Panel : Kirit Somaiya (BJP MP)

8.     Indian e-commerce payment system and digital wallet company, Paytm has forayed into the Japanese market for the first time with its wallet service 'PayPay'. 

a.      The service, which is a joint venture with SoftBank and Yahoo Japan, enables users to transfer money from a bank account to their PayPay wallet and make payments with it.

9.     Odisha has become the 1st state in India where Diesel is costlier than Petrol as diesel was sold at ₹80.69 per litre in Bhubaneswar while petrol at ₹80.57 per litre. 

a.      Note : While other states have different VAT rates for petrol and diesel, Odisha charges a uniform 26% VAT on both.

10.                       US-based writer Sujatha Gidla has won Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize 2018.

a.      She was honored with this award for her debut book “Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India”. 

11.      Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced a National award in the name of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose for police personnel who do "exemplary" work in rescue and relief operations during disasters. 

a.      Note : The award will be announced on January 23, on Bose's birthday.

b.     Modi's announcement came on the 75th anniversary of the Azad Hind governmentconstituted by Bose. 

12.      Union Minister for Railways, Coal and Corporate Affairs Piyush Goyal received the prestigious Carnot prize for his contribution towards sustainable energy solutions.

a.      The Carnot Prize is the Kleinman Center's annual recognition of distinguished contributions to energy policy through scholarship or practice.

b.     The award in the energy sector is named after French physicist Nicolas Sadi Carnot who recognised that the power of the steam engine would "produce a great revolution"in human development.

13.                       Joachim Rønneberg (99), the leader of a World War II raid to foil Nazi Germany's nuclear plan has passed away.

a.      In 1943, heblew up a plant producing a hydrogen-rich substance key to the development of atomic bombs.

14.                       The Hindi Version of the Biography of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath titled 'Yoddha Yogi: Yogi Adityanath Ki Jeevan Yatra', was recently released.

a.      The book is written by Pravin Kumar, Deputy Resident Editor, Times of India, Lucknow.

b.     Note : The English version of the book "Yogi Adityanath: The Rise Of A Saffron Socialist" was released last year.