Current Affairs 26th Oct. 2018

National News

1. PM Modi  Inaugurated Krishi Kumbha in Lucknow 

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a farmers’ conclave ‘Krishi Kumbh 2018’ in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing. The three-day ‘Krishi Kumbh’ is being organized to promote modern technique and diversification in agriculture that could help in doubling farmers income. 

ii. The Kumbh witnessed two of the world’s top economies, Israel and Japan, as official partners while Haryana and Jharkhand as partner states.

2. India, Bangladesh Sign Agreements For Enhancing Inland And Coastal Waterways Connectivity

i. India and Bangladesh signed several agreements for enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity between the two countries for trade and cruise movements. The two countries have signed an agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India. 

ii. An addendum to ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade between the two countries' has also been signed for the inclusion of Dhubri in India and Pangaon in Bangladesh as the new Ports.  

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         Bangladesh Capital: Dhaka, Currency: Bangladeshi Taka.

3. Punjab Signs MoUs With Israel For Agri Research, Water Management 

i. The Punjab government has signed four MoUs with Israeli institutions to address issues of farmers and depleting groundwater level in the state.
ii. The  MoUs were signed in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. The MoUs will help boost cooperation between Punjab and Israel in areas such as water conservation as well as agricultural research and education.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         Israel Capital: Jerusalem, Currency: Israeli New Shekel. 

4. India To Become World's 3rd Largest Aviation Market Around 2024: IATA 

i. India will become the world's third largest aviation market around 2024 surpassing the UK, according to global airlines' body International Air Transport Association (IATA). It projected total air passenger numbers to touch 8.2 billion in 2037. 

ii. Releasing the latest update to IATA's 20-year Air Passenger Forecast, the grouping also cautioned that growth prospects for air transport and the economic benefits driven by aviation could be curtailed if protectionist measures are implemented by governments.
iii. According to the IATA, China would displace the United States as the world's largest aviation market in the mid-2020s. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         IATA Headquarters: Montreal, Canada, Founded: 19 April 1945. 

5. Reliance-Built Coast Guard Training Ship ICGS Varuna Launched

ICGS Varuna,

i. ICGS Varuna, an indigenously-designed training vessel built by Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited for the Indian Coast Guard, was launched in Pipavav. 

ii. The vessel was formally launched at a function held in the presence of Coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh at the Pipavav Shipyard. Currently, the ICGS has a fleet of 138 vessels. 

International News

6. NATO’s Biggest Military Maneuvers Begins in Norway 

i. North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) biggest military manoeuvres since the Cold War began in Norway. Russia, which shares a border with Norway, was briefed by NATO on the Trident Juncture 2018 drill and invited to monitor it, but Moscow is still angered by the exercise. 

ii. The wargames bring together around 50,000 personnel from all 29 NATO allies, plus partners Finland and Sweden. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. 

·         Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach is the present Chairman of the NATO Military Committee. 

7. Russia Successfully Launched 1st Soyuz Rocket Since Failed Space Launch 

i. Russia has successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1B rocket for the first time since the failure of a similar rocket aborted a manned take-off to the International Space Station (ISS). 
ii. According to Russia’s space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin, this was the first launch of a rocket from the Soyuz family since the October 11 accident.  

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (Roscosmos) is a state corporation responsible for the space flight and cosmonautics program for the Russian Federation. 

·         Russia Capital: Moscow, Currency: Russian ruble.

8. 2nd International Conference On Primary Health Care Held in Kazakhstan 

i. J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed the ‘Second Plenary Session of ‘2nd International Conference on Primary Health Care (PHC) towards UHC & SDGs’, at Astana, Kazakhstan. 

ii. The conference aims to renew the commitment to primary health care to achieve universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. Mr Nadda spoke on the theme “The Future of Primary Health Care”. 

9. Ethiopia Appoints Sahle-Work Zewde As 1st Female President 

i. Ethiopia appointed diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde as its first-ever female President. The position of the President is largely ceremonial in the nation.

ii. Zewde was appointed by the Ethiopian lawmakers through a unanimous vote. She would be replacing Mulatu Teshome Wirtu. Prior to her appointment, she was serving as the UN's top official at the African Union. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         Ethiopia Capital: Addis Ababa, Currency: Ethiopian birr. 

Ranks And Reports

10. India Has Most Outward Migrants In 2017: ADB Report 

i. Most of the international migrants in 2017 were from India, followed by China and Bangladesh, according to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report titled 'Asian Economic Integration Report 2018'.
ii. As per the report, as many as one-third of international migrants were from Asia in 2017.  India had the most outward migrants in 2017 (17 million), followed by China (10 million) and Bangladesh (7.5 million). 

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         The Asian Development Bank is a regional development Bank established in 1966.

·         Headquarters of ADB is in Manila, Philippines.

·         Takehiko Nakao is Present President of the Asian Development Bank. 

11. India Becomes Second Largest Solar Market: Mercom

i. India installed 4.9 GW of solar power, consolidating its position as the second largest solar market in the world, during the first half of the calendar year 2018, according to a report by Mercom Communications India. 

ii. According to the report, China topped the list. Adani remained the largest project developer in terms of total cumulative installations and top installer in terms of capacity installed through the end of the first half. 

Awards

12. India Wins CAPAM Award 2018 

i. India has won the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) Award, 2018.  The awards were announced at the Annual General Members Meet held at Georgetown, Guyana. 

ii. The initiative entitled "Unnayan Banka"- Reinventing Education Using Technology of Banka District, State of Bihar has been awarded under the Category “Innovation Incubation”.
iii. Another initiative entitled “Unified Agriculture Markets” of Co-operation Department of Government of Karnataka has been awarded the overall Gold Award for CAPAM Awards, 2018.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         CAPAM has been announcing its International Innovations Awards (IIA) Programme bi-annually, since 1998. 

·         The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is an institutional member of CAPAM.

13. Prof Ashis Mukherjee Receives INSA Teachers Award-2018

i. Prof Ashis Mukherjee, a senior faculty member of the prestigious Tezpur University was awarded the prestigious Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Teachers Award (2018).

ii. He won the prestigious award for his consistent and high level of teaching and inspiring and mentoring students to take up careers in Science and Technology. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         Founded by INSA, New Delhi, the award is one of the highest recognition for science and technology teachers in the country. 

Banking News

14. IDFC Bank To Be Renamed As IDFC First Bank 

i. IDFC Bank proposed to change its name to 'IDFC First Bank Ltd' in the wake of its amalgamation with the non-banking financial company Capital First. The decision was taken during the meeting of the Board of Directors of IDFC Bank. 

ii. The proposal now needs the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It would further require the approvals of statutory or regulatory authorities including the Registrar of Companies, Shareholders and other Stakeholders. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018: 

·         IDFC Bank Headquarters in Mumbai. 

Sports News

15. Pooja Dhanda Wins Bronze Medal in World Wrestling Championships 

i. In Wrestling World Championships, Pooja Dhanda won a bronze medal in the women’s freestyle 57kg weight class in Budapest, Hungary last night. Dhanda defeated Grace Bullen of Norway 10-7. This was India’s second medal at the 2018 Championships. 

ii. Before Pooja, only three Indian women grapplers (Alka Tomar, Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat) had won a bronze medal each at the Worlds Championships.